Hong Kong: Chris Sun concludes Switzerland trip Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun wrapped up his visit to Switzerland by attending the plenary sitting of the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference. The labour chief attended the conference as part of the People's Republic of China (PRC) delegation on the morning of June 9, during which Human Resources & Social Security Minister Wang Xiaoping delivered an address on the countrys labour affairs development. That afternoon, Mr Sun and officials held a bilateral meeting with International Labour Organization (ILO) Assistant Director-General and ILO Office for Asia & the Pacific Regional Director Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa. He introduced the latest situation of Hong Kongs labour market, economy, employment and application of International Labour Conventions. Mr Sun also outlined the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's support and welfare to foreign domestic helpers working in the city. Apart from sitting in committees of the conference, Mr Sun met the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Securitys senior officials and representatives of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the China Enterprise Confederation as part of the PRC delegation on the sidelines of the meetings to discuss various labour policies and labour relations issues. Mr Sun also called on Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the PRC to the United Nations Office at Geneva & Other International Organizations in Switzerland Chen Xu. They exchanged views on further deepening the exchange and co-operation between Hong Kong, China and the ILO. In addition, the labour chief had in-depth discussions with the Labour Advisory Board employee and employer members attending the conference on policy initiatives of mutual concern. Earlier, upon arrival in Geneva on June 8, Mr Sun toured the EHL Hospitality Business School's campus facilities in Lausanne and learnt more about its curriculum. He met EHL Group Chief Academic Officer Juan-Francisco Perellon and updated him on the recent strong rebound in Hong Kong's tourism and hotel industries, adding that the sector has a thirst for talent and Hong Kong welcomes professionals from around the world to come and pursue development via various talent admission schemes. Mr Sun will arrive back in Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. This story has been published on: 2023-06-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto speaks during a ceremony in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sept. 5, 2022. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) The Hungarian FM attributed the success of the flourishing Hungarian-Chinese relations to the Eastern Opening Policy of the Hungarian government, initiated 13 years ago. "This policy, this political strategy of ours, has become a huge success story." BUDAPEST, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation with China brings significant benefits to Hungary, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in a video message posted on his Facebook page here on Saturday. Hungary and China are strategic partners, Szijjarto said, adding that "We look at China as a country with which cooperation can bring a lot of benefits." According to the chief diplomat, in 2020, Chinese investors brought the highest amount of investments to Hungary, and this year is set to be the second year with such substantial investments. Szijjarto appreciated that Hungary has been invited as a guest of honor at the 2023 World Power Battery Conference, being held between June 8 and 11 in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province. A Geely's Geometry C electric car is seen on display before the signing ceremony in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 4, 2022. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) He pointed out that Hungary has become a hub for Eastern and Western investors, stating, "We are one of the three countries of the world, together with China and Germany, which host the factories of the three premium German car-making companies, who have all located the heart of their electromobility strategy to Hungary." The battery suppliers for these manufacturers are Chinese companies, he said, noting that it was a "great honor" to announce the investments of CATL and EVE Energy in Hungary and the investment of another top-ten electric vehicle battery manufacturing company will also be announced soon. In mid-May, the local media reported that the Chinese company Sunwoda, one of the world's top ten battery manufacturers, is planning to build a battery factory in Hungary targeting the European market. A building of BYD electric bus factory is seen in the northern Hungarian city of Komarom, on April 4, 2017 (Xinhua/Attila Volgyi) Szijjarto highlighted that Hungary ranks fourth globally in electric vehicle battery production, and with the completion of these investments, the country will move up to second place. He also mentioned that electric vehicle batteries have become Hungary's number one export product over the past 1-1.5 years. The Hungarian FM attributed the success of the flourishing Hungarian-Chinese relations to the Eastern Opening Policy of the Hungarian government, initiated 13 years ago. "This policy, this political strategy of ours, has become a huge success story." The Owasso Reporter was recognized at the Oklahoma Press Associations 2023 convention over the weekend. Owasso Reporter Editor Art Haddaway received two awards for journalism excellence at the annual event, held June 9-10 at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee. Haddaway took home first place for feature photo and third place for business story. His award-winning photo depicts a young girl embracing a memorial stone during the City of Owassos 2022 Veterans Appreciation Ceremony on Nov. 6. The judges commented on the picture: Great point of view and focus. Additionally, Haddaways story spotlights Kimberley Strunks passion for collecting and harvesting honey bee colonies, which has lent to a thriving operation, Skiatook Bee Supply, serving local communities such as Owasso and Collinsville. His work was submitted among 1,550 entries from 77 Oklahoma news publications, all judged by members of the Hoosier State Press Association, based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Haddaway has received 21 individual awards from OPA since starting at the Owasso Reporter in January 2016. The newspaper has also received an additional 26 awards, including two Sequoyah Awards the highest honor in the yearly contest during his tenure. Susan Ellerbach Susan Ellerbach, former executive editor of the Tulsa World, was also honored at OPAs convention, receiving the prestigious H. Milt Phillips Award. Ellerbach earned a journalism degree from the University of Kansas before working at a group of Kansas newspapers, followed by the Tahlequah Daily Press and Tahlequah American. In 1985, she joined the Tulsa World as a business reporter where she covered everything from real estate to politics. A decade later, she was named managing editor. She then made Tulsa World history when she was the first woman to be promoted to executive editor in 2014 where she remained until her retirement in 2020. Ellerbach was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Woman of the Year Pinnacle Award from the City of Tulsa in 2014. More recently in 2018, she was named a Tulsa Press Club Media Icon. Skiatook Journal staff writer Art Haddaway was recognized at the Oklahoma Press Associations 2023 convention over the weekend. Haddaway received third place for business story at the annual event, held June 9-10 at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee. His award-winning article spotlights Kimberley Strunks passion for collecting and harvesting honey bee colonies, which has lent to a thriving operation, Skiatook Bee Supply, serving her hometown and other local communities. His work was submitted among 1,550 entries from 77 Oklahoma news publications, all judged by members of the Hoosier State Press Association, based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. The Skiatook Journal was also named a recipient of the OPA Perfecta Award, which honors newspapers that achieve 100% accuracy on advertising orders from Oklahoma Press Service in the calendar year. Susan EllerbachSusan Ellerbach, former executive editor of the Tulsa World, was also honored at OPAs convention, receiving the prestigious H. Milt Phillips Award. Ellerbach earned a journalism degree from the University of Kansas before working at a group of Kansas newspapers, followed by the Tahlequah Daily Press and Tahlequah American. In 1985, she joined the Tulsa World as a business reporter where she covered everything from real estate to politics. A decade later, she was named managing editor. She then made Tulsa World history when she was the first woman to be promoted to executive editor in 2014 where she remained until her retirement in 2020. Ellerbach was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Woman of the Year Pinnacle Award from the City of Tulsa in 2014. More recently in 2018, she was named a Tulsa Press Club Media Icon. Over the last five years, Kia Sweathomas has watched bikers make the climb up the infamous Cry Baby Hill on the last day of Tulsa Tough as a referee. With its limitless drinking, half-nude party goers, babydoll heads and beer-chugging racers, Sweathomas said there is no camaraderie and support quite like what is found up that hill. However this year, the crowd not only supported Tulsa Tough racers as they battled the hill. It also acknowledged legislation recently targeting the LGBTQ+ community by deeming its official 2023 theme as Drag Show. Trekking up the steep hill located just southwest of downtown Tulsa near Interstate 244 and the Arkansas River in platform heels and showing off extravagant makeup, spectators donned outfits paying homage to drag at Tulsas party of the year. June Ricks, who performed with her band Bronco Henryetta Sunday afternoon, said after coming to Cry Baby Hill for years, shes seen the space grow and always be a welcoming environment. Ricks said seeing people support the LGBTQ+ community, more specifically the transgender and nonbinary community, Sunday was truly beautiful after they were targeted by recent legislation. By dressing in drag, its an act of rebellion and an act of solidarity with your trans and gender nonconforming siblings, she said. Its really powerful and really beautiful to see today. Conservative lawmakers across the country introduced drag performance bans this legislative session, including in Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. Oklahomas ban never made it to the floor but Tennessees law passed in February, banning adult cabaret performances in the presence of minors. A federal judge deemed the law unconstitutional on June 3. Over 41 states introduced legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, with over 75 bills signed into law, doubling last years number. On Wednesday, the Human Rights Campaign issued a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. for the first time in the organizations 40-year history. Oklahoma saw its fair share of LGBTQ+ targeted legislation this session. Gov. Kevin Stitt enacted restrictions on gender-confirming health care for minors, which he pushed for last year after he barred OU Health from offering certain gender-confirming care. However, the law, Senate Bill 613, currently is not enforced as several lawsuits have emerged following the passage of the legislation. Ricks told the Tulsa World Sunday that the drag bans and other targeted legislation is extremely personal to her, and its important for events with Cry Baby Hill to show support and fight for the rights of all people. To me, as a trans woman, the drag laws arent about going after drag shows. Nobody is threatened by private events or private clubs, Ricks said. Drag show bans are about creating a legal framework to erase my existence. Were here, were members of your community and youre members of ours. Ricks said Tulsa was her home, and she has no plans on leaving. The Tulsa community, such as at Cry Baby Hill, has shown her support, and she said shes going to keep pushing for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. On the other side of the hill, Brad Coffey and his friends drank beer and cheered on Sundays racers. Coffey, who wore a blue sundress and hoop earrings said when Cry Baby Hill names a theme, you follow it. He said supporting a community, even in a small way at the race, was important. Nearby Coffey, Shelby Reed stood under a tree alongside her friends who joyfully shook cowbells as the racers made the turn up Cry Baby Hill. Reed has been attending Cry Baby Hill for 10 years, and she said shes watched first-hand the party grow more and more every year. She said this year, she saw the community come through and support the event in new ways. Reed, showing off rainbow earrings and makeup, said the city of Tulsa wants to support the LGBTQ+ community and Cry Baby Hill showed just that. While we may be a very close-minded state, Tulsa is a very forward-thinking city, Reed said. We are wanting to change, have an open mind and an open area for a great community that wants to build upon itself. Sundays party started early in the morning and continued well into the afternoon with live performances, food trucks and plenty of beer. Sweathomas, who watched as a male racer poured beer down his race, said Cry Baby Hill is about support and community. She said this years theme was focusing on discussion across the country and locally, one that needed to be had. If you cant have the discussion over bikes and beer, when can you have it? Sweathomas said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Photos: Thousands come out for Tulsa Tough's Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Tulsa Tough Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill Cry Baby Hill First Oklahoma Bank proudly announces Eric Proctor has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Director of Colorado Division. Erics unwavering commitment to our community, combined with his extensive knowledge and experience in both public service and banking, make him an invaluable asset, said Tom Bennett III, President and CEO of First Oklahoma Bank. We are confident that Eric will continue to make a significant impact in his new role, as he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to our clients and community. Eric is devoted to ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. He draws inspiration from his parents, two Oklahoma public school educators who both worked second jobs. They instilled in him the values of empathy, hard work, hope, mercy, and grace. These values molded his character, which he exemplified while teaching at-risk students at an alternative public high school. In 2005, at the age of 22, he launched his campaign for the state legislature, ultimately defeating the incumbent candidate. Voters re-elected him five times. As a lawmaker, Eric championed vital issues including education funding, child hunger, utility company accountability, support for veterans and children of fallen veterans, medical marijuana, Medicaid expansion, autism insurance coverage, equal pay, living wages, and workers rights. In addition to his legislative accomplishments, Eric has worked as a commercial lender for over a decade at First Oklahoma Bank. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, a graduate degree from the Stonier School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of theWharton Schools Leadership Program. To submit an announcement in Business People, which highlights new hires and promotions, call the Tulsa World Advertising Department at 918-581-8510. OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt is touting a new law that bars the state from contracting with banks deemed hostile to the oil and natural gas industries at the same time he is trying to recruit renewable energy projects to Oklahoma. Stitt has said hes glad the new law will keep financial firms from pushing their political agendas with state pension fund dollars. But the governor has also been leading the charge to bring a solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing facility and an electric vehicle battery plant to Oklahoma by dangling taxpayer-funded incentives in front of two multinational companies that take pride in their eco-conscious policies. A Democratic state senator said Stitts behavior is hypocritical, but the governor said theres no connection between the new law and his business recruitment efforts. State Treasurer Todd Russ has blacklisted 13 financial firms as a result of Oklahomas Energy Discrimination Elimination Act, which bars state contracts and investments with banks that boycott oil and gas firms. BlackRock, Wells Fargo and Co., JPMorgan Chase and Co., and Bank of America Corp. are among the blacklisted companies, although some of them deny the allegation that they boycott fossil fuels. We feel that the banks that were on that list can make a very strong argument for why they shouldnt be on that list, said Oklahoma Bankers Association President and CEO Adrian Beverage. Russ office will reevaluate the list every 90 days. Stitt has praised the new law and taken steps to sever ties with some of the financial firms in question. As the chairman of the Commissioners of the Land Office a state agency that oversees a $2.5 billion real estate and investment portfolio to support public education Stitt on Wednesday moved for the commission to end its financial management contracts with BlackRock and JP Morgan Asset Management. Were trying to get their attention that theyre not going to use our funds to attack some of our industries our oil and gas industry, specifically, Stitt said. Most, if not all, of the states retirement systems currently work with some of the blacklisted companies. The governor was on the front lines of business recruitment efforts that led international green energy company Enel North America to decide to build a solar panel manufacturing facility at the Tulsa Port of Inola. For more than a year, Stitt and other state officials have tried to entice Panasonic to build a massive electric vehicle battery plant in Pryor. Enel says it is fully committed to the fight against climate change and touts its environmental, social and governance rankings. Panasonic has pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions as part of its environmental and sustainability policies. Conservative backlash against corporate ESG policies are at the heart of Oklahomas Energy Discrimination Elimination Act. Through such policies, companies pledge, among other things, to consider the environmental impact of fossil fuels when making business decisions. Most major companies, including oil and gas businesses, have adopted ESG policies. Stitt said comparing the Energy Discrimination Elimination Act to efforts to lure renewable energy businesses to Oklahoma is like comparing apples and oranges. The governor said he welcomes all companies to Oklahoma, noting his preference for an all-the-above approach to energy. Stitt said hed welcome BlackRock if the blacklisted company wanted to move its headquarters to Oklahoma. Were not against it if youre going to use your own dollars and invest in ESG, Stitt said. Just dont make that a priority with our pension funds. Thats all were saying. Enel and Panasonic combined could qualify for more than $800 million in taxpayer-funded economic development incentives from the state, meaning some public dollars could flow to the private companies. Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, said the state treasurer is tone policing financial firms under the new law, which gives him some latitude to determine what constitutes a boycott of fossil fuels. The treasurer is in charge of the tone policing, and then you have a governor thats ignoring that when hes trying to snag a deal, she said. Boren said she thinks the Energy Discrimination Elimination Act could hurt Oklahomas economic development efforts. Culture wars-style laws signaling Oklahomas commitment to oil and natural gas could undermine the states ability to partner with renewable energy companies, she said. Its hard to take seriously claims that Oklahoma is committed to diversifying our energy economy while, at the same time, picking winners and losers when it comes to investment portfolios, Boren said. Fossil fuels 'boycott' law could cost Oklahoma retirement fund $9.7M About 64% of the roughly $10 billion invested through OPERS is held in funds controlled by financial firms that have been blacklisted by the state Treasurer's Office. When it comes to economic development, the state isnt prioritizing any one energy source over another, said Oklahoma Department of Commerce spokeswoman Becky Samples. But the agency has found some success in targeting businesses in specific energy sectors, she said. As the renewable energy sector continues to grow, we want to communicate to businesses and to the world that we are open for business, Samples said. She did not respond to a question about whether the Energy Discrimination Elimination Act could impact economic development efforts. Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, who wrote the 2022 law, which closely resembles laws passed in other red states, said hes likely to tweak the measure next year because he never intended for the act to apply to cities, counties or other localities. Stillwater will have to select a new money lender for a $13.5 million infrastructure project because the city cant work with Bank of America now that the company has been blacklisted, Mayor Will Joyce told The Oklahoman. McBride said theres a broader conversation to be had about economic development incentives for companies with ESG policies. But he praised the states recent deal with Enel and said he wants Oklahoma to be an energy hub home to experts in oil, gas, wind, hydrogen and solar power. I dont want people to leave here and not do business in Oklahoma, he said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. 113 years ago today, Oklahoma voters approved Oklahoma City as the new capital. At the stroke of midnight on June 12, 1910, then-Oklahoma Gov. Charles N. Haskell signed a document declaring the capital of the 2-year-old state was now in Oklahoma City, and the state seal was whisked out of Guthrie for a "wild 30-mile automobile ride" to the new capital. The action came slightly more than 24 hours after Haskell had ordered the state militia to arrest Logan County Sheriff J.W. Mahoney, disarm him and throw him in jail because Mahoney had posted guards in an attempt to prevent the removal of the capital from Guthrie. "I have simply done my duty," Haskell was quoted in the June 14, 1910, Tulsa World. "The capital is now in Oklahoma City." While the state's voters voted on a capitol city, there was no Capitol to house the state government at the time, and it had to be lodged in the Huckins Hotel. Opponents, including the Tulsa World, cried foul, claiming the capital was stolen from Guthrie. The World's story about the move said a pledge repeated "in every speech and in its own and hired newspapers" in Oklahoma City was that no attempt would be made to move the government until after 1913 and a suitable Capitol would be ready. "This is the first repudiation of plighted word," the World said and warned, "Watch for the next." On the state's 95th birthday in 2002, officials dedicated Oklahomas Capitol dome. Take a look back at the state Capitol through the years Senior U.S. District Judge Terence Kern announced last week that he plans to retire from the federal bench by the end of the year. Kern, 78, has been a federal judge in the Tulsa-based U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma since 1994. Kern said in an interview with the Tulsa World that he had planned to retire earlier, say around the age of 75, but then the U.S. Supreme Courts McGirt ruling and other issues cropped up. I have tried to time my retirement with the appointment of critically needed new judges, and it is my understanding that thanks to Sens. (James) Lankford and (Markwayne) Mullin the process is well underway to fill our two vacancies, Kern said in a written statement. These new judges are greatly needed to help our excellent district judges and magistrate judges deal with the largest criminal caseload in our courts history, Kern said. Both the Tulsa- and Muskogee-based federal courts have been swamped with criminal cases since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020 ruled that the Muscogee Nation reservation had never been disestablished by Congress. The decision and similar rulings by a state appellate court, which added other northeastern Oklahoma tribes reservations to the still exist list, threw hundreds of criminal cases into jurisdictional limbo as the state of Oklahoma, area tribes and federal prosecutors worked out who they could and could not try in light of the McGirt ruling. I dont have any quarrel with the decision itself, Kern said. My quarrel would be we havent been able to come to some sort of agreement where either the state tries a lot of these criminal cases or the tribes really beef up their ability to try the smaller criminal cases. The Ponca City native thanked the many wonderful law clerks and legal assistants for their hard work, commitment, service and sacrifice during his tenure. Kern said he was most proud that he has tried numerous civil and criminal cases over the years, three of which were affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, including his 2014 opinion that struck down as unconstitutional the state of Oklahomas ban on same-sex marriage. Kern said his most memorable trial occurred in 1999 and involved all four of the billionaire Koch brothers. Two of the brothers were pitted against the other two in a case involving allegations of oil theft from federal and Indian lands, according to Kern and Tulsa World archives. The case took three months to try with over 250 witnesses and would have resulted in damages of $500 million, but settled after the verdict, Kern recalled. Former President Bill Clinton nominated Kern in 1994 at the recommendation of then-U.S. Sen. David Boren to fill one of two open federal judgeships at the time in northeastern Oklahoma. Kern had practiced law in Ardmore for 24 years at the time, he said. Kern was later confirmed for the position by the U.S. Senate by a 93-0 vote. Since taking the bench, Kern has served as a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Security and Facilities, a member of the Committee on Space and Facilities and chair of the Tenth Circuit Space and Facilities Committee. He served as chief judge of the Northern District of Oklahoma from 1996 to 2003. Kern served as president of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation in 1991. He was also president of American Inns of Court, Johnson/Sontag Chapter in 2008 and was a member and fellow of Tulsa County Bar as well as on the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Board of Directors. Other recognitions include Hall of Fame Inductee of Beta Theta Pi, Gamma Lambda Chapter in 2000; Leadership Legacy Award from Oklahoma State University in 2001; OSU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001; Judge of the Year in 2007 from the Oklahoma Gang Investigators Association; Lion of the Bar Award from the American Inns of Court, Council Oak-Johnson/Sontag Chapter in 2013; Judge of the Year Award from the Oklahoma Association of Justice in 2014; Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame in 2017 and the American Board of Trial Advocates Judge of the Year in 2020. Kern said he planned to travel more with his wife, Jeanette, after he retires by either Dec. 31 or earlier if conditions warrant. Ive had a great career and lots of interesting cases and some which had some national significance, so thats good, Kern said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. After 116 years, the donkey has kicked the rooster off its perch atop the Democratic ballot in Oklahoma. Last Sunday, the Oklahoma Democratic Party Convention voted, without much opposition, to replace the rooster that has represented the party on Oklahoma ballots since statehood and territorial ones before that, with the more familiar donkey, which traces its origins as a party symbol to 1828. For generations, stamping the rooster meant voting Democrat in Oklahoma, and in other states where the symbol was and is still used. It originated with an 1840 Indiana state House of Representatives race in which the Democratic candidate was encouraged to crow like a rooster about the partys goals and achievements. But state party Chairwoman Alicia Andrews, who was elected to a third two-year term at the convention, said some Democrats thought a change was in order. As Ive traveled across the state, Democrats have told me they dont like the rooster, Andrews said last week. Some think the rooster is racist. Racist rooster? Turns out, the rooster symbol does have racist connections. Originally, the rooster just meant being proud and loud. In 1904, however, the Alabama Democratic Party adopted an emblem featuring the bird with the banner White Supremacy unfurled above it. According to some sources, the emblem celebrated a new state constitution that effectively disenfranchised Blacks. The White Supremacy motto remained on the Alabama emblem until 1966. Segregation split the Democratic Party nationally and in Oklahoma after World War II and contributed to a major party realignment. Donkeys and Democrats first made common cause in 1828, when opponents of Andrew Jackson referred to him as A. Jackass. Rather than protest, Jackson began using images of donkeys in his campaign material. An 1837 lithograph depicts Jackson riding a donkey that is refusing to go where he wants. When Jackson faded from the scene, so did the donkey which created an opening for the rooster. Then, in 1870, cartoonist Thomas Nast revived the donkey to represent the Copperheads, a faction of northern Democrats who had opposed the Civil War. Soon the donkey came to represent the entire party. Nast also popularized the elephant as a Republican symbol, most famously in an 1874 cartoon in which the Democratic Party is actually a fox. But pachydermic portrayals of the GOP, founded in 1854, originated during the Civil War a decade earlier. Why Oklahoma Republicans chose an eagle with wings spread instead of an elephant for their ballot symbol more than a century ago is unclear. A mild controversy arose in the 1990s when Ross Perots Reform Party chose an eagles head as its symbol. The only statutory restrictions on ballot symbols are that they not include the coat of arms or seal of Oklahoma or of the United States, or the respective flags thereof. No one stood up in the roosters defense at the convention, although the bull moose and the fighting kestrel had some support. Andrews acknowledged the switch is perhaps more whimsical than anything else, but said thats OK. Some people said, Why is this even on the agenda?, but we need some of these lighter issues, she said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are not exactly two peas in a pod, but in policy and governing style they're close to it. So if Oklahoma Republicans like Stitt, they'll like DeSantis. That seemed to be the message Saturday afternoon as DeSantis brought his 2024 presidential campaign to a small but packed event venue in far east Tulsa. In introducing DeSantis, Stitt went through a checklist of similarities between their administrations and declared himself "officially, 100%, endorsing Ron DeSantis." Stitt is the first governor to endorse DeSantis. DeSantis own list of achieved gubernatorial objectives, covered during a roughly 20-minute speech to several hundred sweating supporters and prospects at the F&E Creek Event Center, 18280 E. 11th St., sounded remarkably similar. School choice. No mask mandates or shut-downs for COVID-19. No DEI or ESG. No "transgender ideology." Absolutely nothing "woke." Strict abortion laws. "Liberal" judges ousted. "Conservative polices work," DeSantis said. "Oklahoma is a great example of that. Gov. Stitt can put points on the board as any governor in the country." DeSantis gave "wokeness" quite a bit of attention. "We are declaring war on woke ideology, because woke ideology represents a war on truth," DeSantis said. Of course, one person's truth is another's lie, and DeSantis never really defined what he meant by "woke," but his crowd got the message. Anything that challenged individual freedom, or what Stitt referred to as "traditional family values," was not to be tolerated. "I was one of the few governors in the country who refused to do a mask mandate (because of COVID-19)," Stitt said in his introduction of DeSantis. "Guess who the other governor was? Ron DeSantis. "We held the line during COVID when freedom itself hung in the balance," DeSantis said. "I refused to let my state descend into some kind of Faucian dystopia where people's livelihoods were destroyed. We chose freedom over Faucianism." The reference to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government's top epidemiologists, raised the issue of whether the policies pursued by DeSantis and Stitt, which to a large degree ignored the advice of Fauci and other medical experts, turned out to be the correct ones. DeSantis seems to think they were or that enough voters believe they were. "We will usher in a reckoning of the federal government's disastrous COVID-19 lockdown policies," DeSantis said later in his speech. "The lockdowns, the mandates, the Fauciism. Those policies were destructive. Those polices were wrong. We're going to hold agencies accountable for their failures because we should never have let this happen to our country." Attempts to direct policy through such things as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion DEI and Environmental, Social and Governance ESG must be stopped. DEI and ESG, DeSantis said, are based on lies, and his administration is and would be rooted in truth an assertion disputed by many who do not fit the demographic profile of Saturday's crowd. But it played well with those who were there, which is really what matters for a candidate to trying to take out a frontrunner former President Donald Trump with a 30-point lead in national polling. DeSantis said he plans to be back in Oklahoma several times "in a cooler venue," he promised before next year's primary. And he has some allies in the state. Besides Stitt, former 1st District Congressman Jim Bridenstine, a fellow Navy veteran elected to the U.S. House of Representatives the same year as DeSantis, spoke on the Florida governor's behalf. Several legislators, including Rep. Terry O'Donnell, R-Catoosa, and Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Broken Arrow, attended and sat near the front of the house. "Oklahoma," said Stitt, "loves Ron DeSantis." The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has postponed his official visit to Vietnam scheduled to take place from Sunday to Tuesday, due to major forest fires in the Abay region of this Central Asian country, said the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday evening. The ministry cited the state leader of Kazakhstan as saying that he hoped to pay the visit, made at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Van Thuong, at another proper time. Kazakh media reported that the fires broke out on Thursday in the Batpayevsky forest in the Abay region, located in eastern Kazakhstan, citing lightning strikes as the reason. AFP cited the countrys Emergency Situations Ministry as confirming that the fires killed at least 14 people and ravaged 60,000 hectares of land as of Sunday. More than 1,000 people, at least 47 vehicles and three helicopters have joined the effort to cope with the disaster, AFP reported. Also, around 800 people will be evacuated to nine evacuation centers in Semey, a city in eastern Kazakhstan. The Kazakh president was set to visit the Abay region to chair an emergency meeting there. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is the second president of Kazakhstan. He had served as acting president of the country for a short period of time. He was elected president of Kazakhstan in June 2019. Before becoming the nations president, he served as minister of foreign affairs, chairman of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament, and director-general of the UN Office in Geneva, among others. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A man died while two others are in critical condition after drinking alcohol bought two months ago to make vinegar in Ca Mau Province, southern Vietnam, local authorities said on Saturday. They were suspected of suffering alcohol poisoning, according to the Peoples Committee of Thanh Tung Commune in Dam Doi District, Ca Mau. On Tuesday last week, T.D., 69, K.V.T., 53, and K.X.N., 50, drank one liter of alcohol that N.s family bought two months ago to make vinegar. D. developed symptoms of fatigue and sleeping soundly on Friday last week, so his family took him to the General Hospital in Cai Nuoc District, Ca Mau. Doctors at the hospital concluded that he had died upon arrival. N. and T. also suffered from fatigue, so their family members rushed them to the Ca Mau General Hospital. A hospital representative said the two are in critical condition and are being treated in the intensive care unit. N. suffers acute kidney injury and is undergoing intensive dialysis. T. also needs dialysis, said Dr. Ma Nhon Khiem, head of the Ca Mau General Hospitals Department of Intensive Care and Poisoning Control. The hospital has admitted some 10 cases of severe alcohol poisoning since early this year and many of them have died. If those drinking alcohol develop symptoms of blurred vision or one of their drinking companions shows alcohol poisoning signs, they should be hospitalized immediately, Khiem advised. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Sixteen suspects had been seized as of 4:30 pm on Sunday for their alleged involvement in an armed group attack that killed and injured several police officers as well as local residents earlier in the day in Vietnams Central Highlands region, confirmed a police official. According to Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, the police and relevant forces in Dak Lak Province are hunting for the remaining suspects, who were among dozens of armed people that gunned down a number of police officers and locals at two police stations in Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur Communes of Cu Kuin District. The forces also rescued two of the three local people held hostage in the fatal armed attack, while the third managed to escape from the armed attackers on his own. Earlier in the day, on being notified of the attack, the ministry directed the provincial police and relevant units to take urgent measures to seize the armed group, while calling on locals in Cu Kuin and neighboring localities to stay calm and follow the instructions of authorities. Xo added that those who have information on the armed group should contact the nearest police station. The police and military forces cordon off the scene of a fatal armed group attack against local police stations in Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands region, June 11, 2023. Photo: T.X. / Tuoi Tre The scene of a fatal armed group attack against the police station of Ea Tieu Commune in Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province, June 11, 2023. Photo: CANDO A map detailing the location of the fatal armed group attack in Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands region, June 11, 2023. Photo: Ngoc Thanh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Work on four major expressway projects in southern Vietnam, namely Beltway No. 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, and Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang, will start next weekend, according to a Government Office announcement recently sent to the Ministry of Transport and relevant localities. The administration of An Giang Province was told to host the groundbreaking ceremony of the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway on June 17 in a hybrid format, with the participation of the prime minister. The Government Office also cited the prime minister as saying that work on the remaining three projects will begin concurrently on June 18, during which the prime minister will attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, while Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will join the ceremony in neighboring Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The transport ministry, the administrations of Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dak Lak, and other localities in charge of the development of the projects were asked to closely work together to organize the ceremonies in a safe, formal, and cost-efficient manner. Last Tuesday, the transport ministry wrote to the prime minister, proposing that work on the four projects should be held on June 18 in a hybrid format in the four locations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The police in Dak Lak Province of Vietnams Central Highlands region and relevant units are hunting for dozens of armed people who gunned down several police officers and local residents on Sunday morning. Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, on the same day cited a police report as confirming that this armed group, yet to be identified, attacked the police headquarters of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur Communes in Cu Kuin District. The ministry directed the provincial police to take urgent measures to seize the armed group, while calling on locals in Cu Kuin and neighboring localities to stay calm and follow the instructions of authorities. Those who have information on the armed group should contact the nearest police station, Xo underlined. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tourism authorities in Quang Nam Province and the cities of Hue and Da Nang in central Vietnam have joined in a seminar in Da Nang to discuss how to attract more visitors from Muslim countries, a potential market for local travel operators. The seminar was conducted at Furama Resort Da Nang on Saturday by Quang Nam-headquartered Indochina Unique Tourist Co. Ltd. in collaboration with some tourism associations, in the context that the number of foreign visitors coming back to central localities has been very low in recent times. The event was aimed at creating tourism chains with a specific ecology intended for Muslims to attract more of them to central Vietnam, as a measure to improve the tourism picture in the central region, the organizer said. The Muslim tourism markets in the world are particularly large and are growing vigorously, Nguyen Son Thuy, director of the company, told the seminar. Currently, the total population of Muslims in the world amounts to 1.8 billion people, including 255 million people in ASEAN countries, Thuy added. The early reopening of direct flight routes to link Da Nang and Singapore, Malaysia and India has created favorable conditions for more tourists from Muslim countries to visit the city. In general, the arrivals of Muslim visitors in Vietnam have been on the rise, but more investment and attention should be made to create more specific tourist products and services for Muslim travelers in major tourist hubs of the country, Thuy suggested. Travel operators should target more Muslim visitors to make up for the low number of foreign visitors coming back to central localities, Nguyen Xuan Binh, deputy director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, suggested. Marina Muhamad, director of the Muslim tourism development center in Vietnam, said that Muslims often come to countries where they can experience activities and services in line with their beliefs. About 850,000 tourists from Malaysia came to Vietnam in 2018 alone, Ramlan Osman, director of the Halal Food Certification Center in Vietnam, said, adding this proves that Vietnam is a favorite destination for Muslim tourists. Vietnam is home to many items suitable for Muslims such as coffee, rice, seafood, nuts, vegetables, and fruits, among other, Osman stated. In order to have good access to such visitors, the most important thing is to increase the understanding of Muslims among those engaged in tourist operations in the central region and to provide Muslim travelers with suitable specific products and services, the director said. Five years ago, when I went to Ho Chi Minh City, there were about 10 restaurants for Muslims there, while in Da Nang, there were about five. Currently, the figures may increase but are still limited, he said. Wherever Muslim travelers go, what they care most about are still food and cuisine, Osman stressed, pointing out that the abundance of seafood in Vietnam is a great advantage to lure Muslims. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam said on Saturday that they had apprehended a local man for causing his niblings death with abusive behaviors such as confinement and starvation. Officers are investigating Nguyen Xuan Tan, 27, living in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province for his act of unlawful detention, according to police. On June 4, Bai Chay Hospital reported to the police station of Ha Long City regarding the case of Tans 13-year-old nibling N.T.A., who was admitted to the hospital in a state of cardiac arrest. Despite medical interventions, A. did not survive. The subsequent police investigation revealed that A., accompanied by their grandmother who is also Tans mother, had traveled from their hometown in northern Thai Binh Province to Tans residence in mid-May to spend the summer there. During A.s stay, Tan suspected that A. stole money and a cellphone from his friend. Tan resorted to tying the childs hands with a rope to the window bars of his house and used a tree branch to strike the childs leg, while also depriving him of food, ultimately resulting in the demise of the victim. After gathering the necessary documents, the police station of Ha Long City temporarily detained Tan and proceeded the case in accordance with the relevant regulations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Debian is een opensource-besturingssysteem, dat zowel voor desktops als servers gebruikt kan worden en waarbij de nadruk op stabiliteit en veiligheid ligt. Het wordt dan ook als basis voor diverse Linux-distributies gebruikt, waaronder Ubuntu en Linux Mint. Versie 12, die als codenaam ' Bookworm ' meegekregen heeft, zal de komende vijf jaar van updates worden voorzien. Verleden jaar is het Social Contract van Debian gewijzigd, waardoor de installer nu voor het eerst ook software bevat die niet volledig vrij en opensource is, zoals drivers en firmwareimages. De releasenotes voor deze uitgave zijn hieronder te vinden: After 1 year, 9 months, and 28 days of development, the Debian project is proud to present its new stable version 12 (code name bookworm ). bookworm will be supported for the next 5 years thanks to the combined work of the Debian Security team and the Debian Long Term Support team. Following the 2022 General Resolution about non-free firmware , we have introduced a new archive area making it possible to separate non-free firmware from the other non-free packages: bookworm Gnome 43, KDE Plasma 5.27, LXDE 11, LXQt 1.2.0, MATE 1.26, Xfce 4.18 This release contains over 11,089 new packages for a total count of 64,419 packages, while over 6,296 packages have been removed as obsolete . 43,254 packages were updated in this release. The overall disk usage for bookworm is 365,016,420 kB (365 GB), and is made up of 1,341,564,204 lines of code. bookworm has more translated man pages than ever thanks to our translators who have made man-pages available in multiple languages such as: Czech, Danish, Greek, Finnish, Indonesian, Macedonian, Norwegian (Bokmal), Russian, Serbian, Swedish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. All of the systemd man pages are now completely available in German. The Debian Med Blend introduces a new package: shiny-server which simplifies scientific web applications using R. We have kept to our efforts of providing Continuous Integration support for Debian Med team packages. Install the metapackages at version 3.8.x for Debian bookworm. The Debian Astro Blend continues to provide a one-stop solution for professional astronomers, enthusiasts, and hobbyists with updates to almost all versions of the software packages in the blend. astap and planetary-system-stacker help with image stacking and astrometry resolution. openvlbi, the open source correlator, is now included. Support for Secure Boot on ARM64 has been reintroduced: users of UEFI-capable ARM64 hardware can boot with Secure Boot mode enabled to take full advantage of the security feature. Debian 12 bookworm includes numerous updated software packages (over 67% of all packages from the previous release), such as: Apache 2.4.57 BIND DNS Server 9.18 Cryptsetup 2.6 Dovecot MTA 2.3.19 Emacs 28.2 Exim (default email server) 4.96 GIMP 2.10.34 GNU Compiler Collection 12.2 GnuPG 2.2.40 Inkscape 1.2.2 The GNU C Library 2.36 lighthttpd 1.4.69 LibreOffice 7.4 Linux kernel 6.1 series LLVM/Clang toolchain 13.0.1, 14.0 (default), and 15.0.6 MariaDB 10.11 Nginx 1.22 OpenJDK 17 OpenLDAP 2.5.13 OpenSSH 9.2p1 Perl 5.36 PHP 8.2 Postfix MTA 3.7 PostgreSQL 15 Python 3, 3.11.2 Rustc 1.63 Samba 4.17 systemd 252 Vim 9.0 With this broad selection of packages and its traditional wide architecture support, Debian once again stays true to its goal of being The Universal Operating System . It is suitable for many different use cases: from desktop systems to netbooks; from development servers to cluster systems; and for database, web, and storage servers. At the same time, additional quality assurance efforts like automatic installation and upgrade tests for all packages in Debian's archive ensure that bookworm fulfills the high expectations that users have of a stable Debian release. A total of nine architectures are officially supported for bookworm : PARIS A conference themed East Sea and the Sovereignty of Viet Nam was held in Paris on June 10, attracting the participation of many Vietnamese and foreign scholars. Vietnamese Ambassador to France inh Toan Thang said this event is of great significance for overseas Vietnamese, especially those living in Europe, showing their affection and attachment to their homeland and their concern with major national issues. Organised under the initiative of the Liaison Board of Overseas Vietnamese in Europe, the conference received 14 speeches from scholars, professors, doctors and researchers on Asia and the East Sea, as well as economists and educators from European countries such as Poland, Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Ukraine, and Canada, and Viet Nam. The presentations mentioned many points of view on the East Sea and Viet Nam's sovereignty over sea and islands, from the historical, cultural, political and legal perspectives. The situation in the East Sea, solutions to handle disputes, and options for marine economic development were also discussed at the event. History Professor Patrice Jorland, former president of the France-Viet Nam Friendship Association, told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Paris that Viet Nam has sovereignty in the East Sea, with historical evidence showing that the country has asserted sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes since the end of the 18th century, under the Nguyen Dynasty. The French professor also stressed that the parties concerned need to respect international law, and that ASEAN, of which Viet Nam is an active member, should strengthen solidarity, promote diplomatic efforts and negotiations, and avoid using force to settle disputes. Malgorzata Pietrasiak, a professor at the University of Lodz in Poland and an expert on Viet Nam, appreciated the country's method of handling issues at sea, which she called the term "Hedgingowa" (roughly translated as "risk prevention"). According to her, this is a wise, flexible and peaceful strategy, without tension, but also without concession. She said this method has affirmed the effectiveness of Viet Nam's diplomacy in international politics. VNS AK LAK A group of armed men launched an attack on the police headquarters of two communes in the Central Highland province of ak Lak on Sunday morning, with the number of deaths and injuries remaining unknown. Leaders of Cu Kuin Districts Party Committee told Vietnam News Agency that as of Sunday noon, the authorities have successfully apprehended six individuals involved in the firearms attack on the communal police headquarters and have rescued two hostages. Among the six arrested suspects, one was from Ayun Pa Town in Gia Lai Province; three were from Krong Buk District, and two were from Cu Mgar District in ak Lak Province. Earlier, on Sunday morning, Lieutenant General To An Xo, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, stated that according to the report from the provincial police of ak Lak, in the early morning of Sunday, an unidentified group of individuals carried out a firearms attack on the police headquarters in Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes. Currently, the Ministry of Public Security has directed the provincial police and other relevant units to apprehend the suspected individuals. The ministry has advised the residents of Cu Kuin District and nearby areas to remain calm, comply with the requirements of the local authorities and law enforcement agencies, and immediately provide information related to the suspects to the nearest police agency. VNS HCM CITY VinaCapital Foundations Heartbeat Vietnam programme has reached a remarkable milestone with the 10,000th successful heart operation for a 13-year-old boy with congenital heart disease from the Ba Na ethnic group in Binh inh Province. After 17 years of growth and building a good reputation among partners and donors, Heartbeat Vietnam has sponsored free heart surgeries for 10,000 children and provided post-operative care as well as family grants to help ease the financial burden for these families, said Don Lam, CEO and founding partner of VinaCapital and chair of the VinaCapital Foundation Board. With the invaluable support from our dedicated local partners, hospital together with doctors and nurses, and local and international donors, VinaCapital Foundation has been significantly contributing to the improvement and transformation of lives of the countrys most vulnerable," Lam said. VinaCapital Foundation is determined to strengthen our programme and move forward to reach out to more children and families, providing them better access to healthcare, better living conditions, and better lives overall, he said. There are 15,000 infants born with congenital heart defects a year in Viet Nam, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health. The cost of treatment is high and many patients come from disadvantaged families who cannot afford the treatment costs. Heartbeat Vietnam has provided 976 continuing care packages so that patients are able to visit the hospital for check-ups and follow-ups, 765 grants for families to have more resources to take care of their children, and 247 scholarships for students to maintain their education. VNS Tran Khanh An Measureless Melodies: Focus on Vietnam, a collection of Vietnamese poetry translated into English to honour the beauty of the Vietnamese language, has been published in Modern in Poetry Translation (MPT), a UK literary magazine. The special issue about Viet Nam includes translations spanning centuries of Vietnamese poems. MPT, based in Oxford, is a tri-annual poetry magazine that publishes poetry from all over the world in English translation. Founded in 1965 by Ted Hughes and Daniel Weissbort, it has consistently published the very best of world poetry in the very best translations and has introduced a number of renowned poets and iconic translations to the English-speaking world. It brings together the best new poetry, essays and reviews from around the world. The oldest name of poets appearing in the magazine is Ho Xuan Huong, who is considered the Queen of Nom poetry in Vietnamese classical literature in the 18th-19th century. The collection includes well-known poems from the twentieth-century movements of the Tho Moi (New Poetry Movement) and revolution poetry, including Han Mac Tu, Xuan Dieu, Che Lan Vien, and Luu Quang Vu. There are also contemporary poems to portray the inner self of modern Vietnamese in the 21st century, such as Hien Trang, Quyen Nguyen-Hoang, Nguyet Pham, Duong Quynh Anh, Dinh Thao, and Linh San. 'Measureless melodies Khairani Barokka, MPT editor in chief, shared why the magazine chose measureless melodies as the title for the issue focusing on Vietnamese poetry. In Quyen Nguyen-Hoangs translation of Han Mac Tu, there is mention of measureless melodies, which seems apt for Vietnamese as a tonal language of richness and complexity, she said. In her editorial for the print edition Barokka wrote: Reading poetry translated from Vietnamese languages is a thrill. There is an experimentation and fluidity that resembles weaving water and heaven, as Ho Xuan Huong writes in My Ngoc Tos translation, in a series of poems not to be missed in this issue. o Quyen and Camellia Phams translation in this edition, of Luu Quang Vus ode to the Vietnamese language, rouses a reverence for its continuance. Vu (1948-1988) was a celebrated playwright, poet, and essayist. His literary repertoire includes nearly fifty theatrical plays, three short stories, one collection of essays, and several books of poetry. He received many posthumous awards, including Viet Nams most prestigious honour for cultural achievements, the Ho Chi Minh Prize in Literature and Arts in 2000. In this MPT issue, his poem Tieng Viet (The Vietnamese Tongue), anthologised in Gio va tinh yeu thoi tren at nuoc toi (The Breeze of Love in My Country, 2010), was chosen by the editor. o Quyen and Camellia Pham translated it. In Vietnamese Tongue, Vu praised the richness and beauty of the Vietnamese language as well as expressing the language imbued with the beauty of the national soul. 'Like mud and like silk' With sincere poetry and richness, Vu expressed his love, pride and respect for the Vietnamese language. For him, the Vietnamese language is born in the working life of the people, and the language itself is one of the important factors creating the identity and cultural essence of the nation. Two of the finest lines in the work go thus: O the Vietnamese tongue is like mud and like silk / Shining as bamboo and soft as silkworms threads. With the analogy between the Vietnamese language and mud and silk, Vu discovered and generalised a profound combination of the Vietnamese language and even the Viet peoples characteristics and identity. For him, the Vietnamese tongue is not only simple and strong, but it is also soft, exquisite, and elegant. The poet used full simple and familiar features, strongly linked with Viet Nams image. A contemporary name appearing as poet and translator in the magazine is Hien Trang. Born in 1993 in Ha Noi, Trang is a Vietnamese novelist and essayist with six published books. Editor Barokka describes her as a melomaniac and a cinephile at heart, and her works explore the relationship between humans and the arts in a world where beauty is decaying. Vietnamese language is like water. Not structural and strict like English, Vietnamese grammar is loose and has flexibility and femininity, Trang said in the online launching of Measureless Melodies: Focus on Vietnam. The rich histories and affective modes of the Vietnamese literary consciousness, from the 20th century to our present moment, deepens readers understanding of Viet Nam as its own locus of meaning-making, instead of a peripheral margin perpetually shaped by Western assumptions and expectations of certain Vietnamese tropes, Quyen Nguyen-Hoang, a writer and art curator, wrote in the magazine. VNS Inner Sanctum: You have lived and worked in Germany for 50 years. Could you tell us about your educational journey and work experience there? In 1965, I received a German Academic Exchange Service scholarship to study German linguistics in Munich, then West Germany. It was initially challenging due to my limited fluency, but we received invaluable support from German teachers at the Goethe Institutes across the country. After two years, I graduated with a bachelor's degree and pursued philosophy at Ludwig Maximilian University. Fortunately, I received a university scholarship that funded my studies until I completed my doctoral thesis. Although the scholarship was modest, I still managed to support my family financially. However, studying at Munich University I also had some obstacles. My previous BA in philosophy from Viet Nam was not fully recognised, so I had to start over. The language used in philosophical studies posed a significant challenge, demanding patience and perseverance. I still remember the countless hours spent studying the works of Kant, Hegel, Heidegger, and the sweat poured from me, just like a farmer toiling in the fields. Inner Sanctum: As a Vietnamese living in Germany for so many decades, what challenges have you encountered in preserving your Vietnamese cultural identity? After more than five decades in Germany, I'm surprised I haven't fully assimilated like others. Despite integrating well, being abroad has made me aware of my unique identity. Strangers' gazes reflect my true self, revealing every aspect of my being. The fusion of Vietnamese culture with other cultural influences has established a firm foundation for me to comprehend and embrace these "distinct" qualities for myself. To sum it up, although I am often regarded as someone who upholds Vietnamese heritage, upon returning to Viet Nam, I perceive a remarkable difference within me, akin to possessing two contrasting faces. Inner Sanctum: Would you mind telling us about the founding of the "Lan Vien Co Tich", the Museum of Ancient Pottery? The establishment of the Museum of Ancient Pottery on the Perfume River was completed through various fortuitous circumstances. The collection of ancient pottery, initiated by my late brother, the renowned artist Thai Ba, and me, began in the 1980s. The unique beauty of the centuries-old buried pottery has captivated our interest ever since. The second fortuitous event occurred in 2018 when I returned from Germany to celebrate Tet [Lunar New Year festival] in Hue. It was then that I realised the cultural connection between my family and my homeland, which I had overlooked during my half a lifetime away from home, immersing myself in learning across continents. This realisation spurred me to establish a cultural venue to preserve our traditional heritage while modernising it. Inner Sanctum: Your book 'Coi i Ve' (Homeward Bound) has just been released. Could you tell us more about the content? The book is a collection of my writings from Tia Sang (Light) magazine. It is a blend of old wine in a new bottle, and I am delighted that artist Le Thiet Cuong has designed a beautifully refined cover that resonates with his "minimalist" interpretation of the book's content. He aptly stated that Coi i Ve represents a return to cultural roots. Homesickness is not just longing for home, it is a yearning for the cradle of our cultural origin in the homeland. It is true. The essence I want to convey is the cradle of culture in which each person is nurtured from birth and longs to return to, while also creating their own cradles during every journey. The second aspect may be the attitude or circumstances of the writer. As an outsider without belonging to any group within the country, I maintain a natural sense of independence in my writing and I am not influenced by external pressures. From my perspective, I aim to provide a different perspective and writing style, as a personal and free experiment. Inner Sanctum: Why do many people perceive philosophy as dry and inaccessible? The field of philosophy has long been regarded as dry and difficult to approach. Even during my school years, this perspective was reinforced by the absence of philosophy as a general subject in high school or university curricula. However, it is surprising that young people today are tending to show an interest in philosophy and exploring it to gain a profound understanding of the foundational structure of thought. This understanding of the structure of human thought in today's society has become a necessity for an academic field with depth. I am more optimistic than pessimistic. Human knowledge cannot be considered perfect without a philosophical understanding, which can be viewed as the foundation of culture. After all, isn't philosophy understood as the love of truth? Inner Sanctum: Do you have any suggestions for increasing the popularity of philosophy and helping people gain a better understanding of its value? For over 20 years, my proposal has been to introduce the teaching of philosophy in high schools and universities in Viet Nam with a more flexible and modern textbook approach. Of course, basic subjects such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and psychology need to be practised. Bringing philosophy into the teaching curriculum is not something I can do as an outsider. However, under certain conditions, I really hope that cultural centres like the Museum of Ancient Pottery will be a place for young generations to meet and engage in philosophical dialogue. That is my dream. Inner Sanctum: What advice do you have for young people who aspire to become researchers in philosophy and culture? Do it for the love of truth! It is the most thrilling love in a person's life. Nearly 10 years ago, a group of young friends started a business in men's traditional ao dai [long dress] fashion from the Nguyen era, but they faced criticism. I advised them to stay strong because beauty is not only for women but also for men in terms of fashion. Beauty is like the manifestation of truth. Now, that young group has achieved remarkable success. The philosophers who are close to the truth will find true happiness. VNS Emerging global challenges require a response if FDI volumes are to be maintained. Experts from RMIT University believe that Vietnam should revise its strategy to attract more foreign investment and maintain sustainable development. FDI inflows into Vietnam have significantly increased over the past three decades, with registered and disbursed capital rising from $1.28 billion and $428.5 million, respectively, in 1991 to $31.15 billion and $19.47 billion in 2021. In 2020, Vietnam was among the top 20 economies attracting the most FDI. According to Fitch Solutions, it is also one of the most open economies in Asia. In the first five months of this year, capital inflows reached nearly $10.86 billion, equivalent to 92.7 per cent of the figure in the same period last year. Though Vietnam has clearly improved its governance and is actively participating in various free trade agreements (FTAs) to attract more FDI, many emerging challenges may have a negative impact on FDI inflows into Vietnam this year. Firstly, global economic instability in 2023 has slowed recovery, including in the US, one of Vietnams major trading partners and FDI investors, and a recession is forecasted in 2024. Many Vietnamese exporters faced significant declines in international demand in the first quarter of this year, which may lead to a contraction in production scale. Secondly, investors tend to seek investment opportunities in neighboring countries to shorten their supply chains. Countries such as South Korea and Japan, which are among Vietnams largest sources of FDI, the US, and some countries in the EU are trying to limit outward investment by reducing corporate income taxes and providing incentives for domestic investment to recover foreign investment. In addition, the introduction of the global minimum tax may discourage investment in jurisdictions with low tax rates like Vietnam, because tax advantages will be reduced. Moreover, attracting FDI solely based on cheap labor is not a solution for attraction the high-quality FDI the government targets in its 2018-2023 strategy. Rather, attractiveness needs to be based on other aspects, not just low wages. A number of solutions have been proposed to help in addressing the above-mentioned challenges. Firstly, simplifying administrative procedures and reducing corruption would help attract more foreign investors and can be achieved through enhanced digitalization and increased transparency, establishing clear and consistent rules and regulations, and enforcing them fairly and uniformly. Secondly, improving infrastructure, including transportation, telecommunications, and energy, is crucial in attracting foreign investors. Moreover, Vietnam needs to develop a skilled workforce to attract more foreign investors by investing in education and training programs aimed at providing the necessary skills and knowledge for the workforce. This will make Vietnam more attractive to foreign investors as they can benefit from a knowledgeable and skilled workforce. In order to protect the environment, achieve climate goals by 2050, and enhance sustainable production, new FDI needs to meet minimum criteria. Vietnams economy, including the production activities of foreign manufacturers, needs to become greener. Source: VnEconomy The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sent a diplomatic note to the General Administration of Customs of China on completing some procedures to export fresh seafood and fruits from Vietnam to China. According to the diplomatic note, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sent a delegation to work with the authorities and customs departments of Guangxi and Yunnan, China from May 29 to June 2 to strengthen the cooperation and boost the agricultural products turnover between the two countries through the gateways of provinces that mutually shared the border. Based on text-based content, the working delegation has come into agreement with the customs departments of Guangxi and Yunnan about collaboration to propose several key contents to the General Administration of Customs of China. Of these, it is important to soon sign the protocol between the General Administration of Customs of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam on food safety requirements, quarantine and inspection for imported aquatic products imported between Vietnam and China. Additionally, the two sides need to consider adding some fruits and seafood products and allow some enterprises which have met the requirements in accordance with the regulations noted in Order No.248 and No.249 of the General Administration of Customs of China to export seafood to China; allow the export of fresh seafood via border gates in Yunnan to reduce the customs clearance pressure among the border gates and ultimately create the most favorable conditions for enterprises. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also proposed the General Administration of Customs of China direct the customs agencies in Guangxi and Yunnan to strengthen the exchange and discussion about the professional procedures of both sides; promptly update the latest information to overcome the difficulties and obstacles; enhance the customs clearance abilities; organize alternative meetings in November annually between the customs departments of the two localities with functional agencies of Vietnam and so on. Source: Sai Gon Giai Phong News Green and sustainable growth is an inevitable economic trend that localities need to follow. To restrict investment projects that can threaten the environment at the start, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has recently announced the Provincial Green Index (PGI) and considered it a screening tool, contributing to greenizing each localitys production and business environment. Vietnams socio-economic development is causing significant challenges for environmental protection, especially as Vietnam is hoping to become a country with a high average income by 2030 and in the group of countries with a high income worldwide by 2045. Pham Ngoc Thach, deputy director of the Legal Department of VCCI, underlined this during a recent seminar titled The Mekong Delta region develops the economy in combination with environment protection and release of PGI held in Tra Vinh Province. Challenges ahead Vietnam now confronts challenges relating to environmental governance when the countrys growth model has a common defect: it costs a lot of input energy, but control measures on development quality and the environment have yet to promote their effectiveness. This could lead to environmental incidents such as coal-fired power stations. Pursuant to Resolution No. 24/NQ-TW in 2013 and Conclusion 56 in 2019 of the Politburo, the Government has had many crucial programs and policies such as Resolution 136/NQ-CP on sustainable development; the amended Law on Environment Protection 2020; and National Green Growth Strategies in 2021-2030 based on the implementation of the green growth strategy in 2011-2020 issued previously. Vietnam also joins many treaties and international commitments on environmental protection and climate change. Among those, Vietnam is an active member of commitments to net zero greenhouse gas emissions at COP26 and commitments to transition to green energy. The Vietnamese Government targets to move toward sustainable development and green growth. However, as indicated by Thach, the Governments policies play a crucial role, but promoting the effectiveness of such policies depends on each locality, including the competent authorities, relevant agencies and the business community. According to research conducted by VCCI, localities find it difficult to implement central policies. Firstly, information from actual situations is insufficient for localities to build programs, plans and actions. Secondly, local authorities need comprehensive policies to avoid the repetition of objectives and actions to achieve the best results, given an abundance of Government policies. PGI participates in environment One of the solutions that VCCI expects to help remove hardships for localities is an initiative to build the Provincial Green Index. The PGI initiated by VCCI and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), originates from Vietnams current situation, which will focus on supporting local administration in addressing challenges in the environment and climate change. Simultaneously, it will contribute to building a sustainable growth model in Vietnam by creating a cooperation mechanism between authorities and relevant bodies, especially the business community. From the practical approach made by Vietnam, PGI was designed in a way that allows the locality to easily choose, determine and carry out solutions to improve the quality of environmental governance. Criteria constituting PGI were set for the convenience of being applied, similarly to the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) researched by VCCI and released annually since 2005, said Thach. PGI will provide useful information and data for the localitys efforts in the renovation, helping determine good practices to spread positive messages and overcome shortcomings. This is a useful tool to support the local authorities in administration and management, added Thach. For businesses and investors, PGI will provide useful references for manufacturing and business operation in localities, helping them know about policies and what should be prioritized. At the same time, policies given by localities and measured by PGI will enable investors to better seize business opportunities. PGI has four component indexes and multiple criteria for measurement and evaluation. Of these, four component indexes include reducing environmental pollution and adverse impacts of climate change, ensuring compliance with the minimum environmental criteria, management role of the provincial authorities in promoting green practices and incentive policies and services supporting businesses in environmental protection. The role of local administration Nguyen Phuong Bac, head of the Bac Ninh Institute for Socio-Economic Development Studies, said that Bac Ninh had a green development plan from 2013, and green development is still crucial to this province. According to Bac, there are three issues that need to be resolved in the province: firstly, selective investment attraction. In 2013, Bac Ninh issued a list of business lines not subject to investment incentives. This is an approach that helps investors save time as they will not need to deal with the provincial authorities if they cannot satisfy stipulated investment conditions, said Bac. Secondly, addressing environmental issues for traditional handicrafts at industrial parks by converting industrial parks into urban areas. One third of the industrial park will be converted to an urban area by 2030 as per the new planning, said Bac, adding that a major sector, which used to be the localitys strength, such as paper and steel production, could be considered for termination in 2026-2030. Thirdly, there must be actual green projects that will function as samples for investors and businesses to refer to when they want to catch up with the trend of green growth. Underlining the importance of sustainable development and green growth, Vu Kim Chi, deputy head of the Quang Ninh Investment Promotion Department, said that to realize the policy, the managements mindset and vision are needed in planning. Quang Ninh Province boasts its coal mines, even in its city center. We have applied technology to exploit cleaner coal, said Chi, stressing that the results came from a strategic vision of the local authorities. Specifically, since 2013, when building a master plan on socio-economic development, the provincial authorities invited McKinsey & Company Vietnam Company Limited, a leading American consultant, to transition the brown economy to a green one, taking tourism and the processing industry as the central focus, which will be developed in a green economy model as indicated by the worlds leading consultancy groups, Chi said, adding that this is a foundation for our success today. The green development stories of Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh provinces indicated that the provincial administration plays a crucial role in enhancing environmental protection in developing the economy. If a good policy could not be well implemented, they could hardly get results as expected. According to Dau Anh Tuan, general secretary of VCCI, localities could apply the following measures: firstly, arranging law enforcement in environmental protection and conducting selective investment attraction. Secondly, prioritizing environmental protection and sustainable development in the public procurement programs of the local administration. According to him, this is important as it helps orient local businesses and investors. Thirdly, consultancy to small and medium-sized enterprises to help them know about environmental protection policies. According to Tuan, local administration could, in its authority, issue policies and provide resources to support projects in green growth. There is ample room for local administration in this orientation, underlined Tuan and indicated that PGI will act as criteria for localities to screen investment projects when they start taking over a new one. After the wedding, the 9X couple from Lam Dong decided to sell a part of their wedding gold, plus their previous savings, to fulfill their dream of going to all 63 provinces across Vietnam. Minh Khoa, 29 years old, and Thuy Ai, 28 years old, are both from Lam Dong. The 9X couple has known and loved each other since studying at the Foreign Economic College in Ho Chi Minh City. HCM. After graduating from college, the two worked together at an import-export company, for nearly 7 years now. The couple took pictures at Bai Xep, Phu Yen. After the wedding held not long ago, the couple spent 2 months planning a trip around Vietnam. Both said that, along with a sum of money, if many people prefer to choose Europe to enjoy their honeymoon, then they want to travel to their own homeland. If you want to explore the world, you should first understand your country. This is the reason why we chose to go on a honeymoon across Vietnam in all 63 provinces, Thuy Ai said. Both visited Phong Nha, Quang Binh. And for both, this is a trip more than enjoying the honeymoon, well worth it before reaching the age of 30. The best thing is that I can do it with a partner with the same idea, Thuy Ai happy to say. Visit Sen Village in Uncle Hos hometown. For the trip through Vietnam, the couple chose personal cars as a flexible means of transportation. Thuy Ai prepares all necessary items, from clothes, shoes, tents, folding tables and chairs, cooking kits for camping to snacks, electronic inflatables, drinking water. .. Before and during the journey, both go to the car company for warranty, minimizing damage problems. She also saves emergency phone numbers in case of an accident in the middle of the road. Minh Khoa added that he does not drive at night to spend time resting and recuperating. The couple returned to Hung Temple in Phu Tho. Thanks to planning and researching the destinations quite carefully, the couple hardly encountered many difficulties. Only once when looking for the northernmost point of Vietnam, they looked it up on Google, but unfortunately, they were misdirected and almost lost their way to the border. Visit Nho Que river, Ha Giang. Instead of a beautiful concrete road, Google led by a dirt road to the mountain. When we could not continue, we had to turn around, but got lost. Even though we asked the locals for directions, Due to the language barrier, I struggled to find the right path, Minh Khoa recalled. For the couple, the most memorable milestone in this journey is to experience most of the coastal roads , from Kien Giang to Quang Ninh, to set foot to the South North poles of the country, to the two capes of Sa Pa. Vi Ca Mau. Together, they set foot on the top of Fansipan, reached the Indochina junction, went to the beginning and the end of Ho Chi Minh road, conquered the four great peaks of the pass, attended the flag lowering ceremony at Uncle Hos Mausoleum (Hanoi), enjoyed coffee. coffee in 5 provinces of the Central Highlands Also thanks to this trip, Thuy Ai realized that she had absorbed knowledge about Vietnams culture and geography in a very natural way. There are historical places, the couple can directly listen to the explanations of the guides, so they are even more moved and appreciate the country and its people. When asked which is the most impressive destination, the two found it difficult to answer because each place has its own beauty. The two arrived at Ban Gioc Waterfall, Cao Bang. The North is favored by nature with majestic landscapes, the Central is a paradise of sea and islands, while the Central Highlands has the wild beauty of mountains and forests. And the South is remembered by the scenery of rivers and people. kind-hearted, lovely, Thuy Ai commented. When the feet stop but the heart still wants to go, the 9X couple said, they still want to spend more time exploring domestic destinations in the future Photo: Internet (Vinlove.net) CME Solar (CMES) grants scholarships and gifts to underprivileged students in Tinh Bien Thw activity was organised in partnership with the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and the From Heart to Heart charity organisation for International Childrens Day. Vietnam renewable energy development enterprise CME Solar (CMES) has granted 10 scholarships with a total value of around $6,200. These scholarships hold significant meaning as they alleviate the financial burden on students and their families, allowing them to concentrate on their studies and achieve academic excellence. In addition to the scholarships, the children are also granted 100 sets of study materials, including school bags, notebooks, and other essential items. The gift packages not only support their daily education, but also serve as a source of encouragement, fostering their passion for learning. Additionally, 100 local underprivileged households also received packages from CMES containing essential items to support their daily needs and enhance their quality of life. CME Solar (CMES) provides life-support packages to household representatives in Tinh Bien Driven by a commitment to sustainable development and community welfare, CMES aims to promote education through scholarships and learning materials, as well as provide essential welfare packages to families facing challenging circumstances. This programme is part of CME Solar's long-standing initiative that was launched in 2019. As an enterprise dedicated to pursuing green growth, CMES places great importance on nurturing and educating students. The company firmly believes that education is the key to a brighter future. By supporting underprivileged students in overcoming their difficulties, CME Solar seeks to inspire a change in mindset regarding the importance of education and to encourage children to pursue their dreams. The programme exemplifies the dedication and collaborative efforts of CME Solar, alongside its partner organisations, in contributing to society through caring for and educating students. It strives to make a positive impact on the lives of local students and their families, while promoting a supportive and inclusive environment where every child has equal access to education and the opportunity to build a better future. CME Solar and Swiss responsAbility fund cooperate in clean energy in Vietnam CME Solar Investments (CMES), one of the countrys leading renewable energy developers, has completed the transaction of debt financing from leading impact investment fund responsAbility Investments AG (responsAbility). CME Solar - Rolls out zero-cost investment model for rooftop solar projects At the Leaders Summit within the framework of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared Vietnams strong commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and joined important statements and initiatives on forest protection, transition to renewable energy, adaptation support for local communities, and reducing methane emissions. Early last week, the VCCI sent a document to the Economics Committee of the National Assembly with comments on the amended Draft Real Estate Business Law. According to the VCCI, several provisions in the draft lack compatibility with pertinent legal documents. For example, the draft stipulates that foreign individuals are not permitted to rent or rental-purchase construction activities. "With a welcoming policy towards foreign homeownership, it is unclear why, for construction projects, foreigners are not permitted to purchase but only lease the construction site for use in accordance with the purpose of the project," the VCCI said in a statement. The VCCI posed queries and stated that, if there are qualms regarding national security issues, the same administration process as that applies to foreign property ownership can govern this issue. Additionally, this regulation is inconsistent with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 14 of the draft, which states, "Foreign organisations and individuals acquiring construction works must comply with the Law on Real Estate Business." According to current regulations and the Draft Housing Law, foreign nationals are permitted to own homes (under certain conditions). The VCCI added, "This has helped foster the growth of the real estate market." To promote real estate growth, the VCCI suggested that foreign individuals and organisations be permitted to purchase non-residential building projects, with the exception of areas where security and defence concerns exist akin to the mechanism implemented for foreign individuals buying houses. VCCI proposes changes to tax policies The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) recently sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of Finance, suggesting changes to tax policies. VAT reduction should be maintained in 2023: VCCI The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that a 2 per cent decrease in VAT should be sustained through next year. Upon request, the Insurance Supervisory Authority will collaborate with the Government Office to provide explanations and gather the opinions of government members regarding the decree detailing certain provisions of the Law on Insurance Business. Additionally, they are seeking an assessment from the Legal Department to finalise the draft circular guiding certain articles and measures for the enforcement of the Insurance Business Law. Furthermore, the MoF has instructed the Insurance Supervisory Authority to continue conducting inspections at insurance companies included in the approved inspection plan for 2023. Simultaneously, they are urgently coordinating with the State Bank Inspection and Supervision Agency to finalise and implement the coordination regulations. Of particular importance among these tasks, the Insurance Supervisory Authority must promptly report to the MoF the results of a specialised examination on insurance sales through banks and credit institutions conducted at Manulife Vietnam. This comes after Manulife Vietnam announced in a press release on June 5 that it has prioritised addressing numerous customer complaints related to the Tam An Dau Tu insurance product offered in collaboration with the troubled lender Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB). According to the announcement, since the initiation of direct dialogue to resolve SCB customer complaints on April 26, Manulife Vietnam has successfully resolved nearly 60 per cent of the complaints and is currently addressing the remaining 40 per cent. Manulife Vietnam is committed to closely cooperating with the relevant authorities to swiftly resolve these issues. Previously, Lieutenant General To An Xo, official spokesperson for Vietnams Ministry of Public Security, noted that Manulife has demonstrated its commitment to resolving this problem by refunding a large sum of over VND800 billion ($34 million) as of May 31. Manulife Vietnam is currently working towards resolving 2,507 contracts that are subject to a complaint. Manulife Vietnam repays over $34 million in light of accusations Manulife Vietnam has received 6,060 complaints, resolving 3,553 and refunding over VND800 billion ($34.79 million) regarding allegations against it and SCB of insurance contract deception. A decade ago, Emily Ellison and her now-husband moved to Waco with the idea that they would live here for three years at most. Then they fell in love with what the city had to offer and decided to stay. The couple recently made the leap to living in their own home surrounded by the things that make them happy and photos of smiley memories. They just had no idea they would have to ask for help from a nonprofit to make that dream come true. I never, ever thought we would be in the situation where wed have to ask for help, Ellison said. I think thats where the rose colored glasses came in. I thought if you have a bachelors degree and you have your job, everything will work out and be totally fine. So I never thought I would be in a situation to ask for help. And I am not the type of personality, nor is my husband where we like to ask for help. So I think that was a big personal step that we had to take where we realized, no way could we get to a situation where we can get to get a house. So we need to find a way to get there. Ellison and her husband are considered a part of the ALICE demographic Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The classification includes people with income above the federal poverty level but below the basic cost of living for their area, generally understood to be one personal budget crisis away from poverty. After eight years with a surviving not thriving mentality in Waco, Ellison and her husband applied for a Habitat for Humanity program and in two years to the day, they celebrated the dedication of their new home. The United Ways most recent ALICE data released in April, reflecting conditions in 2021, shows the percentage of McLennan Countys households in poverty has gone down since 2010, but the percentage of households in the ALICE demographic has increased. In 2021, 15% of McLennan County households were in poverty, down from 20% in 2010 but still higher than the statewide average of 13%. Over the same time, the percentage of ALICE households has gone from 24% to 26%, and observers expect the economic fallout of the pandemic to push the ALICE percentage higher when 2022 and 2023 data comes out. In Waco specifically, 31% of households live in the ALICE demographic, which is roughly 22,600 households. Haley OConnell, director of impact and engagement at United Way of Waco-McLennan County, describes the ALICE demographic as people who are struggling to make ends meet, but also our everyday neighbors. Theyre the person whos checking you out at the grocery store, or fast-food workers, office clerks and waiters and waitresses, OConnell said. A lot of public assistance programs have kind of the eligibility requirements that require you to be below the federal poverty level. And so these ALICE people are living paycheck to paycheck barely making ends meet, and yet they dont qualify for public assistance. Theyre kind of caught in the middle, because theyre also not making enough to build their own wealth and create economic mobility and generate savings and things like that. So theyre kind of just perpetually stuck. Income volatility People in the ALICE demographic are usually hourly paid workers, meaning if they have a disruption in their day that forces them to leave, they are losing money that their budget depends on. Of the 58.7% of McLennan county residents who are employed, 55.4% work for hourly wages. These workers are more likely to have fluctuations in income due to changing schedules and less likely to receive benefits. Jeremy Everett, executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, said it is uncommon for employees of low-income jobs to get 40 hours of work every week to support a survival budget. That makes income for them unpredictable, and so they experience whats called income volatility, Everett said. So from week to week or month to month, they cant predict how much money theyre going to make, which makes it impossible to be able to budget to really kind of get a good idea of how much money you can count on in a given week. Everett said fluctuating income oftentimes forces ALICE workers to resort to second or third jobs. But again, if youre working in a low wage job and youve got multiple supervisors at different jobs, theyre not exactly consulting with each other on what your hours of availability are, Everett said. So inevitably, these jobs are going to get pitted against each other. And sooner or later, youre going to lose one job in order to keep the other one. ALICE workers are also disproportionately more vulnerable to national economic disruptions. Everett said the temporary business closures and layoffs during the pandemic made income volatility like a roller coaster for families. We saw the ALICE households increase significantly after the Great Recession, OConnell said. And then now, obviously, after the pandemic, the numbers will rise again when the 2022 and 2023 data becomes available. Every time ALICE workers receive their paycheck, they have to make decisions about where to allocate the money to support a livable lifestyle. Once they do so, there is rarely any left to put aside for savings. Often ALICE individuals are one emergency away from kind of just spiraling into crisis, whether thats a tire blowout on the side of the highway or an emergency medical event, OConnell said. Theyre usually not able to set aside savings to cover an unexpected crisis. And so, theyre often faced with do I pay this bill thats about to be overdue, or do I give my family a substantial meal? People you know Stephanie Hoopes, national director of United for ALICE, said many people do not realize how many of their interactions on a day-to-day basis are with people in the ALICE demographic. We all know ALICE, Hoopes said. ALICE is in our families, is in our neighborhoods, and certainly so many of the essential workers for our economy are ALICE. I often say, youre running to four, five ALICE workers by the time you get to work you get your coffee, go to child care, your security guard at the parking lot, somebody at the bank. You know, ALICE is a really important part of our communities and our economy. Everett said when he lived in San Antonio, he witnessed his own neighbor, a member of the ALICE demographic, have to make a decision based on a stretched-thin budget. Our neighbor who didnt have health insurance, her husband worked a full-time job. She was a primary caregiver to her children and to her two wheelchair-bound parents who lived with them, Everett said. She got an ear infection and did what everybody who doesnt have insurance does, which is they wait until its too painful to bear and then they go to the emergency room to be seen. She went to one in San Antonio, waited to be seen, wasnt seen in time for her to catch the bus and get back home and later that evening, her eardrum ruptured. The infection went to her brain. She fell into a coma and never woke up. And that could have been prevented with a simple antibiotic. OConnell said that when she shares ALICE data with people, she always sees their eyes widen in shock. There are actually people who this is their daily reality, and theyre actually trying really hard to make it work, OConnell said. But just the cruelty of the fact that theyre just perpetually stuck, even though theyre trying really hard to pave the way for their family. Its just the way certain systems are set up keeps them from advancing. Breaking the cycle In todays society, Everett said there are only a few ways to break this cycle usually a degree or technical training to become a skilled laborer. For many families, it takes the work of generations to be able to send a child to college or technical school. The first family would move to the U.S. and try to scratch out a living, the second generation would try to buy a home that they would pass down to the next generation, third generation would try to hopefully send their kids off to college and fourth generation might then kind of figure out how they can pay it back, Everett said. Everett said to help people above the poverty line who struggle to make ends meet, public policy needs to change, wage rates need to be strengthened and there needs to be better economic opportunities for all people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or where they live. OConnell said it will take a village. United Way is really trying to bring people together and have meaningful conversation and see where collaboration is possible, she said. Because it really takes a village to take care of all your neighbors. I think were stronger when we all collaborate together. Local efforts Everett said he applauds the city for a lot of the work it is doing to bring more job opportunities to Waco by recruiting businesses to pay higher rates. Those are some unsung heroes in our community, our leaders that are bringing in these business opportunities that are creating occupation, Everett said. I think young entrepreneurs, were seeing a lot more Baylor students are choosing to stick around and start their own businesses. And, and so that has a huge impact because that just creates more economic opportunity to the community and creates more job opportunities. So inherently, the more job opportunities, the more competition, more competition, the higher the wages so that they can work to everybodys advantage. Everett said he also credits nonprofits for the work they are doing to fill the gaps for families, including the nonprofit that gave Ellison her home. Without Habitat for Humanity, we would just be kind of stuck in an apartment rut and unable to get out of it, Ellison said. Always paying and paying without the ability to save and really have the thriving, not just surviving, kind of life. Ellison said her favorite aspect of her new home is the backyard, something she hasnt had since she moved out of her parents home 15 years ago. Now, she gets to watch her kids run through the sprinkler, have grilled meals and lie under the stars in the grass that is her familys own. Hundreds of Catholics walked together through downtown Waco in a Feast of Corpus Christi procession Saturday, a small step in a larger national movement of Eucharistic revival. The Eucharistic revival is a national task of the Catholic Church led by bishops looking to revive devotion and understanding of the Eucharist, said Michael Foley, a Catholic theologian who teaches at Baylor University. Transubstantiation, or the conversion of bread and wine into the Real Presence of Jesus Christ upon consecration, is central to Catholic belief. The Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, is the true presence of Jesus rather than a metaphor in Catholicism. A Pew Research study from 2019 showed about 70% of Catholics in the United States believe the Eucharist is merely a symbol of Jesus, straying from the central tenet that it truly is the body and blood of Christ. The study indicated a deviance in Catholic belief that church leaders want to correct. It was kind of a scandal because, you know, 50 years ago if youd done the poll it would be like 99% believe, but then something happened in the last 50 years, Foley said. And its not good if Catholics dont believe Catholic stuff. Foley said the study did not find why Catholics may be thinking differently, but some speculate societal changes or that poor retention of essential principles, or catechism, could be to blame. Another suspicion is that changes to the liturgy in the 1960s with the Second Vatican Council, such as the switch from Latin to traditional language during Mass and less triumphant music, could have watered down the denominations teaching for some, he said. Before Vatican II, the Mass was in Latin and there were a lot of smells and bells, Gregorian chant and a very profound sense of reverence that in a sense made it easier to believe the churchs teaching of the Eucharist because we believe the Eucharist really is the body and blood of Jesus Christ, he said. So when you really believe that, you treat it with a certain awe and respect. A lot of that sense of the sacred got lost. When you change the rite it gives the impression that youve changed the belief, so that could be a factor. Bishops in the United States called for a multi-year initiative known as the National Eucharistic Revival. The first phase stared in June 2022 with a year of Diocesan revival where bishops will offer events to revive devotion and understanding of the Eucharist. Foley said now is the ideal time to promote a Eucharistic revival, as Sunday marks the Feast of Corpus Christi, a rite that has been around since the 13th century that celebrates the Eucharist, Foley said. Foley said Corpus Christi processions have been around for a long time and signify Catholics status as pilgrims on Earth. Saint Paul the Apostle says Christians true citizenship is in heaven, and processions serve as a reminder that they are simply passing through this world, he said. The Eucharist is usually just in the sanctuary but you taking it out on Corpus Christi its like Christ coming out into the world, he said. And then also our belief, were not hiding it under a bushel. Were taking it out into the streets. Saturdays event gathered several hundred people from many parishes of the northernmost section of the Diocese of Austin at the processions starting place, St. Francis on the Brazos, 315 Jefferson Ave. The churchs pews were full, people stood in the entryway and many more celebrated Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi from outside the doors. The procession began its 1-mile walk with altar servers exiting the church carrying processional candles, incense censers and a crucifix. The priest processed next, stepping under a four-poled canopy and carrying the monstrance, a sun-shaped vessel that holds circular pieces of unleavened bread, called consecrated hosts, and known by Catholics to be the body of Jesus Christ. Many altar servers followed behind the priest and hundreds of Catholics followed behind them as the group made its walk down Jefferson Avenue to St. Marys of Assumption, 1401 Washington Ave. People sang hymns into the streets of downtown Waco as they walked, and the procession made stops at two altars of repose along the way where the crowd received blessings. At the end of the procession people went inside the second church to participate in adoration of the Eucharist and Benediction. Foley said he experienced his first Eucharistic procession of the Feast of Corpus Christi when he went to graduate school in Boston after moving from California. He said it was freeing to witness the monstrance outside in the world and publicly affirm his belief. When we crossed the front doors of the church and entered the street I got this incredible rush and it was: Were bringing Christ into the world, he said. It was a wonderful realization that religion shouldnt be or isnt a private thing. The effect of a Eucharistic procession is different on the heart than a tent revival or other outward professions of faith, he said. Eucharistic devotion does not generate enthusiasm, Foley said. It doesnt generate passion. It generates a quiet, contemplative love. A day after 41-year-old Central Texas winemaker, Air Force veteran and father of four Christopher Ray Grider was sentenced to nearly seven years for storming the U.S. Capitol, Richard Barnett a 63-year-old retired firefighter who became one of the riots most recognizable faces for propping his feet up on a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office was sentenced to more than four years, even though his January 6 behavior was more belligerent, more defiant, more premeditated than anything Grider did. Griders fate proves the perils of putting aside good sense and reveling in the thrill of running with the pack during what on January 6 clearly constituted an insurrection. While Griders testimony during his December 2022 bench trial was marked by frustrating equivocation during cross-examination to the degree the judge expressed anger, one could rationally argue his lapses of judgment on January 6 demonstrated little evidence of the contempt, vehemence and calculation so many others displayed. Before I say more in questioning the 83-month sentence given Grider on May 23, allow me a few caveats: I believe anyone who engaged in hand-to-hand battle with police outside the U.S. Capitol or sprayed police with bear spray or hit officers with flag poles or fire extinguishers should spend significant time in federal prison. I believe anyone who ignored the broken glass and security alarms ringing in the Capitol and continued on inside should spend significant time in federal prison. I believe anyone who insists the Trump crowd was agitated by antifa and Black Lives Matter activists to resort to violence well, if one is that stupid that he or she can be so easily played by antifa and Black Lives Matter, then he or she should spend significant time in federal prison. And I believe anyone who took President Trumps reckless, incendiary comments earlier in the day as authority to participate in violence and lawlessness should spend significant time in federal prison. So, yes, I believe Grider should spend significant time in prison, even though he didnt plan on going to Washington, D.C., to hear President Trump till pal Jesse Bowen and Falls County neighbor David McLean pushed the idea shortly before January 6, even though his joining in the cries of Stop the Steal at the Capitol only echoed his own congressmans earlier Stop the Steal declaration, even though he didnt roam Capitol corridors howling for House Speaker Pelosis blood or Vice President Pences head. Yet for all the admiration and respect I have for U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, including the contextual sweep of American history from which she smartly draws in sentencing, she might have bought too much into prosecutors claims Grider was a leader that day rather than an impressionable and very foolish follower. Shortly before January 6, evidence shows Grider, an admitted Trump fan, wanted to go to Joshua Tree National Park for a winter holiday rather than hear Trump at the Ellipse. By contrast, court filings indicate Richard Bigo Barnett believed the United States would be taken over by communists if Joe Biden became president. The Arkansan was prepared to do whatever it takes, including occupying the Capitol, to prevent it. He anticipated violence on January 6, declaring on social media that he was prepared to fight anyone who opposed him, including law enforcement and/or the military. He armed himself with a stun device and a 10-pound steel pole with a U.S. flag attached. When later in the Capitol melee he realized that he had left his flag in Pelosis office complex while ransacking it and that police now blocked his way to retrieve it, Barnett shouted at officers to be a patriot and retrieve his flag, prosecutors said. When he failed in appealing to their patriotism and then failed to move them by offering to call off the other rioters [w]hen none of that worked, Barnett escalated to threatening the officers. As he fled the Capitol after being hit with chemical spray, Barnett kept up his threats. Were American citizens, were patriots, he screamed at police. Your boys maced me. This is my house, yall maced me in my own house. This is gonna get real bad, not necessarily today, were going to calm down and leave, but yall gotta remember something. Yall gotta pick a f-ing side. This civil war, this isnt oh-somebody-broke-the-law. The f-ing Communists have declared war on us, boys. Contrasting approaches And Grider? The night he resolved to go to Washington with pal Jesse Bowen, Griders texts arguably suggest that he feared getting beat up by antifa activists (few of which if any showed up on January 6). He speculated he and his friend might find safety staying close to the Proud Boys. The far-right, neo-fascist group had gained a reputation for not only protecting pro-Trump activists at rallies but getting into fights with antifa and Black Lives Matter activists. Yet even amid the tear gas outside the Capitol, Grider never resorted to threats or violence. While prior to that, he felt like he was at a typical Trump rally, around this point in time, it became evident that this was more of a protest, his Houston-based attorney Brent Mayr argued. Being hit with tear gas and seeing what was taking place sparked a range of new emotions in Mr. Griders mind at that moment. He testified about feeling betrayed by law enforcement. But, Mayr said of Grider, outfitted on January 6 in a yellow Gadsden Dont Tread on Me flag for a cape and a red Make America Great Again cap, his good sense of mind at that point was not to strike back or retaliate because, as he stated (during trial), he was just not going to do that as it was not in [his] nature to do that. Griders testimony also indicated that he expected, somewhere amidst the confusion, President Trump would appear as promised to speak to his supporters. Contrast this with the sentence given Lucas Denney, 45, a former military police officer like Grider and president of the Patriot Boys of North Texas militia who in the lead-up to January 6 gathered protective gear and weapons, recruited comrades in arms and arrived in Washington ready to make good on his concerns. His stated purpose that day was to prevent Congress, by physical violence, from certifying that Joseph Biden had won the Electoral College vote two months earlier, prosecutors said. A leader that day by designation and action, Denney joined the storming of police lines outside the Capitol, deploying pepper spray at officers, assaulting them including with a pole and attempting to disarm them. In a message on social media, posted January 1, 2021, he wrote, Im so pumped brother. I cant wait to be in the middle of it on the front line on the 6th. On January 4, he revealed his expectation for civil war, claiming Ww3 isnt too far away though. He longed for physical confrontation. For this premeditated violence, Lucas Denney, a Mansfield resident, received a sentence of just over four years specifically, 52 months, far less than that given Grider. Unequal treatment Or consider Donald Hazard, 44, Patriot Boys of North Texas sergeant-at-arms: In preparation for the rally in Washington, he anticipated violence. He gathered together gear and weaponry including a military-style helmet, knuckle gloves, goggles, body armor and pepper spray. When photographed marching to the Capitol, Hazard boasted to a newspaper photographer: Make sure you get my face and everything on your news channel. I want the enemy to know exactly who is coming after them. Besides fighting with a police officer to the extent the officer was knocked unconscious when his head hit the steps outside the Capitol, Hazard posted selfie-styled videos, inside and outside of the building, in which he made statements such as Were here at the nations capitol and were storming it. Were taking the Capitol ... This is America, baby. After the violence, he smugly posted, Its a sad day when Patriots have to fight law enforcement but they turned on us so they get what they got. Yet such violence netted Donald Hazard, a Hurst resident, less than five years specifically, 57 months compared to almost seven years or 83 months for Grider. In a May 8 sentencing memo filed in Griders defense after prosecutors recommended 87 months for conviction of civil disorder and other felony and misdemeanor charges, Mayr offered similar examples of lenient sentences granted offenders far more violent and more consequential than Grider. The cases above are ones I encountered in perusing more recent D.C. court records and are not to be found in Mayrs document. One striking case Mayr cites: That of retired Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Brock, 55, of Grapevine who, adorned in combat gear and equipped with discarded plastic flex-cuffs, assumed command when he and fellow January 6 protesters began ransacking the Senate. On Christmas Eve 2020, Brock sent this Facebook message conveying his violent intent: I bought myself body armor and a helmet for the civil war that is coming. That same day, Brock shared plans for this second American Revolution, including seizing Democratic politicians and select Republicans, including U.S. Sens. John Thune and Mitch McConnell, and subjecting them to interrogation techniques used on al-Qaida terrorists; pressing retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn to contact President Trump to declare that a state of insurrection exists to provide color of law to our actions; and elimination of certain news media. He proposes letting Democratic cities burn. Yet this retired lieutenant colonel, a man whose outrage over the 2020 election outcome prompted him to post, When we get to the bottom of this conspiracy we need to execute the traitors, received only two years in prison, alongside the nearly seven given the lowly former Air Force policeman. Rank, it seems, has its privileges. Hard truths All this points to two truths: The mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and overwhelmed police and briefly brought American democracy to its knees is no more monolithic than the mobs that, apart from innocent protesters, torched and plundered cities across America in summer 2020 in the wake of former Texan George Floyds death at the hands of police. The risk: If youre part of a mob, any mob, you may find your prospects in court clouded by the lawlessness endorsed by your mere presence. Thats one truth. Another is justice is rendered by different judges amid efforts by different attorneys, all turning on different circumstances. I recognized early on Griders case would assume more gravity than that characterizing many trials of January 6 defendants: Most damning, Grider handed a helmet he found outside the Capitol to another protester, Zachary Alam, who used it to batter the glass windows of the Speakers Lobby, which led to the floor of the House of Representatives, then being evacuated. QAnon disciple and Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt was in the act of climbing through a bashed-out window when she was shot. Canonization of Babbitt by Trump and his allies and Trumps vilifying of the police officer who shot Babbitt as she scaled the broken-out window have only added to questions about Griders slow-witted role in all this whether he knew Alam would use the helmet to bash out windows, whether he knew Babbitt would climb through a window, apparently to pursue lawmakers seeking safety down the hallway. (Babbitt earlier clambered through another bashed-out window to breach the Capitol.) Nor did it help when prosecutors highlighted that Grider, upon entering the Capitol, zeroed in on a utility panel where he tried (unsuccessfully) to cut power to the Capitol building. Given he didnt decide to go to Washington till the night before and didnt know where he was in the Capitol at times, this improvised fumbling was surely doomed. I suspect it was a bit of gleeful, empty-headed showmanship by one arguably thrilled (as testimony showed) by the revolution-themed musical Les Miserables. Confusion, conflict Griders equivocation in court spurred prosecutors to propose sentencing him harshly for a complete lack of remorse, his continued obstruction by lying repeatedly under oath at trial and the need to deter Grider and others. Yet Mayr argues Griders account of his actions on January 6 and his actions themselves reflected an amalgam of confusion and internal conflict within his mind. Grider recognized that he acted in violation of the law but also acknowledged that he could not explain certain behavior. Mayr cites U.S. v. Dunnigan in which jurists are cautioned to consider in sentencing that an accused may give inaccurate testimony due to confusion, mistake or faulty memory. Some of Griders equivocation struck me as bumbling resistance to tough cross-examination. But other testimony strongly suggests a bewildered dupe struggling to explain conflicting emotions in an all-too-malleable mind overwhelmed by unprecedented events beyond his understanding. Sadly, Griders equivocation often came off as deceptive. To quote Judge Kollar-Kotelly, he testified to one mental state during his plea allocution and then to another on the stand; changed his story as to when he understood it to be unlawful inside the Capitol at least three times while on the stand; and speciously claimed that he shouted Our House! in the Capitol [because the Capitol] was the Peoples House, and not because, as he agreed under oath in his guilty plea, he intended to protest. In fairness, Grider, who pleaded guilty to some charges but not others, had nearly two years in Central Texas to ponder and articulate the conflicting thoughts that gripped and tore at him on January 6, just as he had all that time to anticipate pointed questions he might face from prosecutors if he took the stand in his defense. In the end, the sentence suggests Griders struggles to communicate the rush of emotions and impulses snuffed out any enduring expressions of remorse that so win over judges. Yet Grider didnt try to escape prison: He proposed 18 months followed by three years of supervised release. And to the degree any Trump supporter can be believed, Grider made one other thing clear, to quote his attorney: He is done with Donald Trump. He wants nothing further to do with the political process. He is ready to pay his debt to society so that he can return to his family, his church, his business and his community as quickly as possible. And he is ready to support and uphold American democracy. On Feb. 14, 2014, my name was on the cover of the Fremont Tribune for the first time. At 19 years old, I declared I would run for city council in Fremonts fourth ward. Though I would go on to lose that race, I was eventually elected in 2016. By 2020 I had announced that I would not run again. I have pursued several creative endeavors since getting off the city council. Ive made music, written books and acted in short films. One thing has remained the same in my journey, I am constantly reading. Reading has given me a massive advantage in my life, and I would love to share this experience with you in this new column that I will call What Im Reading. The first book Id like to share is Wild Bill: The true story of the American Frontiers first gunfighter by Tom Clavin. Before he was known as Wild Bill, he was James Butler Hickok, and through letters and official documents, Tom Clavin pieced together a detailed biography on the life of Wild Bill, from birth to death. Through an impressive amount of research, Clavin is able to start Hickoks story in Ireland before the family eventually immigrated to New England and beyond. As you read, you learn about Hickoks family, brothers and childhood before he traveled to Kansas, or Cansas, as he spelled it in letters to his brother Horace. The detailed accounts of his time as an Army Scout, lawman and gunman give more depth to the life of Wild Bill and the times he lived through. Readers will find Hickok a large, barrel-chested man, capable of extreme violence, yet immaculately dressed and courteous. Part explorer, part hunter, part romantic figure, and part gunslinger, as Clavin says. As George Armstrong Custer described, Wild Bill was a Plainsman in every sense of the word, yet unlike any other of his class. The part of the book that stuck with me the most was Hickoks behavior toward the end of his life. As he aged, his public reputation was still highly regarded. It seemed he knew it was only a matter of time before someone would test his prizefighter reputation and get the best of him. In letters to his wife Agnes while in Deadwood, South Dakota, we read that Hickok was troubled by a terrible premonition. While he may not have had the heart to tell her exactly what he felt, he told a close friend, Charley, I feel this is going to be my last camp, and I wont leave it alive. Unfortunately for Wild Bill, he was right. On Aug. 2, 1876, a man known as Crooked Nose Jack shot Wild Bill from behind during a card game. As someone who grew up watching Jeff Bridges movie Wild Bill and having vacationed in Deadwood more than once, I opened this book with a bit of trepidation. Would my Western hero hold to my ideals of him, or would I find out that his legend was just another dime novel fabrication? Fortunately for me, this biography not only upheld my brave and tough image of James Butler Hickok but was also well-rounded enough to show the more relatable and human aspects of Wild Bills life, which were often overlooked. If you or someone you know is fascinated by Wild Bill Hickok or Gunfighters of the Old West, I highly recommend Wild Bill by Tom Clavin. PRESS RELEASE One of the most iconic US NAVY WWII aircraft, the mighty Martin Mars could be heading to the British Columbia Aviation Museum. Operated by Coulson Aviation Group, the Hawaii Mars flew from 1961 to 2015 around North America fighting over 4,000 wildfires with its massive water-dropping ability that could end a huge blaze in a single pass. These enormous red and white aircraft captured the hearts of British Columbians for how they saved BC forests, this is the main reason the British Columbia Aviation Museum decided to inquire with Coulson Group. Martin Mars were built by the US Navy during World War II to transport troops across the Pacific. In 1960 they were brought to Canada for a radical conversion to become waterbombers. They went on to be based at Sproat Lake, BC for 6 decades. After the current owners, Coulson Aviation Group, retired their Mars fleet several years ago, the BC Aviation Museum began discussions with the owners, the intention being for the iconic Mars to become the signature display in the museums growing British Columbia wildfire aviation exhibit. Discussions are still ongoing. When the donation is successfully concluded, the museum has exciting new upgrades planned to further enhance the visitor experience. The British ColumbiaAviation Museum celebrates the past, present, and future of BC aviation with one of the largest aviation collections in Canada. Visitors of all ages will be amazed by our interactive experiences. For more information, visit www.bcam.net WATERLOO A Waterloo man who recently finished serving prison time for sexual assault will remain in custody while authorities attempt to have him committed as a sexually violent predator. The Iowa Attorney Generals Office argued that 58-year-old Antonio Riccardo Campbell has a mental defect that makes him likely to commit future sex crimes unless he receives treatment. He was scheduled to be released from prison Thursday, according to corrections records. On Wednesday, District Court Judge David Odekirk found probable cause to hold Campbell, who has more than a dozen aliases including Antonio Bradford, in a secure facility and ordered an evaluation under the states sexual predator statutes. As a youth, Campbell spent time at the Eldora State Training School and was discharged in 1983 when he turned 18. In 1985, he was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for third-degree sexual assault. He allegedly found his ex-girlfriend with another man and threatened them with a weapon, making them perform sexual acts on each other before raping her, court records state. Then in 2015, Campbell was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of third-degree sexual abuse and assault causing bodily injury. He allegedly stalked an ex-girlfriend and then broke into her apartment and raped her at knifepoint, according to court records. The Iowa Attorney Generals Office alleges Campbell suffers from antisocial personality disorder. A psychologist determined he was at above average risk to commit future sex crimes during a preliminary evaluation, court records state. Photos: Notable Deaths in 2023 Harry Belafonte Raquel Welch David Crosby Lance Reddick Richard Belzer Cindy Williams Lisa Marie Presley Gordon Lightfoot Jeff Beck Bobby Caldwell Gary Rossington Wayne Shorter Jerry Springer Robert Blake Willis Reed Michael Lerner Tom Sizemore Charles Kimbrough Chaim Topol Len Goodman Tim McCarver Billy Packer Barry Humphries Burt Bacharach Stella Stevens Annie Wersching Dave Hollis David Jude Jolicoeur Barrett Strong Lloyd Morrisett Robbie Knievel Gina Lollobrigida Lynette Hardaway ("Diamond") Adam Rich Bobby Hull Charles White Jerry Richardson Sister Andre Tatjana Patitz Russell Banks Cardinal George Pell Ken Block Walter Cunningham Anton Walkes Pat Schroeder Seymour Stein Klaus Teuber Ginnie Newhart Vida Blue Martin Amis Doyle Brunson Hodding Carter III Jacklyn Zeman Jim Brown Tina Turner Ray Stevenson John Beasley Cynthia Weil Astrud Gilberto The Iron Sheik Pat Robertson Tori Bowie Ted Kaczynski Treat Williams Silvio Berlusconi Daniel Ellsberg Sheldon Harnick John Goodenough Christine King Farris Julian Sands Alan Arkin WATERLOO After five years of leading East High School, Joseph Parker has resigned from his position as principal. The Board of Education unanimously approved a separation agreement with Parker on April 24. No names or positions were made public during that meeting. Parkers contract ends June 30. He has been the principal at East since 2018. Anthony Spurgetis, Waterloo Community Schools chief officer of human resources and equity, could not provide a reason for Parkers resignation and no reason was stated in the agreement. Before his contract ends, the district will pay Parker $95,620 and Iowa Public Employees Retirement System contributions, which represent one school years gross salary. The district will also pay its law firm, Timmer and Judkins PLLC, $47,810 for attorney fees and expenses. Byron Phillips will replace Parker as principal, pending board approval on Monday. He currently serves as the assistant principal at West High School. If approved, his salary will be $145,000. PHOTOS: Waterloo East baseball and softball at Mason City 060523-spt-east-bb-1.JPG 060523-spt-east-bb-2.JPG 060523-spt-east-bb-4.JPG 060523-spt-east-bb-thomas.JPG 060523-spt-east-mc-bb-1.JPG 060523-spt-east-sb-1.JPG 060523-spt-east-sb-2.JPG 060523-spt-east-sb-3.JPG WATERLOO A Waterloo family escaped after their home caught fire Sunday afternoon, thanks in part to a passerby. Rob Sullivan a former Cedar Rapids firefighter who now lives in Red Wing, Minnesota said he was visiting a friend in Waterloo when he noticed smoke coming from 736 Sherman Ave. around 3 p.m. I noticed a lot of smoke around this house, and I thought thats a little more smoke than a grill would be, Sullivan said. He pulled up, called 911 and knocked on the door. A girl answered the door and I said, Your house is on fire. They both made it out safely, Sullivan said. Crews with Waterloo Fire Rescue found a fire burning upstairs. They retrieved one cat, but two other cats remained missing. The cause of the fire hasnt been determined. WATERLOO Russell Hamilton has a nose for love. He calls it Harold. Its really a ginormous nose, said Hamilton, smiling. An elastic cord around his head holds it in place as he delivers lines and sings as Cyrano in the new North Star Community Services musical production, Cyrano de Burger Shack. The show, featuring a large cast of North Star clients, will be performed at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday at West High Schools Kersenbrock Auditorium. Admission is free but free-will donations will be accepted. Cyrano is a little goofy like me, said Hamilton, a North Star client. He likes to throw in a few ad-libs here and there, but he also likes his dialogue. If I can give the audience a good laugh, thats what I like. I feel satisfaction if I can make someone laugh. A send-up of Edmond Rostands classic Cyrano de Bergerac, the play by Jeremy Desmon is a rollicking modern musical set in a high school burger hangout and stuffed with familiar pop songs from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Cyrano is the king of the Burger Shack. Hes secretly in love with his best friend since childhood, Roxanne. But she only has eyes for Christian, a tongue-tied burger flipper at the Shack. So Cyrano decides hell help Christian woe Roxanne because its better than sitting on the sidelines. In this version, hundreds of texts are sent in flowery language. And theres one great scene at a drive-thru clown head speaker at the Shack where Christian professes his love to Roxanne via Cyrano, said Director Greg Holt. Its very tongue-in-cheek. Holt, the new executive director at Cedar Falls Community Theatre, has directed numerous North Star productions since 2008, including Shrek, My Son Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, The Wizard of Oz and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The show allows adults with a wide range of disabilities and special needs served by North Star to display their skills and talents on stage and as crew members. Some performers may be nonverbal, while others are in wheelchairs. Between 40 and 50 roles were cast by North Star staff, and Holt adds more characters so anyone who wants to participate has an opportunity to perform. The North Star location in Waverly has a group participating, as well. In addition, North Star staff members shadow actors so they dont need to memorize lines. Were teaching the shadows about theater, and theyre learning the techniques of acting. When they give the clients their lines, they have to say it with the same inflection to give the other actors the right cues, said Joy Thorson, a theater veteran who serving as stage manager. Cassidy Atchison, a local theater veteran, is being brought in as a ringer to play Roxanne. Sometimes even I am still surprised by the acting and singing abilities of these actors who just needed the opportunity to show what they can do, said Jodie Muller, director of donors and public relations. But what makes my heart happy every single time is how excited and proud these individuals are to participate in the production. Many years ago, one of the actors told me that he enjoys getting on stage, making people laugh and forgetting that I have a disability for a little while. The play is fitting for North Star because the timeless story is an allegory of both inner and outer beauty, Muller explained. The very reason we do these community theater productions bi-annually is so that audiences can discover the often hidden talent and abilities of persons with disabilities what you see on the outside isnt really what is on the inside of anyone. This is especially true for persons often labeled different. Holt credits his team of volunteers and North Star staff who get the production off the ground. In addition, New Hartford artist Bill Close and his team contribute their time and skill to build sets. Volunteers pitch in to help paint the scenery. Tony Johns is the sound designer. The music list includes such pop hits as All Star by Smash Mouth, Eternal Flame by the Bangles, Just the Way You Are, by Bruno Mars, Im Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers, Lost in Your Eyes by Debbie Gibson, and We Got the Beat by the Go-Gos. Holt sets the bar high so the audiences can enjoy performances that are as professional-looking as possible. All of these people and the actors pull it all together and pull it off, so were ready to open and give audiences a fun experience, he added. 'Art Without Limits' at North Star Community Services north star Colorful by Breyon.JPG north star Broccoli Tree House by Kelli.jpg north star Fingernails are art by Kimmy.jpg north star Galaxy Shoes by Morgan.JPG north star Guacamole - group project.JPG north star Happy by Carl.JPG north star Pieces by Michael R..JPG north star Purple Collage by David.JPG north star Yaaay-Yo! by Michael C..JPG north star Scarf by Chris.JPG WATERLOO -- On June 15, water mains will be flushed in the area west of Ansborough Avenue and north of Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery, from Jane Street to Campbell Avenue. Water may be a brownish color during and after the flushing but the water is bacterially safe. Waterloo Water Works urges customers within the area and several blocks of it to not plan clothes washing on June 15. Delores Lowery remembers vividly the day in 2016 when she was working in a weaving plant near her home in Bennettsville, South Carolina, and the world around her seemed to go dim. She turned to her co-workers. And I asked, I said, Why yall got it so dark in here? They said, Delores, its not dark in here. I said, Yes, it is. Its so dark in here.' She landed in the hospital. Her A1C level, which shows the average percentage of sugar in someones blood over the past few months, was 14%. A reading of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes. Lowerys home in Marlboro County is at the heart of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls the Diabetes Belt: 644 mostly Southern counties where rates of the disease are high. Of those counties, NPR found that more than half have high levels of medical debt. That means at least 1 in 5 people have medical debt in collections. Thats much higher than the national rate, which is 13%, according to the Urban Institute, a social-policy nonprofit. In Marlboro County, 37% of people have medical debt in collections. NPR measured the overlap of Diabetes Belt counties and high medical debt counties by merging the institutes medical debt database with the CDCs list of Diabetes Belt counties. Urban Institute economist Breno Braga said medical debt, like diabetes, is concentrated in the South. The single most important predictor of a countys medical debt is the prevalence of chronic conditions. So its basically the share of the population that has disease, such as diabetes, hypertension, and other types, he said. That finding is from an analysis conducted by the Urban Institute for KFF Health News and NPR as part of an investigation into medical debt published last year. The investigation found, among other things, that 100 million people in the U.S. have some kind of health care debt, a burden that can be devastating for people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cancer. The years since Lowery's diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes have been extremely difficult. In 2017, she came home one day to find her daughter, Ella Shantrica stabbed to death. The body of her granddaughter, 8-year-old Iyana, was found 12 days later in a nearby creek. In February, a man was convicted in the killings and sentenced to life in prison. Lowery credits her churchs pastor with helping her go back to the single-family home in Bennettsville, which she shares with grandson Tyreon, a teenager on the autism spectrum. Lowery said she is Tyreons sole caregiver. Paying for diabetes care along with bills for food and housing has been a constant financial strain that put her in debt. Many Americans are facing similar hardships. In addition to NPRs findings, research from the American Diabetes Association said people with the disease have more than twice the medical expenses annually as those without the disease. Because diabetes is a chronic illness, there are always six-month appointments, said Donna Dees, who lives in Georgia and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2008. Every six months, go to the doctor, youve got lab work. So thats how the costs keep building up and building up. Dees built up thousands of dollars in medical debt and got help from RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit group that says it wiped out more than $8 billion in medical debt. A drug that once helped Lowery, Ozempic, is now too costly for her. She was getting it delivered to her home but didnt meet her copays, and the bills piled up as unpaid debt. Soon, the deliveries stopped. She tried to renew the prescription at the local pharmacy. I went to get it and the woman told me, I dont think youre going to be able to afford this. I said, Why not? She said, Because its seven hundred and some dollars.' In Lowerys hometown, others are struggling too. More than 1 in 3 residents of the surrounding county have medical debt in collections, and 1 in 3 live in poverty. The area once hummed with manufacturing companies, restaurants and other amenities. Then, one by one, employers moved out. South Carolina as a whole has nearly 100,000 fewer manufacturing jobs than it did in 2000. Bennettsville used to be a more thriving community years ago, said Lowerys health care provider, nurse practitioner Pat Weaver. With a lot of our plants leaving for, you know, overseas in the last 15-20 years really made a devastating impact. We used to have a hospital here and now we no longer have that. It is very poor. Weaver works for CareSouth, a nonprofit health center that has a federal government designation as a safety-net provider. She says that of the 3,300 appointments she takes each year, more than 90% of the people she treats have Type 2 diabetes. Half the households in the city have an income of less than $32,000. Lower-income residents often cant or dont choose the kinds of healthy meals that would help them control their diabetes, she said. The fast foods dont help at all, and a lot of people just eat it every day, and thats a problem. It truly is, Weaver said. But we have programs to help them. We even have a program where we take patients to the grocery store and we teach them what to buy. The center has a sliding-fee scale based on ability to pay and an in-house pharmacy that uses a federal program to keep drug prices down. The Urban Institute and others say a simple policy change could prevent others from getting to such a difficult stage in their disease and finances: Expand Medicaid. South Carolina is one of 10 states that declined to do so. Theres evidence from other states that people became healthier and owed less money to medical providers after Medicaid expansion. Breaking down racial disparities in diabetes prevalence Breaking down racial disparities in diabetes prevalence Diabetes rates in the US Regional disparities Disparities among Pacific Islanders Disparities in mortality This week (or was it last week?) marks an anniversary for this reporting effort: 30 years ago this column first appeared in three central Illinois newspapers. One of those brave beginners, the Bloomington Pantagraph, continues to publish it weekly. Thirty years of anything seems like it should be a big deal and yet, on the farm, 30 years is often viewed as just a good start. My father, after all, farmed for 45 years and his Uncle Honey, who helped out on our farm and occasionally set parts of it ablaze worked 50 years as, first, a milkman and, later, an absent-minded tractor driver with matches. A Nebraska farmer friend just planted either his 74th or 75th crop. In truth, the key number in my line of work is making deadline. So far, Im shooting par on a tough course: In three decades of weekly free-lance columning, Im 1,560 out of 1,560. Come to think of it, He made this deadline, too might be a good epitaph for my final edition on this good earth. Like many of lifes pleasant curveballs, this writing life was unplanned. In college I was on a slow train think milk-run slow for a degree in farm management when an out-of-patience dean handed me a one-way ticket back to the farm. Come see me when youre serious about being here, he announced, and good luck. He spared me his more embarrassing assessment: And good riddance. Two years later (I mentioned slow, right?), he readmitted me as a married, 23-year-old, mid-year junior. His only condition, however, was a big one: To stay, I will need to see some great grades from you. Great grades meant writing, a part-time gig I played in my previous stay at the Big U for dorm buddies who couldnt tell a verb from a Volkswagen. Many happily paid a modest retainer, usually in brewed refreshments, for me to show them the difference. The return to writing was destiny. Sixteen weeks and four credit hours of A later, the dean wore an optimistic smile and I glimpsed a path to fulfilling work. Eighteen months after that I had a degree, a job in ag journalism, and little idea of how it all happened. That was 40 years and more than a million words ago. The early years of story chasing first at Pro Farmer, next at Successful Farming and, later, eight years as a free-lance contributing editor at Farm Journal - built contacts and confidence. What it didnt build was certainty. Free-lance anything writing, plumbing, fishing, farming is a roller coaster: When you work, you work like a fool and when you dont, you worry like a fool that youll never work again. That reality hit hard in early 1993 when the boss at Farm Journal, a magazine that had bought every sentence I had typed for almost a decade, telephoned to fire me. His reason was inarguable; You cant walk down the middle of the road anymore, he said. True, nor did I want to because most of agricultures milk-and-honey middle was being hogged by aggressive corporate newcomers and integrators aiming to dominate livestock, meatpacking, machinery, and crop biotechnology. Left to compete on the pothole-filled edges were thousands of small- and middle-sized farmers, ranchers, and rural communities struggling to just survive in their now-unrecognizable, increasingly commoditized world. The swift changes brought story after story that most ag magazines didnt want to publish because their readerships were rapidly changing, too, and the publishers, like their readers, were struggling to understand Big Ags growing presence and already outsized influence in both the marketplace and government. So most just favored stories that favored their now ever-fewer, ever-more influential advertisers over their ever-disappearing readers. That role reversal, fueled by the rapid rise of the internet, however, made space for others to take up the challenge, and there I was with time, an empty bank account, two growing children, and the lovely Catherine to encourage me. Then you took over and here we are, 1,561 weeks down the road. Give or take a week that is. Thank you. The national-level Democratic Party and grassroots Democrats are distinct entities. Each has its own principles and ambitions. A profound schism separates the two. Values advocated by todays elite Democrats are not ones favored by old-school vote-lever pullers. John F. Kennedy famously said: This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor. But one doesnt hear similar rhetoric from highly situated Democrats in this era. Instead, theyre concerned with anti-Christian phenomena like transexualism. (The necessary implication being that the infallible Deity erred.) The Democratic establishment advocates for globalism and corporate hegemony over workers, whereas average Democrats traditionally supported small businesses, and working men and women. Historically, grassroots voters endorsed strong borders and cherished our unique national identity. But todays party leaders have abandoned those, instead opening floodgates to migrants of whom we know little. They will change our culture in ways we wouldnt vote for. One stride toward equal justice Democrats endorsed in decades past was womens rights. But todays national Democrats are welcoming hordes of backward foreigners who bring with them cultural bias against such equality. And there is abortion. Or, more accurately characterized, infanticide. While polls indicate general support for early procedures, endorsement drops off sharply for later baby killing. Except among top Democrats like former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam. The national partys platform contains no prohibitions against abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Elitist Democrats have ideological comrades in corporate boardrooms and even in dark-of-night criminal acts. Privately-owned, DNC-donating corporations are pushing transexualism. Bud Light and Target recently made headlines for that. And the L.A. Dodgers sponsored a Catholic nun-mocking drag group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, whose all-ages show included a pole dance around a life-size crucifix. Hostility Against Churches Is On the Rise In the United States is a recent report issued by the Family Research Council. The report cites 69 hostile acts including arson, and gun and bomb-related crimes, in 29 states in the first quarter of 2023. Thats already up from last year. The First Amendment guarantees citizens religious liberty. But the increasing prevalence of liberal hate speech codes and laws inhibits free expression, including of the Bible-based variety. Many average registered Democrats attend churches regularly and recognize divine authority. So, why do they choose to defy divine will and vote for a nonrepresentative party? A man with JFKs principles would not be welcome in todays Democratic Party. Recall what the party of his day stood for: Religious freedom. Sovereignty. A strong national defense. American exceptionalism. Genuinely equal justice. Economic strength. Cultural unity. Robust law and order. If youre a rank-and-file Democrat and support those values, know that the national party no longer does. You cant put your arms around a memory, as a song once advised. So, why be a Democrat today? PRAIRIE DU CHIEN The celebration here will be centered on St. Feriole Island, a historic, flood-prone spot along the Mississippi River that was an active fur trading stop and later home to the Dousman House, a grand hotel constructed in 1864 to serve railroad passengers traveling to and from Milwaukee. But before there was a railroad, hotel, Fort Crawford and Europeans in search of beaver pelts, this was home to Indigenous tribes. So when the 350th anniversary of Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliets expedition is commemorated later this week, there will be a conscious effort to recognize the Native American people who have called this area home for thousands of years. This would be long before the French Jesuit missionary and a French Canadian explorer paddled through Wisconsin in search of a water route from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean. I think whats really interesting is that they wouldnt have gotten here had it not been for the Indigenous people that helped them along the way, and were finally recognizing that, said Carol Roth, executive director of Driftless Development, the regions economic development organization. Weve done a lot. I dont think weve ever planned so much for so many people to potentially arrive over the three days. One of the examples of the help from Native Americans, according to Roth, came when the expedition was paddling up the north-flowing Fox River after leaving St. Ignace, Michigan, on May 17, 1673. The group paddled through Lake Michigan and into what is now the Bay of Green Bay. When they reached what is now Berlin, after a more than 70-mile paddle on the Fox River, they were guided by members of the Mascoutin tribe to Portage, where the expedition encountered an overgrown area filled with wild rice. Thanks to the guides, they were able to find their way and carry their canoes and gear to the Wisconsin River. After arriving at the Mississippi River in mid-June, the expedition headed south before turning around in Arkansas on July 16 across from modern Rosedale, Mississippi, after confirming the river did flow to the Gulf of Mexico and due to fears of being captured by the Spanish. After heading north, they cut across Illinois via the Illinois River and then paddled north along Wisconsins Lake Michigan shoreline before arriving on Sept. 30 at the St. Francis Xavier Mission in what is now DePere. Historic journey Marquette and Jolliets (also spelled Joliet) voyage, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, helped to initiate the first non Native-American settlement in the North American interior that introduced Christianity into 600,000 square miles of wilderness and transformed traditional Indian cultures. The celebration in Prairie du Chien will conclude June 18 and is expected to draw an estimated 30,000 people. It will include a rendezvous encampment with an estimated 350 reenactors, a smaller voyager encampment, walking tours of the citys historic downtown, arrowhead displays, voyager canoe rides and flint making demonstrations. One of the more colorful and educational events of the weekend celebration will be from Native Spirit, a Native American dance troupe based in Phoenix, Arizona. The group, founded in 1997, gives performances throughout the country and will do three shows each on Friday and Saturday. On June 18, the group will perform two shows plus be in the parade that begins at 1 p.m. The dance troupe uses its art as a vehicle to tell the stories of its people and to help keep its culture alive. For Indigenous people, Marquette and Jolliet are like Columbus Day. It represents conquest. Its represents the beginning of what would ultimately be the unraveling of their culture with its connection to the land, said Michael Douglas, a historian and former longtime site director at the Villa Louis, the former estate of the H. Louis Dousman family on St. Feriole Island. Weve been hung up on the word celebration. We are celebrating our heritage but were not celebrating conquest. Prairie du Chien Mike Valley has owned Valley Fish and Cheese in the city for 40 years and helped start the annual Prairie Villa Rendezvous nearly 50 years ago. His family arrived in the area in the 1700s and at the time spelled their last name Vallee. At that time the city was populated by French Canadians, many of whom had Native American spouses. Later, there were also families of African Americans. Valley collects historic artifacts, and when we stopped by for an impromptu visit last week had just pulled out a batch of catfish from his smoker. He then showed off a wooden scale used to measure gun power and tools from the early 1800s. One of his more impressive collections is a can full of trading beads and turtles claws that he has found through the years in the river and in caves. My heritage is really deep and embedded in me, Valley said. Being a commercial fisherman and trapping, hunting and fishing all my life, Im much more deeply involved than being just a French person. This weeks events, which are also being organized by the citys Main Street program, include historical displays at the Fort Crawford Museum. The maps, paintings and artifacts help tell the story of Marquette and Jolliet, the first Europeans to see the Upper Mississippi River. Mary Antoine, a board member of the Prairie du Chien Historical Society, said the exhibit represents not only the expedition but the French culture they brought with them and their interactions with Native Americans. This is very important because this is where they found the Mississippi River for the first time, Antoine said. We dont say discovered because it had already been discovered by the Native people. Same goes for the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, where communities such as Sauk City, Mazomanie, Boscobel and Muscoda are relatively new entities when compared with the Native American communities. When Marquette and Jolliet paddled through the state, there were no paper mills, power dams or the impoundment upriver from Prairie du Sac known as Lake Wisconsin. Likewise, the Mississippi River was void of locks and dams, and near Prairie du Chien there was the Nine Mile Prairie and farmland that has since been flooded due to development that allows barge traffic to safely navigate from Minneapolis to New Orleans. But while Prairie du Chien will be the epicenter of Marquette and Jolliet celebrations this week, it should be noted that the duo likely never set foot on the land that is now a city of more than 5,500 people. The confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers is more than 3 miles south of St. Feriole Island. They probably got to the mouth of the Wisconsin and turned left, Douglas said. Thats the reality. Photos: Documenting the shipwrecks of Wisconsin Shipwrecks Shipwrecks Shipwrecks We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form According to this new information the Russians have known about alien civilizations for several decades, to many this comes as no surprise,... Cover Images/Darla Khazei Celebrity The 'Goodfellas' actor is expected to mark his upcoming 80th birthday with a three-day event, De Niro Con, after he receives the key to New York City from Mayor Eric Adams. Jun 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Robert De Niro will be feted with his own festival in honour of his 80th birthday. The "Raging Bull" actor hits the milestone in August and, from September 29 - October 1, a three-day fan event will take place to celebrate the life and work of the screen legend, his Tribeca festival co-founder and producing partner Jane Rosenthal has confirmed. "It's hard to know what to get Bob for his 80th birthday," Jane said at a ceremony on Wednesday, June 7, where De Niro was presented with the key to New York City by Mayor Eric Adams. "He's already got a gold watch, so we decided to celebrate him and his enduring legacy with a fun filled fan event as well as pay tribute to his unwavering dedication to his films, art, and the city he loves." De Niro Con will feature appearances by the "Meet the Fockers" star himself as well as some guest stars and "recreations of iconic film sets, immersive installations, classic film screenings, musical performances, and panel conversations." The private event this week was held at the actor's Tribeca grill before the Tribeca Festival opening night and was attended by the likes of Martin Scorsese, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, Brendan Fraser, Debra Messing, Noah Centineo, Dianna Agron, Billy Porter, and Piper Perabo. Mayor Adams told the guests De Niro had "opened our hearts for years and for generations." He added, "From 'Mean Streets' and 'Taxi Driver' to 'Raging Bull,' and 'Goodfellas', [De Niro's] work remains an iconic part of New York City, as much as he is himself For his decades of contribution to film and philanthropic support of New York City, I am honoured to present Robert De Niro with a Key to the City of New York." The "Taxi Driver" star said, "The true key to the city is its people and I am honoured to accept that recognition on behalf of my eight and a half million neighbours." Director Scorsese hailed his frequent collaborator "very much a visionary" for his work on the city's film festival. He added, "Tribeca Festival is an indomitable institution and a beacon, and Tribeca itself is the most vibrant, alive location. It's the place to be and will continue to grow. It's amazing he did all of this without having the keys until now so there's more to come!" You can share this post! Warner Bros. Pictures Movie Lorenzo Di Bonaventura dishes on what to expect from the upcoming 'Meg 2: The Trench' starring Jason Statham, teasing 'more shark attacks' and 'more crazy ideas.' Jun 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lorenzo Di Bonaventura has teased that "Meg 2: The Trench" will be bigger and bolder than the original film. The 66-year-old movie producer is among the team behind Jason Statham's forthcoming shark sequel and has promised that the fun will be ramped up in this installment. "It's really held its appeal, so in making this movie, one of the things we learned is you could add more comedy than we originally thought in a shark movie, in a way," Lorenzo said when quizzed by Collider on how the flick has been performing at test screenings. "So I think this movie is probably funnier. There's certainly some big laughs in it. There's more shark attacks. There's more crazy ideas that we've tested out on the audience. So the movie, it's testing well, but more importantly, the audience seems to be relating to it very similar to the first movie." Di Bonaventura explained that audiences will cope with more shark attacks due to the lack of gore in the film. He said, "They push back on the blood. As long as you don't do gore, they sort of accept the fun nature of it, you know? And I think because of the fun nature, it takes the edge off it a little bit." "But at the same time, the movie needs to have some edge, or else it feels like it becomes a spoof or something, and that's definitely not what it is. So, I think the trickiest thing about 'The Meg' is keeping that balance between violence and humour." The producer is refusing to discuss whether Statham's character Jonas Taylor punches a shark in this movie. He said, "Maybe we top that idea. He might tap in a really violent way. He kicks a shark!" You can share this post! Cover Images/Marion Curtis/StarPix Celebrity The 'Gypsy' actress and her husband first sparked marriage rumors after they were spotted wearing matching rings and wedding attire in New York City on Friday, June 9. Jun 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup have officially tied the knot. The "Gypsy" actress confirmed marriage rumors between the two by sharing some photos from their special day, and she even called Billy her "hubby" in one of the snaps. In the said picture, which was shared on Instagram Story on Saturday, June 10, the 54-year-old beauty and her husband could be seen smiling at the camera. Prior to that, the British star unleashed an image of the two on the steps of a courthouse and captioned it, "Hitched!" The latter post has been flooded with congratulatory comments from fellow celebrities. Among them was Naomi's ex, Liev Schreiber, who gushed, "Congratulations!!! Gorgeous!!!" Gwyneth Paltrow exclaimed, "Yipeeeeeee!!!! Sending so much love!!" Justin Theroux added, "CONGRATS YOU TWO!!!!!" while Miranda Kerr simply commented, "Congratulations." Naomi and Billy made headlines on Friday after they were spotted wearing matching rings and wedding attire as they returned to their apartment in New York City. In photos surfacing online, Naomi was seen wearing an Oscar de la Renta Sweetheart Water Lilly Guipure Dress as she held a bouquet of white flowers in her hand. Billy, for his part, looked dapper in a navy blue suit that covered a white button-up shirt. The actor was seen carrying luggage with his wife walking behind him. The lovebirds, who portrayed husband and wife on "Gypsy", got close while filming the Netflix series. They went public with their romance in February 2018 at BAFTAs after-party in London, England. Naomi was previously in an 11-year romantic relationship with Liev. The former couple, who shares two children together, called it quits in 2016. As for Billy, he is a father to 19-year-son William, whom he shares with Mary-Louise Parker. Billy reportedly left her for Claire Danes when she was seven months pregnant with their child in 2003. You can share this post! Sixty years ago this week, Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood became the first Black students to successfully enroll in courses at the University of Alabama. Starting Sunday, June 11, the university will host a series of public events commemorating the 60th anniversary of their enrollment a day that officials say changed Alabama and the nation and marked the beginning of desegregation efforts throughout the state. Tell us -- do you have a memory about desegregating an Alabama school or university in 1963? Email alabamaedlab@al.com to share your story. On June 11, 1963, the two students, accompanied by a motorcade of federal marshals, arrived at Foster Auditorium, where they intended to register for classes. Blocking the way was Former Gov. George Wallace, who, just five months earlier, promised Alabamians that he would uphold segregation at all costs. By attending the University of Alabama, I had the privilege of representing all those who fought for simple justice, Malone Jones said in a commencement speech in 2000, recalling the infamous Stand at the Schoolhouse Door. Malone Jones and Hoods enrollment came nearly a decade after a Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that ruled school segregation unconstitutional. Throughout that time, other Black students attempted to integrate the University of Alabama, but none were successful. Autherine Lucy Foster and Polly Anne Myers first sought admission to the university in 1952. After a three-year legal battle, officials admitted Lucy Foster but rejected Myers on the grounds that she had a child before marriage. Lucy Foster attended her first classes at the university on Feb. 3, 1956, a Friday. The following Monday, violent white mobs rioted outside the education building where she attended class, and pelted her with eggs and death threats as she escaped, face-down in a patrol car, to the safety of a nearby barbershop. Officials expelled her that night, claiming it was for her own safety. Read more: Autherine Lucy Foster, first Black student at University of Alabama, remembered before funeral Malone Jones, a Mobile native, became the first Black student to graduate from the University of Alabama in 1965, earning her bachelors degree in business management. She later went on to become the director of civil rights, urban affairs and environmental justice for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before retiring in 1996. 14 1 / 14 Autherine Lucy Foster In 2000, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from UA. Malone Jones died in 2005. Hood left the university after only two months and went on to earn a bachelors degree at Wayne State University in Michigan, and a masters degree from Michigan State University. He worked at Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin for 26 years, retiring in 2002 as chairman of public safety services in charge of police and fire training. Hood returned to Tuscaloosa in 1995 and earned a doctorate in interdisciplinary studies in 1997. He retired to Gadsden and died in January 2013 at the age of 70. The University of Alabama dedicated a clock tower and plaza located near Foster Auditorium to Malone Jones, Hood, and Lucy Foster in 2010. This weekend, the university will hold an observance at 213 Bryant Conference Center on June 11 at 11:30 a.m. The School of Music was scheduled to hold a concert that evening at 6 p.m. at Denny Chimes, but will postpone the event due to inclement weather. On June 12, the film Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment documenting the events of June 11, 1963, will be shown at 1:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium. John Giggie, director of the UA Summersell Center for the Study of the South, will lead a discussion following the film. More events commemorating the 60th anniversary will be held throughout the year and will be announced at later dates. Thousands of Afghan refugees now living in the United Kingdom were told last week in a secret crisis conference in Downing Street that they risk becoming homeless this August. According to The Guardian, around 8,000 Afghan refugees who were admitted to the UK in 2021 under the initiative Operation Warm Welcome are set to be removed from hotels as early as August due to a government deadline. Last Thursday's emergency meeting, June 8, occurred just before the prime minister covertly changed a contentious provision of the asylum legislation from the previous year. On Sunday, June 11, a parliamentary committee argued that Rishi Sunak's illegal immigration bill violates many international human rights standards and would lead to the UK "turning its back on the vast majority of refugees." The joint committee on human rights issues a scathing report, urging the UK to live up to its legal commitments to refugees, children, and victims of modern slavery. Authorities Met With Private Contractors To Discuss "Low-Cost" Asylum Seeker Relocation On Thursday, authorities met with a number of Home Office private contractors to investigate "low-cost" solutions for relocating as many as 50,000 asylum seekers now staying in hotels. But it was clear right away that governments would have a hard time helping because there were not enough homes. As the number of small boat crossings rises in response to better weather, pressure on the system is expected to increase further. Sunak said last Monday that the government had bought two additional massive barges to shelter about 1,000 people in an effort to minimize the number of asylum seekers living in hotels, which allegedly costs 6 million ($7 million) a day. The acquisition has prompted new concerns about cost-effectiveness, though. Also Read: UK Net Migration Reaches New Record High Despite Government Cutbacks, Student Visa Crackdown UK's Illegal Immigration Law May Breach Several International Human Rights Norms Experts believe the government's lack of safe locations to accommodate asylum seekers is a major concern that might derail the success of the government's illegal migration bill, as reported by The Guardian. Ministers would be given the authority to hold and deport anybody who enters the UK unlawfully under this new law. Based on the Refugee Council's analysis, over 190,000 individuals might end up in prison or homeless in the first three years of the bill's implementation. However, current numbers exceed available space. Thus it is uncertain where such a large group may be kept. The joint committee on human rights has issued a report stating that if the measure were to pass in its present form, the UK would be in violation of international human rights law. Among these shortcomings would be the elimination of the right to appeal after age determinations, the denial of protection to victims of modern slavery, and the inability to access the asylum system for refugees. Also Read: UK Migration Bill: Archbishop of Canterbury Warns Against Potential Damages @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When you go to the beach, you expect to see dolphins, seagulls and a variety of sea life. But black bears on the beach? Or swimming in the surf? That might surprise you. Its not uncommon, said Captain Chris Kirby, a charter boat captain for Charter Boat Backlash, which operates out of Destin. There are a lot of bears at Eglin Air Force Base. They swim across the bay. Sometimes they go for a joy swim. Thats what appeared to happen on Sunday just after noon, when a number of beachgoers had a close encounter with a bear that swam in from the Gulf and ran ashore at Destin. It ran past beach umbrellas and beach chairs in front of Silver Dunes Condominium, and kept going. Jennifer Majors Smith, who is from Pensacola, shared videos on Facebook. Never have I ever.seen a black bear swim up out of the Gulf Coast and onto the beach (and Im from Pensacola), she wrote. Posted by Jennifer Majors Smith on Sunday, June 11, 2023 Posted by Jennifer Majors Smith on Sunday, June 11, 2023 At first no one on shore could tell what it was in the ocean, Smith, who is vacationing from Nashville, told AL.com. A man was yelling out Bear! You would expect shark or dolphin but not bear. It came out of the Gulf and look tired but relieved. Of course, my animal loving son started following it, so my mother-in-law grabbed him. We were all shocked by and amazed to see what we saw. We were all glad to see him safe from the water. We all enjoy a dip in the water, but who knows how long he was in there. Another angle came from the All Things Emerald Coast Facebook page. Black bear swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in Destin, the caption said. He made it to the shore and took off. A video of the same bear from another angle coming ashore was shared on Twitter. It showed several people watching as the small bear swam ashore and ran up on the beach, shaking the water out of its fur like a dog. Also spotted on the beach: An alligator Captain Kirby, who grew up on the Gulf Coast, said hes seen bears swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and its nothing new and not that unusual. Everybodys just got cell phones now and they get pictures, he said. Another video shared Sunday on the Facebook page All Things Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach appear to show an adult black bear walking underneath a pier on the beach on the Santa Rosa Sound. Posted by Jennifer Majors Smith on Sunday, June 11, 2023 See also: Sea Lab defends euthanasia; sperm whale pulled from Mobile Bay World-famous Medjugoje visionary Marija Lunetti, who says she has been seeing daily apparitions of the Virgin Mary since she was 16 in 1981, is planning a return to the site of her outdoor visions in Alabama next month. Lunetti, who lives in Medjugorje, in Bosnia-Herzogovina, was one of six children who said the Virgin Mary began appearing to them daily in 1981. Their claims of simultaneous visions from the mother of Jesus has drawn millions of religious pilgrims to the small village that was in the former Yugoslavia before the Bosnian War from 1992-95. Lunetti plans a return visit to Caritas in Shelby County, said Caritas founder Terry Colafrancesco, who hosted Lunetti, then known as Marija Pavlovic, on her first visit to Alabama in 1988, when she donated a kidney at UAB Hospital for her brother, Andrija. Lunetti will be staying at Caritas from July 1-5, Colafrancesco said. Lunetti stayed at the Colafrancesco home in 1988 and on many return visits, continuing her daily visions there and in a nearby field. The property has since been turned into a shrine promoting the Medjugorje visions. The Roman Catholic Church has neither affirmed nor condemned the visions, but has allowed pilgrims to continue to visit Medjugorje. In 2019, Pope Francis, who previously expressed skepticism about the visions, approved Catholic bishops visiting and leading groups there. The Medjugorje visions have been compared to the visions at Lourdes, Frances in 1858 and Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, which have been approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Lunetti told AL.com on a previous visit she believes Medjugorje will one day be approved by the church, but not until she and the other visionaries have died because the messages are being monitored for possible heresy or statements against church teaching. Colafrancesco said the Virgin Mary has told the Medjugorje visionaries their visions will be the last such apparitions. These are the last apparitions on earth, Colafrancesco said. This is the grand finale. Although Medjugorje was shut down for pilgrims in 2020 during the pandemic, pilgrimage tours have resumed there, Colafrancesco said. Caritas, one of the leading tour organizers to Medjugorje, took three tour groups on pilgrimages there in 2022. Caritas of Birmingham has led 295 pilgrimage trips to Medjugorje since it started taking tours there in 1986, taking a total of 15,000 pilgrims on the trips. Colafrancesco plans to go to Medjugorje on June 20 and return by the end of the month, bringing Lunetti, her husband, Paolo, and their youngest son, Giovanni, back to Alabama. Lunetti will stay at Caritas, which will welcome pilgrims from around the country for the visit. Notifications have been sent out to the Caritas mailing list of more than 150,000. Caritas is also advertising the event on its web site, Mej.com. At least two tour buses from Canada will be bringing pilgrims, said Joan McDonald, a member of the Caritas staff. Lunetti has not been to Alabama since before the pandemic, in the fall of 2019, when she attended the wedding of Colafrancescos daughter, Bridget. Her last public apparitions in the field at Caritas were in 2013. Its not certain whether she will have one of her daily visions in the Shelby County field where she has previously done so, but crowds will be allowed to gather there for prayer, including for a patriotic rosary on July 4. Lunetti says the Virgin Mary tells her during each daily vision at what time and where she will appear the next day. When Lunetti has a vision, she looks into the air and appears to be listening and speaking with someone hovering above her that cannot be seen by others. She receives messages that are usually asking people to pray. In 2015, Pope Francis warned Catholics not to be reliant for their faith on visionaries reporting visits from the Virgin Mary. Being Christian is not looking for those who always have something new to reveal, saying, Where are the seers who will tell us today about the letter that Our Lady will send at four oclock in the afternoon? for example, Pope Francis said today in his morning Mass on June 6, 2015. The pope said Christians should not rely on visionaries that tell you this or that: no, the last word of God is Jesus Christ, there is no other! At the time, some predicted Pope Francis would issue a report condemning the visions at Medjugorje. So far, that has not been the case. Dozens of believers in the Medjugorje visions live at the Caritas farm in Alabama, raising cattle, chicken and other animals, and praying daily. Its on Shelby County Highway 43 near Sterrett. In 2022, Colafrancesco opened an outdoor dining area on U.S. 280 in Birmingham called Villagio Colafrancesco. It includes a coffee shop, charcuterie shop and a gelato shop licensed by Old Bridge Gelateria, which is just outside the Vatican in Rome and a favorite stop for visitors to Rome. Workers from Old Bridge in Rome came to Birmingham to train the Caritas workers how to make the gelato using the same ingredients, recipe and equipment as in Rome. The gelato shop garnered social media buzz due to its ground rules that include a dress code and no use of cell phones or laptop computers, which Colafrancesco said was to encourage people to talk instead of looking at their phones. See also: Gelato shop bans cell phones, profanity, scantily clad patrons, promotes Virgin Mary An Athens woman was killed Saturday night in a Limestone County crash. The single-vehicle accident happened about 9:15 p.m. on June 10, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Jessica N. Wise, 36, was fatally injured when the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado that she was driving left the roadway and overturned, state troopers said. Wise was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene, according to troopers. The crash occurred on Alabama 127 near the 9 mile marker, about two miles north of Elkmont. Troopers are continuing to investigate, said Corporal Reginal M. King. Former President @realDonaldTrump made an unscheduled stop at a @WaffleHouse in Columbus GA this afternoon. Heres video that @WTVM captured. I wonder what food he ordered: https://t.co/w3cKnkld1p pic.twitter.com/4oKh8Lvqml Jason Dennis (@JasonDennisWTVM) June 11, 2023 Donald Trump swung by a nearby Waffle House after his roughly 90-minute speech to Georgia GOP delegates, where roughly 100 supporters and customers greeted the former president. He was joined by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during his quick stopover at the iconic Georgia-based chain. WTVM reported that Secret Service agents left with a to-go bag full of food. Keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, a woman there told the former president. Trump signed autographs, posed for photos and chatted with supporters, The Associated Press reported. From APs coverage: We did absolutely nothing wrong, Trump said of federal authorities unsealing a lengthy indictment accusing him of mishandling national security secrets and then covering up his actions. He then went on to speak to another Republican audience in North Carolina. Trump shortly ago addressed the indictment at a Waffle House pit stop pic.twitter.com/YQ9r69KlMR Alex Isenstadt (@politicoalex) June 10, 2023 Trump bought everyone at Waffle House in Georgia food and said: Dont eat too many waffles pic.twitter.com/ptn3Cqt6ug Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 10, 2023 "Waffles on Trump!" President Trump just showed up at a Waffle House in Georgia and bought everyone breakfast. pic.twitter.com/hgQycpuRyF Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 10, 2023 To the Soldiers, Airmen, Family, and Friends of the Alabama National Guard, Sixty years ago, our predecessors made an indelible mark on the history of our state and our nation. Not just my predecessor, Maj. Gen. Henry Graham, who stood face-to-face with his governor so that justice may prevail, nor the predecessors of our Alabama Guardsmen, 100 ofwhom joined him in that tense confrontation. No, all who call Alabama home today share in the enduring lessons of that moment, and live out its legacy day by day. I have been blessed to see so much change in these 60 years. Two years after that incident in the University doorway, I watched from my front door in Selma as marchers filled the streets headed to the Capitol. In the years since, I have watched the world change in ways that only the bravest among us dared to dream was possible. As an educator in my civilian career, Ive watched how the systems and the students in this state have grown since the walls of segregation were torn down. I am proud of how far we have come. But I am more proud to think back over these many decades and realize that the essence of this Alabama National Guard has not changed. For longer than I can remember, we have been always ready, always there for the people we protect. We have remained dedicated to our duty to serve and defend all Americans and Alabamians. For decade after decade, our ranks have been filled with men and women with a love for peace, and a fearless willingness to follow just and right orders no matter the cost. I am humbled to serve this state, I am proud to wear this uniform, and I am compelled by the weight of responsibility that comes with both. On June 11, 1963, the state of Alabama sent a message out to the world: that in Alabama, there were men and women of steel character who would not cave to the loudest screams of the crowd. Today, as we reflect on the anniversary of that Stand-off in the Schoolhouse Door, let us ask if future generations could say the same about us. And let us ensure that they will. Major General Sheryl Gordon has served as adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard since 2017. David Shers ComebackTown for a better greater Birmingham Click here to sign up for newsletter. (Opt out at any time) Todays guest columnist is Bill Ivey. Theres no way to understand Birmingham until you know its history. Slavery was never practiced in Birmingham because it wasnt founded until 1871, six years after the Civil War. But after its founding Birmingham took an ugly turn. Convict leasing was a system through which convicted criminals were leased by states to private individuals and companieswho were free to work the convicts as they saw fit. And, although all the former Confederate states utilized the system, it was worse in Alabama. Lets examine why it was so bad in Birminghamand how that legacy is still relevant. We have never grieved over this great injustice because we dont know about it. Its time to change the narrative. Today, countless folks in our area are helping to make this a much better place to live. They are the spiritual, civic, and political descendants of Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth and David Vann. Downtown is becoming cool. Birmingham receives national recognition for its food, tech sector, new downtown attractions, parks, and so on. But I think we are missing something massively important that is impeding our progress, so stay tuned until the end. Birmingham: The Southern Outlier For two reasons, Birmingham is unique among all large Deep South cities. It is the only one founded after the Civil War (1871). And, unlike other regional cities that were built on transportation and trade, Birmingham was founded on mining and manufacturing. Post-Reconstruction Alabama Imagine the scene in Alabama in 1874 when Union troops withdrew and Reconstruction essentially ended. The Civil War had taken the lives of 35,000 Alabamians and severely wounded 30,000 moreapproximately one in four adult males killed or wounded. The 2022 equivalent would be almost 400,000 statewide casualties. Alabama was devastated. And long-term reconstruction was a travesty, a myth. Former Union leaders were generally as prejudiced as former Confederate ones. So Northern politicians and businessmen quickly turned their attention to their exploding industrial economy. And turned their backs on the old Confederate states. Widows and orphans were all too common in Alabama. Most peopleWhite and Blacklived in desperate, dire poverty. Alabamas agrarian economy was a disaster. With a couple of generations of White men devastated by the War, how could the survivors move forward? More than 400,000 Blacks, almost half the states population, were free. How could the state rebuild its economy after losing its labor force? And, last, how would Alabama manage the collective White fears aimed at a huge number of free Blacks? The War and Reconstruction had temporarily thrown state politics into chaos. Where would tax revenue come from to support a fragile state government? How would Alabamas power brokers manage the new national framework and rebuild their state political structures? Keep in mind that, before Emancipation, Blacks werent included in the formal criminal justice system. They were either unjustly punished by slave owners or killed/lynched for alleged crimes by local mobs. Now the local and state governments of Alabama had to take on that responsibility, with little tax revenue to support those efforts. The main challenge for any government is to find a balance between liberty and order. Alabama chose order. Whites were so terrified of the free Blacks that they built legal walls around Black communities. Southern Blacks were caught in a horrific web; they lived in what we would understand as a police state. The old Slave Codes were converted into the Black Codes after the War. Among other things, the Codes criminalized joblessness for Blacks, forced them to sign annual labor contracts that ensured they received the lowest pay possible for their work, and denied them the right to vote (despite the 15th Amendment). Without proof of employment or a place of address, Blacks could be fined or jailed. Loitering and vagrancy were crimes, but Alabama made it nearly impossible for Blacks to find work or own property. And then punished them for idleness. The Convict Leasing System Such conditions allowed a great conspiracy to become possible: Alabama passed laws authorizing state prisoners to be leased to private industries. Most of those prisoners would be Black. Even before the War, Alabama was desperate for revenueand one way to minimize expenses and maximize revenues was to lease White prisoners to private companies and individuals (under the authority of a state warden). Also, beginning in the 1860s and 1870s, county prisoners were leased to small factories and the state-owned farm. Local sheriffs made money off of these arrangements. Social and political conflicts, poverty, and a racist legal system led to a growing number of Black prisoners. Naturally, the importance of the state penitentiary in Wetumpka and local jails increased tremendously during those years. With little tax revenue, how would such facilities be funded? Andwith the state economy in shambleshow could the state budget be funded? Birmingham, the New South city, provided the answer and thereby became the centerpiece of the story. Convict Leasing in Birmingham Birmingham was the only place in the U.S. that included the three essential ingredients for steel production: coal, iron ore, and limestone. Outside investors were drawn to the area and by the late 19th Century, iron manufacturing became the most important industry in Alabama. Steel production soon followed. Due to incredibly fortunate timing, as Alabamas old agrarian economy was shrinking, Birmingham was exploding as a Southern industrial and mining hub. This perfect storm fueled Alabamas New South economy. The state became the leading industrial center in the Deep Southand one of the hottest in the country. Birmingham, however, was faced with a severe labor shortage. Many people in rural central Alabama migrated for those jobs. In smaller numbers, so did agricultural workers from a wider radius, including men from other states. In addition, immigrants came from Europe5000 by 1890. But it was not enough. The state government was desperate for revenue and Birmingham needed cheap laborers. The solution came from an unholy alliance between the states still-powerful Black-Belt landowners and the new-money Birmingham industrialists, known as Big Mules. The Big Mules would lease as many convicts as possible. This is no Cool Hand Luke story; convict leasing was a horrific solution. One of the least understood and most dangerous systems of Black oppression in the post-Civil War South, it fueled the explosive growth in Birmingham and allowed the state government to survive. For Birminghams Big Mules, the convictsmostly Blackprovided an ideal workforce. They were cheap and docile, and their numbers helped the companies to suppress the union movement. And, as a result, White miners had no leverage. Diane McWhorter succinctly captured the plight of White miners in her epic history of the Birmingham civil rights battle, Carry Me Home: They were cheated on the coal they minedon the rents they paidat the company store, and summarily fired at the hint of complaint or union activity. The Birmingham Monopoly In 1883, convict leasing provided about 10% of the states total revenuea staggering amount of money. That year, however, everything changed. The legislature approved a plan to lease thousands of prisoners to three Birmingham companies: Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad (TCI); Pratt Coal and Iron (which TCI purchased in 1886); and Sloss Iron and Steel. Birmingham had gained a monopoly on the leasing of state convicts, 90-95% of whom were Black. The companies built and maintained unregulated prisons at various mine sites around the city. In 1888, however, TCI negotiated a 10-year contract to lease all able-bodied state prisoners. The company paid the state $9-18.50 per month for each prisoner; the scale depended on their health and abilities. Astonishingly, by 1898, the percentage of state revenue derived from convict leasing had increased to nearly 73%. The Big Mules became very wealthy from the forced, practically free labor of mostly Black prisoners. The working and living conditions were inhumane and often deadly. Prisoners were sent into mines with poor equipment and little if any training. They were exposed to dangerous conditions such as high gas levels, flooding, falling rock, and unstable explosives. Mine bosses had no incentive to treat the convicts well; with increasing quotas, they were motivated to literally work the miners to death. The mine managers forced the prisoners to eat terrible food, exposed them to communicable diseases (especially tuberculosis and pneumonia), and supplied them with contaminated wateramong other horrible conditions. Beatings and torture were common. McWhorter: Negroes were the cornerstone of their (Big Mules) industrial success. Segregationwith its sentimental life force, racismhad kept their workers divided, wages depressed. The industrialists had not invented segregation, but they had honed it into the ultimate money-making instrument. U.S. Steel Moved In In 1907, U.S. Steel acquired control of TCIessentially turning Birmingham into an economic colony of Pittsburgh. They continued to use prisoners for the next five years. By 1910, as many as 5,000 state and county prisoners were leased at any given time. Thousands of Black men sentenced to less than a year were being cycled through the system. The threat of arrest under trumped-up charges, followed by almost immediate forced labor in Birmingham, had become an all-too-familiar part of Black life in many rural areas. In 1911 an explosion at the Pratt Consolidated Coal Company Banner Mine (a TCI/U.S. Steel subsidiary mine located in northwestern Jefferson County) killed 128 men. Of the 128 dead, 114 were Black and 14 were White. 123 were convict workers and 5 were free (2 Whites and 3 Blacks). The Banner Mine explosion still ranks among U.S. historys 15 deadliest coal mine disasters. U.S. Steel, possibly the largest company in the world at that time, continued to utilize convict labor after 1907 Even with all the deaths on their watch between 1907 and 1912, the company has never taken responsibility. And Alabama was addicted to the convict leasing system: from 1907-1910 the state earned a profit of $1.3 million (about $43 million in current dollars). In 1912 U.S. Steel announced that it would employ only free workers in its mines. The state then took over the management of the convict leasing system, prompting several legislative efforts to end the practice during the ensuing 16 years. Although the Banner Mine disaster led to protests and negative national publicity, Birminghams Big Mules were able to fend off legislative attempts to end convict leasing and increase mine safety. Alabama had maintained the nations longest-running convict leasing system, from 1866 until 1928. Florida, the next-to-last state, had ended theirs in 1923. Why Bring It Up Now? A couple of years ago I was fortunate to be present at a brief presentation by Dr. Max Michael, former Dean of the UAB School of Public Health: Urban Blight Effects. I was stunned to learn that the effect of urban blight (high blood pressure, kidney disease, PTSD, for example) can be carried by DNA into at least the next two generations. Dr. Michaels insights led me to research the keywords and into a scientific field Id never heard of: Epigenetics. Heres a shorthand version of what I learned: A growing body of research suggests that trauma (childhood abuse, family violence, food insecurity, etc.) can be passed from one generation to the next. Trauma can leave a chemical mark on a persons genes, which is passed down to future generations. This mark doesnt cause a genetic mutation, but it does alter the mechanism by which the gene is expressed. (Therefore not genetic, but epigenetic) Im at best an amateur social scientist, but this lightning bolt from Dr. Michael, this epiphany, gave me a new perspective on our community. If convict leasing ended in 1928, is it not likely that many of the descendants of those men still live in our area? And wouldnt they carry (genetically and through family stories) the residual horrors of their great-grandfathers, grandfathers, and even their fathers? Keep in mind that scientists believe that these epigenetic effects may be carried beyond two generations; they just cant prove it yet. And this is not just a racial conundrum. What about poor Whites who were also exposed to violence and horrible working conditions? Who were denied the opportunity to join unions because there was always an available supply of virtually free Black labor? Who also lived in squalor? How have such conditions affected their descendants? What Can We Do? What we need in the Birmingham metro area is a scaled-down version of the Marshall Plan. The U.S. learned a hard lesson after World War I: Dont leave your defeated enemies living in political and economic chaos. Hitler rose out of those ashes and started World War II in Europe. So after World War II we implemented the Marshall Plan. In a now-celebrated speech delivered at the Harvard University commencement on June 5, 1947, Secretary of State George Marshall proposed a solution to the widespread hunger, unemployment, and housing shortages that faced Europeans in the aftermath of World War II. We spent $13.3 billion (about $163 billion in current dollars) to rebuild our enemies and restructure their economies. Unbelievable after what the Fascists and Nazis had donebut we did it. And it worked. Heres my second epiphany: There was no Marshall Plan for the defeated Confederacy. Except for a very brief, halfhearted, and ineffective Reconstruction, Union leaders left the Confederate states to fend for themselves. There was no reconstructionand our region still suffers from that. Our own Marshall Plan is not brain surgery. Figure out creative ways to work around the pathetic restrictions of our 1901 Constitution. Raise billions of dollars. Lift up poor Blacks and Whites. Eradicate substandard housing. Create the best public transportation system in the country. Build a high-tech economy to include some new Fortune 500 companies. Recruit educated employers and employees. We need a Richard Shelby-type czar to run the show, to kick the apathy and pettiness out of the region. We would become THE model, the most famous and admired metro area in the country. Lets not discuss why we cant do this. Bill Ivey is a retired coach and History/Government/Economics teacher who has a BS in Business from the University of Alabama and a Masters degree in History from UAB. He coached basketball and track for 25 years, including a 3-year stint as the womens basketball coach at UAB. After retiring from the public school system, he founded a nonprofit that assisted young male basketball players who had graduated from high school but had slipped through the cracks. He also founded and ran the Birmingham Basketball Academy until 2020. He and his wife Cathy lead the Carolyn Pitts Class for Social Justice (Sunday School), which meets online every Sunday morning. David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP). Click here to sign up for our newsletter. (Opt out at any time) When it comes to in-person shopping, one of the more frequent complaints I've encountered recently concerns self-checkout registers. It seems many people despise using them. I do not. Whether Kroger, Walmart, Lowes, or Home Depot, I almost always choose the self-checkout station over a cashier. In fact, I will wait in line for the self-checkout even when a line for an in-person cashier is unoccupied. It's not that I dislike human cashiers; it's just that I prefer being in control of the check-out process and the typical convenience of the self-checkout. There's another reason that I prefer the self-checkout: I never get solicited by a cashier at a self-checkout. It seems that retail, fast food, financial corporations, and the like are in the business these days of asking their customers to donate to one pet cause or another. If you happen to have to deal with a cashier today, a common method of "charitable" soliciting often goes something like this: "Would you like to round up your purchase to support (fill in the blank)?" My answer virtually every time: "No, thank you." This is not because I'm against charity; rather, it's because almost every corporation in America today has proven itself quite unworthy of stewardship over a single penny of my charitable income. In case you haven't noticed, one of the largest reasons we're currently in a "woke" war is due to the actions of corporate America. On virtually every moral issue facing the world today, most all of corporate America stands in opposition to the truth. Capitalism yes, even capitalism! climate change, crime, guns, immigration, abortion, the evil LGBT agenda corporate America is almost always on the wrong side of the truth. As is the case with our schools, our government, our media, and tragically even our churches, our corporations are merely a reflection of the culture at large. And as is the case with almost any American institution one can imagine, U.S. corporations are so often on the wrong side of the truth because there is a widespread ignorance of what is truth in America today. This is due to the widespread rejection of Christianity that prevails in America today. Instead of embracing the absolute, unchanging, undeniable truths of the universe given to us by the Author of truth Himself and living by those truths (whether we want to or not), for decades now, many Americans are deciding "what is truth" for themselves. In other words, many of us have rejected God as the ultimate authority in the universe and have decided to rule our own world. This secular humanist worldview dominates the thinking in corporate America today. Thus, instead of merely quietly and subtly heeding what is good and right, or simply acknowledging a preference to their bottom line, U.S. corporations today are dedicated to nonsense such as the "diversity, inclusion, and equity" (DIE) and "environmental, social, and governance" (ESG) scams. Both DIE and ESG are dogmatic rejections of truth that are born of modern leftist orthodoxy. Yet corporate America has embraced these boondoggles as a means of declaring to the world, "Look at how much we care!" If corporate America truly cared about the world we live in and the human beings who occupy it, then the likes of DIE and ESG would be rejected. If corporations truly had the well-being of humanity in mind, they would realize that true charity is or should be far more than words or actions that make us feel good. Additionally, charity is about more than simply giving to the poor. Charity must be rooted in truth. The most charitable person who ever lived Jesus Christ makes this clear. When Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, or even raised the dead, He did this not only to satisfy their physical needs though that is indeed a good thing. The ultimate goal of all of the good works of Jesus was to point people to a magnificent spiritual truth. In other words, the ministry of God feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick (things often deemed as "charitable") should never be separated from the message of God to repent of our sin and believe that Jesus was who He claimed to be: the Son of God and the Savior of the world. The ministry of God and the message of God both together complete the mission of God. In other words, any sound charity should ultimately help complete the mission of God. Thus, even if a corporation is doing what seems like legitimate charitable work, or even if it has ties to what many conclude are legitimate charitable organizations, given the current track record with the truth that is prevalent in corporate America today, I will not trust corporations with my charitable income. Instead, I choose to do my charitable giving directly myself. I encourage you to politely do the same. Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason. www.trevorgrantthomas.com Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America. tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com Image via Pxfuel. In the wake of the Covid pandemic U.S. Supreme Court Judge Neil Gorsuch recently declared, Since March 2020, we may have experienced the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country. Gorsuch also wrote, In the 1970s, Congress studied the use of emergency decrees. It observed that they can allow executive authorities to tap into extraordinary powers. Congress also observed that emergency decrees have a habit of long outliving the crises that generate them; some federal emergency proclamations, Congress noted, had remained in effect for years or decades after the emergency in question had passed. [Emphasis added.] When it comes to devouring citizens rights, the federal government, of course, has no monopoly. In fact, some of the most flagrant violations occur at the municipal level. As local governments face budget shortfalls, it is tempting for them to use excessive fines and fees for code violations to trim the gap in their budget deficits. The sad reality is that, instead of protecting the lives and rights of the citizens, municipalities and counties use them to make up for shortfalls in their budgets. Americas founding principle of No Taxation Without Representation is readily supplanted by Taxation By Citation. This new doctrine generates nasty conflicts of interest and violates the rights of ordinary Americans, many times ensnaring those who dont have the means to defend themselves in court. One of the most Kafkaesque abuses reported originates from the Shelby County Environmental Court in Tennessee. Division 14 of the Shelby County General Sessions Court, known locally as the Environmental Court, handles approximately 17,000 vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated single-family houses in neighborhoods across Shelby County. The truth is that the Shelby County Environmental Court is a gift that keeps on giving in Memphis neighborhoods. It is a necessary and powerful tool which we as a community should rally to support and strengthen, said Attorney Vincent Sawyer, who represents the Tennessee Receivership Group. The ugly reality is that, unlike real courts, the Environmental Court doesnt swear in witnesses, authenticate evidence, or even bother to record its proceedings, leaving defendants without a record with which to appeal. Regarding testimony, witnesses may stand up in the audience and speak. They do not have to take an oath to tell the truth. Thus, when they testify, there are no constraints (whether moral or in the form of a perjury charge) on their veracity. The court does not follow the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure or the Tennessee Rules of Evidence. Instead, the Environmental Courts proceedings are governed by the Shelby County General Session Rules, which are six pages long and are largely concerned with courtroom decorum. Boiled down to its essentials, the Environmental Court is not a court of record under Tennessee law. Often one finds waiting in the wings court-appointed housing organizations ready to make money off other peoples hardship with liens against their homes, placing them into receivership. The Environmental Court is an example of a governmental agency that was created to deal with a specific problem. In this case, an epidemic of blight that cropped up over the years due to huge numbers of abandoned homes. Originally designed to provide streamlined procedures for abandoned homes, the court operated largely in secret, totally lacking any oversight. Think of a train wreck waiting to happen. Sure enough, it wasnt long before the court went after owners of occupied, rather than abandoned, homes. Currently, the Environmental Court is weaponized to utterly destroy peoples lives. The Environmental Court wrecks Sarah Hohenbergs life Take the case of Sarah Hohenberg. Like Dantes inferno rings of hell, her ten-year trek through the Environmental Court has left her bankrupt and homeless, having lost all her possessions and become a fugitive from the law. The trouble began in June 2009 when violent storms ripped through Memphis, and two oak trees fell on her house while she and her daughter were sleeping. It was really so scary, and I just feel like were so lucky to be alive, said Hohenberg of the experience. The fallen trees destroyed the roof, forcing Hohenberg and her daughter to move into a two-room guest house out back. The situation worsened when her insurance company denied her claim for repairs. While Ms. Hohenbergs insurance paid for the removal of the trees and for temporary repairs to the home, it would not permanently fix the structure. She was forced to sue the insurance company for a more comprehensive settlement. While the suit was ongoing, her neighbors were concerned that repairs were not happening quickly enough. They sued her in Environmental Court and, eventually, the Evergreen Historic District, a non-profit entity, took over as plaintiff. The Environmental Court proceeding lasted a decade, leaving Hohenberg with an estimated $100,000 in attorneys fees. She was forced to file for bankruptcy and, during those proceedings, was stricken with a stroke. In 2018, a receiver took possession of her 3,500-square-foot residence. The Environmental Court ordered Hohenberg to sign a quit-claim deed so the house could be auctioned to the highest bidder. Ms. Hohenberg refused to sign the deed provoking the judge to issue a warrant for her arrest on contempt charges. Despite the last-ditch desperate maneuver, Hohenberg lost her home anyway. Hohenberg, who was nearly 70 and in frail health, feared that jail would kill her. At that point, she fled Tennessee and landed in Mississippi, where her son paid for her to stay at a hotel. The court then ordered her possessions out of the home and, unable to move her possessions herself or pay for someone to move them, the City of Memphis eventually threw her personal possessions into the street, leaving them vulnerable to plundering. Having seized Hohenbergs home of 25 years and destroyed her physical and mental health, on June 24, 2019, the Environmental Court callously dismissed her case. Ironically, her house remains standing but has continued to deteriorate and is now in worse shape than it was when the Environmental Court forced her to leave the property. I didnt think in a million years, because I owned my house, that they could come and take my house away from me and they did, Hohenberg said of the experience. Image: Sarah Hohenberg. Enter the Institute For Justice The Institute for Justice (IJ) is an activist nonprofit law firm that was founded in 1990 with a unique long-term strategic plan for success. As of June 2021, they have racked up an impressive eight Supreme Court victories. In fact, IJ claims that its attorneys win three out of four cases either through courtroom victories or legislative action spurred by their lawsuits. In June 2020, after enduring 11 years of unrelenting trauma, Ms. Hohenberg partnered with the Institute for Justice, which promptly filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. In August 2020, the suit was dismissed without even considering the merits. That was how matters stood until May 19, 2023, when, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated IJs case against the Shelby County Environmental Court. The Institutes case aims to ensure that the Environmental Court and similar housing courts across the country comply with the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Constitution forbids courts from depriving people of their property and liberty without proper procedural protections. The ruling provides an opportunity for IJ to continue to represent Sarah Hohenberg and fight for her rights. The battle continues. With John Durham and his report now pretty well closing the book on one of the most sordid episodes in American politics, one angle never pursued -- not even by Durham himself -- was to consider the illogic of the allegations against Donald Trump of collusion with Russia. While the Durham report does afford the nation a more detailed and complete account of the machinations set in motion to foist collusion deceptions and fabrications on the 2016 election and the American people, absent was any earnest effort to examine Russian motivations to corroborate the accusations of collusion. After all, it takes two to tango. We all have watched enough reruns of the long-running TV series Law & Order to know that District Attorney Jack McCoy and TV's NYPD detectives always tried to establish motive for a crime. Motive goes a long way to explain "who done it" and, more importantly, why. With Russia and collusion, Jack and the detectives would have been at a loss to make a case against President Trump, because right from the start, the whole idea of Russia colluding with the Trump campaign never made sense. In one word, what would be the Russians -- i.e., Vladimir Putins -- motive for colluding with Donald Trump? What did Russia stand to gain by colluding with Donald Trump? Had someone in authority thought it through and asked some pointed questions out loud -- and early on -- it may have spared the nation two-plus years of hyperpolitical intrigue and instead exposed the real culprits with their political dirty tricks. To this day, no one among the many who sought to mortally wound President Trump politically with collusion allegations ever provided the American public convincing rationale for why the Russians would have wanted a President Trump instead of a President Clinton. The mere accusation of collusion was to be a fait accompli. Stop for a moment to consider: Russia could have obtained most anything it wanted -- more easily and at less cost -- from a more pliable, soft, internationalist President Hillary Clinton. In reality, every international autocrat, dictator, and warlord almost certainly wanted a more malleable President Clinton over the nationalistic and assertive President Trump -- and a number spoke out saying so -- alarmed from the start that President Trump had openly adopted a more aggressive "America first" leadership approach to foreign and defense policy. Questions about motive become further compelling given the Trump Administration's more uncompromising U.S. policy vis-a-vis Russia. Russia felt, in the Trump administrations first year alone, consequences of more assertive U.S. defense and foreign policy. In November 2017, the U.S. approved the $10.5-billion sale of Patriot anti-missile systems to NATO ally Poland in the face of perceived Russian aggression. In December that same year, the U.S. authorized transfer of lethal anti-tank weapons to Ukraine to help that nation fight off Russian-backed separatists. U.S. troop presence in Eastern Europe increased over Obama-era levels to bolster European defenses against Russia, and the U.S. imposed monetary sanctions targeting bad individual Russian actors and companies instead of sanctioning that nation's sovereign debt. Further, the Trump administration pushed U.S. NATO allies to increase defense spending. In even more direct confrontations, Russian mercenaries and other pro-Syrian regime forces attacking U.S. troops in Syria were killed, while the U.S. under President Trump sanctioned Russian President Putin's largest geo-economic project, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe (which Biden then reversed). In hindsight, the Trump tenure, with its more forceful stance, likely cost President Putin a four-year-plus delay in his plan to invade Ukraine until after he saw the harried, chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden Administration as his green light to invade without major concerns over consequences or interference from the U.S. In contrast, Russia remembered Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the Obama administration. The clumsy "reset button" episode set the tone. The U.S. obliged the Kremlin by canceling missile defense systems for Central Europe. An Obama Administration's fuzzy line in the sand indecisiveness over Syrian chemical weapons made way for Russias effective military intervention in Syria. President Putin had to approve of President Obama's concessions to Iran for the nuclear deal, and it was Obama who notably told former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev that Vladimir Putin should give him more "space" and that "after [his] election, [he] would have more flexibility." Putin noted U.S. facilitation of the transfer of large uranium assets to Russia and had surveyed the Hillary Clinton of Benghazi infamy. So why would Russia want a President Trump when actual events suggest it could achieve its objectives more easily with a President Clinton in office, whose actions, predilections, and temperament Russia had observed and benefited from while she was President Obama's secretary of state? In Hillary Clinton, Russia likely assessed a candidate more interested in globalists' demands from Davos, Paris, and Glasgow than tough issues like Middle East proxy wars, Russian adventurism, nuclear proliferation, or solidarity of the NATO alliance. Albeit speculative, Vladimir Putin was arguably as surprised as CNN to wake up that November Wednesday morning to learn that the "impossible" had happened. Two days before the election, pollsters and statisticians gave Hillary Clinton odds of between 75 and 99 percent of winning the election. Given such overwhelming pre-election global political and media consensus, a Clinton victory was likely a foregone conclusion in Kremlin hallways. Donald Trump was never the Kremlins preferred candidate. One final -- but not minor -- related point. If there was any foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election, only one person was ultimately responsible for the defense and security of this nation in his role as "commander-in-chief" and his name was Barack Obama. It would have been his oath-sworn duty and responsibility to keep the nations democratic processes secure and free from that interference. All 300-plus pages of the Durham report now become a historical document. Political watchers may be justified with their prognosis that little happens because of it. The more important questions going forward then are: who does Russia -- and other potential U.S. adversaries -- wish to see in the White House come 2024? Who would Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping prefer to face in a stare down with higher stakes and objectives are the Baltics, Taiwan, or global energy or mineral resources? Which candidate would Iran, North Korea or the Latin cartels prefer to see in the White House? If our nations recent past is prologue, such global bad actors will both overtly and covertly default to the Democrat candidate. If any political mischief is in the works by dark forces -- either international or domestic -- for 2024, Jack McCoy and the detectives would advise the American public not to again dismiss motive as a good place to start for understanding who are the real bad guys. Image: Pixabay Japan's destroy order against the spy satellite of North Korea has been extended. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Japan. When the North Korean government confirmed to launch its first spy satellite, Japan shared its concerns. Recently, the Japanese government said that the spy rocket's trajectory would be over the Yellow and East China Seas. With this trajectory, the NoKor spy satellite was expected to pass over the Japanese southwest islands. Because of this, the Japanese government said it would take any drastic measure needed to protect its airspace and land. Japan's Destroy Order Against North Korea's Spy Satellite Now Extended According to The Japan Times' latest report, the Japanese government confirmed the extension of its order to destroy on Sunday, June 11. Also Read: Ukraine Says Soldier's Phone Call Leak Proves Russia Sabotaged Kalkovka Dam Japan said that the destruction order would remain in place. Recently, the Japanese government said that it is prepared to use its PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3). Aside from PAC-3, Japan also plans to deploy its Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyers equipped with SM-3 interceptors. These destroyers are designed to take down ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the PAC-3 systems can intercept missiles that evade the SM-3 interceptors. PAC-3s can target missiles that are up to 30 kilometers away. NoKor Plans 2nd Spy Satellite Launch Attempt AP News reported that the spy satellite launch of North Korea on Wednesday, June 7, crashed after malfunctioning. Because of this failure, the spy rocket tumbled into the Yellow Sea. But, this doesn't stop NoKor from pushing its spy satellite launch. The North Korean government vowed that there would be a 2nd launch attempt since it had already learned what went wrong during the first try. Even Kim Jong Un's influential sister, Kim Yo Jong (who is also the senior ruling party official of the country), said on Sunday that there would push for a second launch attempt. "(North Korea) will continue to take proactive measures to exercise all the lawful rights of a sovereign state, including the one to a military reconnaissance satellite launch," she said via NBC News. Related Article: China, US Join Indonesia's Komodo Navy Drill Despite Ongoing Tensions @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Lawmakers in the erstwhile Golden State of California are hoping to push through controversial legislation that would ban retail staff from attempting to prevent thieves from stealing from their stores. Senate Bill 553, which was submitted by State Senator Dave Cortese, has been passed by the State Senate and will now progress to policy committees in the State Assembly. Cortese claims he hopes the proposed law will prevent workplace violence and protect staff from being injured during robberies. State Senator Dan Cortese (YouTube screengrab) Note that Senator Cortese is not indicating how much can be shoplifted under his bill. He is addressing another matter on the floor of the California State Senate. But many retailers, from store managers on down, are furious over the plans. The California Retailers Association characterized the move as an open invitation for thieves to come in and steal." As if yet another incentive to steal were somehow necessary in a state where theft of up to $950 isnt even prosecuted. Retailers, small and large, are closing their stores in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland because of asinine policies just like the one proposed by Sen. Cortese. If SB 553 passes, it would effectively make it a crimeto try to prevent a crime. Could there be a more perfect illustration of progressive lunacy than that? A new Pew Research Center survey has found that at least half of Americans say they disapprove of affirmative action (a.k.a. reverse discrimination), whereby colleges and universities weigh admissions on the racial and ethnic backgrounds of prospective students. But peoples opinions do not faze todays Democrat party, which champions the practice. It has steadfastly determined to do the wrong thing, secure in the knowledge that it will never be held accountable. It has repeatedly been proven correct in that assessment. Prior to the 2022 elections, a pre-mid-term poll by Schoen Cooperman Research found that the Democrats were perceived by voters as being ineffective, out of touch, and too left-wing. The logical conclusion was that, as a result, it would suffer substantive losses in the midterm elections. Didnt happen. Most Americans are not fond of open borders, CRT and The 1619 Project being taught in our schools, the sexualization of our young children in schools and by radical trans types, the defunding of police, cancel culture, reparations, and unfettered abortion until the moment of birthor slightly after. Truth be told, a majority of Americans/voters disapprove of a majority of the Democrats policy positions (and purported beliefs), but apparently keep voting them into office anyway. Are they incompetent? Insane? Masochistic? A combination of all three? Or is something much darker and more nefarious occurring? Has the donkey partys malfeasance and widespread cheating been that effective? (In any case, there is, indisputably, both a method to the Democrats madness and a madness to the Democrats method.) Simple logic and reasonand a firm grasp of actual history should make debunking Democrats arguments easy and irrefutable. Yet this almost never happens, even by prominent Republicans. Why? While I never underestimate Republicans ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, this still rankles me. And now many RINOs are saying it is time to take back the party from Trump. This is exactly the wrong idea, exactly the wrong lesson to be learned. Trump took the GOP from a cocktail-party-loving/multi-national corporation abetting a you-scratch-my-back-and-Ill-scratch-yours entity and made it the party of real Americans from the hinterlands, folks who do real work, understand the importance of the Declaration and the Constitution, and who respect the rule of law. The Democrat-Academia-Media-Corporate-Complex lies to you, misleads you, disdains you, threatens you, and wishes to lock you down, permanentlyphysically, intellectually, spiritually. In the most basic sense of the term, affirmative action is badly needed. Affirmative action to drain The Swamp, for example. Affirmative action to cleanse the Republican Party of those who are fine with the status quo, corruption, and insanely bloated governmenteven if they occasionally call for a small tax cut or throw shade at a Squad member. MAGA in 2024. Or we will sentence ourselvesand our descendantsto permanent servitude. Why would anyone want to be associated with a party that claims that killing an ethnic group is "the best money they've ever spent"? If the conservative party wants to win the cultural war against the radical left, and convince Americans that it has always been the party of liberty, then it must adopt the principles of the "old right" and stop voting for war-mongering politicians like Lindsey Graham. The policies of the "old right" were rooted in classical liberalism and Jeffersonian republicanism, which is to say Lockean and Kantian ethics, and were intellectually contributed to and elegantly romanticized by Ayn Rand, Rose Wilder Lane, Isabel Patterson, and Garett Garrett. Indeed, Isabel Patterson's book The God of the Machine is a tour de force for those who subscribe to the view of limited government and free markets. Additionally, Rose Wilder Lane's Give Me Liberty, in which she discusses her transformation from a communist to a capitalist, based on her firsthand experience in the old USSR, is a must-read, along with Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and Garett Garrett's A Bubble That Broke the World. Politicians like Lindsey Graham should be widely condemned by the conservative party, because he's not a real conservative. Rather, he epitomizes the corrupt Washington establishment, which is to say he does nothing productive but propagate fear. He must be rebuked. First things first: Russia is employing capitalism as its mode of production. The Russians dismantled much of their centralized production in the '80s under Mikhail Gorbachev's Perestroika reformation, and so it's been nearly a half-century since the nation centrally planned its economy. Therefore, when Graham and others tell you that we should go to war with Russia to fight "communism," he's either lying or ignorant. We all know there are still communist factions in Russia, but that's like saying there are Neo-Nazis in America. They exist, of course, but in trivial numbers. One might argue that, while the Russian Republic uses capitalism as its mode of production, it's still a totalitarian country because of Putin's stranglehold on the political opposition. That argument is reasonable, but I think it's important to recognize that Russian domestic politics doesn't directly affect Americans. The reality is that the Russian military has neither the size nor the financing to wage a war throughout Europe. In WWII, it cost the Russians twenty-eight million lives to get from Moscow to Berlin about 1,000 miles so it should be obvious that if Putin had the ambition to destroy Americans, he would have done so already and with the only practical means available to him i.e., nuclear weapons. It's far more likely that Russia, like everyone else, is more interested in self-determination and preservation than war. Secondly, Graham and others often tell us that Russia is conducting false flag operations, and that Donbas's desire to secede from Kiev is manufactured by Russian misinformation, but notice how they never provide us with any evidence. They babble and prattle, but nothing of substance is ever delivered. It seems to me that the only logical conclusion is that Graham and others like him desperately want us to be perpetually terrified so we are willing to give Washington more power, more money, and more control over our lives. But it's not the first time our establishment has tried to sell us this kind of fear. When Crimea voted to rejoin Russia, we were all inundated with articles that told us it was a "sham election" and that this was the start of a European conquest, despite the fact that 95% of Crimean citizens are ethnic Russians. Indeed, if you travel to Crimea this summer, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who supports, or knows anyone who supported, the 1992 Crimean constitution. Lastly, we spent billions of dollars overthrowing the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, presumably because our establishment overlords were unhappy with his cozy relationship with Russia. Not only is that anti-democratic, but that type of realpolitik further weakens us politically and economically. It was also the primary catalyst for the secession of Donbas and the subsequent civil war. Such actions are the equivalent of Russia spending billions to overthrow Trump or Biden. Considering the above, is anyone surprised Donbas seceded? In other words, our establishment not only supports a sweatpants-wearing, steroid-using apparatchik in Kiev, who openly supports the neo-Nazi Azov battalion, and who refuses to abide by the MINSK agreement, but also has a contradictory view of self-determination. On the one hand, they claim to support Bosnia's unilateral secession from Serbia, but on the other hand, they refuse to support Donbas's unilateral secession from Ukraine. In conclusion, if one purports to stand for liberty, then one must at least try to be logically consistent. Gung-ho political remarks, overthrowing elected officials, and other examples of realpolitik will not win us friends abroad, and screaming "false flag," without any evidence, more closely resembles the totalitarian countries we claim to detest than the framework on which this nation was founded. It's absolutely appalling that we have ignoramuses in Washington, like Lindsey Graham, smirking creepily into the camera lens while glorifying the death and destruction of human beings. It has all the hallmarks of a totalitarian thug, and true conservatives should not lend their support. Eireahmon Feidhlim Ruaidhri is an Irish-American attorney with an LL.B. and LL.M. from the University of London. Image via Picryl. The very people who wanted to defund the police are now finding themselves defunded. Why? Technically, the answer would be mismanagement of funds, but in part, it could be said that they werent living up to their name. People are starting to see beyond the name and realize that not all black lives mattered, just the ones who were friends and family with the organizations management. In some regards, Black Lives Matter can be considered a grift because an organization that is supposed to reduce police violence against Black people and improve their lives has nothing substantial to show for the scores of millions of dollars donated. Life hasnt gotten better for Black people, and not because police were shooting innocent Black people. BLMs ill-thought-out mission to defund, disband, and criminalize police reduced the number of officers on the street leading to an increase in crime. That crime has affected Blacks more than other racial groups because the places where crime has increased the most are the cities, which are predominantly liberal and Black. So, the very people BLM says it represents are suffering the most from its policies and positions. Meanwhile, BLM pulled in plenty of cash because everyone wanted to be seen as a supporter. The problem is how the organization has spent that cash. It didnt go to help Black people affected by violence or even try to find alternative ways to fight crime, which is devastating the Black community. It did go to pay founder Patrisse Cullors brother who was paid a total of $1.6 million for security services as the head of the security team at the $6 million Los Angeles mansion bought with charity donations to BLM. He is best known as a graffiti artist, with no background in security, the Daily Mail reported. Patrisse Cullors defended hiring him, saying registered security firms which hired former police officers could not be trusted, given the movement's opposition to police brutality. A sister of a board member was paid $1.1 million for consulting. The organization has also purchased luxury properties in Los Angeles and Toronto totaling $12 million. It was recently reported that The group ran an $8.5 million deficit and saw the value of its investment accounts drop by nearly $10 million, with fundraising down 88% year-on-year. Reports have also appeared that the organization is at risk of going bankrupt. People can now see that BLM is more interested in themselves rather than Black people. Just a third of the money BLM has received has gone to charity. That means two-thirds has gone to things that wont benefit the Black community. In general, BLM has laudable goals, but words without actions are meaningless. BLMs actions show a much different goal. They are enriching themselves while allowing the community that is supposed to matter to them suffer from rising crime and a reduced police presence. Its time to end the farce of BLM and send any future donations directly to neighborhood organizations that are actually working in the Black community and helping the people. Thats the best way to show Black Lives Matter. Michael A. Letts is the CEO and Founder of In-VestUSA, a national grassroots non-profit organization helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. Photo credit: YouTube screebgrab (cropped) Following the news of a dramatic rescue of four children lost in the Amazon jungle, Colombia's far-left president, Gustavo Petro, praised the children who survived in that fearsome wilderness for 40 days as "children of the jungle." "The jungle saved them" Petro said. "They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia. "Children of the jungle"? That's like calling children who survived a nuclear meltdown "children of the reactor" or kids who survived under earthquake rubble "children of the temblor." Does anyone call champion surfer Bethany Hamilton, who was injured in a shark attack as a young girl a "child of the shark"? They're disaster survivors, and yes, it was they, not the jungle, whose survival actions brought forth their heroism. That was the whole problem with the lefty "narratives" surrounding this jungle rescue. According to CNN, Petro babbled on and on in the same way, using the dreamy language of Euro-intellectuals still ensconced with the Rousseauvian romance of the jungle and all its noble savages: He called the childrens survival a gift to life and an indication that they were cared for by the jungle. Actually, the jungle tried to kill them. If the children are like many people, they may not want to see the inside of a jungle ever again. The Colombian jungle is full of incredible horrors -- from jaguars, to black panthers, to anaconda snakes, to poison frogs, to giant bats, to mosquitos, to spikes, spiney vines, and thorns, to pits, mud, rocks, falls, quicksand, and slime, to poisonous plants and fruit, with every giant crawling, biting, thing imaginable. It's a vector for countless tropical diseases -- look up the horrible details of one of the common ones, leishmanosis, which has afflicted past victims of the Colombian jungle -- plus drug dealers, pirates, criminals, narcoterrorists, and raging primates with big teeth. The photos from the rescue suggest that it was the real thing as jungles go. Imagine what that place sounded like at night in pitch darkness as wild animals screamed. Imagine trying to change a baby's diaper on the muddy jungle floor, bugs and mosquitos all around, listening warily for sounds of jaguars and the footsteps of other predators. Reportedly the predator they did have to fight off was a vicious dog. The care didn't come from the jungle. It came from the resourceful 13-year-old indigenous girl named Lesly, who used her babysitter skills to keep the other three children, including the infant named Cristian, alive and together throughout the ordeal. Apparently it was what she did anyway during her life while her mother worked. It had to have been a hard life. But it didn't stop Petro from waxing romantic about indigenous people's lives, and the fact that the children came from an indigenous background, attributing the survival of the kids to their indigenous heritage as if Indians are just born with knowing how to navigate the jungle: Their learning from indigenous families and their learning of living in the jungle has saved them, Petro told reporters on Friday, after announcing on Twitter that they had been found 40 days after they went missing following a plane crash that killed their mother. Which sounds a lot like Rousseavian noble savage claptrap. The kids may have known some things from their elders, reportedly of the Huitoto people (they dress like this), or possibly the Guanano people (news reports conflict) about where the poisonous foods were in the jungle, and yes, any survival skills they did have from their forebears were a lot more constructive for kids (of any nationality) to have than pronoun usage, but they didn't seem entirely indigenous in the way they lived. They didn't live every day like these people. According to CNN, the children's family members lived in Villavicencio, a good-sized city of 500,000 in central Colombia, which was last in the news in 2007, when Oliver Stone joined hands with Hugo Chavez in a failed effort to free hostages held by Marxist narcoterrorists in the jungle. Photos show they were rescued wearing western clothes, such as blue jeans. Subsequent photos show that their grandfather, and father, who greeted them at the airport, had western clothes on, too. Their last names -- Mucutuy -- were indigenous but they had first names like Lesly and Cristian, and their mother's name was Magdalena, suggesting a citified Christian heritage, augmented by the fact that their family members thanked God Almighty, and not an indigenous god, for their rescue. For us this situation was like being in the dark, we walked for the sake of walking. Living for the sake of living because the hope of finding them kept us alive. When we found the children we felt joy, we dont know what to do, but we are grateful to God, he said. That was their grandfather speaking, according to CNN. Before their plane went down, killing their mother and two other adults, it's noteworthy also that they were traveling by Cessna, which is commonly done as a means of getting around the region for city people, but as a means of travel is far rarer for very indigenous people to do. Spare us the romance about indigenous people. The rescued children had an indigenous background, but they were pretty much like other Colombians. As for the children being "saved" by the jungle, as Petro waxed, well, baloney there, too. They were saved by the Colombian army which rescued the kids with a helicopter hovering over the jungle canopy and then transported them to care in the faraway big city of Bogota where they will be recovering for weeks. The kids survived just barely after their ordeal, they didn't have any kinds of superior native American knowledge about how to survive for 40 days in the jungle, as if any self-respecting indigenous person would do that anyway. The army conducted the search, they knew enough to make leaflet drops over the jungle floor, they dropped food caches, and they brought the children's grandmother onboard the effort by having her make recordings to be broadcast over the jungle canopy from above, assuring the kids they were looking for them, encouraging the kids to carry on, and asking them to stay in one place so they could be found by rescuers. That's practical stuff, the product of planning and experience. It's not some magical romantically viewed jungle that somehow saved the kids. It was the army. Even the indigenous people who know the jungle pretty well hold no romantic views of it: Members of the indigenous community held traditional ceremonies 'speaking to the jungle' and asking it to give up the children. Translation: The damn thing was holding the kids hostage and the Indians were engaging in hostage negotiations the best way they knew how. Here's the rest of the wittingly or unwittingly obnoxious thing he said: Gimlet-eyed conservatives have noted a whole raft of things that are wrong with the Trump indictment, including not only failed legal points but also other dirty tricks. These include the DOJs leaks and its showing photos of all the boxes that Trump had stored at Mar-a-Lago, even though only a few documents lie at the heart of this legally and factually dishonest case. It turns out that the DOJ has also threatened a defendants lawyer to turn him against his client. Before I dive too deep into this nugget of corruption, remember that theres every reason to believe that this lawsuit is baseless both as a legal and factual matter. I recommend reading: As you may already know, Trump is not the only one the DOJ is persecutinger, prosecuting. The DOJ also filed charges against Walt Nauta, a Navy veteran and Trumps valet, accusing him of helping Trump conceal documents. (Remember, you cannot be accused of being engaged in or an accomplice to a crime if theres no crime, to begin with.) As is becoming the norm, it turns out that the DOJ is engaging in dirty tricks as to Nauta, too. Image: Trumps in the way. Creator unknown. The Guardian reported on Friday that Nautas lawyer has submitted a letter alleging that a top DOJ prosecutor threatened to derail the lawyers career aspirations if he didnt bully his client into cooperating against Trump: Nauta had already spoken to prosecutors in the investigation when they called his lawyer Stanley Woodward and summoned him to a meeting at justice department headquarters for an urgent matter that they were reluctant to discuss over the phone, the letter said. When Woodward arrived at the conference room, he was seated across from several prosecutors working on the investigation, including the chief of the counterintelligence section, Jay Bratt, who explained that they wanted Nauta to cooperate with the government against Trump, the letter said. Nauta should cooperate with the government because he had given potentially conflicting testimony that could result in a false statements charge, the prosecutors said according to the letter. Woodward is said to have demurred, disputing that Nauta had made false statements. Bratt then turned to Woodward and remarked that he did not think that Woodward was a Trump guy and that he would do the right thing, before noting that he knew Woodward had submitted an application to be a judge at the superior court in Washington DC that was currently pending, the letter said. The subtext behind the reference to Woodwards judicial aspirations is clear: Nice little legal career youve got here. It would be a shame if something happened to it. By the way, if this sounds strangely familiar, youre right. As you may recall from what happened with the DOJs and FBIs faked case against General Mike Flynn (also predicated on allegedly conflicting statements), Flynns first attorneys urged him into a terrible settlement because the DOJ threatened them directly. Flynn was unaware that the DOJ was putting pressure on his attorneys by telling them that they, too, were in the crosshairs of an indictment. Instead of pulling out of the case because they had a conflict of interest, Flynns own attorneys railroaded him. Theres an old saying: If you have the law on your side, argue the law. If you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. And if you have neither, pound the table. The DOJ and FBI have reworked that old saying: If you have the law on your side, argue the law. If you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. And if you have a trumped-up case, use threats and coercion to destroy the oppositions attorney-client relationship, to suborn perjury, and force shameful plea bargains. The DOJ has long held the evidence needed to charge Joe Biden with bribery to change our policy in Ukraine. (And also all the evidence needed to charge Hunter with several crimes, including violations of the tax code, of the laws governing the purchase of firearms, and laws prohibiting money laundering. ) Here is an overview of the evidence needed to charge with bribery to change our policy in Ukraine. Our policy was to have Ukraine force Burisma and its owner Zlochevsky to return the oil and gas properties Zlochevsky stole when he was the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources. And Zlochevsky wanted that policy reversed. The documents show that Zlochevsky was paying Hunter Biden approximately $83,000 a month. Zlochevsky claimed he was paying for corporate governance advice. However privately owned companies do not need corporate governance advice, and if they did, they wouldnt hire Hunter Biden to provide it. And they wouldnt pay anyone $83,000 a month for such advice. Documents show that Ukraines prosecutor general, Victor Shokun, issued an arrest warrant on Zlochevsky in the event he returned to Ukraine from foreign exile and placed seizures on his and Burismas property. Shortly after that, Victoria Nuland publicly claimed for the first time that Shokin was corrupt and had to go. Joe Biden has publicly bragged that he then went to Ukraine and forced the government to fire Shokin by threatening to withhold foreign aid. The same political establishment that claimed Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation has also promoted the idea that it was NATO policy to have Shokin fired for corruption. Ive never seen anything to support that other NATO members said anything of the sort but, the fact is, the US acted for NATO in Ukraine pretty much unilaterally. And consider that during the time the Bidens were involved in Ukraine, there were two other prosecutors general, both of whom were corrupt and assisted Zlochevsky escaping justice, and neither Nuland nor Biden called them corrupt or demanded their ouster. Nor did any other NATO member. Caricature by Donkey Hotey CC BY 2.0 license And consider that we provide foreign aid to many corrupt countries where political corruption is not prosecuted and no one I know has any memory of our demanding that the prosecutors in those countries be fired. It strikes me that the payments to Hunter Biden are enough. You can bribe a public official by paying his family. Plus, Hunters emails show he paid up to half of his compensation to his father. The Deep State is continuing its campaign of falsely accusing Donald J. Trump of being a threat to national security, a false and despicable accusation that began with the Big Lie, as was made clear in The Durham Report. The accusation that Mr. Trump colluded with the Russians to win the presidency was made during the 2016 campaign and was strengthened using the malicious insinuation from 51 former intel officials that the report of Hunter Biden's laptop material was "Russian disinformation." "Impeachment I, which tried to frame President Trump as way of protecting Joe Biden from corruption charges based on his Ukraine ties to the current Ukrainian administration reasserted the charge, as does the current Garland/Smith/Biden attempt to weaponize the Justice Department, framing former President Trump. By now the American people should be immunized against the Deep State lie that Donald J. Trump is a threat to national security and a danger to American democracy. This false canard has been dredged up with every targeting of the populist Mr. Trump by the aggrandizers who demand to live off the sacrifices of the deplorables. It is apparent that the hand that guided the false accusations in Impeachment I also guided, or at the very least inspired, the phony federal indictment of Mr. Trump -- an indictment that essentially denies his rightful status as a former president. (Jim Jordan - stop praying for Mr. Trump and act to amend the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012 to end the left's despicable hounding of this former president.) The following false statement might well have been drafted by anti-liberty agents of the Deep State, viewing President Trump as threat to the continued existence, power and viability of said Deep State. It is taken from the Abuse of Power article in Trump Impeachment I: "(3) Faced with the public revelation of his actions, President Trump ultimately released the military and security assistance to the Government of Ukraine, but has persisted in openly and corruptly urging and soliciting Ukraine to undertake investigations for his personal political benefit. These actions were consistent with President Trumps previous invitations of foreign interference in United States elections. In all of this, President Trump abused the powers of the Presidency by ignoring and injuring national security and other vital national interests to obtain an improper personal political benefit. He has also betrayed the Nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections. Wherefore President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States. [My emphasis.]" Compare the above false statement, constituting a willful attempt to overthrow President Trump, to the suggestion on page 2 of the Garland/Smith/Biden indictment of former President Trump that his retention of documents from his term in office "could put at risk the national security of the United States...." George Kent, a State Department official, was cited in a September 2020 joint report by the Senate committees on Homeland Security, and Finance, as being concerned about the awkwardness to Washington of Hunter Biden's ties to Burisma, the Ukraine utility company. Yet, this same Kent appeared as an anti -Trump witness in an Impeachment hearing. Such is the power of the Deep State that tries to convince the American people that Mr. Trump was not a legitimate president, nor, today, deserving respect as a former president Consider, further, this false statement in the Abuse of Power article of Impeachment I -- that becomes true when projected in a Joe Biden context: (1) President Trumpacting both directly and through his agents within and outside the United States Governmentcorruptly solicited the Government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations into (A) a political opponent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.; and (B) a discredited theory promoted by Russia alleging that Ukrainerather than Russiainterfered in the 2016 United States Presidential election. Recent disclosures by House Oversight Chairman James Comey should make clear to all but the most hostile to Mr. Trump that Impeachment I amounted to an elaborate and desperate attempt at framing President Trump for charges involving the Bidens. Impeachment I turned on its head President Trump's concern about corrupt practices in Ukraine by Biden Inc. Alas, Republicans have yet to use facts to coalesce around their rightful leader. Where, now, is Ronna Romney McDaniel, RNC head, to lead the GOP in fighting the lies of the Deep State with the truth about Mr. Trump? As of June 11, hiding in Michigan, apparently -- guided by the anti-Trump hostility of her uncle Mitt? YouTube screengrab, dated June 9, 2023 (cropped) Asa Hutchinson, bizarre anti-Trump candidate for president, called on Mr. Trump to drop out of the 2024 presidential campaign. Excellent advice, if directed at every one of the OTHER individuals looking to succeed Biden in 2025. But, again, McDaniel is nowhere to be found to urge the GOP to rally round Donald J. Trump, the besieged target of the aggrandizing Deep State that must be crushed if the spirit of American liberty is to survive. Ronna McDaniel and the Republican pack of backstabbers must go, if, that is, the elephant is not to be replaced as GOP symbol by the jackal. Sometimes it seems like the news is all bad. Day after day, we see infuriating headlines about woke corporations, transgender bullying of normal people, Judeo-Christian values mocked and flouted, natural disasters, and mass shootings. It is well to pause and reflect that there are still good things in the world. Granted, such stories seem few and far between, but I like to look for such hidden gems. Yesterday, I found a beauty. A month ago, a plane crash in Colombia claimed the lives of pilot Hernando Murcia Morales, Yarupari indigenous leader Herman Mendoza Hernandez, and Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia, the mother of four children. When the downed plane was located in the jungle, the four children who had been traveling with their mother were nowhere to be found. Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13; Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9; Tien Ranoque Mucutuy, 4; and infant Cristin Ranoque Mucutuy were lost in the jungle. Image from the Columbian military. An immediate search began with more than a hundred Colombian special forces troops and 70 indigenous scouts. They combed the jungle for weeks, finding footprints, as well as a dirty diaper and a bottle, but no children. The oldest child, Lesly, had some previous experience in the jungle. However, as time went on, it was feared the children had perished. Those fears proved groundless when all four children were found alive. They were gaunt after a month of wandering, but they were unharmed. These children survived a plane crash that killed their mother, stayed together, supported one another, and finally found their way to safety. They were taken to a military hospital for medical evaluation and treatment, and will then be returned to their family in Villavicencio. Their grandfather, Fidencio Valencia, said, For us, this situation was like being in the dark, we walked for the sake of walking. Living for the sake of living because the hope of finding them kept us alive. When we found the children we felt joy, we dont know what to do, but we are grateful to God. Indeed, this is a miracle that reminds me of the Bible verse Phillipains 4:8. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Pandra Selivanov is the author of The Pardon, a story of forgiveness based on the thief on the cross in the Bible. - SATIRE - It is natural for supporters of any political movement to get carried away in demonstrating support for their candidate. This is especially true if the candidate is under attack by the media and the political establishment. It is beyond any doubt that President Donald J. Trump is the most baselessly-targeted man in the United States of America. Never before has any elected representative been the recipient of such relentless and pointless prosecutorial attacks. It is natural for Trump supporters to express their outrage, which inevitably could lead to disastrous consequences for the individual and the individual's loved ones. This applies to even those who may not be red-hat-wearing-MAGA warriors but are disgusted by the vicious assault on US democracy. But before viscerally reacting with the heart, it is wiser to ponder before leaping into the fray. Let's look at what happened to the protestors from January 6th, 2021. They have been equated with domestic terrorists by D.C. and their P.R. agency that masquerades as the mainstream news media. Many of the protesters were targeted by Biden's DOJ and government agencies such as the FBI. Many of the protesters were detained for prolonged periods and purportedly in inhumane conditions. Some of the protesters were given harsh sentences by Democrat-appointed judges based on decisions taken by Democrat-leaning jury members. One of the protesters was so frustrated by the hounding and the waiting that he took his own life. The effect this may have had on the families of the protesters can hardly be overstated. The stress must be unfathomable. The stigma of being related to a domestic terrorist or a white supremacist must also have dire consequences. It means social ostracization and perhaps loss of business and job opportunities. Therefore, it makes sense to show restraint. Trump is wealthy and powerful; he has a strong legal team. Let them deal with the matter in court. Protestors and demonstrators have no effect on the trial. It is wiser to focus on the safety and well-being of yourself and your family. Merely not attending protests in support of President Trump's indictments may not be enough to insulate you from retaliation. It may also be wiser to cease attending any Trump rally again. Government agencies must obviously be monitoring these rallies. By turning up at these rallies you could be inviting unnecessary hassles for yourself and your family. But avoiding rallies may not be enough. We know the agencies may be monitoring the credit card activities of individuals to see if they have links with 'undesirable' groups. Therefore, it makes sense to stop donating to President Trump. The risks are just too high. Merely staying away from rallies and protests or refraining from political donations may not be enough. The demonstration of support could also lead to troubles from the powers that be. It is hence wiser to meticulously eliminate all visual evidence of support. This means no Trump 2024 signs on your properties or your vehicles. There obviously must be no talk of support for President Trump. It may be difficult initially, but practice makes repression a habit, and so it becomes second nature. What about your beloved MAGA hat that you bought in 2015 and wore at various rallies and the day President Trump won the election in November 2016? The hat may be of considerable sentimental value to you, but it has to go. It is the well-being of your family that is at stake. You may think of keeping the cap at your home hidden safely in the loft or the basement. It would be risky to assume that this concealment would offer you total insulation from reprisals. You have to consider the possibility of a raid on your home. Smoking gun hat evidence Do you want your family to suffer just because you were feeling nostalgic about a red hat? Talking about the myriad ways the 2020 Presidential election was rigged may also be risky. You may be branded an election denier. There are other measures to ensure safety. We know from the Twitter Files that government agencies monitor social media. The Biden administration has claimed that it has paused the 'Disinformation Board,' but it isnt beyond the realm of possibility that the board may be functioning under another name. The powers of the board remain unclear. What if they target you for supporting the 'wrong' candidate? It simply isnt worth the risk. You may think you are protected because of your VPN. But the fact that you are using a VPN may make you a target. Also, what if you accidentally expose your social media accounts to your friends and colleagues at work while posting on your phone? Once again, practice makes repression a habit. In fact, it may be wise to banish the words such as Trump, MAGA, etc. from your vocabulary. There are other measures you must take. You may have doubts about the left's paranoid claims about climate change. You may know that the Covid-19 vaccine has serious side effects. This risk here is being regarded as anti-science. You may have concerns that your government is wasting precious taxpayer dollars on the war in Ukraine out of self-interest and links to defense contractors. The peril here is that you may be perceived as a stooge of President Putin. You may be concerned about the open border that allows migrants from all over the world to enter the US without any vetting. But that could be misconstrued as racism and xenophobia. You may have concerns about the vilification of law enforcement that could result in a spike in crime. But that, too, may be regarded as racism. You may also refrain from expressing support for gun rights. It could be thought of as your support for violent extremism. But discretion is always the better part of valor. Perhaps a neighbor or friend or relative is being targeted for posting a meme on social media mocking the Democrats or taking on the various ideas pushed by the left. Once again, silence is golden. This troublemaker doesn't need your support. You do not want to be pronounced guilty due to your association. Do you want your family to suffer due to your lack of restraint? But that may not be all. You may sense that identity politics that is championed by the government, where genetics trumps merit, could have serious effects on society. You may think organizations such as BLM are a divisive force. But saying that aloud may make you sound like a racist, so stay quiet. You may think the left's fixation with transgenderism and gender pronouns is going to harm society. But do you want to be seen as a transphobe? Once again, the risks are too high, so keep your opinions to yourself. Hopefully, many others adopt this stance to ensure the well-being and safety of self and family. You may even want to change your voting habits too, because it is still possible that government agencies are monitoring votes and may use it against you. You must stop expressing your opinions freely overall. What are the effects? President Trump may not be reelected. He may suffer more at the hands of rogue government agents. Biden continues to ruin the economy, which could render you unemployed or cause a depression in salary. Bidenflation may cause your saving to deplete. Identity politics could result in you being compelled to give up employment because you dont belong to the demographic group that the left wants to uplift. You may be sacked for unknowingly misgendering your colleague. Your small business could be destroyed when the state-approved protestors riot in support of BLM or abortion rights or climate change. Your small business may be ruined due to draconian green regulations. It may cause you to struggle to support your family. You and your family may be left shivering during winter because of Democrats imposing a federal ban on coal-based energy generation. The open border may cause the smuggling of illicit drugs, and one of your relatives or friends could be addicted to these dangerous narcotics. High crime and defunding the police will cause your neighborhood to be unsafe. The government may confiscate your guns. All of this could place you and your family's lives in peril. The wars may continue to rage, and some Democrat politicians may come up with the idea of drafting regular Americans to fight. Perhaps you or your child will be sent. Perhaps you and your family members may be compelled to take another untested vaccine to prevent another pandemic, maybe the one that Bill Gates is predicting. Your child may be subjected to indoctrination which plants a permanent barrier between you and your child. Your child thinks of you as an imbecile or an anachronistic bigot because his schoolteacher told him or her or xir. Your child may be coerced into transgenderism or taking the vaccine. You may be reported for not bending before the left when you are expected to crawl. Maybe you accidentally expressed disapproval for one of the Democrats policies. But alas you have nobody to stand by you because they were all apprehended or remained quiet because you never stood by them during their hardship. You have to ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and your loved ones. The course to opt for is perfectly obvious. Photo: copyright (c) American Thinker Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Kyiv Saturday, announcing a $500 million military aid to Ukraine. He went alongside deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland. The announcement came after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed its long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia had begun. Trudeau did not detail how the funding would be spent, but he indicated "Operation Unifier," the country's military training mission, would be extended until 2026. He also announced Canada would be one of several countries training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighter aircraft. "We will be there with [Ukraine] as much as it takes, for as long as it takes," he said. Regarding the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam along the Dnipro river, Trudeau announced an additional $10 million humanitarian aid package to the affected regions downstream, which were flooded as a result of the dam's destruction. This pledge was on top of a previous $37 million humanitarian aid, which Trudeau said would be redirected toward helping Ukraine manage and recover from the effects of the breach. The Canadian leader also announced his country would sanction an additional "24 individuals and 17 entities" from Russia as a result of the dam's collapse on top of over "2,500 entities and individuals" it previously announced. "Russia is responsible and will be held accountable," he added. Prior to the meeting, Trudeau and his contingent offered a wreath at Kyiv's Wall of Remembrance, a monument to honor fallen Ukrainian soldiers of the Russo-Ukrainian War. He also inspected destroyed Russian armor displayed at Kyiv's central square. Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Confirms That Ukraine's Counteroffensive Has Started Zelensky Confirms Beginning of Counter-offensive At a news conference alongside Trudeau, Zelensky confirmed Ukrainian forces have initiated conducting counter-offensive and defensive actions, claiming his top commanders were in a "positive" mindset as their troops are engaged in direct action along its front line. The confirmation was made after Russian president Vladimir Putin released a Telegram video saying the Ukrainian counter-offensive had begun and Ukrainian forces were taking "significant losses." "I will not speak about which stage or phase they are in," Zelensky said in response. "I am in touch with our commanders of different directions [sic] every day... Everyone is positive. Pass this on to Putin." As for hosting Trudeau in Kyiv, Zelensky expressed it was a pleasure doing so. "We're very grateful that we have such good friends of Ukraine, and your people show such big support for all of our people in Canada...for refugees that are now in Canada and also for the Ukrainians in Ukraine fighting for freedom," he said. "We need more friends like Canada." Russian Cargo Plane in Toronto Seized Meanwhile, the Canadian government said it intended to seize a Russian cargo aircraft that landed in Toronto on Feb. 27, 2022, a few days after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. The plane, an Antonov AN-124 aircraft allegedly operated by the Volga-Dnepr Group, has been grounded ever since at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Canadian transport minister Omar Alghabra released a statement Saturday, saying the plane would be seized as a message of condemnation to Russia and of support to Ukraine. "Today, we are demonstrating that Russia's actions continue to have consequences," he said. "We stand with Ukraine and will take any and all necessary actions, including this seizure, to put pressure on President Putin." If the plane was seized, it would be the first physical asset confiscated under Canada's updated sanctions system. Related Article: Canada Special Investigator on China Election Meddling Resigns @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Eight teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed. Emergency services were called to an address on Eastfield Avenue, Bath, shortly after 11pm on Saturday following reports of a stabbing, Avon and Somerset Police said. Members of the public provided the boy with first aid before paramedics arrived, but he could not be saved and died at the scene. A 35-year-old woman was also stabbed in the incident and attended Royal United Hospital for treatment. She had since been discharged. Eight people six boys and two girls aged between 15 and 17 were arrested on suspicion of murder from a bus on Lansdown Lane at 11.30pm. They all currently remain in police custody. A post-mortem examination to determine the cause of the boys death will take place in due course, the force added. A murder investigation has been launched following the death of 16-year-old boy at an address on Eastfield Avenue, Bath, yesterday. Eight people six boys and two girls aged between 15 and 17 are currently in police custody. More https://t.co/b1f6eXpTdy Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) June 11, 2023 Chief Inspector Ronald Lungu, of the Bath Neighbourhood Team, said: This is a tragic incident and our thoughts this morning are very much with the family of the boy who has died. They were informed of what happened as soon as possible and are understandably devastated. Specialist family liaison officers will now be assigned to them to provide them with support and keep them updated. Officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the first call being received and an investigation into the incident is already being carried out, led by the Major Crime Investigation Team. Weve identified a number of witnesses and well be taking formal statements from them in due course, but were also keen to hear from anyone who was at the address at the time who hasnt yet spoken to police. If you can help, please call us on 101. The community can expect to see a significant police presence in the area today, and for the next few days, while officers and police staff carry out a number of actions including forensic examinations, a review of CCTV footage and house-to-house inquiries. There is currently a large cordon in place on Eastfield Avenue while we carry out these inquiries and Id like to thank those residents whose properties are impacted by this for their patience and understanding. I appreciate this is a concerning incident and Id like to reassure people a thorough inquiry is taking place, however, should anyone have any questions Id encourage them to make contact with their local neighbourhood policing team, wholl be carrying out extra patrols in the area. Any witnesses, or anyone who has other information which could help the investigation, is asked to phone 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5223136640. Finucane: Right to commemorate the dead must apply to every section of society Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the right to commemorate the dead must apply to every section of society as he addressed a controversial IRA memorial event in Co Armagh. Mr Finucane, who faced calls to rethink his attendance at the commemoration in Mullaghbawn in south Armagh, spoke of his fathers murder during the Troubles as he stressed the importance of remembering lost loved ones. The North Belfast MPs solicitor father Pat was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries inside the family home in north Belfast in 1989. Mr Finucanes decision to address Sundays event, which was billed as the South Armagh Volunteers Commemoration, prompted anger from victims representatives and rival politicians who cited the many murders perpetrated by the IRAs South Armagh unit during the Northern Ireland conflict. Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of whipping up a controversy to distract from the partys role in the ongoing political impasse at Stormont. The republican party said the event has been held for 13 years and asked why it has not prompted such a reaction in the past. Mr Finucane began his speech on Sunday afternoon by thanking organisers for the invite. He said he stood in solidarity with the families gathered to remember their loved ones and their sacrifices and contributions. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane, right, with party colleague Conor Murphy MLA during an IRA memorial event in Co Armagh (Liam McBurney/PA) Remembrance is a time of mixed emotions for us all, especially for those who knew and loved the very people who are being remembered, he said. It raises feelings of sadness and loss, as well as pride and joy at the lives that were lived and lost. Such basic and understandable human reactions to loss are no different here in south Armagh than in north Belfast, or indeed anywhere else. And it is for those very basic human reasons that we should always cherish our right to remember those who are no longer with us. This of course is a right that should apply without prejudice to every section of the society which we now live in today. He added: As you know, I was eight years old when two gunmen burst into my family kitchen and shot my father 14 times, and my mother once, in front of me and my brother and my sister. This loss, and the brutality of it, is something that will never leave me, just as such loss will never leave anyone who ever experienced such a thing. You will know that what followed for us as a family was a campaign for truth and justice. And over the subsequent decades we uncovered that the loyalist gunmen who entered my home did so as part of a system alongside the police, the British Army, MI5, and along with political cover and sanction, resulted in the deaths of so many too many for an incredibly long and sustained period of time. Throughout our campaign for truth and justice, I have been clear, repeatedly, that truth and justice is something which every person who has been impacted by our conflict deserves and is entitled to irrespective of whether those that inflicted the harm were loyalists, the British state or republicans. I have been consistent in this view whether it be personally as a campaigner, professionally as a lawyer or politically as the MP for north Belfast. And I would like to expand on that belief for today. For just as truth and justice applies equally to everyone, so too does the right to remember and the right to commemorate. I suffered a very personal and up-close loss by those I have mentioned. And those same organisations, within loyalism, the police, the British Army and military intelligence, all commemorate, remember and stand with the families of their loved ones and those that they respect. Those commemorations take place right across our society and are regularly attended by civic and political representatives. And I will defend, without hesitation, their right to do so. There is nothing to celebrate in conflict or in our difficult and painful past, but to commemorate those we have loved and lost is a right which everyone, including every single one of us gathered here today, is entitled to, and we do so with dignity and with pride. John Finucane addresses Sundays commemoration (Liam McBurney/PA). And while there are very different and often conflicting perspectives of the causes of conflict, conflict is thankfully now a thing of the past. So today we remember with pride the many Irish republicans who gave or lost their lives, with deep sympathy for their grieving families and also respectful of all those who continue to suffer the grief and trauma of conflict. As I was eight years old in 1989, I was 18 years old in 1998, voting for the first time in my life for the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement provided a peaceful and democratic pathway to constitutional change and created institutions, inclusive of all communities. It addressed the many causes and effects of conflict and allowed us all to consign conflict to the past and to move forward. While there is still work to be done, particularly in relation to legacy issues, the last 25 years of relative peace is a truly remarkable achievement. In a weekend message to party members, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated his criticism of Mr Finucane. Challenging Sinn Feins attempts to rewrite history is not about being stuck in the past, rather it is about respecting the sons, daughters, mothers and fathers who were cruelly murdered by balaclava wearing IRA terrorists, he wrote. I will use every fibre of my body to stop Northern Ireland ever being gripped by the terrorism of the 1970s, 80s and 90s but part of that is honestly reflecting the barbarity of taking 12 innocent workmen from a van in (Kingsmills) South Armagh. The one Catholic was told to run away and the remaining 11 Protestants were lined up and shot with only one surviving to tell the story. That is the truth about the Provisional IRA in South Armagh. I am mindful that those listed on the South Armagh Roll of Honour have family who grieve. They have the right to remember, as do we all. This is not the problem, but rewriting history or eulogising terrorism most certainly is. Celebrating anyones membership of the IRA or any other terror group is wrong. Violence or the threat of violence has no place in politics. Sir Jeffrey added: We challenge this narrative of the past because failure to do so will aid some misled young people to think violence in some cases is honourable and justifiable. The Sinn Fein leadership have a responsibility to honestly address the role of violence in Irish politics. Unless this fundamental is tackled, there will always be a mindset which believes if their objective is not being advanced electorally or politically, then violence must be the only path to progress. Sir Ed Davey will kick-start the Liberal Democrat campaign in Mid Bedfordshire as his party bids to pull off a shock victory in Nadine Dorries seat following her resignation. The Lib Dems see the constituency as a winnable target after having achieved massive swings to take so-called Blue Wall seats in the south of England where Conservative support has traditionally been strong. Former cabinet minister Sir Ed will use his visit on Monday to declare the constituency a close race between his outfit and an out of touch Tory Party. Ms Dorries, who won 60% of the vote at the 2019 general election to secure a 24,000 majority, quit as an MP on Friday ahead of Boris Johnsons resignation honours being released. The former culture secretary has blamed her second job workload as a broadcaster and newspaper columnist for wanting to leave the Commons immediately. She had already announced that she did not plan to contest the next election. Ms Dorries was reportedly one of a number of Tory MPs, including Nigel Adams and Sir Alok Sharma, who were put forward for a peerage by Mr Johnson who also has resigned from Westminster but did not feature in the published list. Sir Eds visit to her constituency comes after a host of Conservative MPs spent the weekend campaigning in Mid-Bedfordshire as Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks party looks to retain the seat. Tory chairman Greg Hands on Sunday posted pictures of himself campaigning in the area ahead of what he predicted would be a keenly contested by-election. Labour campaign co-ordinator Shabana Mahmood also visited over the weekend, posting on Saturday that only her party could turn the page on the Tories and their 13 years of failure. And another huge group of @Conservatives here in Mid-Bedfordshire, gathering at Flitwick station. We are campaigning very hard here for the coming by-election! And a great day for it! pic.twitter.com/1V8LyibaES Greg Hands (@GregHands) June 11, 2023 The Lib Dems came third in the seat in 2019 and would need a swing of 23.6% to win in a by-election. In June 2022, the party won the seat of Tiverton & Honiton from the Conservatives on a swing of 29.9%. Sir Ed said: The British public have had enough of the endless Conservative party sleaze and scandal. Next month, people across Bedfordshire have the chance to finally get rid of this chaotic sham of a Government. Labour has already started campaigning in Boris Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat (Andrew Matthews/PA) Mid-Bedfordshire will be a close race between the Liberal Democrats and an out-of-touch Conservative Party. This Conservative Government is taking people for granted; from spiralling mortgage rates, to record NHS waiting lists and sewage in rivers. As well as speaking to voters, Sir Ed will inspect a river which his party said is at risk of sewage discharges by Anglian Water. The date for the by-election has yet to be set, with a writ, a motion giving between 21 and 27 working days for a vote to be held, yet to be moved. The Tories face three forthcoming by-elections after Ms Dorries, Mr Johnson and Mr Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, resigned within 24 hours of each other. Campaigning in Mr Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat in west London has already started, with Ms Mahmood and shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth in the area on Saturday to support candidate Danny Beales. Even before the former British leaders resignation, Labour had his seat marked as one its top targets ahead of the next general election, which is expected to be held next year. The Tories are defending a 7,000 majority in Uxbridge and a 20,000 cushion in Mr Adams constituency. Mr Adams has vowed to help return a Tory MP in the by-election he has triggered in his North Yorkshire seat. Fadi died as his family struggled to access appropriate medical care for him in Turkey. (Open Democracy) An Iraqi family remains stuck in Turkey after almost a decade waiting to be legally resettled, despite their toddler son dying because he couldn't get the medical care he needed and their daughter suffering from the same condition. The family has been waiting for resettlement since 2014, after opting to go through the official United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) channel, they told news website Open Democracy. They begged for their application to be fast-tracked, sending as evidence medical documents proving a rare autoimmune condition toddler Fadi not his real name suffered from. The same disease killed the family's eldest son in 2009 while they still lived in Iraq, before killing Fadi in 2020. Their mother Mina is terrified that her daughter, who was born in 2012, will also die as she has the condition too. In 2016, the family was rejected for resettlement by the US with no reason given, after being recommended by the UNHCR. Read more: Illegal Migration Bill breaches UK human rights obligations, MPs and peers warn Fadi's family wonder if he would still be alive today had they taken the smuggler route into the UK. (Getty Images) In 2017 three years before Fadi died they were notified that they had been referred to a resettlement country for consideration, but they've heard nothing since. Mina said restrictions imposed on refugees in Turkey made it hard to access medical care for Fadi, as it is expensive and because the family needs permission from the immigration office to travel to medical appointments. It raises questions over UK home secretary Suella Braverman's insistence that there are already safe and sufficient legal routes for people to take, as she attempts to prevent small boats crossing the English Channel. Read more: EU countries strike major deal on migration rules, delivering the first breakthrough in years But as Mina says: "Sometimes I think, if I had taken the smuggling route, I would have gotten treatment for my children." After their rejection by the US, Mina wrote to the UNHCR's international office in Geneva to complain about their treatment, she says officials seemed concerned about the delays. But she alleges the body's local Turkish office then contacted her directly to scold her for complaining, according to Open Democracy. Read more: Plan for cruise ship to house asylum seekers near Liverpool scrapped Refugee charities have said the UK criminalising Channel crossings contradicts the very principle of claiming asylum. (Alamy Live News) Sonya Sceats, chief executive of Freedom from Torture, told Yahoo News: "For most people fleeing war and torture, there are no safe and legal routes to claim asylum, despite Braverman's fictitious claims. "While people in need of our help are tragically losing their lives, the British government is dismantling the system of refugee protection established after the Holocaust, and introducing one of the most authoritarian anti-refugee laws in the world. "The UK must scrap the refugee ban bill and act now to save lives. This means rebuilding an efficient asylum system and collaborating with our European allies to create safe routes across the continent." Read more: How many people migrate to the UK each year? This is a tragic case and our deepest sympathies go to the family," the Refugee Council told Yahoo News. It once again underlines the lack of safe routes for people in desperate need, and underlines the misinformation which is pumped out with depressing regularity about how refugees seeking sanctuary can reach the UK or other countries. "The simple fact is that as the UNHCR has repeatedly said, its resettlement programmes are not in any way equivalent to the safe routes we have provided for refugees from Ukraine. "If a refugee is from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Eritrea or Iran, for example, there are no workable and safe routes to take." Read more: Suella Braverman: What happens if home secretary breached ministerial code? The SNP's Home Affairs spokesperson, Alison Thewliss MP told Yahoo News: "The devastating circumstances this family find themselves in shows the cruel reality of Westminster's decision to callously close our borders to those who need our help the most and have no legal routes open contrary to international obligations and the Westminsters own Joint Committee on Human rights. "Families like Fadi's deserve our help and compassion yet the Tories recent move through their Illegal Migration Bill, to ignore the UN Refugee Convention and the Human Rights Convention, has resulted in the polar opposite - they should hang their heads in shame. "The Tory government needs to take action urgently to help Fadi's family. They should see this as an opportunity to create an asylum system that offers people protection, security and dignity - however, ultimately, it is only with the full powers of independence we can make Scotland a welcoming place to those fleeing persecution and war." How does the UNHCR system work? When going through the UNHCR system, asylum seekers do not apply directly to resettle in a country of their choice. As the body explains: "There is no application process for resettlement refugees at heightened risk are identified by the UNHCR through our ongoing protection programmes in countries of asylum. "Currently, new resettlement opportunities to the UK for nationalities other than Afghans are minimal." Read more: Government dismisses previous Tory targets to limit net migration to 100,000 This flies in the face of Braverman's recent comments in April on the Sudan crisis, in which she said: "If you are someone who is fleeing Sudan for humanitarian reasons there are various mechanisms you can use. "The UNHCR is present in the region and they are the right mechanism by which people should apply if they do want to seek asylum in the United Kingdom." Read more: 'No chance' of Boris Johnson standing as MP again, Grant Shapps says The case flies in the face of home secretary Suella Braverman's claims that there are sufficient legal routes for asylum seekers to take. (Getty Images) But the refugee agency says that unless you already qualify for protection under an existing resettlement scheme, for refugees and asylum seekers such as the one set up for Ukrainians then "there are no safe and regular routes by which to travel to the UK, including for the purpose of seeking asylum". While it is true that the UNHCR could identify someone and recommend them for resettlement in the UK, it is not true that asylum seekers can apply to move to Britain themselves through this channel, according to Full Fact. Read more: How much is the UK paying Rwanda to take refugees? It comes after Braverman was grilled by a panel of MPs in November who told her she was "out of her depth" after conceding many asylum seekers wouldn't have the chance to legally apply for UK asylum from abroad. The UNHCR agency says that since 2015 around 28,000 refugees have arrived in the UK through UK resettlement schemes operated in partnership with UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration. Watch: Braverman 'wrong' to say asylum initial decision backlog has reduced Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in the police investigation into the SNPs finances. Police Scotland said she is in custody and is being questioned by detectives. Outside Ms Sturgeons house in Uddingston on Sunday afternoon, there was no police presence but an occasional police vehicle drove past the house. Scotlands media were gathered outside the detached property, which appeared to be empty, and as people drove past their passengers filmed the house which has found itself at the centre of a political storm. The force said: A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, June 11, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. Ms Sturgeon, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform, a spokeswoman for the ex-first minister said. Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so, she said. The former first ministers arrest comes after her husband Peter Murrell was arrested in April. Mr Murrell and MSP Colin Beattie, who was SNP treasurer at the time, were both released without charge pending further inquiry. As well as the arrests, searches were carried out at a number of properties, including Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeons home where a police tent was erected in the garden and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. The investigation dubbed Operation Branchform began in 2021. It was opened after allegations 600,000 raised for campaigning towards Scottish independence was diverted elsewhere. Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation as first minister in February this year, saying it was not related to short-term pressures but because she knew in her head and heart the time was right to go. Her husband stepped down as party chief executive during the leadership contest that followed. Humza Yousaf succeeded Ms Sturgeon as SNP leader and First Minister. Update on investigation into Scottish National Party funding and finances. More: https://t.co/0zR05TnK4o pic.twitter.com/WNA9OTJX3Q Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) June 11, 2023 The SNPs governing body, the national executive committee, agreed that a review of transparency and governance in the party should take place. Ms Sturgeon continues to be the MSP for Glasgow Southside. Mr Beattie was arrested and interviewed later in April. Following Ms Sturgeons arrest, a spokeswoman for the SNP said: These issues are subject to a live police investigation. The SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing. Rival parties also commented on the arrest, with Labours shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray saying: This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference. For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: Its fair to say that todays events will have huge ramifications both for the SNP and the future of Scottish politics. A Boris Johnson ally who quit the Commons in a reported row over a peerage has insisted that he will do his utmost to help Rishi Sunak win the next general election. Conservative Nigel Adams announced on Saturday that he was stepping down as Selby and Ainsty MP with immediate effect, becoming the third Tory to quit Westminster in the space of 24 hours. In a fuller statement released on Sunday, the ex-minister said he wanted to make clear that he remained committed to the governing party despite following Mr Johnsons lead in announcing his resignation. He said it was essential that the Prime Minister won the next election as he vowed to return a Tory MP in the by-election triggered by his own departure. Mr Adams resignation came only a day after former prime minister Mr Johnson dramatically quit as an MP over complaints about the yet-to-be-published findings of a Commons partygate inquiry. Mr Adams was reportedly one of a number of Tory MPs, including Nadine Dorries and Sir Alok Sharma, who were put forward for a peerage by Mr Johnson in his resignation honours but did not feature in Fridays published list. Downing Street has denied taking any names off the list handed to the Prime Minister. In a post on LinkedIn, Mr Adams said: Further to my announcement to stand down from Parliament with immediate effect, I want to make clear that I remain committed to the Conservative Party and support this Government in its work to continue delivering on the issues that matter most to the British people. There has been a briefing war over Boris Johnsons resignation honours list (Andrew Boyers/PA) I have left Parliament to return to my private sector career but I will continue to make the case for Conservative values. It is essential that the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak win the next election and I will do my utmost to ensure that happens. I am also looking forward to helping our excellent new candidate, Michael Naughton, in the by-election and at the general election. He knows the area and was born in Selby. He has served our country well and I know he will serve our part of North Yorkshire well. The former Foreign Office minister also praised Mr Johnsons premiership, heralding his landslide 2019 election victory and response to both Covid and Russias invasion of Ukraine. He said the Leave campaigner had saved Brexit from attempts to thwart it. Mr Johnsons resignation honours included the appointment of seven new peers to the House of Lords, with Tory Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen among those to be given a seat in the upper chamber. The House of Lords Appointments Commission, which vets peerages, confirmed on Sunday that it did not support eight nominees submitted by Mr Johnson. A spokeswoman told the PA news agency it was a point of principle for the commission that those approved for a Lords appointment cannot be sitting MPs. Nigel Farage said he believes its the end of Boris Johnson in the Conservative Party as he suggested more than 10 Tory MPs could be willing to join a new party. The prominent Leave campaigner, appearing on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, added that the gap for another insurgency is actually bigger than it was 10 years ago. It comes after Mr Johnson sensationally quit Westminster on Friday as he launched a fierce attack on the Commons Privileges Committee investigation into whether he misled MPs with his assurances over parties held in Downing Street during coronavirus lockdowns. Boris Johnson quit as an MP on Friday (Andrew Boyers/PA) Mr Farage said: I think its the end of Boris Johnson in the Conservative Party. I think all this talk of oh, hell go for this seat or that seat, well, hang on, hes virtually just gifted Uxbridge to the Labour Party, theres no way hes going to be given a seat, if he really wants to be in politics he is going to have to be part of some sort of centre-right realignment. Its been talked about years ago, the referendum stopped it, now the Ukip insurgency was getting to such a level that there was real talk about this happening, and is Johnson somebody who would want to be part of a new attempt to break the mould of British politics, or would he rather be on the after-dinner speaking circuit? I look at reform and, you know, Im not actively involved in it at the moment, but I think the gap for another insurgency is actually bigger than it was 10 years ago. Mr Farage was asked if any Conservative MPs have got in contact who might be interested in a gap in the political market. He said: More than before, I think there are quite a lot of Conservative MPs right now who know they are going to lose their seats, the Red Wallers know theyre going to lose their seats as it is running as Conservatives, and if there was a coming together on the centre-right, which is where the gap is, I think quite a few would. Asked how many, he replied: Potentially, potentially, double figures would not be hard to say. I think it needs to be more than just me, you know? You can have one person leading a party into a European election or something like that. A general election, youve got to have a range of talents. I dont know whats going to happen, I dont know what Boris Johnsons going to do, but I see a bigger gap for insurgency today than I did before. Afterwards, when Tory former leader Michael Howard was asked if he believed Mr Farage that there would be some kind of new outfit coming, he said that Nigel is making mischief, which hes very, very good at. The Tory party continues to grapple with the fallout of Boris Johnson's resignation as an MP on Friday. (Getty Images) Boris Johnson does not want to stand as a Tory MP again, despite hints of a comeback in his resignation speech, Grant Shapps said on Sunday. The energy secretary said there is "no chance" of the former prime minister attempting to return to Conservative benches, adding that he is not "in the mindset" for it. Johnson resigned as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip on Friday, claiming he was the victim of a "witch-hunt" by the Privileges Committee investigating claims he repeatedly lied to Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties during the COVID pandemic. His resignation letter had a confrontational tone, taking a swipe at the party's current leadership under Rishi Sunak, and dropping a hint of a return to politics by saying he was "sad to be leaving Parliament at least for now". Johnson's departure has led to a debate within the Conservative Party over whether he should be allowed to stand again, with staunch ally Jacob Rees-Mogg warning there would be "civil war" if he is blocked. Watch: Grant Shapps says Tories don't 'miss the drama' of Boris Johnson's leadership However, Shapps told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the question of Johnson running again is "pretty hypothetical". "I dont think he is in the mindset to do that, and the party would have to go through the usual process they would through anybody. "He's just resigned right there is no chance of him coming back and saying, 'I'm going to stand again.' From what I understand even he's said he doesn't want to do that." Read more: How many children Boris Johnson has - and what they're doing now Appearing on Sky News earlier on Sunday, Shapps said the "world has moved on" from Johnson and that "he is the one who has removed himself from the current political scene". The fallout of Johnson's departure has opened a debate within the Conservative Party over whether he should even be allowed to stand again following the political turmoil caused under his leadership. Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned there would be 'civil war' if Johnson was blocked from standing again. (Getty Images) Writing in the Mail on Sunday, former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said Johnson could "easily get back into Parliament at the next election" and is "in pole position to return as Conservative leader if a vacancy should arise". He added: "I would most strongly warn Conservative Party managers against any attempt to block Boris if he seeks the party nomination in another seat. Read more: What Brits currently think of Boris Johnson (and it's not pretty) "Any attempt to do so would shatter our fragile party unity and plunge the Conservatives into civil war." But former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine said Johnson should not be given another chance by the party, writing in The Observer: "To me it is inconceivable that in these circumstances he could stand as a Conservative member of parliament again." Referring to the wording of Johnson's letter, Heseltine said: "Words are designed to make his audience believe whatever they want to believe. There is no anchor to any discernible truth or sense of integrity." Shapps denied reports that a member of Rishi Sunak's team removed names from Johnson's resignation honours list months ago. (Getty Images) Johnson stepped down as an MP hours after the publication of his prime minister's resignation honours list, which was stuffed with a number of friends and allies including Rees-Mogg, Michael Fabricant and Priti Patel. Despite accusations of "cronyism", reports have emerged that some names on Johnson's list had been removed by a member of Rishi Sunak's team months before it was passed to the current PM for a rubber stamp. Read more: Rishi Sunak's AI expert denies saying humanity has 'two years to save the world' Asked if there is any truth to these reports, Shapps told Kuenssberg that the House of Lords Commission would have to publicise if the prime minister removed anyone from the list which hasn't happened. Kuenssberg continued to press him, saying: "This is a very specific question, is it true that a member of the prime ministers team took several names of Boris Johnsons list of people he wanted to send to the House of Lords some months ago?" Shapps said: "My understanding is no, as far as I'm aware thats not true." That same morning, ITV News' political editor Robert Peston said Downing Street had taken the "highly unusual step of declassifying the list of Boris Johnsons proposed peers that was approved by the House of Lords Appointments Commission". Read more: Would you really benefit from a Tory plan to scrap inheritance tax? Downing St has taken the highly unusual step of declassifying the list of Boris Johnsons proposed peers that was approved by the House of Lords Appointments Commission (attached). They did this to prove that the PM had not lied to Johnson when telling him he would approve pic.twitter.com/syvTIHkuF4 Robert Peston (@Peston) June 11, 2023 He added: "They did this to prove that the PM had not lied to Johnson when telling him he would approve the ex PMs list, when they met earlier this month - and to reinforce Downing Sts claim that Sunak had not interfered to prevent Alok Sharma, Nadine Dorries or Nigel Adams receiving peerages." However, Peston said that something does "not add up". He said the list would have been sent to Sunak in February and that the appointments commission did not want to "create a precedent of approving peerages unless the recipients would undertake to stand down as MPs and join the Lords within six months of announcement". Despite this he claims, "Dorries, Adams and Sharma were all labouring under the illusion they COULD accept and receive the peerages without standing down as MPs more or less immediately. For weeks no one told them anything to the contrary," Peston claimed. Read more: Next general election may be 'testing ground' for AI's 'harmful capabilities', Sajid Javid says "I am told Boris Johnsons office tried and failed to get clarification on this for weeks from the Cabinet Office. Dorries was actually told by a minister she trusts - and on several occasions - that the Cabinet Office did not want her to stand down and there was no need to do so," he added. "Dorries is understandably livid. Sharma is 'distraught'. And Adams, like Dorries, has manifested his fury by standing down immediately, and doing precisely the opposite of what Sunak would have wanted. "It is profoundly messy. As of this moment, it is not completely clear whether this was a cock up or a conspiracy." * Winery owners and winemakers have transformed Ningxia from a barren land on the edge of the Gobi Desert to a leading wine-producer in China. * The growing international recognition is evident at the International Conference on Grape and Wine Industries, and the third China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo. * The booming wine industry in Ningxia has brought about economic development for the landlocked region, as well as plenty of job opportunities for the locals. YINCHUAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- For a group of visitors to his winery, Jade Vineyard, winemaker Pei Hongkai offered not only the best reds but also a beautiful rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata on a grand piano. His boss, Ding Jian, the owner of Jade, invited him to play in order to make a point: one's artistic attainment matters in making premium wine. "The places you have been to, the books you have read, and the people you have loved -- they all eventually contribute to, in one way or another, the wine you make," said Ding, stressing the human factor in winemaking. Since the production of the first bottle of wine in 1984 in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a group of winery owners and winemakers have, through their handwork and ingenuity, transformed the region from a barren land on the edge of the Gobi Desert to a leading wine-producer in China. Over the past decade, the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia have grown to be a rising star on the world's wine map, with local wines winning many top international awards. People taste wine during the International Conference on Grape and Wine Industries, and the third China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo, in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) The growing international recognition is evident at the International Conference on Grape and Wine Industries, and the third China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo, concurrently held on Friday and Saturday in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia. In a video address for the opening of the event, Pau Roca Blasco, director general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine, hailed China's development in winemaking. China has all the potential, research, and new technologies to have its rightful share in shaping the global vine and wine tendencies, Blasco said. In 2021, China launched a national pilot zone to develop premium wine on the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain. "Ningxia's success in becoming the first Chinese pilot zone in this matter is enhancing its performance and international recognition," said Blasco. This aerial photo taken on June 8, 2023 shows a winery in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) WINNING INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES Days before the international wine-themed conference and expo opened, Chinese wines won big at this year's Decanter World Wine Awards, a leading wine competition in the world. Nine Chinese wines were awarded gold medals, alongside 83 silver medals and 182 bronze. Ningxia leads China's wine-producing regions with 40 percent of the medals won. Wu Zhipeng, a winemaker in Ningxia's Lansai winery, was thrilled to learn that its Yu Moli Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 was one of the three Chinese gold medal winners with the highest score of 96 points. "The award is a great encouragement and also a confidence booster for us to continue with our efforts in making premium wine," said Wu. As a worldwide brand ambassador with Xige Estate in Ningxia, Christelle Chene has witnessed the changing attitudes of foreign consumers towards Chinese wine over the past few years. "At the very beginning, they had no idea about Chinese wine, but after tasting our products, they got very surprised. Some regions even begin to worry they will be surpassed by us," said Chene. This aerial photo taken on June 5, 2023 shows a tractor weeding a wine grape planting base at the foot of the Helan Mountain in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) Xige adopts a high level of automation in winemaking. Each year, the winery produces 6 million bottles of high-quality wine, with no more than 10 workers in their fermentation workshop. "Achieving both large quantity and high quality is also a Chinese characteristic. Few foreign wineries could do it," said Chene, who is from Burgundy, a renowned wine-producing region in France. Zhang Junxiang, a professor at Ningxia University, attributed Ningxia's rapid development in winemaking to a number of factors, including a perfect terroir in cultivating high-quality wine grapes, the application of high technology, robust international cooperation, people's hard work, and the government's strong support. For instance, Zhang's research team has invented a new type of pole for vine tendrils that allows each bunch of grapes to have the same exposure to sunlight, which will improve the stability of wine quality. "Ningxia used to bill itself as 'China's Bordeaux', but today we have the full confidence to use simply our appellation: the Eastern Foothills of Helan Mountain," said Zhang. GREEN INDUSTRIES The booming wine industry in Ningxia has brought about economic development for the landlocked region, as well as plenty of job opportunities for the locals. Across the region, the industry provides around 130,000 jobs for local people every year. Workers sort grapes at a winery at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) In Haoyuan Village in Yinchuan alone, there are 19 wineries and vineyards, where many local people are hired for work, such as pruning the grape vines. Su Jinping, 51, has been working in the vineyard for two decades. She can still recall the hardship the early explorers had endured in building the vineyards. "We cleared out the stones one by one in the dust storms and planted grape seedlings. I was really worried that they may not survive the extreme environment," recalled Su. She feels grateful that pioneers of Ningxia's wine industry managed to overcome the hardship, as the grapes did, and are now reaping fruitful results. In Ningxia, the wine industry has also helped turn the barren land near the Helan Mountain into a 195-km-long green belt of grape vines, where local authorities have made efforts to promote tourism. In Haoyuan, villagers have provided homestays, barbecues, and fruit-picking tours for wine enthusiasts. Forty "wine buses" are in operation, allowing tourists to sip wine and eat grilled mutton on their way to wineries. Official statistics show that wine-tasting tours in Ningxia attracted over 1.35 million visits last year despite the impact of COVID-19, generating an output value of 34.27 billion yuan (about 4.8 billion U.S. dollars). "By promoting the integrated development of the wine industry, ecological conservation, and cultural tourism, Ningxia has explored a path of high-quality development," said Lei Dongsheng, an official of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China. "The direction of Ningxia's wine industry development is correct," said Nicolas Billot-Grima, a chief consultant with Stone & Moon winery, adding that the vineyards can also help fix the sand. Billot-Grima, whose family has owned a chateau in Bordeaux for generations, believes his team in Ningxia can make the best Chinese wine from the organic vineyards. An American musician and song producer who has been living in Russia for over a decade had been detained on accusations of drug trafficking, as reported by Russian news outlets on Saturday, June 10. American Citizen Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges in Moscow The New York Post that Michael Travis Leake is distributing mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant drug with effects somewhere between those of cocaine and MDMA. A court in Moscow issued an order keeping him in pre-trial custody for two months, as per reports. A conviction on narcotics trafficking or manufacturing charges could land him in jail for up to 20 years. On his Instagram profile, he goes by the name Travis Leake. The bio says he is the lead vocalist for the band Lovi Noch (Seize the Night). In addition to his own musical endeavors, he reportedly worked as a song producer for various Russian music groups in Moscow. According to the media, Leake is also a former US military paratrooper who has been based in Moscow since 2010. In an email response to the AP News, the US Department of State confirmed that it was aware of rumors that an American citizen had been detained in Moscow. The statement claimed the department "pursues consular access as soon as possible and works to provide all appropriate consular assistance" when an American citizen is detained abroad. The agency has said that it has no more statements to make owing to privacy concerns. Also Read: Philippines: Court Denies Bail for Ex-Senator Detained on Drug Charges Russia Enforces Strict Drug Laws Russian legislation is quite stringent in regard to illegal drugs. In February 2022, WNBA player Brittney Griner was detained at the Moscow airport when vape canisters carrying cannabis oil were discovered in her baggage. She was given a nine-year sentence but was freed in December 2022 after being swapped for the Russian weapons dealer Viktor Bout, who was imprisoned in the US. 2014 Interview With Host Anthony Bourdain CNN reported that, in 2014, the Parts Unknown crew traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg to shoot an episode with Leake. Anthony Bourdain, the show's host, had chosen Leake to be a guest star in particular. Leake vented his anger at censorship and related an event involving his band and MTV on this episode. "This was a documentary series about musicians standing up and risking their lives, in some cases, to stand up against government abuse of power, and government corruption. And yet, a foreign government was able to editorially control what Americans viewers see on their TV screens. That, to me, is a scandal of epic proportion," Leake stated. The episode's producer, Darya Tarasova, stated that although the band may not have been particularly well-known, Leake and his pals had been very vocal in their opposition to repressive government policies in Russia. "Bourdain really liked that interview," she added. Also Read: Dubai Authorities Arrest Man for Drug Smuggling Attempt; Marijuana Kept in Cereal Bags @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former SNP leader and first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested by police investigating the partys finances. Ms Sturgeon, 52, is the third senior SNP figure to be taken into custody after her husband Peter Murrell, the partys former chief executive, and Colin Beattie, the partys ex-treasurer. An investigation into the partys finances has been ongoing since July 2021 after party treasurer Douglas Chapman MP resigned from the role. May 2021 MP quits party finance role Mr Chapman resigned from his role as treasurer, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job. Senior figures in the party, including Ms Sturgeon, later disputed his assessment. Joanna Cherry, a vocal internal critic of the partys leadership, also resigned from her role on the national executive committee (NEC). Former SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman stood down in April 2021 saying he did not have enough information to do his job (UK Parliament/PA) July 2021 Police open investigation Police Scotland confirmed they were investigating after seven complaints were made around donations to the SNP. This followed allegations that 600,000 raised for campaigning towards Scottish independence was diverted elsewhere. Earlier, the police force said they were assessing a fraud allegation relating to 600,000 of funds to determine if an investigation is required. The party said that all sums raised for independence campaigning will be spent on independence campaigning. August 2021 Party accounts acknowledge concern As the partys annual accounts were published, treasurer Mr Beattie acknowledged there had been concern about transparency over independence-related appeals that had raised more than 600,000. In a section of the accounts, Mr Beattie discussed money raised by the referendum-related appeals since 2017. He said that 666,953 had been raised up to the end of 2021, with a total of 51,760 expenditure applied to this income. The money was earmarked through internal processes, he said, though the accounts did not officially record a separate sum. December 2022 Loan to SNP emerges In December, it emerged that Mr Murrell had loaned the party 100,000 in June 2021. The party said this was to help with a cash flow issue after the election that year. Ms Sturgeon said: The resources that he lent the party were resources that belonged to him. Nicola Sturgeon resigned in early 2023 (Jane Barlow/PA) February 2023 Nicola Sturgeon resigns Nicola Sturgeon stunned the political world by suddenly announcing her resignation on February 15. She said this was not in relation to short-term pressures but because she knew in her head and heart that the time was right to go. During her Bute House press conference, she was asked if she expected to be interviewed in relation to the investigation. She said she did not. March 2023 Peter Murrell resigns Amid the SNP leadership contest to replace Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell announced he was stepping down from the role he had held for more than 20 years. It came during a row over the partys membership numbers, which also led to media chief Murray Foote stepping down. Membership numbers had dropped by about 30,000 in the last year, something the party previously denied. Peter Murrell was arrested in April 2023 as part of the ongoing investigation into the SNPs finances (Andy Buchanan/PA) April 2023 Murrell arrested as police search premises Mr Murrell was arrested on the morning of Wednesday April 5. There was a large police presence around his home in Glasgow as well as the SNPs headquarters in Edinburgh. He was released without charge, pending further investigation, the same day. April 2023 Camper van seized On April 9, a luxury camper van was seized by police investigating the partys finances, thought to be worth around 110,000. Colin Beattie, former SNP treasurer, was arrested as part of the investigation into the SNPs finances. He stood down afterwards (Jane Barlow/PA) April 2023 Treasurer arrested On April 18, party treasurer Mr Beattie was arrested and interviewed by police. His role is to oversee the partys finances. April 2023 SNP appoints new treasurer Stuart McDonald MP was appointed as the SNPs new treasurer on April 22 after Mr Beattie stood down with immediate effect following his arrest. The 44-year-old, who represents Cumbernauld, Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth, admitted it would be a difficult and challenging time for the party. May 2023 SNP appoints new auditors The party appointed the AMS Accountant Group on May 3 2023, after their previous auditors Johnston Carmichael stood down in September 2022. The party was subsequently able to file accounts prior to a crucial deadline which may have seen the Westminster group miss out on 1.2 million worth of funding. June 2023 Nicola Sturgeon arrested Former first minister and SNP leader Ms Sturgeon was arrested on June 11. She voluntarily arranged with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the investigation into the partys finances, a spokesperson said. Shapps says politics has moved on from Johnson as he plays down talk of return Politics has moved on from the drama of the Boris Johnson era, according to a Cabinet minister who played down speculation about the former prime minister making a swift return to Westminster. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps, who served in Mr Johnsons cabinet, said he does not think the former Tory leader is in the mindset to fight the next general election. It comes after Johnson ally Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said the ex-incumbent of No 10, who quit the Commons on Friday in protest against an MPs inquiry into partygate, could contest the next election for the Conservative Party and would be in pole position during a future leadership contest. Sir Jacob said, in an article for the Mail On Sunday, there could be a Tory civil war if the party tried to block him from standing. Mr Shapps told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: There is no kind of chance of him coming back and saying, Right, now Im going to stand again. From what I understand, even he has said he doesnt want to do that. So we are rather in the realms of the hypothetical. Mr Shapps said Mr Johnson would have been perfectly entitled to remain as an MP but decided to step down. He told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: I think people around the country inside and outside the party recognise that Boris was somebody with many qualities. But we are now in a world where there are different challenges to face and weve got new management in No 10 getting on with the job and getting on with the priorities of this country. I think the world has moved on from what was quite a dramatic period under Brexit and of course under the issues related to Covid, the vaccines and the rest of it. He said the UK is in a calmer period under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who he said is doing proper Conservative things in a response to Mr Johnson accusing the Government of ditching 2019 manifesto pledges. Mr Shapps also said he disagrees with Mr Johnsons criticism of the Commons Privileges Committees investigation into whether he misled MPs when he said Covid rules were followed in Downing Street during the pandemic despite lockdown-busting parties taking place. Mr Johnson attacked the seven-person panel on Friday as he resigned as an MP, accusing them of a witch hunt and likening the panel to a kangaroo court. But Mr Shapps said he has no reason to support the accusations, denying suggestions the investigation was motivated by a desire to reverse Brexit. The former Tory chairman said, while Mr Johnson had successes as prime minister, he thinks people both in the Conservative Party and outside dont miss the drama of his premiership. (PA Graphics) Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said Mr Johnsons attack on the partygate probe and the manner of his exit was akin to mutiny. The former minister told GB News: It is a grave moment for our party. Johnson quit not only kicking the milk bottles on the way out but rallying other MPs to follow in order to inflict maximum damage to the party he claims to support. It comes as Guto Harri, a former Johnson spin doctor, told Sky his former boss has been hounded out of politics. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for a snap general election after Mr Johnson, along with two of his close allies Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams quit the Commons within 24 hours of each other, triggering by-elections in their seats. Pat McFadden, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said the country will be bedevilled by chaos and instability if the Tory chaos is allowed to continue. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested Boris Johnson could return at the next election (PA) He accused Mr Johnson of acting like a baby-man with the way he reacted to the yet-to-be-published Privileges Committee conclusion. The probe, which was chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but had a Tory majority, is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson lied to Parliament over partygate. Reports suggest it was set to recommend at least a 10-day suspension, reaching the threshold for a by-election in his now-former Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency to be potentially triggered. Mr McFadden said the committees report, which is expected to be published promptly, is not the last word. It then goes to Parliament, where the Tories are sitting on a majority of around 66 seats at least it was on Friday before they all started resigning, he told Ridge. Even then, it just triggers a recall petition where he could face the voters. But the truth is he didnt want to face any of the verdicts because he can never accept responsibility for his own actions. This farce must stop. People have had enough of a shambolic Tory government and a weak Prime Minister no one voted for. Rishi Sunak must finally find a backbone, call an election, and let the public have their say on 13 years of Tory failure. Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 10, 2023 Thats true of all these right-wing populist leaders. They are like baby-men. Whenever anything goes wrong, it is everybody elses fault. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, the former Brexit Party leader turned broadcaster, said he sees the potential for an insurgent party to emerge after the fallout of Mr Johnsons resignation. He suggested more than 10 Conservative MPs have been in touch in relation to potentially joining a new party. More than before, I think there are quite a lot of Conservative MPs right now who know they are going to lose their seats, he told the BBC. The Red Wallers know theyre going to lose their seats as it is running as Conservatives, and if there was a coming together on the centre-right, which is where the gap is, I think quite a few would. I dont know whats going to happen, I dont know what Boris Johnsons going to do, but I see a bigger gap for insurgency today than I did before. Mr Farage later told GB News he had been in discussions with people very close to Mr Johnson about a coming together between the pair so they can defend their Brexit legacy. Sturgeon: I know beyond doubt that I am innocent of any wrongdoing Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted beyond doubt she was innocent of any wrongdoing following her arrest in connection with an ongoing probe into the SNPs finances on Sunday. Ms Sturgeon was questioned for around seven hours on Sunday before she was released at about 5.25pm as part of the police investigation which began in July 2021. She was the third, high-profile SNP politician to be arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the partys finances after complaints were raised almost two years ago. After being released from custody pending further investigation on Sunday, the former SNP leader tweeted her shock and distress at the situation. She said: To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing. I know that this ongoing investigation is difficult for people, and I am grateful that so many continue to show faith in me and appreciate that I would never do anything to harm either the SNP or the country. Ms Sturgeon went on to say that she was innocent of any wrongdoing, adding: Obviously, given the nature of this process, I cannot go into detail. However, I do wish to say this, and to do so in the strongest possible terms. Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing. Ms Sturgeon thanked her family and friends for giving her much-needed strength at this time and said she would take a day or two to process the latest development. The statement finished: To the many people who have sent messages of support over these past difficult weeks including since todays news broke thank you for your kindness. Thank you also to my close circle of family and friends who are giving me much-needed strength at this time. Finally, while I will take a day or two to process this latest development, I intend to be back in Parliament soon where I will continue to represent my Glasgow Southside constituents to the very best of my ability. Police opened an investigation into the SNPs finances in July 2021 after allegations that 600,000 raised for a potential independence referendum campaign had been diverted elsewhere. Concerns had first been raised by the former party treasurer, Douglas Chapman MP, who resigned from the role, claiming he did not have enough information to do the job. SNP accounts from August 2021 showed the money was earmarked through internal processes, though they did not officially record a separate sum. Members of the media outside former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeons home in Uddingtson, Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA) It later emerged former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell Ms Sturgeons husband had lent the party 100,000 in June 2021 to help with a cash flow problem. Mr Murrell and Colin Beattie MSP, former party treasurer, were arrested and released without charge pending further investigation, in April. The home shared by Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon was one of the addresses raided by police alongside the partys Edinburgh office. There was no police presence at the property in Uddingston on Sunday but a police vehicle occasionally drove past the house. Members of Scotlands media were gathered outside the detached property, which appeared to be empty. Opposition politicians and an MP from Ms Sturgeons own benches called for her to be suspended from the party. Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil, of the SNP, tweeted: This soap opera has gone far enough, Nicola Sturgeon suspended others from the SNP for an awful lot less. Time for political distance until the investigation ends either way. This soap-opera has gone far enough, Nicola Sturgeon suspended others from the SNP for an awful lot less! Time for political distance until the investigation ends either way. https://t.co/8tclFmrza0 Angus B MacNeil MP (@AngusMacNeilSNP) June 11, 2023 Scottish Conservatives chairman Craig Hoy said: Nicola Sturgeon and other senior SNP figures including Humza Yousaf must co-operate fully with this police investigation and commit to full transparency surrounding it. The SNP continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor from the SNP. Rishi Sunak will tell technology leaders he wants to make the UK both the intellectual and the geographical home of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. In a speech to open London Tech Week on Monday, the Prime Minister is set to say that the extraordinary possibility of AI advances must be carried out safely as he positions Britain as a potential home of a global regulator. It comes after the Conservative Party leader used a trip to the US last week to announce that the UK will host the first global summit on AI safety. The Prime Minister, in pre-briefed comments ahead of his appearance at the 10th London Tech Week, will say: Already weve seen AI help the paralysed to walk and discover superbug-killing antibiotics and thats just the beginning. The possibilities are extraordinary. But we must and we will do it safely. I want to make the UK not just the intellectual home, but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation. The UK Government has already given 100 million to a Foundation Model Taskforce that has been created to lead on AI safety in the UK. US President Joe Biden told Mr Sunak while he was in Washington DC that he was looking to the British leader to lead the effort on heading up internationally co-ordinated action to mitigate the risks of the emerging technology. Mr Sunak, speaking to broadcasters in the States, said he thought Britain was well placed to take a leading role in developing a global architecture for regulation. The campaign has come after experts, including bosses at companies such as Google DeepMind and Anthropic, warned publicly that, in the wrong hands, AI could be used to harm people and spell the end of humanity. President Joe Biden told Rishi Sunak he wanted the UK to take the lead on AI controls (Kevin Lamarque/PA) At Mondays conference, No 10 said Mr Sunak will outline the need to bring together academics, leading tech companies and Government to deliver the AI benefits that have the potential to improve lives. Mr Sunak will also say that the UK must act quickly if it wants to retain its position as a tech powerhouse as he argues that the tectonic plates of technology are shifting. Already home to the largest tech economy in Europe, he will reinforce that the tech sector is at the heart of his priority to grow the economy, No 10 officials said. Downing Street said that Mr Sunak would outline how, with world-leading universities, more tech unicorns than France and Germany combined, and one of the most digitally literate societies in the world, the UK was starting from a position of strength. Mr Sunak will vow to make it his mission for the UK which he dubbed an island of innovation to continue to attract tech investment. AI is expected to bring about improvements in health and the teaching sector (Rui Vieira/PA) He is expected to say that his administrations plan is to make this the best country in the world to start, grow and invest in tech businesses. That is my goal. And I feel a sense of urgency and responsibility to make sure we seize it, he is scheduled to tell the Westminster audience. After his speech, the Prime Minister will take part in a fireside chat with Demis Hassabis, chief executive of London-based Google DeepMind. Joanna Shields, chief executive of Benevolent AI, said there was limited opportunity to take action on regulating AI and that she was delighted the UK was taking the matter seriously with its autumn safety conference. These crucial initiatives serve as a solid foundation, and now it is essential for both the public and private sectors to collaborate closely to tackle this monumental challenge and position the UK at the forefront of AI regulation, she said. Darktrace chief executive Poppy Gustafsson said: The UK is in a great position to be at the forefront of the AI revolution. Im excited to see this country leaning in on this agenda and actively looking to capitalise on the tremendous opportunities that this creates. Long gone are the days when your grandmother received a poorly-written email from a Nigerian prince promising a windfall. These days, courtesy of AI, financial scams are a lot more sophisticated and believable. Using artificial intelligence, scammers are employing deeply persuasive FaceTime calls, phone calls, and emails to unsuspecting victims. They are posing as prospective lovers, close friends, or even government agents from the IRS, according to experts. Consequently, experts warn the problem could reach unprecedented levels as fraud becomes almost undetectable. They caution Americans to keep their guards up so they dont get swindled, and recommend several ways to protect themselves. We call it crime 3.0, said Haywood Talcove, CEO of the government group at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a data analytics company that protects against identity fraud among other services. The use of this technology whether it's artificial intelligence, generative AI, as well as the deep-fake technology has the ability to blow through most of the tools that have been set up to protect our financial institutions and our government institutions. FILE - The ChatGPT app is displayed on an iPhone in New York, May 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) AI is a problem for everyone Recently, online scams have shot up. Federal Trade Commission data released in February showed that consumers lost roughly $8.8 billion due to fraud in 2022. Thats a 19% increase over the previous year. Kathy Stokes, AARPs director of fraud prevention, or Fraud Watch Network, pointed out that such numbers dont reflect the true scale of the problem because most online scams go unreported. We don't know how big it is, Stokes said. But we know it's so much bigger than we can even imagine. She also noted that fraud doesnt solely affect older Americans. Indeed, the recent FTC data indicate that young people now fall victim to fraud more frequently than seniors. AI is a problem for everyone, not just older adults, and versions of artificial intelligence have been part of fraud for a long time, Stokes said. But now this generative AI just really creates so much more sophistication to the way they target people. She added: It's just when that older adult is the target, they tend to lose so much more because they have those assets that they've saved for retirement an insurance policy if they're widowed and housing wealth and the criminals will go after that. You don't look like a 25-year-old fraudster Visitors stand near a sign of artificial intelligence at an AI robot booth at Security China, an exhibition on public safety and security, in Beijing, China June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo According to the experts, criminals engage AI in several kinds of scams to better dupe their victims. For instance, with ChatGPT, criminals can now send more persuasive letters requesting money, Adam Brewer, a tax lawyer, told Yahoo Finance. The difference now is that it's just more polished. Essentially, they have the computers writing the scripts or writing the letters, Brewer said. It's just going to be a lot harder for the average person to detect. Talcove cited the romance scam, in which fraudsters pose as prospective lovers and fool victims out of their money. Fraudsters can use deepfake technology to alter their image and even the sound of their voice. Lonely, elderly men are particularly susceptible to this form of fraud. You don't look like a 25-year-old fraudster. You look like a 40-year-old attractive female and everything fits the image, fits in the voice, Talcove said. That to me is when you're looking at one of the more devastating impacts of artificial intelligence. He also spotlighted ransom fraud. In this particular scam, Americans might receive a call from a family member or close friend in the middle of the night urgently pleading for money. You're lying in bed at night. Your phone calls and it sounds like your kid, and they're stuck in the Bahamas and they've been arrested. And you need to send them $5,000 immediately, Talcove said. They use generative AI for replication and voice and it's really not your kid. This March 22, 2013, file photo shows the exterior of the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) If you've heard about it Experts recommend several courses of action for addressing this kind of fraud. One way to avoid ransom fraud is by creating a family password that a fraudster wouldnt know, Talcove said. To deter romance fraud, adult children should advise their parents to not send money to strangers. Meanwhile, Stokes said potential victims should watch out for messages that put them in a heightened emotional state, such as winning lots of money or the beginning of an exciting, new romantic relationship. Those things put us into a place in our brain, the amygdala, where it's hard to come out of it to access logical thinking. Criminals have known that since forever, Stokes said. And unfortunately, the tools have become so much better for them, that they're able to cause so much harm, but we really need people to focus on that. She added: That red flag it's that emotional reaction to an incoming communication. That's the flag. That's where to disengage. To verify someone's identity on social media, Stokes recommended folks conduct a reverse image search. And if that person shows up on other people's names, then you know the person is trying to defraud you and deceive you in some way, she said, but acknowledged that a reverse image search is not as effective to do when I've just created a human and I can create hundreds of humans that don't actually exist, but that look real. Brewer added that people should be extremely suspicious of government requests that demand immediate action. Government bureaus like the IRS move slowly and are unlikely to make first contact over the phone, email, or text. They're going to send letters and it is going to be a slow process, Brewer said. So if someone's calling you or texting or emailing you, telling youve got to act in the next minutes or days or hours, that's not the time frame the IRS operates on. So you can be sure that it's most likely a scam. Ultimately, Brewer said, the best defense against fraud is awareness of the threat. Thats really the difference between someone falling victim and not. If you've heard about it, your mind is going to put that into that fraud category, he said. Now you're instantly skeptical, whereas if you haven't heard of it, your mind might run and have you send money to someone or do something you'll later regret. Dylan Croll is a Yahoo Finance reporter. Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Democrats are raising concerns over efforts to recruit third-party candidates in 2024 amid fears they could take votes away from President Bidens reelection. The bipartisan group No Labels has been working toward building the foundation to launch a unity ticket to run as an option separate from Democrats or Republicans as polls show a rematch between Biden and former President Trump is likely. And Cornel West, a progressive activist, became the first relatively well-known third-party candidate to enter the race. The developments come as polling shows Americans souring on the prospect of a Biden-Trump rematch. A NewsNation/DDHQ poll released this week found 49 percent of respondents said it was somewhat or very likely they would consider voting for a third-party candidate in 2024 if Trump and Biden were the nominees. Meanwhile, an NBC News poll released last month found 70 percent of Americans said they did not want Biden to run for president next year, while 60 percent say they do not want Trump to run for president in 2024. Its almost universal, said former Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who is involved with No Labels. People are just saying 350 million Americans, cant we have a different match? Biden and Trump have been grappling with their separate sets of issues as they embark on the 2024 campaign cycle. Biden, 80, and Trump, 76, have both faced questions over their age particularly Biden, who would be 86 years old if he were to complete a second term. Meanwhile, Trump, who is handily leading the Republican primary field, is facing his second indictment in three months. The Justice Department on Friday revealed Trump had been charged with 37 counts connected to the mishandling of records at Mar-a-Lago in addition to his efforts to block the government from recovering the documents. Trump indicted on 37 counts in Mar-a-Lago case West has used his candidacy to directly address frustrations over both candidates. In his launch video, West, a member of the Peoples Party, labeled Biden a milquetoast neoliberal and called Trump a neofascist. In an interview with Semafor on Friday, West addressed Democrats concern over third-party campaigns. Cornel West speaks at a 2020 campaign rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, N.H. West is running for president in 2024 as a third-party candidate. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) If the Democrats dont want third-party candidates like myself, why dont you put poor and working people, here and abroad, at the center of your vision? Biden was a caretaker president for four years, West told the outlet. Democrats cant have caretaker presidents forever, he added. If the only alternative to neoliberalism is neofascism, that is a catastrophe, and youre still going to have fascism sooner or later. You need to confront fascism with vision, with passion; you need to re-channel the insecurities and fears of American citizens. Thats how you undercut fascism, internally. While Wests chances of being elected president are slim, his candidacy, like past third-party bids, could impact the results of the election Amy Walter, the editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, responded to news of Wests candidacy on Twitter by asking if his candidacy was more threatening to Biden than Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s. In an interview on Fox News on Wednesday, veteran GOP pollster Kellyanne Conway said the answer to Walters question was yes. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Its very likely, Conway told the network. Amy Walter is onto something, and Ill tell you why: Even if you dont become president, you, as a third-party candidate spoiler, can decide who is the president. Ross Perot and Ralph Nader are two of the most notable examples of third-party candidates seen as playing deciding factors in elections. In 1992, Perot won roughly 19 percent of the vote and did not win any electoral votes. But many Republicans were quick to call him a spoiler. In 2000, Nader faced claims he played spoiler after former President George W. Bush narrowly defeated former Vice President Al Gore. Green Party candidate Jill Stein also faced allegations that her candidacy helped elect Trump in 2016 despite only winning roughly 1 percent of the popular vote. Those of us who lived in and worked in the 2016 election, this gives most of us political PTSD, said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist and a senior visiting fellow at the center-left think tank Third Way. Because if you think about the third-party activities that went on in the 2016 election, we now know in retrospect that literally played a significant role in costing perhaps the most qualified person to ever run for the office, he said. And we know what came as a result of that, a right-wing activist court thats changed the footprint of this country forever. Groups like Third Way and the Lincoln Project, a group critical of the state of the GOP under Trump, have come out strongly against the prospect of a third-party candidate. The groups have particularly taken aim at No Labels. It is a guaranteed spoiler and the risk is all on the Democratic side, said Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at Third Way. Its notable that Democrats are concerned about No Labels third-party bid and no Republican is concerned, at least no Republican who is a Trump partisan or would support another Republican nominee. All of that concern is on the Democratic side. Democrats rely far more on moderate and Independent voters than Republicans in national elections, he added. According to a Third Way memo released this week, the group said No Labels polling data showed a moderate independent candidate garnering 20 percent of the vote, while Biden came in at 28 percent and Trump came in at 33 percent. No Labels responded with a memo of its own, noting No Labels polling data also found that 18 percent of voters said they didnt know or were unsure of who they would vote for. No Labels has maintained a third-party bid is viable, citing polling that shows voters do not want a Trump vs. Biden rematch. The group says its polling shows 59 percent of voters say they would consider a moderate, independent ticket in 2024 if Trump and Biden are the nominees. The group is on the ballot in Arizona, Alaska, Colorado and Oregon. The group has faced some backlash, most recently in Maine, where the secretary of state accused No Labels of misleading voters in its effort to get on the states ballot. No Labels said in a statement in response to a cease-and-desist letter from Maine election officials that the organizers were given crystal-clear instructions on asking voters to change their party affiliation. Despite the controversy, the group has well-known backers from both sides of the aisle including former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and civil rights leader Ben Chavis, who both serve as national co-chairmen. Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is the groups founding chairman. Former Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) has also spoken out in support of the group. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who has a 12-year relationship with the group, has often been floated as a potential pick to lead the groups unity ticket. Manchin has not ruled out a 2024 presidential run. However, the group has yet to publicly float any candidates and has maintained that its priority is getting on the ballot in all 50 states. Our eye on the ball right now is getting on the states ballots, Upton said, predicting that number will be close to 10 by the end of June. Upton said he believes the groups goal of getting on the ballot in all 50 states is achievable, but he pushed back on the notion that a third-party bid would benefit Trump. I was actually with President Bush 41 the day he got the call from Ross Perot that he was running, and it was rather deflating, to say the least, Upton said. Unlike Perot, theyre really taking from both sides. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The 2023 Detroit auto show will feature displays by twice as many brands as last years edition, and the debuts of multiple new vehicles, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association announced Wednesday in a news release. The show will open to the public Sept. 16-24 at Huntington Place convention center on Detroits riverfront, with test drives and other attractions on surrounding streets. The Charity Preview, which has raised millions for metro Detroit childrens charities, is Sept 15. The press day for vehicle reveals and other news is Sept. 13. Professional days, including a new global mobility forum, are Sept. 13-14. More brands and debuts will be welcome, but even doubling brands from 2022s 13 participants is far short of the spectacle the show provided for years. Nortrice Banner, actress and comedian from Detroit, takes a selfie in front of a Ford Mustang during the 2022 North American International Auto Show Charity Preview at Huntington Place in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. All auto shows have struggled to attract big displays and splashy unveilings by automakers since the pandemic virtually shut the car show circuit down for a couple of years. Southeast Michigan auto dealers are grappling with the challenge of mounting an appealing show despite reduced participation by automakers, both the Detroit Three and brands based around the world. The dramatic debut of the 2023 Ford Mustang the last new Mustang before the legends inevitable conversion to electric power was the only reveal that made headlines last year. The show needs more participation by automakers to survive, well-placed sources say. Buick Wildcat EV Concept during the 2022 North American International Auto Show held at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. What brands are in the Detroit Auto Show 2023? DADA promises brands from inside and out of the Motor City, but provided no details on which, if any, foreign-based brands will participate. The failure of automakers from other countries to help generate publicity and create appealing show-floor displays in 2022 was a sore point for their southeast Michigan dealers. Among the announced attractions: An indoor electric-vehicle track with a 300-foot straightaway to demonstrate EVs performance. An EV learning center to demystify owning, driving and charging an electric vehicle. Displays by every Detroit Three brand. Brand-specific tracks by Ford, Jeep and Ram. Test drives on a riverfront street course that will include part of the route of last weeks Detroit Grand Prix. City-street experiences in electric and autonomous vehicles. Kia, Hyundai suit New York City sues Kia, Hyundai claiming some of its vehicles are too easy to steal A stage for startups and policymakers Automotive technology is changing so rapidly; how do we make people comfortable with it? show chairman Thad Szott asked. Were planning for a show that not only embraces and educates about this new technology but offers an immersion in it. And with twice the number of brands participating, therell be no shortage of engaging with it. Crowds at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show Before the show opens to the public, 150 startups are expected to showcase their ideas, along with displays of new features and technologies that are close to production and with stands by at least 10 metro Detroit universities. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will keynote the Mobility Global Forum, featuring presentations, "fireside chats," and panels with other thought leaders. What dates are the Detroit Auto Show2023? Media day: Sept. 13 Technology days and AutoMobili-D: Sept. 13, 14 Mobility Global Forum: Sept. 13, 14 Charity Preview: Sept. 15 Public show: Sept. 16 through Sept. 24. For more information, go to https://naias.com/ Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit auto show 2023 promises twice as many brands, EV education This week on Apple TV+s Silo, Juliette tried to make a deal with Judge Meadows only to learn that the doyenne of Judicial doesnt pull all the strings at all! Juliette sought out Meadows after learning that Gloria Hildebrandt, the woman whose name was inscribed above Georges inside the Georgia picture book (and who we met in Episode 1, as the fertility counselor), now is in Medicals longterm care facility, drugged out of her gourd. Juliette forces a meeting with the sick (drunk) judge after getting her address from Billings and then showing up at the door the next morning with breakfast. Meadows tries to rebuff the visit, so Juliette begins alluding to the dirty business with Gloria from the hall, forcing the judges hand. Once inside, Juliette asks Meadows to lift whatever hold there is on Gloria, so that she can take her away for a couple hours to burn off her fugue state and ask some questions. When the judge balks, Juliette offers a sweet deal: Let me talk to Gloria, and Ill resign/be back in Mechanical by the end of the week. Yet as tempting as that surely is for the judge, she admits, most candidly, that she cant release Gloria. Because they would never allow it. And then it dawns. on Juliette, and us, that Meadows answers to someone. But whom? Courtesy of Apple TV+ Juliette takes matters into her own hands and leans on her doctor dad, Pete, to get her access to Gloria. Guilted into acting by the estranged daughter he wishes to reconnect with, Pete bullsts his way past the nurse coming off night duty, puts addled Gloria into a wheelchair and whisks her off to the nursery. There, Juliette implores her father to use whatever means necessary to diminish Glorias stupor, so he injects her with a risky something that, expectedly, triggers a seizure followed by a bit of calm. Juliette sends her dad away and hits Gloria with questions. Gloria is defiant at first, until Juliette produces the picture book. Instantly, Glorias face lights up, and she details how she had given the book to Georges mother, who like her was a Flamekeeper someone who is resolved to remembering the past, and is curious to know more. The Flamekeepers have had a tough lot in life, though, since those in charge of the silo want the past forgotten. So, the silo has done what it can to eradicate Flamekeepers, by death drugging the water supply to fuzzy their memories locking them up in mental wards or lying about taking their birth control out, to keep them from breeding. (Yes, Dr. Nichols was among the docs who did such a horrible thing, though as he will later explains to Jules, he had been told that it was in the name of curbing the spread of genetic disease.) Gloria also confides in Juliette that her mother, Hanna Nichols, was an ally of the Flamekeepers, an honorary member if you will, due to her own curiosity about the world though that put her in the crosshairs of those in power, as well. Juliette returns Gloria to her hospital room, where Gloria clocks that the flowers by her mirror are oddly gone. (Sheriff Halston, she says, would always place flowers there when he visited, following his wifes death.) Juliette, coupling that tidbit with the fact that the vase by the mirror in her own apartment was accidentally broken by maintenance, and Halstons note to double the flowers by the mirror, gleans that there are cameras behind the mirrors. (And sure enough, Sims and his tech wonks are watching as we speak.) So Juliette drapes Glorias mirror with a blanket, then unscrews the nearby vent cover that Gloria said Sheriff Halston would tinker with. Inside the vent, Juliette finds a satchel containing Georges hard drive. She then slips way with that and the book, eluding the band of armored raiders that Sims dispatched after seeing Juliette talking to Gloria. But before Juliette runs off, Gloria poses a provocative question, asking if she knows why her mother killed herself. What did you think of Silo Episode 7 (of 10)? What happens to Juliette now that they know she knows? (Will lights in the sky-gazer Lukas gladly offer her a place to crash?) WASHINGTON If there was a theme for Kevin McCarthys jampacked first five months as speaker, it would be this: You only live once. In April, he followed in the footsteps of his political idol, fellow California Republican Ronald Reagan, delivering a major address on Wall Street. Then he hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen at Reagans presidential library, infuriating Beijing. Last month, McCarthy met King Abdullah II in Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and Pope Francis at the Vatican. Since seizing the coveted speakers gavel after 15 grueling rounds of voting, McCarthy has embraced the role of happy warrior, frequently stopping to ask tourists if they want to snap a selfie or photo with him and sparring with reporters in the Capitol's marble halls on a daily basis. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images file) Facing fresh threats of being ousted from the right, McCarthy has filled up his calendar and capitalized on every moment as speaker as the Washington establishment openly speculates how long he can hang on. I dont think he knows when its going to happen, said one House Republican lawmaker who supported McCarthy for speaker, but hes planning just like its going to happen tomorrow. Speakerships are ephemeral just like all of our time here in Congress, quipped Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., a former leader of the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus and one of the Never Kevins who tried to block McCarthy from the top job. Republican speakers typically dont have a long shelf life given the dynamics of the conferences these days, said former Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., who witnessed the Freedom Caucus push out Speaker John Boehner in 2015, deny McCarthy the gavel, then torment Speaker Paul Ryan before he, too, left Congress in 2019. Maybe he can break the trend, Dent said of McCarthy. Hes doing what every other speaker would be doing but maybe a little bit more on an accelerated timeline. In between the big speeches and summits, that he's imbued with symbolism, McCarthy has been putting his own personal mark on the speakership. Eschewing the sterile House Studio A that had been used by his predecessors Speakers Boehner, Ryan and Nancy Pelosi McCarthy has been holding his news conferences in hallways and rooms previously not used for such events, including the tiny foyer outside his office and the echoey Statuary Hall. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy poses with the tourists in the U.S. Capitol on June 8, 2023. (Frank Thorp V / NBC News) During the debt standoff, he appeared to relish going toe-to-toe with the press, holding lengthy impromptu gaggles until reporters ran out of questions. And instead of delegating the task to rank-and-file members, McCarthy makes the short walk to the chamber to open the House floor almost every day. In his opening months, he also struck a major deal with President Joe Biden to lift the debt ceiling and cap spending a crowning legislative achievement. But that same bipartisan agreement has only fueled more speculation that McCarthys days in the speaker's office could be numbered. After the deal, a handful of McCarthys conservative foes have openly threatened a "motion to vacate" that would force a vote of no confidence on the House floor. And that same band of rebels paralyzed the House this week when it joined Democrats in blocking a suite of GOP messaging bills, undermining Republicans fragile majority and embarrassing McCarthys leadership team. Its surprising to me how many people have called suggesting we need a different speaker, said Biggs, one of the 11 conservatives who voted to block the GOP messaging bills. New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said some Republicans are so frustrated by the GOP infighting they have privately suggested that maybe there could be a coalition government with moderate Democrats and Republicans, though he declined to name those members. McCarthy poses with another group of tourists Thursday in the Capitol. (Frank Thorp V / NBC News) Meanwhile, McCarthy allies have aggressively pushed back on the idea that the speaker is a short-timer whos trying to quickly check off all of the boxes of the job before a hasty exit. They argue that McCarthy, who served in leadership for 14 years before he fulfilled his lifelong ambition of becoming speaker, has had plenty of time to think and plot out what hed like his speakership to look like. I think hes been thinking about what hed liked to do for a long time, said Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., who has served with McCarthy over the past eight years. Hes always been a very energetic, thoughtful leader that knows what he wants to do. His allies also downplayed his meetings with foreign leaders, saying it simply comes with the role of being speaker, second in line to the presidency after Vice President Kamala Harris. This week, McCarthy met with new United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. And he'll host his second joint session with a foreign leader on June 22, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Congress. "Thats what you do as speaker, said Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill, comparing McCarthy's meetings with world leaders to Pelosis. I think Kevin thrives in those instances, and its part of the job, frankly, so I dont think its anything unusual. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a former House member who was part of a coup attempt to oust then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in the 1990s, said GOP speakers will always face challenges from small conservative factions vying for power and influence. Its always been that way, it always will be that way. I was in those factions, Graham said. McCarthy, he added, has done a pretty darn good job. Kevin McCarthy with tourists (Frank Thorp V / NBC News) Perhaps no one is more familiar with these dynamics than the 58-year-old McCarthy. McCarthy spent years serving and studying under Speakers Boehner and Ryan as they clashed with the Freedom Caucus the same rump group of conservatives that blocked McCarthy from the top job in October 2015 and nearly ended his political career. Now Gingrich, a mentor, regularly meets with McCarthy in the Capitol. But McCarthy is operating with a much smaller majority than Boehner or Ryan had, complicating his ability to govern his GOP conference even more. Asked repeatedly this week whether his speakership was in jeopardy, McCarthy remained both optimistic and defiant. He said hes not concerned about a potential threat of a motion to vacate, and hes confident hell be able to serve out the rest of his two-year term, arguing that his success will add to his reputation that hes an underdog who keeps proving his critics wrong. "I always think tension only makes you stronger. Conflict makes you stronger, if you deal with it. If you avoid it, it will perpetuate and become a bigger problem." McCarthy told reporters. "I enjoy this work, he said. I enjoy this job. I enjoy this conflict. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking at the NCGOP convention Friday night, said if hes elected president he would reverse the recent decision to change the name of Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty. The promise by DeSantis to restore the name of the major military installation just north of Fayetteville, which earned loud cheers and applause from a ballroom full of Republican delegates at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, came just as President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden left newly named Fort Liberty after meeting with members of the armed forces. The presidential candidate was touting Republican successes in last years midterm elections in Florida, and in North Carolina, amid disappointing results in the rest of the country, when he brought up the recently renamed installation. I also look forward to, as president, restoring the name of Fort Bragg, DeSantis said to raucous cheers from the crowd. He added that he would thank the people that have served there, and theyre proud of their service there. Its an iconic name and an iconic base, and were not going to let political correctness run amok in North Carolina, DeSantis said as the crowd continued to cheer. President Joe Biden greets service members and families after an event in support of Joining Forces at Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, N.C. on Friday, June 9, 2023. Biden also signed an executive order to support military and veteran communities. Earlier on Friday, at Fort Liberty, Biden signed an executive order to enhance employment opportunities for military families. The executive action is intended to improve career stability and expand resources and support for military and veteran spouses, caregivers and survivors. Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Ft. Liberty, helps case the Ft. Bragg garisson colors during a ceremony redesignating Fort Bragg as Fort Liberty Friday, June 2, 2023. Ft. Liberty, with a population of 282,000 including over 50,000 service members, is the largest military installation by population in the country. The redesignation was mandated in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act as part of an effort to remove titles with ties to the confederacy. Fort Bragg was named after Gen. Braxton Bragg, a Confederate officer and North Carolina native. Fort Liberty, named more than a century earlier in honor of Gen. Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general from Warrenton, was renamed as part of a Department of Defense effort to adopt new names for military installations that were named for Confederate soldiers. Touting bold leadership in Florida, DeSantis gets warm reception at NCGOP convention A Biden Administration official claims that the Chinese government has been spying on the United States from Cuba. Recently, a The Wall Street Journal report said that a Chinese spy base in Cuba is already existing. The report also stated that the Chinese and Cuban governments reached an agreement to build an eavesdropping station on the island. Aside from this, China also allegedly prepared to pay billions of dollars just to construct this facility in Cuba. However, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, said that the report is inaccurate. Now, a Biden Admin official says otherwise. Biden Admin Official Claims China Spies US From Cuba According to NBC News, the Biden Administration official, who wanted to remain anonymous, claims that China really spied on the United States from Cuba for the past few years. Read Also: Lawyers Who Used ChatGPT for Court Case Blame AI for Tricking Them Into Including Fictitious Legal Research The anonymous official said that this problem was passed to the Biden Administration after it took office back in January 2021. "This is an issue that this administration inherited," said the U.S. official. He added that despite the U.S. intelligence community being aware of China's spying activities from Cuba, the government is "not making enough progress and needed a more direct approach." Aside from these details, the U.S. official also clarified the denial of the White House regarding the WSJ report. He explained that it was called an inaccurate report because it described eavesdropping as a new development. "This is an ongoing issue and not a new development," said the anonymous U.S. intel. Alleged China-Cuba Spying Activities ABC News reported that China is allegedly working with Cuba to spy on the United States since at least 2019. The Biden Admin official said that China even conducted an upgrade for its spy facility in Cuba back in 2019. Aside from Cuba, the Chinese government also allegedly looks at new spying sites across the globe. Among its targeted locations are Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and the Atlantic Ocean. Related Article: US President Joe Biden's Approval Rating at 41%-Close to Lowest Level He's Received @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions are underway against Russian forces, asserting that his top commanders are in a positive mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line. The Ukrainian leader, at a Kyiv news conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responded to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin's comment a day earlier that Ukraine's counteroffensive had started and Ukrainian forces were taking significant losses. Zelenskyy said that counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. I will not speak about which stage or phase they are in. Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive was underway, though some Western analysts have said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggests it was. I am in touch with our commanders of different directions every day, he added, citing the names of five of Ukraines top military leaders. Everyone is positive. Pass this on to Putin. Trudeau, the first foreign leader to visit Ukraine since devastating floods caused by a breach in a Dnieper River dam, offered up monetary, military and moral support. He pledged 500 million Canadian dollars ($375 million) in new military aid, on top of more than 8 billion Canadian dollars ($6 billion) that Canada has already provided since the war began in February 2022, and announced 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.5 million) for humanitarian assistance for the flood response. Trudeau said the dams collapse was a direct consequence of Russias war, but he didn't blame Moscow directly. Ukraines General Staff said Saturday that heavy battles were ongoing, with 34 clashes over the previous day in the countrys industrial east. It gave no details but said Russian forces were defending themselves and launching air and artillery strikes in Ukraines southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Recent Western injections of billions of dollars worth of military equipment some of it high-tech and top-of-the-line to Ukraine has raised expectations about when it would be used, and to what effect against dug-in Russian lines. For months, Ukrainian commanders in the eastern city of Bakhmut which was largely devastated in a months-long fight that has been one of the bloodiest battles of the war have used the language of counteroffensive and defensive operations to describe the activity there. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Friday that the epicenter of the fighting has been in the east, particularly in the Donetsk region, and cited heavy battles in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka. Valerii Shershen, a spokesperson for Ukraines armed forces in Zaporizhzhia, told Radio Liberty that they were searching for weaknesses in Russias defense in that region, to the west. Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, had been placed in cold shutdown mode. That's a process in which all control rods are inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure. The plant's other five reactors already were in cold shutdown amid concerns about the plant's exposure to the fighting. Energoatom said in a statement late Friday that there was no direct threat to the Zaporizhzhia plant because of the breach of the Kakhovka dam further down the Dnieper River, which has forced thousands of people to flee flooding and also sharply reduced water levels in a reservoir used to help cool the facility. Water levels in the Kakhovka reservoir, which feed the Zaporizhzhia plant, remained stable on Saturday, Energoatom said. The sites power units have not been operating since September last year. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to visit Ukraine in the coming days. Ukrainian authorities reported Saturday that at least six civilians have died across the country as Russian forces launched Iranian-made Shahed drones, missiles, and artillery and mortar strikes. Ukraines State Emergency Service reported that three people were killed and more than two dozen wounded overnight in an attack targeting the Black Sea port of Odesa. A spokesperson for Ukraines southern operational command, Natalia Humeniuk, said two children and a pregnant woman were among those wounded. Two people were killed in a Russian attack on the town of Orekhova in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to governor Yuriy Malashko. In Ukraines northeast, a 29-year-old man was killed as more than 10 drones targeted the Kharkiv region, its governor, Oleh Syniehubov, reported Saturday. He added that at least three other civilians were wounded. The Ukrainian air force said that during the night, it had shot down 20 out of 35 Shahed drones and two out of eight missiles of various types launched by Russian forces. The fighting and civilian casualties took renewed attention as authorities in southern Ukraine said water levels have been declining in a vast area beneath the ruptured dam. Nearly one-third of protected natural areas in the Kherson region could be obliterated by flooding following the breach of the Kakhovka dam, the Ukrainian environment minister warned Saturday. The U.N.'s humanitarian aid chief, Martin Griffiths, said in an Associated Press interview Friday that an extraordinary 700,000 people were in need of drinking water. In other developments: On Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he wants to continue speaking with Putin whose order for Russias invasion of Ukraine has been criticized by many Western leaders and plans to do so again soon. Scholz has spoken several times by phone with Putin since the invasion. The chancellor said the basis for a fair peace between Russia and Ukraine is the withdrawal of Russian troops. Thats needs to be understood, he said. The U.K. government said it will give 16 million pounds ($20 million) in humanitarian aid to those affected by the flooding. Most of the money is being channelled through international organizations such as the Red Cross and the United Nations, and the U.K. is also sending boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to Ukraine. The U.K. has already given Ukraine 1.5 billion pounds in economic and humanitarian support since the war began, the government said, and has committed 4.6 billion pounds in military aid. ___ Jon Gambrell in Kyiv, Joanna Kozlowska and Jill Lawless in London, and Frank Jordans in Bonn, Germany, contributed to this story. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexicos Defense Department said Saturday that 16 soldiers will be tried on military charges related to the killing five men in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo last month. The department said the 16 soldiers were arrested Thursday and will be held at a military prison in Mexico City while awaiting trial before a military tribunal. The soldiers have been charged with violating military discipline. The department said those trials would proceed independently of any charges that might be brought by civilian prosecutors. Under Mexican law, any abuses by soldiers involving civilians must go through civilian courts, but separate charges can be filed in military tribunals. Mexicos president described the May 18 slayings of five men caught on security camera footage as an apparent execution in the cartel-dominated city across from Laredo, Texas. Video from a store security camera published earlier this month showed a black pickup truck crashing full speed into a wall. A Mexican military truck apparently pursuing it arrived shortly thereafter and ran into the passenger side of the pickup. The occupants of the truck were dragged out, kicked and forced up against a wall. They were later found dead. Apparently this was an execution, and that cannot be permitted, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday during his daily news briefing. Those responsible are about to be turned over to the appropriate authorities. Lopez Obrador has given the military an unprecedented role in Mexico's life, everything from law enforcement to infrastructure projects to running trains and airports. He has staunchly defended the armys honesty, but the military continues to be dogged by complaints of human rights abuses, especially in Nuevo Laredo. The city dominated by the Northeast drug cartel, and shootouts between cartel gunmen and soldiers or rival gangs are common. The incident would be at least the second case of killings involving troops in Nuevo Laredo this year. On Feb. 26, soldiers killed five young men who were riding inside a vehicle. The men were apparently unarmed. A report by Mexicos governmental human rights agency said the soldiers fired into the vehicle without giving verbal orders for it to stop. Angry neighbors attacked the soldiers, beating some of them. In April, federal prosecutors filed homicide charges against four soldiers in that case. That same month, a human rights organization in Nuevo Laredo sent a formal complaint to Lopez Obrador. In it, a man said Mexican National Guard troops had fired on his vehicle in Nuevo Laredo, killing his pregnant 15-year-old girlfriend and a 54-year-old friend and wounding two others. A law enforcement crime scene report on the incident largely corroborated the account of the shooting contained in the complaint. Lopez Obrador claims the army has changed and has tried to depict incidents like the most recent killings as isolated acts by bad soldiers. (This story contains graphic language in paragraph 9) (Reuters) - Police in Aurora, Colorado, have released body camera footage following the death of a teenager who was shot by an officer after an alleged robbery. Jor'Dell Richardson, who is Black, was shot by an officer who chased him as he ran from a local store where police say he shoplifted vape materials with a group of youths on June 1. He was 14 years old. Richardson, who was shot in the abdomen, later died at the hospital, police said. A multi-agency team is investigating the shooting. Reuters could not immediately verify the race of the officers involved. One of the videos from the body-worn cameras released on Friday showed Richardson running from officers as they shout for him to stop and get on the ground. One of the two officers involved in the chase, James Snapp, eventually pinned him down on the ground. "Stop, please. You got me," Richardson can be heard saying. A second officer, Roch Gruszeczka, caught up to his partner moments later. "Gun, gun, let go of the fucking gun," Gruszeczka said. "I'm going to shoot your ass." Shortly after, a gunshot can be heard and Richardson wailing in pain. Officers called for medical assistance and began performing CPR as Richardson appeared to lose consciousness. "Hang with me bud," Gruszeczka says. Police said later on he said: "God, please be with that kid." Aurora Police Department Chief Art Acevedo told a press conference on Friday that Richardson was carrying a firearm, although it was later determined to be a pellet gun designed to look like a 9mm handgun. The body camera footage released by police does not show whether Richardson ever pointed the weapon at the officers. Gruszeczka has been placed on paid administrative leave. Richardson's family reviewed the footage before its public release, and Acevedo said he has been in contact with family members. "No matter where this investigation takes us, no matter where we end, it is a tragedy because a young man has lost his life," Acevedo told reporters at the news conference. (Reporting by Maria Caspani; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) BEIJING (Reuters) - China's assistant foreign minister summoned South Korea's Ambassador to China on Saturday to issue a complaint over Seoul's criticism of recent comments made by China's envoy in South Korea, China's foreign ministry said on Sunday. South Korea summoned China's ambassador on Friday to issue a protest, describing as "provocative" and possible interference in internal affairs the comments made by the envoy, who warned Seoul against making "wrong bets" in the Sino-U.S. rivalry. China's Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong expressed his "serious concern and dissatisfaction" over Seoul's "improper reaction" to the comments, made during a meeting with South Korea's opposition party leader, the statement said. (Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Edmund Klamann) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China has been spying from Cuba for some time and upgraded its intelligence collection facilities there in 2019, a Biden administration official said on Saturday, following a report about a new spying effort underway on the island. The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that China had reached a secret deal with Cuba to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island roughly 100 miles (160 km) from Florida, but the U.S. and Cuban governments cast strong doubt on the report. The Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the media's characterization "does not comport with our understanding," but did not specify how the report was wrong nor address in detail whether there were efforts by China to build a new eavesdropping facility in Cuba. The official said the issue predated Joe Biden's presidency, as had Beijing's efforts to strengthen its intelligence collection infrastructure worldwide. "This is an ongoing issue, and not a new development," the official said. "The PRC (People's Republic of China) conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. This is well-documented in the intelligence record." Asked for comment, an official at China's embassy in Washington pointed to Friday's statement by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson who accused the U.S. of "spreading rumors and slander" with talk of a Cuba spy station, and of being "the most powerful hacker empire in the world." The Cuban government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Thursday, Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio dismissed the Journal's report as "totally mendacious" and called it a U.S. fabrication meant to justify Washington's decades-old economic embargo against the island. He said Cuba rejects all foreign military presence in Latin America and the Caribbean. Attention surrounding alleged Chinese spying from Cuba comes as Washington and Beijing are taking tentative steps to soothe tensions that spiked after a suspected Chinese high-altitude spy balloon crossed the United States before the U.S. military shot it down off the East Coast in February. That includes a trip to China that U.S. officials say Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning for June 18. Washington's top diplomat had earlier scrapped the visit over the spy balloon incident. The Biden administration official said that despite the former administration of Donald Trump being aware of the Chinese basing effort in Cuba and making some attempts to address the challenge, "we were not making enough progress and needed a more direct approach." The official said U.S. diplomats had engaged governments that were considering hosting Chinese bases and had exchanged information with them. "Our experts assess that our diplomatic efforts have slowed the PRC down," the official said. "We think the PRC isn't quite where they had hoped to be." (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by Dave Sherwood in Havana; Editing by Daniel Wallis) It was 12:50 a.m. when Maltese authorities were first told that a rickety blue-and-white fishing vessel carrying about 400 migrants was in distress off the island nations coast. Our hotline was alarmed by a distress call from a boat at sea, read the April 9 email to Malta Rescue Coordination Center sent by Alarm Phone, an unofficial hotline for migrants trying to reach Europe by crossing the treacherous Mediterranean Sea. The email from Alarm Phone, which by then had already been contacted by several migrants onboard, continued: People have been at sea for over three days and are in distress. The people on the boat are urgently asking for help. Passengers told Alarm Phone that the ships captain had abandoned the boat. Three people have died. The boat is at sea for three days. The people have no food, water and fuel left. The boat is stationary and highly overcrowded. Immediate assistance is required, the email read. No rescue was launched, and the boat was left to drift for three more days, even as Maltese authorities received dozens of emails and calls from its occupants and aid organizations begging for help, emails and transcripts of conversations obtained by NBC News show. So the passengers aboard the vessel, which first came to Alarm Phones notice when it was on the edge of the countrys huge search and rescue zone, drifted through Maltese waters until it finally entered Italian waters. NBC News was unable to confirm that at least three people on the overcrowded fishing boat died. The vessels fraught journey is part of a persistent problem in the Mediterranean: the apparent flouting of international maritime law by European states, which sometimes refuse to rescue migrant ships in distress. While the obligation of ships to go to the aid of vessels in distress is enshrined in tradition and in international treaties, as a signatory of the 1979 International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, Malta had a specific legal obligation to intervene in this case, said Ainhoa Velasco, an expert of international maritime law at the University of Southampton in the U.K. Malta is required to use search and rescue units and other available facilities to assist those in distress and to coordinate search and rescue operations with those of neighboring states, Velasco said. Still, it has rejected 2004 amendments explicitly stipulating that states provide assistance to disembarking persons found in distress at sea. Clues to Maltas possible reluctance to take in migrants are in its location and size. The densely populated island north and east of the Libyan coast and about 100 miles south of the Italian island of Sicily has taken in the fewest migrants of the European Unions 27 countries just 45 asylum-seekers in all of 2022. With a population similar to that of Wyoming, at around half-million people, Malta ranks 11th in population per capita in the E.U. Meanwhile, the number of people trying to get to Europe via the Mediterranean is growing. Last year, more than 250,000 set sail from Turkey and the northern coast of Africa to seek asylum or to migrate to Europe, the most since 2017, according to the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency. So far this year, 1,090 migrants have disappeared during the crossing, IOM data shows. That compares to 2,366 who vanished in all of 2022 and 2,062 in 2021. Maltas search and rescue zone lies in the path of tens of thousands of people fleeing economic, political and social hardship every year. The vast area is one of 13 such zones in the worlds oceans, as defined in the 1979 convention. It covers 100,000 square miles, nearly 800 times Maltas size. While it is a huge area to police, Malta has refused to hand over some of it to Italy, as Italian politicians have suggested. Children are crying The engine stopped working completely, the situation is bad, the children are crying, an unnamed woman says in a distress call to Alarm Phone, according to a transcript. The call was received about 12 hours after the first email to the Malta Rescue Coordination Center, the charity said. Water entered the underneath deck, the woman also says. The recorded call was one of 27 from passengers aboard the ship that Alarm Phone says it received in the three days it spent tracking the vessel. NBC News has received transcripts of 13 of the calls, which were mostly in Arabic but also in English. Alarm Phone, which operates with volunteers in Europe and Africa who communicate with migrants crossing the Mediterranean, said it sent over 21 emails to Maltese authorities but got no response. Maltese authorities never responded and hung up on their calls, the group said. Sea-Watch, a German nongovernmental organization that conducts search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea, deployed its reconnaissance aircraft at 2 p.m. Central European Daylight Time (8 a.m. ET) on April 9. It located the vessel in international waters between Greece and Malta, heading slowly toward Italy. An image made available on May 30, 2023, shows a fishing boat in the Central Mediterranean Sea allegedly carrying migrants. (Consolidated Rescue Group / via AP) NBC News was not able to confirm the accounts given to Alarm Phone and Sea-Watch. Emails showed Maltese officials exchanging emails with Sea-Watch and two nearby merchant oil tankers: Malta-registered FMT URLA and Liberia-registered Pericles. The ships management did not respond to requests for comment. It is customary for vessels that spot ships in distress to wait for instructions from coordination centers in charge of areas before they initiate any rescue efforts. Alarm Phone said that after it received multiple emergency calls from people onboard, it sent its first alert to rescue centers in Malta, Greece and Italy at 12:50 a.m. and also to Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Frontex did not respond to requests for comment. People are in distress, Alarm Phone said in its first email to the Malta Rescue Coordination Center. We urgently ask you to start a rescue operation! Five hours later, Alarm Phone sent an email to the Maltese coast guard saying the ship did not have a captain and had run out of drinking water and food. One of the three people who jumped overboard and, pulled by a rope, is unconscious, a woman says in a separate distress call, according to a transcript. Two children can be heard crying in the background in another call from April 9. Yes, we are investigating and working on this case, the unnamed duty officer of the Maltese Rescue Coordination Center said in a call heard by NBC News, when Sea-Watch contacted Malta at 3:23 p.m. the same day. Shortly later, at 4 p.m., Alarm Phone wrote: One person is unconscious. The engine is no longer functional. Meanwhile, the Sea-Watch reconnaissance aircraft spotted the oil tankers FMT URLA and Pericles, relayed the migrant ships location to them and reminded personnel of their obligation to help under international law. According to the emails given to NBC News, both ships refused, saying Malta had instructed them to only provide supplies. RCC Malta advised us to proceed to its position and advised us to supply fuel to the fishing boat. There is no advice regarding rescue, FMT URLA radioed the Sea-Watch aircraft at 3:11 p.m. on April 9. Can you just contact now to RCC Malta? Please! Please! Please! it said, according to a call recording between the ship and Sea-Watch. Instead of sending aid or helping evacuate the fishing vessel, Malta instructed the vessels in an email sent to Pericles at around 5 p.m. to stand by and await further instructions. Pericles captain told Sea-Watch around 9 p.m. that Malta had strictly instructed the ship to report only to it. So the overcrowded boat was left in the high seas without a captain and with a malfunctioning engine, making steering nearly impossible, according to transcripts of distress messages purportedly received by Alarm Phone. Water flooded the lower deck and people rushed to the top, drenched and facing the brunt of the chilling wind. The children shiver with cold, a woman said at around 8 p.m. As the hours passed, the boat continued to drift without a rescue attempts being launched. The Armed Forces of Malta said in a statement in response to a request for comment: Written communication received by the AFM from the ship captain providing duty of care confirms that no rescue was requested by the people on board. It was not clear which ship captain the statement was referring to, and representatives from Malta did not respond to several requests for follow-up comment. Maltas, FMT URLAs and Pericles responses fell far short of what was required of them, Velasco said. Supplying fresh water or offering fuel in those circumstances is clearly insufficient and inadequate, she said. Eventually, on April 12, when the ship drifted into Italian waters, Italys coast guard dispatched rescue vessels and brought the starving migrants to its shores. BEIJING (Reuters) - Honduras opened an embassy in China on Sunday, Chinese state media reported, after the Central American nation cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan earlier this year. The embassy in Beijing was opened by foreign ministers from the two countries, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Honduran President Xiomara Castro is in China for a state visit, during which she is to meet with her Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, state media have reported. Tegucigalpa in March ended its decades-long relationship with Taipei and established diplomatic ties with Beijing. China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state-to-state relations, a position Taipei strongly rejects. China demands that countries with which it has ties recognise its position. Taiwan now has formal diplomatic relations with only 13 countries, mostly poor and developing countries in Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific. (Reporting by Ellen Zhang and Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by William Mallard) For the record: 8:36 a.m. June 11, 2023: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that migrants who were flown to Marthas Vineyard, Mass., in 2022 by the state of Florida had been recruited in Del Rio, Texas. They were recruited in San Antonio. Maria traveled more than 2,800 miles from Venezuela to reach the United States in early May. Once crossing the border, however, she made it only four blocks, to a shelter at Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso. Like many asylum seekers released on parole by Customs and Border Protection, she had no money to pay for a plane or bus ticket, she said. She slept in the church shelter, then in the alley outside, for three weeks, until a woman approached and said she would fly Maria on a private plane to California. She said I should go, that there were people there to receive us who would give us lodging, that they would help us get our [immigration] papers in order, said Maria, who asked to be identified only by her first name, out of fear of repercussions from the woman. What Maria didnt know was that the woman was a contractor hired by the administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Maria had found herself in the center of a political storm. Migrant flights and the national attention they've drawn are yet another chapter in the political fight over the border, with California officials vowing to investigate whether travelers were misled and the Florida governor doubling down on hard-line policies and a portrayal of himself as a culture warrior. The contractor, along with another woman and two men, spent the afternoon walking around the church trying to recruit migrants like Maria to board a charter flight to California. Maria and other migrants said the contractors did not identify themselves beyond saying they were there to help the migrants. Over two days, the contractors managed to recruit 16 migrants for a flight June 2 and 20 for a flight June 5 whom they drove two hours west to a small airport in New Mexico for the trips to Sacramento. Migrants stand in the alley outside Sacred Heart Church's shelter Friday. Some choose to sleep outside the El Paso church rather than in its shelter. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre / For The Times) It was a gambit by DeSantis that brought attention to his recently launched presidential bid, focused on denouncing "wokeness" and attacking California and other states over sanctuary city policies. California Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly condemned the flights and said his administration was looking into whether they "violated any criminal laws, including kidnapping. In an interview Saturday, he said, You may not like [President] Bidens border policies, you may have major criticisms about the asylum system in this country, but how dare you? How dare you treat other human beings this way? DeSantis and his spokespeople have defended the flights, arguing that migrants boarded them voluntarily. DeSantis organized a similar protest flight in 2022, recruiting migrants in San Antonio to fly to Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Despite widespread condemnation and an ongoing criminal investigation over whether those migrants were misled, the Florida legislature this year allocated $12 million that can be used for such flights. DeSantis' office did not respond to a request for comment. Speaking Wednesday from Arizona, near the border with Mexico, he decried what he called "open border" policies and said, "I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones that have to bear that. In El Paso, three migrants who were approached by the contractors but decided not to go with them said the offers were vague and suspicious. They said that though the contractors appeared friendly, they pushed aggressively for migrants to board flights and insisted on seeing the documents border agents had given them. Venezuelan migrant Genesis Rodriguez applies makeup after waking at the campsite outside Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso earlier this month. (Andres Leighton / Associated Press) When a Venezuelan woman told the contractors she didnt want to go to California but was trying to get to New York, one told her that people in California would book her flights to New York once she landed, she said. The woman asked that her name not be used because she was unsure of the contractors' identities and feared repercussions if they returned. Other migrants who turned down the contractors expressed similar fears. Maria said the contractor who talked to her was insistent and kept telling her that she should board the plane. When Maria said no, because she wanted to stay in El Paso to make her court date, the contractor said she would change her date" for her. Maria worried that the mysterious contractors were drug traffickers why else would they have a private plane? The contractor seemed to sense her nervousness. She told us not to be afraid that she didnt want to steal our hearts or our organs or anything, Maria said. Despite the woman continuing to push her to get on the plane, Maria turned her down. But she watched in anxiety as one of her friends went. Imelda Maynard, an attorney with the Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexicos legal aid clinic, met with a family who chose to go with the contractors. She says the family now clients of her organization were offered help finding housing and jobs. The husband, wife and four young children on June 1 were driven in a rented van about two hours into New Mexico, where the contractors booked them rooms in a Super 8 motel and left. According to Maynard, while the contractors reappeared the next morning to take some of the migrants to a private plane, they seemed unsure whether the family could travel with children and told the father to wait. Maynard says her clients waited in the motel until June 4, when one of the contractors suggested the father could fly alone the next day, and his family could join him later. The family asked instead to go back to El Paso. They were allowed to leave. Maynard said the father told her his family had been treated well by the contractors; they had been fed and comfortably housed. Nonetheless, he was nervous about them coming to look for his family and stayed on the lookout. He was concerned that the contractors might have been drug traffickers. Migrants wake up at a campsite outside Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso on May 9. (Andres Leighton / Associated Press) Maria's friend who had gone with the contractors called her from California. The friend said the contractor had driven them about two hours to a motel before returning the next day to take them to the airport, where, as promised, a private plane was waiting, according to Maria. Maria said her friend told her that police interviewed the migrants as soon as they got off their June 2 flight, and that she and the others had met the governor of California. While confused at what was happening, the friend told Maria that the flight had been normal, and theyd arrived in California safely, as promised. Maria's friend could not be reached to verify her experience. Newsom described his meeting June 3 with the migrants who were on that first flight. His wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a fluent Spanish speaker, translated for him, the governor said by phone. Venezuelan migrants told of their brutal journey some said they had seen migrants lynched for refusing to pay smugglers; others had seen travelers shot on a train; one woman said she had been threatened with rape. Newsom said he was upset by the fact that DeSantis would use them as pawns after everything they'd been through. I was crawling out of my skin for two days, he said. The fact that DeSantis put together the news conference in Arizona, days after he did this it's just a manifestation of the worst of the worst of humanity. Newsom says when he met with the migrants, they were upbeat. Everyone was generous, everyone was smiling, and everyone was happy. Because they felt safe. But they didn't know they were being played, the governor said. He noted that it became clear the migrants hadnt understood what they were consenting to when one asked, What is Sacramento? They don't know who Ron DeSantis is. They didn't even know what Sacramento was, Newsom said. They didnt know they were pawns. They didn't understand the forces at work. Father Rafael Garcia, the pastor of Sacred Heart, said he learned about the flights from the news, but it didnt surprise him that the Florida contractors had chosen his 125-year-old church as a place to recruit migrants. The church and its shelter have appeared frequently in the news, and migrant arrivals in El Paso have reached record highs in the last year. Still, Garcia was disappointed to learn what had happened. Its immoral when youre using deception to make a political point, or to make a scandal in the media, Garcia said. "Youre using people for an end, without respect to their dignity. The priest said that if the contractors returned to his church to recruit more migrants, he would take pictures of their cars and call police. By the end of the week, the news of who was responsible for the charter flights had begun to spread among those at the Sacred Heart shelter. Luis Guerrero, a Venezuelan asylum seeker staying at the church, was offended when he learned that a politician had organized the flights as a form of protest. "The truth is, I see it as a very bad thing, the way they used the migrants," he said. "They don't understand the reality here: that it was by necessity that we've traveled through all these dangers. The governor of Florida, of California or wherever should focus on fixing their own internal problems, and not use immigration, because we migrants aren't the ones to blame here." However, to the migrants who turned down the free charter flights, it was obvious why others boarded. For some, it was the promise of lodging and help with their immigration cases. For others, it was simply a free ride to California, a state many want to reach but are unsure how. Many migrants crossing the Texas border are unfamiliar with U.S. geography and unprepared for how expensive travel can be from El Paso to Chicago, Los Angeles or New York. The federal government does not offer funding or assistance with shelter or travel; nonprofits and local shelters for years have raised money to help migrants reunite with family. In 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending charter buses from the Texas border to Washington, New York and Chicago. While the buses were Abbott's attempt at protesting Democrats' policies on immigration, many migrants eagerly accepted the free ride away from the border. But others have reported feeling confused about their destination. Many who accepted the DeSantis-organized flight to Martha's Vineyard in 2022 told reporters they felt misled and taken advantage of none had been trying to reach the island, which has little shelter space or immigration aid, prior to getting approached by Florida contractors. In El Paso on Friday, Norman Manuel Martinez, an asylum seeker from Nicaragua, said he was disappointed he hadnt had the chance to take one of the Sacramento flights. He arrived at Sacred Heart Church on Monday, after the last flight had left. During his first week in the city, Martinez has struggled to raise money so he could reunite with his nephew in Los Angeles or a childhood friend in San Francisco. Men have come to the shelter in the morning offering day labor in the farmlands to the east, and Martinez spent two long days picking onions. When asked if he would get on a charter flight if the contractors returned, his answer was immediate. Of course I would, he said. "Of course I would." Special correspondent Ivan Pierre Aguirre contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Aleksandar Vasovic and Branko Filipovic PODGORICA (Reuters) -Polls opened in Montenegro on Sunday for a snap election many hope will bring in a new government to implement economic reforms, improve infrastructure and take the NATO member state closer to European Union membership. The vote is the first in the former Yugoslav republic since Milo Djukanovic, former leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), lost the presidential election in April and stepped down after 30 years in power. Polling stations for the 540,000-strong electorate opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). First preliminary and unofficial results are expected about two hours later on the basis of a projection of results from a representative sample of polling stations. The state election commission will then announce the final election results in coming days. According to the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) polling organisation, voter turnout by 1 p.m. (1100 GMT) was 28.1%. Fifteen parties and alliances are competing for 81 parliamentary seats in the country of just over 620,000 people. Montenegro remains sharply divided between those who identify as Montenegrins, and those who see themselves as Serbs and who remain opposed to the country's 2006 split from a state union with neighbouring and much larger Serbia. A poll by the CEDEM last month put the Europe Now Movement (PES), a pro-European party led by former finance minister Milojko Spajic - which also favours closer ties with Serbia - in the lead with 29.1% of the vote. The PES's Jakov Milatovic won the April presidential vote. "We understand that people are tired of politics Montenegrin style, but the parliamentary vote will shape life over the next four years," Spajic said after casting his ballot in the capital Podgorica. LIVING STANDARDS "I expect a stable government, ... EU membership, better (living) standards," Jelena Popovic, from Podgorica, said after casting her ballot at a polling station in a school. The CEDEM poll put the pro-EU DPS under acting chief Danijel Zivkovic in second place with 24.1% support, with the Serb nationalist, pro-Russia Democratic Front (DF) in third place on 13.2%. Montenegro is a candidate to join the EU but it must first root out corruption, nepotism and organised crime. After casting his ballot, Djukanovic, who still wields considerable influence over his party's policies, said: "I believe they (voters) will... continue to develop our country as an ...European civil democracy." The vote is expected to end a period of political deadlock in which two governments, that came to power on the back of 2020 protests backed by the influential Serbian Orthodox Church, collapsed after no-confidence votes. In 2017, Montenegro joined NATO, a year after a botched coup attempt that the then government blamed on Russian agents and Serbian nationalists. Moscow dismissed such claims as absurd and the Serbian government denied involvement. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Montenegro - unlike Serbia - joined EU sanctions against Moscow, sent aid to Ukraine, and expelled a number of Russian diplomats. The Kremlin has placed Montenegro on its list of unfriendly states. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade, and Stevo Vasiljevic and Branko Filipovic in Podgorica; Editing by David Holmes and Ros Russell) By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's most powerful mercenary said on Sunday that his Wagner fighters would not sign any contract with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, publicly refusing an attempt by the defence ministry to bring his fighting force under its sway. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner group, has repeatedly attacked President Vladimir Putin's top military brass for what he casts as treachery for failing to fight the war in Ukraine properly. Neither Shoigu nor Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have commented in public on the insults from Prigozhin, whose forces in May took the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after a battle in which tens of thousands perished. The defence ministry on Saturday said Shoigu had ordered all "volunteer detachments" to sign contracts with his ministry by the end of the month, a step it said would increase the effectiveness of the Russian army. Though the ministry did not mention Wagner in its public statement, the Russian media reported that it was an attempt by Shoigu to bring the mercenaries to heel. "Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu," Prigozhin said in response to a request for comment on the matter. The order, he said, did not apply to Wagner. The defence ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries gained renown for what the United States said was destabilising countries across Africa, plundering natural resources and even meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He says the United States has destabilised so many countries across the world that Washington has no moral authority to lecture anyone. WAGNER Prigozhin said Wagner was completely subordinate to the interests of Russia but that its highly efficient command structure would be damaged by reporting to Shoigu. "Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations," Prigozhin said, adding that Wagner coordinated its actions in Ukraine with General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" by the Russian media. The defence ministry said that in the interests of increasing the effectiveness of "volunteer detachments", all such units - or their men - would have to sign a contract with the defence ministry by July 1. It did not mention Wagner by name but it routinely refers to Wagner as "volunteer assault detachments". "This will give the volunteer formations the necessary legal status, create unified approaches to the organisation of comprehensive provision and fulfilment of their tasks," the ministry said. "These measures will increase the combat capabilities and effectiveness of the armed forces and their volunteer detachments," Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said. Prigozhin said the ministry might use the failure to comply with the order as a reason to deprive Wagner of supplies. "What could happen after this order is that they will not give us weapons and ammunition. We will figure it out, as they say," Prigozhin said. "But when the thunder breaks, they will come running and bring weapons and ammunition with a request to help." (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Jason Neely) Convicted terrorist Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, might have committed suicide Saturday morning, June 10. He died in his jail cell at the age of 81. Possible Suicide? A source has informed ABC News that suicide seems to be the cause of death, even though no official ruling has been made. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reports that around 12:30 AM ET, Kaczynski was discovered unconscious in his cell and sent to a nearby hospital, where he was later declared dead. In December 2021, Kaczynski was transferred from a high-security prison in Colorado to a federal medical institution in Butner, North Carolina, for health reasons. Prior to his arrest in 1996, Kaczynski was believed to be the most prolific bomber in American history, yet he eluded authorities for over 20 years. Kaczynski allegedly planted or shipped 16 explosives between 1978 and 1995, killing three and injuring more than 20 individuals. The FBI also claims that he allegedly made bomb threats on airplanes. His Long Manuscript Before he was identified as the Unabomber in 1995, he threatened to keep murdering people until newspapers published a lengthy book he had written, according to ABC News. The US Attorney General and the Director of the FBI recommended the publication of the 35,000-word manifesto in both the New York Times and the Washington Post later that year. Kaczynski may not have been apprehended if not for the concerns of his brother and sister-in-law. After reading the Unabomber's writings, Kaczynski's sister-in-law, Linda Patrik, was among the first to identify him as the Unabomber. Patrik discussed her first suspicion that Kaczynski was behind the serial bombings in an interview with 20/20 on ID Presents: Homicide in 2016. The concepts in the essay seemed familiar to Patrik since she had heard them before from her husband, David Kaczynski. On April 3, 1995, a nine-man SWAT squad arrested Kaczynski at his Montana cabin after the family decided to inform the FBI. A live device and other bomb components were reportedly discovered by the FBI, along with 40,000 pages of handwritten journals detailing bomb-making attempts and Unabomber crimes. In Sacramento, California, where Kaczynski's trial took place, the primary focus was not on whether or not he was guilty but on whether or not he was insane and therefore be spared the death sentence. In 1998, he entered a guilty plea to murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. According to The New York Times, he was given eight separate life terms. Also Read: Commercial Real Estate Investor Natin Paul Indicted on Eight Counts in Austin Unabomber Attacks Attorney General Merrick Garland oversaw the case against Kaczynski while he was a senior officer at the Justice Department. Before becoming Attorney General, Garland led the investigation into the bombing in Oklahoma City. Authorities believe he planned attacks in many cities, including the ones where he grew up (Chicago, where his first bomb went off) and worked (Berkeley, where two devices were placed) and where he previously resided (Salt Lake City). According to the FBI, the moniker Unabomber comes from the case name UNABOM, which is an acronym for the UNiversity and Airline BOMbing targets. Also Read: Columbia, KC Man Pleads Guilty to $1.1 Million Insurance Fraud Conspiracy @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Militants attacked a security checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan, triggering a shootout that left three soldiers and three militants dead, the army said Sunday. Four militants were also wounded, the military said in a statement. The overnight shootout early Saturday took place in the Miran Shah tribal area of North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, a militant group also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The Pakistani army carried out search operations to track down those responsible for the attack. They also seized a cache of ammunition found with the dead militants. The military said it was determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism. Although the army says it has cleared North Waziristan of militants, occasional attacks and shootouts continue, raising concerns that the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, are regrouping in the area. Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021, during the last weeks of the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from the country after two decades of war. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and have since stepped up their attacks in the country, particularly against the army. (Reuters) -The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents terminal operators, said in a tweet on Saturday that coordinated and disruptive work actions led by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have shut down cargo operations at the Port of Seattle. "On the first shift today, the ILWU refused to dispatch any longshore workers to container terminals, the PMA said, resulting in the shutdown of the port. The ILWU, however, said that the West Coast ports are open and accused the PMA of "leveraging one-sided information to influence the process." Despite what you are hearing from PMA, West Coast ports are open as we continue to work under our expired collective bargaining agreement, said ILWU International President Willie Adams. Unions are seeking a pay increase that reflects workers' contribution to the ocean shipping industry's record profits from the pandemic cargo boom. They also want added compensation for the hours worked since their contract expired. West Coast ports stretching from California to Washington state are critical to the U.S. supply chains and the economy. More than 22,000 dockworkers at those trade gateways have been working without a contract since July. The largest U.S. business group on Friday urged President Joe Biden to intervene immediately and appoint an independent mediator to address a protracted West Coast ports labor dispute. U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark in a letter to Biden cited "continued and potentially expanded service disruptions at these ports heading into peak shipping season." The Port of Seattle did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. (Reporting by Gokul Pisharody in Bengaluru; Editing by Diane Craft and Andrea Ricci) Employees at a troubled downstate mental health center repeatedly covered up staff misconduct even as the facility was under state scrutiny following allegations that residents were abused and neglected, according to a state government watchdog report released Friday. Gov. J.B. Pritzker in March laid out a multiyear repurposing plan for the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna in partnership with the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine that was designed to improve conditions and offer residents the option to move to other facilities. At the time, an investigation of Choate by the inspector general for the Illinois Department of Human Services that began in September was still underway. According to the newly released IG report, investigators found that there appear to be fundamental problems with all aspects of that system, including repeated instances of staff members deliberately covering up misconduct they either engaged in or witnessed. The IGs office also found that staff was either failing to report misconduct, or seeking to report that misconduct anonymously, in fear of possible retaliation from their fellow employees. Even security officers do not want to speak up, the IG report stated. In one instance, the report also stated, a Choate employee said that as a trainee, you did not speak up for fear of losing your job. Many of the problems at Choate were made public last year in an investigation by ProPublica, Capitol News Illinois and Lee Enterprises that found Illinois State Police had launched at least 40 criminal probes over the past decade into alleged employee misconduct at the facility. Choate employees have been charged criminally more than a dozen times over the years on allegations that include everything from beating up residents to forcing a resident to drink a cup of hot sauce. Workers have also been cited for not reporting abuse and obstructing investigations and lying to state police. Republican lawmakers have blasted the Pritzker administration for its handling of the issues at Choate. In the plan unveiled earlier this year, the governor called for new safety enhancements at not only Choate but across all other state-run developmental centers. The plan also calls for the appointment of a new statewide chief resident safety officer. In addition, Pritzker said his administration has provided more training for staff, more indoor and outdoor cameras, an increase of about a half-dozen security workers and an increased management presence in living areas and professional staff presence after hours. The IG report criticized Choate officials for a lack of accuracy and thoroughness in keeping records of various allegations. A ( Choate) employee stated that individuals are instructed not to call (the inspector generals office) and are threatened with the loss of privileges, such as no access to trust funds, home visits canceled, or no outside time, the IG report said. In interviews, employees said its difficult for patients who want to report misconduct. Patients must ask staff to use a phone in the facility and tell staff who theyre calling and posters for the IGs hotline, which includes a number to call to report an allegation, are sometimes removed, the report stated. Multiple patients at Choate said the phones are sometimes broken and not fixed for days, the report said. And if staffers are reported nothing happens to them and they come back to work, and threaten to write up the patients. The report said a fundamental overhaul of the system is needed to establish a new culture where the reporting of abuse is automatic and not an act of courage jgorner@chicagotribune.com 2023 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. CHICAGO (AP) Lucas Zelarayan scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to rally the Columbus Crew to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Zelarayan's goal for Columbus (8-6-3) his eighth of the season came after Xherdan Shaqiri scored the equalizer for Chicago (3-6-8) in the 88th minute. The victory was the Crew's second straight over the Fire in Chicago. Prior to that Columbus had gone 1-10-13 in its previous 24 visits. The last and only time the Crew won two straight road matches over the Fire was in 2004. Cucho Hernandez staked the Crew to a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute, using a pass from Darlington Magbe to score his fourth goal of the season. Hernandez has had a hand in at least one goal in eight straight contests, matching the club record set by Jeff Cunningham in 2001. The Fire lost for the first time in their last 10 home matches, although seven of them ended in draws. It was the longest Chicago had gone unbeaten at home since a 14-match run spanning the 2016-17 seasons. Shaqiri's first goal of the season for Chicago came with assists from Miguel Navarro and Jairo Torres. Columbus snapped a three-match skid on the road. The Crew have gone 1-6-7 on the road in between their two victories over the Fire. Spencer Richey totaled two saves in his third start of the season for the Fire. Patrick Schulte saved one shot for the Crew. Columbus travels to play New York City FC on Saturday. Chicago is idle. ____ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sport ChatGPT and other generative AI models have been criticized ever since they became popular. This is because of the risks they pose, such as disinformation. Now, two psychology professors shared their concerns about the risk of these AIs promoting science denial. Here's what Gale Sinatra, a University of Southern California psychology professor, and Barbara K. Hofer, a Middlebury College psychology professor, shared. Will ChatGPT, Other AIs Promote Science Denial? Kofer and Sinatra shared their insights about the risk of ChatGPT when it comes to promoting science denial. Read Also: AI-Generated Images of Trump Hugging Fauci Appear in Attack Ad by DeSantis Supporters Via Gizmodo's latest report, the two psychology professors explained that people were mainly using Google Search to answer their questions about nuclear energy safety, climate change, and other science topics. However, this scenario already changed ever since generative AI tools arrived. They said that people now have the option to answer their scientific questions through ChatGPT and other AI models. Many users prefer using these artificial intelligence tools since they no longer need to check articles and other online sources. However, Gale and Barbara explained that ChatGPT doesn't search the internet the way Google Search does. Instead, ChatGPT and other AI tools tend to predict likely word combinations from the mixture of available online information. Because of this technique, the likes of ChatGPT tend to produce inaccurate answers, as claimed by the two psychology experts. How AIs Can Lead To Science Denial Kofer and Sinatra said provided the things that ChatGPT and other AI models can do to promote science denial. These include the following: Spreading disinformation internationally. Providing incorrect or misleading information. Offering made-up sources for its answers. Insufficient guardrails implemented by AI companies. AIs can negatively affect epistemic trust; the process of trusting knowledge from other people. These are just some of the reasons why ChatGPT and other AI models could promote science denial. If you want to learn more about this, you can check the official book of Barbara and Gale titled "Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It," which was published in the Oxford University Academic Journal. Related Article: TikTok Owner Tests New AI-Powered Chatbot Called 'Grace' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Colorado River rolls through the New Castle area. Colorado and Upper Basin states have yet to endorse a proposal for voluntary water cuts that would help to keep more water in the rivers straining reservoirs. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Ukraine reports that the extent of the flooded area caused by the Kakhovka dam rupture in the Kherson region has been reduced in half. Still, experts and authorities are concerned that infectious illnesses may spread in the contaminated waters. Kakhovka Dam Collapse Update Alexander Prokudin, the chairman of the regional government, reported a water level decline of 27 centimeters (10 inches). Yet the interior ministry said thousands of Ukrainian houses are still submerged. The issue is that tens of thousands of people have been left without a reliable source of drinking water, according to BBC. On Tuesday, June 6, the large Kakhovka Dam collapsed, unleashing a massive torrent of water that immediately inundated broad swaths of property on both banks of the Dnipro River. The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of blowing up the dam since it is in the territory now under Russian administration. Russia has disputed this and instead placed blame on Ukraine for the building's demise. The massive Kakhovka reservoir, an essential water supply for the area, has dried up behind the dam. See Also: Ukraine Closes Its Largest Nuclear Plant Due to Continuous Conflict, Flooding Concerns With Water Quality Dr. Jarno Habicht, the WHO representative in Ukraine, described the situation to BBC News as "devastating" and stressed the need to ensure access to clean water. He emphasized the need to monitor water-borne diseases and assured people that preventative sample testing was in progress. UK's Ministry of Defense acknowledges the situation, saying that there is a sanitation crisis due to a lack of clean water and a rise in the prevalence of water-borne illnesses. Kherson, a city around 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Kakhovka dam that has been significantly impacted by the floods, has instituted limitations on the usage of river water despite Ukrainian authorities' claims that no instances of infectious diseases have been documented. The city's military government has issued a ban on swimming, fishing, drinking, and allowing animals access to the water due to its high pollution levels caused by the flooding of homes and sewage infrastructure. Ukrainian interior ministry reported that in Kherson, 32 Ukraine-controlled communities and another 14 Russia-controlled communities suffered floods. In the Mykolayiv area, another 31 communities were impacted by the flooding, as well. Long-Awaited Counteroffensive Begins In a recent report about Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that his country's long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia has started. However, he stressed that he would not provide any information about the ongoing counteroffensive. Long-range strikes on Russian targets have been launched as Ukrainian troops have advanced east of Bakhmut and south of Zaporizhzhia. Russian President Vladimir Putin even acknowledged this in a video interview aired last week, saying, "We can definitely state that this Ukrainian offensive has begun." Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau surprised the world by visiting Ukraine and promising an additional 500 million Canadian dollars (about $373 million) in military aid. See Also: Canadian PM Trudeau Visits Kyiv, Promises $500m Aid to Ukraine @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. From drifting to track days, car meetings, drag racing, and just about every facet of car enthusiasm, the Toyota Supra is held in high regard. And whether that's justified or not is a debate for another day, but it's undeniable that the Supra is an automotive icon. ECU LSD What is not debatable, however, is the reason behind all the clout it gathered from the car community. The fourth generation of the Toyota Supra is the one that's mainly responsible for generating the hype around this hall-of-fame JDM badge.And it deserves a fair share of praise, as the car comes from an era where quality was the most essential part of car design. And the engineers behind the Supra took that idea as seriously as humanly possible. The result of that approach was an overengineered car capable of handling heaps of tunning with no need to open the engine block.This is what caused the initial hype around the car, similar to why most JDM cars of that era became popular. But being a tuner's wet dream was later combined with the car's appearance in the Fast and Furious franchise, which brought an entirely new wave of popularity with the next generation of enthusiasts.So then, it's easy to see why the Mk IV Supra is so highly praised. And also why the launch of the Mk V was surrounded by skepticism from the fans who did not take well to BMW's involvement in the project. But time has passed, and the new generation has started to grow among fans thanks to its good factory performance and, similarly, great ability to handle tuning.And now we get to see the new Supra clash with its illustrious predecessor out on track in a battle of the ages. And it's a relatively close race, at least on paper, seeing as there's only around a 60-hp per ton difference between the two cars.Starting with the Mk IV, let's look at their performance figures. It puts out roughly 900 hp (912 ps) from its fully built and bored 3.4-liter 2JZ engine. Of course, the list of upgrades goes on with mods like a large turbo, improved fuel injection, better intake and exhaust, upgraded cams, and antune. However, that power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed-equipped manual gearbox.Up against this beast stands an Mk V GR Supra , equipped with an unopened B58 inline-six capable of 760 hp (770 ps). This car also enjoys heaps of modifications, although somewhat tamer compared to its rival. One advantage it does have, however, is the gearbox. This time around, it's an LSD-equipped eight-speed ZF torque-converter automatic.This difference should compensate for the power deficit, at least in the drag race , as the rolling race is usually decided purely on power when cars are this similar. And just as expected, the more powerful MK IV Supra wins the rolling race by around three car lengths, with the newer model around a second slower to accelerate from 62 to 124 mph (100-200 kph).The drag race was where the newer Supra, with its modern technology, dominated, winning all three runs. The Mk IV just could not handle the consistency and smoothness of the launches and gear changes of the Mk V GR Supra.The final results showed that the fourth generation was half a second slower over the quarter mile than the new Supra, although it was rapidly gaining by the end of the runs. Overall, this race goes to illustrate just why people love seeing heavily modified Mk IVs so much. Apple has recently announced one of the biggest Apple Maps updates in a very long time: offline maps are making their way to the app, allowing users to navigate without the need for an Internet connection. Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Many people believe this is just a minor improvement, calling the detailed city experience (DCE) the biggest overhaul in the history of Apple Maps.While this could be true, the DCE is an update aimed at the entire platform, whereas offline maps are specifically targeted at the navigation experience. With offline maps, drivers like all of us here at autoevolution can head to the middle of nowhere without fearing we will no longer find our way back when the data connection drops.The detailed city experience is indeed big news for the future of Apple Maps. Thanks to the new maps, the service now provides users with incredibly realistic data, such as crosswalks, sidewalks, parks, buildings, traffic lights, and so on. The 3D navigation is an integral part of the new experience, making it easier for users to figure out which way they must go to follow a recommended route.On the other hand, the painfully slow rollout makes the DCE feel less important in Apple's strategy, as it just seems like the company isn't fully committed to this massive transformation. Of course, this is not true, but Apple needing years to bring such a major update to users across the world is certainly disappointing.Going back to offline maps, this feature has long been a top feature request in the Apple user base. Especially as most alternatives already offer such capabilities, including Google Maps.In many ways, offline support has become a must-have feature of a navigation solution, as drivers don't always stay within the borders of an urban area. We tend to explore and go to places where we've never been before, and as such, finding a navigation solution that we can rely on to find our way to the destination is vital. Until now, Apple Maps lacked such capabilities, forcing users to stick with the application only when an Internet connection was available.Now everything is changing.Many people believe Apple copies Google Maps with its offline maps integration. This is undoubtedly true, though I'm not sure that the iPhone maker wanted to follow in Google's footsteps and offer a similar experience.If anything, Apple indeed went for a similar approach but eventually improved it significantly.To download maps, you need to tap your profile icon and launch the Offline Maps option, just like in Google Maps. The next step comes down to selecting the area that you want to download, just like in Google Maps. You can refine the bounds and see how much space the downloaded data would use, just like in Google Maps. Apple Maps always shows a preview of the selection, just like Google Maps. Once a map is downloaded, it gets automatic updates when the app runs, just like in Google Maps.The big difference is Apple Maps supports offline navigation for other means of transportation as well, including transit. Sure enough, the data wouldnt be updated in real-time, but it could still come in handy when losing the Internet connection.At the end of the day, it's probably safe to assume that Apple copied Google Maps' offline support. Is this a bad thing? Not at all.Offline maps have become an essential part of every worthy navigation app, including Google Maps and any other application whose role is to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Sygic's GPS Navigation has them, TomTom has them too, and so does HERE. Most advanced navigation apps come with offline maps, so Apple Maps getting the same update makes perfect sense.Sure enough, Apple's implementation looks a lot like Google's, and maybe this is the most obvious sign the iPhone maker copied its rival's idea, but eventually, the whole purpose of the update is to make it easier to find a destination without an Internet connection.The offline map support is already available for testing in the iOS 17 developer build, and the first public beta due in a few weeks should also include the feature. As such, you can't try it out today if you're not a registered developer, but you should be able to do it sooner rather than later when this public beta goes live.As for production devices, the offline maps will be integrated into the stable version of iOS 17 due later this year. Based on Apple's typical release calendar, the new operating system update will be released in the fall of this year, most likely in September. The update will be available for the iPhone XS and newer, so offline maps wouldnt be offered to older iPhone models. General Motors announced it also made a deal with Tesla to use its Supercharging network and the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Ford did that a few weeks ago. While people bet that CCS will eventually disappear and Ford and GM should offer the Tesla charging experience with NACS charging ports, the reality will be much different. Photo: Tesla Photo: Kia Superchargers were conceived to communicate with Tesla cars and vice-versa. That's what allows them to just plug and charge. Anyone expecting to do the same when connecting to a Supercharger even if their cars come with a native NACS port will be deeply frustrated. Although we still do not have other vehicles with that charging standard, what Dykes endured with the Photo: Toyota kW when connected to a 400V station, but Superchargers are not programmed to deal with BEVs that are not from Tesla. The EV6 has a voltage boost circuit that allows it to extract 800V charging from a 400V stall. Superchargers interpret that as a charging fault and interrupt the process. Although Kia and Hyundai are working with Tesla to solve that, the temporary solution was to limit charging speeds to 50 kW, which is pretty slow for the EV6. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, which share the same Photo: Tesla As Tesla will not put much longer charging cords in its stalls, Ford and GM will have to place the charging ports in their new BEVs in the left rear quarter of their cars. They will also have to work with Tesla for their vehicles to communicate with Photo: Tesla The Kia EV6 has its charging port under the right taillight. Reverse parking is the only option for it to use a Supercharger, and the possibilities are similar to those the bZ4X has: either the car is parked in two spots, or it uses the Supercharger from the parking spot to the left of where it is. Unfortunately, that is not the only issue owners of BEVs from other brands will face.Superchargers were conceived to communicate with Tesla cars and vice-versa. That's what allows them to just plug and charge. Anyone expecting to do the same when connecting to a Supercharger even if their cars come with a native NACS port will be deeply frustrated.Although we still do not have other vehicles with that charging standard, what Dykes endured with the bZ4X and the EV6 anticipates what GM and Ford should prevent.With the Toyota , the youtuber tried to charge twice in one Supercharger, with little luck. He then moved to another one to try four times more. The vehicle would not connect with the Supercharger, so he just gave up. With the Kia and its 800V system, the issue was the charging speed. The EV6 can charge at more than 150when connected to a 400V station, but Superchargers are not programmed to deal with BEVs that are not from Tesla.The EV6 has a voltage boost circuit that allows it to extract 800V charging from a 400V stall. Superchargers interpret that as a charging fault and interrupt the process. Although Kia and Hyundai are working with Tesla to solve that, the temporary solution was to limit charging speeds to 50 kW, which is pretty slow for the EV6. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, which share the same E-GMP platform as the Kia, will also benefit from the solution these automakers may develop.Multiply these situations by all the BEVs in the market from different brands and charging systems, and you'll see the Magic Dock cannot perform miracles. It may be the case that NACS will deliver a more pleasant charging experience to GM and Ford customers in Supercharging stations, but only if these two automakers go beyond adopting just that charging standard.As Tesla will not put much longer charging cords in its stalls, Ford and GM will have to place the charging ports in their new BEVs in the left rear quarter of their cars. They will also have to work with Tesla for their vehicles to communicate with Superchargers in a better way than all other BEVs currently do with the Magic Docks. You may also follow what Tesla advocates defended in Dykes' post just buy a Tesla but that is just ignoring the problem.The truth is that Superchargers provide the same lousy charging experience other charging networks offer to BEVs that are not from Tesla . If the secret to a smooth charging session is having a closed ecosystem, then we should be discussing more than just the format of plugs: all BEVs should have the same charging protocols. In other words, the charging standard should comprise more than just how you connect your car to the stalls. The interaction between BEVS and chargers is the crucial aspect most people are ignoring. Let's see how (and if) GM and Ford will make that better with NACS. Alex Dykes, from the YouTube channel Alex on Autos and the Auto Buyers Guide, shared his impressions on Facebook after recent tests he made on Superchargers with Magic Docks Tesla's stalls with CCS adapters. The youtuber used a Toyota bZ4X and a Kia EV6, and, in both cases, the experience was pretty far from what a Tesla offers. Dykes also explained why they were like that.The main point is that Superchargers were conceived for Tesla vehicles. That makes them lack operation screens because these BEVs communicate with them and present the charging information on their infotainment screens. People with other electric cars have to use the Tesla app to follow everything. That's a minor inconvenience compared to all the other issues.Another one that will affect most BEVs from other brands is the length of the Supercharger cords. All Teslas have their charging ports under the lateral extension of the left taillight. For them to use a Supercharger, they have to reverse park in the parking spot where the equipment is located. That allows the cords to be much shorter than those used in other charging stations.When other BEVs use a Supercharger, the cables will not reach their charging ports. Any driver who does not give up charging there will have to park their electric cars in unusual ways to get the job done, as Dykes reported. In bZ4X's case, the charging port is under the left A-pillar. If it just drives straight ahead into the parking spot, its changing port will be on the opposite side of the Supercharger. If it parks there in reverse, as Teslas must do, the Supercharger will be on the same side as the charging port, but the cord will not reach it. Either the Toyota occupies two parking spots, with the front as close to Superchargers as possible, or it uses the Supercharger from the charging spot to the left. Technically speaking, that is also a simultaneous use of two parking areas. AMG kW SUV Photo: Hollmann A proper daily that can take on many different tasks, the latest Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a dream machine. Its performance-oriented derivative, the Mercedes-G 63, is even more potent courtesy of the Affalterbach brand's ubiquitous 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8.Shared with many other modern-day vehicles made by Mercedes-AMG , it develops 577 hp (585ps/430) in the 4x4. The torque stands at 627 pound-feet (850 Nm), and it uses a nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. The AMG G-Class weighs around two and a half tons (~5,500 pounds), and despite that and the brick-shaped design, it is very agile. Four and a half seconds after taking off, the digital speedometer will indicate 62 mph (100 kph), and on a long straight, it will run out of breath at 137 mph or 220 kph.Purists will always be sad that the second-gen G 63 isn't available with a V12. The downgrade was necessary to keep the carbon dioxide emissions in check. And not only it won't be graced by a twelve-banger anymore, but it will also eventually drop the V8 heading toward the inevitable electric future. Mercedes is currently refining the EQG , which will be the zero-emission G-Class, and we've seen several testers in the open, retaining the overall styling of the, and moving in complete quietness, aided by its four electric motors whose output and thrust remain secret for now.Mind you, while neither Benz nor AMG will ever put a V12 under the hood of the modern-day G-Class/G 63, a tuner has. The model is called the G V12 900, and the model broke cover nearly four years ago at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Limited to only ten copies, it's the work of Brabus, and the engine came from the old S 600 L. The displacement was increased from 6.0 to 6.3 liters, and after the renowned tuner had its way with the internals, it ended up producing 900 metric horses hence the 900 in its name. This translates to 887 bhp or 662 kW. The torque produced by the new mill is 1,106 lb-ft (1,500 Nm), and it was limited to 885 lb-ft (1,200 Nm) to preserve the transmission.Before being fiddled with by Brabus, the V12 was good for 523 hp (530 ps/390 kW). It was less powerful than the V8 powering the latest G 63. So, how much quicker do you think the G V12 900 is compared to the stock one? Seven-tenths, according to Brabus. It needs only 3.8 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 kph) from a standstill. This allowed the tuner to call it "the worlds most powerful twelve-cylinder SUV" back then, and that's no longer valid, as we now have machines such as the Ferrari Purosangue that are way punchier, not to mention more agile. Flat-out, it can do 174 mph (280 kph) or 25 mph (40 kph) more than the G 63 when equipped with the AMG Driver's Pack, which is an optional extra.Care to blow a jaw-dropping sum of money on your very own Brabus G V12 900 ? You're in luck because the pictured one is for sale. It has just under 1,000 km (620 miles) under its belt, a first registration dating back to March 2022, and is in top-notch condition. The Hollmann listing reveals many options, and the wide body kit with the bulging hood and roof-mounted spoiler, finished in black, is visible in the images accompanying the ad. It has a lot of carbon fiber inside and out, rides on 24-inch wheels, and the interior, which is bathed in ambient lighting, has lots of plush leather. The premium upholstery was even added to the floors and the cargo space behind the seats, and there is a hint of Brabus here and there so that you don't forget the special nature of this ultra-punchy G-Wagen.We still haven't told you how much this car, which started life as a Mercedes-AMG G 63, costs, and you may want to sit down for this one, as it is very expensive. The ad shows a buy-it-now price of 695,000 or $743,580 at today's exchange rates. You could buy no less than four brand-new G 63 SUVs for that kind of money in the U.S. of A., where it starts at $179,000. It's definitely worth every penny to the right collector, and considering the amount of work that went into it, we think it will sell for the asking sum. But would you buy it? Last year, Tesla smugly named its charging plug "North American Charging Standard" as it opened it to rival EV makers without asking for anything in return. Since then, not only Ford and GM announced adopting Tesla's charging standard, but charging networks also got on board. Nobody smiles now as NACS has become THE standard. Will this mark the demise of the CCS plug? Not if the government doesn't change its stance. EV We tried very hard to get EU to consider the Tesla (now NACS) design, as it is fundamentally better in every way for consumers, but the transport minister said a committee decided the standard years ago (sigh). Worth mentioning that Tesla is supplying the adapter & other Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2023 In November 2022, Tesla announced that it open-sourced its charging connector, charging port, and the underlying communication technology. It also named it "North American Charging Standard," causing many to smile. As long as Tesla was the only carmaker using it, it's not a standard, let alone a North-American one. Regardless of Tesla having more EVs and more chargers in the region than all other carmakers and service providers combined.Smiles began to fade when Ford announced adopting NACS in May. The change is not immediate, as the first Ford EVs with NACS charge ports will only arrive in 2025, but it made NACS a legitimate standard. Still, it wasn't until GM announced the same thing on June 8 that NACS became a true North American charging standard. Together, the three carmakers make up more than 60% of the USmarket, and this percentage is set to grow. GM adopting the NACS plug may have been the accelerator that nailed the CCS standard's coffin. Immediately, several major players in the charging industry announced that they would also adopt NACS in their equipment. The most important EV makers that haven't announced adopting Tesla's standard are Rivian, Hyundai-Kia, and Volkswagen. All have their own reasons for not switching to NACS, at least for now. Still, nobody can deny the domino effect triggered by GM and Ford adopting NACS.Many major charging networks and charging equipment suppliers have already announced support for NACS in light of GM adopting the standard. Among them are EVgo, FLO, ABB E-Mobility, and EverCharge, with more pledging support every day. Only a few months ago, everyone leaned toward the CCS standard because of the NEVI subsidies. By the time the first Ford and GM electric vehicles start rolling off the production lines with NACS in 2025, the CCS standard will already be dead in North America.The only thing that could keep it around is the taxpayer's money. Even as Tesla, Ford, and GM popped the champagne, the White House ruined the party spirit with a statement supporting the CCS standard. The message is that Tesla's charging network would only be eligible for billions in federal subsidies if its chargers include "the US charging standard connection, CCS."The White House pointed to the minimum standards that charging networks must comply with to access the $7.5 billion program. "Those standards give flexibility for adding both CCS and NACS, as long as drivers can count on a minimum of CCS," White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in a statement to Reuters.Tesla's Supercharger network is seen as more reliable and more widespread than rival charging networks that use the CCS standard. Without government support, the CCS's fate in North America is sealed. Besides subsidies, nothing about it incentivizes companies to use it, especially as Tesla is offering NACS with no royalties attached. 11 June 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more If there is a state or nation in the world that has lost its way and is heading in a direction with no future, it is Armenia and its wretched Armenian people. Of course, the leaders at the head of such a state also play an important role in shaping its image. For example, this type of leader should be chosen to be as hypocritical, and flattering as possible. Let's take Nikol Pashinyan; he is the one, who double-crosses the West, by playing with Moscow in the background, and exhibits his true Armenian character. We should not be disappointed or surprised at all - on the contrary, we are watching a rather entertaining scene. So, let's take a closer look at Nikol... Everyone remembers Pashinyan's statements about Azerbaijan during his previous visits and his acknowledgments about Azerbaijan's territorial integrity very well. But Pashinyan forgets them for some reason or suffers from amnesia. His mechanism of sharp change between the West and Russia seems to completely remove Pashinyan from himself. On the one hand, Pashinyan pretends to be pro-Western and democrat, and on the other hand, he visits Russia and tries to show himself as a sweet boy in front of the Kremlin leadership. If a normal person has one face, Pashinyan has more. Although he calls itself an ally of the West, but he is not. His friendship is only until he gets what he wants. Pashinyan participates in the parade held in the Kremlin Square on May 9. There, he allegedly tries to show his loyalty to Russia and shares his heartfelt words staring at the parade in red square. After that, he attends the European summit in Chisinau, where he flirts and smiles in front of the West. We are talking about Pashinyan's rapid skin change experience. But all that has been said is not to glorify Pashinyan. Of course, such an approach appears to be an act of promoting the Armenian Prime Minister. This is an Armenian tradition and Pashinyan is a follower of this tradition. Adhering to this tradition, Armenia has been utmost hypocritical in front of both the West and Russia for 30 years and has managed to change the processes in its favour. Even during the period of occupation, while the OSCE Minsk Group recognized the territories of Azerbaijan, instead of taking measures against Armenia, they bypassed Yerevan and turned a blind eye to all the injustices. However, after the Azerbaijani Patriotic War, the processes began to change immediately when all silent forces heard the last word of the Independent Azerbaijan. It turned out that not only Armenia is hypocritical and unreliable in this game, but also its allies who closely supported them until Armenian separatist groups were somewhat kicked out of Azerbaijans sovereign territories. Armenia, which is rapidly losing its value against the background of changing processes, is now appearing to be an undesired partner, especially in the West. Because, although the West has turned a blind eye to this to a certain extent, it knows that Armenia is a true hypocrite - it does not reveal it just because it is in its own interest. For example, all of Europe and the USA know that Armenia is illegally selling goods to Russia, ignoring Western sanctions. In this regard, the fact that about 20 Armenian companies are subject to US sanctions is a part of this process. However, Azerbaijan has always been and remains honest and consistent in its words and actions. It has never helped Russia bypass Western sanctions. It often and openly helped Ukraine, both through political statements and by sending humanitarian aid. Its next volume has already been delivered to Ukraine today. This is all that is needed to eliminate the consequences of the flood caused by explosions at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. These are the realities that the West sees. But they do not want to move from words to deeds, punishing Armenia for its numerous tricks. And this behaviour of the West deprived it of the moral right to any words of criticism against our country. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 12:10 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Economy Minister, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SOCAR Mikayil Jabbarov and President of SOCAR Rovshan Najaf met with the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Azernews reports, citing SOCAR. At the meeting, Mikayil Jabbarov congratulated Alparslan Bayraktar on his appointment as Minister of Energy and wished him success in his future activities. It was emphasized that the strategic alliance relations between our fraternal countries have been successfully developed in the field of energy as well as in all directions, and the jointly implemented projects have made important contributions to the sustainable economic development of both countries and the energy security of the region and Europe. In this regard, SOCAR's multifaceted activities in Turkiye were noted with satisfaction. Current and future opportunities for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the fields of economy and energy were reviewed, opinions were exchanged on other issues of mutual interest. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 17:50 (UTC+04:00) The Azerbaijani Language and Culture Center of Baku Slavic University (BSU) operating under Sofia University named after St. Kliment Ohridsky traditionally participated in the 12th Soleil International Francophonie Festival held in Sozopol under the auspices of the Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Yotova with a photo exhibition, Azernews reports, citing Azertag. Accrding to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Bulgaria, the event initiated by the Center was dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the 100th anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, and the 10th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Language and Culture Center operating at Sofia University of BSU. As part of the festival, a front exhibition entitled "Historical pages of Azerbaijan: 105th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan People's Republic" was presented at the Museum Center located in the ancient part of Sozopol. Photos and documents on the history of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic were displayed at the exhibition. Representatives of the Sozopol mayor's office, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Romania, Albania, Portugal, Macedonia and other countries, media representatives, city residents and other guests took part in the Azerbaijan night. Director of the festival Aleksandrina Isaylova, who opened the event with an introduction, said that there is very little information about the ancient and rich history of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria, and noted that the exhibition aroused great interest among the guests of the event. Sofia Shigayeva-Mitreska, director of the Azerbaijani Language and Culture Center, spoke about the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first democratic, secular, parliamentary republic in the Muslim East, and its main achievements, the activities of the republic's delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, and the de facto recognition of the republic. It was noted that despite living for only 23 months, the APC achieved significant success in a short period of time, laid the foundations of statehood traditions, gave women the right to vote much earlier than Western countries, and implemented a number of reforms in the field of education. It was brought to attention that modern independent Azerbaijan, the successor of the Republic, has become a strong and influential country of the region as a result of President Ilham Aliyev's successful continuation of the bright and far-sighted foreign policy founded by Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and recognized as a reliable partner on a global scale. It should be noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Bulgaria's membership in the International Organization of Francophonie, and a number of related events are being held in the country. The International Francophonie Festival is one of the great events among them, and is a great cultural event in Sofia, as well as in the social and cultural life of Bulgaria. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 11:05 (UTC+04:00) The employees of Azerbaijans Emergency Situation Ministry (MES) rescued a person from drowning in the sea, Azernews reports, citing MES. The "112" hotline of MES received information that a person is in danger of drowning in the sea in the Seaside National Park, located in the Sabail district of Baku. The Ministry's press service told that the Baku-boulevard diving-search team of the State Service for the Control of Small Vessels and Water Rescue of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was immediately involved in the scene of the incident. Thanks to the operative rescue operation, Kurkin Alexander Aleksandrovich, born in 1988, who was in danger of drowning in the sea, was rescued by divers, and provided with first aid. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 16:50 (UTC+04:00) The visit to Azerbaijan of the teachers and students of secondary school No. 12 named after the outstanding scientist, ophthalmologist-scientist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva in Irpen city has started, Azernews reports. The purpose of the trip organized and financed by the Azerbaijan state based on the order of the President of Azerbaijan is to protect the health of Ukrainian children and organize rest. During the trip, students of the high school will get familiar with the culture and traditions of Azerbaijan more closely. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliyev saw off the teachers and students of the school leaving for Azerbaijan in the city of Irpen. The director of the school, Valentina Antonenko, expressed her gratitude for the organization of the trip and said that the school was seriously damaged during the war. On the instructions of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the representative office of SOCAR in Ukraine quickly overhauled the school. This time, based on the instructions of the head of state of Azerbaijan, the representative office of SOCAR in Ukraine organizes the visit of the school's students. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber was spotted flying over Miami. Footage of this high-subsonic jet was captured after the 5-month safety pause of the U.S. Air Force. The video of B-2 in Miami was taken by independent journalist Joseph Levy (@miamiheaven). He was able to capture the magnificent footage during the Memorial Day Weekend at Miami Beach; when he was at the Miami Air and Sea Show event. B-2 Spirit Spotted Flying Over Miami According to The Drive's latest report, the B-2 subsonic stealth bomber was flying low over the Miami skyline. Read Also: US Navy Receives First-Ever Upgraded 'Doomsday' Plane Because of this, the flyby attracted many people during the Miami Air and Sea Show event. The footage captured by Levy was already reposted by numerous social media accounts on Twitter and other platforms. One of these is Twitter user @ilove_aviation; with Levy's B-2 video garnering over 6 million views and 33,000 likes. The professional videographer said that he used his Sony FX3, which was mounted on a tripod, to take the footage. Thanks to his skills, Joseph was able to keep the B-2 Spirit in frame, allowing people across the globe to see how the stealth bomber maneuvered elegantly over the Miami skyline. You can check out Levy's videos below to see the B-2 Spirit in action. Facebook Error Facebook Error The Spirit Flying over Miami Beach : miamiheaven pic.twitter.com/dg0fWJwaj3 Aviation (@ilove_aviation) June 10, 2023 B-2 Spirit in Operation Again Recently, the U.S. Air Force decided to conduct a 5-month safety pause for the B-2 Spirit fleet. This was implemented after one of the stealth bombers caught fire on a Missouri runway in 2022. Luckily, the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were able to get back in operation on May 22. However, the U.S. Air Force didn't confirm the reason behind the B-2 accident in late 2022. The defense agency also hasn't confirmed if a fix was made for its B-2 Spirit fleet. But, since it was spotted flying over Miami Beach, it seems like the B-2 Spirit is already in good condition to fly again. The flyby in Miami is considered to be one of the major events the high-subsonic aircraft bomber attended ever since the fleet was grounded. If you want to learn more details about this advanced stealth bomber, you can visit the official website of the U.S. Air Force. Related Article: US Navy Awards Northrop Grumman Contract for New Maritime Navigation Sensor @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 11 June 2023 15:25 (UTC+04:00) The Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov, who is on a visit to the Republic of Italy, visited the Italian Naval Fleet and got acquainted with the battle control center, Azernews reports, citing MOD. During the meeting with the leadership of the Naval Fleet Command, a detailed exchange of views on prospects for the development of cooperation between the two countries naval forces, as well as on a number of issues of mutual interest was held. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 13:15 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences for the tragedy that has happened as a result of a forest fire in Abai Region, Kazakhstan. The letter reads: Dear Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich, We were extremely saddened by the news of heavy casualties as a result of major forest fires in Abai Region. On the occasion of this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I offer my profound condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed, and all the people of Kazakhstan, wish those injured a speedy recovery, and that the consequences of the natural disaster will be eliminated soon. May Allah rest their souls in peace! Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 11 June 2023 11 June 2023 18:50 (UTC+04:00) Armenian residents living in Karabakh continue to freely cross the Lachin border checkpoint in the direction of Khankendi-Gorus, Azernews reports. We should note that the Armenian residents of Karabakh can freely pass through the checkpoint established by the State Border Service of Azerbaijan at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road at any time of the day. Recall that, contrary to the tripartite statement of November 10, 2020, manpower, ammunition, mines, and other military equipment were transferred from Armenia to illegal Armenian armed formations on the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed. On April 22, Armenia unilaterally set up a checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road. In response to these actions of Armenia, on April 23, units of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan in the sovereign territories of our country on the border with Armenia established a border checkpoint at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 23:52 (UTC+04:00) After his successful re-election as President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to make his first foreign visits to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. Erdogan intends to visit the TRNC and Azerbaijan on June 12-13, according to a report from the Liaison Office of the Turkish Presidential Administration. During his visit to the TRNC, the Turkish leader plans to discuss the development of bilateral relations in all areas. Issues related to the situation in Cyprus and the region as a whole, as well as the international agenda, will also be considered. In Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Erdogan will hold talks on the development of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations in the future, as well as discuss the current situation in the region and in the world. After winning the elections on May 28, Recep Tayyip Erdogan will serve as president until 2028. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 22:18 (UTC+04:00) The head of the Delegation of the European Union in Azerbaijan, Ambassador Peter Mikhalko, thanked Azerbaijan for sending the next humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The Ambassador shared about this on his Twitter account. He wrote: "I express my deep gratitude to Azerbaijan for sending the next humanitarian aid to Ukraine!" It should be recalled that humanitarian aid was sent to Ukraine on June 9 by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, taking into account the request received by Ukraine. Two VA150KS mobile diesel pumps with a capacity of 400 cubic meters for pumping sewage to humanitarian aid, more than 1000 meters of collection pipeline with a diameter of 200 millimeters for pumping sewage, 10 motor pumps with hoses, 20 underwater pumps, 5 inflatable rubber boats, 24 Includes heating dryer, 20 waterproof jackets, 40 sets of summer and winter clothing sets each, 40 pairs of waders and 40 pairs of rubber boots, 41 pairs of long fishing boots, 9 rubber suits, 208 life jackets, 50 life rings and 42 life jackets . It should be noted that Azerbaijan is planning to send other humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. High gratitude& appreciation to Azerbaijan sending another humanitarian assistance to Ukraine! It helps counter the consequences of horrible crime, destruction of Kakhovka dam. Russian aggressors will be held accountable. Destruction of civilian infrastructure is a war crime Peter Michalko (@MichalkoPeter) June 11, 2023 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 11:35 (UTC+04:00) A delegation from Kazakhstan has visited Hungary to study the experience of rural development in the framework of the FAO project Investment Support for Smallholders to Develop a Food Value Chain in Kazakhstan and participated in the Third Regional Workshop on Integrated Community Development, Azernews reports, citing the press service of the Kazakh MFA. The delegation included Vice-Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Baurzhan Omarbekov, a member of the Committee on Agrarian Affairs of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Ashimbetov, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Association of Farmers, Kazakh Research Institute of Agricultural Economy and Rural Development, and Institute of Economic Research. Meetings were held at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Committee on Agrarian Affairs of the Hungarian National Assembly. Kazakh experts were introduced to the tools to develop and promote entrepreneurship in rural areas, improve cooperative processes and improve access to public services, as well as industrial and social infrastructure in rural areas. During the visit, the delegation traveled to the regions to learn about Hungary's rural development and rural tourism strategy, visited a number of productive farms, and held a seminar on the role of local food systems and youth in rural community development. The Kazakh delegation also took part in the Third Regional Workshop on Integrated Community Development at National and Local Levels, organized by the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia of FAO jointly with the FAO Liaison and Partnership Office in Kazakhstan. The workshop provided a platform to discuss and present the main results of FAO research on best practices in integrated community development and territorial approaches in Europe and Central Asia. The workshop also facilitated the exchange of practical experiences, lessons learned and different approaches to rural development, including the EU LEADER approach for non-EU countries. 11 June 2023 19:50 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye's new Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke over the phone with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry to address bilateral relations, according to diplomatic sources on Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. Shoukry also congratulated Fidan on taking office. Fidan took charge from his predecessor, Mevlut Cavusoglu, earlier this week. He was the chief of Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) for 13 years. In April, Cavusoglu, the then Turkish foreign minister, said that Turkiye and Egypt agreed on improving bilateral ties and raising diplomatic relations to the highest level. We are taking concrete steps to raise representation to the level of embassies. In the coming period, we will inform you with a joint statement, Cavusoglu said at a news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Shoukry in the capital Ankara. Diplomatic relations between Turkiye and Egypt have been at the level of charges daffaires since 2013. During his March 18 visit to Cairo, the first by a Turkish foreign minister in 11 years, Cavusoglu said the two countries were looking to raise diplomatic relations to the highest level as soon as possible. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 June 2023 22:35 (UTC+04:00) Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Sunday said Georgia had already implemented most of the recommendations, outlined by the European Union last year for granting its membership candidate status and noted the country was expecting the bloc to take a firm step and grant Georgia the status based on fair assessments, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.ge. Georgia's application for EU membership in 2022 is a constitutional goal of the country, which is supported by more than 80 percent of the population of Georgia, Botchorishvili said at the 12th meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee in Brussels. She highlighted Georgias potential to open new geopolitical opportunities and contribute to wider European security and prosperity and stressed granting the country the candidate status would encourage its progress on the European path, the Parliament press office said. The implementation process of the EUs 12 priorities and steps taken in this regard by the country were emphasised by the Georgian delegation at the Committee meeting. The Georgian side highlighted the implementation of recommendations as a priority to receive the status in December. The meeting was attended by the permanent delegations of the Georgian and the European parliaments, as well as representatives of the executive structures of Georgia, the Public Defender of Georgia and the institutions of the European Union. The next meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee will be held in Georgias capital Tbilisi. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister of Scotland, was arrested and brought into jail on Sunday, June 11, as part of a police inquiry into the financial dealings of her party in office. The investigation is centered on whether or not the Scottish National Party (SNP), the country's main political group, mismanaged hundreds of thousands of pounds. Sturgeon's Arrest According to The Washington Post, the national police force of Scotland issued a statement saying they had "arrested" a 52-year-old woman and were holding her for interrogation. A representative for the ex-leader has verified that Sturgeon is the one who has been arrested. "Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11 June, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform ... Nicola has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so," the representative stated, as reported by BBC. After eight years in the position, she made a surprising decision to step down as minister early this year. Peter Murrell, Sturgeon's husband, was arrested in April for interrogation but then released without being charged. Glasgow police have searched both the couple's house and the party's headquarters. Former party treasurer Colin Beattie was among those detained and then released by Police Scotland after being investigated as a witness. Sturgeon gave the same reason for her resignation in February: she did not want to be a divisive figure in a country that was already deeply divided about its future. The independence movement she led in Scotland against the United Kingdom was eventually unsuccessful. Her decision to stand down ignited a struggle for power among the party's top leaders, culminating in Humza Yousaf's election as her successor. Also Read: Celtic Scottish Premiership Celebration Leaves Man Seriously Hurt in Assault Independence Drive Is at Standstill Sturgeon served as first minister for nine years, during which time she became the public face of the push to break Scotland apart from the rest of the UK. According to CNN, she explained her stand by pointing out the pressures of the spotlight and the "brutality" of frontline politics. Since she stepped down, however, the party she headed for over a decade has been in disarray in the midst of a highly publicized police probe. According to PA Media, law enforcement officials are looking into how the SNP used funds intended for pro-independence efforts in Scotland. The organization has controlled politics north of the border for more than a decade and wants a rerun of the 2014 independence referendum, which voters rejected 55% to 45%. Sturgeon spearheaded the campaign for independence, but recent polls suggest declining support, and the Supreme Court blocked her attempt to organize a referendum without Westminster's approval last year. This year, Humza Yousaf succeeded Sturgeon as leader after the latter barely prevailed in a contentious election that revealed rifts within the party. Also Read: Junior Doctors in Scotland Offered Generous 14.5% Pay Rise Offer @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There hasnt been a lot of unum evolving from our pluribus of late, what with the Jan. 6 committee hearings daring us to believe our eyes and This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Alex Baltzegar The North Carolina House and Senate have passed a new bill that will limit abortions after 12 weeks of fetal development.The bill contains exceptions for rape and incest up until 20 weeks of pregnancy, fetal abnormalities up until 24 weeks, and the life of the mother all the way through pregnancy.The legislation passed the General Assembly on Thursday with a vote of 29-20 in the Senate after the longest debate in a decade. As it stands, Republicans have the votes to override Gov. Roy Cooper, who said earlier this week he would veto the bill.Sen. Todd Johnson, R-Union, was the lone absent senator. However, Senate leader Berger said there was nothing to read into regarding Johnson's absence, and that Johnson would vote to override Gov. Cooper when the time comes.The House passed the same bill on Wednesday by a vote of 71-46. All Republicans present in both chambers voted for the bill, while all Democrats present voted against it. There was one absent Republican in the House-Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover. Many had speculated whether Davis would uphold Cooper's veto, since he had once said in a debate he would vote not be influenced by the Speaker or anyone else on how he votes regarding abortion.On Thursday, the Senate session began at 10:00 AM, and the chamber held debate on the abortion bill once it finished passing the other bills on the calendar. The chamber took a break around noon, as many of the Republican members had planned to join members of the public across the street for the National Day of Prayer.While most of the Republicans went to pray, the Democrats went to caucus. In the caucus meeting, the Democrats decided to filibuster, or draw out the debate process, as long as possible under the Senate rules.According to one Senate staffer, Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, who is a little more moderate than some of his Democratic counterparts, was overheard saying he tried to talk his colleagues out of the stunt they were about to conduct.Each and every Democratic senator used every second of their allowed time to speak against the bill, many of whom went well over their time. Berger, who was chairing the session, allowed this leeway.The debate lasted for nearly six hours.Before and during the debate, Democratic leadership, including Sens. Dan Blue, D-Wake, and Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, tried several tactics in an attempt to delay voting on the bill. Blue said the bill was out of order, citing saying the General Assembly must first pass its budget, which Berger ruled against, and was seconded by the Senate Rules chair. The motion was also appealed to the entire body, where it failed.Other attempts at slowing the bill failed. Because of the stunt, Senate Democrats presumably burned up any goodwill they had with Republicans, who have governing majorities in both chambers and do not need to work with the minority party on legislation.At one point early on in the debate, a protestor from the gallery seated above shouted,prompting Berger to tell the audience to maintain order.Berger said.The protestors mostly maintained order following Berger's threat to remove them from the gallery. However, after the vote, the protestors roared.The House had a similar, although surprisingly less lengthy, debate on the bill.Rep. Julie von Haefen, D-Wake, spoke on the bill last.von Haefen said.She later requested that the House Journal state that she constitutionally protested the legislation.Proponents have pointed out that by 12 weeks, the baby's heart has already been beating for about six weeks, often pumping a different blood type through its veins than the mother. By 12 weeks, the baby has been able to turn its head, frown, and hiccup for about a month. By 12 weeks, the fingernails and teeth have been developing for a few weeks already. While some pro-life speakers in committee said it did not go far enough, they could support it.Bill sponsor Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, said the complex bill is written to make it easier for women who would prefer to keep their babies to do so by appropriating $160 million on various social programs, including help for foster care, extended parental leave, community college scholarships for parents, subsidized daycare, increasing the safe surrender of an infant age from seven days to 30 days old, subsidized or free birth control, and $700,000 to the State Maternity Home Fund which provides free housing and care services.Opponents have pushed back, particularly on the requirement in the bill that women have an in-person meeting with a medical professional at least 72 hours before the procedure. Current law allows the three-day waiting period to start after a phone call. In the bill, women must also have an in-person follow-up appointment after a medically-induced abortion. Opponents of these measures say they make it more difficult to travel to N.C. from other states for an abortion.On Sunday, Cooper appeared on the national talk show Face the Nation to blast North Carolina legislative Republicans for the bill and repeated his intention to veto it.he said on the show.During the Senate floor debate, Sen. Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell, repeatedly pushed back when legislators referred to the new abortion restrictions as a ban. Sawyer said the legislation is not a ban-even after 12 weeks when elective abortions are no longer allowed, there are exceptions.The bill was presented to the governor Friday. He has ten days to act on it, or it becomes law without his signature. On Monday, news broke that state House Rep. Erin Pare, R-Wake, is weighing a run for Congress. Pare is currently the only Republican lawmaker who represents part of Wake County.Pare is a local business owner, military spouse, and mother of two school-aged children. She was first elected in 2020 in one of the closest N.C. House races, winning by 3.27 percent, or 2,294 votes. She beat current state senator Sydney Batch, D-Wake. In 2022, Pare won re-election by nearly 8 percent.In her second term, Pare was appointed as one of the Chairs of the House Health Committee and one of the Vice Chairs of the House Energy and Public Utilities Committees.Pare is waiting on a number of factors to inform her decision. This includes several personal matters, such as her two kids being in school, and waiting to see what Congressional district lines look like after redistricting occurs in the fall.Following controversy about whether or not the Wake County Board of Commissioners should be elected county-wide rather than by their own districts, Pare worked out a deal with them. Pare introduced a bill to keep the elections partisan but make the commissioners elected by their districts.The General Assembly will be redrawing the Congressional District lines after the Democratic (at the time) Supreme Court chose the districts for the 2020 election.Here is a congressional map legislators drew in 2021 before the Democratic N.C. Supreme court ordered a redraw:Under this map, Pare may consider a run for the 7th congressional district.Two Republican candidates who lost in the 2022 election, Bo Hines in the general election and Devan Barbour in the primary election, have already said they are running again.Democratic U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel is the incumbent for U.S. Congressional District 13. Nickel does not live in the district, so drawing him out of the district may not affect his candidacy for the 2024 election. However, if the closest district becomes Republican-leaning, Nickel may reconsider.Josh McConkey, M.D., who is a US Air Force Reserve Colonel and physician and lives in Apex, has also declared candidacy for the Republican primary. Conservative state lawmakers across the country on Wednesday slammed Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, saying he is pressuring the GOP-led state to adopt alaw by dragging lawmakers back to the Capitol for aafter they ended their regular session without passing a gun bill.The chairmen of all 11 chapters of the State Freedom Caucus Network, representing states such as Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, and Montana, wrote thatThe out-of-state lawmakers were writing to support four Tennessee Republicans, led by Rep. Bryan Richey, who this week called on Lee to abandon the special session, which would start August 21.they wrote.the letter continued.The lawmakers said the session would simply provide a forum for Left-wing activists to continue their disruption of the legislature.they said.Some Republicans have said that something has to be done following the Covenant School shooting, where a gunwoman who identified as transgender killed three children and three adults.Butthe letter said.Conservatives said that the FBI and police's concealment of the shooter's manifesto has deprived lawmakers of knowing facts about the shooting necessary to craft a legislative solution.Nashville Police Chief John Drake last month reneged on a promise he made to Lee to release the recordswith the police department claiming it could not release the documents because it was being sued for not releasing them.John I. Harris III, the president of the Tennessee Firearms Association, previously told The Daily Wire that mental illness could be the cause of the shooting, but it could also be political terrorism committed by a sane person committed to an ideology.Harris said.But the actual cause of the shooting could be more definitively known if police would simply release records, Harris said.In a blog post, Harris wrote that he had heard that Lee wasand that they could be told that theyif they do not support his aims for the legislative session. But ultimately, any bills sponsored will have individual legislators' names on them, he said, noting thatJade Byers, a spokeswoman for Lee, told The Daily Wire thatshe said.Lee said in a statement announcing the special session thatThe State Freedom Caucus Network argues that states with Republican supermajorities have frequently had leaders that, unbeknownst to most voters, often capitulate to the Left. A Daily Wire analysis found that the more Republicans a state had in its legislature, the more moderate those Republicans tended to act.Andy Roth, the head of the Network, told The Daily Wire, gettyimagesbank By Jun Ji-hye The government's move to exempt doctors from criminal punishment in case of medical errors is stirring up arguments. Doctors say such a measure is necessary to make sure they can offer medical services to patients in a more stable environment. Objectors criticize this, saying doctors are only aiming to avoid responsibility. Last Thursday, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Medical Association (KMA) reached an agreement to "draw up a measure to reduce legal responsibilities that doctors should bear in case of medical errors." Under the agreement, the ministry is expected to push for legislating a special law designed to exempt doctors from criminal punishment when medical errors occur while they engage in "normal" medical practice. The agreement came as the ministry accepted the request from the doctors' association, in return for the association's acceptance of the ministry's proposal to increase the medical college quota in 2025. In January, the ministry included the legislation of the aforementioned special law in its policy plans to support "essential medical fields" that refer to hospitals treating critically ill, emergency or pediatric patients, or dealing with childbirth. But the details regarding the law were removed just before the plans were announced to the public amid concerns over stirring controversy. Doctors have called for the need for the law, saying the possibility of unintentional and uncontrollable medical accidents always exists. They said the possibility of facing criminal punishment has made doctors hesitant to work for the essential medical fields that often accompany high-risk surgeries and death beyond human control. They cited the fear of punishment as one of the major reasons for doctor shortages in the essential medical fields, warning that it will make it more difficult for critically ill or emergency patients to receive timely medical treatments. "The condition of a patient could worsen rapidly although a doctor did his best to practice medicine. If the doctor has to face criminal punishment for this, he would lose confidence," said Lee Gwang-rae who heads the Incheon Medical Association. In the survey conducted last year by the KMA targeting its 1,159 members, 41.2 percent said the government should increase medical fees to support the essential medical fields, followed by 28.8 percent calling for reducing doctors' legal responsibility for medical errors. But critics including a patients' group are reacting against the move, saying medical malpractice is already difficult to prove, even in a court of law. Nam Eun-kyung, a senior official from the local civic group Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, said the high salaries given to doctors require a commensurate amount of responsibility. "In many cases, medical accidents occur not because of individuals, but because of systems. Hospitals' hesitation to use money to deploy personnel or equipment properly causes accidents," Nam said. "These systems should be improved first." The Korea Alliance of Patients Organization has also raised its concerns over the move, calling for the government to stop discussing the special law and push for another law obliging doctors to offer explanations for medical accidents they are involved in and shifting the burden of proof to them. A nurse anesthetist testified June 7 in a case against his former co-worker, a plastic surgeon who is facing charges of reckless manslaughter in connection to a patient's death in 2020, FOX affiliate KDVR reported. Rex Meeker, who has since surrendered his license, worked alongside Geoffrey Kim, MD, a plastic surgeon, for 10 years as an independent contractor. In August of 2019, a 19-year-old patient lost consciousness after receiving anesthesia for a procedure at Dr. Kim's outpatient surgery center. The patient slipped into a coma that lasted for 14 months and died in October of 2020. According to court proceedings cited by KDVR, Dr. Kim is accused of directing his staff not to call 911 for more than five hours after the patient lost consciousness. He is charged with reckless manslaughter, negligent homicide and obstructing telephone services. Mr. Meeker, who administered anesthesia to the patient, testified June 7 that he witnessed Dr. Kim perform CPR and resuscitate the patient's heartbeat and that the surgeon ordered his staff not to call 911. Five hours later, Dr. Kim agreed to have the nurse anesthetist call 911. Mr. Meeker originally faced charges in the patient's death. Those charges have since been dismissed, though he agreed to surrender his license in December 2021 after the state nursing board determined he had a duty to call emergency services despite any orders from the surgeon. Dr. Kim's attorney claims the sedatives administered by Mr. Meeker, not the delay, are what ultimately led to the patient's death. The trial is expected to last into the week of June 12. Lawyers fear a rogue breast surgeon who grew up in Northern Ireland also conducted unnecessary operations including gallbladder and appendix removals. The Sunday Times has reported that Bangor-educated Ian Paterson performed organ removals. The 63-year-old is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence for carrying out needless, life-changing operations on women whom he wrongly told had cancer and using dangerous techniques on those who did have the disease. The private hospitals where Paterson worked have been recalling thousands of his patients. According to The Sunday Times, hundreds of new victims have now been identified. Of more than 300 cases found since 2021, at least 100 were having treatment for conditions other than breast surgery. Two hundred cases have been settled, with 100 still being examined by lawyers and Spire Healthcare, the private hospital group, which has set aside almost 50 million to cover the costs. Speaking to The Sunday Times Linda Millband, from Thompsons Solicitors, who has represented hundreds of Patersons patients in legal claims, said: It is clear the Paterson scandal is far from over. Since the inquiry we have seen cases including appendectomies, varicose veins, hernias. All of them unnecessary, he would basically do anything that was available, it seems. Most of the cases weve got are unnecessary lumpectomies to remove tissue on people who didnt have any cancerous tissue at all. Some patients were put through multiple surgeries, he preyed on the most vulnerable. Paterson was born in Scotland but his parents moved to Bangor, Co Down when he was a child and he was educated at Connor House prep school before going to the local grammar. He was convicted at Nottingham Crown Court in 2017 of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding. He had carried out invasive and unnecessary surgery on both men and women between 1991 and 2012. A large proportion of these surgeries were on women with suspected breast cancer. He also carried out unnecessary surgeries such as colonoscopies, vascular surgeries, hernia surgeries and vasectomies. An inquiry found he carried out unnecessary operations in NHS and private hospitals on more than 1,000 patients over 14 years, exaggerating or inventing cancer risks and claiming payments for more expensive procedures. The Sunday Times reported in April that the deaths of hundreds of Patersons breast cancer patients were being examined. At a preliminary hearing at Birmingham coroners court on Friday, Richard Foster, a deputy High Court judge, said there were 417 deaths where breast cancer was the cause, and 130 cases where the disease was listed as a contributory factor. Inquests have been opened into 27 cases. Foster, who has been appointed by the Birmingham coroners to lead them, said there would be nine more next month and he expected a further 21 cases to be examined. In each case, he said, medical experts had produced reports that gave rise to suspicion that there had been an unnatural death. He said other cases had been reported to the coroner where a death certificate had not been found. Relatives of any of Patersons patients who had died were urged to come forward to the coroners team. Foster also named two clinicians who worked with Paterson at Spire Healthcare as interested parties, including the plastic surgeon Chien Kat and retired oncologist Dr Talaat Latif. Reports for clinical negligence claims said Paterson put patients through unnecessary chemotherapy for the financial benefit of Latif. The judge said that while inquests were not designed to determine criminal liability, I will not hesitate to refer any evidence of further criminal liability to the director of public prosecutions. Foster said his investigations would look at wider systemic failings that may have contributed to the deaths of patients, including failings in how the surgeon was supervised; whether his clinical colleagues should have been aware of his actions; and failures by hospital managers and regulatory agencies. For the family of Eunice Jones, it offers a chance to learn what happened to the 47-year-old from Knowle, Solihull, who died in 2004. She was diagnosed with breast cancer by Paterson in January 2002 and it spread to her bones just over a year later. The family does not know what went wrong with her care. They were told in September that the coroner would investigate the circumstances of her death and await more information. Her son Matthew, 37, from Walsall, told the Sunday Times: There are life events that Mum hasnt been present for: my sisters graduations, weddings, and having children. He added: We thought Mum had a natural death. Now, all of a sudden we are having to consider the possibility that Mum would still be here today, if it wasnt for Paterson. Thats a very different feeling. Its a feeling of sadness turning to anger. Community Rescue Service volunteers in thick undergrowth near the River Braid in Ballymena during the search for Chloe Mitchell (Pic: Liam McBurney/PA) Police recover a body in the search for missing woman Chloe Mitchell on June 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Detectives have launched a murder investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell following the discovery of "suspected human remains in Ballymena. Ms Mitchell was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre. Murder probe launched after suspected human remains found in Chloe Mitchell case Detective Chief Inspector Richard Millar said: Sadly today detectives have recovered suspected human remains in Ballymena, and while there has been no formal identification, we have now launched a murder enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, who was a high risk missing person. "Earlier this week we launched a criminal investigation into Chloes disappearance. Tragically, we now have reason to believe that Chloe was murdered. Our thoughts this evening are very much with Chloes family and we have specialist officers providing them with support at this heart-breaking time. I would like to thank the community in Ballymena and the Search and Rescue teams for their help in trying to find Chloe. Two men, aged 26 and 34, remain in police custody helping police with their enquiries. Further details will follow in due course. Police forensic officers at a property in James Street, Ballymena, on Sunday night (Liam McBurney/PA) A 26-year-old man arrested in Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Thursday in connection with the police investigation continued to be questioned on Sunday after officers on Saturday secured a 36-hour extension to his detention period. A second man, 34, was detained in the Ballymena area on Saturday. He also remained in custody on Sunday. A flat in the James Street area of Ballymena has been cordoned off and examined by officers, while teams from the volunteer-based Community Rescue Service organisation had been focused on an area of steeply sloped undergrowth between commercial premises and the River Braid on Sunday afternoon. Community Rescue Service volunteers in thick undergrowth near the River Braid in Ballymena during the search for Chloe Mitchell (Pic: Liam McBurney/PA) Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Independent councillor Rodney Quigley said it is terribly sad that it has come to this and a body has now been recovered. He added: Im deeply saddened for the family at this distressing time, and my deepest sympathies are with them. TUV leader Jim Allister said tonights sad news would evoke great sympathy and support for the Mitchell family on their tragic loss. He added: The emergency services and volunteer search and rescue participants, along with many locals from the community, rallied round with great fortitude, but now all must face this sad news. I trust no effort will be spared in bringing to justice and account all who are culpable in this matter. There was a time of community prayer for Chloe and the Mitchell family on Sunday at 8:30pm in Harryville Presbyterian Church Hall on Casement Street. Alliance Party representatives Sian Mulholland MLA and John Hyland were among those attending the service. "I am absolutely gutted to return home from the prayer vigil in Harryville Presbyterian to the news that a body has been found in the search for Chloe Mitchell, Ms Mulholland said. "Its just the worst possible outcome for the family and those who loved her. Ill be keeping them close in my prayers in the coming days. All we can do now is pray for strength and comfort for the family and for those responsible to be brought to justice. Meanwhile, UUP Councillor Colin Crawford earlier said he has been blown away by the dedication and professionalism of the team who have been searching for Chloe. The team have continued throughout the weekend without complaint, remaining focused in their desire to help locate Chloe, he added. I would also like to thank the local community who throughout have been arriving with food and refreshments for the search volunteers. As a local councillor its been extremely humbling to watch the community pull together and play their part in supporting Chloes family. I would continue to appeal to anyone with any information to call police on 101 and quote reference number 2262. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with George, Georgina and Chloes brothers and sisters at this distressing time. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives on 101 and quote reference number 2262 of 05/06/23. Alternatively, you can submit information and/or upload videos, images and dash cam footage onto the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI23S09-PO1. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers.uk.org. The DUP has criticised what it branded blatant sectarianism after an Orange Order march in Enniskillen was subjected to heckling. On Sunday morning, police received a report that a church parade had been subjected to verbal abuse by the driver of a passing vehicle in the Trory area. PSNI Inspector Hughes said: Enquiries are continuing and at this time, this is being treated as a sectarian motivated hate crime." DUP Councillor Keith Elliot said he was saddened to report a disturbing incident which took place this morning during the annual Trory LOL 647 Church Service. This morning following the parade route to St Michaels Parish Church, Trory, the lodge and Trory Accordion Band, which had 10 children on parade, were subjected to blatant sectarianism and chants of Up the Ra and Up the Celts by a car which followed the parade up the lane to the church, he added. Understandably this behaviour was frightening for the children and all involved. This was a blatant act of sectarianism. The PSNI are aware of the incident and are on the look out for the vehicle involved. These actions are in stark contrast to the prayers of the service where the Rev Mark Gallagher prayed for mutual respect for all. We will not let this deter us from celebrating our culture and our worship. His post was shared by DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who added: What about respect peoples identity and culture? Not surprising when a Sinn Fein MP will today attend an event glorifying IRA terrorism. Blatant acts of sectarianism like this are totally ridiculous in 2023. I pay tribute to Trory LOL 647 and those attending the Church Service this morning for the dignified way they conducted themselves in face of a shocking incident instigated by a handful of intolerant individuals. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane has today said that every section of society in Northern Ireland should be allowed to hold remembrance events. Police appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident in Enniskillen to contact them on 101. A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. As killers are hailed as heroes, future generations who might be tempted to visit murder on their neighbours need to consider not only what that would mean for their victims, but for themselves Everyone knows what killing does to the killed, but rarely do we consider what it does to the killer. Many opponents of violence recoil from giving any thought to the impact on perpetrators. But one doesnt need to have sympathy for a murderer to consider the effect on them of crimes that are irreversible. If we thought more about that, the dangerous eulogising of those with bloody hands would be far harder. What propagandists present as heroic is known by many alleged heroes as something squalid. Some of them feel shame, even if those feelings are rarely articulated partly because few of them want to talk, and partly because few of us want to listen. Today, Sinn Fein MP John Finucane will address a commemoration for the IRAs South Armagh brigade, whose members were responsible for the Kingsmill Massacre one of the most explicitly sectarian atrocities of the Troubles. In 1976, the IRA stopped a minibus carrying 11 Protestant workmen, lined them up and riddled them with bullets. One survived. Their lone Catholic workmate was told to flee. Sinn Fein members eulogising IRA killers is hardly new, but some people have been surprised at John Finucanes role in the South Armagh event because of his back story. The son of solicitor Pat Finucane, John was just nine when UDA gunmen burst into his home and shot his father dead in front of his family while they were eating Sunday dinner. If anyone knows the grotesque face of terrorism, it is John Finucane. But do all these people who will be spoken of today actually want to be commemorated? The brilliant BBC series Once Upon A Time in Northern Ireland featured multiple reflections on the Troubles, from loyalists, republicans, soldiers, police, victims and those who clung on to normality in an acutely abnormal society. Surprisingly, some of the most powerfully raw testimony in the series came from the former paramilitaries. James Greer joined the UDA at 17. Speaking matter-of-factly, he recalls becoming addicted to violence: I never questioned orders to kill. Thats what I signed up for. You got an adrenaline rush from it. Five days after his 19th birthday, he was asked to plant a bomb. It exploded prematurely, severing the arm of his accomplice, but he survived. He was jailed. James Greer His epiphany came when a fellow inmate told him what he had done. The man had been sent to kill a shopkeeper, and did so. Seconds later, the door opened and the mans wife walked in. He shot her dead too. He turned to leave, but in walked the couples eight-year-old daughter, so he fired another 10 or 12 shots. Greer said the tale opened his eyes. I cant do it. I didnt sign up for this. When asked what sectarianism did to him, he says: Well, ultimately it destroyed my life. He did things for which he cant forgive himself, Greer said. Hes still alive. Other paramilitaries have ended their own lives, unable to live with the shame of their actions. For others, it destroyed their relationships. Ricky ORawe was in the IRA before meeting and falling in love with Bernadette in 1975. She was soon pregnant and the couple got married. I was known as a gunman and I liked it, he says. But his wife didnt. She urged him to give up his IRA activities for her and their child. He said he would but didnt. He was caught robbing a bank and jailed for eight years. This was exactly what I didnt want, says Bernadette. Now I was going to be a prisoners wife, now I was going to be a single mother. This was a broken dream that turned into a nightmare, and I was very, very angry with Ricky. She hated going to see him in prison, but I was told what to do, as though they [the IRA] owned me. It was awful. Truly awful, ORawe says. And I felt like an absolute bastard. I let her down badly. When he left jail, Bernadette told him to choose: either the republican movement or his wife and daughter. So I left the movement. I think I put her through hell. I regret that. Looking back now on Bloody Friday when the IRA set off 19 bombs in Belfast in little over an hour, leaving firemen to sweep body parts into bags he says: You couldnt justify it. It was awful, f**king awful all those poor people getting blown up. It was f**king not just awful, it was embarrassing. This narrative is far removed from the glorification of such people by loyalists and republicans today. In fact, many paramilitaries are haunted by what they did. They were often impressionable teenagers made to believe sectarian murder was heroic. Telling their stories is crucial to tell new generations that what might seem glamorous and exciting can end not just the lives of innocents, but can also destroy those of the gunmen and bombers. ORawe fell out with Sinn Fein years ago, and is one of a handful of republicans to speak candidly in ways that undermine its propaganda. Far more surprising last week was the story of Sinn Fein councillor Sean McGlinchy who was jailed for bombing Coleraine in 1973, killing six people. He told how last year a man who survived the attack, David Gilmour, rang a Sinn Fein office and asked him to make contact. Gilmour was dying in hospital and McGlinchey went to his bedside. They had a very private and very moving conversation for over an hour. McGlinchey, who joined the IRA as a teenager, said his innocent victim was a braver man than me for having sought him out before his death. Sinn Fein councillor and convicted IRA bomber Sean McGlinchey Future generations who might be tempted to visit murder on their neighbours need to consider not only what that would mean for their victims, but for themselves. This article was amended on 12 June 2023 to clarify that Sean McGlincheys comments were not made as part of the Once Upon A Time In Northern Ireland series, as originally stated. It's expected to stay hot and humid in the coming days (Pic: PA) High temperatures will continue in the coming days, despite a yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office. In the week ahead, highs of 27C can be expected in Northern Ireland. However, high temperatures are likely to be interspersed with thundery showers and a muggy atmosphere. The Met Office issued its yellow weather warning on Sunday, and said it would come into effect on Monday. It said thunderstorms are likely to develop over parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland from early Monday afternoon. The Met Office has said not all of the region will see the storms, with western counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry most likely to be affected. Monday will bring a mostly dry start, but misty and murky in places first thing. It will then clear to warm sunshine with further thundery showers developing in the afternoon. The showers will be slow moving, with the potential for large rainfall amounts in a short period of time. Frequent lightning is also likely to be a hazard along with hail, forecasters said. The Met Office said to expect some disruption, which could include spray and sudden flooding. This could affect driving conditions and may lead to some road closures. There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost. Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services. There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads. A Met Office spokesperson said: Twenty-30 millimetres of rain may fall in an hour or less in a few spots, with perhaps 40-50 millimetres possible if successive showers affect the same location. Frequent lightning is also likely to be a hazard, along with hail. Staying warm and rather humid, temperatures reaching highs of around 25C in Belfast but a local 26C or 27C is possible. Overnight, it will remain warm and humid so perhaps feeling uncomfortable at times, the Met Office spokesperson added. Showers will generally ease overnight on Monday, but further showers are expected on Tuesday. These are expected mostly in the afternoon, where they could be heavy and thundery once again. The Met Office spokesperson said: Some low cloud could be visible early in the morning, perhaps turning misty and murky at times. This should clear quickly through the morning, leaving another warm day with plenty of sunshine in between the showers. It will be another warm day with highs in Belfast once again of 26C, with a localised 27C (maybe 28C) possible in some western counties. The weather should largely be more settled by the end of the week, though further thundery showers cant be ruled out. It will stay very warm and humid during the days and nights. Police have said high-risk missing person, 59-year-old Stephen Moore, has been located. There were concerns after he was last seen in the Minnowburn Drive area of south Belfast at around 1.15pm on Friday. Portrush RNLI has rescued three people from a broken down boat off the coast of Ballycastle in the early hours of Sunday. The lifeboat was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard, who reported that a small motor cruiser had broken down at 1.26am. Johnny Weston, Deputy Coxswain at Portrush RNLI said it was the third time the all-weather lifeboat had been launched in 24 hours. The lifeboat launched at 1.46am and arrived on scene at 3am. On the rescue, he said: Because of the size of the motor cruiser, we had to make sure it was a sure steady tow back to Ballycastle Harbour, but it was a beautiful morning and sea conditions were good. The crew of the small boat did the right thing in alerting the Coastguard especially as the tide had started to pull them Eastwards, he added. This was the third launch for our all-weather within a 24-hour period. By the time the lifeboat and the volunteer crew had located the small boat, the tide had pulled her east and they she was in line between Rue Point (Rathlin Island) and Torr Head. Once on scene, the crew risk assessed the situation and a decision was made to attach a towline to the boat and the crew started a slow tow to Ballycastle Harbour. The crew left Ballycastle Harbour at 3.40am and arrived home at 4.40am. After refuelling the lifeboat was back on her moorings at 4.55am, and the crew headed home for an early breakfast. Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming, left, speaks with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, before their dinner meeting at the envoy's residence in Seoul, June 8. Yonhap China called in Korean Ambassador Chung Jae-ho and lodged a complaint, Beijing's foreign ministry said Sunday, in a tit-for-tat after the Chinese ambassador to Seoul was summoned over remarks warning Seoul against betting against China. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong met with the Korean envoy on Saturday and expressed serious concerns and a complaint over what it called an unfair response that Korea showed about a meeting between Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. Xing said during Thursday's meeting with Lee, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, that it is a wrong bet to believe that China will lose in the rivalry with the United States. He also warned that "those betting on China's defeat will certainly regret it later." On Friday, Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin called in Xing and "sternly warned" against the envoy's "unreasonable and provocative" remarks. Chang also warned Xing's remarks could be seen as interference of Korea's domestic politics. During Saturday's meeting, the Chinese assistant minister explained Beijing's stance on relations with Korea and said it is part of Xing's duties to meet with people from various circles of the host nation with the purpose of promoting understanding and facilitating cooperation. The Chinese official also asked Korea to reflect on where the problem lies in relations between the two countries, respect the spirit of the joint statement adopted when the two countries established diplomatic relations, and work with China for a healthy and stable development of relations, according to the ministry. (Yonhap) Sinn Fein MP John Finucane insisted the right to commemorate the dead must apply to every section of society as he addressed a controversial IRA memorial event in Co Armagh (PA) Sinn Fein MP John Finucane has said that every section of society in Northern Ireland deserves the right to hold remembrance events without prejudice as he addressed a controversial IRA memorial event in Co Armagh. Mr Finucane has come in for criticism from other political parties and victims groups in the lead-up to the commemorative event. Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of whipping up a controversy to distract from the party's role in the ongoing political impasse at Stormont. He is the main speaker at the event this afternoon to remember the South Armagh Volunteers at Mullaghbawn community centre. The IRAs South Armagh Brigade was responsible for the deaths of more than 200 civilians and members of the security forces during the Troubles. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane insisted the right to commemorate the dead must apply to every section of society as he addressed a controversial IRA memorial event in Co Armagh (PA) Addressing the crowd, the Sinn Fein MP said remembrance is a time of mixed emotions for us all and raises feelings of sadness and loss as well as pride and joy at the lives that were lived and lost. He said it is a right that should apply without prejudice to every section of the society which we now live in today. Mr Finucane reflected on his own personal family tragedy where, at the age of eight, two loyalist gunmen burst into his family kitchen and shot his father 14 times, and his mother once, in front of John and his brother and sister. That loss, and the brutality of it, is something that will never leave him, just as such loss will never leave anyone who ever experienced such a thing, he said. He told those gathered: You will know that what followed for us as a family was a campaign for truth and justice. "And over the subsequent decades we uncovered that the loyalist gunmen who entered my home, did so as part of a system alongside the police, the British army, MI5, and along with political cover and sanction, resulted in the deaths of so many, too many, for an incredibly long and sustained period of time. Throughout our campaign for truth and justice, I have been clear, repeatedly, that truth and justice is something which every person who has been impacted by our conflict deserves, and is entitled to, irrespective of whether those that inflicted the harm were loyalists, the British state or republicans. "I have been consistent in this view whether it be personally as a campaigner, professionally as a lawyer, or politically as the MP for north Belfast. And I would like to expand on that belief for today. For just as truth and justice applies equally to everyone, so too does the right to remember, and the right to commemorate. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane speaking at a controversial IRA memorial event in Co Armagh. Credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire He continued: "Those commemorations take place right across our society and are regularly attended by civic and political representatives. "And I will defend, without hesitation, their right to do so. There is nothing to celebrate in conflict or in our difficult and painful past, but to commemorate those we have loved and lost is a right which everyone, including every single one of us gathered here today, is entitled to, and we do so with dignity and with pride. "And while there are very different and often conflicting perspectives of the causes of conflict, conflict is thankfully now a thing of the past. "So today we remember with pride the many Irish republicans who gave or lost their lives, with deep sympathy for their grieving families and also respectful of all those who continue to suffer the grief and trauma of conflict. "As I was eight years old in 1989, I was 18 years old in 1998, voting for the first time in my life for the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement provided a peaceful and democratic pathway to constitutional change and created institutions, inclusive of all communities. "It addressed the many causes and effects of conflict and allowed us all to consign conflict to the past and to move forward. While there is still work to be done, particularly in relation to legacy issues, the last 25 years of relative peace is a truly remarkable achievement." In a weekend message to party members, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated his criticism of Mr Finucane. "Challenging Sinn Fein's attempts to rewrite history is not about being stuck in the past, rather it is about respecting the sons, daughters, mothers and fathers who were cruelly murdered by balaclava wearing IRA terrorists," he wrote. "I will use every fibre of my body to stop Northern Ireland ever being gripped by the terrorism of the 1970s, 80s and 90s but part of that is honestly reflecting the barbarity of taking 12 innocent workmen from a van in (Kingsmills) South Armagh. "The one Catholic was told to run away and the remaining 11 Protestants were lined up and shot with only one surviving to tell the story. "That is the truth about the Provisional IRA in South Armagh. "I am mindful that those listed on the 'South Armagh Roll of Honour' have family who grieve. They have the right to remember, as do we all. This is not the problem, but rewriting history or eulogising terrorism most certainly is. Celebrating anyone's membership of the IRA or any other terror group is wrong. Violence or the threat of violence has no place in politics." Sir Jeffrey added: "We challenge this narrative of the past because failure to do so will aid some misled young people to think violence in some cases is honourable and justifiable. "The Sinn Fein leadership have a responsibility to honestly address the role of violence in Irish politics. Unless this fundamental is tackled, there will always be a mindset which believes if their objective is not being advanced electorally or politically, then violence must be the only path to progress." Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood said she is disappointed Mr Finucane addressed the IRA commemoration and called on the Sinn Fein MP to rethink his actions. It is disappointing John Finucane went ahead with addressing this event, she said. Everyone in our society has a right to remember their dead in a respectful manner, no matter who they are and who they were a victim of. However, there is a difference between remembering and paying tribute to individuals, and commemorating terrorist organisations, including the IRA and its South Armagh brigade, particularly without reference to its many victims. Whether it is commemorations to terrorists or the display of flags and emblems of illegal terrorist organisations, we must strive for a society based on the rule of law and avoid one where the use of violence, whether in the past or present, is legitimised or normalised. There was always an alternative to terrorist violence here, which was demonstrated by the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland not engaging in it. That makes events that go beyond commemoration and instead glorify terrorism all the more galling, and even more hurtful for victims. Almost a months rain could fall over parts of the UK in the next 12 hours but the country will still be hotter than Monaco. New weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for thunderstorms and rain on Sunday and Monday. The mercury hit 32C at Kew Gardens in south-west London on Sunday and much of the UK was hotter than Monaco and the French riviera where temperatures languished in the low 20s. (PA Graphics) However, temperatures fell just short of this years record high of 32.2C which was reached on Saturday. A total of 28.6mm of rain fell in Charlwood, Surrey, on Sunday afternoon, which is almost half the average for the whole month of June. (PA Graphics) Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: One or two spots have had quite significant rainfall in a short period. On Monday, were expecting a fine and hot start, temperatures rising fairly quickly during the course of the morning under strong early summer sunshine and thats likely to spark a few thundery showers. Parts of Wales and England will see 30mm of rain in an hour, 60 to 80mm in some spots. A person makes their way through the rain along Boscombe Pier in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA) North parts of Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland and the Highlands could see 20 to 30mm of rain in an hour during the thunderstorms, and 40 to 50mm in some spots. Potentially we are looking at a months worth of rain falling. The highest temperatures will be around Birmingham and in Wales. It will widely be 24C to 28C on Monday, with some spots sitting at the 30C to 32C mark. It will be warmer than Monaco, where it has hit 24.7C on Sunday and is expected to be 22 to 24C on Monday. A yellow thunderstorm warning is in place until 9pm on Sunday covering most of England, Wales and Scotland. A yellow warning for rain has been released covering southern parts of England and Wales from 7pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday. Four yellow thunderstorm warnings are in place from 12pm to 9pm on Monday and cover parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of southern England and the Midlands and most of Wales. The warnings mean thunderstorms and rain may bring disruption with potential flooding and difficult driving conditions, the Met Office says on its website. Slightly cooler temperatures are on the way from Tuesday onwards, with Thursday and Friday in the mid-high 20s, the forecaster added. People relaxing in deckchairs at St Jamess Park in central London (Jeff Moore/PA) Mr Stroud said: We are likely to see the hot weather continue although high pressure is starting to build in. Thats going to kill off the showers and moving into next week the temperature will dip slightly to the mid to high 20s. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber alert for hot weather until 9am on Tuesday in the West Midlands, East Midlands, east of England, South East and South West. A further yellow alert, which is less serious and says there may be some disruption to services due to weather conditions, is in place for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions of England, as well as London. Outgoing MP Nigel Adams said he will campaign for his replacement in the by-election he triggered (Kirsty OConnor/PA) A Boris Johnson ally who quit the Commons in a reported row over a peerage has insisted that he will do his utmost to help Rishi Sunak win the next general election. Conservative Nigel Adams announced on Saturday that he was stepping down as Selby and Ainsty MP with immediate effect, becoming the third Tory to quit Westminster in the space of 24 hours. In a fuller statement released on Sunday, the ex-minister said he wanted to make clear that he remained committed to the governing party despite following Mr Johnsons lead in announcing his resignation. He said it was essential that the Prime Minister won the next election as he vowed to return a Tory MP in the by-election triggered by his own departure. Mr Adams resignation came only a day after former prime minister Mr Johnson dramatically quit as an MP over complaints about the yet-to-be-published findings of a Commons partygate inquiry. Mr Adams was reportedly one of a number of Tory MPs, including Nadine Dorries and Sir Alok Sharma, who were put forward for a peerage by Mr Johnson in his resignation honours but did not feature in Fridays published list. Downing Street has denied taking any names off the list handed to the Prime Minister. In a post on LinkedIn, Mr Adams said: Further to my announcement to stand down from Parliament with immediate effect, I want to make clear that I remain committed to the Conservative Party and support this Government in its work to continue delivering on the issues that matter most to the British people. There has been a briefing war over Boris Johnsons resignation honours list (Andrew Boyers/PA) I have left Parliament to return to my private sector career but I will continue to make the case for Conservative values. It is essential that the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak win the next election and I will do my utmost to ensure that happens. I am also looking forward to helping our excellent new candidate, Michael Naughton, in the by-election and at the general election. He knows the area and was born in Selby. He has served our country well and I know he will serve our part of North Yorkshire well. The former Foreign Office minister also praised Mr Johnsons premiership, heralding his landslide 2019 election victory and response to both Covid and Russias invasion of Ukraine. He said the Leave campaigner had saved Brexit from attempts to thwart it. Mr Johnsons resignation honours included the appointment of seven new peers to the House of Lords, with Tory Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen among those to be given a seat in the upper chamber. The House of Lords Appointments Commission, which vets peerages, confirmed on Sunday that it did not support eight nominees submitted by Mr Johnson. A spokeswoman told the PA news agency it was a point of principle for the commission that those approved for a Lords appointment cannot be sitting MPs. Ukraines military has reported recapturing a village in the southeast of the country amid Russian claims of repelling multiple attacks in the area. It is the latest indication that a highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive may be underway even as officials in Kyiv stop short of publicly acknowledging it. The 68th Separate Hunting Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces posted a video on Facebook showing soldiers installing a Ukrainian flag on a damaged building in what the post said is the village of Blahodatne in the partially occupied eastern Donetsk region. In a separate social media post, Ukraines Ground Forces confirmed the brigade has retaken Blahodatne. 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 Brigade spokesman Myroslav Semeniuk said an assault team captured six Russian troops after entering several buildings where 60 soldiers were holed up. The enemy keeps shelling us but this wont stop us, he said. The next village we plan to reclaim is Urozhayne. After that, (well proceed) further south. While the recapture of Blahodatne points to a small Ukrainian advance, western and Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly said efforts to expel Russian troops more broadly are expected to take time. Russia has made much of how its troops have held their ground elsewhere. The Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday continued to insist it is repelling Ukrainian attacks in the area. It said in a statement that Ukrainian attempts at offensive operations on the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia axes of the frontline over the past 24 hours have been unsuccessful. Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region, said Blahodatne, along with two other villages in Zaporizhzhia, are in a grey area in terms of who controls them. According to Mr Rogov, the Ukrainian forces briefly seized another village in the neighbouring Donetsk region but were swiftly routed by Russian troops. The situation is developing. Nothing extraordinary is happening, he said in a Telegram post. The Russian military has also accused Ukrainian forces of attacking albeit unsuccessfully one of its ships in the Black Sea. According to a statement by Russias Defence Ministry, the attempted attack took place on Sunday when six unmanned speedboats targeted Russias Priazovye reconnaissance vessel, which was monitoring the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the southeastern part of the Black Sea. 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 All the speedboats were destroyed by the Russian military and the ship did not sustain any damage, the ministry said. The claim could not be independently verified and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. Moscow made a similar allegation last month and said Ukrainian unmanned speedboats targeted another reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea, the Ivan Khurs. Several days later, Ukraines Defence Ministry published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for the Ivan Khurs but did not show the drone hitting the ship. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions were underway against Russian forces. He refused to disclose any details but asked to pass it on to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his top commanders were in a positive mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the frontline. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, hugs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in Kyiv (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP) Mr Zelensky made the remarks at a Kyiv press conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in response to a question about Mr Putins comment a day earlier that Ukraines counteroffensive has started and Ukrainian forces are taking significant losses. Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive is underway, though some western analysts said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggested it is. Also on Sunday, Mr Zelenskys top adviser said Moscows troops opened fire at a boat evacuating people from Russian-occupied areas to Ukrainian-held territory along a flooded frontline far to the south. The battlefield showdown in the southeast and chaotic scenes from inundated southern Ukraine marks the latest upheaval and bloodshed in Russias war in Ukraine, which is in its 16th month. Children stand on top of a burned out Russian tank in St Michaels Square in Kyiv (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP) Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelenskys chief of staff, said the injured were taken to hospital in the southern city of Kherson, on the western bank of the swollen Dnieper River. Three ambulances were seen dropping off injured evacuees at a hospital, with one splattered in blood and taken by stretcher into the emergency department. Many civilians have said Russian authorities in occupied areas were forcing would-be evacuees to present Russian passports before taking them to safety. Since then, many small boats have shuttled from Ukrainian-held areas on the west bank across the river which has been flooded since a dam breach upstream on Tuesday to fetch and ferry over desperate civilians stuck on rooftops, in attics and other islands of dry amid the deluge. 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 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and President Ronald Reagan attend a banquet in March 1983 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/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 then-Prince Charles could potentially have been overlooked to succeed Queen Elizabeth as head of the monarchy. Make-up mogul Brendan McDowell has taken his multimillion-pound beauty brand global by launching BPerfect in India. The self-made business tycoon, from Co Down, jetted off to New Delhi to hammer out a deal with regional distributors after one of his most popular products was faked. While there he got time to soak up Indias rich cultural heritage, as well as making time for a party or two, before heading back to Belfast. Brendan McDowell (left) with business associates in India He told Sunday Life: We managed to get a lot of the culture in while we were there. I didnt realise that the major religion in India is Hindu. Theyre all very spiritual and positive, very happy people who like to party. That was a bit of a surprise that I pleasantly enjoyed. I really loved spending time with the people working with the distributors we met. They took us all to meet their kids and partners and we had some lovely meals. They really looked after us. Everything about the whole journey was very wholesome and spiritual. It was a really nice experience. Ive always wanted to go to the trance festivals they have in Goa on the west coast. The guys realised pretty quickly that I like dance music, so theyve been pitching at me since to come back and go to Goa partying with them. Watch: Ekin-Su has a go at pronouncing Northern Ireland's trickiest place names Brendan decided to fly to India after one of his companys best-selling products, the Carnival make-up palette, was copied by counterfeiters. He continued: The carnival palette is a really bright, vibrant palette which we have been selling for years. It has been trending across India for a while. We actually had someone dupe it, which led to a bit of a nightmare for us, so we got a distributor on board to work with multiple retailers both online and offline (in store). The Indian market has been quite lucrative for us for a number of years, and the distributor was keen for us to work exclusively with them. They brought us over for a big launch party, and we sketched out a roadmap of how we were going to roll things out across the rest of the country. Youre always going to get dupes and fakes these things happen but I think it was a chance to get over there and showcase the authentic product. BPerfect launch in Pretty Cosmo store Were now officially launched in India with them, and we are launching offline with a company called Pretty Cosmo. We have another rollout planned with retailers across the country. The visit was more about rolling the brand out offline we have only been online previously in India that was the main point of the event. Theres a shop over there called Nykaa, which is similar to the French beauty brand Sephora, so were working with them too. Not content with travelling around south Asia to boost his companys profits, Brendan was also recently snapped partying with former Love Island winners Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Saclimenti. The glam pair joined him for the launch of another BPerfect shop on the party island of Ibiza. Ekin-Su (left), Brendan McDowell (middle) and BPerfect staff in Ibiza We had a pop-up store opening there, Brendan said. This is the second year we have done it actually, and we brought Ekin-Su and a few of her collaborators over just to relaunch the store. Davide came along as well and we just had a bit of a good time, so we opened the store and shot some content. It was fun, but I think I did too many nights out. Im getting too old for it. NI stars joy at getting up close to koalas and kangaroos while on tour with Russell Crowe The X Factor star Janet Devlin has realised a childhood dream Down Under by meeting the family of beloved late wildlife expert Steve Irwin and hugging a koala bear. The songstress (28) is currently on tour in Australia with Hollywood megastar Russell Crowe and his band, The Gentlemen Barbers. The talented pair have struck up a friendship while touring, with Crowe helping the Co Tyrone musician tick off bucket-list experiences while in Oz. Among them was a trip to the Irwin familys zoo near Brisbane to meet some of the animals and play a gig, an experience which left Janet full of child-like joy. World-renowned wildlife expert Irwin was killed by a stingray in 2006 while filming in the Great Barrier Reef. The rays barb pierced him through the heart and the footage of the incident is thought to be the only known recording of a stingray causing a human fatality. His family, including widow Terri, son Robert and daughter Bindi, continue his work at their family-owned Australia Zoo in Queensland. Terri Irwin, Robert Irwin and Janet Devlin Im truly the luckiest girl alive, Janet told Sunday Life: Oh my god, it outlived any of my expectations, it was pretty mind-blowing and I didnt even get to see all of the zoo. My guitar player and I went to Kangaroo Heaven beside the Croco-seum, I love the names, to try and get close to a kangaroo. We were feeding them and petting them, it was magical. I never thought Id get that bloody close to a kangaroo. So that was cool. Then we went and did the show which was insane, luckily I didnt know that the Irwins were watching, otherwise I would have been so nervous. They were great, I met them just before I went on. Russell called them over to introduce me and I was a bit stunned. Terri (Steves widow) said she knew I wanted to meet someone and later in the day she introduced me to this koala and I thought I was going to pee my pants. I just couldnt believe it. That was after the gig and we were on a time constraint because theyre only awake for a certain amount of time each day. I was freaking out because God bless Russell he was greeting fans and taking selfies while I was like Come on Russell please I dont want to miss the koala. I got to hold two of them and it was unbelievable. When I posted them online my followers kept saying its the happiest theyd ever seen me. Thats all it takes I guess. Janet Devlin with a koala bear at the Irwin family zoo in Australia While touring with the Gladiator actor Janet, from the village of Gortin, near Omagh, has been sampling many of Australias exotic wonders including horse-riding in the outback. After watching the Irwin family in action she was full of praise for their efforts to continue Steves legacy. She continued: The inner child in me is just absolutely overwhelmed with how amazing it was. I genuinely dont have words for how much gratitude I have. I will admit I did get a bit teary-eyed a few times. Be it from the memories of Steve or just how surreal the entire day was. The Irwin family are a blessing to the world and everything they do for it. I was a big fan of Steve as a child, I used to watch his show every day it was on me and my friends were so obsessed with it like most kids my age were. I posted about being here on my Facebook and so many people said how it reminded them of their childhoods so I must have been the right age at the right time for that show, it was huge. When we got to the zoo there were these big billboard cut-outs of Steve and I started getting teary-eyed and when I looked across at my guitarist he was the same. We got to see Rob put on the performance with the crocs and do his thing with the whole family which is super rare to have Terri, Rob and Bindi all there at once. It was a massive honour to watch them do what they do best, it was so surreal because Rob is so much like his father in all the best ways." Steve Irwin poses at Australia Zoo on August 6, 2003 They are genuinely so lovely and kind, they thanked me for performing but the pleasure was mine. What a guy and what a sad end for Steve but I was talking to Terri and Rob about it and they both told me hes not gone because his spirit lives on in the zoo. Im quite a spiritual person and I understand not everyone is, but you do feel his energy in that zoo its so true. Anyone who is travelling to Australia has to make their way out there, even though its a bit of a trek to get to, its worth every penny to get there. I would like to thank them so much for everything, not to mention Russell for making it all happen and for believing in me enough to take me on this tour. Ill cherish these memories forever. Janet Devlin in Australia with Oscar winner Russell Crowe Janet, who represented Ireland at Eurovision in 2019 and placed fifth in X-Factor in 2011, has been touring Australia with Russell Crowe for months but is due to return to Ireland tomorrow. She added: I leave tomorrow but the tour is heading off to Europe and theyre going to do a few shows out there which Im sure will be great. I played the Sydney Opera House on Friday so that was amazing, another bucket list item confirmed. Ive had such a great time. Professor and therapist paddleboarding 95km along Scotlands Caledonian Canal Two women who developed a close friendship out of tragic loss will push themselves to the limit this week by paddleboarding 95km along Scotlands Caledonian Canal. Tanya McCance (55), from Comber, a professor of nursing research and development at Ulster University, and funeral celebrant and bereavement therapist Rachel Smith (49), from Belfast, are raising funds for Marie Curie on their six-day adventure. Its a slightly insane thing to do, with a little wild camping thrown in too, but we are up for it and cant wait, Rachael said before setting off yesterday. The friends have already raised more than 1,000 for the trip, in which they will take on formidable open waters at Loch Ness and Loch Lochy in what is renowned as one of the wildest and most spectacular parts of the UK. The story of their friendship started 12 years ago when Tanya and her husband, Neil, heard about the amazing work Rachel did. Neil had been diagnosed with kidney cancer, and his future was uncertain. Rachel, a specialist in communication with children and families, met Tanya when she was working for a cancer charity. As a nurse and researcher, Tanya was determined to do the best for her children, Mark and Melissa. Conversations began, and Rachel supported Tanya, Neil and their two kids to navigate the highs and lows of diagnosis, treatment and end-of-life care. Neil died aged 46 on January 5, 2014, by which time the two women had become firm friends. Rachel and Tanya are raising much-needed funds for Marie Curie Tanya, whose research work centres on helping nursing colleagues to provide end-of-life support for parents losing children to cancer, said: I had been aware of Rachel through my work with a cancer charity at the time. Neil and I wanted to be able to tell the children the truth about what was happening, but we werent sure how to keep them informed without filling them with anxiety. Rachel was a big comfort blanket, offering a warm, supportive space to talk about the things that really mattered. She was there for us through every bump in the road for two-and-a-half years. Because we both worked in a similar field, our paths kept crossing, and then our friendship naturally developed. Now we are just two women who have become great friends through adversity, and we hope this challenge helps us to inspire other women to get out there and do something. Tanya and Rachel took up paddleboarding a couple of years ago, and while they have been practising in the run-up to their challenge, they dont really know what to expect. Rachel said: Staying afloat on the loughs of Scotland will be an exciting new adventure for us. It will no doubt be a physical and mental challenge, but also a trip to appreciate the joy of life. I think we can do it, but if it rains solidly its going to be hard. They are aiming to cover 26.8km in one go in what will be their longest day on the water. While end-of-life care is a cause close to both their hearts, it is especially important to Tanya, who recently took up a position on Marie Curies Northern Ireland advisory board. She said: When you are doing end-of-life work, it is with people whose time is running out. You realise life is short. We just both want to be out there as friends doing something together to help. Im 55, and while my mind wants to do this, I just hope my body sticks it. Rachel added: We both have a high level of trauma in our jobs, and doing this will be about a different kind of stress. [We will be] leaving the devices at home and getting out into nature. We laugh a lot and I am sure we will fall into the water a lot, but we cant wait. Hopefully people will get behind us and support Marie Curie. To donate, search for Rachel and Tanya, staying afloat fundraiser for Marie Curie on justgiving.com Sinn Fein North Belfast MP to defy critics and press ahead with speech on Sunday Sinn Fein MP John Finucane will speak at an IRA commemoration today despite more than a week of calls for him to pull out. Mr Finucane is billed as the main speaker at the event this afternoon to remember the South Armagh Volunteers at Mullaghbawn community centre. Troubles victims, unionist politicians and the Irish foreign minister have appealed to the North Belfast MP to withdraw from the commemoration, saying it is celebrating terrorism. In response, Sinn Fein said everyone had the right to remember their dead with dignity and respect. The IRAs South Armagh Brigade was responsible for the deaths of more than 200 civilians and members of the security forces during the Troubles. Read more Terrorism also destroyed the lives of many killers who feel shame at their actions Mr Finucanes father, the high-profile solicitor Pat, was shot dead by UDA gunmen at the family home in north Belfast in 1989. The commemoration will take place the day before the 50th anniversary of an IRA bomb in Coleraine in 1973 which killed six Protestants. An advert for the event featuring John Finucane Lesley Magee, who lost her grandmother, Nan Davis, in the blast, described the event as a disgrace. I dont think we should be commemorating terrorism on any level, whether it be Protestant or whether it be Catholic. I have equal animosity towards both, she told the BBC. I have no issue with anyones religion, whether it be Protestant, Catholic, Judaism, whatever, I dont care. I mean what did that bomb in Coleraine achieve by killing six pensioners? What did it achieve, other than it robbed families of their loved ones? North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett, whose brother Gavin was shot dead by the UDA in 2001, also condemned Mr Finucanes attendance at the event. John has suffered directly at the hands of terrorist gunmen through the murder of his father, he said. I can identify with the pain he has suffered, and in doing so recognise the pain that other victims will feel through his attendance at such an event, not least those who suffered at the hands of the Provisional IRA in south Armagh. Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin accused Mr Finucane of trying to ride two horses in calling for the investigation of alleged crimes by the security forces during the Troubles while speaking at an IRA commemoration. Heinous crimes were carried out right across Northern Ireland by the Provisional IRA which were not justifiable and which did a lot of harm to many victims, he said. Mr Martin added that Sinn Fein needed to ask themselves some hard questions in respect of legacy. NIs Mr Showbiz to give evidence at Harry phone hacking trial Celebrity journalist to testify on behalf of former employers at the Mirror Group Paul Martin John Toner Sun 11 Jun 2023 at 08:00 gettyimagesbank By Jung Min-ho The National Intelligence Service (NIS), Korea's spy agency, is working on creating security rules for how to use ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots amid growing concerns over the new technology. According to the NIS on Sunday, it plans to release its guidelines to government departments and agencies later this month. It said it started the project in April in cooperation with experts in the field to take advantage of AI technology while minimizing possible complications. The leakage of personal or work-related information as well as the creation of realistic "fake news" are among the biggest concerns about the technology, which has proven to be useful in many areas despite some flaws and limitations. With AI reshaping the tech landscape, there has been a mix of expectations and worries about how much impact it will have on people in daily life. "Developing security regulations is as important as developing the technology itself," Kwon Tae-kyoung, a Yonsei University scholar who participated in the project, said in a statement. "AI technology should be used on the basis of security policies." The intelligence agency said the upcoming guidelines will continue to be updated to protect the national interest against the capabilities AI technology offers to everyone including those with ill intentions. So far, several countries have banned the use of ChatGPT, including Russia, China and Cuba. Italy became the first Western country to join them in March over privacy concerns. But it later lifted the ban after chatbot operator OpenAI implemented changes to satisfy Italian regulators. 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. This photo shows the view toward Woods Pond Dam from the footbridge over the Housatonic River. Two environmental groups have sued to invalidate a mediated plan to deposit PCB-tainted soil removed from the Housatonic River in a proposed landfill nearby in Lee. A company is proposing to remove the PCBs without the need for dredging. It may seem odd to spend an article discussing the women who followed Jesus during his ministry. However, readers must keep in mind ancient texts seldom spent a great deal of time mentioning females. When they did, they often did so in derogatory terms: The Greek poet Hesiod warned against women, claiming a flattering woman just wants a man simply for his possessions (Theogony of Work and Days). Aristotle viewed women as inferior to men when it came to leadership (Politics). Statesman and orator Pericles said, A womans reputation is highest when men say little about her, whether it be good or evil. (Hipponax). Readers can find a sampling of other statements said about women in ancient times here. In a court of law, a womens testimony would not have held up back then, and so the women first witnessing the resurrection would have made the story far less credible to the contemporary of that time. Ancient views of women aside, the Gospels appear to spend a great deal of time on women, opposed to their textual counterparts. Who were these women who followed Jesus? What can we know about them individually? And what can we learn from them? Mary Magdalene Jesus exorcises seven demons from Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:1-3), and she follows Him after He heals her. Seven, whether symbolic or literal, meant a great many in ancient texts. This proved Jesus power over the forces of darkness and His ability to save us from even the most dire of circumstances. Some readers mistake Mary for the prostitute who washed Jesus feet (Luke 7:36-50), but no biblical support equates the two. Mary witnessed Jesus death, and was the first of the women to see the resurrected Jesus (John 20:11-18). When all the disciples except for John had fled during Jesus trial and execution, she stood by to comfort him. Lessons learned from Mary: No one is ever too far gone from salvation. If Jesus could free Mary from seven demons, and she, in turn, could become one of His most loyal followers, then He can transform us. Mary the Mother of James and Joses, and Salome The first, Mary, was the mother of one of Jesus disciples: James (Matthew 27:55-61). She provided for Jesus ministry via financial means, and two of her sons seemed to follow from Galilee to Jerusalem alongside her. She witnessed Jesus death and, likely, His resurrection (Mark 16:8). Salome, the mother of the other James and John, asked if her sons could receive places of honor in Gods kingdom (Matthew 20:20-21). She also witnessed Jesus death and resurrection, as one of the women at the tomb. Lessons learned from these women: Even when God gives our children places in ministry, that does not mean we have no place in ministry as well. These mothers gave up everything to follow Jesus and provide for His ministry. When their sons fled the cross, they stayed behind and had a chance to be the first witnesses to His miraculous work three days later. Joanna the wife of Chuza, and Susanna A group of women listed in Luke 8:1-3 (including Mary Magdalene) provided for Jesus ministry and needs out of their private means. Although not an anomaly for women to have a job in ancient times, it was rarer. These women, healed by Jesus ministry, decided to give up financial means in order to follow him. Joanna, a wife of an important court official, wouldve had many resources to give and she does so heartily. She also may have had to give up social standing as well, given women were not supposed to socialize with men outside of their family, according to this article. Susanna does not have a noted family member listed by her name, such as Joanna. She gave nevertheless, whether she had great means or little to speak of. Grateful that Jesus has healed her physically and spiritually, she accompanies Him and His disciples in their ministry. Lessons learned from these two: Whether the Lord has blessed us with great means or very little, we ought to give back to reflect the gratitude in our hearts that He has healed us. Many Other Women Although these women go unnamed in the Gospel, they gave up time, talents, and their own livelihoods to follow him. In a time where women could not associate with men from outside their family, they sacrificed social standing, familial strain, and likely a loss of friendships to follow Him. But they did so gladly, and many stood loyal and remained to receive the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4. What Does This Mean for Us? We have no excuse not to give our all to Jesus. Women during His time had little say, and at times, very little means. But they still surrendered everything to Him, especially to express gratitude for His miraculous work in their lives. We may feel as though our time has passed as we watch our children step into ministerial roles, but that didnt stop Mary and Salome. Or we might worry about how our peers will evaluate us or if we do not measure up, in comparison with our believing friends and family. Still, that never stopped Joanna, Susanna, and Mary Magdalene. Photo Credit: Getty Images/People Images In a sharp spotlight on the interplay between national security and individual privacy, newly disclosed documents have unveiled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) entered into a contract with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2018 to develop a project, dubbed Night Fury, designed to analyze and assign risk scores to social media accounts. The Brennan Center for Justice procured these documents through a public records request, and Motherboard was the first to report on them. Project Night Fury aimed at utilizing automation to detect and evaluate social media accounts for connections to terrorism, illegal opioid distribution, but also disinformation campaigns. The DHS document stated, The Contractor shall develop these attributes to create a methodology for developing a ranking, or Risk Score, associated with the identified accounts. Project Night Fury had also planned on incorporating involvement from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to provide cross-mission operational context, according to one of the documents. Experts had warned DHS about the inherent difficulties and biases involved in automated judgment for these matters, citing that characteristics like being pro-terrorist have no concrete definition. Notably, DHS terminated Project Night Fury in 2019. However, it underscores the agencys continued interest in social media as a resource for analysis. This comes in the wake of earlier reports of CBP utilizing an AI-powered tool, Babel X, for analyzing travelers social media at US borders. While Night Furys focus was initially on counter-terrorism, illegal opioid supply chain, transnational crime, and understanding/characterizing/identifying the spread of disinformation by foreign entities, the documents indicate that UABs work was intended to scale to other DHS domains and build next generation capabilities. [Source: activistpost.com] Evidence suggests that the Israelis were ordered to attack the ship as part of a false-flag operation aimed at provoking a U.S. invasion of Egypt that was to result in the overthrow of Gamal Abdel Nasser. The Johnson administration then planned to carry out a nuclear first strike with the aim of clobbering Russia, and securing unfettered global hegemony. On June 8, 1967, Israeli air and naval forceswith covered over insigniafired rockets, torpedoes and napalm on a U.S. spy ship, the USS Liberty, in the Mediterranean Sea, killing 34 Americans and injuring 174 more. A secret congressional hearing revealed that two of the pilots were Americansex-Navy fliers. A survivor stated that the ships deck afterwards looked like the floor of a slaughterhouse, with pieces of flesh, bone, hair, various organs and everything elseheld in place by dried blood. Survivors of Israeli attack on the USS Liberty in June 1967. [Source: wrmea.org] In 2021, the CIA released three one-page information reports from June and October 1967, which quoted sources in Tel Aviv stating: Israels forces knew exactly what flag the LIBERTY was flying and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan personally ordered the attack on the USS Liberty over the objections of senior military officers, one of whom characterized the attack as pure murder. When an Israeli pilot, Ammon Tavni (aka Even Tov), radioed Israeli air command that the USS Liberty was an American naval vessel, he was ordered to attack it, and then arrested for disobeying orders after he refused. Napalm damage to the USS Liberty from Israeli air attack. [Source: wrmea.org] In 2001, it was disclosed that the National Security Agency (NSA) had a plane hovering overheada Navy EC-121 ferretwhose intercepts confirmed the Liberty attack was deliberate. NSA Director Marshall Carter was told by future Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to keep his mouth shut about this. Cyrus Vance [Source: wikipedia.org] Highly suspicious also was a) the fact that the nearby U.S. submarine Amberjack did not signal for help, leaving the Russians to be the first to assist the Liberty survivors, and that b) when the Liberty came to port, the Israelis provided no help or medical aid and earlier machine-gunned three life boats launched by the Libertys captain in an attempt to save the wounded. Prior warning messages from the office of the U.S. Defense attache additionally were misrouted or delayed in convoluted channels through the Pentagons worldwide communications system which normally worked perfectly, and White House records were distorted to cover up the timing of when President Lyndon B. Johnson received notification of the attack. USS Amberjack [Source: reformation.org] Commander David E. Lewis, who was temporarily blinded from torpedo blasts, learned later that Admiral Lawrence Geis, the Sixth Fleets carrier division commander, twice ordered the launching of aircraft to defend the USS Liberty and each time he received orders from the White HouseDefense Secretary Robert S. McNamara specificallyto recall them when they were already in the air. David Lewis [Source: reformation.org] Robert S. McNamara [Source: britannica.com] Ernest Gallo, a USS Liberty survivor and 28-year CIA veteran specializing in electronics, told CovertAction Magazine that, when Geis challenged one of McNamaras orders, President Johnson came on the line and stated I dont care if the ship sinks; I wont have my ally [Israel] embarrassed. Ernest Gallo aboard the USS Liberty. [Source: aljazeera.com] [Source: covertactionmagazine.com] Repeat of the Tonkin Gulf Fabrication The motive for the USS Liberty attack and its cover-up remains the subject of speculation and debate reminiscent of the JFK assassination and other deep political events. Many consider the attack as an example of the overwhelming power of the Israeli lobby and how the U.S. fealty toward Israel allows it to literally get away with murder. The most convincing theory, however, is that the attack on the USS Liberty was part of a botched false-flag operation, whose aim was to blame the destruction of the ship on Egypt as a pretext for launching an attack that was designed to overthrow Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, an Arab nationalist considered by the Johnson administration to be a Soviet stooge. Nasser in his moment of triumph after the 1956 Suez crisis. [Source: bbc.com] George Golden, the USS Libertys chief engineer and a Purple Heart recipient, told BBC journalist Peter Hounam they didnt want any survivors. I was told when we got to Maltaand Im not going to mention any namesthat their orders were to sink that ship and kill everyone on it.the crew all feel that McNamara and Johnson were looking for an excuse to jump in and help Israel. George Golden [Source: homeofheroes.com] The denouement of the plan was that, when Russia intervened to defend Egypt, the Johnson administration would launch a preemptive nuclear strike. CIA officer Dick Thompson had in his possession a memoir by a Mossad agent named Frank who reported: With no evidence other than that it had been sunk in view of the shore, it would be assumed that Egyptian warplanes had perpetuated the attack [on the USS Liberty]. This unprovoked attack on an American unarmed ship would legitimate the U.S. entering the [Six-Day] war. Arab oil would become the property of Israel and the USA. The presence of American ships in the area would be accepted and Russia could be clobbered without time for retaliation. China would present no threat, and the USAor the 303 Committee [a top-secret government body that initiated covert operations] could rule the world. Significantly, Jim Nanjo, an Air Force pilot with the Strategic Air Command (SAC), was awakened hours before the USS Liberty attack and told to wait on the runway of Beale Air Force base, north of Sacramento, California, on high alert to drop a thermonuclear bomb. David E. Lewis, who reported on Secretary McNamaras recall of the rescue planes, said: Ive always thought [the sinking of the Liberty] was Johnsons repeat of the Tonkin Gulf fabrication [which provided a pretext for the Americanization of the Vietnam War]. The main difference was that the effects were to be even more far-reachingwith even more casualties than Vietnam. Operation Cyanide Peter Hounam details in his book, Operation Cyanide: Why the Bombing of the USS Liberty Nearly Caused World War III (2003), how close the world came to nuclear conflagration as a result of the USS Liberty attack. According to Hounam, Operation Cyanide was approved by the top-secret 303 Committeean elite top-secret government body founded by the Kennedy administration as the Special Group on Counterinsurgency, that approved clandestine operations. The chair of the 303 Committee was Walt W. Rostow, Johnsons National Security Adviser and a key architect of the Vietnam War. Walt W. Rostow [Source: babelio.com] Fletcher Prouty said that, bypassing normal democratic channels, the 303 Committee was so powerful, they were like the Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court. According to Prouty, there was almost nothing in the world that cannot be done secretly by the might and money of the Government of the United States. According to researcher Philip Nelson, Operation Cyanide was part of a broader plan, called Frontier 615, that called for Israeli provocations toward Egypt, Syria and Jordan to induce broader clashes that would then provoke a military conflict. Fletcher Prouty [Source: soft.net] Deputy Secretary of Defense Cyrus Vance and the 303 Committee were the ones to initiate movement of the USS Liberty to the eastern Mediterranean by way of Rota, Spain, where a CIA officer, Robert Wilson, joined the Libertys ship company. Joan Mellen reports that Operation Cyanide was authorized by President Johnson who signed documents so that he could plausibly deny he had been involved. After the Libertys SOS went out, Admiral William Inman Martin, Commander of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, followed the plan by sending a telling message to the Pentagon through the Morocco station: Liberty under attack by Egyptian forces. Admiral William Inman Martin [Source: soundcloud.com] John Hadden, the CIAs Station Chief in Tel Aviv from 1963 to 1967who had informed Washington the evening of June 7 that the Israelis would attack the USS Liberty if it continued on its coursesaid that he was given orders by Desmond Fitzgerald, the CIA chief of operations, after the USS Liberty attack to tell the chief of Israeli intelligence that we think its OK to go ahead and bomb Cairo. John Hadden [Source: nsarchive.gwu.edu] Admiral Martin, subsequently admitted that he had sent planes off the USS Americaequipped with nuclear weaponswith instructions to bomb Cairo. The Acting Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, David G. Nes, received warning to expect an imminent bombing attack on Cairo by U.S. planes, while Lyndon Johnson slipped and admitted to Alexei Kosygin, Chairman of the Soviet Unions Council of Ministers, to U.S. planes crossing Egyptian territory. The Mossad agent Frank said that it was the 303 Committee that gave orders for the deployment of three strike aircraft to Cairo, which were less than an hourperhaps as little as seven minutes according to Admiral Martinfrom carrying out a nuclear attack if the USS Liberty had been sunk. Frank wrote that all Russian nuclear missiles were primed and pointed, and that the first mushroom in Egypt would be the signal for a Russian mass launch. Achieving a Greater Israel The Israeli army at the time of the Six-Day War was commanded by former members of the Palmach (the elite fighting unit of the Israeli War of Independence) who were eager to complete what was denied them in 1948: to take over the Palestinians remaining territories and, through the power of conquest, realize the true Greater Israel. Menachem Begin [Source: biography.com] In a letter released after his death, Israeli General Moshe Dayan acknowledged that at least 80% of clashes that occurred in the build-up to the Six-Day War were the result of Israeli provocations. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin stated frankly in 1982: In June 1967, we had a choice. The Egyptian army concentrations in the Sinai approaches did not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him. Territorial gains achieved in the Six-Day Warthe West Bank, Gaza, and Golan Heightsproved particularly valuable in solving Israels water problems for the rest of the century. At the end of the Six-Day War, Israeli General Dayan was not prepared to continue to Cairo to unseat Nasseras Israel may have promisedbecause Israel was satisfied with its success. Moshe Dayan [Source: bbc.com] The USS Liberty attack was thus needed as a pretext for the U.S. to be able to finish the job it had been planning since early 1966that is to get rid of Nasser, with nuclear weapons if necessary. USS Liberty arrives at port. [Source: reformation.org] CIA Operation Designed to Get Nasser The U.S. president at the time of the Six-Day War, Lyndon B. Johnson, was a Texan whose political career had been financed by wealthy Texas oilmen. He feared that the Soviet Union would ally with Nasser to take control of the Middle Easts oil reserves. Beloved through the Arab world, Nasser was a pan-Arab socialist who a) preached an anti-colonial message; b) had nationalized the Suez Canal; c) inspired other Arab nationalist leaders like Muammar Qaddafi in Libya and Karim Qassem in Iraq; and d) formed the United Arab Republic (UAR), a loose confederation merging Egypt, Syria and the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen. When President Dwight Eisenhower had commented that he hoped the Nasser problem could be eliminated, Allen Dulles and James J. Angleton of the CIA took that as a signal to begin to concoct plans to overthrow and assassinate Nasser, which the Israelis were plotting as well. Elnur Enveroglu If there is a state or nation in the world that has lost its way and is heading in a direction with no future, it is Armenia and its wretched Armenian people. Of course, the leaders at the head of such a state also play an important role in shaping its image. For example, this type of leader should be chosen to be as hypocritical, and flattering as possible. Let's take Nikol Pashinyan; he is the one, who double-crosses the West, by playing with Moscow in the background, and exhibits his true Armenian character. We should not be disappointed or surprised at all - on the contrary, we are watching a rather entertaining scene. So, let's take a closer look at Nikol... Everyone remembers Pashinyan's statements about Azerbaijan during his previous visits and his acknowledgments about Azerbaijan's territorial integrity very well. But Pashinyan forgets them for some reason or suffers from amnesia. His mechanism of sharp change between the West and Russia seems to completely remove Pashinyan from himself. On the one hand, Pashinyan pretends to be pro-Western and democrat, and on the other hand, he visits Russia and tries to show himself as a sweet boy in front of the Kremlin leadership. If a normal person has one face, Pashinyan has more. Although he calls itself an ally of the West, but he is not. His friendship is only until he gets what he wants. Pashinyan participates in the parade held in the Kremlin Square on May 9. There, he allegedly tries to show his loyalty to Russia and shares his heartfelt words staring at the parade in red square. After that, he attends the European summit in Chisinau, where he flirts and smiles in front of the West. We are talking about Pashinyan's rapid skin change experience. But all that has been said is not to glorify Pashinyan. Of course, such an approach appears to be an act of promoting the Armenian Prime Minister. This is an Armenian tradition and Pashinyan is a follower of this tradition. Adhering to this tradition, Armenia has been utmost hypocritical in front of both the West and Russia for 30 years and has managed to change the processes in its favour. Even during the period of occupation, while the OSCE Minsk Group recognized the territories of Azerbaijan, instead of taking measures against Armenia, they bypassed Yerevan and turned a blind eye to all the injustices. However, after the Azerbaijani Patriotic War, the processes began to change immediately when all silent forces heard the last word of the Independent Azerbaijan. It turned out that not only Armenia is hypocritical and unreliable in this game, but also its allies who closely supported them until Armenian separatist groups were somewhat kicked out of Azerbaijans sovereign territories. Armenia, which is rapidly losing its value against the background of changing processes, is now appearing to be an undesired partner, especially in the West. Because, although the West has turned a blind eye to this to a certain extent, it knows that Armenia is a true hypocrite - it does not reveal it just because it is in its own interest. For example, all of Europe and the USA know that Armenia is illegally selling goods to Russia, ignoring Western sanctions. In this regard, the fact that about 20 Armenian companies are subject to US sanctions is a part of this process. However, Azerbaijan has always been and remains honest and consistent in its words and actions. It has never helped Russia bypass Western sanctions. It often and openly helped Ukraine, both through political statements and by sending humanitarian aid. Its next volume has already been delivered to Ukraine today. This is all that is needed to eliminate the consequences of the flood caused by explosions at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. These are the realities that the West sees. But they do not want to move from words to deeds, punishing Armenia for its numerous tricks. And this behaviour of the West deprived it of the moral right to any words of criticism against our country. A group of Vietnamese suspected of gambling charges is taken to a police car in the southern city of Gwangju, June 11. Among the 23 arrested, 10 of them fled from a police patrol unit station through a window. Yonhap Ten Vietnamese nationals fled a police station in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Sunday during questioning over gambling charges but five of them have been located, officials said. The Gwangju Police Station said officials nabbed one Vietnamese hiding in an undisclosed location in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, by analyzing CCTV footage and witness testimonies. Two suspects who fled to nearby cities have informed police officials of their plan to surrender, while two others showed up at Gwangju Immigration Office later in the day, authorities said. A total of 23 Vietnamese nationals were taken into custody around 3 a.m. while gambling in a house in Gwangju, but 10 of them escaped the Wolgok police patrol unit station while awaiting interrogation. Police discovered the mass escape around 6:40 a.m. They escaped through a tilt window in the station's meeting room, which opens about 20 centimeters for air circulation, according to officials. Police said they are tracking down the whereabouts of the other five escapees. They are believed to have fled out of fear of deportation. (Yonhap) An exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of former US president John F Kennedy's visit to Ireland opened in the Epic, Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin on Wednesday. Homecoming: JFK in Ireland will run until September. Advertisement The exhibition was designed in collaboration with the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Nathan Mannion, head of exhibitions and programmes at Epic, told BreakingNews.ie: "The collaboration helped us to develop the exhibition in terms of gaining access to their research collections, and working with them to develop the direction and focus of the exhibition. We were very lucky to have the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs to contribute towards the funding of the exhibition. "Obviously the presidential library and museum holds a vast collection of archival material, of photographic collections, all of which weve been able to gain access to incorporate into the exhibition." Advertisement Advertisement JFK visiting distant relatives in New Ross, Co Wexford. He added: "In Boston they're dedicated to telling the story of president Kennedy and his family exclusively so his trip to Ireland... while those four days were extremely significant to everybody on this side of the Atlantic... theyre looking at a broader picture as well. "For them 1963 is also the tragic anniversary of his death, so theyll be looking at that part of history as well towards the end of the year. They are coming over to Ireland at the end of June for the anniversary of the visit to run a short programme here, so well be participating in that as well." Mr Mannion pointed to the visit's "core place" in Irish history, adding that some people who were children during the visit will remember seeing Kennedy. While the finer details of the visit will be a focus of the exhibition, Mr Mannion explained that its wider impact for Ireland will also be explored. Advertisement "Were looking at what it meant geopolitically for Ireland as well, Kennedy was the first foreign head of state to address a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas, he was the first serving US president to visit Ireland. In many ways his visit helped to shape the visits of his successors in terms of the format, what they might do, the Irish ancestral connections, public speeches, etc. Advertisement "Theres been many since, leading up to president Biden this year. Theres been a change in Irelands position too. It was right in the middle of the Cold War and post World War Two and around the time of the formation of the UN Ireland wasnt seen to be particularly close to the US because it had remained neutral during that conflict. "His visit helped to kind of thaw relations in that sense. It came at a time of optimism in Ireland as well you were starting to see the rate of emigration come down, you were starting to see economic prosperity on the rise. It was a key moment in Irish history in that sense, it was quite transformational and Kennedys visit helped to shine the light of the global media on Ireland as well." Advertisement JFK greets people in Co Cork during his visit to Ireland. Mr Mannion said the exhibition will be enjoyable for history buffs and those who don't know much about Kennedy's visit. He cited extracts from Kennedy's private secretary as one interesting element. While much was made of the preparation for Joe Biden's recent visit, Mr Mannion said people will be interested in the huge preparation and detail that went into a presidential visit 60 years ago. Advertisement This includes information on Kennedy's visit to Limerick, which was not on the original itinerary. Advertisement "Were looking at things like his death and legacy as well... his ties to Northern Ireland and the participation of Irish cadets at his funeral at the end of 1963 which was considered quite an honour. "There are a lot of different directions the exhibition is going in, but were very happy to have it on display. "We cover the day-to-day of it, the visits to Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Wexford, over the four days. But were taking a broader look, its quite thematic. "Were looking at the cultural and political significance of the visit. Even for people who may be familiar with Kennedy and the visit to Ireland itself, we look at the work behind the scenes from planning the visit, setting up media centres, Secret Service debriefs, getting the presidential car over, plus the broader diplomatic back and forths happening in advance. "Weve got extracts from Kennedys private secretary for example. Even post-visit, who was receiving thank you letters and why, what last-minute things werent going to plan, little changes to the schedule. The entire visit to Limerick wasnt on the original itinerary, it was a last minute decision, so there are lots of little bits around that, but also the broader impact for Ireland, Ireland-US relations, the Kennedys links to Ireland and Irelands link to its Diaspora around the world." Mr Mannion said Epic hopes to bring the exhibition on tour around the US when it finishes in Dublin in September. Homecoming: JFK in Ireland is on display at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum from Wednesday, June 7th until September 2023 Cong might be best known for The Quiet Man but this stunning home in the west of Ireland village which straddles the Mayo and Galway borders is definitely something to shout about. 10 Ashford Pines is a 4-bed detached house which boasts 3,500sq ft of living space, an A2 energy rating and film star looks. Advertisement The location is ideal as it offers proximity to both Cong and Galway city. The newly-built home is located directly opposite the renowned Ashford Castle and is just 11km south of Ballinrobe, with Galway City just 44km away. It is described by selling agents Tuohy OToole as one of the best new homes to ever come to the market in Co Mayo, and it's not hard to see why. Advertisement Ashford Homes is a luxury development which will comprise up to 10 detached homes within a lovely forest setting. There are currently two houses completed with a further three under construction. Each home is accessed via a shared development road and entrance. Advertisement The entire 0.79 acre site has been extensively and professionally landscaped while externally it offers a garage complete with shower and toilets, which has been carefully positioned towards the rear of the site. Advertisement Inside the interiors are sure to wow from the light-filled open plan family kitchen and dining room to the handmade kitchen, which comes complete with all high end appliances. There are solid oak floors in many of the rooms and high quality sanitary ware and light fittings throughout. The property also benefits from a monitored alarm system, while security cameras are installed. The property can also be sold as seen with full contents by separate agreement, making it potentially ready to move into straight away. Positioned on Lough Corrib, the nearby village of Cong offers shops, bars, restaurants and cafes together with schools and a host of local amenities including forest walks, excellent fresh water fishing and stunning countryside. For further details check out the property on MyHome.ie at www.myhome.ie/4709129 or by contact Gerard OToole of selling agents Tuohy OToole on 098 28000. Type: 4 bed detached house 4 bed detached house Agent: Tuohy OToole Tuohy OToole Asking price: 995,000 A Ukrainian army service dog given slim chances of survival after being injured in a rocket attack is embarking on a new career with police in neighbouring Hungary. Shrapnel ravaged the right side of three-year-old German shepherd Rambos head while he accompanied Ukrainian soldiers on the front line of the war in Kharkiv province last year. Advertisement After recovering from emergency surgery that saved his life, he is now training with the Budapest police department and serving as a reminder that dogs and people with disabilities can do great things. Rambo is learning how to interact with children, older adults and disabled people at police demonstrations and rehabilitation institutions, according to Lt Col Maria Stein with the Budapest Metropolitan Police. Demonstrating the tasks performed by canine units is part of the departments crime prevention programme, with a goal of teaching young people to be more tolerant and to respect one anothers differences, Ms Stein said. Advertisement She added: Unfortunately, children mock each other because they wear glasses, because they have braces, because their ears look funny or whatever because theyre different. Advertisement Rambo, pictured with his police handler Gyula Desko, aims to show children that differences do not matter (Bela Szandelszky/AP) With Rambo, we might be able to sensitise these children a little and show them that yes, he is injured, hes different, but he can do the same things as other dogs. Rambos journey to police service did not come easy. Shrapnel from the rocket attack, which also injured some Ukrainian soldiers, blew away pieces of his skull, damaging his jaw and severely mangling his right ear. Advertisement After his initial surgery, Rambo was taken to safety in western Ukraine. Violetta Kovacs, head of a Hungarian organisation dedicated to rescuing German shepherds, soon collected him and brought him to a rehabilitation centre near Budapest. The dog needed immediate help, Ms Kovacs said. We had to operate again here in Hungary because several of his teeth were causing him great pain because of the injury, which required immediate intervention. Rambo spent eight months at the centre, where his jaw was reconstructed, his right ear amputated and several teeth removed. Advertisement Rambo takes part in training to identify a drug sample (Bela Szandelszky/AP) He underwent training to be socialised with other dogs, Ms Kovacs said, but his fondness for children was clear from the start. Advertisement Gyula Desko, a lieutenant colonel with the Budapest Metropolitan Police, then adopted Rambo, providing him with further training and a home. He called Rambo a very friendly, good-natured dog who is making good progress in his training and whose survival is a miracle. Advertisement Mr Desko added: Working with him requires more patience and more attention, as we do not know what kind of mental problems his head injury caused him. But he said Rambo is so open with people and accepts them, despite his injuries and the shock that befell him. It is those qualities, Mr Desko said, that the police force hopes will inspire those who meet Rambo to open themselves to kindness and acceptance. As a police dog, one can see through him that you can live a full life even when injured, and can be a useful member of society and do very diverse things, Mr Desko added. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam was a fast-moving disaster that is swiftly evolving into a long-term environmental catastrophe affecting drinking water, food supplies and ecosystems reaching into the Black Sea. The short-term dangers can be seen from outer space tens of thousands of parcels of flooded land, and more to come. Experts say the long-term consequences will be generational. Advertisement For every flooded home and farm, there are fields upon fields of newly planted grains, fruits and vegetables whose irrigation canals are drying up. Thousands of fish were left gasping on mud flats. Fledgling water birds lost their nests and their food sources. Countless trees and plants were drowned. If water is life, then the draining of the Kakhovka reservoir creates an uncertain future for the region of southern Ukraine that was an arid plain until the damming of the Dnieper River 70 years ago. The Kakhovka Dam was the last in a system of six Soviet-era dams on the river, which flows from Belarus to the Black Sea. Advertisement Then the Dnieper became part of the front line after Russias invasion last year. Advertisement A church surrounded by water in a flooded area of Kherson, Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) All this territory formed its own particular ecosystem, with the reservoir included, said Kateryna Filiuta, an expert in protected habitats for the Ukraine Nature Conservation Group. Ihor Medunov is very much part of that ecosystem. His work as a hunting and fishing guide effectively ended with the start of the war, but he stayed on his little island compound with his four dogs because it seemed safer than the alternative. Still, for months the knowledge that Russian forces controlled the dam downstream worried him. The six dams along the Dnieper were designed to operate in tandem, adjusting to each other as water levels rose and fell from one season to the next. When Russian forces seized the Kakhovka Dam, the whole system fell into neglect. Advertisement Whether deliberately or simply carelessly, the Russian forces allowed water levels to fluctuate uncontrollably. They dropped dangerously low in winter and then rose to historic peaks when snowmelt and spring rains pooled in the reservoir. Until Monday, the waters were lapping into Mr Medunovs living room. Now, with the destruction of the dam, he is watching his livelihood literally ebb away. The waves that stood at his doorstep a week ago are now a muddy walk away. Advertisement A man carries his dog as residents evacuate the flooded streets of Kherson (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Advertisement The water is leaving before our eyes, he told The Associated Press. Everything that was in my house, what we worked for all our lives, its all gone. First it drowned, then, when the water left, it rotted. Since the dams collapse on Tuesday, the rushing waters have uprooted landmines, torn through caches of weapons and ammunition, and carried 150 tons of machine oil to the Black Sea. Entire towns were submerged to the rooflines, and thousands of animals died in a large national park now under Russian occupation. Rainbow-coloured slicks already coat the murky, placid waters around flooded Kherson, the capital of southern Ukraines province of the same name. Abandoned homes reek from rot as cars, first-floor rooms and basements remain submerged. Enormous slicks seen in aerial footage stretch across the river from the citys port and industrial facilities, demonstrating the scale of the Dniepers new pollution problem. Advertisement Ukraines Agriculture Ministry estimated (24,000 acres) of farmland were underwater in the territory of Kherson province controlled by Ukraine, and many times more than that in territory occupied by Russia. Ukrainian servicemen evacuate local residents from their flooded homes after the dam collapsed (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Farmers are already feeling the pain of the disappearing reservoir. Dmytro Neveselyi, mayor of the village of Maryinske, said everyone in the community of 18,000 people will be affected within days. Advertisement Today and tomorrow, well be able to provide the population with drinking water, he said. After that, who knows. The canal that supplied our water reservoir has also stopped flowing. The waters slowly began to recede on Friday, only to reveal the environmental catastrophe looming. The reservoir, which had a capacity of 18 cubic kilometres, was the last stop along hundreds of kilometres of river that passed through Ukraines industrial and agricultural heartlands. For decades, its flow carried the run-off of chemicals and pesticides that settled in the mud at the bottom. Ukrainian authorities are testing the level of toxins in the muck, which risks turning into poisonous dust with the arrival of summer, said Eugene Simonov, an environmental scientist with the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, a non-profit organisation of activists and researchers. Experts warn as the floodwaters recede, they are leaving behind toxic sludge (PA) The extent of the long-term damage depends on the movement of the front lines in an unpredictable war. Can the dam and reservoir be restored if fighting continues there? Should the region be allowed to become an arid plain once again? Ukrainian deputy foreign minister Andrij Melnyk called the destruction of the dam the worst environmental catastrophe in Europe since the Chernobyl disaster. The fish and waterfowl that had come to depend on the reservoir will lose the majority of their spawning grounds and feeding grounds, Mr Simonov said. Advertisement Downstream from the dam are about 50 protected areas, including three national parks, said Mr Simonov. It will take a decade for the flora and fauna populations to return and adjust to their new reality, according to Ms Filiuta. And possibly longer for the millions of Ukrainians who lived there. In Maryinske, the farming community, they are combing archives for records of old wells, which they will unearth, clean and analyse to see if the water is still potable. Because a territory without water will become a desert, the mayor warned. Montenegro is holding an early parliamentary election in a vote that could put an end to deep political divisions and years of instability that have hampered its route to joining the European Union. Some 542,000 voters are eligible to choose among 15 parties and coalitions fielding candidates, ranging from groups that are staunchly pro-Western to ones that are pro-Serbian and pro-Russian. Advertisement Unlike in previous elections, when the focal point of campaigning was whether the country should be leaning towards the EU or closer to Russia and Serbia, the economy and living standards dominate the issues this time. As she cast her ballot in the capital Podgorica, voter Tanja Bojovic, 38, said: Finally, we are deciding on the quality of life, rather than on the East or West. I expect the victory of those who will lead us to a better life. Advertisement Europe Now, led by Milojko Spajic, is expected to win the most votes but not enough to govern alone (Risto Bozovic/AP) Advertisement The election is Montenegros first in more than 30 years that does not feature Milo Djukanovic, who served almost continuously as the countrys prime minister or president since 2001. He lost a presidential election in April and has now taken a back seat in national politics. Polls and analysts predict Europe Now, a newly formed centrist movement, is most likely to win the most votes but not enough seats in the 81-seat parliament to form a new government on its own. The Democratic Party of Socialists, the party formerly led by Mr Djukanovic, experienced a decline in popularity after three decades of dominance but its new leadership is now looking for a chance to make a comeback. Also running are candidates from the pro-Serb and pro-Russian Democratic Front, a party considered likely to emerge as a kingmaker in the formation of a future coalition government. Advertisement A woman walks past a pre-election billboard promoting the pro-Serbian and Russian coalition For the Future of Montenegro (Risto Bozovic/AP) Mr Djukanovic led Montenegro to independence from Serbia in 2006 and defied Russia to join Nato in 2017. But an alliance dominated by parties seeking closer ties with Serbia and Russia ousted the Democratic Party of Socialists from power in the previous parliamentary elections, held in 2020. Advertisement The new ruling alliance, however, soon plunged into disarray, which stalled Montenegros path towards the EU and created a political deadlock. Advertisement The government fell in a no-confidence vote last year but remained in office for months because of the stalemate. Montenegro, a picturesque Adriatic Sea country of about 620,000 people, was once viewed as the country first in line to join the EU from the Western Balkans. Ukraines military has reported recapturing a village in the southeast of the country amid Russian claims of repelling multiple attacks in the area. It is the latest indication that a highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive may be underway even as officials in Kyiv stop short of publicly acknowledging it. Advertisement The 68th Separate Hunting Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces posted a video on Facebook showing soldiers installing a Ukrainian flag on a damaged building in what the post said is the village of Blahodatne in the partially occupied eastern Donetsk region. In a separate social media post, Ukraines Ground Forces confirmed the brigade has retaken Blahodatne. In February 2022, Russia likely planned to complete the capture of the whole of the Donbas region within 10-14 days. But in Bakhmut, for every 48cm gained, one of its soldiers has been killed or wounded. Ukraine fights on. #WeStandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/zELnJJwqXN Advertisement Advertisement Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) June 11, 2023 Brigade spokesman Myroslav Semeniuk said an assault team captured six Russian troops after entering several buildings where 60 soldiers were holed up. Advertisement The enemy keeps shelling us but this wont stop us, he said. The next village we plan to reclaim is Urozhayne. After that, (well proceed) further south. While the recapture of Blahodatne points to a small Ukrainian advance, western and Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly said efforts to expel Russian troops more broadly are expected to take time. Russia has made much of how its troops have held their ground elsewhere. Advertisement The Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday continued to insist it is repelling Ukrainian attacks in the area. Advertisement It said in a statement that Ukrainian attempts at offensive operations on the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia axes of the frontline over the past 24 hours have been unsuccessful. Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region, said Blahodatne, along with two other villages in Zaporizhzhia, are in a grey area in terms of who controls them. According to Mr Rogov, the Ukrainian forces briefly seized another village in the neighbouring Donetsk region but were swiftly routed by Russian troops. The situation is developing. Nothing extraordinary is happening, he said in a Telegram post. Advertisement The Russian military has also accused Ukrainian forces of attacking albeit unsuccessfully one of its ships in the Black Sea. According to a statement by Russias Defence Ministry, the attempted attack took place on Sunday when six unmanned speedboats targeted Russias Priazovye reconnaissance vessel, which was monitoring the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the southeastern part of the Black Sea. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 11 June 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/cQAKEyhia0 #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/FA5EYHW8Ma Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) June 11, 2023 All the speedboats were destroyed by the Russian military and the ship did not sustain any damage, the ministry said. The claim could not be independently verified and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. Moscow made a similar allegation last month and said Ukrainian unmanned speedboats targeted another reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea, the Ivan Khurs. Several days later, Ukraines Defence Ministry published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for the Ivan Khurs but did not show the drone hitting the ship. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions were underway against Russian forces. Advertisement He refused to disclose any details but asked to pass it on to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his top commanders were in a positive mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the frontline. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, hugs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in Kyiv (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP) Mr Zelensky made the remarks at a Kyiv press conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in response to a question about Mr Putins comment a day earlier that Ukraines counteroffensive has started and Ukrainian forces are taking significant losses. Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive is underway, though some western analysts said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggested it is. Also on Sunday, Mr Zelenskys top adviser said Moscows troops opened fire at a boat evacuating people from Russian-occupied areas to Ukrainian-held territory along a flooded frontline far to the south. The battlefield showdown in the southeast and chaotic scenes from inundated southern Ukraine marks the latest upheaval and bloodshed in Russias war in Ukraine, which is in its 16th month. Children stand on top of a burned out Russian tank in St Michaels Square in Kyiv (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP) Advertisement Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelenskys chief of staff, said the injured were taken to hospital in the southern city of Kherson, on the western bank of the swollen Dnieper River. Three ambulances were seen dropping off injured evacuees at a hospital, with one splattered in blood and taken by stretcher into the emergency department. Many civilians have said Russian authorities in occupied areas were forcing would-be evacuees to present Russian passports before taking them to safety. Since then, many small boats have shuttled from Ukrainian-held areas on the west bank across the river which has been flooded since a dam breach upstream on Tuesday to fetch and ferry over desperate civilians stuck on rooftops, in attics and other islands of dry amid the deluge. All too often, Australias most extraordinary and enduring cultural exports only receive the kudos they so richly deserve when theyre no longer around to hear or see it for themselves. With a showbiz career spanning some 45 years (her first acting gig was a small role in The Sullivans as a 10-year-old), Kylie Minogue certainly fits the criteria among our pantheon of Australias greatest global entertainment exports, up there with AC/DC, Olivia Newton-John and Dame Edna, but her story is far from over. Kylie Minogue performs during Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Concert in February. Credit: Don Arnold/Getty Last Sunday, Minogue pulled off the seemingly impossible, landing a No.6 spot in the UKs official charts with her latest song Padam Padam. Combining physical sales, downloads and streams, the result is Minogues highest chart peak in the UK since All The Lovers hit No. 3 in 2010. She is also the oldest person on the chart by a couple of decades. This is no mean feat. She has survived vinyl, music videos, cassettes, CDs and now digital streams. Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Government Complex Seoul, June 2. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Minister calls for international cooperation in coping with dark side of digital era By Jun Ji-hye The digital era has made people's lives much more convenient and easier, offering effective communication tools and virtually eliminating borders. But at the same time, the unintended dark sides of information technology, such as surveillance and declining privacy, are causing grave problems for many. Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook said one of the most serious and dark aspects of rapid digitalization around the world is the increase in online sex crimes, among others. "There are no borders in digital sex offenses, thus international cooperation is necessary," Minister Kim said during an interview with The Korea Times at her office in Seoul, June 2. Online sex offenses refer to various kinds of sex crimes, including sexual violence and illegal production and distribution of pornography, which take place in cyberspace by using digital devices. Several shocking cases have been already reported in Korea such as the "Nth room" case in 2020, in which the perpetrator blackmailed dozens of people including underage girls into performing violent sex acts and then sold access to the videos through the messenger application Telegram. The case became an impetus for Korea to overhaul relevant laws to impose harsher punishments. The minister said Korea and the international community have been focusing a discussion on the issue in recent years, mentioning her participation in the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a United Nations session on promoting gender equality and women's rights that was held in New York in March. "Many countries shared their concerns about digital sex crimes that have deepened over recent years," Kim said. "I introduced how the Korean government has coped with the crimes, such as establishing a policy for punishing offenders involving online grooming." Online grooming refers to tactics abusers deploy through online communication to build relationships and establish emotional connections with vulnerable people, commonly children, with the intention of sexually exploiting them. Since September 2021, online grooming has become subject to criminal punishment in Korea under the revised act on the protection of children and juveniles against sexual abuse. In a bid to support those who have fallen victim to online sex crimes, the minister also noted the Women's Human Rights Institute of Korea under the direct control of her ministry has provided various services such as removing exploitative materials and blocking their distribution as well as counseling. "When I met Sima Sami Bahous, executive director of U.N. Women, in New York, she said Korea has shown 'best practices' on tackling online sex crimes," Kim said. "We will continue to push for relevant policies that are centered on victims and bring tougher punishments against offenders." Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook, right, shakes hands with Sima Sami Bahous, executive director of U.N. Women, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, March 7. Courtesy of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family University graduate pay rises over the first three years of working can vary by up to $30,000 depending on their choice of career, leading to warnings for high school-leavers to be realistic about their prospects of being able to afford to live in a major capital city. Pharmacists have one of the lowest graduate salaries but pocket the biggest pay rise of $37,000 just three years after leaving university. Doctors, bankers and lawyers get a $25,000 pay rise on average a few years into their chosen careers bringing their pay packets rise to more than $90,000 a year, while teachers receive among the lowest salary increases of anyone with a bachelors degree, according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey. The disparity in pay rises has prompted demographers to warn high school-leavers that if they follow a career as a nurse or teacher because it will make it difficult to service a mortgage on a house in a major capital city. There have been tough times though: in 2002, when Brian died, and in 2012, when her house in Devon Meadows burnt down. But it didnt stop her fostering. She retired only two years ago, after a fall. Joan Graham in the ruins of her home after fire destroyed it in 2012. Credit: Wayne Hawkins I got such a lot of pleasure doing it [fostering]. Ive never been out of Australia or done much travelling, and Id love to, but Ive always put these kids first because I love doing it, Graham said. She said she strove never to judge people, always be giving, always be generous. Theres always someone you can help and always something you can do to help somebody. OzChild chief executive Dr Lisa Griffiths said: I cannot think of a more worthy recipient of the Order of Australia than Joan Graham. Joans service to the community, to children and young people is absolutely deserving of this recognition. Ann McGregor at Merri Creek in Brunswick East. Credit: Eddie Jim In Melbournes north, Ann McGregors unpaid, 47-year effort to help turn Merri Creek and surrounds from a weed-choked dump into an urban oasis has been rewarded with an OAM. McGregor said it was nice to be acknowledged. But seeing native fauna, flora and people return to the corridor, stretching from Clifton Hill to Craigieburn, was a bigger reward. Two weeks ago, a friend sent McGregor a photo of a powerful owl perched in a native tree that was planted in revegetation programs beside Merri Creek in Coburg East. McGregor rushed out to see the owl, because she had spotted the native bird beside the creek just once before five years ago. McGregor in 1980 beside the creek near Harrison Street in Brunswick. Credit: Bruce McGregor In this owls talons was its meal, a ringtail possum. It was a bit gory, McGregor said, but it was another sign of renewal for the creek, which had head-high weeds and dumped cars in it when she first saw it in 1976. Ann and her husband, Bruce McGregor, helped found the Brunswick Merri Creek Action Group, which lobbied the council to oppose the corridor being turned into a freeway and to reserve it for a park. A powerful owl Ann McGregor saw with its prey, a possum, at Coburg East. Credit: Ann McGregor McGregor is now vice president of Friends of Merri Creek and president of Merri Creek Management Committee. She loves seeing wallabies, echidnas and native water rats, or rakalis, around the creek, as well as birds such as pardalotes and tawny frogmouths, and native plants such as bluebells and wattles. But there is still work to do, such as tackling illegal dumping and poor water quality, revegetating northern reaches and preserving native grasslands, and lobbying against overdevelopment. The focus of Lisa Wilsons passion is the River Nile School in North Melbourne a specialist secondary college for asylum seeker and refugee women, of which Wilson was founding principal in 2017. Wilson has been made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her efforts. Many students, aged from 15 to their early 20s, are new arrivals from war-torn countries such as Somalia, South Sudan and Myanmar with no English and no literacy or schooling in their own countries. Lisa Wilson (centre) with students (from left) Hamda, 16, Iang, 20, Khursand, 18, and Haidi, 18. Credit: Eddie Jim Most are trauma survivors, and at the school they have access to social workers, a nurse and youth workers. Lessons are free, with computers, public transport fares and childcare provided. Wilson is proud of her students achievements. Last year, 65 per cent of students completed a Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning. One is studying nursing at university and others are working on certificates in childcare, accounting and commercial cookery. River Nile School principal Lisa Wilson with some of her students. Credit: Eddie Jim Wilsons AO citation also recognises her service to primary industry she previously worked in the agricultural sector, including as chief executive of Australian Dairy Farmers, and was also a director of the charity Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. Wilson started reading to migrants in her spare time, and in 2009 she adopted two children from Ethiopia, which showed her how hard it was for new arrivals to adjust to school in Australia and that some children have no one to guide them to success in education. In 2014, a friend told Wilson about the River Nile learning centre using the premises of a North Melbourne school, where eight refugee women were enrolled in a VCAL program. Wilson offered to be on the board and was given the director role. The centre moved to rented first-floor premises in Capel Street, North Melbourne, in 2015 and gained registration as a school the following year. There are now 100 students and 14 teachers at the centre, and its goal is to own its own premises while maintaining the personalised and family-style environment with small class sizes of 14 to 18. Boonwurrung and Wamba Wamba elder Fay Stewart-Muir is the recipient of an OAM for her work in Victorias Indigenous community. Stewart-Muir, who lives in Geelong but grew up in Dundonnell in western Victoria, is a cultural and language educator in schools, and works with both the Education Department and the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Stewart-Muir is also a Koori Court elder, a mentor, language teacher and culture educator for Koori prisoners. Boonwurrung and Wamba Wamba elder Fay Stewart-Muir. Credit: Fay Stewart-Muir She is a translator of Boonwurrung and Wemba Wemba languages and an archivist for the Boonwurrung language. She is co-author of Nganga, an Indigenous dictionary, and of three childrens books. The elder paid tribute to her late parents, Gordon and Wyn Stewart, who gave me all the support that they could. In Beaumaris, in Melbournes south-east, Geoff Bransbury is out to make his world better by obliterating graffiti. Five years ago, the retired businessman founded the non-profit, volunteer-run Graffiti Busters, a free service that paints over, scrubs or water-blasts graffiti from walls and fences. Geoff Bransbury at work with the Graffiti Busters. Credit: Simon Schluter/The Age For his service to the community of Beaumaris, which also includes involvement in Neighbourhood Watch and Probus, Bransbury is the recipient of an OAM. He says a complete loathing of graffiti inspired Graffiti Busters. Its just horrible, all the tags on the buildings. It really annoys me, he said. I thought, Ive got to do something about this. Loading Bransbury advertised for volunteers in his local Neighbourhood Watch newsletter, and 30 people came forward. They have done hundreds of jobs. The service is for private property and is free, but they prioritise jobs for property owners who cant afford, or are unable, to clean off graffiti, such as the elderly. A job can cover anything from a small tag to an entire laneway of rear walls and shop fences they cleaned three years ago. Bransbury noticed recently that the lane was still clean. Volunteers find graffiti busting fun, he says. Its because everyones working together. Were doing something worthwhile, and people come by and say how fantastic it is. It makes you feel good. Its a real feel-good activity. We decide on an area were going to clean, start off with a cup of coffee and a chat and spend a couple of hours cleaning the property. Sometimes we have a coffee afterwards, too. Sometimes a site is graffitied again. But weve found that if you clean it off several times, they [graffiti artists] eventually go away. Were not going out so often now in Beaumaris because theres not a lot of graffiti. Graffiti Busters branches have opened in Hampton and Sandringham and one is planned for Brighton. Its not always easy to find a partner in love, but finding lids for kitchen containers can be tough going, too. Across the country, lonely, lid-less plastic containers and single lids sit forlornly in kitchen cupboards and drawers, waiting for their prince to come. I love it: Amelia Trompf at the Project Pair Up stall. Credit: Wayne Taylor Enter plastic matchmaker Amelia Trompf, whose free stall, Project Pair Up at Alphington Farmers Market in Melbournes north, has proved a hit. She has made it her mission to keep plastics out of landfill and make lunch boxes, pasta storage containers and cordial jugs usable again. Critically ill children are now receiving free, rapid genetic testing in Victoria, reducing months-long waits for a diagnosis to days and fast-tracking access to life-saving treatment. The advance follows a two-year project in which researchers provided ultra-rapid testing to 290 children with rare conditions in intensive care units across the country. Cody Bailey with son River Weatherby and daughter Cali Weatherby at home. River suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Gaucher disease, but early diagnosis allowed early treatment. Credit: Nick Moir While analysing a childs genetic make-up previously took an average of five or six months, the high-speed testing had an average turnaround time of 2.9 days. After the Australian Genomics study ended last year, the Victorian and West Australian governments took on funding the tests for hospitalised children, at a cost of about $10,000 a child. In a letter sent to Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy last month, Private Healthcare Australia chief executive Rachel David accused PwC of producing a flawed analysis in 2017 which she says was then relied on by the previous government to set the prices of medical implants. The use of transfer pricing for medical implants inflates the cost in Australia and minimises the tax payable in this country, David wrote in the letter. PwC is currently involved in several Department of Health and Aged Care reviews which will have a direct impact on health fund claims costs and health system costs more generally. Medical devices can cost up to three times more in Australia than in other countries. This type of direct link between PwC acting as an advisor to government on one hand, while supporting multinational clients on tax strategies has been the very focus of the media and parliamentary investigation that has generated the adverse publicity. No PwC staff who were involved in the recent review for the department were involved in previous work for the MTAA, according to the accounting firm. Peter Breadon, the director of the health and aged care program at the Grattan Institute, said the 2017 agreement that underpinned the prosthesis list, which expired last year, was impossible to defend. The prices private hospitals had to pay were set by a committee that included industry representatives. Those prices were way too high, well above those paid by public hospitals, he said. The new policy is better, but even it could deliver bigger price reductions faster. Breadon said the department should ask PwC to identify all potential conflicts of interest, check that any conflicts were properly disclosed and guarantee that it did not share any confidential information with other clients. The Department of Health said it was reviewing all existing contracts to ensure ethical conduct contractual obligations were being met. The department said it was also undertaking value for money assessments on past contracts which may still be relevant including a consideration of ethical conduct. The department has no knowledge or insight into PwC providing advice to the MTAA regarding the 2017 agreement between MTAA and the government. This agreement concluded in 2022 and pre-dated the reforms currently under way, the department said. The private healthcare industry has previously accused the multinational companies of shifting the profits they are making in Australia to other countries including Singapore and Switzerland. In 2018, the Australian Tax Office adopted new guidelines which rated the top 15 overseas corporations supplying Australias $12 billion medical devices market as tax avoidance risks. On December 10 of that year, PwC provided a briefing to MTAA members on how to comply with new ATO guidelines. As you may have heard, with the ever increasing ATO focus on multinationals and their international tax arrangements, there have been some recent developments from the ATO in the transfer pricing space, read an invitation sent out by the MTAA to its members on November 14, 2018. Specifically, we are anticipating the public release of a document known as a Practical Compliance Guideline (PCG) from the ATO towards the end of November. In the lead-up to the release of the guidance, we have been in discussions with PwC in respect to hosting an event to discuss the key elements of this anticipated guidance and what this may mean for the industry. The briefing came two years after the introduction of the new multinational tax avoidance laws at the centre of the tax leak scandal. PwC last week handed over a list of 67 current or former partners and staff who had received at least one of emails containing the then-confidential government plans. Late last year, the Tax Practitioners Board found Peter Collins, PwCs former head of international tax, shared confidential government briefings on multinational tax reform with PwC partners and clients to help them sidestep the laws. The partners who provided the 2018 briefing to medical device suppliers are not among those who have been stood down in recent weeks. A spokesperson for the MTAA said it had never engaged PwC to provide advice on transfer pricing, nor has it engaged the accounting firm any time during the current process of reform to the prostheses list. Loading The governor-generals next focus will be on the representation of culturally and linguistically diverse Australians and Indigenous Australians. Hurley admits many First Nations people are put off by the fact that Order of Australia honours are given on public holidays associated with our colonial history: Australia Day and the Kings birthday. I think those sentiments are out there, associations with the Crown and so forth, he said. The Order of Australia is arranged according to a hierarchy the highest is the Companion of the Order (AC), followed by Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM) and Medal of the Order (OAM). The Order, founded on egalitarian principles in 1975 to replace the old Imperial honours system, has long been criticised for its skew towards male recipients, as well as perceptions it favours retired politicians and the top end of town. Analysis by lobby group Honour a Woman found that between 1975 and 2016, 70 per cent of honours recipients were male, and 30 per cent female. Since 2017 the governor-generals office has published the gender breakdown of the different level of honours, and those numbers showed that between 1975 and 2019, women received 19 per cent of the top-tier ACs, 21 per cent of AOs and 24 per cent of AMs. Women were better represented among the lowest community level honour, the OAM, where they made up 35 per cent of recipients. The most recent report of the Australian Honours and Awards branch of the governor-generals office showed an improvement in the number of women recognised, from 33 per cent of recipients in 2017 to 41 per cent in 2021. The report notes that the systems great strength is its reliance on nominations from the community, but that means nominators must be aware of the system, be motivated to engage with it and be able to access it. It stands to reason that if awareness, motivation and access are not equal there is an ongoing risk that results (in terms of nominations into the system) will not be representative of Australian society, the report states. Separate Sydney Morning Herald/Age analysis from 2021 showed ACs had historically been dominated by big names from politics and business, and were statistically more likely to be wealthy and live in affluent suburbs. But in this years Kings birthday list, half the ACs are women and 52 per cent of the AOs are women. Women make up 53 per cent of the AMs. In the OAM category, women account for nearly, but not quite 50 per cent. Pam Brock, 77, is being recognised with the Medal of the Order (OAM) for her services to the community as a bellringer at St Pauls church in Burwood in Sydneys west. Pam Brock who has received an OAM for services to Bellringing. Credit: Duncan Wright I call it an art, but its also a hobby, she says of her bellringing. Once it gets into you, its part of you. You hear bells, and you just want to be in there ringing them. When Brock began practising the art as a 19-year-old in 1965, it was rare for women to be bellringers. It was male-dominated, she said, mainly because the rector who put the bells in was a padre in the army and so he had a lot of male mates. Brock says she never contemplated receiving an Order of Australia because she thought you had to be rich and male to get one, and Im not any of those things. Professor Glenda Halliday, a researcher in neurodegenerative disorders based at Sydney University, will today be appointed an AC for her services to medical research, including her development of revised diagnostic criteria for Parkinsons disease. It was an enormous surprise, the 63-year-old said of the honour. Professor Glenda Halliday in the Brain and Mind Centre in Sydney, is one of a growing number of women being recognised. Credit: Janie Barrett Halliday was overseas when she received the email about the award and did not believe it until she got home and was able to print it and examine it closely. Then I felt enormously proud. Its something I hadnt ever thought would happen, and Im very humbled by it. Loading Halliday said she had not faced sexism in her career that I noticed but says there were very few female professors in medicine faculties when she started out. Thats changed, fortunately. Joan Graham, of Devon Meadows in Melbournes south-east, who fostered hundreds of children in 50 years, was also recognised with an OAM for her service. Graham, who has four biological children, said it had been a pleasure to be able to share and understand and give some love to children as young as a few days old, some of them victims of abuse and neglect. Joan Graham with some of her biological children and former foster children and their offspring. Credit: Joe Armao Graham said she had learned simple things like providing structure and reading a bedtime story could make a difference to a child. She strove never to judge people, always be giving, always be generous. Theres always someone you can help and always something you can do to help somebody Graham, who gave up fostering two years ago after having a fall and whose husband and partner in fostering, Brian, died in 2002, said the OAM was very humbling. Its just amazing. I loved doing what I was doing, she said. I loved every bit of looking after the kids and working for the community. Carol Kiernan is the co-founder of Honour a Woman, a volunteer lobby group established in 2017 to redress the gender imbalance in the Order of Australia that has worked closely with the governor-generals office. Loading We are really pleased to see gender equality across all the levels, but there is still a need to embed these changes, Kiernan said. Progress is not linear. Gender equality does not happen unless we measure it and report on it, and ensure we guard against conscious and unconscious bias. Kiernan says Honour A Woman would like targets to be imposed requiring 40 per cent of honours recipients to be male, 40 per cent female, and 20 per cent to be open. The lobby group would also like to see committees established in each state and territory that proactively nominate women and people from under-represented groups. Some states and territories, such as Victoria, already have these. Honour a Woman also advocates for greater transparency around the decision-making process. The makeup of the 19-member Council for the Order of Australia, which decides on the honours, has recently changed, with a new chair Shelley Reys AO appointed in October last year. Shelley Reys is the chair of the Council of the Order of Australia. Credit: Michael Quelch Reys, a reconciliation advocate and First Nations consultant, is the Indigenous person and the first woman to be appointed Chair of the Council. The 2021 report of the Honours branch states that the successive governors-general had sought to publicly highlight the issue of gender representation in the honours, but notes that public promotion of the Order is not the responsibility of the branch, nor is the branch resourced for it. Hurley said in December 2021 that the Morrison government did resource his office for two more staff members to help with the public campaign for more nominations, particularly of women and of Indigenous and multicultural community members. Asked what he sees as his role in the contemporary discussion about Indigenous reconciliation, the governor-general said: It is to encourage Australians to understand the issues and debate civilly, and make a decision on their own. Asked if he believed the debate had been civil so far, he said: It is not for me to comment. Bold statement: you cant take yourself seriously as a food culture until youve made some dough and stuffed it with meat. So many of the worlds great cuisines include the dumpling, or something similar. China, of course, has many. Japan adapted them to become gyoza. In India they have samosas; in Nepal, momos. In Latin America there are empanadas. In Italy, you have tortellini and ravioli. In Turkey theres manti. And in Poland: pierogi. Pierogi are made with small sheets of unleavened dough, which are topped with savoury or sweet fillings the most popular is probably pierogi ruskie, filled with potato and cheese and then folded into little half-moon shapes and boiled until cooked (and sometimes finished off with a quick sear in a saucepan). The pierogi are served with oil or bacon fat for the savoury version, and sour cream and sugar for the fruity iteration. First Serve The queue of regions ready to claim they invented pierogi is a long one. Were talking Romania, Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovakia and of course Poland. Some say pierogi were inspired by Chinese dumplings. Others say the idea came from the Tatars of Russia (who could also have pinched it from China). The more spiritual believe a Ukrainian saint is responsible. What we do know is that pierogi, or something similar, were being made in Poland as far back as the 13th century, and were mentioned in Polish cookbooks in the late 17th century. Loading Order There If youre stopping through the Polish capital of Warsaw, Czerwony Wieprz is the perfect spot to sample traditional pierogi though of course, youll find this dish almost everywhere. Eight-month-old Tiu the rowi is a feisty bird, snapping at her keepers and bullying her male counterpart, Toro, to such a degree that the two are now separated within their nocturnal house at the West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef. West Coast Wildlife Centre. Such aggressive behaviour may make Tiu a difficult tenant at this conservation facility in the heart of the rugged West Coast region of New Zealand, but her grumpy personality puts her in good stead for the next stage of her life being released back into the wild. Shes going to be a great wild bird, ranger Devon Rutter explains during our backstage tour of the indoor centre, a partnership between New Zealands Department of Conservation and the Te Runanga o Makaawhio Maori iwi. But for now, Tiu and Toro are the public face of Operation Nest Egg, a nationwide program designed to boost kiwi numbers in the wild and save this vulnerable bird from the brink of extinction. Rowi are the most endangered of the five species of kiwi, with less than 600 remaining in the wild within a small pocket of forest surrounding Okarito Lagoon, 27 kilometres north of Franz Josef. Of these 600, 355 owe their existence to Operation Nest Egg, their eggs collected from the wild by the Department of Conservation before being incubated and hatched at the West Coast Wildlife Centre. The babies are then cared for in captivity first at the Willowbank Wildlife Sanctuary in Christchurch, then on a predator-free island in the Marlborough Sound before being released back into the Okarito wilderness as adults, a round-trip that costs about $10,000 a kiwi. Australias tourism industry advocates have erupted with howls of protest at the decision to increase the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC), announced in the recent federal budget. The charge, to be imposed on every passenger aboard a departing international flight from July 1, 2024, will add $10 to the current PMC of $60. Given the huge increase in airfares over the past two years, an extra $10 is unlikely to change anyones mind about an overseas trip. That will add about 1.43 per cent to a $700 trans-Tasman return economy airfare, and 0.32 per cent to a $3100 return flight from Melbourne to Dallas. The taxes and charges on your airfare are not something that attracts much attention, and the cost depends on the route youre flying. An increase to the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) will take effect from July 1, 2024. Credit: Brendon Thorne On that $3100 return economy fare from Melbourne to Dallas, taxes and charges account for about 15 per cent of the ticket price. On a $600 return economy fare from Sydney to Perth, the figure is close to 20 per cent, but 45 per cent on a $700 return economy fare from Melbourne to Auckland. Kyiv: President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that his military was engaged in counter-offensive and defensive operations a day after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said Kyivs long-vaunted drive to retake territory was well under way. But the Ukrainian leader disclosed no details on Saturday (Sunday AEST), telling reporters to pass on to Putin that his generals were optimistic. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv on Saturday. Credit: AP Sporting his trademark khaki fatigues, Zelensky shrugged at a press conference when asked about Putins comments on Friday that Kyiv had begun its counter-offensive but made no progress. Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at, Zelensky said, listing Ukraines top military brass by name. Kim Eui-cheol, CEO of Korean public broadcaster KBS, speaks during a press conference at KBS Hall in Seoul, June 8. Yonhap The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) is reportedly planning to amend a relevant enforcement ordinance in the latter half of the year that calls for collecting license fees for the state broadcaster KBS separately from electricity bills, according to sources on Sunday. The presidential office has previously sent a recommendation to the broadcasting watchdog after conducting a public debate on the collection method for television license fees. The results of the debate showed support for separating the collection of the fees. The proposed revision could potentially deal a blow to KBS' revenue structure, especially if many households refuse to pay the fees. Since 1994, KBS has charged a monthly fee of 2,500 won ($1.93) to every household with a television receiver on top of their electricity bills. The fee has been collected by state-run utility Korea Electric Power. Typically, it takes around five to seven months for the revision of the enforcement ordinance, but the KCC expects it could be shortened to three months, according to the sources. KBS has expressed opposition to the decision, saying it could damage the foundation of public broadcasting and deprive the broadcaster of a key source of revenue. KBS CEO Kim Eui-cheol, who was appointed under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, even said he will resign if the government withdraws its decision. (Yonhap) The federal indictment of former US president Donald Trump has unleashed a wave of calls by his supporters for violence and an uprising to defend him, disturbing observers and raising concerns of a warlike atmosphere before his court appearance in Miami on Tuesday. In social media posts and public remarks, close allies of Trump including a member of Congress have portrayed the indictment as an act of war, called for retribution and highlighted the fact that much of his base carries weapons. The allies have painted Trump as a victim of a weaponised Justice Department controlled by President Joe Biden, his potential opponent in the 2024 election. The calls to action and threats have been amplified on right-wing media sites and have been met by supportive responses from social media users and cheers from crowds, who have become conditioned over several years by Trump and his allies to see any efforts to hold him accountable as assaults against him. Experts on political violence warn that attacks against people or institutions become more likely when elected officials or prominent media figures are able to issue threats or calls for violence with impunity. The former president alerted the public to the indictment on Thursday evening in posts on his social media platform, attacking the Justice Department and calling the case THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. CHAOS KINGS: How Wall Street Traders Make Billions in the New Age of Crisis Author: Scott Patterson Publisher: Scribner Pages: 322 Price: $30 Almost everyone knows someone who seems to take a perverse pleasure in imagining worst-case scenarios. In life, this is usually a coping mechanism devised to cushion the blows of disappointment. In markets, it is a way to make billions of dollars. Also Read Xiaomi Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 review: Among the best smart TVs on budget Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants WPL 2023: Guide to book online tickets TCS Q4 review: Near-term growth to moderate, demand levers intact: Analysts HAL has order book of Rs 84,000 cr, another Rs 50,000 cr in pipeline: CMD New Delhi World Book Fair to be held from February 25: National Book Trust History through climate change Lost subtext of the planetary crisis The roots of male dominance Reinventing capitalism for the digital age Why history matters But converting market anxiety into eye-popping personal gain by shorting stocks in the off-chance the economy tanks can be an unsavory strategy, and not just because it can mean profiting off disasters like September 11 and Covid. In the school of Nassim Taleb, the former derivatives trader and Black Swan theorist, betting on catastrophe requires acknowledging that we can never know when it will strike. And while that may sound like a bland truism, it goes against much of the conventional wisdom on Wall Street, which says that with the right statistical models, nearly every outcome is quantifiable. The frightening alternative would be to admit that chaos reigns. Of course, its chaos that Nassim Taleb thrives on. He is the unwitting protagonist of The Wall Street Journal reporter Scott Pattersons Chaos Kings, a closely observed chronicle of the storm-chasing edgelords of finance and the critics with whom they clash. This drama unfolds in lecture halls, in conference rooms and on trading floors, which lend themselves naturally to drama. In an early scene, a young Taleb finds the meaty fists of a hot-headed pit trader wrapped around his neck. The men who make up the cast are dare-devilish and eccentric. They ride motorcycles at suicidal speeds, and hire Kung Fu masters to learn qinna, an intricate martial art technique of physically incapacitating an opponent. And they learn to love losing money day to day, so that they can win big down the line. Even those unfamiliar with, or uninterested in, the oscillations of the stock market may find themselves gripped by Pattersons account, which returns to pivot points like the 1987 Black Monday, the 2008 financial crisis and the 2010 flash crash, and ambitiously, though not always as successfully, tries to connect these events in a single thread to the present day. The world Scott Patterson portrays is largely divided among two camps: Investors who subscribe to Talebs Black Swan philosophy of financial markets as vulnerable to unforeseeable shocks and those more convinced by the French researcher Didier Sornettes Dragon Kings, anomalous but somewhat foreseeable events. Sornette, who steadfastly believes in pockets of predictability, finds Taleb and his partner Mark Spitznagels credo a touch too woo-woo. Quants, the financial engineers who trust complex formulas to tell them what the future holds and who are the focus of another book by Patterson are the extreme foil to both groups. The Black Swan concept is dangerous, Sornette tells Patterson. It puts us back at the time of pre-science where the wrath of nature, the lightning, the storms were the expression of the anger of the gods. Patterson doesnt come out and say what we should think of these camps: He is primarily showing us how their machinations work. But rarely does the reader see his chaos kings err, and as the author threads in more contemporary issues like the climate crisis, cryptocurrency and the war in Ukraine, we see their ideas becoming only more ascendant. While these final sections tend to feel more rushed with glancing mentions of, say, the January 6 attack on the Capitol, the murder of George Floyd and the pandemic peppered throughout the last few chapters in such current events a reader might also detect an implicit endorsement of Talebs Black Swan philosophy. Perhaps what comes through most strongly is just how many theories there are about how financial markets behave. Patterson cites one of Joan Didions most oft-quoted lines, We tell ourselves stories in order to live, to account for the readers potential resistance to Talebs visions of chaos. The human brain craves order, he writes. But if its true that we live in unprecedented times, then it stands to reason that the human brain may occasionally thrill to giving itself over to suspense, surprise and unpredictability at least when it comes to picking a book. The reviewer is an editing resident at The Times. Her work has appeared in The Nation, The New Republic and other publications. 2023 The New York Times News Service Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance known by his initials CZ, has no intention to give in. Since the lawsuit filed against him personally and his company Binance and related entities, by the US regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last Monday, Zhao has fought back through a string of posts on social media along with a response to the charges. Zhao has targeted Gary Gensler, the SEC chair, and his agency. "Wonder if he ever reads the comments under his post, from the consumers he is supposed (sic) to protect," Zhao wrote, retweeting a post from Gensler detailing the charges. In another tweet, he called for a poll on "Who protects you more? SEC or Binance?" The result was a whopping 85 per cent for Binance. Zhao has also retweeted posts that describe the SEC lawsuit against Binance as an attack on the entire crypto industry in the United States and an attempt to finish it. He retweeted another post that called for the entire industry to "UNITE". Also Read Crypto market cracks 5%, Bitcoin at 3-month low after US SEC sues Binance Binance halts deposits, withdrawals after technical glitches: CEO Zhao Binance's US partner confirms firm run by CEO Zhao operated on exchange US venture capitalists hope Budget 2023 supports growth, startup ecosystem US SEC sues crypto exchange Coinbase post suing Binance for not registering SECL in expansion mode, to make Gevra world's largest coal mine, says CMD Demand for medicines increasing in smaller towns across the country Thousands of subreddits plan to go dark over API changes in Reddit IndianOil top bidder for Reliance's KG gas for second auction in row Good for industry: Zuckerberg hails Musk for making Twitter 'a lot leaner' The American regulator filed a lawsuit on June 5 charging Binance, operator of the world's largest crypto exchange, Zhao and others with running unregistered exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearing agencies; misrepresenting trading controls and oversight on the Binance.US platform; and making unregistered offers and sales of securities. The SEC has said that Zhao and Binance executives have "secretly" allowed high-value Americans to use the binance.com platform contrary to their public pronouncements. They are also accused of having "secretly controlled" Binance.US at variance with their public claims that the two entities are autonomous of each other. "We are disappointed that the US Securities and Exchange Commission chose to file a complaint today against Binance seeking, among other remedies, purported emergency relief," Binance said in response to the lawsuit. It added: "While we take the SEC's allegations seriously, they should not be the subject of an SEC enforcement action, let alone on an emergency basis. We intend to defend our platform vigorously." Zhao has come a long way from Jiangsu, China, where he was born to parents who were both teachers. The family immigrated to Canada when he was 12. They settled down in Vancouver and Zhao chipped in with the family income by flipping burgers at a local McDonald's and doing night shifts at a gas station. After studying computer science at McGill University, Zhao went to work for a Tokyo Stock Exchange sub-contractor. In 2005, he moved to Shanghai and founded Fusion Systems, a company that, Forbes magazine said, was "known for building some of the fastest high-frequency trading systems for brokers". In a Forbes profile of him in 2018, just seven months after he had founded Binance, Zhao was said to prefer black hoodies -- a mix, perhaps, of Mark Zuckerberg's hoodies and Steve Jobs's black turtlenecks. And he allowed himself no indulgences, except cellphones; he owned three. In 2013, Zhao joined the founding team of blockchain.info (now blockchain.com), a company which says it started as the first Bitcoin blockchain explorer in 2011 and then created a cryptocurrency wallet that accounted for 28 per cent of Bitcoin transactions between 2012 and 2020. Zhao left to found Binance in 2017. And by 2023, he was worth $10.5 billion. He is only 45 and lives mostly in Dubai. A typical day for him, he said in a recent Twitter Spaces interaction, begins at 8 or 9 a.m. That's later. But he also goes to bed late: 2 a.m. He works with a trainer in the morning, makes calls, has lunch and takes a nap. He said: "Waking up at 8:00 or 9:00 is helpful for coordinating with the teams in Asia. I wake up to a large number of messages and have to make calls while responding to messages at the same time. "The teams will often see me on one call, but then I'm responding to messages in a different group. I do that a lot, but I'm pretty public about it." By 8 or 9 p.m., according to Zhao, "things usually quiet down" and "I consider what to do with my free time. Usually, I end up staying home and listening to an audiobook. I listen at 2x or even 2.5x speed. That's why I talk fast, too. I often listen while playing very simple games. "I'll play silly games that require no concentration, but they allow me to listen to the book. If I don't play these games, it's actually harder to concentrate sometimes. I end up listening to books for around an hour or two -- some days even longer. Doing this, I can easily finish one, two, or even three books a week." That typical day probably includes a call or two with his lawyers now. --IANS yrj/arm At a time when the battery industry is betting big on electric mobility, the Rs 12,000-crore Amara Raja Group is all set to expand presence in the lead-acid battery segment. It is planning to grow by increasing its manufacturing capacity and raising market presence in West Asia, South-East Asia and Africa, through the organic and inorganic routes. The company has drawn a roadmap to increase sales in the lead acid segment by 150 per cent from around $1.2 billion now to $3 billion in five years. Microsoft-backed OpenAI has been sued by a radio host in the US, which appears to be the first defamation lawsuit responding to false information generated by ChatGPT. Mark Walters sued the Sam Altman-run company after ChatGPT mentioned that Walters had been accused of defrauding and embezzling funds from a non-profit organisation, reports The Verge. ChatGPT generated the false information in response to a request from a journalist named Fred Riehl. ChatGPT responded: "Mark Walters is an individual who resides in Georgia. Walters has served as the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of SAF since at least 2012. Walters has access to SAF's bank accounts and financial records and is responsible for maintaining those records and providing financial reports to SAF's board of directors." The AI chatbot further stated that Walters owes SAF a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care. "Walters has breached these duties and responsibilities by, among other things, embezzlement and misappropriation of SAF's funds and assets for his own benefit, and manipulating SAF's financial records and bank statements to conceal his activities," ChatGPT said which is a false information, according to the lawsuit. Also Read Elon Musk credits father for teaching 'physics, engineering & construction' Elon Musk tried to take over OpenAI in 2018, but failed, says report Italy orders OpenAI to stop processing users' data else face fine Elon Musk begins second day of China visit after emphasizing ties OpenAI CEO Altman discusses India's tech ecosystem with PM Narendra Modi Amritsar-Ahmedabad Indigo flight strays into Pakistan amid bad weather Dalmia Bharat to spend Rs 19,000 cr by 2031 in expanding capacity Jaguar evolution into all-electric brand on track: Chandrasekaran As SEC-Coinbase fight begins, it'll be Grewal vs Grewal in the courthouse All about Zhao: From flipping burgers to landing in SEC's frying pan Walters is now seeking unspecified monetary damages from OpenAI, the report said. Meanwhile, two lawyers told a judge in Manhattan federal court this week that ChatGPT tricked them into including fictitious legal research in a court filing. Attorneys Steven A. Schwartz and Peter LoDuca are facing possible punishment over a filing in a lawsuit against an airline that included references to past court cases that Schwartz thought were real, but were actually invented by ChatGPT. Last month, a US federal judge categorically told lawyers that he will not allow any AI-generated content in his court. Texas federal judge Brantley Starr said that any attorney appearing in his court must attest that "no portion of the filing was drafted by generative artificial intelligence," or if it was, that it was checked "by a human being," reports TechCrunch. In April, ChatGPT, as part of a research study, falsely named an innocent and highly-respected law professor in the US on the list of legal scholars who had sexually harassed students in the past. Jonathan Turley, Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, was left shocked when he realised ChatGPT named him as part of a research project on legal scholars who sexually harassed someone. --IANS na/uk/ Bank of Baroda (BoB) has so far either deposited or exchanged Rs 10,000 crore worth of Rs 2,000 notes, an official told Business standard. The senior official said that his bank had received around Rs 9,000 crore worth of Rs 2,000 currency notes as deposits, while notes worth Rs 1,000 crore were exchanged through the branch network. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 19 announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes, the highest denomination in circulation, but said it would continue to be a legal tender. The central bank, however, encouraged people to exchange and deposit the notes by September 30. The process to deposit/exchange began on May 23. Speaking on the question of extension of further credit to GoFirst, he said that the bank is keeping a watch on the developments in GoFirst and may consider extending further credit to the company if there is any demand from the companys end. The banks intention is that GoFirst comes out of this resolution process and gets back to the business, he added. The bank has already made a provision of Rs 500 crore against the loan extended to GoFirst, so there is no further provisioning required from the banks end. On Friday, the lenders of grounded carrier Go First discussed its revival plan and appointed Shailendra Ajmera, of consultancy firm EY, as the new resolution professional. Also Read RBI asks banks to keep daily data on exchange, deposit of Rs 2,000 notes 50% of Rs 2,000 notes returned to banks since announcement: RBI Guv Das Provide adequate infra at branches for Rs 2,000 note exchange: RBI to banks India was close to printing Rs 10,000 notes in 2016: All you need to know Bank of Baroda Q3: What to expect from the lender's Dec quarter result? Future Enterprises invites expression of interest for assets across India Wilmington Trust moves insolvency plea against SpiceJet; hearing on Monday Sequoia Capital plans to sell 10% stake in Go Fashion through block deal Star Health founder Venkatasamy Jagannathan resigns from company's board IndiGo flight enters Pakistan airspace amid bad weather, returns safely Earlier the NCLT had named Abhilash Lal of Alvarez & Marsal interim RP. Go First, owned by the Wadia Group, had declared insolvency on May 2 owing to a severe cash crunch caused by the grounding of over half of its fleet. Its application was admitted by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 10. Go First has further extended flight cancellations until June 12, citing operational reasons, the airline announced on June 8. Adding that it will resume bookings shortly. The government is planning to come up with a quarterly payment mechanism under the Rs 25,938-crore auto PLI scheme to incentivise auto manufacturers, Business Standard has learnt. At present, the provision under the Production-linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry is for yearly incentive payouts. State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd's (BPCL) Bargarh 2G bio-refinery which will use rice straw to produce ethanol for mixing in petrol, will invigorate a circular economy and give impetus to waste-to-wealth creation, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Sunday. Pradhan, who is the Union Minister for HRD, visited the under-construction Bargarh 2G bio-refinery site in Odisha as part of the Vikas Teerth Yatra to mark nine years of the Modi government. "Bargarh bio-refinery is making steady progress and is expected to be commissioned soon," he tweeted. After producing ethanol from sugarcane, India is now pushing for producing low-carbon fuel from grains and agri waste. This is part of an ambitious programme to mix ethanol in petrol to cut down emissions as well as the country's dependence on imports for meeting oil needs. Presently, 10 per cent ethanol is mixed in petrol (10 per cent ethanol, 90 per cent petrol) and this volume is targeted to be doubled by 2025. The Bargarh 2G bio-refinery is part of the plan to augment the production of ethanol to meet the higher mixing target. The Bargarh bio-refinery in Odisha is being built at a cost of Rs 1,607 crore and will produce 100 kilolitres per day of 1G ethanol (ethanol from rice grain) and a similar volume of 2G ethanol (ethanol from rice straw). Also Read Ethanol blending in petrol hiked from 1.5% to 10% since 2013-14: Govt Petrol, diesel prices remain largely unchanged, check prices in your city India's ethanol capacity to jump 25% to 12.5 bn litres by year-end: Govt Govt gives in-principle approval to nine ethanol blending projects Jagatjit Ind to invest Rs 210 cr to set up grain-based ethanol plant UAE emerges as 4th largest investor in India, FDI jumped three-fold in FY23 Reeling under Rs 24,000 cr debt, Goa fails to disburse financial aid Odisha govt confident public debt to stay within limit of 25% of GSDP India has right vision for aviation sector, needs caution with taxes: IATA FinMin starts deciding process on convenor of GST rate rationalisation GoM "The Bargarh 2G Bio-refinery will invigorate a circular economy, give impetus to waste-to-wealth creation, boost farmers' income & welfare, create large-scale employment, augment indigenous production of green fuel and lead Odisha towards prosperity and self-reliance as envisioned by PM @narendramodi ji," Pradhan tweeted. The plant is the first of its kind in the world with rice-based 1G and 2G bio-ethanol production. Ethanol produced from the plant shall be utilized for blending with petrol under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme for a significant reduction in GHG emissions and savings in crude import bill for India. "Keeping in mind GoI's focus on #greengrowth and upcoming bio-refineries in Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, suggested to design relevant courses & modules in ethanol engineering, economics & technology in regional Govt ITI for connecting local youth with the emerging green jobs and also prepare competent and skilled manpower," Pradhan tweeted. If banks misplace the original property documents of loan applicants, they may be required to give borrowers compensation as well as a penalty. If the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) follows the advice of a high-level committee it established in May of last year to examine customer service standards in banks and other lending institutions, this may soon become a reality, reported the news agency IANS. The panel led by former deputy RBI governor B P Kanungo, presented its report to the central bank in April this year, and this suggestion is a part of a slew of recommendations made in it. The RBI has invited comments from stakeholders by July 7 on the committee's recommendations. According to the report, the panel has recommended that the RBI might take into account setting a deadline for banks to give the borrower their property documents after the loan account is closed, failing which the banks should automatically pay the borrower a fine or compensation based on the length of the delay. Original property documents are usually requested by banks, that retain them until the loans are completely returned. However, the RBI has received numerous complaints alleging that banks take a long time to deliver property documents, even after the loan has been paid back on schedule. "In case of loss of property documents, the bank should not only be obligated to assist in obtaining certified registered copies of documents at their cost but also compensate the customer adequately, keeping in view the time taken to arrange the alternate copies of the documents," the panel has suggested. Also Read RBI policy: How a repo rate hike/cut impacts your home loans and EMIs MPC lowers projection for inflation, raises growth outlook a bit in FY24 RBI Monetary Policy: Repo rate up by 25 bps, FY23 inflation pegged at 6.5% RBI MPC: When and where to watch policy announcement by Shaktikanta Das RBI MPC: When and where to watch policy announcement by Shaktikanta Das India tops world ranking in digital payments with 89.5 mn transactions EV financing platform Revfin raises $5 million in investment from DFC TVS Credit Services raises Rs 480 crore capital from Premji Invest Go Digit Life Insurance receives IRDAI's approval to start business RBI notifies 4 key measures to strengthen 1,514 urban co-operative banks Original property records are crucial since they establish ownership and help to avoid disputes. (With inputs from IANS) This June 8, 2021 file photo shows the country's biggest solar power plant in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province. Korea Times file Solar power generation accounted for close to 40 percent of Korea's overall electricity demand at one point in April, industry data showed Sunday, suggesting it has emerged as a major source of energy in the country. A total of 21,778 megawatts was generated through solar power between noon and 1 p.m. on April 9, accounting for 39.2 percent of the country's total power use of 55,577 megawatts, according to data from the Korea Power Exchange and state utility Korea Electric Power. The ratio of solar power generation in the country's overall energy demand remained at over 30 percent in the noon to 1 p.m. period on Feb. 26, March 19 and 26, April 1, 2, 8, 9 and 30, May 1 and 14, and June 3-6, according to the data. The number of solar power plants is growing in South Jeolla Province, Jeju Island and North Gyeongsang Province. It shows higher demand for solar power generation, together with nuclear, thermal and liquefied natural gas-based power generation. (Yonhap) At least 23 people were injured on Sunday when their vehicle overturned in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The injured were rushed to sub-district hospital Basohli where the condition of five of them is stated to be "serious", police officials said. The victims were returning home from a temple in a load carrier when the accident took place near Kashid village in the Basohli area in the evening, they said. The driver lost control while negotiating a curve and as a result the vehicle overturned, the officials said. Also Read Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid tight security in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua Jammu-Kashmir's LG Manoj Sinha condoles loss of lives in Kathua mishap Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeks discussion in parliament on Jammu-Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar likely to host G20 event: Govt official Unfortunate that no G20 meetings were scheduled in Jammu: Farooq Abdullah MP govt to hike monthly honorarium of anganwadi workers to Rs 13,000 Centre's reforms in governance will create future-ready civil servants: Min Govt is trying to protect Brij Bhushan, alleges wrestler Vinesh Phogat Goa to host 3-day meet of audit institutions of G20 nations from tomorrow AIIMS Rajkot likely to be fully ready by October, says Mansukh Mandaviya While Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claims that Assam will surpass the GDP of Punjab within the next three years, the opposition is constantly alleging that the state is in major debt. The per capita debt burden of Assam is estimated at Rs 26,771 after the close of the financial year 2021-22. According to state Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, the per capita debt burden has almost doubled in the last five financial years. However, Neog also stated that according to quick estimates, per capita income was Rs 1,02,965 and GDP was Rs 4,12,162 crore, which registered a growth rate of over 16 per cent in 2021-22. As per the data provided by the state Finance Minister, the Assam government borrowed Rs 12,753 crore ($1.385 billion) from the market for development projects during 2021-2022. Financial institutions have provided Rs 94 crore for the construction of rural infrastructure, and the Central government has loaned Rs 157.34 crore for the implementation of development projects, Rs 600 crore for capital project implementation, and Rs 2,252.10 crore from the state provident fund. Also Read Ambedkar said reservation can't be given on basis of religion: Assam CM Govt working to make Assam Police "zero vacancy force": Assam CM Sarma Assam CM Sarma to watch 'The Kerala Story' with cabinet colleagues Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attends Mega Bihu programme at Tezpur Assam CM accuses Left of distorting history, making it a tale of defeats Cyclone 'Biparjoy' turns intense, IMD predicts heavy rain in Kerala Goa to host three-day meet involving audit institutions of G20 nations Facing competition from pvt players, 10 hotels of RTDC to be renovated Punjab hikes petrol price by 92 paisa per litre, diesel prices by 88 paisa India logs 142 new Covid-19 infections, active cases decrease to 2,450 The opposition has alleged that to continue with Himanta Biswa Sarma's populist schemes, Assam has fallen into serious debt. The Trinamool Congress president in the state, Ripun Bora, told IANS: "Assam's outstanding loans stood at Rs 1,34,000 crore at the end of the previous financial year. In 2016, before the BJP came to power in the state, Assam had only Rs 35,000 crore in total borrowings." He also alleged that, despite taking a huge loan, the state government is unable to clear the dues of contractors working on various government projects. "Payments worth Rs 22,000 crore due to contractors have been pending for a long time. The state government cannot even pay the salaries of contractual government employees on time," Bora added. According to the Trinamool Congress leader, Assam will soon face a huge crisis. Another opposition MLA, Akhil Gogoi, claimed that the economic condition of Assam is going to be like that of Sri Lanka in the near future. He further alleged that due to financial indiscipline, the Centre has stopped sanctioning loans to the Assam government. However, Ajanta Neog has turned down the allegations of the opposition leaders. She said that state governments borrow money in accordance with the RBI's rules and the 2003 FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act of the states. The minister further claimed that in accordance with RBI standards, the state government did not borrow the maximum amount possible. According to her, the government uses the loan proceeds for state development. Notably, in the previous year, the Assam government passed a bill to increase its debt-to-gross state domestic product (GSDP) ratio. That time, Congress, AIUDF, and one independent MLA in the house staged a walkout in protest over the increase in government loans, but the Assam Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (AFRBM) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was passed by voice vote. With the bill's adoption, the debt-to-gross domestic product (GSDP) ratio will rise from the current 28.5 per cent to 32 per cent over the following five fiscal years, starting in 2022-2023. The additional borrowing maximum has also been increased by 0.50 per cent of the gross domestic product (GSDP), above and beyond the mandated cap of 4 per cent for 2022-23 to 2024-25. Meanwhile, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India also recently criticised the Assam government for the rise in borrowings. It pointed out that Assam's outstanding debt has "rapidly increased" from Rs 49,274.88 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 99,918.54 crore in 2021-22. A CAG report said: "In view of the increasing growth rate of its public debt, the state government may make efforts to augment its own revenues and reduce its revenue expenditure so as to avoid pressure on repayment of public debt and interest liabilities." --IANS tdr/kvd Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday wrote a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, requesting him to include Bilaspur city from the state in the Centre's UDAN-5.0 scheme so that it will have regular flight services to connect with other places. The CM said regular air service from Bilaspur is necessary as it is the second important city in Chhattisgarh, from where the high court functions. "We have received information that the Union Aviation Ministry has not included Bilaspur in the UDAN-5.0 scheme. People of Bilaspur region are disappointed with this decision of the Union government," Baghel said in the letter. The civil aviation ministry has launched the fifth stage of the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) - to further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity. Talking to reporters after the conclusion of Congress party workers' regional summit here, the chief minister confirmed that Bilaspur has not been included in the UDAN scheme. "I would like to tell Arun Sao (president of Chhattisgarh BJP) that we had spent Rs 45 crore for constructing the airport and getting licences under the UDAN scheme. Arun Sao should sit on a 'dharna' as the UDAN scheme has stopped in his Lok Sabha constituency. How will he face the public now?" the CM said. Also Read Aviation ministry to commence flights to Vellore under UDAN scheme: Scindia UDAN is giving birth to regional airlines, says Jyotiraditya Scindia Chhattisgarh CM Baghel meets Home Minister Shah at Raipur airport Rahul Gandhi raising issues that need to be researched: CM Bhupesh Baghel Weakened BJP in Chhattisgarh struggles to find a face to counter Baghel Haryana to set up horticulture market with outlay of Rs 2,600cr in Sonipat Waiting for verdict on wrestlers' row, will fight next polls: WFI chief Indian crew members of cargo ship return home after detention in Africa Gujarat prepares for impact as cyclone Biparjoy likely to make landfall Andhra Pradesh CM constitutes working group to transform school curriculum Sao represents Bilaspur in the Lok Sabha. In the letter, the CM further said that in consultation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the civil aviation ministry, the Chhattisgarh government had spent Rs 45 crore for ensuring arrangements for terminal building, runway expansion, arrangement of security equipment at the Bilaspur airport for commencement of air service. Due to the state government's consistent efforts, Bilaspur was connected with air service to cities like Jabalpur, New Delhi, Prayagraj, Indore, etc. The number of passengers on all the flights arriving in and departing from Bilaspur was promising. However, the flight service to Indore was stopped later for unknown reasons, he added. Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the Centre's reforms in governance would create future-ready employees empowered by digital training platforms. Addressing the first National Training Conclave organised by the Capacity Building Commission at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Pragati Maidan here, he said Mission Karmayogi is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of consistent capacity building. "Mission Karmayogi has been designed as a comprehensive programme which would enable civil servants and other government employees to acquire the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary for delivering high-quality public service in a rapidly evolving world," said Singh, the minister of state for personnel. The National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) or Mission Karmayogi aims to create a competent civil service rooted in Indian ethos, with a shared understanding of the country's priorities, working in harmonisation for effective and efficient public service delivery. Singh said that encouraged by its successful use among civil servants, it has now also been introduced for new appointees in Rozgar Mela as Mission Karmayogi Prarambh. In a country as diverse as India, there are complex ranges of issues but it provides the opportunity for civil servants to learn and to improve their ability and expertise, the Union minister said, adding that the Centre's governance reforms would create future-ready civil servants empowered by digital training platforms. Also Read PM Modi to address civil servants on Civil Services Day, April 21 Technology-driven governance hallmark of 9 yrs of Modi govt: Jitendra Singh Govt to set up task force for land governance in North-Eastern states Transformative reforms in last 8 years brought transparency: Jitendra Singh Former civil servants condemn Rijiju's remarks on judiciary in open letter Govt is trying to protect Brij Bhushan, alleges wrestler Vinesh Phogat Goa to host 3-day meet of audit institutions of G20 nations from tomorrow AIIMS Rajkot likely to be fully ready by October, says Mansukh Mandaviya Responsibility of govt servants to increase people's faith in system: PM Blaze in west Delhi's Kirti Nagar factory, 20 fire tenders rushed The national training conclave witnessed participation from over 700 national civil service training institutes across the country. In his address at the conclave, Singh highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by the Narendra Modi government to deliver on the promise of "minimum government-maximum governance". Following the directions of the prime minister, the first-ever Capacity Building Commission (CBC) has been established, he said, adding that this "first-of-its-kind" institution fulfilled the need to have a dedicated agency for improving skill and a provision for periodic training for government functionaries. "The commission facilitates the preparation of annual capacity building plans of departments, ministries and agencies, aims to create shared learning resources, exercise functional supervision over all central training institutions and undertakes an audit of human resources in government and outcome of the capacity building efforts," the minister said. Singh pointed out that in 2014 the government had done away with the colonial-era practice of requiring a citizen to get certificates and documents attested by a gazetted officer or file affidavits for government-related work. The Government of India, in pursuance of its commitment to zero tolerance against corruption, has taken several measures, including the recent amendments made to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, he said. The amendment introduces a number of new provisions, including criminalising giving or taking bribes and putting in place an effective deterrence for such actions. It also includes a robust mechanism to protect an honest and performing officer, the minister said. He also pointed out that the Union government has abolished the process of taking interviews for recruitment to Group-B (non-gazetted) and Group C posts since 2016. Referring to the transparency mechanism brought in for the implementation of government schemes, Singh cited the Aspirational District Programme to say, "The districts have been selected based on a composite index comprising health, nutrition, education, basic infrastructure and poverty. India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces here beginning Sunday during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy. A 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi on Saturday. Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force welcomed them at the airport, officials said. The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area. "The conference is being organised to discuss the border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces." "Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb the various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between both the border guarding forces," a BSF spokesperson said in a statement. Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the spokesperson said. This will be the 53rd edition of the talks and the last such meeting was held in July last year when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka. Also Read Bangladeshi villagers attack BSF jawans, snatch weapons; two injured India-Bangladesh border haats will reopen soon: Dhaka Commerce Minister India, Bangladesh share ties; can't undermine bilateral relations: Shah BSF shoots down Pakistani drone along Pulmoran border post in Punjab 'India, Bangladesh play significant role in ensuring security of region' High-level teams visit Dudhwa Tiger Reserve to probe tiger deaths Biparjoy to intensify into extremely severe cyclonic storm soon: IMD Ensure drivers of DTC bus drive properly: Delhi Court to transport ministry Indian sailors who were detained in Nigeria return home after 9 months Indian-American LGBTQ members urge PM Modi to support equal rights in India The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on India's eastern flank. These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka. A senior BSF officer had earlier told PTI that the relations between the two countries and their border forces are very good and the conference is expected to enhance these ties. A 'joint record of discussions' will be signed by the two sides at the end of the conference. Indian-American LGBTQ members on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support the equal rights of the LGBTQ community in India. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden this month. During his four-day visit starting on June 21, the US president and the First Lady will host Modi for a state dinner on June 22. I would say the Indian Supreme Court has been debating the issue of gay marriage, LGBTQ marriage for a couple of months now. I would urge Prime Minister Modi to support this, to support the equal rights of the LGBTQ community in India and to understand that our children and LGBTQ folks are entitled to equal rights because we are all human, Aruna Rao, executive director, Desi Rainbow, told PTI. Rao was among the handful of Indian Americans who were invited to participate in the historic Pride Rally on the South Lawns of the White House which was addressed by President Joe Biden and the First Lady Dr Jill Biden. My understanding is in the metro areas, there is some support for LGBTQ people. Legislatively also, the government has moved forward in terms of transgender rights. But there is a lot to be done, particularly not in the metro areas, in the small towns, in the villages where people don't have support, don't have access to any kind of equal rights, she said. Also Read Covid cases rising in many countries, be vigilant, wear mask: PM Modi PM holds meeting with top ministers to discuss strategy for Budget session PM Modi, Kishida discuss cooperation in green hydrogen, semiconductors Accomplishments were possible because people elected stable govt: PM Modi Thank everyone for their prayers in these tough times: PM Modi's family Midnapore-Howrah local train derails at Kharagpur, no injuries reported LIVE: AAP mega rally today in Delhi on Centre's ordinance, security up PM Modi lauds long-jumper Sreeshankar for 3rd place in Paris Diamond League Punjab Police launches operation against illegal lottery, gambling PM Modi speaks to South African President Ramaphosa, reviews bilateral ties In every which way, economically, socially, culturally, LGBTQ folks in India, in South Asia need a lot of support, Rao said. Another Indian-American participant at the White House Pride Rally, Lesley Kingston hoped that President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a good meeting later this month. I hope that their bilateral relationships between the two countries get stronger. But I do hope that Prime Minister Modi really spends some time taking a look at the South Asian, the Indian community here and learning how we are striving for progress and to be able to implement the same kind of things and give the rights of LGBTQ people in India: all the rights that we have here and more. Because they deserve it, Kingston told PTI. Over 50,650 men, women and children, displaced in Manipur's ethnic violence were sheltered in 350 camps, Information and Public Relations and Health Minister S. Ranjan said here on Sunday. The Minister said that district and cluster nodal officers have been deputed to take care and look after the relief centers set up in more than 10 districts in Manipur, which witnessed devastating ethnic violence since May 3 killing 105 people and injuring over 320. He said that relief centers have also been opened specially for pregnant women and special care has also been taken up for lactating mothers, aged persons and children. Ranjan stated that goods and essential commodities are being brought through Imphal-Jiribam National Highway via southern Assam and so far 2,376 trucks loaded with 35,000 metric tons of construction materials, fuels, essential commodities have been brought into the state. The state government is trying to make Khongsang railway station activated within the next 10 days for convenient transportation of essential items. Helicopter services from Moreh-Imphal, Imphal-Churachandpur and Imphal-Kangpokpi have already been started, the Minister added. Various Kuki tribal organisations continue to block the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Manipur, creating a serious problem of transporting essentials, foodgrains, transport fuel, and life-saving drugs. 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 Manipur violence: Long-standing issue of ST status for Meitei torches state Unless Tamil Nadu widens revenue base, it can slip into debt trap: Experts UAE emerges as 4th largest investor in India, FDI jumped three-fold in FY23 Fire in residential building in Dharavi; 11 injured including 3 children Bengal school job case: Bizman who donated bungalow to trust under scanner Infra push, not populism behind Maharashtra's rising Rs 7.07 tn debt Though the state government with security escorts has been trying to ferry various essentials from different parts of the country through the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), the NH-2 (via Nagaland) is considered as the lifeline for Manipur. Ranjan, who is also the spokesman of the government, said that so far a total of 990 arms and 13,526 ammunition have been surrendered to the government. "Combing operations have been continued by the Army and other central and state forces in all districts, particularly in vulnerable areas, to nab the militants and miscreants," said the minister. Media reports claimed that thousands of different types of arms and a large quantity of ammunition were looted by mobs and miscreants from many police stations and security camps after the riots broke out on May 3. Noting that the roadmap of education for the affected students are being chalked out by the government, the minister said that the details of the government plan would be announced soon by the Education Minister concerned very shortly. Regarding the banking sector, out of the 242 branches, 198 bank branches are made operational as of now, and the rest will be made functional at the earliest, he stated. Ranjan said that a price control mechanism is put into force to check the price rise of essential commodities. --IANS sc/dpb Some Indian students in Canada facing the prospect of deportation on charges of obtaining visas using fake admission letters have received "stay orders" from Canadian authorities, government sources said on Sunday. India has repeatedly been urging Canadian authorities to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were allegedly victims of some agents. The sources also said that the actual number of Indian students facing deportation from Canada is much less than 700. "Most of these students had gone to Canada during 2017-2019. After completing their studies, some of them obtained work permits, while others continue to study in Canada," said a source. India has been taking up the matter with Canadian authorities, in Canada and in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took up with matter with his Canadian counterpart. Also Read Pursuing solution for Indian students fearing deportation: Canada minister Prime Minister Trudeau says Canadian healthcare isn't living up to promise EB-5 visa: What is it, who can apply and how it is different from H1-B visa Justin Trudeau expresses grief over loss of lives in Odisha's train mishap What's their fault, ask parents of students under deportation from Canada North Eastern Railway services to be colour coded in Lucknow division USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman arrives in Varanasi for G20 meet As Goa loses tourists to Malvan, state police cracks down on touts 'Warrior Moms' fight for their children's right to breathe clean air Top headlines: Unemployment rate dips 7.7%, AAP's 'maha rally' and more "Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault," said the source cited above. "It was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visa and also allowed to enter Canada," it added. In the last few days, Canadian parliamentarians across political parties have spoken in support of the students. Immigration Minister Sean Frasier has indicated that Canada is actively pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty, the sources said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the need for fair treatment of the students. "Some students have recently received stay orders on their deportation notices," the source said. "It is welcome that the consistent efforts by the government of India has been instrumental in the Canadian government adopting a humane approach and taking on board the perspective of the students," the source said. Tamil Nadu will fall into a debt trap if the government continues to borrow to pay the old debt without focusing on infrastructure development, attracting real investments in manufacturing, preventing leakage, widening tax base and boosting the investors confidence, said experts. "Is Tamil Nadu moving towards a debt trap? The answer is a sound yes," said Sriram Seshadri, Founder and Managing Partner, Disha Consulting and formerly Partner and Managing Director, Accenture India, told IANS. Continuing further he added: "Tamil Nadu is borrowing to retire its earlier debt and meet revenue expenditure. The interest outgo is almost one third of the revenue. The cost of borrowing is going up year after year." According to Seshadri, the state is reckless in giving freebies and subsidies to all and cited the 100 units of free power - by the AIADMK government- to all domestic consumers as one example. Most of the budgetary allocations are towards revenue expenditure and not much for infrastructure development and the possibility of long term revenue is not there, he added. He said the state got into the vicious cycle of borrowing to retire earlier debt five years back. Also Read Budget 2023 to increase capex for infra projects for growth: Experts US to control land sales to foreigners within 100 miles of 8 military bases Tamil Nadu govt launches drive for solid waste management awareness Tamil Nadu Governor returns bill on prohibition of online gambling Tamil Nadu revenue deficit down 52%, says budget hailing welfare measures UAE emerges as 4th largest investor in India, FDI jumped three-fold in FY23 Fire in residential building in Dharavi; 11 injured including 3 children Bengal school job case: Bizman who donated bungalow to trust under scanner Infra push, not populism behind Maharashtra's rising Rs 7.07 tn debt PM Modi praises results of farming, poultry rearing projects in Lakshadweep "Thought welfare economy is good, capital formation/infrastructure spending is one which will pave the way for long term sustenance," Dr.Gowri Ramachandran, Economist and Chairperson - Expert Committee on Economic Affairs, Hindustan Chamber of Commerce told IANS. Presenting the state budget for 2023-24 and the Medium Term Fiscal Plan (MTFP) the former Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said Tamil Nadu plans to borrow a sum of Rs 1,43,197.93 crore duringand make a repayment of Rs 51,331.79 crore. "As a result, the outstanding debt as on 31st March 2024 will be Rs 7,26,028.83 crore. This constitutes 25.63 per cent of GSDP (gross state domestic product) in 2023-24," MTFP said. The total revenue receipts of the state including the central transfers are estimated to be Rs 2,70,515.23 crore in Budget Estimates 2023-24 as against the Revised Estimates of Rs 2,45,659.68 crore in 2022-23. The State's Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) for next fiscal is estimated at Rs 1,81,182.22 (Rs 1,51,870.61 crore as per revised estimates for 2022-23, said MTFP. The State's Own Non-Tax Revenue has been estimated at Rs 20,223.51 crore in the Budget Estimates for 2023-24. Tamil Nadu's share in central taxes is estimated at Rs 41,664.86 crore in budget estimates 2023-24 as against Rs 38,731.24 crore in the revised 2022-23 estimates. According to MTFP, the grants-in-aid from the central government for FY24 is estimated at Rs 27,444.64 crore and the reduction is due to the stoppage of GST Compensation from June 30, 2022, onwards. "This has resulted in a shortfall of around Rs 20,000 crores per annum. Further, from the current year onwards, funds for several centrally sponsored schemes are being directly released to the bank accounts of implementing agencies and local bodies or beneficiaries (in the case of scholarships), without being received into the Consolidated Fund of the State," the MTFP notes. The revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 3,08,055.68 crore for 2023-24 and the capital expenditure will be Rs 44,365.59 crore. The revenue deficit for 2023-24 is estimated at Rs 37,540.45 crore. Ramachandran said Punjab, Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana are the states with the highest debt burden in India. "Among the five major south Indian states, Telangana has the lowest debt to GSDP ratio of 25.3 per cent, followed by Karnataka (27.5 per cent), Tamil Nadu (27.7 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (32.8 per cent), and Kerala with (37.2 per cent) is at the bottom of this list," Ramachandran said. Tamil Nadu had an outstanding liability of about Rs. 4.73 lakh crore at the end of March 2022 on funds raised through the issue of bonds, Ramachandran said. "About 32.4 per cent, or about Rs 1.53 lakh crore, of the outstanding amounts are coming up for repayment by 2026-27. To bridge the gap between its income and expenditure or, in other words, fiscal deficit, Tamil Nadu borrows from the market through the issue of State Development Loans (SDLs) and other bonds," she added. Adding further Ramachandran said Tamil Nadu is one of the few States that have been focusing on elongating the maturity profile of their market borrowings. "SDLs form a major part of Tamil Nadu's total outstanding liabilities. According to the data shared in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) report, SDLs account for about Rs 5.32 lakh crore of the State's total outstanding liabilities of about Rs 7.54 lakh crore estimated at the end of March 2023," Ramachandran remarked. "Outstanding debt of Tamil Nadu at the end of March 2024 is estimated to be 25.6 per cent of GSDP. Outstanding debt is estimated to increase to 25.9 per cent of GSDP at the end of March 2026," Ramachandran said. Widening the tax base, plugging the leakage are some of the concrete measures Tamil Nadu should implement to shore up its finances. According to Seshadri, increasing the tax revenue does not mean hiking tax rates and other charges is like flogging the dead horse. The current DMK government has done this by increasing the power tariff and other rates. The tax revenue will increase only when industrial investments happen in the state. Though Tamil Nadu is highly industrialised, other Indian states are shoring up their acts in wooing industrial investments. Seshadri said the industrial investors are losing confidence in Tamil Nadu owing to 'agitation industry' or agitation politics played by DMK and its allies while in the opposition. "The DMK while in power will bring in industrial investments. And when it is the opposition, the party along with allies and other organisations will resort to agitations against the same industrial projects it had brought in while in power," Seshadri said. The shutting down of the Sterlite Copper plant not only erased the investors confidence, but also a steady tax revenue of about Rs 8,000 crore to the state, Seshadri said. When pointed out that Sterlite Copper was shut down on pollution grounds and even the Supreme Court had ordered its closure Seshadri said: "It is the state government that has to see factories do not pollute." Similarly, the allies of the ruling DMK party and other organisations are opposed to projects like nuclear power projects, India based Neutrino Observatory, Colachel Port and others. "The DMK party and its allies opposed the Chennai-Salem Expressway when the AIADMK was in power. Now that the DMK is in power, it wants to implement the project which in turn sends conflicting signals to the investors," Seshadri said. Stressing that widening of the tax base will happen only when industrial investments happen in the state Seshadri said the proposed investment by Hyundai Motor India is only an expansion and modernisation and no major greenfield investment has happened. While the AIADMK and the DMK governments have inked Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with several industrial groups, the conversion of those MoUs into actual investments is not majorly happening. The contribution of the high profile committee of economists formed by the DMK government soon after it came to power is not seen much as hike rates and charges are no-brainer actions. Seshadri has good words for the former Finance Minister Rajan who was recently shifted to a different department. "I would rate Palanivel Thiaga Rajan at 8 on a scale of 10 points. He brought in transformational change in the system. He questioned every expenditure and was able to reverse the revenue deficit," Seshadri said. Seshadri said Rajan had openly voiced about the leakage in the system - for instance sale of liquor out of the state retail outlets- which resulted in huge loss of revenue to the state. "The leakage in the liquor sales could be about Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore. If this is brought under the system then the government can cut down its borrowings and boost the revenue which could be spent on productive purposes," Seshadri remarked. Seshadri said to avoid falling into a debt trap and continue borrowing to pay old debt, Tamil Nadu should widen its tax base, invest in infrastructure, target the subsidies to the needy and prevent the leakages in the system. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) --IANS vj/dan/kvd United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman arrived in Varanasi on Sunday to attend the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting, USAID is an independent agency of the US government that works towards providing civilian foreign aid and development assistance. The G20 Development Ministers' Meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to be held between June 11-13 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair the meeting. The meeting, to be held as part of India's G20 Presidency, will also see a special video address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs statement said. The Varanasi Development Ministers' Meeting takes place in the midst of mounting developmental challenges that have been made worse by the slowdown in the global economy, debt distress, the effects of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, rising poverty and inequality, the cost of living crisis, supply chain disruptions around the world, and geopolitical tensions and conflicts. The G20 Development Ministerial meeting will be an opportunity to collectively agree on actions for accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering synergies between the development, environment and climate agendas while avoiding costly trade-offs that hold back progress for the developing countries, the statement added. Also Read Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet SC asks Varanasi collector to hold meet to provide wazu' at Gyanvapi mosque Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know India to put across concerns of Global South at G20: EAM Jaishankar UP set to get its third international cricket stadium in Varanasi As Goa loses tourists to Malvan, state police cracks down on touts 'Warrior Moms' fight for their children's right to breathe clean air Top headlines: Unemployment rate dips 7.7%, AAP's 'maha rally' and more India-Bangladesh biannual border talks set to begin in New Delhi today High-level teams visit Dudhwa Tiger Reserve to probe tiger deaths The Varanasi gathering follows the Voice of the Global South Summit, which was hosted by India in January 2023. The decisions made at the Varanasi meeting will also have an impact on the United Nations SDG Summit, which will be held in New York in September. Further, according to the statement, the meeting will consist of two main sessions -- one on 'Multilateralism: Collective Actions for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs' and another on 'Green Development: A LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Approach'. The Development Ministers' Meeting was preceded by the fourth and final Development Working Group (DWG) Meeting, which was held in Delhi from June 6-9. By Lee Hyon-soo Wanderlust is a strong desire to travel and explore the world. I don't think that wanderlust is something that is necessarily innate or predetermined at birth. Nevertheless, I have had a natural inclination toward travel and adventure since adolescence. And I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunities and resources to satisfy my wanderlust. Not only have I traveled the world over the years, but I have also written many accounts of my travels. But there are some journeys about which I have neglected to write. In this regard, my journey to China springs to mind. I thought that I had better go see Mount Paektu and the Great Wall while I sojourned in Korea. So I set out on a journey to China with a few friends several years ago. On our way to Mount Paektu, we stopped over in Shenyang to visit Mukden Palace and Zhao Mausoleum, among other historic sites. We also took a tour of Yanji, the administrative seat of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture which is home to the descendants of Koreans who had moved to China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to seek a better life or fight for the independence of Korea. Mount Paektu rises 2,744 meters above sea level. We ascended the Chinese side of the mountain by jeep most of the way and walked about 100 meters uphill to reach its summit. The crater at the summit was much bigger than I had imagined and it was filled with sparkling water. Indeed, it was a picturesque lake and seemed worthy of its name, Cheonji (Heavenly Lake). According to our tour guide, Cheonji is shrouded by heavy fog more often than not and we were extremely lucky to see it on a clear day. From Mount Paektu, we traveled to Beijing and visited the Forbidden City which is an old palace complex. Our guide informed us that it consists of 980 buildings and covers 178 acres. It exemplifies the opulence of the residence of Chinese emperors and traditional Chinese palatial architecture. It is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. After spending several hours exploring the Forbidden City, we made our way to the Great Wall which was built from the third century B.C. to the 17th century as the military defense project of successive Chinese empires with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers. As I made my way up the winding path, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer size of the wall. When I finally reached the top, I was rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The wall stretched out as far as the eye could see, snaking its way up and down the hills and valleys like a giant serpent. I walked along the wall for several hours, marveling at the craftsmanship that had gone into building this incredible structure. As the sun began to set, I made my way back down to the base of the wall, feeling grateful for the opportunity to have experienced such an incredible piece of history. Mount Paektu, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China exceeded my expectations. The writer (tomhslee43@gmail.com) is the author of "Tales of a Korean Globetrotter." BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers, Sunday said he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Kaisarganj again and was awaiting the court's verdict to speak on the grapplers' stir. He was replying to queries from media persons after addressing a rally in the district's Balpur area where he skipped any direct reference to the wrestlers' protest for his arrest and chose to target the Congress over the Emergency, Ram temple, the 1984 anti-Sikhs riots and other issues. Asked by the reporters why he was not commenting on the wrestlers' protest and what was he waiting for, the BJP MP said, "Court ke faisle ka (court's verdict)." On whether he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Gonda or Ayodhya, Singh said, "Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat se chunav ladunga, ladunga, ladunga (I will definitely contest from Kaiserganj)." Brij Bhushan Singh has represented the Kaisarganj Lok Sabha constituency thrice -- once as an SP MP (from 2009 to 2014). He won the 2004 general elections from the Balrampur Lok Sabha seat, and the 1991 and 1999 Lok Sabha polls from the Gonda seat on BJP tickets. Currently, he is serving a sixth term as Lok Sabha MP. At the rally, he began his 23-minute speech with an Urdu couplet, "Kabhi ask, kabhi gumh, to kabhi zeher piya jata hai... tab ja kar zamane mein jiya jata hai. Yeh mila mujhko muhabbat ka silla, bewafa kehke mera naam liya jata hai. Isko ruswai kahen ki shohrat apni, dabe hontho se mera naam liya jata hai (Sometimes one has to take a lot of grief and poison to live in this world... This is the reward I got for my love, they call me unfaithful. Should I call it notoriety or fame, they take my name with pursed lips)." The rally was organised to celebrate the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. So far, Singh has remained defiant despite facing possible action from the Delhi Police, which has recorded statements of over 200 people in connection with the case against him and will file a chargesheet by June 15. On Saturday, the protesting wrestlers alleged he was using his influence to put sexual harassment victims under pressure and forcing them to change their statements. They also threatened to resume their stir if decisive action was not taken against the MP by June 15. Also Read 'Sought sexual favours, touched inappropriately': FIRs against WFI chief Will immerse medals in Ganga, fast unto death: Protesting wrestlers Centre invites protesting wrestlers for talks on charges against WFI chief Wrestlers back to protest at Jantar Mantar: Everything you need to know Who is Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the WFI chief in the eye of the storm? Indian crew members of cargo ship return home after detention in Africa Gujarat prepares for impact as cyclone Biparjoy likely to make landfall Andhra Pradesh CM constitutes working group to transform school curriculum Sunflower crop procurement picks up in Haryana, after relief to farmers IndiGo flight enters Pakistan airspace amid bad weather, returns safely Singh has denied the allegations against him and claimed that some Congress leaders from Haryana hatched a conspiracy to defame him because of the reforms he brought as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. During his address on Sunday, the MP also said that no force in the world could stop the BJP from coming to power again in 2024. In his attack on the Congress, Singh said, "In 1947, the country got divided when the Congress was in power. The wounds of the Partition had not even healed when Pakistan attacked and grabbed 78,000 square kilometres of our land while the Congress was in power." "In 1962, when the Congress was in power, China attacked (us) and grabbed 33,000 square kilometres of our land. In 1971 (India-Pakistan war), an unprecedented 92,000 (Pakistani) soldiers were made prisoners of war by the Indian Army. Still, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi freed them without settling the old score," the outgoing WFI president said. "Had there been a prime minister like (Narendra) Modi then in the country, the land that was grabbed would have been freed," he added. Singh also attacked the Congress for imposing the Emergency in the country in 1975. "The Congress got Sikhs massacred in 1984 in the anti-Sikh riots," he added. Showering praises on Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP leader said, "Earlier, we used to say 'Jahaan Balidaan (Syama Prasad) Mookerjee Huye, Woh Kashmir Hamara Hai' (the Kashmir where Syama Prasad Mookerjee attained martyrdom is ours). We proudly repeat this today, and it has been made possible because of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah." Apparently referring to former Congress leader Kapil Sibal's 2017 pitch for deferment of hearing of the Ayodhya title suit till after the 2019 general elections, Singh said, "The Congress posed hurdles and obstructions by fielding a lawyer so that any decision on the Ram Temple would not come in time. It made the Supreme Court work even during midnight to save a convicted terrorist from capital punishment." He also referred to the Congress demanding proof of the Indian Army's surgical strikes on terror camps following attacks in Uri and Pulwama and questioning the anti-COVID vaccine manufactured by scientists in India. Earlier in the day, Singh covered a distance of nearly 40 kilometres by road to reach the event venue. Tarabganj MLA Prem Narayan Pandey and Colonelganj MLA Ajay Kumar Singh accompanied him. A large number of BJP workers and supporters turned up for the rally, braving temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius. Higher Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav said, "The double-engine government of Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath is working very well. Whosoever has done wrong has been reduced to dust." He also listed the achievements during the nine years of the Modi government, and said, "When Modiji was the chief minister of Gujarat, he was denied a visa to the US. But now, every president wants to meet him. Not just the US but every nation wants to have a good relationship with India." Amid the wrestlers' protest, Brij Bhushan Singh had requested permission from the Ayodhya district administration to hold a rally on June 5 but was denied. However, the MP had said he postponed the 'Jan Chetna Maharally' at the Ram Katha Park for "a few days" due to the ongoing police probe into the wrestlers' allegations against him. Air India and IndiGo have added flights to Leh and Srinagar to fill up the capacity gap caused by grounding of Go First. While Air India has increased its frequency with additional flights from Delhi to Leh, Srinagar and Pune till June 30, IndiGo is operating extra flights from Mumbai to Leh, Srinagar and Dehradun in June and July. Go First operated around 200 flights daily before temporarily halting flights on May 2. Its top routes included Delhi-Srinagar, Delhi-Leh, Delhi-Pune among others. The cancellations have resulted in reduction in capacity and increased airfares on these routes. In fact, the daily average number of passengers headed to Srinagar dropped to 11,500-12,000 last month from 17,500-18,000 a year ago. "Srinagar continues to see year-long demand from across the country. This year is no exception. The only dampener is high ticket fares following suspension of Go First flights. Getting seats to Leh is impossible due to extremely limited inventory," said Sudhir Patil, director of Mumbai-based tour operator Veena World. Patil added that all their group tours to Kashmir and Leh are on including those that were originally booked on Go First flights. However, the group size of these tours shrunk as a majority of customers (booked on Go First) deferred travel instead of rebooking on other flights. Also Read Analysts see upto 38% upside in IndiGo; suggest tracking costs, airfare cap IndiGo Q3: Focus on international destinations lifts outlook, say analysts IndiGo reinstates cabin crew bonus after 2nd consecutive profitable quarter Go First may be grounded, but IndiGo is in no hurry to expand capacity IndiGo flies higher even as SpiceJet sputters into a loss in Q4: Brokerages India's aviation market offers diverse opportunities: Star Alliance CEO IT services firms face stiff competition from GCCs on market share, talent Demand for medicines increasing in smaller towns across the country Peak power demand met touches all-time high of 223.23 GW on June 9 Smartphone exports climb to 5th place among top 20 commodities based on IHS "The number of tourists visiting Ladakh this summer is lower than last year due to high airfares and suspension of Go First operations. Also, compared to last year, international travel is also higher as destinations have reopened for tourists. This has affected us too," said Tsetan Angchuk, past president & advisor, All Ladakh Tour Operators Association. When faced with a choice -- lower prices or healthier foods -- people are more likely to choose lower prices, according to a new study of food consumer shopping behaviours. The study, published in the journal Marketing Science, found that when you give food consumers temporary incentives to buy healthier foods, they will likely choose those healthier foods. But when you take away the discounts, consumers are more likely to return to old behaviours of buying the less healthy/less expensive options. The study was based on research into the US Special Supplemental Nutrition Programme for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which WIC gives vouchers for specific foods to mothers and their children aged 5 and younger. In 2009, WIC policy reform changed the composition of food vouchers, introducing vouchers to encourage purchase of healthier products. According to lead author Marit Hinnosaar from the University of Nottingham in the UK, evidence points to a decrease in purchases of healthier options after participants left the programme. "During the incentive programme, vouchers were restricted to whole wheat bread and low-fat milk," she said. Also Read Myntra launches platform to tap 10 mn new Gen-Z shoppers in 2 years Shoppers Stop Q3 profit jumps 24% to Rs 63 crore on festive demand Petrol, diesel prices remain largely unchanged, check prices in your city Global food prices in 2022 hit record high amid drought, war: FAO Myntra gets 130,000 first-time shoppers from non-metros on Day 1 of sale Air India, IndiGo add Leh and Srinagar flights to fill gap left by Go First India's aviation market offers diverse opportunities: Star Alliance CEO IT services firms face stiff competition from GCCs on market share, talent Demand for medicines increasing in smaller towns across the country Peak power demand met touches all-time high of 223.23 GW on June 9 "Since some of these options tend to be more expensive, once the vouchers were no longer available for these products, consumers tended to choose items based on price." Still, there was no measurable difference in the total quantities of products in the WIC vouchers during or after the programme. These products included bread, milk, fruits and vegetables, juice, eggs and cereal. "A modest post-programme subsidy once programme participants leave the programme -- to incentivise healthier food choices -- may be a more sustainable way to lengthen the programme's impact and lead to long-term healthier food purchases," Hinnosaar said. --IANS rvt/uk/ Smartphones catapulted into the league of five most exported commodities by value, based on their harmonised system (HS) codes in FY23, up from the ninth rank in the pecking order in FY22. HS is a globally harmonised identification for a specific product used for export and import of the commodity. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made no bones about it being averse to crypto currency, ever since it emerged on the horizon in the country a few years ago. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has, in fact, sought an outright ban on it, while making his views clear on it at several platforms in the last two years. "Crypto should be banned, given its no underlying value in the market. Just like every asset, every financial product comes with some underlying value, hence the value of crypto is totally based on the make-believe factor," he had said in January this year during a media event. "Crypto is a form of gambling without any underlying value and is nothing but a 100 per cent speculation world," he had said in the same event, while seeking a ban on it. If crypto is allowed in India, the RBI may likely fail in monitoring the transactions, Das has said. The RBI governor has gone on to say that crypto masquerading as a financial asset is a completely misplaced argument. Also Read Post pandemic pent-up demand surge, realty space may face global headwinds Players lose progress, in-game money after bug in GTA Online hit accounts Sony-owned Guerrilla confirms new multiplayer Horizon game on Twitter Govt considering registration of flats even if developers go bankrupt KTM India launched a more accessible 390 Adventure V with low seat variant Crypto wrap: Markets resilient amid SEC action against Binance, Coinbase US SEC charges Coinbase for operating as unregistered securities exchange Crypto market cracks 5%, Bitcoin at 3-month low after US SEC sues Binance US SEC sues Binance, founder Zhao alleging securities law violations Can leverage learnings from India on crypto regulations: WEF research Calling crypto as a form of gambling, Das has said that gambling is not promoted in India and if people still want to indulge in it, then there is a need to draw proper rules for it, while calling for an outright ban on it. He has said that crypto products need to be looked at and, going forward, the effort is to develop an international framework, an international architecture to deal with this problem. What's happening to the CBDC? Although the RBI has vehemently opposed cryptocurrency, its own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which had been launched as a pilot project on December 1, 2022, for retail use, is ready to target one million users by the end of this month. This was informed by the RBI on Thursday during the post repo rate announcement press conference. While it has no specific date in mind for a full-fledged launch of the CBDC, the central bank will take a measured approach, it said. The RBI also has plans to make the united payments interface (UPI) platform fully interoperable with the CBDC. "We are not targetting a specific date, it will be a calibrated approach," T. Rabi Sankar, deputy governor, RBI had said on June 8. "We want to assess the impact and learn as we go. By the end of June, we are targeting 1 million CBDC users. We are also planning to make UPI QR code interoperable with CBDC," he added. The matter of banning Crypto As far as completely banning cryptocurrencies, back in July 2022, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that a stand could be taken only after considerable international collaboration on the risks, benefits, evolution of a common taxonomy and standards. "Cryptocurrencies are by definition borderless and require international collaboration to prevent regulatory arbitrage. Therefore, any legislation for regulation or for banning can be effective only after significant international collaboration on evaluation of the risks and benefits and evolution of common taxonomy and standards," Sitharaman had told Parliament in a reply. Earlier this year, though, during the meeting of the G20 finance ministers central bank governors (FMCBG) held in Bengaluru in February, it was decided that once the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) formulate a technical paper in a bid to attain a coordinated global approach for the regulation of crypto assets as proposed by the Indian presidency of the G20, it will form the basis for future discussions to develop an international architecture. Sitharaman had said after the FMCBG meeting that cryptocurrency regulation was discussed by a panel on February 23, 2023 and would again come up during the meeting scheduled in July 2023. A synthesis of the two studies -- by IMF and FSB -- would be considered in September this year, which will lead towards creation of a global policy approach on this matter (regulation of cryptocurrency), she had informed. --IANS ans/pgh No, Israel has NOT found two cases of a new variant of coronavirus In a little-noticed move, Israels latest hard-right coalition, which took office in December last year, has moved to transform its stranglehold on the West Bank. Following an amendment to its Basic Law, which passes for Israels constitution, a special new minister has taken civilian control of the West Bank, till now the exclusive preserve of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The significance of this move is one of degree; for the 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank, this establishes a de facto Israeli civilian rule (in Gaza, at the opposite end of the country, which is partly under Palestinian rule, the I To read the full story, subscribe to BS Premium now, at just Rs 249/ month. Key stories on business-standard.com are available only to BS Premium subscribers. Already a BS Premium subscriber?LOGIN NOW Register to read more on Business-Standard.com Two men were arrested from a suburb in Mumbai on Saturday, a day after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed he and his MLA brother Sunil Raut had received death threat calls and asked the Maharashtra government to take them seriously. The accused duo- one of them an autorickshaw driver and another an interior designing worker-were detained on Friday itself from the eastern suburb of Govandi but the police awaited an official complaint in the case before arresting them, an official said. Preliminary information suggests that they made the threat calls to the Raut brothers under the influence of alcohol, he said, adding that further investigation is underway. They were tracked based on the location of their mobile phones and call recordings provided by the Raut brothers, the official said. Earlier, Sunil Raut had received a call in which the person on the other side threatened to shoot him as well as his brother Sanjay Raut, police said on Friday. The government should take it (threat to him and his brother) seriously and not me. The government wants such threats. The matter is with the police and they will have to look into it, Sanjay Raut had told reporters. Also Read National Brother's Day 2023: History, celebration and other details inside Hearing in money-laundering case against Sanjay Raut adjourned till Feb 27 Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut labels Adityanath's roadshow as 'political biz' Kasba just a glimpse, united MVA can win over 200 assembly: Sanjay Raut Opposition firm on demand for probe against Adani companies: Sanjay Raut Amit Shah to address public meeting in Odisha's Dhenkanal on June 17 BJP committed to progress, development of nation: Party chief Nadda Policy paralysis' before 2014 eradicated under PM Modi's leadership: Naqvi K'taka deputy CM Shivakumar to get more responsibility ahead of MP polls Dropbox set up in Imphal valley to deposit snatched weapons anonymously Sunil Raut received a threat. I didn't lodge any complaint. We are not worried about it, claimed Raut, who has received threats in the past as well. Police registered a case against the arrested men under section 506-II (criminal intimidation - threat to cause death or grievous hurt) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code, the official added. Contradictions abound in the path to Opposition unity, some of which the Opposition leaders will discuss in Patna on June 23. Most other concerns could be resolved in subsequent meetings. Several could likely remain unsettled. Opposition strategists will need to agree on a common agenda for the 2024 Lok Sabha (LS) polls and iron out rough spots over areas where regional parties and the Congress contest for the same turf, whether LS constituencies in states such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and West Bengal or their outreach to castes and communities that do not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) The BJP on Sunday launched "selfie with palace of corruption" campaign here to target the AAP over the alleged irregularities in the renovation of the official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The "#SelfieWithCorruptionKaRajmahal" campaign comes at a time when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Kejriwal, have been targeting the Modi government over its ordinance denying the Delhi government control over services matters. The BJP has been alleging irregularities in the renovation of the official residence of the Delhi chief minister at a cost of Rs 52 crore, calling it a "Raj Mahal". During the campaign, party leaders and workers will click selfies with a model of the renovated official residence of the chief minister to corner the AAP. The campaign launch at Connaught Place was attended by Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramveer Bidhuri, MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramesh Bidhuri and Hans Raj Hans, among others. Sachdeva said the campaign "selfie with palace of corruption" will "expose" the reality of Kejriwal in front of the people of Delhi. Also Read AAP rally Kejriwal's attempt to cover up his corruption, alleges BJP Operation Sheesh Mahal: Why do BJP and Congress want Delhi CM to resign? 'Blatant corruption' in renovation of Kejriwal's residence, alleges BJP Aim of BJP-led Centre is to defame Kejriwal, AAP leaders: Sanjay Singh BJP demands white paper on pollution from Delhi govt as AQI deteriorates Will not allow anyone to take law into their hands: Shinde on violence Shah tears into YSRCP in Andhra; says it has done nothing but corruption Ill-informed: Scindia hits out at Venugopal for remark on rising airfares People were angry with govt before 2014, now they can see progress: UP CM BJP will win in LS polls next year, break all election records: Shinde "Kejriwal has done corruption by spending Rs 52 crore of hard-earned public money on his bungalow," he charged. The 'selfie with Rajmahal' campaign will be carried out in all the assembly constituencies of Delhi, the BJP leader said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for being "shameless" in calling Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "saput" (worthy son) of India. If the BJP leaders hail Godse, how can they embrace Mahatma Gandhi, he asked. His statements come days after Union minister Giriraj Singh, who while speaking in Dantewada city of Chhattisgarh on Friday, termed Godse a saput' of the country and said the assassin of the Mahatma was not an invader like Mughal rulers Babar and Aurangzeb as he was born in India. Baghel, while addressing a convention of the ruling Congress workers from the Raipur division held as part of preparations of the state Assembly elections due by the year-end, recalled that he had once asked BJP MLAs during a session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly to raise "Godse Murdabad" slogan, but they failed to do it. "They call Godse a 'saput' of India...How shameless! You and I can feel bad about it, but Godse is their idol. If you call Godse a 'saput', then how can you embrace Gandhi?" the CM asked. "They have only one agenda - conversion and communalism. We have to counter them," the CM said. Also Read Chhattisgarh tribal leader joins Congress, says tough decision to quit BJP Weakened BJP in Chhattisgarh struggles to find a face to counter Baghel BJP wants to make India a country of Nathuram Godse: Tejashwi on BBC survey Chhattisgarh liquor scam case: ED should arrest CM Baghel, says AAP NRIs Key architects of modern India; BJP, RSS ideology is of Godse: Rahul BJP launches 'selfie with palace of corruption' campaign to target AAP Will not allow anyone to take law into their hands: Shinde on violence Shah tears into YSRCP in Andhra; says it has done nothing but corruption Ill-informed: Scindia hits out at Venugopal for remark on rising airfares People were angry with govt before 2014, now they can see progress: UP CM Elaborating on the incident in Chhattisgarh Assembly, Baghel said, "I told them (BJP leaders) that you have accepted Mahatma Gandhi, his spectacles and his lathi, which is very good. You are raising the slogan 'Mahatma Gandhi Amar Rahe', but for once can you say 'Nathuram Godse Murdabad'?" "But they could not say 'Godse Murdabad', because they consider him their ideal and they have an old relationship with Naxalism," he said. He further said that on May 25, the anniversary of the 2013 Jhiram valley Naxal attack in which several Congress leaders and workers were killed, he sought to know how the names of accused Naxalites Ramanna and Gudsa Usendi were removed from the final report. "They (BJP) have links with Naxalites Therefore they can shamelessly call Godse a 'saput' of Bharat. This is a fight of ideology," the CM added. Has Chinese envoy forgotten his duty and place? Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming speaks fluent Korean and is one of the most diligent foreign mission chiefs in Seoul. However, the Chinese envoy often goes too far and in the wrong direction. Last Thursday, Xing revealed such problems again, delivering a lengthy speech on bilateral relations during his meeting with opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung. Ambassador Xing unreservedly criticized the South Korean government's diplomatic policy in the meeting. "I would be very grateful if Korea could be freed from the interference of an external factor (i.e., the United States)," he said. "Those betting on a Chinese defeat (in competition with the U.S.) will surely regret it later." It was an intolerable interference in another country's internal affairs and a thinly veiled threat. How could anyone believe these remarks came from a top diplomat representing his government whose foremost duty is promoting friendship with the host country? As glaring as the envoy's attitude was his distortion of facts. Ambassador Xing attributed Korea's deficit in two-way trade with China to "decoupling attempts from China by some forces (America)." However, in this era of emerging economic security, Korea could, and should, diversify trade partners to reduce its undue reliance on a few. Moreover, it was Beijing's economic retaliation since Korea's deployment of a U.S. missile defense system that has curtailed bilateral trade. The foreign ministry was right to call in the Chinese envoy and warn against his "unreasonable and provocative" remarks. Still, more surprising was Beijing's response to the controversy. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson defended its envoy to Seoul, effectively saying that Xing did what he was supposed to do by conveying his government's concern to his host country. Beijing thus confirmed that it was the source of the interference and threat. We have called for President Yoon Suk Yeol to seek balanced diplomacy between the U.S. and China. But Beijing must know its unilateral and arrogant stance leaves no room for those who advocate an objective and practical approach to the G2. Korea has long ceased to be a tributary state to the Middle Kingdom. Now is not the 1730s when the Joseon Kingdom's court was split into hawks and doves faced with Chinese invaders. So, it was regrettable that the opposition leader failed to point out Xing's diplomatic discourtesy. Lee, one of the solid presidential hopefuls, should not have visited Xing but called him in if he had to discuss a joint strategy against Japan's scheduled release of nuclear wastewater. This is not the 1950s or 60s, either, when Korean politicians boasted about getting invitations from the U.S. ambassador. Diplomatic gurus say political strife should stop at the border. Right. But that has a precondition the government may not carry out diplomacy in agreement with its political opponents. Still, it should inform and explain before a significant policy change. Most people still do not know about President Yoon's China policy or whether he has one. Yoon can and should keep vital issues secret, but he must tell people about his goals and plans. Saying, "I determined it after thinking a long time, so trust me. History will prove me right," befits authoritarian leaders more. The global political landscape is changing rapidly and wildly. If Korea is to become a "global pivotal state" as Yoon seeks, it needs very agile and skillful diplomacy. The nation must adhere to its principles of democracy and free and fair trade, respect major counterparts' core interests, and seek solidarities with sympathetic partners. Korean diplomats should be ready to talk with anyone behind the scenes. They must pursue national interests with confidence, not watching the faces of larger partners and even allies. President Yoon should clarify his China policy before long. Holding a summit of three Northeast Asian nations with Japan this year will not suffice. It is time to reopen the China channel and, if necessary, a closed one, too but not through the undiplomatic diplomat. Jammu and Kashmir stalwarts Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti will be coming to the Bihar capital next week for the June 23 conclave of parties opposed to the BJP, a key political aide of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Sunday. JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' made the disclosure at the party's Bihar headquarters here. "Leaders of altogether 18 parties have agreed to attend the meeting. National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, both former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, have also agreed to come", said Lalan. Earlier, Lalan had said leaders who had given their assent included Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge from Congress, besides Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), M K Stalin (DMK), Hemant Soren (JMM), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Akhilesh Yadav (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT). JD(U) workers expressed their enthusiasm by raising "Nitish for PM" only to be ticked off by the national president who reminded them that the Bihar CM, the party's supreme leader, has repeatedly ruled himself out of the race. "Nitish Kumar has said again and again that he is not a claimant for the Prime Minister's post. Such slogans will do no good to his efforts to forge opposition unity", said Lalan. Also Read Demolition of old Patna Collectorate was a mistake, says Bihar BJP MP Pakistan instability, uncertainty will affect India: Mehbooba Mufti It's my duty: Mehbooba Mufti accepts Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra invite Opposition has to unite to win elections against BJP: Farooq Abdullah Meeting of opposition leaders in Patna post-Karnataka poll: Nitish Kumar BJP shameless in calling Nathuram Godse 'saput' of India: Chhattisgarh CM BJP launches 'selfie with palace of corruption' campaign to target AAP Will not allow anyone to take law into their hands: Shinde on violence Shah tears into YSRCP in Andhra; says it has done nothing but corruption Ill-informed: Scindia hits out at Venugopal for remark on rising airfares "Please do remember that he had quit the NDA in August last year with the pledge to defeat the BJP. Let us devote ourselves to the cause. After Lok Sabha polls are held and the outcome is as per expectation, all parties can sit together and decide who will be the Prime Minister", added Lalan. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar says the Congress' poll promise of five guarantees was a "very tough call" and feels it can be a template for the party in other states depending upon their respective financial strength. "Governments help big businesses by waiving off loans of crores of rupees, but how to help the common man? So we decided on guarantees," Shivakumar told PTI in an interview here over the weekend. He further said economic issues, unemployment and poverty are the core matters, not the ideological ones, as "they don't fill the stomach." Shivakumar, 61, also claimed that the BJP and the JD(S) are joining hands in Karnataka for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, even as he expressed confidence about the Congress getting good numbers after its stunning performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections, ousting the saffron party from its lone southern citadel. On the poll guarantees, he said the respective state units of the party will have to take the call. To a question on whether poll guarantees can be the template for the Congress in other states where Assembly elections are due in the next one year since it seems to have been a key factor for its landslide victory in Karnataka, Shivakumar said it depends on the financial strength of the state concerned. "It all depends upon their financial strength. Karnataka has financial strength. Why we gave these guarantees is because of the price rise. Prices have gone high while income has gone to the bottom, so in order to compensate for the price rise, we thought the government should help the people. We know that it is a very tough call we have taken," said Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC chief, referring to the poll agenda to roll out citizen-centric promises. Also Read Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar to be sworn in as Karnataka CM, Dy CM today Karnataka govt: Kharge to invite Oppn leaders for swearing-in ceremony Congress to decide Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah, DKS in Delhi today HD Kumaraswamy's son resigns from JD(S) post defeat in Karnataka polls Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar Priyanka Gandhi to kick-start Congress' MP poll campaign on Monday Ordinance sheer disrespect of Delhi people, says CM Kejriwal at AAP rally W Bengal fears 2018 violence repeat as panchayat poll process takes off Bihar municipal elections: Counting of votes for 805 posts underway Several BJP MPs from UP likely to loose ticket in Lok Sabha polls 2024 The Karnataka Cabinet on June 2 decided to implement the Congress' five poll guarantees without any discrimination on the basis of caste or religion and has fixed a timeline to operationalise the schemes within this financial year. Recalling his statement calling the poll guarantees to provide subsidy benefits to people as "the first big political decision in the history of Indian politics", Shivakumar said, "I'm right, it touches more than Rs 50,000 crore. In one day, in one cabinet meeting we have cleared it all to help the common man... We have literally walked the talk." The five guarantees are -- 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of free rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders, both in the age group of 18-25 (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti). To a question on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Shivakumar said his party will make "alternative plans" to counter the BJP and JD(S)' poll strategy in Karnataka. The Congress has set a target of winning at least 20 out of the total of 28 parliamentary seats in the state. "Don't know about the national level. As far as Karnataka is concerned, BJP and JD(S) both of them are joining hands, this is what I have come to know," said Shivakumar, who is considered to be a master strategist of the Congress. "So we will make alternative plans. We don't mind, let them join hands, but the Congress party will have a good number," he said. Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP had swept the 2019 Lok Sabha polls by winning 25 seats, while an independent backed by it bagged one seat. The Congress and JD(S) won one seat each. There were reports in a section of the media that the JD(S) would enter into an alliance with the BJP to fight the Lok Sabha polls. It was also said that JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy during his recent visit to New Delhi had met some senior BJP leaders. The JD(S) has, however, denied these reports. The KPCC chief, in response to a question, said "time will answer" as to how long he and his voters will have to wait with patience to see him as the chief minister of Karnataka. On a visit to his Kanakapura constituency after becoming the deputy chief minister, Shivakumar last week had told his voters that their desire (to see him as chief minister) will never be false, and asked them to wait with patience. He had also said that he gave up the race to become the chief minister and decided to remain patient following the advice of the Gandhis and Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge. Several rounds of hectic parleys in New Delhi involving the AICC leadership last month had preceded government formation in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah, the now chief minister, and Shivakumar were locked in an intense power struggle over who will lead the new Congress government after their party bagged 135 out of total 224 seats in the Assembly. According to Shivakumar, the pro-poor agenda and localised campaign worked in favour of the Congress in the Assembly polls. "Definitely the pro-poor agenda and localised campaign worked. We also worked as an organisation. We made our cadres, workers and leaders work, they did not sleep even for a day. I also didn't sleep, and did not allow them to sleep. All of us worked together. It was a team effort," he added. Broadly throwing light on his and his party's vision for Karnataka for the next five years, the state Congress president said, "We want to make Karnataka corruption free, we want to give a government with good governance." Bengaluru and Karnataka are known for unity in diversity nationally and internationally, he said. "We want everyone to be peaceful and happy. I don't want any communal issues. For example south canara and north canara (coastal areas) a lot of problems happened and no investors are ready to go there. Without creating job opportunities we cannot satisfy the youngsters. If there are no jobs all the human resources we have built will go outside the state. Employment, good governance and a feeling of change is important." "Not only Brand Bengaluru, we want Brand Karnataka," Shivakumar, who is the Minister in-charge for Bengaluru Development said. "We are branding Bengaluru for a better Bengaluru. I'm just working on it, I have just reviewed the working of various agencies in the city," he added. Asked for his comments on him being described as a master strategist, trouble shooter, tactician and a go-to-man, he said, "It is the creation of the media and some political leaders, but basically I'm a party cadre, a grass root worker. I can understand the sentiment of the common man. Ultimately they (people) should be happy, they should feel they are safe in this Congress government. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will kick off the Congress's campaign for the year-end Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls from Jabalpur on Monday after praying at the banks of the Narmada river, a party leader said. Jabalpur is at the centre of the state's Mahakoshal region, which has a sizable number of tribal voters. In the 2018 Assembly polls, the Congress won 11 of the 13 Scheduled Tribe reserved seats in the eight-district division, with the remaining two bagged by the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Priyanka ji will launch the party's campaign and Sankalp 2023 by addressing a public meeting on Saturday at Shahid Smarak at around 11.15 am. She will land in Jabalpur at around 10:30am and head to Gwarighat to pray to Narmada river, Jabalpur mayor and Congress' city chief Jagat Bahadur Singh told PTI on Sunday. En route to the rally venue eight kilometres away, she will garland a statue of Rani Durgavati, who attained martyrdom fighting the Mughals, he said, adding the rally will be attended by at least two lakh persons. "People in Mahakoshal area or Jabalpur division having eight districts feel neglected by the BJP. We did well (last time) in the area. This time around we are going to sweep the polls," he claimed. Asked why she picked Jabalpur for the party's campaign launch, Congress Rajya Sabha member from MP and senior Supreme Court lawyer Vivek Tankha said the rally is being held in Mahakoshal as Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra did not pass through it. Also Read Priyanka Gandhi to sound Cong poll bugle in MP next month: Party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit K'taka on Tuesday ahead of assembly polls Karnataka Congress gears up for Priyanka Gandhi's Bengaluru convention Sonia, Priyanka join Rahul Gandhi for Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi Rahul Gandhi a warrior, not afraid of govt's might: Priyanka Vadra Ordinance sheer disrespect of Delhi people, says CM Kejriwal at AAP rally W Bengal fears 2018 violence repeat as panchayat poll process takes off Bihar municipal elections: Counting of votes for 805 posts underway Several BJP MPs from UP likely to loose ticket in Lok Sabha polls 2024 CWC reshuffle in a month as Cong preps for polls; all eyes on Kharge, Rahul "The rally in Mahakoshal area will help the Congress in neighbouring Vindh and Bundelkhand regions. Moreover, there is strong anti-incumbency (against BJP government) in Mahakoshal and a large chunk of traditional tribal voters of Congress dwell in this region," he said. MP has six regions, namely Mahakoshal, Gwalior-Chambal, Central India, Nimar-Malwa, Vindh, and Bundelkhand. Mahakoshal or Jabalpur division comprises Jabalpur, Katni, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Balaghat, Mandla, Dindori, and Chhindwara districts and has 38 Assembly seats. In the last Assembly polls, the Congress won 24 of these seats while the BJP managed to win 13. One seat was bagged by an Independent candidate. In the 2013 polls, the BJP won 24 seats and the Congress had to manage with just 13 victories. With wins in Mahakoshal in 2018, the Congress was able to form a government in MP under Kamal Nath, though it fell in March 2020 after MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia walked out and joined the BJP. When contacted, leading Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar's Jabalpur edition resident editor Manish Gupta told PTI the party which performs well in three out of the six regions of MP would come to power. "It is a challenge for the Congress to keep its seats intact in the coming elections in Mahakoshal. Priyanka Gandhi is coming here to consolidate her party's position in Mahakoshal region bordering Vindh and Bundelkhand," he added. In the Vindh region, the BJP won 24 seats while the Congress managed to emerge victorious in just six constituencies in the 2018 Assembly polls, he said. In impoverished Bundelkhand region comprising Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Niwadi and Panna districts having 26 seats, the BJP won 15, Congress nine and Samajwadi and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) one seat each in the 2018 polls. The last MP Assembly polls threw up a hung Assembly, with the Congress emerging as the largest party with 114 seats in the 230-member House. The BJP won 109 seats. The Congress formed a coalition government under Kamal Nath. Elaborate security measures have been put in place in and around Ramlila Maidan where the Aam Aadmi Party will hold a "Maha Rally" on Sunday against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital, police said. The rally is likely to be attended by around one lakh people, an AAP spokesperson claimed. A senior police officer said around 12 companies of paramilitary forces, along with the local police, will be deployed at the venue. He said surveillance through CCTV will also be conducted. Metal detectors will be installed at the entry gates of the ground. Those entering the rally venue will be frisked. Senior officials from the district will be present at the spot, the officer said. A large number of people are expected to attend the rally due to which the Delhi Traffic Police has also been asked to regulate the vehicular movement during the programme. Fire tenders and ambulances will also be deployed there, police said. Also Read Enhanced security measures put in place ahead of AAP's Maha Rally on Sunday Assembly polls: Security stepped up ahead of counting day in Meghalaya India needs to start thinking about TSA security at airports: Aviation Secy Durga Ashtami 2023: Importance, customs, greetings to send your loved ones Security tightened in Delhi ahead of AAP protest against Sisodia's arrest 2 held from Mumbai suburb for issuing death threats to Sanjay Raut Amit Shah to address public meeting in Odisha's Dhenkanal on June 17 BJP committed to progress, development of nation: Party chief Nadda Policy paralysis' before 2014 eradicated under PM Modi's leadership: Naqvi K'taka deputy CM Shivakumar to get more responsibility ahead of MP polls The traffic police has issued an advisory mentioning Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg, Mir Dard Chowk, Ajmeri Gate, JLN Marg, Bhavbhuti Marg, Minto Road, Delhi Gate, round about Kamla Market to Hamdard Chowk and round about Paharganj Chowk as diversion points. The traffic restrictions/regulation/diversion may be imposed on Ranjeet Singh flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, from Minto Road to round about Kamla Market, Vivekanand Marg, JLN Marg (Delhi Gate to Guru Nank Chowk), Chaman Lal Marg etc from 8 am on Sunday, the advisory said. People are advised to avoid these roads/stretches. Commuters going to railway stations and ISBT should leave with sufficient time at hand. People should avail public transport to help decongestion of roads and vehicles should be parked only at designated parking lots, it stated. In case any unsual/unidentified object or person is noticed in suspicious circumstances, information should be given to the police, the advisory added. AAP spokesperson Reena Gupta said they are expecting one lakh people to join the rally, adding the party has carried out extensive campaigns to inform the masses about the ordinance and its impact on their daily life. "We have done extensive campaigning, reached out to people and explained them about the ordinance and how it will impact their day-to-day lives," Gupta told PTI. The ordinance issued by the Centre on May 19 set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority, bringing back executive control over matters related to services to its domain. It was issued close on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict on May 11, through which the Delhi government was given the executive control over service-related matters, including transfers and postings of Delhi government officers but excluding those related to police, public order and land. Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Sunday said it is "strange" that Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena takes credit for the improvement in the Yamuna river's water quality while all accountability lies with the Kejriwal government. In a statement released by his office, Bhardwaj said no significant improvement in the Yamuna water quality could be achieved without enhancing the quality and capacity of sewage treatment plants. "It is quite strange that any improvement in the pollution of Yamuna is claimed by the LG while all the accountability and answerability lies with the Arvind Kejriwal government," Bhardwaj said. Bhardwaj said the reference parameters for sewage treatment plant functioning were recently changed nationwide, and states have started rehabilitating their STPs accordingly. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been at the forefront of these efforts. It has already awarded contracts to professional firms for the rehabilitation of 11 STPs, aiming to upgrade them to the latest parameters of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and TSS (Total Suspended Solids) of less than 10 milligram per litre, he said. Once rehabilitated, the total volume handled by these STPs would reach 476 MGD (Million Gallons per Day), he added. Also Read LG claiming credit for work done by Delhi govt to clean Yamuna: Bharadwaj Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj reach Jantar Mantar to support wrestlers Delhi Police arrested entire AAP leadership, claims Saurabh Bharadwaj BJP leaders protest outside Delhi Assembly over pollution in Yamuna river LG Saxena sets June 30 deadline to clean Yamuna in National Capital Five states will go to the polls in 2023-24 ahead of the general elections Degrees of separation: In 17th LS, 27% of MPs had studied up to Class 12 2024 LS polls: Opposition strategists will need to agree on a common agenda Shifting discourse on Lord Ram: A matter of concern for BJP in Chhattisgarh Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti to attend Oppn meet in Bihar: Report Simultaneously, an additional capacity of 130 MGD will be created in these existing STPs, with 80 MGD to be achieved by December 2023, 98.5 MGD by March 2024, and the remaining 130 MGD by June 2024, the minister said. He said the DJB has undertaken the upgradation of four STPs -- Okhla, Ghitorni, Mehrauli, and Vasant Vihar -- using low-cost dosing technology. He said the DJB has also been actively providing household connections in sewered areas. Over 4 lakh households have already been connected, and 571 jhuggi-jhopri clusters have been tapped, redirecting wastewater to the sewer network. Additionally, 33 out of the 76 drains have been tapped and diverted, with plans to tap the remaining drains by December 2023. The 22-km stretch of the river between Wazirabad and Okhla in Delhi, which is less than 2 per cent of the river length, accounts for around 80 per cent of its pollution load. Untapped wastewater from unauthorised colonies and jhuggi-jhopri clusters, and poor quality of treated wastewater discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) is the main reason behind high pollution levels in the river. The Delhi government has promised to clean the Yamuna to bathing standards by February 2025. The river can be considered fit for bathing if BOD is less than 3 milligram per litre and dissolved oxygen (DO) is greater than 5 milligram per litre. Delhi generates around 770 million gallons a day (MGD) of sewage. The 35 STPs located at 20 locations across Delhi can treat up to 630 MGD of sewage and have been utilising around 85 per cent of their capacity. The rest of the untreated sewage falls into the river directly. Government data shows that only 10 out of the 35 operational STPs in the capital meet the prescribed standards for wastewater (BOD and TSS less than 10 mg per litre). Together, they can treat 150 million gallons of wastewater a day. According to the city government's Outcome Budget, 29 per cent of the sewage generated in Delhi in 2021-22 fell into the Yamuna untreated. It was 28 per cent in 2019-20 and 26 per cent in 2020-21. The DJB is upgrading and rehabilitating the existing STPs to be able to meet the prescribed norms and reduce the pollution load in the Yamuna. However, several projects have been delayed due to the Covid pandemic, air pollution-related construction ban, and delays in land allotment and tree-cutting permissions. Sewer networks have been laid in just 747 of the 1799 unauthorised colonies in Delhi. Multiple reports submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry have highlighted that the river cannot become fit for bathing in the absence of a minimum environment flow -- the minimum quantity of water flow that a river must have in order to preserve its ecosystems and meet the bathing standards. A study conducted by the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, in 2019 recommended that 23 cubic metre per second (cumec) of water (437 million gallons a day) be released in the river from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana's Yamuna Nagar district in the lean season for sustaining downstream ecosystems. At present, only 10 cumecs (190 MGD) are released from the barrage. A gap of 13 cumecs (247 MGD) remains. According to the ministry, the water-sharing agreement of 1994 among the riparian states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi is due for revision only in 2025. According to the DPCC, an e-flow of 23 cumecs will bring down the level of biological oxygen demand from 25 milligram per litre to 12 milligram per litre and other steps being taken will bring it down further. A day before June 11, the death anniversary of Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, there was speculation in Rajasthan about his son and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot leaving the Congress and floating his own political party. Surprisingly, Pilot remains quiet on the issue while other leaders right from Rajya Sabha MP Venugopal, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and others are denying the speculation. Meanwhile, IANS contacted a few leaders who say that Pilot and Congress are synonymous with each other and there is no question of their separation. "It is Sachin's compulsion that now he will have to stay in the Congress, while for the Congress also Pilot should be kept in the party. It is very important," said a senior leader. He said, "Even the MLAs supporting Pilot do not want him to leave the Congress, nor can the Gandhi family and the central leadership afford Pilot's departure. This is the reason that after the Karnataka elections, the exercise to end the Gehlot-Pilot feud intensified in Delhi." Gehlot recently said that the patch up with Pilot is permanent. Also, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Congress in-charge for Rajasthan said, "senior leaders should relinquish their love for the chair and pave the way for youngsters." Also Read Sachin Pilot may launch his 'Pragatisheel Congress' on June 11: Report Explained: Why is Sachin Pilot holding a day-long protest in Rajasthan Sach was life: Tendulkar on field was raw emotion, a happiness pill From student to the God of Cricket: Sachin Tendulkar's journey to the top Cong walks factionalism tightrope during Bharat Jodo Yatra's Rajasthan leg India becoming powerful nation: RSS General Secy Dattatreya Hosabale Security stepped up ahead of AAP's 'maha rally' against Centre's ordinance 2 held from Mumbai suburb for issuing death threats to Sanjay Raut Amit Shah to address public meeting in Odisha's Dhenkanal on June 17 BJP committed to progress, development of nation: Party chief Nadda These statements prove that the Congress needs Pilot at this point of time, said sources. Had Pilot wanted to leave the Congress, he would have taken the decision by now, said party workers. Two days back, Randhawa said, "In Delhi we sat and discussed for 4 hours. Everyone has spoken including Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal. We talked to both the leaders. He was listened to carefully." "Both have been told that you are an asset to the Congress. Both were asked to work together and they agreed. Everyone will be given responsibility according to the stature of the leader," he said. Randhawa also made another statement a day ago: Elders must themselves give up the fascination for power. There is no need to say this. Elderly leaders should create milestones on their own, he added. It is clear from Randhawa's statements that the Gandhi family and the central leadership of the Congress consider Pilot as the future face after the ageing first line of the Congress in Rajasthan, who can work for the party for a long time. In such a situation, if the Congress forms the government again after the 2023 assembly elections, then there is every possibility of making Pilot the chief minister by citing the opportunities given to Gehlot so far. If the government is not repeated then he will become the face of the Congress in the next elections in 2028. This possibility is strengthened because last year the Congress high command wanted to make Gehlot the national president and hand over the CM's chair to Pilot, but on September 25 the situation changed due to the resignations of the MLAs. After this, due to the rapidly increasing bitterness between Gehlot and Pilot, many occasions came when the Gehlot camp pressurised the high command to act against Pilot, but every time the central leadership, along with Gehlot, also called Pilot an asset for the Congress. This is the reason that despite incidents like the hunger strike and padyatra against his own government, the high command did not even give notice to take action against Pilot. Sachin Pilot also understands that if he remains in the party then the future is bright for him but if he leaves the party then he will not be able to become the chief minister. This is why Pilot has never given such a statement regarding the Congress from public forums, which may make it seem that he will leave the Congress. Pilot supporter and MLA from Ladnun seat of Nagaur, Mukesh Bhakar had said in the public meeting held in Jaipur on May 15 that Gehlot "wants Pilot to leave the party. We will not go anywhere. He will stay here." Recently state minister Murarilal Meena said that speculation regarding discussions about the announcement of a new party on June 11 are mere rumours. Nothing like that is happening. These statements of the pro-Pilot MLAs show that they do not want Pilot to form a new party but to remain in the Congress. As soon as Pilot leaves the party, political equations will change in the areas of the supporting MLAs, because each assembly seat has different caste equations. In 2018, most of the MLAs had won on the basis of the Congress cadre votes and Pilot's supporters' votes. The MLAs know that if Pilot breaks away from the Congress and forms a new party, it will be difficult for them to win without the cadre vote of the Congress. That's why most of these MLAs do not want Pilot to leave the Congress and choose a different path. In the 2018 elections, most of the MLAs got tickets only because of the efforts of Pilot. They want the Congress high command to unite Pilot and Gehlot so that the way is clear for them to get tickets for the next election with the support of Pilot. Meanwhile, all eyes are on June 11 to see how things turn out; will Pilot form a new party, how many MLAs will be there with him, or will it be a show of strength for the Gehlot government. Amid all these questions, Pilot is silent and hence there is all the more suspense among party workers. --IANS arc/bg Google is reportedly working on a new 'On-the-Go' mode for the video communication service 'Meet', which will make it safer and easier for users to stay in a video call while walking. There will be two ways to access the 'On-the-Go' mode once it is released, reports 9To5Google. Users will receive a prompt to switch to the travel-friendly mode if Google Meet detects that they are walking (using the motion sensors on the phone). Or, users could manually switch to the feature with a new option in the in-call menu. Earlier this month, the company had started to roll out a new viewer mode in its video communication service, which allows users to select "Everyone is a viewer" when creating their Calendar invite. When using Google Meet for large meetings, designating attendees as "viewers" will help reduce potential meeting distractions, like audio disruptions. Also Read Google rolls out 1080p calls option for Meet users to enhance experience Google to let users turn off video feeds from other participants in Meet Microsoft to pay $20 mn to settle US charges of 'illegal' children's data Sony-owned Guerrilla confirms new multiplayer Horizon game on Twitter Google to now start calling 'Chat' as 'RCS' on Messages app: Report Samsung likely to launch 83-inch OLED TV in September 2023: Reports Google's generative AI platform 'Vertex' now available for general use Customers prioritising network build-outs, 5G driving growth: Sterlite Tech Apple announces new 'tvOS 17' to offer native VPN support to Apple TV Samsung Galaxy F54: Mid-range camera phone with balanced performance Meanwhile, in April this year, the company had rolled out a 1080p video call option for Meet users, in an effort to enhance the user experience. --IANS aj/prw Ajai Chowdhry, co-founder, HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited), and considered the father of Indian hardware, believes that India again has an opportunity to foray into the global hardware sector. Chowdhry is also the chairman of EPIC Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation focused on reviving the electronics industry in India, and author of the new book Just Aspire. In an interview with Shivani Shinde in Mumbai, he explains why India can make it in the hardware industry. Edited excerpts: Would Indias hardware story have been different if As many as 28 people were killed and more than 140 injured as heavy rain and thunderstorms hit several parts of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Saturday, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. As per the provincial disaster management authority, 25 people were killed in rain-related incidents in KP's Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak and Lakki Marwat while 145 were injured. It added that at least 69 houses were partially damaged by the rain, Geo News reported. As per PDMA's breakdown, 15 people died and 100 were injured in Bannu. It also added that 68 houses were partially damaged in the area. Meanwhile, at least five people were killed and 42 others were wounded in the Lakki Marwat district. Meanwhile, in Karak, four people died and one person was injured. In, Dera Ismail Khan a child died due to the rains, two people were injured and one house was partially damaged. The Rescue 1122 official said that all stations of their Rescue 1122 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are on alert to deal with any untoward incident. He said relief activities continued as roof collapses due to heavy rain took place at many places in Lakki Marwat Bannu and other parts of the province.According to the official, Rescue 1122's search and rescue operations are ongoing as all the injured people are being taken to the hospital for treatment after providing them medical aid on the site, Geo News reported. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Barrister Feroze Jamal Shah said that a high alert had been issued in the hospitals of the affected districts. He said that the interim government was in contact with the authorities of the affected regions. Also Read Seven TTP militants killed in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province 2 killed as Pak Taliban militants take hostages at counter-terrorism centre Afghanistan's Taliban regime warns Pakistan of consequences if attacked Taliban terrorist attack in Pakistan kills 4 policemen, injures 6 TTP aims to push Pakistan govt out of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: US report Sri Lanka takes action to accelerate investor laws as Adani Group waits Counteroffensive, defensive actions taking place in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Sri Lanka lifts import restrictions on 286 items as economic woes eases Researchers find long COVID could be caused by virus lingering in body PM Prachanda lauds India's commitment to import clean energy from Nepal Meanwhile, heavy rains along with strong winds battered several regions of Punjab, including Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and other districts. Three girls died after a wall of their house collapsed due to torrential rains in Chan village of the Khushab district of the province. At least 10 people were injured due to rain-related incidents in Gujranwala district. Heavy rains and strong winds affected the electricity supply in various areas, as per the Geo News report. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held telephonic conversation with Deputy Speaker National Assembly Zahid Akram Durrani and expressed regret over the loss of life and property in rain-related incidents, as per the Geo News report. He said, "The people of Lakki Marwat will not be left alone in the hour of trouble," Geo News quoted his official statement. He instructed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to take urgent steps to deal with any untoward situation. . At least nine people were injured in a shooting in San Francisco's Mission District neighbourhood on Friday night (local time) in what police believe was a "targeted and isolated incident," CNN reported. While addressing a press conference, San Francisco police Officer Eve Laokwansathitaya said all victims are expected to survive the shooting which took place while "some sort of block party" was taking place, as per the CNN report. Santiago Lerma, a legislative aide to a San Francisco Board of Supervisors member, said at least five of the injured people were admitted to the hospital. Lerma stated that one of the five victims was undergoing surgery as of Friday night. Furthermore, four people were undergoing treatment for minor injuries, CNN reported citing its affiliate KPIX. Police officers were called to the Mission District at around 9 pm (local time). The police officials after arriving at the site found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds, as per the news report. The authorities did not immediately report making any arrests. The Mission District, also known as The Mission, is a large and diverse neighbourhood known for its historic architecture in the east-central area of San Francisco. Earlier on Tuesday, at least two of the seven people, who sustained severe injuries, have died in a shooting incident outside a theatre where a high school graduation ceremony had taken place, CNN reported. City's interim police took two people into custody but later said that one of them was not involved. Also Read Nine shot at in 'targeted and isolated incident' in San Francisco Committed to security of diplomatic facilities, says US condemning attack Indian woman among nine killed in mass shooting incident in Texas, US Teen killed, four others injured in shooting at Texas lounge over weekend Authorities order evacuations in California as deadly storm pounds state First ever Hindu American Summit to be held at US Capitol on June 14 Biden marks LGBTQ+ Pride month with celebration on White House South Lawn LIVE: AAP mega rally today in Delhi on Centre's ordinance, security up 28 killed, 140 injured as rain, thunderstorms hits parts of Pakistan Sri Lanka takes action to accelerate investor laws as Adani Group waits Multiple people were injured when a shooting took place outside the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, following a high school graduation ceremony on Tuesday evening, officials said, CNN reported. Apart from two people killed, five others including a 14-year-old boy and four men suffered gunshot wounds. Richmond police spokesperson Tracy Walker confirmed the injuries and said there was no immediate threat to the public, CNN reported. The shooting took place in Monroe Park after the Huguenot High School graduation, according to Richmond Public Schools official Matthew Stanley. By Mark Peterson Confucianism in Korea is in sharp decline. I would like to speak to the Confucian Association leaders at some point, and when I do, I would like to point out several ways to save Confucianism from an ultimate demise which it seems to be racing toward. I have been surprised to see the number of negative comments about Confucianism that show up in the comments to my YouTube videos. I had not realized how negatively many people in Korea view Confucianism. But there is hope on the horizon, the way I see it. First of all, Confucianism is one of the five great "religions" in the world. Now, as soon as I say that, there are those who shout out that Confucianism is not a religion. Okay, that's an oft-heard argument, but I think Confucianists make a mistake to insist it is not a religion. Let's play a word game: let's not say "religion", but let's say "belief system" we'll change the label on the box. What goes in the box labeled "belief system"? In Communist states, they say only Communism fits in the box and "religion" is superstition and is not allowed. For others, the "belief system" box can include more than one kind of belief, some contradictory, and some accommodating. If we speak of "belief systems" certainly we can include Confucianism, and it certainly is one of the great "belief systems" of the world, along with Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, and there are others, too, of course. But Korea has long been the shining example to the world of Confucianism. For Korea to abandon this great "religion" would be a terrible mistake. And yet, we are on a course for abolishing Confucianism in Korea. But it should not be so. To understand Confucianism in Korea, one needs to look at Korean history. When Korea first became interested in Confucianism in the Three Kingdoms Period, Korea began to adopt a kind of Confucianism that fit into the Korean culture of the time. That culture was not the patrilineal culture that came to dominate Korea after the late 17th century. To understand Confucianism correctly one must understand that Confucianism only adopted a male-dominant family and social order in the late Joseon period, basically the 18th and 19th centuries. All of the evils associated with Confucianism, that is to say, all the things that modern men and women criticize about Confucianism, came only in the last three hundred years a time when Korea admired China (sadae-juui). The male-dominant, women-oppressing form of Confucianism is really a kind of Chinese-style Confucianism. Prior to the late 17th century, Korean Confucianism was not male-dominant, inheritances were divided between sons and daughters equally, marriage was practiced in an egalitarian fashion "sijip-kada" and "jangga-kada" marriage at the husband's house/village or, equally, marriage at the wife's house/village whichever arrangement had the better house or situation, there were no single-surname villages, nor lineage organizations with a "jongson" (primary heir) at its head. For Korea to save Confucianism, it only needs to return to the original Korean Confucianism that had been practiced for one thousand years and abandon the male-dominant, Chinese-style practice of the last three hundred years. The villain in most people's minds, as they criticize Confucianism, is the mistaken criticism that Confucianism means the "bugye" (patrilineal) family system. Korea rightly needs to reject that system of inequality for women. Women were oppressed in the "bugye" system. But we don't need to blame Confucianism for that. Yes, we should see Korean society of the future as a fair and egalitarian society, but we can do that and still hold onto Confucianism as a worthy belief system. For Korean Confucianism to succeed, it needs to turn away from any support for the corrupted "bugye" patrilineal system and all its trappings the patrilineal "jokbo," the overly elaborate "jesa" ceremonies, the concept of the "jongson" and even the "jongchinhoe" (the patrilineal family association). In the place of the social trappings of late Joseon Confucianism, the Seonggyungwan Confucian Association should only preach "hyo" (respect for parents and family), "jeong" (loyalty to the country and to each other), "in" (benevolence to all), "eui" (justice for all), "ye" (respect and courtesy) and ji (pursuit of education). These are what Confucius taught. These are the core values that have made Confucianism a "world religion". These ideals are what make Korea great. These must not be abandoned. They should be included in the ethics classes in school and they are. That is the value of Confucianism not the corrupted, Chinese-influenced social practices of male dominance and female oppression that have been associated with Confucianism. As soon as Korea sees that Confucianism is wrongly accused of bad behavior, Korea can start to accept Confucianism as the exalting "belief system" oh, call it a "religion" that it is at its heart. Mark Peterson (markpeterson@byu.edu) is a professor emeritus of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah. Nine people were wounded in a mass shooting in San Francisco's Mission District on Friday night in what police said appeared to be a targeted and isolated incident. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the shooting happened shortly after 9 p.m. during a party hosted by a clothing store near the intersection of 24th Street and Treat Avenue. The San Francisco Police Department initially said that all of the victims were expected to survive their injuries. But a statement from the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital said one of the victims remained in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon. Another was said to be in serious condition, four were in fair condition and three had already been discharged. The victims were eight men and one woman ranging in age from 20 to 34, the hospital said. Police Chief William Scott called the violence unacceptable. People should feel safe to go out in San Francisco without fear of being victims of gun violence, Scott said. Our investigators are working diligently on this case, and we will have a visible police presence moving forward in the community where this occurred. Also Read Nine shot at in 'targeted and isolated incident' in San Francisco Committed to security of diplomatic facilities, says US condemning attack 9 injured in San Francisco mass shooting, Police says isolated incident Teen killed, four others injured in shooting at Texas lounge over weekend US to probe Twitter for breaking laws following lawsuit from ex-employees Taliban slam 'baseless and biased' UN report suggesting rifts within ranks Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan booked in yet another case of land scam Ukraine dam collapse: Fast-moving disaster and slow ecological catastrophe My friend experienced shooting in zombie town in US, says Elon Musk Threat of terrorism from Taliban rising in Afghanistan, region: UN report Dying Breed, a clothing store located near the intersection where the shooting happened, was scheduled to celebrate its sixth anniversary Friday night with a block party, according to a post on the store's Instagram account. A person who answered the phone at the store declined to comment. The Mission District is one of San Francisco's oldest neighbourhoods, named after the Mission Dolores a Spanish mission that dates back to 1776. Historically Latino and increasingly gentrifying in recent years, the vibrant area is home to numerous restaurants and shops. Mayor London Breed said first responders were quick to react to the shooting and noted that no lives were lost. I know there are a lot of questions and concerns in the community, and people want answers," Breed said. "We are still working to understand exactly what happened and why and we will share information as soon as we can. President Joe Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a delayed Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses. The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from Canadian wildfires. But the haze that blanketed a huge swath of the East Coast this past week had lifted over the nation's capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party. So today, I want to send a message to the entire community especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You belong, Biden said. Pride Month is being celebrated this year as state lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights. That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination. Also Read Biden invites LGBTQ+ individuals to White House for Pride Month celebration Biden falls onstage at graduation ceremony; White House says he's 'fine' Wimbledon allows Russian, Belarusian players to compete under neutral flags Important to talk about what's happening in the Ukraine war: Andy Murra Prez Biden, top lawmakers to discuss debt limit at White House May 9 LIVE: Indian-American LGBTQ members urge PM to support equal Rrghts 28 killed, 140 injured as rain, thunderstorms hits parts of Pakistan Sri Lanka takes action to accelerate investor laws as Adani Group waits Counteroffensive, defensive actions taking place in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Sri Lanka lifts import restrictions on 286 items as economic woes eases In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill into that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that he was running for president. In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum last month signed a bill that prohibits public schools and government entities from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who like DeSantis has made culture issues a central part of his tenure as governor, joined the White House primary field. Josh Helfgott, an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the tide of legislation added another layer to this year's celebrations. Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry, Helfgott said The other side is so loud, incredibly loud. Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India. Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, she said, she was shunned by family and society as a transgender person. Times were tough in the United States, too, she said. She was pushed out of a job after she came out, was homeless for a time, and took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States. It's a moment that we are going to cherish for a lifetime, said Rimi, an activist in San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community. "This is a joyful moment, but it's also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do. A group of eminent Indian-Americans from across the country have come together to host the first ever Hindu-American Summit for Political Engagement at the US Capitol, which organisers said along with others would be addressed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Being organised by the recently formed Americans4Hindus political Action committee in association with over 20 other diaspora bodies, the Hindu-American Summit is to be held at the US Capitol on June 14 to raise the concerns of the Hindu community before the lawmakers. About 130 Indian American leaders from all over the country -- Florida, New York, Boston, Texas, Chicago and California representing 20 Hindu and Indian organisations are coming to the US Capital for the event. Hindu Americans, he said, are doing good across the country, but politically they are way behind. Politically, we think, we've never been discriminated against, we are doing well. But unfortunately, tides are changing. I'm from California, where unfortunately, on the caste basis now, they want to add this to the discriminating factors, cardiologist Dr Romesh Japra said on Saturday. He alleged that organisations like Equality Labs and CARE are trying to dismantle Hinduism. Also Read Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know Trump lit that fire, says House report on Capitol Hill insurrection Elections not a factor for monetary policy: RBI governor at BFSI Summit US firms prioritize others over China: American Chamber of Commerce China Hindu rate of growth: Where does the term come from and what it means Biden marks LGBTQ+ Pride month with celebration on White House South Lawn LIVE: Indian-American LGBTQ members urge PM to support equal Rrghts 28 killed, 140 injured as rain, thunderstorms hits parts of Pakistan Sri Lanka takes action to accelerate investor laws as Adani Group waits Counteroffensive, defensive actions taking place in Ukraine: Zelenskyy They are behind many (anti-Hindu activities) of these things. So, we thought we should get together, unite all the Hindu Americans, all the leaders, all the executive heads of the organisations, and get here on the Capitol Hill, come to the powerhouses, the Congress and put our case forward, he said in response to a question. Along with McCarthy, several other Congressional leaders both from the Democratic and the Republican side are expected to address the summit, he said. McCarthy, he said, would deliver the keynote address. Prominent among those include Indian American lawmakers. Dr Japra said the community is working towards creating the first ever Hindu Caucus a group of lawmakers working towards protecting the interest of Hindu Americans in the House of Representatives. We are trying to put together the Hindu Caucus, where we will ask all these congressional leaders, Senators and Representatives to become part of our caucus, he said. The community, he said, would endorse and raise funds for the Congressional leaders who agree with Hindu principles and values and are willing to help the community and talk about Hindu phobia, Hindu hate, and concerns of immigration. Among the organisations who are part of this Hindu American Summit are American Hindu Coalition, American Hindu Federation, Americans for Equality PAC, Ekal Vidyalaya, Federation of Indian Americans, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies, Hindu Action, Hindu Action PAC of Florida, Hindu PACR, Hindu Swyamsevak Sangha, Hindu University of America, Kashmir Hindu Foundation, Patriot America, Sewa International, US India Relationship Council and World Hindu Council of America. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US is a major milestone for the bilateral ties, the chairman of a leading India-US advocacy group has said, underling that New Delhi and Washington will be the model" for how two strategic partners can work together across sectors. Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. I think it's a major milestone for the future. I've always been the biggest bull on India and the future of India and what economically can be accomplished by India's leadership on the global stage, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Chairman John Chambers told PTI in an exclusive interview. Chambers, the Chairman Emeritus at Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, underlined the potential of the US and India to be the "most strategic partnership in the world. This partnership will positively impact not only businesses between the two countries but jobs as well in each of the 28 states and union territories of India and 50 states in the US, he said. Modi will be welcomed as a State Guest in Washington DC on June 22 and will address a joint session of the US Congress the same day, the first Indian prime minister to be accorded this honour twice. Also Read Allow Indians to work on US defence projects, says venture capitalist US venture capitalists hope Budget 2023 supports growth, startup ecosystem May 'temple of democracy' continue strengthening India's development: PM PM Modi, Kishida discuss cooperation in green hydrogen, semiconductors PM Modi's US visit will set new benchmarks for bilateral ties: Pentagon Internationally-acclaimed Sulabh sanitation project to be taken to S Africa China's state-run banks reduce interest rates on deposits: Report Trump calls indictment baseless at 1st public appearance post charges 9 injured in San Francisco mass shooting, Police says isolated incident First ever Hindu American Summit to be held at US Capitol on June 14 He first addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress in June 2016. The US President and the First Lady will host Prime Minister Modi at a State dinner on June 22. Chambers said when you have the two biggest democracies who share a common vision of what technology can do for the future of our countries, for the future of standard of living, job creation and defence, it's rare that that comes together at a point in time which is what we have now. Chambers added that there will be challenges in the relationship as well. Nothing this complex, with this type of results, comes without challenges," he said. "But if I were betting on one country in Asia, it's India. If I were betting on two, I'd bet on India twice. I think we will also be the model for how two strategic partners, not allies, partners, can work together on everything from economics to job creation to technology exchange to defence etc. So it's a magical moment, he said. Chambers said that in Modi, he has seen a leader that is like almost no other that I've seen in 40 years. Chambers described Modi as a charismatic leader who is able to outline a vision and to get people both excited about it but he has the ability to execute on it. That is rare in today's world. He emphasised that the Indian leader gets along with both Democrats and Republican leaders in the US. I think he is a uniting force in this world. And I think the most important partnership that will exist for the next two-three decades will be what the US and India can do across" a spectrum of areas. What you really see is our two countriesare joined at the hip at every level, Chambers said. He noted the several interactions and exchanges between top leaders from both countries ahead of the state visit including between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai well as National Security Advisors from the two countries Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan. So what you see is a very broad building of relationships in many areas and each of them in and of themselves being important, but when you put them together into an architecture that it becomes game-changing. And so I think it's important to realise this is a long-term play, he said. Chambers described digitalisation in India as a powerful vision. What you see now is no longer an India that is a slow follower. You see an India that is an innovator, a mover and shaker that can really drive through it. Chambers also noted the cooperation between India and the US in multilateral fora such as the Quad that includes Australia and Japan and I2U2 - India, Israel, UAE and the US. Now, where we're going is a chance to redefine what is possible. So my view on this visit is you take it one more step, he said adding that "this is an ongoing process. Chambers said he can't wait to watch Modi's address to the US Congress and said expectations are obviously high from the visit. He added that going by how the foundation has been built, I think it's going to be a tremendous visit and tremendous results, not necessarily in the next week, but tremendous results over the next years. That really is what it's all about. Just because your crypto firm collapsed, doesnt mean you are going to end up on house arrest at your parents pad. Since their crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital collapsed last year leaving the firm owing creditors $3.3 billion and the crypto market reeling founders Kyle Davies and Su Zhu have been living the high life, according to a New York Times report. As the liquidation process began for their crypto firm, both founders flew to Bali Indonesia notably doesn't have an extradition treaty with the United States the Times reported. Davies spent his time painting in cafes and reading Hemingway on the beach, according to the Times. He meditated, took shrooms on a rooftop, and flew to Bahrain for a Formula 1 event. You eat very fatty pork dishes, and you drink a lot of alcohol, and you go to the beach and you just meditate, he told the Times. You have these magical experiences. He posted photos of his travels, which were ongoing as of May, on Twitter. In one he was petting a Tiger. In another, he marveled at Southeast Asian architecture. Also Read Crypto wrap: Market trading flat amid regulatory crackdown on Binance Targeting 1 million CBDC users by end of this month: RBI deputy guv Crypto market cracks 5%, Bitcoin at 3-month low after US SEC sues Binance After ChatGPT, Sam Altman looks to disrupt crypto world through Worldcoin Fake currency worth Rs 137 cr seized in 3 yrs, most are Rs 2000 notes Wedding bells go silent: Marriages in China slump to historic low Billionaire George Soros hands control of $25-billion empire to son In the end... they're coming after you: Donald Trump rallies supporters 'Decade of emerging markets' may be about to regain traction as rates peak China has been operating a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019: US When faced with doubt and public scrutiny while building a business, its important to find inspiration in unlikely places. For me, it is oysters, he tweeted in May, along with a series of photos of him with the mollusks. Immediately following the collapse of his company, Zhu played a lot of video games, he tweeted. Things got a lot better mentally when I started going into the ocean, surfing, taking hard walks, getting back into gym routine, reading books, learning new languages, he added. According to the Times, Zhu started to hang out with surfers and UFC fighters. After returning home to his mansion in Singapore, he and his wife installed a permaculture farm in their backyard with ducks, chickens, and dragonflies, the Times reported. Davies and Zhu did not respond to requests for comment. As the pair traveled, liquidators complained about being unable to locate them. They did not show up to an emergency court meeting, and when they did appear on a Zoom meeting, were unresponsive. The fact that they are under investigation in both the United States and Singapore didn't seem to bother them as they spoke excitedly about their new venture to the Times. In April, Davies and Zhu launched Open Exchange, on which people who lost money in the crypto collapse can buy and sell bankruptcy claims. Who knows if it will take off. It doesnt really matter, as the pair told the Times they had enough in savings to never work again. Though there's one big thing they did have to forego: The superyacht the two had built. The boat, which featured five decks, two retractable terraces, and a swimming pool, was named Much Wow in a reference to a crypto meme, the Times reported. The duo missed their last payment to the shipbuilder, per the Times, and the boat was sold to another buyer. The Adani Group expanded its business activities in Sri Lanka in 2021, venturing into the port and renewable energy sectors. However, it has encountered significant challenges in establishing its presence in the renewable energy industry. These obstacles primarily stem from the Ceylon Electricity Board's (CEB) anti-private sector stance and internal issues within the organisation. The CEB's extensive politicisation has impeded its ability to effectively support the incorporation of private entities into the renewable energy market. Both the Adani Group and other renewable energy investors are eagerly awaiting the drafting of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) by the CEB, as it is a crucial step in finalising their renewable energy projects. The delay in drafting the PPA is not unique to Adani, but affects other renewable energy investors as well. Also Read Sri Lanka concludes debt restructuring talks with Japan: Wickremesinghe India will help Sri Lanka in oil sector despite recent changes: Officials EAM likely to visit Lanka on Jan 19; talks on debt restructuring expected Sri Lankan rupee shows appreciation against US Dollar in recent months IND vs SL 1st T20I: Toss update, India Predicted XI vs Sri Lanka in Mumbai Counteroffensive, defensive actions taking place in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Sri Lanka lifts import restrictions on 286 items as economic woes eases Researchers find long COVID could be caused by virus lingering in body PM Prachanda lauds India's commitment to import clean energy from Nepal Chinese power companies accuse Pakistan govt of defaulting on pay Other prominent business figures who have visited the Port City are facing similar challenges due to the absence of well-prepared laws under the Business of Strategic Importance (BSI) framework. State minister Dilum Amunugama recently acknowledged this issue and assured that significant efforts are being made by the oversight committee to address these concerns by drafting new investment laws. These new regulations aim to rectify outdated rules that hinder investment opportunities, even when concessions are available. The oversight committee is actively working to resolve various issues, including the PPA and the BSI regulations. The delay in the development of renewable energy can be attributed to several factors, with one of the most pressing issues being the CEB's failure to make payments to the renewable energy sector. This lack of financial support has discouraged new investors from entering the market. Numerous projects associated with the Ceylon Electricity Board have been waiting for approval for five to six years now, according to the state minister. To realise Sri Lanka's rising energy demand and attain the aim of 70 per cent installed renewable capacity, the power industry will need more money and will rely more on the private sector. Currently, depending on weather conditions, the non-conventional renewable energy sector supplies 15-20 per cent of Sri Lanka's daily electricity requirement. However, due to the failure to connect all power plants to the system control, this large contribution is not adequately reflected in the daily generating report published on the CEB's website. The CEB's involvement in purchasing renewable energy from private entities has faced challenges due to political entanglements and anti-privatisation sentiments in Sri Lanka. As of the first quarter of 2022, the CEB had reported a loss of Rs 65 billion. Additionally, the CEB union has initiated strikes over various issues, including government tax policies and the recent increase in electricity tariffs. These strikes and disputes have caused further delays for investors like the Adani Group. Furthermore, some CEB engineers have exhibited a negative attitude towards renewable energy, despite being informed of its importance. The CEB now claims that it can incorporate an additional 2,500 MW of energy by 2026 without making changes to the current grid, which is a significant development. However, the power sector operates at a slow pace, and finalising projects takes a considerable amount of time. Five months have already passed since the Sri Lankan government granted approval for the commissioning of two wind power plants by Adani Green Energy Limited, with a total investment of $442 million. They first approached in 2021 and met the previous President before he was ousted. The Board of Investment expected these wind power plants to become operational within two years and be integrated into the country's power grid by 2025. Adani has already made a significant upfront payment for this project, but the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is still pending. The state Minister of Investment Promotion has acknowledged the delays faced by the Adani Group's renewable energy project, attributing the primary reason to ongoing discussions regarding the PPA with the CEB. Sri Lanka still needs to address significant systemic issues such as corruption, nepotism, and political dominance, which hinder sustainable development and economic growth. Resolving these issues is crucial to create an investor-friendly environment. Currently, Sri Lanka faces delays in paperwork and bureaucratic processes, which impede business operations. Minister Amunugama has acknowledged the need to streamline processes and criticized the ineffectiveness of the Board of Investment's one-stop shop. Recently, Janaka Ratnayake, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), raised concerns about high tariffs and suggested ways to reduce the cost of power. However, the government responded firmly by removing him from his position through a parliamentary vote utilising a 2/3 majority. While Ratnayake's departure has created a void, it highlights the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the energy sector. The CEB will now operate directly under the Energy Minister, who has faced criticism for some of his actions in the energy sector. The timeline for Adani to commence its renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka depends on the terms offered by the Sri Lankan government through the PPA. Timely completion of the PPA is crucial to establish a mutually-beneficial arrangement. If renewable energy is considered the way forward, policymakers must expedite the necessary groundwork. Streamlining processes, facilitating regulatory frameworks, and providing adequate support will accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources and enable a sustainable future. The urgency to act underscores the importance of prioritising and expediting the necessary groundwork to fully embrace renewable energy. In contrast to Sri Lanka's challenges, the state of Telangana has implemented a highly-attractive business framework for foreign investors. A notable example is Apple's partnership with Foxconn, where they invested $500 million in Telangana, leading to the creation of 25,000 direct jobs. Telangana's government introduced the TS-iPASS (TelanganaState Industrial Project Approval and Self Certification System) Act, which simplifies the approval process for entrepreneurs. Under this Act, approvals are granted at a single-point within specified time limits, based on self-certification provided by the entrepreneurs. Telangana, with its population of 38.08 million, has emerged as a shining example of successfully attracting and boosting businesses from around the world. The state has achieved milestones in the food processing industry, with over 40,000 food processing units valued at an estimated $32.75 billion. Moreover, Telangana has established four major food parks worth $67.37 million and implemented seven integrated cold chain projects worth $28.48 million. This impressive growth can be attributed to significant investments made by major multinational companies in Telangana's food processing sector. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Hatsun Agro Products, Plant Lipids, and ITC Limited have chosen to invest in this industry within the state. These investments are a testament to the favorable business environment, infrastructure, and government support provided by Telangana. Any further delays in finalising the PPA will not only burden the Sri Lankan population with additional energy costs, but also set a negative precedent for international investors. Sri Lanka must expedite its plans to attract investors, considering that the civil war ended back in 2009, and the time frame for progress has been quite extensive. --IANS arm/ The Taliban condemned on Sunday a baseless and biased report from the UN Security Council highlighting rifts within the group's ranks. The last seven months have seen a greater shift of power from the capital Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar, a Taliban heartland and the base of the group's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. A report issued earlier in June by the UN Security Council's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said that the Taliban governance structures remain highly exclusionary, Pashtun-centred and repressive toward all forms of opposition. It also said Kandahar's return as the seat of power like it was during the Taliban's rule of Afghanistan in the 1990s circumvents senior Taliban ministers in Kabul, the centre of the current government, because of the way decisions are made. Key figures, such as the Taliban's main spokesman, have set up offices in the south of Kandahar. Monumental decrees such as those excluding women and girls from education and work were issued from the city instead of Kabul. The report also said the group was battling internal conflict over key policies, the centralisation of power and the control of financial and natural resources in Afghanistan. Also Read Threat of terrorism from Taliban rising in Afghanistan, region: UN report UN report urges Afghanistan's Taliban to end floggings, executions UNSC unity key in wake of women's rights violations by Taliban: UN aide Terror strikes in Pakistan surged after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan Security Council unanimously slams Taliban ban on UN women workers Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan booked in yet another case of land scam Ukraine dam collapse: Fast-moving disaster and slow ecological catastrophe My friend experienced shooting in zombie town in US, says Elon Musk Threat of terrorism from Taliban rising in Afghanistan, region: UN report India, US 'model' for strategic partners to work together: USISPF Chairman Ongoing power struggles are further destabilising the situation, to the point where an outbreak of armed conflict between rival factions is a manifest risk, the report added. The Taliban's main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the report's accusations of strife, saying they were baseless and demonstrated obvious hostility to Afghans. Rumours of disagreement between the group's leaders are a continuation of the propaganda of the past 20 years, he said. The publication of such biased and baseless reports by the Security Council does not help Afghanistan and international peace and security, rather, it increases worry among the people (Afghans). The report described the Taliban leader, Akhundzada, as reclusive and elusive and said he had elaborate measures to ensure his safety while holding meetings. It also cited an unnamed UN Security Council member state as saying Akhundzada had survived two bouts of COVID-19, leaving his respiratory system weakened, in addition to existing kidney problems, leading to suggestions that senior Taliban figures are waiting for his health to lead to a natural succession. Hibatullah has been proudly resistant to external pressure to moderate his policies, the June 1 report said. There is no indication that other Kabul-based Taliban leaders can influence policy substantially. There is little prospect of change in the near to medium term. The Taliban say their orders align with their interpretation of Shariah, or Islamic law. Since last November, the Taliban have barred women from most public spaces, university education, and most jobs, including at local and international nongovernmental groups. Girls have already been banned from school beyond sixth grade. In recent days, the Taliban have also sought to exclude all foreign organisations from the education sector, a move the UN secretary-general's chief spokesman, Stphane Dujarric, said Thursday would be another horrendous step backward for Afghan people. Aid agencies have been providing food, education and health care support to Afghans in the wake of the Taliban takeover in August 2021 and the economic collapse that followed it. The link between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan remains strong and symbiotic, according to a UN report which said the ability of terrorist groups to freely manoeuvre under the Taliban de facto authorities in Afghanistan is raising the threat of terrorism in the country and the region. The fourteenth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council said that contrary to statements to not allow Afghan soil to be used for attacks against other countries, the Taliban have harboured and allowed active support of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. While maintaining links to numerous terrorist entities, the Taliban have lobbied member states for counter-terrorism assistance in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), which it perceives as its principal rival. The link between the Taliban and both Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and symbiotic. A range of terrorist groups have greater freedom of manoeuvre under the Taliban de facto authorities. They are making good use of this, and the threat of terrorism is rising in both Afghanistan and the region, the report, issued here on Friday, said. It added that while they have sought to reduce the profile of these groups and have conducted operations against ISIL-K, in general, the Taliban have not delivered on the counter-terrorism provisions under the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the United States of America and the Taliban. Further, there are indications that Al-Qaeda is rebuilding operational capability, that TTP is launching attacks into Pakistan with support from the Taliban, that groups of foreign terrorist fighters are projecting threat across Afghanistan's borders and that the operations of ISIL-K are becoming more sophisticated and lethal (if not more numerous), it said. Also Read Terror strikes in Pakistan surged after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan UN report urges Afghanistan's Taliban to end floggings, executions Pakistan could reconsider strategy for Afghanistan under Taliban: FM Bhutto Afghanistan's Taliban regime warns Pakistan of consequences if attacked Afghanistan's Taliban govt shuts down main border point with Pakistan India, US 'model' for strategic partners to work together: USISPF Chairman Internationally-acclaimed Sulabh sanitation project to be taken to S Africa China's state-run banks reduce interest rates on deposits: Report Trump calls indictment baseless at 1st public appearance post charges 9 injured in San Francisco mass shooting, Police says isolated incident The report added that the Taliban harbouring and supporting TTP evidences a threat projecting beyond the borders of Afghanistan and negates the group's numerous assertions that Afghanistan's soil will not be used for carrying out attacks against other countries. "The relationship between the Afghan Taliban and TTP, like the Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda, is tightly bonded and unlikely to dissipate, the report said adding that there is an ideological anomaly in the nature of the historical dynamic between TTP and ISIL-K, now the main threat to the Taliban within Afghanistan borders. Continued Taliban support to TTP seems likely to test Pakistan's powers of restraint and risks a return to increased levels of violence on both sides of the border, it said. The present Monitoring Team report, the first in which the Taliban have been in power for the entirety of the reporting period, finds that the Taliban leadership shows no signs of bending to pressure for reform or compromise, in the hope of earning international political recognition. They are unchecked by any meaningful political opposition. During the reporting period, the presence of foreign terrorist fighters harboured by the Taliban has become an increasing security threat to many neighbouring countries, it said. He added that this anxiety did not lessen with the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Aiman al-Zawahiri in a Kabul guesthouse connected to Taliban acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani in July 2022. To many of the interlocutors consulted for this report, that single event speaks volumes as to the credibility of Taliban commitments to break with terrorist groups as stated in the Doha Agreement, it said. The report said that the relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda remained close and symbiotic, with Al-Qaeda viewing Taliban-administered Afghanistan as a safe haven. Al-Qaeda still aims to strengthen its position in Afghanistan and has been interacting with the Taliban, supporting the regime and protecting senior Taliban figures. Al-Qaeda maintains a low profile, focusing on using the country as an ideological and logistical hub to mobilize and recruit new fighters while covertly rebuilding its external operations capability, it said. It added that Al-Qaeda seeks to increase its capacity to guide and direct its affiliates and infiltrate its members into the ranks of the Taliban, TTP and ISIL-K. The group funds its activities from the Al-Qaeda core and donations, including through hawala services and cryptocurrencies. Members States assessed ISIL-K as the most serious current terrorist threat in Afghanistan, neighbouring countries and Central Asia. Over the past year, the group has benefited from increased operational capabilities and freedom of movement inside Afghanistan. It seeks to maintain the intense pace of attacks, mostly low impact, combined with sporadic high-impact action to provoke sectarian conflict and destabilize the region in the medium to long term. Since 2022, ISIL-K has claimed more than 190 suicide bomb attacks against soft and hard targets in major cities, leaving some 1,300 people dead or injured. It added that ISIL-K also failed in serious attempts to assassinate Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah Yaqub in 2022. Those operations reportedly included successfully entering the homes of both targets, demonstrating access and the possible use of insider information. Overall, ISIL-K attacks demonstrated strong operational capability involving reconnoitre, coordination, communication, planning and execution. Furthermore, attacks against high-profile Taliban figures raised ISIL-K morale, prevented defections and boosted recruitment, including from within the Taliban's ranks. The report said that AQIS (Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent) has approximately 180 to 200 fighters, with Osama Mehmood being the emir of the group, Atif Yahya Ghouri the deputy emir and Muhammad Maruf responsible for recruitment. AQIS is located in Kandahar, Nimruz, Farah, Helmand and Herat Provinces and is actively supporting TTP, enabling it to work around restrictions placed upon it by the Taliban. The number of ISIL-K fighters is estimated to range from 4,000 to 6,000 (including family members), including Afghans and nationals of Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Trkiye and Central Asian countries and a small number of Arab fighters who travelled from the Syrian Arab Republic to Afghanistan in the past year. ISIL-K training camps and strongholds are located mainly in the north (Baghlan, Balkh, Jowzjan, Kunduz and Faryab Provinces), northeast (Badakhshan and Takhar) and east (Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya and Khost), with at least five new ones built in 2022. The group has created a network of sleeper cells in the centre of the country (Kabul, Kapisa and Parwan); elsewhere ISIL-K operate in cells of 5 to 15 people. The estimated strength of TTP in Afghanistan is 4,000 to 6,000 fighters, based mainly in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, Logar, Paktika, Paktiya and Khost. Its leader, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, and deputy Qari Amjad Ali are based in Paktika and Kunar Provinces, respectively. Since the reunification with several splinter groups, TTP has aspired to re-establish control of territory in Pakistan after being emboldened by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, it said. Ukraine's military on Sunday reported recapturing a village in the southeast of the country amid Russian claims of repelling multiple attacks in the area, the latest indication that a highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive might be underway even as officials in Kyiv stop short of publicly acknowledging it. The 68th Separate Hunting Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces posted a video on Facebook showing soldiers installing a Ukrainian flag on a damaged building in what the post said was the village of Blahodatne in the partially occupied eastern Donetsk region. In a separate social media post, Ukraine's Ground Forces confirmed that the brigade had retaken Blahodatne. Myroslav Semeniuk, spokesman for the brigade, told The Associated Press that an assault team captured six Russian troops after entering several buildings where some 60 soldiers were holed up. The enemy keeps shelling us but this won't stop us, Semeniuk said. The next village we plan to reclaim is Urozhayne. After that, (we'll proceed) further south. While the recapture of Blahodatne pointed to a small Ukrainian advance, Western and Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly cautioned that efforts to expel Russian troops more broadly are expected take time. Russia has made much of how its troops have held their ground elsewhere. Also Read 'India's first village': BRO puts up signboard on entrance of village India's 'Hockey Village' set for transition from bamboo sticks to astroturf Ukraine needs more than a $30 billion arsenal for counterstrike on Russia Cong demands white paper on Pulwama attack, quotes intelligence failures Hackers release sensitive information after ransomware attack on CommScope Imran Khan upset over losing powerful army's backing, claims Pak FM Bilawal 9 people wounded in San Francisco mass shooting, 1 in critical condition Taliban slam 'baseless and biased' UN report suggesting rifts within ranks Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan booked in yet another case of land scam Ukraine dam collapse: Fast-moving disaster and slow ecological catastrophe The Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday continued to insist that it was repelling Ukrainian attacks in the area. It said in a statement that Ukrainian attempts at offensive operations on the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia axes of the frontline over the past 24 hours have been unsuccessful. Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region, insisted that Blahodatne, along with two other villages in Zaporizhzhia, are in a gray area in terms of who controls them. According to Rogov, the Ukrainian forces have briefly seized another village in the neighboring Donetsk region, but were swiftly routed by the Russian troops. "The situation is developing. Nothing extraordinary is happening, Rogov said in a Telegram post. The Russian military have also accused Ukrainian forces of attacking albeit unsuccessfully one of its ships in the Black Sea. According to a statement by Russia's Defence Ministry, the attempted attack took place on Sunday when six unmanned speedboats targeted Russia's Priazovye reconnaissance vessel that was monitoring the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the southeastern part of the Black Sea. All the speedboats were destroyed by the Russian military, and the ship didn't sustain any damage, the ministry said. The claim could not be independently verified, and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. Moscow made a similar allegation last month and reported that Ukrainian unmanned speedboats targeted another reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea, the Ivan Khurs. Several days later, Ukraine's Defence Ministry published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for the Ivan Khurs, but didn't show the drone hitting the ship. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions were underway against Russian forces. He refused to disclose any details but asked to pass it on to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his top commanders were in a positive mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line. Zelenskyy made the remarks at a Kyiv news conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in response to a question about Putin's comment a day earlier that Ukraine's counteroffensive had started and Ukrainian forces were taking significant losses. Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive was underway, though some Western analysts said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggested it was. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry met Premier Li Qiang and top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday during his second day of talks in Beijing. Kerry arrived in the capital on Sunday and met with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, the following day. His trip, scheduled to end Wednesday, aims to establish stable communication about climate change between China and the U.S. Kerry is the third senior American official to visit the country in recent weeks, following Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken Jul 19, 2023 03:59 PM Samsung Electronics semiconductor plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Kim Hyun-bin Samsung Electronics plans to introduce a customized artificial intelligence (AI) service for knowledge search, translation and summarization this year as concerns over the possible leakage of key technological information enabled by ChatGPT are rising. The Device Solutions (DS) division, which oversees Samsung Electronics' semiconductor business, plans to introduce its own large language model (LLM) that it assesses to be at a level higher than GPT-3.5 this year. "Depending on how we utilize generative AI, we can bring about tremendous innovation in our work," Samsung Electronics' DS division head Kyung Kye-hyun said in a recent lecture for employees. "We are currently pursuing the adoption of customized AI through domestic specialized companies." Samsung Electronics DS division plans to open its basic services in December and launch professional search services incorporating company knowledge in February of next year. Through this, the company plans to support employees' work in automated responses for purchasing and expenses; specialized knowledge search for processes, design, and manufacturing; summarization of manufacturing and process data; translation; document creation; meeting transcription and summarization; market and company analysis; code generation and review; and voice of the customer (VOC) response. "What I am currently doing is changing our organizational culture, restoring our weakened development competitiveness and meeting customers worldwide to draw the future together with Samsung," Kyung said. This move is in response to the high demand for generative AI such as ChatGPT in translation and document summarization tasks. However, there are also security concerns such as the risk of confidential information leaks due to the proliferation of generative AI. While the use of external generative AI like ChatGPT is restricted, the plan is to introduce customized AI internally to support efficient work processes. In fact, the DS division has taken measures such as limiting the number of characters in the use of ChatGPT, following some cases of misuse, such as uploading internal mail content and the inputting of internal source code, discovered in March. The Device Experience (DX) division, responsible for home appliances and smartphone businesses, has completely banned the use of generative AI through internal PCs since May. Instead, the DX division has the policy to develop its own AI tools to support translation, document summarization and software development assistance. However, the specific development timeline and implementation schedule have not been finalized. A pedestrian passes by the KT headquarters building in Seoul in this March file photo. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk KT is facing growing controversy after it recently decided to remove "expertise in the ICT sector" as a requirement for leadership positions at the telecommunication firm, according to industry officials, Sunday. Last Friday, the company disclosed its plan to revise its articles of association. Under the plan, CEO candidates are required to have expertise in corporate management, leadership, communication skills and relevant industries. Critics say the decision is intended to enable the selection of a CEO with close ties to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. A group of former KT executives emphasized that knowledge of ICT is still necessary to lead the company. "Amid KT's expansion to new digital businesses based on its conventional ICT business, a CEO without an understanding of the industry may face troubles with making decisions on important investments," the former executives said in a statement. One of KT's multiple unions also expressed concerns that the revision of the articles of association may be associated with appointing a CEO who has a friendly relationship with the incumbent administration. Concerns have grown further as former high-ranking officials from conservative administrations were put on the list of the seven non-executive director candidates. They are Hallym University President Choi Yang-hee, who served as the minister of science, ICT and future planning under the Park Geun-hye administration, and Kim & Chang senior adviser Yoon Jong-soo, who worked as the vice environment minister under the Lee Myung-bak administration. The former vice minister is also a member of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth under the Yoon government. Korea University professor Kim Seong-cheol, a member of the Yoon administration's media policy control tower, was also recommended as KT's non-executive director. In response to criticism, KT explained that its CEO needs knowledge of a wide range of industrial sectors, as the company is also doing business in financial services, media and real estate. "We will prevent an unqualified outsider from leading the company," KT Board Chairman Kim Yong-hun said in a letter to the company's shareholders. Although KT was privatized in 2002, the incumbent and previous governments have meddled with its management by using the National Pension Service, the company's largest shareholder. Under the presidency of Yoon, KT failed twice in its attempts to appoint the next leader, after facing severe backlash from the government and the ruling party. In order to normalize its management by resolving the four months of leadership vacuum, KT seeks to convene its shareholders on June 30 and gain approval for the revision of its articles of association and for the appointment of its non-executive directors. AFRIQUE :: One first step for democracy, One big step for Somalia. :: AFRICA The reform of the electoral system, drawing from international democratic norms of "one person, one vote" for elections from 2024 onwards, ushers in a new era for Somalia. In this watershed moment in history, more than 15 million Somalis will finally be able to freely choose their leaders and voice their collective vision for the future. This new dawn is also an opportunity for the upper echelons of power in our country to consolidate a new social pact, a new hope for Somalia that I hope will be both disruptive and ambitious. Clearly, for Somalis, this May 26th, 2023, will mark one of the most important moments in their lives and in our history. For my collaborators in the political arena and the faithful in our political party, it marks the culmination and realization of a political struggle that we have waged with our hopes firmly anchored in our bodies. For me, it's an immense source of pride to have achieved one of the goals I announced in my book written over three years ago: My life for Somalia. In this book, I criticized the anti-democratic dispensation, which was in fact an archaic and opaque system that disenfranchised the average Somali voter. It enabled the capture of power by an oligarchy guided not by the interests of the people and the future of Somalia, but by the preservation of business interests and ill-gained profits. This system was based on monetarily sullying the conscience of good men and women, institutionalized malfeasance, and tribal divisions. The most important positions, such as Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, and President, were split between the main tribes, with complete disregard for the interests of the people. My country, which had not seen elections by one man, one vote on a national scale since 1969, when Siad Barre seized power, was at the mercy of the merchants of disillusionment and the vendors of false hopes. For any ambitious and honest politician, the fight to abolish this unjust system was vital. It has been one of the most relentless and difficult battles of my political life and that of my party, "Alliance for the Future" (Xisbiga Isbahaysiga Mustaqbalka, in Somali). As a presidential candidate in 2020, I refused, against the tide, to sign the agreement of September 17, 2020, which perpetuated the holding of presidential and legislative elections by indirect vote. Ostracized, criticized, mocked and threatened, I defended the idea that all Somali citizens, regardless of gender, tribal affiliation, religion or social status, have the right to participate in the democratic process. In reality, universal suffrage is not just a source of legitimization for political authority. It was, in my view, the prerequisite for giving the Somali state the means and tools to put an end to Somalia's mire in extremist violence, poverty and chaos. Three immediate priorities and challenges must guide us to ensure that universal suffrage sets Somalia on the path to renewal and the restoration of its international legitimacy. First and foremost, education. To be able to vote and properly decide on the best choices for the future of our country, we need an enlightened people, capable of resisting the power of money and discerning between political alternatives. Secondly, a fundamental institutional reform is imperative. To this end, I am proposing a major conference of Somalia's dynamic forces for an open, sincere, inclusive, and transparent political dialogue to define the institutional architecture of the new Somalia. Fundamental issues such as the electoral system, the organization of the State, the form of the Republic and public liberties must be discussed seriously and rigorously. Thirdly, we must act for our youth. A wise man once said: "The politician thinks of the next election, but the statesman thinks of the next generation". We must act for Somalia's youth, who have long been forgotten. The last thirty years have been a waste for our country, with its immense potential but ravaged by war, permanent conflict, and instability. We have offered several generations no other choice than exile or weapons. Let us now offer them the path of hope and renewal, for, united in the same ideal, Somalis will be able to eradicate terrorism and corruption. 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Overview Organization Name Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) Job Name Technical Officer, Project Engineer & Assistant Project Engineer Job Location Karnataka/ New Delhi/ Maharashtra/ Tamilnadu Total Vacancy 47 Salary Rs. 24500 to Rs. 55000 Walk-In-Interview Date 14.06.2023 to 16.06.2023 Official Website ecil.co.in Notification The Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) will shortly release the ECIL Recruitment 2023 Notification to fill various positions. BSNL Department officials issued a notification for JTA and other openings, therefore the officials declared the vacancies and urged interested and qualified applicants to apply for the available vacancies. How to Apply? Go to www.ecil.co.in. To download the form, look for the Application form link and click on it. When filling out the application form, make sure you include accurate information. Attach all required documents as specified. Check all of the information on the application form twice before submitting it. Salary Salary Rs. 24500 to Rs. 55000 By Lee Kyung-min Exports of Korean-made fighter jets, tanks and artillery weaponry to Poland over the past year have topped 600 billion won ($463 million), a much-needed source of income for the country's rapidly deteriorating trade balance, data showed Sunday. Korea's trade deficit continued for 15 consecutive months in May, dented by falling exports due to an extended slump in the semiconductor industry. Exports in May came to $52.24 billion. The trade deficit was $2.1 billion. The 15 months of deficit is the longest in 27 years since the 29-month trade deficit between January 1995 and May 1997. KAI CEO Kang Goo-young / Courtesy of KAI Data from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) showed that Korea's export of "tank and other armored vehicles" to Poland stood at $255 million in the first four months of this year. It already exceeded last year's exports of $201 million of the said items. Included are FA-50 light attack fighter jets, K2 battle tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers. The howitzer is an artillery weapon somewhere between a cannon and a mortar. They can be used with other artillery pieces, such as long-barreled guns, mortars and rocket artillery. The April data followed a Korea-Poland agreement whereby the Central European country decided to buy up to 20 trillion won worth of Korean-made weapons. In July of last year, the Polish government said it will buy 980 K2 tanks, 648 K9 howitzers, 48 FA-50 attack aircraft and 288 Chunmoo self-propelled multiple-launch rocket systems. At that time, the industry estimated that the defense deal will generate $14.8 billion (19.5 trillion won) in income. But the sum total will rise to 30 trillion won over the next 10 years, as lifted by the exports of related manufactured goods. Korea's export total to Poland in the first four months of the year stood at $3.09 billion, up 34.5 percent from the year before. Korea registered a trade surplus of $2.71 billion with Poland. Poland has become the country's fifth source of trade income this year, after the U.S., Vietnam, Hong Kong and India. Meanwhile, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a local aerospace and defense firm, held a ceremony on the occasion of the first export of FA-50GF aircraft at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, April 7. The event was attended by Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak. A total of 12 FA-50GFs will be delivered between August and December. The remaining 36 of the 48 will be delivered from the second half of 2025 to 2028 in the form of FA-50PL, the most advanced model of FA-50. Kids tv creator Chris Nee recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter and revealed that her 2018 overall deal at Netflix was not renewed when it ended in January and that she believes many streamers dont, and never did, understand kids content. They didnt know this business and that its fundamentally different from the adult side of the business, she told the publication. [T]he kids business, in particular, is really specific and it often works in opposition to how things work for adults. Nee never comes off as bitter or angry during the interview, but instead seems frustrated by her time at Netflix and confident that she understands why so many childrens properties arent finding success there. As one of this generations most prolific creators of kids content, Nees criticisms carry more weight than the average person. Her credits include creating Doc McStuffins, Ridley Jones, and Ada Twist, Scientist, and earlier in her career she worked on classic shows including Blues Clues and Sesame Street. Here are five takeaways from Nees THR interview. A Technical Problem A fundamental problem that Nee noticed at Netflix is that the platform intentionally made sure that subscribers werent pushed the same thing twice. Thats a strategy that may work for fickle adults who want to feel like they are getting the most out of a subscription, but according to Nee, rewatching is the bread-and-butter of younger kids tv. She says that on average, kids would watch the same episode of Blues Clues five times in a row. Nee says that even on a kids Netflix profile, shows were being filtered off the main landing page. Thats a problem with young kids who cant type or spell yet to look for their favorite titles. She says a better strategy would be to leave the shows that kid users are watching on their main page for a set period, or until the user stops clicking on it. Lack of Brand Building One thing that Nee says many streamers are missing is brand identity. Comparing the rest of the pack to Disney, she argues that any Mickey Mouse title Disney puts out is likely to catch the attention of young viewers, who already have a relationship with the character. According to Nee, many streamers intentionally promote a lack of identity, instead promising that subscribers can find anything theyre looking for. Well I really think its too much, certainly for the preschool space, she says. Beyond the Screen Nee says that many streamers havent grasped that with kids content, merchandising is an expansion of your relationship with a show. Its a difficult situation she says, because in order to sell toys, clothes, and all the other goodies kids beg their parents for, manufacturers want to see a property that has longevity, which platforms that are constantly commissioning and canceling programs cant provide. Marketing In the interview, Nee, like many before her, was critical of how Netflix promotes, or maybe doesnt, many of its titles. Speaking about an episode of Ridley Jones which guest starred Cindy Lauper, Nee says, Certainly at a Disney, they wouldve promoted the hell out of that episode. Not putting all the blame on weak marketing, Nee added, And it could be that all of [my] shows were terrible, but I dont think that thats the case. Theyre really different series, and I could see either one of them having done really well in a different space. Room for Hope Wrapping up the conversation, Nee was asked for any bright spots she sees in the industry and was quick to single out Bluey as the kind of content that deserves to do well. She praised the creator-driven nature of the show and says it earned its large audience. After name-dropping Netflixs most-watched kids animated series of 2022, Cocomelon, Nee expressed concern. I dont want to make shows that way, she says. Turkiye's new Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke over the phone with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry to address bilateral relations, according to diplomatic sources on Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. Shoukry also congratulated Fidan on taking office. Fidan took charge from his predecessor, Mevlut Cavusoglu, earlier this week. He was the chief of Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) for 13 years. In April, Cavusoglu, the then Turkish foreign minister, said that Turkiye and Egypt agreed on improving bilateral ties and raising diplomatic relations to the highest level. We are taking concrete steps to raise representation to the level of embassies. In the coming period, we will inform you with a joint statement, Cavusoglu said at a news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Shoukry in the capital Ankara. Diplomatic relations between Turkiye and Egypt have been at the level of charges daffaires since 2013. During his March 18 visit to Cairo, the first by a Turkish foreign minister in 11 years, Cavusoglu said the two countries were looking to raise diplomatic relations to the highest level as soon as possible. LS Electric President Kim Jong-woo, fourth from left, poses with other project officials during a groundbreaking ceremony at the ESS construction site in the U.K. village of Botley, Friday (local time). Courtesy of LS Electric By Kim Hyun-bin LS Electric has broken ground on an energy storage system (ESS) project in the U.K., which will establish a foothold for the company's expansion into the European renewable energy market, the company said, Sunday. LS Electric announced that a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the ESS construction site in the village of Botley in Hampshire, Friday (local time), with more than 50 participants including LS Electric President Kim Jong-woo in attendance. In April, LS Electric secured a contract for the Botley ESS project, with a total project cost of 73.56 million pounds ($92.5 million). This is LS Electric's largest overseas ESS project to date, and completion is scheduled for next June. The project involves the construction of a 50-megawatt power conversion system (PCS) and a 114-megawatt-hour battery ESS. The system will supply the electricity generated in the Botley region to the National Grid Electricity Transmission, the U.K.'s power utility company. LS Electric will be responsible for the ESS' design, procurement, construction (EPC) and operation and maintenance (O&M). ESS is a system that stores electricity generated from power plants and supplies it when needed, increasing power usage efficiency. With the U.K. ESS project as a starting point, LS Electric aims to accelerate its growth in the rapidly expanding European renewable energy market. "The importance of ESS is being recognized in the U.K. and other European countries with increasing demand for renewable energy. Through enhancing reliability and capabilities, we will develop it as a strategic hub for the medium to long term," LS Electric President Kim Jong-woo said. Jim Bob Duggar and Jedidiah Duggar both had failed bids for political offices. Josh Duggar might have had political aspirations once upon a time, too. Amazons docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets alleged that the IBLP aimed to put members in positions of power. It was stated that Bill Gothard specifically hoped to see his ministry members in positions of political power. The statement was an interesting one to Duggar family followers. After all, several Duggar family members have shown an interest in politics. Did any of them ever get elected, though? The answer is yes. Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar | Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images Jim Bob Duggar worked in politics before reality TV Before the Duggar family became reality TV stars, Jim Bob Duggar wanted to participate in politics. He was somewhat successful, too. In 1998, Jim Bob was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives. He was reelected in 2000. In 2002, Jim Bob opted to run for the United States Senate but was defeated during the primary election. Following his 2002 loss, Jim Bob campaigned for a seat in the Arkansas State Senate. After his unsuccessful bid in 2006, he opted to take a break from politics and focused instead on his real estate empire. Eventually, TLC came knocking. By 2008, the Duggars were a household name, having landed several TLC specials and a reality TV series. While Jim Bob appeared to slink away from the spotlight shortly after his eldest son, Josh Duggar, was arrested for receiving and possessing child pornography, he didnt stay hidden for long. As Josh made his way through the judicial system, Jim Bob announced his candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate. The announcement stunned Duggar family followers and former friends. He, again, lost the race. Jim Bob has not announced any additional political plans. Jedidiah Duggar tried his hand at politics, too Jim Bob was unsuccessful in several political bids, but that didnt stop his children from trying to jumpstart their own political careers. In 2019, Jedidiah Duggar announced his candidacy for the Arkansas House of Representatives. Then 21, he noted that he had interned as a legislative assistant under Representative Charlene Fite on his campaign website. Jed lost to the Democratic candidate, Megan Godfrey, in 2020. Following his defeat, Jed returned to his car lot, married Katey Nakatsu in 2021, and now has two children. Jed Duggar has not publicly announced any future political plans. Another Duggar held an elected position While no Duggars are currently working in politics, at least one other family member has held an elected position in the past. John David Duggar became a constable in 2014. Constables are law enforcement officers but generally do not enforce the laws in the same way a traditional police officer does. Constable duties differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. John David held the position until 2022, when he was ousted in a runoff election. Constables are considered volunteer positions in Washington County, Arkansas. While the public elects them, they are not paid for their time. Little else is known about what John David does for a living, aside from serving as the Duggar familys pilot. However, his wife, Abbie Burnett, seems to have returned to work. The mother of two was spotted in Joy-Anna Forsyths birth video working as a nurse. Abbie worked as a nurse in Oklahoma before marrying John David. Josh Duggar briefly worked for Family Research Council as the director of their lobbying arm. Josh resigned in 2015 after it was revealed that he had molested four of his sisters and a family friend. Pixabay/Anja During a hearing held on Thursday, Jun 8, a lawyer representing the parents of Audrey Hale, the Nashville school shooter who tragically took the lives of three adults and three elementary students at a Christian school in March, made a startling revelation. The lawyer stated that the family possesses the killer's manifesto, raising further inquiries into the case. Revelation of Killer's Manifesto Fox News reported that the disclosure surfaced as part of an ongoing Tennessee lawsuit by the National Police Association (NPA) and private investigator Clata Brewer. They are seeking a court order to release Hale's writings in response to their public records requests, according to Doug Pierce, an attorney representing the NPA. Law enforcement authorities have revealed that the shooter wrote a manifesto and maintained journals containing hand-drawn maps and diagrams of the school. Those materials included possible entry points and illustrations depicting the shooter dressed in the same attire Hale wore on the day of the attack. Moreover, Pierce said that the shooter died without a will and therefore has no other heirs, so whatever those writings, i.e., the manifesto, he says they belong to the parents, and the parents will assign their interest in those writings to the school. However, the attorney emphasized that despite this revelation, it should not alter the fact that documents seized during an investigation typically become part of the public record. Previously, the police released surveillance footage highlighting the heroic actions of the responding officers as they stormed the building and neutralized Hale. The footage displayed the shooter actively firing at police from a second-story window. Pierce stated that a decision regarding the release of the manifesto could be reached within days or weeks as the court deliberates on the intervention attempts from the school and the parents of the students involved, which has led to an ongoing appeal in the case. Also Read:Nashville Pastor Murdered in Brutal Attack, People Walked Past Him Like a Trash on the Ground Shooting at a Christian School in Nashville According to authorities, a tragic incident unfolded at Covenant School, a private religious school in Nashville, resulting in the loss of three children and three adults. NPR reported that the shooter, identified as a 28-year-old from the Nashville area, was confronted by two officers and subsequently shot dead. Initially thought to be a woman, a spokesperson clarified that the shooter was assigned female at birth but used he/him pronouns. Authorities also revealed that the shooter possessed two assault-style rifles and a pistol. As mentioned, the shooting occurred in an upper area described as a "lobby-type area" within the school premises. By 10:27 a.m., the shooter had been neutralized. It was further disclosed that two of the firearms were legally acquired. While the shooter was identified as a former student, officers have not revealed any potential motive for the devastating act. Still, after several days, the individual responsible was identified as Audrey Hale of Nashville, with no previous criminal record. As reported by Christianity Today, the Covenant School shooting has not only been the deadliest in Nashville. Yet, it has also become the most prominent assault on a church school in the United States. The incident has prompted administrators of Christian schools nationwide to reassess their security protocols, challenging the perception of these institutions as safe havens. Related Article: Nashville Christian School Shooting Takes 6 Lives Including 3 Students; Shooter Found Dead at the Scene Pixabay/Pexels The global epidemic of Covid 19 triggered the beginning of Heritage Neighborhood's struggle with food insecurity. Due to the outrage caused by this situation, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church decided to start a program to assist individuals who could not afford to eat. Evangelical Lutheran Church's Pantry Program Twenty percent of families in Saskatchewan are currently suffering from food insecurity, according to the most recent figures released by Statistics Canada. This indicates that the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are still being felt. Based on a report from MSN, after recognizing a need during the pandemic that began in March 2020, officials of the Evangelical Lutheran Church launched the pantry program. The administrator and the pastor reached out to the church to solicit money and food donations, and they quickly began to arrive. Emmett Brown, the church's office administrator and pantry coordinator, observes the difficulties associated with food insecurity reflected in the growing number of people seeking assistance. Approximately one hundred lunches can0 reportedly be provided daily by the denomination using sandwiches that the Indigenous Christian Fellowship has supplied; however, the demand might exceed that total. As mentioned, donated sandwiches are packaged and distributed by volunteers from the community as well as members of the church. The lunches also contain instant ramen, granola bars, fruit snacks, and sandwiches. One of the volunteers, Margaret Roth, said she virtually springs out of bed every Thursday morning because she knows they will be volunteering at the food pantry. The volunteer explained that she makes it a point to learn everyone's name and to welcome them warmly before inquiring about how they've been doing since the last time they stopped by. She wished the conversations would hold the same significance for them as they do for her. In addition, Cameron shared that whenever someone thanks her, she lets them know that a vast network of individuals wants them to know how much they are cared about. IG News reported that every summer, besides providing lunch, the church holds a fundraiser to distribute 10,000 plastic water bottles. Brown explained that the church plans to give out reusable water bottles as part of that project this year to reduce the church's environmental impact. Under the clothes hanger road stands approximately 27 pallets of plastic water bottles. It is hoped that individuals will bring new refillable bottles and use the drinking fountains outside Carmichael Outreach to restock their water supplies. Also Read:US To Aid Africa On Food Crisis Caused By Russia-Ukraine Conflict Effect of Covid19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity U.S. Global Leadership Coalition stated that due to decreased revenues and disruptions to food supply networks, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an increase in global food insecurity in practically every country. These conditions were further aggravated globally by Russia's aggressive invasion of Ukraine. The pandemic still severely affects Global hunger and poverty, particularly among the most vulnerable and underprivileged communities. Since the beginning of the epidemic, there have been 276 million more people in a state of extreme food insecurity than before. Accordingly, the World Food Program (WFP) forecasts that the number of people needing food assistance will reach 323 million by the end of 2022. This increase is due to the cumulative consequences of ongoing global social, political, and economic crises. Related Article: Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Provides Meals to Alleviate Hunger, Food Insecurity in Community Pixabay/Peter H Since it was claimed that the costs of repairing the historic West Park Presbyterian Church would be too high, its congregation applied for a hardship status to sell the place of worship for several million dollars. Despite this, American actor Mark Ruffalo submitted a petition to save the historic church, which caught the attention of Mayor Eric Adams. Plans To Sell Church to Build Condominium In July 2022, the most recent time that the 133-year-old landmark church was mentioned, some petitioners wanted to demolish it and cited "hardship" as the reason. Among these petitioners were the church's congregation members, which numbered 12. As per West Side Rag, they produced evidence showing that the north and south walls of the church, built in the 19th century out of red sandstone, had begun to lean outward, which caused the south wall to be overstressed by 27%. This circumstance brought to light the hazardous condition of the church, and according to the estimations of the congregation, it would take a substantial amount of money, somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty million dollars, to restore it. The congregation argues that the historic designation should be revoked to enable the house of worship to be demolished and the property that it sits on sold to a developer who plans to build a 19-story condominium for $33 million. The church would reportedly get $8.8 million to finish building the new facility and funds for an endowment. Additionally, the remaining sales revenues would be given to the governing body of the Presbyterian Church as a gift. Also Read: Rolling Fork Community Unites to Preserve Historic Church as Congregation Rallies to Save Century-Old Landmark Petition to Save Historic West-Park Presbyterian Church A report from MSN stated that the Hollywood A-lister Mark Ruffalo, as well as fellow Upper West Side actors Amy Schumer and Matt Dillion, are lending their support to a local nonprofit organization to raise money for the preservation of a historic but deteriorating church of worship that is situated at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 86th Street. As mentioned, Ruffalo submitted a petition to Adams asking him to help save the church. However, according to Ruffalo's statement, he has been seeking for weeks to have a face-to-face meeting with Adams before the Land Preservation Commission's scheduled hearing on the subject this coming Tuesday, Jun 13. Moreover, at the chance meeting at the Tribeca Film Festival, the actor finally succeeded in getting the politician's attention to hear what he had to say. Ruffalo revealed the meeting on Wednesday, Jun 7, during which Adams presented fellow performer Robert De Niro with a key to the city. "He was surprised that they were talking about deregistering a landmark, and there was talk of a possible site visit," the actor added. According to a report from Akahi News, the dispute that has raged for years over whether or not a historic church on the Upper West Side should be demolished or preserved has now drawn the attention of Mayor Eric Adams. But, after Ruffalo personally approached the mayor to assist in helping to save the historic spot, the much-anticipated City Landmark Preservation Commission hearing that has been set for Tuesday, Jun 13, to talk about whether it should remove the highly sought-after status of the West Park Presbyterian Church has caught the attention of the mayor. In addition, the opinions and suggestions of all New Yorkers regarding how to effectively maintain and preserve New York City's history are significant to Mayor Adams. Due to the high level of complexity inherent in the hardship process, the spokesperson of the City Hall stated that they are confident that the Landmarks Preservation Commission will conduct an exhaustive investigation. Related Article:China: Christian Pastor and Family, Who Defended Churches Against Demolition, Detained Unsplash/Anastasiia Chepinska Following the resurfacing of a picture showing Andy Beshear posing with a local chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an anti-Christian LGBTQ activist group, the election campaign between Beshear and his Republican opponent, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, has heated up. The image, which was shot when the subject was speaking at a pro-LGBTQ event in February 2020, has rekindled discussions about her morals and her aptitude for public office. Cameron criticized Beshear, pointing out what he believed to be a lack of congruence with the beliefs of the Kentucky people. He underlined that rather than embracing Californian ideas, Beshear should put the interests and convictions of the people of Kentucky first. Photo of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear with LGBTQ Activist Group Sparks Controversy According to the article in Fox News, the Attorney General continued by charging Beshear with giving a platform to an "anti-Christian hate group" that mocks people of faith, saying such conduct disqualifies one from holding public office. Regarding Beshear's future, Cameron added that while he might have enough free time to hang out with these groups, it would not be suitable at the state house. A self-identified organization of "queer and trans nuns," The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, are well-known for their mocking treatment of Christian doctrine. In addition to pole dancing on crosses and making "Go forth and sin some more!" their motto, they organize the annual "Foxy Mary" and "Hunky Jesus" competitions. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced intentions to give the group the "Community Hero Award" during a future game, which incited outrage from a number of sources, including some of the team's players. The controversy around the photo then reappeared. The Republican Governors Association (RGA), which is working to remove Beshear from office, joined the criticism and claimed that the problem went beyond partisan differences. According to the article shared in Dennis Michael Lynch, Concerning the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, RGA national press secretary Courtney Alexander referred to them as a "blatantly hateful group mocking religion" and emphasized that their outrageous actions hurt Christians all throughout the country. Beshear asserted that "everyone in Kentucky counts" and that he would take the photo again without hesitation in 2020 to defend himself against criticism of the image. Campaign spokesman Alex Floyd characterized the recent backlash against Beshear as an effort to alienate Kentuckians in response to the incident. Floyd emphasized Beshear's dedication to fostering community cooperation and tackling Kentucky's problems as he asked Cameron to concentrate on establishing a special prosecutor to look into the contentious pardons of child rapists by former Governor Matt Bevin. Also Read:LA Dodgers Relaunch 'Christian Faith and Family Day,' Went Through On-Off Controversial Guest Dodgers Inviting Controversial Group Criticized Trevor Williams, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as the Catholic community, have criticized the team for having a spoof drag act perform at their annual Pride Night. According to the article here in Christianity Daily, the Dodgers initially withdrew the offer in response to Catholic complaints, but they then renewed it in response to criticism from LGBT activists. Williams criticized the Dodgers' action in the public eye, saying that it endorsed an organization that makes fun of Catholicism. Another Dodger pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, joined him in objecting to the mocking of other religions. Williams advised fellow Catholics to think again about their support of the Dodgers in light of the team's tolerance for ridicule. In reaction to the occurrences, the Catholic advocacy group CatholicVote started a boycott campaign against the Dodgers and raised $1 million. The debate brings to light the conflict between tolerance and religious sensitivity. Related Article: Pitcher Expresses Disapproval as Dodgers Re-Invite 'Queer and Trans Nuns' to Pride Night, Citing Devout Catholic Beliefs A pedestrian walks past a Kyochon Chicken restaurant in Seoul in this March file photo. Newsis By Park Jae-hyuk Kyochon F&B, which was criticized last month for offering a 3,000 won ($2.30) discount after hiking the prices of its most popular items a month earlier, is facing criticism once again for its latest marketing campaign, according to industry officials, Sunday. The fried chicken franchise operator decided recently to carry out another discount event, offering discounts up to 4,000 won to its customers who make purchases during the first nine days of June, July and August. However, the benefit is given only to those who spend at least 25,000 won to buy boneless chicken items. Customers, therefore, need to buy the Signature Boneless Set worth 33,000 won, or purchase at least two boneless items from the menu, to qualify for the discount. In addition, the discount is offered only to those who made at least two orders in the previous month after signing up for Kyochon membership through the company's mobile app. These difficult requirements led many consumers to believe that the latest discount event is intended to appease consumers who are already frustrated over its previous price hike and to clear inventory of unpopular boneless items. Some consumers claim that Kyochon is making a fool of its customers once again. In response, Kyochon explained it is typical for companies to carry out conditional discount events. However, the fried chicken franchise has faced boycotts from consumers complaining about its previous price hike in April. The company is also drawing complaints for being Korea's first fried chicken franchise that started charging for delivery services. Amid the worsening public sentiment, Kyochon F&B's first-quarter revenue dropped 8.2 percent year-on-year to 120.4 billion won. Its operating profit also fell 32.4 percent to 5.9 billion won during the same period. As Kyochon suffered a decline in its sales after the price hike in April, it will likely face additional falls in its revenue and operating profit during the second quarter. Last year, Kyochon, after maintaining its position for more than a decade as Korea's leading fried chicken franchise in terms of sales, was overtaken by competitor bhc. Unsplash/y y The charges against a local street preacher who was detained during a counter-protest at an LGBT pride celebration in Reading have been dropped by Pennsylvania's prosecutors. Following his arrest on June 3rd, the alleged preacher, Damon Atkins, was initially accused of disorderly conduct. However, the charges were dropped when the Berks County District Attorney's Office examined the incident's footage and pertinent precedent. According to court records, Atkins was detained following a conversation with Reading Police Officer Bradley McClure. In the viral video of the arrest, Atkins is seen holding a placard that reads, "Jesus said go and sin no more." McClure counters Atkins' claim that the location is public land by advocating respect for the right of the pride event participants to congregate and demonstrate. Charges Dropped for the Preacher Arrested Disorderly According to the article in Christian Headlines, Atkins kept repeating his own opinions while highlighting the public nature of the location. McClure decided to arrest Atkins, telling him that he was finished and then handcuffing him after mentioning that those in Hell were cheering for the pride marchers and reading a verse from the Bible, specifically 1 Corinthians 14:33, which states, "God is not the author of confusion." Two neighboring people's emotions were also captured on camera. One person expressed shock that such an occurrence was happening in Reading, while another person, who was identified as Reading resident Matthew Wear, mentioned the importance of being able to record the incident on camera. In the article shared in WFMZ, it stated that the dismissal of Damon Atkins' accusations sparks debates about the right to free speech and how to maintain a balance between opposing opinions in public areas. Although the incident attracted notice because of the conflicting religious beliefs and the arrest that followed, the legal outcome is a result of the District Attorney's Office's meticulous examination of the facts and application of pertinent statutes. Also Read:Bishops, Child Care Facility Unite in Protest Against Government's Alleged Harassment of Church-Run Centers for Children in India Attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Freedom Expressed Happiness The Berks County District Attorney's Office made the decision to drop the charges against Damon Atkins after carefully examining the video. According to the story in The Morning Call, Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, welcomed this development with relief. However, Steinbaugh underlined that Atkins should never have been detained in the first place and expressed his happiness with the dismissal nonetheless. He demanded action to remedy the officer's misbehavior and make sure that similar instances won't violate people's First Amendment rights in the future. Further criticizing the Reading Police Department, Steinbaugh said the episode demonstrated their ignorance of the First Amendment. He disputed Officer Bradley McClure's assertion that Atkins's loud music violated the noise ordinance and qualified as "unreasonable noise" for the purpose of the disorderly conduct prosecution. Asserting that speaking loudly enough to be heard over a raucous crowd should not be regarded as unreasonable, Steinbaugh suggested that the police's main goal was to prevent speech that would be considered offensive by Pride participants rather than to reduce noise. Related Article:California Parents Clash in Fierce Protests Over Elementary School Pride Event, Citing Concerns of Being 'Too Young' Unsplash/Scott Graham The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has experienced an operational deficit amounting to about $140 million due to mismanagement. The institution's financial difficulties have been made much worse because of the decrease in the number of students enroling full-time. The enrolees have decreased by a major two-thirds (67%), while costs have increased by a third (35%). Fiscal Mismanagement and Enrollment Decline Plague Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary According to the article in Christianity Today, since the SBC's Cooperative Program covers the tuition expenses of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) students, a crucial source of income for the denomination's six seminaries, the decline in SBC students is especially alarming. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's overall enrollment has decreased dramatically, according to figures from the Association of Theological Schools, from the equivalent of 2,138 full-time students in 2003 to just 1,126 full-time students in the autumn of 2022. The Association of Theological Schools utilizes a different formula than Southern Baptist seminaries to calculate the full-time equivalents. The decrease in enrolment has consequently had a negative effect on the institution's tuition revenue. In an effort to address the sizable deficit, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has turned to leveraging its reserves and making distributions from its endowment. Also Read:California Settles Lawsuit with Christian Medical Group, Pays $300,000 Over Religious Objections to Aid-in-Dying Law Former President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Accused of Financial Misconduct The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary also has revealed alarming information about Adam Greenway, its former president, in a news release released on Wednesday. According to the article in The Tennessean, the seminary claims that Greenway misused monies from the seminary for personal house improvements and broke credit card rules. Following a tumultuous board of trustees meeting last week that was characterized by disagreements about financial disclosures relevant to Greenway's tenure, these facts became public. The letter from the seminary voiced extreme worry over the pattern of bad financial management that was noticeable during Greenway's term in office. It also recognized the efforts of a few seminary staff members who, in spite of opposition, strove to uphold the law and fight the excessive spending. Over $1.5 million in seminary funds were used for repairs to the president's home, according to a task force investigation of spending under Greenway, who took over as president in February 2019. About $60,000 was spent on holiday decorations, as well as $25,000 on art, over $11,000 on an espresso machine, and a startling $180,000 on HVAC maintenance. According to the shared article in Yahoo! News, Greenway is accused of breaking seminary rules by using his seminary credit card for personal costs in addition to the exorbitant repairs. This included a $920 purchase of a decorative metal gator head from the University of Florida as well as first-class flights to the 2022 SBC annual meeting and framing of individual diplomas. The information about Greenway's financial wrongdoing placed the light on a long-standing problem with financial management at Southwestern Seminary, a problem that existed before his appointment. The task force's conclusions, which detailed numerous instances of poor management, were deeply regretted by the seminary. Related Article:Historic Preservation Grants Program Awards $10,000 to Meadvilles Baptist Church to Restore Historic Revere Bell Unsplash/Fabio Fistarol Pope Francis is steadily healing from his recent operation, the Vatican announced in a formal statement. The pontiff underwent surgery to remove scar tissue from his colon and to fix an intestinal hernia. According to the Vatican's spokesman, Matteo Bruni, the Pope had a comfortable night and he was already able to sit on an armchair and has been able to work on Friday. The Pope's Health in Stable Condition According to the article shared in ABC News, the Pope looked through the newspapers after his breakfast and then caught up on the day's happenings. According to the medical professionals that was handling, the patient's condition is gradually getting better. Pope Francis committed the afternoon to work and prayer, exemplifying his dedication to his duties. He received Holy Communion later that evening, a sign of success in his recuperation. The Pope's intravenous drip has been stopped, which is notable and suggests that his condition is stable. The Pope thanked everyone for their letters, especially the ill kids who gave him sweet drawings, according to the Vatican. During his recuperation, these words unquestionably give comfort and encouragement. The 86-year-old Pope underwent his second major stomach surgery in only two years on Wednesday after being hospitalized at the Gemelli hospital. He had an operation to have a section of his colon removed in 2021. His recent operation was successful in treating adhesions and internal scar tissue that had been partially obstructing his bowel. In addition, doctors strengthened his abdominal wall with prosthetic mesh to treat a hernia that had developed close to a previous surgery scar. Pope Francis has written to the faithful in his first communication since having abdominal surgery, asking them to keep him in their prayers. The Pope has revelaed and epressed his sincere gratitude for the prayers and encouraging words he has received recently. According to another source, CNN said that the Pope gave a great welcoming of the outpouring prayers and concern from people around the world in a tweet on Friday, stating, "I sincerely appreciate the prayers and numerous expressions of closeness and affection received in the past few days." In his letter, the Pope emphasized the importance of prayer and expressed his sorrow for those who are suffering. He said he was praying for everyone, especially those going through difficult times. This reaffirmed his commitment to compassion and his status as a spiritual authority, showing his support for individuals who are struggling. Additionally, Pope Francis beseeched the faithful to keep praying for him. He said, "I ask you to keep me in your prayers," recognizing the value of group prayer and the support he had from the entire world. Also Read: Pope Francis Reveals He Has Signed a Resignation Letter Due to Potential Health Issues The Doctor of the Pope Released a Statement During a press conference, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the director of abdominal and endocrine sciences at Gemelli Hospital, reported on the Pope's condition. According to the story in Fox News, he mentioned that the Pope woke up in good spirits and even shared a joke, quoting him as saying, "When will we do the third one?" The doctors performed a procedure to remove adhesions, which are internal scars causing a partial blockage in the intestine. Dr. Alfieri also disclosed that apart from the 2021 colon surgery, Pope Francis had previously undergone abdominal surgeries in Argentina before 2013, resulting in scarring. Considering the Pope's age and a recent bout of bronchitis, Dr. Alfieri emphasized the importance of taking all necessary precautions in determining the timing of the hospital stay. Related Article:Vatican Reports Pope Francis' Health' Steadily Improving' During Hospital Stay Hugo Neri bought 15 acres of land. As a small business owner, Neri needed space to store the large vehicle and tractor tires he repaired and sold for a living. As a husband and father of four, Neris investment would provide a consistent workload and profits needed to care for his family. The land represented an opportunity for professional success and family flourishing. Then, Neri was in an accident. He broke his pelvis and femur. After two surgeries, Neri struggled to move because of chronic pain. Work was out of the question until Neri fully healed. His wife, Elena, had to manage their isolated property, which included replenishing the familys water supply that was trucked in from town and securing propane for the generator. In addition to caring for their four children, Elena now had to care for Hugo as well. Quickly, the Neris turned to food stamps, but the allotted assistance was not enough to keep the six of them fed. In a matter of weeks, the Neri family had become food insecure. Twin Hungers While the Neris story may seem extreme at first glance, the truth is that many American families are one accident or mishap away from going hungry. In fact, one in eight children in the United States lives in a household that cannot afford enough food to meet everyones needs. Childhood hunger is linked to profound negative effects, including stunted physical development, low academic performance, and mental health issues. Studies show that these effects can start to occur very quicklysometimes within a few days or weeks of experiencing inadequate nutrition. In other words, childhood hunger is a significant and urgent threat in the lives of many American children. Even families who have the time, information, and connections to access government resources still experience levels of food insecurity. Help must come from somewhere elsefrom someone elseif bellies are going to be filled. For the Neris, that support came from Jorge Ramirez, Mercy Ministry director at Bethesda Church of God. Ramirez, who originally met Hugo at a local tire shop, heard about the Neri familys situation and asked if he could visit with food in hand. The Neris agreed. Ramirez began visiting the Neris every other week, bringing food with him each time. As the Neris and Ramirez got to know one another, Ramirez learned that they belonged to Santa Muerte, or holy death, a cult that teaches that death is a holy spirit that defeated Jesus. The Neris regularly prayed and made offerings to an altar in their home so they might be spared from violent deaths themselves. Their physical hunger had been plain from the beginning, but now, Ramirez could see the depth of their spiritual hunger as well. As Ramirez continued to bring food and offer friendship to the Neri family, he also began to share the gospel with them and even invited them to spend Christmas with his family. Because of the food Ramirez regularly brought to the Neris, the family was able to reallocate their limited resources and purchase necessities like baby formula. Their friendship with Ramirez has grown, leading to conversations about Jesus and, Ramirez says, clear evidence that God is softening the hearts of the Neri family to the truth of the gospel. Giving Food and Growing Friendships Just as the Neris story depicts the harsh reality of both physical and spiritual hunger for many families, it also describes how hundreds of American churches are combating hunger in their communities. When Ramirez visited the Neri family, he did so with Food Paksa program of Childrens Hunger Fund (CHF). Filled with non-perishable items, the Food Paks are assembled by individuals, families, and churches who partner with Childrens Hunger Fund. CHF then provides the Food Paks to trained partner churches who then share them with hungry families in their communities. Jesus modeled compassion and mercy in his earthly ministry. So should the local church, says Dave Phillips, CHFs founder and president. Its not enough to proclaim the good news of the gospel from the pulpit. Nor is simply providing food addressing the issue of spiritual poverty in the lives of those served. We have seen the greatest success when a local church uses the relational strategy of home food delivery to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of those in their community. Phillips encourages pastors to proactively address specific needs, like childhood hunger. Congregants need to be educated from the pulpit to think missionally, he says, and then there needs to be a tangible way for congregants to participate in missional work. Meet Physical and Spiritual Needs In Matthew 25, Jesus describes the day when he will sit on his glorious throne and all the nations will be gathered before him. To those deemed righteous, he will speak to their acts of justice and mercyamong them, I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? The King [Jesus] will reply, Truly, I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. By participating in Project Food Pak, churches can meet both physical and spiritual needs. Pastors and ministry leaders can engage their congregants in filling Food Paks to be sent to areas of need. CHF partners with and trains congregations that distribute food through home visits in their local communities. In doing so, Christians have an opportunity to combat childhood hunger, share the gospel, and by Gods grace, serve Jesus himself. Learn more about how your church can participate in Project Food Pak. Over 5,000 UMC churches granted disaffiliation amid schism over homosexuality; 3,000 in 2023 After an active week of United Methodist Church regional conferences, the number of congregations approved to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church in the last two years has surpassed the 5,000 mark. This week, according to numbers compiled by UM News, the number of churches that have had their disaffiliation votes approved by their annual conferences under Paragraph 2553 of the UMC Book of Discipline went from around 4,600 on Tuesday to 5,321 as of Friday morning. Although UM News' numbers include all churches that have been granted the right to disaffiliate since 2019, there was a strong uptick in departures beginning last year, with around 2,000 congregations having their disaffiliation votes approved in 2022 and over 3,000 so far in 2023. From 2019 to 2021, by contrast, fewer than 200 had disaffiliated from the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States. UM News' data is based on a "review of U.S. annual conference reports, publicly available journals and reports of special annual conference sessions held in 2022 and this year." "The General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination's finance agency, is collecting the official data on disaffiliations and church closures," the outlet notes. "But the finance agency's count of disaffiliations lags behind UM News' data because it must wait for annual conferences to submit official reports." In 2019, at a special session of UMC General Conference, delegates voted to add Paragraph 2553 to the Book of Discipline, which created a process for allowing churches to leave the denomination amid a longstanding debate over the denomination's official stance on homosexuality. Contributing to this growth were the recent votes from multiple regional conferences held this week that approved the disaffiliation of hundreds of congregations seeking dismissal. These included the 286 churches in the Kentucky Annual Conference on Sunday, 113 churches in the South Carolina Conference on Tuesday and 237 churches in the East Ohio Conference on Thursday. For the East Ohio Conference, the departing churches represented around a third (36%) of the member congregations for the regional body, with 414 churches remaining with the conference. "We can no longer focus our attention and give energy to those who have chosen to withdraw or disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. We grieve the loss," said East Ohio Bishop Tracy S. Malone in her Episcopal Address on day one of the annual conference. "We pray for them, and we bless them on their journey. We must focus our attention on who is staying in The United Methodist Church and keep our eye ever vigilant on our mission and on our vision." Over the past few decades, theological liberals have pushed to change the Book of Discipline's stance prohibiting the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals. Efforts to remove the Book of Discipline language have been a focal point at UMC General Conference, a churchwide legislative gathering that generally takes place every four years. Although these efforts have failed, many theological progressives in the UMC have refused to follow or enforce the rules, much to the frustration of theological conservatives. In early 2020, UMC leaders from theologically diverse backgrounds announced their intention to pass a measure at General Conference that year that would allocate $25 million for theologically conservative Methodists to leave the UMC and create their own denomination. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns prompted the UMC to postpone General Conference on multiple occasions, ultimately deciding to hold the gathering in 2024. In response to the continual delays, conservatives launched the Global Methodist Church last year, with many of the departing congregations opting to affiliate with it. "It is anticipated that some theologically conservative local churches will find annual conferences willing to negotiate fair and just exit provisions, while others will, unfortunately, face obstacles placed in their paths," announced the GMC in March 2022. "The Transitional Leadership Council decided it was time to launch the Global Methodist Church, so those who can leave early will have a place to land, to begin building and growing, and making room for others to join later." While many disaffiliating churches have joined the GMC, others are seeking to become nondenominational churches or create other denominational start-ups. Many churches face financial obstacles to their quests to disaffiliate as some conferences are requiring churches to pay hefty sums to keep control of their property. This, and other barriers, have led hundreds of churches to seek legal action in states like Florida, Georgia and Maryland. 'Unity Weekend': Churches nationwide preach on racial unity to show 'oneness in Christ' Seeking to foster racial unity in the United States, churches nationwide are preaching a message of racial harmony through Christ this weekend as part of an initiative known as Unity Weekend. Unity Weekend founder Bishop David Grier, the pastor of Grace Church in Dumfries, Virginia, told The Christian Post that 141 churches are participating in the national Unity Weekend. Grier said pastors are stressing the Bible's messages on healing and unity, suggesting that most folks today don't realize that many issues plaguing society today are not new, but people must look to God for solutions. "There was a huge division between the Jews and Gentiles, and even amongst the Gentiles," Grier said. "My Bible says that faith comes through hearing. So just imagine how church cultures can shift if we begin to speak into this issue instead of ignoring this issue." Unity Weekend is described as "an opportunity for believers to discuss our faith by simultaneously sharing the Bible's transformative message of racial and ethnic unity from pulpits across the country and to practically demonstrate God's love and our oneness in Christ across racial, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, and denominational lines, while serving the underserved in our local communities." On Saturday, the churches served underserved communities by distributing over 50,000 pounds of food through 18 distribution sites in Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The distribution sites consist of volunteer organizations and churches, including Grier's church in Virginia. At each of the 18 locations, Grier estimated that there is at least a minimum of 20 in each area helping with the event. On Sunday, each church will share a biblical perspective of racial unity by teaching Galatians 3:28, which states, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." "We are all one in Christ," Grier said. "So that's the nuts and bolts of the day. But also, we have a quarterly list of conversations where leaders from across the nation get on the phone." "It's about 10 minutes of instructions, and then basically, leaders are in conversation with one another. We're discussing racial issues, racial perspectives, etc., and building relationships," he continued, adding that there are usually about 40 to 60 leaders on these calls. "[On] our phone calls, we have white people, Hispanic people, Asian people and African-American people," the worship leader said. "And so far, it's been an extremely diverse group of participants." Grier is hopeful Unity Weekend will become an annual occurrence and reach a point where every church throughout the country, at least once a year, is addressing the issue. "From a biblical perspective, I believe that God has the answer, and we need to leverage that answer that we have." Regarding whether any specific racial issues had prompted the weekend of unity, Grier highlighted the high-profile killings of Breonna Taylor and Daunte Wright. Grier said the killings appeared to have created a divide among primarily white and black churches. "I happen to have relationships with folks from all different walks of life," the spiritual leader said. "And I felt the Lord was putting it on my heart to try and bring His people together, to use the relationships that I have to build bridges." The event addresses broad racial tensions within the nation's churches. While he understands that folks may be upset by wounds stemming from racism and division, Grier stated that his goal is to bring healing. "It's easy to tear things down and point out flaws," he said. "It's another thing to mend fences and try to build relationships." According to Grier, the "heart" of this event is not only about building relationships but also educating people. He noted that not many people have looked at Scripture through the lens of race because they haven't had to. "Many of the major social movements across history have started in the Church," he said. "I think it is vital in our era for the same thing to happen." National sponsors of Unity Weekend include the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Christian Broadcasting Network, Love Our Cities and Operation Blessing. The little-known Aramean community of Israel and the Near East I recently had an opportunity to go on a trip to Israel and the Holy Land with the Philos Project. Philos (which means friend in Greek) is a venture started by Robert Nicholson and the Rev. Luke Moon to advance understanding between Jews and Christians and Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. I was excited to visit Jerusalem, spend Friday night with an Orthodox Jewish family, and perhaps visit an Arab village. But I had no idea that we were going to visit another ethno-religious group that has been living in the region for just as long (if not longer) than the Jews. And they speak a language intimately connected to the Hebrew of their Jewish brothers. These are the Aramaic-speaking Arameans of Lebanon and Syria, and who live in population clusters in Northern Israel. Our bus arrived at the Kfar Baraam historical site in the mountains of northern Israel. The site shares two historical synagogues with a still-operating Aramaic church (part of the Maronite Catholic rite): which is something you usually do not find in the States. Shadi Khaloul, the leader of the Aramaic-speaking Christians, greeted us and shared with us the history of his people. The Aramaeans in Israel currently live in villages around this site, but the site itself was their historic place of worship. Ultimately, Arameans share their origins with Jews. In the Bible, Laban and Bethuel are identified as ha-Arami, the Hebrew word for Aramean. Both the patriarchs Isaac and Jacob fetch their brides from their Aramean cousins to the north. Thus, the Arameans and Jews not only come from the same source but lived side-by-side and married each other. While their family origins are shared, their languages are different. Prior to learning this history, I had thought that Hebrew and Aramaic were the sameafter all, the Bible contains passages in both of those languages. An interesting story takes place with the Biblical patriarchs. When Jacob and Laban make a covenant, they pile a heap of stones as a witness to their agreement. The Bible notes that each one spoke his own language: Jacob called it Gal-Ed, while Laban called it Yegar-Sahadutha (Gen. 31:46-50). That shows you how supposedly identical the languages are they are quite different, in fact! Nevertheless, they share many features, since they are both Semitic languages. For example, the word Messiah is similar in Hebrew and Aramaic. In Hebrew, Messiah is Mashiach, from a verb meaning to anoint. In Aramaic it is, Meshicha, and the followers of the Messiah are known as Meshihoye. That is how the Aramean Christians call themselves today: Meshihoye, or messianics. After the Assyrian and Babylonian Conquests of the Jews in ancient times, many Jews were resettled in northeastern Mesopotamia, the homeland of the Assyrians. Due to Aramean influence, as they were the majority in the region, Aramaic became the official language of the Assyrian Empire under the Assyrian ruler Tiglath Pileser III. As a result, the Jews living in Assyria began to speak Aramaic. That explains why Jews to this day use Aramaic alongside Hebrew in their prayers, and why the Talmud, the compendium of Jewish rabbinic commentary on the Bible, is written in Aramaic! Aramaic became so common in the Middle East after the Assyrian Empire, that it stretched from Palestine to Pakistan! Even people in Persia, Mongolia, China, and India were using Aramaic due to the reach of the Parthian Empire! In fact, many of the scripts used today by millions of people are based on the ancient Aramaic script: these include Arabic, Hebrew, and even Hindi writing! By the time of Jesus, Aramaic was the dominant language of the region. Jews in the region spoke Aramaic and prayed in Hebrew. Some also knew Greek. Jesus was likely trilingual, but his mother tongue was probably Aramaic. Every time the Gospels record Jesus speaking, it is in Aramaic. For example, when he commands Jairus daughter to rise up, he says, Talitha qumi, which means little girl, arise, in Aramaic. The Gospels also record Aramaic place names, such as Gabbatha, Golgotha, and Hekel-Dama (Mark 5:41; John 19:13; Matt. 27:33; Acts 1:19). At the end of our time together, Shadi offered to pray over us the Lords Prayer in Aramaic. I wish I could capture this lovely prayer for you, but the first words go something like this: Aboon deba Shamaya (Our Father, which art in heaven) Im sure you can find moving renditions of this Aramaic prayer online. After Jesus resurrection, many of Jesus Jewish Aramaic-speaking followers spread the Gospel in all directions. His apostles spread the faith and the Aramaic language to all lands. Historically, Doubting Thomas went east to India and established an Aramaic Christian community there (they are still known as St. Thomas Christians to this day). While other followers went further afield, including into eastern Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Africa. The Aramaic church in the east came to be called Syriac. Syriac just means from Syria, the Greek word for the Aramaic homeland Land of Aram. In other words, Aramaic and Syriac are the same language. Syriac is usually used in church contexts, while Aramaic usually describes everyday life, but they are the same language nonetheless. Most of these Syriac communities were Eastern Orthodox and therefore split from Rome in the Middle Ages. However, some of the Syriacs, including the Maronites of Lebanon, rejoined the Catholic Church. So the Maronites, of which Shadi is a part, are a Catholic parish that use the Syriac-Aramaic liturgy. But all Syriacs are united by their common culture, language, and religion. Islamic expansion tried to wipe out the Maronite Syriacs, and force them to speak Arabic. Thankfully, some of the Syriacs continued to speak their native Aramaic tongue alongside Arabic. Today, under the founding of the State of Israel, the Aramean Maronites are thriving and enjoying freedom. Even though, in November 1948, Kfar Bar'am Maronites were evacuated to Gush Halav by Israeli authorities, breaching the agreement between Ben Gordon and his friend, the Syriac Maronite Lebanese Patriarch Anton Arida. Sadly, the promise by Israel to allow them back to their lands, and its status as the only Aramaic Christian Maronite town within Israel, was never implemented despite a Supreme Court decision on their behalf in 1952. On the other hand, fortunately, they became Israeli citizens, enjoying democracy, and not under Lebanese control by Hezbollah, unlike other Maronites living in nearby Lebanese towns who are facing persecution and terrorism. Happily, in September 2014, Israel recognized their distinct identity as Aramaic Syriac Maronite Christians after 7 years of efforts led by Shadi Khaloul, president and founder of the Israeli Christian Aramaic NGO and its Aramaic Education & Research Galilean Center. Today, 10,000 Aramaic Maronites live in Israel, 2500 from Kfar Bar'am; another 1 million live in Lebanon; and an even greater 11 million live worldwide in the Aramean diaspora. As the inheritors of a Semitic-speaking Christianity, who speak the language of Jesus and of the Talmud, the language that spread from Palestine/Land of Israel to Persia and Pakistan, and gave us the great alphabets of Hebrew, Arabic, and Hindi, and who survived countless massacres and genocides and still managed to survive in their ancient homeland, it is imperative that we as Christians support our Aramean brothers and sisters. Learning more about their history, their language, and their vital role in spreading the Syriac Christian faith is an easy step in the right direction. After all, they might just be speaking the language of heaven. Bible experts discuss racial divide in US, how Christians can be part of solution Bishop Derek Grier of Grace Church in Dumfries, Virginia, recently held a series of discussions with a variety of Bible experts regarding racial strife United States and how Christians can be part of the solution. Among those interviewed by Grier, the founder of 50 ministries, was Courtney McBath, the president of Virginia Bible College and bishop of Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Virginia. When asked why people might be unaware of the multiculturalism in the Bible, McBath said he finds that it's due to an educational problem. Like everything else, its a lack of teaching and training, and its the context and perspective of the training that we have. Part of the struggle of today is that so much of the Gospel was introduced to the world by a segment of people, said McBath, who's served as a pastor for more than 30 years and is the head of a multicultural leadership network on five continents. When people go somewhere to introduce the Gospel, they tend to take not only the Gospel but their culture. All of us tend to make the Bible or whoever our heroes are look like us, McBath added. The pastor said he believes that God purposely placed the Middle East in the center of the world to help the Gospel go forth. I think God did set it up geographically where you had to go through this place to get anywhere else, and it takes someone with an apostolic flair like Paul to be put in the middle to get to other places, he said. Its as if God intentionally made sure that this Kingdom message would go everywhere and not be limited to any one particular culture. McBath encouraged minorities impacted by racism to speak up about their experience, adding: I would never say to the Jewish people, Hey, now lets just stop talking about the Holocaust. I mean it happened, people died, but they paid you well afterward. Lets move on.' That would be so insensitive, so unfair to ask people to forget the level of suffering they endured and to pretend that it has no impact on them today." Christians should be empathetic, feel the pain of others and help those suffering to get through their pain, he emphasized. Thats Jesus' work in my life to be empathetic toward my suffering and bring me out of it, the pastor contended. So, I think when we do that for our brothers and sisters in any minority or in the majority if theyre hurting when we do that, we simply represent Christ in us. Jesus never says, Hey, just forget that you were wronged. Get over it; were moving on. He doesnt do that and we shouldnt either, McBath concluded. Bishop Grier also interviewed Samuel Rodriguez, the pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. In order for minority-led churches to begin to become more culturally plural, Rodriguez said it's important to extract the idea of minority-led churches and have "diversity in the leadership within the Church." Horizontally speaking, we cant deny the fact that there are majority groups and minority groups," he said. "However, vertically, theres no such word as 'minority' in the Bible. Because [when] I am Kingdom driven, I look at church planting initiatives, or even churches, not from a minority point of view, but from a Kingdom point of view, said Rodriguez. The pastor explained that his own church leadership intentionally reflects the diversity of its congregation. We are very intentional about making sure we reflect what we want to see, he posited. Do I deliberately make certain that I have a person of Asian descent on our team? Yes. You want to call it affirmative action. Call it whatever you want. I am certain that we have African Americans, Latino, whites we are to be advancing the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. The Church must be a composite of what we want to see in Revelations, Rodriguez added. Rodriguez said he believes that multi-ethnic churches will be the antidote to some of the racial discord seen in the U.S., adding: "The culture of the Kingdom of God trumps any culture. Sam Chand, the CEO of Dream Releasers, also shared his take on the racial tensions in America. Chand was born and raised in India and immigrated to the U.S. at age 20. Where I grew up, it was caste system as well as geography," he said. "In some countries in Africa, it is tribe and color. In some parts of Europe, it is Catholic and Protestant. In the Middle East, it is different sects of Muslims. But the divide in 1973 was much clearer, Chand recounted. There was very little integration of churches. There were hardly any churches where you could say that blacks attended a white church, or whites attended a black church. The bestselling author said the global Church is more nuanced and thus creates "missed opportunities" and "misunderstandings." Based on his experiences over the years, Chand stressed that relationships are "built on similarities and dissimilarities and even differences." Over half of pastors list armed congregants as part of plans to confront active shooter: report As numerous fatal shootings have occurred at churches in recent years, fewer pastors say their churches have intentional plans for active-shooter situations compared to three years ago, while more say they have gun-carrying congregants to help protect against any threats, a new study suggests. The survey from Lifeway Research found nearly four out of five U.S. Protestant pastors say their church has some type of security measure in place when they gather for worship, while 17% say they don't have any such measures in place. The Lifeway phone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors was conducted September 6-30, 2022, from a random sample drawn from a list of all Protestant churches. The error margin for the sample does not exceed +3.2%. Some security measures listed by researchers include an "intentional plan for an active shooter situation," which more than half (57%) of churches surveyed said they have in place. A similar number (54%) said armed church members are part of their security measures, a nearly 10% increase from 2019. A 2019 Lifeway survey found that 62% of pastors said their churches had a plan in place for an active shooter situation, while 45% said armed church members were part of their church's security measures. "While churches may have different convictions on how to maintain security, it is surprising that fewer churches have an intentional plan for an active shooter than did in 2019," said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. "As churches cut back on activities during COVID, this may have been one of the initiatives that did not resume for some churches." While nearly one in four churches have security personnel using radio communication, 21% of respondents in the 2022 survey said they have a "no firearms policy" in place at their worship services. Another 20% said they have armed security personnel on-site. Nearly a third of all churches said they enforced a "no firearms" policy in 2019. Only 5% have uniformed police officers on hand, while just 1% of pastors say their churches use metal detectors to screen for weapons, according to Lifeway. The survey also found geographical and denominational factors played a role in how churches beefed up security. According to the study, roughly half of all fatal shootings at U.S. churches since 1999 occurred in the South, where pastors are the least likely (12%) to say they don't use any security measures in their churches. Pastors in the South are most likely to say they have a plan for an active shooter situation (64%) and the most likely to say their church members are armed (65%). The survey also found Lutheran (34%) and Presbyterian/Reformed pastors (30%) are at least twice as likely as pastors at nondenominational (14%) churches to say their churches do not use any security measures. There were also differences among racial-majority churches: black pastors were three times more likely than white pastors to say they have uniformed police officers on site (12% v. 4%). White pastors, meanwhile, are more likely than black pastors to say they have armed church members (56% v. 33%). "Churches are not immune to violence, disputes, domestic disagreements, vandalism and burglary," said McConnell. "While loving one another is a core Christian teaching, churchgoers still sin, and non-churchgoers are invited and welcomed. So real security risks exist whether a congregation wants to acknowledge them or not." More churches were forced to confront their own potential security lapses following the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville in March, which left six dead, including three children. On its website, the Covenant School is described as a ministry of the Covenant Presbyterian Church. 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." In 2017, 26 people were killed during a shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. In 2015, nine people were killed in a shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2022, one person was killed and five others injured in a shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, which was hosting the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church for Sunday services. Southern Baptists affirm commitment to racial reconciliation without fight over critical race theory Southern Baptist messengers affirmed their commitment to racial reconciliation and the sufficiency of Scripture to address issues of race by adopting a resolution that avoided the contentious debate over critical race theory at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville Tuesday. Messengers affirmed their commitment to the issue with a resounding adoption of Resolution 2, which was one of 10 resolutions presented to them for adoption by the 2021 SBC Resolutions Committee. The resolution asked messengers to affirm the sufficiency of Scripture on race and racial reconciliation, condemn racism, and reject any theory or worldview that finds the ultimate identity of human beings in ethnicity or in any other group dynamic. It also asked them to reaffirm the SBCs 1995 Resolution on Racial Reconciliation. Prior to the 2021 SBC annual convention, concerns were raised by some Southern Baptists, like Pastor Dwight McKissic Sr., that the denomination would rescind Resolution 9 On Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, which was adopted with much dissent in the summer of 2019. The resolution defined CRT as a set of analytical tools that can be useful in explaining how race has and continues to function in society. The use of the theory, which has been dismissed by critics as Marxist propaganda aimed at watering down the Gospel, and has been a lightning rod for debate and division in the denomination and evangelical circles in recent years. Pastor Kevin Apperson of North Las Vegas Baptist Church, who criticized Resolution 2 for not having the courage to address critical race theory by name, voiced his opposition to the resolution by arguing that its language is insufficient, vague, nebulous, unclear, and ambiguous. I, like many people, have flown a great distance to address an ideology which tells me that I am inherently guilty because of the melanin content of my skin. I am either, according to this theory, an ignorant oppressor or a conscious oppressor because of that melanin content. Two years ago, we approved critical race theory as a teaching tool, and now we need to address it by its name, and this resolution does not do so. Local school systems address it by critical race theory, governors call it critical race theory, state school systems call it critical race theory. If we do not have the courage to call a skunk a skunk, let's not say anything, Apperson said. Reacting to the criticism, former SBC president James Merritt, who leads Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia, and also chaired the 2021 SBC Resolutions Committee, suggested messengers could make better use of their time than using it to fight over critical race theory. So fellow messengers, lets just put it on the table. It is time to find out who we are and where we are headed. I'm going to say this bluntly and plainly. If some people were as passionate about the Gospel as critical race theory, we would win this world to Christ tomorrow, he said to cheers. When I was a student at Stetson University my first semester, I read the New Testament through 27 times. I read the Bible through every year for probably the last 40 years. I found a lot about race. I found a lot about race. There is only one race, the human race. And we are all created in the image of God. I found a lot about racial reconciliation. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation, not just reconcile to man, but people to people, he continued. I didn't find CRT in the Bible. Well, correction, I did find it. It stands for Christ returns triumphantly. We got a choice. My brothers and sisters, we are not the 2019 Resolutions Committee. We are the 2021 Resolutions Committee. And we decided we are not going to limit anything to just one theory. And by the way, the same state schools that are kind of up in arms and some of these people that are against critical race theory are teaching evolution to your kids every single day. What we have done in this resolution is say, you know what? Let's just settle this issue once and for all. Yesterday, today and forever, he said. Merritt further suggested that messengers would be of better service to the Gospel if they focused on building bridges of understanding. There is a world watching out there. This is exactly what they want. This is exactly what they want to put on the front pages of their paper. Well, as the country song goes, let's give them something to talk about. We can either build bridges and tear down walls, or we can put up walls and destroy bridges, he said. Let me be plain. It doesn't take a lot of effort to blow up a bridge. One stick of dynamite [and] you will do it. But to build a bridge, it takes hard work. It takes sacrifice. And it takes a commitment to reach to the other side to the people who are not with us yet, but we are going to do everything we can to get them there, and I ask you to support this resolution, he said, as the resolution was adopted without any amendments. . SMEs and Startups Minister Lee Young, left, speaks with Saudi Arabia's Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih during her visit in Saudi Arabia, March 13. Newsis Korea and Saudi Arabia will form a 208.4 billion won ($155 million) joint fund to help Korean startups attract investments and advance to the Middle Eastern market, government officials said Sunday. Saudi Arabia will inject 195.4 billion won into the fund and Korea Venture Investment Corp. will invest the remaining 13 billion won in it, according to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. From Saudi Arabia, Saudi Venture Capital and Public Investment Fund (PIF) Jada will make an investment in the fund. Both countries have agreed to invest at least $100 billion in Korean companies, the ministry said. The creation of the fund is a follow-up step of the Korea-Saudi Arabia investment cooperation and startup support agreement signed between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in November last year. (Yonhap) This week in Christian history: Largest SBC meeting, AME Church founder ordained Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be previously unknown to most people. The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events in Christian history this week June 11 to June 17. 1 2 3 4 Next Tony Evans: Racial division stems from 'failure of the pulpit;' Church must 'lead the way' as solution Tony Evans, the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Church, said that because the Church instigated the problem of racism in the United States, its up to the Body of Christ to serve as the solution. During a segment titled Jesus the Center of Racial Reconciliation: Adopting a Kingdom Race Mindset during the morning session of the second day of the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting in June, Evans cited 2 Chronicles 15:2 to explain the unrest seen across the nation. When it comes to our racial divide, it was the failure of the pulpit and the failure of the Church which has put us in this ignominious situation today, Evans said. And we are told in 2 Chronicles that only when they came together in unity did God bring them rest, verse 15 says, to the distress that was in the land. The political, the social, the racial, the class distress that we are facing, that has helped to be caused by the Church, can only be properly dissolved by the Church, Evans said. If God cant get the Church right, the culture can never become right. Evans stressed that Satan has been successful in illegitimately dividing the Church so that the power of God is absent. So now is the time for us to come to the forefront with a plan to let the nation sees something different, he emphasized. In recent years, the SBC has faced criticism for how some leaders in the denomination have responded to racism, the debate over critical race theory and instances of sexual abuse in churches. During last years Annual Meeting, then-SBC President Ed Litton promised shortly after his election that he would build bridges, not walls during his tenure. This year, Litton, along with former SBC President Fred Luter, announced an initiative called The Unify Project to build racial unity nationwide in tandem with local churches. The project will be conducted alongside The Urban Alternative, a Christian Bible teaching and resource ministry founded 41 years ago by Evans and his late wife, Lois. Southern Baptist Convention, what we hope to do is to start a grassroots movement, a local church initiative in your communities to cross barriers of race, different denominations and groups, to begin to meet with people who are like-minded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to offer a Kingdom solution for the divisions that exist in our land, Litton said. The Church should be on the front line of bringing hope and healing to our communities for the glory of God, he added. Evans said that The Unify Project will be based on the acronym AAA: One day a year, the community of biblically minded, Kingdom-minded churches will assemble for an annual, one-day fast and prayer session to invite God into the well-being of the community; pastors and church leaders will address the issues facing their communities and present Gods perspective on identity, race, life, marriage and other issues, and finally, perform acts of kindness in their communities. A good work in Scripture is something that God is always visibly attached to a good work is something done for the benefit of the people to which God gets the credit, Evans said. The Unify Project is an extension of The Pledge Group, which Litton helped found alongside church leaders in Mobile, Alabama, after the death of George Floyd. As part of the initiative, which will launch in the fall, churchgoers will be given kindness cards encouraging them to do at least one act of kindness weekly toward a stranger. Along with the act of kindness, prayer and evangelism are also encouraged. When you do the act of kindness, then you pray for them because most people will accept prayer when you've been kind to them, the pastor said. After you've prayed for them, then you seek an opportunity to share the Gospel with them. Evans stressed that once the Body of Christ carries out good works, they will no longer be ignored, adding: Right now we are being ignored because we're not taken seriously and God is not helping us because of our disunity. If Christ doesn't come soon, we better get going in a hurry because this is falling apart fast," he concluded. "God is not waiting on the culture. He's waiting on the Church. It's time for those who helped mess it up to lead the way in fixing it up. In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Evans encouraged Christians to act as bridge builders and foster relationships with those across the racial and cultural lines without compromising the essentials of the faith. From God's throne comes righteousness and justice. Righteousness is the standard of right and wrong that is established by God. Justice is the equitable application of God's moral law applied in society. So one is vertical obedience, and the other is a horizontal relationship. And whenever you have the vertical and horizontal you can have the cross. Evans contended. The way you know you're being serious about the conflicts in the culture is that you are visibly and verbally involved in reconciling things that have been historically divided. If all we're doing is discussion, discussing our division and not creating the windshield of reconciliation, because we're living in the rearview mirror of our past history, we will not be moving where God is moving. And if we're not moving where God is moving, we're moving by ourselves. Jesus, the servant King It doesn't matter whether you are a monarchist or republican, King Charles' coronation was a spectacle. Australian musician, Nick Cave, who attended the service summed it up well, observing "the deeply eccentric nature of the whole affair that so perfectly reflects the unique weirdness of Britain itself." And one aspect of the coronation service that highlighted this was the concept of leadership through servanthood. To our modern world this seems like an oxymoron: two concepts, such as leading and serving, that seem to be opposite, yet work together in conjunction. The church service emphasized this theme right from the start. A young choirboy welcomed the King "in the name of the King of Kings". Charles replied with a statement rich in theological significance, "In His name and after His example, I come not to be served but to serve." Leadership What does this mean? And how can the new King Charles, Head of the Commonwealth, be a servant? The church ceremony's rites and rituals extend back to the first coronation in 1066. However, the theme of servant leadership goes back further. It is founded on Biblical principles, the humility of Christ. Strong / Weak Many thought that the Christ/Messiah was meant to be a mighty military leader. The Old Testament is full of passages that point to a Messiah that is a strong King. Psalm 2 shows this mighty God responding to the treason from the opposing nations, "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them." However, the Bible also has reference to the Messiah being a "suffering servant". Isaiah chapter 53 explains that this King will be "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." Jesus brings these two concepts together explaining that He was the King that came not to be served but to serve. In Mark chapter 10 verse 45 Jesus responds to the disciples' poor view of leadership being just about power and privilege. He corrects them by explaining that He "gives His life as a ransom for many." Serving It is in this quotation we see a seismic shift in the way leadership is viewed within the culture and church. It isn't about sitting in the seats of honour up the front. Here, Jesus as the Creator and "Son of Man" explains that his example of leadership is seen in His sacrificial death on behalf of His people: His death brings us life. We deserve death because we ignore the King; however, He takes our punishment and gives us blessings. He leads by saving His people. Regardless of how this is worked out in King Charles' life, it is Jesus that is the archetype. He is the one Charles referred to in that quotation at the start of the ceremony. It is Jesus that Charles needs to look to in order to keep this pledge. And it is Jesus who we look to, finding not only our example of leadership through loving others, but also finding a King to whom we should declare our allegiance. What we can learn about the early church from Pliny the Younger The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that they are surrounded by a great "cloud of witnesses." (NRSV) That "cloud" has continued to grow in size since then. In this monthly column we will be thinking about some of the people and events, over the past 2000 years, that have helped make up this "cloud." People and events that have helped build the community of the Christian church as it exists today. What was it like to be a member of the early church? What kind of community was it? We get some idea from the evidence of the New Testament in the Acts of the Apostles and in the community issues that appear in the letters. However, in the case of the letters, we tend to only get occasional glimpses of the kind of community emerging, since these were generally written in response to a particular set of pressing needs, not as a wide-ranging sociological presentation. This is because the writers had more pressing things on their minds than writing a sociological or ecclesiological essay entitled 'Characteristics of Emerging Fresh Expressions Communities and Ministry.' Nevertheless, the documents of the New Testament give us a range of insights into a number of social, sexual, economic, and ethnic characteristics, tensions, questions, and conflict resolutions, in the emerging community. But how did outsiders see them? How did their opponents perceive them? While this is fraught with potential and actual difficulties due to the 'Three Ms' of misinformation, misunderstandings, and mischief, this still provides some intriguing evidence. When seen through the eyes of non-Christian imperial writers, what emerges is a picture of an extraordinary radical community that was making waves due to both what it believed and how it lived. Welcome to the early church as outsiders and persecutors saw it... Pliny's problem The Roman governor of Bithynia (in modern Turkey), Pliny the Younger, had a problem. As a result, he wrote to the Roman emperor Trajan in around AD 110. In doing so, he was both covering his back and seeking clarification regarding how best to respond to a group that was active on his watch and in his area of responsibility. The start of his letter offers a masterclass in an administrator's overstated loyalty and deference to the boss: "It is my custom, Majesty, to refer to you everything about which I have doubts. For who can better check my hesitation or inform my ignorance?" Basically, Pliny had rounded up Christians, interrogating them, and attempting to learn as much as he could about them. Once he had started his investigations, the size of the operation expanded for, as he himself explained, "An anonymous pamphlet was handed in with the names of many persons." Clearly, local busy bodies were getting in on the act and denouncing neighbours. From the letter he wrote to the emperor and from clues in other early imperial sources it seems that the suspicions about believers were linked to several characteristics of the early Christian community. Firstly, they had met in unofficial "associations". This clearly caused unease in the mind of an imperial civil servant, for it raised worrying questions concerning what they might be doing, away from the official gaze. Pliny had already banned any such unofficial meetings and one assumes that Christians might not have been the only people on whom the suspicious gaze of imperial bureaucracy was cast. "Associations" might lead to trouble and so were suspect. Secondly, the new community had abandoned worship of pagan deities. Pliny does not specify which deities had been abandoned but it is a fair guess that the ones he had in mind were the central deities of the Roman pantheon. This posed a problem to an imperial administrator because these were part of the 'ideological glue' that united the culturally diverse Roman Empire. These Roman gods and goddesses (closely associated with Greek deities) were often paired with locally-worshipped divinities to bind together imperial and regional religions across the empire. Examples include: Mars-Lenus worshipped at Trier (modern Germany), Sulis-Minerva at Roman Bath (UK), and Jupiter-Hadad at Damascus (Syria). The continued veneration of local deities was also quite acceptable, as long as this did not conflict with Roman imperial religion or political order. The worship of some of these once localised deities (such as Isis and her consort Serapis, Cybele, and Mithras) spread across the empire. In religious systems based on contractual belief, respect for a widespread web of deities was thought essential for economic, political, and environmental stability. In fact, the uncle of Pliny the Younger remembered as Pliny the Elder wrote that "the population of divine beings could be thought of as larger than that of humans" (Natural History 2.16). Christian refusal to worship these deities seemed to threaten the invisible stability of the empire. In fact, early Christians were often accused of "atheism" because they refused to worship the deities of the empire. Pliny also noted with concern: "temples long deserted...sacred rites long lapsed...the sale of sacrificial victims, for which rather recently there were only occasional buyers." It seems that the spread of Christian faith was impacting on the sacred economy too. Cash flow was taking a hit as well as pagan practice. Thirdly, Christians refused to subscribe to the imperial cult focused on the emperor. This was a direct challenge to Roman imperial ideology and led to trouble. This was where religious belief became very political indeed. While the faith remained perceived as a sect within Judaism it had some protection, because Jewish monotheism was tolerated. But once Christianity expanded beyond that officially sanctioned umbrella, persecution kicked in. Pliny set up a simple test to decide whether a person was a Christian, demanding that those he interrogated "invoked the gods and offered incense and wine to your [the emperor's] image, which for this purpose I had ordered brought in with the images of the gods, and afterwards cursed Christ. It is said that those who are really Christians cannot be forced to do any of these things". Fourthly, Christians believed things that many pagans considered offensive and extreme. Pliny refers to "depraved and immoderate superstition" and "madness." Worshipping the crucified Messiah was a key one of these beliefs, as was belief in the resurrection. We have only to recall how Paul wrote that "we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Corinthians 1:23, NRSV); and how, after Paul preached in Athens, "When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed" (Acts 17:32). One can guess that across Greece and Asia Minor this reaction involved more than just "some". Shocking as this appeared to Pliny, the moral behaviour of the believers was beyond reproach. Pliny's investigation revealed that: "They had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day [probably Sunday] and recited an antiphonal ode to Christ as to a god, and took an oath not for committing any crime but instead for not committing thefts, robberies, or adulteries, nor to refuse to repay a deposit." However, there was more that disturbed the governor. He tellingly records that: "I believed it all the more necessary to find out the truth from two slave women, whom they call deaconesses, even by torture. I found nothing but depraved and immoderate superstition." As one modern historian put it, Pliny was as shocked by the fact that those he regarded as 'low lifes' (slaves and women) had independent beliefs and status (and stood by their faith), as he was by what they believed! The refusal of such people to do as they were told by their 'betters' clearly rankled with him. He decided that "whatever it might be that they confessed, certainly their stubbornness and unshakeable obstinacy ought to be punished". He was further alarmed because his investigations turned up "many of every age and every rank and even of both sexes" who were members of a radical community that appeared to ignore gender, ethnic, and social distinctions. Furthermore, he noted that, "The contagion of this superstition was spread not only through towns but also villages and even rural areas." What's in a name? Pliny was not alone in being puzzled by Christians. The Roman writer Suetonius (writing in about AD 120) records a garbled tradition that Jesus (whom he misnames Chrestus) was considered an agitator (impulsore). The accusation was encouraged by the fact that Chrestus (a different word to Christos, Christ) was a popular slave name, as 'chrestus' is a Greek word which means 'useful'. Christians were clearly suspect because the community included so many lower class and marginalised people. And, as we have seen, it challenged gender norms too. A reminder of radicalism All of this reminds us of the social radicalism of early Christian communities. Often in our study of the New Testament we focus on certain areas of gender teaching but filter out: "Phoebe, a deacon" (Romans 16:1), "Junia...prominent among the apostles" (Romans 16:7), "Nympha and the church in her house" (Colossians 4:15), "Apphia our [literally: "the"] sister" (Philemon 2), and the power couple Prisca/Priscilla and Aquila who are mentioned no less than six times. The impact of Christianity on women and their role within the new community was clearly profound. In the same way, it is easy to focus on "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord" (Colossians 3:22, see also Ephesians 6:5), but underestimate the long-term potential radicalism encapsulated in beliefs such as "there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!" (Colossians 3:11) that is found in the same letter. This was potentially explosive, and one can see why later elite believers might be slow to develop its implications. Remember that Pliny was shocked to find women believers who were: (a) slaves, (b) holding authority positions and (c) standing firm when faced with his brutal interrogation. Faced with this radicalism, the Christian church's frequent historic association with social conservatism and the status quo is rather at odd with its roots. Pliny took a very different view of the challenge that the community posed to the social assumptions of his day. Those early Christians refused to subscribe to cultural norms which despite being accepted by most contemporaries as 'the glue' that held society together they considered at odds with the core principles of the faith and its message of liberation. The challenge to Christians in the twenty-first century is to identify what today represents the 'unacceptable social glue,' against which we should take a counter-cultural position. Nationalism? Consumerism? Whatever it is, opposing it will not go down well with many powerful interests and that might be a clue as we seek to identify such 'glue'! Pliny thought Christians posed a radical challenge. Maybe we need to take more notice of the findings of the governor of Bithynia! The translated quotes from Pliny come from Robert M. Grant, Second-Century Christianity: A Collection of Fragments, 2d. ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003), 45. Martyn Whittock is an evangelical historian and a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. As an historian and author, or co-author, of fifty-five books, his work covers a wide range of historical and theological themes. In addition, as a commentator and columnist, he has written for several print and online news platforms; has been interviewed on radio shows exploring the interaction of faith and politics; and appeared on Sky News discussing political events in the USA. Recently, he has been interviewed on several news platforms concerning the war in Ukraine. His most recent books include: Daughters of Eve (2021), Jesus the Unauthorized Biography (2021), The End Times, Again? (2021), The Story of the Cross (2021), and Apocalyptic Politics (2022). In this Feb. 2, 2022 file photo, the American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China. AP-Yonhap China has been operating a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, as part of a global effort by Beijing to upgrade its intelligence capabilities China has been operating a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, part of a global effort by Beijing to upgrade its intelligence-gathering capabilities, according to a Biden administration official. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the U.S. intelligence community has been aware of China's spying from Cuba and a larger effort to set up intelligence-gathering operations around the globe for some time. The Biden administration has stepped up efforts to thwart the Chinese push to expand its spying operations and believes it has made some progress through diplomacy and other unspecified action, according to the official, who was familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. The existence of the Chinese spy base was confirmed after The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that China and Cuba had reached an agreement in principle to build an electronic eavesdropping station on the island. The Journal reported that China planned to pay cash-strapped Cuba billions of dollars as part of the negotiations. The White House and Cuban officials, however, called the report inaccurate. "I've seen that press report, it's not accurate," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an MSNBC interview on Thursday. "What I can tell you is that we have been concerned since day one of this administration about China's influence activities around the world; certainly in this hemisphere and in this region, we're watching this very, very closely." The U.S. intelligence community had determined that Chinese spying from Cuba has been an "ongoing" matter and is "not a new development," the administration official said. President Joe Biden's national security team was briefed by the intelligence community soon after he took office in January 2021 about a number of sensitive Chinese efforts around the globe where Beijing was weighing expanding logistics, basing and collection infrastructure as part of the People's Liberation Army's attempt to further its influence, the official said. Chinese officials looked at sites that spanned the Atlantic Ocean, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and the Indo-Pacific. The effort included looking at existing collection facilities in Cuba, and China conducted an upgrade of its spying operation on the island in 2019, the official said. Tensions between the U.S. and China have been fraught throughout Biden's term. The relationship may have hit a nadir last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to democratically governed Taiwan. That visit, the first by a sitting House speaker since Newt Gingrich in 1997, led China, which claims the island as its territory, to launch military exercises around Taiwan. U.S.-China relations became further strained early this year after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the United States. Beijing also was angered by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's stopover in the U.S. last month that included an encounter with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The speaker hosted the Taiwanese leader at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in southern California. Still, the White House has been eager to resume high-level communications between the two sides. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about the roll-out of the International Religious Freedom Report at the State Department in Washington, May 15. AP-Yonhap A local man exhausting a fire of house which was damaged after Russian shelling in Kherson, Ukraine, June 9. AP-Yonhap Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions are underway against Russian forces, asserting that his top commanders are in a "positive" mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line. The Ukrainian leader, at a Kyiv news conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responded to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin's comment a day earlier that Ukraine's counteroffensive had started and Ukrainian forces were taking "significant losses." Zelenskyy said that "counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. I will not speak about which stage or phase they are in." Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive was underway, though some Western analysts have said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggests it was. "I am in touch with our commanders of different directions every day," he added, citing the names of five of Ukraine's top military leaders. "Everyone is positive. Pass this on to Putin." Trudeau, the first foreign leader to visit Ukraine since devastating floods caused by a breach in a Dnieper River dam, offered up monetary, military and moral support. He pledged 500 million Canadian dollars ($375 million) in new military aid, on top of more than 8 billion Canadian dollars ($6 billion) that Canada has already provided since the war began in February 2022, and announced 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.5 million) for humanitarian assistance for the flood response. Trudeau said the dam's collapse was "a direct consequence of Russia's war," but he didn't blame Moscow directly. Ukraine's General Staff said Saturday that "heavy battles" were ongoing, with 34 clashes over the previous day in the country's industrial east. It gave no details but said Russian forces were "defending themselves" and launching air and artillery strikes in Ukraine's southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukrainian servicemen evacuate local resident Olena, center, by a boat from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine, June 8. AP-Yonhap Recent Western injections of billions of dollars' worth of military equipment some of it high-tech and top-of-the-line to Ukraine has raised expectations about when it would be used, and to what effect against dug-in Russian lines. For months, Ukrainian commanders in the eastern city of Bakhmut which was largely devastated in a months-long fight that has been one of the bloodiest battles of the war have used the language of counteroffensive and defensive operations to describe the activity there. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Friday that the epicenter of the fighting has been in the east, particularly in the Donetsk region, and cited "heavy battles" in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka. Valerii Shershen, a spokesperson for Ukraine's armed forces in Zaporizhzhia, told Radio Liberty that they were searching for weaknesses in Russia's defense in that region, to the west. Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, had been placed in "cold shutdown" mode. That's a process in which all control rods are inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure. The plant's other five reactors already were in cold shutdown amid concerns about the plant's exposure to the fighting. Energoatom said in a statement late Friday that there was "no direct threat" to the Zaporizhzhia plant because of the breach of the Kakhovka dam further down the Dnieper River, which has forced thousands of people to flee flooding and also sharply reduced water levels in a reservoir used to help cool the facility. Water levels in the Kakhovka reservoir, which feed the Zaporizhzhia plant, remained stable on Saturday, Energoatom said. The site's power units have not been operating since September last year. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to visit Ukraine in the coming days. Ukrainian authorities reported Saturday that at least six civilians have died across the country as Russian forces launched Iranian-made Shahed drones, missiles, and artillery and mortar strikes. Ukrainian soldiers rest in a trench on the frontline near Kreminna, Luhansk region, Ukraine, June 8. AP-Yonhap In this photo released by Colombia's Armed Forces Press Office, soldiers and Indigenous men tend to the four Indigenous children who were missing after a deadly plane crash, in the Solano jungle, Caqueta state, Colombia, June 9. AP-Yonhap Four Indigenous children survived an Amazon plane crash that killed three adults and then braved the jungle for 40 days before being found alive by Colombian soldiers, bringing a happy ending to a search-and-rescue saga that captivated a nation and forced the usually opposing military and Indigenous people to work together. Cassava flour and some familiarity with the rainforest's fruits were key to the children's extraordinary survival in an area where snakes, mosquitoes and other animals abound. The members of the Huitoto people, aged 13, 9 and 4 years and 11 months, are expected to remain for a minimum of two weeks at a hospital receiving treatment after their rescue Friday. Family members, President Gustavo Petro as well as government and military officials met the children Saturday at the hospital in Bogota, the capital. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez told reporters the children were being rehydrated and cannot eat food yet. "But in general, the condition of the children is acceptable," Velasquez said. They were travelling with their mother from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare when the plane crashed in the early hours of May 1. The Cessna single-engine propeller plane was carrying three adults and the four children when the pilot declared an emergency due to an engine failure. The small aircraft fell off the radar a short time later and a search for survivors began. "When the plane crashed, they took out (of the wreckage) a farina, and with that, they survived," the children's uncle, Fidencio Valencia told reporters outside the hospital. Farina is a cassava flour that people eat in the Amazon region. "After the farina ran out, they began to eat seeds," Valencia said. Timing was in the children's favor. Astrid Caceres, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, said the youngsters were also able to eat fruit because "the jungle was in harvest." An air force video released Friday showed a helicopter using lines to pull the youngsters up because it couldn't land in the dense rainforest where they were found. The military on Friday tweeted pictures showing a group of soldiers and volunteers posing with the children, who were wrapped in thermal blankets. One of the soldiers held a bottle to the smallest child's lips. Gen. Pedro Sanchez, who was in charge of the rescue efforts, said that the children were found 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from the crash site in a small forest clearing. He said rescue teams had passed within 20 to 50 meters (66 to 164 feet) of where the children were found on a couple of occasions but had missed them. In this handout photo released by Colombian Presidential Press Office, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro greets a nurse tending to one of the four Indigenous children who survived an Amazon plane crash that killed three adults and then braved the jungle for 40 days before being found alive, at a military hospital in Bogota, Colombia, June 10. AP-Yonhap In this video released by Prigozhin Press Service, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, speaks to the camera while walking through a champagne warehouse in Bakhmut, Ukraine, May 29. AP-Yonhap Russia's most powerful mercenary said on Sunday that his Wagner fighters would not sign any contract with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu just hours after the defense ministry sought to bring volunteer detachments under its sway. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, has repeatedly attacked President Vladimir Putin's top military brass for what he casts as treachery for failing to fight the war in Ukraine properly. Neither Shoigu nor Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have commented in public on Prigozhin's insults and criticism. But the defense ministry on Saturday said Shoigu had ordered all "volunteer detachments" to sign contracts with his ministry by the end of the month, a step the ministry said would increase the effectiveness of the Russian army. Though the defense ministry did not mention Wagner in its public statement, the Russian media reported that it was an attempt by Shoigu to bring the mercenaries to heel. "Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu," Prigozhin said in response to a request for comment on the Shoigu order. Prigozhin said Wagner was integrated into the overall system and completely subordinate to the interests of Russia but that its highly efficient command structure would be damaged by reporting to Shoigu. "Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations," Prigozhin said, adding that Wagner coordinated its actions in Ukraine with General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" by the Russian media. (Reuters) MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A fire broke out at a UPS Customer Center on Sunday. At 7:45 a.m., officials responded to a report from an alarm company that an automatic sprinkler had been activated at the UPS facility in the 17000 block of Englewood Drive. The building was vacant at the time. There were no reported injuries. It is unclear how much damage the fire caused. Twelve fire departments responded, including Middleburg Heights, Berea, Brook Park, Brooklyn and North Olmsted. The Southwest Emergency Response Fire Investigation Team is examining the cause. Ohio is a state that has seen more than its share of military sacrifice. The reminders are all around us: the gravestones, memorial highway signs, observances for those lost in combat, including the 2005 casualties suffered in Iraq by the Brook Park-based 3/25th Marine reservists. But long before, this state, settled in part by Revolutionary War veterans, found itself on the front lines of the War of 1812, and of the Civil War, weaving military service into the states history, and its family traditions. Ohio also remains a largely rural state, where agriculture is part of the economys lifeblood, and hunting a seasonal pleasure. Which is all to say that Ohioans love their guns -- for safety, for recreation, for the turkey hunting. But the distortions this has caused in public policy, the mania in the Ohio Statehouse to make Ohio a free-fire zone where gun sales are encouraged and may soon be subsidized by eliminating the state sales tax on guns and ammo, where virtually anyone can carry concealed weapons virtually anywhere (except into the Statehouse), is now leading to a rising number of unnecessary deaths in urban, and rural Ohio. Even commonsense gun restrictions -- like background checks, red-flag laws to remove weapons from those not equipped to use them safely, gun-safe storage laws to keep the little kids from killing one another -- are shunned at a Statehouse beholden to the gun lobby and dominated by rural interests. But its in no ones interest to make it easier for disturbed individuals to amass an arsenal and kill, whether its a sleeping family in Piketon or the innocent bystanders being wounded in gun battles in Greater Cleveland. Its gotten so bad that even the experts arent listened to anymore in Columbus -- not the police groups vainly urging legislators not to eliminate concealed-carry permits last year; not the prosecutors warning against Ohios reversal of the burden proof in self-defense shooting claims in 2019 and expansion of its stand your ground law in 2021. The results should have been anticipated -- surging gun violence in Ohios cities, and reduced gun-violence arrests. And in Cuyahoga County, the new laws have dissuaded the prosecutors office from seeking indictments in about 12 to 15 homicide cases each year, cleveland.coms John H. Tucker recently reported, citing Saleh Awadallah, who oversees the offices homicide investigations. The citys gun-violence stats also tell the story: After falling in 2022, felonious assaults with guns are up more than 7% in [Cleveland] this year, according to Cleveland police, Tucker reports. In the divisions Second District, which covers the citys near West Side, including Old Brooklyn, the jump is 78%. At the same time, weapons arrests in Cleveland are down 40% from last year, likely due in part to an Ohio law that went into effect last June allowing anyone 21 and older to carry a concealed gun without a license, training or background check. The statewide trend, over the two decades since Ohio authorized the concealed carrying of firearms, is also daunting. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio, funded by a range of Ohio philanthropies, reported last year that, in 1999, a firearm was used in 57% of [Ohio] homicides, and in 2020 that percentage increased to 82%. The interlocking problems of crime guns and gun violence are magnified in cities where gangs, poverty and opportunism ensnare too many young people in the gun culture and rule of the firearm. Inevitably, innocent people die in these shoot-outs. Yet Ohios lawmakers, abetted by the Supreme Court in overriding the Ohio Constitutions municipal home rule provisions, have handcuffed the states cities by prohibiting local gun laws, even those requiring safe storage of weapons. That doesnt serve the public interest and it snubs city and village residents who want to tailor local laws to local needs, including that most basic of political responsibilities, a communitys safety. Ohio lawmakers profess to respect law enforcement and the sacrifice of police officers who put their lives on the line every day. If that were the case, theyd also respect their input on the dangerous results of this drive to find new ways to make guns easy to acquire, legal to conceal and easy to justify when used to kill. Enough is enough. Its time Ohios elected leaders see the truth -- that their policies are leading to more gun deaths, not fewer -- and move to end the gun deaths, defy the gun lobby and serve all the people of Ohio About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com The stakes on Aug. 8, when Ohioans will approve or reject State Issue 1, are clear: Should the voters rule Ohio or should a gerrymandered General Assembly call all the shots by making it harder for Ohio voters (regardless of party) to set Ohios constitutional compass? Ohioans faced that very question 111 years ago. They answered it by guaranteeing voters right to propose and approve amendments to the Ohio Constitution by petition, without going first on bended knees to the General Assembly. Good thing, too, because todays General Assembly isnt exactly the version ballyhooed in civics books. Arrogance is the order of the day. Of the Houses 67 Republican members, close to 20 won office last year with 100% of their districts votes, not because theyre the greatest thing since Ronald Reagan though they may think so but because Democrats failed to field challengers in districts gerrymandered so only Republicans can win them. Still, since 1912 Ohioans have been able to use petitions to directly propose constitutional amendments, then approve or reject proposed amendments in statewide election. Approval requires 50%-plus-1 of the votes cast. Now, though, the General Assemblys GOP supermajorities want to require a 60% statewide yes vote to ratify proposed amendments. Supposedly, the GOPs concern is that special interests can more readily win 50%-plus-1 elections than 60% elections. True, the General Assembly should certainly know all there is to know about special interests: Special inter-ests are the Ohio General Assemblys puppeteers. Legislative term limits mean lobbyists are the only people at the Ohio Statehouse who have the background on anything more complicated than a bill naming a highway or creating a commemorative license plate. Whats at stake (for the 60% crowd) are abortion and gerrymandering. (Evidently, to Issue 1 backers, women more than half of Ohios population are a special interest.) This November, chances are very good that voters will be asked by a petitioned-for state constitutional amendment to guarantee access to abortion in Ohio. Based on elections on the issue in some other states, its believed Ohioans would approve such an amendment using Ohios (current) 50%-plus-1 requirement, but not necessarily if the required statewide margin were 60%. Likewise, if, as is likely in 2024, voters propose by petition an anti-gerrymandering amendment, that, using Ohios current rule, would require yes votes from 50%- plus-1 of those voting on it. Thats an easier goal than 60%. (True: Voters overwhelmingly passed two earlier, if ineffective, anti-gerrymandering amendments, regarding the General Assembly and Congress, by much bigger margins in 2015 and 2018.) Funny thing: If the (existing) 50%-plus-1 requirement is a tool of special interests, someone should tell them, because theyll be expected to fund the pro-60% campaign. And theyre being asked to do so when, complete coincidence, multibillions in state budget spending are in play in Ohios House and Senate. If youre Joan or Joe Lobbyist and you are told that Ohios Republican budget-writers would really, truly and forever appreciate your donations to help fund the campaign to get voters to OK the 60% amenment, you probably wont say no unless youre planning a major career change. There are other problems with the General-Assembly-proposed 60% percent amendment, such as sloppy ballot language and the question of whether holding an election on Aug. 8 is even legal under state law. Ballot language is supposed to tell voters in plain English good luck with that what a given ballot issue would do if voters approved it. But the overarching question with State Issue 1 is who will run Ohio: the states voters or a gerrymandered General Assembly. Granted, the legalese in which Ohios Ballot Board wrapped State Issue 1 isnt exactly plain English. But in that connection, keep in mind what Humpty Dumpty told Alice when she visited Wonderland: The question is, said Alice, whether you can make words mean so many different things. The question is, said Humpty Dumpty, which is to be master thats all. And thats the very question State Issue 1 asks: Whos to be master in Ohio the public? Or people who are supposed to be the publics servants? Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens. To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474 Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. Guest columnist Param Srikantia is a professor in the Baldwin Wallace University Carmel Boyer School of Business and guest columnist Elliot Srikantia is an art director in New York City. If you want to subscribe to Param Srikantias free YouTube channel or be added to his mailing list for his free webinars, you may email psrikant@bw.edu . Watch his TEDX talk at https://www.ted.com/talks/param_srikantia_why_life_sucks Despite the potential for love and understanding, the dynamic between children and parents is extremely complex, fraught with the risk of hurt and pain on both sides. It is also --unsurprisingly -- the source of many emotional difficulties we face in life. In this essay, we offer a counterintuitive hypothesis about raising healthy children. Our observation is not based on scientific research, but rather on our experience, coupled with anecdotal evidence from parents and participants who have attended our seminar, The Art of Compassionate Parenting, along with the Why Life Sucks seminar. Use it only as an invitation to further inquiry. Most parents clearly care deeply about their childrens wellbeing, and often that concern is expressed in the form of worrying about their children. Examples of major sources of worry include their childrens academic habits and performance, health, social skills and technology and social media influences. We propose that anything parents constantly worry about in regard to their childrens lives can become entrenched as a lifelong struggle for the child. On the other hand, if parents are relaxed and communicate their confidence in the childs ability to overcome the challenge, it is far more likely that the problem will gradually evaporate. We know students who never did their homework or attended school regularly, or had poor social skills, or were overweight as children. But when their parents did not worry and instead communicated optimism to the children that they would be able to overcome their challenges while providing unconditional support, the children no longer struggled with those issues later in life. On the other hand, we have recurringly found that in families where such issues were the focus of parental anxiety, the children have internalized this and struggled with these problems for much of their lives. Our hypothesis is not intended as a catchall remedy and a panacea for every instance. Rather, we are only saying that families that obsess about their childrens problems may be unwittingly making it harder for their children to be resilient in those areas of concern. Parental anxiety about a facet of a childs life convinces the child that they indeed have a serious issue and, moreover, that they cannot be counted upon to handle it themselves. It becomes unconsciously a major source of attention for the child. The trifecta structure of parental anxiety, reinforcement through excessive attention and the lack of confidence in the childs ability to resolve the problem on their own often converges to give the issue more staying power. This is the classic self-fulfilling prophecy that psychologists have talked about. We communicate our fears and anxieties to our children in a thousand ways, and the childs self-image is forever shaped by the disempowering beliefs that well-intentioned and loving parents may have communicated. It is important to understand that children are incredibly resilient, creative and capable of surmounting obstacles under the right conditions. The right conditions would be for us, as parents, to communicate confidence in our childrens ability to overcome their challenges and provide them unconditional love and support. This will go a long way in parents being a healing presence for their children and instilling confidence in them, rather than creating an antagonistic dynamic with lifelong effects. Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting todays topics are also welcome. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman has a history of finding donations to support private schools. Huffman helped raise tens of thousands to help Leo Academy (a now-shuttered private school in his hometown of Lima) cover payroll. Today, he is pushing to expand EdChoice vouchers. Ohios Legislative Service Commission reports this could cost taxpayers more than $1 billion annually. Sen. Huffman also seeks, in Senate Bill 1, which has passed the Senate and is pending in the House, to decapitate our State Board of Education. In support of this, he released a statement, including: The reforms in SB 1 will provide much-needed enhancements to our education system that will improve transparency, accountability and outcomes for our children. While I dont believe the bill will have any of the effects Huffman promises, I agree that improving transparency, accountability and outcomes for our children is a solid way to measure the impact of education related legislation. Vouchers and Matt Huffman both fail in all three of these areas. Private schools receiving taxpayer-funded vouchers are not subject to the transparency requirements under which public schools operate. We cannot even verify this money is being used for education. We know where it is sent, not how it is spent. Vouchers fail on transparency. After raising $25,000 in donations for Leo Academy, Huffman was asked to clarify his relationship to the school. Instead of answering, he told a reporter to ask the chairman of the schools board. Huffman fails on transparency, too. Every public school district in Ohio has an elected board of education. Taxpayers are never more than two years away from holding their board of education accountable. Private schools receiving vouchers provide taxpayers absolutely nothing of this sort. Vouchers fail on accountability. Roughly a third of Ohios public school districts are suing the state of Ohio over EdChoice vouchers. The Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit has identified five ways vouchers violate our state constitution. Sen. Huffman was subpoenaed to provide testimony, but is working to avoid testifying. Why is the president of the Ohio Senate afraid to answer questions under oath? Huffman fails on accountability, too. What about outcomes? The year the school closed, after receiving hundreds of thousands of Ohio taxpayer dollars, not one student at Sen. Huffmans precious Leo Academy earned a proficient score on Ohios state tests. Theyre not alone. In 2011, The Plain Dealer studied the performance of voucher students at private schools compared to students at the public schools where they would have otherwise attended. The paper found that: Cleveland public school students often outperformed voucher students on 2009-10 state proficiency tests, according to data from the Ohio Department of Education. The story noted that students who remained at public schools outscored those who used vouchers to attend private schools on nine of the 14 tests. Almost a decade later, the Cincinnati Enquirer studied nearly 2.5 million test scores from schools in more than 150 Ohio cities during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. This analysis found that, in 88% of these cities, the public district achieved better results than the private schools. Two separate studies came to the same conclusion: Vouchers fail on outcomes. Teacher Dan Heintz is a member of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board and part of the steering committee for the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit. Matt Huffman doesnt care about transparency. If he did, he wouldnt run away from testifying under oath and would instead be writing legislation requiring every publicly funded school to follow the same rules. Matt Huffman doesnt care about accountability. If he did, he wouldnt advocate for tax dollars supporting private schools which operate outside of the public eye. Matt Huffman doesnt care about outcomes. If he did, he wouldnt ignore reports showing that voucher students often underperform their public school peers. Ohioans deserve legislators who say what they mean and mean what they say. Dan Heintz is a member of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education, an Ohio public school teacher and member of the steering committee for the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. CLEVELAND -- What made Ohios The Heart of it All branding so brilliant was the many ways that description fit. But Gov. Mike DeWines revival of the Celeste-era slogan fails many of those same truth-in-advertising tests. Former Gov. Dick Celeste began The Heart of it All as part of a tourism campaign. Its origin was a group effort led by Columbus advertising executive David Milenthal and Celestes wife, Dagmar. The five-word catchphrase captured Ohios geographic, economic, racial and political diversity, its rich blend of urban and rural. At the time, perhaps no other state so resembled the nation as a whole. An unassailable truth about The Heart of it All was Ohios all-important role in the nations politics, especially presidential elections. From 1896 through 2016, Ohio voted for the winner in 29 of the 31 presidential elections. As Ohio goes, so goes the nation, became a central element of presidential campaign strategies, as did describing Ohio as the mother of all swing states. Of course, that all changed in 2020, when Donald Trump won Ohio handily, but lost to Joe Biden by a decisive margin. Not since 1960 had Ohio voted for the loser in a presidential election. Trumps pair of eight-point wins here made clear Ohio is now wildly out of touch with not only the nations electorate, but with voters in nearby states that retain their status as important battlegrounds. In the presidential election of 1980, the prize for winning Ohio was 25 electoral votes. Next year, it will be 17. Thats a 32% decline in Ohios statistical importance in national elections. In 2023, Ohio is The Heart of it All for a rising brand of political extremism, a place where state legislators seem to care more about guns than kids. One of Ohios two U.S. senators, 2020 election-denier J.D. Vance, solicited funds to help some of those arrested in connection with the deadly invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, an insurrection designed to violently overturn a legitimate election for president. A leading candidate in next springs Republican primary for the Senate, Bernie Moreno, also lies about the 2020 election. In a poorly disguised appeal for the bigot vote, Moreno has also suggested descendants of white soldiers who fought for the Union Army might deserve reparations. Forty years ago, neither of these appalling men would have received more than a minuscule percentage of the vote in a GOP primary. Ohio today is The Heart of it All for some of the most intellectually dishonest elected officials in state history, including holders of the five executive offices, legislative leaders and some Ohio Supreme Court members. All are conspirators in a plot to curtail the most basic element of a constitutional democracy the right to self-government. This effort to silence voters by making it virtually impossible to amend the Ohio Constitution, which will appear on the ballot as State Issue 1 in an Aug. 8 special election, is a corrupt abuse of political power orchestrated by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, in collusion with legislative leaders and now DeWine. LaRose is a lost cause, an unprincipled opportunist who cannot be trusted as the states chief election officer. He is unworthy of holding any government office. DeWines record as governor includes impressive efforts at funding programs to benefit children and improve education. But some of his spending proposals for children have been gutted by a legislature whose members dont particularly care what he thinks about anything. And on State Issue 1, this governors odious decision to align himself with his unethical Republican colleagues is disgusting. The concern is people can come in outside forces, outside the state of Ohio and spend a ton of money to try to impact [the Ohio Constitution], DeWine explained May 24, in a feeble attempt to justify his support for Issue 1. What the governor conveniently neglected to mention is that the biggest single contributor to the issue DeWine supports is an Illinois billionaire who, The Columbus Dispatch reports, has already given roughly $1.1 million to the attempt to silence Ohio voters. DeWines partners in this assault on Ohio voters are outside forces, outside the state of Ohio Why should we ever again believe this guy? For tens of million Americans, facts no longer matter in politics, so informed persuasion will have little impact on the Aug. 8 election outcome. What will matter more than in most elections is grassroots organizing. Thats why its almost impossible to imagine Issue 1 passing. Those lining up against the issue know how to produce a no vote. And many of them are products of an era when Ohio actually was The Heart of it All, not merely the pretender it now claims to be. After Issue 1 fails, Celeste believes placing an anti-gerrymandering issue on the ballot will become an essential step to restore an accurate representation of Ohios citizens. Celestes political skills were second to none. Hes always been optimistic about Ohios future and is confident the white nationalist and extremist tendencies of todays Republican Party will eventually fade. In terms of politics, the change will grow from local communities, up towards the state and nation, he told me. The young incumbents in Ohios cities and towns reflect the changing demographic that scares the bejesus out of the old white patriarchy who dominate the MAGA crowd. And in another decade or two, Ohio, as freshwater capital of the nation, will become a dominant force again. If hes right, Ohio will then again be worthy of its nickname. Today its just some second-rate knockoff. Brent Larkin was The Plain Dealers editorial director from 1991 until his retirement in 2009. To reach Brent Larkin: blarkin@cleveland.com Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions, comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It looks like rain is finally going to arrive to wash out a weekslong drought in Northeast Ohio. According to the National Weather Service, the area could see as much as an inch-and-a-half of rain today. It should start about 2 p.m. Thunderstorms are possible going into the late afternoon and early evening. 20 The secret to building a successful career is becoming a better problem solver, says former President Barack Obama. No matter what disruptions shake up the economy whether it's the pandemic, AI or climate change being a resourceful, adaptable employee will make you indispensable, Obama told LinkedIn News' "This Is Working" podcast on June 1. This is especially true for Gen Zers, many of whom started their careers in fractured hybrid or remote work environments at the height of the pandemic. "The most important advice I give to young people is just learn how to get stuff done," Obama explained. "I've seen at every level people who are very good at describing problems, people who are very sophisticated in explaining why something went wrong or why something can't get fixed, but what I'm always looking for is no matter how small the problem or how big it is, somebody who says, 'Let me take care of that.'" Projecting an attitude of "whatever it is that's needed, I can handle it" at work, the former president added, will help you build a strong rapport with your co-workers and managers. "Whoever's running that organization will notice, I promise," he said. Obama's recommendation is similar to the career advice Bill Gates gave to the Class of 2023. "Gravitate toward work that solves a problem," the Microsoft founder told students at Northern Arizona University's commencement ceremony last month. "When you spend your days doing something that solves a big problem, it energizes you to do your best work. It forces you to be more creative, and it gives your life a stronger sense of purpose." Ultimately, the best way to stand out in a new job and position yourself as a valued employee is to nail "whatever is assigned to you," Obama concluded. "You're killing it because people will notice, that's somebody who can get something done." DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter! Check out: Barack Obama shares his No. 1 piece of advice for his own daughters: Don't let your hunger for success ruin your happiness Barack Obama on what 'the most successful people' do differently in their careers New York is the worst city to launch your careersee which other places made the list Nicola Sturgeon speaking during a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh where she announced she will stand down as First Minister of Scotland on February 15, 2023 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who dominated politics in Scotland for almost a decade, was arrested and questioned for several hours on Sunday by police investigating the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party. Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was detained Sunday morning "as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party." She was "released without charge pending further investigation" about six hours later, the force said. British police do not identify suspects until they are charged. Sturgeon said after her release that her arrest had been "both a shock and deeply distressing." "Obviously, given the nature of this process, I cannot go into detail," she said in a statement on social media. "However, I do wish to say this, and to do so in the strongest possible terms. Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing." The SNP said the party had been "cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so. However, it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing." Scottish police opened an investigation in 2021 into how more than 600,000 pounds ($754,000) designated for a Scottish independence campaign was spent. Two former SNP officials, Colin Beattie, who was treasurer, and Peter Murrell, who was chief executive, were previously arrested and questioned as part of the investigation. Like Sturgeon, both were released pending further inquiries. Murrell is Sturgeon's husband, and police searched the couple's home in Glasgow after his arrest in April. It is highly unusual for a leader or former leader of a UK political party to be arrested. The last such case also concerned the Scottish Nationalists: Sturgeon's predecessor as first minister, Alex Salmond, was arrested in 2019 and charged with a series of sexual offenses, including attempted rape. He was acquitted on all 13 charges after a trial in January 2020. Before that, in 1979, the former Liberal party leader, Jeremy Thorpe, went on trial, accused of conspiracy and incitement to murder. The man he was charged with trying to kill claimed they had a sexual relationship at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Thorpe denied his claim and was acquitted. Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned in February after eight years as Scottish National Party leader and first minister of Scotland's semi-autonomous government. She said then that she knew "in my head and in my heart" that it was the right time for her, her party and her country to make way for someone else. The first female leader of Scotland's devolved government, Sturgeon led her party to dominance in Scottish politics and refashioned the SNP from a largely one-issue party into a dominant governing force with liberal social positions. She guided her party during three U.K.-wide elections and two Scottish elections, and led Scotland through the coronavirus pandemic, winning praise for her clear, measured communication style. But Sturgeon left office amid divisions in the SNP and with her main goal independence from the U.K. for the nation of 5.5 million people unmet. Scottish voters backed remaining in the U.K. in a 2014 referendum that was billed as a once-in-a-generation decision. The party wants a new vote, but the U.K. Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland can't hold one without London's consent. The central government has refused to authorize another referendum. Sturgeon's departure unleashed a tussle for the future of the SNP amid recriminations over the party's declining membership and divisions over the best path towards independence. Opinion polls suggest support for the party has sagged, though it remains the most popular in Scotland. An acrimonious leadership contest to replace her saw contenders feud over tactics and Sturgeon's legacy, particularly a bill she introduced to make it easier for people to legally change gender. It was hailed as a landmark piece of legislation by transgender rights activists, but faced opposition from some SNP members who said it ignored the need to protect single-sex spaces for women First Minister Humza Yousaf, who won the party contest in March, told the BBC before Sturgeon's arrest that the SNP had been through "some of the most difficult weeks our party has probably faced, certainly in the modern era." "I know there will be people, be it our opposition, be it the media, that have somehow written the SNP off already," he said. "They do that at their own peril." Francis deSouza, chief executive officer of Illumina Inc., during a panel session on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. Illumina on Sunday announced its board of directors has accepted the resignation of CEO Francis deSouza, just weeks after activist investor Carl Icahn failed to oust him from the biotech company. The board of directors is searching for a new CEO and is considering both internal and external candidates, according to a release. Charles Dadswell, Illumina's senior vice president and general counsel, will act as CEO in the interim. DeSouza's resignation is effective immediately, but he will stay on in an advisory capacity until July 31. "It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve Illumina," deSouza said in the release. "We have made great progress together, but I believe we are still at the very beginning of the impact Illumina will have on human health by unlocking the power of the genome." Illumina, known for its DNA sequencing and array-based technology, has been in a heated proxy fight with Icahn, who owns a 1.4% stake in the company. Icahn has accused Illumina's executive management and board of poor oversight, particularly with regard to the company's controversial $7.1 billion acquisition of cancer test maker Grail in 2021. Similarly, in an open letter to Illumina shareholders in April, Icahn accused deSouza of "desperately, hilariously and, most of all, unsuccessfully" trying to spin "decidedly mediocre" quarterly results during a press tour. In late May, Icahn had urged shareholders to vote off deSouza and Chairman John Thompson from the nine-member board. Shareholders booted Thompson, but deSouza held onto his role until Sunday. Icahn wrote in a tweet Sunday that he is "happy" to see the recent changes at Illumina. "While obviously I believe the change of CEO should have come meaningfully sooner, it is still a very positive occurrence," he said. Taiwan Digital Minister Audrey Tang will make a rare high-level ministerial trip to Britain this week where she is expected to visit government departments and meet a company specializing in low-earth orbit satellites, her ministry said on Sunday. Taiwan views Britain as an important democratic partner despite the lack of formal ties, noting its concern over stepped-up Chinese military activities near the island, which Beijing views as its own territory, and its support for Taiwan's participation in global bodies such as the WHO. Tang, one of Taiwan's most high-profile ministers internationally due to her fluent English and extensive use of Twitter, will attend London Tech Week and is expected to visit Britain's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Department for Business and Trade, her ministry said. The two sides will "exchange views on issues related to digital governance and digital industry cooperation", the ministry added, without giving details. Tesla came out on top as the most overbought stock this week. One widely used metric called the "relative strength index" showed investors this week piled into the electric vehicle maker. The gauge lets investors measure the speed and magnitude of recent price moves , indicating possible overbought and oversold conditions in the market. A stock with a 14-day RSI greater than 70 is considered overbought, meaning it may be time for traders to start reducing exposure. Meanwhile, a stock with a 14-day RSI lower than 30 is considered oversold, an indicator that could mean sentiment has gotten too poor around the name and it could be time to buy. Based on this gauge, Tesla was the most crowded stock, with a 14-day RSI of 91.46. In fact, the electric vehicle maker matched its longest winning streak of 11 days after ending Friday in positive territory. On Friday, Tesla rallied 4% after CEO Elon Musk and General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced a partnership that gives GM access to Tesla's charging stations in North America. However, that could also mean investors may soon need to divest of the stock. Analysts polled by FactSet expect the stock could fall 17% from here. Only 40% have a buy rating on the name. Based on the relative strength index, here are some other overbought names this week. Adobe was another popular stock investors piled into this week, with a 14-day RSI of 80.88. In fact, Wells Fargo on Friday upgraded the software stock to overweight from equal weight , and raised its price target to $525 from $420. The Wall Street firm expects Adobe will be an AI beneficiary. However, just 41% of analysts consider Adobe a buying opportunity. The stock is expected to slide by about 0.8%, according to consensus estimates from FactSet. Other overbought stocks this week are Enphase Energy and Match Group . Meanwhile, here are some of the most oversold stocks this week. Target landed in the oversold category. The retail stock slid more than 4% this week, and has a 14-day RSI score of 13.85. On Friday, Citi downgraded Target to neutral from buy , and cut its price target to $130 from $177. The firm expects sales may have peaked at the big-box retailer. Only 42% of analysts have a buy rating on Target. However, they expect shares can jump more than 30%, according to consensus estimates on FactSet. Ulta was also oversold this week, with a 14-day RSI of 17.93. Only about 46% of analysts have said investors should buy the stock. On average, they expect the beauty retail stock has about 28% upside from here. Still, UBS said the stock is one of its top ideas in spite of the sell-off after its most recently quarterly results. According to a note Thursday, the risk-reward is "firmly tilted to the upside." Other oversold stocks this week include Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone . Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump applauds as he attends the North Carolina Republican Party convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. June 10, 2023. Follow our live coverage of Donald Trump's indictment in the classified documents case. After a 37-count criminal indictment against Donald Trump was unsealed Friday, Trump's former Attorney General Bill Barr said there is trouble ahead for the 2024 Republican presidential hopeful. "If even half of it is true, then he's toast," Barr told "Fox News Sunday." "It's a very detailed indictment, and it's very, very damning. And this idea of presenting Trump as a victim here, a victim of a witch hunt, is ridiculous." The indictment revealed allegations that the former president willfully retained hundreds of classified government records at his Florida home and conspired to prevent their return to U.S. officials. The charging document, which was made public a day after a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Miami voted to indict Trump, said that the records contained information about defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign countries, U.S. nuclear programs, and "potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack." Trump stored these classified materials in cardboard boxes in a ballroom, a bathroom, a shower, and office space, along with his bedroom and a storage room at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida., according to the indictment. Barr said the way Trump stored the documents at Mar-a-Lago would be enough to make anyone who cares about national security stomachs' churn. A view shows a flooded residential area following the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in the town of Hola Prystan in the Kherson region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, June 8, 2023. Alexander Ermochenko | Reuters The short term Ihor Medunov is very much part of that ecosystem. His work as a hunting and fishing guide effectively ended with the start of the war, but he stayed on his little island compound with his four dogs because it seemed safer than the alternative. Still, for months the knowledge that Russian forces controlled the dam downstream worried him. The six dams along the Dnieper were designed to operate in tandem, adjusting to each other as water levels rose and fell from one season to the next. When Russian forces seized the Kakhovka Dam, the whole system fell into neglect. Whether deliberately or simply carelessly, the Russian forces allowed water levels to fluctuate uncontrollably. They dropped dangerously low in winter and then rose to historic peaks when snowmelt and spring rains pooled in the reservoir. Until Monday, the waters were lapping into Medunov's living room. Now, with the destruction of the dam, he is watching his livelihood literally ebb away. The waves that stood at his doorstep a week ago are now a muddy walk away. "The water is leaving before our eyes," he told The Associated Press. "Everything that was in my house, what we worked for all our lives, it's all gone. First it drowned, then, when the water left, it rotted." Since the dam's collapse Tuesday, the rushing waters have uprooted landmines, torn through caches of weapons and ammunition, and carried 150 tons of machine oil to the Black Sea. Entire towns were submerged to the rooflines, and thousands of animals died in a large national park now under Russian occupation. Rainbow-colored slicks already coat the murky, placid waters around flooded Kherson, the capital of southern Ukraine's province of the same name. Abandoned homes reek from rot as cars, first-floor rooms and basements remain submerged. Enormous slicks seen in aerial footage stretch across the river from the city's port and industrial facilities, demonstrating the scale of the Dnieper's new pollution problem. Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry estimated 10,000 hectares (24,000 acres) of farmland were underwater in the territory of Kherson province controlled by Ukraine, and "many times more than that" in territory occupied by Russia. Farmers are already feeling the pain of the disappearing reservoir. Dmytro Neveselyi, mayor of the village of Maryinske, said everyone in the community of 18,000 people will be affected within days. "Today and tomorrow, we'll be able to provide the population with drinking water," he said. After that, who knows. "The canal that supplied our water reservoir has also stopped flowing." The long term The Indian aircraft, with a ground speed recorded at 454 knots, unintentionally entered the airspace north of Lahore around 7:30 pm on Saturday. An IndiGo Airlines flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad encountered challenging weather conditions, causing it to temporarily veer off course and enter Pakistani airspace near Lahore, according to a media report on Sunday, June 11. Fortunately, the situation was swiftly resolved, and the aircraft redirected its path back to Indian airspace without any mishap, passing through Gujranwala in the process. According to information from flight radar, the Indian aircraft, with a ground speed recorded at 454 knots, unintentionally entered the airspace north of Lahore around 7:30 pm on Saturday. However, it swiftly corrected its course and safely returned to Indian airspace by 8:01 pm, as reported by the Dawn newspaper. Citing a senior official from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) , the report emphasised that such occurrences are not uncommon and are deemed permissible internationally, particularly in unfavorable weather conditions. In May, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, designated as PK248, unintentionally entered Indian airspace and remained there for approximately 10 minutes. The incident occurred as the flight was returning from Muscat on May 4, and its intended destination was the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. The pilot encountered challenging weather conditions, specifically heavy rainfall, which posed difficulties in safely landing the Boeing 777 aircraft. Meanwhile, several flights were diverted and delayed in Pakistan due to poor visibility at airports. In the meantime, a significant number of flights encountered diversions and delays in Pakistan due to the deteriorating visibility at airports. The CAA spokesman confirmed that the weather warning for Lahore was extended until 11:30 pm on Saturday, as the visibility at the Allama Iqbal International Airport dropped to 5,000 meters. The unfavorable conditions forced multiple flights bound for Lahore to be redirected to Islamabad. Pakistan experienced heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms on Saturday evening. The most severely affected regions were the three adjacent districts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where approximately 29 casualties were reported, according to The Express Tribune newspaper. With inputs from agencies Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) Some 13,000 residents have been evacuated from the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone around Mayon Volcano as of Sunday evening, according to the provincial government of Albay. Based on Albay's 7 p.m. evacuation update, some 3,680 families or 12,758 individuals are temporarily staying in 19 evacuation centers in the province amid a restive Mayon, which is currently under Alert Level 3. Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum are set to visit the province on Monday. READ: Marcos: Gov't ready for possible Mayon eruption In an earlier interview with reporters in Albay, Eugene Escobar, chief of the research division of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), said they target to evacuate 14,213 people within the day. "We're about to complete the evacuation noong mga nasa loob ng [of those inside the] six-kilometer danger zone and as of last night we have 3,497 families comprising of 11,756 persons," said Escobar. "It's safe to say that today the evacuation for those in the six kilometer danger zone will be completed," he added. Escobar also mentioned that some evacuees chose to stay with relatives rather than at evacuation centers. On Friday, Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman said preemptive evacuation efforts started in Camalig and Guinobatan as they are the towns most vulnerable to the volcanic activity. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy on Saturday said power plants near Mayon have not been affected by recent volcanic activities. The two closest power facilities near the volcano are the Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant in Albay and the Bacon-Manito Geothermal Power Plant in Sorsogon. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is also monitoring 285 structures such as towers and posts within the 15-kilometer radius of Mayon Volcano. CNN Philippines' correspondent Tristan Nodalo and digital producer Syrah Vivien Inocencio contributed to this story. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the government should restart peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New Peoples Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). I hope that he [Teodoro] reconsiders that position, because this long-running communist insurgency has resulted in the loss of many Filipino lives communist guerrillas, soldiers and civilians, including children, Rodriguez said in a statement on Sunday. This was after newly appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told CNN Philippines The Final Word on Wednesday that he was not considering negotiations with the leftists, as it undercuts and undermines the democratic process. He also said the agency could not tolerate legitimizing their existence. READ: No reason to open peace talks with CPP-NPA Defense chief A member of the House Committee on National Defense And Security, Rodriguez said that if the number of communists was dwindling, as Teodoro said in his interview, then the government was morally obliged to negotiate instead of fighting them. I am sure that these CPP-NPA-NDF remnants would want to enjoy life in peace with their families, instead of getting exterminated by the overwhelming military power of the state, he said. He also noted the economic development in Tarlac and Pampanga, which he said are provinces formerly known to be hotbeds of the communist movement. Look where Tarlac and Pampanga are now. They are growth areas. They are booming because there are no more communists there, and because the government built infrastructure like roads in these provinces, he said. Teodoro hails from Tarlac and represented its 1st legislative district from 1998 to 2007. The department should convince remaining communist forces to surrender, Rodriguez said. Former president Rodrigo Duterte ended peace negotiations with the CPP in 2017. After its founder, Joma Sison, died in December 2022, the party said it was willing to resume the peace talks. Meanwhile, Rodriguez also urged Teodoro to reconsider reviving the agreement between the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of National Defense that prohibits the military and the police from entering the state universitys campuses without informing its officials. Rodriguez and Teodoro are both graduates of the UP College of Law. ARIZONA Drought, water overuse prompt construction limits in parts of Phoenix PHOENIX Arizona will not approve new housing construction on the fast-growing edges of metro Phoenix that rely on groundwater thanks to years of overuse and a multi-decade drought that is sapping its water supply. In a news conference on June 1, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the restrictions that could affect some of the fastest-growing suburbs of the nation's fifth-largest city. Officials said developers could still build in the affected areas but would need to find alternative water sources to do so such as surface or recycled water. Driving the state's decision was a projection that showed that over the next 100 years, demand in metro Phoenix for almost 4.9 million acre-feet of groundwater would be unmet without further action, Hobbs said. An acre-foot of water is roughly enough for two to three U.S. households per year. Despite the move, the governor said the state isn't running out of water. "Nobody who has water is going to lose their water," Hobbs said. Officials said the move would not affect existing homeowners who already have assured water supplies. Hobbs added that there are 80,000 unbuilt homes that will be able to move forward because they already have assured water supply certificates within the Phoenix Active Management Area, a designation used for regulating groundwater. Phoenix relies on imported Colorado River water and also uses water from the in-state Salt and Verde rivers. A small amount of the city's water supply comes from groundwater and recycled wastewater. The drought has made groundwater held in underground aquifers that can take many years to be replenished even more vital. Under a 1980 state law aimed at protecting the state's aquifers, Phoenix, Tucson and other Arizona cities have restrictions on how much groundwater they can pump. But in rural areas, there are few limitations on its use. NEW MEXICO Biden orders 20-year ban on oil, gas drilling to protect tribal sites near Chaco SANTA FE Hundreds of square miles in New Mexico will be withdrawn from further oil and gas production for the next 20 years on the outskirts of Chaco Culture National Historical Park that tribal communities consider sacred, the Biden administration ordered on June 2. The new order from Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland applies to public lands and associated mineral rights within a 10-mile radius of the park. It does not apply to entities that are privately, state- or tribal-owned. Existing leases won't be impacted either. A World Heritage site, Chaco Culture National Historical Park is thought to be the center of what was once a hub of Indigenous civilization, with many tribes from the Southwest tracing their roots to the high desert outpost. A recent assessment published by the Interior Department shows that the withdrawal will result in a few dozen wells not being drilled. The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association has argued that the plan would leave additional leases on Navajo land or allotments owned by individual Navajos landlocked by taking federal mineral holdings off the board. Navajo Nation officials have made similar arguments, saying millions of dollars in annual oil and gas revenues benefit the tribe and individual tribal members. The Navajo Nation completed its own study last year and advocated for a smaller area to be set aside given the economic impacts a withdrawal would have on the tribe. The Bureau of Land Management said the 10-mile radius would help protect more than 4,700 known archaeological sites outside the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, while a 5-mile radius would encompass about 2,800 of the sites. Officials confirm states 1st case of fungal disease of hibernating bats SANTA FE White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease of hibernating bats, has been confirmed in New Mexico for the first time, authorities said on June 5. The state Department of Game and Fish said samples from two live bats and two deceased bats were collected in late April from caves managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management in Lincoln and De Baca counties. Those two counties are far from Curry County, which is home to Carlsbad Caverns. Game and Fish officials said the two dead bats were confirmed with white-nose syndrome a fringed myotis in Lincoln County and a cave myotis in De Baca County. They said white-nose syndrome is caused by an invasive fungal pathogen that was previously detected in New Mexico in 2021, but evidence of the bat disease wasn't confirmed in New Mexico until now. Authorities said the disease has killed millions of bats in North America since 2006. A powdery, white fungus grows on the skin of hibernating bats, often on the face, leading to irritation and dehydration. That causes bats to stop hibernating early and exhaust fat stores they need to survive the winter, often leading to death. Neither the fungus nor the disease affects humans. IDAHO Families sue to block law barring gender-affirming care for minors BOISE The families of two transgender teenagers filed a lawsuit on June 1 to block enforcement of Idaho's ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors. The ban, which was signed into law in April and scheduled to take effect in January 2024, violates the federal constitutional guarantee of equal protection for the teens and due process for their parents, the families said in the filing in U.S. District Court. The plaintiffs, whose legal representation includes lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union, note that the law makes it a felony for doctors to provide puberty blockers, hormone treatment and surgery for minors only in cases in which it is to help align their bodies with their gender identities. The same treatments are allowed for other purposes. The lawsuit was expected even before the ban was signed, and follows a pattern in Republican-controlled states. At least 20 have enacted laws or policies barring gender-affirming care in recent years; several are so new they haven't taken effect yet. Most of the bans have been challenged in court. Defendants in the lawsuit include Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, a county prosecutor and members of the Idaho Code Commission. Labrador's office, which would likely defend the law in court, said in a statement that it does not comment on pending litigation. KANSAS After years of controversy, national bio-defense lab opens MANHATTAN After more than a decade of controversy and delays, the nation's most secure biosecurity laboratory for research on potentially deadly animal and plant diseases has opened in Manhattan, Kansas. Although a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on May 24, researchers at the $1.25 billion National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility are not expected to begin working on biohazards for more than a year, officials said. For now, staff will conduct compliance and regulatory work, prepare protocols and operating procedures and train before working with any pathogens, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Initially estimated to cost $451 million, the price tag more than doubled after the National Research Council published a report in 2010 that questioned putting the facility in the heart of cattle country with a history of large, destructive tornadoes. Department of Homeland Security officials said the increased cost came in part because the lab's design was changed to reduce the possibility of releasing deadly pathogens. The laboratory replaces an aging facility in Plum Island, New York. The northeastern Kansas facility will be the nation's only large-animal biosafety Level 4 lab, which means it will be able to handle pathogens that do not currently have treatments or countermeasures. 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. 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. The Eurasian Economic Unions (EAEU) member countries will continue to develop industrial cooperation; an agreement on that was a major outcome of the recent Sochi meeting of the EAEU intergovernmental council, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Sunday, Azernews reports, citing TASS. "I would like to recall, probably, one of the most important things we have agreed on - it is to develop industrial cooperation," he said in an interview with the Moscow.Kremlin.Putin program on the Rossiya-1 television channel, a fragment of which was posted on its host Pavel Zarubins Telegram channel. According to the Russian prime minister, examples of such cooperation were demonstrated at the Eurasian - Our Home exhibition. "There are a lot of them [examples. There were more than 200 representatives of companies from all of our countries and they demonstrated that when we are together we can build our technological, economic, and financial sovereignty," Mishustin said. "I hope very much that our plans, what we were discussing during those to days, will come true," he added. Heads of government of the CIS nations and the Eurasian intergovernmental council met in Sochi on June 7-9. A number of documents were adopted. Apart from that, Mishustin held bilateral meetings with his CIS and EAEU counterparts. RATHER than becoming a cellphone politician who interacts with his constituents from afar, prospective Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Cowdray Park in Bulawayo who is also Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has acquired a home in the constituency, as he seeks to forge closer ties with the people he aspires to represent in the august House. Prof Ncube has spent the last few months getting closer to residents in Cowdray Park, interacting with them as he seeks to address some of their needs. Some residents in the suburb have been pleasantly surprised recently as Prof Ncube has joined in community activities, contributing the traditional Zibuthe fees during times of bereavement. Speaking in an interview recently, Prof Ncube said he had decided to purchase a home in Cowdray Park as he wanted to be in sync with the people that he seeks to represent. We have big plans for Cowdray Park and in fact, I myself have now got a house here so I am now a full citizen and resident of Cowdray Park. So, the peoples problems here are fully and truly my problems as well, he said. Prof Ncube said to empower local entrepreneurs, he had asked some of them to furnish his new home. I was talking to the boys that make furniture in the neighbourhood and they said they will be doing that for me so that I can also furnish my home and have it looking nice. It would be nice when the next time we meet, we can do so in my own home so that we can have tea and we can speak frankly about how we can improve and build our Cowdray Park. I would love to be invited into your own homes as well because I am now very much a part of the community. I want us to chart a way together, he said. Reminiscing about his own childhood in the neighbouring suburb of Luveve, Prof Ncube said the circumstances that he grew up under had inspired him to run for parliament. I lived in Luveve in the 1970s so I know the area, the neighbourhood very well. If you look at it, Cowdray Park and Luveve were always really considered as one constituency. Back then, the youth did not have opportunities such as the ones that we are now extending to the youth, in terms of skills development, whether its through the Red Cross programme, the drivers licence programme or the beauty and therapy programme. That didnt exist back then so these courses will go a long way in supporting the youth and I think that is what has been missing, he said. Prof Ncube said he wanted to bring the kind of representation that he felt the area lacked when he was growing up. Back then, we didnt have very active members of Parliament, who could spearhead the development of roads, water while showing concern for the citizen and that is what I am bringing here in Cowdray Park. I want to show that I am with the people and I support them because I am doing this from the heart. We can only build Zimbabwe if everyone is focused and works together and urge every Member of Parliament, wherever they are in whatever corner of the country, to take their jobs seriously and put shoulder to the wheel, he said. Turning to the issue of drug abuse in the community, Prof Ncube said he wanted to spearhead the construction of drug rehabilitation centres in Cowdray Park, which would deal with the issue in a scientific way. We have the current challenge of drugs and crime and by giving them skills, the youth will find themselves doing productive things and moving their lives forward instead of being stuck in the mud. This is designed to improve the lives of individuals so they stay away from illicit activities. There is still a need to develop some drug rehabilitation centres here in Cowdray Park and I will be looking to see what can be done by working with relevant Government departments to see how this problem can be dealt with in a kind of medical way, besides giving individuals necessary skills to make themselves better, he said. Sunday News If you think too much about your own mortality, you will wind up on the floor, spinning on your back and screaming at the sky. You should live forever; anything else is unfair. And if you sit and think about exactly how people die, versus how youd think they die, it all gets even more confusing, and your brain starts to leak out your ears. Side note: Nothing were going to talk about today is a true paradox. All have explanations. In fact, there are no true paradoxes, anywhere. Paradoxes cannot exist. Anytime someone comes up with a paradox, its either a trick of language or they invented imaginary, contradictory premises and are now acting surprised that they contradict each other. No, what we have here are instead apparent paradoxes. The fun part is in finding out the truth behind them. Advertisement 5 If Youre Drunk, Youre Safer Driving Home Than Walking Drunk driving is bad. You should know that going into this, and were not here to change your mind. But when youre drunk and trying to get home, could proceeding on foot be more dangerous for you than driving? That was the question pursued by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, the authors of the Freakonomics books. These books are famous for coming up with counterintuitive conclusions sometimes with scientific rigor, sometimes without. Charles Postiaux/Unsplash Just like you drive sometimes with scientific liquor, sometimes without. One way to compare the two routes home would be to tally up how many people die driving drunk versus how many die walking drunk. This is the method behind many factoids that compare your chances of dying in various ways. That comparisons less meaningful than it sounds and borders on useless. For example, one famous fact says vending machines kill more people than sharks, meaning you have a greater chance of being killed by a vending machine than a shark. However, that stat reflects how many hours the average person spends around vending machines, rather than how dangerous they are. If youre debating whether to spend your coffee break buying something from a vending machine or punching sharks while bleeding from a throat wound, that stat offers little guidance on which is safer. Asa Steinarsdottir/Unsplash Hardly anyone dies skydiving into volcanos. Must be safe then. When were comparing methods of transport, we instead consider the following statistic: deaths per miles traveled. We extrapolate from this whether youd be safer going to the same destination using one method or the other. Deaths per mile tells us, for instance, that flying is the safest way to travel, and a fear of flying kills. People avoided flying right after 9/11, and those people increased their risk of dying. France recently banned short-haul flights to cut emissions, but they have to weigh those gains against how the ban will result in more deaths. Levitt and Dubner found that though more drunk drivers die every year than drunk pedestrians, by a factor of 13 to 1, drunk people also cover a lot more mileage via car than via foot. If you correct for how many miles each covers, a drunk driver now looks eight times less likely to die than a drunk pedestrian undergoing the same journey. As for how they calculated the mileage drunk pedestrians cover, well, that took a few leaps of logic, but the overall conclusion about deaths per mile being more on foot is convincing. In fact, recorded deaths per mile may underestimate the actual danger of walking. In practice, if you drive to a bar, your route home by foot may be less walkable than the route taken by the average drunk person anywhere who does choose to walk. Fahrul Azmi/Unsplash I drove here. Now Ill just cross this road real quick to go home. Naturally, all this attracted some controversy when it was published. It sounds like a recommendation to drive drunk, which is bad no matter how safe it is for you because it endangers others, and you have no right to do that. This writeup by HuffPost invited readers to weigh in on whether the conclusion is ridiculous (the piece is also openly bitter that they received this book excerpt to analyze, rather than a different excerpt they wanted, about climate change). In reality, you dont have to choose between driving drunk and walking drunk. The easiest and safest option is to just get a ride, with someone else driving. We have apps for that now. You dont even need to remember directions home. 4 Those Who Drive Slightly Above the Average Speed Get in Fewer Accidents Staying on the subject of driving, speeding, of course, makes accidents more dangerous. Go a little faster, and youll hit an object with a lot more impact, killing yourself with increasing certainty. Heres a helpful chart that notes youll be perfectly safe if everyone's stationary, but things get a little riskier from that point on. Department of Transport However, if you go stationary in the middle of highway, that doesnt give you a zero-percent chance of fatality at all. The car that slams into you isnt stationary. Clearly, we also have to consider the speed of cars around you, and clearly, theres some danger in your going unexpectedly slow. One landmark study from 1964 tried to find the relationship between a cars speed relative to others and the chance of getting into a collision. This look at 10,000 crashes determined that, yes, if you drive faster than the median speed, that raises your chance of a collision. But if you drive slower than the median speed, you also raise your chance of a collision by pretty much the exact same amount. Department of Commerce Then one side of the curve goes crazy, because we lack data for the other side. For decades, attempts to replicate the study produced similar results. More recent studies havent, so the latest advice is to err on the side of going too slow if you cant keep pace with everyone else. But scholars have still spent a lot of time trying to explain why the Solomon curve says going too slow isnt only slightly dangerous but is in fact exactly as dangerous as going too fast. Heres one explanation: Collisions are all about passing. When one car overtakes another, thats when theyre most likely to collide. If you go 20 miles per hour faster than every car, youll pass a whole lot of them, raising your chance of hitting them. If you go 20 miles per hour slower than every car, a whole lot of them will pass you, raising your chance of being hit. That leaves one bit of the curve unexplained, though. According to the data, the safest speed to travel isnt the exact median speed as everyone else but slightly faster than that a speed at which, per the passing theory, youll be riskily passing a fair number of cars. Blame this oddity of the curve on the large number of slow vehicles that get in crashes making turns. The curve might also be thrown off by a lot of chronically slow old people. If you drive a little faster than everyone, you assume some more risk, but at least youre not statistically likely to be old, meaning youre safe in at least one respect. 3 People Who Take Multivitamins Die Sooner More than once, weve debunked for you the idea that vitamins are magic pills that make you healthier. Unless youre vitamin-deficient, popping vitamin supplements will offer you no benefit whatsoever. Still, thats just theory. If you look at a large sample of data from people, its totally possible that this will reveal better health among those who take vitamins. Lisa Brewster Maybe the benefit comes from yelling yabba dabba doo before each dose. For starters, we might theorize that vitamins do help people because people really are vitamin-deficient. You can get all the vitamins you need from food, because most of us arent starving or living through wartime shortages and can eat all the veggies we want, but maybe large numbers of people dont. Maybe vitamin pills are the one thing keeping such people free of scurvy and random bouts of paralysis. On the other hand, even if vitamins offer no benefit at all, we might still predict that people who take them will outlive those who dont. If you take vitamin supplements, you care about your health so likely take other measures that do extend your lifespan. You also have enough disposable income to throw some away on this, which means you can also afford to stay healthy through other means. Plus, maybe these vitamins offer some kind of placebo effect. All of this might make you live longer. Ave Calvar/Unsplash If you have enough discipline to do anything once a day, youll likely live longer. Nutrition scientists found themselves with a lot of vitamin data to examine thanks to the Iowa Women's Health Study, which surveyed some 40,000 women as they aged through 20 years. Comparing people who took vitamin and mineral supplements to those who didnt, the researchers found that the supplemented humans were 6 percent more likely to die each year than their unenhanced counterparts. Wait, hold on. That wasnt supposed to happen. The one supplement that decreased mortality was calcium. Many of the people surveyed might have been deficient in calcium but for supplements. Every other vitamin and mineral was associated with a higher risk of death. This was even though the average person who took supplements was healthier than the average one who didnt, at the start of the study. Jon Butterworth/Unsplash Zinc. Not even once. Many of the women in the study took supplements because they developed diseases. These diseases increased their annual risk of dying, separate from any pill they took. But once the researchers took that into account and looked at what remained, the data still said the supplements were associated with a higher risk of death. The researchers were forced to offer the possibility that this was a case of causation, not just correlation, that people are taking vitamins and minerals in quantities that render them toxic. You shouldnt consider any of this as medical advice, by the way. Maybe the levels of supplements you take are fine. For a thorough appraisal, we recommend you consult the guy who sells you weed. 2 A Century Ago, Rich Women Died Giving Birth More Often Than Poor Women Giving birth used to be more dangerous than it is today, and we dont mean just a little more dangerous. Your chance of dying while giving birth in 1940 was 50 times what it is was in 2000. In 1895, it was 100 times more. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition That graph is from England. Luckily, medicine was more advanced in America. In America in 1915, the death rate among women giving birth was twice as bad as in England. About half that increase was due to differing methods of how deaths were categorized (which makes international comparison tricky even today), but the remainder was a genuine increased risk of death. The issue wasnt Americas undeveloped health-care system. The issue was Americas developed health-care system, as we alluded to before, not jokingly. Expectant mothers in America were more likely to give birth in hospitals than people in comparable countries. The problem was, hospitals in 1915 were terrible places, particularly to give birth. via Wiki Commons Decent spots for ghost hunting. Lousy for childbirth. One big reason was the general lack of hygiene in hospitals, both in America and elsewhere. Doctors didnt wash their hands in those days, and a doctor sticking his hands in you right after fishing through corpse guts often ended poorly. That wasnt the only problem, however. Women in hospitals also suffered from a type of infection that clean hands did nothing to prevent. It was broadly called puerperal fever and was responsible for more than 40 percent of maternal deaths, until the right antimicrobial drug years later made it mostly a nonissue. Finally, obstetricians in those days were a little too keen on dousing women in chloroform then diving in with forceps. Theyd even needlessly go spelunking and pry out the placenta before it came out on its own. Hemorrhaging ensued. Wellcome Images I can also remove your heart while Im in there. Itll only cause problems otherwise. Thanks to all that, a mother assisted by some midwife arriving on horseback stood a better shot at surviving the ordeal than one who headed to a city hospital. That in turn meant that the lower classes (those with no choice but to deliver at home) enjoyed lower maternal mortality than the upper classes. The poorer babies then more often died than those born to rich families, but the mothers didnt. You almost never observe that kind of relationship between wealth and health. Anytime you hear that some strange factor correlates with a longer lifespan, your first question should be, Okay, is this just another way of saying money correlates with a longer lifespan? Often, the answers yes. Here, the answers, No, Just the opposite. Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Vladimir Putin is shocked by the bombing of the Nova Kakhovka dam. The Kremlin has released a statement informing the world that the Russian president told his Turkish opposite number, Recep Tayyip Erdogan , that the blast was 'a barbaric action' which has 'led to a large-scale environmental and humanitarian catastrophe '. Well, Putin is right about that. The sudden release of an estimated 4.4 cubic miles of water down the Dnieper river towards the Black Sea has inundated countless towns and villages, devastated much of the most fertile land of a nation described as the 'world's bread-basket' and sent many thousands of dislodged landmines floating down to who knows where. All these consequences, and the likelihood of such an incident, were publicly anticipated by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Streets are flooded in Kherson, Ukraine, last Wednesday after the Kakhovka dam was blown up Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a statement in Sochi last Friday Water running through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Kherson region last week Last October, he warned European leaders meeting in Brussels that Russia had mined the dam and that 'the water supply to a large part of the south of Ukraine may be destroyed'. Zelensky called for the creation of an international observation mission at the dam, at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, saying it was 'imperative to prevent such a catastrophe'. At that time, Russia occupied the neighbouring city of Kherson, from which it has since retreated. But it remained in control of the area of the dam where a blast was detected. Norsar, the Norwegian government's earthquake monitoring unit, said its seismic data had indicated an explosion. Not only did the Russians have the means, there was a military motive for such an action: the long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive was just about to begin. This meant that the Russian forces could at least rule out any Ukrainian plan to send amphibious forces across that section of the Dnieper into Russian-occupied territory. The Ukrainians subsequently released a recording of what they claimed to be an intercept of a conversation between two Russian soldiers, in which one revealed to the other: 'Our saboteur group is there. 'They wanted to cause fear. It did not go according to the plan. More than they planned.' Volunteers haul a woman on a stretcher as she was evacuated from a flooded neighbourhood on the left bank of the Dnipro river in Kherson last Friday. Rescuers involved in the effort were being shelled by the Russians Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seen in Kyiv on Saturday Russian troops guard an entrance of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station on May 20 This could be fabricated, or the soldier in question was merely speculating, beyond his pay-grade. But even if one concludes that the level of destruction was not intended by the Russians (though they have shown no hesitation in destroying civil infrastructure) the chances were always zero that Putin would say: 'It was really a mistake by some of our people; they didn't intend anything like this to happen.' We discovered this over the shooting down of a plane full of Dutch (and some British) passengers by Russian backed-rebels in Eastern Ukraine in July 2014. The men responsible for firing the Russian surface-to-air missile that killed all 298 passengers and crew of flight MH17 had made an appalling error: they believed they were attacking a Ukrainian military transport plane. But Moscow, while knowing this better than anyone, insisted rather than admit a dreadful mistake that it was Ukraine which was responsible. Pravda even tried the line that the Ukraine regime was trying to assassinate President Putin, in the belief that his personal jet was alongside that Malaysian flight but had shot down the 'wrong plane'. The bigger the crime, the bigger the lie. The Russian government is still fighting the verdict of a Dutch court which last year found three members of a pro-Russian separatist movement guilty of the murders of those 298 men, women and children. Moscow claimed in a hearing before the UN's highest court last week that MH17 had been brought down by 'a bomb on board'. No evidence was provided for this claim. On the same day, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, called on the UN (I quote from the Russian foreign ministry's Twitter account) to 'condemn Kiev's blowing up of the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydro-electric power station'. Ambassador Nebenzya declared: 'We call on the UN Secretary-General to give an objective assessment of the terrorist actions of the Kiev regime and condemn them. Local workers transport a piece of wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 at the site of the plane crash near the village of Hrabove in Donetsk in November 2014 'We insist on establishing all the circumstances of the barbaric attack on the Kakhovskaya HPP.' He went on to argue that it was 'unacceptable that the situation with the tragedy in Bucha' be repeated. By 'tragedy' the ambassador seems to mean not so much the massacre of civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, when under Russian occupation in the early stages of the war, but the blaming of Moscow (which continues to claim the whole business is some sort of 'fake'). This sort of behaviour brings to mind the remark attributed to the late Alexander Solzhenitsyn, whose account of the methods of the Soviet leadership (which had consigned him to the Gulag) are as apt today when describing the Kremlin under Putin: 'We know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying. And still they lie.' Putin, of course, was a KGB officer in the Soviet period. And, as one of the most popular of living exiled Russian novelists, Vladimir Sorokin, wrote at the outset of the war on Ukraine (which Putin refuses to admit, calling it a 'special military operation'): 'For Putin, life itself has always been a special operation. 'From the black heart of the KGB, he learned not only contempt for 'normal people', but also its main principle: not a single word of truth.' The Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, pictured at the UN headquarters in New York on May 25 The most notorious lie of the Soviet era was Stalin's insistence that his slaughter of the entire Polish military elite (all shot in the back of the head) in Katyn in 1940 was the work of the Nazis. In 2010, the Russian parliament issued a historic apology for this appalling crime, and admitted Stalin's responsibility. READ MORE: James Cleverly slams 'abhorrent' attack on crucial Ukraine dam saying attacks on civilian infrastructure are a war crime Advertisement Yet two months ago, presumably with Putin's approval, the FSB (successor to the KGB) released a document re-attributing the Katyn massacre to Germany, and exonerating Stalin. This was presumably designed to punish Poland for its extensive military and political support of Ukraine's self-defence. But Putin has, in any case, for years been in the business of rehabilitating Stalin a man responsible for more deaths of Russians even than Hitler. And, as it happens, it was under Stalin, in August 1941, that the Dnieper's main hydroelectric dam was blown up by the NKVD (predecessor to the KGB). This caused, according to historians, the deaths of up to 100,000 Ukrainians. One survivor recalled, in a 2009 television documentary: 'People were screaming for help. Cows were mooing, pigs were squealing. People were climbing on trees.' Much like today. The justification was to make much more difficult the advance of the Wehrmacht. The difference was that, then, Moscow was attempting to fight an invading army. This time, it is the invader. So when you read that there may be more risk to life on 'the Russian-controlled side of the Dnieper' as a result of the destruction of the dam, remember that it is all Ukrainian land. As such, this is a devastating blow to the Ukrainian people. For a year in our home in Sussex, we have hosted a Ukrainian mother, Vera, and her son. Putin has for years been in the business of rehabilitating Joseph Stalin (pictured) The Dnieper dam that Stalin ordered to be destroyed during the Second World War in 1941 I have never known her to be so upset by what the Russians have done to her country not even when they launched lethal attacks on hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. And while she has followed the events in Ukraine on news channels with an intense focus, she told me last week that she couldn't bear to watch the film of the inundated villages, let alone of the shelling of rescuers by the Russian army. And, for the first time, Vera wonders if she will ever be able to return to her homeland; or, at least, if it will be anything like how she remembers it. Such demoralisation would, obviously, be part of Moscow's motive in blowing a hole in the Kakhovka dam. But it may also be a mark of defeatism on their part: that they eventually will not be in control of any part of Ukraine, and therefore can only take satisfaction in ruining it. Writer Hannah Rothschild, whose latest book is High Time, says her love of art has fuelled her imagination Why are so many streets in Italy called Senso Unico? my father asked, looking at the sign before turning right. A motorist coming towards us flashed his lights and honked his horn. Italians are so emotional, Dad said, as the other driver shouted expletives and gesticulated out of his window. It was day three of our five-day road trip. I was nine and it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me. Five days alone with my adored father [Jacob, Baron Rothschild] in Italy, a foreign country, without my mother, sisters or brother. I felt impossibly grown-up and sophisticated. I was also, unfortunately for both of us, the designated map-reader; my aptitude in that department matched his skills as a linguist senso unico means one-way street. Monterchi, Tuscany, the home of Piero Della Francesca's Fresco Pregnant Madonna. Hannah and her father visited the little Church of Santa Maria di Momentana in Monterchi where it was painted More time was spent hopelessly lost than on our quest: to discover the frescoes of Piero della Francesca, the early Renaissance painter whose greatest works are still to be found in churches and town halls in Tuscany: Arezzo, Urbino and his birthplace, Sansepolcro. That day, after a detour of several hill towns, dead ends and industrial estates, we found the little Church of Santa Maria di Momentana, in Monterchi, where della Francesca painted the Madonna del Parto (Pregnant Madonna). Wed arrived, hot and flustered, at lunchtime. The church was locked and the streets deserted it was siesta time, which in Italy could last for many hours. Unperturbed, my father banged on the church door then strode around the building looking for another entrance. Failing to find one, he went to the house next door and thumped loudly on the knocker. After some minutes the door was opened by a sleepy priest. He looked at my father wearily another nice afternoon interrupted by a thoughtless and determined tourist. He put his hand in a flowerpot at the foot of the step and handed us a large key. Our next stop was Sansepolcro, the place of della Francescas birth and death, home also to one of his greatest works, The Resurrection. Painted high on the wall of the former Palazzo della Residenza today the towns Civic Museum it depicts Christ climbing out of his tomb flanked by four colourfully dressed guards, all sleeping. Jesus looks dazed but purposeful. The gash in his stomach is still open, the stigmata on his hands visible. What do you think? Dad asked. The Madonna del Parto by Piero Della Francesca was developed in Italy, mainly in Tuscany around 1450-1470 The question terrified me. What was the right answer? I wanted to please Dad, not to let him down. He looks very determined, I ventured. Is it about bravery? I turned to my father for confirmation, but hed gone. Through the open door I could see him waiting by the car. We set off. Youll never guess, he laughed, looking up at another sign. This roads also called Senso Unico. That journey shaped both my professional and personal life, inspiring a love of art and travel. My first holiday jobs were in museums and art galleries. I took an art history course at university and worked for more than a decade in the BBCs music and arts department as a researcher, then as a director of feature documentaries. The 1980s were a thrilling time to be immersed in culture (prefiguring the 1990s, when art escaped the shackles of Cork Street and a whole generation of young British artists, or YBAs, having raised two fingers at the establishment, showed their work in disused garages and shops). On Wednesday nights we went to the Cafe de Paris, by Piccadilly Circus, hanging out with Lucien Freud, Leigh Bowery and the New Romantics. In 1983 Granta published its first list of the best young novelists Martin Amis, Rose Tremain, Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro, among others who leapt to centre stage. Fashion was outlandish, and anything went: puffed sleeves, pop socks, shoulder pads, ra-ra skirts It was the more-is-more era. Under the leadership of Alan Yentob, music and arts at the BBC flourished. I was sent to Los Angeles in the late 1980s to film the actor Dennis Hopper, who had amassed an extraordinary collection of art. Hoppers wild days were behind him. Nevertheless, he hurtled from subject to subject, ran from room to room and asked me to join him in a crystal bath. I refused. Hopper didnt seem put out and kept on speaking in long, uncuttable paragraphs before finally leaving the room without any explanation, never to return. By contrast, another interviewee, the painter Howard Hodgkin, said almost nothing, answering each question with a yes, no or maybe. Hodgkin was loquacious by comparison with Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, both of whom remained completely silent. One of my heroes was, and is, the great painter Frank Auerbach, the child of Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The young German was sent to London, where hes lived in the same one-room studio in Camden Town for more than 60 years. Every year, for 12 years, I wrote to him with the same request. Dear Mr Auerbach, my letters began. Dennis Hopper asked me to join him in a crystal bath I would like to make a documentary film about your extraordinary life Each was met with silence. Then something I said irritated him so much that he replied. You write that you want to demystify art. I dont want art demystified. A few months later I was invited into his inner sanctum. Auerbachs routine never changes. He paints a few people in strict rotation at the same time on the same day of every week. At the end of each session, if not happy with the result, he scrapes all the paint off the canvas, leaving a faint ghost of an image. One portrait can take eight years to complete. Now in his 93rd year, he is speeding up a bit, caught in a race against time. If I ever feel despondent about my work or my creative process, I think about Auerbach and the importance of turning up and pushing through. As a quote attributed to Thomas Edison has it, genius is one per cent inspiration, 99 per cent perspiration. While all this was inspiring and fun, my own secret dream of being a writer was firmly stuck. I wrote in the early mornings and late evenings. I submitted stories and screenplays, kept notebooks, scribbled down ideas, tried new styles. The more incredible people I interviewed or made films about, the more my confidence wobbled. I could have wallpapered a room with the rejection slips for my works of fiction. There wasnt an agent or publisher left to receive my manuscripts. Lets face it, mine was not a hard-luck story. There were so many odds stacked in my favour: privilege, education, opportunity At the age of 40, I had to accept I just wasnt good enough. Around my 50th birthday, at a low ebb, a divorcee with three small children, I went to see a psychic. (I know, I know.) Her name was Ivy, she had a crystal ball and she was surrounded by a wall of crucifixes (I kid you not). Waving her hands around, emitting strange grunting sounds, she told me to go home and write a book. The heroine would be called Annie and it would win prizes and sell many hundreds of thousands of copies (yeah, right). I had nothing to lose except time and Ivys 20 fee. The following day I began The Improbability of Love. I was long past worrying about style or form. I was in a frenzied race against the clock. The plot and subplots came relatively easily. There was so much material to draw on: an array of characters from the art world, a Holocaust survivor and a talking picture. The book was published in 2015 and, as Ivy had predicted, it sold well and won prizes. I called to say thank you; the phone was disconnected. I sent her a postcard; it was returned. During the years in which I endeavoured to become a viable author, my obsession with art extended to becoming involved with museums. After six years on the board of the National Gallery, in 2015 I was the first woman in its 200-year history to become the Chair of the Board. Although one glass ceiling was broken, a much more important barrier remained: of the gallerys 2,300 paintings fewer than one per cent were by female artists. Sadly, it wasnt as easy as going on a big shopping trip great paintings are rare and highly sought after. The criterion for adding to a collection must be based on excellence, not tokenism. We were incredibly lucky during my tenure to add a major work by the Baroque Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi. Having a bit of creative success later in life has some advantages: first, immense gratitude, and, second, a lot of experience to draw on. My new novel, High Time, features a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi (not the one acquired for the National Gallery), an art scam involving an Albanian cryptocurrency fraudster and a collection of paintings owned by Iranian Ayatollahs. The inspiration for the plot came from a meeting I had in the 1980s with the last Empress of Iran, Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi. After the fall of the Shah, she was exiled to Paris and one afternoon, over a cup of tea, she told me how, between 1974 and 1978, shed assembled a world-class collection of modern masters, including works by Rothko, Warhol, Gauguin, Giacometti, Picasso and Pollock, worth many billions of dollars. Occasionally they are displayed. I wrote to the regime to ask to see them. I am still waiting for a reply. My father and I made many more trips to look at paintings. Sometimes my mother came, or we went alone or with friends. Before my children could walk, they were wheeled around galleries in their pushchairs. As they got older, we took them further afield. Our last great trip was a journey to Mexico, on the trail of Frida Kahlo. Of all the many wonderful things my dad has given and taught me, a love of art is the most treasured. That love has served as a magic carpet, transporting me from a house in Maida Vale to distant places in the world and in my imagination. Even now, jotting down thoughts for a new book on a huge piece of paper, theres a name at the top, in heavy black ink, that I first heard as a child: Piero della Francesca. Looking out of the window at a grey London sky, that name transports me to sunlit Tuscan roads, umbrella pines, a sleepy priest and a sign that reads Senso unico. Expect to see the first Kahlo-esque touches on the high street very soon As 20 models in white dresses stared across the colonnaded square of the Jesuit-founded college in Mexico City, fashion had what is usually described as a moment. Influential artist Frida Kahlo meets power fashion house Diors latest cruise presentation it was always going to be the perfect storm. Fittingly, there was an actual storm. Members of the press with a fondness for pathetic fallacy wondered whether Diors creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri had summoned up the downpour to underline the shows mood of pretty-versus-practical. Why did Chiuri pick Mexican-born Kahlo, who died nearly 70 years ago? Because the Frida Kahlo exhibition I saw in Rome when I was growing up was the first I saw by a female artist and it made a huge impression, she explained backstage. A fashion moment: Twenty models in white dresses stared across the colonnaded square of the Jesuit-founded college in Mexico City at the latest Dior show Incidentally, the location for the show was also the place where Kahlo both studied and met her future partner, the muralist Diego Rivera. In tribute to Kahlos work, which sometimes reflected her (at the time) shocking affairs with both men and women, the Dior collection mixed butterflies and lace collars with mannish smocks. The white dresses were embroidered with hearts, in reference to one of her works, as well as her trademark red lips, while a pink gown was inspired by a famous Kahlo self-portrait. But what, you may ask, does a cruise collection have to do with me? Is it not about an extremely wealthy, elite group of customers (no hordes of Instagram influencers in this audience) buying eye-wateringly expensive clothes to wear in exotic locations while the rest of us are deep in midwinter? Well, yes, were this a lesser pairing then youd be forgiven for failing to see the knock-on effects. However, this is Dior (arguably one of the most influential fashion houses of the past century) and Frida Kahlo (arguably the 20th centurys most dynamic female artist), and therefore the ripples were always going to extend beyond the arches of the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso. So, expect the first Kahlo-esque touches to be finding their way on to the high street sooner than you might imagine. A fringed rebozo (rectangular shawl) here, a heavy, floor-length skirt there. Ruby red lips. Monobrows. Butterflies. Oh, and of course plaits. Therell be a lot of plaits. Oberman plays the role of Shylock in a new rendering of The Merchant of Venice Tracy-Ann Oberman wears many hats. The 56-year-old is an acclaimed stage actress and a TV talent who spans primetime (EastEnders, Dr Who), prestige projects (Its a Sin, Ridley Road) and cult comedy (Friday Night Dinner, Toast of London). Shes appeared on the celebrity episodes of Mastermind and MasterChef, narrates documentaries and writes radio plays. Her current project marries her classical training with her family history and a more recent role as a campaigner against antisemitism. In The Merchant of Venice 1936 she plays a female version of Shakespeares Jewish moneylender Shylock, with the action transposed to the Battle of Cable Street in Londons East End, when the local community fought off Oswald Mosleys British fascists. Yeah, thats my background, says Oberman. My great-grandmother Annie, my grandmother Faye and her brothers Lesley and Alf were all on the frontline in Cable Street. Tracy-Ann Oberman on stage as a female version of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice 1936. In this new rendering of Shakespeare's play, the action is transposed to the Battle of Cable Street in Londons East End 'Alf was thrown through a window by one of Mosleys Blackshirts and later got beaten up by the police, who were protecting the fascists. But ultimately this was a popular uprising where the local working-class population came together to protect the Jews. Oberman grew up around and in awe of feisty Jewish matriarchs, including Fayes sisters Sarah Portugal, who smoked a pipe and had a slash of red lipstick, and Machine Gun Molly, who terrified Jews and non-Jews alike when she ran the family schmutter [garment] business because she was so quick at making deals. When Fiddler on the Roof came on the telly during family gatherings Annie, who had fled pogroms in Russian-controlled Belarus, would say: Its a documentary. These women were survivors, says Oberman. They were tough, they were political and they were angry. In contrast to these strong role models, The Merchant of Venice, which she read as a day pupil at Heathfield School in Pinner, provided a biased and hostile picture of Jewishness. As the only Jewish girl in class I was made to read Shylock, and at break time lots of girls were running around rubbing their hands and saying [Shylocks line] my ducats, my daughter, she recalls. It was deeply uncomfortable. Ive always hated the play. It was written at a very antisemitic time and it perpetuates tropes of Jews as mean and stingy, only interested in blood and money. It was taught badly at school and Ive never seen a production where its properly contextualised. But after I saw an all-female Julius Caesar I thought that a gender swap could really enhance the play. My entry point was the idea of Shylock as a single mother to a young daughter, Jessica, and the interface between misogyny and antisemitism. Oberman with her 16-year-old daughter daughter Anoushka. Oberman describes being the mother of one daughter as 'very intense' In the production Jessica, who ends up leaving Shylock and abandoning her faith, is played as just 16: the same age as Obermans daughter Anoushka (named after great-grandmother Annie) with her music producer husband Rob Cowan. When you have one daughter your relationship is very intense and close, she says. They are your best friend and worst enemy. Its a really tight relationship so the smothering love, and the betrayal and the feeling of loss when Jessica goes, I absolutely can empathise with.' The production, developed by Oberman and director Brigid Larmour, premiered at the Watford Palace Theatre earlier this year, and goes on tour again from September to venues including the RSCs Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Wiltons Music Hall, just round the corner from Cable Street. Its brave of her to venture again into an investigation of anti-Jewish hatred. In 2016 she quit her Labour Party membership over its apparent reluctance to discipline Ken Livingstone for claiming that Hitler was supporting Zionism before he went mad. She and the Countdown presenter Rachel Riley began calling out online what they saw as the normalisation of anti-Jewish tropes and language, particularly in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, and the minimisation or dismissal of anyone who voiced concern. I mean, God bless her, you know, I admire Diane Abbott for many things, says Oberman, but one of the things I dont admire her for is saying that not liking Jews is akin to having an aversion to redheads. The trolling of Oberman and Riley reached obscene levels, particularly from Corbynites. We got really horrible, nasty, sexualised responses, she says. It was a huge amount of abuse, and what was so upsetting is that I come from a background that was pure Labour. But people could see what was happening to me, and later to Rachel, in real time on my timeline and it opened their eyes. 'I did what I did because I felt I didnt have a choice. Nobody else was doing it. They [her attackers] thought actresses want to be liked and that if they shamed me and criticised me enough Id just go away. But I wouldnt. Having one daughter is very intense. they are your best friend and worst enemy Today she seems to keep a lower profile on social media. In 2020 she and Riley dropped a libel suit theyd brought against a Twitter user and contributed to their legal costs, and in 2022 Oberman paid damages to academic Dr Philip Proudfoot after wrongly claiming he had a Jew block list [a feature which prevents specific accounts from contacting you] on Twitter. There may have been mistakes along the way but I do think that I did a valuable service, she says. People still say antisemitism doesnt exist, especially on the left, but I think my experience proves it does. Does she think Keir Starmer has dealt with the issue in Labour now? Its looking that way. But lets see. Oberman was born in Brent. Her father was a lawyer. He was the second generation so they educated the hell out of him and he got out of the schmutter trade, she says. My mum worked for the charity Citizens Advice and in childrens services at the law courts. Oberman started studying Classics at Leeds but after a year switched to acting, first at Manchester University then at Central School of Speech and Drama. Initially dubious about her career choice, her parents were won over when she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1993. Her father died when she was in her 20s so never got to see her subsequent wider success. By the late 90s she was balancing serious drama at the National Theatre with a part in Casualty and a place on the satirical sketch show Comedy Nation opposite Sacha Baron Cohen, Robert Webb and Julian Barratt. In 2004 she joined EastEnders as Chrissie, second wife of Dirty Den Watts. When Chrissie killed Den and buried him under the cellar of the Queen Vic, 14 million people tuned in to watch. She was the Bette Davis of Walford, and considering I was only in the show for 14 months she had a real impact, she says. I left when I was pregnant. Chrissie has now been in prison longer than most murderers, but people still ask me if shes coming back. I never say never. As she entered her 50s Oberman increasingly began to initiate her own projects alongside her stage and screen appearances. Since co-writing the stage play Three Sisters on Hope Street with Diane Samuels in 2008 she has penned four radio dramas about real-life showbiz relationships (between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and Rock Hudson and Doris Day) or the creation of famous films (Guess Whos Coming to Dinner, The Graduate). A fifth, in which she will play Mae West, is underway. The Merchant of Venice 1936 was her idea, and she and Larmour are working on a second Shakespeare production. Acting is quite a powerless career, unless youre a major star and you call the shots, she says. When you get past 45, youve seen births, deaths and marriages, youve kept a child alive, kept a dog alive, kept a relationship going, youve got more understanding of the nuance of existence, and youve got something to say. 'It becomes very difficult to sit there passively at the end of the phone hoping that the great big claw that goes round will pick you. Im lucky in that Ive always worked, and I think of myself like saffron: I get to flavour things. But the writing and creating are so much more satisfying. Since becoming a member of the Royal Family in 2011, the Princess of Wales has been trusted with some of the Windsors' most valuable jewellery. From the wedding set - or parure - of Queen Victoria's daughter-in-law to treasured pieces given to the Queen by her beloved father, it seems no heirlooms are off limits. Some of the pieces Kate has chosen were never worn by the Queen, such as the Cartier Halo tiara which the Princess of Wales wore on her wedding day. Here, The Mail's new Royals section remembers the occasions when Kate has worn some of the Family's most historic and recognisable jewels... Greville chandelier earrings The Princess of Wales made her first appearance in the glittering Greville chandelier earrings at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa earlier this month. The accessories were a favourite of the late Queen, who was given the jewels as a wedding present from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The Princess of Wales wore the Greville chandelier earrings at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa in Amman earlier this month The intricate Cartier creations were originally owned by Dame Margaret Greville, the socialite daughter of a successful brewer. She would host notable guests at her Surrey retreat, Polesden Lacey, and the future King George VI and his wife chose to spend a week of their honeymoon at the house in 1923. When Margaret died in 1942, she left a magnificent bequest of jewels to the Queen Mother, who wrote to her mother-in-law, Queen Mary, saying: 'I must tell you that Mrs Greville has left me her jewels, tho' I am keeping that quiet as well for the moment! 'She left them to me "with her loving thoughts", dear old thing, and I feel very touched. I don't suppose I shall see what they consist of for a long time, owing to the slowness of lawyers & death duties etc, but I know she had a few good things. 'Apart from everything else, it is rather exciting to be left something, and I do admire beautiful stones with all my heart. I can't help thinking that most women do!' The late Queen matched the earrings with a stunning array of jewels for dinner at the York Hotel in Toronto in 2010 The earrings feature a variety of different cuts of diamond, including half-moon, trapeze, square, baguette, baton and emerald The chandelier earrings began as a simple pair of drop earrings in 1918 but Margaret had them altered twice over the following 11 years. An extra 12 diamonds were added to the earrings in 1922 and another 10 in 1929, giving the completed design that has been worn since. The accessory combines a variety of different cuts of diamond, including half-moon, trapeze, square, baguette, baton and emerald. When the King and Queen gave the earrings to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, she was unable to wear them because she did not have pierced ears. But four years later, aged 25, she pierced her ears and was seen in the extravagant Greville earrings many times over the coming decades. She paired the accessories with some of her favourite tiaras, including the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara. The Queen wore the earrings at state banquets abroad on a number of occasions, including in 1983 when she attended a banquet given in her honour by King Carl XVl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. She also matched the earrings with a stunning array of jewels for dinner at the York Hotel in Toronto in 2010. Queen Alexandra's wedding necklace The Princess of Wales wore Queen Alexandra's wedding necklace in 2018 for a state banquet welcoming King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands This show-stopping accessory was originally a wedding present from King Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, to his bride, Alexandra of Denmark. The pair were married at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in 1863, and the then Prince of Wales presented Alexandra with a parure of diamonds of pearls. As well as the extravagant necklace, the collection consisted of pearl and diamond cluster earrings, a brooch with a detachable pendant and a glittering diamond tiara. While the suite was made by Garrard, the tiara became known as the Rundell tiara - the only piece Alexandra did not wear on her wedding day. After the Queen's death in 1925, the tiara was inherited by her daughter, Princess Victoria, but its later fate became a mystery. In his book, the Queen's Diamonds, Hugh Roberts revealed that the tiara had in fact been 'disposed of' by the Princess, despite the rest of the parure surviving. The other accessories were inherited by Queen Mary, Alexandra's daughter-in-law, who gave the stunning necklace to the Queen Mother. Princess Alexandra wore the necklace, earrings and brooch from the parure for her wedding to King Edward VII in 1863 The accessory was one of the Queen Mother's favourite pieces and she wore it at at the wedding of both of her daughters The necklace was part of a parure of pearl and diamonds given to Alexandra as a wedding gift from her husband, the future King Edward VII It became one of her favourite pieces of jewellery and the Queen Mother wore the necklace at the wedding of both of her daughters - Elizabeth and Margaret. She paired the item with the Greville tiara to attend an audience with the Pope at the Vatican in 1959, alongside Princess Margaret. The Greville tiara was a regular companion for the necklace with the Queen Mother, and she also attended a concert at the Royal Festival Hall in 1960 wearing the accessories. While her daughter, the late Queen, was not pictured in necklace, it has remained in the family and was worn by the Princess of Wales in 2018 for a state banquet welcoming King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. She paired the glittering accessory with the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara and Princess Diana's Collingwood pearl drop earrings to accompany a sky blue Alexander McQueen gown. Lover's Knot tiara The Princess of Wales has frequently worn the Lover's knot tiara, including for the first state banquet of King Charles' reign This recognisable diamond and pearl tiara has been beloved by generations of royal women. Queen Mary commissioned Garrard to create the Lover's Knot tiara, taking inspiration for the design from a piece owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse. She provided the jewels for the bespoke creation from her own collection - including her dismantled Some Ladies of England Tiara, pearls from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and pearls from her favourite brooches. The resulting design originally featured a row of upright pearls, but these were later removed by Queen Mary who returned them to her brooches. After Queen Mary's death, the tiara was inherited by Queen Elizabeth and she was spotted wearing the accessory at various locations around the world, taking the piece with her on a tour of the Commonwealth. In 1959, she was pictured wearing the tiara after watching a performance of Shakespeare's As You Like It while on tour in Canada. Upon her marriage to the then Prince Charles in 1981, Diana received the tiara as a gift from the Queen and she wore it for the first time at the state opening of parliament that November. The tiara was commissioned by Queen Mary and she provided the jewels for the creation. She later removed the upright row of pearls and returned them to her brooches The headpiece was inherited by the late Queen after the death of Queen Mary. She is pictured wearing the tiara after a performance of Shakespeare's As You Like It in Canada in 1959 Diana favoured the Lover's Knot tiara, reportedly choosing to wear it despite it giving her headaches. She is pictured wearing the piece with her 'Elvis dress' in Hong Kong Despite the tiara reportedly giving Diana headaches due to its weight, she wore the piece on many occasions, including with her 'Elvis dress' by Catherine Walker during an official visit to Hong Kong. The tiara was returned to the Queen after Charles and Diana divorced in 1996 and was not seen until it was worn by Kate for the annual Diplomatic Reception in 2015. Like her late mother-in-law, the tiara has become one of Kate's favourite pieces and she has worn it at a number of Diplomatic Receptions since. She has also appeared in the piece at state banquets, including the first state banquet given by King Charles during his reign in honour of the South African president in 2022. She paired the tiara with Diana's diamond and pearl earrings to complement her stunning white Jenny Packham gown. Lotus Flower tiara The Princess of Wales opted for the Lotus Flower tiara for her first state banquet, held during a visit from China's president, Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan For her first state banquet as a Royal, the Princess of Wales opted for the Lotus Flower tiara. She wore the piece, which features lotus flowers with diamond and pearl decoration, with an elegant red Jenny Packham gown for a visit from China's president, Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan. After wearing Cartier's Halo tiara for her wedding, the Lotus Flower tiara was the second tiara worn by Kate, first wearing the dazzling piece at the Diplomatic Reception in 2013. The Queen mother commissioned the Lotus Flower tiara, which was made up of jewels taken from a necklace she was given in 1923. King George VI had given his bride the necklace made by Garrard as a wedding gift - but the diamonds and pearls were re-fashioned just six months later. The Queen mother commissioned the Lotus Flower tiara, which was made up of jewels taken from a necklace she was given in 1923 After the death of King George VI, the tiara was then seen on Princess Margaret. She is pictured wearing the tiara for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in 1963 The piece, also known as the Papyrus tiara, was worn by the Princess from the Sixties through to the Nineties In 1993, the Lotus Flower tiara was worn by Margaret's daughter-in-law, Serena Stanhope, for her wedding to Margaret's son Viscount Linley The Princess of Wales was pictured wearing the piece at the end of last year for the Diplomatic Corps reception The delicate diamond tiara, also known as the Papyrus tiara, was originally designed to sit low on the head, which is how it was worn by the Queen Mother. After the death of King George VI, the tiara was then seen on Princess Margaret who wore the piece from the Sixties through to the Nineties. But it was given a new lease of life in 1993, when it was worn by her daughter-in-law, Serena Stanhope, for her wedding to Margaret's son Viscount Linley. After the wedding, the tiara disappeared from the public eye for many years, and no one seemed to know whether it went to Margarets children or if it was returned to the royal family after her death in 2002. But the tiara made a glittering return when Kate Middleton opted to wear the piece after marrying Prince William. Cartier Halo tiara Kate Middleton wore the Cartier Halo tiara on her wedding day in 2011, despite reports that she had wanted to wear a flower crown Despite reports that Kate Middleton had hoped to wear a flower crown for her wedding in 2011, she was seen on the day wearing the intricate Cartier Halo tiara. The delicate piece is smaller than other tiaras in the Royal collection, and has often been seen on younger members of the family. Made by Cartier in 1936, the Halo tiara was bought by King George VI as an anniversary gift for his wife, the Queen Mother. The tiara, which features 739 brilliants and 149 baton diamonds, was later given to her daughter, Princess Elizabeth, on her 18th birthday in 1944. While the young Elizabeth was never seen wearing the tiara, she frequently loaned the piece to her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Made by Cartier in 1936, the Halo tiara was bought by King George VI as an anniversary gift for his wife, the Queen Mother While Elizabeth was never seen wearing the tiara, she frequently loaned the piece to her sister, Princess Margaret. She is pictured wearing the tiara for a state banquet in 1954 Margaret continued to wear the headpiece throughout the 1950s and 1960s before it was loaned to Princess Anne The late Queen's daughter also wore the accessory on a number of occasions, including during a Royal tour in New Zealand The dazzling tiara has been exhibited around the world since it was worn by the Princess of Wales on her wedding day She opted for the headpiece for some of the most historic royal events, including her sister's Coronation in 1953. Margaret continued to wear the headpiece throughout the 1950s and 1960s before it was loaned to Princess Anne, who first wore it for the State Opening of Parliament in 1967. She also wore the accessory on a number of occasions, including during a Royal tour in New Zealand, before the piece returned to the royal vault. The dazzling tiara made its reappearance when it was worn by the Princess of Wales at her wedding and has since been exhibited around the world. Nizam of Hyderabad necklace The Nizam of Hyderabad necklace was first seen on Kate Middleton in 2014 for a Portrait Gala at the National Portrait Gallery in London This extravagant piece was acquired by the late Queen in 1947 as a wedding gift from the Nizam of Hyderabad. Mir Osman Ali Khan ruled Hyderabad from 1911 until 1948 as an absolute monarch when it was one of the pre-independent princely states in India. But he was also the richest man in the world for most of his life, reportedly owning enough pearls to pave Piccadilly Circus. According to Daily Mail royal expert Richard Kay, the Nizam was said to keep brown paper parcels full of emeralds in his bedchamber and he was unmoved when he discovered that rats had nibbled through 3 million in old banknotes in the cellar. In advance of the Queen's wedding, the Nazim gave Cartier instructions to let the Royal choose anything she wanted as a her gift. And so the glittering necklace was selected, alongside a floral tiara based on an English rose. The necklace, which had been previously owned and repurchased by Cartier, is made from diamonds and platinum and features a single, double-drop pendant with 13 rectangular-cut diamonds. The Queen wore the piece for a number of engagements, including state banquets and a royal tour of Canada. The late Queen chose the stunning necklace for a number of official portraits, including a series of photographs by Yousuf Karsh in 1951 The necklace is made from diamonds and platinum and features a single, double-drop pendant with 13 rectangular-cut diamonds The Princess of Wales also wore the necklace for the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in 2019 She also chose the stunning necklace for a number of official portraits, including a series of photographs by Yousuf Karsh in 1951. While the monarch continued to wear the necklace throughout her reign, the tiara that was also acquired from Cartier was later dismantled. In 1973, the Queen commissioned the Burmese Ruby tiara which used diamonds from the Nizam of Hyderabad tiara as well as rubies gifted from the people of Burma. The Nizam of Hyderabad necklace was first seen on Kate Middleton in 2014 for a Portrait Gala at the National Portrait Gallery in London. She paired the piece with a simple, midnight blue Jenny Packham gown, to ensure the diamonds were given full attention. It was the third item Kate had borrowed from the royal vault - the others were a Cartier tiara and brooch - and was seen as being a sign of Her Majestys approval. The Princess of Wales wore the necklace again for the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in 2019. Emerald Tassel parure The Princess of Wales wore the earrings and bracelet from the Emerald Tassel parure while on a Caribbean tour last year While on a tour of the Caribbean with Prince William last year, the Princess of Wales wore two items from the Emerald Tassel parure. She opted for the suite's tassel earrings and bracelet to accessorise her stunning shoulderless Jenny Packham gown. Appearing in the jewels at a dinner hosted by the Governor General at King's House in Kingston, Jamaica, she also wore her Royal Family Order and the GCVO Star, which the late Queen gifted to her for her eighth wedding anniversary. The Emerald Tassel parure also consists of a necklace and a ring and Queen Elizabeth was spotted wearing the collection in its entirety for a dinner hosted by President Obama and his wife, Michelle, in 2011. The origins of the jewels have never been confirmed but they are believed to have been a gift from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates. The late Queen is pictured wearing the jewels on a visit to Ghana in 1999 She was seen wearing the full Emerald Tassel parure, including the ring, for a dinner with the Obamas at Winfield House in London in 2011 The origins of the jewels have never been confirmed but they are believed to have been a gift from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates. This is because jewels from the set were first worn by the Queen for a dinner at Claridge's Hotel during the Sheikh's state visit in 1989. She later wore select items from the suite on a number of occasions, including during a state banquet in Accra, Ghana in 1999 and a gala in Cardiff in 2004. Queen Elizabeth's Canadian Maple Leaf brooch Kate accessorised a simple red Preen dress with the diamond Maple Leaf brooch for a reception at Government House in Victoria in 2016 Depicting the national symbol of Canada, the Princess of Wales has joined a host of other royals in wearing the Maple Leaf brooch while visiting the country. The diamond brooch, made by Asprey, was first given to the Queen Mother by her husband, King George VI, for their state visit to Canada in 1939. Queen Elizabeth often wore the brooch during the Second World War, pinning it to her hat as she toured bombed areas of Britain and wearing it on her shoulder to visit an ammunition factory. Her daughter, then Princess Elizabeth, wore the brooch for her first visit to Canada in 1951, when she stood in for her father who was unwell. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, often wore the brooch during the Second World War, wearing it on her shoulder to visit a munitions factory in the Midlands The late Queen inherited the brooch after her mother's death in 2002 and wore the accessory for events in Canada and those relating to the country The brooch was inherited by the late Queen in 2002 after the death of her mother and she later wore the accessory to events in Canada or those relating to the country. Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales have both been pictured wearing the brooch while visiting Canada. Kate teamed the brooch with a Maple leaf red hat for her first official visit to the country in 2011, shortly after her wedding. She also stunned in a simple red Preen dress, simply decorated with the brooch, for a reception at Government House in Victoria in 2016. Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau The Princess of Wales wore the ruby and diamond floral bandeau for a state banquet in honour of the King and Queen of Spain in 2017 The Princess of Wales was spotted in the eye-catching diamond and ruby drop necklace for a state banquet in honour of the King and Queen of Spain in 2017. Paired with a dusty pink custom-made Marchesa gown, the glamorous accessory was accentuated by the dress's plunging neckline. The intricate piece is set in silver and gold with diamond floral decoration and sizeable rubies. It was bought from Boucheron in 1907 by Margaret Greville and was part of the generous bequest of jewels that was left to the Queen Mother upon Margaret's death in 1942. The glamorous collar was given to the late Queen by her parents as a wedding present. She is pictured wearing the necklace at the Royal Variety Performance in 1962 The last time the Queen was pictured wearing the piece was for an official portrait in 1987, in which she also wore the Diamond Diadem The Boucheron piece is set in silver and gold with diamond floral decoration and sizeable rubies The piece was gifted to the late Queen by King George VI and the Queen Mother as a wedding present and the monarch regularly donned the collar. She removed two small floral pieces from the side of the necklace so that it would sit higher and she would regularly pair it with V-neck dresses. In 1987, the Queen sat for an official portrait wearing the bandeau with the Diamond Diadem. The piece was not seen again for thirty years, when it was worn by Kate at the banquet in 2017. Queen Mother's sapphire and diamond fringe earrings Kate wore the Queen Mother's sapphire fringe earrings for the 100 Women in Hedge Funds at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2015 The Princess of Wales made her first appearance in the Queen Mother's sapphire fringe earrings for the 100 Women in Hedge Funds at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2015. The design is centred around a large hanging sapphire which is surrounded by diamonds and has diamond fringes beneath. They were seen on the Queen Mother during her widowhood, and she wore them with the impressive Russian Sapphire Cluster brooch for a Ben Travers farce in 1986. The Queen Mother paired the earrings with the impressive Russian Sapphire Cluster brooch for a Ben Travers farce in 1986 The Princess of Wales also wore the jewels for her Together at Christmas carol service in 2021 The piece was inherited by the late Queen after the death of her mother, but she was not seen wearing the earrings. Kate however has continued to sport the jewels, also wearing them for her Together at Christmas carol service in 2021. Bahrain pearl drop earrings The Princess of Wales wore the late Queen's Bahrain pearl drop earrings at the monarch's funeral last year In a moving tribute to the late monarch, the Princess of Wales chose to wear the Queen's Bahrain pearl drop earrings to her funeral in September last year. She opted for the same jewellery for the Queen's funeral as she had worn for Prince Philip's funeral, also wearing the Japanese pearl choker. Kate has been seen in the earrings on a number of other occasions, including for Ascot and Trooping the Colour. The earrings were made from two pearls that came from a collection that were gifted to the Queen by the Sheikh of Bahrain. Queen Elizabeth II wore the earrings for official portraits including here, circa 1953, where she also wears the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace She was given seven pearls, presented in a shell, as a wedding present in 1947. The design features a diamond stud, from which hangs four smaller round diamonds, three baguette diamonds and a pearl. A number of portraits were taken of the late Queen wearing the earrings and she continued to wear them throughout her reign, choosing to wear the accessories for the Festival of Remembrance in 2015. Japanese pearl choker Kate paired the Bahrain pearl drop earrings with the Japanese pearl choker for the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021 Kate has paired the Bahrain pearl drop earrings with the Japanese pearl choker on a number of occasions. As well as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021, the Princess of Wales also matched the accessories for the Festival of Remembrance last year. The late Queen is believed to have been gifted the pearls for the necklace by the Japanese government and commissioned a choker to be made by Garrard in 1970s. It features an unusually-shaped diamond clasp at the centre of four strands of pearls. The late Queen was pictured wearing the diamond and pearl choker for a state visit to Bangladesh in 1983 The Queen was rarely seen wearing chokers, but she loaned the necklace to Princess Diana, who was often seen in the style, for the state visit of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1982. The Queen was pictured wearing the piece for a state visit to Bangladesh the following year, pairing the accessory with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. It is believed that the necklace was first loaned to Kate Middleton for the Queen and Prince Philip's 70th wedding anniversary celebrations in 2017. Queen Elizabeth's George VI Festoon Necklace The Princess of Wales wore the festoon necklace for the first time in the official portrait for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla A beloved gift from her father, the Queen's diamond festoon necklace was worn by the monarch throughout her reign. She was first given the glittering creation by her father, who commissioned Garrard to create the piece in 1950. It was made from 105 loose diamonds that had been kept in reserve in case a monarch wanted to extend a necklace or improve a tiara - a service that is said to have been regularly used by Queen Mary, the King's mother. The resulting necklace features three strands of graduated stones, suspended between two diamond triangles. The necklace was a gift for the Queen from her father, King George VI. He commissioned Garrard to create the piece in 1950 She wore the necklace at a number of formal royal events. The late Queen is pictured at the State Opening of Parliament In 1953, the Queen is believed to have removed ten of the diamonds from the necklace to make it shorter. She wore the necklace at the most formal royal events, including for numerous State Openings of Parliament and was last seen wearing the piece in 2018 at a banquet for the state visit of the King and Queen of the Netherlands. In a moving acknowledgement of the late Queen's reign, the Princess of Wales wore the necklace for the first time in the official portrait for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. I've found myself in a spot of bother. It has come to my attention recently that I sufferer from an affliction that finds me permanently single. And confession, it is all my fault. I discovered it late the other night when I was wide awake having an existential crisis. I was pondering the age old question 'why am I still single?' and I followed it up with a deep Google search and at approximately 3:15am I found the answer. To put it bluntly, it would seem I am single thanks to an addiction to NRE. What the heck is NRE you ask? It stands for 'New Relationship Energy'. It's that intense desire and passion at the start of a relationship and it is honestly the bees knees! It would seem I am single thanks to an addiction to NRE, Jana writes Poll Do you suffer from an addiction to NRE? Yes No Do you suffer from an addiction to NRE? Yes 374 votes No 1810 votes Now share your opinion It's the jolt of excitement you get when he first starts texting you. It's the rush you get when you share your fist kiss. It's the first couple of magical dates. It's the post-glow aura after you finally have sex. It's the butterflies and all that jazz. It's exciting, and new and mysterious. But unfortunately, what goes up must come down. And if I'm being completely honest, as soon as things start getting comfortable and my guy falls off the pedestal that I've unfairly put him on my interest wanes. Yes, NRE is a cruel beast. Through my own personal investigation, I've found this usually happens at around the three month mark and believe it or not, it's incredibly common amongst women in their 30s. Seriously, science backs me up, but we'll get to that later. You see, in between bouts of dating a bloke who was completely emotionally unavailable (which it turns out is the perfect match for someone addicted to NRE), I met a guy who really ticked all the boxes. He was a driven business owner who was thoughtful, interesting and I was super attracted to him. We went on some great dates, and he even met my friends (which is a big whoop to me) but then one morning I woke up to his big, beautiful smile and immediately wanted him to leave. If I'm being completely honest, as soon as things start getting comfortable and my guy falls off the pedestal that I've unfairly put him on my interest wanes, she says He suggested breakfast which any girl who has dated fboys knows is quite a sweet gesture. But I longed for my bed back. I wanted a quiet morning with my dog and a coffee. Here was a guy offering me the companionship I've so longed for, and I couldn't get him out of my apartment quick enough. He was literally saying 'yep, I'm into you and I'm ready to invest in this'. So why was I pushing him away? Even as I was writing the 'it's not you, it's me text' deep down I was thinking 'you're going to regret this Jana'. It's because I no longer had that NRE energy - and it turns out it's incredibly addictive. The thought of never experiencing another first kiss again makes me glum. In fact, our bodies are scientifically wired to make the most of it. Turns out that when we experience NRE our body is flooded with the feel-good chemicals dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin. All three make for a potent cocktail of pure joy. As with all pleasurable things though, NRE comes with a side-effect and in this case it's called anxiety. Yep, NRE makes your body flood with both anxiety and pleasure which is why you feel that super intense feeling when it's happening to you. Turns out that when we experience NRE our body is flooded with the feel-good chemicals dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin. All three make for a potent cocktail of pure joy It's why so many of us jump from one relationship to the next - we're all just looking for that next big, lovely hit of dopamine and we can't get enough of it. But for someone like me who has been on the dating rollercoaster for far too long, eventually you must stop the ride and get off. At 38 years old that time has very much come. I'm ready to settle down and I quite like the idea of finding my 'forever person' (I know, vomit, but it's the only expression that really nails the brief.) So how the heck do I stop jumping ship when the NRE starts to wear off? Well thankfully, it's not all doom and gloom once that happens, as many in long-term relationships assure me. So perhaps we're not all commitment-phobes. Maybe we're all just addicted to 'New Relationship Energy?' Something to ponder and hopefully conquer. Down with dopamine dating! (No matter how fun it is) My slightly scary but very fabulous French therapist has some great tips and tricks. 1. When I feel my relationship losing its honeymoon spark and I notice my dopamine, serotonin and endorphins flatlining, instead of calling the whole thing off I should just go a little slower. 2. When I feel the need to run, I should practice centring techniques like grounding in nature and taking deep breaths. I don't have to believe every thought that says, 'call it off', I'm just having a moment and I've got to feel it and then let it pass. 3. If I'm worried I've got myself stuck in a boring relationship, I should organise a date that gets the endorphins going. Instead of a quiet night in with a movie and pizza, go rock climbing instead. I can get that NDE rush back through constantly finding new exciting things to do with my partner. Mix it up a little. 4. Give myself time to miss them. So rather then catching up with them a few times a week, just put one date in the diary and actively look forward to it. So perhaps we're not all commitment-phobes. Maybe we're all just addicted to 'New Relationship Energy?' Something to ponder and hopefully conquer. Down with dopamine dating! (No matter how fun it is). Queen Rania of Jordan has marked her 30th anniversary with King Abdullah by sharing a sweet selection of photographs online. The mother-of-four, 52, took to her Instagram account yesterday to share two posts celebrating the happy occasion. In the first post, Queen Rania shared a video of candid images of the pair together - including a snap from their lavish wedding day at Zahran Palace in Amman in 1993. Elsewhere, the loved-up couple could be seen holding hands while sharing an affectionate look and even taking a selfie together. In her second post, the stylish Queen of Jordan shared a new photograph with her husband as well as a snap of a stunning bouquet of colourful flowers. Queen Rania of Jordan has marked her 30th anniversary with King Abdullah by sharing a sweet selection of photographs online The mother-of-four, 52, took to her Instagram account yesterday to share two posts celebrating the happy occasion. In the first post, Queen Rania shared a video of candid images of the pair together - including a snap from their lavish wedding day at Zahran Palace in Amman in 1993 (pictured) The new portrait showed Rania, dressed in an elegant white patterned dress, sitting next to her dapper husband, who sported an all-black ensemble. 'Each passing day brings us closer, and each passing year shows me just how incredibly blessed I am to spend my life with you. Happy 30th anniversary, my King,' Rania wrote on her first post. The couple were introduced at a colleague's dinner party in 1992 and were engaged six months later before exchanging vows on June 10, 1993. Their lavish ceremony took place at the Zahran Palace in Amman and it made such an impact that it was named a national holiday. Just a few days ago, they had the joy of seeing their son, Crown Prince Hussein, marry Rajwa al-Saif in a spectacular wedding in Amman attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales. For her wedding, Rania wore a truly regal ensemble - although she broke royal tradition by not wearing a tiara. Tradition dictated a royal bride must wear jewels from her own family at her wedding, but born into a modest Palestinian family in Kuwait, Rania did not come from a noble family with an impressive range of jewels at her disposal. Having been raised alongside her two siblings in the West Bank town of Tulkarm and worked hard for her achievements, her decision made a statement marking that she would not forget her humble beginnings. Elsewhere, the loved-up couple could be seen holding hands while sharing an affectionate look and even taking a selfie together (pictured) 'Each passing day brings us closer, and each passing year shows me just how incredibly blessed I am to spend my life with you. Happy 30th anniversary, my King,' Rania wrote on her first post Instead, she wore an embellished headband attached to her wedding veil, which was styled around her intricate up-do. Following their nuptials, the pair became parents to Crown Prince Hussein, 28, Princess Iman, 26, Princess Salma, 22, and Prince Hashem, 18. While this weekend marks the anniversary of Queen Rania's royal wedding, the Jordanian royals have also recently celebrated the wedding of their son Prince Hussein to Rajwa Al Saif. Ahead of their wedding, Queen Rania paid an emotional tribute to the bride, describing Miss Rajwa as 'the sweetest and most beautiful bride-to-be', adding that she is as precious to her as her daughters Princesses Iman and Salma. Back in March, their daughter Princess Iman of Jordan gave a touching nod to her parent's big day by wearing her mother's white and gold wedding belt as she took part in her henna ceremony. Having overcome the test of time and watched their children grow, the royal couple appear to be just as happy as they were three decades ago. And since then, Queen Rania has become widely admired and renowned for her strong voice and charitable work. The couple were introduced at a colleague's dinner party in 1992 and were engaged six months later before exchanging vows on June 10, 1993 In her second post, the stylish Queen of Jordan shared a new photograph with her husband as well as a snap of a stunning bouquet of colourful flowers (pictured) Having been named of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes magazine in 2011, she has been known to champion projects across key issues, such as women's rights, child protection, the environment and youth empowerment. She is also known for a fine sense of style. From elegant traditional Jordanian clothing to tailored ensembles, the Queen knows how to make a statement with her wardrobe. Most recently, the Queen appeared alongside her husband at the Coronation of King Charles in a yellow long-sleeve dress by Tamara Ralph Couture. She paired the tailored pencil number with a coordinating hat and Jimmy Choo heeled pumps. Having maintained a close relationship with the British Royal Family, the King and Queen were also in attendance at Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September last year. Queen Rania appeared to be fond of the late monarch. She admitted that she 'looked up' to Queen Elizabeth during an interview with ITV News. She said: 'She didn't always presume that you wanted her advice but she was very generous when you asked for it. I really looked up to her. To me, she is the queen of the world.' My husband Rob wasn't a great one for inviting people round, so I clearly remember the time he asked our new neighbour over for a beer. It was shortly after we'd set up our third home together: a lovely rented homestead in Colorado, from which I ran a thriving saddlery business. Somehow all three of us Rob, me and the neighbour had ended up in the garage. 'Yeah, this is going to be my domain,' Rob said. 'It's my man cave and it's just going to be for the lads, so you won't be welcome, Suzie.' I wasn't expecting this from Rob. Why was he showing off in front of our neighbour, who seemed like a really sweet, normal guy? 'I'm going to put up centrefolds,' Rob continued. SUZIE FLETCHER: My heart was in my boots when I walked into The Repair Shop's Big Barn for the very first time in 2017. Pictured: Suzie with her brother Steve outside the barn When we'd visited my family back in England, American-born Rob had been shocked by the pornography for sale on the top shelves of newsagents' shops. But today, in front of the bloke from next door, he was going on about having posters showing naked women on the walls. It was as if he was trying to make me feel rubbish about myself by belittling me and battering my self-confidence. Not wanting to hear any more, I walked out, slamming the door behind me. I didn't realise that Rob had followed and was right behind. The door scraped over his toes and took a layer of skin off. There was this frightening roar from him. He was in a lot of pain, but I'll never forget the pure fury in his face. I knew I was in trouble. I raced to the hall and he came after me. But I'd run in the wrong direction, a place from which there was no escape. I was cornered. That's when he got me with his forearm under my throat. Rob had once been a competitive wrestler so he knew the move well. It was easy for him to lift me up until my feet no longer touched the carpet. I honestly thought I was going to die. He was choking me and could easily have killed me. I don't know why but eventually he let go. I was profoundly shocked. I'd always thought it could never happen to me. Not that. He would never hurt me. Now I knew what my husband was capable of. 'If you make me violent,' he said afterwards, 'it's your fault.' I was in such a state that I just nodded. 'And I'll tell you right now,' he went on, 'if I leave a mark on you, I'll make sure it's where nobody can see it.' Later, when I looked in the mirror, I ran my fingers over the bruise around my neck. Has it really come to this, I asked myself. What can I do? Go home? I pushed that idea to the back of my mind. Yes, I'd screwed up by following my heart and not using my head. I'd moved to the US in my early 30s, and within three months of touching down in Denver I'd been swept off my feet by Rob and married him. But I didn't want anyone telling me I was a failure. And there was no way I wanted to be any trouble to Mum and Dad either. So I stayed. I delved deep and unpacked my usual coping tools: work and my love of nature and animals. And I developed a new ability: how to swerve a bullet. My heart was in my boots when I walked into The Repair Shop's Big Barn for the very first time in 2017. To be truthful, I was feeling totally out of my depth. I'd been back in the UK for only five weeks, having lived in the US for more than two decades. Over there I'd been married to Rob for 15 years, had my own farm filled with horses and dogs and built up my highly successful business. But then it had all gone wrong. Physically, mentally and emotionally, I was exhausted. It was time to come home. While I was packing to move back to England, my big brother Steve had started on The Repair Shop as its clock expert. During various video calls, he told me how much he loved doing it. 'Well, if they ever need a leather specialist, tell them about me,' I'd joked. It really was a throwaway comment, but Steve asked the production team. Jay, along with my brother, really helped me to start believing in myself. Pictured alongside presenter Jay Blades I never imagined for one moment they'd say yes. Was I completely crazy, to be putting myself through this, on top of everything else? But Steve understands me better than anybody else in the world and he knew it was a safe environment at The Repair Shop. Of all people, he would never put me in a position where I couldn't cope. So here I was, walking on to a TV set for the first time in my life and feeling like a total impostor. Specialist silversmith Brenton West was a newbie that day, too. Ben, the director, introduced us and everybody else in the barn. Then he showed me to my bench. It was a classic 'first day at the office' scenario except it was going to be filmed. Imagine that? 'I've never done this before,' I told Ben. 'Would you mind if I just watch and see how it goes?' 'Er, no,' answered Ben. 'That's not how it works.' And before I knew it I was meeting Tom, who turned up with a terrific old Louis Vuitton trunk that had belonged to his great-grandfather. It had been left in a damp place and the leather was worn and fragile. On the surface were dings and dents but its frame was strong, so I thought I could repair it. I was nowhere near as confident as I looked on screen, however. Fortunately, Steve was by my side, helping me figure out what to do. A lot of love and saddle soap brought that old trunk back to life. Not long afterwards I met Jay Blades. 'I'll be honest,' I told him, 'I feel a bit lost.' 'Stop there,' Jay said. 'This is very, very simple. The only thing you've got to do is be yourself. Don't try to be something you're not, because the viewers will see through that.' Jay and I talked for hours that night. He shared his life story, and even though we come from very different backgrounds, we are both dyslexic and have had our share of hard knocks. I felt an incredible connection with him. He, along with my brother, really helped me to start believing in myself. That late-night chat with Jay was a turning point in my life. It was the beginning of my own restoration. My dad used to joke that 'horse' was the first word I spoke. I was obsessed with these enormous, powerful creatures from the youngest age. So it was no surprise to anybody when, at 16, I went off to train as a master saddler at Cordwainers College in London. It was the place to learn about leatherwork Jimmy Choo was a student there before he became a shoemaker to the rich and famous. By my late 20s I'd worked in numerous saddleries, been married for the first time and divorced, fallen in and out of a few other relationships and travelled halfway around the world. It wasn't till I was 33 that I was offered the break that would take my life in a whole new direction. The owners of a new tack shop in Boulder, Colorado, whom I'd met by pure chance in New York, were looking for an English master saddler. I jumped at the opportunity. I have no intention of ever being in a relationship again. After everything that's happened, I now question what I find attractive in a man Does anything ever prepare you for instant attraction? I was just three weeks into my new life in America when I first clapped eyes on Rob. He was well built and muscular, with long blonde hair and a moustache. I can still picture him now as he walked with this swagger towards me along Boulder's main street, wearing shorts, a cut-off white T-shirt, white trainers and reflective sunglasses. Blimey, he's nice, I thought as we walked past each other. A few paces later and I couldn't resist turning around to take another look. He had done the same. He smiled at me. 'Damn, damn, damn,' I thought, cursing because he'd caught me looking. But I also had butterflies in my stomach. That was the day I met the man I was going to marry. Our relationship moved quickly. We seemed to fly the course, taking jumps such as our first kiss and meeting each other's friends straight away. On the way to our first date in Rob's pick-up truck he told me a bit about himself. He worked in construction as a heavy machine operator, in charge of handling the big diggers on excavation and trench-building projects. My imagination went wild. I could just picture him pulling a cigarette from a packet of Marlboro Red, those reflective sunglasses shutting out the sun's glare. Perhaps he'd wear a cowboy hat and faded Levi's. It was another world to me and an incredibly exciting one. In those early days I was so starry-eyed that I didn't analyse some of the more negative things that Rob revealed about himself. On our second date, he came to meet me straight from work. As soon as I got in the truck, I saw a very different person from the one I'd been dancing with the Saturday before. 'Oh, I just had a few Budweisers on the way,' he told me. He'd obviously been drinking as he drove over to collect me. 'I've been telling the girls at work about what fun we had the other night,' I said as we drove away. 'Why are you talking to other people about us?' he asked. His voice had changed it had become nastier, slightly aggressive even. Suddenly I didn't feel comfortable. Deciding this wasn't a situation I wanted to be in, I made a plan to get out when he next stopped. But he didn't stop. He put his foot down and headed for the main road out of town. By now I felt panicky. Where was that person who'd so intrigued me just days before? Rob must have noticed I'd gone quiet. 'Look, I'm tired,' he said. 'It's been a long day.' Hands up. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I gave in and we had a lovely evening. Years later, as I unpick these events, I can clearly see that there was trouble on the horizon. But like many people falling in lust, then love, I didn't want to see the faultlines. If I did sense the cracks, I made excuses. I applied a healing balm, as I would to any damaged leather. Alcohol and domestic violence go hand in hand. Rob's temper got worse when he drank heavily. I remember returning to the farm on a Saturday after he had struck me in the neck when he'd been having beers all afternoon. It was like the devil had got into him as he watched me unload the truck. I knew I was in trouble. 'I've worked out how to have you killed,' he said in a slow and sadistic way. 'And I will get away with it.' He then went on to explain how. I won't go into the details but I knew he was serious. Later that week, he did what he always did and apologised: 'You know I love you. I love you more than anyone else loves you.' I was confused, but I went along with it for fear of what he would do if I questioned him. Apparently, this pattern of breaking up and making up is common in coercive relationships not that I realised that was my reality. Another problem between us was money. Very early into our relationship, I was earning loads more than Rob. People trusted me and my skills were in demand. Life can go off-kilter, but in my 60s I haven't lost the ability to be inspired. Suzie is pictured on This Morning on June 6 Rob wasn't happy with this situation a woman doing better than a man. So he began whittling away at my confidence. 'Don't forget I made you,' he told me one night. No, you did not. I thought it but I didn't dare say it. It's not just the body that recalls trauma, the mind never forgets physical abuse. 'You wouldn't have survived without me,' he carried on. Oh yes, I would have. I also said this to myself. I never wanted to be pinned against a wall and nearly choked to death ever again. If we were ever apart, because of my work or when I went home to England, he phoned regularly to check up on me. Life got trickier once we had mobile phones because he'd ring constantly and go ballistic if I didn't answer. Back home in the US he'd continually accuse me of flirting with others, but at the same time belittle me by saying I wasn't feminine. 'That's what a real woman looks like,' Rob said nastily one day, pointing at the centrefolds in the garage. And I truly began to believe him. The thought of these dreadful situations still makes me tense up inside. I don't think I'll ever entirely get over what happened to me. My radar is always on. I look around and I can spot a bully at ten paces. There's an energy and way about them that makes me recoil immediately. I call them smiling assassins, because they're usually charming. They are in families, at schools, in relationships and in the workplace. These kinds of people realise they've got the power. In an abusive relationship, like mine, they may well be telling everyone that 'she has a screw loose' or something else demeaning. I see this pattern of behaviour in places I wouldn't expect. These days I'm wise enough to steer well clear. Why did I stay? I've asked myself this a thousand times. Of course, if I'd been thinking straight my family would have rallied round me. My brother Steve had an inkling that there were problems. Once he asked me directly if Rob had been abusive. When I said 'yes', he was appalled. 'I know you live four-and-a-half-thousand miles away, but I'd move mountains to get out to you if he hurts you,' he said. So from then on Steve and I had a code word. It was 'goodie', which was easy to slip into one of our video calls if needed. As in: 'Oh goodie, the weather is fine today.' But I never used it. Should I have? Maybe if I'd had access to wonderful charities such as Women's Aid I'd have read the warning signs sooner. At a time when I had nobody to turn to, perhaps the information, the stories of other victims of domestic violence and access to help would have given me a lifeline out of my marriage. I can't rewrite my story, but perhaps by being honest and sharing it, someone might recognise what's happening to them. Then they can act on it. Perhaps they will seek professional advice. Or even just walk away. The human brain is fascinating, and what I'm about to reveal still feels strange, but I do believe strongly in my sixth sense it adds another beautiful layer to life. Being part of The Repair Shop has healed me from the inside out. Using my skills in such a positive way has brought me joy and confidence (pictured on the show) It was the autumn of 2012 and I was sitting with one of my customers on the tailgate of my truck outside their property. I didn't know her well but I had this premonition I felt compelled to share. 'I'm about to tell you something really weird,' I said. 'I don't know why I'm going to tell you this and why I feel this, but I don't think my husband is going to be alive in a year's time.' It was so off the cuff but I needed to let it out. On the way home, I called a friend to tell her, too. 'Write down this date,' I told her. 'It's October 12th. I don't know why I think this, but something tells me that we'll lose Rob on that date.' And that's what happened. We'd had no idea he was ill. But almost a year to that day, Rob was in the final stages of dying from pancreatic cancer. I never told him about my strange premonition, nor my gut feeling that I would be freed from our marriage one day I just didn't know how. In the weeks before his death he said to me one evening: 'I hope it wasn't all bad.' That made me feel very sad. Despite everything, I loved him very much. That was ten years ago and I have no intention of ever being in a relationship again. After everything that's happened, I now question what I find attractive in a man. But I know it starts with kindness and consideration. Being part of The Repair Shop has healed me from the inside out. Using my skills in such a positive way has brought me joy and confidence. I don't think any of that would have been possible without such a caring group of people around me. Steve, Jay, the team of experts, the camera crew, the producers, the directors and the people behind the scenes have always been kind and believed in me. Life can go off-kilter, but in my 60s I haven't lost the ability to be inspired. I dream that one day I will open another saddlery business. Meanwhile, in my daily life, I try to keep things as simple as possible. I get up early with the birds. Every single day I think about all the things for which I'm grateful and note what makes me happy. There's plenty of love and laughter in my life. Just recently I found the last proper anniversary card Rob gave me before he became ill. 'Thank you for putting up with me this long,' he'd written. 'I hope you're happy at this stage of our lives. I know I am and it's because of you and us. I love you.' I am happy at this stage of life. My life. Suzie Fletcher, 2023 Adapted from The Sun Over The Mountains: A Story Of Hope, Healing And Restoration by Suzie Fletcher, to be published by Radar on June 8 at 20. To order a copy for 18 (offer valid to 24/06/23; UK p&p free on orders over 25), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Perhaps one mark of an incredibly great night is waking up the next day in stitches over something out-of-character you've done the night before. This seems to be exactly what happened in a video posted by Australian house music producer Dominic Matheson to his TikTok account. In the viral clip, which has been viewed half a million times, a man's head appears to be poking out of an overhead locker of a Ryanair plane. The unknown man was said to be on a flight back from having the time of his life at a lads stag do in Ibiza. The man was seen in a fit of laughter as his friends heaved him out of the overhead carriage with all their might. What a night! This man seemed to laugh at finding himself locked up in the overhead carriage of a Ryanair plane In the viral clip, posted by Australian house music producer Dominic Matheson, a man's head appears to be poking out of a overhead carriage The hilarious video had commenters in a frenzy who remarked on how 'crazy' the moment was. Dom wrote: 'One minute you're at the club in Ibiza, the next you wake up in the Ryanair overhead carriage. '40 dudes at the back of the plane were having a TIME. They pushed their mate in there as the plane landed'. Representing the thoughts of many, one person who commented on the video demanded to know the entire story: 'I need to know everything about this story immediately'. The hilarious video had commenters in a frenzy who remarked on how 'crazy' the moment was, while some were eager to find out why he was wearing an Arsenal kit 'Respect for making it on the flight' said another. Someone else replied: 'I need to try this immediately'. One person thought the ordeal was 'relatable'. A similar experience occurred in 2019 when a drunken reveller was abruptly woken by a bewildered couple after he wandered into the wrong house and fell asleep on their sofa. In the hilarious clip, a hungover Scottish man recalls how he woke up to find a strange couple asking why he was in their home, after a night of antics in Glasgow. He reveals he had walked into the wrong house and fallen asleep in a makeshift bed - but not before he helped himself to a pot noodle as a snack. But thankfully the owner's of the house found the blunder as funny as he did. 'A couple woke me up going "who are you?"', he says to the camera through fits of hysterics. 'I'm like "what are you talking about? I was here at the party last night"'. The man goes on to explain that the couple who found him asleep on their sofa luckily saw the funny side - and even offered him a cup of tea and a cigarette to help with his hangover. King Charles is said to be 'sad, bewildered' and increasingly 'frustrated' over Prince Harry's behaviour, according to an insider. The Duke of Sussex, 38, has recently been on a whirlwind visit to the UK to give evidence in the Mirror phone hacking trial, where he faced cross-examination after becoming the first royal to take the stand since the 1890s. Prince Harry did not take time during the visit to see his family, who were less than half a mile from where he was staying, and is unlikely to see them at the King's upcoming birthday celebrations, to which it is believed he has not been invited. The father-of-two has repeatedly criticised the Firm since leaving his royal duties behind - and even labelled Queen Camilla, 75, a 'wicked stepmother' in his explosive memoir Spare and told how he begged Charles, 74, not to marry her. A source close to the King has now claimed to The Times that he is growing more 'frustrated' by his youngest son's actions. King Charles (pictured in Romania on June 6) is said to be 'sad, bewildered' and increasingly 'frustrated' over Prince Harry's behaviour, according to a royal source The insider said: 'The King brings Harry up every time I see him. I dont think weve moved past sad and bewildered, but theres a bit more frustration at his behaviour, because it just keeps going.' Prince Harry arrived in the UK on Sunday after spending his daughter Lilibet's birthday with her, earning a rebuke from the judge for not being present on the first day of his evidence against the Mirror Newspaper Group. He came to the UK to give evidence across two days as part of his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over claims its journalists used hacking, 'blagging' and other illegal means of deception to write 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010. The duke appeared close to tears on Wednesday as he finished his historic day and a half of answering questions, which saw him become the first royal in more than a century to testify in court. During a turbulent final few hours in the witness box, the duke volunteered details of his chequered love life, including a trip to a strip club. MGN is contesting Harry's claims and has either denied or not admitted that articles about Harry being examined at the trial involved phone hacking or unlawful activity. The Duke of Sussex (pictured), 38, has recently been on a whirlwind visit to the UK to give evidence in the Mirror phone hacking trial , where he faced cross-examination after becoming the first royal to take the stand since the 1890s Harry was staying just 700 yards from his brother William this week but reportedly did not see him, nor their father The Prince is said to have landed in California on Thursday evening, meaning that he will have left Britain around lunchtime on the same day - the same dash he took after King Charles's Coronation last month. He stayed at Frogmore Cottage for three nights, according to the Telegraph, but it is expected to be his last visit to the home he once shared with his wife because his father has evicted him from the early summer. On Friday, meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex left a thoughtful gift for a flight attendant on a flight to the US - a copy of his tell-all memoir, Spare. The Duke of Sussex, 38, outside the High Court where he has been giving evidence in a phone hacking trial this week The Duke of Sussex is suing Mirror Group Newspapers for damages over claims journalists used hacking, 'blagging' and other illegal means of deception Tiktoker and flight attendant Holden Pattern shared a picture of a beaming Prince Harry on a American Airlines plane and revealed that he had been gifted a copy of the Duke's book, which was released in January. Mr Pattern, a pilot and travel influencer, said he had 'just found this [the book] in my luggage that a passenger gave me,' and referred to Prince Harry as a 'passenger prince'. In the picture of the Duke with the cabin crew member, Prince Harry is dressed down in a simple black T-shirt and jeans, a far cry from his carefully tailored suits for his appearances in court. Even the fastest horse wont win the race if the jockey loses focus. To be effective, strength needs to have purpose allied to a sense of direction. As Mercury (intellect) aligns proactively with dynamic Mars, success is within reach. But it requires self-belief, energy and commitment. If we have all three, not only will we get to the finishing line, but the prize will be worth treasuring. Aries Mar 21 - Apr 20 When people criticise movies, they sometimes say theyre unrealistic . . . which is ironic, as adults often tell kids not to believe what they see in the movies! Real life is more complex and less black and white than the dramas we see on our screens. Caped crusaders dont save the day. And heroes are messy, flawed normal people just like us. But thats not to say we cant have our Hollywood moments those rare times when things fall magically into place. One of those is heading your way. You can use the exceptional celestial energy to create positive change. For valuable insight and news call 0906 751 5601. As Mercury (intellect) aligns proactively with dynamic Mars, success is within reach. But it requires self-belief, energy and commitment Taurus Apr 21 - May 21 Right and wrong are simple words. They trip off the tongue with ease. The trouble is we want to be right. Only those with self-esteem issues see ourselves as wrong. And if thats whats going on, theres a good chance were wrong to see ourselves in the wrong! Similarly, over-confident people are often wrong to see themselves as right. No wonder lifes so complex! If youre confused about the right thing to do, thats healthy. Dont jump to conclusions. You need to reconsider your options. How can you benefit from this weeks powerful astrological outlook? It can change your life. For good news, call 0906 751 5602. Gemini May 22 - June 22 The idea of getting away from it all seems strange when you think about it. Im not sure thats what we really mean. Maybe were not really trying to escape. Maybe we just want a chance to experience ourselves without the ever present responsibilities and obligations we live with. Ideally, youd be in a place where you could get fresh perspective. You have a decision to make, and it will have a notable effect on your future. If you consult the inner you today, youll know what to do. Take full advantage of the inspiring cosmic climate; solve your problems and find solutions! Call 0906 751 5603. Cancer June 23 - July 23 Some people think that if you picture something in your minds eye, you can make it real. If only it were that straightforward! Although that idea is an over-simplification of a complex psychological process, while you cant bring anything into being just by imagining it, if you cant imagine it, its highly unlikely it will manifest in your world. You have a vision. And you can see what you need to do to implement it. Stay focused. To turn your vision into reality you need to do everything in your power to make it happen. In a week of powerful cosmic activity, take advantage of the potential for transformation. Call 0906 751 5604. My daily horoscope: What will June 12th 2023 bring for MY star sign? Oscar Cainer tells all Leo July 24 - Aug 23 Ive got a scenario for you. Picture someone whos gifted at writing, but lacks the discipline and motivation needed to complete their novel. One day, they get inadvertently involved in a situation that ends with them being wrongly imprisoned. It takes a few weeks before their innocence is realised and theyre set free. With nothing else to do, they write a bestseller. As Saturn prepares to turn retrograde, its worth thinking about whats holding you back. Does it give you the opportunity to realise a talent? Youve got lots to look forward to! Find inspiration in your latest four-minute forecast. Call 0906 751 5605. Virgo Aug 24 - Sep 23 Different people have different priorities. To the conductor of an orchestra, its perfect tuning and exquisite playing. For the head of finance, its about profit and gain. So . . . what matters most to you today? Before you start to work it out, its worth remembering that what matters is a question of perspective. Luckily, you have a natural ability that enables you to see a situation from different angles. While this can sometimes make things more difficult than they need to be, right now, it gives you an advantage. Even if you dont usually call your in-depth prediction, you should hear the inspiring news. Call 0906 751 5606. Libra Sep 24 - Oct 23 We ARE all students at the University of Life. When lecturers meet in their coffee breaks, even they talk to one another about how little they know. We start learning from the moment we arrive here . . . and we never stop. Life constantly provides us with opportunities to further our education. Its up to us to decide how much effort we put into gaining knowledge and new experience. Sometimes though, those opportunities are hidden. Look closely at whats unfolding in your world. It hides a revelation. Capture the powerful energy of the positively star-filled skies. Call your in-depth, four-minute forecast: 0906 751 5607. Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 22 Bosses tend to imagine theyve got the best ideas. That theyre in the driving seat: the real movers and shakers of the business. But major corporations are more complicated than that. In fact, many people, at all levels, think theyre in charge, driving new initiatives, and spearheading new ideas. In our own, personal worlds, were similar. We make executive decisions and tell ourselves what to do. Dont let your sensible, pragmatic side override your emotional responses. Today, your heart knows best. Fulfil your dreams! Let the weeks powerful celestial outlook reveal your hearts true desires. For good news call 0906 751 5608. Sagittarius Nov 23 - Dec 21 Try this test: youre not going to think about ice cream from now until the end of your prediction. Oh! Did you misunderstand? If not, why are you thinking about ice cream when I asked you not to? Lets try again. Have you managed to erase all thoughts of it from your mind? Nothing makes a topic more interesting than when its forbidden! Although you cant ignore something you find fascinating, think about it in a productive and constructive way. Take full advantage of the inspiring cosmic climate. Solve your problems and find solutions! Call 0906 751 5609. Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 20 I know people who staunchly believe that dreams have nothing to do with their waking lives. Others, keep dream diaries, and consult dream experts to work out what those sleeping messages are trying to reveal. Dreams, they argue, are the keys to our unconscious. If we pay them enough attention, we can unlock our deepest desires and understand the unrecognised fears that hold us back. An impossibility is looking increasingly realistic in your world. Have the confidence to trust in your dreams. In a week of cosmic creativity, you can transform your life. For four minutes of valuable news call 0906 751 5610. Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 When were a bit hungry, were not fussy about what we eat. But sometimes, when were really hungry, we get picky. Theres nothing in the fridge that takes our fancy we dont like the look of this, and that wont quite do the trick. When we have a real need, part of us doesnt want that need to be satisfied. So we get picky about how our need will be met. As Saturn slows to turn retrograde, just because it doesnt look perfect, dont spurn an offer that can help you make progress. Powerful changes are possible as the planets positively combine. Make the most of their influence. Call 0906 751 5611. Pisces Feb 20 - Mar 20 Not only are you under pressure to answer a question or solve a challenging puzzle, youre expected to take on a specific role. Someone, whose opinion matters, wants you to do something that suits their needs (but not yours). If youre able to fulfil their requirements without endangering your sense of self and your autonomy, then go ahead. Youre a flexible Piscean. But dont push yourself to a place where you risk breaking. Saturn, slowing down in your sign, empowers you to say no. In a time of celestial creativity, you can transform your life. Your week ahead forecast is packed with news. Call 0906 751 5612. MailOnline found some brands of basic medicines are marked up by over 400% Have a favourite drug brand you always reach for when suffering from hayfever or stomach problems? While they might relieve your physical suffering, opting for these famous favourites could be hurting your wallet. MailOnline can reveal some branded versions of common drugs are nearly six times more expensive than their 'generic' or less famous equivalents, despite being made of precisely the same active ingredients. Allergy relief medication Clarityn had one of the biggest mark-ups, costing 5.85, or 41.8p per tablet, for pack of 14 at Morrisons. This is compared to a packet of 14 Bells Healthcare Hayfever & Allergy Relief Tablets at rival supermarket Asda for 1, or 7.1p per tablet. A MailOnline audit shows some brands are charging a fortune for simple drugs Both medications' active ingredient the pharmaceutical drug that makes them work is called loratadine, meaning they work in precisely the same way. A MailOnline audit of other common medications has revealed other medications where you could make huge savings by switching to the generic. So-called generic drugs are usually sold in simpler packaging and sometimes omit additional ingredients like sweeteners and colourings found in branded versions. Painkiller Nurofen, which contains ibuprofen, was another that charged a premium compared to generic equivalents. Supermarket Sainsbury's is selling a 16-tablet package generic version of ibuprofen for just 42p, equivalent to 3p per 200mg pill. But the equivalent package of 16 Nurofen Pain Relief 200mg tablets costs 1.90, 12p per tablet. Hayfever sufferers can also end up forking out far more. A pack of 14 of Piriteze's cetirizine hydrochloride costs 6, or 43p a tablet, at Tesco. What is a PL number? Every drug authorised for sale in the UK is given a unique product licence number (PL for short). The digits can be found on the box the medicine comes in, and the leaflet inside. If the PL number matches one found on another product, this means it is an identical drug with the same active ingredients and formulation just packaged in a different box. Advertisement But the supermarket's own brand 14-tablet allergy treatment comes in at just 1.95, or 14p per pill. Diarrhoea treatment Imodium, containing the ingredient loperamide hydrochloride, is another priced almost 200 per cent more than its generic equivalent. A pack of Asda's six tablet loperamide hydrochloride treatment costs just 1, or 16.7p per tablet. Imodium's six tablet version in the same supermarket costs 3, or 50p per tablet. Decongestant nasal sprays are another product where you may be paying an unexpected premium. Sainsbury's generic version, containing oxymetazoline hydrochloride, is priced at 1.90, or 12.67 per 100ml. Meanwhile branded version Vicks, containing exactly same active ingredient, costs 4.50, or 30 per 100ml, a hike of 138 per cent. Experts said despite the flashy packaging and brand recognition, Brits shouldn't be fooled into thinking a branded version was a more effective product for their ailments. Superintendent pharmacist for Chemist Click Abbas Kanani told this website: 'There is not a great difference between the branded and non-branded products. 'If there are any differences in the products, they will predominantly be in the inactive ingredients, such as the colouring and binding agents. 'These do not impact the mechanism of action of the drug, so as long as the active ingredient is the same, the generic products will do the same job.' Mr Kanani added that although some people swear that a particular version of a drug works better, it may just all be in their head. 'Occasionally, some patients report back that they find the branded version to be more effective. Because the active ingredient is the same, this response is usually psychological, which is fine,' he said. He advised people to switch a generic version the next time they needed to take a medication as it could save them money. 'In relation to paying more for branded products, often, patients will have been using a particular brand for many years', he said. 'If you are open to trying the cheaper generic version, you may well find that it has the same effect.' Alexandra Capelouto was found slumped over on her bed by her mother, Christine, two days before Christmas. The 20-year-old sociology major at Arizona State University, who had returned home to Temecula, California on her winter break in 2019, had bought what she thought was a batch of oxycodone to help her sleep. Instead, it was fentanyl, the deadly drug destroying lives across America. The man who sold it to her, Brandon Michael McDowell, 23, was jailed for nine years in February. But Alexandra's grieving father, Matt Capelouto, believes the state's liberal lawmakers also 'have blood on their hands'. America's fentanyl crisis was born in the mid-1990s, when pharmaceutical companies falsely claimed 'revolutionary' pills would put an end to chronic pain without addiction. Alexandra Capelouto died after taking fentanyl two days before Christmas in 2019. Alexandra was 19 when she took what she thought was oxycodone to help her sleep Roman Vardanega, 23, is in San Francisco County Jail after holding himself hostage in his mother's home during a fentanyl-fueled craze. Pictured left as a schoolboy before he became hooked on the drug (right) Corey Berlinn, 32, is a fentanyl addict on the streets of San Francisco. His mother, Jaqcui, is campaigning for tougher penalties for dealers When regulators finally cracked down on that lie and the use of prescription opioids to treat chronic pain, addicts took to the streets in search of heroin, creating an unprecedented health crisis. But by the mid 2010s, dealers began cutting other substances with fentanyl, which is much cheaper and around fifty times more potent than heroin. In 2022, the drug caused around three quarters of roughly 110,000 overdose deaths, - meaning fentanyl is killing around 2,000 Americans a week. Of those, roughly 110 are Californians - approximately 5.5 percent. The crisis has ravaged many liberal states, creating deep divides within the Democratic Party on how to tackle it. Matt Capelouto claims efforts by moderate state lawmakers to hold dealers to account are repeatedly blocked by a minority of 'extreme, far-left' Democrats who hold 'too much power'. In San Francisco, fatal overdoses are already up by 41 percent in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2022, with the vast majority of deaths involving fentanyl. Even before the recent spike, the city had among the highest overdose rates of large US counties. But its mayor, London Breed, is pumping $18.5million into opening three 'safe consumption' sites that critics say keep addicts hooked on drugs, instead of treating them. And now liberal parents have had enough. Middle class families who have seen their children's lives destroyed by the state's fentanyl crisis have told DailyMail.com that California's drug laws are 'insanity' - keeping their loved ones in 'bondage' to their addiction while allowing dealers to act with impunity. In many cases, victims are star students and athletes from the suburbs, creating a legion of enraged but educated parents challenging the liberal status quo on the war on drugs. Matt and Christine Capelouto hold a picture of their late daughter Alexandra. Matt has tirelessly campaigned for Alexandra's Law, which aims to make it easier to prosecute fentanyl dealers, but has repeatedly been frustrated by what he calls 'extreme left' Democrats Matt has said certain senators 'have blood on their hands' for failing to hold dealers accountable for thousands of fentanyl deaths Tanya Tilghman with son Roman Vardanega in an early photograph. Tanya says she is rethinking her entire liberal worldview because of the attitude of some Democrats towards the fentanyl crisis Tanya holds a photo of Roman at her home in the North Beach District of San Francisco. She says the city is unrecognizable from the one she moved to aged 15 Jacqui Berlinn holds a photograph of son Corey. She says even he thinks San Francisco mayor London Breed's approach to the fentanyl crisis does not help addicts like him 'San Francisco keeps repeating the same mistakes' Tanya Tilghman, 53, says she has been forced to 'rethink' her whole liberal worldview because 'San Francisco has gone way too far left'. What caused her to reevaluate? It could have been the moment she was surrounded by 10 to 15 armed police officers while her fentanyl-crazed son held himself hostage in their family home. Or the time she was laughed at by staff at the city's 'safe consumption' site after she posed as a drug addict and told them she wanted to get clean. But the final straw seems to be the city's decision to pump millions of dollars into opening three more 'wellness hubs', despite having closed its first after a year because it wasn't helping enough people into treatment. Her son, Roman Vardanega, 23, became hooked on fentanyl after a long battle with drug abuse that began with Adderall in high school, which had been prescribed to treat his ADHD. In between, he was also addicted to cocaine, heroin and meth, and ran out of a private Sacramento treatment center aged 19. By the time his mother brought him back to San Francisco, fentanyl had become unavoidable for those living on the streets, as Roman now was. The drug made him increasingly erratic and he would repeatedly break into Tanya's home, prompting her to take out a restraining order. Shortly after, Roman held himself hostage in her home and was taken into custody. Roman Vardanega became hooked on fentanyl after a long battle with drug abuse that began with Adderall in high school, which had been prescribed to treat his ADHD The drug made him increasingly erratic and he would repeatedly break into Tanya's home, prompting her to take out a restraining order Tanya visited the Tenderloin Center in San Francisco, set up to help addicts take drugs in a safe environment and help them into treatment. But Tanya said all she saw was 'people shooting up' and 'smoking from pipes'. The center closed in December after costing roughly $12million. It was around this time that Tanya got wind of San Francisco's Tenderloin Center, the safe consumption site that opened in January last year. Mayor Breed had promoted it as a place that would help homeless people struggling with addiction get housing and treatment, so Tanya wanted to find out if it could help her son when he was out of custody. But when she visited with a group of other mother's, she heard music blaring and wanted a look inside. She returned, posing as an addict, and told workers at the center she needed help to get off drugs. 'They laughed at me,' she said. 'They told me they could help me to do drugs if I had my own. 'I went inside and there was loud music. I could see people shooting up, smoking from pipes. 'I saw people who were on the ground who looked like they were passed out. Staff didn't seem to care. 'I stayed there for a good 30 to 40 minutes, just to see if anyone was going to check on the people who were lying on the ground. Nobody was checking on them. 'I was thinking: "If I would have brought my son there, there's no way he would have wanted to get help".' The center closed in December after costing roughly $12million. While center staff reversed more than 300 overdoses, fewer than 1 percent of visits resulted in linkages to mental health or drug treatment. Tanya is furious at Mayor Breed's recent budget, which allocated millions more dollars to open three new centers. 'If the Tenderloin Center was such a failure, why open new wellness hubs?' she asks. 'Just to call them that is insanity. Enabling people to do drugs, and then having them walk out of the facility high is a danger to the community and a danger to themselves. 'San Francisco seems to keep repeating the same mistakes.' Addicts openly smoke drugs on the sidewalk of the Tenderloin area of San Francisco, where overdose deaths have rocketed in recent months San Francisco saw a staggering 41 percent surge in the number of drug-related deaths in the first quarter of 2023 This graphic shows the rise in positive urine tests for fentanyl of those receiving drug abuse treatment in different parts of the US. Millennium Health's data is based on some 4.5 million samples A one-stop shop for drugs Jacqui Berlinn is similarly perplexed. Her son Corey, is an addict on the streets of San Francisco. On the day Jacqui speaks to DailyMail.com, it is his 32nd birthday. Last year, he also visited the Tenderloin Center for help with housing. But he got only as far as getting a bottle of water before he spotted a friend in the waiting area and the pair ended up smoking fentanyl instead, his mother says. 'He nodded off and never got seen because, of course, he was distracted by the drug use,' Jacqui adds. Corey has deteriorated so rapidly in the few years he has been on fentanyl that Jacqui has asked him if he could back on heroin. 'It sounds crazy, but he actually stayed fairly healthy on heroin,' she says. 'Now he just looks awful. But he's still there. He's still very sweet and kind and has a sense of humor, but he's more sad than he's ever been. 'He says he doesn't want his life to be like this, but he doesn't know how to get out of it.' Just this week, Jacqui spoke with Corey about San Francisco's approach to the crisis. 'Even he said to me, "I don't know what the mayor is doing". 'She is not helping addicts at all. Because they're putting money into wellness hubs that give addicts everything they need in order to use, but they don't help with getting people off drugs. 'They allow people to use openly without consequence. They allow dealers to sell openly in front of police officers.' Jacqui and Tanya are both part of campaign group Mothers Against Drug Addiction & Deaths, a group that lobbies lawmakers for stricter penalties for dealers Tanya and Jacqui discussed their sons' crippling addiction and San Francisco's approach to tackling the fentanyl crisis at Tanya's home last week Jacqui slammed the mayor's decision to pump millions more dollars into opening new 'safe consumption sites'. She said the hubs 'give addicts everything they need in order to use, but they don't help with getting people off drugs' Jacqui holds up a picture of her son Corey as a toddler. On the day she speaks to DailyMail.com, it is his 32nd birthday Jacqui, along with other San Franciscan parents whose children have been stolen by fentanyl, have set up Mothers Against Drug Addiction & Deaths, a group that lobbies lawmakers for stricter penalties for dealers. They have erected billboards blaming politicians for the drug crisis, including a 'Welcome to Camp Fentanyl' campaign calling for California Governor Gavin Newsom to shut down open-air drug markets, where dealers are allowed to sell drugs without fear of arrest. The Tenderloin Center was situated directly across from the largest such market in San Francisco, where at least 100 drug dealers gather in the sunshine, creating what Jacqui describes as 'a one-stop shop' for drugs. Addicts would buy their pills from the market and then pop across the plaza to the Tenderloin Center to take them. To make matters worse, Corey has to walk through this scene to get to his methadone clinic. What is fentanyl and why is it so dangerous? Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to aid cancer patients with their pain management. Given its extreme potency it has become popular amongst recreational drug users. Overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl jumped from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016 - surpassing common opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time. And drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 people in the US in 2017 a record driven by fentanyl. It is often added to heroin because it creates the same high as the drug, with the effects biologically identical. But it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin, according to officials in the US. In the US, fentanyl is classified as a schedule II drug - indicating it has some medical use but it has a strong potential to be abused and can create psychological and physical dependence. Advertisement 'They're opposed to putting anybody behind bars' While California does little to help addicts get off drugs, its lawmakers seem reluctant to punish those who supply them. In April, Democrats struck down Alexandra's Law, named after Matt's daughter, which proposed strengthening penalties for dealers. The proposed law would see convicted fentanyl dealers receive a warning from judges that would act as a precursor to a potential homicide charge if they then dealt drugs that killed someone. The law was modeled on DUI legislation, which supporters claim has reduced instances of drink driving. Despite bipartisan support, the bill failed to get past committee stage due to opposition from Democrat senators Scott Weiner, Nancy Skinner and Steven Bradford. Tensions almost spilled over as the State Senate's Public Safety Committee debated the bill, as angry parents yelled at lawmakers to hold dealers accountable. Matt believes the Democrats opposed to the bill 'willfully misled' the public by arguing that the proposed law would prosecute dealers who weren't aware their drugs were laced with fentanyl, with Wiener incorrectly suggesting that those who are caught drink driving after being spiked are not charged with an offense. 'They're opposed to putting anybody behind bars,' he says. 'They'll come up with every excuse to make the victim the criminal.' On Tuesday, state Republicans proposed a referendum on Alexandra's Law to bypass the committee. To go to a public vote, it will require two thirds of both the Assembly and the Senate to agree on it. But Tanya believes the city's entire attitude to drugs needs to change. 'San Francisco has always been pro drugs,' she says. 'That dates back to the 60s and 70s. They still have the same message that it's okay to use drugs. 'But what they are failing to understand is that fentanyl has changed the entire drug outlook. We have so many more people dying, they're cutting it in all different types of drugs. 'I don't understand that mentality. We're in a city where we're losing all of the major retail stores because of crime and because of all the drug dealing that's going on. 'Putting up more wellness hubs is going to attract more drug dealers and more people coming in and wanting to use drugs and crime is going to increase further.' Matt says there isn't a day that goes by without him thinking about Alexandra. He has set up a campaign called Drug Induced Homicide in her memory A year before the man who dealt fentanyl to Alexandra, Christine was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. She was told her disease was not genetic and was likely caused by grief For Matt, it took four years to see the man who poisoned his daughter behind bars, but the anguish will never pass. A year before the sentencing, his wife, Christine, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. She was told her disease was not genetic and was more than likely caused by grief. As a final wish, the couple have just returned from a holiday to the Netherlands, visiting a family with whom Alexandra stayed on a school exchange. Matt will continue campaigning for Alexandra's legacy and that of his three surviving daughters, Skye, Brooke and Brittney. 'Alex is my daughter in heaven now,' he says. 'Here I am, three and a half years later and probably not an hour goes by where I'm not thinking about her in some way.' For the roughly one in three men who complain of premature ejaculation, these exercises may help. A regimen of tensing and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, known as kegel exercises, has been shown to help a man last up to two minutes longer during sexual intercourse. These muscles become engaged when a man stops urinating mid-stream or when tightens the ring of muscle around the anus as if to control flatulence. While kegels are nothing new to women, who may perform the exercise to address incontinence and tighten the vagina post-childbirth, they may be new to men who are taking greater notice of instructional videos online billing themselves as 100% effective at eliminating the issue of premature ejaculation in as little as two weeks. Any medical advice that purports to be 100 percent effective should typically be met with some skepticism, but with one video gaining nearly 10 million views, kegels for men merits serious consideration. Kegels are a mainstay therapy for men dealing with lifelong premature ejaculation as well as erectile dysfunction One video making the rounds on Twitter lays out a series of exercises that work muscles in the torso. But one exercise, the kegel, is considered the 'gold standard' for strengthening one's pelvic floor. Kegels can be done discreetly, do not require specialist equipment, or even a dedicated space. The ideal technique is by tightening the pelvic floor muscles and holding the contraction for two to three seconds. After that, relax for three seconds and repeat it a few times back to back. While a person can reasonably perform the exercise anywhere, how long he needs to continue doing it remains an open question. They can be done sitting down, standing up or on your side. One study, published in 2014, that detailed the benefits of kegels for men dealing with lifelong premature ejaculation compelled the male subjects to perform the exercises for about an hour three times a week for 12 weeks in order to see improvement. In the study from the journal Therapeutic Advances in Urology, Italian doctors considered 40 men who had dealt with premature ejaculation for much of their lives. By the end of the study, 83 percent of the patients 33 out of 40 had gained control of their ejaculatory reflex and were able to last about two minutes and forty seconds as opposed to the average duration at the start of the study, about 39 seconds. In addition to gaining popularity online through instructional videos and anecdotal reports from men who have seen results, related Google searches have exploded. The search terms kegel exercises for men to last longer have exploded by more than 250 percent in the past 90 days while benefits of kegels for men shot up 90 percent in that time, according to Google Trends, an online tool that analyzes the popularity of search terms using real-time data. Kegels are a mainstay treatment for premature ejaculation as well as erectile dysfunction. By working out the pelvic floor muscles, men can strengthen the muscle that support erections and improve blood flow to the penis. Dr Brian L. Steixner, director of the Institute for Mens Health at Jersey Urology Group told GQ: There isnt a day that goes by that I dont teach Kegels to at least five guys for various conditions. Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles which play key roles in forming and maintaining an erection as well as expelling semen during ejaculation. Kegels can, over time, help a man gain the ability to contract the muscles responsible for ejaculation on command. The exact definition of premature ejaculation varies by study with some experts defining it as occurring when male orgasm occurs within one minute of vaginal penetration, while others suggest that anything less than four minutes is premature. Regardless of the duration, premature ejaculation occurs sooner than the man and his partner would like. The problem is exceedingly common, affecting between 30 to 40 percent of men. The exact cause is not yet clear but the condition is believed to be at least partially psychological. A variety of psychological factors come into play in a case of a man with lifelong premature ejaculation, including anxiety, severe stress, depression and low self-esteem. And while it can be harmful to a mans emotional wellbeing and self-esteem, as well as those of his partner with whom he is physically intimate, most men never seek treatment for it. A couple in their 70s have claimed a banking error made 30 years ago left them penniless - and they are still battling for 150,000 in compensation. Bernard Lockett, 78, says he and his wife Lea, 73, lost tens of thousands of pounds from the sale of their home due to the financial 'mismanagement' of high street bank RBS. The pair sold a holiday tour business in 1993 and then their bungalow, in Comrie, Perthshire, the following year. Mr Lockett said he had a company overdraft and business loan with RBS, and after the home went for 131,000, they'd expected to recoup roughly 20,000 in profit. But he became concerned when this windfall never materialised and RBS refused to say how much of their money was used to settle their outstanding debts. Bernard Lockett (pictured), 78, says he and his wife Lea, 73, lost tens of thousands of pounds from the sale of a property due to the financial 'mismanagement' of high street bank RBS Mr Lockett requested meetings but claims he was constantly 'rebuffed' by the bank, and later launched legal action after their paperwork went missing. In 2018, he gave evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group into Fair Business Banking about his situation as the pair battled to get back their cash. And a forensic lawyer who looked into their case also sided with the Locketts - filing a report that said they should be paid around 150,000 in compensation. A spokesperson from RBS rejected the couple's claim, adding: 'The bank has fully complied with regulatory requirements for record keeping in this case.' But Lockett feels 'disgusted' with the way he's been treated and now worries that he'll be forced to live on the streets if he's turfed out of his rented property. He said: 'I'm pretty disgusted that they can treat people the way they do and not even grant a meeting to talk about something. 'They were presented with a legal document pointing out the errors and what the problems were, and they can still say "We don't want to meet" or "There's nothing to say" - it's totally wrong. Have you faced financial hardship due to a banking error? Email oliver.price@mailonline.co.uk 'A term they use in the banking industry is "duty of care". Well, they've got no duty of care at all... We are the innocent victims in all of this. It has totally ruined our lives.' He added: 'We have a reasonable flat, but it's not ours and our furnishings are still in storage, as we can't find a home to put them in - and that costs money as well. 'And if this landlord suddenly said, "I'm sorry, that's the end now. You've got to go," I don't really know where we would go or what we would do.' Mr Lockett, originally from East London, set up his business Finnchalet Holidays in 1979, which offered bespoke tours around Scandinavia and Northern England. He married his wife Lea, originally from Finland, in 1986, who then moved to Perthshire where the couple lived together and jointly ran the business. During the early 90s, Mr Lockett said RBS had made several errors with the business's accounts. These included double-paying standing orders, the payment of redundant direct debits and the failure to take account of some loan repayments. In 1993, Mr Lockett decided to sell the business as a going concern, as well as his property, to pay off the debts he owed to RBS, netting an expected 20,000 in profit. He then moved with Mrs Lockett to a rented home in Kent where he'd landed a new tour company job but became concerned when he never got credited with the cash. He said: 'I had a personal account for them as well as for my mortgage, and when everything was settled up, we just never got a statement from RBS about what they'd done with the money. 'We tried and tried and tried to get a meeting with them to find out where they were at, but nothing ever happened We never got a penny from the house sale.' Mr Lockett instructed solicitors to look into his case in 1998, but shockingly, the firm was struck off by the Law Society for malpractice a few years later. And he later found out the lawyers had lodged his papers with the courts incorrectly, meaning any further action was now outside of the six-year legal limit. In 2018, he gave evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group into Fair Business Banking about his situation as the pair battled to get back their cash He continued to pursue his claim and even managed to get a letter from the ex-CEO Fred Goodwin in September 2000, who apologised for several of the bank's failings. But from 2010 onwards, Mr Lockett said the couple had particularly struggled after their landlord decided to put their rented property on the market. Mr Lockett said: 'Our personal finances were absolutely ruined. At that time, aged 60-70, nobody wants to rent to you unless you've got a huge deposit. 'We then went through a variety of self-catering lets. We had about 11 properties in about six years. 'It was hard for my wife and I. It was difficult. It's a rotten thing when you come to the late stage of life and can't have your own things around you.' In 2011, his case was accepted by the Parliamentary Commission into Banking Standards, and following their report, he was granted a meeting with RBS in 2013. But this didn't yield anything new, and Mr Lockett was later accepted to give evidence at the All Party Parliamentary Group into Fair Business Banking (APPG) in 2018. Mr Lockett said the committee failed to bring RBS back to the negotiating table, and he'd instructed a forensic lawyer, on their advice, who looked into the matter. The legal team from Menzies & Co LLP then sent RBS a report in early 2021, which estimated they had been entitled to 20,481 after their home sale in 1994. And taking this into account, and the possibility that the money could have been invested, the legal team suggested RBS owed the Locketts 151,485. But Mr Lockett said the bank had failed to acknowledge the report and in May this year had even told him they would cease to reply to correspondence he sent to them. He now lives with Mrs Lockett in a rented flat in Harrogate, North Yorks, and said the case showed the lack of power consumers had to challenge big banks. He said: 'My issue, as well as being against RBS, is against the financial systems in this country. Things can slip through the net, then there's nobody that can help you. 'You're on your own. Even that parliamentary group - they really worked hard, they were a fantastic group - but they could not themselves break the system.' A spokesperson for RBS said: 'Following thorough internal investigations over a 30 year period, extensive dialogue with Mr Lockett, and an external review by the Ombudsman in 2011 which found in the bank's favour, we reject Mr Lockett's claims. 'We have considered the Menzies report in full, and determined that it does not contain any evidence that contradicts our findings to date. 'The bank has fully complied with regulatory requirements for record keeping in this case. 'Whilst we always strive to resolve outstanding issues for customers, unfortunately this is not always possible, and we have taken the rare decision not to revisit this complaint unless new evidence is provided to us.' Pushed out: Crispin Odey founded Odey Asset Management in 1991 Bosses at the hedge fund set up by Crispin Odey have spent the weekend trying to calm investors after its founder was ousted over sexual assault allegations. Odey was pushed out by partners on Saturday after an explosive report alleged he sexually harassed or assaulted 13 women over 25 years. Peter Martin, chief executive of Odey Asset Management, and Michael Ede, chief financial officer, said in a statement: 'Crispin Odey is leaving the partnership. As from today, he will no longer have any economic or personal involvement in the partnership.' The hedge fund said it took the allegations of misconduct, first reported by the Financial Times, 'extremely seriously'. Partners at Odey Asset Management were drafting a letter to investors over the weekend hoping to restore confidence in the business. On Monday, the group also insisted its funds were not restricting investor withdrawals in response to weekend reports. A spokesman for the group said: 'All funds are open today as per usual business and we're not considering gating any funds. 'The only fund we're considering closing is the Odey Swan Fund, the Ucits fund formerly run by Crispin Odey.' Odey, who founded the firm in 1991, denies the claims against him, stating that they were 'rubbish'. In an interview with The Mail on Sunday on Friday night before stepping down, Odey said that he was the 'victim' of an 'aggressive campaign'. But the allegations have pitched the company into crisis, with one industry source predicting 'it's all over' for the firm: 'It will never recover from this and the partners will just run their own personal money under a different name.' Some of the world's biggest banks had already started distancing themselves from the fund last week. JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs are reviewing their relationship as prime brokers, entities that provide hedge funds with credit. And Schroders has sold its last remaining investments. French brokerage Exane, part of BNP Paribas, was said to have cut ties with the fund while Morgan Stanley has also severed links. Reports last week said the City watchdog was still probing Odey Asset Management and had widened its investigation in light of the new claims. Odey has been at the helm of the hedge fund more than three decades. At its peak the firm managed more than 10billion worth of investments. A Brexiteer, Odey says he made 220m in 2016 betting against the pound as the UK voted to leave the EU. He started donating regularly to the Conservative Party in 2007 and his donations to date total more than 350,000. The pair spoke on the phone ten days later on August 9, when Epstein reportedly did not give the impression Epstein was suicidal The Belarus native, believed to be in her 30s, was the only personal visitor Epstein had during his incarceration, according to prison records Prison logs obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Karyna Shuliak went to see Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan on July 30, 2019 Jeffrey Epstein's girlfriend who was the last person outside prison to speak to him before his death also paid the pedophile a visit in jail days earlier, DailyMail.com can reveal. Karyna Shuliak was first identified in March 2020 as the woman the disgraced financier had last talked to on the phone from behind bars, the day before he was found hanged in his cell on August 10, 2019. But prison records obtained by DailyMail.com now reveal that 11 days earlier, on July 30, Shuliak, a native of Belarus believed to be in her thirties, went to see the late pedophile at the grim Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. She would have likely met Epstein in the notorious Special Housing Unit (SHU) of the now-shuttered MCC, where inmates were kept in their cells for up to 22 hours a day. According to the source, the couple, who reportedly dated for seven years, seemed to have a 'very serious relationship'. Jeffrey Epstein's last known girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak (pictured together in 2014) visited the pedophile in prison just 10 days before he was found dead in his cell in 2019 The Belarus-born woman, believed to be in her thirties, is reported to have been in a relationship with the disgraced financier for about seven years and was photographed leaving his $75million New York City mansion in January 2015 Epstein was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges at the grim Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan when he was found hanged in his cell on August 10, 2019 In fact, such was Epstein's affection for the much younger woman that on the night before his death, he even ordered his lawyers to leave so that he could speak to her on the phone, the insider said. Prison records from Epstein's suicide were released as part of a FOIA request and consist of more than 4,000 pages of reports, emails, and other material related to his time in pre-trial custody. Visitor logs show a 'Karina Shaliak' a misspelling of her name was admitted to the MCC to visit Epstein on July 30 at 5:15pm with all other visitors being lawyers. Epstein's first name was also misspelled on the log as Jeffry. Ten days later, Epstein was finishing his last full day alive and was meeting with his attorneys ahead of his final phone call. Epstein, 66, was arrested on July 6, 2019 on sex trafficking charges but died before he could face trial According to the source: 'Everyone had to leave the room because he was so eager to get on the phone. 'If he didn't use the phone right then he would miss his window so the meeting ended abruptly and he went to use the phone and the lawyers all left.' Among Epstein's calls that night was one to Shuliak, the contents of which have never been made public, though it would have been routine for it to be recorded since it would not have been protected like attorney-client calls. According to the source, it 'seemed that Epstein and Karyna were in a very serious relationship'. Earlier reports had stated that Shuliak was in Belarus for the call and that Epstein hadn't said anything that raised concerns with her about his welfare. 'When she hung up the phone she was not under the impression Epstein was suicidal,' a source said at the time. Epstein's lawyer Reid Weingarten said in one of his court hearings that he was not a 'despairing, despondent, suicidal person'. Despite this, a prosecutor from the Southern District of New York reviewed the recording of the conversation to see if there was something they had missed. The following day, August 10, Epstein was found hanging in his cell by prison guards while they did their morning checks on him. Prison records obtained by DailyMail.com confirm Karyna whose name is misspelled not only was the last to speak to Epstein but also visited him in jail on July 30, 2019 It is not clear how Epstein met Shuliak (pictured in 2011 while taking English classes) but she is not the only woman from Eastern Europe to come into Epstein's orbit Shuliak (right) purportedly married Epstein associate Jennifer Kalin (left) in what was allegedly a sham marriage to keep her in the US Shuliak, originally from Minsk, is believed to have arrived in the US in 2009 A medical examiner ruled he died by suicide but conspiracy theories have speculated ever since that his powerful friends may have played a role in it. News of Epstein's death reportedly left Shuliak 'devastated'. It is not clear how Epstein met Shuliak but after his release from prison in 2009 numerous Russians and Eastern Europeans were seen in his orbit. The visit sheds new light on Epstein's relationship with Shuliak, who was decades younger than the financier who was 66 when he died. Shuliak, originally from Minsk, is believed to have arrived in the US in 2009 and married Epstein associate Jennifer Kalin in what was allegedly a sham marriage to keep her in the country. Epstein is said to have bought one of his alleged co-conspirators, Nadia Marcinkova, from her parents in the former Yugoslavia, but there is no known indication that he did the same with Shuliak. After her marriage to Kalin in 2013, Shuliak stayed with Epstein for the next six years despite him admitting on his MCC health questionnaire that he had more than 10 sexual partners in the previous five years. Epstein is said to have paid for Shuliak's mother's expensive medical treatment, and may have helped fund the upscale home where her parents live in Minsk, the largely rundown capital of Belarus. And her attendance at Columbia University now appears likely to have been paid for by Epstein. Photos previously obtained by DailyMail.com show Shuliak leaving Epstein's $75million New York mansion in January 2015 in a white jacket, jeans, a scarf and a designer handbag. In another set of photographs from June 2016 she was seen coming and going from the property with some of Epstein's inner circle including his associate Susan Hamblin. That same day former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barack entered and left the property. Epstein changed his will two days before his death but it is unclear what, if anything, Shuliak received. His close associates however have long been rumored to have received substantial payouts from him. Shuliak's jailhouse visit sheds new light on Epstein's relationship with the woman, who was decades younger than the 66-year-old financier She was among the many visitors spotted arriving and leaving Epstein's $75million mansion in New York City that is now being remodeled Shuliak was also revealed to be a registered dentist in Florida and California. A dentist chair was among the items Epstein kept at his Florida mansion During the trial of his former 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell in 2021, the court heard that Epstein paid her at least $30.7million while they were together. In a bizarre twist, Shuliak was also revealed to be a registered dentist in Florida, California and the Virgin Islands. She also is listed as a dentist with her own practice in the Virgin Islands and the address listed is connected to Epstein. DailyMail.com has previously revealed that a dentist's chair was among the items that Epstein had shipped to his private island in the Caribbean. He also had one in his Palm Beach mansion. It is understood that he used to fix up the teeth of women close to him and Shuliak could have done it. Shuliak was on his private plane when it returned to Teterboro airport from Paris in July 2019 when Epstein was arrested by the FBI. Public records indicate that Shuliak was registered as living at Epstein's Palm Beach mansion between 2015 and 2018. Her last known address was Little St. James, Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands. Epstein is listed as one of her associates on public records as is Janusz Banasiak, one of his former housekeepers, and one of his ex-drivers. Shuliak appears to have a handful of family members in the US but nobody returned calls when DailyMail.com previously approached them. At one address just outside New York, a woman angrily insisted the relative did not live there anymore. Calls to Shuliak's last known number were not answered. 'They fight heroically, courageously, bravely. We are proud of them.' These are the words spoken by Vladimir Putin at a packed Moscow rally about the hundreds of thousands of Russian troops fighting in his war in Ukraine. But, away from the crowds and cameras, Putin will likely have his head in his hands and be shaking with fury at the monumental blunders that his forces have made since the war behind. In the latest humiliation for Putin's shambolic forces, Russian troops destroyed what they claimed to be German-supplied Leopard 2 tanks - when in reality they had blown tractors in Ukrainian fields. But far from being a rarity, such shambolic blunders happen at an embarrassing rate among Russia's soldiers whose levels of morale are already at a 'rock bottom' amid heavy losses on the battlefield. Here MailOnline takes a look at the numerous - and monumental - blunders that Russian troops have made since the war began. Russia blows up tractors instead of tanks This week, Russia's defence ministry was mocked for claiming to destroying German-supplied Leopard 2 tanks - when in fact they had blown up tractors in a Ukrainian field. Russia's defence chiefs had hailed 'footage of the destruction of foreign armoured vehicles, including Leopard tanks'. But in reality, military analysts say the footage showed Russia blasting John Deere 9000 grain combine harvesters and a John Deere 4830 tractor. In the video, a Russian crew member onboard the helicopter can be heard asking: 'What kind of machine is that?' One soldier can be heard saying: 'Let's hit it', to which the other responds: 'Ready to hit it.' They then could be heard celebrating the strike and saying: 'Yeah, direct hit.' Russian defence chiefs have been mocked for claiming to destroy a German-supplied lethal Leopard 2 tank - when in fact they hit a combine harvester in Ukrainian fields (pictured) But in reality, military analysts say the footage showed Russia blasting farm vehicles with a missile fired from a Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter Putin's defence ministry hailed the attack on the Leopard tanks - but even Russian military analysts disputed the Leopard tank footage as the claim of destroying the German tanks quickly backfired. The ridiculing was led by head of Wagner private army Yevgeny Prigozhin, who sees it as yet more evidence of blundering incompetence by Putin's defence chiefs and army. 'The Russian Ministry of Defence has today posted some impressive work by [its troops],' he said sarcastically on Wednesday. 'The footage clearly shows Leopard tanks moving in a strange tactical manoeuvre towards each other. These tanks are disguised as combine harvesters. 'Their muzzles are bent downwards. This did not prevent our [troops] from discerning enemy equipment in them The Military informer Telegram channel scoffed: 'We do not want to state anything, but the vehicles in the footage published by the Russian Ministry of Defence do not resemble any tanks at all in their silhouette. 'The silhouettes most closely resemble combine harvesters. This is evidenced by the characteristic high mounted discharge augers (pipes), which are clearly not guns due to their location. Also the "tanks" do not show any signs of turrets.' Military analysts mocked the Russian defence ministry for claiming to have destroyed a Leopard 2 tank, when in reality they had destroyed tractors Russian defence chiefs have been mocked for claiming to destroy a German-supplied lethal Leopard 2 tank - when in fact they hit a combine harvester in Ukrainian fields Putin's warplane bombs Russian city In a humiliating blunder for Russia's forces, a Su-34 fighter-bomber warplane accidentally bombed the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukrainian border in April. Video shows the aircraft mistakenly dropping the bomb in the middle of a rad in the city before the ammunition exploded into a huge fireball. The blast, which tore through the road, narrowly missed moving cars as well as an apartment block in Belgorod, which is about 15 miles from the Ukrainian border. The large explosion left a 70ft crater in the middle of the road and damaged homes and roads. Two women were injured in the blast, with one being hospitalised. Video footage from the site showed piles of concrete on the street, several damaged cars and a building with broken windows in a disaster that could have been far worse. Video shows the SU-34 fighter-bomber mistakenly dropping the bomb in the middle of a road in the city of Belgorod in April Following the blunder, the ammunition exploded in a fireball in the middle of the road in April The Russian defence ministry quickly acknowledged the error. 'During the flight of an Su-34 aircraft of the Aerospace Forces over the city of Belgorod an abnormal descent of aviation ammunition occurred,' said a statement. The bomb is suspected to have been a modernised FAB-500M62, a Soviet-designed 500kg (1,100lb) general purpose weapon with a high-explosive warhead. It is supposed to be 'high precision', and has been used to strike targets in Ukraine. These munitions have reportedly been rushed into service in the war, and are liable to errors. Analyst Kirill Mikhailov said: 'In order for everything to work, the bomb must first properly separate, then its wings must open properly and the navigation system should work. Something went wrong in this process.' Pictured: Devastation caused by the bomb, which is thought to have been a modernised FAB-500M62, a Soviet-designed 500kg (1,100lb) general purpose weapon with a high-explosive warhead Cars were damaged in the blast after an Su-34 warplane mistakenly bombed the Russian city in April Russian soldier is engulfed by blast after mishap A bungling Russian soldier tried to destroy a Ukrainian missile launcher from just yards away in July last year - only to be engulfed by an enormous blast when it exploded. Video shows one of Putin's fighters taking aim at an abandoned Ukrainian S-300 missile launcher sitting mere yards away. After taking a few moments to compose himself, the soldier squeezes the trigger of his PKM machine gun, presumably expecting to damage the hardware or perhaps set off a minor explosion to render it inoperable. A split second later the missile launcher erupts into an enormous explosion, sending gouts of flame blasting toward the lone gunman and his comrade holding the camera. A bungling Russian soldier tried to destroy a Ukrainian missile launcher from just yards away in July last year But a split second later the missiles explode in a huge fireball which engulfed the Russian position Russian war analysts had claimed that none of the Russian soldiers had been injured in the explosion. But the video clearly shows how the troops' position was engulfed in the fireball and it is highly unlikely that members of the unit did not suffer at least some injuries. The clip appears to showcase the lack of experience among some of Putin's battalions on the front lines as it was not clear why the soldier did not choose to fire at the missile launcher from a greater distance. Russia accidentally shoots down its own fighter jet Russia shot down one of its own $40million fighter jets in the skies over eastern Ukraine in July last year in yet another humiliating mishap for Putin's military. Video showed the flaming wreck falling from the skies over Alchevsk, in Luhansk, and at first pro-Moscow Telegram accounts had claimed that 'allied forces' had shot the aircraft down. But further footage soon emerged of the smouldering wreckage on the ground and revealed the words 'Russian Aerospace Forces' written down the side of the aircraft. So instead of 'allied forces' shooting down the $40million Su-34 fighter-bomber, it was Putin's own men who blew it out of the sky. Analysts believe that Russian forces had been trying to take out American-made HIMARS rockets when they accidentally shot down the fighter jet. Russia shot down one of its own $40million fighter jets in the skies over eastern Ukraine in July last year in yet another humiliating mishap for Putin's military. Pictured: The wreckage Writing on the side of the plane appeared to read ' ' which is an acronym for Russian Aerospace Forces, while a partial serial number revealed the jet as an Su-34M At the site of the wreckage, a partial serial number was visible, ending in '90'. According the Dutch Aviation Society, there is only one Su-34 jet whose serial number ends in '90' and it is a highly-advanced Su-34M variant. The fighter-bombers - only 10 of which existed before the shoot-down - are almost exclusively flown by the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment. Russian state media has previously confirmed the 277th is deployed near Ukraine. The Su-34M is a highly upgraded version of the basic Su-34, which is a long-range fighter-bomber designed to rival the American F-15. Russia bragged at the time the aircraft was created that it has upgraded avionics, radar, communications systems, electronic warfare and weapons systems. Yury Slyusar, head of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, previously said it has roughly twice the combat power of the basic model. Losing such an advanced and rare jet was yet another battlefield humiliation for Putin's military in what was supposed to be a days-long 'military operation'. The Su-34M (file image) is a highly upgraded version of the basic Su-34, which is a long-range fighter-bomber designed to rival the American F-15 Scores of Russian tanks destroyed in battlefield defeat Bungling Russian commanders sent dozens of tanks and vehicles in an attempt to cross a river in the Donbas in May 12 - only for the Ukrainian army to successfully thwart the attack, destroying around 60 military vehicles. Satellite images at the time laid bare the scale of the failure with the remains of two pontoon bridges drifting in the Donets River at Bilohorivka, west of the city of Lysychansk, surrounded by the ruins of tanks and armoured vehicles. Russian commanders had been trying to surround Lysychansk with the crossing, but their sneak-attack turned into a massacre when Ukraine correctly guessed their plans. 'Maxim', a Twitter user claiming to be a Ukrainian military engineer, said at the time he identified the spot where Russia was most-likely to try crossing the river on May 7 last year and told his commanders to listen out for the sound of tugboat engines pushing a pontoon bridge into place as a sure sign that a crossing was imminent. On the morning of May 8 Russia blanketed the river with smoke by burning nearby fields and throwing smoke grenades, Maxim said, but commanders detected the sound of boat engines and called in artillery strikes which caused devastating losses. Russia attempted to bridge the Donets River to the west of the city of Lysychansk on May 8 last year, apparently hoping to surround Ukrainian defenders dug in there - but were found out and massacred Images of the ambush from May last year showed dozens of destroyed Russian vehicle littering both banks of the river along with sections of pontoon bridge left floating in the water The remains of at least three Russian tanks and another four armoured infantry vehicles are seen on one bank of the river, along with other pieces of wreckage poking out from under the water following the failed ambush in May last year Maxim said of the ambush: 'Roughly 20 minutes after recon unit confirmed the Russian bridge was being mounted, heavy artillery engaged against Russian forces, and then aviation chipped in as well. I was still in the area, and I have never seen or heard such heavy combat in my life. 'After one day of combat, 9th May morning the bridge was down. Some Russian forces - roughly 30 to 50 vehicles and infantry - were stuck on the Ukrainian side of the river with no way back. They tried to run away using the broken bridge. Then they tried to arrange a new bridge. 'Aviation started heavy bombing of the area and it destroyed all the remains of Russians there, and the other bridge they tried to make. Rumors say it's 1,500 Russian dead. Their strategic objective was to cross the river and then encircle Lysychansk. They miserably failed.' Russian troop losses in the bombardment were impossible to estimate, but online observers counted 58 destroyed vehicles including at least seven tanks and dozens of armoured infantry carriers. At least one tugboat appears to have been wiped out, along with two pontoon bridges left floating in the river with shell-holes visible in the top of them. A day after the failed attack, Russia made another hopeless attempt to cross the river in the Donbas. Satellite images at the time showed yet another sunken pontoon bridge along with half a dozen destroyed or abandoned buildings. Putin's troops shoot down their own helicopter Putin's blundering troops shot down their own helicopter in Ukraine in July last year after it mistakenly started firing at its own soldiers. The Ka-52 'Alligator' helicopter, which costs an estimated 12 million, was gunned down in the Ukrainian region of Kherson, Ukraine's General Staff said at the time. Ukraine's military bosses said three of the 'Alligator' helicopters had flown over the occupied region before they started to shoot at their own Russian soldiers stationed below. The pilots had thought that the soldiers were Ukrainian. Putin's blundering forces have shot down their own helicopter in Ukraine after mistakenly thinking it was attacking them (file image of a Ka-52 'Alligator' helicopter) The Russian soldiers returned fire and shot down one of the helicopters in another embarrassing blow for Putin's military. Ukraine's military chiefs joked that the mishap was a 'gesture of goodwill' from the invading forces. The blunder came just days after Russian soldiers shot down their own 40million Su-34M fighter jets in the skies over eastern Ukraine. Warplane smashes into residential building in Russia A Russian military jet crashed next to a residential building and set it on fire in October last year, killing 13 people including three children and three adults who jumped from the burning apartment block. The Sukhoi 34 fighter-jet had taken off from an airfield in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, near the border of Ukraine, as part of a training exercise when it plunged from the sky moments later with one engine on fire. It slammed into the ground in front of an apartment building, dousing the building in burning fuel and killing 13 people. Both pilots ejected safely, with footage showing one of them on the ground nearby still attached to his parachute. A Russian Su-34 fighter bomber jet crashed next to an apartment block in the city of Yeysk in October last year, setting the building on fire as the pilots ejected (circled) Video showed one of the pilots on the floor and still attached to his parachute shortly after the crash The Russian military said the pilots were taking part in training when the crash happened and the stranded pilot can be heard denying the craft was shot down as people try to help him. Aleksandr Kots, chief war correspondent for pro-Kremlin newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, said the aircraft was an Su-34 from Russia's 277th Bombing Aviation Regiment. The crash was yet another humiliating loss for Russian president Vladimir Putin's beleaguered air force, which has suffered ten non-combat crashes since the start of the war. The damaged apartment block in the Russian city of Yeysk after a military jet crashed close by it in October last year, throwing one wheel of the aircraft into the side of the building (centre left) Putin's missile misfires and falls on Russian territory A Russian missile launched from Russia's border city of Belgorod misfired and instead fell down on its own territory in September last year. The Iskander missile was meant to hit the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv but it instead fell down near residential buildings in Belgorod where Moscow's weapons are stored for attacks on Ukraine in a humiliating move. Video shows the missile tearing through the sky before it suddenly began falling at a rapid pace down to the ground where it explodes in a fireball. Russians had been seen desperately fleeing Belgorod at the time after Ukraine had launched a series of missiles. But the Kremlin blunder shows that the panicked Russians could well have been trying to escape their own missiles. A Russian missile launched from the border city of Belgorod last night misfired and instead fell down on its own territory in September last year Russian Navy accidentally blows up one of its ships A Russian Navy accidentally blew up one of its own ships in the Black Sea in July last year after hitting a landmine. The D-106 landing craft was sunk off the coast of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol after it collided one of the Russian navy's own sea mines. The crew is said to have survived the friendly-fire incident, but the reputation of Russia's naval commanders is not so unscathed. 'Near Mariupol, a landing craft of the Black Sea Fleet D-106 blew up on a mine,' a Telegram channel related to the Russian navy said at the time. It came after Ukrainian ship-to-shore missiles destroyed Russia's flagship, the Moskva, in a strike in April. Kirk told DailyMail.com that he believes his wife never 'entered that trail' and may have been abducted Saturday will mark two months since she was last seen on April 10 as she planned to hike an 11-mile expedition along the mountainous Kumano Kodo trail Kirk Murad has been searching for his wife Patricia 'Pattie' Murad, since she mysteriously vanished on a solo hiking trip in Tokyo The husband of a missing Connecticut woman who mysteriously vanished on a solo trip to Japan said his 'gut' is telling him his wife may have 'trusted the wrong person'. Kirk Murad, 61, has been desperately searching for his wife Patricia 'Pattie' Murad, 60, after she vanished without a trace on April 10. He now fears she may have been the victim of an abduction though, he admitted, there is 'no evidence that occurred.' 'My gut tells me that Pattie perhaps trusted the wrong person by accepting a ride and became a victim,' he said after searches were called off, 'but there is no evidence that occurred.' 'I think she struck up a conversation with someone and trusted them enough to accept a ride from them,' he said. 'Her toe was giving her problems, so it's possible she accepted a ride and then was abducted.' His wife checked out of the Mandokoro guesthouse in Higashiomi city, and was headed to a hostel in Osaka, about a nine-hour hike along the Kumano Kodo, a group of trails that wind through mountainous regions in southern Kansai. But, based on all the searches conducted by police, volunteers, helicopters, drones, and dogs, he said, 'I don't think she ever entered that trail.' Patricia 'Pattie' Wu-Murad, 60, was last seen at about 7am on April 10 when she checked out of the Mandokoro guesthouse in Higashiomi city heading to a hostel in Osaka Kirk Murad, 61, pictured with his wife Pattie, been searching tirelessly for her a now fears she may have been abducted A scenic view of the mountainous region in Tokyo where world-traveler Pattie was on a solo hiking trip Japanese authorities helped search for Pattie along with 34 search and rescue experts from the United States. 'They thoroughly searched the section of the Kumano Kodo Trail that Pattie was to hike on April 10th. Each group came up empty,' Kirk said. 'The police will continue to investigate this as a missing persons case, but they have no leads and no suspects.' Japanese police stopped their search on May 7due to an 'underwhelming amount of evidence found' but Mountain Works, a local search and rescue team that worked alongside U.S. personnel, only ended their search in the last week of May. Kirk and his daughter Murphy are still in the country trying to find new clues and are hoping to obtain cell tower data from the Japanese telecommunication companies. He is hoping the data reveals his wife's last known location and helps pinpoint the search area but there has been pushback so he has asked the FBI and State Department to get involved. 'The police told us telecoms have said they don't have any data, but we're not accepting that answer at face value,' Kirk said. The last time he spoke to his wife was the eve of April 7. The couple, who have been best friend since 1986 and married in 1990, spoke on Facetime before their lives changed forever. 'She said she was going to hike the Kumano Kodo trail and may not be reachable for about four days,' he said. 'She had a big smile on her face.' Kirk said his wife had traveled on a two-month pilgrimage where she went to Spain and France, and another month where she hiked in Jordan and Egypt. This time around, the couple was planning to travel to Spain on June 16. 'She wanted me to experience the Camino de Santiago, and she already had plans for another two-month trip in the fall of 2024.' He described his life partner as 'very trusting.' 'That's what helped her make so many friends from her previous hikes,' he said. Kirk and Pattie in a family photo pictured with their three children - Murphy, 27 (center), Bryce, 25 and Rachel, 32 During her first trip to the Camino de Santiago, Kirk said, his wife she made several new friends and stayed in touch, and when she returned to the country she stayed at their homes. 'She loved meeting new people, sharing stories, and being out in nature,' he said. 'That is why I need to keep story alive in Japan and back home so that someone will read the story and remember seeing something...anything.' Saturday will mark the eight-week mark of Pattie's disappearance. Innkeeper, Shigeaki Tsuji, at the Mandokoro guesthouse in Higashiomi city, was the last person to see Pattie around 7am on April 10. He described her as 'full of energy,' before she left the inn. 'I'm more worried that maybe someone drove by and abducted her,' he told The Messenger News. 'All of us in the village are worried about her. We are all waiting for her return.' 'The 'case is a strange one from the start,' and many feel helpless. 'In our village, we have no experience with incidents, so I don't think any of us knows what to do.' The Unesco heritage Kumano Kodo pilgrimage path in the heavily wooded forest leading to Nachi Falls, Wakayama, Japan Two statues of Jozo or Jizo Bosatsu, called Hanakake Jizo'are carved on a large rock located along Dainichi-goe route, a trail over Mt. Dainichi that connects Kumano Hongu Taisha and Yunomine Onse Kirk and his daughter Murphy are still in the country trying to find new clues and are hoping to obtain cell tower data from the Japanese telecommunication companies. Pattie's distraught family have created a GoFundMe to help them raise funds to travel to the county and hire private teams to help find Pattie but have since stopped accepting donations. Murphy expressed her gratitude to all the search teams and messages of hope her family received. 'If we had the time, resources and financial capacity to search every trail in the area with as much depth and precision as we did this one, we would,' she said. 'However, the reality is all search efforts have stopped as of May 30 due to the underwhelming amount of evidence found.' 'As heart-breaking as it is to have come up empty handed,' she wrote in part. 'The amount of work we were able to accomplish would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our family, friends, community, and the remarkable individuals we encountered in Totsukawa.' A no-nonsense HGV driver filmed the moment he foiled a migrant gang's plan to distract him while they climbed onto his truck bound for Britain - even sarcastically waving goodbye as they skulked away. The father, who says he has legally changed his name to 'Plank', had stopped to get fuel near Calais, France, last month when he became suspicious of the intentions of a man asking where he's going. Bodycam footage shows the 57-year-old repeatedly lie to tell him 'Germany' and then brush off his requests for a cigarette before assertively telling him to 'go away' on May 13. He calmly walks back to the vehicle's front where he finds two men climbing between the truck and cabin, then sternly tells them to 'get down'. Plank even waves and says 'bye bye' as the men, who he speculates are armed with knives to cut their way into trucks, walk away from his vehicle. The trucker found two men climbing between the truck and cabin, then sternly told them to 'get down' The father-of-four says the incident could have turned dangerous but insists his 'security-guard-like' approach of avoiding aggression is best in this 'game of cat and mouse'. He admits that if he was a young man without a family he might have 'given them a slap' because he believes they should be applying for residence in the EU rather than attempting to come to Britain. His video has been viewed almost three million times with many praising him for his calm handling of the situation and telling him he shouldn't have to deal with the issue. No-nonsense HGV driver Plank (pictured), 57, filmed the moment he foiled a migrant gang's plan to distract him while they climbed onto his truck bound for Britain - even sarcastically waving goodbye as they skulked away Plank, from Blackley, Greater Manchester, said: 'If I was a younger man then maybe I'd be giving them a slap. 'The thing is not to be Billy Big B*****ks and start shouting, screaming and threatening. They've got nothing to lose so it's best to be firm like I was in the video. 'I had to be more like a security guard or a police officer. If I got any more aggressive then they'd have been aggressive with me. 'He engaged me in conversion so two of his friends could climb up and get on the roof. I caught them in the middle of trying to climb up. 'They were hoping I was either heading for the boat at Calais or the channel tunnel to get to the UK. It's a regular occurrence. 'These people have large knives because that's what they cut the side of trailers and roofs with. 'They're always in groups and they look after each other so if I attack them I'm outnumbered. 'We look at it as part of the job now, and it has been for around 25 years. It's like traffic on the M25. 'They are there. They are coming and I can't do anything about them. The EU isn't doing anything to stop them so they let it be England's problem. 'I wasn't going to tell them I'm going to the UK. That would be stupid.' Plank, had stopped to get fuel near Calais, France, last month when he became suspicious of the intentions of a man asking where he's going Plank even waves and says 'bye bye' as the men, who he speculates are armed with knives to cut their way into trucks, walk away from his vehicle Plank's video has earned almost 6,000 comments and more than 130,000 likes. One social media user commented: 'It's not fair poor lorry drivers have to deal with this and do their jobs' Plank was travelling back from Italy and had stopped for fuel at an unmanned station in Marck, France. He regularly films his interactions with a thumb-sized body cam for his own safety and so he can highlight the issue online. The 57-year-old, who says he changed his name by deed poll because everyone knew him by his nickname, is keen to stress the migrant crisis extends further than boat crossings. Plank said: 'Calais used to get a lot of coverage when the jungle [camp] was there but now it's been taken down people think it's no longer happening. I want to keep it in the public eye. 'Everyone knows about the boats and people think the camps have disappeared but they've just moved and the problems we faced then haven't changed. 'If these were legitimate people they would find a legitimate way in the first safe country they arrive at. Okay they might not want to stay there but they can apply there.' His video has earned almost 6,000 comments and more than 130,000 likes. One social media user commented: 'It's not fair poor lorry drivers have to deal with this and do their jobs.' A second said: 'You handled this so well.' A third added: 'What a joke. Fair play to you. I would have lost the plot.' City officials predict a $1.3 billion budget shortfall by 2028, including losses of up to $190 million per year caused by a decline in property tax revenue Top companies like Whole Foods and Nordstrom have closed flagship stores over 'unsafe conditions' in downtown brought by crime and rampant drug use San Francisco stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars per year as major businesses leave the city, a DailyMail.com analysis of official figures reveals San Francisco stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year through a business exodus triggered by crime, homelessness and a failure to bounce back from the covid pandemic, a DailyMail.com analysis of official figures reveals. Top retailers like Nordstrom, H&M and Gap have withdrawn from the city in recent months and earlier this week the owner of two major hotels, including the largest in San Francisco, announced it will also quit the city. Companies have blamed concerns for the safety of staff and customers in the 'deteriorating' downtown district, where drugtaking and crime is rife. The situation is compounded by data which reveals footfall in the city's struggling downtown is at just 32 percent of pre-covid levels. The public transport network is also on the brink of a catastrophic failure as passenger numbers remain similarly dire, according official forecasts. Leaders estimate the situation will contribute to a budget shortfall of $1.3 billion in five years. The decline in property tax revenue alone could cost nearly $200 million per year, according to a worst-case scenario drawn up by the city's chief accountant. An analysis of official figures and other research reveals San Francisco may lose hundreds of millions of dollars through an exodus of businesses and its failure to recover from covid San Francisco's woes deepened earlier this week when the owner of the Hilton Union Square, the city's largest hotel, and Parc 55, said it would pull out. It said the city's 'path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challenges' Many businesses which have left have cited concerns for the safety of staff and customers, including crime and public drug use. Pictured: Homeless people consume drugs in an encampment in the Tenderloin district of downtown in February 2022 Park Hotels & Resorts announced on Monday that it will default on a $725 million loan on the Hilton San Francisco Union Square - the city's largest hotel - and the Parc 55. The hotels have a combined 2,945 rooms, accounting for nine percent of the city's total. A statement from Park's chairman and CEO, Thomas J. Baltimore, said the city's 'path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challenges' including 'record high office vacancy, concerns over street conditions [and] lower return to office than peer cities'. The statement was a nod to the bleak homeless camps and open drug taking that is rife in some areas. DailyMail.com has repeatedly highlighted these grim hotspots and their devastating impacts on communities. Park's decision was followed by news 30 more hotels also have loans due on their properties across their next two years. That comes amid a retail crisis that deepened om May when Nordstrom announced the impending closures of its flagship store and Nordstrom Rack. In a statement, the company made a diplomatic reference to the 'dramatically' changed 'dynamics' of downtown San Francisco, 'impacting customer foot traffic and our ability to operate successfully'. Nordstrom said it will close its luxury department store and its Nordstrom Rack. The company made a diplomatic reference to the 'dramatically' changed 'dynamics' of downtown. Westfield, where the shop was based, blamed 'unsafe conditions for customers, retailers, and employees' Several of the stores which have closed cited safety concerns as the downtown area of San Francisco is ravaged by homelessness and drug taking Cams are set up around the city and people take drugs openly. Pictured: Homeless tents are seen in Tenderloin District during heavy rain in San Francisco on January 11, 2023 Westfield, which operates the mall where Nordstrom was based, was less delicate in its assessment. It blamed the 'deteriorating situation in downtown San Francisco' and 'unsafe conditions for customers, retailers, and employees'. H&M closed its flagship store in the 2020 and the lease for its Westfield property is set to expire in January. A damning report published in May said 95 retailers in the city's downtown have closed since the start of the covid pandemic. The departing business include desirable brands Lululemon, Ray Ban to Christian Louboutin. Whole Foods also shut its flagship store at Trinity Place in April, just 12 months after its grand opening, with an announcement that said it would only reopen 'if we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members'. The closure followed several incidents including the drug overdose death of a 30-year-old man in its restroom in September 2022. As stores have closed, footfall in downtown San Francisco has also failed to return to anything near pre-covid levels. Activity in downtown San Francisco is just 32 percent of pre-covid levels, according to research by the University of Toronto's School of City, which analyzed mobile device activity. San Francisco came bottom of a table of 63 cities across the US that were used in the study. Ridership of the Bay Area Rapid Transit, which serves San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa, is also at just 34 percent of pre-covid levels, according to officvial figures published in May. As retailers flee and people stay away, the vacancy rate of office buildings has also reached unprecedented highs. The vacancy rate in May was 31 percent - amounting to 18.4 million square feet, or enough space for 92,000 workers, according to an analysis of data from Lee & Associates by the San Francisco Chronicle. In April, Salesforce said it will leave its eponymous 30-story Salesforce East building in downtown, where around 1,000 staff had worked before the pandemic Tourism is steadily recovering to its pre-covid highs, according to figures from the San Francisco Travel Association San Francisco is home to Silicon Valley and its jobs market is heavily weighted towards technology and services. Many employees in the sectors continue to work from home. Many major tech companies based in San Francisco - including Meta, Google, Salesforce and Twitter - have also axed tens of thousands of jobs in recent months as the industry suffered a post-covid downturn. San Francisco Mayor London Breed has proposed a record budget despite the city facing a $1.3 billion deficit by 2028 In April, Salesforce said it will leave its eponymous 30-story Salesforce East building in downtown, where around 1,000 staff had worked before the pandemic. City officials launched a $6 million ad campaign in May to lure back tourists. Visitor numbers have improved since covid and in 2022 were around 16 percent lower than the record-breaking 26.2 million in 2019. The international campaign included a commercial featuring an array of local talent, including Lady Camden, a drag queen who became popular on 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' and local muralist Sirron Norris. Meanwhile, tax receipts for the city of San Francisco are suffering. The revenue loss to the city caused by decreased property taxes could reach $196 million per year by 2028, according to modelling published in November by the San Francisco Controller's Office. The best-case scenario from the modelling expects the cost will be nearer to $100 million per year. That will contribute in part to a $1.3 billion budget shortfall by 2028, according to forecasts from the Controller's Office. A report published in March cites 'lower revenue projections' as a factor. Despite the worrying finances of the city, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has proposed a record $14.6 billion budget for the next two years. Brittany Higgins' fiance David Sharaz battled with booze and mental health issues for years before the couple was thrown into the spotlight by her rape allegations. The journalist-turned-government media advisor has been branded Ms Higgins' 'puppet master' and the mastermind behind the media blitz surrounding her case. He was a key figure in the negotiations to bring to light her rape accusations against Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who has strenuously denied all her allegations. Mr Sharaz lined up meetings with Lisa Wilkinson on The Project to tell her story and acted as a go-between with Labor figures including 'old friend' finance minister Katy Gallagher. But his own story is also fascinating and reveals his struggles with depression, self-hate, eating disorders and alcohol - and a doomed short-lived first marriage. Mr Sharaz, 32, was born in Wrexham, north Wales, to a Welsh mother and Indian father but was put up for adoption almost immediately. His biological mother later said new parents could give him a better life than her - and started him on a journey that would take him to the centre of power in Australia. David Sharaz, 32, was born in Wrexham, north Wales, to a Welsh mother and Indian father but was adopted by another Welsh woman, Jean, and Indian father, Mo (pictured) David Sharaz was briefly married to Treasury adviser Alexandra Craig (pictured) but it ended in a bitter break-up after just a couple of years in 2020 David Sharaz's relationship with Brittany Higgins (pictured together) has seen the pair thrown into the spotlight at the centre of power and controversy By chance, his adoptive parents, Jean and Mo, were also a Welsh woman and Indian man who already had two other adopted children. Father Mo only wanted a third in the unlikely event they could find a child who matched their own heritage. 'Within a month, they got a call to say I was in stock and they adopted me,' Mr Sharaz later revealed. The family went on to move to Australia where he studied journalism at University of Canberra, which saw him do intern spells with CNN and the Canberra Times. But he admitted his adoption still weighed heavily on him, affecting his mental health and he struggled to make male friends. 'It's no secret that adoptive children suffer from identity issues and things like that,' he confessed in a profile for Canberra Times in 2018 for RUOK Day. 'I thought by losing a whole bunch of weight, Id like myself. Nope. Dropping down to 65kg didnt work, so I turned to alcohol to numb the pain. 'It was easy to disguise. I mean, I was at university and everyone around me was drinking. 'Id convinced myself that not only did I hate myself, but even complete strangers had cottoned on, and were passing judgement on everything I did. 'I was certain the world hated me nearly as much as I loathed myself.' He admitted he ended up living like a hermit, staying indoors, often crying for hours until he was finally persuaded to get help after hitting rock bottom one night. 'I decided there was a solution: Id have one last night with my friends and quietly disappear. I downed an entire bottle of cheap scotch and went for a walk,' he revealed. 'I dont remember much from that night but Im forever grateful that incredibly important people in my life saw the signs and called for help. 'Without them I wouldnt be here today.' He joined the local Capital Radio Network as an executive producer before moving to 2UE as a political reporter and began making important contacts within Canberra. David Sharaz realised his father Mo (pictured) was 'probably the only male friend that I had' David Sharaz had a series of jobs with Sky News Australia, WIN TV (pictured above in a TV interview) and SBS before he was appointed breakfast newsreader with Canberra FM He had a series of jobs with Sky News Australia, WIN TV - where he interviewed Katy Gallagher in 2015 - and SBS before he was appointed breakfast newsreader with Canberra FM. During this time he met his first wife, treasury advisor Alexandra Craig, and the pair had an elaborate wedding in March 2018 at Canberra's Yarralumla Brickworks. Guests featured powerbrokers including TV's former ABC and Nine political editor Chris Uhlmann and Labor speechwriter Cate McGregor. Senator Gallagher was said to have been invited but did not attend. The day featured noted Canberra photojournalist Alex Ellinghausen as the wedding photographer and included kittens from a local cat rescue. And instead of the traditional numbers, every table at the reception was named after prominent Labor figures, including Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Bill Shorten. But he was hit by tragedy just two weeks later when his father died and Mr Sharaz realised he was 'probably the only male friend that I had'. He married treasury advisor Alexandra Craig (pictured togther) in an elaborate wedding in March 2018 at Canberra's Yarralumla Brickworks Guests at the wedding included TV's former ABC and Nine political editor Chris Uhlmann and Labor speechwriter Cate McGregor (pictured right) Instead of the traditional numbers, every table at the reception was named after prominent Labor figures, including Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Bill Shorten The death sent him spiralling back into depression and within two years the troubled marriage was over in a bitter break-up. Ms Craig told friends at the time the break-up was difficult. By then, Mr Sharaz was back at Sky News Australia, working as a producer on Peter Stefanovic's morning show, when he first met Brittany Higgins. She was working as an advisor for then-Attorney-General Michaelia Cash after being moved from defence minister Linda Reynolds' office in the wake of the rape allegations. Ms Higgins came into the Canberra studio when the senator was on air - and Mr Sharaz admitted he was smitten at first sight. In the five-hour pre-Project interview meeting with Lisa Wilkinson, Mr Sharaz revealed how he had followed her social media before a careless blunder brought them together. 'She came in with (Senator) Cash once and I was single,' he told the meeting. 'I thought, "Oh, she's great". And then I was like, "I'll never see her again". And then she left. 'I used to call her because I was producing Pete and I kind of knew Cash wasn't going to come on at six in the morning but I was like, "Hey, how's things?" 'And then COVID happened, and as most people did during Covid, I got drunk, and I was talking to a friend on Zoom. 'I said, "Oh, there's this girl. She's way out of my league. I'll show you what she looks like and I screencapped her Instagram and sent it to my friend. 'But Britt was on my mind - so I [accidentally] sent Britt a photo of Britt.' Ms Higgins said she thought he was mocking her for taking a selfie in front of the famous Budget tree at Parliament House. But instead, Mr Sharaz says he came clean and told her: 'Full disclosure, I think you're really cute. Have a wonderful life, I'll see you later.' However the ploy succeeded. 'It worked,' admitted Ms Higgins. 'It was very cute.' He added: 'I loved you when I saw you for the first time.' Mr Sharaz hailed the relationship in his chat with Wilkinson: 'When you've been in a bad one, you know what a good one is,' he told her. David Sharaz working as a producer on Peter Stefanovic's morning show on Sky News Australia when he first met Brittany Higgins in 2020 Shortly after, he had a seven-month stint as media advisor in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet before joining a media analysis company in Canberra. When Ms Higgins revealed details of her alleged 2019 rape in 2021, he used all his political and media contacts to get the maximum favourable publicity for her claims. He lined up Lisa Wilkinson on The Project to broadcast a sit-down interview with her on the same day Samantha Maiden revealed the allegations on news.com.au. Text messages also show him enlisting the support of Katy Gallagher, although the conversation reveals a hint of a power struggle between the young couple. In one message, he tells Ms Higgins: 'Katy is going to come to me with some questions you need to prepare for...she's really invested now.' But she replies that she wants to talk directly to the Labor high-flier. Text messages show David Sharaz enlisting the support of Labor senator Katy Gallagher (pictured) 'Going forward, pass my details onto Katy, I'm happy to talk to her,' she said. Mr Sharaz appears determined to maintain control and be the main channel for communications though. 'No, no, That's really okay...' he replied. 'I don't mind talking to Katy. But we can both speak to her if that's easier.' Ms Higgins is determined to take charge however, and tells him bluntly: 'Please send people my way going forward.' Messages reveal he also tried to set up meetings for her with Anthony Albanese, Tanya Plibersek and Malcolm Turnbull and other 'Brittany Higgins fans' in Canberra, as he dubbed them. The allegations erupted in the media and at the peak of the media blitz, Mr Sharaz texted: 'Are you getting spotted? Are people noticing you? Anyone recognise you?' He added later, 'Don't ditch me now you're famous,' and, 'We exude power'. More text messages have also revealed he used his friendship with Emma Webster, a senior advisor to senator Gallagher, to get Ms Higgins a job as media adviser with the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria in 2021. Mr Sharaz eagerly texted Ms Higgins to ask her if she'd noticed her growing public profile He also messaged her, 'Don't ditch me now you're famous,' and, 'We exude power' A police investigation eventually led to Mr Lehrmann being charged with rape, which he denied, before his trial was aborted in October 2022 because of juror misconduct. All charges were later dropped completely in December 2022 over concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health. But just nine days later, mediation talks finalised a settlement in her $3million claim against the Commonwealth over her treatment in the wake of the rape allegations. And less than three weeks after that, Mr Sharaz proposed to Ms Higgins at Byron Bay Lighthouse and the couple announced they were engaged on New Year's Day. The following month, Mr Sharaz left his radio job with Southern Cross Austereo in Brisbane, and Ms Higgins stressed: 'No one walks away from employment without a job to walk into.' 'Read between the lines,' she added. Bruce Lehrmann's trial was aborted in October 2022 because of juror misconduct. David Sharaz accompanied Brittany Higgins to court every day she attended (pictured) The couple moved into a $3million rental home on the Gold Coast in March and Ms Higgins said she would finish her law degree at the nearby Bond University The following month the couple moved into a $3million rental home on the Gold Coast and Ms Higgins said she would finish her law degree at the nearby Bond University. Since then, a wealth of new evidence has emerged from the ACT Board of Inquiry into the investigation of Ms Higgins' allegations and the prosecution of Mr Lehrmann. On Friday, Mr Lehrmann branded Mr Sharaz the 'puppet master' who orchestrated the release of the rape allegations against him and had exploited Ms Higgins' 'fame'. He told The Australian Mr Sharaz had been trying 'take down the Liberal Party' and was 'probably now riding the wave of Higginss fame that he got'. He added: 'He just keeps injecting himself into it. Hes just more worried about how best to spin it or sell it or drop something in the media.' If you need help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 A Tory candidate to run for London mayor wants the city's political leader to gain control over criminal prosecutions in order to tackle soaring burglary rates. Daniel Korski said that the political leader should be given oversight of the Crown Prosecution Service in the same way as it has a role in running the Metropolitan Police. The former No10 adviser to David Cameron said it was an 'anomaly' that the mayor has a say in the running of the police force but no say in whether criminals caught by it then face a court. The idea was previously floated by Boris Johnson when he was London mayor in 2014 but came to nothing. Mr Korski spoke out after police agreed to start attending all burglary scenes across the UK in a win for a Mail campaign. In a wide-ranging package of reforms he also called for borough-level burglary reduction targets. Mr Korski told Mail Online: 'Thirty four times a day there is burglary that nobody shows up to and that frankly is unacceptable. The impact that has on peoples lives and the fear that comes with having experienced something like that and not even be able to count on the police We have to have some sort of target. Now that the police have finally agreed that nationally they will attend every burglary the challenge is how to we ensure that prosecutions follow that. Daniel Korski said that the political leader should be given oversight of the Crown Prosecution Service in the same way as it has a role in running the Metropolitan Police. The idea was previously floated by Boris Johnson when he was London mayor in 2014 but came to nothing. 'One of the big issues we have had which also (Met Comissioner) Mark Rowley has identified is that even when the police do investigate, the prosecutions dont necessarily follow. 'We have an anomaly in London where the Met is overseen in part by the mayor but the CPS is not. I think that is an anomaly we have to correct policing and prosecutions need a democratic mandate and consent, we are now in danger of losing that consent.' He also backed the idea of a new direct entry system for the police force that would allow people with established backgrounds in other areas of life - including AI development - to join at higher ranks later in life. He has also previously vowed to put more officers on the beat - paid for by a tourist tax on London hotels. Last September all 43 chief constables agreed to prioritise the crime after the Mail exposed appalling prosecution rates which are below 2 per cent in some constabularies. The historic commitment was seen as a landmark moment because chief constables had previously set their own goals, which differed between forces. Although the agreement was signed last year, it has taken months for adequate resources to be put in place to fulfil the pledge. But last week all 43 forces confirmed that officers visited 100 per cent of burgled homes. Officers now go to the scene of around 500 domestic break-ins a day, latest figures revealed. Mr Korski worked as deputy head of the Downing Street policy unit during David Cameron's time as prime minister. He also helped run the official Remain campaign during the EU referendum and is a current vice-president of the Jewish Leadership Council. Last month he vowed to explore plans to turn off red lights in London between 10pm and 7am in order to speed up night-time traffic. He is promising to overturn Mr Khan's 'irrational' transport policies if he reaches City Hall by defeating the Labour politician. According to The Sun, this could include replacing red lights with amber flashing lights during quieter times and removing 20mph speed limits in some areas. He also wants to reduce traffic control measures through scrapping no right turns or closed streets where there isn't local support, the newspaper reported. A teenager has been charged with allegedly stabbing a stranger on a bus in broad daylight. Police allege a 34-year-old man was travelling on a bus on Flinders Street in Darlinghurst, Sydney, shortly after midday when he was suddenly stabbed by another passenger. The alleged attacker 19-year-old Trekieye Williams then got off the bus and fled the scene. He was later arrested in Prince Alfred Park at about 1.30pm and a knife was seized by police. Trekieye Williams, 19, allegedly stabbed a stranger on a buss in inner-city Sydney on Saturday He was arrested in Prince Alfred Park (pictured) at about 1.30pm and a knife was seized by police The alleged victim was taken to the St Vincent Hospital by NSW Ambulance with non-life threatening injuries to his left hard, arm, and chin. Officers from the Surry Hills Police Area Command established a crime scene and searched the area. Williams was taken to the Surry Hills Police Station and charged with several offences relating to the stabbing and another alleged assault on the same day. Police will allege the 19-year-old had assaulted and robbed a man in Bondi before proceeding to stab a stranger on the bus. The 34-year-old victim was taken to St Vincent Hospital (pictured) with non-life threatening injuries to his left hard, arm, and chin He has been charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, using and offensive weapon, aggravated robbery, common assault and destroying or damaging property. He was refused police bail and is expected to face the Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday. Police are investigating a horror crash that killed a mother-of-three as a domestic violence incident. Kristy Armstrong, 36, tragically died when her green sedan collided with a ute on Speedy St in Molong, NSW central west at about 3.40pm on Friday. Emergency services rushed to the scene and were unable to revive Ms Armstrong. Two of her daughters, aged eight and 13, in the backseat were taken to hospital with minor injuries. The ute driver, a 35-year-old man, was pulled from the wreckage of his vehicle by Fire and Rescue NSW personnel and airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. He is understood to be Ms Armstrong's former husband, Troy Armstrong. Kristy Armstrong (above) was tragically killed in a crash in Molong on Friday afternoon Mrs Armstrong's green sedan (above) collided with a ute believed to be driven by her ex-husband The 35-year-old arborist remains in a critical condition at Royal North Shore hospital. Police confirmed they are investigating the circumstances of the crash as domestic violence-related. Witnesses claim they were were seen arguing at a local school before driving away in seperate cars before the crash. No charges have been laid. Police remained at the crash scene on Saturday before the wreckages of both cars were later towed away. Social media posts show he and Ms Armstrong had been together since 2005 before separating last year. The tragic crash has rocked the close-knit town of Molong. Kristy and Troy Armstrong (pictured) were together for 17 years before they separated last year 'It's devastating for the town of Molong with the loss of a young local lady, it's terrible news for the families,' mayor Kevin Beatty told Nine News. 'Last night in town it was very sombre and again today, it's been very quiet.' 'It's not good news for the town at all.' Tributes have flooded social media, a local woman who knew the pair said she is 'shattered beyond words' while members of the community said the crash will affect the whole town. 'I have no words for the heartache on my mind right now only a massive ache in my heart,' she said. When approached for comment, NSW Police said local and specialist homicide officers are still investigating the circumstance of the crash but confirmed the two drivers are known to each other. NSW Police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. Parents could lose custody of their child if they do not affirm their gender State Rep. Lori Wilson said affirming a child's gender is 'in their best interest A proposed amendment to a bill in California would classify parents who refuse to affirm their child's gender as abusive and could result in revoked custody. AB957, proposed by Democratic Assemblymember Lori Wilson and state Senator Scott Wiener, amends the state Family Code which addresses the 'health, safety, and welfare of the child' in every household. If passed, the law could see children pulled from their parents' home if their family members have what the state deems anti-LGBTQ+ ideals. Rep. Wilson - who has a transgender son - said during a recent meeting that she believes parents supporting their child's gender is in the 'best interests' of the kid. 'We should be affirming our children in every possible way,' she said of the proposed last-minute addition to the Family Code bill. A proposed amendment to a bill in California would classify parents who refuse to affirm their child's gender as abusive and could result in revoked custody AB957 was proposed by Democratic Assembly member Lori Wilson (left) and state Senator Scott Wiener (right) and amends the state Family Code The bill originally passed in the California Assembly on May 3 but was amended on June 6 by state Sen. Wiener. It will need to pass again with the revisions. Under the revision to the Family Code, courts would be given complete authority to remove children from their homes if their parents do not affirm their gender. The change would also make it so that schools, churches, and other organizations would need to affirm the gender identity of a child or face repercussions. This is because the revisions would change the definition of what is considered to impact the 'health, safety, and welfare of [a] child.' Individuals and organizations who refuse or do not acknowledge a child's gender identity could potentially face abuse charges, however, a spokesperson for Rep. Wilson's office said the bill only applies to family law and not criminal law. The revisions have already been slammed by those who say the state should not step into private residences to monitor each child's gender and their parents' response. Nicole Peterson, founder of Facts Law Truth Justice, told the Daily Signal that the law is 'horrifying' and troublesome for parents everywhere. 'If a parent or guardian is unwilling or simply not ready to affirm their 7-year-old's new identity as they transition from Spongebob to Batman to Dora the Explorer they can be found guilty of child abuse under AB-957 if it passes into law,' she said. Rep. Wilson - who has a transgender son - said during a recent meeting that she believes parents supporting their child's gender is in the 'best interests' of the kid Here, California state assembly member Wilson explains her reasoning behind considering in a state bill that a parents lack of affirmation of a childs gender identity could factor into losing a custody battle. pic.twitter.com/RZjH7SRuHv Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 10, 2023 'This is a horrifying bill for children, and for parents and guardians not just in California, but across the country,' Peterson continued. She went on to mention that should California Governor Gavin Newsom run in the 2028 presidential election, she believes he would bring this law to every state. San Francisco lawyer Erin Friday told the Washington Free Beacon said she believes AB957's revisions could escalate to more boundary pushing laws. 'It's not a giant leapit's a tiny step to get there,' said Friday. 'We know exactly where they are going with it. I didn't think the bill could get worse, but it got worse,' she continued, saying she worries The language of the revisions is ambiguous and does not go into the specifics of how the law would be enforced and in what situations. It also does not mention the age range for children that this could fall upon or make a distinction between 'affirming' and 'sex-change.' The law would ask judges to consider parents' rejection or non-affirmation of their child's gender paramount to physical abuse or neglect. The revised AB957 comes as Wiener is also advancing a bill that would require foster parents to 'affirm' the identity of children who identify as transgender. Wiener previously made headlines for sponsoring a bill that would allow children to come from out of state to obtain sex change procedures in California. The revised AB957 comes as Wiener (pictured center) is also advancing a bill that would require foster parents to 'affirm' the identity of children who identify as transgender 'We believe that no one should be prosecuted or persecuted for getting the care they need including gender-affirming care,' Governor Gavin Newsom said in 2022 The 2022 bill received support from Gov. Newsom who applauded California's devotion to 'equality and acceptance.' 'We believe that no one should be prosecuted or persecuted for getting the care they need including gender-affirming care,' Newsom said in 2022. 'Parents know whats best for their kids, and they should be able to make decisions around the health of their children without fear. We must take a stand for parental choice,' he continued in a statement. Newsom has not commented on the new revisions to the Family Code. AB957 will have a hearing in the State Senate on June 13. The existence of the base was confirmed by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday U.S. intelligence experts say China has had a spy base in Cuba since 2019 China has been secretly operating a spy base in Cuba for four years, a White House official said, confirming that the communist country is increasing its surveillance capabilities right on the United States' doorstep. A Biden Administration official recently spoke on the condition of anonymity and confirmed the news that China has been in Havana since 2019. The confirmation comes just days after White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby denied that China had a base in the Caribbean, amid reports President Xi Jinping was plotting to build a base. 'I've seen that press report, it's not accurate,' Kirby said in an MSNBC interview regarding the Wall Street Journal's original story. And while Kirby was technically correct, a more disturbing truth has since emerged - China already has a listening station on the communist Caribbean island. Additionally, China appears to be looking to expand their number of bases around the world and has been quite some time. China has been secretly operating a spy base in Cuba for four years, a White House official said, confirming that the communist country is increasing its surveillance capabilities on the other side of the globe. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping A Biden Administration official recently spoke on the condition of anonymity and confirmed the news that China has been in Havana since 2019 The Biden Administration official who spoke out said they have long been worried about China's eagerness to expand their spying operations. 'What I can tell you is that we have been concerned since day one of this administration about China's influence activities around the world; certainly in this hemisphere and in this region, we're watching this very, very closely,' he continued. Chinese officials at one point looked at sites spanning the Atlantic Ocean, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and the Indo-Pacific. The original Wall Street Journal report on Thursday shared that China and Cuba had reached an agreement to build an electronic eavesdropping station on the island. The Journal reported China planned to pay a Cuba billions of dollars as part of the negotiations, however the U.S. intel official said the base was 'not a new development.' Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio also refuted the report in a Twitter post Saturday. 'The slanderous speculation continues, evidently promoted by certain media to cause harm and alarm without observing minimum patterns of communication and without providing data or evidence to support what they disseminate,' he wrote. The news of the base comes at a time when the relationship between China and the U.S. has been increasingly unsettling. In 2022, former-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited democratically governed Taiwan which led to China launching military exercises in the area. The original Wall Street Journal report on Thursday shared that China and Cuba had reached an agreement to build an electronic eavesdropping station on the island. The US Embassy in Havana is pictured in this August 2021 photograph Chinese officials at one point looked at sites spanning the Atlantic Ocean, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and the Indo-Pacific The Biden Administration official who spoke out said they have long been worried about China's eagerness to expand their spying operations Earlier this year, the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed into the United States. It was reported in the weeks after that the balloon gathered intelligence from several American military sites before it was shot down. The sources said China could have gathered more intelligence if not for the Biden administration's efforts to block it. The balloon entered US airspace on 28 January and was shot down on 4 February after passing over US nuclear missile sites, including the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to travel to China next week, a trip that was canceled as the balloon was flying over the U.S. Blinken expects to be in Beijing on June 18 for meetings with senior Chinese officials, according to U.S. officials. CIA Director William Burns met in Beijing with his counterpart last month. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with his Chinese counterpart in Vienna over two days in May and made clear that the administration wanted to improve high-level communications with the Chinese side. Donald Trump complained of his continued legal plights, exaggerating to a crowd in North Carolina that there are thousands of prosecutors pursuing him. The former president lamented for much of his remarks Saturday evening about the recent Justice Department indictment levying 37 counts against him regarding his handling of classified documents. Trump admitted that he 'in a sick way, I sort of enjoy' the continued attacks, noting that his popularity continues to soar the more Democrats go after him. 'We've got 5,000 prosecutors after us,' Trump said. Donald Trump complained at the North Carolina GOP Convention on Saturday that there are 5,000 prosecutors going after him but admitted that 'in a sick way, I sort of enjoy' the attacks The latest came as Trump attended the North Carolina GOP convention dinner on Saturday evening to deliver remarks to key players in the increasingly purple-ing state. It came on the heels of the ex-president's first public appearance since the documents in his 'joke of an indictment' were unsealed on Friday and unveiled 37 counts against Trump in the case related to his handling of classified documents. When landing on Trump Force One at the Greensboro airport, Trump was greeted by a crowd of supporters at the hangar who wanted the chance to interact with the former president and have him sign their MAGA gear. Some claims that the indictment against Trump has 'backfired' and only emboldened his base. Trump repeated this sentiment at his first speech of the day in Columbus, Georgia, saying that the charges have only improved his poll numbers. The afternoon speech to the Peach State's GOP convention was used by Trump as his time to counterpunch against the Democratic establishment after the indictment was unsealed on Friday. 'In the end, they're not coming after me, they're coming after you and I'm just standing in their way and I always will,' Trump told the Republican crowd. After stepping off Trump Force One at the Greensboro, North Carolina airport on Saturday afternoon, the former president was greeted by supporters waiting to have their MAGA swag signed The Justice Department unsealed an indictment Friday levying 37 counts against Trump and revealing the former president kept classified documents in a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago and in boxes on a stage of the Florida club The 2024 candidate appeared alongside Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in his first remarks since the Department of Justice (DOJ) unveiled 37 counts against him in his classified documents case, including 31 counts of Willful Retention of National Defense Information under the Espionage Act. He will appear in a Miami court on Tuesday afternoon and has already said he will 'of course' plead not guilty. In the North Carolina town with a population of 298,263, Trump was right at home at the Sheraton ballroom in small-town, red America speaking to a crowd of delegates and other North Carolina Republican Party insiders. Trump won North Carolina by only a 1.34 percent margin over President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. During his remarks in Georgia earlier on Saturday, the former chief executive continued to up his rhetoric against the Justice Department, FBI, Biden and Democrats overall, slamming the 'double standard' in federal government. 'Republicans are treated much differently at the Justice Department than Democrats,' he lamented. The former president added: 'Every time I fly over a blue state I get a subpoena.' Attendees of the North Carolina Republican Party Convention walk through vendor and campaign booths in Greensboro before Trump's remarks at the convention's dinner on Saturday evening The back-to-back appearances on Saturday follows revelations that Trump left classified documents scattered across his bathroom at his Florida estate and in boxes stacked on the Mar-a-Lago ballroom stage. The 49-page indictment also makes the stunning allegation that Trump bragged to aides about taking military secrets. Details laid out in the indictment are far more damning than first thought, and could land Trump in serious legal peril with a potential of decades in prison if he is convicted. Katy Gallagher reportedly has the backing of the Prime Minister's office despite accusations she misled parliament over her knowledge of Brittany Higgins' rape allegation. The Finance Minister addressed reporters outside an event in Perth on Saturday afternoon to say she'd been 'clear' and 'honest' at all times. Then-defence minister Linda Reynolds had accused Labor senators of being secretly briefed on the allegations made by Ms Higgins before they were aired publicly in February 2021. Ms Gallagher responded at the time 'no-one had any knowledge'. Recently leaked texts suggest Ms Higgins' boyfriend David Sharaz was in contact with Ms Gallagher before the allegations of rape were made public. Ms Gallagher has 'categorically' denied she misled parliament following the release of the texts by The Australian this week. Sources close to Anthony Albanese's office were reportedly making it clear they still supported Ms Gallagher as she came under fire, the Daily Telegraph reported. It comes as opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said Ms Gallagher has 'very, very serious questions to answer'. Katy Gallagher has denied she misled parliament at a press conference. Picture: Sandhya Ram Addressing the texts, Ms Gallagher said she had been made aware of 'some allegations' in the days leading up to Ms Higgins explosive interview in February 2021 'I believe that the explanation that has now been given is not adequate,' Ms Cash told Sky News. 'I believe that it is very, very flimsy. It does not accord with the indignation that she showed. 'But more than that, messages say she was also given a copy of The Project interview prior to The Project interview actually going to air, are you actually telling me she didn't read it? 'She didn't talk to members of the Labor Party about it. As I said, there are very serious questions here, which need to be answered.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Albanese's office for comment. Ms Gallagher was previously quizzed in Senate Estimates in June 2021 about the extent of her knowledge on the allegation before the story broke. During the June 2021 Senate Estimates hearing, then-Defence Minister Linda Reynolds accused Labor senators of being secretly briefed on the rape allegation. 'I was told by one of your senators two weeks before about what you were intending to do with the story in my office. Two weeks before,' She said. In response to the claim, Senator Gallagher said: 'No-one had any knowledge'. Addressing the texts from Mr Sharaz, Ms Gallagher said she had been made aware of 'some allegations' in the days leading up to Ms Higgins' explosive interview in February 2021. 'I've been clear, I've been honest and at all times I've been guided by the bravery and courage of a young woman who chose to speak up about her workplace and from that we have had massive changes to that workplace,' she said on Saturday. '(I was told) There was going to be some public reporting that a young woman making serious allegations about events that occurred in a minister's office were going to become public. 'I categorically rejected, and you see that in the footage of the committee, I categorically rejected the assertion she was putting, which was that we had chosen to weaponise that information weeks ahead of being told about this.' Senator Gallagher is under scrutiny after leaked texts between Ms Higgins and her boyfriend David Sharaz appear to show she may have known of the allegations before they were made public Questioned by reporters whether she misled parliament in 2021, Ms Gallagher simply said: 'No'. 'The answer to the question about the allegation of misleading is no, I did not mislead the parliament,' she said. 'I was responding to an assertion that was being made by the Minister, Reynolds, at the time that we had known about this for weeks and had made a decision to weaponise it. 'That is not true, it was never true I explained that to Senator Reynolds that night and she accepted that explanation, and that was some two years ago. 'I did nothing with that information and I know I was clear about that at the time. 'I was clear about that two years ago so there's absolutely no issue here at all.' Her comments come after Ms Reynolds claimed Ms Gallagher and now-Foreign Minister Penny Wong told her they knew about the allegations before they were made public. Senator Reynolds (pictured) was Ms Higgins' boss in 2019. Ms Higgins claims the alleged rape took place in her office 'Penny did know about it before it went public she said so at the meeting,' Senator Reynolds told The Australian on Friday. 'Katy did confirm with me she knew both David and Brittany, and he had told her what was going to happen before it happened.' Earlier on Saturday, at the same event, Senator Wong addressed reporters to confirm she did have prior knowledge of the allegations, despite claiming during the same 2021 Estimates hearing she 'had no knowledge' until the night the story broke. '(I knew) serious allegations were made by a Liberal staffer about an alleged rape which occurred metres from Prime Minister Morrison's office,' she said. 'I want to make clear I did not know the full details of the allegations before the story became public.' Ms Wong took aim at the former Coalition government, saying there were ministers at the time 'who did know a lot of detail'. 'They have still failed to account for what they did with that information,' she said, 'To this day, the Australian people do not know what Mr Morrison's office knew and when they knew because the report he commissioned by his former chief of staff Mr (Phil) Gaetjens, has never been made public. 'I do want to make this clear, President (Scott) Ryan, the former President of the senate, made a statement to the senate some time ago in which he indicated that a number of senators, including me, were aware of some details as early as 2020 when an anonymous complaint or anonymous complaints were made.' New leaked text messages between Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz (pictured together) appear to suggest Labor heavyweights may have 'direct contact' with the couple as part of an alleged plot to publicise her alleged sexual assault inside Parliament House But Ms Gallagher's denials are unlikely to quieten her critics, with Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley saying the statements raised more questions than they answered. 'We now know, years on from these developments, that senior Labor figures were tipped off about this serious allegation,' Ms Ley said. 'Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong, Katy Gallagher and Tanya Plibersek all have serious questions to answer about what they knew, when they knew it and what they did about it.' Senator Gallagher has been under scrutiny since explosive text messages between Mr Sharaz and Ms Higgins, sent four days before the rape allegations were made public, were published in The Australian earlier this week. 'Katy is going to come to me with some questions you need to prepare for She's really invested now ha ha,' Mr Sharaz wrote in one text on February 11, 2021. In another he referred to Senator Gallagher as an 'old friend' texting that: 'We opened a chair together. So you can trust her.' The messages are from the investigation into Bruce Lehrmann, who Ms Higgins alleged sexually assaulted her in Linda Reynolds former office in Parliament House in 2019, a claim Mr Lerhmann has always denied. They were widely distributed between Australian Federal Police, the ACT office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the defence legal team before being leaked to The Australian. Mr Sharaz was so close with Minister Gallagher that she was invited to his wedding. She told Radio National on Wednesday that she 'knew him' from when he was a journalist in Canberra, but said she had 'nothing more to add'. However, Daily Mail Australia earlier this week revealed Mr Sharaz's relationship with Senator Gallagher extended to the point where she was invited to attend his wedding to his ex-wife Alexandra Craig in 2018. She did not attend the wedding, but the invitation appeared to stem from a friendship that sparked nine years' ago - when Mr Sharaz worked for WIN News Canberra in 2014. David Sharaz met Senator Gallagher when he worked for WIN News. He interviewed her on television in 2014 and 2015 Mr Sharaz is pictured during an interview with Katy Gallagher in 2015 - a day before she was sworn into the Senate Mr Sharaz interviewed Senator Gallagher on television in 2014 and 2015, long before she joined federal parliament - asking her a range of questions about her future in politics. One interview was broadcast in March 2015, the day before the now-Finance Minister was sworn into the Senate. 'Are you nervous at all?' he asked, referring to her new job in federal politics. 'Yeah, very nervous,' she replied. 'Maybe when you look at politicians you think they're these egos that never get nervous, or worry about stuffing up or doing the wrong thing, but for me it's like every other job I've ever had.' Opposition leader Peter Dutton told 2GB this week that Senator Gallagher and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese need to be honest about what Labor knew and when and that the Integrity Commission would be interested. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday told Sunrise that he was 'absolutely' confident Senator Gallagher did not lie to Parliament. 'What is being suggested here by Peter Dutton,' Mr Albanese said. 'You had allegations by a Liberal staffer that another Liberal staffer had a sexual assault in a Liberal minister's office and, somehow, Katy Gallagher has some responsibility for what was going on here. 'This is bizarre.' Anthony Albanese said Scott Morrison had led the nation's concern over the allegations and ordered the Gaertjens Report into the incident which has still to have its findings revealed A British girl of three who was stabbed in a French playground by a crazed knifeman will be able to leave hospital in the coming days. Ettie Turners family were on holiday in Annecy when Abdalmasih Hanoun, 32, launched his senseless attack on Thursday. The Syrian refugee stabbed four children aged one to three and injured two pensioners at the lakeside town in the French Alps. He was arrested after police shot him in the legs. The Mail on Sunday can reveal Hanouns Swedish wife warned French and Swiss authorities about her husband months before the attack, but she was ignored. The woman, who is of Syrian origin herself, has since divorced him after he suddenly left the family home eight months ago. The Syrian refugee (pictured) stabbed four children aged one to three and injured two pensioners at the lakeside town in the French Alps on Thursday A close friend said: They should have listened to her when she contacted them. Maybe this could have been stopped. Hanoun is accused of attempted murder and faces life imprisonment. Etties parents have met French President Emmanuel Macron at the hospital where she is being treated. He said: She is watching TV and [the attack] is just a bad memory already. It has emerged that Hanoun was left traumatised after fighting in the Syrian civil war. The friend of the family, who live near Gothenburg, Sweden, revealed he left his wife and three-year-old daughter eight months ago after he was refused Swedish citizenship. He tried to claim asylum in Switzerland and France. On both occasions, his wife told immigration services he was unwell. Her calls and emails were ignored, said the friend, adding: We condemn what he has done. No one can explain why he did this. During national service in 2012, Hanoun and his unit were attacked by a jihadi group. He was the only one to survive in his team, said the friend. Shortly afterwards, he fled to Turkey, and stayed in a refugee camp before reaching Sweden. The friend said Hanouns ex-wife had no idea that he was involved in the Annecy attack until a French journalist called. The friend said: She staggered home quickly and did not tell her colleagues where she was going. She could not believe what she saw on the news, and could not bring herself to see the video of him attack children. He has never behaved like that in his life. He loved his own daughter more than himself. Trainee nurse Hanoun targeted children in Annecy on Thursday. Pictured here apprehended by police The friend said Hanouns ex-wife prayed all night for the injured children. Hanoun had been seen in the park every day in the past few weeks. Hed rest in a cardboard box at night, go swimming in Lake Annecy first thing in the morning, and then spend the day in the park, said an investigating source. Hanoun appeared before judges yesterday. Public prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis told a press conference that he had refused to answer questions from judges and police and would be held in custody. She added that none of the victims are in a life-threatening condition any longer. Donald Trump's arrest triggered fresh social media hilarity over a snap of boxes of classified documents piled high in a bathtub - with just a shower curtain to conceal them from view. The photos were published in a 49-page indictment unsealed on Friday, with the embattled Republican frontrunner expecting to plead not guilty to the claims in a Miami court Tuesday. One Twitter user noticed that a photo showing boxes stacked high in a Mar-a-Lago bathtub actually had several other boxes concealed by a shower curtain and a chandelier. 'Everyone has been posting this photo of boxes of documents in the bathroom at Mar a Lago, but look closely,' the Twitter user noted. 'It's so much worse than it first appears.' They included three spots where you could see visible boxes peeking out of the shower. As social media continues to pour over the photos of classified documents store at Mar-a-Lago, eagle eyed viewers have been noticing there are even more boxes in the photos than initially thought Twitter was filled with jokes reacting to the revelations. 'Who among us has not stored critical papers in our shower units, and of course the shower has a crystal chandelier!' cracked Adele Abrams. Another wrote: 'Its like an episode of Storage Wars with Trump selling the blind contents of the bathroom to the highest bidder.' 'Those are extra secure behind the curtain,' cracked another. 'Plumbing tip, if anything is leaking in the bathroom it should not be classified documents,' joked another user. Trump on Friday accused the FBI of staging photographs which show the boxes of classified documents illegally stored at his Florida estate. Trump said the photos were suspicious, writing on Truth Social: 'Strange! Everything about the boxes was so neat, orderly, and clean.' 'Did the FBI tip over the one box the way they 'staged' the papers on the floor during the raid of Mar-a-Lago, only to apologize after getting caught?' Trump is making his first public appearances this weekend at a rally in North Carolina The 76-year-old on Thursday said he had been told he was being indicted in relation to espionage - the first time in U.S. history that a former president has faced federal charges. He faces a total of 31 counts, including espionage charges, and could spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted. The news was met with outrage among the Republican party, with even his 2024 rival, Ron DeSantis, declaring that the 'weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society.' DeSantis stopped short of saying whether he'd pardon his rival if Trump was convicted, despite calls for the Florida governor to commit to doing so. Trump himself - who was in Bedminster, New Jersey when the charging news broke - condemned the indictment in a clip which The New York Times said was pre-recorded, saying it was political persecution, and said: 'I am innocent.' Donald Trump supporters at the Columbus Airport in Columbus, Georgia on Saturday Extraordinary new photos (above) revealed in the damning filing lay out how Trump valet Walt Nauta walked into a storage room and found intelligence files on allies including the United Kingdom and Australia spilled on the floor In one photo, the cardboard boxes are seen stacked in front of a shower curtain and next to a sink in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom. Some of Trump's aides simply called the files 'his papers' He will appear in court in Miami on Tuesday at 3pm, where the charges will be put to him. Trump denies all allegations he faces. Jack Smith, the special counsel who is overseeing the investigation, has not commented. He was indicted in Manhattan in April on state charges of making hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels - those state charges, too, were historic. But the classified information charges are federal and significantly more serious, and carry hefty prison sentences. THE CHARGES TRUMP FACES AND THE MAXIMUM PRISON SENTENCES Trump lawyers have confirmed he is facing seven federal charges. They have not received the formal indictment, but have been sent summonses that suggest he will face the below counts and maximum sentences. Willful retention of national defense information in violation of The Espionage Act (maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted) Conspiracy to obstruct justice (20 years) Withholding a document or record (20 years) Corruptly concealing a document or record (20 years) Concealing a document in a federal investigation (20 years) Scheme to conceal (five years) False statements and representations (five years) Advertisement Prosecutors have investigated the transfer of presidential files to his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate since last year. The probe exploded into the headlines in August when the FBI searched Trump's Florida home, recovering 11,000 documents, including about 100 that were marked as classified. For his part, Trump has repeatedly insisted he did nothing wrong and that he is the victim of a federal witch hunt. At times the controversy has even boosted his standing in the polls and allowed him to raise money from supporters who see a 'deep state' plot to take him out of the 2024 race. 'The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, even though Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware, additional Boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more Boxes at the University of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over his garage floor where he parks his Corvette, and which is 'secured' by only a garage door that is paper thin, and open much of the time,' Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday night. 'I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM. I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!' Later Thursday night, he put out a video. 'Very sadly we're a nation in decline and yet they go after a very popular president,' Trump said. 'I'm an innocent man, I did nothing wrong,' he continued, vowing to 'fight this out.' In an interview with Fox News Digital, Trump also said he would 'of course' plead not guilty. Security is already being increased around the courthouse in Miami ahead of his appearance before a judge, scheduled for 3pm on Tuesday. The investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents is being overseen by a special counsel, Jack Smith, who was appointed by the Attorney General Merrick Garland in November. The baby has paralysis in her right arm from birth complications She was left at the hospital by her mother, who was mentally ill and later died Baby Justyce was born four months ago and had not gotten a name until June 9 A disabled baby girl who was abandoned by her mother at a Washington, D.C. hospital has finally received a fitting name and her birth certificate four months after she came into the world. Baby Justyce and those caring for her had been waiting months for the proper documentation to obtain health insurance she needs for birth complications. She was dumped at a hospital by her mom, named only as Jessica, with cocaine in her system. Justyce's mom died before registering the infant's birth, leaving the youngster facing a red tape nightmare that meant she couldn't receive badly-needed healthcare. The four-month-old - whose mom had struggled with drug addiction and mental illness before her death - needs physical therapy for paralysis in her right arm. It had been an uphill battle for Justyce's foster mom, Yolanda Allen-Little, who had been through a bureaucratic saga just trying to obtain her documents. Allen-Little had hired an attorney to help with the situation and it required several motions being filed in the D.C. Superior Court to fulfill the request. 'I feel like a burden has been lifted,' Allen-Little told the Washington Post. A baby girl who was abandoned by her mother at a Washington, D.C. hospital has finally received a fitting name and her birth certificate four months after she came into the world Allen-Little, who once served as a foster mother for Justyce's birth mother Jessica, spoke with the Post to share the baby's rocky journey. According to the foster mother, she had stayed in contact with Jessica over the years as she struggled with mental illness and drug addiction. Just before Justyce was born, Jessica had been in a psychiatric ward and saw Allen-Little who begged her to stay there to get the help she needs. The woman said Jessica promised her she would stay but then fled that night. Allen-Little later received a call that Jessica and given birth and left the baby. She had reportedly told a social worker she wanted her own former foster mother to take Justyce home. When Justyce was born, she had cocaine in her system. She was released into Allen-Little's care 10 days after she was born. The woman was in Turkey when Justyce was born and then had to take care of her elderly mother for several days. In that time, she said she had no idea if the baby was being held or loved. 'It just made me feel bad to know she was waiting up in there, with no one to love her,' she told the Washington Post. Baby Justyce and those caring for her had been waiting months for the proper documentation to obtain health insurance she needs for birth complications The four-month-old - whose mom had struggled with drug addiction and mental illness before her death - needs physical therapy for paralysis in her right arm Allen-Little was never informed that she could take on Justyce as a foster parent rather than through an informal placement. That would have given the woman access to government funds and an immediate birth certificate, the Washington Post shared. The informal placement ended up causing more headaches for everyone involved. 'We were sort of in a holding pattern, where we didn't know what else to do,' Marla Spindel, Allen-Little's attorney, said. Spindel is the executive director of DC KinCare Alliance, a nonprofit that assists family members who are taking on children for their loved ones. Allen-Little was referred to Spindel by a judge who recommended she reach out to the agency for assistance with her case. Luckily, Spindel said others came in to help out with the child and her needs. 'I've gotten so many calls and emails from people who want to help,' Spindel said. 'Some people are dropping off diapers and formula at our office. There are people who have just called to see what happened with the baby or what they can do. People have really just shown their humanity, and it's amazing, the outpouring of love and support,' the lawyer said. Justyce's mother died, leaving her custodianship in a precarious situation after her birth 'They say it takes a village and the villagers have been coming through,' Allen-Little said. 'She has really created a serious village.' A GoFundMe set up for baby Justyce has raised over $30,000. The funds raised will help cover legal and hospital bills as well as an education for Justyce when she grows up. A community has gathered around the baby to support her in any way they can. 'They say it takes a village and the villagers have been coming through,' Allen-Little said. 'She has really created a serious village.' Through it all, the foster mom said her she just wanted Justyce to 'know she matters, that her life matters.' Allen-Little said the community that has come together for this little girl, some people donating thousands to the campaign. 'They are showing her that she matters,' she said. Sir Keir Starmer came in for fresh criticism last night over controversial plans branded 'class war' by the Tories. Cabinet Minister Kemi Badenoch tore into Labour for aiming to inflict a massive programme of 'social and economic engineering' on the country. The Mail on Sunday revealed last week how Labour's general election manifesto could include radical plans to force public bodies to make spending and other decisions that could penalise middle-class areas in favour of poorer neighbourhoods. The controversial idea - which raised fears of fewer bin collections, closures of libraries and hikes in council tax in richer areas to the benefit of poorer communities was put forward by the last Labour government in the 2010 Equality Act but then blocked by the Tories when they gained power. Senior Tory Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has branded the move 'a declaration of war on Middle Britain'. Cabinet Minister Kemi Badenoch tore into Labour for aiming to inflict a massive programme of 'social and economic engineering' on the country Sir Keir Starmer came in for fresh criticism last night over controversial plans branded 'class war' by the Tories And last night, Kemi Badenoch Minister for Women and Equalities explained why Tory Ministers had not implemented the controversial Section One of the Equality Act. Mrs Badenoch told the Mail on Sunday: 'Successive governments have determined that the socio-economic duty would be a massive unnecessary regulatory burden or, as one commentator memorably called it, 'socialism in one clause'. 'It shows Labour's desperation for ideas that they're even considering implementing this duty. 'The Equality Act is about protecting rights and freedoms, not social and economic engineering.' Separately, there are also fears that Labour's plan would lead to 'endless' court battles as people would get the right to take public bodies' spending decisions to judicial review. One government source said: 'the socio-economic duty would fuel endless judicial reviews. 'were it to be commenced, it would open up the potential for new legal challenges across multiple policies, including the Budget.' Yesterday, Kevin Bentley, leader of Tory-run Essex County Council, said: 'What Labour is considering is not only mindless, meddling bureaucracy it's also completely unnecessary.' However, one Left-wing Labour MP privately suggested that implementing the dormant part of the Equality Act, which would require public bodies to have 'due regard' to reducing 'the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage', was exactly what a Starmer government should do. Labour did not deny last week that the plan was under consideration but added: 'These documents are draft, internal documents subject to deliberation and amendment, and not a final statement of Party policy. The BBC plans to make sure new recruits have 'diverse opinions' after claims of a 'liberal bias' among employees. Senior figures hosted talks on changes which could be made to the recruitment process to make sure the BBC hires staff with a differing range of views. The move is seen as unusual because it stretches beyond a previous focus on the views of on-screen presenters. According to The Telegraph, the minutes of the meeting, attended by the BBC's director general Tim Davie and their chief operating officer Leigh Tavaziva, said: 'The Committee discussed analysis on ways in which the BBC was ensuring diversity of thought across the workforce. 'The analysis was noted and it was agreed that the issue was critical for the BBC, though specific monitoring and measurement in this area was not possible. The BBC plans to make sure new recruits have 'diverse opinions' after claims of a 'liberal bias' among employees (File image) The meeting was attended by BBC's director general Tim Davie (pictured) 'Ongoing work to revise the interview process was noted.' They added that more analysis of approaches taken in other organisations would be examined. The meeting took place on February 22 and was chaired by BBC board member Robbie Gibb. A review of of the BBC's Royal Charter is currently looking at the extent to which the corporation is 'representing audiences from working class backgrounds'. The decision to examine the diversity at the BBC comes after criticism of an alleged homogeneity of views among employees. The corporation's former chairman Richard Sharp said 'the BBC does have a liberal bias', suggesting the BBC became too London-centric last year. A review by the BBC Trust in 2014 said that some people thought its coverage of rural issues had 'a metropolitan bias'. MailOnline has contacted BBC for comment. Cantering in the sunshine with her two foals, Sammy the shire horse looks every inch the proud new mum. At a month old, Mouse and Tracey are thriving and Sammy struggles to keep up but that's hardly surprising. Both foals were bred from thoroughbred racehorses and Sammy is not their biological mother, but their adoptive one. Mouse and Tracey were born on the same day to different mares who both died because of complications. Jess Westwood, manager at Molland Ridge Stud in North Devon, had no option but to hand-rear them, bottle-feeding every two hours, round the clock. With hope of finding two foster mares slim at best, Jess, 31, all but resigned herself to playing equine mum for five months until she had a call from a friend telling her about Sammy, a shire horse who had lost her foal at birth that day. Cantering in the sunshine with her two foals Mouse and Tracey, Sammy the shire horse looks every inch the proud new mum 'If there's anyone that could feed and care for two thoroughbred foals it would be a shire horse, so I thought it worth a try,' said Jess. 'Sammy's foal had been 100 kilos at birth and the combined weight of Mouse and Tracey was just under 100 kilos, so I knew she would have enough milk to feed them both.' So two weeks ago, Jess picked up Sammy from her Leicestershire home and brought her to Molland Ridge, near Chulmleigh where she took to adoptive motherhood like a natural. 'She was maternal towards them instantly and while Mouse was a bit cautious about feeding at first, with Tracey's encouragement she soon got stuck in,' Jess recalls. 'It's a match made in heaven.' Jess, who gave up her career as a jump jockey after a head injury in a fall at 21, is one of the Britain's youngest National Hunt trainers, calling her 35 acres 'like a five star hotel for horses'. She adds: 'Ten years ago I struggled to pay any bills but I've persevered and today I've got a massive waiting list for horses to come here.' Tracey's mother, a flat-bred filly called Play Street, died from a haemorrhage within six hours of the birth, while Mouse's mother, a jump-bred filly, was put down after a complex birth. Sammy's owner Cath Pegg, a shire horse breeder, prepared her for adoptive motherhood as best she could, travelling down with some of the dirty straw from where she had given birth and placing it on to Mouse and Tracey so that they smelled of Sammy's foal. Jess Westwood, manager at Molland Ridge Stud in North Devon, had no option but to hand-rear them 'We also gave Sammy a slight bit of sedation so that if she was stressed she wasn't putting the foals at risk. But the moment we took the foals to her she took to them straight away,' says Jess. 'Shire and cob-type horses make ideal foster mums. They are calmer and less flighty than thoroughbreds, who are born to race. In fact, the first time Sammy saw Mouse and Tracey running off at a pace she looked a bit taken aback.' Sammy will remain with Jess in Devon until the foals are six months old, by which point they can be weaned off her milk. 'By then hopefully Sammy will also be back in foal and Mouse and Tracey will be independently eating and not reliant on her milk,' says Jess. Meanwhile, they are continuing to enjoy their unusual bond. 'It's lovely that the mare's tragedy of losing her own foal has helped two foals in need,' says Jess. 'I am so grateful Cath offered Sammy for this special opportunity and it's a massive relief all round to have such a happy ending.' With just 2,000 left in the UK, the state of the launderette looks doomed Launderettes have provided a lifeline for millions of Britons in need of freshly washed clothes and bed linen for almost three quarters of a century. But they are disappearing fast the victim of rising energy costs. In their heyday, there were about 14,000 launderettes in the UK, with their importance to communities reflected by scriptwriters for BBC soap opera EastEnders, who handed central character Dot Cotton a job as a launderette assistant. But by the 1980s the number fell to 12,500, in spite of a famous 1985 Levis advert pushing launderettes firmly back into the spotlight when model Nick Kamen sent female hearts aflutter by stripping to his boxer shorts in a self-service laundry. Their decline then was hastened by the increasing numbers able to buy washing machines for their own homes. Now, with just 2,000 left, the launderette looks doomed. The pandemic has played a role. Launderettes were one of the few high street businesses that remained open during lockdown, but this meant that they could not claim grants that sustained other businesses. Now, with just 2,000 left, the launderette looks doomed A key motif in the countrys most popular TV soap, EastEnders, is the Albert Square washateria, once presided over by the imperious Dot Cotton However, Bruce Herring, director of the National Association of the Launderette Industry, said that soaring energy bills have been the real killer. Many launderettes had long-term contracts with the utility companies, he said. These contracts have come to an end and prices are going up enormously. Most premises now pay about 12p per kWh for their gas-heated tumble dryers compared with 3p previously. Launderettes are also taking a hit from the cost to repair their equipment. Herring added: Some launderettes are using 20-year-old machines that are more expensive and harder to fix than the more modern ones. They transformed the chore of doing the laundry into a spectacle... even before Nick Kamen took his Levis off! By Stephen Bayley As the number of launderettes dwindles, we will soon realise something important is being lost. Not that strange frisson provided by a curious mixture of chemical vapours, fresh linen aromas and glittering technology, but an accidental sociability. For their social role is a deeply significant one. A key motif in the countrys most popular TV soap, EastEnders, is the Albert Square washateria, once presided over by the imperious Dot Cotton. These are not merely an automated laundry. They are a community hub, a therapeutic centre and a crucible of neighbourliness. In the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, which won best picture at this years Oscars, a laundromat (the preferred American term) becomes a portal to a fiendishly complex multiverse. The owner is beset by anxieties about income tax, a failing marriage and depression, but her business is the starting-point for an adventure that suggests other, possibly more fulfilling, realities exist beyond the drab here and now. The influential movie critic A.O. Scott described the film as a swirl of genre anxiety. The word swirl nicely suggests the pleasing hypnotic effect, the mesmerising solace, we have all enjoyed while watching our own and others washing going through the actual and metaphysical rigours of a full cycle. There is nothing new about the launderette idea. In Homers Odyssey, womenfolk did communal laundry on the sea shore awaiting the return of warrior husbands. But the idea of the automatic laundry is specifically American and rooted in the belief that everything, but especially housework, might be enhanced by electricity, styling and shameless application of decorative chromium plate. The demon of drudgery was to be replaced by the angel of automation. As the number of launderettes dwindles, we will soon realise something important is being lost Britains first launderette opened in Londons Bayswater in 1949, very much on American lines American designer Brooks Stevens had the inspiration of adding that amazing see-through door to a commercial washing machine, turning the everyday chore into a spectacle. In this way, he aestheticised dirty clothes surely one of the great creative achievements of the modern era. Britains first launderette opened in Londons Bayswater in 1949, very much on American lines. Soon after their numbers peaked, the launderettes status in popular culture was sanctified by one of the best television ads ever made. In 1985, Levis was having trouble selling its signature product, blue jeans, and called London adman John Hegarty. Though with Manhattan in mind, he had a very unusual, but very brilliant, idea and found a launderette on Harrow Road. There, with Marvin Gayes I Heard It On The Grapevine as a soundtrack, he art-directed the model Nick Kamen to strip to his boxers and put his denim trousers into the automatic wash cycle. In this way, stylish sex was suggested to be an additional part of the launderette experience. Indeed, given the unique social environment of the washateria especially attractive to students and young people on the move or anybody not blessed with a utility room they incubated serendipitous conversations that often led to consequential romances. But not for much longer. The reasons for the launderettes decline are complex. Business rental and energy charges are rising. Fast-fashion enthusiasts might find it cheaper to buy new clothes than wash and spin-dry old ones. Near where I live is the site which inspired Hanif Kureishis film My Beautiful Launderette, an ironic comedy, also released in 1985, whose concerns are not so much washing as sexual and racial identity. Yesterday, I went to check it out, in a street of shuttered takeaways and pound shops anxiously awaiting gentrification. Kureishis original launderette has gone, but the site is marked by a plaque a sure sign that the launderette has passed into heritage consciousness. Ron DeSantis earned his first endorsement from a fellow governor during his trip to Oklahoma on Saturday. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt praised DeSantis for his COVID-19 response as the 2024 candidate held a campaign rally in Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was in North Carolina Saturday evening issuing even more attacks against his No. 1 Republican primary rival, admitting that he has 'not been very nice' to the Florida governor. 'Governor DeSantis is a strong conservative and principled leader, and I am proud to endorse him for president,' Governor Stitt said outside of the venue for DeSantis' rally in his state on Saturday. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt became the first U.S. governor to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his Republican presidential primary bid. Pictured: The two governors appeared side-by-side at a rally in Oklahoma on Saturday Meanwhile, Donald Trump was slinging attacks against DeSantis during his remarks to theNorth Carolina state GOP convention on Saturday including admitting he is 'not nice' to the Florida governor 'As fellow Governors during COVID, DeSantis did not surrender states' rights and individual liberties over to groupthink,' he added. 'In this election cycle, Oklahomans will remember that DeSantis was one of the few who never backed down in the face of adversity, because DeSantis operated with dogged conviction and shared our values for a limited government and free country.' The Florida governor has garnered five endorsements in the House Reps. Chip Roy of Texas; Thomas Massie of Kentucky; Laurel Lee of Florida; Bob Good of Virginia; and Rich McCormick of Georgia. No senators in the upper chamber of Congress have levied their backing for DeSantis yet. Trump, the 2024 frontrunner by far, has earned a lot more support from politicians and lawmakers so far. Gov. Ron DeSantis was joined in Oklahoma by his wife Casey (pictured) Casey DeSantis and the Florida first couple's three children joined them at the rodeo in Ponca, Oklahoma on Saturday before the governor's remarks In the Senate, Trump has already garnered nine endorsements from Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; J.D. Vance of Ohio; Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee; Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi; Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma; Tommy Tuberville of Alabama; Eric Schmitt of Missouri; and Ted Budd of North Carolina. In the House, 45 congressmen and women have endorsed Trump. The former president has repeatedly slammed DeSantis and attacked him for 'disloyalty' for running against him after Trump's endorsement rocketed him to the Governor's Mansion in Florida in 2018. Trump said that he finds it hard to say 'DeSantis,' because he has been using alternative nicknames for him for so long like 'DeSanctis' and 'DeSanctimonious.' In a moment 'trying to be serious' in a recent interview, Trump admitted to the North Carolina crowd that he mistakenly said 'DeSanctis.' Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is facing growing anger from Conservative China-sceptics over plans to visit Beijing. Rishi Sunak could face ministerial resignations if the visit goes ahead, The Mail on Sunday understands. Mr Cleverly has angered Tories by arguing that Britain should adopt a less critical stance towards the country, on the grounds that isolating China would be against the UK's national interest. As part of the strategy, the Foreign Office is drawing up plans for Mr Cleverly, below, to visit Beijing despite concerns over the regime's human rights record. Last night, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith warned that a visit would provoke a backlash in the parliamentary party. Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly speaks to present the organisation's updated global economic outlook, in Paris, on June 7 Xi Jinping prepares to deliver a speech during the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 13, 2023 Mr Duncan Smith said: 'Cleverly is a total wet rag, who wants to fly out to China to kiss the backside of a regime responsible for shocking abuses of human rights, which poses a serious threat to our national interests.' The Prime Minister is regarded by China-sceptic MPs as being softer on his counterpart Xi Jinping than his predecessors. Earlier this year, former PM Liz Truss used a visit to Taiwan to make a plea for Mr Sunak to brand China as a 'threat' to UK security. She warned that a Cold War has already begun and that the West has to choose between appeasing Beijing or taking action to prevent war. She said: 'They have already made a choice about their strategy. 'The only choice we have is whether we appease and accommodate or we take action to prevent conflict.' Earlier this year, Mr Cleverly used a keynote speech to call for the UK to have a more constructive relationship with China. He argues that completely decoupling and isolating China 'would be a betrayal of our national interest and a wilful misunderstanding of the modern world'. A father-of-four, jailed over fraud and drugs, cannot be deported back to Jamaica because it would leave no one to look after his 'gangster' children. Swaye Binns, 45, will remain in the UK after an immigration tribunal was told three of his children were 'in and out prison', according to The Sun. Appeal judge, Therese Kamra said the three had 'strong gang connections' and would be adversely affected if their father was kicked out of the UK. This meant the Government lost its final appeal to reverse an earlier decision not to deport the Jamaican father who arrived in the country in 2000. The Home Office wanted to deport him after reportedly being jailed for possessing heroin in 2003. Swaye Binns, 45, will remain in the UK after an immigration tribunal was told three of his children were 'in and out prison' In 2014, he set up a fake business, based in Croydon, claiming to be authorised by the Government to advise Commonwealth migrants on nationality and citizenship matters He then disappeared for seven years in 2006 after signing his deportation letters. The father was later arrested on suspicion of an immigration offence. In 2014, he set up a fake business, based in Croydon, claiming to be authorised by the Government to advise Commonwealth migrants on nationality and citizenship matters. Charging 2,000 a pop, more than 260 people paid for 'help'. He submitted Home Office applications claiming a right of abode, to which clients were falsely told they had an automatic right as Commonwealth citizens. Binns was jailed for four years in 2018. Judge Elizabeth Smaller branded the cheat 'arrogant, grandiose, self-interested, blinkered and greedy'. She told The Sun: 'I am satisfied that you are dishonest through and through. This is serious offending with a high impact on vulnerable victims.' MailOnline has contacted the Home Office for comment. It comes after a plan to berth barge at London Royal docks was also refused The plan was part of an effort to reduce cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels Home Office plan to house 500 male migrants next to the River Mersey rejected Labour was last night accused of sabotaging efforts to solve the small boats crisis after plans to house migrants on a giant cruise ship near Liverpool collapsed. Port operating firm Peel Ports confirmed it was rejecting a Home Office plan for a vessel housing 500 male asylum seekers next to the River Mersey after fierce opposition from the Labour-led city council, MPs and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram. The plan to use a ship at the Wirral Waters regeneration project was part of government efforts to reduce the 6 million-a-day cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels. The rejection comes just days after permission to berth a barge housing migrants at London's Royal Docks was also refused amid opposition from London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Labour opposition is also mounting against a plan to house migrants on a barge in Tyneside. Port operating firm Peel Ports confirmed it was rejecting a Home Office plan for a vessel housing 500 male asylum seekers next to the River Mersey after fierce opposition from the Labour-led city council, MPs and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram. Pictured: An aerial view of the barge being accompanied by tug boats into Falmouth The rejection comes just days after permission to berth a barge housing migrants at London's Royal Docks was also refused amid opposition from London Mayor Sadiq Khan Tory Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson has said Labour is 'hellbent' on sabotaging the Government's plan Tory Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson said: 'Labour is hellbent on sabotaging the Government's legitimate and sensible plan to solve the small boat crisis. 'The best thing would be if the migrants were sent back the same day but sticking them on barges is a lot better than putting them in four-star hotels on the taxpayer.' Mick Whitley, Labour MP for Birkenhead, said: 'Having lobbied both the Government and Peel on this issue extensively, I'm pleased that these plans have been axed.' King's School Canterbury was founded in 597AD and re-founded by Henry VIII Teachers at Britain's oldest school are set to go on strike for the first time in its history. Bosses at King's School in Canterbury which was founded in 597AD say they are 'disappointed' staff are set to walk out next week in a row over pensions. Members of the National Education Union, which represents teachers, have announced their intention to strike after staff were consulted by the school. A spokesperson for The King's School said: 'Like many other independent schools, we have been consulting with teachers on the Teachers' Pension Scheme. 'Whilst many teachers have welcomed our proposals, we are disappointed that a group of teachers has declared an intention to strike on a number of days in June. Bosses at King's School in Canterbury (pictured) which was founded in 597AD say they are 'disappointed' staff are set to walk out next week in a row over pensions Playwright Christopher Marlowe, War Horse author Michael Morpurgo (pictured) and physician William Harvey are among its most notable former pupils 'We continue to work hard to seek a solution and to avoid such action being taken. 'However, we have contingency plans in place so that the exams, lessons and welfare of our pupils are not affected on those days.' It could not be confirmed how many staff are expected to walk out, but it is understood many teachers have assured King's they will be working as usual and only a small number are striking. Hundreds of staff across Kent and Medway went on strike earlier this year in an ongoing row with the government over pay. The National Education Union 'regretfully' pulled its members out of classrooms, leaving some schools forced to close or cancel classes. According to King's School, its 'origins find their roots in the monastic school founded by St Augustine, subsequent to his mission of 597AD'. It was later re-founded by Henry VIII in 1541. Playwright Christopher Marlowe, War Horse author Michael Morpurgo and physician William Harvey are among its most notable former pupils. There's a special feeling of satisfaction when you spot a bargain at the shops. And it seems Britons are more willing than ever to go in search of better deals. More than 14million Brits have swapped supermarkets in the past year - with the average person saving a whopping 756 by doing so, a study shows. Research by protection insurance specialists LifeSearch found that 24 per cent of Brits had switched supermarkets to save money in the past year. A total of 3,000 Brits were quizzed about their shopping habits in a bid to find out how the cost of living crisis was affecting our weekly food shop. The average shop works out at just over 45-per-head each week, which works out at around 180 for a family of four. With 59million adults in the UK, that works out at 14.2million who have changed their shopping habits in the past 12 months. A total of 3,000 Brits were quizzed about their shopping habits in a bid to find out how the cost of living crisis was affecting our weekly food shop The study also found that the average Brit saved just over 63-per-month after switching supermarkets, an annual saving of 756. Many Brits now compare prices between various supermarkets to ensure they get best value. Supermarkets like Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsburys - and the posher ones, M&S and Waitrose - all face increased competition from budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl. Both of the supermarket chains have boomed in recent years, hoovering up business from many cost-savvy shoppers, with both Lidl and Aldi having around 1,000 stores each in the UK. The study found that the Brits most likely to switch were women over the age of 55 from Yorkshire and Humber. It found that 30 per cent of those aged 55 and over had swapped supermarkets to save money in the past year, compared to 25% of those aged 35-54, and just 18 per cent of those aged 18-34. A total of 30 per cent of the women polled said they had switched, compared to just 20 per cent of blokes. The report showed that it made no difference if you were earning under 20,000-a-year or 60,000-a-year, with 24% in all income ranges saying theyd swapped supermarkets in the past year. Emma Walker, chief growth officer at LifeSearch, said:Our research shows that, while many Brits have had to make big sweeping changes to make ends meet, the majority of savings arent being made by big-ticket means. For example, nearly one in four say theyve simply switched supermarkets and estimate theyve each racked up over 63 per month in savings as a result. An Iraqi paedophile was reportedly spared deportation from Britain after he claimed to fear persecution in Iraq because he is bisexual. The man who is only known as MA due to an anonymity order had entered the UK illegally in September 2017, according to the Mirror. In November 2018 he was jailed for 10 months for abusing a child and was ordered to sign the sex offender register. Deportation papers for MA were signed and an order was created to make him leave Britain. In a legal bid to stay, the paedophile told an immigration tribunal he should be protected as he was at risk of 'honour-based violence' for 'his bisexuality' - and he won his case. Home Secretary Suella Braverman contested the ruling by claiming that MA told 'numerous lies'. Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) contested the ruling by claiming that MA told 'numerous lies' He also claimed protection under his right to a family life in the UK. Government lawyers said it was 'not accepted the appellant is at risk of persecution because of his sexuality' and told the Mirror: 'It is considered his deportation is in the public interest given the offence committed and likelihood of reoffending.' However, upper tribunal judge Therese Kamara, sitting in Central London, agrees with the initial ruling. She told the appeal hearing that that his fear of persecution at the hands of his own family due to his sexuality was a 'relevant factor' as well as the 'potential risk from the public, discrimination by the authorities [and] the absence of protection for LGBTI people'. A Home Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Foreign national offenders who exploit our system and commit abhorrent crimes in the UK should face the full force of the law, including deportation at the earliest opportunity for those eligible. 'Our Nationality and Borders Act makes it harder for people to make last-minute legal challenges as a delay tactic to frustrate removals.' Donald Trump has been slammed for lacking his trademark energy during his speech in North Carolina on Saturday. The former president, 76, spoke at both the state party convention in Greensboro and at a GOP convention in Columbus, Georgia - just one day after the Department of Justice unveiled 37 counts against him in his classified documents case. During his back-to-back speeches, Trump was lacking his usual vigor and verve - and many who were in the audience and at home quickly noticed. Some of those pointed out the differences between this campaign trail and his 2016 one, and queried whether the unusually-monotone president was phoning his performance in Trump told the crowd in North Carolina: 'In the end, they're not coming after me, they're coming after you, and I'm just standing in their way. Donald Trump delivers remarks June 10, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. During his back-to-back speeches, Trump was lacking his usual vigor and verve, people watching in the audience and at home noted 'The baseless indictment of me by the Biden administration's weaponized Department of In-Justice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country.' One person, who was in the room watching the North Carolina speech, told DailyMail.com afterwards: 'He was like I've never seen him before.' Another person from the crowd added: 'I saw him in 2016 and 2020 and he was feeding a lot off the crowd then...maybe he was just tired.' MAGA crowds cheering and chanting Trump's name also saw a delay with his first standing ovation an hour into the event - when he mentioned critical race theory. At previous rallies, he frequently received standing ovations from the moment he first appeared on stage to begin speaking. The notion that Trump's energy was low for the North Carolina event also swirled online - some believing it was because he's 'losing sleep' over the indictment. One person online said: 'Trump looks really really bad. Just a tired sad old geezer & that constantly repeating yourself & fixated on things is a sign of early dementia. The Trump kids need to look for A Place For Dad.' Another said: 'Trump has been really low energy today.' A third added: 'Trump is giving perhaps his lowest energy speech of all time in North Carolina,' while another claimed: 'Trump 16 would be embarrassed by the Trump 24 campaign energy.' And another one of Trump's supporters said: 'I've never seen a Trump rally with as little energy as the one today. Trump sounds exhausted. 'Same made-up stories every time. Conspiracy peddling, division, and all the hits. Guess he's losing sleep over this indictment. Don't worry, Donny, there are several more coming!' One person who had been watching the speech from home said: 'Watching the local news tonight and they showed a Trump clip he sounds super low energy no enthusiasm what so ever.' Another person noted: 'Super cringe and low energy. This is not 2016 Trump.' Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday that he has read the indictment outlining federal charges against former President Donald Trump in the Mar-a-Lago documents case. He declined to share his personal reaction to the content of the indictment - which includes photographs of boxes with classified information stacked in a bathroom and on a ballroom stage, or to criticize Trump, whom he is challenging for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. 'I've read the indictment,' Pence said in an interview with Associated Press in North Carolina, where he addressed state Republicans. Former Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday that he has read the indictment outlining federal charges against former President Donald Trump in the Mar-a-Lago documents case It claims he stored the documents - 184 of which contained classified information in a ballroom and bathroom at his resort, among other places 'I also know that every Americans entitled to the presumption of innocence. And as I said today, we now know the Department of Justices view of these matters. But the former president is entitled to present his defense. And we dont know what the facts of that are.' 'That's why I said today Im going to urge patience, encourage people to be prayerful for the former president, but also for all those in authority and for the country going forward,' said Pence, who formally launched his 2024 campaign this week. This comes after Trump said he will continue his 2024 White House run even if he's convicted of illegally keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. The former president, 76, vowed to 'never leave' the political sphere as he continues on with his campaign to get on the Republican ticket for the next election. Trump told Politico on board his plane today: 'I'll never leave. Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable.' Even if Trump theoretically became a convicted felon or went to prison, he would not be legally prohibited from running for president. And he confirmed that a conviction would not slow him in his tracks during his 2024 campaign. As of June 9, Trump is still the polling favorite among the Republican candidates - with a 32 point clearance from second place, Ron DeSantis. Trump also made a dig against the people lodging the charges against him today, adding: 'These are thugs and degenerates..are after me' as he continued to steadfastly argue his innocence. Donald Trump made his first public appearance since the documents in his indictment were unsealed in Georgia A photo, published by the U.S. Justice Department, shows boxes of documents stored in a bathroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in early 2021 He told Politico: 'I don't want to be indicted. I've never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months. It's been political.' Trump also appeared in Georgia today after it was reveal that Trump left classified documents scattered across his bathroom and the Mar-a-Lago ballroom stage and bragged to aides about taking military secrets, according to the stunning indictment unsealed by the Department of Justice on Friday. Extraordinary photos revealed in the damning filing lay out claims that Trump valet Walt Nauta walked into a storage room and found 'Five Eyes' intelligence files on allies including the United Kingdom and Australia spilled on the floor. The ex-president lamented that President Joe Biden had more boxes of materials that he should not have taken from the White House in his possession, and said the DOJ is refusing to investigate that. Of the 37 charges, 31 counts are of Willful Retention of National Defense Information under the Espionage Act. He will appear in a Miami court on Tuesday afternoon and has already said he will plead not guilty. The details laid out are far more damning than first thought, and could land Trump in serious legal peril with a potential of decades in prison if he is convicted. Today in Georgia, Trump attacked the 'corrupt' and 'weaponized' Justice Department, telling the rally: 'Every time I fly over a blue state I get a subpoena.' 'We want him before a grand jury,' Trump said in a voice mimicking Democrats who want to see him behind bars. 'The only good thing about it is that it's driven my poll numbers way up, can you believe it?' he half-joked. Rep. Greene, invited onto stage by Trump during his speech, said: 'This is something that you know, this is something that I know President Trump is beating Biden in poll after poll after poll.' 'Let's get Trump back in the White House for four more years' she told the crowd as they broke out into a chant of 'four more years.' He remains the Republican frontrunner, and sits 34 points ahead of his main competitor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to a five thirty eight poll. The greatest issue at stake in the treatment of Boris Johnson is the lack of democracy. Consider that this is a former Prime Minister who led his party to a spectacular Election victory, so gaining a mandate stronger than any Tory has had since Margaret Thatcher. Yet he has been brought down by back-room machinations, a tribunal he reasonably describes as a kangaroo court, and by the disloyalty of former colleagues, who in some cases he helped to lift into power on his coat-tails. Not since the much-regretted 1990 Tory coup detat against Mrs Thatcher has such a significant figure been brought down by such small forces, a tiger undone by minuscule nibbling mice. You do not have to be an admirer of Mr Johnsons politics or methods to accept that he is a major character in our national drama, exciting strong feelings among supporters and opponents alike and almost uniquely capable of communicating directly with the people. We have no presidential system here, and that is probably a good thing. But the Commons majority that now keeps the Conservative Party in office is very largely Mr Johnsons personal achievement. Yet here is the author of that victory driven, by what he sees as petty spite, into quitting parliamentary politics, perhaps (though not certainly) for good. Honestly, if British politics has no room for such a figure, then British politics has got too small for its own good. He has been brought down by back-room machinations, a tribunal he reasonably describes as a kangaroo court, and by the disloyalty of former colleagues, who in some cases he helped to lift into power on his coat-tails Not since the much-regretted 1990 Tory coup detat against Mrs Thatcher has such a significant figure been brought down by such small forces, a tiger undone by minuscule nibbling mice It is still a mystery that the Government did not make use of Mr Johnson as its special envoy to Ukraine, a country where he is much admired and where his staunch support of President Volodymyr Zelensky has given Britain a special relationship with that embattled nation. Is Boris Johnson right about the spite? There is a powerful case for believing so. Can we really believe that in the British system of nods, winks and whispers, no way could have been found to let Mr Johnsons honours list pass unscathed through the approval process? READ MORE: DANIEL JOHNSON: The nation has lost a transformative political genius whose like we won't see again Fact-box text Advertisement And why deny a peerage to Nadine Dorries, a regrettably rare working-class Tory with real experience at the hard end of the NHS and a council-estate and comprehensive upbringing? To put it at its most mild, there are now people in the overcrowded House of Lords with far slenderer claims to their positions. It is not at all surprising that a red mist of genuine fury formed around Mr Johnson when he learned of this development. As for the Commons Privileges Committee, The Mail on Sunday has argued for many months that this body simply cannot, as things stand, be taken seriously as an impartial tribunal. Can anyone think of any other judicial procedure in which the judges in the matter would be able to express their views on the case before they had even heard the defence? And here is a fascinating issue. Anyone who wishes to avoid a Starmer government now a real danger must surely be working overtime for the recovery and success of the Conservative Party. No other body can keep Sir Keirs radicals out of Downing Street when the next Election comes and it is coming soon. So it is surely self-indulgence of a very strange sort for Conservative MPs on the committee to assist at the humiliation and ejection from the Commons of Boris Johnson. He is, again, entitled to ask how our political system failed to prevent the severe and perilous verdict which the committee appears to have reached. This weekend, Mr Johnsons friends and allies are blaming Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for this state of affairs, and a total, irreparable breach between the Johnson and Sunak camps is now a grave danger. Nothing could give more joy to all the enemies of Conservatism. Sir Keir Starmer, the Liberal Democrats, the anti-Tory layers of the BBC, the SNP and every other enemy of a stable, prosperous and united kingdom are all salivating at the prospect of a Tory descent into factional war, as well as rejoicing at the departure from parliamentary politics of one of their most effective foes. The rest of us, therefore, should be very careful not to give these dangerous factions what they want. And why deny a peerage to Nadine Dorries, a regrettably rare working-class Tory with real experience at the hard end of the NHS and a council-estate and comprehensive upbringing? As for Mr Sunak, whatever his role in the events of the last few days, he too must understand that Tory civil war, never a good idea, would be disastrous now That advice embraces Boris Johnson and his friends. It is of course understandable that they are incandescent. They may warm to the idea of setting up as rivals to a Sunak administration. But they must not do this. In a few days, the world will get back to its calmer, normal state, and all the tasks that Toryism needs to address will still be very urgently there. Brexit, Mr Johnsons greatest triumph, is increasingly in peril through the indirect attacks of diehard Remainers who even now hope to undo it, piece by piece. The revival of this country as an enterprise economy, with fair taxes, is an urgent priority. The Lefts belief that taxation is somehow good in itself needs constantly to be challenged. The migration emergency still has to be got under control. An intensifying law and order and criminal justice crisis can only be dealt with by Tory measures. And so on. READ MORE: Boris Johnson's resignation letter in full after he quits as MP Fact-box text Advertisement It is in these areas that the next Election can still be won by the forces of conservatism. If it is lost through factional fighting, it is most unlikely that Mr Johnson will ever be forgiven by those who have to endure the awful government we will then get. Mr Johnson has praised the Roman statesman Cincinnatus, who went back to his small farm and his plough after saving his country. We recommend that he follows this example, steps aside from politics, refreshes himself amid the summer beauties of the English countryside, rediscovers domestic life, changes some nappies, makes some money, writes newspaper articles about many subjects other than politics and contemplates his extraordinary life so far. He knows from the Classical world, from English history and from Shakespeare, that many disasters are illusory and that the apparently defeated often return to power. In fact, this happened to Cincinnatus, too. As for Mr Sunak, whatever his role in the events of the last few days, he too must understand that Tory civil war, never a good idea, would be disastrous now. He should do all in his power to limit and contain it. And, like the Tory Party and the country as a whole, he should recognise that Boris Johnson cannot simply be cancelled or relegated into a long retirement. He is too big for that. As the Tories found after the fall of Lady Thatcher, overthrowing titans is comparatively simple compared with the task of filling the vast gap you have created. Succession is a difficult and dangerous process. That episode, in the end, handed the country to Labour for 13 long and costly years. We must not repeat the mistake. Senator Cash has called the revelations 'very, very disturbing' Michaelia Cash has demanded the release of the full five-hour tape of the controversial lunch between Lisa Wilkinson and Brittany Higgins - after Daily Mail Australia revealed The Project host encouraged the staffer to secretly record a meeting with the minister. A conversation between Ms Higgins and her old boss, the then-Education Minister Ms Cash, recorded on February 5, 2021, later formed part of a formal complaint submitted to Australian Federal Police during Bruce Lehrmann's rape trial in October. This masthead revealed earlier today Ms Wilkinson appeared to back the idea of a covert recording during a five-hour meeting with her producer Angus Llewellyn, Ms Higgins and her boyfriend David Sharaz in a Sydney hotel room on January 27, 2021. Now Ms Cash, the opposition legal affairs spokeswoman, has spoken of her shock at the 'incredibly disturbing' revelations. Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash (pictured) has formally called for the release of the tapes from the five-hour lunch between Lisa Wilkinson and Brittany Higgins Ms Cash said she believed Channel 10, The Project and Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) some 'very, very serious questions to answer' 'Channel 10, The Project and Lisa Wilkinson have some very, very serious questions to answer,' Senator Cash told Sky News on Sunday morning. 'All of Australia should actually see what went on in that interview - that a senior journalist in Lisa Wilkinson, and the producer of The Project would actively have encouraged a young woman in a distressed situation to basically commit what is considered to be an illegal offense.' Ms Cash blasted Wilkinson and her producer's alleged behaviour for encouraging Ms Higgins to record her and called for the Channel 10 to release the full transcript of the lunch. 'I would call on Channel 10 to formally release the five hours so we can all actually see what went on in this interview,' she said. She added: 'The encouragement to record a phone call and to jurisdiction shop to find a forum in which there might be a loophole - that is incredibly disturbing for all Australians, that a news outlet would encourage someone to do that. ' The meeting between Ms Wilkinson and Ms Higgins came during a long lunch, five days before her rape allegations against fellow political staffer Bruce Lehrmann were aired on television. The purpose of the lunch was to decide how best to approach Ms Higgins' forthcoming interview on The Project, which was broadcast two weeks later, in which she alleged she was raped by Mr Lehrmann in Parliament House in 2019. Mr Lehrmann has always denied the allegations. His trial on the charges ended without a verdict as the jury was dismissed when one juror brought in outside material for consideration. During the pre-show conversation, the group spoke extensively about Ms Higgins' experience working as an assistant media advisor for former Employment Minister Michaelia Cash in the years after her alleged assault. A court previously heard Ms Higgins disclosed her alleged rape to various colleagues, including Senator Cash, but ultimately decided not to take the matter to police because she feared she would lose her job. However, in the January 2021 meeting, Ms Higgins said she had been compiling the information to use as evidence, and said all devices used by parliamentary staffers had software installed by the government. Brittany Higgins is pictured, left, outside ACT Supreme Court in October last year Ms Higgins told the group her personal phone was mysteriously wiped - including screenshots of WhatsApp conversations with Senator Cash and her former boss, then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds. Ms Wilkinson then said: 'What do you think about on the last day, Brittany saying, 'can someone please tell me what happened to my phone? Because all of the data got wiped and that includes all my photos'.' 'Just to see what their response is. Because we won't get a response from them, if we ask the question. But it might be interesting if you ask.' Ms Higgins replied: 'What's the validity of me recording any of these conversations, though? If I did have that conversation, I would feel safer having it recorded. But can I record those sort of conversations?' Ms Wilkinson turned to her producer Mr Llewellyn, inviting him to answer, saying: 'You're better at legal stuff than me.' Mr Llewellyn pointed out there are laws in NSW against recording conversations without the consent of all parties, before he realised Ms Higgins would be in the ACT. 'Whereas everywhere else is okay. You can somehow get away with, but then again, Canberra operates, and Parliament House operates in a wacky, wacky world. So, that may be different to ACT rules as well,' he said. Ms Higgins said: 'Even off the record, just for corroboration's sake, I'd be willing to record something of that conversation, if that happens. Yeah.' Brittany Higgins worked for Michaelia Cash, left, when she was the employment minister, and Linda Reynolds, right, when she was the defence industry minister Brittany Higgins is pictured with her boyfriend, David Sharaz. They were both in a meeting with Wilkinson and a Channel 10 producer Eventually, Ms Wilkinson said: 'It may mean that we can't use it ... But this is just for your own...' To which Ms Higgins replied: 'Yeah, exactly. And just sort of, for your background, I guess ... As like a sort of, a sounding board about what its like. Id do that for you.' The ACT's Listening Devices Act 1992 states that it is illegal to record a private conversation unless you have the consent of all parties. The ACT Supreme Court heard in October last year, during Mr Lehrmann's jury trial, that Ms Higgins did secretly record a conversation with Senator Cash on February 5, 2021 - 10 days before her interview on The Project went to air. During that phone call, the senator tried to dissuade her from resigning. Ms Higgins told the court Senator Cash pretended as though she didn't know about her rape allegations, and made out 'as though security guard has assaulted me'. 'It was the weirdest call of my life,' she told the court. During the trial, Mr Lehrmann's lawyer Steven Whybrow cross-examined her about the recording of Senator Cash: 'You recorded her on that call without her knowledge?' 'That's correct,' Ms Higgins confirmed. Ms Higgins said the recording was sent to multiple friends for 'safekeeping'. The recording formed part of an official complaint by Mr Lehrmann's defence lawyer, Steven Whybrow, to the Australian Federal Police on October 24 - while the jury was in deliberations. Bruce Lehrmann is pictured, left, with his defence barrister Steven whybrow The complaint, obtained by Daily Mail Australia, contained a range of allegations against Ms Higgins - 'breaches of sections 4-6 Listening Devices Act'. It read: 'Covertly, by the use of listening device, recorded conversations with numerous persons without their knowledge or consent, including Senator Michaelia Cash and Mr Daniel Try (Senator Cash's chief of staff).' She was also accused of 'disseminating those conversations to multiple persons including journalists and public relations consultants without the consent or knowledge of the other party'. Further complaints by Mr Whybrow included 'destroy or concealing evidence', which related to a photo of a bruise on her leg which Ms Higgins claimed was from the alleged assault. However, investigators were unable to find evidence of the photo prior to January 2021. She also signed a statutory declaration for Channel 10 to say the photo was taken 11 days after the alleged assault. Mr Whybrow also accused her of 'deleted and/or concealed communications' with witnesses in the trial, and using Instagram to question the honesty of one of the witnesses during the trial When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, AFP would not confirm whether an investigation into Mr Whybrow's complaints was still open. Mr Lehrmann's criminal trial in the ACT Supreme was aborted in December last year. Ms Wilkinson was approached for comment, but declined. A spokesperson for Ms Higgins told Daily Mail Australia: 'I'd refer you to court transcripts where Brittany responded to all of these questions under oath when they were put to her by the defence attorney.' Comment has also been sought for Channel 10. Residents and business owners on one of Australia's most iconic streets have had enough of hoons thrashing their cars, brawling and even defecating in public. Locals claim Melbourne's Chapel Street has become a playground-of-sorts for reckless and 'drug-affected' people behaving in an anti-social manner. A series of videos have appeared on social media showing modified cars doing burn-outs down the famous strip at night-time. Other videos show visitors fighting with brawls spilling onto the road while some relieve themselves of their bodily fluids in front of residents. A young woman who works in an Italian restaurant on the famous strip told Daily Mail Australia she saw a car driven recklessly by a young man almost cause an accident on Saturday evening. 'Yesterday outside our restaurant one nearly crashed because they're driving so fast,' Smriti, who works in La Lucciola Bistro at South Yarra, said. Residents and business owners who live and work around one of Australia's most iconic streets have had enough of hoons thrashing their cars, fighting and even defecating in public Locals are set to lodge formal complaints with the Victorian Ombudsman against Stonnington Council about impacts on them One restaurant worker who spoke to Daily Mail Australia said 'scary' hoon drivers ignore the fact that so many pedestrians use Chapel Street 'Last night the driver sped past so fast he nearly hit a bicyclist. 'We were in the car in traffic lights, waiting on the green light and a young guy sped past us on the red light. 'It was hard to tell exactly what was going on because it happened fast, but he was pretty young. It was like a movie.' She said the alarmed passengers commented the scene was like being trapped in a scene from the Fast and the Furious. Smriti, who has worked in the restaurant for two years, claimed the atmosphere has become far more 'dangerous' this year, even worsening in April and May 2023. 'It does feel really dangerous lately, it feels like something could go wrong at any moment,' Smriti said. 'It's scary. This is a public area with a lot of people walking past too.' Locals are set to lodge formal complaints with the Victorian Ombudsman against Stonnington Council, Herald Sun reported. The concerned locals believe the money repeatedly spent on repairing damage and cleaning up in Prahran, South Yarra and Windsor is a waste of ratepayers' money. A young woman who works at La Lucciola restaurant on the famous strip saw a car driven recklessly by a young man almost cause an accident on Saturday evening A series of videos have appeared on social media showing modified cars, driven by young men, doing burn-outs and down the famous strip at night-time Locals claim 'drug-affected' young people are fighting, breaking glass and even defecating on Chapel Street and they've had enough. Pictured, two people brawl on the Chapel Street On many occasions rubbish, including broken glass, was being left on the street. Many incidents, including fights and dangerous driving, have become fodder for sharing on social media. In one case a resident witnessed a man brandishing a machete on the street. In another a driver ran into a tree outside Prahran High School on High Street, 200 metres from Chapel Street. One woman who lives and co-owns a business at Prahran, feared someone will be 'killed' as a result of the unruly behaviour including 'continual' speeding by cars. 'It's just getting filthy and grotty, and becoming a real ghetto,' Alexandra Petrovic-Defteros said. She claimed to have witnessed 'disgusting' people defecating and urinating on homes and businesses near clubs and pubs. Ms Petrovic-Defteros also claimed that the alleged use of illegal drugs and anti-social behaviour on the strip is now 'out of control'. A local who asked not to be named claimed that the hoons were using residential back streets to race, sometimes as fast as 140 kilometres per hour. So-called hoon driving by young men has become a problem around Chapel Street Melbourne and locals fear someone may die if it isn't eliminated Chapel Street is famous for high volumes of foot traffic from people visiting its restaurants and shops He called on Victoria police to increase the number of police officers patrolling on foot. A Victoria police spokesman said 'maintaining community safety and public order along Chapel Street is a major priority'. The police already have an ongoing operation targeting hoon driving, across Stonnington and Port Phillip. Daily Mail Australia contacted Stonnington Council and the Chapel Street Precinct for comment. An Australian tradie who allegedly went on a naked rampage seriously injuring an Indonesian fisherman on a remote island has returned home. Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, was deported after being in an Indonesian prison cell since late April after he was accused by police of drunken attacks on multiple people in the deeply conservative Muslim province of Aceh. He landed in Melbourne on Sunday morning on his way back to the Gold Coast in south east Queensland. Australian tradie Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, has been deported from Indonesia over a naked rampage on a remote island Mr Risby-Jones said he has apologised and paid compensation to the fisherman who sustained serious leg injuries as result of his actions. That allowed him to avoid going to court and facing a possible charge of assault that could have landed him up to five years in prison. He spent three nights at an immigration detention centre before he was deported on Saturday. Risby-Jones gave a smile and a thumbs up for the cameras as he was escorted by immigration through Soekarno-Hatta international airport for his flight home. 'Of course I'm pretty emotional, so I'm going to feel bad about it,' Mr Risby-Jones told reporters at the airport. He said the fisherman's relatives forgave him and told him that he was a part of their family now. 'I'm welcome to come back and even stay at their house whenever I want,' he said. 'So, that feeling of guilt is definitely much smaller that it was originally.' He was on a surfing holiday when the incident occurred. His lawyer Idris Marbawi said the two sides agreed that Mr Risby-Jones would pay the fisherman's family for hospital fees and a traditional peace ceremony. The total payment was 300 million rupiah ($20,000). The fisherman underwent surgery in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, for broken bones and an infection in his legs. Mr Risby-Jones looks on as an immigration officer signs his transfer documents at the local immigration office in Meulaboh, Aceh Mr Risby-Jones has vowed to return to Indonesia to do more surfing, according to his lawyer 'Risby-Jones is the first foreigner to successfully resolve a case through restorative justice in Aceh province,' Mr Marbawi said. 'He deeply regretted what happened and vowed to return to Indonesia for surfing.' Footage of his release on Tuesday showed Mr Risby-Jones being escorted by officers to a bus after hugging and saying goodbye to several prison wardens. 'It's been a long time coming and I'm feeling amazing and super happy and grateful,' he said on Saturday. 'Everyone has been very nice and accommodated me well. Thank you.' He also acknowledged the stupidity of his actions. 'I'm very, very relieved and happy,' he said. 'I made a fool of myself and it was shown publicly worldwide.' The largest ruby ever to be sold at an auction went for a record-setting $34.8million, less than a year after it was mined in Mozambique. The 55.22 carat ruby, which named Estrela de Fura - Fura Star in Portuguese - was described as 'an exceptional treasure' at the Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in New York on Thursday. The near $35million sale was a new world auction record for a ruby as well as for any colored gemstone. The record was previously held by the Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59 carat Burmese stone, which sold for $30.3million at Sotheby's Geneva in May 2015. Estrela de Fura was found in July 2022 in Mozambique, in a mine operated by Fura, a Dubai-based mining company. The 55.22-carat gem is unusual not only for its size and purity, but also for its location . Until the discovery of Estrela de Fura, it was thought that only Burma held rubies of such color and clarity The largest ruby to be ever sold at auction went for a record-breaking $34.8million, less than a year after it was mined in Mozambique The 55.22-carat gem is unusual not only for its size and purity, but also for its location. Until the discovery of Estrela de Fura, it was thought that only Burma held rubies of such color and clarity. Some analysts said the 'once in a century' find was shaking up the gemstone industry. The ruby was recently cut from a 101 carat rough discovered at a ruby mine in Mozambique in July 2022, one of the largest ruby deposits in the world. Sotheby's has said that rubies of this magnitude are 'exceedingly rare', with only two examples previously hitting the $15million mark. Quig Bruning, head of Sotheby's Jewelry in the Americas, said: 'Today, we witnessed the historic sale of not one, but two of the most exquisite and important diamonds and gemstones to ever hit the auction block. 'It's difficult to express the range of emotions I felt when I first laid eyes on the Estrela de Fura 55.22, but to put it simply, I was entranced. 'With its unprecedented size, piercing color and rare degree of optical transparency and clarity, it truly deserved the record-breaking price today, as it now joins the ranks of the world's most legendary gemstones.' The 55.22 carat ruby, which named Estrela de Fura - Fura Star in Portuguese - was described as 'an exceptional treasure' by Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in New York on Thursday The ruby was recently cut from a 101 carat rough discovered at a ruby mine in Mozambique in July 2022, one of the largest ruby deposits in the world Reflecting on the pink diamond's achievement, he added: 'It was equally an honor to have handled a diamond as breathtaking and extraordinary in nature as The Eternal Pink, and its price today reaffirms that Sotheby's is the premier destination for the world's rarest diamond creations. 'I proudly speak on behalf of the global jewelry department at Sotheby's when I say how truly privileged we are to have been a steward of these ultra-rare gems and today's results are further proof that there is continued demand for the finest diamonds and gemstones of the very highest order.' Sotheby's said that even in its rough, 101-carat untouched state, the ruby 'was considered by experts as an exceptional treasure of nature'. It is celebrated 'for its fluorescence, outstanding clarity and vivid red hue, known as 'pigeon's blood' a color traditionally associated only with Burmese rubies.' The Gubelin Gem Lab, one of two laboratories that graded the gem, said the size and the quality of the ruby was 'almost unimaginable'. 'To see a natural ruby of this size, with such a combination of quality characteristics spared from treatment was considered almost unimaginable,' the New York-based firm said. Sotheby's said that even in its rough, 101-carat untouched state, the ruby 'was considered by experts as an exceptional treasure of nature' Experts have said that the ruby, found in Mozambique, is changing the perceptions of the quality of African stones It is celebrated 'for its fluorescence, outstanding clarity and vivid red hue, known as 'pigeon's blood' a color traditionally associated only with Burmese rubies' 'The natural ruby of 55.22-carat is setting a new record not only for Mozambican rubies, but also for rubies in general.' The other gem lab, Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), also based in New York, wrote that gem displays 'vivid red hues due to multiple internal reflections.' They said that 'a natural ruby from Mozambique of this size and quality can be considered very rare and thus an exceptional treasure of nature.' The current world record for a ruby sold at auction is held by the Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59 carat Burmese stone, which was auctioned at Sotheby's Geneva in May 2015 for $30.3 million. This price also established a new record for any ruby per carat ($1,185,451 per carat), at the time. The ruby was found in an area of Mozambique, Cabo Delgado province, which has seen attacks from ISIS-inspired Islamist militants. The town of Montepuez was attacked in October, with hundreds of people fleeing their homes, according to Human Rights Watch. Two mines operating in the area - not run by Fura - were forced to cease operations amid the attacks. Prosecutors say Kouri Googled 'luxury prisons for the rich,' 'What is considered non-natural manner of death' and 'Kouri Richins Kamas net worth' Kouri Richins is accused of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, with a fentanyl-laced Moscow Mule and then writing a book about coping with grief The Moscow Mule 'killer' who wrote a book for children about coping with grief after her husband's death reportedly googled 'luxury prisons for the rich' after his murder. Prosecutors say Kouri Richins' search history from after her husband Eric Richins' died reveals some shocking insights about her potential involvement in the death. Kouri, 33, Googled 'Is naloxone similar to heroin, 'What is considered non-natural manner of death,' and 'Kouri Richins Kamas net worth,' according to ABC 4. The mom of three also searched if police can see deleted texts, if cops can force you to take a lie-detector test, and how long life insurance payouts take. Bizarrely, Richins also searched to find out how to commission someone to write a book, suggesting that her now-infamous tome Are You With Me? may have been ghost-written. Eric, 39, died of a fentanyl overdose on March 4, 2022 and officials said he had five times the lethal amount in his system when he died. Kouri is facing charges of criminal homicide and aggravated murder. The Mosow Mule 'killer' Kouri Richins who wrote a book for children about coping with grief after her husband's death reportedly googled 'luxury prisons for the rich' after his murder Kouri Richins (left) also Googled 'Is naloxone similar to heroin, 'What is considered non-natural manner of death,' and 'Kouri Richins Kamas net worth' after Eric Richins (right) died According to the local news outlet, Kouri allegedly used her personal devices to access an article titled, 'Signs of Being Under Federal Investigation.' Another article with the headline, 'Delay in Claim Payment for Death Certificate with Pending Cause of Death,' was in the woman's browser history. This last article connects to other financial documents previously released, such as her seeking to claim at least $2 million following his death. Other less-sinister search inquiries included 'how to undo microblading,' 'what kind of doctor was dr. pepper,' and 'Lil Nas X married.' The mom also allegedly Googled 'how to hire someone to write a book for you.' After Eric's death, Kouri wrote a book titled 'Are You With Me?' - a picture book that aspires to help children cope after the death of a loved one. She at one point after Eric's death went on a local TV program to promote the book and said she wrote it alongside her three children after their father's death. Her search history also revealed that the woman had Googled several times whether her family had donated money to the Summit County Police Department. Summit County is home to Kamas, Utah where Kouri, Eric, and their children lived. The mom of three also searched if police can see deleted texts, if cops can force you to take a lie-detector test, and how long life insurance payouts take A medical examiner said they found five times the lethal dose of fentanyl - a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine - in Eric's system after he died on March 4 last year. Pictured: Richins and Eric with one of their sons Following Eric's death, Kouri wrote 'Are you with me?' - a picture book she wrote to help children cope after the death of a loved one Eric's family told investigators shortly after he died they suspected Richins had killed the father-of-three. Pictured: Kouri and Eric Richens with their three children One attorney who spoke with ABC 4 said they don't believe the searches for sure indicate guilt on her behalf. Criminal Defense Attorney Clayton Simms said she may have been trying to understand the process and how long it could take to investigate his death. Simms did however state that he doesn't believe the searches are 'insignificant.' 'I think her state of mind, what she's looking at, what she's researching, could be important, but certainly, I think there's nothing there that indicates guilt,' he said. Just last week, DailyMail.com reported that Kouri is allegedly talking to documentary filmmakers from behind bars as she awaits trial. The Summit County district attorney's office asked a judge for a gag order in the case of Kouri to bar those involved from talking with the media. Prosecutors claim at least four documentary teams in North America and Europe who have expressed interest in making a documentary about the case. Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik on Friday denied the request. Criminal Defense Attorney Clayton Simms said she may have been trying to understand the process and how long it could take to investigate his death Kouri and her husband had been arguing about her plans to purchase and flip a 10-acre $2 million home in the days before he was found dead at their Utah home last March, according to court documents. Prosecutors say Eric found out that his wife had taken out a $250,000 home equity line of credit and spent it, withdrawn $100,000 from his bank accounts, and spent more than $30,000 on his credit cards. Kouri also stole about $134,000 from her husband's business meant for tax payments, the documents state. Prosecutors say that Kouri poisoned Eric with a lethal amount of the drug to get money from his life insurance. Authorities say prior to his death, Kouri changed Eric's joint life insurance policy, which he shared with his business partner Cody Wright, so that she was the only beneficiary. Richins and her husband had been arguing about her plans to purchase and flip a 10-acre $2 million home, pictured here, in the days before he was found dead Prosecutors say Eric found out that his wife had taken out a $250,000 home equity line of credit and spent it in the months leading up to his death But when the insurance company told the partners, who own the business C&E Stone Masonry, of the change, they were able to change it back. A warrant states that he did this without telling his wife because he was scared she might 'kill him for the money'. In the aftermath of his death, an unnamed acquaintance came forward to reveal he sold Kouri the fentanyl. After he died, Kouri claimed he had an addiction to pain medicine in high school but there were no substance abuse issues since. Friends and family told police said they hadn't any idea of Eric being addicted to any form of medicine, and officers did not find any pain killers in the family home. Kouri's next hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 12. A Christian street preacher was arrested for protesting an LGBTQ pride event - only for the charges to be thrown out when the local DA agreed that detaining him violated his First Amendment rights. Damon Atkins, 41, was seen on camera holding a sign at the Pride event on June 3 in the city of Reading that read 'Jesus said go and sin no more' and was quoting Bible verses at the marchers. Police came over and confronted Atkins, who pointed out that he was on public property. The officer can be seen telling him while 'it is public property' he should 'let them have their day' and 'respect it' - referring to those celebrating Pride. Atkins can be heard replying: 'Know who's cheering for us? The people who are in Hell. So you do you and I'm going to do me.' A Christian preacher was arrested for quoting Bible verses in support of protesters at a Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ Pride event but had the case dropped after the district attorney said the cops were in the wrong The First Amendment states that: 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' Those words guarantee Americans complete freedom of speech and expression, however offensive their words. Unlike other countries including the UK, the US does not have any hate speech laws, meaning Americans can say whatever they like in public without fear of legal reprisals. As the video continues, Atkins can be seen continuing to preach a verse from Corinthians when Officer Bradley McClure is heard saying: 'That's it, you're done' before putting Atkins into handcuffs. Atkins is then taken off and put against a wall to be secured - as applause rings out from people in the background attending the Pride event. 'I can't believe this is happening in Reading,' a person can be heard saying off camera. Matthew Wear, who took the video, added that it was 'an incredible providence that the Lord is allowing me to film this.' Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli said that Atkins was only arrested because he was being 'disorderly' and had nothing to do with the content of his speech. 'Our officers gave him warnings to cease that behavior as it was disrupting the event that was taking place,' he told WFMZ. Damon Atkins, 41, was seen on camera holding a sign at the Pride event on June 3 in the city of Reading that read 'Jesus said go and sin no more' and was quoting Bible verses at the marchers Police came over and confronted Atkins, who pointed out that he was on public property but to no avail, as they eventually arrested him Atkins is then taken off and put against a wall to be secured as applause is heard in the background The city of Reading's Pride events are believed to be the first public ones in its history, according to local reports. Tornelli complained later in the week of getting 'hundreds of calls on phone lines that are used for emergency and non-emergency requests for police assistance' complaining about Atkins arrest. He even suggested that the 'inappropriate and vile language' and possible threats used may see them pursue charges against anyone calling in. However, Atkins had the charges against him dropped on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Berks County District Attorney's Office. 'After a review of the incident which took place on June 3, 2023, in the 800 block of Washington Street in the City of Reading, the District Attorney's Office has withdrawn the charges of disorderly conduct filed against Damon Atkins.' 'The charges were withdrawn after the District Attorney's Office reviewed the videos of the incident along with applicable case law.' Steinbaugh, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said he's 'relieved but still found the entire ordeal ludicrous.' 'Damon should never have been in handcuffs in the first place and the city needs to take measures to correct its officer's misconduct and ensure that its officers will not violate the First Amendment in the future,' Steinbaugh added. Atkins had charges dropped against him on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Berks County District Attorney's Office 'The charges were withdrawn after the District Attorney's Office reviewed the videos of the incident along with applicable case law,' a spokesperson for the district attorney said Atkins spoke on Tuesday about his arrest with CBN, saying he was thankful for the support he received even before the charges were dropped. 'I don't want anyone to think that I hate anyone. I love my neighbor as Lord Jesus has taught me to love myself, that's why I was there,' he said. He did say, however, say it was 'scary' to see drag queens in public, especially around children. 'I need to warn my brothers and sisters - and I'm not just talking about them - I like to talk about Jesus and I warn everyone. There's people who come up to me who are living in woeful sin. It's not just homosexuals.' A teenager faces a murder charge over the death of a 32-year-old man who was found in the bedroom of a suburban house. Paramedics were unable to revive the man who was found in a home on Ellsworth Drive in the western Sydney suburb of Tregear at around 10.30pm on Saturday. Police are alleging the man was injured during an altercation in the house but the exact cause of death has not been determined. A postmortem examination of the body will be made. A 32-year-old man's body was found unresponsive in the bedroom of a western Sydney house on Saturday night Police have arrested three teenager over the man's death with an 18-year-old facing a murder charge (stock image pictured) A crime scene has been declared and police officers were seen wearing hazmat suits as they investigated the scene. Three teens who lived in the house have been arrested over the incident with an 18-year-old male charged with murder. Another 19-year-old male and a 16-year-old girl have been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. All three have been refused bail with both men to appear at Parramatta Bail Court, with the girl to appear at a childrens court on Sunday. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers. Good looking bankers and CEOs earn $1million more on average than their less attractive counterparts - even when they're worse at their jobs. Research published in the Journal of Economics and Business found that attractive banking execs take in 24 percent more in total compensation - while other studies suggest they also lure in more investment thanks to the way they look. The authors of the study, published earlier this year, concluded that 'good looks pay off,' especially in the high-stakes banking world. They say this is because good-looking executives are more likely to attract investors and be promoted, purely because of their physical attributes. That comes despite good-looking bosses being at a higher risk of making mistakes than their more homely colleagues, because a lifetime of praise for their appearance can make them arrogant, and prone to risks which backfire. The study was written by Finnish academics Shaker Ahmed, Mikko Ranta, Emilia Vahamaa, and Sami Vahamaa, and they assessed 167 banks and 272 individual CEOs. 'Facial attractiveness and CEO compensation: Evidence from the banking industry' claims the total compensation of above-average looking bank CEOs is about 24 percent, or $1.06million, higher than the compensation of CEOs with below-average looks. Elizabeth Holmes, the now disgraced founder of Theranos, recently came out to say that she was forced to wear turtle necks and red lipstick as a guise while she was trying to gain investment for her company. She faked her 'look' to get ahead And on top of that, good looking workers get 55 percent higher sum of bonuses, stock grants, and option grants than their less attractive peers. Significantly, the research also found that the so-called 'beauty premium' could not be explained by the age, gender, or ethnicity of the people they studied. And the trends were the same, regardless of bank size or business model. The summary of the paper reads: 'This paper examines the effect of facial attractiveness on the compensation of bank Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). 'Consistent with the so-called beauty premium hypothesis, we document that good looks pay off for bank CEOs. Specifically, by utilizing machine learning to assess the facial appearance of the CEOs of large U.S. banks, we find that CEO facial attractiveness is positively associated with the annual total compensation and the discretionary, performance-based components of compensation. 'The total compensation of above-average looking bank CEOs is about 24% higher than the compensation of CEOs with below-average looks after controlling for various CEO-specific and bank-specific attributes that are known to affect executive compensation. 'Furthermore, our results indicate that facial attractiveness is weakly positively related to the annual base salary while being unrelated to the pay-performance and pay-risk sensitivities of bank CEO compensation. 'Overall, our empirical findings provide strong evidence for the existence of a beauty premium in the executive labor market.' The study used technology to assess the beauty of CEOs based on 'the biological traits of beauty such as facial averageness, bilateral symmetries, and sexual dimorphism as well as nonphysical attributes such as a pleasant expression, youthful appearance, and good grooming.' It continues: 'Our empirical findings provide strong evidence for the existence of a beauty premium in CEO compensation. 'Specifically, we document that facial attractiveness is positively associated with the total compensation and the discretionary, performance-based compensation components of bank CEOs. 'The magnitude of the documented beauty premium in bank CEO compensation is economically significant. 'Our results suggest that a one standard derivation increase in the CEO facial attractiveness measure increases the total compensation by almost 9% ($395,000) after controlling for various CEO-specific and bank-specific attributes that are known to affect executive compensation. 'Moreover, the total compensation of above-average looking bank CEOs is about 24% ($1.06 million) higher than the compensation of CEOs with below-average looks, and the above-average looking CEOs have about 55% higher sum of bonuses, stock grants, and option grants than their less attractive peers. Debrahlee Lorenzana in 2010 publicly accused Citibank of sacking because her double D implants made her 'too attractive' and 'too distracting' to male co-workers 'Nevertheless, our findings also indicate that facial attractiveness is only weakly positively related to the annual base salary while being unrelated to the pay-performance and pay-risk sensitivities of bank CEO compensation. 'We also show that the beauty premium in the compensation of bank CEOs cannot be explained by demographic attributes such as age, gender, or ethnicity nor by differences in bank size and business models.' And according to separate research at the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance good looking managers lure more investments compared to their uglier co-workers, even though their funds don't perform as well, reports WSJ. The researchers suggest this performance gap could be down to the fact that more attractive workers approach their jobs with more confidence. Levels of attractiveness among colleagues, and the correlation this has on work output, has previously been subjects of discussion within the workplace. Debrahlee Lorenzana in 2010 publicly accused Citibank of sacking because her double D implants made her 'too attractive' and 'too distracting' to male co-workers. Having undergone extensive plastic surgery to look like a 'cross between Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra', Lorenzana said she was sexually harassed because of her figure. She said she was ordered to stop wearing turtlenecks, pencil skirts, three-inch heels or fitted business suits. A 33-year-old single mother at the time, Lorenzana said other female colleagues wore much more revealing outfits than she did. 'They said their body shapes were different from mine, and I drew too much attention,' she said at the time. The case eventually went in to arbitration, but Citi have since confirmed they did not pay her a thing in damages. Lorenzana later went to work for Chase at branches in Brooklyn and Queens. More recently, Elizabeth Holmes, the now disgraced founder of Theranos, came out to say that she was forced to wear turtle necks and red lipstick as a guise while she was trying to gain investment for her company. In reality, she claims she is more laid back - with less tame hair and normal clothing. But since her defrauding scheme was exposed, she revealed that even her famously voice was an act - all to lure more people into her defunded science and tech startup. Authorities are investigating whether several Australians took their lives using a 'suicide kit' allegedly sold by a Canadian chef. At least 10 such packages are known to have been sent to Australia and have been linked with several deaths in the country. Canadian hotel cook Kenneth Law, 57, has been arrested in Toronto accused of aiding two people to commit to kill themselves in Canada by selling the kits. The kits allegedly comprise of powders that are sent in separate packages to combine as the final poison. Canadian hotel cook Kenneth Law, 57, has been accused of selling suicide kits, including into Australia The kits, which also contain a book on suicide, are believed to have been also sent to Britain, the United States, Italy and New Zealand. Australian Federal Police would not confirm if they are officially investigating Mr Law or how many packages they believe have been sent to Australia. Border Force told the Sydney Morning Herald it was 'aware of the attempted import of packages containing goods relating to suicide'. 'The ABF works with domestic and international law enforcement partners to prevent harmful materials reaching Australia,' a spokeswoman said. Because the elements of the final poison are not harmful until mixed there is no law against their importation. The main toxic substance has been linked to 17 suicides in Australian between 2017 and 2018. About 80 per cent of people who deliberately ingest the substance experience what doctors describe as 'excruciating' deaths, while those who survive often suffer psychiatric illness or depression. Canadian police believe Mr Law has sent more than 1200 packages to more than 40 countries. The former aerospace engineer has been linked to as many as 20 deaths, including four British citizens in their 20s and 30s and one US teen. The substances sold by Mr Law come in separate packets and have to be assembled into the poison Mr Law has been linked to attempted or successful suicides in Canada, Britain and the US Mr Law is accused of using several company names to send out the packages using disguised websites. He denies all allegations. His alleged operation was exposed by a reporter working undercover for Canadian newspaper the Times. Mr Law is reported to have told the reporter, who posed as a suicidal buyer, that people said he was doing 'God's work'. The business was allegedly described by Mr Law as an 'avenue of escape'. Support is available from Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. Sun-seeking Brits will be delighted to know that temperatures are set to reach a whopping 32C today. The UK's heatwave will continue, although forecasters also warned thunderstorms in some areas could cause flash floods. Saturday was the hottest day of the year with highs of 32.3C in Surrey. The North saw heavy rain and even hail and the Met Office issued an amber warning for thunderstorms. Yet although the experts predicted up to 100mm of rain last night, the most was only 21.8mm in Merseyside. SOUTHEND: Crowds of people gathered to enjoy the warm sunny weather on Jubilee beach THREE SHIRES HEAD: People enjoy the hot weather by Three Shires Head on the River Dane, where Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire meet LONDON: People shade themselves from the sun under a tree in Richmond Park, London BRIGHTON: Crowds on Brighton beach in East Sussex as temperatures rise across the south east WORCESTER: A car is driven through flash flooding in the Lower Wick area of Worcester after an afternoon of thunderstorms on Saturday WORCESTER: The North saw heavy rain and even hail and the Met Office issued an amber warning for thunderstorms Amy Bokota, senior operational meteorologist, said the lower recording could have been due to where the gauges fell, and said areas in the North West would still have seen torrential rain and hail, while in other areas not too far away there were mostly clear skies. The Met Office said there was a chance homes and businesses could be flooded quickly on Sunday. Floodwater, lightning strikes, hail and strong winds could also been seen, with difficult driving conditions expected and a slight chance of power cuts, It predicted delays and even cancellations to public transport because of floods or power cuts. In Worcestershire a road was closed last night after a tree fell onto a power line following heavy rain. Police officers urged residents to avoid the area for their own safety. There is a yellow warning for thunder from 12pm to 9pm today for Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of western and central England and Scotland. NORTH TYNESIDE: Natalie Ord, 40, and Sunny Regan, three, enjoy a day at Cullercoats beach in North Tyneside THREE SHIRES HEAD: A man cools down in a waterfall at Three Shires Head during Britain's heatwave The toasty temperatures are expected to continue next week but get back to normal by Tuesday. Sales of fans have tripled over the last week and the Met Office said next week most of the UK will meet heatwave criteria. Toolstation said it has sold 213 per cent more fans over the last week compared to the week before, while water can sales were more than double, at 147 per cent. Wilko said thousands of its fans had been flying off the shelves too, with sales up 90 per cent. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber alert for hot weather until 9am on Tuesday in the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, East of England and South West. The alert suggests the heat is 'likely to be felt across the whole health service... and the wider population, not just the most vulnerable'. A less concerning yellow alert has been issued for the North East, North West and in Yorkshire and Humber, as well as London. EAST SUSSEX: Sun-seeking Brits enjoyed the weather yesterday in Seaford. Saturday was the hottest day of the year with highs of 32.3C in Surrey RICHMOND PARK, LONDON: The toasty temperatures are expected to continue next week but get back to normal by Tuesday Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness that has burned throughout the night and reportedly covers an area a mile long. Six fire engines remain near the village of Daviot in the Highlands after the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland on Saturday warned people nearby to stay indoors and close all windows and doors to prevent smoke inhalation. On social media, people in Inverness reported being able to smell smoke during the night. Duncan Macpherson, a Highland councillor for Inverness South, said firefighters were facing an 'almighty challenge' on Saturday night. He tweeted: 'The wildfire at Daviot south of Inverness stretches over a mile long between Craggie and Moy and presents an almighty challenge for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to try and contain as the wind blows the flames further across the landscape.' SCOTLAND: Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness that has burned throughout the night and reportedly covers an area a mile long SCOTLAND: Duncan Macpherson, a Highland councillor for Inverness South, said firefighters were facing an 'almighty challenge' on Saturday night SCOTLAND: Six fire engines remain near the village of Daviot in the Highlands after the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon Images posted by Neil Wallace on social media show large plumes of grey smoke in the sky above Meallmore Hill, near Daviot. The fire started close to a caravan park at about 2.45pm on Saturday during what was the hottest day of the year so far in Scotland. A temperature of 26.7C was recorded in Auchincruive in South Ayrshire and 23C in Inverness. Meanwhile, the fire service has extended a 'very high' wildfire warning which was in place until Saturday through to Monday. The Daviot fire follows one near Cannich in the Highlands, which began on May 28 and is believed to be one of the largest in the UK. Firefighters said the total area covered by that fire was about 30 square miles. Another wildfire started on the Campsie Fells to the north of Glasgow. A British woman has been seriously injured in a shooting after armed intruders broke into her home near Mexico's Riviera Maya Caribbean coastline. The 32-year-old expat was airlifted to a hospital in the resort of Playa del Carmen with gunshot wounds after authorities received a 911 call. A man described how her partner was shot dead in the incident at a jungle ranch the couple are understood to have owned in Lazaro Cardenas, one of the eleven municipalities that make up the state of Quintana Roo. He was initially described locally as British but is believed to be German. State prosecutors in Quintana Roo have confirmed they are probing Friday's incident. The 32-year-old British woman was airlifted to hospital near the popular Playa del Carmen beach (file image) The incident took place at a jungle ranch the couple are understood to have owned in Lazaro Cardenas (file image of the Playa del Carmen resort) A spokesman said: 'Quintana Roo's State Prosecution Service has launched an investigation into an incident that occurred in the early hours of Friday in which two foreigners were attacked with firearms in a jungle area of the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas.' The ranch where the shooting occurred has been locally named as La Esperanza, which translates into English as Hope. No arrests are yet thought to have been made. In March last year British businessman Chris Cleave, 54, was shot dead in front of his daughter Chloe, 14, as he drove out of the gated residential estate in Playa del Carmen where he lived less than an hour's drive south of Cancun in his red Audi. The estate agent, originally from Truro in Cornwall, had received death threats before he was assassinated and is thought to have been targeted for standing up to extortion attempts by a cartel. Two men, an 18-year-old and a 30-year-old who fled the murder scene on a motorbike after Mr Cleave was shot at close-range in traffic, were arrested. It was not clear on Sunday morning whether they have yet been formally charged over the horrific killing. Sadiq Khan's plans to scrap day travelcards in London has been slammed by councils and politicians, with some suggesting it could be worse than the Ulez expansion. Home Counties councils including Surrey and Kent have both publicly opposed the plans which could be implemented before the end of the year. Transport for London (TfL) last month revealed it was considering scrapping day travelcards alongside, along with a group day travelcards and child day travelcards. This would also mean that commuters will be unable to add on travelcards to rail tickets heading into the capital, forcing costs to rise. Instead, rail tickets would need to be paid for separately alongside alongside the tap in-and-out system that is already in place. Sadiq Khan's (pictured) policies have been deemed 'counter productive' The price of a journey into London come cost an extra 9 from Surrey In some instances, it could raise the price of a journey into London by up to 9. According to letters seen by the Telegraph, Surrey County Council cabinet member Matt Furniss said he had 'deep concerns' over the proposals. Furniss said it would have negative financial impact on Surrey residents, while worsening transport integration. Those claims were echoed by both Kent County Council (KCC) and Buckinghamshire Council, the latter saying it is 'deeply unhappy' about the plans, calling any scrap 'deeply short-sighted'. TfL also came under fire for not directly consulting with the three councils, despite the majority of constituents being affected. Kent's transport head, David Brazier, said that KCC only became away of the changes when it was informed by a neighbouring council. The move from TfL comes as part of a wider move to mitigate a 740million funding hole at the organisation. It follows Sadiq Khan's decision to end free morning peak travel for pensioners to save 40million per year. Politicians joined protests against the plans, saying it goes against the mayor of London's promise to keep fares low. Tory MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, Ben Spencer, said that it could have a larger impact on constituents than the Ulez expansion. 'I would argue the travelcard issue is potentially even worse for my constituents, because we've got so many people who go into London, on the train, whether that is daily, or a couple of times a week to go into work,' he said. Spencer has launched a petition to halt the plans, saying that it goes against' Mr Khan's aims of improving the environment. 'It's ironic, he positions himself as some sort of climate change tsar, and yet he seems to me to be doing things which are counter-productive,' he said. A separate letter seen by the Telegraph from Tory MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, Bim Afolami, warned the mayor against pushing ahead with the move. Earlier this year, a number of Home Counties councils also rebelled against the Ulez expansion, saying they would block any signage within their borders. Commuters who live in the Home Counties however drive to work in London would still be required to pay the 12.50 if their vehicle doesn't meet emissions standards for the Ulez zone, but, unlike some drivers that live in London, those outside do not have access to scrappage schemes. Rail passengers campaign group Railfuture's director, Neil Middleton, said: 'The scrapping of the day card would turn a nice simple product that everyone understands and offers great value, into something endlessly complicated and uncertain that most people don't, most people don't understand. The decision has also been compared to he Ulez expansion which was rebelled against by a number of the Home Counties councils earlier this year 'The big point is the mayor is setting out to discourage people from coming to London, which is a bad outcome.' A TfL spokesperson said: 'Due to requirements of the Government's funding settlements, we are having to consider proposals to withdraw from elements of the Travelcard Agreement, such as TfL's acceptance of day travelcards. 'The existing daily pay as you go caps on contactless or oyster, which are used by the overwhelming majority of those travelling, would not be affected by these proposals. 'We are now in the process of reviewing the feedback from key stakeholders to help inform our equality impact assessment, which will form part of the mayor's consideration of this proposal. 'The decision on whether to withdraw day travelcards is a mayoral decision. No decision has yet been made and there is not a set date for the final decision.' She had taken AVO out on estranged husband Police are treating the death of a mother-of-three as a domestic violence incident, as it emerged she had taken out an AVO on her estranged husband who allegedly crashed into her. Moments before the tragedy on Friday, Kristy Armstrong, 36, and Troy Armstrong, 35, had been seen screaming at each other outside their children's primary school in central west NSW. Ms Armstrong died when her green sedan collided with a ute driven by Mr Armstrong on Speedy St in Molong about 3.40pm. Emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to save Ms Armstrong. Two of her daughters, aged eight and 13, who were in the backseat of the car, were taken to a hospital with minor injuries and are now being cared for by their grandparents. Kristy and Troy Armstrong (pictured) were together for 17 years before they separated last year. She had taken out an AVO against him two weeks before the crash that killed her Ms Armstrong's green sedan (above) collided with a ute driven by her ex-husband Mr Armstrong was pulled from the wreckage of the ute by Fire and Rescue NSW officers and airlifted to a Sydney hospital in a critical condition. The arborist remains in a critical condition and under police guard at Royal North Shore hospital, 290km from where the crash happened. Two weeks before the crash, a court had granted Ms Armstrong an apprehended violence order against Mr Armstrong. On May 25, the estranged couple appeared in Orange Local Court, where an AVO was granted to protect Ms Armstrong, the Daily Telegraph reported. Ms Armstrong first applied for an AVO last November last year, around the time the couple separated, and an interim order was issued at that time. Kristy Armstrong (above) was tragically killed in a crash in Molong on Friday afternoon Ms Armstrong died when her green sedan (pictured left) collided with a ute (right) driven by Mr Armstrong on Speedy St in Molong Witnesses said the pair was seen arguing at a local school before driving away in separate cars before the crash. Social media posts showed the couple had been together since 2005 before separating last year. The tragic crash has rocked the close-knit town of Molong. 'It's devastating for the town of Molong with the loss of a young local lady, it's terrible news for the families,' mayor Kevin Beatty told Nine News. 'Last night in town it was very sombre and again today, it's been very quiet.' Tributes have flooded social media, a local woman who knew the pair said she is 'shattered beyond words' while members of the community said the crash will affect the whole town. 'I have no words for the heartache on my mind right now only a massive ache in my heart,' she said. When approached for comment, NSW Police said local and specialist homicide officers are still investigating the circumstance of the crash but confirmed the two drivers are known to each other. NSW Police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. Cabinet minister Grant Shapps today insisted the 'world has moved on' from Boris Johnson following the former prime minister's dramatic resignation as an MP. The Energy Secretary attempted to contain the damage to the Government from the shock departure of three Conservative MPs - including Mr Johnson - from Parliament in recent days. Mr Shapps praised the ex-Tory leader's 'many qualities' but stressed there were now 'different challenges to face' and there was 'new management in No10' under Rishi Sunak. He also took a swipe at Mr Johnson - who was today pictured giving a thumbs up as he went for a morning jog with his dog Dilyn - for having 'removed himself' from politics by quitting the House of Commons. Mr Johnson's resignation as an MP has sparked a fresh bout of Tory feuding between the ex-PM's supporters and his critics. But Conservative grandees issued a plea for party unity amid the bickering factions as Mr Sunak attempts to overhaul Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's poll lead ahead of the next general election. Lord Howard, a former Tory leader, told the BBC: 'I would urge all Conservative MPs - all of them - to remember that there's an election a year away and that they have a choice between uniting behind the Prime Minister and doing everything they can to win that election. 'Or facing the fact that the country will be led by someone who at the last election urged everyone to make Jeremy Corbyn our prime minister.' Allies of Mr Johnson have been predicting a swift return for the former premier - including before the next general election - despite his explosive departure from the Commons. Mr Shapps refused to rule out a political comeback for Mr Johnson and admitted he would 'never predict' the ex-PM's actions. But ex-Tory deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has demanded Mr Johnson be blocked from ever standing for election as a Conservative MP again. Ex-prime minister Boris Johnson gave a thumbs up this morning as he went for a run with his dog Dilyn The former Tory leader has dramatically quit the House of Commons over Partygate and a row over his peerages list Energy Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the 'world has moved on' from Mr Johnson as he tried to contain the damage to Rishi Sunak's Government Lord Howard, a former Tory leader, issued a plea for party unity as Mr Sunak attempts to overhaul Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's poll lead ahead of the next general electio Mr Johnson quit Parliament over Partygate and a row over his peerages list. He delivered a ferocious attack on a 'kangaroo court' of MPs investigating his denials of Covid rule-breaking and also savaged the direction of Mr Sunak's Government. Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams, who are both staunch supporters of Mr Johnson, have also quit as MPs in what has been seen as an attempt to destabilise Mr Sunak's administration. Mr Shapps tried to downplay the impact of the trio of resignations on the Government and denied suggestions Mr Johnson had been forced out if Parliament by 'the establisment'. 'Boris is somebody with many qualities but we are now in a world where there are different challenges to face and we have got new management in No10,' the Energy Secretary told Sky News. 'Actually in the end Boris was perfectly entitled to remain as an MP. 'He has decided to step down and a couple of my other colleagues, all of them whom I've worked with and Boris in particular, I liked working with him as prime minister. 'But the world has moved on. He is the one who has removed himself from the current political scene, standing down as a member of Parliament. 'We've got excellent leadership in place in No 10 with Rishi Sunak.' Lord Frost, who was Britain's chief Brexit negotiator and also a Cabinet minister under Mr Johnson, predicted the ex-PM had not departed frontline politics for good. In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, the Conservative peer recounted how, when foreign secretary, Mr Johnson drove off from a photo-op in Japan in a million-pound electric vehicle. 'Pursued by agitated British officials and Japanese auto executives, he disappeared with the million-pound uninsured vehicle into the six lanes of Tokyo traffic,' Lord Frost wrote. 'We didn't know where he would come back, or when, or in what state. Of course, he showed up five minutes later, unharmed, exhilarated, to the relief of all concerned. 'This time, too, we don't know where he will be back or when. But I'm sure the story is not over.' Lord Frost, who was Britain's chief Brexit negotiator and also a Cabinet minister under Mr Johnson, predicted the ex-PM had not departed frontline politics for good Ex-Tory deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has demanded Mr Johnson be blocked from ever standing for election as a Conservative MP again Sir James Duddridge, a former trade minister, also forecast a swift political return for Mr Johnson. 'Operation Boris goes on, just from his office, a stone's throw from the House of Commons, instead of the rather smaller, shabbier one he got as an MP,' he wrote in the Sun on Sunday. 'My tip, head to Ladbrokes and put a fiver on him coming back, maybe even before the next election. 'The wilderness months, not years, would be a good title for the chapter of the next period in his life.' But Lord Heseltine, a fierce critic of both Mr Johnson and Brexit, demanded the ex-PM be barred from ever returning as a Tory MP. 'To me it is inconceivable that in these circumstances he could stand as a Conservative member of parliament again,' he wrote in the Observer. 'It is up to Conservative central office to affirm an official Conservative candidate. 'No doubt he will now go out into the world and make huge sums of money, writing history as he thinks it was conducted. But it will have little to do with the reality of the mess he left behind.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded Mr Sunak call an immediate general election following the resignation of Mr Johnson, Ms Dorries and Mr Adams from the Commons. 'Rishi Sunak must finally find a backbone, call an election, and let the public have their say on 13 years of Tory failure,' he told the Sunday Mirror. 'This farce must stop. People have had enough.' A man has died and a killer is on the loose after a brazen gangland assassination in broad daylight in Sydney's west. Emergency services were called to Granville's Factory Street on Sunday after gunshots rang out about 4:30pm. NSW Ambulance and police rushed to the grisly scene where they found Xiao Zhao, 44, fatally injured in a pool of his own blood alongside a black BMW. Despite the efforts of paramedics he died at the scene. A man has died and a killer is on the loose after a brazen gangland assassination in broad daylight in Sydney's west (scene pictured) Emergency services were called to Factory Stree in Granville, in Sydney's West, at 4:26pm where the injured man was found and despite the efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene The luxury car found at the scene is being investigated by police, but it is not yet known if it belonged to the victim. Mr Zhao is believed to have been known by police to have links to organised crime, the Daily Telegraph reports. A major police operation is now underway with detectives and forensic police scouring the scene, which has been blocked off. 'Investigations are underway after a man was shot dead in Sydneys west today,' NSW Police said. 'On arrival, officers from Cumberland Police Area Command found a man suffering a gunshot wound. The man shot dead is of Asian background, and is known by police (scene pictured) 'Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics, the man died at the scene. 'A crime scene has been established and investigations underway into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police have urged anyone with information in relation to the incident to contact police immediately. More to come. The virus was leaked from the Wuhan lab and covered up due to its military links Investigators say Covid-19 was developed through a series of risky experiments Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were running risky experiments to create deadly mutant coronaviruses by fusing newly discovered strains - just before the outbreak of Covid-19. US investigators believe Covid-19 was created by scientists at the Wuhan lab through experiments on a similar coronavirus discovered in a mineshaft in southern China. Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were fusing deadly coronaviruses to create highly-infectious mutant strains, that were then used to infect albino mice, the US investigators claim. The research programme was kept secret and covered up due to it being funded by the Chinese military with the aim of developing bioweapons, the investigators believe. The secret initiative in turn led to the creation of Covid-19, which was then leaked into the city of Wuhan through a lab accident, before it spread across the globe, the US investigators claim. The Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured) was running risky experiments on coronaviruses just before the outbreak of Covid-19 The Wuhan laboratory had initially set out to discover the origins of the deadly SARS virus that first broke out in southern China in 2002, US investigators told the Sunday Times. However, the research institute soon became engaged in increasingly risky experiments on coronaviruses that were taken from caves in southern China. The Wuhan lab initially made all of its findings public and claimed its research was necessary to develop coronavirus vaccines. The institute's position, however, shifted in 2016 when researchers from the Wuhan institute discovered a new coronavirus in a mineshaft in Mojiang, Yunnan, near China's border with Laos. The coronavirus that was discovered in the Mojiang mineshaft is understood to be the only member of Covid-19's immediate family to have existed prior to the pandemic. Chinese authorities, however, failed to report fatalities linked to the new coronavirus that was discovered in the Mojiang mineshaft. Instead, the mineshaft viruses were taken back to the Wuhan Institute of Virology where researchers launched a classified research programme, investigators say. Scientists discovered a new coronavirus in a mineshaft in Yunnan, in the south of China that is linked to a number of fatalities (File photo: Scientists collect bats from a cave in Guangdong) The Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured) launched a secret research initiative that saw them fuse coronaviruses in a series of risky experiments US investigators believe this classified research initiative was aimed at making the newly discovered virus more infectious by fusing it with other coronaviruses. They claim the facts of the research programme were kept secret due it being funded by the Chinese military, in line with efforts to develop bioweapons. The experiments saw albino mice with human-like lungs infected with SARS-like viruses, that caused death rates of 75 per cent. The risky experiment saw the mice infected with three lab grown viruses, made by fusing SARS-like viruses with one discovered in a cave in Yunnan in 2012. The investigators believe these secret experiments eventually led to the creation of Covid-19, before it was accidently leaked from the Wuhan lab. They believe the virus was leaked from the Wuhan lab into the city of almost nine million people through a laboratory accident. The investigators believe a number of researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology caught Covid in November 2019 - a month before the West became aware of the virus. A study from Wuhan University shows the area surrounding the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the initial centre of the spread of Covid-19. Covid-19 was created as a result of the Wuhan Institute of Virology's experiments before it was leaked through a laboratory accident, the US investigators say (File photo: Students celebrate the start of the new semester in Wuhan in September 2021) Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology carried out a series of experiments that saw them infect mice with highly-infectious coronaviruses (File photo: Medical staff carry a patient in Wuhan in January 2020) READ MORE: Wuhan lab experienced a 'serious biocontainment' incident in 2019 and first COVID death in China was two months EARLIER than first thought: New Senate report shares more evidence on leak theory and Beijing's cover-up Advertisement Links to the Wuhan lab were however covered up, the investigators say, as they claim the outbreak was instead blamed on the Huanan wet food market, that is located on the other side Yangtze river that runs through the city, several miles away. The investigators also claim the Wuhan lab had already begun working on a vaccine before the pandemic, in autumn 2019. A highly decorated military scientist, Zhou Yusen, later produced a vaccine patent with remarkable speed, in February 2020, just months after the outbreak was revealed. A report later claimed Zhou must have begun developing his vaccine by November 2019 at the latest - just as the pandemic began. The 54-year-old military vaccine specialist is now understood to have died, with US investigators having been told by witnesses he was thrown off the roof of the Wuhan institute. Following the leak, Chinese authorities led an information clampdown, that saw researchers blocked from investigating the origins of Covid-19, the US investigators said. Foreign scientists were refused entry to the caves where the coronavirus was initially discovered, and had their samples taken by police. He was home alone after refusing to go to shop with mum A nine-year-old boy who 'thought he was going to die' has made an incredible escape from a raging fire after being trapped alone in a townhouse. Mum-of-two Chelsea Daubney left the home in Penrith, western Sydney, about 6pm on Saturday night to get frankfurts for dinner. But her son Christian refused to go with her so she reluctantly left him at home alone. 'I thought, he walks home from school all the time at nine-years-old... I thought he'd be safe at home just for 10 minutes. And I was wrong,' a teary-eyed but relieved Ms Daubney told 9News. On Sunday, as she looked over the wreckage of her house and said her mind was 'going 1,000 miles an hour' because she knew it could have been much worse. Nine-year-old Christian (pictured) 'thought he was going to die' after being left alone in a townhouse in Sydney's west which caught on fire She locked Christian in the home for his safety, but while she was out, he inadvertently knocked a lit candle off a coffee table. 'He tried to put (the fire) out and it got really hot, so he tried to get out by the front door, but the front door was locked with the key so he couldn't get out,' she said. 'And he ended up having to smash the window and he screamed for help. He thought he was going to die.' A passer-by heard Christian scream and ran to the rescue, pulling him to safety. Mum-of-two Chelsea Daubney (pictured) left her son alone for 10 minutes to get frankfurts for dinner Fire crews were able prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes, but the townhouse was destroyed (pictured) The fire brigade was called and arrived shortly after to find the home engulfed in flames. They were able to quench the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby homes, but the townhouse was destroyed. 'In a matter of minutes, sometimes even less, a fire can spread from a small fire in a room to a fire that's enveloping an entire house,' Inspector Andrew Ticehurst of Fire and Rescue NSW said. As of Sunday night, the townhouse was still too unsafe for the family to go in to see if they could salvage anything. Nine-year-old Christian, who was left home alone, survived the fire after breaking a window on the townhouse's (pictured) ground floor and escaping But given the likely extent of the damage, Ms Daubney thinks they have probably lost everything. Fortunately, Christian is recovering well in Nepean Hospital with just a cut to his foot and is being spoilt with ice cream and toys. Ms Daubney said she is now 'taking each day as it comes and trying to rebuild a safer home for my kids'. The police said a child-at-risk notification will be submitted. British tanks are poised to play a key role in Ukraine's counter offensive as it appears to be gathering pace a week after it began, with Kyiv claiming it took three villages from the Russian invaders yesterday. In a series of early successes, Kyiv's forces claimed to have liberated Blahodatne, Makarivka and Neskuchne, all villages in the country's eastern Donetsk region where there has been a ramping up of operations. Deputy Defence minister Hanna Malyar said via Telegram that troops were also advancing successfully in other areas and that 'no position was lost' during defensive activities. Kyiv's troops are believed to be pushing back against Putin's forces in 'at least four areas' as Russia braces for the onslaught by readying its 'most combat ready troops' for new attacks. Now a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks gifted by Britain is on the frontline, The Sun reports, the might of which analysts suggest far outstrips the T-55, their Russian Soviet-era opponents. One of the Challenger 2 tanks gifted by Britatin after it arrived in Ukraine. They will now play a key role in Kyiv's counter offensive, according to reports A squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks gifted by the Britain is on the frontline of Kyiv's counter offensive (file image shows vehicle in 2018) Ukrainian troops shared a video in which they raised a flag from the window of a destroyed building in Blahodatne, a village in Donetsk they claim to have liberated from Russian occupation A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions on the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region The 5million Challenger 2, with a 120mm rifled gun and a 7.62mm machine gun, is a battle tank designed to attack other tanks, and have far greater ranges and accuracy than the Kremlin's equivalent. Former tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon wrote in The Telegraph that the Challenger 2s, along with the German-donated Leopard tanks, will 'vastly outmatch what's left of Russia's heavy armour' as they spearhead Ukraine's counter offensive. It comes as Military spokesman Valeriy Shershe said in televised remarks on Sunday that Ukraine's forces captured several Russian and pro-Russian troops as they stormed the settlement of Blagodatne. He added that the village was located on the border of Donetsk and the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, where Moscow has reported heavy Ukrainian assaults over the past week. Further footage appears to show troops posing with their unit's banner in Neskuchne and the Ukrainian flag being raised over a destroyed building. Another settlement, Urozhaine, which is not far north of Russia's defensive line, is being fiercely contested according to Russian military bloggers. Some pro-Ukraine bloggers have suggested Kyiv's troops have claimed the town. The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said yesterday that Ukraine is focusing its attacks on Rozdolivka, Bakhmut, Blahodatne and Zaporizhia Oblast. Ukraine initially suffered a defeat in Zaporizhzhia, with video showing multiple armoured vehicles and at least one tank - which Moscow claims is a German-supplied Leopard - being blown up by a mixture of mines and artillery. Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar also said that Putin was moving his some of his most combat-ready troops - the marines, airborne troops and the 49th army - from Kherson as he readied soldiers for a redeployment against Ukraine's counter offensive. Ukraine said it had liberated Blagodatne, which is in the Donetsk region. Pictured: Ukrainian troops in Blahodatne Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine's counteroffensive had started but that Kyiv had not reached its goals. The alleged war criminal said: 'We can definitely state that this Ukrainian offensive began.' Pictured: Ukrainian troops retaking Blahodatne Malyar added: 'Therefore, the purpose of undermining the Kakhovskaya HPP by the Russians becomes obvious. 'Thus, taking into account their own losses and limited reserves, thereby understanding the inability to restrain the Ukrainian offensive in various directions, the command of the Russian occupying forces decided to 'narrow' the possible geography of active actions of the Armed Forces.' Reportedly destroyed armoured vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in an unidentified location in the southern Donetsk direction in Ukraine The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said Ukraine was focusing its attacks on Rozdolivka, Bakhmut, Blahodatne and Zaporizhia Oblast Ukrainian officials say there will be no single thrust and Zelensky's offensive is designed as a series of operations that will take months to play out. Ukraine started its counteroffensive attacking on three fronts in the east, south-east, and south of the country: Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last month; Velyka Novosilka & Novodonetsk, in Donetsk oblast; and Orikhiv, in neighbouring Zaporizhzhia. There were early successes. Ukraine said it was making steady advances around Bakhmut and Russian military bloggers acknowledge Ukraine broke through their lines in Novodonetsk early last week - though now claim some of those gains have been reversed. Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar also said that Putin was moving his some of his most combat-ready troops - the marines, airborne troops and the 49th army - from Kherson as he readied soldiers for a redeployment against Ukraine's counteroffensive Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine's counteroffensive had started but that Kyiv had not reached its goals. The alleged war criminal said: 'We can definitely state that this Ukrainian offensive began.' He added: 'But the Ukrainian troops did not reach their aims in any area of combat.' Partisan attacks by pro-Ukraine Russian forces have continued in the towns of Shebekino and Novaya Tavolzhanka in Russia's Belgorod region, providing an unwelcome distraction for Putin's generals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a counteroffensive against Russian forces was underway, while declining to give specifics on his troops' operations. 'Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail,' Zelensky said on Saturday, commenting after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Kyiv's operation was already failing. Malyar added: 'Therefore, the purpose of undermining the Kakhovskaya HPP by the Russians becomes obvious. Thus, taking into account their own losses and limited reserves, thereby understanding the inability to restrain the Ukrainian offensive in various directions, the command of the Russian occupying forces decided to 'narrow' the possible geography of active actions of the Armed Forces' A Ukrainian serviceman fires a rocket launcher during a military training exercise not far from front line in Donetsk region on June 8 Russia has reported thwarting Ukrainian attacks in the east and south. 'It's interesting what Putin said about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion,' Zelensky said. He added that he was in daily touch with military commanders, including armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny, and 'everyone is positive now - tell that to Putin!' On Saturday, Kyiv's forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four front-line areas, according to the Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). 'Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces have tactical advantages in conducting assaults at night due to Western-provided equipment with superior night optics systems,' ISW said. To shore up that stockpile, Zelensky secured fresh pledges of military aid while meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the weekend. Trudeau, 51, and Zelensky, 45, hugged and used each other's first names as the Canadian leader made his second unannounced visit to Kyiv since full-scale war broke out in February last year. Canada, which hosts a large Ukrainian diaspora, has been one of Kyiv's key allies since the Russian invasion. It has provided Ukraine with significant military aid, trained more than 36,000 soldiers and adopted sanctions against Moscow. On Saturday, the Canadian leader said he would provide Can$500 million (US$375 million) in fresh military assistance to Kyiv, and pledged Canada would be part of the multinational effort to train Ukraine's fighter pilots. Trudeau also urged international organisations to come to the aid of those in Russian-occupied territories after flooding from the breached Kakhovka dam forced thousands to flee their homes and sparked fears of humanitarian and environmental disasters. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam on Tuesday, while Moscow says Kyiv fired on it. When asked why he stopped short of blaming Russia for the dam collapse, Trudeau said: 'I know there are investigators and there are a lot of questions and intelligence being analysed on what exactly happened to have this dam collapse. 'But there is no doubt in my mind that absent Russia's invasion of last February, that dam would still be standing today.' Pledging Can$10 million in flood relief, Trudeau also said Russia 'will be held to account' for its actions in Ukraine. Ukrainian service members ride a M113 armoured personnel carrier, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the front line city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine June 9 Earlier in the day, Trudeau placed flowers by a wall of remembrance displaying photos of soldiers killed in combat. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Oleksandr Polishchuk handed Trudeau a box that he said held shrapnel from a rocket that fell on the Black Sea port city of Odesa. He said the gift was intended to remind Trudeau of Ukraine's suffering from Russian strikes. Three people were killed early Saturday in a fire sparked by debris from shot-down Russian drones in the Odesa region. French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to 'immediately end' Tehran's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which involves supplying Moscow with attack drones, the Elysee said. Macron in a telephone call underlined the serious 'security and humanitarian consequences' of Iran's drone deliveries 'and urged Tehran to immediately end the support it thus gives to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine', said a statement. The call came a day after White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Russia was receiving materials from Iran to build a drone factory that 'could be fully operational early next year'. The United States has said that Russia has received hundreds of Iranian attack drones to hit Kyiv and 'terrorise' Ukrainians, a charge denied by Tehran. Nigel Farage today claimed around 10 Tory MPs could quit the party and join a centre-right 'insurgency' in the wake of Boris Johnson's dramatic exit as an MP. The ex-UKIP leader challenged the former prime minister to join a 'new attempt to break the mould of British politics' after quitting the House of Commons. He suggested 'potentially double figures' of current Conservative MPs - especially those in 'Red Wall' seats - could be willing to defect as part of a 'realignment'. Mr Farage insisted there was 'a bigger gap for an insurgency' in British politics today than a decade ago, when pressure fromTory backbenchers and UKIP led to then-prime minister David Cameron promising an EU referendum. Allies of Mr Johnson are predicting he will make a swift return to the political frontline after quitting the House of Commons over Partygate and a row over his peerages list. But Mr Farage suggested Mr Johnson, who has resigned his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat to cause a huge headache for PM Rishi Sunak, would never again be a Tory MP. Nigel Farage claimed around 10 Tory MPs could quit the party and join a centre-right 'insurgency' in the wake of Boris Johnson's dramatic exit as an MP Allies of Mr Johnson are predicting he will make a swift return to the political frontline after quitting the House of Commons over Partygate and a row over his peerages list Mr Johnson's resignation of his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat has cause a huge headache for PM Rishi Sunak 'I think it's the end of Boris Johnson in the Conservative Party,' he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show. 'All this talk of "oh, he'll go for this seat or that seat" - well, hang on, he's virtually just gifted Uxbridge to the Labour Party. 'There's no way he's going to be given a seat. If he really wants to be in politics he is going to have to be part of some sort of centre-right realignment. 'It's been talked about years ago, the referendum stopped it. The UKIP insurgency was getting to such a level that there was real talk about this happening. 'Now is Johnson somebody who would want to be part of a new attempt to break the mould of British politics? Or would he rather be on the after dinner speaking circuit?' After leaving UKIP, Mr Farage founded the Brexit Party - now known as Reform UK - in 2018 and went on to win the 2019 European Parliament elections. But he declined to stand candidates in Conservative-held seats at the 2019 general election in a huge boost to then-Tory leader Mr Johnson. Mr Farage suggested many of those Conservative MPs who won seats in traditionally Labour-held areas in 2019 might now be considering their options. 'I think the gap for another insurgency is actually bigger than it was 10 years ago,' he added. Asked if any Conservative MPs had been in touch with him about defecting, Mr Farage replied: 'More than before. 'I think there are quite a lot of Conservative MPs right now who know they are going to lose their seats - the Red Wallers know they are going to lose their seats, as it is, running as Conservatives. 'And if there was a coming together on the centre-right, which is where the gap is, I think quite a few would.' Pressed on how many Tory MPs might be willing to jump ship, Mr Farage added: 'Potentially double figures would not be hard to see. 'I don't know what's going to happen, I don't know what Boris Johnson is going to do, but I see a bigger gap for an insurgency today than I did before.' Publishers have issued the works of PG Wodehouse with a blanket trigger warning over concerns that it contains 'outdated' social attitudes. Novels including Leave it to PSmith and Something Fresh have both been reissued by their publisher, Penguin, with a caution, despite the fact that neither have been flagged for potentially offensive or contain racist terminonlogy. All news editions of Wodehouse's work will come with warnings saying that his novels depict obsolete attitudes, the Telegraph reported. The trigger warning issued by Penguin read: 'Please be aware that this book was published in the 1920s and may contain language, themes, or characterisations which you may find outdated.' The move comes after publishers rewrote Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster books to remove 'unacceptable' prose, in April. Publishers rewrote Wodehouse's (pictured) Jeeves and Wooster books to remove 'unacceptable' prose, in April Novels including Right Ho, Jeeves have both been altered by Penguin A note in the reissue of Thank You, Jeeves explained that publishers 'sought to edit, minimally, words that we regard as unacceptable to present-day readers'. The warning adds that the changes do not affect the story of the novel, which is the first full-length work to feature Jeeves and Wooster, who were portrayed by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in a 1990s ITV adaptation. Edits were also made to last year's edition of Right Ho, Jeeves, which also contains a cautionary warning. In the 1934 book, a racial term used to describe a minstrel of the old school was culled. Wodehouse isn't the only author whose books have been purged of language that might offend modern readers, novels by both Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming have also been reissued. Racist terminology was taken out of Fleming's work, meanwhile Christie's work was changed more drastically. A whole passage in Christie's Dead on the Nile, which described a British tourist venting her frustration at a group of children, was removed during a recent issue. SNP leader Humza Yousaf today vowed to make life 'very difficult' for a Labour government if Keir Starmer doesn't agree to another Scottish independence vote. The First Minister threatened to block a Labour budget or key legislation at Westminster if Sir Keir's party were to form a minority government in the event of a hung Parliament. 'You don't want to be frustrated at every single corner and every single turn,' Mr Yousaf said, as he challenged Sir Keir to grant a fresh independence vote in such a scenario. Labour are continuing to enjoy a sizeable lead over the Tories in opinion polling ahead of the next general election, which is expected next year. But there has been consistent speculation about how Sir Keir might act if Labour fall short of securing a majority of seats in the House of Commons but end up as the largest part. SNP leader Humza Yousaf vowed to make life 'very difficult' for a Labour government if Keir Starmer doesn't agree to another Scottish independence vote The First Minister threatened to block a Labour budget or key legislation at Westminster if Sir Keir's party were to form a minority government in the event of a hung Parliament Asked if he was prepared to do a deal with Sir Keir to prop up a Labour minority administration, Mr Yousaf told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: 'I'd say I'm prepared to do a deal with you because I want to see the back of the Tories, so I'll work with any party - frankly - that's progressive to see the back of the Tories.' But the Scottish First Minister insisted the price of a deal with Labour if the SNP are left as kingmakers in a hung Parliament at Westminster would be another independence referendum. 'Of course top of that list would be to have an independence referendum because that, of course, allows us to free ourselves of a Westminster that has made Scotland and the UK one of the most unequal countries,' he added. 'I don't think it's a massive surprise at all that if we were to cooperate with Labour then having that independence referendum would be top of that list.' Pressed on whether the SNP could support a Labour minority government without Sir Keir agreeing to a fresh independence vote, Mr Yousaf refused to 'get into negotiation' before a date for the general election has even been announced. Yet he suggested, without the promise of a referendum, the SNP could refuse to back a Labour government in key Commons' votes. 'We would never prop up the Tories but as somebody who has been part of a government for a long time - and there were some tricky times when we were a minority government - what you want as a government, particularly if you're coming in fresh as a new government, you want stability,' Mr Yousaf added. 'You want to be able to get your budget through, you want to be able to get your legislative agenda through. 'You don't want to be frustrated at every single corner and every single turn. 'We would never prop up a Conservative government ever. Underline that, put that in bold. 'But, of course, if Labour do not want to co-operate with us, then we would make life very difficult for them.' Amid revived Tory warnings of a 'coalition of chaos' after the next general election, Sir Keir has been forced to consistently rule out doing a deal with the SNP in the event of a hung Parliament. But the Labour leader has been coy on whether he would enter a pact with the Liberal Democrats as a minority administration. Mr Yousaf was also asked about the ongoing police investigation into the SNP's finances. He said he could not comment on this but that he would tell party members and supporters that backing for independence is still 'rock solid'. The SNP leader said he had spoken to his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon recently and said she was 'in a good place and doing well'. He added: 'Why would I not want to get some advice from arguably one of the best politicians, the most impressive politicians, Europe has seen over the last couple of decades?' Passengers who had travelled on an Egyptian tourist boat which left three Brits missing when it caught fire have claimed it had 'reoccurring issues'. People who had boarded the Hurricane, a Red Sea-based boat in Egypt, said they were 'not surprised' it had gone up in flames just a week after they left. One diving enthusiast who stayed on the vessel in May told MailOnline it was plagued with problems and there were 'issues below decks'. It comes after the boat became a floating inferno on Sunday morning, June 11, with shocking footage showing its stern being ravaged with flames as black smoke erupted from the ship. Video showed terrified tourists jumping from the ship, which had 29 people on board at the time, into the water to escape after a suspected electrical fault in the engine room caused it go up in flames. This is the heart-stopping moment passengers jump from an Egyptian tourist boat engulfed by flames Rescue services were alerted to the fire after blaze was said to have started in the engine room because of an electrical circuit Three British tourists are reportedly missing after a boat caught fire during a diving trip Shocking footage showed the boat's stern being ravaged with flames as black smoke erupted from the ship So far, 26 passengers have been rescued, with 12 of them being British and the other 14 thought to be Egyptian. However, three Brits are missing. Egyptian police said the people rescued had no injuries and were in good health. Cops said the crew rescued suffered no injuries and were taken to shore in good health. The cruiser left Port Ghalib in the eastern city of Marsa Alam on June 6, and was meant to return today. It was said to be one of the Tornado Marine Fleet tours, which offers 'Luxury Red Sea Liveaboards' for just under 1,500 per trip. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.' The Red Sea Governorate said: 'The initial examination resulted in an electrical short circuit in the engine room, and the investigation authorities went to conduct an inspection and investigation.' It added: '[The Secretary General] pointed out that the crew and passengers were rescued by the boat named 'Blue' and returned to central Marsa Alam, and a search is still underway for three British passengers by the concerned authorities and other boats, stressing that the Ambulance Authority and the Directorate of Health Affairs have been notified to raise the level of readiness and follow-up is underway.' A diving enthusiast who was on the same ship, the Hurricane, in May, said the boat was plagued with problems and no one was surprised the blaze had happened. He told MailOnline: '[We had] recurring issues from the week of 1 and 8 May. 'There was no nitrox on board. They should have had it but they never told us. 'The toilets and the showers weren't working properly.' He added: 'There was some issue below the decks. They were pumping something out but it was coming up my toilet. 'The crew work very hard - they don't get paid a lot - but the boat has seen better days. 'I was in cabin six in the bow so I wouldn't have wanted to get out from there. 'None of us are surprised that [the blaze] happened.' Cops said the crew rescued suffered no injuries and were taken to shore in good health Pictured: The scuba diving ship moored at Daedalus Reef in the Red Sea, Egypt, before the blaze After the fire today, a search party was launched to find the remaining three British tourists, whose identities have not been revealed. A spokesperson for Tornado Marine Fleet, which owns the boat, said: 'Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire. 'We do have three missing British passengers and all others reached the nearest land safely. 'Now we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision.' Searches for the missing Britons continue and a further update will be provided once investigations are complete, the spokesperson added. Egypt's Red Sea resorts harbour some of the country's most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European holidaymakers. It has cemented its reputation as a dive destination with easy access to coral reefs from shores and dive sites offering diverse marine life. The sister of a great-grandmother who died after being hit by a police motorcycle travelling with the Duchess of Edinburgh has shared details of her final moments with her sibling before the crash. Helen Holland, 81, clung on to life for nearly two weeks before the agonising decision was made to turn off her life support machine on Tuesday May 23. She had been out to lunch with her sister, Dorothy Phillips, 88, on May 10, sharing a quiche and laughing about their teenage years before the siblings shared a poignant goodbye hug and began their travels home separately. But just minutes later, at 3.20 in the afternoon, Mrs Holland, a mother-of-four, grandmother-of-ten and great-grandmother-of-seven, was hit at a pedestrian crossing on the busy West Cromwell Road in south west London by a police motorbike. Mrs Phillips, who has lived in nearby Earl's Court for 45 years, said she did not discover that her sister had been knocked down until hours later, when she phoned her home in Birchanger, Essex, to make sure she had got home safely. Mrs Holland clung on to life for nearly two weeks before the agonising decision was made to turn off her life support machine on Tuesday May 23 Dorothy said her younger sister was well aware of the risks presented by the busy three-lane route in Earls Court. Dorothy is pictured today paying tribute to her sibling Mrs Holland was 'flung 40ft' by the officer's motorbike, which was escorting Sophie through west London on May 10 She told The Times that her 'street-savvy sister' would have been careful to wait for the green man at the pedestrian crossing, which shows for 13 seconds at a time on the 30mph stretch. 'We both knew it isnt an easy crossing and she was very careful, even more careful than I am and absolutely aware. 'Fitter than a 60-year-old and she knew exactly what she was doing. She was perfectly mobile and fit.' She described the siblings' loving goodbye, adding: 'We did have a hug, and thats awful for me because I feel if we hadnt had a hug maybe shed be alive, but then I wouldnt know.' Witness Diana Catera, 68, who lives on nearby Nevern Road, said she was getting into her car in a disabled bay when the motorbike went through a red light. A second witness told a local Liberal Democrat councillor, Linda Wade, that Mrs Holland had been crossing the road on the green man signal. Mrs Holland suffered fatal injuries in the crash and fell into a coma at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. 'Every bone in her body was broken . . . and all her organs. She had no kidney function. She was on every support there was possible. 'She was just broken into bits. The doctors and nurses were wonderful and at the end of it they were all crying with us,' Mrs Phillips described. Mrs Phillips wants rules to be introduced about how prominent figures - known as 'principals' are transported, to keep others safe. Dorothy, the 88-year-old sister of Helen Holland, with Helen's daughter-in-law Lisa-Marie placing flowers on West Cromwell Road in west London, where her younger sister was hit by a police motorbike escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh Mrs Holland died after being hit by a police motorcycle escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through Earl's Court 'I know that Helen would want me to say something. She would say: "Dont let this happen to any other family like this". Chief Superintendent Richard Smith, who is head of the Met's royalty and specialist protection unit, said officers worked to serve the public and keep people safe and that: 'This tragic outcome continues to be felt by colleagues across the Met. Our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones at this very sad time.' Escorts for VIPs will drive ahead and 'hold' junctions before the cars follow. Mrs Holland's death is the first to be associated with the special escort group, although in 2019 riders with the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hit Irene Mayor, 83, who suffered a broken leg, pelvis and arm and a head injury. Other family members have previously slammed police for the smash, with Mrs Holland's grieving son Martin declaring in May: 'It's not Sophies fault. We dont blame her the police did it.' The heartbroken 57-year-old added: 'This is not anti-royal, no way. My mother loved the royals.' Mr Holland, a project director for a building firm, has been calling for reforms to police escorts since the horrifying collision. Mrs Holland's son Martin lashed out at the Met Police over the collision which happened on May 10 Ms Holland's grieving son Martin sought to show his support for Sophie Wessex, the Duchess of Edingburgh, as he declared: 'Its not Sophies fault' He said: 'Its outriders going at high speed to stop traffic at lights [before the VIP sweeps through]. Theyve got to think of a better way. 'I know the royals need to be protected but they need to do it so it doesnt endanger the public.' An IOPC investigation has been opened into the crash and a spokesman said investigators have reviewed body-worn camera footage and were looking at CCTV. Last week it was announced that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has told the Met motorcyclist, a constable, that they face criminal investigation for offences including causing death by dangerous driving and potential gross misconduct. The officer in question has been placed in a 'non-public facing role'. A Delta flight bound for Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in Utah, where a crew member was later hit by an 'exploding' air slide that went off inside the plane. The flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport had 168 passengers on board Saturday when the pilot announced that the plane was experiencing technical difficulties and needed to land in Salt Lake City. The pilot said the backup system's temperature instrument wasn't working that was needed for icing conditions. The plane landed safely at Salt Lake City while the plane was fixed, and passengers were allowed back on board a short time later. But before it could take off again, an inflatable slide at the rear of the vessel suddenly deployed striking a crew member in the head. That crew member was later taken to the hospital, the New York Post reported, but is said to have been discharged. A Delta flight headed to Los Angeles was forced to land in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday, where its emergency slide suddenly deployed and hit a crew member in the head The B767-300 plane left New York City shortly after 7pm and landed in Utah without incident. By around 3pm EST, the temperature instrument was fixed and the plane was seemingly ready to take off again. But before it could, unnamed sources told the Post, the flight's catering crew somehow accidentally deployed its inflatable slide which promptly hit an unnamed crew member in the head. One of the passengers on board the plane described the slide as 'exploding' inside the vehicle, while another explained that the air slide suddenly inflated after crew members armed the rear door. As it grew, it forced a panel out of the door, striking the crew member 'like an airbag.' Passengers were seen coming off the plane once again looking both annoyed and shocked, the Post reports, before they were eventually booked on another plane that was scheduled to take off for LA at 6pm EST. The flight's catering crew somehow accidentally deployed its inflatable slide which promptly hit an unnamed crew member in the head. An inflatable slide is seen here being deployed in a plane in 2003 In a statement, a Delta spokesman said: 'Delta flight 520, operating from New York-JFK to Los Angeles diverted to Salt Lake City due to a maintenance issue. 'While on the ground, the same aircraft's slide was deployed by accident. 'In an effort to get our customers to their final destination as quickly and safely as possible, they have been reaccommodated on a new aircraft. 'We apologize for the delay to their traveling plans. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people.' Passengers were given 7,500 miles in credit by the airline. A man found bashed to death allegedly made sexually inappropriate comments about a young girl prior to the attack. Emergency services discovered the body of Ashley 'Shazy' Mundy, 32, in a home on Ellsworth Drive in Tregear, Sydney's west, about 10:30pm on Saturday with three teenagers charged over the death. Dylan Aldred, 18, has been charged with murder with police alleging an altercation broke out over a young woman who was Aldred's girlfriend. Dylan Thompson, 19, and another girl, 16, were charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Aldred is believed to have been living with Mundy in the Tregear house at the time of the incident. Emergency services discovered the body of Ashley Mundy, 32 (pictured), in a home on Ellsworth Drive in Tregear, Sydney's west, about 10:30pm on Saturday with three teenagers charged over the death. The Daily Telegraph reports the 18-year-old was known by locals to have lived fleeting in numerous homes in the area. Upon arriving at the home, paramedics were unable to revive Mundy, with the Mount Druitt Police Area Command establishing a crime scene. His body was removed from the home by forensic investigators in hazmat suits on Sunday afternoon. The RSPCA were also at the scene to lead two black and white dogs from the home. Both Aldred and Thompson will remain in custody overnight, expected to face Parramatta Local Court on Monday. The 16-year-old will also spend the night in custody before facing a children's court on Monday. Strike Force Armine was created, with the State Crime Commands Homicide Squad's assistance, to investigate the incident. 'A post mortem examination will be conducted to confirm the cause of death,' a statement from police reads. Anyone with information is urged to contact Mt Druitt Police or Crime Stoppers immediately. A teenage boy is fighting for life after being stabbed in the chest during a wild brawl. Emergency services rushed to a park on Herring Road at Macquarie Park in Sydney's north-west on Sunday, following reports of a violent fight about 5.30pm. When officers arrived a 14-year-old boy was discovered inside nearby Macquarie University train station suffering stab wounds. 'He was taken to (Westmead Children's) hospital in a critical condition,' a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'Following inquiries, four teenage boys were arrested at Cherrybrook train station a short time later.' Police officers found a 14-year-old boy suffering a stab wound inside Macquarie University train station (pictured) The boys were all taken to Ryde police station, in the city's north, to assist with inquiries. Police from the Ryde Area Command established a crime scene and began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Train passengers were advised about 6pm that services were not stopping at Cherrybrook and Macquarie University stations due to an 'ongoing police operation'. But Cherrybrook station reopened about an hour later, just before 7pm. 'Macquarie University is still closed. Passengers wishing to travel to or from that location are encouraged to catch a local bus service,' Transport for NSW said. Six people were injured, one critically, after a dispute inside a Houston nightclub spilled out into the parking lot and a gunman fired into the crowd. The shooting happened around 2 a.m. Sunday following the disturbance inside the Tabu Restaurant & Lounge near the Galleria area, Chief Troy Finner said this morning. 'Somebody fired into a crowded parking lot,' Finner said. One of the victims - a man- is in critical condition and underwent surgery. Five other victims are in stable condition, Finner said. The victims are in their late 20s to early 30s. Finner said that no one has been arrested for the shooting. Police are reviewing surveillance footage to help identify any suspects. One man is in critical condition and five are in stable condition after a dispute inside Tabu Restaurant & Lounge in Houston spilled out into parking lot and someone fired into the crowd The shooting happened around 2 a.m. Sunday following the disturbance inside the Tabu Restaurant & Lounge near the Galleria area, Chief Troy Finner said 'It makes no sense to fire up into a crowded parking lot,' Finner said during a Sunday press conference. 'Make no mistake about it, we're gonna find out who did it. We're gonna hold them accountable.' Houston police responded to the scene around 2:10 a.m. in the 6000 block of Richmond Avenue outside the club. 'We had six victims here in a shooting,' Finner said. 'Apparently there was some kind of disturbance in the club that came out into the parking lot.' Five of the victims remain hospitalized in stable condition. One man is out of surgery but is in critical condition, Finner said. 'We're just praying that he's going to make it,' Finner said. 'Everybody else is in stable condition but we expect them to make it, so just prayers out to the family of the one victim who has just got out of surgery I hope he's going to be alright.' Video from before the shooting show partygoers at the club which hosts Play Saturdays Tabu Restaurant & Lounge is near Richmond Avenue and Fountain View Drive in the Houston area There have been many issues in the past with the club, Finner pointed out. 'They've had problems here before and we're gonna look into that to make sure we're doing everything we can do,' Finner said. Police cautioned partygoers as crime escalates in the summer. They advised patrons to leave bars and clubs before closing and to also avoid large crowds trying to leave venues at the end of the night. Barry Humphries has been bestowed yet another gong, and one can only wonder what Dame Edna Everage would have thought. Her former manager has been recognised with the highest level of King's Birthday honours, for 'eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large'. Sounds about right, and comes with a very nice medal, for those who like that sort of thing. Of course, it's just on a decade since Dame Edna sat next to Charles and Camilla in their royal box at the 2013 Royal Variety performance, before someone found her a better seat. The comedian was among a list of hundreds honoured on the King's Birthday, including former politicians Jennifer Macklin and Colin Barnett, and acclaimed author, Tim Winton. Barry Humphries (pictured with Lizzie Spender) to be honoured on King's birthday Humphries who played the iconic character Dame Edna Everage died in April, age 89 Humphries died aged 89 in April having delighted and outraged audiences for more than half a century, using satirical characters to say the unspeakable. Among them was Sir Les Patterson, Australia's cultural attache to the Court of St James, the melancholy and rambling Sandy Stone, and the chundering Ocker in Pommyland, Barry McKenzie. For his comedic efforts, Humphries has been posthumously appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia. While the AC is distinctly better than an AO (which Humphries was awarded back in 1982) it's a mere trifle compared to his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. British/Australian comedian Ben Elton has also been recognised, just as his musical We Will Rock You returns to London's West End. 'I am very surprised but hugely honoured to receive this award,' he told AAP. Elton was a writer on the seminal sitcoms The Young Ones and Blackadder among many other shows, and has penned more than a dozen novels. Groundbreaking comedians Judith Lucy and Denise Scott have also been recognised for their services to the arts. Humphries will be recognised with the highest level of King's Birthday honours, for 'eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large' (pictured, companion of Australia medal) The pair have done several stand-up shows together and Lucy has just wrapped her starring role in Samuel Beckett's Happy Days with the Melbourne Theatre Company. Soprano Marina Prior has been recognised for services to musical theatre - just as Mary Poppins, in which she plays not one but two parts, finishes its run in Melbourne. She found out about the honour via email and initially thought it was a hoax - except no-one asked for her bank details. 'It was the last thing that I was expecting ... I'm extremely grateful and feel very blessed,' she told AAP. Prior, 59, has starred in Cats, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and West Side story, to name a few, over her four-decade career. 'I feel proud that I'm representing the middle aged to older woman, we're not invisible, and we've got stories to tell.' Several Target stores in Oklahoma City were evacuated Saturday after bomb scares that involved threatening emails being sent to local media stations and municipal agencies. The Oklahoma City Police Department confirmed the emails and said the messages included threats about three bombs hidden at different stores and that police would have to figure out which of the locations were the right ones. At least two stores were subsequently evacuated shortly at 5pm Saturday, just after police were alerted to the threatening emails. Police notified Target managers of the threat but left it up to them to decide whether or not to evacuate. Police have not yet confirmed a motive but several similar threats have been issued across the country in response to the retail chain's decision to remove or relocate the store's Pride Month collection. In Oklahoma, a bomb squad was alerted to the threats, but never deployed. A Target spokesperson said of the weekend incident: 'The safety of our team members and guests is our top priority. Law enforcement investigated claims regarding several stores in the Oklahoma City area today and determined these stores are safe. Our stores are currently open and operating regular hours.' Police described the initial threats as 'vague,' though Sergeant Rob Robertson of the Oklahoma City Police Department said: 'Whether it's a hoax or not we have to take it seriously.' KFOR television reported it had received the threatening email, which began by saying: 'We are going to play a game.' The email then referenced the date April 19, 1995 - the date of the Oklahoma City bombing. The threat went on to say that two of the Target locations have bombs in them. 'We hid the bombs inside some product items. The bombs will detonate in several hours, guess which ones have the bombs. Time is ticking,' the station reported the note saying. Target is one of several major corporate brands facing backlash for its promotion of LGBTQ-friendly items during Pride Month. Some consumers became especially distraught when they saw Target's extensive Pride line, which included clothing for children, and items of clothing that appeared to be for women, but were advertised as having room for 'tucking,' in case the buyer possessed male genitalia. Following backlash, Target's CEO announced that it was removing some of the more controversial items from the shelves. A Pride adult bikini is seen here, still available on its website One controversial element of the store's pride line were swimsuits that were advertised as having 'extra crotch coverage' and room for 'tucking.' The design is ostensibly to accommodate individuals with male genitalia who want swimsuits designed for women Following the backlash, some customers who were opposed to the line filmed themselves attacking LGBTQ Pride displays and confronting employees in Target stores in late May. The company then held an emergency meeting and decided to downsize and relocate some Pride merchandise so that it's less visible in stores. 'Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year,' said Target at the time. CEO Brian Cornell also released a statement saying that the company had pulled several items that have 'been at the center of the most confrontational behavior.' 'Since introducing this year's collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work,' the firm said in its 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.' Employees reported being given 36 hours to 'take all of our Pride stuff, the entire section, and move it into a section thats a third the size. From the front of the store to the back of the store, you cant have anything on mannequins and no large signage,' according to Fox. The move came as Target lost $14billion in market capitalization in two weeks and its stock was downgraded by JPMorgan. Following Target's decision to downsize its Pride displays, however, more than 200 LGBTQ groups and progressive organizations signed a statement, arguing that showing support for the community is good for business. The statement, released last week, asked the retail giant and other businesses, including Bud Light brewer Anheuser-Bush, to 'reject and speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ extremism going into Pride Month.' Some target employees report being given 36 hours to massively downsize the pride collections in stores as pushback against the aggressive pride line began to catch wind Pride month merchandise is displayed at a Target store Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. Especially across the south, the company has been forced to dial down some of its pride displays The letter added: 'When it comes to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, there is no such thing as neutrality.' It claims that those who are supporting the ongoing boycott are 'extremists.' 'Their goal is clear: to prevent LGBTQ+ inclusion and representation, silence our allies and make our community invisible,' the groups argue. 'These attacks fuel hate against LGBTQ+ people just as we've seen this year with more than 500 anti LGBTQ+ bills that restrict basic freedoms and aim to erase LGBTQ+ people.' The coalition also suggested it would continue to support Target and any other corporation that rejects criticism. 'Target, and all businesses, can leverage the support of LGBTQ+ organizations to navigate this hate, so that together, we can let extremists know unequivocally that just as with every other failed anti-LGBTQ+ campaign of the past, fear will not win.' Disgraced breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson may have also conducted other unnecessary operations, according to a legal review. Paterson, 63, was jailed after operating on women he wrongly diagnosed with cancer and using dangerous medical procedures on those who did have the disease. Hundreds of new victims have been identified after the private hospitals where Paterson worked recalled thousands of his patients. In at least 100 cases of the 300 discovered since 2021, patients were having treatment for conditions other than breast surgery, such as the removal of their gallbladder or appendix. So far, 200 of the cases have been settled, with 100 still being examined lawyers and Spire Healthcare. Ian Paterson (pictured Feb 21 2017) was jailed for 20 years, having carried out unnecessary operations on his victims Paterson worked at NHS hospitals in the West Midlands and private clinics including those run by Spire hospitals (Spire Parkway in Solihull, pictured) The private medical group has set aside nearly 50million to cover the costs of the cases. Thompsons Solicitors' Linda Millband, who has represented hundreds of Paterson's clients in legal claims, told the Times: 'It is clear the Paterson scandal is far from over. 'Since the inquiry we have seen cases including appendectomies, varicose veins, hernias. All of them unnecessary, he would basically do anything that was available, it seems. 'Most of the cases we've got are unnecessary lumpectomies to remove tissue on people who didn't have any cancerous tissue at all. Some patients were put through multiple surgeries, he preyed on the most vulnerable.' The disgraced surgeon was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after being found guilty of inflicting wounds with intent by carrying out unnecessary on ten patients. Both Spire Healthcare and the NHS were criticised by an independent inquiry in 2020 for allowing Paterson to operate for more than two decades despite concerns being raised. In April, it was announced that the death of hundreds of Paterson's breast cancer patients were under examination by medical experts. On Friday, Richard Foster, a deputy High Court judge told a preliminary hearing at Birmingham's coroner's court that there were 417 deaths where breast cancer was the cause, and 130 cases where the disease was listed as a contributory factor. Inquests have been opened into 27 cases and Mr Foster confirmed a further nine would be opened next month. Overall, he said he expected another 21 cases. According to Mr Foster, medical experts had produced reports that fuelled the suspicion that there had been an unnatural death in each case. In other cases, he said, death certificates had not been found, urging Paterson's patients' relatives to come forward to the coroner's team. Reports for clinical negligence claims the surgeon put patients through unnecessary chemotherapy sessions for the financial benefit of Latif. The judge pointed out that while inquests were not designed to determine criminal liability, he 'will not hesitate to refer any evidence of further criminal liability to the director of public prosecutions'. He said that the focal point of his investigations would look into the wider systemic failings that may have contributed to the death of patients. Mr Foster also said he would focus on whether Paterson's colleagues should have been aware of his actins and the failure by hospital managers and regulatory agencies. The culture of the hospitals and the recall systems used by both the NHS and Spire Healthcare will also been examined. The family of Eunice Jones, 47, who died in 2004, are still waiting for more information about her case. Spire Healthcare has set aside nearly 50million to cover the costs of the cases Ms Jones, from Kowle, Solihull, was diagnosed with breast cancer by Paterson in January 2002, before it spread to her bones over 12 months later. Her family are still unsure about what went wrong with her care, and were told in September that the coroner is set to investigate the circumstances of her death. 'There are life events that Mum hasn't been present for: my sisters' graduations, weddings, and having children,' said her son Matthew, 37, from Walsall. He said that he thinks Paterson gave his mother a 'cleavage-sparing' mastectomy - which was a technique used by the surgeon which left behind the breast tissue, risking a return of cancer. However, the notes on his mother's care are poor. 'We thought Mum had a natural death. Now, all of a sudden we are having to consider the possibility that Mum would still be here today, if it wasn't for Paterson. That's a very different feeling. It's a feeling of sadness turning to anger.' Most Americans agree with the indictment charges against Donald Trump, but Republicans say that the 37 counts against the former president are not likely to change their views going into the 2024 primary. Seventy-six percent of Republicans surveyed believe that the Justice Department's indictment of Trump was 'politically motivated,' according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday. A separate survey from ABC News/Ipsos also published over the weekend found that 48 percent of Americans do agree with the charges while 35 percent say they don't. The DOJ unsealed on Friday a 49-page indictment against Trump revealing 37 counts against him in the classified documents investigation. The indictment against Donald Trump doesn't seem to be moving polling numbers, which have him in the lead against his 2024 challengers A poll released Sunday shows that 48% of Americans do agree with the indictment against him, but 35% don't think he should have been charged Additionally, images were unveiled showing the former president kept boxes of these documents around his Florida Mar-a-Lago property, including in a spare bathroom and on the stage of an auditorium. The CBS/YouGov poll shows that 61 percent of GOP voters say the indictment 'won't change' their view of Trump, while 14 percent said it does change their opinion of him 'for the better.' Only 7 percent said they now think 'worse' of the ex-president and 2024 candidate and 18 percent are still unsure where they stand and say it 'depends' on what happens in the aftermath of the indictment. The results indicate voters who were going to cast a ballot for Trump in 2024 primary, are still going to do so even after the indictment. It's likely because only 12 percent of Republican voters think that the documents Trump had in his possession posed a 'national security risk,' according to the survey results. Trump noted during his remarks at the Georgia and North Carolina GOP conventions on Saturday that the indictment was good for one thing improving his polling numbers. 'The only good thing about it is that it's driven my poll numbers way up, can you believe it?' Trump half-joked in Columbus, Georgia. The 49-page indictment against Trump was unsealed on Friday and accuses him of mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021, as well as obstruction of justice A separate poll on Monday shows that 61% of GOP voters say the indictment 'won't change' their view of Trump, while 14% said it does change their opinion of him 'for the better' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, invited onto stage by Trump during his speech, added: 'This is something that you know, this is something that I know President Trump is beating Biden in poll after poll after poll.' 'Let's get Trump back in the White House for four more years,' she told the crowd as they broke out into a chant of 'four more years.' Trump said that 'the ridiculous and baseless indictment will go down as one the worst abuses of power on record.' 'This vicious persecution is a travesty of justice,' Trump insisted. 'You're watching Joe Biden [try] to jail his leading political opponent an opponent that is beating him by a lot in the polls just like they do in Stalin-ist Russia, or communist China. No different.' 'Our country has gone very bad. Just think of it in three years.' A family who were living in 'the rat race' sold their three-bedroom home for 400,000 before buying an entire French village. Liz and David Murphy bought Luc De Maison, a historic rural hamlet in the region of Poitou-Charentes, south west France, in January 2021. The price of their three-bed home in Manchester meant the couple had enough money to buy six 400-year-old houses, two barns and three acres of land in France. Their hamlet also includes two 10m x 15m swimming pools which they have renovated with the help of local builders and tradesmen. The couple, who both worked in radio, spent 300,000 to transform the ruined buildings into homes for their family and a potentially thriving holiday let business. Liz and David Murphy(pictured) were stuck living in the 'rat race' before upping sticks and purchasing an entire French hamlet for around 400,000 The hamlet includes six 400-year-old houses, two barns and three-acres of land They moved into the main house with their two children Tom, 12, and Charlotte, eight, late last year The family say they now live 'like millionaires' and have no plans to return to the UK despite not speaking French They moved into the main house with their two children Tom, 12, and Charlotte, eight, late last year. In the house opposite lives Liz's mum Helen Diaper, 73, and stepdad Terry, 72. The remaining four houses and two barns in the hamlet have been turned into holiday homes which they plan to rent out for hundreds of pounds a week. The family say they now live 'like millionaires' and have no plans to return to the UK despite not speaking French. Mrs Murphy, 45, said: 'We were both working 9-5 jobs in England, with busy lives and the kids were in after school clubs and it was like we were on an endless treadmill. 'It wasn't until Covid came and we were on this furlough and we realised we were in a rat race and life was passing us by. 'We realised we hadn't spent much time with the kids and we decided we had to do something to change all our lives. 'We had talked about moving to France for years. We had this sudden feeling to do it and we suddenly did it. 'My mum and stepdad decided to sell their house and come with us. We didn't have a clue when we came, neither of us had done physical jobs. 'Both of us had done school French but not for years. The only way was to immerse yourself here. 'We're conversational now, we pick things up while chatting. We bought the buildings and the land for around the 400,00 mark. 'We've got six houses and another big barn that has been converted into a playroom and a workshop, with three acres of land and a ruin. 'It's really like winning the lottery without realising it.' The couple decided to uproot their lives and move to France after being stuck at home during the Covid lockdowns. Liz's husband Dave, 54, who is a trained hypnotherapist, said: 'Some people decided to buy a dog during Covid but we decided to move to a different country. 'We were amazed at what we could get for our house price in Manchester, we could get a hamlet. 'We kind of made the decision to move in August 2020 and we came over in the Covid break in travel. 'It was really quick. If we'd have thought about it too much and we just said 'yeah'. 'I think we both loved France. We fell in love with it and coming over here on holidays. 'Wanting to learn a language, the food and the weather - we never considered anywhere else. 'When we came here we could only say hello, goodbye and can I have a beer. 'The French love it if you try. Thank God for Google translate. But it's reached the stage where we learn from conversations. 'We're living like millionaires here. You'd have to be in the UK to own this. It takes two-and-a-half hours to mow the lawn on a sit on mower. 'In Manchester I could do the lawn in ten minutes. We've got two pools as well. 'The wildlife is insane around us too. We have to stop for deer's and wild boars while you're doing the school run, not other cars.' Liz added: 'When we first got there it felt really weird being across the way from my parents. It's really nice to be so close to them though. 'We were really scared about the move and making enough move. For the first four months the kids hated school and we were thinking this was difficult. 'Now I don't think any one of us would go back. 'Everyone is so welcoming, I wouldn't go back for anything. 'When we first got there we had flooding, issues with our septic tank and no electricity. Now we've got everything working fine. 'When we first arrived we didn't have anywhere to stay. We renovated mum and Terry's house so we moved into a caravan. 'It was not glamourous at all. We had that for four or five months. We moved into a house. 'For the kids it was a big adventure, to us it was hell.' The couple spent 300,000 to transform the ruined buildings into homes for their family The buildings are also well suited for a potentially thriving holiday let Their hamlet also includes two 10m x 15m swimming pools which they have renovated with the help of local builders and tradesmen The couple decided to uproot their lives and move to France after being stuck at home during the Covid lockdowns The couple also took advantage of cheaper land and property prices in France to realise their dream. Dave added: 'France and Great Britain have almost identical population size but France is twice as big so land isn't as much of a premium. 'I think young people are drawn to the bright sights of the cities. We'd gone from having a set wage very month to having a new business for us. 'You can come over here and be here without the worry of the language barrier. We felt like we've earned the living.' The family's remarkable story was recently featured on Channel Four's Help! We Bought a Village. Catarina Tucker said demand for Bud Light 'has plummeted completely' since its partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light's popularity continues to plummet as both corporate and personal events pivot away from featuring the Anheuser-Busch brand at their gatherings, according to the owner of a pop-up bar business. Catarina Tucker, the founder of Barnastics - a mobile bartending company based in New Jersey- told Fox News there has been a 'significant shift' away from Bud Light among her clients recently. In April, the Anheuser-Busch-owned brand became embroiled in controversy over a promotion it did with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The company has since lost billions of dollars in market capitalization, and continues to be boycotted by tens of millions of former consumers. This month, Modelo Especial dethroned Bud Light as the top American beer, as its sales have increased more than 15 percent from the same time a year ago. Shelves have remained stocked with Bud Light as the brand continues to suffer from the fallout of the Dylan Mulvaney partnership The brand has been forced to buy back expired beer from wholesalers, and is contemplating how to deal with the people at every juncture of the sales lifecycle who are experiencing a loss of profits. Though Tucker said the liquor stores she works with have yet to begin selling Bud Light at a discount, the consumer backlash has been tangible. '[Demand for Bud Light] has plummeted completely. No one wants it at their event anymore,' she said. 'There are a couple clients that have expressed to me their feelings behind it, and its no longer popular.' She said her customers, and consumers generally, are becoming more aware of whether the brands they support align with their personal and political values. As a result, people are 'actively seeking alternatives to Bud Light, gravitating towards craft beers, specialty cocktails, and premium spirits.' Tucker said she does not believe the brand will rebound in popularity any time soon. 'With the feedback that Ive gotten and how strongly a lot of clients feel about it, it [the company] doesnt switch gears, I dont see the popularity picking back up,' she said. Tucker's company website allows customers to create a custom proposal that allows the company to see and understand any shifts in demand for certain products. 'Sometimes things blow over,' she noted, but added that Bud Light's actions as a corporation 'hold a lot of weight' with their consumers. Tucker said she has not noticed the same plummeting demand for other Anheuser-Busch products, like Budweiser, but 'anything Bud Light, they just won't support.' Sales of Bud Light have been in free fall for weeks, falling about 25 percent in the the last month. Catarina Tucker said she does not foresee Bud Light's popularity recovering anytime soon Bud Light, which has been down 25 percent in sales over the last month, released a Pride month line of beer In a note last week, JPMorgan analysts said they expect AB InBev's earnings before interest and tax in the US to drop 26 percent this year, on a 12 percent drop in volume and a 10 percent decline in sales. 'We believe there is a subset of American consumers who will not drink a Bud Light for the foreseeable future,' the note said. Bud Light's parent company said earlier this month it will triple its marketing spending in the US this summer as it tries to boost ailing sales. Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Michel Doukeris has downplayed the impact of the backlash, saying Bud Light's US sales declines in the first three weeks of April represented only one percent of InBev's global volumes. 'We believe we have the experience, the resources and the partners to manage this,' Doukeris said during a conference call with investors earlier this month. Conservatives have continued with the boycott, leading to the Belgian based brewer to place two executives responsible for partnership Alissa Heinerscheid, the vice president of marketing, and her boss, Daniel Blake on leave in April. Mulvaney worked with Bud Light in April as part of their March Madness campaign and was gifted a can of the light beer with her face on it Heinerscheid was hired to overhaul Bud Light's marketing in June 2022 with the vision of freshening up its image, while Blake had worked at Anheuser-Busch for nearly nine years. Heinerscheid's short-lived tenure reportedly included a widely-lauded Super Bowl ad featuring Miles Teller and wife Keleigh Sperry, as well as 'the Bud Light Carry' campaign that showed a woman carrying a round of beers to a table of friends without spilling a drop. Those ads, statements from the beer brand revealed, were part of Heinerscheid's vision to make the brand more female friendly - something she described only a few months ago as a 'passion point'. But that vision was swiftly cut down on April 3 with the brand's partnership with Mulvaney, a controversial trans activist with a mass following on social media, which proved to be a step too far for Bud Light's loyal customers. After Anheuser-Busch tried to distance itself from the Mulvaney promotion, Bud Light also faced backlash from the opposite direction, with pro-LGBTQ groups accusing the company of abandoning the transgender influencer. Music at all stages at Parklife Festival in Manchester has been shut down, while fans have been told to 'move three metres' away from large structures amid brewing thunderstorms. Fans at The Valley stage in Heaton Park were told to keep their distance from large structures as the skies darkened, while others were reportedly advised to stay on grassy areas of the park. Some in attendance have also said some of the access gates into the annual festival have been closed. In a tweet, Parklife confirmed that the show had been temporarily stopped while the storm passes, amid yellow weather warnings covering the Greater Manchester area. 'Please note for the safety of customers and staff, we are calling a full show stop', the tweet read. 'We are expecting this to last for 40 minutes whilst the storm passes. Thank you for your patience. MANCHESTER: Parklife Festival is halted for over an hour as wet weather thunder and lightning puts halt to the music Fans at The Valley stage in Heaton Park were told to keep their distance from large structures as the skies darkened, while others were reportedly advised to stay on grassy areas of the park. MANCHESTER: Parklife Festival is halted for over an hour as wet weather thunder and lightning puts halt to the music but music goes were still in good spirits as taking shelter from the rain 'Due to the storm, we may have to cut power on the stage. During this time, we may not be able to make announcements. Do not use your mobile phone or hold up flags, metal objects, selfie sticks.' A spokesperson told Manchester Evening news admission to the festival had been paused 'temporarily' 'due to the storm', and advised attendees that last entry time had been extended. A further tweet confirmed that the festival had restarted at around 5pm. A yellow weather warning remains in place until 9pm this evening following high temperatures sweeping across the UK. Almost a month's worth of rain could fall over parts of the UK in the next 12 hours - but the country will still be hotter than Monaco. New weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for thunderstorms and rain on Sunday and Monday. Temperatures have already hit 30C in West Suffolk on Sunday but could reach 32C, which would be hotter than Monaco, the forecaster said. Saturday was the hottest day of the year with highs of 32.3C in Surrey and the hot temperatures are set to continue. But the yellow warnings mean thunderstorms and rain could result in flood and difficult driving conditions, the Met Office says. MANCHESTER: Rainy scenes as storms hit Manchester City Centre outside The Arndale DORSET: A couple sitting on the beach shelter under umbrellas as rain falls on a hot and humid afternoon at the seaside resort of Weymouth in Dorset MANCHESTER: People covered in bin bags as they try to shield from the rain MANCHESTER: Festival goers endure a thunderstorm at Parklife Festival 2023 at Heaton Park on June 11, 2023 Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: 'We've got ourselves a yellow rain warning covering that area, and 10 to 20mm of rain is quite likely in a large area, some could see 40 to 60mm in three to six hours, some places in the West Country could see nearly a month's worth of rain in the next 12 hours. 'Some spots could see 30 to 40mm within an hour, so an intense downpour of rain. Some spots could see in excess of 60mm in a very short period - there's likely to be some hazards from localised flooding and surface water issues.' This weekend's heatwave has seen the highest temperatures of the year so far. Mr Stroud said: 'It will widely be 24C to 28C on Monday, with some spots sitting at the 30C to 32C mark. It will be warmer than Monaco, where it has hit 24.7C on Sunday and is expected to be 22 to 24C on Monday.' But the sustained heat is likely to trigger downpours. 'We're expecting Sunday to be another hot day across much of the country,' Mr Stroud added. 'We've also got a yellow thunderstorm warning; the high temperatures today are likely to trigger a few thunderstorms during the course of the afternoon and evening until 9pm. LONDON: People enjoy the weather in St James's Park, London today during the weekend heatwave The yellow warnings (pictured are for Monday) mean thunderstorms and rain could result in flood and difficult driving conditions, the Met Office says LONDON: People prepare to swim at Canary Wharf's Middle Dock swimming area during a heatwave LONDON: Spectators shield themselves from the rain which stopped play in the Men's Singles Final match between Great Britain's Andy Murray and Austria's Jurij Rodionov on day seven of the 2023 Lexus Surbiton Trophy at Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, London New weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for thunderstorms and rain on Sunday (pictured) and Monday LONDON: Swimmer jump in the water at Canary Wharf's Middle Dock swimming area during a heatwave MANCHESTER: People sheild from the rain in Manchester after a weekend heatwave sparks thunderstorms LONDON: People shade themselves from the sun under a tree in Richmond Park, London DORSET: A person makes their way through the rain along Boscombe Pier in Dorset MANCHESTER: Festival goers endure a thunderstorm at Parklife Festival 2023 at Heaton Park BOURNEMOUTH: Beachgoers at an overcast Bournemouth beach in Dorset. The Met Office has issued guidance that most of the UK will meet heatwave criteria next week 'On Monday, we're expecting a fine and hot start, temperatures rising fairly quickly during the course of the morning under strong early summer sunshine and that's likely to spark a few thundery showers.' A yellow thunderstorm warning is in place until 9pm on Sunday covering most of England, Wales and Scotland. And a yellow warning for rain has been released covering southern parts of England and Wales from 7pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday. Four yellow thunderstorm warnings are in place from 12pm to 9pm on Monday and cover parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. The North saw heavy rain and even hail last night and the Met Office issued an amber warning for thunderstorms. Yet although the experts predicted up to 100mm of rain last night, the most was only 21.8mm in Merseyside. WORCESTER: Vehicles are driven through flash flooding in the Lower Wick area of Worcester after an afternoon of thunderstorms SOUTHEND: Crowds of people gathered to enjoy the warm sunny weather on Jubilee beach THREE SHIRES HEAD: People enjoy the hot weather by Three Shires Head on the River Dane, where Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire meet LONDON: People shade themselves from the sun under a tree in Richmond Park, London BRIGHTON: Crowds on Brighton beach in East Sussex as temperatures rise across the south east WORCESTER: A car is driven through flash flooding in the Lower Wick area of Worcester after an afternoon of thunderstorms on Saturday WORCESTER: The North saw heavy rain and even hail and the Met Office issued an amber warning for thunderstorms NORTH TYNESIDE: Natalie Ord, 40, and Sunny Regan, three, enjoy a day at Cullercoats beach in North Tyneside Amy Bokota, senior operational meteorologist, said the lower recording could have been due to where the gauges fell, and said areas in the North West would still have seen torrential rain and hail, while in other areas not too far away there were mostly clear skies. The Met Office said there was a chance homes and businesses could be flooded quickly on Sunday. Floodwater, lightning strikes, hail and strong winds could also been seen, with difficult driving conditions expected and a slight chance of power cuts, It predicted delays and even cancellations to public transport because of floods or power cuts. In Worcestershire a road was closed last night after a tree fell onto a power line following heavy rain. Police officers urged residents to avoid the area for their own safety. The toasty temperatures are expected to continue next week but get back to normal by Tuesday. Sales of fans have tripled over the last week and the Met Office said next week most of the UK will meet heatwave criteria. Toolstation said it has sold 213 per cent more fans over the last week compared to the week before, while water can sales were more than double, at 147 per cent. Wilko said thousands of its fans had been flying off the shelves too, with sales up 90 per cent. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber alert for hot weather until 9am on Tuesday in the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, East of England and South West. The alert suggests the heat is 'likely to be felt across the whole health service... and the wider population, not just the most vulnerable'. A less concerning yellow alert has been issued for the North East, North West and in Yorkshire and Humber, as well as London. THREE SHIRES HEAD: A man cools down in a waterfall at Three Shires Head during Britain's heatwave EAST SUSSEX: Sun-seeking Brits enjoyed the weather yesterday in Seaford. Saturday was the hottest day of the year with highs of 32.3C in Surrey RICHMOND PARK, LONDON: The toasty temperatures are expected to continue next week but get back to normal by Tuesday Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness that has burned throughout the night and reportedly covers an area a mile long. Six fire engines remain near the village of Daviot in the Highlands after the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland on Saturday warned people nearby to stay indoors and close all windows and doors to prevent smoke inhalation. On social media, people in Inverness reported being able to smell smoke during the night. Duncan Macpherson, a Highland councillor for Inverness South, said firefighters were facing an 'almighty challenge' on Saturday night. He tweeted: 'The wildfire at Daviot south of Inverness stretches over a mile long between Craggie and Moy and presents an almighty challenge for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to try and contain as the wind blows the flames further across the landscape.' SCOTLAND: Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness that has burned throughout the night and reportedly covers an area a mile long SCOTLAND: Duncan Macpherson, a Highland councillor for Inverness South, said firefighters were facing an 'almighty challenge' on Saturday night SCOTLAND: Six fire engines remain near the village of Daviot in the Highlands after the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon Images posted by Neil Wallace on social media show large plumes of grey smoke in the sky above Meallmore Hill, near Daviot. The fire started close to a caravan park at about 2.45pm on Saturday during what was the hottest day of the year so far in Scotland. A temperature of 26.7C was recorded in Auchincruive in South Ayrshire and 23C in Inverness. Meanwhile, the fire service has extended a 'very high' wildfire warning which was in place until Saturday through to Monday. The Daviot fire follows one near Cannich in the Highlands, which began on May 28 and is believed to be one of the largest in the UK. Firefighters said the total area covered by that fire was about 30 square miles. Another wildfire started on the Campsie Fells to the north of Glasgow. The husband accused of abuse by the New York mother-of-three, who is believed to have killed herself by assisted suicide in Switzerland, wrote her an email just two months earlier vowing he would 'never stop' as he spent $3million to win custody of their children. In the email, lawyer Allan Kassenoff sent to his ex-wife Catherine Kassenoff on March 19, he wrote that she 'must be really proud of financially decimating me and the children' and accused her of focusing her rage on destroying him instead of getting help. Two months later, on May 27, Catherine took to Facebook to pen a heartbreaking note where she announced she would be 'ending my own life.' The former special counsel to the governor of New York had recently been diagnosed with her third round of cancer and this time it was terminal. In addition to the vicious disease, she allegedly was being abused by Allan who she captured on video throwing tantrums, calling her a 'fat, old loser,' and who allegedly threatened to release a video of her in her underwear on YouTube. Allan Kassenoff sent an email to Catherine Kassenoff accusing her of focusing her rage on destroying him just weeks before the mother-of-three is believed to have killed herself by assisted suicide in Switzerland In the email he sent on March 19, he listed the ruinous sum of money he said she had forced him to spend out of love for his children and said ' you must be really proud of financially decimating me and the children' In Catherine's Facebook farewell on May 27, she released thousands of court documents, alongside the videos, in a down defunct Dropbox link, that paint a terrifying picture of Allan Allan, who works for law firm Greenberg Traurig, is currently under an investigation by the company and has taken a 'voluntary leave of absence to focus on his family,' despite multiple judge rulings he had not done anything wrong. However, in Catherine's Facebook farewell on May 27, she released thousands of court documents, alongside the videos, in a down defunct Dropbox link, that paint a different picture. One of the links obtained by DailyMail.com included the email from Allan that began with a list of the ruinous sum of money he said she had forced him to spend out of love for his children. 'You must really be proud of yourself for financially decimating me and the children,' he wrote. 'But make no mistake, no one is fooled Catherine; everyone knows that your goal is to destroy me and you don't care what that means to the children.' The court had designated Allan as the primary parent and Catherine accused of him doing everything possible to keep her away from their three daughters - aged nine, 12, and 13 - including several attempts at having her arrested. 'You have done all of this in hopes that I would give up and stop trying to protect the children from you. I won't. Even if this court awards you my last dollar, I will never stop protecting them. Until the day I die,' he wrote. After posting the note on Facebook, she dropped thousands of court documents and videos, including several showing her husband screaming at her and telling her he 'hates' her Posted by Tabetha McRee on Sunday, June 4, 2023 EMAIL FROM ALLAN TO CATHERINE ON MARCH 19, 2023 Catherine You must really be proud of yourself for financially decimating me and the children. But make no mistake, no one is fooled Catherine; everyone knows that your goal is to destroy me and you don't care what that means to the children. You have sued me (and Gus) three times; you have tried to get me disbarred; you have tried to get me fired; you have reported me (repeatedly) to the police and District Attorney's office; you have ridiculed and attacked me and embarrassed the kids on Facebook. And you know what? I'm still here and I'm still standing. You have done all of this in hopes that I would give up and stop trying to protect the children from you. I won't. Even if this court awards you my last dollar, I will never stop protecting them. Until the day I die. If I lose my house, so be it. If I go bankrupt, so be it. I will do everything and anything to take care of the kids and protect them. You know why? Because I love my children more than you could ever love anybody. All you know is hate and vengeance. I feel sorry for you, and while at times I might become angry and frustrated, at the end of the day I pity you because your behavior has ruined your life and your relationship with the kids. Instead of focusing on getting help, you have focused your rage on destroying me. For that, I'm sad for you because you will never get a chance to have these years back. Even if you succeed and take every last dollar I have, I will still have my children's love and I will move forward in life knowing that I gave everything I had to protect them. Allan Advertisement Allan has spent over $3 million on their custody case to keep their children away from her, Catherine claimed, noting that he paid his attorney at least $2 million. According to court records, Allan forked over at least $500,000 more for 'neutral' experts and paid Catherine $885,000 in court-ordered payments. In Allan's email, he wrote: 'Instead of focusing on getting help, you have focused your rage on destroying me. For that, I'm sad for you because you will never get a chance to have these years back. Even if you succeed and take every last dollar I have, I will still have my children's love and I will move forward in life knowing that I gave everything I had to protect them.' The Westchester custody battle has dragged on since 2019. In 2022, Catherine was let go from her job as special counsel to the governor of New York after she was arrested for violating a protective order. The charges were later dismissed. In Catherine's May 27 Facebook post, she wrote about her third cancer diagnosis and said she was not strong enough to go through 'debilitating chemo, surgeries, and radiation again.' She also said she kept her health secrets under wraps because her husband would have 'tried that much harder to end my existence.' 'It is with profound heartbreak, that I hope none of your ever experience, that I am writing my last post ever. Today, I will be ending my own life,' she wrote in a now-deleted post. 'I will be doing so in a dignified and idyllic setting in Europe. There are simply no other options left.' 'In the last four years of my life, I have woken up every day to a nightmare like no other. I can no longer endure the abuse and terror of Allan Kassenoff... I have also endured the emotional devastation of being without my children for so long...' DailyMail.com is working to confirm if Catherine did follow-through with her planned suicide. Ms. magazine journalist Amy Polacko - who knew Kassenoff personally - penned a tribute to the mom suggesting she had indeed ended her life. 'Perhaps if I had the physical endurance to keep going, I would. But with a new terminal health issue that will soon be limited my physical strength as well, and with no protection from the courts, I cannot keep running from Allan,' the late mother, whose death certificate will take up to six weeks to process, wrote. Included in the post was the dropbox link, Allan was seen in one of the videos standing at the foot of the bed telling his then-wife: 'I hate you, Catherine, I hate you. I regret every moment of my life that I met you.' Other videos show Allan allegedly screaming behind doors, yelling at his children to 'shut up,' and dramatically leaving their home and refusing to take care of his little ones. One heartbreaking video that Catherine shared showed one of her daughters crying that she doesn't 'want to go with that crazy guy.' She claimed in her Facebook post that Allan had made a false 911 call, claiming she was 'capable of 'killing' him or my own children.' He reportedly filmed her being questioned by police, who ultimately did not arrest her after they determined 'realized he was lying,' she claimed. 'This is how I've been living for years,' the former special counsel to Kathy Hochul wrote. 'Like a hunted animal, worried about when Allan will make the next false report. He sees all of this as a game and the court does not stop him...' She had been arrested in January 2022 for reportedly violating a protective order by approaching her daughter. In result, she was let go from the governor's office. The charges were later dismissed. She claimed her husband and the courts had blocked her from seeing her children and having been diagnosed with cancer for the third time, she allegedly took her own life in Switzerland Catherine Kassenoff, 54, of Westchester, took to Facebook on May 27 to pen a heartbreaking note where she announced she was would be 'ending my own life.' 'It is with profound heartbreak, that I hope none of your ever experience, that I am writing my last post ever. Today, I will be ending my own life,' she wrote in a now-deleted post. 'I will be doing so in a dignified and idyllic setting in Europe. There are simply no other options left' 'In the last four years of my life, I have woken up every day to a nightmare like no other. I can no longer endure the abuse and terror of Allan Kassenoff... I have also endured the emotional devastation of being without my children for so long...' She claimed the courts took away her children, her home, her dogs, and her life savings. 'Their father has spent years and millions of dollars over $3million to eliminate me from our girls' lives He will never relent As long as I am alive and want to see them, they will be damaged over and over again with every attempt I make. What is the point of that? The last thing I want to do is make my own children suffer,' she said. However, Allan's lawyer, Gus Dimopoulous, told the New York Post: 'At every stage of this four-year custody dispute, the court system has acted responsibly and thoroughly. Following a neutral forensic evaluator's assessment, the court ordered an immediate order granting their father sole legal and physical custody. The court also issued an urgent order of protection against Ms. Kassenoff eliminating unsupervised interactions with the children based on what they observed when they were with their mother. 'While it is always difficult limiting a parent's access to their children, given the circumstances of this case, it was found to be in the best interest of the children to take these steps urgently. The children have been in our client's care for three and a half years and they are safe and healthy.' Catherine also accused her ex-husband and his team of telling her children to hate her, telling Ms. magazine: 'My children have been diagnosed with various serious mental health conditions as a result of this trauma. They have been told to hate me, to call me 'Catherine' instead of 'mom.'' In an email, filed in the New York court system, shows one of her daughters emailing her: 'Momma, I hung up on Doctor Alder because she is annoying and she said you were dangerous. I hate her and I don't want Shira to replace you and I miss you and love you so much.' A vigil was held for Catherine on Monday at the Stanz Cafe in Larchmont, New York, where friends, advocates, and mothers gathered to honor her. If you or someone you love is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, call the National Suicide Hotline at 988. Thousands of holidaymakers trying to board the Eurostar have faced travel chaos this afternoon as services stopped, causing hours of delay and confusion. A failure of the electrical supply between Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International blocked all lines between the stations, meaning all high-speed services were forced to stop. The 12.31pm service to Paris was the first train affected, causing an enormous backlog of travellers in the St Pancras waiting room, while the 4.01pm service was cancelled. By 4.30pm, some Eurostar services began to pull away from the London station although travellers were told only to travel if necessary and that they could change their tickets at the station. Frustrated passengers slammed the train company for poor communication, with one saying that it 'didn't need to be in iambic pentameter' while others shared images of packed out waiting rooms. The 12.31pm service to Paris was the first train affected, causing an enormous backlog of travellers in the St Pancras waiting room Services were delayed because of an electrical fault and points failure in Kent which meant trains could not run The London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord service runs to Ashford International and Ebbsfleet and then crosses the channel through the undersea tunnel, before arriving at Calais in France. A fault was identified with the electrical supply in Kent on Saturday and Network Rail carried out some repairs overnight. The repair work was not completed and further intervention is planned for this evening. A second fault with a set of points was discovered on Sunday, meaning trains could not run between Ashford and Ebbsfleet. Social media users complained of the heat while waiting in long lines during the delays and slammed a lack of communication from the train company Frustrated travellers took to Twitter to share photos of the long lines as passengers struggled to deal with the heat in the terminal. Stranded holiday makers slammed a lack of communication from Eurostar as they were left confused about whether services would be running. One described announcements in the station as 'a joke' and another said the care of passengers was 'abysmal' as the old and young 'faded in the heat'. Lindsey Graham is the latest Donald Trump surrogate to lash out against the Justice Department's 'double standard' after indicting the former president but admits that he 'did do things wrong' with handling classified materials. The South Carolina Senator said that if the federal Justice system were acting fairly, then former Secretary of State and failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would have also been indicted. The DOJ unsealed a 49-page indictment on Friday with 37 counts against Trump, including 31 counts of Willful Retention of National Defense Information under the Espionage Act. Pictures were also released showing the storage of classified materials in boxes around Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump will appear in a Miami court on Tuesday afternoon and has already said he will 'of course' plead not guilty. Graham lamented the charges, saying that Trump is 'overcharged.' Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham admits: 'Did [Trump] do things wrong? Yes, he may have' but lamented he is 'overcharged' in the indictment Trump made remarks at both the Georgia and North Carolina GOP conventions on Saturday where he lamented the charges and slammed the DOJ for a 'double standard' Most Republicans believe we live in a country where Hillary Clinton did similar things and nothing happened to her. Pres. Trump will have his day in court, but espionage charges are absolutely ridiculous, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham tells @GStephanopoulos. https://t.co/TAi6FOqGGJ pic.twitter.com/l0ld91Wxw6 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 11, 2023 'Most Republicans believe we live in a country where Hillary Clinton did very similar things and nothing happened to her,' Sen. Graham told ABC's This Week during a Sunday morning interview. 'President Trump will have his day in court,' he assured. 'But espionage charges are absolutely ridiculous.' 'Whether you like Trump or not, he did not commit espionage. He did not disseminate, leak or provide information to a foreign power or to a news organization to damage this country. He is not a spy,' Graham said, appearing exacerbated through the explanation. 'He's overcharged,' he continued. 'Did he do things wrong? Yes, he may have. He will be tried about that. But Hillary Clinton wasn't.' He then told ABC News host George Stephanopoulos: 'Your old boss committed perjury in a civil lawsuit, lost his law license, obstructed justice in a dozen ways, and he didn't get prosecuted.' Graham was the first senator to endorse Trump in his 2024 reelection bid, appearing beside him in South Carolina during one of the ex-president's first campaign swings of the cycle in January. Trump's Florida residence was raided by the FBI last year to recover troves of documents and materials that he took from the White House when leaving office in violation of the National Archives document preservation law. While materials with classified documents were also found improperly at President Joe Biden's home and D.C.-based think tank, he has not been indicted. The 49-page indictment unsealed Friday reveals 37 counts against Trump, including under the Espionage Act. Images also show that documents in question were stored around Mar-a-Lago, like in bathrooms and on a stage Trump noted during his remarks at the Georgia and North Carolina GOP conventions on Saturday that the indictment was good for one thing improving his polling numbers. 'The only good thing about it is that it's driven my poll numbers way up, can you believe it?' Trump half-joked in Columbus, Georgia. He also said that 'the ridiculous and baseless indictment will go down as one the worst abuses of power on record.' 'This vicious persecution is a travesty of justice,' Trump insisted. 'You're watching Joe Biden [try] to jail his leading political opponent an opponent that is beating him by a lot in the polls just like they do in Stalin-ist Russia, or communist China. No different.' 'Our country has gone very bad. Just think of it in three years.' Billionaire financier George Soros has spent millions of dollars funding the campaigns of woke District Attorneys who have let criminals run amok with no prosecution in many American cities. A study earlier this year found that the 92-year-old spent at least $40million to install as many as 75 prosecutors who support his leftist agenda either with outright donations or fueled through political action committees. These DAs have stripped away bail laws and opted to forgo prosecuting crimes such as theft and reckless driving, effectively giving criminals a free pass and leading to the breakdown of law and order across the United States. As a direct result, crime has skyrocketed in major cities overseen by Soros's DAs, with St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner having to step down as she faced a bill that would strip her of most of her power and 'permanently remove the right of every St. Louis voter to elect their circuit attorney.' And in New York, Soros has come under fire for supporting District Attorney Alvin Bragg who indicted former President Donald Trump for allegedly making a $130,000 hush-money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels. DailyMail.com has now compiled a list of the most notorious District Attorneys George Soros has financed over the years: George Soros spent at least $40million to install as many as 75 prosecutors who support his leftist agenda Alvin Bragg: Reduced armed robbery penalties in NYC Soros donated $1 million in 2021 to the left-leaning Color of Change political action committee that backed Bragg, who vowed to reduce penalties for armed robberies, and to no longer prosecute resisting arrest in the Big Apple. He has also let a litany of shoplifting offenses slide, leading to soaring smash-and-grab robberies at high-end retail stores across the city. Theft from pharmacies, bodegas, and supermarkets in New York City has left store owners locking merchandise to shelves with chains and padlocks. In recent weeks, Bragg has also come under fire from conservatives for indicting former President Donald Trump for allegedly making a $130,000 hush-money payment made to Daniels. On April 2, the Trump campaign wrote: 'Leftist Democrat District Attorney Alvin Bragg concocted a sham indictment of President Donald J. Trump. It is an unprecedented political persecution of the 45th President of the United States and a blatant attempt to interfere in the 2024 election.' It added, 'the American people and Republican primary voters, in particular, are outraged by the weaponization of our justice system by George Soros hand-picked and funded Manhattan DA against a completely innocent person and the leading Republican candidate for president.' But George vehemently hit back at the accusations as he claimed he had no connection to Bragg. His spokesman Michael Vachon said: 'George Soros has never met, spoken with, or otherwise communicated with Alvin Bragg. 'Neither George Soros nor Democracy PAC (a PAC to which Mr. Soros has contributed funds) contributed to Alvin Braggs campaign for Manhattan District Attorney.' The billionaire himself says he doesn't know Bragg and never directly funded his campaign. 'I did not contribute to his campaign and I don't know him,' George told Semafor. 'I think some on the right would rather focus on far-fetched conspiracy theories than on the serious charges against the former president.' Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has come under fire in recent weeks for indicting former President Donald Trump for allegedly paying porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money. He is one of 75 district attorneys who have been funded by liberal George Santos Kim Gardner, the St. Louis District Attorney, announced recently that she would step down from her position amid increased scrutiny into case dismissals and delays Kim Gardner: Murders reach 50-year high in St. Louis The St. Louis DA received about $116,000 from Soros backed PACs. Under her watch, murder in St. Louis his a 50-year high. Despite those numbers, Gardner has charged fewer and fewer felonies. Gardner had also faced backlash just one year into office, when she indicted Gov. Eric Greitens for taking a partially nude photo of a woman without her concenst. But the charges were eventually dropped, an investigator she hired pleaded guilty in federal court to concealing documents in the case and Gardner was reprimanded by the Missouri Supreme Court and was forced to pay $750 in an ethics case over her office's mishandling of evidence, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. She later also came under fire for her decision to charge a couple for brandishing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters. Everything eventually came to a had in February, when a car speeding through the downtown crashed, pinning a teenager between two vehicles and leading to the amputation of both her legs. The car's driver, Daniel Riley, had remained free after court delays, even though he kept violating his bond. In the aftermath, many of Gardner's former allies began calling for her resignation and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a suit seeking her removal. Gardner called the suit a politically-motivated attack on her office and blamed subordinates as the spotlight turned on individual case dismissals and delays. But she eventually announced last month that she would step down from office. Kim Foxx: Lenient on gun violent and shoplifting in Chicago The District Attorney for Cooks County, Illinois, Foxx received at least $2million for Soros backed PACs. Upon taking office Foxx raised the threshold in Chicago for a shoplifting offense in to qualify as a felony from $300 worth of merchandise to $1,000. With little more to fear than a slap on the wrist for theft, criminals have run rampant in the city and raids on stores have skyrocketed. Foxx also faced ire from Chicago officials after she refused to prosecute individuals filmed in a daylight shootout, because she characterized the violent crime as a 'mutual combat' incident. Kim Foxx, DA for Cooks County, Illinois And she came under fire after her office announced that it would charge actor Jussie Smollett for faking a hate crime, only to drop the charges a few weeks later. Foxx announced last month that she will not be seeking a third term in office, saying: 'I leave now with my head held high, with my heart full, knowing that better days are ahead. And it has been my honor and my privileges on behalf of project kids across this city.' But before she leaves office, Foxx announced last week that Cook County prosecutors will no longer object to waiving court-ordered fines and fees for low-income defendants. 'One of the tragedies of the criminal justice system is that a disproportionate amount of its financing is shouldered by people of color and those living in poverty,' she said in a statement. 'Rather than end the cycles of racial disparities and criminalization, fees and fines perpetuate them.' Meanwhile, motor vehicle thefts in Chicago are up a whopping 134 percent over last year, while thefts are up 17 percent and robberies are up 16 percent, according to the most recent crime statistics released by the Chicago Police Department. Larry Krasner: Lax arrests despite hundreds of murders in Philly Philadelphia's District Attorney, Krasner received about $1.5million from Soros backed groups. Under his watch at over 1,000 people have been murdered in the City of Brotherly Love. Despite those staggering numbers, in only 38.5 percent of deadly shootings were any suspects arrested. The other 61.5 percent saw nobody detained. Things have gotten so bad in the city that at least three Democratic Philadelphia mayoral candidates suggested they would consider trying to circumvent Krasner and refer gun-related criminal cases to state or federal prosecutors. Under Derek Green's plan, police would refer cases to federal authorities, and perpetrators could face federal penalties. 'We need to bring back the certainty of punishment in the city of Philadelphia,' he said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon has been under fire for his 'woke' policies George Gascon: Los Angeles' woke DA who let cases pile up The DA for Los Angeles County, California, was supported by about $4.7million from the Soros-backed California Justice and Public Safety PAC. Gascon pushed for and secured a host of lax criminal justice reforms since he took office, including stripping away bail for some crimes and adjusting offense thresholds. Crime - especially home burglaries - have soared, and even led to 'crime tourists' from South America to wealthy communities, and then flea home with their loot once released on lax bail. He has also been accused of letting 10,000 cases pile up and driving scores of prosecutors to quit. Described as an 'authoritarian' and 'toxic' manager, Gascon is said to have driven talent away, demoted top lawyers and fought anyone with opposing views, multiple sources who have worked with the DA told the New York Post. Joe Gonzales: Homicides spike 50 percent in Texas DA from Bexar County, Texas, Gonzales received $1million from Soros. Jose Garza, DA from Travis County, Texas Murders have skyrocketed 50 percent since he took office in 2018, according to The Post. Jose Garza: Vowed to stop 'over-prosecution' in Texas The DA from Travis County, Texas, received about $600,000 from the Soros-backed Texas Justice and Safety PAC. Garza vowed to end 'over-prosecution' of minorities and impoverished residents. He has also drawn ire from the Austin Police Department for arresting officers for incidents which had been handled through department's internal process. John Creuzot: Allows robbery 'for necessity' in Dallas Creuzot was given at least $236,000 from Soros while running for DA from Dallas County, Texas. His office doesn't prosecute theft of 'personal items' worth under $750 of the good were 'stolen out of necessity.' Creuzot's office is also said to be looking at alternatives to incarceration, citing overcrowded jails in Dallas and saying America's system of mass incarceration only catches the most vulnerable. Steve Descano: Rescinded cash bails for crimes in Virginia Descano, the DA for Fairfax County, Virginia, received $600,000 in donations from Soros. He has rescinded cash bails for many crimes, arguing it 'exacerbates socioeconomic disparities' and leads to more crime. The quango which vets appointments to the House of Lords last night confirmed it had blocked half of Boris Johnsons proposed peerages. In a rare public intervention, the House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac) said that eight nominations were not supported by the commission. The watchdog said it had received and processed all nominations made by the former prime minister in his resignation honours list. Mr Johnson is thought to have nominated 18 individuals, including four serving MPs. Seven were approved in the final list on Friday, and one is thought to have withdrawn during the process. The intervention came as allies of Mr Johnson traded blows with Downing Street over the contents of a secret summit with Rishi Sunak in which Mr Johnson set out his case for his list to remain untouched. Ex-prime minister Boris Johnson gave a thumbs up this morning as he went for a run with his dog Dilyn The former Tory leader has dramatically quit the House of Commons over Partygate and a row over his peerages list Supporters of the former PM claim that at a meeting this month he was misled by Mr Sunak into believing that his plan to nominate a string of loyal MPs for peerages would be waved through. But government sources strongly rejected the claim last night, saying Mr Sunak had pledged only that he would not intervene to block any of Mr Johnsons nominations. In the event, Holac rejected all four MPs put forward by Mr Johnson, including Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams, who have both now quit parliament. A Whitehall source told the Mail that the committees chairman Lord Bew wrote to the PM saying it was not appropriate to support them at this stage as they had indicated they wanted to remain as MPs until the next election. The crossbench peer said that the vetting process cannot be reliable after six months, meaning that Mr Sunak would have to nominate them again himself if they wanted to take a peerage at a later date. The source said Mr Johnson appeared to have misunderstood the process, despite Mr Sunak going out of his way to make it clear that he would only pass on the names approved by Holac. The guarantee that the PM gave Boris was very clear, the source said. He promised to sign any list that was approved by Holac and that is precisely what he did. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the 'world has moved on' from Mr Johnson as he tried to contain the damage to Rishi Sunak's Government Lord Howard, a former Tory leader, issued a plea for party unity as Mr Sunak attempts to overhaul Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's poll lead ahead of the next general electio Lord Frost, who was Britain's chief Brexit negotiator and also a Cabinet minister under Mr Johnson, predicted the ex-PM had not departed frontline politics for good Mr Johnson had nominated former business secretary Sir Alok Sharmer and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack for peerages, alongside Mrs Dorries and Mr Adams. An ally of Mr Johnson claimed he was assured their names would go forward at the meeting in Mr Sunaks Commons office late in the afternoon on June 2. One MP said: He texted people afterwards to reassure them they were on the list. There is no way he would have done that unless he had had a reassurance from Rishi. The former PM is reported to have messaged Mrs Dorries, saying: Just finished the meeting with Rishi. List being published imminently. Youre on it. An MP on the list said Mr Johnson had been deliberately misled about the process. That information was deliberately withheld, the would-be peer told the Sunday Times. If anyone had said to us that we needed to stand down to be on that list, that is what we would have done. Ex-Tory deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has demanded Mr Johnson be blocked from ever standing for election as a Conservative MP again They withheld the process to stop the by-elections, and look what happened. I think there was something more sinister and devious about it. They want Boris and his allies out of Westminster. The secret summit is said to have got off to a cordial start, with Mr Johnson offering advice on taking the fight to Labour and hinting he was prepared to help campaign in the General Election. An ally said the former PM made some bridge-building efforts, adding: He wants to win the next election. He wants to beat Starmer. He basically offered to put the leadership question off the table. However, the mood is said to have cooled when Mr Johnson asked for guarantees that his resignation honours would be rubber-stamped. Mr Sunak is said to have offered to forward on the names approved by the vetting process but not to intervene further. A government source insisted that Mr Sunak did not attempt to mislead his predecessor, telling him: I dont want you to leave this room thinking I have made you a promise that will be a problem in our relationship going forward. Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Sunday said Georgia had already implemented most of the recommendations, outlined by the European Union last year for granting its membership candidate status and noted the country was expecting the bloc to take a firm step and grant Georgia the status based on fair assessments, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.ge. Georgia's application for EU membership in 2022 is a constitutional goal of the country, which is supported by more than 80 percent of the population of Georgia, Botchorishvili said at the 12th meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee in Brussels. She highlighted Georgias potential to open new geopolitical opportunities and contribute to wider European security and prosperity and stressed granting the country the candidate status would encourage its progress on the European path, the Parliament press office said. This is the moment passengers turned on each other in a foul-mouthed row in front of terrified families on a flight to Gatwick. Russell Flanders landed in the UK following a family holiday in Faro, Portugal, Friday morning and was waiting with his wife and their two kids to exit the plane at Gatwick airport, the Sun reports. He claimed they were then 'trapped' in their seats for 25 minutes as two fliers blocked the aisle after a fight erupted. Footage filmed by Mr Russell's wife shows one passenger shouting: 'Meet me outside, bro... you're gonna smash me up, yeah? When did you start talking s***?', with the other passenger replying: 'When I asked you not to f***ing bump heads.' The two fighting passengers hurl insults at each other as Mr Russell's kids, aged nine and three, watched on 'terrified by the swearing and threats of violence'. Footage filmed by Mr Russell's wife shows one passenger shouting: 'Meet me outside, bro... you're gonna smash me up, yeah? When did you start talking s***?', with the other passenger replying: 'When I asked you not to f***ing bump heads.' One of the passengers who is wearing a Nike backpack swore: 'I'm gonna f*** you up. You're an Irish boy, get out of my f***ing way. You're f***ing talking to me bro.' The Irish passenger replied: 'Where are you from? I don't give a s***,' he shouted, and added: 'You don't know who you're dealing with. You f***ing idiot.' Sussex Police were called but made no arrests. A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We can confirm police carried out a search in the airport for two passengers reported to have been involved in a verbal dispute on board a flight. 'There was no trace of anyone matching their description and no alleged offences were disclosed.' The flight was a wetlease service operated by Avion Express on behalf of BA Euroflyer. British Airways said: 'We do not tolerate disruptive behaviour of any kind and will always take appropriate action.' Avion Express and Gatwick Airport have been contacted for comment. The chief of the feared Wagner mercenary group has resisted an attempt by the Russian defence minister to take control of its ranks, as a bitter feud between the private fighting force and Moscow appears to come to a head. Yevgeny Prigozhin said today that his fighters would not sign any contract with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, publicly defying what appear to be efforts to rein in his influence. Prigozhin has repeatedly attacked President Vladimir Putin's top military brass for what he casts as treachery, slamming him for failing to fight the war in Ukraine properly and taunting him about coming to the frontline. Tensions with Moscow were ratcheted up when mercenaries kidnapped a frontline Russian general last week, who admitted in a humiliating video to being drunk on duty after allegedly firing on a Wagner vehicle. A video later emerged which showed the general, Roman Venevitin, accusing Wagner of torturing Putin's soldiers and Prigozhin of discrediting the army - a crime which could see him jailed. Yevgeny Prigozhin said today that his fighters would not sign any contract with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Pictured: Prigozhin and his troops in Bakhmut Prigozhin has repeatedly attacked Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu for what he casts as treachery for failing to fight the war in Ukraine properly Russian Lt-Colonel Roman Venevitin claimed Wagner forces, who are supposed to be on Russia's side in the war, kidnapped Russian soldiers before torturing and raping them In the video on Friday, which was reportedly orchestrated by Russian military leaders after Venevitin was released, he said of Prigozhin: 'You are engaged in active discrediting of the Russian armed forces. 'I [am speaking] to convey to the Russian public the truth about what happened, to tell some facts about the so-called Wagner,' he said. 'Honour requires me to do this.' This allegation, which Venevitin appears to read from a script, hints that the authorities are attempting to disempower Prigozhin, who slammed the allegations about his troops' violence towards Russian ranks as 'absolute nonsense'. Now Russia's defence ministry has urged all 'volunteer detachments' to sign contracts with the defence ministry by the end of the month, a step it said would increase the effectiveness of the Russian army. Though the ministry did not mention Wagner by name in its public statement, the Russian media reported that it was an attempt by Shoigu to bring the mercenaries to heel. Prigozhin routinely attacks President Vladimir Putin's top military brass (pictured together in 2020) 'Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu,' Prigozhin said in response to a request for comment on the matter. The order, he said, did not apply to Wagner. Prigozhin said Wagner was completely subordinate to the interests of Russia but that its highly efficient command structure would be damaged by reporting to Shoigu. 'Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations,' Prigozhin said, adding that Wagner coordinated its actions in Ukraine with General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed 'General Armageddon' by the Russian media. Prigozhin has said the order to sign contracts with the defence ministry did not apply t Wagner. Pictured speaking in Bakhmut last month The defence ministry said that in the interests of increasing the effectiveness of 'volunteer detachments', all such units - or their men - would have to sign a contract with the defence ministry by July 1. It did not mention Wagner by name but it routinely refers to Wagner as 'volunteer assault detachments'. 'This will give the volunteer formations the necessary legal status, create unified approaches to the organisation of comprehensive provision and fulfilment of their tasks,' the ministry said. 'These measures will increase the combat capabilities and effectiveness of the armed forces and their volunteer detachments,' Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said. Prigozhin said the ministry might use the failure to comply with the order as a reason to deprive Wagner of supplies. 'What could happen after this order is that they will not give us weapons and ammunition. We will figure it out, as they say,' Prigozhin said. 'But when the thunder breaks, they will come running and bring weapons and ammunition with a request to help.' Wagner mercenaries have been fighting for Putin in Ukraine and are credited with seizing the embattled city of Bakhmut from Ukrainian armed forces after months of bloody warfare. But their success has seemingly angered regular Russian army commanders. Wagner chief Prigozhin has launched several verbal tirades at Putin's military leaders. He has accused them of ordering their troops to retreat from their positions and leaving Wagner fighters unprotected on the frontlines. In a furious rant late last month, Prigozhin screamed vulgar insults at Russia's defence officials, whom he described as 'smelly scumbags' and 'b*******'. And last week, he labelled it a 'disgrace' that Kyiv's troops were able to push back Russian lines and seize Berkhivka, a town in the northern suburbs of Bakhmut. He hit out at Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov, taunting them and urging them to go to the frontlines and see the failures for themselves as the armed factions spiral towards civil war. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has launched several verbal tirades at Putin's military leaders 'Now part of the settlement of [Berkhivka] has already been lost, the troops are slowly falling back. What a disgrace! 'Shoigu, Gerasimov, I urge you to come to the front, raise your pistols at your men to make them go forward. Come on, you can! 'And if you can't, then you will die as heroes.' In another notable development which could infuriate Russian military leadership, Prigozhin suggested that he is ready to deploy his men on Russian soil. Speaking via Telegram he said that Wagner was ready to fight against insurrectionist forces in the Belgorod region. Despite huge losses, and a ban on recruiting prisoners from Russia's penal colonies, Prigozhin is still thought to have up to 60,000 men at his disposal. Wagner is one of several private armies in Russia. Chechen warlord leader Ramzan Kadyrov controls a heavily armed group of his own, and Russian energy giant Gazprom has set up its own private military company. The 29-year-old was banned from policing in May after a misconduct hearing Ex Met officer Samantha Lee says she has been scapegoated by Scotland Yard A former Met Police officer says she became suicidal after being blamed for failing to catch Wayne Couzens before he brutally kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard. Samantha Lee, who went as 'Officer Naughty' on her OnlyFans account, says the Metropolitan Police has 'scapegoated' her after Couzens, who also worked for the force, was found to have exposed himself in public days before the heinous crime. The 29-year-old was banned from policing for life after a misconduct hearing last month determined she did not make 'the correct investigative inquiries' while investigating reports of Couzens flashing workers at a McDonald's. The OnlyFans performer claims since her role in the investigation was made public she has been bombarded with hundreds of hate messages online, and insists nothing she could have done would have stopped what happened. Ms Lee, who previously said that she was being looked at 'as guilty as Couzens', has now accused the Met of 'just blaming another woman' and saying she didn't do 'anything to warrant losing my job' in an interview with The Times. Samantha Lee, pictured here on her OnlyFans site where she goes by 'Officer Naughty', says she has been 'scapegoated' by the Metropolitan Police Couzens, pictured here in his mugshot, was given a whole-life order for the murder of Ms Everard Ms Lee previously told BBC Newsnight that she is being looked at as if she is 'just as guilty as Couzens' Speaking to the publication she said being given the job of investigating reports of a man flashing staff at a McDonald's in Swanley, Kent, on February 4 and 27, 2021, had 'probably' cost her her job. Ms Lee was sent to the fast food restaurant on March 3, three days after the crimes were reported to the Met on February 28, after being assigned to the 'appointments car' that morning. After arriving at 11.30am, the officer interviewed manager Sam Taylor hours before 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard was kidnapped by the former firearms officer in Clapham, south-west London. A misconduct tribunal heard she believed CCTV at the restaurant was deleted automatically so there would be no footage of Couzens or the offence. Mr Taylor contradicted this in his evidence, saying he had shown Ms Lee CCTV footage and told her it could be downloaded on to a USB stick. He also said that he explained to her that Couzens' registration plate could be seen in the CCTV footage of the second incident. For her part, Ms Lee denied that this was the case, saying that he had told her that there was no CCTV. She told The Times that she had run checks on the number plate which linked back to Couzens' home in Kent. However, there was not enough evidence for an arrest, she said, although she did mark the case as 'not to be closed', adding that the man - who she did not know was a police officer and had no prior convictions - should be arrested as soon as more evidence came to light. The police panel came to the conclusion that Ms Lee lied about her actions when questioned, although she insists 'I hold my hands up to every mistake that I made'. Her behaviour was found to have amounted to gross misconduct and she is now banned from serving in any police force again. Ms Lee says after the initial news about Sarah Everard's murderer being Wayne Couzens came out, she was reassured by her seniors that 'you've got nothing to worry about', despite the force referring itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). PC Samantha Lee was told to go to a McDonald's drive-thru in Swanley, Kent, on March 3, 2021, after Couzens was captured on CCTV flashing two women Lee did not make 'the correct investigative inquiries' over two incidents where Wayne Couzens exposed himself to staff at a McDonalds, days before he murdered Sarah Everard (pictured) Lee, pictured in uniform, was criticised for the way she handled a flashing allegation against Wayne Couzens This changed when she was given a misconduct notice in May 2021, which was later escalated to gross misconduct, meaning she was placed on restricted duties at work. Ms Lee told The Times that after the initial notice she felt 'targeted and bullied' by her colleagues, and that after being given no work for two months, developed anxiety attacks and suicidal thoughts. She was summoned before a misconduct panel and had her name published, bringing her to the public's attention for the first time. She told the publication she believes the way she has been treated is misogynistic, adding: 'This poor woman [Sarah Everard] had the most horrific crimes committed against her before her murder and obviously with the murder [itself], and it's like, "We'll just blame another woman". 'The actual blame lies solely with Wayne Couzens and it should stay solely with Wayne Couzens.' Ms Lee says she has received support from former colleagues, claiming one said her superiors were 'just throwing another copper under the bus to try to salvage what they can'. READ MORE HERE: IOPC calls for national system to flag when an officer is under criminal investigation in the wake of damning Wayne Couzens 'failures' after 11 officers from four different forces faced disciplinary proceedings Advertisement The Metropolitan Police declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Speaking to BBC Newsnight last month, Ms Lee said she had been bombarded with abusive messages after her role was made public. She said: 'Some of the abusive messages say she should have been the one kidnapped and murdered and that she felt she was being 'blamed completely' for the killing. Some of them have been reported to police. She told the broadcaster: 'I think I'm seen as this horrendous, awful person that has let an absolutely heinous crime take place. And I'm being looked at as if I'm just as guilty as what Couzens is. 'But literally, there was nothing that I could have done that would have changed the outcome. 'I don't want any sympathy at all. All I want is people just to understand that there is nothing that I could have done. 'It's been a case of let's go in at the bottom rather than going up higher at the top.' After the ruling she said she had been made a 'scapegoat' and says she feels she has been 'thrown under the bus'. She said at the time: 'I am a young female Pc and I am the only person who has faced any disciplinary action in relation to this. 'There is only one person who is responsible for everything that happened and that is Wayne Couzens. 'I have never lied.' In March, Couzens was sentenced to 19 months in prison after admitting three counts of indecent exposure, including flashing at the McDonalds restaurant on February 14 and 27 2021. He was already serving life behind bars for kidnapping Ms Everard as she walked home through Clapham, south London, on March 3 2021 and then murdering her. The third indecent exposure incident related to when Couzens exposed himself to a female cyclist on a Kent country lane in November 2020. Three people were killed and ten were wounded after 'Russian forces' shelled a boat carrying evacuees from flooded occupied territory following the destruction of a dam. Catastrophic flooding has taken place after the ruin of the Nova Kakhovka dam which Kyiv and Moscow accused the other of deliberately blowing up. 'Three civilians died, ten more were wounded, including two law enforcement officers,' said Kherson region's governor Oleksandr Prokudin. In a statement on Telegram messenger, he said a 74-year-old man used his body to shield a woman from Russian fire and was hit in the back and died. Prokudin's statement did not make clear how Russian forces attacked the boat. Rescuers, servicemen and volunteers evacuate local residents from a flooded area after the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in Kherson Catastrophic flooding (pictured) has taken place in Kherson, Ukraine after the ruin of the Nova Kakhovka dam which Kyiv and Moscow accused the other of deliberately blowing up Volunteers sail on boats at a flooded street during evacuation from a flooded area Three people were killed and ten were wounded after 'Russian forces' shelled a boat carrying evacuees from flooded occupied territory following the destruction of the dam Flood waters reach to the roof of houses after the explosion A view of flooded streets and houses after the explosion at the Kakhovka hydropower plant A Ukrainian woman holds a banner today during a protest blaming the Russian army for blowing the Kakhovka at Krakow's UNESCO listed Main Square The incident was first reported by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who said the boat was carrying evacuees from flooded areas of occupied territory to the city of Kherson. 'The Russian army attacked a boat with civilians evacuating from the left bank of Kherson region,' Yermak wrote on the Telegram messenger. The attack was not able to be immediately verified. Russia denies targeting civilians. Its February 2022 full-scale invasion has killed thousands, uprooted millions and destroyed cities. A mother and daughter who say a stomach illness and bed bugs ruined their dream Tui Caribbean holiday are poised to take legal action. Leanne Dowding, 39, and her daughter Casey Chalk, 19, stayed in a five star hotel in the Dominican Republic with 14 other family members. But it was claimed three in the group fell ill with gastric symptoms including stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. The family said they discovered other holidaymakers at the Grand Sirenis Resort in Punta Cana also suffered from similar symptoms. Some family members also reported suffering from bed bug bites, while others staying at the resort also fell ill, according to lawyers representing the pair. Leanne Dowding, 39, (right) and her daughter Casey Chalk, 19, (left) were staying in a five star hotel in the Dominican Republic with 14 other family members when they began to feel ill Ms Dowding, a customer service advisor, said she still suffers the effects of the mystery illness nearly six months later, including stomach cramps. 'Since coming home, I'm still not 100 per cent,' she said. 'It was meant to be a holiday of a lifetime for us, instead it turned into a complete nightmare.' The family jetted off on their two-week trip on January 14, and Ms Dowding began feeling ill three days in with vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and a fever. While the vomiting eased during the holiday, the other symptoms continued, she said. Student Ms Chalk started suffering abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea on the second to last day of the visit and her grandfather also fell ill, she claimed. Both mother and daughter visited their GP when they got back to the UK and samples were taken with Ms Chalk being told she had an inflamed gut. Ms Dowding, from Southampton, Hampshire, added: 'Just three days into our holiday, we'd gone out to the theatre and I started being sick. The family said they discovered other holidaymakers at the Grand Sirenis Resort (pictured) in Punta Cana also suffered from similar symptoms 'When I got back to the hotel, I went straight to bed with stomach pain and cramping. Then the diarrhoea and sweats started. 'It totally ruined my holiday and the rest of the trip was pretty much written off for me. 'Casey and her grandfather also fell ill, and I heard of others at the resort who had complained of sickness. 'When I think back, I remember the restaurants smelled a bit funny, and tables were often left dirty. 'There would be flies hanging about the food and stray cats and dogs roaming about the restaurants. 'Fresh food would be added to containers with lukewarm food already in it and utensils were being used across all dishes whether they were raw or cooked.' The pair have now hired lawyers dealing with international serious injury to investigate the illnesses they suffered. Jatinder Paul, from Irwin Mitchell representing those affected, said: 'Leanne and Casey had really been looking forward to their family holiday. 'The first-hand account we've heard about their illness is very concerning. Their symptoms continue to impact on them so much that they had to seek medical advice on their return to the UK. 'Gastric illness should never be downplayed and in some cases can lead to long-term health problems. 'Understandably Leanne and Casey have many questions over how they fell ill and we're now looking into these. 'If, during the course of our investigation, any issues are identified, it's vital that lessons are learned to help prevent future holidaymakers from suffering illness.' Tui apologised but refused to comment while the firm's legal team investigated. A spokeswoman said: 'We are really sorry to hear about Ms Dowding and her daughter's experience and we would like to assure customers that health and safety is our highest priority. 'Unfortunately, as this is now being investigated by our legal team we are unable to comment further.' Far-right protesters from a group led by a former BNP spin doctor have targeted a theatre which was hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour event. Members of Patriotic Alternative, which is headed by Mark Collett, chanted 'child groomers' and clashed with counter-protesters outside the Wyvern theatre in Swindon today. Around 30 police officers were forced to intervene to keep the group and opposition demonstrators apart, with Wiltshire Police having to create a no-go zone to keep them away from each other. The anti-drag protesters were seen parading banners with the words 'Stop Sexualising Our Children' on them, with a representative of the group calling the event 'immoral' and a 'health issue'. The show started at 11am and lasted for one hour, and there were reports the doors were barred from the inside in case anyone tried to storm the venue - while pro-drag demonstrators played loud music and cheered as the event went ahead. Supporters of Patriotic Alternative stand outside the Wyvern theatre in Swindon today to protest a Drag Queen Story Hour event Pro-LGBT+ supporters hold a banner saying 'Fight Fascists Everywhere!' at a counter-demonstration Patriotic Alternative is currently led by Mark Collett (pictured left with former BNP leader Nick Griffin) Members of Patriotic Alternative have previously been involved in riots outside a hotel being used by migrants in Liverpool, as well as a Drag Queen Story Hour event at Tate Britain. The group, which has previously expressed anti-immigrant and 'white pride' views, goaded one drag star with claims of child abuse as they arrived at the theatre on Sunday. Speakers from the group could be heard saying: 'It's against the natural order for a man to be with another man.' Pete Dilly, from Swindon Stand Up To Racism and the spokesperson for today's counter-protest, said in a press release that far right groups are 'attempting to divide Swindon with a campaign of hate against our LGBTQ+ community'. 'Over the past few years, Drag Queen Story Hour has brought joy to thousands of children, parents, libraries, and community groups with its fun, inclusive atmosphere. 'It's like a panto with children's picture books for a young audience being read, sharing innocent, charming stories like one about a missing hedgehog, teaching about listening to experts... and snot! 'The outrage against such a heart-warming event is entirely unjustified.' The Drag Queen Story Hour offers children the chance to have stories read to them by drag queens but has proven to be controversial. Anti-drag protesters wave flags and hold banners as they speak to police officers outside the event Pro-drag demonstrators hold placards that say 'Don't let the far right divide us - defend LGBT+ communities' Pro-LGBT+ supporters clap and wave at a mother and child arriving for the Drag Queen Story Hour event today One of the counter-protesters, Charlie Gadd, who is a member of the socialist workers party, said: 'I'm here because fascist groups have decided to protest outside this is event. 'They're reusing a lot of tropes of queer people being unsafe around kids, it's a homophobic narrative and we're here to oppose them. It's really important we fight fascists when they're small. 'It's a drag queen reading stories, it's fairly straightforward. People claim to have a problem with a man dressing up as a woman but I bet most of these people have been to a pantomime.' MailOnline has contacted Wiltshire Police for comment. Asa Hutchinson is going after fellow 2024 longshot Vivek Ramaswamy for vowing to pardon Donald Trump if he becomes the next chief executive. But Ramaswamy shot back, telling DailyMail.com that it's 'pathetic' that Republicans are backing the Justice Department's recent indictment against the former president. Both former Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson and biotech millionaire Ramaswamy are categorized as more longshot candidates in the crowded field of Republicans vying for the 20243 nomination for president. Neither has been able to garner double-digits in national polls and are trailing in regional ones, as well. 'It is simply wrong for a candidate to use the pardon power of the United States, of the president, in order to curry votes and in order to get an applause line. It's just wrong, and it shouldn't happen that way,' Hutchinson told CNN's State of the Union program during an interview Sunday morning. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson slammed 2024 competitor for saying he would pardon Donald Trump on the recent indictment if he were elected president Ramaswamy shot back at Hutchinson, telling DailyMail.com that it's 'pathetic' that fellow Republicans are backing the Justice Department indictment 'If you start down that path, it is unending,' he added. 'And so we shouldn't be promising and holding out the fig leaf of a pardon, because that undermines our jury system And so that really undermines the rule of law in our country that I have served my lifetime supporting.' 'It's offensive to me that anyone would be holding out a pardon under these circumstances.' The Justice Department unsealed a 49-page indictment against Trump on Friday that revealed 37 counts against the former president. Republicans are falling on different sides of this issue - regardless of whether or not they support the ex-president. Some feel that the DOJ is being 'weaponized' and acting with political motivations, while others feel Trump needs to be held accountable for the mishandling of classified materials after leaving office. Ramaswamy is of the former mindset. 'It's pathetic to watch establishment GOP candidates celebrate with schadenfreude as a corrupt Biden DOJ indicts our main competitor,' the 2024 hopeful told DailyMail.com. 'The indictment is silent on the Presidential Records Act, the main statute relevant to the case; silent on the fact that classification rules were codified via executive order and not statute; silent on the Clinton Sock Drawer federal court ruling which held the President has 'sole discretion' on deciding what records are covered.' 'If you're a former prosecutor who's now making a self-interested argument to try to eliminate your own competitor in the GOP primary and curry favor with CNN, please do your homework first,' he added. Among more than three dozen charges against Trump are 31 counts of Willful Retention of National Defense Information under the Espionage Act, which some Republicans say goes too far. 'President Trump will have his day in court,' Senator Lindsey Graham assured in an interview with ABC's This Week. 'But espionage charges are absolutely ridiculous,' he added. 'Whether you like Trump or not, he did not commit espionage. He did not disseminate, leak or provide information to a foreign power or to a news organization to damage this country. He is not a spy.' 'He's overcharged,' the Republican South Carolina senator continued. 'Did he do things wrong? Yes, he may have. He will be tried about that.' Hutchinson, while running on an anti-Trump platform, conceded that rather than jumping to conclusions, the former president is awarded the same due process as all Americans. Donald Trump appeared in Georgia and North Carolina on Saturday where he used his remarks to denounced the DOJ's 'double standard' The 49-page indictment unsealed on Friday revealed that Trump was storing boxes of documents openly at his Mar-a-Lago resort like in a spare bathroom and on the auditorium stage 'Well, certainly he's innocent until proven guilty, absolutely,' Hutchinson said to CNN. 'And we know that Donald Trump is not going to drop out of the race,' he added. 'This is going to be an issue that the voters have to decide.' 'My point is that this is bad for our country, bad for the presidency, and it is a legitimate campaign issue. We do not need to have our commander in chief of this country not protecting our nation's secrets.' There are 12 candidates in the primary field so far, with a few others waiting in the wings to see if they want to enter the race. The frontrunners are, of course, Trump and in second is Florida Gov. Ron DeSanits, who falls around 20 points behind the ex-president in most national polls but is gaining ground in recent weeks as he begins campaigning across the country. Other in the middle tier are former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. In the longshot race with Ramaswamy and Hutchinson are former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov and billionaire Doug Burgum, conservative radio host Larry Elder, Michigan businessman Perry Johnson and Dallas-area businessman Ryan Binkley. The suspect remains at-large as police search for the attacker It happened just after 9 p.m. on the southbound J train at the Chambers Street subway station near City Hall, in Lower Manhattan, police said The 29-year-old woman is recovering after fighting off an attacker on Friday A woman managed to fight off a stranger who exposed himself to her on a New York City subway before he punched her, pinned her to the ground and tried to rape her. Police are still looking for the suspect who attacked the 29-year-old woman just after 9 p.m. on Friday at the Chambers Street subway station near City Hall. The straphanger was walking off the southbound J train when her assailant pulled her back into the subway car and exposed himself to her, police said. The unhinged man tried to force the woman to perform oral sex on him, then punched and pinned her to the ground. Police are searching for a suspect who exposed himself to a woman on the J train at the Chambers Street subway station, punched her, pinned her to the ground and tried to rape her Police said the suspect tried to remove her clothes, ripping her jacket as she fought back. He then got ahold of her cell phone, which he tossed during the struggle. The woman broke free and fled from the subway car just before the doors closed. The man remained on the train that was heading south. She was taken to the hospital by EMS, who had responded to the scene and treated for her injuries. During the struggle, the attacker also snatched the woman's wallet and keys. He removed $60 in cash from the wallet before ditching it. It happened just after 9 p.m. on Friday at the Chambers Street subway station near City Hall Police have released surveillance photos and asked for the public's help to identify and capture the suspect. He is described as a man with a dark complexion between the ages of 30 and 40, about 5-foot-6-inches or 5-foot-7-inches and was last seen wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and pants, black and white sneakers and a white face mask. The man was seen in photos carrying a greenish-gray backpack. Police are asking anyone with information in regard to this incident call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477. Crime on New York's subways has dropped since a common-sense approach was adopted by the Big Apple's new Mayor Eric Adams. Subway drivers now make frequent announcements at stops alerting passengers to cops stationed on the platforms, should they require assistance. But felony assaults have remained slightly more frequent in the subway than before the pandemic, with 132 in the first quarter of 2023 compared with 110 in the first quarter of 2020, city data shows. Robbery and grand larceny, the other most common types of major subway crime, dropped during the same period. But the data does not show how often the assailants or victims are homeless, Reuters reported in March. Subway crimes get reported more than above-ground incidents, he said, because there are usually more witnesses. There is still a debate over whether a former U.S. Marine was justified in choking an agitated homeless man to death on a subway car last month. The May 1 altercation happened when 30-year-old Jordan Neely boarded a train, threw his jacket down, and yelled that he was hungry and ready to die. A video showed former Marine Daniel Penny, 24, with Neely in a chokehold on the floor of the train for more than three minutes. Penny is white and Neely was Black, and the incident sparked protests against what some characterized as an act of 'white vigilantism.' Daniel Penny, 24, is facing 15 years in prison for putting Jordan Neely, 30, in a fatal chokehold Two weeks later, Penny was charged with manslaughter. His lawyers maintained that the Long Island-native acted in self-defense after being threatened by Neely. If convicted Penny could face up to 15 years in prison. Also last month in a horrific attack, a woman was shoved into a moving subway car leaving her with a broken neck and spine. Kamal Samrade, 39, of Queens has since been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection to the attack on 35-year-old Emine Ozsoy, who was hurled into the train pulling out of Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street station on May 21. Kamal Samrade, 39, of Queens has been charged with attempted murder and assault Emine Ozsoy was shoved into a NYC subway car which left her in critical condition with a broken spine Ozsoy was on her way to work when she was attacked and her spine was broken and face slashed to the bone. There is a possibility she might not walk again. A witness said the suspect did not appear to be homeless or dirty looking. She says the attack left her traumatized. The NYPD revealed twenty-five people were shoved onto the subway tracks in New York City in 2022, killing at least two while others narrowly avoided death. One such attack was that of David Martin, 32, who was walking down the Wyckoff and Myrtle Avenue subway station in Brooklyn when Lamale McRae, 41, randomly charged across the platform and knocked him down into the tracks. Lamale McRae, 41, randomly charged across the platform and knocked 32-year-old David Martin down into the tracks The attack was caught in a terrifying video which showed McRae - a career criminal who had served 20 years in jail for attempted murder - calmly placing his bag down on the subway before launching himself after Martin and then fleeing. Figures from the New York City Police Department obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that 2022 has had more subway pushings than there were in all of 2021. Manhattan saw at least six shovings - including both fatalities. The Bronx and Brooklyn saw at least three pushings each, and Queens saw one. New York Citys subway crime rose by 30 percent in 2022. Multiple anti-crime initiatives were spurred by the rise in violence on a vital transit network. Mayor Eric Adams has increased transit police presence, spending $20 million more per month on overtime costs since January, according to Bloomberg. President Joe Biden and his administration are being slammed online for a US Flag Code violation after displaying a rainbow-colored Pride flag on the White House. The president celebrated Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community with a reveal of the Pride flag between two American flags. But Twitter users were quick to criticize Biden arguing the American flag should be in the center of any display featuring multiple national flags or pennants, according to the US Flag Code. A Saturday event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from Canadian wildfires. President Joe Biden and his administration are being slammed online for US Flag Code violation after displaying a rainbow-colored Pride flag between two American flags on the White House The president celebrated Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community with a reveal of the display Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton accused Biden of violating the basic tenet of US Flag Code Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton tweeted: 'To advance revolutionary transgender agenda targeting children, Biden violates basic tenet of US Flag Code and disrespects every American service member buried under its colors.' He the cited the US Flag Code 7. (e) which reads: 'The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.' Dr. Roger Marshall tweeted that the display 'is a disgrace.' 'This is a disgrace. Not only is it in breach of US Flag Code, but it's a glaring example of this White Houses' incompetence and insistence on putting their social agenda ahead of patriotism,' he wrote. The Saturday Pride Month event featured performers and speakers representing LGBT causes, calling the community 'the bravest and most inspiring people' and an example for the US and the entire world. A Twitter user posted cited the US Flag Code 7. (e) which reads: 'The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs' 'So today, I want to send a message to the entire community - especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You're understood. And you belong,' Biden said. Pride Month is being celebrated this year as state lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights. That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill into law that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that he was running for president. Florida Gov. DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education, the Don't Say Gay bill. There were more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and more than 70 signed into law so far in 2023 - more than double last year's number Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that he was running for president In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum last month signed a bill that prohibits public schools and government entities from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who like DeSantis has made culture issues a central part of his tenure as governor, joined the White House primary field . Josh Helfgott , an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the tide of legislation added another layer to this year's celebrations. 'Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry,' Helfgott said 'The other side is so loud, incredibly loud. ' An attendee uses a rainbow flag to stay cool during a Pride Month celebration event at the White House in Washington, DC, on Saturday Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India. Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, she said, she was shunned by family and society as a transgender person. Times were tough in the United States, too, she said. She was pushed out of a job after she came out, was homeless for a time, and took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States. 'It's a moment that we are going to cherish for a lifetime,' said Rimi, an activist in San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community. 'This is a joyful moment, but its also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do.' The Duke of York is refusing to leave his home during building works for fear he 'might never get back in'. It comes amid a stand-off between himself and his brother King Charles, who is keen for Prince Andrew to quit his long-term Windsor home Royal Lodge in plans to scale down the monarchy. The royal, who no longer has official duties after being forced to quit over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, shares the 30-room, 30million mansion with just his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York. The King believes the property could be better re-purposed but Andrew, who took over the house from the late Queen Mother on a long-term lease and has ploughed up to 7million of his own fortune into renovations, is refusing to budge. The Mail understands some necessary works are being carried out later this summer which will include roof repairs paid for by Andrew himself. Prince Andrew is refusing to leave his home during building works for fear he 'might never get back in' Andrew, who took over the house from the late Queen Mother on a long-term lease, and has ploughed up to 7million of his own fortune into renovations It comes amid a stand-off between himself and his brother King Charles, who is keen for Prince Andrew to quit his long-term Windsor home Royal Lodge Royal Lodge has seven bedrooms across the two uppermost floors. It would make sense, sources say, for the prince to temporarily move to nearby Frogmore Cottage Harry and Meghan's former home which the King has suggested Andrew could permanently 'downsize' to. But the source also claims that Andrew rightly or wrongly fears he could be permanently evicted if he were to leave the property, even temporarily. 'It's become farcical,' they said. 'Andrew has roof repairs scheduled later this summer which will take several months to complete and has been advised that staying in the house during those renovations could prove problematic. But he is reluctant to leave.' Buckingham Palace declined to comment, however another source insisted there was no need for the Duke of York to move out. The Mail understands that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, now based in California, still hold the tenancy of Frogmore, which runs out in July. It was confirmed earlier this year that they have also been given notice to quit their Windsor home, given to them by the late Queen. Princess Eugenie is currently living in the comfortable five-bedroom home with her husband and two children. She gave birth to her second son last week and the arrangement allows her to be close to her parents and ensure Frogmore remains occupied. Another source added that despite the dramas surround Royal Lodge and the costs needed to repair it, the Duke of York is adamant that he will remain in his home and not become Frogmore's new resident. Prince Andrew no longer has official duties after being forced to quit over the Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) scandal Prince Andrew lives in the 30million mansion with just his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York 'They originally wanted Andrew out of Royal Lodge so that the property could be renovated and prepared for new lodgers,' the source said. 'But he is adamant that, as he has so many years left to run on his lease and he spent millions from his own fortune doing up the place that he is not going to leave his home. He feels very strongly, perhaps with some justification, that they are moving the goalposts suddenly and it is hugely unfair. 'No one knows how it will be resolved but Andrew is insistent. It was clearly convenient for Harry and Meghan to leave Frogmore as they were paying for a property they don't really use. But Royal Lodge is the Andrew's home.' It has long been rumoured that the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are currently living in four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with their three children, might move in. But it is believed that the Crown Estate wouldn't rule out renting the Royal Lodge commercially either in order to get the best return. It has been rumoured that the Prince and Princess of Wales, who live in Adelaide Cottage, Windsor, with their children, may move in. But it is thought the Crown Estate wouldn't rule out renting out the Royal Lodge commercially. A young child has died after losing consciousness on flight to New York while the plane was mid-air. The 11-year-old had been on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to the United States when they became unresponsive as it flew over Europe today. The plane made an emergency landing at an airport in Hungary but despite medics rushing to the aircraft the child could not be saved, according to news agency MTI. The Airport Medical Service had been scrambled to flight TK003 after it landed on the tarmac at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, it reported. It is believed the child involved was an 11-year-old American boy travelling with his family. Th child lost consciousness while on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to New York today. Pictured: A file image of a Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-303 The plane made an emergency landing at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport but sadly died. Pictured: An aerial image of terminal 2 at Budapest Airport Local media claim the cabin crew performed first aid on the child, who had a disability, as did a doctor who was also travelling on the flight. Pilots contacted officials at Budapest Airport and got permission to make an emergency landing, touching down at 10.30am, The Sun reports. On the ground it was met by medics and ambulance which took the boy and his family to the hospital, although tragically he could not be saved. The flight, which had originally departed Istanbul Airport at 8.56am local time (6.56am BST), took off again at 2pm (1pm BST). Flight tracking data shows it landed at JFK Airport in New York at 3.45pm EST (8.45pm BST). A fleet of migrants' boats crossed the Channel to Britain yesterday as traffickers made a mockery of the Government's pledge to crack down on illegal crossings. Traffickers used the weekend heatwave, low wind and calm seas to ferry migrants from France. The small, crammed boats began to arrive in Dover before breakfast after being escorted by the French Navy from near Calais, Dunkirk, and Boulogne for mid-channel pick-ups by Britain's Border Force. From a chartered boat, the Mail monitored the crossings from 5am on the busiest day of migrant sailings for weeks and found the traffickers back in business. A north wind in May and early June brought their criminal trade to a near halt, prompting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to say this month that his curbs on the boats was 'starting to work'. A fleet of migrants' boats crossed the Channel to Britain yesterday as traffickers made a mockery of the Government's pledge to crack down on illegal crossings The small, crammed boats began to arrive in Dover before breakfast after being escorted by the French Navy from near Calais, Dunkirk, and Boulogne for mid-channel pick-ups by Britain's Border Force However, yesterday's arrivals suggest that bad weather was the criminal gangs' key obstacle. Our skipper, a crab wholesaler, warned: 'When the wind drops like this morning, these criminals spring into action with sailings. There is so much money to be made, and so many people willing to pay to reach the UK.' There are an estimated 4,000 migrants in northern France, West Germany and the Netherlands waiting to reach the UK by sea as Europe copes with the highest number of arrivals on its southern shores since 2016. Our Channel photos show how a pass-the-parcel operation ran for five hours, clearly in an agreement between France and Britain. Watched by the Mail at 7.24am, the Border Force vessel Hurricane rendezvoused 12 miles off Dover with the French Navy ship Abeille Normandie, which had escorted a migrant boat with 50 on board from France. The Abeille Normandie let the small inflatable float over the international shipping line into English waters towards Hurricane. There was no attempt to turn the migrants back to France. At 8.27am, Hurricane helped those on the migrant boat up to its deck. It arrived in Dover less than an hour later, where the men, women and at least one child were processed before being taken by bus to be fingerprinted at Manston, a former RAF camp in Kent. They will be allocated rooms in one or more of the 400 hotels requisitioned by the Government for migrants at 6million a day. By 2pm, French and UK coastguards told ships to alter course so the Border Force vessel Volunteer could go the wrong way up the main shipping lane to recover a migrant boat. 'It's mayhem,' said our skipper. 'There will be a collision. Migrant boats seem to get preference over Channel traffic.' Yesterday's arrivals continued through the day. By 8pm last night there had been 19 Border Force call outs to migrant boat 'incidents' in The Channel. As each craft was carrying at least 30 people, paying around 3,000 a head for the trip, up to 600 are thought to have reached the UK. Calm weather will continue in the Channel until Wednesday, when northerly winds are due. The Tories' Illegal Migration Bill, which is going through the Lords, is designed to make it easier to refuse entry for illegal migrants. The Home Office predicts 85,000 could come this year almost double the 45,000 in 2022. But bad weather with a northerly wind may be the best hope for Mr Sunak to achieve his pledge of 'stopping the boats' this summer. The number of Albanians crossing the Channel has dropped after TikTok began automatically blocking posts containing key words and videos that advertise boat crossings, The Times reported last night. Just 122 Albanians have arrived since the rules changed in March, compared to nearly 2,000 over the same period in 2022. Labour would cut red tape to fast-track construction of onshore wind farms and nuclear power plants, it has emerged. The party would prioritise projects judged critical to national energy infrastructure as Labour hopes to reaffirm its commitment to green energy. The 'fast-track' green scheme set to be announced by leader Sir Keir Starmer later this month would see national planning policy statements updated to promote clean power development. The proposals come after a humiliating few days for Labour during which Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves had to water down a pledge to spend 28billion a year on green industry and jobs after the Tories claimed the idea was unaffordable. Labour climate change spokesman Ed Miliband said of the new plan: 'The Conservative ban on cheap, clean onshore wind has cost families 180 on their energy bills every year since 2015. Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce 'fast-track' green scheme later this month 'Labour will bring down energy bills for the British people by backing clean, cheap home-grown power for all.' The party plans to impose tough targets and a framework for decisions on plans to ensure construction can take place without delays. But towns and villages many in rural areas who overwhelmingly vote Labour would not lose a veto on new developments, a party source insisted. They told the Mail: 'We want to do it in conjunction with communities bringing them into the process early, working with local people, and making sure they get perks if infrastructure is built close to them. 'We're not looking to override communities or remove their ability to say no if there are concerns, but we do want to speed things up.' Last year Rishi Sunak ended a de facto ban on new onshore wind developments after a row with Tory backbenchers. However, researchers have warned that planning restrictions must be eased on renewable energy developers after the IPPR think-tank warned that at the current rate it will take almost 4,700 years for England to build enough onshore windfarms to help meet the UK's clean energy needs. Labour climate change spokesman Ed Miliband said of the new plan: 'Labour will bring down energy bills for the British people by backing clean, cheap home-grown power for all.' A Labour source said: 'Every clean energy infrastructure investor we speak to tells us the biggest barrier they face is the planning system. It's fast becoming a national embarrassment. We're determined to fix this and, in contrast to the Tories, we have the political will to do it. 'Businesses know this too, which is why they're so enthusiastic about the prospect of a Labour government. We're speaking their language. That's why, as part of the launch of our climate mission which includes our target to get clean power by 2030 we're going to set out a fast-track scheme for critical energy infrastructure that will speed up decision times and make the process easier, while working with communities. 'As Keir said, we're on the side of the builders, not the blockers.' Last week Mr Sunak suggested 'eco-zealots' from Just Stop Oil and other environmental protest groups were writing Labour's energy policy. The Prime Minister said that Sir Keir was putting 'ideology ahead of jobs, ahead of investment, and ahead of our energy security'. Sources claim he would urge Conservative MPs to focus on public's priorities Rishi Sunak was last night told that a backlash over Boris Johnson's shock departure was coming under control amid calls for the party to unite to keep Labour out of No 10. After a frantic weekend of phone calls and arm-twisting, Conservative whips informed the Prime Minister that the threat of mass resignations by Mr Johnson's supporters over his ousting from Parliament was receding. Mr Sunak is today expected to break his silence over his predecessor's resignation. Sources said he would use an appearance at a tech summit in London to pay tribute to Mr Johnson's record, but urge Conservative MPs to focus on the public's priorities. He will also fight back over claims by allies of Mr Johnson that he blocked key nominations on his predecessor's resignation honours list. Rishi Sunak was last night told that a backlash over Boris Johnson's (pictured) shock departure was coming under control amid calls for the party to unite to keep Labour out of No 10 Mr Sunak (second from right) is today expected to break his silence over his predecessor's resignation Energy Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday said 'the world has moved on' from Mr Johnson's time in office. And ex-leader Michael Howard said the party had to choose between backing Mr Sunak and handing power to Sir Keir Starmer. Lord Howard said: 'I would urge Tory MPs to remember that they have a choice between uniting behind the PM... or facing the fact that the country will be run by someone who at the last election wanted Jeremy Corbyn to be prime minister.' Downing Street was rocked on Friday night by Mr Johnson's decision to pre-empt a critical report on the Partygate saga by standing down from Parliament. Nadine Dorries quit hours earlier after being blocked for a peerage on Mr Johnson's resignation honours list. Former Cabinet minister Nigel Adams, who also missed out on a title, resigned on Saturday, setting up a nightmare triple by-election next month. Writing in The Mail on Sunday yesterday, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warned Mr Sunak would face 'civil war' if he tried to block Mr Johnson from making a political comeback. A former minister loyal to Mr Johnson yesterday told the Daily Mail two more MPs were on the brink of quitting. 'There is no co-ordinated plan, but people are very unhappy with the way Boris has been treated,' the source said. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps (pictured) yesterday said 'the world has moved on' from Mr Johnson's time in office And ex-leader Michael Howard (pictured) said the party had to choose between backing Mr Sunak and handing power to Sir Keir Starmer Mr Johnson's former communications director Sir Guto Harri said allies were angry at the way he was being 'hounded out of politics'. The prospect of a fresh round of Tory infighting has dismayed Mr Sunak, who is battling to convince voters he can defeat Labour. Grim polling by Lord Ashcroft yesterday found that the public think he is failing to deliver on his key pledges, with just 13 per cent saying he has made progress on his flagship promise to 'stop the boats'. Last night, the situation appeared to be calming. In a statement, Mr Adams went out of his way to insist he would not cause further trouble for the PM, telling supporters: 'It is essential that the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak win the next election and I will do my utmost to ensure that happens.' Another former Cabinet ally of Mr Johnson said: 'We cannot undo the events of the past year or the last 72 hours unfortunately. I'd rather we all knuckled down and ministers actually focused on doing their jobs.' Mr Johnson is braced for the Commons privileges committee to publish a highly critical report into his conduct as soon as today. The former PM stood down last week after being sent a draft copy of the report which is expected to find him guilty of lying to Parliament over Partygate something he strenuously denies. Mr Shapps yesterday declined to endorse Mr Johnson's description of the committee as a 'kangaroo court'. During a round of TV interviews, he paid tribute to the former PM's record but urged Tory MPs to rally round Mr Sunak. 'I think people around the country inside and outside the party recognise that Boris was somebody with many qualities,' he told Sky News. 'But we are now in a world where there are different challenges to face and we've got new management in No 10 getting on with the job... 'I think the world has moved on from what was quite a dramatic period under Brexit and of course under the issues related to Covid, the vaccines and the rest of it.' Writing in The Mail on Sunday yesterday, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) warned Mr Sunak would face 'civil war' if he tried to block Mr Johnson from making a political comeback Former Cabinet minister Sir John Redwood (pictured) urged the PM to urge Mr Johnson's call to cut taxes and become a 'properly Conservative government' Mr Shapps appeared to rule out an early comeback for Mr Johnson, saying: 'There is no kind of chance of him coming back and saying, 'Right, now I'm going to stand again'.' Former Cabinet minister Sir John Redwood urged the PM to urge Mr Johnson's call to cut taxes and become a 'properly Conservative government'. Sir John said: 'He needs to take action now, this day, to show those by-election voters we mean business.' Ex-Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told the BBC he predicted Mr Johnson, who hinted in his resignation letter he could mount a comeback, could even lead a new party on the Right. Sir Keir has called for a snap general election. Pat McFadden, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said the country would be 'bedevilled by chaos and instability' if the Conservatives were allowed to continue. Suella Braverman blasted Sir Keir Starmer as being in the pocket of the eco mob as his party tries to block a crackdown on disruptive protests. The Home Secretary wants to give police greater powers to tackle selfish road-blocking stunts that bring cities to a standstill and lead to clashes with fed-up motorists. Writing in the Mail, Mrs Braverman revealed that Just Stop Oils current campaign of 124 slow walks has taken up 12,500 police officer shifts, preventing them from catching serious criminals, while the mobs antics cost police more than 14 million last year. But her planned legal change introducing a new definition of serious disruption to cover the impact on anyone caught up in traffic jams caused by the environmental activists will be opposed by Labour leader Sir Keir, and his MPs are expected to vote against it in the Commons. It could even be killed off in the Lords tomorrow by peers, who are angry that the Government is bringing back legislation that the Upper House rejected a few months ago, while the equality watchdog last night warned it risked undermining the democratic right to peaceful protest. The Home Secretary wants to give police greater powers to tackle selfish road-blocking stunts that bring cities to a standstill and lead to clashes with fed-up motorists Mrs Braverman blasted Sir Keir Starmer as being in the pocket of the eco mob as his party tries to block a crackdown on disruptive protests READ MORE: SUELLA BRAVERMAN: These protesters are selfish and the public are sick of them... Whether it's stupid stunts at the snooker, rugby and Grand National, blocking roads or slow-walking, the rest of us have had enough Mrs Braverman revealed that Just Stop Oils current campaign of 124 slow walks has taken up 12,500 police officer shifts, preventing them from catching serious criminals, while the mobs antics cost police more than 14 million last year. Advertisement But Mrs Braverman accused the Opposition of going easy on the activists after taking 1.5 million in donations from green tycoon Dale Vince, who bankrolls Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rising. She said: A selfish minority is finding new ways to cause havoc and misery. That is deeply unfair on the law-abiding majority, who must be able to go about their lives freely and should not have to clear disruptive protesters out of the way themselves. Not that this is a concern for Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. They have taken 1.5 million in donations from a green businessman who bankrolls these selfish protesters. Its the same old Labour Party, soft on crime and soft on criminals theyre in the pocket of Just Stop Oil. Last week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed the eco-zealots were writing Sir Keirs energy policy of banning new licences for North Sea oil and gas production. The move by the Home Secretary to crack down on the green mob comes after a top-level meeting with police chiefs on how best to improve the response to highly disruptive protests, a Home Office memo states. The document explains that last year, when Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil caused widespread disruption across the nation through traffic obstruction and slow marches on roads, police chiefs said their powers to impose conditions on such protests were limited. The wording of existing legislation meant they could not stop protests going ahead and could impose conditions only once they were under way and causing serious disruption to the life of the community. Proposed amendments will make it clear that serious disruption can include the cumulative impact of repeated processions in the same area, and can cover hindrance that is more than minor to the carrying out of day-to-day activities (including in particular the making of a journey). An economic impact assessment predicts the change will improve public safety as well as save police officers time. However, there is anger that the Government is seeking to introduce the changes through a piece of secondary legislation that cannot be amended, known as a Statutory Instrument, because the same proposals were made in a late amendment to the Public Order Bill earlier this year and voted down by the Lords. The document explains that last year, when Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil caused widespread disruption across the nation through traffic obstruction and slow marches on roads, police chiefs said their powers to impose conditions on such protests were limited The Equality and Human Rights Commission warned last night that the redefinition of serious disruption could undermine the right to peaceful protest, which is guaranteed under the Human Rights Act. A Labour Party spokesman said: Labour is clear that dangerous disruption from Just Stop Oil is totally unacceptable and breaks the law. 'The police already have the powers they need to take action against serious disruption, as they have themselves said. The Labour Party has never taken any money from Just Stop Oil. Policy is never decided on the basis of donations received. Police have launched a murder inquiry after suspected human remains were found in the search for a missing woman in Northern Ireland. Officers looking for Chloe Mitchell now believe she may have been murdered after the discovery was made in Ballymena, Country Antrim, earlier today. The 21-year-old, who is from Ballymena, was last seen in the early hours hours of June 3 in the town centre and searches for her have focused on the area around the Braid River. In recent days the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched a criminal investigation and arrested two men aged 26 and 34 in connection with the case. But this has now been turned into a murder investigation after police say they found suspected human remains in the town on Sunday, although no formal identification has been made yet. Police have launched a murder inquiry after suspected human remains were found in the search for Chloe Mitchell (pictured) A police forensics officer seen searching a property in James Street, Ballymena, earlier today Community Rescue Service volunteers search thick undergrowth near the River Braid on Sunday Searches have expanded to the nearby Braid River, although it is not believed that Ms Mitchell got into difficulties in the water In a statement release on Sunday evening, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Millar said: 'Sadly today detectives have recovered suspected human remains in Ballymena, and while there has been no formal identification, we have now launched a murder enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, who was a high risk missing person. 'Earlier this week we launched a criminal investigation into Chloe's disappearance. Tragically, we now have reason to believe that Chloe was murdered. 'Our thoughts this evening are very much with Chloe's family and we have specialist officers providing them with support at this heartbreaking time. 'I would like to thank the community in Ballymena and the Search and Rescue teams for their help in trying to find Chloe. 'Two men, aged 26 and 34, remain in police custody helping police with their enquiries. Further details will follow in due course.' It comes after days of searches for the missing woman, with the Community Search and Rescue organisation has been assisting police in the operation. On Friday, a senior police officer expressed hope Ms Mitchell would be found safe and well. Superintendent Gillian Kearney said police were treating her as a 'high-risk missing person'. Ms Mitchell's brother Phillip had urged anyone with information to contact the family. Asked by the BBC how much he is missing his sister, he said on Friday: 'Words just can't describe it, I am broke.' Ms Mitchell was last seen by her family on Friday June 2 and was then captured in the late hours of that day and the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre on CCTV. She was walking in the direction of James Street in the town. Darren Harper, district commander for Community Rescue Service, said search efforts on Thursday had allowed them to eliminate some areas. 'Today's search is going to be just a continuation on from the search areas yesterday, just eliminating the areas that Chloe may not be in,' he said. Mr Harper said his team was well-equipped to deal with the difficulties in searching the steep embankment of the River Braid. 'We do have a tech team that will be able to get down there, so it's not going to be so much of a challenge,' he said. 'It's just because of the low light yesterday when this search area was identified within our search strategy. It was just a lot safer for our guys to try and access it during daylight hours.' Ground teams searched the areas around the river but also close to a property in James Street, near to Ms Mitchell's last known whereabouts, which had been cordoned off by police. Search and Rescue teams had been seen searching a bank of the River Braid in Ballymena in recent days Police continued their search this morning after they arrested a 34-year-old man in Ballymena. This is after they arrested a 24-year-old on Thursday in Lurgan, County Armagh Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, Mid and East Antrim District Commander Superintendent Gillian Kearney appealed to the public to come forward with any information Philip Mitchell, the brother of missing Chloe Mitchell said he is 'broken' and 'increasingly concerned' as police search for the missing 21-year-old six days after she disappeared Darren Harper, district commander for Community Rescue Service, said search efforts on Thursday had allowed them to eliminate some areas (pictured: searchers on Friday) Search and Rescue teams on the bank of the River Braid in Ballymena on Friday, looking for the missing 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell Mr Harper maintained that the teams were still hoping to find Ms Mitchell. 'Ground teams again, we're searching for Chloe herself. As I say we're just systematically searching in and around the area at the minute,' he said. Regional commander of the Community Rescue Service, Sean McCarry, said the team is working closely with police. He told the BBC on Friday: 'Our teams were using special equipment to assist with the search. We started yesterday morning in the early hours and went right through into this morning. 'We took a break and now we are back at it as we speak. 'The search is quite wide-ranging. The focus, of course, is in the last place where Chloe was seen. 'Our teams are working along the Braid River. Because it has been so dry through the past few weeks there isn't a big flow in the river. 'We are not searching on the basis that we think Chloe might have got into difficulties in the river, we are searching on the basis of it is within the vicinity of the search area. 'We concentrate on all waterways and all areas as we carry out the search. 'We have quite a number of our team out today. We bring additional resources as we need them and the tasks come through to us from the police. 'Starting this morning we have about 35 people on the job. We would expect that to increase throughout the day.' Police said Ms Mitchell was last seen on CCTV walking in the direction of James Street, and have asked for anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact officers. Independent councillor for Ballymena, Rodney Quigley, praised the efforts of the police and search and rescue teams, but said that people should not listen to rumours in relation to the case Search and Rescue teams behind a property on Edward Street in Ballymena as the search resumes for the missing 21-year-old A police cordon on James Street in Ballymena as the search has resumed in Co Antrim for missing woman Chloe Mitchell Chief Inspector Arnie O'Neill said a 26-year-old man was arrested in Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Thursday and was helping police with inquiries. He added: 'We are becoming increasingly concerned as to the whereabouts of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell. 'We are now aware that Chloe was last seen in the late hours of June 2 into the early hours of June 3 in Ballymena town centre. She was seen on CCTV walking in the direction of James Street. 'Chloe was wearing a green and black North Face-style jacket, a white T-shirt, leggings and Nike trainers.' Independent councillor for Ballymena, Rodney Quigley, praised the efforts of the police and search and rescue teams, but said that people should not listen to rumours in relation to the case. 'There's a bit of confusion at the minute, I've heard different reports,' he said. 'I want to stress that there's a lot of rumours going about and for people not to be listening to the rumours. Obviously it's a well-organised search and I feel the people just need to let search parties and the police continue with the search and investigation. 'I know she was a local girl, and she's been missing a week now, which is very concerning, but nobody seems to have seen or heard tell of her anywhere and I've been speaking to quite a few people,' he added. Community groups in Ballymena have also been carrying out searches for Ms Mitchell, including the Harryville Residents Association and Ballykeel and District Community Association. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 2262 of June 5. Man with seriously ill nine and six-year-old kids tested positive for salmonella At least 33 families have been affected after staying at Rixos Sungate resort Tourists have been taken to hospital after suffering from diarrhea and vomiting British families have revealed their 'nightmare' holidays at a five-star resort in Turkey, with scores of people being put on drips, kids being too frightened to eat and worried parents describing having to watch their sick children sleeping. At least 33 families who visited the Rixos Sungate resort in Antalya say they have been affected by severe sickness, with many blaming suspected food poisoning for their symptoms which have included diarrhea and vomiting. Many rushed to A&E and their GPs on their return to the UK, and now a father-of-two has tested positive for salmonella. His daughters, aged six and nine, were on IV drips during their trip and are still severely unwell a week later. Cases of salmonella were reported among guests at the hotel back in Easter, but tour operator TUI said this week that food poisoning was not confirmed and that the illnesses were thought to be norovirus. Some holidaymakers due to fly out were told that they cannot change hotels, with TUI branches and call handlers allegedly telling customers that they have no knowledge of the sickness sweeping the resort. Dominic Brackley from Leighton Buzzard has tested positive for salmonella after staying at the resort. He is pictured with his daughter, Blythe, who was on an IV drip at the hotel's clinic Vdara, 6, became unwell on May 30, a few days after the family arrived at the resort, and was soon taken into the hotel's clinic and put on an IV drip James Pearce was bedbound throughout his holiday at the Rixos Sungate resort, according to his wife One guest told MailOnline that she forked out 5,000 for a luxury holiday at the resort to celebrate her partner's 40th birthday, but that it has turned into a 'nightmare' Families have claimed that their loved ones became ill after eating food at the resort, and say that several people in a group chat set up by sick guests had tested positive for salmonella. Dominic Brackley from Leighton Buzzard said the first night his youngest had the illness he 'thought she was dying she was so bad'. Vdara, 6, became unwell on May 30, a few days after the family arrived at the resort, and was soon taken into the hotel's clinic and put on an IV drip. The dad said he 'then spent the next five nights watching her sleep, making sure I could see her tummy move.' The little girl has been off school for two days and gone back to the doctor after getting home last Sunday. Dominic's nine-year-old, Blythe, is also unwell and had to be put on a drip in Turkey. Dominic has since gone to his GP at home and tested positive for salmonella, with the whole family continuing to experience horrible symptoms. He said his holiday cost him a total of 4,700. Another guest said that she forked out 5,000 for a luxury holiday at the resort to celebrate her partner's 40th birthday, but that he has been bedbound throughout the trip. Dominic with his partner and daughter Vdara in the clinic at the Rixos Sungate Resort in Turkey Katie Harrington, 33, said her husband James was unable to move or eat, suffering from kidney pain, a fever and diarrhea. He was put on two drips in the hotel's clinic and prescribed numerous antibiotics, but was not improving. Katie claimed her children hadn't eaten in 'days' as the family feared getting ill from the resort's food. The mother-of-two said her husband was among numerous patients in the hotel's clinic, and MailOnline has seen pictures showing both young and elderly patients being treated there. After returning to the UK this week, Katie said her GP confirmed the symptoms of his illness were not consistent with norovirus and are more likely linked to a 'bacterial infection of some kind - very likely salmonella.' James is waiting on his test result. Katie has slammed TUI, who she said she contacted with concerns about her upcoming holiday back in April, when reports of suspected salmonella cases among guests at the hotel emerged. Katie Harrington said her husband James has been in bed since Thursday and was unable to move or eat, suffering from kidney pain, a fever and diarrhea Katie said she spoke to the TUI rep who denied that it was related to food poisoning and she said showed 'no compassion or help at all'. 'They've done nothing to sort this and are in denial. We would never have come here if we knew it hadn't been dealt with!' She said she has filed an official complaint with TUI and wants a full refund, compensation and loss of earnings, with her husband having to take time off work. Another guest said her husband had to be taken to hospital after suffering severe diarrhea, and described doctors at the hotel's clinic as 'useless'. Holly Laird, from Essex, said her husband Ant has been suffering from 'sickness, diarrhea, fever and dizziness' since eating at the hotel's buffet on Thursday. After his sickness worsened, she said, she took him to the Medical Park Hospital, where she says doctors confirmed to her that he has a 'serious infection - food poisoning'. Ambulances have been pictured outside the Rixos Sungate resort in Antalya, with violently ill guests needing to be taken to hospital Holly said she had seen reporting in April about cases of salmonella among guests at the hotel and contacted TUI with her concerns, but was reassured by the tour operator. 'I am kicking myself as I saw the reviews before I came but had faith all would be ok, but clearly and sadly this is not the case.' Ant has since been in A&E with what Holly said is 'severe kidney damage', and claimed that doctors confirmed he is suffering from a bacterial infection. Linda Leitch, whose daughter Chloe was on IV drips in hospital for days and claims doctors told her she was suffering from food poisoning, said she is fuming at TUI's response to her complaint. Eight-year-old Chloe has been on a series of IV drips after suffering from 'severe vomitting, diarrhea, and being unable to keep water down', her mother Linda Leitch says After receiving an email saying Chloe may be suffering from gastroenteritis, Linda criticised the tour company's characterisation of her daughter's illness as 'unpleasant'. 'Unpleasant! You should be here listening to my eight-year-old screaming in pain, vomiting up bile and pooing green sludge since Wednesday crying 'mummy I can't do this anymore'. 'She is currently seriously ill on a constant cocktail of IV drugs to get her through this food poisoning!' Linda wrote on social media earlier this week. Linda also refuted the claim that guests may be suffering from norovirus, sharing Chloe's negative test result for the illness. The family are now back in the UK. Another holidaymaker, who is due to fly out with 15 family and friends later this month, told MailOnline that despite raising concerns with TUI, she was told she 'can't rebook' her holiday at another hotel. The Rixos Sungate Resort saw a spate of food illnesses over the Easter holidays, and is now facing fresh allegations Anna Krasnianska from Wellingborough is due to travel on June 23 in a group of 16 including a 22-month-old child. She told TUI representatives over the phone and at a branch in Rushden that she wanted to change hotels after reports of sickness. But, Anna claimed, she was told by a rep that there is 'no issue at all' at Rixos Sungate - which TUI has since suggested was a 'miscommunication'. She and her family were also told that they cannot rebook as the issue will be 'cleared' by the time they are due to fly out. She said no policy was ever mentioned to them, despite others claiming they have been able to change hotel and pay the difference. Anna said she has spent 4,000 on the holiday for her family of four, but that her 'main concern is obviously health of the children, if it is salmonella which is the cause [of the illness].' 'Lack of any response, ownership of the issue from TUI is extremely frustrating,' she said. TUI said it would be in contact with Anna. Another holidaymaker who is due to fly out to Rixos Sungate at the end of the month claimed that her local TUI branch told her they 'were not aware of any [issues]' at the resort. She said a call handler told her they are 'not able to change' her booking, despite other customers being moved to different hotels. Earlier this week, TUI said they were not aware of food poisoning and that norovirus could be to blame, claiming that 34 of around 1,800 guests were affected and guests with symptoms told to stay in their rooms. They also said that the hotel will be paying the medical bills of all TUI customers - which have amounted to thousands in some cases - as a 'good will gesture'. The tour company said in their latest statement: 'We are aware of a small number of customers becoming unwell at the Rixos Sungate Hotel in Antalya, Turkey. 'The health and safety of our customers is always our upmost priority, and we remain in close contact with anyone impacted, offering support where necessary and are working in close collaboration with the hotel.' Accor, the hotel group which owns Rixos Sungate, has been contacted for comment. Neighbours now fear their houses will have to be demolished and rebuilt too Neighbours living next to 36 new houses which are being demolished on an up-market estate have spoken of their fears that their homes might also have to be knocked down. MailOnline told yesterday how builder Barratt David Wilson Homes was having to demolish and rebuild the houses, worth up to 850,000 each, due to them having faulty foundations. The homes on the giant Darwin Green development in Cambridge are all unoccupied, but they include a number sold to buyers who were waiting to move in. They are among 450 homes built so far on the former University playing fields site which will eventually have around 2,500 homes as well as a school and community facilities. The problem which will cost millions of pounds to fix is said to have been caused by the trench fill foundations for the affected houses being built without adequate heave protection to combat subsidence. Newly built houses on the Darwin Green development (pictured) in Cambridgeshire are being demolished and rebuilt due to having faulty foundations Now owners of scores of houses built elsewhere by the same developer on the site are fearful that they could lose their houses if they are found to have similar problems. Anxious residents told MailOnline how they have so far not been satisfied by assurances that their homes were built with a different style of foundations. The locals who were disturbed by vibrations and noise from the latest batch of houses being built also said they were dismayed by the prospect of yet more disruption as the homes are demolished and rebuilt. Software engineer Caner Altinbasak, 43, who has lived for early three years on the development with his with wife and two children in a 700,000 four bedroom house: I thought that just one or two houses were affected. But when I heard that 36 houses were being demolished, it was obvious that the same mistake had happened over and over again. Of course, I am worried that the same design mistake might have happened to our house as well. It is worrying that these affected houses seem to have passed various tests until nearly the point when keys were going to be handed to owners. That makes me worry that our house might have passed 100 per cent of checks during the building process, but could now be found faulty. To be fair we have had no problems with our house so far apart from the usual snags But I have no idea what could happen, or whose responsibility it would be to deal with any issue. Would it be the builder or the National House Building Council? The builder is not being very transparent. They have not properly explained what the problem is with these houses. It has made it worse. They have damaged peoples confidence. Owners of houses nearby now fear their own properties on the Darwin Green development (pictured) may have to be demolished Labour councillors Simon Smith (right) and Antoinette Nestor (left) on the Darwin Green estate in Cambridge, close to houses which are facing demolition READ MORE: Outgoing Tesco boss steps down as chairman of housebuilder Barratt Developments amid allegations of misconduct towards women Advertisement A hospital consultant who lives with his doctor wife and their children, but asked not to be named, said: I was shocked to hear about this issue. I am left wondering if there is a problem with our house. Will our home have to be demolished as well? We are only a short distance away from these affected houses. The soil is not going to be very different. When they were building the houses, there were vibrations which made our house shake. Now we are going to have to go through all that again. Software architect Eyal Lantzman, 42, who lives with his wife and three children said: I am concerned about the impact on my property. It would be a nightmare scenario if our house turned out to have the same issues, although we have insurance and I am sure we would be properly compensated. I just want to make sure that our house is safe. It is a concern that it could affect house prices and put off buyers. We need to get proper reassurances. A home worker in a four bedroom house, said: We have been told that the design of our house is different to the ones which are coming down and so there is no problem But like everyone else, we just want our foundations re-checked to make sure our house was built properly. Homeowner Caner Altinbasak, 43, (pictured) outside his home on the Darwin Green estate in Cambridge, close to the houses which are facing demolition The homes being demolished are among 450 upmarket houses built in Cambridge that cost as much as 850,000 A lack of heave protection in the foundations of the 36 houses means they are susceptible to subsidence A 32-year-old research engineer living with his wife and six-year-old daughter who bought his two bedroom home under a shared ownership scheme, said: We are concerned that it is such a waste having to knock down brand new houses. We all work hard to help the environment as much as we can, and then this happens. But we are also worrying about our house. Is the quality OK? We thought Barratt was a builder to be trusted, but that does not always seem to be the case. Another software engineer aged in his 40s who lived with his wife, said: I am pretty much happy with the quality of my house. But the fact that these other houses have faulty foundations, and were built without proper checks, does introduce an element of doubt. Its surprising and disappointing that they are in such a bad way. At the moment I have got no reason to believe there is anything wrong with my house. But I suppose there is a risk. Locals have already disturbed been by the houses being built are now dismayed by the prospect of even more disruption Anxious residents told MailOnline how they have so far not been satisfied by assurances that their homes were built with a different style of foundations An IT company boss who also asked not be named said he had been in the process of buying one of the affected houses, and had already exchanged contracts when he learned it would have to be demolished. The man who already lives on the estate said: Our new house was due to be finished in September. All the walls had been built and it was just waiting for the roof to go on. Then we heard they were having problems around three months ago. We were sent an email and the regional managing director came to see my wife and I. He said that a company which came in to dig the foundations had suggested doing it a certain way. But they got it wrong because there was more clay compared to other areas. They were carrying out all these checks to see if anything could be done. We had exchanged contracts and paid a deposit of 70,000. They gave us the option of pulling out and getting a full refund along with our legal fees, or wait to be sorted out. But last week we got an email saying the house had to come down and be rebuilt again with a completion date estimated at December, 2024. We were not prepared to wait that long, so we pulled out. There is not much on the market so we are sitting here until something pops up. I dont think there is anything wrong with the house we are in. It seems to be just be an issue with the latest phase to be built. Darwin Green Residents Association secretary George Crawley, 56, (pictured) said he was 'concerned' Labour Councillor Simon Smith said in an exclusive interview that he had been told 90 plots have been affected by the blunder Labour councillor Dr Antoinette Nestor noted many residents have young families Biomedical engineer George Crawley, 56, the secretary of the Darwin Green Residents Association, said he was only the sixth person to move on to the development in 2019 when he took on his first floor flat. He said: It is a wonderful community. There are lots of professors, academics and lecturers. The joke is that the list of people without a PhD is shorter than those with one. I am very concerned for people who were in the process of buying these houses. Some have bought furniture, and stopped leases on existing houses, to get ready to move in. Now they have been let down. Some are hanging on another year for their houses to be ready while others are having to buy elsewhere. Simon Smith, a Labour councillor for the local Castle ward on Cambridge City Council, said he had been told that a total of 90 plots had been affected by the blunder. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, he said: It looks like all these plots have faulty foundations. There are 36 fully or partially built houses which are coming down. It appears that other plots which have not yet been built on have foundations which are not adequate. Ten houses in the phase which have different foundations have not been affected. The problem with the foundations on the Darwin Green development will cost millions to fix Residents who are already occupying other houses on the development are quite rightly questioning now whether their homes have been built properly. They deserve peace of mind and need to see evidence that their foundations are OK. We have established that Barratt commissioned the NHBC as their approved inspector for building regulations. But when the residents went to the NHBC, they were told that the responsibility rested with Barratt to prove they were built properly. The fact that residents cannot see this evidence is causing uncertainty and amplifying their anxiety. Barratt have now said that they have appointed an engineer and they will report back in ten days. But some residents say they are concerned that they are marking their own homework. People are asking whether they will be able to sell their houses. We believe it is incumbent on Barratt to appoint independent engineers so residents can get proper reassurances. There is also the issue of all the noise and dust pollution which will be caused by the demolition of these house. Its a very sorry state of affairs. Fellow Labour councillor Dr Antoinette Nestor said: Many residents here have young families and are facing uncertainty not knowing where they stand. Mohammed Younes, 39, (pictured) who has been put off potentially buying on the Darwin Green estate in Cambridge, following news that some houses face demolition House developer Barratt has 'apologised' to customers affected by the blunder READ MORE: Furious homeowners demand Barratt Homes fix their brand new 150,000 properties that became covered in MOULD just six years after being built Advertisement IT manager Mohammad Younes, 39, said: I am renting a house here with my family, so I am dont have the same issues as people who own their home. This is a nice place to live and we want to be here a long time, but the noise of the demolition and rebuilding is going to be a little bit annoying. Hopefully none of the other houses will have been affected. I was maybe thinking of buying here, but now I am not sure with this uncertainty. A spokesman for Barratt David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire said: 'As a five-star house builder we have an extensive quality assurance process and during inspections we found that a small number of unoccupied properties at our Darwin Green development did not meet our usual high standards. 'Unfortunately, the most effective course of action at this stage is to demolish the properties and rebuild them. 'We have apologised to the customers affected and understand their frustrations, but we are doing all that we can to lessen the impact of this for them. 'The most important thing is that the homes we build for our customers are of the highest quality possible and this means spotting and mistakes and putting them right, which is what we are doing here.' Cambridge city council said it was made aware of the problems last week but has yet to receive an application for the demolition work. A council spokesperson said: 'Officers will continue to work with the local community and site developer to ensure any impacts of the demolition works are appropriately controlled.' READ MORE: How will the world end? Here are the 10 most plausible scenarios For all the chaos going on down here on Earth, it's easy to forget that we live in a volatile galaxy full of formidable dangers. From space rocks flying at thousands of miles per hour, to black holes that could rip our planet apart, sometimes it's best not to think about them. But what would actually happen to the human body if we perished at the hands of these wild astronomical phenomena? MailOnline spoke to experts to find out and to see if there's any chance of them actually occurring while humanity still exists. Before any of them happen, Homo sapiens could be responsible for their own demise likely by creating dangerous AI or the emission of greenhouse gases. MailOnline looks at five gruesome deaths that could happen due to various astronomical phenomena, from being swallowed by a black hole to a collision with another galaxy WHAT IF THE SUN DIED OUT? READ MORE: How will the world end? Here are 10 possible scenarios The rise of killer robots or the reversal of our planet's magnetic field could possibly end life as we know it Advertisement Scientists estimate that our sun is about 4.5 billion years old about halfway through its anticipated 9 billion or 10 billion year-long lifespan. When it starts to die, the sun will expand into a red giant, becoming so large that it will engulf Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth too. Of course, in another 4 or 5 billion years' time humans will likely be long gone, likely wiped out by a climate disaster or an asteroid impact. However, in the event that we're still here when the sun dies, the effects would be felt immediately and we would suffer a speedy demise. 'Assume the sun decide to quit, we would follow very quickly,' Albert Zijlstra, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Manchester, told MailOnline. 'The bottom line answer is you'd freeze to death.' According to Professor Zijlstra, the closest Earth has seen to such an event was the era of 'snowball Earth', some 700 million years ago. 'The entire world was frozen and the sea was covered in a kilometer thick ice from pole to pole, lasting 50 million years,' he said. When our sun starts to die, it will expand into a red giant star, becoming so large that it will engulf Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth too (artist's impression of red giant) 'Not much survived life that and that was with the sun almost as bright as it is now.' READ MORE: Black hole is shown blasting out powerful plasma jet A supermassive black hole and the fierce jet it emits have been imaged together Advertisement Even if we somehow survived the cold for a few days, plants and crops would die due to the lack of sunlight for photosynthesis and we would surely starve. Thankfully, the sun is 'remarkably stable' and in no danger of disappearing, Professor Zijlstra added and is actually very slowly getting brighter. 'It is not perceptible on human timescales, but give it a billion years and it becomes very noticeable,' he said. WHAT IF EARTH FELL INTO A BLACK HOLE? Perhaps one of the scariest features of the universe are black holes regions of spacetime where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. Black holes act as intense sources of gravity that hoover up surrounding dust and gas, as well as planets and even other black holes. They are often described as 'destructive monsters' because they tear apart stars, consuming anything that comes too close, and hold light captive. With light unable to escape black holes, Earth would have little chance either. Xavier Calmet, a professor of physics at the University of Sussex, said the gravitational force of a black hole would become so strong that we would experience 'spaghettification'. Pictured, the black hole at the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87). The stunning image was released earlier this year 'Your body will be stretched into a shape similar to that of a long pasta until it is reaped apart by the strong gravitational force,' Professor Calmet told MailOnline. What is spaghettification? Spaghettification is the scientific term for what happens to someone falling towards a black hole. A black hole is a star that has completely collapsed. If you were dropping into a black hole feet first, you would discover that the gravitational pull on your feet was greater than that on your head because your feet are closer to the black hole's centre of mass. What initially would be an irritation would become a painful and irresistible force, stretching your body longer and longer until you became a long, pink spaghetti-like structure. Advertisement 'I can't imagine that this would be pleasant it would happen rather quickly, so if painful, it is unlikely to last long.' Dr David L Clements, a senior lecturer at Imperial College London's physics department, said 'the end would likely be quick' if falling into a black hole. 'It could come from asphyxiation if the atmosphere is stripped, or from the process called spaghettification where tidal forces stretch everything out into long strings maybe briefly painful.' Thankfully, the chances of Earth ever being swallowed by a black hole are 'nearly zero', according to Dr Clements. 'The fact that were still here shows that this hasnt happened over the whole history of the Earth,' he told MailOnline. 'So the chances are at least less than once every 4.5 billion years and likely much much less.' The closest black hole to Earth, called Gaia BH1, is around 1,600 light years away and is 10 times the size as our sun, experts recently revealed. WHAT IF OUR SUN COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER? You may not be aware that our Milky Way galaxy is on a collision course with another galaxy called Andromeda, which is currently around 2.5 million light years away. The two galaxies have a strong gravitational attraction and will merge in approximately 4 billion years' time to create one new super galaxy, referred to by astronomers as 'Milkdromeda'. In this image, representing Earth's night sky in 3.75 billion years, Andromeda (left) fills the field of view and begins to distort the Milky Way with tidal pull Eric Bell, professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan, said 'very likely nothing' will happen to us in the event of the galaxy collision. READ MORE: James Webb captures stunning moment two spiral galaxies collide Captivating: The image of two spiral galaxies merging Advertisement As the merger occurs, it's likely the sun will be flung into a new region of our galaxy, but Earth and the rest of the solar system won't be in danger of being destroyed. However, one potential danger of a galaxy merger would be a collision (or near collision) between our star with another star, although there's an extremely small chance that would happen. 'There is a considerable uncertainty in when [the galaxy merger] will happen, roughly several billion years from now,' Professor Bell told MailOnline. 'But galaxy collisions would only be dangerous because of a slightly increased chance of star collisions.' Even a near collision with another star a 'close pass' would affect our orbit, which Professor Bell said would be 'very bad'. 'The close pass changes the orbit, bringing us closer to the sun, or bringing us further away. 'What our fate would be depends on exactly how our orbit changed. 'So we would either escape the solar system (in which case we'd slowly freeze to death over months), or get cooked by the sun (which may be very fast, or take months, depending on the orbit we ended up in).' WHAT IF AN ASTEROID HIT EARTH? A massive asteroid hitting Earth was famously the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago. The so-called Chicxulub rock, around six miles in diameter, slammed into a shallow sea in what is today the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. The Chicxulub impact is widely believed to have caused the mass extinction event which made non-avian dinosaurs extinct (concept image) For those not killed directly by the impact, the collision released a huge dust and soot cloud that triggered global climate change, wiping out 75 per cent of all animal and plant species. What is an asteroid? An asteroid is a large chunk of rock left over from collisions or the early solar system. Most are located between Mars and Jupiter in the Main Belt. A comet is a rock covered in ice, methane and other compounds. Their orbits take them much further out of the solar system. A meteor is what astronomers call a flash of light in the atmosphere when debris burns up. This debris itself is known as a meteoroid. Most are so small they are vapourised in the atmosphere. If any of this meteoroid makes it to Earth, it is called a meteorite. Meteors, meteoroids and meteorites normally originate from asteroids and comets. For example, if Earth passes through the tail of a comet, much of the debris burns up in the atmosphere, forming a meteor shower. Advertisement NASA scientists think it would take an asteroid 60 miles (96 km) wide to totally wipe out life on Earth about 10 times bigger than Chicxulub. According to a 2022 research paper by Jean-Marc Salotti at the University of Bordeaux, a 60-mile asteroid would 'kill all lifeforms' if it hit Earth, with the possible exception of extremophiles, those tiny lifeforms that can survive high temperatures, acidity and radiation. Such an asteroid would 'transform the Earth into an inhospitable planet', causing the extinction of many life forms including the human species. But the bigger the asteroid that hits us, the quicker the end would likely be. If a small one hit Earth today, there would be a huge amount of dust thrown up into the atmosphere that could block out sunlight freezing us to death, which would likely be more drawn out and unpleasant. If it hit water, then there would be an increase in water vapour in the atmosphere, which would result in an increase in rain resulting in landslides and mudslides. Regionally there might be earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis due to the increase in kinetic energy. Dr Kelly Fast, program manager for NASAs Near-Earth Object Observations initiative, said asteroids have hit Earth before and 'it will happen again'. 'Finding them early is important for advanced warning and to mitigate against potential future impact threats,' she said. WHAT IF EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE DISAPPEARED? Earth's atmosphere is described as its 'security blanket' because it contains the oxygen we need to exist, making the air breathable. It also protects us from harmful ultraviolet solar radiation from the sun and creates the required pressure for liquid water to exist. If this precious multi-tiered atmosphere somehow disappeared, most vertebrates, including humans, would suffocate in seconds. Marine creatures, which rely on oxygen dissolved in the water, may last a little longer although the seas would also boil into vapour due to the sun's rays. Mars is a good indication of what Earth would be like without its atmosphere. Pictured, Mars captured by the Hubble telescope In the event of the atmosphere disappearing, we may have to build radiation-shielded domes that provide a pressured environment and plentiful oxygen. But is there any chance of this actually happening? A 2021 study in Nature Geoscience concluded that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere will be lost in about 1 billion years, but this will happen gradually as the sun gets hotter. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will drop due to the gas absorbing the heat and breaking down, leading to death of plant life and in turn reduced oxygen production. All in all, it seems like the most realistic dangers to humanity are the ones of our own making such as greenhouse gas emissions and killer robots. According to one academic, there's a 50 per cent chance artificial intelligence will wipe out humanity, and it could happen in a similar way to how humans wiped out extinct animals such as the Dodo. Optical illusions occur when our brain is confused about what our eyes see Dr Dean Jackson has left many in disbelief after sharing an illusion on TikTok There's no doubt that optical illusions baffle the best of us - whether it be disappearing dots or the true colour of a Coke can. Scientists have referred to them as 'some of nature's most impressive magic tricks' with the ability to simply deceive our brains into believing something false. And now, a TikTok shared by Dr Dean Jackson (@beatonthebeeb) will do just that - sparking doubt as to whether we can trust our own eyes. Many watchers have been left in disbelief as the biologist talks through a mind-boggling trick, involving a Coke can. While the can appears to be bright red, Dr Jackson explains that your eyes are deceiving you, as it's actually grey. Many watchers have been left in disbelief as the biologist talks through the baffling videos READ MORE: Optical illusion reveals if you're really a judgmental person An optical illusion can reveal whether or not you are judgmental depending on what you see first Advertisement He said: 'Surrounding grey with this sort of colour (pointing to blue) makes your brain susceptible to interpreting it as red. 'And knowing the colour of the Coke can can exaggerate this further.' This strange phenomenon occurs when our brains are confused by what our eyes see. Two types of photoreceptor are located at the back of a human eye, allowing us to respond to light shining in. While 'rods' are sensitive to motion, 'cones' are sensitive to light, with each responding to a different colour. In Dr Jackson's video, the cyan filter only lets through cyan-coloured light, meaning anything else should appear grey. But when our brain recognises that Coke cans are usually red, it can interpret the grey light to appear this way. Psychology Professor Alan Johnston at the University College of London also explained: 'Optical illusions are some of nature's most impressive magic tricks. They are deceptively simple and yet compelling - your brain is telling you lies.' The video has since been flooded with comments, with TikTok users voicing their confusion and disbelief. 'There is red lol my eyes don't lie,' one person said, as another added: 'There's definitely red there.' Second-guessing the true colour of something is a common illusion, as shown by debate surrounding the viral 'white and gold' dress that was actually blue and black. The video has since been flooded with comments, with TikTok users voicing their confusion Millions debated whether this dress was black and blue or actually white and gold Much like the Coke can, this strange phenomenon occurred when colours were muddled together, throwing the brain off balance. Dr Jackson presented another example of this in video where he showed an image of a woman's eyes that appear blue, but are actually grey. Turns out, this can also vary depending on your sex, according to Professor Andrew Lotery of the University of Southampton. This is influenced by an individual's gene combinations that create a sense of colour, he told MailOnline. Because these genes are on the X chromosome, women tend to have more variations and flip between colour perceptions more than men. From Interstellar to the Martian, human space exploration has been a key feature in science fiction blockbusters throughout the years. But what will human colonies in space look like in reality? Space experts claim human space exploration will begin with 'technauts' who build 'gateways' near Earth. These will help a small number of human explorers build colonies on the moon and then Mars, they say. To envision what these could look like, DailyMail.com used the popular AI art generator Midjourney to create images of what space colonies and spacecraft, based on these predictions. Gateways near Earth Space experts claim human space exploration will begin with 'technauts' who build 'gateways' near Earth. These will help a small number of human explorers build colonies on the moon and then Mars, they say Human exploration will depend on 'gateways' and autonomous 'ports' in space which will ferry human explorers to Mars and beyond, says David Barnhart, CEO and founder of space company Arkisys. Speaking to DailyMail.com, he said: 'The future of human exploration will be grounded in how well we can setup the needed infrastructure, that is supply chains, housing, food stores etc.' Just like on Earth, space will be explored by pioneers, who will set up the infrastructure needed for more people to follow, Barnhart believes. He explained: 'The way exploration on Earth occurred was over decades, but was almost always started by pioneers but then followed by creation of forts, towns, villages etc that could accept the needed goods/services to allow growth, and thus allow more humans to be transported. Arkisys aims to build 'The Port' - an orbiting lighthouse and beacon which will serve travellers and spacecraft in Earth orbit, on the moon and on Mars and beyond. Way stations to Mars Barnhart says that human space exploration will rely on both 'habitats' and 'space stations' but also robotic 'Ports' which ferry cargo and vehicles Barnhart says that human space exploration will rely on both 'habitats' and 'space stations' but also robotic 'Ports' which ferry cargo and vehicles. Large antennas will also allow for constant communication to Martian habitats or habitats even deeper in the solar system. Space station orbiting the Moon Space stations orbiting the moon will be a key step in humankind's journey (Midjourney) Barnhart said: 'NASA's initial concept for sustainable Moon habitats was the establishment of a "Gateway", which was both to help the fuel and personnel transfer to/from the surface, but also served as a way station for possible Mars transport. 'At the moment there are both Governmental and private push to develop different levels of infrastructure, from full scale space stations or habitats, to autonomous scaleable "Ports".' Barhart points out that Morgan Stanley has predicted that the space sector could be worth up to $1.1 trillion by 2040. Asteroid mining Asteroid mining ranks among the most potentially profitable industries, with Neil Degrasse Tyson suggesting that the first trillionaire will be an asteroid mining mogul Asteroid mining ranks among the most potentially profitable industries, with Neil Degrasse Tyson suggesting that the first trillionaire will be an asteroid mining mogul. Asterank measures the potential value of more than 6,000 asteroids tracked by NASA - and suggests that mining just 10 asteroids chosen for their proximity to Earth could net $1.5 trillion. A single asteroid, 16 Psyche, is estimated to hold $700 quintillion of gold. Manned lunar bases Lunar bases and near-Earth space stations will be inhabited by 'technauts' who build the first infrastructure in space, said former NASA consultant Philip Robert Harris Lunar bases and near-Earth space stations will be inhabited by 'technauts' who build the first infrastructure in space, said former NASA consultant Philip Robert Harris. In his book Space Enterprise: Living and Working Offworld in the 21st Century, he writes: 'Construction of space stations and lunar bases lay the groundwork of a space infrastructure for the next fifty years, leading to further space settlements, manned missions to Mars, mining of the asteroids and eventually to move human colonies orbiting in space or established on other planets. 'Beginning with a handful of astronauts and cosmonauts, extending to space construction workers of technauts, the human population up there is likely to escalate during this millennium to thousands of spacefarers.' In the book, former NASA expert David G Schrunk adds: 'The moon is the logical place to establish the first offworld human settlement. It offers protection from space hazards and has energy (sunlight) and material resources that can be used to support human activities, and it is an excellent platform for scientific studies, especially astronomy. Starship to Mars Elon Musk has made various predictions about travel to Mars, with a suggestion last year that human travel to the red planet might be viable by 2029 Elon Musk has made various predictions about travel to Mars, with a suggestion last year that human travel to the red planet might be viable by 2029. Musk hopes to use his reusable Starship rockets to bring costs down, with a fleet of Starships 'shuttling' between planets. Advocates of Mars travel such as Robert Zubrin suggest that 'travelling light' could keep costs of exploring Mars to a minimum and exploring Mars could unlock not only mining opportunities but new technological breakthroughs. Musk said: 'In order for life to become multi-planetary, we'll need maybe 1,000 ships, or something like that.' Permanent base on Mars A permanent base on Mars could allow humans to travel even further (Midjourney) Musk believes that becoming a space-faring civilisation will help humanity avoid 'filters' where there's a danger of extinction due to events such as nuclear war Musk believes that becoming a space-faring civilisation will help humanity avoid 'filters' where there's a danger of extinction due to events such as nuclear war. 'If we are able to make life self-sustaining on Mars, we will have passed one of the greatest filters. That then sets us up to become interstellar,' he explained. 'Earth is around 4.5 billion years old, but life is still not multiplanetary and it is extremely uncertain how much time is left to become so. 'Long term, it's essential for preserving the light of consciousness. Eventually something will happen to Earth, hopefully not soon, either natural or man-made that would cause the end of civilization. The probable lifespan of civilization is much greater if we're a multi-planet species.' Hi-tech orbiters designed by AI Future space habitats will be built from hi-tech materials using robotics and AI, says Vivek Koncherry, CEO of Graphene Space Habitat Limited based at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre at The University of Manchester Koncherry's team has already produced 3D scale models of space habitats, and hopes to build a manufacturing unit to create space habitats Future space habitats will be built from hi-tech materials using robotics and AI, says Vivek Koncherry, CEO of Graphene Space Habitat Limited based at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre at The University of Manchester. Koncherry's team has already produced 3D scale models of space habitats, and hopes to build a manufacturing unit to create space habitats. The space habitat will use graphene-enhanced composites. Koncherry told DailyMail.com, 'Graphene is a fantastic solution as it is more lightweight than metals that have previously been used in space habitats, and it's a very good conductor of heat, so can be used to dissipate heat in the warmest conditions. 'We know our structures aren't going to be perfect every time, but you can make an educated guess, make a small prototype and send it into space with sensors. 'I'm not saying everything will work from day one some of the components can and will fail. But if you want rapid research, the only way is to make something really fast, test it, get the data and learn from it. They are Australia's hottest exports and were even subject to a conspiracy theory that they are the same person. And while Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue's careers have followed similarly stratospheric trajectories, it is not just their success that is mirrored. As time goes on, the 55-year-old superstars are looking more and more alike by the day, complete with taut skin and similar styles. Kylie started her career on Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1986 while Nicole shot to prominence in 1983, when she starred in Australian holiday classic Bush Christmas - and they have climbed the Hollywood ladder ever since. Both the stars' ageing has been hurtled into the spotlight in the past thanks to their incredibly taut skin and smooth complexions and they have also both maintained incredibly fit figures throughout their careers. While the pair certainly share share similar looks, they also share a friendship, with Nicole weighing in on Kylie's new single Padam Padam earlier this week. Back in 2019, a conspiracy theory began claiming they are the same person. The idea was based entirely on the fact that the two women had never been seen in the same room together - which has sadly now been blown apart by some cosy snaps of the duo, however that does not stop their remarkable similarities. So how do the pair match up? Are Kylie Minogue and Nicole Kidman turning into one? Oz pair have same age, style and taut skin... and after conspiracy claimed they're THE SAME PERSON, they only get more similar Here she is! They both rose to fame as fresh-faced exports from Down Under Smooth and sensational: Both the ladies boast incredibly smooth, ageless complexions Out and a pout: While Kylie started her career on Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1986 while Nicole shot to prominence in 1983, when she starred in Australian holiday classic Bush Christmas - and they have climbed the Hollywood ladder ever since Luke Evans was joined by his boyfriend Fran Tomas at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on Saturday for the premiere of his new movie Our Son. The Dracula Untold star, 44, looked handsome in a silver double-breasted suit worn over a black shirt. The Welsh actor who flaunted his muscle-bound physique alongside his partner on the beach in Miami earlier this year accessorized his sharp outfit with a gold chain around his neck. Meanwhile his other half, 32, wore a dapper black suit over a white tee and paired the look with matching black dress shoes. In the film Evans stars alongside Billy Porter as a divorcing couple fighting over the custody of their 8-year-old son, played by Christopher Woodley. Date night: Luke Evans, 44, was joined by his boyfriend Fran Tomas, 32, at the Tribeca Festival in New York City for the premiere of his new movie Our Son While Evans opted for a clean-shaven look, his Spanish graphic designer beau sported a neatly-trimmed black beard. The pair have been dating since summer 2019 and made their red carpet debut as a couple at the LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF winter gala in St Barts in December of 2022. Also at the premiere were fellow cast members Porter, Woodley, and Robin Weigert along with director Bill Oliver. Evans posed with Porter, 53, who showed off his unique style in an unbuttoned black shirt dress, which he paired with black bell bottoms. The American Horror Story actor brushed his tresses back into a ponytail and wore wore glamorous iridescent green eye makeup. In the film Billy stars as 'Gabriel, an aspiring artist struggling to find creative and personal spark while caring for the young son he shares with his ambitious partner, Nicky (Evans),' as per Tribeca. 'Stress and anxiety flare as their relationship gets to an unrepairable place, forcing the couple to head for a divorce. Now the two must navigate the unenviable position of revealing the news to shared friends and family. Thus begins the journey to find themselves and support their son.' Evans' romance with Tomas first came to light in May following his split from art director Rafael Olarra. Looking sharp: The Dracula Untold star looked handsome in a silver double-breasted suit worn over a black shirt while his other half wore a dapper black suit Stylish: While Evans opted for a clean-shaven look, his partner sported a neatly-trimmed black beard Gold accent: The Welsh actor who flaunted his muscle-bound physique alongside Fran on the beach earlier this year accessorized his sharp outfit with a gold chain around his neck Onscreen pair: His co-star Billy Porter, 53, showed off his unique style in an unbuttoned black shirt dress, which he paired with black bell bottoms Unique: He brushed his tresses back into a ponytail and wore wore glamorous iridescent green eye makeup All together: The cast posed together on the red carpet; (L-R) Eric Binns, Porter, Evans, Christopher Woodley, Fernando Loureiro, and Bill Oliver And Luke proudly showed off his partner on social media on a number of occasions since. He shared a sweet picture of himself and Fran together on his Instagram page last year as he wished his followers a Happy Christmas. They also explored Japan and visited monuments like the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo during a trip to the country together. Luke also documented their getaway to Spain for a friend's wedding. A pal close to Luke told The Sun last year: 'The couple have been going from strength to strength and quietly traveling all over the world together. 'They are like minded, really get each others sense of humor and compliment each other well.' Luke confirmed he had split from his art director boyfriend Rafael Olarra in January 2021. The Beauty and the Beast actor was rumoured to have split from Rafael in October 2020 after they unfollowed one another on Instagram but days later they appeared to patch things up as they were following each other again on the platform. But speaking to The Times' Saturday Review, Luke confirmed he was single, saying: 'It is what it is.' New movie: In the film Evans stars alongside Porter as a divorcing couple fighting over the custody of their 8-year-old son, played by Christopher Woodley The couple started dating in summer 2019 and made their relationship official on social media the following February. Luke previously admitted he had been thinking about fatherhood and said he wants to have kids before he's 'old'. He said: 'I thought about it many times and as I get older I'm thinking maybe I should get on and do it. I don't want to be an old dad . . . but I would like to be a dad. 'There's a lot of satisfaction to passing on your experiences and rearing a strong, open-minded, kind, respectful human being who can go out in the world and do something good.' The Princess of Wales is such a valued customer for Catherine Walker that I hear she even has her own bespoke mannequin at the label's Chelsea boutique. The couture firm is behind many of the Princess's most adored outfits, including this teal coat dress, below, and the mannequin is made from Kate's exact measurements, just in case she needs a dress in a hurry. She has worn the fashion company's creations at several important occasions, including Prince Philip's funeral. Ms Walker, who died in 2010, was a friend of Princess Diana the two struck up a partnership after she designed the maternity wear Diana wore to announce the birth of Prince William. The label kept a respectful silence when asked for comment, but I have no doubt that we will continue to see its style legacy carry on long into the future. The Princess of Wales is such a valued customer for Catherine Walker that I hear she even has her own bespoke mannequin at the label's Chelsea boutique Catherine Walker & Co fashion shop in Chelsea, London Gary Goldsmith is so determined to get the inside story behind the sale of his sister Carole's Party Pieces business, he's lined up an interview with the buyer for his new podcast. Gary, the Princess of Wales's uncle, has targeted leisure tycoon James Sinclair for one of the first episodes of Pints Of View. Despite the name, Gary and his guests won't get sloshed. He tells me: 'We're on non-alcoholic pints, so we can get through it!' Carole sold to Mr Sinclair last month after the firm fell into administration with reported debts of 2.6 million. Hayley Atwell, 41, is set to feature with Tom Cruise in the next Mission: Impossible film Hayley's on a new mission It may be London's swankiest club but all Hollywood star Hayley Atwell hoped to do at Annabel's 60th birthday bash perform a duet with Leonardo DiCaprio. Hayley tells me she was keen to do a rendition of My Heart Will Go On with the Titanic star. Leo, who was in London last week, frequents the club but sneaks in and out via a backdoor. Hayley, 41, left, set to feature with ex-beau Tom Cruise in the next Mission: Impossible film, has been starstruck before at the club. 'It's the first place I saw Lady Gaga an iconic person in an iconic setting,' she says. Dua Lipa recently told how one former boyfriend's infidelity inspired her love of the philosophical novel The Unbearable Lightness Of Being. But it seems one of her former partners, chef Isaac Carew, doesn't care to dwell on the past in the same way. Isaac, who dated Dua, below, on and off for six years, says they no longer speak and he's now loved-up with Game Of Thrones actress Nell Tiger Free. Issac, 37, told me at the Castillo de Ibiza wine party last week that he wooed the 23-year-old by making her mushrooms on toast and that he would like to pop the question one day. I hope the gesture comes with something more romantic than fungi! Dua Lipa recently told how one former boyfriend's infidelity inspired her love of the philosophical novel The Unbearable Lightness Of Being Isaac Carew (right), who dated Dua on and off for six years, says they no longer speak and he's now loved-up with Game Of Thrones actress Nell Tiger Free (left) Daniel Craig's actress daughter Ella, 31, recreated Ursula Andress's iconic bikini shot from Dr No Will Bond's girl become a Bond girl? Is Daniel Craig's actress daughter Ella eyeing up a gig as a Bond girl? I only ask because the 31-year-old has recreated Ursula Andress's iconic bikini shot from Dr No on Bond author Ian Fleming's fabulous Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. Fans noted the similarities between Ella's bikini and the one worn by Ursula's Honey Ryder in the 1962 movie. Ella's dad was a splash hit 44 years later, on his Bond debut in Casino Royale, emerging from the sea in his trunks. Ella, who recently starred in The Things We Left Unsaid, was on holiday with friends at Fleming's estate. She has professed a desire to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather Sean Connery and become a film star, but at least Natasha Connery has a back-up plan if her Hollywood dream doesn't work out. I can reveal the New York University student, 22, has secured a summer internship at Swiss private bank Lombard Odier. Natasha tells me: 'I still want to pursue producing and acting but I decided to work at Lombard because I think it is a great opportunity to learn about finance and sustainable investments.' Perhaps it's also a good way to distract her, following her split from Gregory Peck's grandson Harper? Jane Fonda has revealed that she is taking an 18-month acting break due to the 2024 presidential election. The, 85, is known for her political activism and she plans to make that her focus for the foreseeable future, concentrating specifically on trying to get people who support taking action against climate change into office. Jane made the admission during a 30-minute on-stage interview with Robin Roberts at the Tribeca Film Festival after being honoured with the Harry Belafonte Voices For Social Justice Award. She cut a chic figure at the event on Saturday in a white trouser suit to pick up the prize named after her friend Harry. She said at the event: 'Let's get rid of the Joe Manchin's. We need to try to light a fire under Biden and look, we have to vote for him, ok? Focus: Jane Fonda has revealed that she is taking an 18-month acting break due to the 2024 presidential election Looking fab: Alicia Keys (left) presented her with the Harry Belafonte Voices For Social Justice Award that evening and Robin Roberts interviewed her onstage 'We have got to get really mad at him and we have to try to demand that he earn our votes. But I mean, let's be real because the alternative is the end of everything.' But the 'Grace and Frankie' star insisted she had never been interested in running for office herself. She said: 'One thing about getting old is that you start to get a little smart about what your strong suits are. And that's not one of them. I'm a cheerleader.' She jokingly added: 'I don't have any original ideas. I'm the one who takes your ideas and then I get credit for it.' The Oscar-winning star insisted it is 'up to us' to make changes to tackle the climate crisis because it will be 'too late' for the next generation. She said: 'We are animals, let us not forget. We depend on the ocean and the forests for oxygen, for food. I mean, even dogs don't s*** in their own kennel. And we're in our kennel and taking a lot down with us in the process. We have to stop it. It's all connected. 'Those of us who are alive right now in this decade, it's up to us (to make a change) because when we go it'll be too late. We're the ones who can make the difference. Let's not, when history is written, be the ones that were staying at home and rearranging the china.' 'It's up to us': The, 85, is known for her political activism and she plans to make that her focus for the foreseeable future Icon: Harry, who died in April aged 96, had a glittering singing career but also commanded international attention as an activist The star, whose activism during the Vietnam War left her with the nickname 'Hanoi Jane,' glowed as she hit the red carpet. Alicia Keys presented her with the award that evening and Robin Roberts interviewed her onstage. In a dazzling star-studded group shot, Jane, Robin and Alicia all gathered together on the red carpet and treated the camera to their winning smiles. Harry, who died in April aged 96, had a glittering singing career but also commanded international attention as an activist, throwing himself behind such causes as civil rights in America and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. While accepting her prize that night, Jane also made a joke about Rupert Murdoch's son James, who acquired Tribeca Enterprises in 2019. 'Let's hear it for Tribeca Film Festival. For giving chances to women and to people of color in the film industry and to young people,' she said according to Deadline. 'I'm so grateful to the Tribeca. I can't believe that a Murdoch owns it.' She added: 'Harry devoted himself to the civil rights movement and whenever they needed something - if they needed something, he would be sure to get it for them. He used his platform in the way that celebrities should.' Jane's onstage remarks heavily involved climate change, which has become a particular cause celebre of hers, to the point she racked up multiple headline-grabbing arrests while protesting in Washington, DC in recent years. 'Those of us who are alive right now in this decade, it's up to us (to make a change) because when we go it'll be too late,' she said Saturday. 'We're the ones who can make the difference. Let's not, when history is written, be the ones that were staying at home and rearranging the china.' Trio: In a dazzling star-studded group shot, Jane, Robin and Alicia all gathered together on the red carpet and treated the camera to their winning smiles Dynamic duo: Jane and Alicia were snapped linking arms on the red carpet, beaming as the shutterbugs snapped away at the pair of them The day's festivities also included a cocktail event where Jane could be glimpsed hobnobbing with Harry's widow Pamela Belafonte, who had been wife number three. As an antiwar activist in 1972, Jane was infamously snapped in Hanoi sitting on a North Vietnamese antiaircraft gun used against Americans. That photo earned her lifelong notoriety as 'Hanoi Jane,' and she has been protested by veterans ever since, though some ex-military have also supported her. During her 1972 trip to enemy territory, she also participated in propaganda broadcasts from the North Vietnamese Army's station Radio Hanoi. While speaking on Radio Hanoi she intimated that U.S. servicemen should disobey their orders - though she claimed on 60 Minutes decades later that she was merely 'asking them to consider it.' After returning to the United States, she said in an 1973 interview quoted by the New York Times that the torture of American prisoners of war was 'understandable.' She told KNBC-TV: 'These men were bombing and strafing and napalming the country. If a prisoner tried to escape, it is quite understandable that he would probably be beaten and tortured.' Jane's only son Troy was named after Viet Cong bomber Nguyen Van Troi, who attempted to assassinate U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. Glam: Alicia bared her enviably sculpted midriff in an olive green ensemble, while Robin played up her trim frame in a charcoal trouser suit Duo: The day's festivities also included a cocktail event where Jane could be glimpsed hobnobbing with Harry's widow Pamela Belafonte, who had been wife number three In the 2018 documentary Jane Fonda In Five Acts she reflected on how her drug use and disordered eating influenced her political activities during the Vietnam War. 'I was alternately bulimic and anorexic. I would maybe eat one soft-boiled egg and spinach a day, period. I took Dexedrine, which is speed,' she said. 'So I was really speedy, and I was starving, along with like getting all of this new information coming in at a very rapid pace,' Jane explained. 'I mean, I'm high-strung anyway, but me on Dexedrine without eating, and feeling like I have to say everything all at once, it's like I'm amazed that anybody could receive what I was saying. It was like: 'Wow! Who is this woman?'' Megan Fox furiously hit back at a 'clout chaser' who accused her of having 'forced' her sons to dress up in girls' clothing. The 37-year-old actress shares her sons Noah, 10, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, six, with her ex-husband Brian Austin Green. Robby Starbuck, who ran for U.S. Congress in 2022, claimed to have witnessed two of the former couple's children say 'they were forced by their mom to wear girls clothes as their nanny tried to console them.' Starbuck, 34, a Republican from California, tweeted that he 'used to live in the same gated community' as the famous family and that their kids 'played at the park.' Fox fired up her Instagram and lambasted Starbuck for using 'children as leverage or social currency,' adding that 'exploiting my childs gender identity to gain attention in your political campaign has put you on the wrong side of the universe' and declaring defiantly: 'you f***ed with the wrong witch.' 'You f***ed with the wrong witch': Megan Fox furiously hit back at a 'clout chaser' who accused her of having 'forced' her sons to dress up in girls' clothing The 37-year-old actress shares her sons Noah, 10, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, six, with her ex-husband Brian Austin Green. Fox's livid Instagram broadside comes after her ex-husband gave an interview vociferously denying Starbuck's version of events. Robby Starbuck, who ran for U.S. Congress in 2022, claimed to have witnessed two of the former couple's children say 'they were forced by their mom to wear girls clothes as their nanny tried to console them.' 'Let me teach you something...': Fox fired up her Instagram and lambasted Starbuck for using 'children as leverage or social currency' Expressing himself: Fox has previously stated that her son, Noah, 'doesn't care' about being made fun of for wearing dresses to school (her eldest seen above in 2020) 'My son, he's four,' Brian Austin Greene said in 2017 after it was reported his son wore a dress. 'I've heard from some people that they don't agree with him wearing dresses. To them I say, I don't care. He's four and if he wants to wear it then he wears it. Addressing Starbuck directly, she wrote: 'i really dont want to give you this attention because clearly youre a clout chaser but let me teach you something She fumed: 'irregardless of how desperate you may become at any given time to acquire wealth, power, success, or fame - never use children as leverage or social currency. especially under malevolent and erroneous pretense.' Fox doubled down: 'exploiting my childs gender identity to gain attention in your political campaign has put you on the wrong side of the universe.' The Transformers actress concluded: 'i have been burned at the stake by insecure narcissistic impotent little men like you many times and yet im still here you f***ed with the wrong witch.' Her livid Instagram broadside comes after her ex-husband gave an interview vociferously denying Starbuck's version of events. 'It's a totally bogus story. There are only a few people in their world that can actually verify whether or not a story like this is true and I can tell you with absolute certainty it is not,' the Beverly Hills, 90210 star told TMZ. He continued: 'This person trying to claim this is true is a perfect example of someone with selfish motives that does not care about negatively affecting a parent child relationship.' In his original tweet, Starbuck posted a picture of Megan with her children and wrote: 'These are Megan Foxs sons. We used to live in the same gated community and our kids played at the park.' Proud dad: Brian Austin Green shut down a claim that he and his ex-wife Megan Fox 'force' their sons to wear girls' clothing; seen in 2022 He continued: 'I saw 2 of them have a full on breakdown saying they were forced by their mom to wear girls clothes as their nanny tried to console them. Its pure child abuse. Pray for them.' Green and Fox went public with the collapse of their marriage in May 2020, months after they initially split. Along with his children by Fox, Green also has a 21-year-old son named Kassius Lijah Marcil-Green from his past relationship with Vanessa Marcil, as well as an 11-month-old baby boy called Zane Walker with his fiancee Sharna Burgess. In 2019, Fox declared that her eldest 'doesn't care' about being made fun of for wearing dresses to school. 'He designs, he draws outfits. He's very talented, but he's still six,' she said during an interview on The Talk. ''He's really into fashion. He's the one, like sometimes, he'll dress himself and he likes to wear dresses, sometimes.' 'And I send him to a really liberal, like hippy school,' she continued. 'But even there, here in California, he still has little boys going like, "Boys don't wear dresses," or "Boys don't wear pink."' Despite the taunts from other boys, Fox said she had been teaching her son to follow his own course in life. 'We're going through that now, where I'm trying to teach him to be confident no matter what anyone else says.' On the defense: In 2017, Green stood up for his son when Fox shared a photo of Noah wearing a dress from the Disney film Frozen At the time, the Jennifer's Body star explained that Noah had briefly stopped wearing dresses, but began wearing them again. 'He came home and I was like, "How was it? Did any of the friends at school have anything to say?" And he was like, "Well, all the boys laughed when I came in," but he's like, "I don't care, I love dresses too much."' In 2017, Green stood up for his son when Fox shared a photo of Noah wearing a dress from the Disney film Frozen. 'My son, he's four,' he said at the time. 'I've heard from some people that they don't agree with him wearing dresses. To them I say, I don't care. He's four and if he wants to wear it then he wears it. 'And it's dresses or goggles or slippers or whatever. It's his life, they're not my clothes,' he continued. 'I feel like at 4 at 5, that's a time when he should be having fun. He's not harming anyone wearing a dress. So if he wants to wear a dress, good on him.' She was forced to lay off six employees last week as her activewear brand P.E. Nation faces financial challenges. But Pip Edwards, 43, looked anything but downtrodden on Saturday as she visited a cafe in Bondi with friends. Dressed in head-to-toe P.E. Nation garb, Pip put her busy schedule aside as she spent time catching up with her pals over drinks at the outdoor venue. The blonde looked to be in a good mood as she shared a joke with her pals while relaxing on one of the stools at the cafe. Pip wore minimal makeup and propped a pair of Balenciaga sunglasses on top of her head. Pip Edwards, 43, (pictured) looked anything but downtrodden on Saturday as she visited a cafe in Bondi with friends, days after laying off staff at her P.E. Nation activewear brand due to 'challenging market conditions' Later, the mother-of-one was seen strolling down the footpath with her friends, still laughing and joking together. The sighting comes on the heels of the unfortunate news of P.E Nation downsizing due to 'challenging market conditions'. 'In response to the challenging economic conditions, the board of P.E Nation has implemented measures to streamline and restructure the business,' Edwards stated in an official release to The Daily Telegraph. Dressed in head-to-toe P.E. Nation garb, Pip put her busy schedule aside as she spent time catching up with her pals over drinks at the outdoor venue Pip looked to be in a good mood as she gestured with her hands while relaxing on one of the stools at the cafe Pip wore minimal makeup and propped a pair of Balenciaga sunglasses on top of her head 'Regrettably, this has resulted in the difficult decision to make six staff redundant.' Pip added: 'These measures align with the overall restructuring efforts, which are necessary to secure the continued growth and success of the business.' The Sydney socialite launched her activewear label P.E Nation in 2016 with her friend and business partner Claire, turning it into an international brand sold by 600 individual retailers in 95 countries. At one point Pip gesticulated animatedly as she tried to explain something to her friend Earlier this year, Pip was forced to deny rumours of a falling out with Claire - whose office had been cleared out and turned into a 'creative space' following a months-long absence. The pair went on a business trip to the UK together in November 2022, where they promoted their athleisure company, took selfies in London, and lunched with the likes of former foreign minister Julie Bishop. But Daily Mail Australia revealed there were rumours swirling the deep friendship at the core of the business may have crumbled during their luxury trip away. A source with knowledge of the company's internal dealings alleged: 'Pip and Claire have had a falling out.' The sighting comes on the heels of the unfortunate news of P.E Nation downsizing due to 'challenging market conditions' 'In response to the challenging economic conditions, the board of P.E Nation has implemented measures to streamline and restructure the business,' Edwards said to The Daily Telegraph The source said Tregoning took one month off in December, extended her break for another month in January, and then opted for another three months' leave. Her office in the company's Sydney headquarters has now been cleared and repurposed as a 'creative room'. A P.E Nation spokeswoman denied that the pair are feuding, insisting they remain 'committed and collaborative business partners'. 'Regrettably, this has resulted in the difficult decision to make six staff redundant,' the statement read Pip added: 'These measures align with the overall restructuring efforts, which are necessary to secure the continued growth and success of the business' 'Claire is taking some well-earned time off and remains an important part of P.E Nation,' the spokeswoman said. '(She) is taking a well-earned sabbatical for a few months.' Tregoning reiterated the message when contacted for comment, adding: 'The business and Pip have both been great supporters of my sabbatical and I am grateful to have this time off with my family.' She did not respond to questions about her office at headquarters being cleared out, however the P.E Nation spokeswoman admitted it has been repurposed for the duration of her absence. 'Whilst Claire is not in the office, we are using her office space for other purposes, including a meeting and creative room,' they said. Elizabeth Olsen was spotted heading out from her book signing at Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City on Saturday. The 34-year-old Love & Death actress put on a casual display in a black crochet vest and baggy trousers for the event celebrating her new book titled Hattie Harmony: Opening Night. The WandaVision star co-wrote the picture book coming out on June 13 with her husband, Robbie Arnett. The picture book which is intended to educate children on how to cope with anxiety is a sequel to their New York Times bestseller titled Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective. The Avengers: Endgame alum, who cautioned future Marvel stars against signing multi-movie deals, and the musician previously released the prequel around this time last year. Casual display: Elizabeth Olsen was spotted heading out from her book signing at Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City on Saturday. The 34-year-old Love & Death actress put on a casual display in a black crochet vest and baggy trousers for the event celebrating her new book titled Hattie Harmony: Opening Night For the book reading and signing event with her husband, Olsen wore the sleeveless, cropped vest over a classic white T-shirt. The SoCal native looked comfortable in a pair of loose-fitting pants and leather sandals. She was spotted leaving the event in blackout wayfarer sunglasses and toting around a white leather crossbody bag with a bamboo handle and striped fabric strap. The younger sister of Full House stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen opted for a minimal makeup look to showcase her natural beauty. She looked radiant in a light glam featuring a rosy pink blush and nude glossy lip. She left her collarbone-length blonde tresses down in a straight hairstyle that was parted to the side. According to the summary of their Olsen and her husband's collaborative new book, Hattie Harmony: Opening Night follows the main protagonist as she shares new tools for managing anxiety as she prepares for the opening night of a school play. Previously, the couple reportedly started dating after meeting while vacationing in Mexico in early 2017. Effortlessly stylish: For the book reading and signing event with her husband, Olsen wore the sleeveless, cropped vest over a classic white T-shirt. The SoCal native looked comfortable in a pair of loose-fitting pants and leather sandals. She was spotted leaving the event in blackout wayfarer sunglasses and toting around a white leather crossbody bag with a bamboo handle and striped fabric strap Natural beauty: The younger sister of Full House stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen opted for a minimal makeup look to showcase her natural beauty. She left her collarbone-length blonde tresses down in a straight hairstyle that was parted to the side Cute couple: Previously, the couple reportedly started dating after meeting while vacationing in Mexico in early 2017. Two years later in July 2019, the pair got engaged and tied the knot shortly after Later that year in September, the pair debuted their relationship by making their first red carpet appearance together at a pre-Emmy party in Los Angeles. Over the years, however, they have remained relatively tight-lipped about their romance. Two years later in July 2019, the pair got engaged and secretly tied the knot shortly after. About a year after their nuptials, Olsen confirmed that they had eloped pre-pandemic. During an interview with Sirius XM's The Jess Cagle Show in June 2022, Olsen and her partner opened up about their private wedding while promoting their first book. 'We eloped and then we had a wedding at another time and it was before COVID,' she revealed at the time. 'I just never talked about it.' Dee Dee Dunleavy was left 'blindsided' by Melbourne 3AW's decision to axe her from her popular radio show. According to the Herald Sun, Dunleavy's manager Mark Klemens had a meeting with 3AW station boss Stephen Beers and he told him his client would be getting boned. Klemens told Dunleavy later that day the station wouldn't be renewing her contract. An insider told the publication the news of her axing left the beloved host 'hurt and so disappointed'. 'Dee Dee had been in the place a long, long time. She was so proud of what she was doing on air. She is hurt and so disappointed,' the source said. Inside Dee Dee Dunleavy's brutal axing: 3AW radio host 'hurt and utterly blindsided' after she was suddenly dumped from her popular show 'There is no other way to put it than she was completely and utterly blindsided. It just came out of nowhere.' Dunleavy's shock departure was announced by 3AW on Monday morning, shortly after she was told her her services were no longer required. '3AW has agreed to an early conclusion for Dee Dee Dunleavy's on air role, after informing the broadcaster her contract would not be renewed at the end of the year,' the station said in a statement. The station's statement also included a quote from Dunleavy saying, 'I'm happy to leave on a high, and with a record that I feel very proud of.' A gutted Dunleavy took to Twitter revealing her devastation at the abrupt exit. 'I was having the time of my life in my job. I'm devastated that it has come to an end,' she wrote. An insider told the publication the news of Dunleavy's axing left the beloved host 'hurt and so disappointed' The radio station's manager Stephen Beers said he wanted 'to thank Dee Dee for her three and a half years on Afternoons and before that her stint on Weekend Break with Grubby'. 'She's been a great part of the 3AW line up,' he said. Dunleavy said she 'took over the Afternoons program just as the pandemic plunged us into lockdown, and so I faced the dual challenge of navigating a new show remotely while keeping the audience informed and entertained'. She thanked the listeners who had propelled the show during the pandemic. 'I am forever grateful to all the callers who shared with me on air their grief at losing loved ones, and their anguish at losing their jobs and businesses. The beloved radio host's shock departure was announced by 3AW on Monday morning, shortly after she was told her her services were no longer required 'For those who were isolated I hope I was part of the comfort and connection that radio brought to them during that time.' Dunleavy added that she 'thoroughly enjoyed hearing diverse opinions and discussing the stories that matter to Melbourne. 'I am grateful to 3AW for giving me the opportunity to grow my skills as a talkback presenter for the last 11 years.' Though her contract is not up until the end of the year, Dunleavy will not get a chance to go on air to say goodbye to her listeners. Instead, the station announced that Elise Elliott will fill in on the Afternoons show this week, with a decision about a permanent replacement to follow. A gutted Dunleavy took to Twitter revealing her devastation at the abrupt exit Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reported recent 3AW recruit Jacqui Felgate is tipped to be taking over from Dee Dee, in the hopes of attracting a younger audience. The former 7News presenter, 40, is said to be the 'golden child' at the station with network executives considering making her Dunleavy's permanent replacement. Back in February, Felgate joined the 3AW AFL Broadcast Team to provide pre-game coverage for Friday night footy matches and has excelled in the role. While insiders say the glamorous footy host is the popular choice to replace Dunleavy, other contenders include presenters Heidi Murphy and Emily Power. A decision will be made about the permanent replacement in the near future. Les Dennis has said he forgives his ex-wife Amanda Holden for cheating on him during their marriage. The actor. 69, wed the Britain's Got Talent judge, 52, in 1995 when she was 22 and he was 40, before eventually parting ways in 2003. After five years of marriage it emerged the couple had gone their separate ways amid Amanda's much publicised affair with actor Neil Morrissey, 60. Les has now opened up about his feelings towards his ex in a new interview, saying that he is 'happy that she's happy'. Speaking to The Times, he said: 'Amanda was in the papers recently, saying some nice things about me. That was very kind of her. 'I am happy that shes happy': Les Dennis has said he forgives his ex-wife Amanda Holden for cheating on him during their marriage Split: The actor. 69, wed the Britain's Got Talent judge, 52, in 1995 when she was 22 and he was 40, before eventually parting ways in 2003 'Maybe with time she has been able to look back and see things differently. Were not in touch but I am happy that shes happy.' He added: 'I can watch Britains Got Talent without getting angry. To be honest its like watching a different person, someone Ive never met.' Les concluded: 'All the hurt that has happened has been healed.' The pair began their dalliance when they worked together on 2000 film Happy Birthday Shakespeare, with Amanda later admitting their relationship was just about 'sex'. At the time, many speculated as to whether it was the age gap between Amanda and Les that caused their problems. And while Amanda and Les later reconciled before finally splitting in 2002, she recently insisted that she has no idea if she was looking for a father figure in the funnyman. She told The Times: 'I dont know because Ive never done therapy, but there is a sort of safety in a relationship like that. 'I was very young and I had a lot to learn about life.' Of her marriage and affair, she previously told the Daily Mail: 'I brought it on myself, I appreciate that, but nothing will ever be as bad again. 'It was a very dark time. It got to the point where I felt I could hardly breathe. 'Les proved to be my saviour. Ironically. So the person Id hurt the most in the world was the one who was there for me.' Affair: It emerged the couple had gone their separate ways amid Amanda's much publicised affair with actor Neil Morrissey, 60 (Amanda and Neil pictured in 2003) In 2013, Amanda opened up about her affair with Neil, telling Good Housekeeping: 'I don't believe women have affairs for no reason. 'Neil rightly or wrongly got loads of stick. I feel like it was my fault - I was the one who was married. 'I want to change the general perception of him, as he was very caring and very loving and very worried about me because I lost so much weight. He used to cook for me and look after me and babysit the dogs.' In 2014 Neil finally said sorry to game show host Les for the affair he had with his then-wife Amanda. The star, who has previously said he had not apologised to Les, made the admission on Piers Morgan's Life Stories. He said: 'I feel sorry for how the situation was dealt with and I feel sorry for how emotional Les seemed to become. It was very difficult for him and for that I'm very sorry.' His comment came after he was asked by Piers if he had ever apologised to Les, to which he replied: 'No, I didn't. I'm not positive over what there is apologise about. I don't know what the whole situation was, to be perfectly fair to everybody.' Moved on: Amanda went on to marry record producer Chris Hughes, with whom she has two daughters - Lexie and Hollie When asked why he has never spoken about it before, the father-of-one shared: 'I think enough was said about it. This was a very short fling. I didn't have representation at the time, in terms of PR and this was the first time I'd really come under the cosh.' Amanda went on to marry record producer Chris Hughes, with whom she has two daughters - Lexie and Hollie. Les also got married again to Claire Nicholson in 2009. They have two children together Eleanor and Thomas. Les was previously married before tying the knot to Amanda in 1995 and has an adult son Philip from the relationship. She has jetted off to Mykonos for a summer sunshine break. And Helen Flanagan put on a busty display in a denim bikini as she hopped on a speedboat for a ride out to sea in the luxury location on Sunday. The actress, 32, showed off her surgically enhanced cleavage and incredible figure in the skimpy swimwear which she teamed with a Miu Miu mini skirt. She completed her look with black strappy Dior sandals and a matching leather bag from the designer as she was helped up onto the boat. Helen wore her blonde tresses pulled back and opted for a natural makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lip. Looking good: Helen Flanagan put on a busty display in a denim bikini as she hopped on a speedboat for a ride out to sea in Mykonos on Sunday Beauty: The actress, 32, showed off her surgically enhanced cleavage and incredible figure in the skimpy swimwear which she teamed with a Miu Miu mini skirt She was joined by her friend fashion stylist Kelvin Barron for the day out in the sunshine to top up their tans. Helen's trip to Mykonos comes just after earlier this week she was mum shamed for her latest Instagram post about her toddler son Charlie. The mother of three, who split from her children's father Scott Sinclair last year, shared sweet photos of herself and her youngest, two-year-old Charlie, on Tuesday as she revealed he had been having 'off the scale tantrums'. Helen shared a series of photos as she shared kisses with Charlie, joking in the caption that she was 'trying to get pictures with my two year old.' The post was soon flooded with comments with some criticising Helen's parenting, asking: 'Why do you constantly ask your kids for kiss after kiss...like it's not normal plus the way you talk to them is like you are talking to puppies.' 'You need to act like there mum...they need tough love and discipline [sic]' the commenter continued. Another asked: 'Have you ever thought they don't want photos and kisses all the time. I've never known anyone to ask their kids for kiss after kiss ???' Helen's fans rushed to defend her against the mum shaming comments, with one pointing out: 'Sod off I ask for kisses a lot when they r wee cos soon enough they r teenager and u get nothing,' Glowing: Helen wore her blonde tresses pulled back and opted for a natural makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lip Outfit: She completed her look with black strappy Dior sandals and a matching leather bag from the designer as she was helped up onto the boat Bronzed: She was joined by her friend fashion stylist Kelvin Barron for the day out in the sunshine to top up their tans Tough: Helen's trip to Mykonos comes just after earlier this week she was mum shamed for her latest Instagram post about her toddler son Charlie Honest: The mother of three, who split from her children's father Scott Sinclair last year, shared sweet photos of herself and her youngest, two-year-old Charlie, on Tuesday as she revealed he had been having 'off the scale tantrums' Mother: Helen shared a series of photos as she shared kisses with Charlie, joking in the caption that she was 'trying to get pictures with my two year old' Rude: The post was soon flooded with comments with some criticising Helen's parenting, asking: 'Why do you constantly ask your kids for kiss after kiss...like it's not normal plus the way you talk to them is like you are talking to puppies' Mean: Another asked: 'Have you ever thought they don't want photos and kisses all the time. I've never known anyone to ask their kids for kiss after kiss ???' 'It's a parenting style and is completely okay,' agreed another. 'They are only little once, not all kids need tough love,' read another supportive comment. Others argued that Helen was only sharing a tiny snippet of her day online, with one supporter writing: 'We see 2 seconds on Instagram. How do we know she isn't playing with him the rest of the time. Also most celebrities get paid to use instagram.' 'You do realise that this is a photo taken in a few seconds out of a day. So the other 23hours plus you have no idea about. She's a loving Mum, the world needs more people like her. Stop putting women/Mothers down,' wrote another. Support: Helen's fans rushed to defend her against the mum shaming comments, with one pointing out: 'Sod off I ask for kisses a lot when they r wee cos soon enough they r teenager and u get nothing' Fans: Others argued that Helen was only sharing a tiny snippet of her day online, with one supporter writing: 'We see 2 seconds on Instagram' Getting involved: Helen later hit back at the comments, reposting one which criticised her for co-sleeping with her daughter Delilah, five, and suggesting she will 'regret' her parenting style Fair: 'Very strange some comments on Instagram,' Helen wrote. 'As a mum I want my kids to feel really loved and happy and safe' Helen later hit back at the comments, reposting one which criticised her for co-sleeping with her daughter Delilah, five, and suggesting she will 'regret' her parenting style. 'Very strange some comments on Instagram,' Helen wrote. 'As a mum I want my kids to feel really loved and happy and safe and I'm affectionate and I co sleep because that's how Delilah is happier and Don't want her to cry, she will grow out of it.' She shared more of the cruel messages, commenting 'Vile comments. I just love my kids.' Reality star Helen, who recently appeared on I'm A Celebrity... South Africa, is also mum to daughter Matilda, seven with her ex Scott, 32, who she split from last year after 13 years together. Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper took to Instagram on Saturday to reveal that he and fiancee Taya had become parents for a second time after welcoming a baby daughter. The farmer, 24, who shot to fame as Jeremy Clarkson's right hand man on the Amazon Prime series announced the news as he shared a sweet snap from the hospital. Kaleb cuddled the newborn, who was wrapped in a white blanket, and revealed her sweet name before gushed that she was born in his beloved Chipping Norton. The TV star, who also shares two-year old son Oscar with his partner, wrote: 'Welcome to the world. Willa Grace Cooper. Born in CHIPPING NORTON'. Fans and famous friends rushed to offer their congratulations with Eamonn Holmes writing: 'Congratulations Kaleb to you and your wife'. Welcome: Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper, 24, took to Instagram on Saturday to reveal that he and fiancee Taya had become parents for a second time after welcoming a baby daughter Sweet: The farmer shared a sweet snap from the hospital as he cuddled his newborn daughter as he revealed she was born in his beloved Chipping Norton Congratulations: Fans and famous friends rushed to offer their congratulations including boss Jeremy Clarkson's beer brand Hawkstone Meanwhile boss Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone beer brand commented: 'Congratulations! We're drinking your cider to celebrate tonight!'. It comes after Kaleb revealed he is undertaking an exciting new career move, as he swaps farm life for the theatre. Last week he took to Instagram to reveal the exciting news, writing: 'Im braving it and leaving Chippy for a UK theatre tour! 'Ill be announcing my first show tomorrow morning, thats going on sale from 10am.' He later confirmed that his first stop would be Nottingham as he joked that the theatre was a 'big old barn' and said he was 'looking forward to it'. He penned: 'The first available date to book tickets for my national tour is going to be in a big old barn called the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall!' Back in April 2022, Kaleb, said he will never leave the countryside, despite having amassed a huge fan base. Born and bred in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, a small town with a population of just 6,337, Kaleb says he never wants to leave, despite his immense success. Couple: Kaleb and longterm girlfriend Taya got engaged on boxing day Family: They are already parents to two-year-old son Oscar, making them now a family of four Claim to fame: Kaleb (right) shot to fame as Jeremy Clarkson's right hand man on the Amazon Prime series (pictured together on the show) Speaking to The Times magazine back the, he revealed the furthest he has ever travelled from his village is London, which he had visited three times at that point, and hated, describing it as 'f****** awful'. And talking about going to Stow-on-the-Wold, which is 18 miles away from Chipping Norton, he said: 'I got a nosebleed when we went to Stow.' The prospect of travelling abroad is even less likely, as the farming expert does not currently own a passport. He also found himself bewildered recently when he encountered a revolving door when the Clarkson's Farm team returned to London for the Farm to Fork summit. Wow! It comes after Kaleb revealed he is undertaking an exciting new career move, as he swaps farm life for the theatre He had never seen a revolving door before and was so blown away by seeing one, he went round it a few times to get the full experience. Jeremy, 63, even posted a video to Instagram showing Kaleb smiling at the revelation, saying: 'He has never seen a revolving door before'. Kaleb branded the experience 'amazing' and couldn't believe his luck. The moment was reminiscent of a scene in the film Elf, where the main character Buddy discovers a revolving door after moving to New York following an upbringing in the North Pole. Fans wrote in the comments: 'God bless Kaleb, one of the purest persons there is.' 'We need a sitcom of just Kaleb trying new things out that blow his mind on the show it was paying for parking in the London & here it's a revolving door.' 'I bet if he goes through it fast enough and really gets it spinning hell come out the other end with a new perm.' Olivia Molly Rogers and her ex-husband Justin McKeone have crossed paths at a mutual friend's baby shower. The pair both went along to a shindig held by their pal, swimwear designer Kat Furey Arnold, this weekend. In Instagram Stories collected by the Dutch Minty Instagram account, the couple each separately posted images of the expectant mother posing alongside her partner at the party. 'Baby showering the best' Justin captioned his post, while Olivia wrote, 'Baby shower for these cuties' on her own, near-identical image. Earlier this year, the two were forced to cross paths as they attended the wedding of their mutual friends, Marion Keast and Will Maurice. Olivia Molly Rogers and her ex-husband Justin McKeone have crossed paths at a mutual friend's baby shower. Both pictured Despite the awkward encounter, the former Miss Universe Australia made sure she was dressed to impress for the occasion in a jaw-dropping tangerine dress. Rogers' bitter split from her ex-husband has been dragged through the headlines in recent weeks as the pair took aim at each other on social media. Olivia confirmed her split from finance expert Justin, 34, in October last year, after just eight months of marriage. Justin recently broke his silence on their breakdown of their marriage and scathingly said he's 'never been happier' after their split. The pair both went along to a shindig held by their pal, swimwear designer Kat Furey Arnold, this weekend. In Instagram Stories collected by the Aussie Influencer Opinions account, the couple each separately posted images of the expectant mother posing alongside her partner Olivia confirmed her split from finance expert Justin, 34, in October last year, after just eight months of marriage The influencer and former pageant queen, 31, debuted her new boyfriend Morgan Waterhouse at Fashion Week. She was all smiles as she stayed close to her man, 29, as they made their way into day two of the exclusive event. The pair recently enjoyed a romantic getaway at a luxurious hotel with Sydney Harbour views. Former Made in Chelsea star Andy Jordan and his new wife Alexandra Suter celebrated their second wedding in Mallorca this weekend with family and friends. The TV personality, 33, and his stunning bride enjoyed lavish nuptials at Finca Gomera on the Spanish island - after a romantic civil ceremony in London last week. Ali wowed in a beautiful white off-the-shoulder dress for the big day as she shared snippets to her Instagram from the sunny location. The dress featured a ruffled top design which was cinched in at the waist before flowing out into a long skirt. She completed the look with a long veil, small dangly earrings and swept her blonde tresses into a sleek up do while opting for radiant makeup. Incredible: Former Made in Chelsea star Andy Jordan and his new wife Alexandra Suter celebrated their second wedding in Mallorca this weekend with family and friends Down the aisle: The TV personality, 33, and his stunning bride enjoyed lavish nuptials at Finca Gomera on the Spanish island - after a romantic civil ceremony in London last week Beauty: Ali wowed in a beautiful white off-the-shoulder dress for the big day as she shared snippets to her Instagram from the sunny location Meanwhile Andy looked as dapper as ever in a black suit, white shirt and bow tie as the pair walked back down the aisle and their pals threw confetti over them. Other shots showed them enjoying their first dance, cutting the cake and posing with family and friends. Their first wedding was in London on June 1. The handsome star shared a kiss with his new bride on the steps of Chelsea Registry Office after they exchanged vows in a short service. Andy popped the question to his love in a romantic beach proposal in July 2020. And the newlyweds beamed with happiness as they emerged from the venue before being showered with confetti by their delighted guests. Andy cut a dapper figure for is big day, donning a smart navy linen suit with a matching tie and crisp white shirt. While his wife Alexandra - also known as Ali - looked stunning as she slipped into an ivory sheath wedding dress for the occasion. Stunning: The dress featured a ruffled top design which was cinched in at the waist before flowing out into a long skirt Fun: Other shots showed them enjoying their first dance, cutting the cake and posing with family and friends Glowing: She completed the look with a long veil, small dangly earrings and swept her blonde tresses into a sleek up do while opting for radiant makeup Blushing bride: Ali looked beautiful as she shared snaps from getting ready in her room before hand Happiness: Three years ago, former reality star Andy revealed he had popped the question to his then girlfriend with a series of snaps on his Instagram page Kisses: Meanwhile Andy looked as dapper as ever in a black suit, white shirt and bow tie as the pair walked back down the aisle and their pals threw confetti over them The satin gown featured lace detailing and tick straps, with Alexandra wearing her blonde locks in soft waves with a centre parting. The bride carried a posy of white and pink peonies and completed her wedding look with a smattering of delicate gold jewellery. Andy, who starred in Made In Chelsea for three years between 2012 and 2015, couldn't keep his hands off his gorgeous wife as he kissed her on the cheek outside. The pair then posed for a number of pictures with their loves ones. After capturing their special moment, the newlyweds then drove off in a Jeep Wrangler decorated with ribbons. Three years ago, former reality star Andy revealed he had popped the question to his then girlfriend with a series of snaps on his Instagram page. Andy posted an image of his beaming other half as she held up her hand, revealing her stunning engagement ring as she posed for the camera. In one romantic snap, Andy held his fiance close and planted a sweet kiss on her forehead as they stood in front of a stunning sunset backdrop. Clearly over moon that his proposal had gone to plan, Andy wrote alongside the snaps: 'She said YES! Rest of my life was planned the day I met you in our shop... now it's just official here's to forever @alisuter4 #MrsJ #iloveyou' Andy is the owner and creative director of surf-inspired city wear line Jam Industries, which has stores across the south west coast. The reality star revealed that he met his partner in one of the shops and knew immediately that she was the one for him. Andy's best pal Stevie Johnson was among the first to share his well-wishes on the post, as he commented with a selection of heart emojis. Alexandra mirrored Andy's elated post and shared the same snaps, alongside the caption: 'The biggest YES in the world. Can't wait to squish you forever #MRSJ.' It is unclear which beach Andy asked Alexandra to marry him on, however she shared some beautiful images of the sunset on her Instagram Stories. Andy has run his successful business based in Salcombe, Devon, since leaving E4 reality show Made In Chelsea in the summer of 2015. During his time on the programme, Andy dated his co-star Louise Thompson, however the duo called it quits amid claims she had also been seeing One Direction star Niall Horan. Andy appeared on MIC for three years starting in 2012, however he has previously spoken about his regrets while part of the glamorous cast. In 2019 he told Victoria Derbyshire: 'You just become a puppet... you're literally like the packaging, I'd lost who I was because everything was directed by someone else.' Andy also admitted that he struggled with Instagram culture after gaining thousands of followers overnight due to his appearance on the programme. Sweet: Clearly over moon that his proposal had gone to plan, Andy wrote alongside the snaps: 'She said YES! Rest of my life was planned the day I met you in our shop' Traditions: Andy, who starred in Made In Chelsea for three years between 2012 and 2015, cut the cake with Ali Husband and wife: Andy has run his successful business based in Salcombe, Devon, since leaving E4 reality show Made In Chelsea in the summer of 2015 Moving on: Andy appeared on MIC for three years starting in 2012, however he has previously spoken about his regrets while part of the glamorous cast Love: Alexandra mirrored Andy's elated post and shared the same snaps, alongside the caption: 'The biggest YES in the world. Can't wait to squish you forever #MRSJ' Change: Andy has since stepped away from the limelight and although he will occasionally do paid posts, he insisted it will only be things he is passionate about 'Overnight, there were hundreds of thousands of people watching what I was doing,' he says about appearing on the show. 'You're like, 'Everyone wants to follow me and talk to me' - that's almost like a drug. He says he got to the point where he 'just turned into a ghost... I didn't even care if I got hit by a bus'. Andy has since stepped away from the limelight and although he will occasionally do paid posts, he insisted it will only be things he is passionate about. Elliot Page has revealed that he never felt liked a girl and as a child even tried to teach himself to urinate standing up. The actor, 36 who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020 made the revelation in his candid new memoir Pageboy. Recalling feeling uncomfortable in his body, aged as young as four, he wrote: 'I would press on my vagina, holding it, pinching and squeezing it, hoping I could aim.' It comes after Elliott revealed that he passed on a movie opportunity after his breakthrough role in Juno so that he wouldn't have to wear a feminine costume. He detailed backing out of a 'sought-after role' in a period piece, writing in his new memoir Pageboy that the idea of wearing a dress and a wig made him 'want to kill myself.' Candid: Elliot Page, 36, has revealed that he never felt liked a girl and even tried and teach himself to urinate standing up Open and honest: The actor who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020 made the revelation in his candid new memoir Pageboy The role came to the Oscar nominated actor following the 2008 awards season, while he was experiencing gender dysphoria. 'I would imagine myself in a woman's costume from the mid-nineteenth century. The dress, the shoes, the hair, flashed before my eyes. It was too much after having put on the mask for awards season,' Page wrote. 'I understood that if I were to do it, I would want to kill myself.' 'After awards season concluded, I was supposed to make a film in England. It was based on a famous book, and I was attached as the main character, a sought-after role,' Page wrote. 'It was too much to play a role on-screen when the role I played in my personal life was suffocating me already,' the actor went on. 'I pushed myself to dispel the truth for fear of banishment, but I was despondent, trapped in a dismal disguise. An empty, aimless shell.' Page continued: 'It wasn't easy to explain to my reps that I couldn't take on a role because of clothing. A face would scrunch up and tilt sideways, 'But you're an actor?' Wardrobe fittings for films ripped at my insides, talons gashing my organs.' 'I cringed at the way people lit up when seeing me in feminine clothing, as if I had accomplished a miraculous feat,' Page added. Dysphoria: Recalling feeling uncomfortable in his body, aged as young as four, he wrote: 'I would press on my vagina, holding it, pinching and squeezing it, hoping I could aim' Breakout role: It comes after Elliott revealed that he passed on a movie opportunity after his breakthrough role in Juno so that he wouldn't have to wear a feminine costume, Pictured in a still from Juno Though the actor didn't reveal the name of the role he passed on, it was reported in 2008 by Variety that he had been cast in an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. The role eventually went to Mia Wasikowska who starred alongside Michael Fassbender, with the film being released in 2011. Elliot has spoken out in the past about how being forced to wear dresses and heels while promoting Juno 'almost killed him.' He delved into it further in a recent interview with ABC, explaining, 'It's not like someone was forcing clothing on my physical body. But that is what it felt like to dress a certain way and be a certain way.' 'I think it especially became complicated as an actor because people would just go, 'Well, you're an actor. Just put on the f**king clothes.' You know?' he admitted. 'But needless to say, it was so much more than that.' 'I used to find it and still find it tricky to talk about. It relates to this, 'Your dreams are coming true,' because I felt like complaining at all or feeling bad at all just so profoundly ungrateful.' Tough season: The role came to the Oscar nominated actor following the 2008 awards season, when he was experiencing gender dysphoria while wearing feminine clothes; Pictured 2008 Jane Eyre? Though the actor didn't reveal the name of the role, it was reported in 2008 that Page had been cast in an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. The role eventually went to Mia Wasikowska (pictured in a still from the film) Page made a number of other revelations in his new memoir, including his failed attempts to have sex with a man at age 16, as he battled with his sexuality years before coming out as gay. Page revealed he once dated a classmate called Kenneth and repeatedly attempted to lose his virginity to him - to no avail. Writing in Pageboy he said the pair - who met in grade 10 at Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax, Nova Scotia - would 'fool around upstairs' and engage in 'dry humping,' which did not arouse Page. He wrote: 'Kenneth was sweet, sensitive and cute. A unique face with prominent cheekbones and electric eyes, his hair dark brown and floppy. 'We'd fool around upstairs. I didn't really like it but I didn't mind it either. Painful revelations: Page spoke out about how being forced to wear dresses and heels while promoting Juno 'almost killed him' in a recent interview with ABC Revelations: Pageboy was released Tuesday, June 6 and gives fans a 'brutally honest' look at his career and personal life 'The kissing, meh. The dry humping, alright. I would pretend to orgasm. Not that Kenneth wasn't or wouldn't be fantastic in bed. I am certain he would be a selfless and generous lover.' Going into further explicit detail, Page said when they tried to have sex, Kenneth was unable to enter him, adding: 'That whole 'wet' thing was not happening. 'We'd try and then stop, try and then stop, try and then stop, and then we stopped trying. I was lucky it was with someone as lovely as him, it could have ended a different way.' Elsewhere Page claimed he had sex with Juno co-star Olivia Thirlby 'all the time' while they filmed the hit 2007 movie - just days after revealing he had a secret romance with Kate Mara. Page was reportedly paid 'north of $3M' to write his 288-page tell-all, which Flatiron Books published on June 6. Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard kicked off on Sunday at Wembley in London with a slew of stars posing for snaps ahead of their performances. Eurovision star Mae Muller, 25, showed off her gorgeous curves in a silver co-ord as she arrived and posed up a storm. She had her midriff and legs on display in the crop top and matching thigh-skimming mini skirt that showed off her tattoos. Mae wore her dark tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a radian makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lip. Elsewhere Raye, also 25, put on a stylish display in a sheer orange dress that left little to the imagination. Exciting: Capital's Summertime Ball kicked off on Sunday at Wembley in London with a slew of stars posing for snaps ahead of their performances including Mae Muller (pictured) Huge stars: Raye put on a stylish display in a sheer orange dress that left little to the imagination Beauty: Eurovision star Mae, 25, showed off her gorgeous curves in a silver co-ord as she arrived and posed up a storm She boosted her height with chunky nude platforms and opted for quirky eye makeup to stand out from the crowd. Elsewhere Tallia Storm, Tom Grennan and Joel Corry were seen arriving ahead of taking to the stage. Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard returns today with an exciting atmosphere and incredible artists performing their best hits. 80,000 Capital listeners and a massive line-up of the world's hottest artists have descended upon London for the event. The event is being held at Wembley arena in north London. The venue tweeted last month: 'Is it even officially summer until Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard? 'This years #CapitalSTB is going to be BIG!' Pose: Mae wore her dark tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a radian makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lip (pictured with Sigala) Stunning: She boosted her height with chunky nude platforms and opted for quirky eye makeup to stand out from the crowd Glowing: Mae wore her dark tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a radian makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lip Tanned: Tallia Storm arrives at the Capital Summertime Ball 2023 with Barclaycard at Wembley Stadium Work it: Tallia put on a typically confident display in a glittery green top and skirt as she stood for snaps Details: She boosted her height with quirky lilac platform heels as she made her way into the event Style: Beside her Sigala looked as cool as ever in a white shirt and light trousers ahead of his set It was held at the same venue last year on June 12. Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran were among those who performed. The Jonas Brothers, Anne-Marie, Sigala, Raye and Tom Grennan were all announced to be performing last month on Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp. Jess Glynne, Joel Corry, Mimi Webb and Zara Larsson will all also be taking to the stage. The second set of artists lined-up to perform were later announced, with Calvin Harris, Niall Horan and Ellie Goulding leading the names taking to the stage. ArrDee, Adam Lambert, Coi Leray, FLO and Jax Jones will also be among the stars showing off their talents at the event. Happy: Tom Grennan arriving at Capital's Summertime Ball 2023 Handsome: He showed off his sense of style in a navy shirt Fashion: Jess Glynne arrives at the Capital Summertime Ball 2023 with Barclaycard at Wembley Stadium Posing up a storm: She wore baggy jeans and a black jacket All smiles: Joel Corry attends the Capital Summertime Ball 2023 at Wembley Stadium Wow! He showed off his rippling abs on the red carpet Fun: He larked about with Caity Baser backstage LOL: He was showing off his physique Ready: The crowds began arriving from around midday Here we go: They were all ready to listen to some music Leggy: Caity Baser wore a pink ensemble Bright: Robyn Richford arriving at Capital's Summertime Ball 2023 Style: Zara Larsson attends the Capital Summertime Ball 2023 at Wembley Stadium Beaming: Capital radio star Roman looked great in a glitzy black top Casual: Swiss singer and songwriter Ilira wore jeans and a white crop top for the event Abs: Zara opted for a skimpy ensemble ahead of hitting the stage Work it! Coi Leray performing on stage at Capital's Summertime Ball 2023 Skimpy: She had her midriff on display Grammy award-nominated powerhouse trio Jonas Brothers were the first act to be announced. The Jonas Brothers are known for their huge number 1 hits Sucker and What A Man Gotta Do and have recently released their brand new single Waffle House. Jonas Brothers are no strangers to Capital's Summertime Ball, as they performed back in 2019 and make a welcome return this Summer. The event started at 2.00pm and will finish at approximately 10pm. Sian Welby dressed to impress in a little black dress on Sunday evening as she hosted at Captial's Summertime Ball 2023 at Wembley Stadium. The radio presenter, 36, looked incredible in the glamorous number which boasted an eye catching pink ruffled mesh sleeves and a daring split. She turned up the heat by added inches to her frame in a pair of towering pink metallic heels as she posed on the star studded red carpet. Sian opted for a stunning palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty including a bold swipe of red lipstick. She completed the number by styling her long blonde tresses in loose waves as they cascaded down past her shoulders from a centre parting. Turning heads: Sian Welby dressed to impress in a little black dress on Sunday evening as she hosted at Captial's Summertime Ball 2023 at Wembley Stadium Gorgeous: The radio presenter, 36, looked incredible in the glamorous number which boasted an eye catching pink ruffled mesh sleeves and a daring split Sian flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed with her Capital Breakfast show co-hosts Roman Kemp and Chris Stark. Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard returns today with an exciting atmosphere and incredible artists performing their best hits. 80,000 Capital listeners and a massive line-up of the world's hottest artists have descended upon London for the event. The event is being held at Wembley arena in north London. The venue tweeted last month: 'Is it even officially summer until Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard? 'This years #CapitalSTB is going to be BIG!' It was held at the same venue last year on June 12. Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran were among those who performed. Phenomenal: She turned up the heat by added inches to her frame in a pair of towering pink metallic heels as she posed on the star studded red carpet Sensational: Sian opted for a stunning palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty including a bold swipe of red lipstick Pals: Sian flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed with her Capital Breakfast show co-hosts Roman Kemp (left) and Chris Stark (right) The Jonas Brothers, Anne-Marie, Sigala, Raye and Tom Grennan were all announced to be performing last month on Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp. Jess Glynne, Joel Corry, Mimi Webb and Zara Larsson will all also be taking to the stage. The second set of artists lined-up to perform were later announced, with Calvin Harris, Niall Horan and Ellie Goulding leading the names taking to the stage. ArrDee, Adam Lambert, Coi Leray, FLO and Jax Jones will also be among the stars showing off their talents at the event. Grammy award-nominated powerhouse trio Jonas Brothers were the first act to be announced. The Jonas Brothers are known for their huge number 1 hits Sucker and What A Man Gotta Do and have recently released their brand new single Waffle House. Jonas Brothers are no strangers to Capital's Summertime Ball, as they performed back in 2019 and make a welcome return this Summer. The event started at 2.00pm and will finish at approximately 10pm. Read More: The biggest winners of the Tony Awards Other big winners include Kimberly Akimbo for Best Musical, Leopoldstadt for Best Play and Parade for Best Musical Revival Jodie Comer won Lead Actress for Prima Facie as she took home the night's top prize Advertisement All eyes were on the red carpet at United Palace Theater in New York City on Sunday, June 11 as the biggest stars on Broadway arrived to the 76th Annual Tony Awards . Jessica Chastain made a glamorous entrance in a sunshine yellow strapless Gucci gown, complete with a matching cape that elegantly grazed the red carpet. The movie star paired the statement gown with a diamond pendant necklace, adding sparkle to her elegant look. Ariana DeBose left little to the imagination in a plunging form-fitting silver Prada gown that showcased her cleavage, which she paired with dangling earrings. Lea Michele and Julianne Hough opted for floral maxi dresses, with the former Glee star rocking a red and white Emilia Wickstead number and the pro dancer choosing a pink and black Carolina Herrera gown. Glamorous: All eyes were on the red carpet at United Palace Theater in New York City as the biggest stars in Hollywood arrived at the 76th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday Jessica, 46, looked incredible in a sunshine yellow frock that featured a bodice and maxi skirt; the dress was two different shades of yellow along the torso and skirt. The beauty rocked a diamond necklace, perfectly complimenting her bright dress and matching cape. Jessica pulled her red locks back into chic ponytail, adding pink lipstick and shimmery eye makeup to round out her look. Ariana's low-cut gown silver gown had a crystal embellished accent along the neckline; the brunette beauty, 32, added a diamond bracelet and ring, along with dainty earrings. Lea, 36, wowed in her red and white floral maxi gown; the sleeveless number had a flared skirt that grazed the carpet. The former Glee actress styled her locks sleek with a deep center part. While rocking a memorizing, floral-print gown, designed by Carolina Herrera, Julianne oozed confidence as she prepared to tape a preshow telecast of the show, alongside Skylar Astin, best known for starring in Pitch Perfect. For the occasion, the 34-year-old star wore her golden blonde locks in a romantic updo, with a few lose pieces at the front, and a pair of glamorous statement earrings. Beauty: Jessica looked incredible in a sunshine yellow frock that featured a bodice and maxi skirt; the dress was two different shades of yellow along the torso and skirt Stunning: The beauty rocked a diamond necklace, perfectly complimenting her bright dress and matching cape Close up: Jessica pulled her red locks back into chic ponytail, adding pink lipstick and shimmery eye makeup to round out her look Glittering: Ariana DeBose, 32, left little to the imagination in a plunging form-fitting silver gown that showcased her cleavage, which she paired with dangling earrings Sparkling: Ariana's gown had a glittering accent along the neckline In bloom: Lea wowed in her red and white floral maxi gown; the sleeveless number had a flared skirt Lovely: For the occasion, she wore her golden blonde locks in a romantic updo, with a few lose pieces at the front, and a pair of glamorous statement earrings All angles: The star showed off her chic gown from a number of angles TONY AWARD WINNERS 2023 Best Musical & Juliet Kimberly Akimbo WINNER New York, New York Shucked Some Like It Hot Some Like It Hot Best Play Ain't No Mo' Between Riverside and Crazy Cost of Living Fat Ham Leopoldstadt WINNER Best Musical Revival Bob Fosse's Dancin' Camelot Into The Woods Parade WINNER Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Best Revival of a Play A Doll's House The Piano Lesson The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog WINNER Best Leading Actress of a Musical Annaleigh Ashford Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Sara Bareilles Into The Woods Victoria Clark Kimberly Akimbo WINNER Lorna Courtney & Juliet Micaela Diamond Parade Jessica Chastain, A Doll's House Best Leading Actress of a Play Jessica Chastain A Doll's House Jodie Comer Prima Facie WINNER Jessica Hecht Summer, 1976 Audra McDonald Ohio State Murders Best Leading Actor of a Musical Christian Borle Some Like It Hot J. Harrison Ghee Some Like It Hot WINNER Josh Groban Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Brian D'Arcy James Into The Woods Ben Platt at the Met Gala 2023 Ben Platt Parade Colton Ryan New York, New York Best Leading Actor of a Play Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Topdog/Underdog Corey Hawkins Topdog/Underdog Sean Hayes Good Night, Oscar WINNER Stephen McKinley Henderson Between Riverside and Crazy Wendell Pierce Death of a Salesman Best Book of a Musical & Juliet David West Read Kimberly Akimbo David Lindsay-Abaire WINNER New York, New York David Thompson & Sharon Washington Shucked Robert Horn Some Like It Hot Matthew Lopez & Amber Ruffin Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Jordan E. Cooper Ain't No Mo' Samuel L. Jackson August Wilson's The Piano Lesson Arian Moayed A Doll's House Brandon Uranowitz Leopoldstadt WINNER David Zayas Cost Of Living Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Kevin Del Aguila Some Like It Hot Kevin Cahoon Shucked Justin Cooley Kimberly Akimbo Jordan Donica Lerner & Loewe's Camelot Alex Newell Shucked WINNER Best Scenic Design of a Play Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding Life Of Pi WINNERS Miriam Buether Prima Facie Rachel Hauck Good Night, Oscar Richard Hudson Leopoldstadt Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon A Christmas Carol Best Costume Design of a Play Brigitte Reiffenstuel Leopoldstadt WINNER Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell Life Of Pi Dominique Fawn Hill Fat Ham Emilio Sosa Ain't No Mo' Emilio Sosa Good Night, Oscar Best Lighting Design of a Play Neil Austin Leopoldstadt Natasha Chivers Prima Facie Jon Clark Jon Clark Bradley King Fat Ham Tim Lutkin Life Of Pi WINNER Jen Schriever Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman Ben Stanton A Christmas Carol Best Direction of a Play Saheem Ali Fat Ham Jo Bonney Cost Of Living Jamie Lloyd A Doll's House Patrick Marber Leopoldstadt WINNER Stevie Walker-Webb Ain't No Mo' Max Webster Life Of Pi Best Sound Design of a Play Carolyn Downing Life Of Pi WINNER Joshua D. Reid A Christmas Carol Ben & Max Ringham A Doll's House Ben & Max Ringham Prima Facie Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams Ain't No Mo' Best Choreography Casey Nicholaw Some Like It Hot WINNER Steven Hoggett Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Susan Stroman New York, New York Jennifer Weber & Juliet Jennifer Weber KPOP Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre Joel Grey John Kander Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre Victoria Bailey Lisa Dawn Cave Robert Fried Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theatre Kimberly Akimbo David Lindsay-Abaire/Jeanine Tesori WINNER Almost Famous Tom Kitt/Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt KPOP Helen Park & Max Vernon Shucked Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally Some Like It Hot Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Nikki Crawford Fat Ham Crystal Lucas-Perry Ain't No Mo' Miriam Silverman The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window WINNER Katy Sullivan Cost Of Living Kara Young Cost Of Living Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Julia Lester Into The Woods Ruthie Ann Miles Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Bonnie Milligan Kimberly Akimbo WINNER NaTasha Yvette Williams Some Like It Hot Betsy Wolfe & Juliet Best Scenic Design of a Musical Beowulf Boritt New York, New York WINNER Mimi Lien Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Scott Pask Shucked Scott Pask Some Like It Hot Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions Lerner & Loewe's Camelot Best Costume Design of a Musical Gregg Barnes Some Like It Hot WINNER Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi KPOP Susan Hilferty Parade Jennifer Moeller Lerner & Loewe's Camelot Paloma Young & Juliet Best Lighting Design of a Musical Ken Billington New York, New York Lap Chi Chu Lerner & Loewe's Camelot Heather Gilbert Parade Howard Hudson & Juliet Natasha Katz Some Like It Hot Natasha Katz Sweeney Todd: THe Demon Barber Of Fleet Street WINNER Best Direction of a Musical Michael Arden Parade WINNER Lear deBessonet Into The Woods Casey Nicholaw Some Like It Hot Jack O'Brien Shucked Jessica Stone Kimberly Akimbo Best Sound Design of a Musical Kai Harada New York, New York Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann Into The Woods Gareth Owen & Juliet John Shivers Shucked Nevin Steinberg Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street WINNER Best Orchestrations Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter Some Like It Hot WINNERS John Clancy Kimberly Akimbo Daryl Waters & Sam Davis New York, New York Bill Sherman & Dominic Fallacaro & Juliet Jason Howland Shucked Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award Jerry Mitchell Regional Theatre Tony Award Pasadena Playhouse Advertisement Lupita Nyong'o, 40, rocked a risque look for the red carpet, which was a custom breastplate that was molded from her body. Lupita's breastplate is by Misha Japanwala, a Pakistani artist and fashion designer. Misha casted and molded it from the actress' body, per the star's Instagram post: 'Misha Japanwala is a Pakistani artist and fashion designer, whose work is rooted in the rejection and deconstruction and external shame attached to one's body.' Adding: 'In her artistic process, she creates a realistic and true record of a person's body as an act of resistance and celebration, and an insistence on being allowed to exist freely in our bodies.' The beauty noted that she felt 'honored' and 'humbled' to wear the breastplate. Lupita paired the eye-catching piece with black trousers and a matching blazer, slung over one shoulder after taking it off on the red carpet. She added diamond studded earrings and rings with a tattoo-style graphic on her shaved head. Striking: Lupita Nyong'o rocked a risque look for the red carpet, which was a custom breastplate that was molded from her body Details: Lupita's breastplate is by Misha Japanwala, a Pakistani artist and fashion designer Gorgeous: Lupita paired the eye-catching piece with black trousers and a matching blazer, slung over one shoulder after taking it off on the red carpet All in the details: The breastplate had a silver chain that went around her neck, leaving her back exposed for a racy look Michelle Williams, 42, arrived to the Tony Awards with husband Thomas Kail, whom she wed in 2020. The former Dawson's Creek star chose a short sleeved gown with a cinched waist and an ombre skirt that went from silver to nude. The frock also had nude accents along her sleeves; the gown also had a high neckline. She styled her short platinum blonde hair with glossy lips and smokey eye makeup to finish off her look. Thomas looked handsome in a black suit with a white button-up shirt and a tie. Michelle and Thomas are parents to two children together: son art, two, and a baby born last year, whose name or gender they have not yet released. She is also mom to 17-year-old Matilda Ledger from her relationship with the late star Heath Ledger. Jodie Comer chose a strapless shimmering black gown with sleek hair, opting for a deep side part. She is wearing Thom Browne. Rachel Brosnahan slipped on a black white polka dot Versace gown with butterfly accents through out; the gown had a low-cut neckline that highlighted her ample chest. Stunning: Michelle Williams arrived with husband Thomas Kail to the Tony Awards on Sunday Beaming: The duo couldn't stop grinning at each other on the red carpet Glamour: Jodie Comer wowed in a black glittery strapless gown with a deep side part; she is wearing Thom Browne Fun look: Rachel Brosnahan slipped on a black white polka dot gown with butterfly accents through out; the gown had a low-cut neckline that highlighted her ample chest; she is wearing Versace Actress Uzo Aduba announced her pregnancy on the red carpet on Sunday while cradling her baby bump. Uzo, 42, is expecting her first child with husband Robert Sweeting; her rep confirmed the news with People magazine. The star rocked an orange bralette with high-waisted bottoms, adding a matching blazer. 'The happy couple is over the moon about their growing family and are excited to be parents,' the magazine's source said. Uzo and Ryan wed in 2020 at a secret ceremony in 2020 in New York, per the magazine. The actress shared a quote from the movie When Harry Met Sally to her Instagram in September 2021, and sweet words about her husband Ryan: 'For some of us, it can feel like we spend our whole lives waiting for our special someone. My heart, my love - I'm so happy my life started last year with you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me.' Announcement: Actress Uzo Aduba announced her pregnancy on the red carpet on Sunday while cradling her baby bump Glowing: Uzo, 42, is expecting her first child with husband Robert Sweeting; her rep confirmed the news with People magazine Goddess: LaChanze wore an orange and bronze gown that featured a structured top half and ruched skirt Spring ready: Riley Burruss donned a ruffled yellow gown with a high-low hemline, adding a mini white Miu Miu purse Bright: Adrianna Hicks rocked a colorful frock; Miriam Silverman chose a purple and red fitted number while Betsy Wolfe showcased her cleavage in a purple grown with dramatic sleeves and feathered accents Spring ready: Amber Ruffin donned a blue gown with a textured corset and puffy sleeves Elegant: J. Harrison Ghee, Victoria Clark and Audra McDonald rocked blue numbers for the Tony Awards on Sunday night This year's ceremony became the latest production to have been impacted by the ongoing Writers Guild of America Strike. It marks the first time in 35 years that the Tonys had been afflicted by the WGA strike. Despite the challenges, the show still went on. The ceremony aired on CBS in an unscripted format, and the union agreed not to picket the event. Broadway icon Lin-Manuel Miranda has also dropped out as writer of the opening segment in solidarity with the WGA. Seasoned actress Ariana DeBose hosted this year's event from the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. Jodie won one of the top prizes at the Tony Awards, the award for Best Leading Actress in a Play for her role in Prima Facie. The role was her Broadway debut; she stars in the one-woman play about a criminal defense attorney known for defending men accused of sexual assault whose faith in the law is shaken after she become a victim of that same crime. Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee made history as the first openly nonbinary actors to win Tony Awards. Kimberly Akimbo won Best Musical, Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt won Best Play, and Parade won Best Musical Revival. Glittering: Bonnie Milligan donned a shimmering burgundy hued number; the strapless dress had ruched detailing Family is everything: American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour with her daughter Bee Shaffer and her husband Francesco Camozzini Absolutely gorgeous: Alex Newell dazzled in a gold one-shoulder corset gown with a diamond pendant necklace Dramatic look: Tatiana Maslany wore a bold gold gown with a pleated neckline, adding black lace fingerless gloves and platform heels while Lorna Courtney chose floral gold number and Crystal Lucas-Perry wore a sunshine hued number Wow factor: Crystal's gown had a dramatic skirt; she pulled the skirt up to reveal her silver heels Amazing: Daryl Roth chose a flower emblazoned blouse with silky cream colored trousers while Lily Rabe opted for a blue and black sparkling number Strike a pose: Jennifer Grey and Marcia Gay Harden opted for black gowns while LaTanya Richardson Jackson wore a black frock with a duster jacket that featured green feathered sleeves Grinning ear to ear: Lin-Manuel Miranda and wife Vanessa Nadal on the Tony Awards red carpet Dapper: Noah Galvin and fiance Ben Platt looked sharp in their all black ensembles Sweet moment: Noah and Ben shared a smooch on the red carpet Handsome: Colman Domingo rocked a suit and bowtie with patent black shoes Suited up: Michael Arden and husband Andy Mientus; they wed on August 18, 2016 Arrival: Jordan Roth, a theater producer, posing on the red carpet with husband Richie Jackson Magical: Lea and Ramin Karimloo backstage at the awards show Greetings: Kara Young and Wilson Cruz pictured along with Jessica Chastain Chatting: Greg Calejo chatted with Marcia Gay Harden and her daughter Julitta Scheel at the after party for the Tony Awards Glam: Kara Young donned a strapless black gown for the Tony Awards after party, presented by City National Bank Beaming: Riley Burruss and Jae Gurley at the after party while rocking their glam fits Chic: Sara Bareilles opted for a gold gown and Audra McDonald wore a midnight blue number In a statement, Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS, said of the show: 'CBS has been home to the Tony Awards for more than 40 years. 'We are proud to once again celebrate the best of theater this season, and continue our support for Broadway, the broader theater community and all the incredible artistic talents both on stage and behind the scenes who bring the shows to life.' 'This year's Tony Award nominees are a reflection of a tremendous year of Broadway,' Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said in a statement. Drew Barrymore dropped out of hosting the MTV Movie & Television Awards last month in solidarity with the writers, and the event moved forward in stripped down, pre-recorded fashion. Film and television writers are on strike over complaints that studios have underpaid them for years, particularly when it comes to streaming programs that offer almost no residuals over time. They are also fighting back against studios' attempts to shrink writers' rooms, to shorten the number of episodes of television seasons and to leave open the possibility of replacing human writers with so-called 'AI' programs. Nicky Hilton took to Instagram on Sunday to share snaps from her weekend trip to Stockholm, Sweden. The 39-year-old socialite and fashion designer shared snaps of her with mother Kathy Hilton in her post. She also shared snaps with Max Mara brand ambassador Maria Giulia Germanetti and U Beauty founder Tina Chen Craig. Nicky also shared a waterfront snap with her mother Kathy and Max Mara's Worldwide Communication & PR President, Giorgio Guidotti and another with Craig and Bryan Yambao. 'Midsummer Night Dream,' she captioned the post to her 1.4 million followers, which came just a week after attending the Veuve Clicquot Polo Event in New Jersey. Nicky in Sweden: Nicky Hilton took to Instagram on Sunday to share snaps from her weekend trip to Stockholm, Sweden Nicky and Kathy: The 39-year-old socialite and fashion designer shared snaps of her with mother Kathy Hilton in her post Snaps: She also shared snaps with Max Mara brand ambassador Maria Giulia Germanetti and U Beauty founder Tina Chen Craig Hilton was rocking a stunning, sleeveless white pantsuit with flared legs for the fashion show. She accessorized with a silver watch and rings along with a silver watch for the event in Sweden. The socialite had her blonde locks tied up in a bun while also accessorizing with small hoop earrings. Hilton also shared snaps of the table setting for the fashion show's dinner, including her nameplate. Last month, Nicky, a mother of three, opened up to E! News on the advice she gave to her sister Paris, who welcomed her first child via surrogate. 'My advice always is to not miss the small moments. There's such a short window that they're so small, and new things are happening every day,' Nicky said. 'Like, Paris always says her son looks different every day,' Nicky said, adding, 'She is so happy. She's so content.' 'I was just over there last week and just hanging out in the nursery with her and her son, and she's so complete is the word I'd use,' she continued. Nicky and Kathy: Hilton was rocking a stunning, sleeveless white pantsuit with flared legs for the fashion show Another: Nicky also shared another with snap Craig and Bryan Yambao More snaps: Nicky also shared a waterfront snap with her mother Kathy and Max Mara's Worldwide Communication & PR President, Giorgio Guidotti Dinner: Hilton also shared snaps of the table setting for the fashion show's dinner, including her nameplate Dinner table: Nicky Hilton shares a dinner table snap at the Max Mara fashion show Nicky added that Paris' son Phoenix, 'looks a lot like me as a baby, and my daughter Lily-Grace looks identical to Paris as a child. 'So, it's interesting how the genes crossed like that,' she said, adding how interesting it is that she grew up in a family of mainly girls while she, her sister and brother Barron have all had boys. 'Funny, we had all girls in the family and, in the last year, my brother had a son, Paris had a son and I had a son,' Nicky said. 'So, we've been flooded with boys, and it's amazing to see the bond between them,' she added. Lupita Nyong'o put on a jawdropping display as she flaunted her assets in a custom breastplate at the 2023 Tony Awards in NYC on Sunday. The actress 40, wowed in the racy silver garment which Pakistani artist and fashion designer Misha Japanwala created for her molded from her own body. The garment showed off her bust and midriff and was paired with chic black flared trousers. She gave a further look at the racy look as she whipped her blazer off. The star also sported an intricate head tattoo which appeared to be henna, while rocking smoky shadow and a berry lip. Oh wow: Lupita Nyong'o put on a jawdropping display as she flaunted her assets in a custom breastplate at the 2023 Tony Awards in NYC on Sunday Busty: The actress 40, wowed in the racy silver garment which Pakistani artist and fashion designer Misha Japanwala created for her molded from her own body The theater world will be gathering together again this Sunday evening for the Tony Awards, an annual celebration of all things Broadway. This year's ceremony has also become the latest production to have been impacted by the ongoing Writers Guild of America Strike. It marks the first time in 35 years that the Tonys had been afflicted by the WGA strike. Despite the challenges, the show will still go on. The ceremony will be airing on CBS in an unscripted format, and the union has agreed not to picket the event. Broadway icon Lin-Manuel Miranda has also dropped out as writer of the opening segment in solidarity with the WGA. Seasoned actress Ariana DeBose will be hosting this year's event from the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. Viewers will still be entertained with plenty of performances from a variety of Tony-nominated musicals on stage. Audience members will be treated to performances from casts of Into the Woods, New York, New York, Shucked, Beautiful Noise, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and more. It will also feature performances from the cast of the Lea Michele-led musical, Funny Girl. As far as nominations, Some Like It Hot, the musical adaptation of the Marilyn Monroe film, is up for the most Tonys with a whooping 13 nominations. Wow:The garment showed off her bust and midriff and was paired with chic black flared trousers Oh my: The star also sported an intricate head tattoo which appeared to be henna, while rocking smoky shadow and a berry lip Confident; The star flashed her breastplate as she posed Radiant: The star exuded confidence as she pose d It will be battling it out for Best Musical against & Juliet, Kimberly Akimbo, New York, New York, and Shucked. Nominations for Best Play consist of Ain't No Mo', Between Riverside and Crazy, Cost of Living, Fat Ham, Leopoldstadt. In a statement, Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS, said of the show: 'CBS has been home to the Tony Awards for more than 40 years. 'We are proud to once again celebrate the best of theater this season, and continue our support for Broadway, the broader theater community and all the incredible artistic talents both on stage and behind the scenes who bring the shows to life.' 'This year's Tony Award nominees are a reflection of a tremendous year of Broadway,' Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said in a statement. 'The show will feature performances by Broadway's brightest lights from breakthrough performers to industry icons in recognition of the momentous productions wowing audiences worldwide.' The Tony Awards marks the latest product impacted by the ongoing walkout. Drew Barrymore dropped out of hosting the MTV Movie & Television Awards last month in solidarity with the writers, and the event moved forward in stripped down, pre-recorded fashion. Film and television writers are on strike over complaints that studios have underpaid them for years, particularly when it comes to streaming programs that offer almost no residuals over time. They are also fighting back against studios' attempts to shrink writers's rooms, to shorten the number of episodes of television seasons and to leave open the possibility of replacing human writers with so-called 'AI' programs. Georgia May Foote looked nothing short of sensational as she took to her Instagram on Sunday to document her sensational hen-do in Manchester. The former Coronation Street star, 32, posed up a storm in a total white ensemble as she shared a heartfelt post ahead of her wedding. 'I am about to marry my best friend. The person who makes me a better person. Didnt think I would find someone who would love me for me but I did it,' Georgia penned as she gushed over partner. 'Thanks to all my people who showed up for me this weekend. I had a ball, and Im forever grateful to you all for loving me for me too. Here is to the last month of being a Foote.' The Strictly star, who announced her engagement to fiance Kris Evans on New Years Eve 2021, looked on cloud nine as she accompanied the caption with a stunning black & white snap from her celebration. Happier than ever: Georgia May Foote looked nothing short of sensational as she took to her Instagram on Sunday to document her sensational hen-do in Manchester Bride-to-be: The former Coronation Street star, 32, posed up a storm in a total white ensemble as she shared a heartfelt post ahead of her wedding Georgia flaunted her cleavage in a racy white cut-out crop top with laces featuring a turtleneck - but opted to keep it cosy as she donned matching cargo trousers with pockets. The stunner was captured flashing a big smile as she lifted her arms in the air, and toted the bride-to-be look with layered veil and a sparkly gold bride headband. The Grange Hill actress opted for a stylish but comfortable ensemble, as she wore a pair of white sneakers for the girls-only event. She accessorised with a white bum bag and wore dainty jewellery including gold hoop earrings and a chic watch. The Coronation Street sensation gave a touch of glamour as she wore a pair of dazzling white heart-shaped oversized sunglasses, embellished with pearls. Georgia showcased her stunning looks as she injected a pop of colour with a slick of red lipstick and a bronzed makeup palette. The actress took to her Instagram stories earlier on Saturday night to show her 534K followers a glimpse of her mesmerising hen do. She posed up with one of her girl pals in a clip as she showed off her very glamorous shades, while walking for the streets of Manchester. Glamorous girl! The Coronation Street sensation gave a touch of glamour as she wore a pair of dazzling white heart-shaped oversized sunglasses, embellished with pearls Documenting: The actress took to her Instagram stories earlier on Saturday night to show her 534K followers a glimpse of her mesmerising hen do Celebrating: Later on, the star appeared to be having the time of her life as she filmed herself sipping a cocktail as she danced with her friends to some bops inside the venue Later on, the star appeared to be having the time of her life as she filmed herself sipping a cocktail as she danced with her friends to some bops inside the venue. The BBC star looked glowing and carefree as she shared a slew of clips while singing and dancing along with her pals. She also reposted on her stories the same picture of the post but in colours, as she penned excited: 'Had a great weekend. Thanks to all my fav people for being there and having a bloody good time! Not long to go now!' Georgia sizzled as she graciously posed up for a snap, where she added a matching white denim jacket to her stylish ensemble. The actress also shared a clip as she lost herself to the notes of a song from the British boyband Five, captioning: 'As long as @itsfiveofficial are on I'm happy.' She shared another sweet snap while beaming next to her best friend as they both showed off a huge smile and wrote: 'My best friend ever @chloeburgon.' Georgia delighted her fans with another sensational snap on Saturday as she stunned in a bridal white corseted mini dress ahead of her hen do. She flashed a big smile in the off-the-shoulder number that nipped in at her tiny waist. Girls time: The BBC star looked glowing and carefree as she shared a slew of clips while singing and dancing along with her pals Having fun: The star documented some moments from her hen do as she looked glowing Showing some moves: The actress also shared a clip as she lost herself to the notes of a song from the British boyband Five, captioning: 'As long as @itsfiveofficial are on I'm happy' The Strictly star added a layered veil and a sparkly gold bride headband, elevating her height with some chunky white heels. To complete her look with a bold red lipstick and a bronzed makeup palette. Captioning the photos, she wrote: 'Round 1. Mrs E To Be.' Georgia announced Kris had popped the question in a stunning Instagram snap showing the couple of three years posing on a beach in Gran Canaria while she held her hand aloft to show off her ring. Alongside the snap, she added a caption reading: '30/12/2021. Mrs Evans to be. Of course I am still crying. '@krisevansmusic I love you beyond words and I am honoured you have chosen me' and tagged her location as 'Cloud Nine'. Georgia went on to share a shot on her Instagram stories showing her stunning ring, which featured a band jam-packed with diamonds. On his own Instagram, Kris revealed the couple were on holiday in Gran Canaria by sharing a smouldering poolside shot and wishing his fans 'Merry Krismas'. Sensational: Georgia delighted her fans with another sensational snap on Saturday as she stunned in a bridal white corseted mini dress ahead of her hen do Jaw-dropping: The Strictly star added a layered veil and a sparkly gold bride headband, elevating her height with some chunky white heels The stunner, who played Katy Armstrong on Corrie, previously dated her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice and George Alsford. Georgia dated Giovanni from her stint on Stictly in 2015 until the following year when they announced their amicable split in a joint statement. Strictly stars Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder have been signed up to present a new BBC travelogue - right after Rylan quit Strictly: It Takes Two, The Sun has revealed. The Celebrity Big Brother winner, 34, was quick to fill in his busy agenda - two months as he left the BBC's spin-off after hosting it for four years. The English broadcaster has now officially been signed to team up with Strictly star and criminal barrister Rob Rinder, 45, for a new Grand Tour travelogue bombshell. As Rylan has certainly been booked and busy, he will be heading straight to Italy - where the new BBC Two's show will be set - from Zante, Greece, where he was filming his very latest project, Prime Video's reality show The Bar. The globetrotting series will see the former Strictly duo following the path of hedonistic 19th Century poet Lord Byron - as they will be meticulously guided by his letters and diaries. Bombshell: Strictly stars Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder have been signed up to present a new BBC travelogue - right after Rylan quit Strictly: It Takes Two, The Sun has revealed Booked and busy! The Celebrity Big Brother winner, 34, was quick to fill in his busy agenda - two months as he left the BBC's spin-off after hosting it for four years Moreover, Rob and Rylan's Italian Grand Tour will reiterate the paths of innumerable English aristocrats who embarked on what later became known as the Grand Tour. In fact, the pair will retrace what the original gap year was between the 17th to early 19th-century: a custom of a traditional trip through Europe with Italy as a key destination. A source told The Sun that Rylan and Rob make nothing less than the 'perfect duo' for the upcoming travelogue show - which was inspired by Lord Byron's upcoming 200th death anniversary. The source said they both love travelling and have 'a taste for finer things in life' - but their pursuit of pleasure 'from different directions' makes them perfectly complementary. 'It'll make for a unique take on a well-trodden path and it's hoped there's scope for a further series if viewers take to the theme,' the telly source said. 'Rob will be teaching me all about Italian history and art as we follow in the footsteps of the cultural greats, while I show Rob how to dance on bars,' Rylan told The Sun. The former Strictly host added that when he was offered the job alongside Rob he couldn't have packed his suitcase 'any quicker' for the excitement. The broadcaster favourite called the upcoming BBC's show 'eye-opening' and said the duo will certainly have some fun during their globetrotting experience. Perfect duo: The English broadcaster (pictured) has now officially been signed to team up with Strictly star and criminal barrister Rob Rinder, 45, for a new Grand Tour travelogue bombshell Complementary: 'Rob will be teaching me all about Italian history and art as we follow in the footsteps of the cultural greats, while I show Rob how to dance on bars,' Rylan told The Sun Looking forward to it: TV personality and barrister Rob - also known as Judge Rinder in the famous reality courtroom series - didn't his excitement to follow the steps of 'some of history's biggest cultural contributors' TV personality and barrister Rob - also known as Judge Rinder in the famous reality courtroom series - didn't his excitement to follow the steps of 'some of history's biggest cultural contributors'. 'While Rylan and I have different intentions for our trip, I can't think of anyone I'd rather do this journey with,' Rob added. The Beeb also promised to deliver a 'totally new perspective' on Italy. This Account has been suspended. National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Eldorado Gold (TSE:ELD Get Rating) (NYSE:EGO) from a sector perform spec overwgt rating to an outperform spec overweight rating in a report published on Wednesday morning. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Eldorado Golds FY2024 earnings at $0.62 EPS. A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Eldorado Gold from C$12.00 to C$14.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating and lifted their price target for the stock from C$16.00 to C$16.50 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, National Bankshares set a C$17.00 target price on Eldorado Gold and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Eldorado Gold Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of ELD stock opened at C$13.04 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 130.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 56.20 and a beta of 1.34. Eldorado Gold has a fifty-two week low of C$6.87 and a fifty-two week high of C$16.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.71, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a current ratio of 2.92. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$14.54 and a 200 day moving average price of C$12.94. Eldorado Gold Company Profile Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru gold mines located in western Turkey; 100% interest in Lamaque gold mines located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Hugo Boss (OTCMKTS:BOSSY Get Rating) in a report released on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the stock. Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Hugo Boss from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hugo Boss presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $60.63. Get Hugo Boss alerts: Hugo Boss Stock Performance Hugo Boss stock opened at $14.50 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $14.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.23. Hugo Boss has a 52 week low of $9.02 and a 52 week high of $15.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.31 and a beta of 1.24. Hugo Boss Increases Dividend About Hugo Boss The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 11th were given a $0.1335 dividend. This is an increase from Hugo Bosss previous dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 10th. This represents a yield of 1.53%. Hugo Bosss dividend payout ratio is presently 21.54%. (Get Rating) Hugo Boss AG is a fashion and lifestyle company that offers womens and mens apparel. Its brands include BOSS and HUGO. It also focuses on the development and distribution of fragrances, eyewear, watches, and childrens fashion. The company was founded by Hugo Ferdinand Boss in 1924 and is headquartered in Metzingen, Germany. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hugo Boss Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hugo Boss and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (LON:RR Get Rating) insider Wendy Mars purchased 1,220 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 149 ($1.85) per share, with a total value of 1,817.80 ($2,259.82). Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of LON:RR opened at GBX 149.25 ($1.86) on Friday. The firm has a market cap of 12.49 billion, a P/E ratio of -995.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 1.68. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a 12-month low of GBX 64.44 ($0.80) and a 12-month high of GBX 239.70 ($2.98). The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 150.17. Get Rolls-Royce Holdings plc alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have issued reports on RR. Berenberg Bank restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 100 ($1.24) target price on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Friday, February 24th. UBS Group raised shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from GBX 105 ($1.31) to GBX 200 ($2.49) in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an underweight rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.87) target price on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 110 ($1.37). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rolls-Royce Holdings plc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Kuehne + Nagel International (OTCMKTS:KHNGY Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The firm issued an underweight rating on the stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. HSBC lowered Kuehne + Nagel International from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Kuehne + Nagel International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. UBS Group cut Kuehne + Nagel International from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Kuehne + Nagel International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Kuehne + Nagel International from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $280.00. Get Kuehne + Nagel International alerts: Kuehne + Nagel International Stock Performance Shares of KHNGY stock opened at $54.15 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $32.69 billion, a PE ratio of 13.40 and a beta of 0.92. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $58.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $53.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. Kuehne + Nagel International has a 52-week low of $39.39 and a 52-week high of $61.61. Kuehne + Nagel International Increases Dividend Kuehne + Nagel International ( OTCMKTS:KHNGY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.19. Kuehne + Nagel International had a return on equity of 60.20% and a net margin of 6.44%. The firm had revenue of $7.29 billion during the quarter. On average, equities analysts expect that Kuehne + Nagel International will post 2.57 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $1.9891 dividend. This is a boost from Kuehne + Nagel Internationals previous dividend of $1.31. This represents a dividend yield of 3.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Kuehne + Nagel Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.01%. About Kuehne + Nagel International (Get Rating) Kuhne + Nagel International AG engages in the provision of logistic services. It operates through the following segments: Sea Logistics, Air Logistics, Road Logistics, and Contract Logistics. The company was founded by August Kuehne and Friedrich Nagel in 1890 and is headquartered in Schindellegi, Switzerland. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kuehne + Nagel International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kuehne + Nagel International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. North West (OTCMKTS:NNWWF Get Rating) had its target price reduced by BMO Capital Markets from C$41.00 to C$39.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. Several other research firms also recently weighed in on NNWWF. CIBC boosted their target price on North West from C$37.00 to C$39.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. TD Securities boosted their price objective on North West from C$39.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Get North West alerts: North West Price Performance OTCMKTS:NNWWF opened at $25.88 on Thursday. North West has a 1 year low of $23.25 and a 1 year high of $29.45. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $28.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $27.13. North West Company Profile The North West Company Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail of food and everyday products and services to rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in northern Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. The company's Canadian operations comprise 118 Northern stores, which offers food, financial services, and general merchandise; 5 NorthMart stores that provides fresh foods, apparel, and health products and services; 26 Quickstop convenience stores that provides ready-to-eat foods, and fuel and related services; 5 Giant Tiger junior discount stores, which offers family fashion, household products, and food; 2 Valu Lots discount center and direct-to-customer food distribution outlet; 1 solo market, a store in remote market; 3 Pharmacy and Convenience stores; and 1 North West Company motorsports dealership offering sales, service, parts and accessories for Ski-doo, Honda, Can-am and other premier brands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for North West Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North West and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC Get Rating) had its price target upped by Bank of America from $195.00 to $200.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Bank of America currently has a buy rating on the stock. ABC has been the topic of several other reports. StockNews.com began coverage on AmerisourceBergen in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Barclays lifted their price objective on AmerisourceBergen from $182.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $170.00 to $174.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Citigroup started coverage on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a research note on Friday, March 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $185.00 price target for the company. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of AmerisourceBergen from a c rating to a b+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AmerisourceBergen presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $184.00. Get AmerisourceBergen alerts: AmerisourceBergen Stock Performance Shares of AmerisourceBergen stock opened at $178.22 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $169.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $164.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.13. AmerisourceBergen has a 12 month low of $135.14 and a 12 month high of $178.27. AmerisourceBergen Announces Dividend AmerisourceBergen ( NYSE:ABC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $3.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.21. AmerisourceBergen had a return on equity of 809.53% and a net margin of 0.65%. The company had revenue of $63.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.22 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that AmerisourceBergen will post 11.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were given a dividend of $0.485 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.09%. AmerisourceBergens payout ratio is currently 24.94%. Insider Activity at AmerisourceBergen In other AmerisourceBergen news, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of AmerisourceBergen stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $167.34, for a total transaction of $1,756,902.66. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 257,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,168,197.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $167.34, for a total transaction of $1,756,902.66. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 257,967 shares in the company, valued at approximately $43,168,197.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. sold 292,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.77, for a total transaction of $50,000,089.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 33,366,388 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,697,978,078.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 324,289 shares of company stock worth $55,111,633. 20.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of AmerisourceBergen Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. United Bank grew its holdings in AmerisourceBergen by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 3,632 shares of the companys stock valued at $562,000 after buying an additional 518 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its stake in AmerisourceBergen by 29.9% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 5,193 shares of the companys stock valued at $803,000 after acquiring an additional 1,194 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp increased its holdings in AmerisourceBergen by 123.4% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 6,301 shares of the companys stock valued at $975,000 after acquiring an additional 3,480 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its stake in AmerisourceBergen by 22.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,767 shares of the companys stock worth $430,000 after purchasing an additional 508 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL lifted its stake in AmerisourceBergen by 12.4% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 8,124 shares of the companys stock worth $1,257,000 after purchasing an additional 899 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.79% of the companys stock. About AmerisourceBergen (Get Rating) AmerisourceBergen Corp. engages in the provision of pharmaceutical products and business solutions that improve access to care. It operates through the Pharmaceutical Distribution Services and Other segments. The Pharmaceutical Distribution Services segment distributes an offering of brand-name, specialty brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, and long-term care and alternate site pharmacies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for AmerisourceBergen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AmerisourceBergen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Mexco Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:MXC Get Rating) in a research note released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the oil and gas exploration companys stock. Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a speculative buy rating and issued a GBX 2 ($0.02) price target on shares of Mexco Energy in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Get Mexco Energy alerts: Mexco Energy Trading Down 1.9 % Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:MXC opened at $10.80 on Thursday. Mexco Energy has a 12-month low of $10.30 and a 12-month high of $21.02. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $6.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.59. The company has a market capitalization of $23.21 million, a PE ratio of 5.51 and a beta of 1.13. Mexco Energy Dividend Announcement Institutional Trading of Mexco Energy The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st were given a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.81%. A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MXC. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Mexco Energy by 270.3% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 61,108 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $990,000 after purchasing an additional 44,605 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of Mexco Energy by 84.2% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 35,000 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $602,000 after purchasing an additional 16,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Mexco Energy by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 41,094 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $666,000 after purchasing an additional 999 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.97% of the companys stock. About Mexco Energy (Get Rating) Mexco Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It owns partial interests in approximately 6,300 gross producing wells located in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Virginia, North Dakota, and Ohio. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mexco Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mexco Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR Get Rating) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued on Friday. Separately, Morgan Stanley raised Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the company from $12.50 to $16.50 in a research report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $14.42. Get Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras alerts: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras Trading Up 4.6 % Shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras stock opened at $13.76 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $89.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.39. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $11.58 and its 200-day simple moving average is $11.06. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras has a 1-year low of $8.88 and a 1-year high of $16.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 0.91. Institutional Trading of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras ( NYSE:PBR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $1.11 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.13. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras had a return on equity of 44.84% and a net margin of 28.50%. The firm had revenue of $26.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $27.26 billion. Analysts predict that Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras will post 3.24 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Level Four Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras by 42.7% during the first quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 33,427 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $349,000 after acquiring an additional 10,008 shares during the period. Toroso Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras by 279.5% during the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 39,989 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $417,000 after purchasing an additional 29,453 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras by 0.7% during the first quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 342,701 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $3,574,000 after purchasing an additional 2,317 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. grew its stake in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras by 12,744.0% during the first quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 140,000 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $1,460,000 after purchasing an additional 138,910 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbour Investments Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras during the first quarter worth $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.29% of the companys stock. About Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (Get Rating) Petroleo Brasileiro SA engages in oil and gas exploration, production, and distribution activities. It operates through the following segments: Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation, and Marketing; Gas and Power; and Corporate and Other Business. The Exploration and Production segment involves crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas exploration, development, and production. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Raymond James from $52.00 to $48.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports. NOG has been the topic of several other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $46.00 price target on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a research note on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com began coverage on Northern Oil and Gas in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on Northern Oil and Gas from $50.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Northern Oil and Gas from $43.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on Northern Oil and Gas from $44.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $45.80. Get Northern Oil and Gas alerts: Northern Oil and Gas Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE:NOG opened at $33.00 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.15. Northern Oil and Gas has a one year low of $21.45 and a one year high of $39.01. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $32.17 and its 200 day simple moving average is $31.85. The stock has a market cap of $2.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.97. Northern Oil and Gas Increases Dividend Northern Oil and Gas ( NYSE:NOG Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.22. Northern Oil and Gas had a return on equity of 86.66% and a net margin of 60.39%. The business had revenue of $582.21 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $395.37 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.58 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Northern Oil and Gas will post 8.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 28th. This is a positive change from Northern Oil and Gass previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.48%. Northern Oil and Gass dividend payout ratio is 8.99%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Northern Oil and Gas Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NOG. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Northern Oil and Gas by 137.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,915,028 shares of the companys stock worth $331,271,000 after buying an additional 6,322,462 shares in the last quarter. Angelo Gordon & CO. L.P. increased its stake in Northern Oil and Gas by 400.6% in the 4th quarter. Angelo Gordon & CO. L.P. now owns 5,113,784 shares of the companys stock worth $157,607,000 after purchasing an additional 4,092,342 shares in the last quarter. Aventail Capital Group LP purchased a new position in Northern Oil and Gas in the 4th quarter worth about $58,792,000. State Street Corp increased its stake in Northern Oil and Gas by 29.0% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,301,013 shares of the companys stock worth $93,518,000 after purchasing an additional 742,371 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Requisite Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Northern Oil and Gas in the 4th quarter worth about $17,654,000. 96.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Northern Oil and Gas Company Profile (Get Rating) Northern Oil & Gas, Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas properties. It focuses on the Bakken and Three Forks formation within the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. The company was founded on March 20, 2007 and is headquartered in Minnetonka, MN. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Northern Oil and Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Oil and Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Principal secretary for school education Praveen Prakash issued GO MS 51 on Sunday on the formation of the working group. (File Photo: Twitter) Vijayawada: With the aim of raising the educational standards in government schools and shaping the students of these schools into world-class performers, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has set up a high-level working group to realise the aim. Senior officials and representatives of global tech companies would sit together and finalise curriculum, infrastructure, resource deployment, learning content and labs requirements for government schools. The working group has been asked to submit its report by July 15. Principal secretary to school education Praveen Prakash issued GO MS 51 on Sunday on the formation of the working group. The working group would be headed by the school education principal secretary and consist of the IT secretary, school education commissioner, Samagra Shiksha project director and SCERT director apart from Ashutosh Chadha from Microsoft India, Shalini Kapoor from Amazon Web Services India, Shweta Khurana from Intel Asia Pacific, Jaijit Bhattacharya, president of the Centre for Digital Economy Policy Research, Dr Archana Gulati, ex-adviser to Digital Communications, Niti Aayog and representatives of Google and Nasscom. The school infrastructure commissioner is named the convener. The government wants to ensure that government school students are given proper training in emerging and future technologies. They must acquire knowledge of high-end technologies during their education and gain top-notch posts at international level after completing the courses, it was stated in an official release. Expertise in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Lord Language Models (LLMs), data analytics, ChatGPT, Web 3.0, augmented reality, virtual reality, internet of things, centre back digital currency, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing and gaming is aimed at, for these students. The panel would make suggestions on developing suitable curriculum, lesson plans, methods of training, requirement of labs and human resources to help students gain perfect knowledge in these subjects. Officials explained that as a result of the reforms introduced by the Jagan-led state government, 41 lakh students are pursuing English medium since 2019-20. In tune with this, students were given bilingual text books of science, mathematics and social studies under Jagananna Vidya Deevena in 2020-21. Labs were also established to help students improve English language skills. In 2021-22, students of Class VI to X were given Oxford dictionaries while students of Classes III to V were given pictorial dictionaries. Subject-teacher concept was also introduced starting from Class III. The state government also initiated steps in 2022-23 to ensure that all government schools get CBSE affiliation. It entered into an agreement with the Byjus for providing audio-visual content to the students in mathematics, social and science subjects to make the learning easier. As many as 5,18,740 students of Class VIII were given Byjus-Content loaded tabs. Officials stated in another major step, interactive flat panels (IFPs) are being installed in 30,213 classrooms while 10,038 classrooms will have smart TVs as part of the digitalisation under Nadu-Nedu. These IFPs would be installed by July end. In the rest of the schools, IFPs and smart TVs would be installed by December. Steps are also being taken to conduct Toefl examinations to school students in partnership with ETS (Educational Testing Service) to make them globally competitive. Patnam Narender Reddy - Deccan chronicle photo. Hyderabad: The Banjara Hills police on Sunday booked BRS Kodangal MLA Patnam Narender Reddy and his associates on charges of extortion, wrongful confinement and assault, on a complaint from a farmer from Rajendranagar, in connection with a land dispute. The police initiated action against the MLA on the instructions of a city court. Sama Indrapal Reddy, the complainant farmer, told Deccan Chronicle that the MLA and his men confined him to the MLAs quarters at Banjara Hills, where the MLA threatened to kill him, in June 2022. "I lodged a complaint with Banjara Hills police, but they did not act on the complaint. I went to the Hyderabad police commissioner, West Zone DCP and all police officers concerned for action, but none of them responded. I was forced to go to court to seek justice," he said. Indrapal Reddy added that the court issued orders to initiate action against the MLA a while ago, but the police only informed him two days ago about registering a case and asking him to produce evidence in the case. In his complaint, Indrapal Reddy said he came into contact with Narender Reddy in 2018, when he was planning to buy land. They introduced him to landowners in Upperpally of Rajendranagar, following which a deal was fixed for Rs 3.65 crore, including the commission for the MLA and his associates. "I paid them Rs 90 lakh and also gave blank cheques of Rs 2.75 crore as a surety. They promised to return my cheques after making the full payment. Accordingly, I paid the owners and the land registration was done," he said. Later, he said, he paid Rs 20 lakh to the MLA and his associates, as per their demand, and asked them to return his cheques, but they asked him to pay Rs 60 lakh. Indrapal Reddy said he tried to borrow money to pay them, but could not get a loan. He alleged that since then, the MLA and his associates started sending him threatening messages and making calls. "In June 2022, the MLAs men came to my house in my absence, abused my wife and demanded she send me to MLAs home immediately. When I went to the MLAs house, they confined me, beat me and threatened to kill me," he said. He said that he managed to flee the premises and approached the police, alleging laxity on their part in taking action so far. The police said that a case was registered under sections 342, 384, 323, 506 and 34 of the IPC and 156(3) of the CrPC, and transferred to the Film Nagar police station due to jurisdictional issues. CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar had a bus journey after the launch of Shakti' scheme to allow free travel for women in government buses in Bengaluru on Sunday. Bengaluru: In an oblique reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modis rule , Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday stated that the women in public life in the country has dipped to 24 percent post 2014 while it was 30 per cent before. Siddaramaiah attributed the dip in number of women taking part in public life to the following of Manuvadi principles in the country and said that followers of Manuvadi do not wish women to step out of the houses. The Chief Minister accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shedding crocodile tears over women empowerment in the country. At the launch of Shakti scheme wherein women can travel free of cost in State government buses including Express buses across the State, Siddaramaiah furnished details of women in public life in some of the developed countries is more and said that women participation in Bangladesh is about 30 per cent, United States of America is about 57 percent, China is about 54 percent, Australia is about 65 percent and Indonesia is about 53 percent. "The figures should rise and for that women need to be empowered," Siddaramaiah said of the need to launch Shakti scheme and felt that the Shakti scheme is to reduce inequality in the society. He observed that for a nation to develop participation of women in public life is of vital importance and "all women should have equal role in the society." Out of the 5-guarantees made to the voters before coming to power in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said four of them have been meant for women empowerment which include Anna Bhagya distribution of rice to BPL families, Griha Jyothi scheme free power and Griha Laxmi scheme to provide Rs 2,000 monthly allowance to female head of a family. Later at a press conference, the Chief Minister said about 41.85 lakh women would be benefited under the Shakthi scheme. (Representational image/ DC/ File Photo) Visakhapatnam: The southwest monsoon entered Andhra Pradesh in Chittoor district on Sunday and is likely to spread all over the State in another three days, according to an IMD report. Usually the monsoon enters Rayalaseema region, four days after Kerala but this season it entered south coastal Andhra Pradesh. The report said the heat wave would continue in many parts of the State for the next five days. During last 24 hours, the monsoon further advanced into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, some more parts of Karnataka, Goa, some parts of Konkan, most parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, entire southwest and some more parts of west central Bay of Bengal, some more parts of northwest Bay of Bengal and remaining parts of northeast Bay of Bengal. Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest monsoon into some parts of central Arabian Sea, Karnataka, Maharashtra, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, some parts of Andhra Pradesh, west central Bay of Bengal, northwest Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of northeastern states and some parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and Bihar during next 48 hours. The report said severe heat waves are likely at isolated pockets over north coastal and south coastal Andhra Pradesh. Thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds of speed 30-40 kmph are likely at isolated places over the above regions. The heat wave will continue till June 15, the IMD said. The state government has directed the finance department to mobilise 7,500 crores, and sources indicated that the money will be disbursed to farmers as Rythu Bandhu support for the ongoing kharif season. (Image Source: PTI) HYDERABAD: The state government has directed the finance department to mobilise 7,500 crores, and sources indicated that the money will be disbursed to farmers as Rythu Bandhu support for the ongoing kharif season. The funds are likely to be disbursed after June 20. Farmers sowing crops in areas having irrigation facilities are likely to receive the Rythu Bandhu first, to enable them to advance rabi-sowing operations. Those in rain-fed areas would receive the benefit later due to the delay in the arrival of monsoon. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has discussed the issue with finance minister T. Harish Rao and agriculture minister S. Niranjan Reddy, with the ministerial duo tasked with beginning the exercise for disbursal of Rythu Bandhu aid of 5,000 per acre in farmers accounts. Niranjan Reddy will submit fresh data of farmers, survey number-wise, from all districts to the finance department to facilitate efficient disbursal, sources said. The Rythu Bandhu data is updated before the commencement of every kharif and rabi season, as a large number of agricultural landowners are selling their lands. This is leading to the deletion and addition of beneficiaries every season. In many instances, agricultural land was also converted for non-agricultural purposes. For Kharif 2022, the government disbursed Rythu Bandhu on June 28. Although the state government decided to advance the kharif and rabi seasons by a month this year to save the harvest from unseasonal rains and hailstorms in summer, it did not materialise due to a delay in the arrival of monsoon. Last kharif, the government disbursed 7,500 crores under Rythu Bandhu to 63 lakh farmers. Administration, minister K.T. Rama Rao said, The praja darbars are for people who want to show off that they are doing something and to claim that he or she is a person of the people but they are not something that actually result in any good productivity on part of the administration the Chief Minister told us.(File photo: Twitter/@MinisterKTR) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao does not subscribe to the idea of holding praja darbars as he believes that if any citizen has to go meet the Chief Minister for solution to simple grievances, it actions indicates a broken administration, minister K.T. Rama Rao explained on Saturday. Chandrashekar Rao would much rather that the issues be dealt with at the appropriate levels. Speaking at an interactive session with GHMC officials and staff as part of the governments Good Governance Day,, Rama Rao said his comments might seem "controversial but I need to share with you. Some people keep saying the Chief Minister should hold praja darbars and meet common people. So once we asked him about this and that people keep wanting the Praja Darbars. Since you keep meeting MLAs and officials, why not also meet people who want to meet with you?" Rama Rao said the Chief Minister was very clear in his response. "Starting from me, there are some 6.5 lakh government servants, and then there are all the elected representatives from sarpanchs to MLAs. If someone thinks that they have to approach me for a pension, or a ration card, or requesting a tap connection, or a drain, or if some problem related to a passbook, then it means that there are some deficiencies in the entire system," Rama Rao recollected. Narrating what the Chief Minister said, Rama Rao added: "This also means that the system is not working well, he told us. The Chief Minister said problems that can be attended to and solved at the ground level or at different levels must be attended to where they need to be addressed. Only if a problem is complicated or cannot be addressed by officials and needs to be decided by the Cabinet or Chief Minister should it come to me." "The praja darbars are for people who want to show off that they are doing something and to claim that he or she is a person of the people but they are not something that actually result in any good productivity on part of the administration the Chief Minister told us," Rama Rao added. The yatra, much of it undertaken under the scorching sun, has so far covered 29 constituencies. (Photo by arrangement) HYDERABAD: CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will complete 1,000 km of his Peoples March padayatra on Sunday. The milestone will be achieved at the Devarakonda Fort. He will unveil a pylon at Gummadavilli to mark the occasion. The yatra, much of it undertaken under the scorching sun, has so far covered 29 constituencies, its spirit boosted by the party victory in Karnataka. The yatra which began on March 16 at Pippiri in Adilabad will end at Khammam on June 25. During his walkathon, he focused on the problems caused by the Dharani portal and the unresolved podu land. He has repeatedly called it the biggest land scam in the country. "I undertook the padayatra as the BRS government failed to live up to the expectation of the people in terms of water, funds and jobs in the newly secured state. The BRS leaders who did not care to complete projects should apologise to the people. The projects constructed during Congress rule are irrigating lakhs of acres. The state government has failed to build houses and is shamelessly criticising us," Bhatti told a meeting at Devarakonda on Saturday. The BRS government has limited the PDS to just rice from the nine commodities that were provided earlier. The government is turning a blind eye even as 10 to 15 kgs of paddy is being taken away from farmers in the name of wastage, he said. Congress leaders had got the state government to start the Srisailam Left Bank Canal to irrigate four lakh acres but the BRS has failed to complete it, he said and asked if the BRS government was ready for a discussion on the power generated by it. "The signs of the Congress coming to power after the Karnataka polls are clearly visible," he said. Former TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the BRS government had failed to implement 10 per cent reservation to STs for the last nine years. "It is being done after we raised questions about it in the parliament. The STs lost job opportunities for all these years," he said. The government while paying Rs 5,000 udner Rythu Bandhu was causing a loss of Rs 15,000 per acre to farmers, said Manthani MLA Sreedhar Babu. "How can the government celebrate pond festivals without water in them?" He said the 10th anniversary celebrations were akin to election propaganda of the BRS at the cost of the exchequer. "Our message that we will update the old revenue laws and bring changes to Dharani is being wrongly conveyed to people that we want to stop Rythu Bandhu. We will implement the promises made in Rythu Declaration and Youth Declaration said. "We will come to power in Telangana, Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh. The Chhattisgarh government is buying crops by giving more than the MSP rates and we will bring the same system in Telangana. The Rajasthan government is providing gas cylinders for `500 and we will do the same in Telangana," said AICC secretary and Chhattisgarh in-charge Ranjit Ranjan Yadav. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Photo: Twitter) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, as president of YSR Congress, instructed party rank and file to take welfare and development schemes of the state during past four years into the masses. The YSRC chief wanted all party-affiliated wings to gear up for the big task of putting to good use the nine months of time left for the 2024 elections. Jagan wants ruling party leaders and cadres to utilise this period to effectively reverse the toxic campaign of Telugu Desam against the YSRC government. Sensing increasing confusion among party cadres regarding elections, the Chief Minister made it clear in the recent Cabinet meeting that the state government will complete its full term and go for elections only as scheduled in 2024. "There will be no early elections," he said categorically. Following YSRC chiefs clarification, ministers and party rank and file, in addition to YSRC affiliated wings and organisations, have plunged into action to achieve the "Why Not 175" target given by Jagan. Ruling party is now concentrating mainly on four tasks filling vacant posts, organising SC, ST and Muslim minority meetings in the state on lines of Jayaho BC meeting held successfully in the past, promoting Jagan Mohan Reddy governments welfare and development programmes door to door, and examining the feasibility of appointing some more people in addition to presidents of the affiliated wings for strengthening the party and emerging victorious in the 2024 elections. Party's SC wing promptly held a meeting under the aegis of Jupudi Prabhakar, MP Nandigam Suresh, MLC M. Arun Kumar and MLA K. Anil Kumar. They decided to organise the state-level SC Mahasabha in Vijayawada and give a key post to Relli community. Suresh said all Dalits should be united and work towards making Jagan the Chief Minister again and again. YSRC state women's wing president Potula Sunitha and working president Varudu Kalyani are planning to spread within women the various welfare, empowerment and development programmes taken up by the Chief Minister for women, who will be a deciding factor in the elections. Likewise, meetings are being held by YSRCs farmers' wing, labour division, tribal unit and BCs groups. MLC Janga Krishna Murthy is concentrating on formation of BC divisional and district and mandal-level committees as soon as possible. Significantly, he is underlining that Jagan Mohan Reddy's government is committed to a census of various BC castes, a demand which has remained unfulfilled since time immemorial. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. (Twitter) HYDERABAD: Ahead of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos public meeting in Gadwal on Monday, BRS sources said that his back-to-back public meetings since June 4 have boosted the partys poll chances and buoyed the spirit of leaders and cadres. They cited the success of Raos public meetings in Nirmal, Nagarkurnool and Mancherial, all of which logged massive public attendance. They said that the Chief Ministers aggressive riposte to Opposition promises, to dump the Dharani portal into the Bay of Bengal had elicited a huge public response favourable to the party. Further, there was an increasing demand from party leaders and cadre from other districts for organising public meetings by the Chief Minister in the run-up to the Assembly polls. By delivering fiery speeches, the Chief Minister is attempting to negate the Opposition parties momentum with a dual strategy of announcing new sops, highlighting the welfare schemes and development programmes implemented by BRS government in the past nine years and at the same time, targeting Congress and BJP for their alleged failures in implementing at least one welfare scheme or development programme that matches or surpasses Telangana in the states ruled by them. Rao has made the Dharani portal a major poll plank, with Opposition parties targeting BRS and accusing it of causing severe hardships to farmers and landowners. Raos strong pitch in favour of Dharani at public meetings convincing people that their land will be safe only under the poral and that if it is scrapped, their land will be grabbed resonated among the public. BRS circles feel that the negativity surrounding the Dharani portal was minimised due to Chandrashekar Rao's forceful counter-offensive. Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkataramaiah. (File Image: PTI) Vijayawada: The ruling YSRC is miffed at BJP president J.P. Naddas observation that the law and order and corruption are serious problems under the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in AP. Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkataramaiah, a former state minister, said, that it was rather the scenario during the term of the TD-BJP government in the state. The MLA alleged that there was a land scam in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant privatisation as the BJP eyeing the steel plants large acres of valuable lands. "The BJP was involved in huge corruption in Karnataka and hence it faced drubbing in the recent elections," he said. Venkataramaiah said the Jagan Mohan Reddy government had deposited 2.16 lakh crore in the accounts of BCs, SCs, STs and minorities in a transparent manner without any complaint of corruption, from 2019 till today through DBT. Is there any state where the BJP spent half this amount for welfare of the weaker sections? "Everyone knows about the lawlessness in the BJP-ruled states including the North-East states, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh," he said. He said the BJP had promised in its manifesto that the high court would be set up in Kurnool, and asked why this promise was not fulfilled by the previous state government. "Who is responsible for the sins committed in Amaravati? Money was given by the central government for building a new capital in Amaravati, but TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu spirited it away. This apart, the TD-BJP government looted public money in the name of a free sand scheme." But, Jagan Mohan Reddy's government got 4,000 crore of income to the exchequer through sand sales. Nadda should answer who pocketed the 4,000 crore during the TD-BJP term. As for Naddas allegation of a liquor scam in AP, the MLA said that under the previous government, in the name of a "Delhi recommendation," 80 per cent of the liquor supply was given to three or four companies. But the Jagan Mohan Reddy government gave liquor contracts to 20 companies. The scam was registered during the TD-BJP term, now, he said. Responding to the critical comments of Telangana state minister T. Harish Rao against the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government, the MLA said his party did not require any certificates from the TS minister. "Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has put Harish Rao in a corner due to his wrongdoings," he said. He said Harish Rao, unable to abuse Chandrashekar Rao, was criticising Jagan Mohan Reddy in the hope that there would be counter-criticism of Chandrashekar Rao by YSRC leaders. "After the formation of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government, was there any instance of land being allotted to private persons? "This was happenign during the TD-BJP rule," he said. An IndiGo flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad entered Pakistan airspace due to bad weather and went up to Gujranwala before heading back to Indian airspace safely, the airline said on Sunday. IndiGo flight 6E-645 had to take a deviation over Atari into Pakistan airspace due to bad weather on Saturday, the airline said in a statement. "The deviation was well coordinated with Pakistan by Amritsar ATC via telephone. The crew was in continuous contact with Pakistan on R/T and the flight landed in Ahmedabad safely post the deviation, it added. Also Read: Pilots offered extra Rs 1 lakh a month to stay at Go First Earlier, Dawn newspaper reported that the IndiGo plane with a ground speed of 454 knots entered north of Lahore at about 7:30 pm on Saturday and returned to India at 8:01 pm. Citing a senior official of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the paper said that it was not unusual as it was internationally allowed in bad weather conditions. In May, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan. The flight, PK248, was returning from Muscat on May 4 and was attempting to land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. However, heavy rainfall made it difficult for the pilot to land the Boeing 777 aircraft. Meanwhile, several flights were diverted and delayed in Pakistan due to poor visibility at airports. The CAA spokesman said that it had extended the weather warning for Lahore till 11:30 pm on Saturday as the visibility at the Allama Iqbal International Airport was 5,000 metres. A number of flights heading to Lahore were diverted to Islamabad due to poor visibility. Rain accompanied by strong winds and thunder lashed parts of Pakistan on Saturday evening. The worst hit areas were three adjoining districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province where about 29 people were killed, according to local media. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday took a dig over the Delhi Police reportedly asking two women wrestlers to provide photos, audio and video evidence for their sexual harassment allegations against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying now victims should be ready to click on camera and have someone to record the assault they face. The swipe by Sibal, a senior advocate who represented the protesting wrestlers in the Supreme Court, came over a media report which claimed that two women wrestlers, who have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Singh of sexual harassment, have been asked by the Delhi Police to provide photos, audio and video as evidence for their allegations. Also Read | Wrestlers' protest: Sibal predicts 'no arrest', 'wishy-washy' chargesheet Brij Bhushan Investigation Police wants video, audio, call recordings, WhatsApp chats as proof Now victims should be ready to click on the camera and have someone ready to record the assault For that the assaults will have to take place after notice to victims ! Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) June 11, 2023 In a tweet, Sibal said, "Brij Bhushan investigation: Police wants video, audio, call recordings, WhatsApp chats as proof. Now victims should be ready to click on the camera and have someone ready to record the assault." "For that the assaults will have to take place after notice to victims!" he added. The government had assured the protesting wrestlers that a charge-sheet will be filed against the outgoing WFI chief by June 15, following which they had halted their protest. The Delhi Police on April 28 had registered two FIRs against Singh at the Connaught Place police station. Some of the complainants have also alleged that Singh made advances to seek "sexual favours", promising to help them in their careers. Singh has denied all the charges and said he will hang himself even if a single allegation is proved against him. Indian Army's Havildar Prabhakaran, hailing from Tamil Nadu and now posted in Jammu and Kashmir, has alleged that his wife was beaten and assaulted by a group of 120 people in Tiruvannamalai district and stripped half-naked. Tamil Nadu Police, however, have denied his allegations. In a video, shared on Twitter by Lt Col N. Thiagarajan (retd), he said: "My wife runs a shop in a place on lease. She was beaten up by a mob of 120 men and the items in the shop were thrown out. Ive sent a petition to the SP and he had assured of action. DGP Sir please help. They have attacked and threatened my family with knives. My wife was stripped half naked and brutally beaten." "My wife is stripped half-naked and beaten very badly." In what world is this just? This is the pathetic condition of an army soldier on duty in Kashmir kneeling down to save his wife in Tamilnadu @CMOTamilnadu Lt Col N Thiagarajan Veteran (@NTR_NationFirst) June 10, 2023 However the local police said that the issue was exaggerated. Also Read | Bengaluru: Home-alone woman fights off pervert, endures brutal assault Khandavasal police said that a shop in the premises of Renugambal temple was leased to Prabhakaran's father-in-law Selvamurthy by a person named Kumar for Rs 9.5 lakh and for a period of five years. After Kumar died, his son Ramu wanted the shop and agreed to return the money and an agreement was signed on February 10. However, Selvamurthy refused to take the money and was not willing to return the shop. Ramu reached the shop on June 10 and wanted to return the money but Selvamurthy's sons Jeeva and Udhaya attacked him, injuring him on the head. As per police, local people then came to the aid of Ramu and a fight between the two groups broke out. Local people claimed that while Prabhakaran's wife Keerthi and her mother were in the shop too, they were not assaulted. Keerthi later got herself admitted and registered a case against 120 people. Khandavasal police have already registered a case against both the parties and have started a detailed investigation but said that Prabhakaran had exaggerated things. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. At an awards ceremony hosted by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising NI, Legenderry Relay For Life 2022 was awarded the Fundraising Event of the Year!! After a two year break from the physical event, the Relay returned to St. Columbs Park track in June 2022, raising over 130,000 for Cancer Research UK in NI. Now in its fifth year, the Legenderry Relay for Life has raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK and attracted teams from across the North West. The 24-hour event takes place in St Columb's Park on Saturday, 17th June 2023 and Sunday, 18th June and includes live music and themed laps. A spokesperson said: Relay for Life is a community festival celebrating the power of fundraising in the fight to beat cancer. Teams of families, friends and work colleagues fundraise for life saving cancer research then unite for a 24 hour long festival to honour everyone who has been affected by cancer. There will be a live stage hosting local musical acts, and dance groups, as well as a live Stars In Your Eyes competition, starring some of our team members!! The Relay will start with a Lap of Honour of Cancer Survivors, who are treated to afternoon tea after handing the batons to the teams who will continue to walk around the track for the next 24 hours. As dusk falls, we will gather together to honour everyone affected by cancer during our Candle of Hope ceremony, while over 3000 candle bags light up the track, each dedicated to either someone no longer with us, or a loved one who has survived. The event is open to the public, and registration is still open for anyone who wishes to take part as a survivor. All monies raised by Legenderry Relay For Life helps support life saving research and clinical trials right here in Northern Ireland. For further information contact event organisers Sean Hickey 075 9573 8905 or Laura Moore 077 0272 3037 www.legenderryrelay.co.uk or find them on Facebook #LegenderryRelay A man was attacked and robbed after coming to the aid of a man pretending to have been injured in a road collision. The assault and theft happened in the Summerhill Road area of Dunmurry in greater Belfast at around 4.40pm on Friday. The victim had driven onto Summerhill Road from Creighton Road and saw a man lying in the middle of the road beside an electric scooter. He believed the man had been injured and pulled over to check he was okay. Police said as the victim approached the man on the ground, he heard a noise at his car and turned around to see a second man sitting in the drivers seat before getting out and running off. He attempted to return to his vehicle but the man who had been lying on the ground got up, grabbed him by the neck and pulled him back. Police said he was then attacked by the suspect with a Stanley knife-type object. The victim suffered superficial cuts to his stomach, right arm and right leg. Police said both suspects involved were around 18 years old, approximately 5ft 10ins in height and of medium build. They ran off toward Twinbrook. Police said a large sum of money and a mobile phone were stolen from the victims car. A PSNI spokesperson described the incident as callous and disturbing. The victim went to the aid of someone he thought had been injured and was attacked for his efforts, said the spokesperson. This was a terrifying experience and our investigation is underway and we are appealing to anyone who was in the Summerhill Road area around 4.40pm or who noticed anything suspicious to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1587 09/06/23. Gardai in Clane are currently at scene of a serious injury road traffic collision that occurred on the Sallins By-Pass, Castlesize, Sallins, Co. Kildare late last night Saturday 10th June, 2023 at approximately 11.15p.m. A two vehicle collision occurred and both males, one in his mid 40s and another in his mid 70s, of the first vehicle were removed from the scene to Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin where they remain in critical condition. The male and female, both aged in their late 20s of the second vehicle, were removed from the scene to The Tallaght University Hospital and remain in serious but stable condition. The road is currently closed and local diversions are in place. Garda Forensic Collision investigators are conducting an examination of the scene at present. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to come forward. They are also appealing to road users who were travelling on the Sallins By-Pass between 11p.m. and 11.30p.m. with camera footage (including dash cam), to make it available to them. Anyone with any information can contact Clane Garda Station on 045 868 262, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. A garda spokesperson confirmed that investigations ongoing. Click the 'Next >' arrow above or 'Next Story' below to go through the gallery St. Louis Secondary School Dundalk held its annual Student Awards Ceremony on Friday May 19th for both Junior and Senior students. Awards were presented for both academic and extracurricular activities.The diverse variety of talents, abilities and students contribution to school life were recognised on the day. Awards for Endeavour, Student Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Creativity, Debating, Green Schools, Music as well as Sport and Academic achievements in all curricular subjects were recognised. As is tradition, the presentation of the coveted St Louis Ethos Award was also a special moment. The St Louis Ethos Award is presented to the one 6th Year student who is deemed to have contributed to the overall ethos of the school. That student will have been a role model for others as well as reflecting the St Louis Mission Statement in her daily interactions with all in the school community. As is tradition St Louis welcomed back a number of students from the class of 2022. The school celebrated all their hard work and commitment in achieving over 500 points and in some cases over 600 points in the Leaving Cert of 2022. Ellie Mulligan was congratulated as the St Louis student who received the highest points in Leaving Certificate 2022. Last years St Louis Ethos Award Winner and Deputy Head Girl, Lauren Boyle also returned to present 6th Year student Sarah Lawrence with her special Ethos Award, a student who exceeds expectations and is very highly regarded by her peers, staff and senior management. The event was live streamed for any parent who could not attend during the day and this was also a huge success and the school received very positive feedback from parents. Principal Michelle Dolan said: Our mission statement confirms our commitment to educate the whole person and to encourage the qualities of respect, truth, responsibility, happiness and excellence in a caring inclusive atmosphere. The evidence of these qualities and attitudes was clearly palpable on Friday where excellence was rewarded and the wider student body was inspired by their peers and mentors to continue to pursue the highest possible personal standards and fulfil their individual potential. If you see it, you can be it' and students were treated to wonderful demonstrations of what is achievable with hard work, discipline and commitment. A special word of thanks to the volunteer staff committee who produced a highly organised but also warm and inclusive event for all. The atmosphere during the event was both positive and warm such was the affirmation and celebration. Mary Gilmore Deputy Principal said: There was a real sense of occasion on the day as the whole school got an opportunity to get a full sense of all the work and effort which goes into making St Louis the wonderful warm and supportive environment where all efforts are recognised, encouraged and celebrated. The closing school mass was celebrated by Dominican Friar Fr. Patrick Murphy in Fatima Church was also part of the day which gave a lovely conclusion to the year. It was a busy but rewarding day for all. Members of Corks Ukrainian community will hold a rally outside Bishop Lucey Park on the Grand Parade at 6pm on Monday to protest the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. The dam, in the Russian-controlled area of Ukraine, was destroyed last week, unleashing a huge flood. Ukraine and Nato have accused Russia of blowing up the dam, while Russia has claimed the attack was carried out by Ukraine. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the destruction of the dam as an environmental bomb of mass destruction. Thousands of people have been displaced by the flooding of low-lying areas on either side of the Dnipro river. Officials have warned that the flooding will be likely to cause devastating and long-term consequences for the production of grain in a region which has traditionally been known as the breadbasket of Europe. Experts have said unexploded munitions and mines may have been displaced by the floods and may now lie undetected in silt washed downstream. Olesia Zhytkova, a postdoctoral researcher at Dublin City Universitys Business School, is one of the organisers of Monday evenings gathering, and she told The Echo that members of Corks Ukrainian community will gather outside Bishop Lucey Park at 6pm. We want to protest this war crime against the people of Ukraine and we want to highlight that people and animals have been killed in what is an ecocide against Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, Ms Zhytkova said. We need to highlight what is being done to our homeland. Ukrainians are an agricultural people who have a special connection to the land, so this crime is really hitting home with us, she said. Ms Zhytkova said Cork people have been extremely welcoming and supportive of Ukrainian people since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine began last February, and she said she hoped Ukraines Leeside friends would attend Mondays rally. A MAN was arrested and charged with involvement in a break-in to Starbucks on Princes Street in Cork in the early hours of Tuesday, May 30. Garda Kevin Roche arrested Kieran Quilligan and brought him before Cork District Court, where he objected to bail being granted to the accused. Mr Quilligan was charged with causing criminal damage to the front window of Starbucks and burglary at the premises. Garda Roche said it was alleged that Mr Quilligan kicked a front window of the premises until it smashed, and this was seen on CCTV. It was further alleged that a second man went into the premises and took a cash register, which he handed to Mr Quilligan, who remained outside the premises. Judge Colm Roberts said factors against him getting bail included the seriousness of the charges, the strength of evidence, and the defendants ongoing addiction difficulties. Solicitor Eddie Burke called the accused to give evidence in his application for bail. The defendant said he was about to get in to Riverview apartments through Cork Simon Community and was on a methadone treatment programme. The judge said there was a serious risk of Mr Quilligan re-offending and that he was refusing bail. The strength of evidence is too strong. The risk is too high, he said, and remanded the 48-year-old in custody. Mr Quilligan said he was on a methadone treatment programme and was reducing the amount of methadone each week. Judge Roberts referred to two doctors with an expertise in heroin addiction who had informed him that for some addicts it was necessary to stay on a high dose of methadone for an indefinite period and that reducing the quantity was not always recommended, even though some recovering addicts had a preference for reducing their methadone. Judge Roberts said that when methadone was reduced too quickly, users sometimes ended up supplementing the reduced methadone with heroin. Thousands took part in Cork citys historic Eucharistic Procession on Sunday, which returned for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2023 procession was the 97th celebration of the Cork Eucharistic Procession. Its 100th anniversary will be celebrated in 2026. People gathered for prayers Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne on Sunday before the procession travelled down Upper St Johns St, onto Mulgrave Rd and over Christy Ring Bridge, turned right onto Lavitts Quay, left onto Half Moon St, up Academy Street and onto Patrick Street before it arrived at St Peters and St Pauls, where the procession concluded with Benediction and prayers. People from all the different parishes in the city and beyond took part in the procession, as well as the Indian Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Brazilian, African, Polish, Croatian, and Ukrainian communities, Catholic Girl Guides, the Guides and Scouts Europe, Youth 2000, Neo-catechumenate, and parish eucharistic devotion groups throughout the diocese, among others. Members of the Syro-Malabar (India) Catholic Church Community taking part in the procession on St Patrick's Street, Cork. Pic Larry Cummins. Music was also a big part of the procession which was led by the Butter Exchange Band. Speaking to The Echo following Sundays procession, the Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross, Bishop Fintan Gavin said: I was appointed to Cork not long before Covid so this is my first time carrying the Blessed Sacrament in Corks procession. It was a truly uplifting event and really great to see the thousands of people of all ages celebrating their faith and sharing it so joyfully. The atmosphere was so uplifting. Im very grateful to the many people who have been working for months to plan for the procession and to attend to all thats involved, especially the priests and people of the Cathedral Parish, St Peter and Pauls Parish and their neighbours, as well as the Lord Mayor and City Council, the Gardai and the various civic and voluntary groups who helped so much. People taking part in the procession on Sunday afternoon. Pic Larry Cummins. The people of Cork have shown great loyalty to the procession in its almost 100 years and it is also inspiring to see the Catholic communities who have joined in more recent years also adding their support and cultural expressions to what is now a shared tradition. The procession makes its way along Academy Street. Pic Larry Cummins. Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Deirdre Forde, who officially launched the procession alongside Bishop Fintan Gavin last month, said: I was delighted to join my colleagues, the Bishop, priests and parishioners from many areas of Cork city in the procession today [Sunday]. Its a lovely meaningful important tradition appreciated by people who are glad of the opportunity to give thanks and acknowledge their faith in a spirit of collegiality, culminating in a beautiful ceremony in one of Cork's iconic churches, St Peter and Pauls. James Cox An exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of former US president John F Kennedy's visit to Ireland opened in the Epic, Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin on Wednesday. Homecoming: JFK in Ireland will run until September. The exhibition was designed in collaboration with the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Nathan Mannion, head of exhibitions and programmes at Epic, told BreakingNews.ie: "The collaboration helped us to develop the exhibition in terms of gaining access to their research collections, and working with them to develop the direction and focus of the exhibition. We were very lucky to have the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs to contribute towards the funding of the exhibition. "Obviously the presidential library and museum holds a vast collection of archival material, of photographic collections, all of which weve been able to gain access to incorporate into the exhibition." JFK visiting distant relatives in New Ross, Co Wexford. He added: "In Boston they're dedicated to telling the story of president Kennedy and his family exclusively so his trip to Ireland... while those four days were extremely significant to everybody on this side of the Atlantic... theyre looking at a broader picture as well. "For them 1963 is also the tragic anniversary of his death, so theyll be looking at that part of history as well towards the end of the year. They are coming over to Ireland at the end of June for the anniversary of the visit to run a short programme here, so well be participating in that as well." Mr Mannion pointed to the visit's "core place" in Irish history, adding that some people who were children during the visit will remember seeing Kennedy. While the finer details of the visit will be a focus of the exhibition, Mr Mannion explained that its wider impact for Ireland will also be explored. "Were looking at what it meant geopolitically for Ireland as well, Kennedy was the first foreign head of state to address a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas, he was the first serving US president to visit Ireland. In many ways his visit helped to shape the visits of his successors in terms of the format, what they might do, the Irish ancestral connections, public speeches, etc. "Theres been many since, leading up to president Biden this year. Theres been a change in Irelands position too. It was right in the middle of the Cold War and post World War Two and around the time of the formation of the UN Ireland wasnt seen to be particularly close to the US because it had remained neutral during that conflict. "His visit helped to kind of thaw relations in that sense. It came at a time of optimism in Ireland as well you were starting to see the rate of emigration come down, you were starting to see economic prosperity on the rise. It was a key moment in Irish history in that sense, it was quite transformational and Kennedys visit helped to shine the light of the global media on Ireland as well." JFK greets people in Co Cork during his visit to Ireland. Mr Mannion said the exhibition will be enjoyable for history buffs and those who don't know much about Kennedy's visit. He cited extracts from Kennedy's private secretary as one interesting element. While much was made of the preparation for Joe Biden's recent visit, Mr Mannion said people will be interested in the huge preparation and detail that went into a presidential visit 60 years ago. This includes information on Kennedy's visit to Limerick, which was not on the original itinerary. "Were looking at things like his death and legacy as well... his ties to Northern Ireland and the participation of Irish cadets at his funeral at the end of 1963 which was considered quite an honour. "There are a lot of different directions the exhibition is going in, but were very happy to have it on display. "We cover the day-to-day of it, the visits to Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Wexford, over the four days. But were taking a broader look, its quite thematic. "Were looking at the cultural and political significance of the visit. Even for people who may be familiar with Kennedy and the visit to Ireland itself, we look at the work behind the scenes from planning the visit, setting up media centres, Secret Service debriefs, getting the presidential car over, plus the broader diplomatic back and forths happening in advance. "Weve got extracts from Kennedys private secretary for example. Even post-visit, who was receiving thank you letters and why, what last-minute things werent going to plan, little changes to the schedule. The entire visit to Limerick wasnt on the original itinerary, it was a last minute decision, so there are lots of little bits around that, but also the broader impact for Ireland, Ireland-US relations, the Kennedys links to Ireland and Irelands link to its Diaspora around the world." Mr Mannion said Epic hopes to bring the exhibition on tour around the US when it finishes in Dublin in September. Homecoming: JFK in Ireland is on display at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum from Wednesday, June 7th until September 2023 'Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth' will make you see Ichiban's bare butt in early 2024 What has been seen cannot be unseen. Yakuza fans have a busy 2023 and 2024 ahead of them. In addition to Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Sega announced today it would release the next mainline entry in the series, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, in early 2024. The sequel picks up after the events of 2020's Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The trailer Sega shared on Saturday features protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, who finds himself naked on a Hawaiian beach with no recollection of how he got there. The usual hijinks ensue before Ichiban realizes what's going on and tries to shield himself. Sega previously announced it plans to release Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam. Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest right here! Watch the Xbox Showcase at Summer Game Fest here at 1PM ET The presentation is followed by a dedicated look at Starfield. Get ready for some announcements, trailers, demos and an in-depth look at the upcoming RPG Starfield, as the Xbox Games Showcase at Summer Game Fest is nearly upon us. With E3 dead in the water, this is likely the years biggest event for jaw-dropping reveals. The festivities begin at 1:00 PM ET and there are plenty of ways to watch live. Microsoft is hosting its own YouTube stream and Twitch feed for the event and multiple streams are available via the festival itself. So what can you expect to see this year? Microsoft says the stream will focus on both exclusive first-party and third-party Xbox releases, so its anybodys guess. Rumors swirl that iconic Xbox franchise Fable will be making an appearance in some form, along with DLC for Hi-Fi Rush and a 60FPS mode for beleaguered vampire shooter Redfall. Also, expect updates on Forza Motorsport, Hellblade 2, Avowed and more. However, Aaron Greenberg, the VP of Xbox Games Marketing, recently told fans on Twitter to come in with an open mind and enjoy the ride, suggesting that folks should temper expectations. After the presentation, Bethesda takes over for an indepth look at long-delayed space adventure Starfield before its September launch. The show should run around two hours, with 90 minutes dedicated to the presentation and the remaining 30 minutes given over to Starfield. Of course, Engadget has staffers on location to report on the biggest reveals and announcements, so keep the site open for updates. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. The table compares six different countries in terms of the average retirement age of both genders in 2003. Overall, men retired at a later age than women in all given countries. Among the six countries, the retirement age was the highest in Korea for both genders. Concerning males, the average age of retirement in Korea ranked first at 68 years and 8 months. Just trailing behind were Japan, the United States, and Australia, at 67, 65, and 64 correspondingly. Italian men stopped working at a significantly younger age of 58 years 2 months, while the bottom of the list was held by France, with 57 years and 4 months. Regarding females, the highest average retirement age was also witnessed in Korea at 67 years 2 months, precisely 3 years older than that of the United States. At 66 and three quarters years old, Japanese women reached their retirement age, whereas women in Australia terminated their employment life earlier at 63 years and 5 months. The figures for Italy and France were fairly comparable, at roughly 57 years old. By SA Commercial Prop News Hammarsdale, west of Durban is on a roll, thanks to Keystone Industrial Park, to be built at an estimated cost of R6 billion. The once bustling textile and clothing manufacturing town of Hammarsdale, west of Durban, has been thrown a lifeline, giving hope to its legion of the unemployed. The town is to be the home of Keystone Industrial Park. The complex will be situated adjacent the Hammarsdale industrial node, which hosts Rainbow Chicken and other smaller businesses. It will be located along the N3 freeway that forms part of the countrys Strategic Integrated Project, one of the governments national priority projects. The precinct also serves as a logistics and industrial corridor between Durban and Gauteng. Mr Price, among SAs biggest clothing and homeware retailers, is the first firm to lay foundations in the park, with the building of a R1bn central distribution centre. Rod Stainton, a project manager and a shareholder at Keystone Park, the company behind the development, said: Mr Price is busy putting a roof onto the building and we are starting with the construction of two buildings. The park is expected to be fully operational in October next year. KwaZulu-Natal economic development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu said the Keystone Industrial Park would change the face of Hammarsdale and bring it back to its former glory. He was speaking earlier this week at the launch of Reatile Gaz gas plant situated a few kilometres from the park. Reatile Gaz, a Johannesburgbased energy and chemical firm opened its fifth liquid petroleum gas plant on Wednesday. The plant will handle 45,000l of gas and was built at a cost of R30m. We are grateful that the Reatile Gaz plant comes hot on the heels of the Keystone development, Mr Mabuyakhulu said. This means that government has given attention to the development of industrial parks in the province. This will certainly bring development to the people of the area. Mr Stainton said Keystone was positioned in a strategical corridor and along the countrys biggest national road. The N3 is a strategically artery for all goods moving in and out of the country. We targeted the logistics market and we want them to be as close to Durban as possible but not in the congested part of the city. Mr Stainton said that Keystone Park would create a massive labour pool in the area with hundreds of jobs expected. The industrial park is aimed to bring development to the people of the KwaZulu-Natal area. Aluminium Bahrain, the largest aluminium smelter in the world ex-China, has held a Reverse Insurance Roadshow, covering the renewal of its Property Damage and Business Interruption (PDBI) and Cyber Insurance policies. Albas Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali, said: Alba has set another benchmark in the Mena region by hosting a Reverse Insurance Roadshow on its premises for its major insurance covers -- Property Damage and Business Interruption and Cyber -- when the norm is to hit the road and meet insurance markets to place these policies. This was a great opportunity to showcase Alba campus and its core assets, so our insurance partners connect with us and gain a renewed sense of our purpose. The Reverse Insurance Roadshow and was attended by representatives of Lloyds Syndicates and major international companies such as Zurich Insurance Plc - Ireland (London), SCOR UK Company Limited - London (England), Swiss Re International SE Luxembourg, Hannover Ruck SE - per Bahrain branch, AIG MEA Limited - UAE, Gulf Insurance Group (Gulf), Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company B.S.C. and Tokio Marine Kiln - London (England). First of its kind The show, the first of its kind in Mena region, with top-rated insurance and reinsurance markets, was held in collaboration with Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company (BKIC) and reinsurance broker Willis Tower Watson, who conducted a detailed field tour of Alba premises. Albas Chief Power Officer Amin Sultan along with Director Insurance Eline Hilal and Insurance and IR team conducted the one-on-one and group meetings with insurance markets to witness first-hand Albas excellent risk management framework post which the underwriters and risk engineers visited the companys various departments. BKICs Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdulla Sultan stated: We are pleased to assist and equally participate in such a prestigious Reverse Insurance Roadshow which is unique to our region. Alba is one of the most dynamic companies in the region and we are positive that this reverse roadshow will provide these top-rated insurers and reinsurers an unprecedented opportunity for an up-close-and-personal perspective on Alba and its risk profile.-- TradeArabia News Service by John P. Ruehl In May 2023, the Arizona Department of Water Resources imposed restrictions on the construction of new housing in the Phoenix area, citing a lack of groundwater. The decision aims to slow population growth in one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S. and underlines the dwindling water resources in the drought-stricken southwest. As water levels in the Colorado River have declined, the states dependent on it (Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming) are increasingly at odds over how to distribute the declining supply. Saksun, Fareo Islands [Photo Credit: Marc Zimmer/Unsplash] The U.S. is not alone in contentious domestic debate over water supplies. Australian states have constantly quarreled over water rights across the Murray-Darling Basin. Disruptions to water supply or perceived misuse can cause immediate social unrest, and countries like Iran and France have seen violent protests regarding water recently. Constant and affordable access to fresh water is recognized as a basic human right by the UN. And in addition to providing a foundation for life, fresh water is also crucial for industry and manufacturing, energy production, agriculture, sanitation, and other essential societal functions. But around the world, its availability is threatened. Desertification, climate change, man-made water diversion, dam building, pollution, and overuse have seen rivers, lakes, and aquifers dry up. Since 2000, the world has added almost 2 billion people, putting further strain on global water infrastructure and supplies. Poor water management and infrastructure also play a major role in water scarcity around the world. In Iraq, up to 14.5 percent of the countrys water is lost to evaporation and two-thirds of its treated water is lost due to leaks and poor infrastructure. Up to 25 to 30 percent of South Africas water is lost to leaks, while even in many industrialized countries, up to 15 to 20 percent of water supply is lost. Inequality can also exacerbate water stress. Amid Cape Towns water shortages in recent years, 14 percent of the population has been found to be responsible for more than half of the freshwater use in the city. Across Africa, one in three people already faces water scarcity, where the availability of natural hygienic water falls below 1,000 m3 per person per year. On top of government control of water supply and infrastructure, multinational companies like Nestle S.A., PepsiCo, Inc., the Coca-Cola Company, and the Wonderful Company LLC play a huge role in the global water industry. In 2013, former Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe was forced to backtrack after a 2005 interview resurfaced where he stated it was extreme that water was considered a human right. However, water privatization has increased significantly over the last few decades. In 2020, Wall Street allowed water to begin trading as a commodity, and today, farmers, hedge funds and municipalities alike are now able to hedge againstor bet onfuture water availability in California. Monetization has even seen countries like Fiji, the worlds 4th-largest water exporter in 2021, face water supply shortages over the last few years. Tap water remains drinkable only in certain countries, but fears of contamination can occur rapidly and incite alarm. After thousands of gallons of a synthetic latex product spilled into the Delaware River in 2023, Philadelphia authorities shut down a nearby water treatment plant. While it was ultimately deemed that tap water was still safe to drink, government warnings and alarm on social media led to panic-buying of water. Contamination can also lead to longer-term damage to public faith in water infrastructure. After heightened levels of lead were found in Flint, Michigans drinking water in 2014 (together with the tepid government response), the local population remained hesitant to resume drinking it even after it had been declared safe. Water security also has a major impact on relations between countries. The U.S. and Mexico have historically competed over water rights to both the Colorado River and the Rio Grande. Strong population growth on both sides of the border in recent decades, coupled with drought, has exacerbated bilateral tensions. In 2020, tension over Mexicos inability to meet its annual water delivery obligations to the U.S. from the Rio Grande, laid out in the 1944 Water Treaty, saw farmers in northern Mexico take over La Boquilla Dam, weeks before the deadline. While the crisis was eventually resolved, the fundamental issue of strained water flows remains ongoing. Iraq has meanwhile increasingly accused Iran of withholding water from tributaries that feed into the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, with Iran accusing Iraq of failing to use water responsibly. Iraq and Syria have also disputed Turkeys construction of dams and irrigation systems that have hindered the traditional flows of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Relations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have similarly deteriorated since the latter began construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in 2011. The project has aggravated regional fears over Nile River water shortages, and though outright conflict has so far been avoided, it has inflamed concern over supply in Sudan, which saw deadly clashes over water shortages in 2023. China has been labeled an upstream superpower because several major rivers begin in China. The construction of dams and hydropower plants on the Mekong River has caused friction with Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, while Kazakhstan and China have often disagreed over water rights regarding the Ili River. Fears have also arisen that India and China, the worlds two most populous countries, could come into conflict over the Brahmaputra River and Indus River. But India and downstream Pakistan have their own disputes over rights in the Indus River basin that have raised regional concern. Other countries have weaponized water as part of a wider conflict. Ukraine and Russia have both used water to harass each other since the first round of unrest between them began in 2014. Ukraine almost immediately cut off Crimea from water supply from the North Crimean Canal, shrinking the peninsulas arable land from 130,000 hectares in 2013 to just 14,000 in 2017. Russia reopened the canal following the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Additionally, Russian forces have since been accused of withholding water to some Ukrainian regions, deliberately flooding others, and targeting Ukraines water infrastructure. Both Russia and Ukraine accused one another of blowing up the Kakhovka Dam and hydroelectric power station located on the Dnieper River on June 5, 2023, which flooded downstream communities. The Islamic State (IS) was meanwhile instrumental in causing water shortages during its rise across Syria and Iraq a decade ago, by polluting and cutting off water supplies and flooding regions. The Taliban also repeatedly attacked water infrastructure in Afghanistan throughout the U.S.-led occupation of the country. Longstanding disputes between the Taliban and Iran over access to the Helmand River also resulted in deadly clashes at their mutual border in 2023. And in recent years, cyberattacks have increasingly targeted the vulnerable water infrastructure of the U.S. Thankfully, the future of water stress may be less dire than feared. Global population growth has slowed significantly over the last few decades and the population is expected to peak by the end of the century. Furthermore, regions experiencing water stresses are typically not high-population growth areas. The global community is also taking renewed steps to address global water security, with the UN holding in 2023 its first summit on water since 1977. And even countries with longstanding disputes have recognized the importance of maintaining water supplies. The 60-year-old Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan has largely held despite persistent tensions between them. China has initiated cooperation with downstream states on transportation and water flows, including the Lancang-Mekong River Dialogue and Cooperation forum to share data and prepare for shortages and flooding. There have also been recent breakthroughs regarding the GERD. Sudans de facto leader, Abdel-Fattah Burhan, recently came out in support of the dam, noting it could help regulate flooding. Greater cooperation between Ethiopia and Egypt could see less water evaporate from Egypts Aswan High Dam if it can be stored in the GERD during warmer months. And though seawater desalination remains expensive and energy-intensive, it is becoming more efficient and widespread. In Saudi Arabia, 50 percent of the countrys water needs are met by desalination, while Egypt plans to open dozens of new desalination plants in the coming years. Currently, 70 percent of the worlds desalination plants are found in the Middle East. Domestic U.S. initiatives are also promising. Californias Orange County recycles almost all of its waste water back to the nearby aquifer through the worlds largest water reclamation plant, which opened in 2008. Arizona, California, and Nevada also agreed in May 2023 to reduce water intake by 10 percent over the next three years, and Arizonas decision to suspend housing construction may mark the beginning of more restraint over domestic water consumption. Ongoing domestic and international cooperation will nonetheless be required to resolve water disputes and create sustainable water management practices. Preventing the use of water as geopolitical leverage or a tool of war, coupled with effective management of climate change and pollution, will be integral to avoiding wars over water in the future. John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. He is currently finishing a book on Russia to be published in 2022. Only one population of northern leopard frogs remains in Washington state, and its threatened by water fluctuations due to irrigation. Wildlife officials want to translocate the frog and establish new populations. State lawmakers recently approved tens of millions of dollars to support wildlife managers plans to help the frogs and hundreds of other species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SEATTLE The Cascade red fox, which lives high in the mountains of Washington state, is struggling to survive. State wildlife managers want to send researchers into the field to find out why. Theyre also aiming to vaccinate pygmy rabbits against a deadly virus, restore habitat to support the Taylors checkerspot butterfly and establish new populations of the dwindling northern leopard frog. They hatched those plans nearly a decade ago, but never had the money to carry them out. Like most state wildlife agencies, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has historically gotten much of its revenue from hunting and fishing license sales, as well as from excise taxes on the sale of guns and fishing tackle. Consequently, it has mostly focused on managing animals like elk and trout. Thats about to change. Washington lawmakers recently approved tens of millions of dollars for wildlife managers to carry out their plans to help foxes, frogs, butterflies and hundreds of other species. It might be the most significant investment a state legislature has ever made to move wildlife management beyond hook and bullet species. Along with the conservation funding, legislators mandated a broad review of the structure and mission of the agency. That review might point the way to a radically new approach to state wildlife protection in Washington and around the country. Most state wildlife agencies have followed the North American model for wildlife for a century or more, said state Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, a Democrat who championed the measure. Its worth looking is there a better model? An antiquated system Hunters and anglers have long taken fierce pride in the North American model of wildlife conservation and its early architects, including Theodore Roosevelt. Developed in the 19th century, as many species neared extinction, it established wildlife as a public trust, setting regulations to ensure sustainable populations and drawing conservation funding from the contributions of hunters and anglers. Wildlife advocates acknowledge that the desire to preserve hunting and fishing opportunities staved off the wanton destruction of animals. But they argue that its time to view wildlife for its ecological importance, beyond just the resource species that are managed for maximum harvest. I used to joke that we ought to be part of the Agriculture Department, said Fred Koontz, a former member of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. What we do is produce animals for harvest, we plant pheasants and fish, were producing crops. Koontz resigned from the commission in 2021, calling it a politicized quagmire. Hes among the advocates calling for Washington to change the governance of its wildlife agency. Unlike most state agencies, which are managed by professional directors, wildlife departments are largely guided by volunteer citizen commissions, often appointed by the governor. Critics say that commission seats are often given out as political favors and overrepresented by hunting, fishing and agriculture interests, resulting in panels that lack scientific expertise and frequently fall into dysfunction. Volunteer commissioners, they say, are often heavily swayed by the vocal hunting and fishing advocates who show up at their policy meetings. Is this how we want to safeguard our wildlife in the face of extinction and climate change? asked Kevin Bixby, co-executive director of Wildlife for All, a national campaign to overhaul state wildlife agencies. Leave it up to a group of volunteers who may or may not know whats going on? Its really an antiquated system that needs to be changed. Bixby and others believe wildlife agencies should be run by a director, a career professional, who serves in the governors cabinet. Barbara Baker, who leads the appointed wildlife commission in Washington, said the agency is transforming from a game management department into a broader conservation role. Even department critics say the panel has taken encouraging steps under her leadership. But as the agency expands its mission, she acknowledged there are legitimate disagreements about whether the volunteer panel is best suited to set its policies. Regardless of the agencys governance, she said, it will face thorny issues as it seeks to define its purpose. Do we kill cougars because theyre killing elk that hunters want to hunt? she asked. Do we understand that cougars eat meat and value their place in the ecosystem? Those are questions that are extremely volatile. The extinction crisis To take on a more expansive vision of wildlife management, state agencies will need more money than the hunting and fishing revenue that has long funded conservation work. Unlike for traditionally hunted or fished species, where theres secure, stable funds, that funding source has been missing for non-game wildlife, said Hannah Anderson, wildlife diversity division manager at Washingtons Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency will receive an initial investment of $23 million during the next two years to support its struggling non-game species, with an ongoing annual commitment of $15 million. Lawmakers say they hope the funding will help the department expand its priorities. We need to move beyond fish and wildlife for the purpose of human harvesting, said state Sen. Christine Rolfes, a Democrat who championed the provision. That work can continue, but we need to be dealing with the extinction crisis. During the next two-year budget cycle, nearly half of the agencys $718 million operating budget will be drawn from general taxpayer revenue, a much higher percentage than most other states. Leaders at the Department of Fish and Wildlife lobbied hard for the money, after years of waiting on a stalled congressional effort to provide federal funding for states wildlife work. Koontz and others say the new money for at-risk species is a promising start, but they note that it still represents a fraction of the agencys overall budget. Claire Loebs Davis, president of Washington Wildlife First, a nonprofit seeking to transform wildlife management in the state, said she hopes that study will lead to legislation to change the mechanics of the agency and make it more responsive. But many hunting and fishing advocates, while supportive of the overall funding boost, are concerned about the agency review provision. There are concerns about how it would impact hunting and fishing if they completely changed the department structure, said Marie Neumiller, executive director of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, a conservation group that has challenged an agency proposal to curtail spring bear hunting. Restructuring it completely, thats quite a task. In the meantime, would wildlife management suffer because of that effort? Recommendations from the agency review are due by next June. If the review leads to serious proposals to overhaul wildlife management, Washington is likely to draw attention and plenty of backlash from hunting and fishing groups across the country. Proponents of change say residents will still have plenty of opportunities to hunt and fish, but that its time for the states mission to expand. What is the paramount purpose of the governments role in wildlife conservation? said Koontz. Were still stuck on the idea that its about sustaining [human] use of the animals, and the priority has always been a very small subset of species that are recreationally and commercially important. This story was produced by Stateline which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The post State wildlife agencies focus on hook and bullet work. Some see a new path. appeared first on Daily Montanan. Plaintiffs' attorney Roger Sullivan argues at a hearing in the Held v. Montana case in front of Judge Kathy Seeley on Friday, May 12, 2023. (Photo by Blair Miller) When a first-of-its-kind climate change lawsuit kicks off in a state district courtroom in Helena Monday, it will be historic for several reasons. It will be historic because youth in the state many of whom have matured into adults since the suit was first filed are arguing that Montanas new Constitution, drafted and ratified more than 50 years ago guarantees a clean and healthful environment for future generations, a promise they contend the state has shirked. The case is notable for several reasons, including Montanans specific protection for the environment at a time when climate change and catastrophic weather events have become a routine yet existential threat for the state. The trial will also test the states commitment to protecting the environment even as the political supermajority tries to boost its ties and reliance upon fossil fuels. Yet outside the same the courtroom in which this historic trial will take place is a bronze plaque, not unlike the dozens of plaques and markers sprinkled throughout the states capital city with many places singled out for their contributions to Treasure State history. The plaque notes that Judge Kathy Seeleys courtroom was the place of the original Constitutional Convention, held in 1889. It was inside the courtroom where delegates drafted the original state Constitution. And it was inside those walls, with a packed upper-floor gallery, where copper king and former disgraced U.S. Sen. William Andrews Clark made one of the states most infamous speeches. While the youth of the 21st Century argue the state has kowtowed to fossil fuels and industrial business at the expense of the states environment, the titans of Montanas 19th Century argued famously that the heavy smoke, laden with toxic chemicals, made Helena the perfect site for the soon-to-be states permanent capital. Clarks impassioned speech about the benefits of pollution stand as both a reminder of Montanas mining and industrial past, and the historic struggle to balance natural resources with environmental protection. Apparently, Helenas climate, even before statehood, was known throughout the state. My intelligent friend from Custer County (Walter A. Burleigh) who is generally right on most of the propositions that have been discussed in this convention when he alluded to a visit he made recently, or sometime in the last year, to the silver city wherein he was troubled a great deal with smoke, Clark began. The gentlemen said that he smelt sulphur over here. He said it was too suggestive of the future. I have no doubt sulphur seems to be suggestive of Sheol and probably the gentlemen from Custer is a little tender upon that subject, Clark said. The transcription of the convention noted laughter after that line, something the copper king wasnt often known for. I am reminded to suggest also to this gentleman that I believe he is an admirer of the ladies, and I must say that the ladies are very fond of this smoky city, as it is sometimes called, because there is just enough arsenic there to give them a beautiful complexion, he said. Again laughter broke out. Now, talking about this smoke, I believe there are times when there is smoke settling over the city but I would say that it would be a great deal better for other cities in the territory if they had more smoke and less diphtheria and other diseases, Clark continued. It has been believed by all the physicians of Butte that the smoke that sometimes prevails there is a disinfectant and destroys the microbes that constitute the germs of disease. Clark trusted that Burleigh, a physician, would agree with him, but then continued to promote the benefits of a polluted sky. While it is disagreeable, it is an advantage in some respects and it would be a great advantage for other cities, as I have said, to have a little more smoke and business activity and less disease, Clark said. Clarks words, which were taken as a rallying cry for Montanas rapid civilization, would come back to haunt history books as Clark, and his fellow copper kings, took copper and the fortunes from the mines out of state, leaving the citizens to deal with decades of clean-up and still visible scars on the land. Clarks germ theory was also discredited, although among the best thinking at the time. Doctors believed the smoke had a certain disinfectant quality because it could kill most anything, including trees, birds and even small animals, who were nearly eradicated from Butte for a time. And that lovely, pale complexion enjoyed by the women of Butte and Helena? That was because the arsenic and other heavy metals were disrupting blood flow, leaving them with an anemic, pale or even splotchy sheen. Yet compared to Clarks home county of Silver Bow and the belching mines and open-pit smelting that was happening there, Helenas air was relatively clean. The smoke caused some deaths, many illnesses, vomitings and nosebleeds, said author and historian Michael P. Malone in his book, Battle for Butte. According to the Anaconda Standard, only four trees remained alive in 1890 (in Butte); and local wags reported, perhaps with tongues in cheek, that cats died of licking arsenic from their whiskers. The post Youth climate trial to be held where state originally debated the medical benefits of toxic smoke appeared first on Daily Montanan. Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup have got married. Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup are married (c) Instagram The couple - who have been romantically linked since 2017 but only went public with their relationship at the Screen Actors Guild awards in February 2022 - have confirmed they have tied the knot in New York, with the 'King Kong' actress sharing a photo of them beaming outside what appeared to be a Manhattan courthouse, with the 54-year-old star clutching a bouquet of white flowers. Naomi simply captioned her Instagram post: "Hitched!" Among the first to comment on the photo were the 'Diana' star's former partner Liev Schrieber, the father of her sons Sasha, 15, and 14-year-old Kai. He wrote: "Congratulations!!! Gorgeous!!! (sic)" She also shared some pictures on her Instagram Story, calling Billy "Hubby" in one, and in another, explained her flowers were "from the deli". Naomi's post on Saturday (10.06.23) came a day after Page Six shared photos of her in the same Oscar de la Renta dress and 54-year-old Billy - who has William, 19, with Mary Louise Parker - in a blue suit arriving back to their apartment, wearing matching wedding rings. In April, Naomi dodged questions about being engaged to 'The Morning Show' actor when she was quizzed over the huge diamond she was sporting on her ring finger. 'Today' host Hoda Kotb exclaimed: "My eye is hurting. There's a big glint coming from some ring over here. It just struck me. But it's beautiful." Her guest simply smiled and replied: "Oh, the brain fog!" Billy previously explained he tries to keep his personal life private because he thinks it is better for his acting for people to not know too much about him. The 'Stanford Prison Experiment' star said in 2018: I try to make it a point of not commenting publicly one way or the other about my personal life. I dont particularly see the advantage of people knowing too much about me if Im constantly trying to trick them into thinking Im someone else. Parineeti Chopra and politician Raghav Chadha are going to tie the knot soon, and the couple has already started looking for the ideal location for their wedding. The two spent a few days with their family in Udaipur while looking for a good heritage house. They were seen at the Jaipur airport in the final week of May. Although a recent report stated that the couple, who became engaged on May 13, had chosen The Oberoi Udaivilas, located on the shores of Lake Pichola, in Udaipur, as the location of their wedding, sources that this is not entirely accurate and the couple is still scouting, doing reconnaissance, and are yet to finalise the venue. Nothing has been confirmed as of now. They went to Udaivilas, but did not like the room size and also the room inventory wasnt sufficient, so they are still in talks with the hotel owners. They also liked Taj Lake Palace, but again, the number of rooms didnt suit them, hence thats also on hold at the moment. They might pick any of these for the wedding functions, but all the guests cannot be accommodated here. So, one thing is sure that their guest list is not small and its going to be a big fat wedding, the source reported. They also plan on hosting two receptions, one each in Chandigarh and Mumbai.They invited most of their family members and close relatives at the engagement, and theyd be there for the wedding as well. So, Delhi reception is not on the cards as of now, and they will host two receptions, one for Parineetis extended family from Ambala and one for film fraternity, the source revealed. Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin has been one of the most loved shows on the Indian Television and there are no second thoughts about it. While the family drama has been the talk of the town for its interesting plot, it has also been making headlines for the ongoing cold war between Ayesha Singh and Aishwarya Sharma. Recommended Video GHKKPM Actress Aishwarya Sharma Ayesha Singh Episode Charge ? To note, Aishwarya Sharma, who became a household name with her stint as Pakhi in the show, has exited the show lately but her tiff with Ayesha, who plays the role of Sai, has got the tongues wagging even post her exit. And while a lot if being said about the ladies and their ongoing cold war, did you know that Ayesha Singh's per episode fees is more than what Aishwarya earned for the show? According to a report published in Times Now Hindi, Ayesha Singh has been charging Rs 80 thousand for her performance on Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin. On the other hand, the media reports suggested that Aishwarya Sharma charged Rs 70 thousand for her stint in the family drama. To note, Filmibeat couldn't verify the claims about both the ladies per day remuneration for the show. Meanwhile, Ayesha and Aishwarya's cold war is grabbing a lot of attention as it is reported that the ladies have been at loggerheads for 2-3 months now. In fact, the gossipmills are also abuzz that Aishwarya's husband Neil Bhatt, who plays the lead role in Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, is also at loggerheads with Ayesha Singh. Amid the reports, Ayesha was seen avoiding commenting on the reports of her tiff with the Khatron Ke Khiladi 13. This happened during the International Iconic Awards 2023. When Ayesha was quizzed about the cold war, the actress stated, "I am absolutely not commenting on this. Maine us cheez ko read bhi nahi kia and main us cheez ko fuel bhi nahi de rahi hu". Reyna Law Firm announced its recent induction in the American Academy of Attorneys' 500 Million Dollar Club, an exclusive achievement granted to injury law firms that have totaled more than half a billion dollars in awarded compensation for their clients. Austin, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - June 10, 2023) - Recently inducted into the American Academy of Attorneys' 500 Million Dollar Club, Reyna Law Firm notes that the new award ranks high in prestige among US law firms, marking its extended contributions in service to injury victims across Texas and New Mexico. Its attorneys have helped to amass compensation for clients in injury claim cases related to vehicular accidents, oilfield disasters, and construction site or other workplace catastrophes. For more information, see https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/austin Reyna Law Firm Enters American Academy of Attorneys' 500 Million Dollar Club To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/169534_d1e34659344188c5_001full.jpg As recipients of the 500 Million Dollar Club award, Reyna Law Firm is now part of a select group of American attorneys with major settlement victories under its belt. The award recognizes the firm's impact in fighting for those who have been unjustly injured - including negotiating fair offers by opposing insurers or legal counsel as well as court-awarded sums. "We are extremely honored to be inducted into the 500 Million Dollar Club," commented Juan Reyna, Reyna Law Firm's lead and founding attorney. "This recognition is a testament to our dedication to serving the needs of our clients and ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve after suffering from an accident caused by the negligence of others." The firm's lead attorney RJ Reyna points to Austin-area car crashes as a significant category in which the firm has chiefly assisted victims and their families. Reyna says that the firm's recent award signifies its past and continuing efforts to support those hurt in such dangerous settings. As explained by the American Academy of Attorneys, membership in the 500 Million Dollar Club is a lifetime-valid privilege. Reyna Law Firm features the award's seal on its website to demonstrate its recent qualification while celebrating its industry-renowned accomplishment. News of the award brings a substantial boost to Reyna Law Firm's already-strong reputation among Texas and New Mexico communities. It primarily serves as further validation of its positive track record in helping injured clients and their loved ones find closure and receive much-needed financial aid to the tune of hundreds of millions in combined winnings. No-obligation case evaluations with the firm are primarily scheduled online or via its over-the-phone contact listings. Interested parties in and around Austin can find further details about Reyna Law Firm at https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/ Contact Info: Name: James Lewis Email: james@jreynalawfirm.com Organization: Reyna Law Firm Austin Address: 2025 Guadalupe St #260, Austin, TX 78705, United States Website: https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/austin To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169534 Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. AT&S: The European Commission has approved the important Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) to support research, innovation and the first industrial deployment of microelectronics and communication technologies along the value chain. 68 projects from 56 companies are involved in the IPCEI. These direct participants will work closely together in more than 180 planned cross-border collaborations. Direct participants from Austria are AT&S, AVL, Eemco, Infineon Austria, NXP Semiconductors. Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) is participating as an associated partner on behalf of Austria. The fourteen Member States (including Austria) will provide up to 8.1 billion in public funds, which is expected to unlock an additional 13.7 billion in private ... 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. HAMBURG, Germany, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A study conducted by researchers from the ALL-MED Medical Research Institute and the Department of Clinical Immunology at Wroclaw Medical University in Poland has validated the use of an allergen exposure chamber (AEC) in assessing the clinical outcomes of house dust mite (HDM) allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The study focused on evaluating the efficacy and safety of AEC-derived clinical outcomes of subcutaneous HDM AIT, a treatment designed to alleviate symptoms triggered by HDM allergies. Fifty patients with HDM-triggered allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were included in the study, with HDM allergy confirmed through various diagnostic tests such as skin prick tests, serum-specific IgE, and basophil activation tests. During the study, patients were assessed in the allergen exposure chamber before commencing AIT and after 12 months of treatment. The chamber provided a controlled environment, allowing patients to be exposed to HDM allergen under stable and well-regulated conditions. Various clinical endpoints, including total nasal symptom score (TNSS), visual analog scale (VAS), and objective parameters such as acoustic rhinometry, peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), and nasal secretion weight, were used to assess the effectiveness of AIT. The results of the study demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in TNSS (p<0.005) after one year of AIT, indicating the positive impact of the treatment on nasal symptoms. There was a high reduction in nasal symptoms observed using other objective parameters (PNIF, nasal secretion, acoustic rhinometry-MCA). These findings suggest the potential of AEC as a valuable tool for data collection, proof-of-concept studies, and biomarker analysis. "The study findings demonstrate that the Allergen Exposure Chamber (AEC) challenge is consistent and safe, allowing researchers to collect data quickly and of high quality. Moreover, the results indicate that the clinical measurements obtained in the AEC align well with the effectiveness evaluation using the Combined Symptom and Medication Score (CSMS) in real-life conditions. This suggests that the AEC could serve as an alternative to traditional trial designs. Specifically, the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) measured in the AEC is identified as a reliable primary endpoint in clinical trials. However, nasal provocation tests (NPT) may not be suitable as a primary endpoint since they do not correlate well with CSMS in real-life conditions and TNSS in the AEC", says Professor Marek Jutel from Wroclaw. The researchers emphasize the importance of further validating clinical endpoints using immunological biomarkers for the continued development and application of AEC in clinical trials. The study also suggests that accelerated dose escalation of native HDM AIT is both safe and convenient. A movie on Allergen Chamber test is available here: https://review.jove.com/v/64801'status=a66807k In conclusion, the study confirms that the allergen exposure chamber challenge is an effective, reproducible, and safe method for assessing the outcomes of HDM AIT in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Ongoing research is being conducted to validate clinical endpoints using immunological biomarkers, offering promising prospects for improved diagnostic and treatment approaches. About EAACI: The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) is an association of clinicians,researchers and allied health professionals founded in 1956. EAACI is dedicated to improving the healthof people affected by allergic diseases. With more than 15 000 members from 125 countries and over 75National Allergy Societies, EAACI is the primary source of expertise in Europe and worldwide for allaspects of allergy. Contact: EAACI Headquarters, Hagenholzstrasse 111, 3rd Floor 8050 Zurich, CH- Switzerland Tel: +41799561865 communications@eaaci.org www.eaaci.org Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2060385/EAACI_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/annual-congress-2023-of-the-european-academy-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology-groundbreaking-study-validates-allergen-exposure-chamber-for-assessing-clinical-outcomes-of-hdm-ait-in-allergic-rhinoconjunctivitis-patients-301847819.html In the few last months the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR), two anti-Putin Russian militias based in Ukraine, launched raids into Russia. The two militias are not identical. The LSR began when about a hundred Russian soldiers defected mostly as a single group in early 2022. The RDK was formed around Russians living and working in Ukraine when the invasion began. Both groups are almost entirely composed of Russians who oppose Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The raids are meant to embarrass Putin, not kill Russian soldiers and civilians. Some of the Russian responses to the raids did that, notably by doing the same things they did in Ukraine, like bombing and using thermobaric weapons in civilian areas, looting (of Russian instead of Ukrainian civilians), etc.. Most of the responses against the Ukrainian-backed Russian militias were ineffectual, which is typical of the Russian Army Putin has created to fight in Ukraine. These raiding operations took place in the Russian province of Belgorod, which is on the border north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Initially these raids faced no armed opposition and when Russian security forces showed during more recent raids, the Russian troops either retreated or surrendered. This was not unexpected because Russian troops in Ukraine have performed poorly from the beginning. Worse, the raiders were all Russians who, unlike most Russian army personnel in Ukraine, were competent and effective fighters whose motivation was to discredit Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine. It was also a mystery, at first, where these anti-Putin Russians came from. The LSR was formed in early 2022 from a company of Russian soldiers who defected to the Ukrainians in March 2022 and became part of the International Legion Ukraine formed from the many foreign veterans who went to Ukraine to fight the invaders. The RDK consisted of Russians living in Russia and Ukraine who were fed up with Putin and also joined the International Legion but later left that to form the RDK While the International Legion was formed to defend Ukraine, the RDK and LSR were formed to embarrass, discredit and oust Putin from power. Since the invasion began in February 2022, there have been a growing number of Russians who oppose the war. This is one reason why some of the raids are carried out deep (over 50 kilometers) inside Russia. The Russian armed response to these raids has been embarrassingly ineffective. Before these raids began, the Ukrainian border was lightly guarded, on both sides, by border guards and conscripts. Once these raids by Ukrainian-backed Russian militias began and the border was revealed to be vulnerable, Russia tried to reinforce border security along the entire 540-kilometer border. This proved to be difficult without withdrawing a substantial number of Russian troops from Ukraine along with artillery, armored vehicles and air support. This led some Russian media critics to describe this as an easy, for Ukraine, way to divert forces from the fighting in Ukraine. Russian media was ordered to downplay the fact that the raiders were Russian. The reality of the situation eventually reached most Russians. This is what RDK and LSR wanted, to show that Russians were fighting against Putin. Russia described the raiders as Ukrainian terrorists, playing down the fact that the raiders were Russians. Media coverage of the raids made it obvious that Russian security forces were no better at defending the border than they were at defeating Ukrainians inside Ukraine. Russia also has to worry about the imminent Ukrainian counteroffensive in southern Ukraine. If that offensive has any obvious success, it will demonstrate that the poor security on the Belgorod border was part of a pattern of Russian military failures in Ukraine. Putin is ignoring this and his close associates are not supposed to tell Putin how bad the situation is in Ukraine. This is not a strategy for victory, but for ignoring defeats and hoping for the best. Inside Russia the media cannot report the problems on the border or inside Ukraine. Russians who are curious have other ways, usually via the Internet, to find out what is really going on. As the economic sanctions on Russia continue and are increased, that means more economic privation for Russian civilians. Putin is confident that the traditional Russian willingness to tolerate the shortages and higher unemployment will prevent any protests inside Russia. That has generally been the case. But because this is not a war where Russia has been invaded and is defending itself, Russian military losses and economic losses are harder to justify. Russia is the invader of a neighbor that was not attacking Russia. This reduces the Russian peoples willingness to tolerate the cost of the war. And now Russia is facing armed Russians fighting inside Russia to protest the Putin policies. "It is critical that we focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate, tells UN Climate Change Conference. The conference, running from June 5-15 in Bonn, Germany, is hosting discussions on a range of issues, including the Global Stocktake, the global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage and the mitigation work program. "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake ensuring a just and balanced energy transition that leaves no one behind." BONN, Germany, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COP28 President-Delegate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, met with heads of delegations and key negotiating groups including those from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference, being held in the run up to COP28, emphasizing the need to engage and listen to all voices in the climate change discussion - especially those of the Global South. The conference, taking place in Bonn, 5-15 June, is hosting discussions on more than 50 agenda items. In framing the meetings in Bonn, Dr. Sultan said "we will reach out to engage every community, seek to include the active participation of the under-represented, including young people and indigenous peoples. And we will give the space and enabling environment to discuss, debate and align on every mandate across every climate pillar." During his meeting with the delegates from the G77 + China Group, Dr. Al Jaber said, the G77 members have a special contribution to make by helping shape ambitious negotiated outcomes, a transformative action agenda and a just and equitable energy transition that leaves no one behind. For this, climate finance is critical, with Dr. Al Jaber emphasizing his commitment to reform global financial institutions, to unlock more concessional finance, to attract much more private capital. He underscored that COP28 will be the first-time a G77 Summit is hosted at a COP. Dr. Al Jaber also engaged with the Arab Group and various delegates from SIDS and highlighted the importance of driving tangible changes to deliver real climate action that leaves no one behind. Adaptation, he said, is a critical focus for the region - securing resources for countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, including those associated with food and health. "Everyone is affected and the most vulnerable communities who have done the least to cause climate change, are the most affected. Arab countries only contribute 5% of global emissions yet are among the hardest hit by climate impacts. Temperatures rising across Middle East and North Africa region almost twice as quickly as rest of world", added Dr. Al Jaber. Building on these comments, Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion highlighted her longstanding commitments to nature and biodiversity and the critical role they will play in delivering a successful outcome. She also emphasized the importance for inclusion to cut across every aspect of the COP process especially those most vulnerable to ensure that every voice is heard and that every stakeholder feels empowered to participate in the shared commitment to combatting climate change. Delegates from member states of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) met with Dr. Al Jaber. He pointed out that Africa is rich in clean energy resources - including wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal - providing the African continent with huge potential for low-carbon growth and sustainable development. But that this will only be feasible if finance, technology, and capacity building is made available through investment that flows at scale, making a just transition a reality. "It is critical that we build on the successes of COP27 to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," he said. "The phase down of fossil fuels is inevitable. The speed at which this happens depends on how quickly we can phase up zero carbon alternatives, while ensuring energy security, accessibility, and affordability." Dr. Al Jaber also listened to the priorities of the Indigenous Peoples, the role they can play in the COP process, and assured them that that their voices and those from marginalized communities are being heard. He noted that Indigenous Peoples represent just 5 percent of the global population but protect 80 percent of the world's biodiversity. The role of Indigenous Peoples as custodians of nature will be recognized by an "Indigenous Peoples Pavilion" at COP28. During his remarks at the Constituency Roundtable, the President-Designate said: "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake, ensuring a just and balanced energy transition and providing space for discussion, dialogue and consensus on the role of fossil fuels", adding "We are committed to ensuring all groups, all stakeholders, are fully engaged. We need a COP of action, a COP of solidarity, and a COP of unity", added Dr. Al Jaber. In his remarks to the Heads of Delegation of all Negotiating Groups and Parties under the UNFCCC, Dr. Al Jaber said: "The COP28 Presidency recognizes the views of many in this room that the Global Stocktake, and by extension COP28, must be a turning point. We must respond to the Stocktake with a pragmatic and effective way forward to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement." He further added: "Many of you have devoted your entire careers to this cause. You know what is at stake. Many of us remember that moment in Paris when the world chose to take a different path to a better, sustainable zero carbon future. We know we aren't moving fast enough, but we also know that we have the power to make the difference, if we act in solidarity." Young people will be at the forefront of addressing the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber told the youth delegation, which is why COP28 will be putting a special focus on empowering youth. He introduced COP28's Youth Climate Champion, Shamma Al Mazrui, who stressed the importance of including youth in all conversations around climate change. Al Mazrui also headlined the first ever Youth Stocktake event; an assessment of the challenges for youth inclusion in UNFCCC processes and a roadmap for the future. The COP28 Presidency also met with SB Chairs Ambassador Nabil Munir and Harry Vroels and various other delegation heads attending a reception at the Bundeskunsthalle museum. "At COP28, we are going to be laser-focused on concrete and ambitious solutions that will allow us to bridge the gaps by 2030. And we will include all stakeholders to drive an inclusive plan of action that gets us moving in the right direction. We need to shift from incremental steps to transformational progress that delivers for everyone, everywhere. And that work begins right here in Bonn." For all media enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact communications@cop28.com For up-to-date COP28 news, follow us on Twitter @COP28_UAE COP28 UAE: COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023. The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state,?government officials, international?industry leaders, private sector? ?representatives,?academics, experts,?youth, and non-state actors.? As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global?Stocktake?- a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals.? The UAE will lead a process for all parties to agree upon a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a "leave no one behind"?approach to inclusive climate action.? Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098381/COP28_Indigenous_Communities.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098380/COP28_Meeting_with_LDCs.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop28-must-deliver-for-the-most-vulnerable-president-designate-tells-un-climate-change-conference-301847825.html The United Arab Emirates (UAE), with which India implemented a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in May last year, has emerged as the fourth largest investor in India during 2022-23, according to government data. In the last fiscal, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the UAE to India jumped over three-fold to $3.35 billion from $1.03 billion in 2021-22, the data of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) showed. The UAE was the fourth largest investor in India in 2022-23 compared to the seventh in 2021-22. Singapore was the largest investor in India with $17.2 billion investment in FY23, followed by Mauritius with $6.1 billion and the U.S. with $6 billion). The rapidly strengthening of bilateral ties and investment cooperation between India and UAE can be chiefly attributed to the strong bilateral relations between India and UAE, growth in investment commitments from UAE, and the policy reforms to further ease of doing businesses between the two countries, Rudra Kumar Pandey, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said. UAEs investments in India are mainly in sectors like services, sea transport, power and construction activities. One of the crucial factors for the increase in FDI from UAE is the signing of the CEPA between India and UAE on February 18, 2022 (effective from May 1, 2022), Mr. Pandey added. Apart from CEPA, another growth engine of FDI from UAE in India is the investment commitment from UAE. UAE has committed to invest $75 billion in the Indian infrastructure sector over a period of time. It has also committed to partner with India in the renewable energy sector, Mr. Pandey noted. Pandey also highlighted the UAEs commitment to invest $75 billion in Indias infrastructure sector over a designated period, along with its interest in collaborating with India in the renewable energy sector. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has facilitated zero-duty access for a range of goods between India and the UAE, while also streamlining investment norms, leading to increased investments between the two countries. Data indicates that the UAE accounts for approximately 2.5% of the total foreign direct investment (FDI) received by India from April 2000 to March 2023. During this period, India has attracted $5.6 billion in foreign inflows from the UAE. Experts highlight that the trade agreements have played a significant role in boosting imports, exports, and subsequent investments from the UAE into Indian companies. Anindya Ghosh, Partner at IndusLaw, notes that Indias continuous liberalization of its FDI policy has further encouraged such investments. Additionally, several Indian startups are exploring expansion opportunities in the UAE, contributing to the strengthening economic ties between the two nations. Ghosh also points out that the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, through their Innovation Program, actively supports innovation-driven startups by providing financial and non-financial incentives, including access to data, networks, licensing, logistics, real estate, and visas. The expansion plans and activities of Indian startups not only stimulate investment from UAE-based funds but also incentivize them to invest more in innovation-based startups in India, Ghosh 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. Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday held a mega rally in Rajasthans Dausa amid speculation that he will form his own party. He paid homage to his father Rajesh Pilot on his death anniversary. The leader also unveiled Rajesh Pilots bust. Pilot took a dig at Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot saying, If I talk about helping the youth who were cheated, they call me mentally bankrupt. If there is something lacking in our governance then without blaming others we should rectify itI didnt put forward my demands to defame someoneraising your opinion is very important in politics, he added. #WATCH | Rajasthan: if there is something lacking in our governance then without blaming others we should rectify itI didnt put forward my demands to defame someoneraising your opinion is very important in politics: Congress leader Sachin Pilot in Dausa pic.twitter.com/AhhrIviJdr ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 11, 2023 Rumours: Congress on speculation that Pilot may float own party However, contrary to speculation, Pilot did not announce the formation of a new party. The Congress had on Saturday exuded confidence a positive solution would be found to the intra-party discord in Rajasthan, even as all eyes remained set on Pilots rally. The party also rubbished reports Pilot would float a new party. It has said he will unitedly contest the next Rajasthan Assembly elections. Asked about the developments in Rajasthan, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, Our party president and we surely feel there will be a positive solution to this issue. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal on Friday dismissed as rumours reports that Pilot may announce his own party and asserted the Congress will contest Rajasthans assembly polls unitedly. I dont believe in rumours. The reality is that the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi discussed with Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot and after that we said that we will go together. That is the position of the Congress party, Venugopal had told PTI. In my knowledge, there is no such thing, he said, when asked specifically about reports of Pilot floating a new party. Venugopal said he has been meeting Pilot and been in touch with Pilot recently. He also told the media to be optimistic and not believe in such rumours. Who told you he is going out of the party. These are imaginary rumours. Dont believe these rumours. Be optimistic. Dont worry, we will fight unitedly. The Rajasthan Congress will fight unitedly, he 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. Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and heads of terror groups are reportedly involving women and juveniles in carrying weapons and messages as traditional means of communication decline among terrorists. Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, the General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, has revealed a concerning trend in Kashmir. Lt Gen Aujla emphasized the need for caution, as those across the Line of Control (LoC) are actively scheming to disturb the current peaceful environment. Speaking to PTI, Lt Gen Aujla stated Todays threat, as I see it, is involving women, girls, and juveniles in carrying messages, drugs, or, at times, weapons. So far, the army has detected some cases highlighting an emerging trend which in itself is a dangerous move that Pakistans ISI and heads of tanzeems (terror groups) have adopted. We, along with other agencies, are jointly working on this. When asked about the decrease in mobile communication usage by terror groups, the army officer explained that the Techint (technical intelligence) signatures have significantly reduced, and many Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who served as conduits have been apprehended. Therefore, now women, girls, and juveniles have been roped in as an alternative mainly to carry messages, added the top army officer in the valley. Road to Deradicalisation in Kashmir Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, the General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, highlighted the success of the Sahi Rasta (right path) program as a significant component of the deradicalisation strategy in Kashmir. The program, implemented in collaboration with the Union Territory administration, has played a crucial role in achieving peace and stability in the region. While acknowledging the progress made, Lt Gen Aujla emphasized the need to consolidate the gains before attaining lasting peace. He cautioned against complacency, particularly as the neighboring country, without explicitly naming Pakistan, continues to perpetuate trouble on both sides of Pir Panjal. The recent infiltration attempt in the Machil sector of north Kashmir serves as evidence of these ongoing challenges. Lt Gen Aujla assured that all security agencies, along with the Union Territory administration, are fully prepared to counter any malicious intentions of the adversary. While infiltration along the Line of Control has shown some decrease, there have been attempts in the South of Pir Panjal and neighboring Punjab, necessitating constant vigilance. He reaffirmed the commitment to national security as the utmost priority, leaving no stone unturned in its preservation. Lt Gen Aujla acknowledged the potential threats from across the border and underscored the collective efforts in maintaining the current state of peace and normalcy while mitigating risks posed by hostile elements. Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla expressed confidence in the progress made against terrorism in Kashmir, attributing it to mounting pressure and intelligence-based operations. The effectiveness of these measures has compelled the majority of terrorists to either flee the valley or adopt a low-profile stance. Addressing the concern regarding the invisible form of terrorism, Lt Gen Aujla emphasized the collaborative efforts aimed at eradicating this phenomenon. While it is challenging to provide an exact count of local and foreign terrorists, he estimated that the number is currently at its lowest point in the past 33 years. The decline in terror attacks and encounters between terrorists and security forces this year signifies a positive development toward peace and normalcy in Kashmir. Lt Gen Aujla commended the shift in local sentiments away from violence and emphasized the importance of sustaining this trend. Building trust between the population, security forces, and relevant government agencies is crucial at this juncture. Lt Gen Aujla acknowledged the cooperation of the people as a key factor in reaching this stage and highlighted the adoption of more people-friendly operations to align with the changing security environment. With optimism, Lt Gen Aujla expressed the belief that collective efforts will successfully establish a new normal of peace in Kashmir in the days ahead. Lt Gen Aujla lauded the seamless coordination among the various security forces in ensuring a successful and incident-free G-20 meeting held in the valley. (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. An IndiGo Airlines flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad strayed into Pakistan before heading back to the Indian airspace without any mishap, a media report said on Sunday. The flight strayed near Lahore due to bad weather and went up to Gujranwala. According to flight radar, the Indian plane with a ground speed of 454 knots entered north of Lahore at about 7:30 pm on Saturday and returned to India at 8:01 pm, a report in Pakistani newspaper Dawn said. There was no immediate comment from the airline. A senior official of Pakistans Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that it was not unusual as it was internationally allowed in bad weather conditions, the report added. Pakistan International Airlines flight entered Indian airspace in May In May, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan. The flight, PK248, was returning from Muscat on 4 May and was attempting to land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. However, heavy rainfall made it difficult for the pilot to land the Boeing 777 aircraft. Meanwhile, several flights were diverted and delayed in Pakistan due to poor visibility at airports. The CAA spokesman said that it had extended the weather warning for Lahore till 11:30 pm on Saturday as the visibility at the Allama Iqbal International Airport was 5,000 metres. A number of flights heading to Lahore were diverted to Islamabad due to poor visibility. Rain accompanied by strong winds and thunder lashed parts of Pakistan on Saturday evening. The worst hit areas were the three adjoining districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province where about 29 people were killed, according to a report by Pakistans The Express Tribune newspaper. Cyclone Biparjoy which has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm is expected to make its landfall near Pakistan and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch coasts around afternoon of 15 June. 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. Manipur Information and Public Relations Minister DR Sapam Ranjan on Saturday said that no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the state in the last 24 hours indicating the return of normalcy in the state. No untoward incident has taken place in the state since yesterday, this is proof that peace and normalcy are returning to our state. Combing operations have been launched at various places across the state, Sapam Ranjan said. Addressing the media persons, the minister said that 349 relief camps are presently operational across Manipur. Manipur has seen ethnic violence with Chief Minister N Biren Singh stating earlier this month that around 60 people have lost their lives in the clashes. Houses have also been burnt during the violence, with new incidents also reported from some parts of the state. The minister further said that out of the total looted 4,537 arms, the state government has recovered 990 arms. A number of weapons including around 53 weapons, 39 bombs and 74 ammunition and magazines have been recovered, he added. The minister further said that the state has been taking up all appropriate security measures to restore peace and harmony. The government is putting all efforts to ensure that rail services reach Khongsang by activating the railway station within seven to ten days, he added. So far, 114 companies of the CAPF have been deployed across Manipur, he said. On Saturday, the security forces conducted joint combing operations for the fourth day in sensitive areas both in the hills and valleys following violence and ethnic clashes in the state and recovered 22 weapons. Earlier in the day, the central government constituted a Peace Committee in Manipur under the chairpersonship of the Governor. The panel is aimed at facilitating the peacemaking process among various ethnic groups in the state. The committee was formed days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that a peace panel will be put together to ensure that normality is restored to Manipur at the earliest. He made the announcement after taking stock of the situation in Manipur during his four-day visit to the state between May 29 to June 1. Manipur has been in the throes of ethnic violence for a month, in the wake of a directive of the high court asking the state government to consider including the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). The Centre had to deploy paramilitary forces as violence escalated in the Northeast state. Violence erupted on May 3 during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. 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 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a maha rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday against the Centres ordinance on control of services in the national capital. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with other top leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Sanjay Singh, are expected to attend the programme. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal is expected to address the rally. Party spokesperson Reena Gupta said they are expecting one lakh people to join the rally, adding that AAP has carried out extensive campaigns to inform the masses about the Ordinance and its impact on their daily life. We have done extensive campaigning, reached out to people and explained them about the Ordinance and how will it impact their day to day lives, Gupta told PTI. She further said the schemes introduced by the Delhi government will not get implemented in the union territory if the officers of Delhi are not accountable to the Chief Minister. People of Delhi elected Arvind Kejriwal thrice and schemes that are being drafted for peoples development cannot be implemented if the officers of Delhi are not accountable to the Chief Minister, she said. The Supreme Court judgment also said that how will an elected government function if the bureaucrats dont listen to them. People of Delhi are upset that why is the Centre trying change it, Gupta added. Centre sets up ordinance after SC verdict on services row The ordinance issued by the Centre on 19 May set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority, bringing back executive control over matters related to services to its domain. It was issued close on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict on 11 May, through which the Delhi government was given the executive control over service-related matters, including the transfers and postings of Delhi government officers but excluding those related to police, public order and land. When asked about the AAPs moves against the ordinance, BJP leader Gautam Gambhir alleged that Delhi has witnessed no development in the last nine years. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has only been collecting money from the taxpayers to fight elections in other states, he added. What development has he (Arvind Kejriwal) brought to Delhi in these nine years? They only collect money from here and fights elections in other states, he alleged. 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. Two people have been detained in Kolkata on charges of attempting to defraud and threaten the General Manager (GM) of Eastern Railway. One of the defendants pretended to be the secretary of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee. Eastern Railway has reportedly lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Police. The detective department took charge of the investigation and claimed that two accused had already been arrested in connection with this case, the police said in a statement. The accused person, Bivash Sarkar, is said to have emailed the General Manager (GM) in an effort to secure a railway contract for the line connecting Rampurhat and Swadinpur in Bengal, according to the police. Eastern Railway received an email from the email id of one Biswanath Sarkar, wherein he impersonated himself as 2nd personal Secretary to Abhishek Banerjee and demanded to release an amount of Rs 5,87,82,203 as tender amount immediately, the police said, adding that the same person later called at the office of General Manager Eastern Railway from his mobile phone and threatened the officials with dire consequences and demanded extortion money and thereby tried to cheat them. Following a proper investigation, a case was filed at Hare Street PS under the appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Information Technology (IT) Act against Bivash, Biswanath, and others. Bivash Sarkar, one of the suspects, was taken into custody, and his mobile was taken. He confessed while being questioned, the police claim. He appeared before the Kolkata Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and was remanded in jail until June 19. Around nine oclock on Saturday night, another suspect, Biswanath Sarkar, was taken into custody outside of his home. (With agency inputs) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Peshawar: Pakistani security forces exchanged fire with terrorists in the restive North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan, killing a least three soldiers and three militants, the Army said on Sunday. The shootout took place in the Miranshah area of the district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province overnight early on Saturday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the militarys media wing, said in a statement. Four terrorists were also injured during the gun battle, ISPR said. The security forces seized arms and ammunition from the possession of the slain terrorists and launched a sanitisation operation to eliminate any other militant found in the area. Although the Pakistani military claims it has cleared North Waziristan of militants, occasional attacks and shootouts continue, raising concerns that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which earlier had a stronghold in the district, are regrouping in the area. The TTP is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, as the US and NATO forces withdrew from the country after two decades of war. The TTP unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and has since stepped up its attacks in the country. According to a Biden administration official, China has been operating a spy facility in Cuba since at least 2019. This is part of Beijings global endeavour to improve its intelligence-gathering capabilities. The individual, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss publicly, said the US intelligence community has been aware of Chinas eavesdropping from Cuba and a bigger attempt to set up information-gathering operations throughout the world for some time. According to an individual knowledgeable with US intelligence on the topic, the Biden administration has ramped up attempts to prevent Chinas ambition to expand its surveillance activities and feels it has achieved some headway through diplomacy and other undisclosed action. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that China and Cuba had signed an agreement in principle to install an electronic eavesdropping station on the island, confirming the existence of the Chinese spy site. According to the Journal, China planned to contribute billions of dollars to a cash-strapped Cuba as part of the discussions. The story, however, was deemed false by the White House and Cuban officials. Ive seen that press report, its not accurate, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an MSNBC interview on Thursday. What I can tell you is that we have been concerned since day one of this administration about Chinas influence activities around the world; certainly in this hemisphere and in this region, were watching this very, very closely. The US intelligence community had determined that Chinese spying from Cuba has been an ongoing matter and is not a new development, the administration official said. President Joe Bidens national security team was briefed by the intelligence community soon after he took office in January 2021 about a number of sensitive Chinese efforts around the globe where Beijing was weighing expanding logistics, basing and collection infrastructure as part of the Peoples Liberation Armys attempt to further its influence, the official said. Chinese officials looked at sites that spanned the Atlantic Ocean, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and the Indo-Pacific. The effort included looking at existing collection facilities in Cuba, and China conducted an upgrade of its spying operation on the island in 2019, the official said. Tensions between the US and China have been fraught throughout Bidens term. The relationship may have hit a nadir last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to democratically governed Taiwan. That visit, the first by a sitting House speaker since Newt Gingrich in 1997, led China, which claims the island as its territory, to launch military exercises around Taiwan. US-China relations became further strained early this year after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the United States. Beijing also was angered by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens stopover in the US last month which included an encounter with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The speaker hosted the Taiwanese leader at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in southern California. Still, the White House has been eager to resume high-level communications between the two sides. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to travel to China next week, a trip that was cancelled as the balloon was flying over the US Blinken expects to be in Beijing on 18 June for meetings with senior Chinese officials, according to US officials, who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because neither the State Department nor the Chinese foreign ministry has yet confirmed the trip. CIA Director William Burns met in Beijing with his counterpart last month. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with his Chinese counterpart in Vienna over two days in May and made clear that the administration wanted to improve high-level communications with the Chinese side. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently spoke briefly with Li Shangfu, Chinas minister of national defence, at the opening dinner of a security forum in Singapore. China had earlier rejected Austins request for a meeting on the sidelines of the forum. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated a counteroffensive against Russian soldiers was begun, but he declined to elaborate on the activities of his army. Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail, Zelenskyy said on Saturday, commenting after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Kyivs operation was already failing. Russia has reported thwarting Ukrainian attacks in the east and south. Its interesting what Putin said about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion, Zelenskyy said. He said that he spoke with military leaders on a regular basis, including armed forces head Valery Zaluzhny, and that everyone is positive now tell that to Putin! According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Kyivs military began counteroffensive operations in at least four front-line sectors on Saturday. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces have tactical advantages in conducting assaults at night due to Western-provided equipment with superior night optics systems, ISW said. To shore up that stockpile, Zelenskyy secured fresh pledges of military aid while meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the weekend. Held to account Trudeau, 51, and Zelenskyy, 45, hugged and used each others first names as the Canadian leader made his second unannounced visit to Kyiv since full-scale war broke out in February last year. Canada, which hosts a large Ukrainian diaspora, has been one of Kyivs key allies since the Russian invasion. It has provided Ukraine with significant military aid, trained more than 36,000 soldiers and adopted sanctions against Moscow. On Saturday, the Canadian leader said he would provide Can$500 million (US$375 million) in fresh military assistance to Kyiv, and pledged Canada would be part of the multinational effort to train Ukraines fighter pilots. Trudeau also urged international organisations to come to the aid of those in Russian-occupied territories after flooding from the breached Kakhovka dam forced thousands to flee their homes and sparked fears of humanitarian and environmental disasters. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam on Tuesday, while Moscow says Kyiv fired on it. When asked why he stopped short of blaming Russia for the dam collapse, Trudeau said: I know there are investigators and there are a lot of questions and intelligence being analysed on what exactly happened to have this dam collapse. But there is no doubt in my mind that absent Russias invasion of last February, that dam would still be standing today. Pledging Can$10 million in flood relief, Trudeau also said Russia will be held to account for its actions in Ukraine. Earlier in the day, Trudeau placed flowers by a wall of remembrance displaying photos of soldiers killed in combat. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Oleksandr Polishchuk handed Trudeau a box that he said held shrapnel from a rocket that fell on the Black Sea port city of Odesa. He said the gift was intended to remind Trudeau of Ukraines suffering from Russian strikes. Iran must end support for Russia Three people were killed early Saturday in a fire sparked by debris from shot-down Russian drones in the Odesa region. French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to immediately end Tehrans support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, which involves supplying Moscow with attack drones, the Elysee said. Macron in a telephone call underlined the serious security and humanitarian consequences of Irans drone deliveries and urged Tehran to immediately end the support it thus gives to Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, said a statement. The call came a day after White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Russia was receiving materials from Iran to build a drone factory that could be fully operational early next year. The United States has said that Russia has received hundreds of Iranian attack drones to hit Kyiv and terrorise Ukrainians, a charge denied by Tehran. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Officials announced on Sunday that a combination of heavy rains and strong winds in northwest Pakistan resulted in the tragic loss of lives, claiming the lives of at least 27 individuals, including eight children. Taimur Ali Khan, a spokesperson for the provincial disaster management authority, revealed that twelve people were tragically buried alive as their houses collapsed due to the severe weather conditions. The storm affected four districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with Bannu district being the hardest hit, where 15 people lost their lives, including five siblings aged between two and eleven. Additionally, over 140 people were injured, and more than 200 livestock perished. In response to the dire situation, authorities have declared an emergency across all four districts. It is worth noting that last year, Pakistan faced an unprecedented monsoon season that resulted in widespread flooding, submerging a significant portion of the country and causing extensive damage to two million homes. Tragically, this led to the loss of over 1,700 lives. Meanwhile, in the southern part of the country, authorities issued a warning on Sunday regarding an approaching cyclone from the Arabian Sea, expected to affect both Pakistan and India. The provincial disaster management authority in Sindh province cautioned about the likelihood of exceptionally heavy rainfall and winds reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour later in the week. In light of this, fishermen were advised to avoid venturing into the open sea until the system subsides, which is projected to occur by June 17. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ukraine on Sunday announced that its forces have recaptured a village in the southeastern part of the war-torn country. This marks the first reported territorial gain of the ongoing offensive. After raising anticipation for months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that a counteroffensive against Russian forces was in progress, but he refrained from providing specific details. In a statement released on Sunday, Ukraines ground forces declared that the 68th separate ranger brigade had successfully liberated the settlement of Blagodatne in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. A video released by the ground forces depicted soldiers raising the Ukrainian flag atop a ruined building. VIDEO: Ukrainian troops raise the national flag in the liberated village of Neskuchne in Donetsk region as the counteroffensive continues pic.twitter.com/4NxE7GPO5y Business Ukraine mag (@Biz_Ukraine_Mag) June 11, 2023 Valeriy Shershen, another military spokesperson, stated in televised remarks that the retaken village was situated on the border between the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia region in the south. He also noted that heavy Ukrainian assaults had been reported by Moscow in that area over the past week. According to Shershen, Ukrainian forces have captured a number of Russian and pro-Russian troops. Significant military achievements by Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia region could potentially lead to the severing of the land bridge connecting Russia with the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine. Such a development would represent a major setback for Moscow. While Ukraine has largely remained silent regarding the offensive, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Kyivs counterattack had already begun but was unsuccessful. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, reported on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four front-line areas. Described as the worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl, Kyiv reported its first territorial gain in the ongoing offensive while southern Ukraine faced a devastating flood that left 35 individuals, including seven children, still missing. The destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam along the front line in the Kherson region on Tuesday resulted in the displacement of thousands of people and raised concerns about both humanitarian and environmental disasters. Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, while Moscow claims that Kyiv fired upon the structure. According to Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko, 77 towns and villages in the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv were affected by the flooding. Klymenko further revealed that 35 people, including seven children, were reported missing in the Kherson region. The flood claimed the lives of five individuals in Kherson and one person in Mykolaiv. As a result, approximately 3,700 people have been evacuated from their homes in the two regions. In Kherson, the largest population center near the dam, the water levels began to recede, allowing locals to return home and assess the extent of the damage, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene. Meanwhile, Ukrainian rescuers in orange boats continued their efforts to evacuate individuals from the worst-affected areas of the city and nearby islands. Lora Musiyan, an employee at Khersons meteorological agency, reported that the water level had decreased by 1.7 meters (5.5 feet) from its peak measurements earlier in the week. In central Kherson, Oleksiy Gesin returned to his grocery store after six days. Equipped with a shovel and wearing rubber boots and a jacket, he worked to clear debris amid heavy rain. Gesin mentioned significant losses, stating that the water had risen to chest level in his store and that food would have to be discarded. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, accompanied by representatives from the International Criminal Court, visited the Kherson region, according to his office. Kostin stated, This is the worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl, so we are investigating not only a war crime but also an ecocide. He described the situation as highly complex and highlighted that several hazardous facilities, including three cemeteries, oil storage terminals, and garbage dumps, had been flooded. Kostin further noted that approximately 450 tonnes of turbine oil had spilled into the Dnipro River and the Black Sea. Over 170 prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the dam breach, and Kostin mentioned the presence of colleagues from the International Criminal Court assisting in the investigation. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A Syrian refugee caught in the stabbing of six people, including four small children, in the French Alpine town of Annecy has been charged with attempted murder, a prosecutor said Saturday. The suspect, identified as Abdalmasih H, was detained following a stabbing spree on Thursday at a playground in the Alpine town of Annecy, a typically picture-perfect lakeside location well-liked by tourists. The terrifying incident shocked France, which has recently had a string of atrocities, most of which were carried out by Islamic extremists. The attack on the playgrounds motive is yet unknown. Abdalmasih H. did not wish to speak during his 48 hours in police custody nor before the magistrates leading the investigation, public prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis told a press conference. After two psychiatric evaluations, Abdalmasih H. was deemed compatible with police custody, she said, adding that doctors had determined he did not suffer from delusions. However, she added that it was too early to diagnose or rule out other psychological pathologies at this stage. Witnesses described the assailant running around the park on the banks of Lake Annecy wearing a bandana and sunglasses, apparently attacking people at random. The victims of the attack were no longer in a life-threatening condition, Bonnet-Mathis said. The children, aged between 22 months and three years, were initially hospitalised in a serious condition, while one adult was also seriously wounded and another lightly hurt. Motivations On Friday, sources close to the investigation reported he was obstructing justice and refusing to talk, with one saying he had at one point just rolled around on the ground. Investigations are underway to understand his motivations, said police official Damien Delaby, adding that more than a hundred investigators were on the case. Recently divorced from a Swedish national and in his early 30s, the suspect had previously lived for 10 years in Sweden where he was granted refugee status in April, security sources and his ex-wife told AFP. He called me around four months ago. He was living in a church, his ex-wife said, adding that he left the country because he had been unable to get Swedish nationality. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told broadcaster TF1 that for reasons not well explained he had also sought asylum in Switzerland, Italy and France. It emerged that his application in France was rejected last Sunday as he already enjoyed refugee status in Sweden. The attack left the normally peaceful town of Annecy in shock, and hundreds of people laid flowers at the site of the attack. On Sunday morning, residents will gather at the lake in support of the victims while the citys mayor will pay homage to those who acted with courage and professionalism and try to intervene. These include two municipal agents who tried to stop the attacker with a shovel, a young man renting out pedal boats and a maths teacher who both tried to step in, a childminder who rushed to rescue two injured children and a tourist who chased the attacker. 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 significant development, Russia has seemingly taken direct control of the Wagner private military group, ending months of internal conflict with defence officials. Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov announced on Saturday that volunteer formations would be required to sign contracts directly with the Ministry of Defence, a statement widely believed to be aimed at Wagner. However, Wagners leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, responded with a furious statement on Sunday, declaring that his forces would boycott the contracts. Wagner has played a prominent role in the Ukrainian war, fighting alongside Russian forces. The ongoing dispute between Prigozhin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, as well as military chief Valery Gerasimov, has been public and acrimonious for months. Prigozhin has accused the pair of incompetence and intentionally withholding supplies from Wagner units in Ukraine. While the announcement on Saturday did not explicitly mention Wagner or other paramilitary groups, Russian media outlets have suggested that the new contracts are an effort to bring Prigozhin and his forces under tighter control. The Russian Defence Ministry has announced a new measure aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of Russian units involved in the conflict in Ukraine. The ministry stated that volunteer formations will now be required to sign contracts with the ministry, with a deadline of 1 July for compliance. The move is intended to provide legal status to these formations and establish common approaches to comprehensive support and task fulfillment. The decision comes amidst long-standing tensions between the ministry and the Wagner Group, which have recently escalated. In a recent incident, the Wagner Group abducted Lt Col Roman Venevitin, a senior frontline army commander, accusing him of attacking a Wagner vehicle. Lt Col Venevitin was eventually released and in a video, he accused the group of instigating disorder on Russias frontlines by stealing weapons, pressuring mobilized soldiers to sign contracts, and attempting to extort arms from the defence ministry. Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin dismissed these claims as baseless. Prigozhin has also suggested that his troops are prepared for deployment within Russia, specifically in the Belgorod region to combat insurgent forces. The Wagner Group, estimated to have around 50,000 troops fighting in Ukraine, has become an increasingly influential tool of Russian state power worldwide, with deployments reported in Mali, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and Libya. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Iryna Radetska, a resident of Kherson, views the devastating floods of her city as the most recent episode in more than a year of suffering due to the conflict. They say a new love kills the old one. Maybe its the same with tragedy, said 52-year-old Radetska, who is deputy head of a school in the southern Ukrainian city. Kherson has seen more misery than other areas since Russia invaded Ukraine in February of last year. Few people suffered more severely than Radetska, who claimed to have endured incarceration, beatings, and rockets. On 2 March 2022, Russian soldiers took control of the city, which had a population of 280,000 during peacetime. Early in November, Ukrainian forces captured it; nonetheless, Russian forces have since often bombarded it from the east bank of the Dnipro River. The most recent setback occurred last week when the Kakhovka dam, located 55 km (35 miles) upstream, was damaged, flooding major portions of Kherson and adjacent communities. Both Kyiv and Moscow have laid the blame for the damage on the other. These days, Radetskas school teaches only online due to the risk of shelling. Pupils include 31 on the Russian-held east bank that was particularly badly hit by the floods, including the town of Oleshky. As far as we know, Oleshky was flooded the mobile connection there is very bad. They are very limited in their movements. Then there is the psychological question, she told Reuters, referring to peoples trauma. Horrors of occupation Leonid Remyha, the chief doctor of one of Khersons hospitals, recalled the huge flow of people into the facility after the dam burst on Monday. They were wet and upset. On the first day, we admitted 136 people they were all in a state of stress. The past weeks events have been a fresh tragedy for Radetska and Remyha, who both recounted threats, imprisonment and torture during Russias occupation. Reuters could not independently verify their accounts of ill-treatment. Moscow has repeatedly denied abuse of civilians or soldiers. Remyha, who is 69, said Russias military ordered the hospital to treat its soldiers under the barrel of a gun. He said the hospitals staff took risks to give illicit assistance to local Ukrainian soldiers left in the city after the occupation. We gave them care, we registered them under fake names and surnames so that the FSB wouldnt catch them, he recalled, referring to Russias security service. We snuck them out of the hospitals so the local population could take them away and shelter them. Remya said that after being fired for his pro-Ukrainian stance, he hid for six weeks but was detained by the FSB on 20 September. There were interrogations every day, twice. This was all accompanied by abuse for instance electric shocks, baton (strikes) on the ribs, legs, knees and fingers, he said. According to Remyha, on the third day of captivity, the Russians discovered he was a doctor, and their treatment of him improved slightly. He was released after 10 days. Radetska also recounted imprisonment and torture under occupation. Over the summer of 2022, she said she turned down offers to return to work at her school. When she went to the school on Aug. 17 to collect her belongings, she had an argument with the new headmaster, which led to her arrest the next day by FSB officers who told her she faced 25 years in jail on terrorism charges. The cell was meant for two people but there were seven of us there, she said. There were two narrow beds and everyone else slept on the floor. Remyha said she was beaten, causing spinal injuries she is still recovering from. She added that she was released after nine days, having been given the choice of recording a video apologising for her actions or execution. Russias FSB did not immediately respond when asked to comment on to the allegations made by Remyha and Radetska. Reuters has previously reported on alleged torture and abuse by Russian authorities in Kherson. Moscow has rejected allegations of abuse against civilians and soldiers in Ukraine and has accused Ukrainian authorities of staging such abuses in places like Bucha, something which Kyiv dismisses as a lie. Liberation and shelling Khersons liberation triggered jubilation from many residents, including Radetska and Remyha. But the euphoria was short-lived given the artillery and rocket fire from across the Dnipro that began to hit the city almost daily. Radetska said her school had been hit several times, including the day before the dam burst. We hadnt even had time to process this, and get used to this thought (of the school being bombed) when another tragedy struck. Today, we probably dont have a single family that hasnt faced the consequences of war whether its death, destruction or fear. People have become different. Children have become noticeably different; theyve become more grown up. Like many residents who remain, Radetska is convinced the city will recover and thrive, but she said she expects the process to be long and difficult. Of the approximately 1,400 children registered at her school, just over 100 are still in the Kherson region. The rest are in other regions of Ukraine or abroad. Remyha said just over half of his hospital staff of around 1,200 before the invasion remained. Of the entire workforce, only 12 fled to Russian-controlled areas when Ukrainian forces returned. We have to show the entire world and ourselves that Kherson is a city of freedom-loving people, and despite everything thats happened, we will definitely survive here, he 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. United Nations: The link between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan remains strong and symbiotic, according to a UN report which said the ability of terrorist groups to freely manoeuvre under the Taliban de facto authorities in Afghanistan is raising the threat of terrorism in the country and the region. The fourteenth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council said that contrary to statements to not allow Afghan soil to be used for attacks against other countries, the Taliban have harboured and allowed active support of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. While maintaining links to numerous terrorist entities, the Taliban have lobbied member states for counter-terrorism assistance in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), which it perceives as its principal rival. The link between the Taliban and both Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and symbiotic. A range of terrorist groups have greater freedom of manoeuvre under the Taliban de facto authorities. They are making good use of this, and the threat of terrorism is rising in both Afghanistan and the region, the report, issued here on Friday, said. It added that while they have sought to reduce the profile of these groups and have conducted operations against ISIL-K, in general, the Taliban have not delivered on the counter-terrorism provisions under the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the United States of America and the Taliban. Further, there are indications that Al-Qaeda is rebuilding operational capability, that TTP is launching attacks into Pakistan with support from the Taliban, that groups of foreign terrorist fighters are projecting threat across Afghanistans borders and that the operations of ISIL-K are becoming more sophisticated and lethal (if not more numerous), it said. The report added that the Taliban harbouring and supporting TTP evidences a threat projecting beyond the borders of Afghanistan and negates the groups numerous assertions that Afghanistans soil will not be used for carrying out attacks against other countries. The relationship between the Afghan Taliban and TTP, like the Talibans relationship with Al-Qaeda, is tightly bonded and unlikely to dissipate, the report said adding that there is an ideological anomaly in the nature of the historical dynamic between TTP and ISIL-K, now the main threat to the Taliban within Afghanistan borders. Continued Taliban support to TTP seems likely to test Pakistans powers of restraint and risks a return to increased levels of violence on both sides of the border, it said. The present Monitoring Team report, the first in which the Taliban have been in power for the entirety of the reporting period, finds that the Taliban leadership shows no signs of bending to pressure for reform or compromise, in the hope of earning international political recognition. They are unchecked by any meaningful political opposition. During the reporting period, the presence of foreign terrorist fighters harboured by the Taliban has become an increasing security threat to many neighbouring countries, it said. He added that this anxiety did not lessen with the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Aiman al-Zawahiri in a Kabul guesthouse connected to Taliban acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani in July 2022. To many of the interlocutors consulted for this report, that single event speaks volumes as to the credibility of Taliban commitments to break with terrorist groups as stated in the Doha Agreement, it said. The report said that the relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda remained close and symbiotic, with Al-Qaeda viewing Taliban-administered Afghanistan as a safe haven. Al-Qaeda still aims to strengthen its position in Afghanistan and has been interacting with the Taliban, supporting the regime and protecting senior Taliban figures. Al-Qaeda maintains a low profile, focusing on using the country as an ideological and logistical hub to mobilize and recruit new fighters while covertly rebuilding its external operations capability, it said. It added that Al-Qaeda seeks to increase its capacity to guide and direct its affiliates and infiltrate its members into the ranks of the Taliban, TTP and ISIL-K. The group funds its activities from the Al-Qaeda core and donations, including through hawala services and cryptocurrencies. Members States assessed ISIL-K as the most serious current terrorist threat in Afghanistan, neighbouring countries and Central Asia. Over the past year, the group has benefited from increased operational capabilities and freedom of movement inside Afghanistan. It seeks to maintain the intense pace of attacks, mostly low impact, combined with sporadic high-impact action to provoke sectarian conflict and destabilize the region in the medium to long term. Since 2022, ISIL-K has claimed more than 190 suicide bomb attacks against soft and hard targets in major cities, leaving some 1,300 people dead or injured. It added that ISIL-K also failed in serious attempts to assassinate Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah Yaqub in 2022. Those operations reportedly included successfully entering the homes of both targets, demonstrating access and the possible use of insider information. Overall, ISIL-K attacks demonstrated strong operational capability involving reconnoitre, coordination, communication, planning and execution. Furthermore, attacks against high-profile Taliban figures raised ISIL-K morale, prevented defections and boosted recruitment, including from within the Talibans ranks. The report said that AQIS (Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent) has approximately 180 to 200 fighters, with Osama Mehmood being the emir of the group, Atif Yahya Ghouri the deputy emir and Muhammad Maruf responsible for recruitment. AQIS is located in Kandahar, Nimruz, Farah, Helmand and Herat Provinces and is actively supporting TTP, enabling it to work around restrictions placed upon it by the Taliban. The number of ISIL-K fighters is estimated to range from 4,000 to 6,000 (including family members), including Afghans and nationals of Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Turkiye and Central Asian countries and a small number of Arab fighters who travelled from the Syrian Arab Republic to Afghanistan in the past year. ISIL-K training camps and strongholds are located mainly in the north (Baghlan, Balkh, Jowzjan, Kunduz and Faryab Provinces), northeast (Badakhshan and Takhar) and east (Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya and Khost), with at least five new ones built in 2022. The group has created a network of sleeper cells in the centre of the country (Kabul, Kapisa and Parwan); elsewhere ISIL-K operate in cells of 5 to 15 people. The estimated strength of TTP in Afghanistan is 4,000 to 6,000 fighters, based mainly in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, Logar, Paktika, Paktiya and Khost. Its leader, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, and deputy Qari Amjad Ali are based in Paktika and Kunar Provinces, respectively. Since the reunification with several splinter groups, TTP has aspired to re-establish control of territory in Pakistan after being emboldened by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, it 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. Former first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, has been arrested in connection with allegations of financial misconduct. This arrest comes as part of Operation Branchform, the ongoing investigation by Police Scotland into claims that the party misused over 600,000 in donations for an independence campaign. Sturgeon, who resigned from her positions in early April, is now the third individual to be arrested in relation to the case. In a brief statement, Police Scotland confirmed that detectives were conducting an interview with Sturgeon as a suspect. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sturgeon clarified that she willingly attended the interview after making prior arrangements with the police. The spokesperson emphasized that Sturgeon had consistently expressed her willingness to cooperate with the investigation and would continue to do so. Previously, Sturgeons husband, Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was arrested at their residence in Uddingston near Glasgow on 5 April. Plainclothes officers had arrived unannounced, and Murrell was subsequently interviewed under caution for nearly 12 hours before being released without charge. The investigation into the financial allegations surrounding the SNPs independence campaign continues, with Sturgeons arrest marking a significant development in the ongoing inquiry. In the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party (SNP), police have carried out searches at multiple locations and made arrests. As part of Operation Branchform, officers executed search warrants at Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrells home, as well as at the SNPs headquarters. Boxes of documents and computers were seized as evidence during the searches. Furthermore, a luxury motorhome parked outside Murrells mothers house was impounded by the police. Colin Beattie MSP, who served as the partys treasurer, was also arrested and questioned in relation to the same inquiry on 18 April. Like Murrell, he was released without charge pending further investigation. In an official statement issued on Sunday at 2:28 pm, Police Scotland confirmed the arrest of a 52-year-old woman, who is believed to be Nicola Sturgeon. The statement mentioned that she is currently in custody and being questioned by detectives. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for further action. The police refrained from providing additional details at this stage. The investigation into the SNPs funding and finances remains active, and these recent developments indicate a significant advancement in the case. The United States believes China has been spying on the rest of the world from a secret base in Cuba since at least 2019. Recent reports indicated that Cuba and China had reached a preliminary agreement to establish a spy base on the island. According to senior US officials familiar with the matter, China intended to provide billions of dollars to Cuba as part of the arrangement. Initially, the White House denied the accuracy of the report. However, on Saturday, it acknowledged that the issue is an ongoing concern and not a new development. White House clarified that the reported arrangement does not align with its understanding of the situation. The statement emphasized that President Joe Biden was briefed on Chinas efforts to expand its military and intelligence presence worldwide upon assuming office in January 2021. It stated that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) had upgraded its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019, a fact well-documented in intelligence records. The White House affirmed that the Chinese government continues to pursue its efforts to strengthen its presence in Cuba, while the United States remains committed to impeding these endeavors. The statement highlighted that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has not achieved its intended objectives in this regard. Furthermore, the United States asserted that it has undertaken diplomatic measures and other actions to slow down the Chinese governments activities in Cuba. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the proposed electronic eavesdropping station on the island would enable China to intercept electronic communications from the southeastern United States, an area that houses numerous US military bases, as well as monitor maritime traffic. In response, China accused the United States of disseminating rumors and engaging in defamation, labeling the US as the most powerful hacker empire in the world. Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that spreading rumors and slander is a common tactic employed by the United States. Wang further characterized the United States as a major surveillance nation and a leading force in the realm of hacking. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman arrived in Varanasi on Sunday to attend the G20 Development Ministers Meeting. USAID is an independent agency of the US government that works towards providing civilian foreign aid and development assistance. The G20 Development Ministers Meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to be held between June 11-13 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair the meeting. The meeting, to be held as part of Indias G20 Presidency, will also see a special video address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs statement said. The Varanasi Development Ministers Meeting takes place in the midst of mounting developmental challenges that have been made worse by the slowdown in the global economy, debt distress, the effects of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, rising poverty and inequality, the cost of living crisis, supply chain disruptions around the world, and geopolitical tensions and conflicts. The G20 Development Ministerial meeting will be an opportunity to collectively agree on actions for accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering synergies between the development, environment and climate agendas while avoiding costly trade-offs that hold back progress for the developing countries, the statement added. The Varanasi gathering follows the Voice of the Global South Summit, which was hosted by India in January 2023. The decisions made at the Varanasi meeting will also have an impact on the United Nations SDG Summit, which will be held in New York in September. Further, according to the statement, the meeting will consist of two main sessions one on Multilateralism: Collective Actions for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs and another on Green Development: A LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Approach. The Development Ministers Meeting was preceded by the fourth and final Development Working Group (DWG) Meeting, which was held in Delhi from June 6-9. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MBABANE Ex-President Thabo Mbeki says he awaits His Majesty the King to give him an opportunity to advise him on solutions to the countrys political challenges. The former South African head of State said the Thabo Mbeki Foundation was approached by many people to intervene in Eswatinis political impasse. In order to learn to understand the background of the problem and to find a solution to it, he told SABC during the commemoration of Africa Day last week that he spoke to all relevant stakeholders in the country. He said the stakeholders included civil society, political parties and government. Mbeki, who remains active in foreign policy, explained that he informed His Majesty King Mswati III of his mission to consult with the stakeholders in the country. He said the Thabo Mbeki Foundation has completed the consultations and the report was ready to be shared with the King. process He hoped the Southern African Development Community (SADC) would support the process undertaken by his team. He mentioned that SADC would have to support the process because it was keenly interested in seeing the Eswatini problem getting resolved. As a result, the former president said he wanted to brief the King on what the people submitted and proposed during the engagements. Im awaiting the report back to the King, he said. We want to report to him on what the people said. Mbeki turns 81th on June 18. The countrys political problems can be traced to three opinions by different sectors of opinion. They are as follows: * Multiparty democracy There is a faction believing that the Tinkhundla System of Government should be dismantled in favour of a political party-system. They are of the view that the King should be above politics, assume a ceremonial role as a unifier. * Elected prime minister Another group says the prime minister must be elected by the people. The appointment of the prime minister is currently the prerogative of the King. * Content with Status Quo There are emaSwati who are of the view that political reforms should be undertaken within the confines of the Tinkhundla System of Government. Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said no one was aware of such consultations having been carried out by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation in the country as it was claimed by the former president of South Africa. In that video clip, he said, the former president claimed to have consulted all emaSwati across all political spectrums. How can that be if you and I are not even aware or remember being consulted? wondered Nxumalo. He said he wouldnt want to believe that former President Mbeki was being creative or even authoring an encyclopaedia of lies, perhaps, the media needed to call upon him to clarify or elaborate on his statement. suspicious Till then, the statement will be viewed by many as suspicious and misleading, Nxumalo said. Director of Communications at the Kings Office Percy Simelane, said they had no record of the fact-finding mission in question. He said his office is only one year 10 months old and could not have captured this operation. He said his statement did not mean the mission did not come to Eswatini. Its just that we have no fossils on the sands of time pointing to their once- off visit, he said. However, he recalled that Mbeki made an attempt to come to Eswatini to have an audience with emaSwati, but the media got the story before it became official and published it. He said the story was published before he could properly negotiate his coming to Eswatini. The director said he then decided not to come, arguing that emaSwati would not take it kindly. He wondered why the local media did not report on this mission and why the targeted stakeholders had not mentioned this engagement in so many years. We are also wondering why what looks like Swati social challenges were christened problems by the Mbeki Foundation. We believe problems and challenges are two different things, the director of communications at the Kings Office said. Barnes Dlamini, the President of Swaziland Democratic Party, said he was interviewed by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation. He said he met the Thabo Mbeki Foundation with the late Thulani Maseko. As much as he could not recall the dates, he said he did, however, meet the foundation. Dlamini said Mbeki himself came to the country before and after the civil unrest. He said he needed to check files to recall exactly where they met with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation. succeeded Meanwhile, Mbeki succeeded Nelson Mandela as South Africas second post-apartheid president. In his article published by the Conversation on July 21, 2022, Sanya Osha said Mbeki had to squarely address challenges of acute inequality and the numerous grievances of the black majority after Mandelas era of multiracial and multicultural rainbow nation initiatives. Osha is a Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Humanities in Africa, University of Cape Town. He holds a PhD in Philosophy. According to Osha, Mbeki was born in what is now the Eastern Cape Province to fairly educated and politically conscious parents Epainette, a schoolteacher, and Govan, a contemporary of Mandela and other freedom fighters of that era. His father was seldom home as he pursued the cause of freedom for South Africa. According to the research by Osha, Thabo had to grow up fast and joined the youth league of the African National Congress (ANC), when he was only 13. It is mentioned in Oshas research that Mbeki is attractive to many intellectuals beyond South Africa because of his thinking about pan-Africanism, the African renaissance and neocolonialism. All these issues are pertinent in Africa and its vast diaspora, which put Mbeki in the spotlight of the pan-Africanist movement. Numerous works have been written on his tenure as president and his legacy. The researcher said Mbeki found his second wind as probably the most respected African elder statesman after his ignominious exit as ANC leader. His transition from national politics to the African continental stage has been without great fanfare but quite effective. afflicted As the ANC, which has governed South Africa since 1994, became afflicted by widespread corruption and deadly politicking, Osha said Mbeki kept above the fray. His nemesis and erstwhile deputy Zuma, who succeeded him as president, went further in tarnishing the ANC brand and legacy in the most disrespectful manner. Mbeki is not a charismatic leader; neither does he pretends to be. He does not possess Mandelas charm or Zumas demotic earthiness, which can move people to declare theyd kill for him, analysed the universitys researcher. Mandela had a winning smile that floored Hollywood A-listers. Zuma sang and danced his way into the hearts of the South African masses and wasnt afraid to make a fool of himself. On the other hand, Osha described Mbeki as always remained aloof. His appeal was largely among intellectuals. Mbeki is rather a conscientious technocrat equally at home with other technocrats such as Phumzile Ngcuka and Trevor Manuel. purveyor During his tenure as ANC president (1997-2007), Mbeki couldnt woo the rank and file in his party with rousing speeches delivered with visceral directness. That isnt his forte. He is, instead, a manager of systems and institutions and a purveyor of ideas. Mbeki is a promoter of pan-Africanism the quest to unite Africans in pursuit of a united, prosperous Africa. The researcher said Frantz Fanon, the Haitian revolution, the Harlem Renaissance and important milestones of black empowerment powerfully shaped Mbekis ideological make-up. There is a certain cosmopolitanism present in his outlook. But the masses of the South African people did not appreciate it. Instead, he was deemed cold, unresponsive and, therefore, uninteresting. This, more than any other failing, was the reason for his political downfall. It is a pity that Mbekis invaluable work on continental affairs isnt much valued in South Africa. Beyond South Africa, Mbeki is increasingly being considered among African intellectuals such as Tovin Falola (Nigeria), Paul Zeleza (Malawi) and Mammo Muchie (Ethiopia). Hes placed in the same league as African philosopher-kings like Senegals Leopold Sedar Senghor, Ghanas Kwame Nkrumah and Tanzanias Julius Nyerere. At 80, Mbeki still articulates his pet concerns of African unity, African renaissance and pan-Africanism with diligence and precision. His analyses are usually well-considered and deserving of attention. His interventions to end the Ivorian and South Sudanese crises are noteworthy. Mbeki continues to function as probably the most resourceful elder statesman on the African continent. For instance, he was involved in efforts to solve the impasse that has pitted Anglophone Cameroonians against their Francophone counterparts. scramble He was also involved in efforts to resolve the crisis in the Great Lakes Region. The conflict has been called Africas First World War because of the number of external actors and African nations engaged in the scramble for the regions mineral wealth. Because violence anywhere on the continent tends to have broader continental consequences, Mbeki makes it his business to try to prevent outbreaks of war and mayhem. In Cote dIvoire, he led initiatives to resolve the confrontation between two presidential aspirants, Alassane Quattara and Laurent Gbagbo. Their bloody stand-off put their country into a downward spiral. Finally, Mbeki has advised that to end the civil war in South Sudan, all the stakeholders should be involved in the peacemaking process. It is clear that Mbeki has successfully transitioned from being an old horse of his party, the ANC, to a highly venerated and in-demand African elder statesman. And just as Nkrumah was, he is more respected on the continent than in his country. Given his attitude, composure and utterances, Mbeki seems quite natural in speaking and acting on behalf of the entire continent. The information on Mbekis peacekeeping mission and intervention is the work of Sanya Osha. MBABANE With a few days left before His Majesty the King dissolves the current Parliament, the august House will end its five-year term having lost 11 members along the way. Four of these were Cabinet ministers, including a sitting prime minister (PM); eight of them were elected representatives; four were Senators; and seven were members of the House of Assembly (MPs). Senator Mike Temple was the first member of the 11th Parliament to pass away when news broke in the morning of June 21, 2019 that the politician, businessman and philanthropist had collapsed following a morning exercise session at his home and was confirmed dead at Medisun Hospital in Ezulwini. Temple was an influential politician who was known for his pivotal role in lobbying for certain individuals who contested for seats in Senate. His political influence went beyond Eswatinis borders as he was also a member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), where he served as the Chairperson of the Permanent Committee on Finance and Monetary Affairs and had on May 15, 2019, presented the Budget of the Pan African Parliament for 2020 fiscal year to the plenary. The businessman was a member of the Inyatsi regiment and his regiment name was Mkhanyakudze. He was believed to have close ties with Sive Siyinqaba National Movement a political organisation initially formed as a cultural movement and is in favour of multiparty democracy. Temple was reportedly not a sickly person, hence his sudden demise was described as shocking. Suspicions were that he may have suffered a heart attack and efforts made by the medical staff at Medisun to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. News of the senators sudden death shocked many as people reacted by stating that they had just seen him a day or two prior when he attended an official assignment in his capacity as chairperson of the Bushfire Festival. He was laid to rest On June 29, 2019. The second member of the 11th Parliament to pass on was veteran politician Senator Chief Nzameya Nhlabatsi of KaNzameya in the Shiselweni region. He died in the mid-morning of August 13, 2020 in one of the countrys private hospitals where he was admitted after reportedly complaining of flu-like symptoms and was said to have later experienced breathing difficulties. Chief Nzameya served the King and country for over 20 years as a politician in Parliament and in advisory councils. He is one of the elder statesmen who knew the Tinkhundla System of government like the back of his hand. The third member and perhaps the most high-profile member of the 11th Parliament to pass away was the then PM, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, who died on December 13, 2020. This was hardly two years after he was appointed PM by His Majesty King Mswati III on October 27, 2018. Aged 52, Dlamini died while hospitalised in neighbouring South Africa, where he had been transferred to for purposes of speeding up his recovery after he tested positive for COVID-19. He was the first leader to die of COVID-19 and his death received the attention of media houses across the globe; including CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC, SABC News and News24, to name but a few. World Heads of State and governments from all over the world sent their condolences and they described Dlamini as a good leader. Among them was President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Tsai Ing-wen and then Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta. Ramaphosa, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, expressed his deep condolences to the royal family, government and people of Eswatini. President Kenyatta said Kenya stood with the people of Eswatini as they mourn their departed leader. Maldives Foreign Affairs minister Abdulla Shahid said he was deeply grieved to hear of the passing away of Dlamini. Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Xavier Chang relayed Tsais remarks, saying that Prime Minister Dlamini had always supported Taiwans participation in the international community. President Tsai directed Taiwans Embassy in Eswatini to express condolences on behalf of the government of Taiwan. The President of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi was also among the world leaders who passed their condolences and he said they stood in solidarity with the country in this difficult period. Dlamini was a staunch Christian and was a senior member of the Jesus Calls Worship Church (JCWC). Before being appointed PM, he was Chief Executive Officer at MTN Eswatini; before that he was the Managing Director at Nedbank Eswatini. He was laid to rest on December 26 in accordance with royal dictates and a State Funeral Service was held at his parental home at Nhlanhleni on Christmas Day (December 25, 2020), having been preceded by a memorial service held at his church in Matsapha on December 24. Almost three weeks later, the country was hit by the death of a fourth politician when Minister of Public Service Christian Ntshangase died on January 16, 2021. He died while admitted to hospital for COVID-19-related illnesses. Ntshangase, who was one of the most charismatic members of the 11th Parliament, had attended the State Funeral Service of the late PM and delivered a speech on behalf of his Cabinet colleagues.He had even joked about the late PMs staunch Christian beliefs, stating that he had told Dlamini that his determination of the biblical rapture having taken place would be based on the disappearance of him (Dlamini). Almost a week later, another politician in Senator Jimmy Hlophe died, also due to a COVID-19- related illness. Hlophe died hardly three months after he was elected into Senate to replace the late Mike Temple. He died while receiving treatment at Manzini Clinic, where he was admitted after he was transferred there from Medisun. Hlophes Senate election win was filled with controversy after some elected candidates were disqualified while others withdrew their candidacy. To this day, Hlophes seat has been left unfilled after back and forth court battles regarding the legitimacy of some candidates seeking to take up the position. Days following Hlophes death, the country was once again faced with sad news after the passing on of Minister of Labour and Social Security Makhosi Vilakati. He too died in a South African hospital, where he had been rushed to after contracting COVID-19. Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said Vilakati died after being admitted for a specialised procedure arising from COVID-19 infection. Vilakati was transferred from the Lubombo Referral Hospital to the hospital in South Africa as the required treatment was not available in Eswatini, Masuku said in a short statement. Vilakati was one of the youngest Cabinet ministers and was a Member of Parliament for LaMgabhi Constituency. Previous to his political career taking off, he was a practising attorney and run his own lawfirm under the style Makhosi C. Vilakati Attorneys. Senator Peter Bhembe, who was the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, became the sixth politician and member of the 11th Parliament to pass on in February 2022, while undergoing specialised treatment at a South African health facility. Bhembe served as Managing Director at the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) for around 26 years before he retired and was appointed into Cabinet in 2018. Prior to his death, he had disclosed to the Times SUNDAY that he suffered from a a heart condition and had a device inserted in his body to monitor his heart beat. MBABANE Repented former political party member and gospel musician Mzwakhe Myeni this past week offered his apology to the people of KaNgcamphalala under Chief Mshikashika. It has been ascertained that the apology was for having participated in the mass democratic movement (MDM) and at one point disturbed a meeting at the Lusabeni Umphakatsi, which was attended by the chief, by shouting the words amandla! and demanding multiparty democracy. He is also said to have been vocal around the community and recruiting people to join the mdm as he had become a member of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), where he was Lubombo District Chairperson. He was expelled from SWALIMO in September 2022 after a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of dishonesty, forgery and falsification of information. Both Myeni and Lusabeni Indvuna Zephania Dlamini confirmed the apology, which was made in front of a large number of members of the community who had gathered at the umphakatsi to be briefed about development initiatives in the area. Myeni was reportedly part of the agenda even though the community is said to have not been told why he was included in the days programme. The indvuna said Myeni had first approached him and asked that he be taken to Chief Mshikashika to offer his apology to him but was told that he would have to apologise to the people first. We could not allow him to go to the areas authority, first but he has to respect hierarchy. The first point of call has to be the people of the community. Secondly, he has to apologise to the indvuna and council. He then has to apologise to the princes of the area. After that, he can be taken to the chief, the indvuna said. Dlamini said although it took some time for Myeni to offer the apology, he eventually appeared before the residents. Repented After we had discussed the main agenda item, Myeni was then given an opportunity to talk because he had to tell the residents what prompted him to do what he did in the presence of the chief and elders of the area. He told the residents that he was taken by the winds that were blowing during that time and found himself shouting the amandla! statement. He said he has now repented and was sorry for his actions. The community accepted his apology but indicated that he has to go to the chief to also offer the apology to him, said the indvuna. Members of Myenis family were reportedly also present when he offered the apology just like they were also in attendance during the meeting where the gospel artist made the political statements. The indvuna said the next step was for Myeni to go to the indvuna and his council to offer his apology there. Myeni, on the other hand, said his apology was based on that as a role model it was wrong of him to engage in acts meant to cause a revolt against the countrys authorities. Firstly, I apologised for joining umzabalazo and appearing as part of the campaign to cause a revolution in the country. The residents welcomed my apology and said most people had been hoodwinked into believing that what was being said by those behind the revolt was true yet, it was not. The whole community of KaNgcamphalala understood, he said. Thereafter, he said he advised the youth of the area not to work against government but to support the many development initiatives brought by government in the community. Almost 90 per cent of the homesteads here now have electricity. His Majesty the King has also given us access to his farm at Manyonyaneni to use and we are all reaping the benefits. This shows that the King cares for his people. ESWADE has also ensured that 95 per cent of households will have access to clean water in a space of three months from now. I, therefore, urged the youth to distance themselves in activities that are against government and, this was met with applause, he said. Myeni said some residents asked why it had taken long for him to apologise and he indicated that he had long approached the indvuna but there were still processes to follow before he was given the platform. I told the people that what happened was the biggest mistake I ever made as a child of God and as a citizen of Ncandweni. It will never happen again. I urged the youth to distance themselves from such activities, he further said. Revolt He said many residents offered their own advice to him on how he can avoid being involved in acts of revolt against the authorities. They thanked me for voluntarily apologising to them. The meeting ended with everyone satisfied at what I had said. The women of the area thanked me for having humbled myself and apologised. They even called my mothers name and attached it to the apology I had offered, he stated. Myeni said his apology was in no way a campaign strategy as he had openly declared his willingness to contest for a Parliament seat in the national elections. No one among the residents thought I was campaigning and that was never mentioned in any way. They just listened at what I was saying and there was no confrontation since this was coming from my heart, he said. He added that before the apology, he had felt a void in his heart because of the need to reach out to his chiefdom to declare that he had since changed. Myeni said he had declared through the newspapers and television, but never came back to his community as a citizen of the area to apologise and declare his support for the Tinkhundla System of Government. In April, Myeni informed the Times SUNDAY that he no longer believed in political parties, but was in full support of the Tinkhundla System of Government that is rooted on individual merit as a basis for election or appointment to public office. He even announced that he would be participating in this years national elections under the portfolio of Member of Parliament. MBABANE Shocker! A high-level meeting meant to be a private political dialogue between two entities bound by high protocol rules turned into a live broadcast on Instagram after Minister of Information and Communications (ICT) Princess Sikhanyiso left her timeline feed logged on. The European Union (EU) and the government of Eswatini held their 22nd Political Dialogue on June 2, 2023 at Royal Villas in Ezulwini. The political dialogue, which is convened on the basis of Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement signed between the EU and Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries including Eswatini, was confirmed to be a private meeting by EU. The structure of the meeting reflects that it is usually behind closed doors and the public is updated through a communique after the sessions. debated The minister, who was part of the meeting with some officials from her ministry, left her phone logged on after she was picked by Principal Secretary (PS) Phesheya Dube from a holding area to join the delegates inside the meeting hall. It could not be ascertained whether she left her phone logged on to the live broadcast on purpose or not, as she did not respond to a questionnaire sent to her through her PS Dube. However, just before she was picked from the holding area, the minister audibly debated on whether to log off or keep her viewers logged on. She did not mention the time frame or place where she was going to log off but gave the phone to an official who followed her inside the meeting. I am actually going to log-off when the presentation begins. Its been lovely family. I am going to call it a day. Okay family, peace and love; actually I might just keep you posted, might just keep you logged in. thank you, (sic) she said before handing the phone over to the official. Elegantly dressed in a red three-piece power suit, the minister started her live broadcast inside her car before Dube and other officials from the Ministry of ICT escorted her to the holding room. Dube subsequently briefed her on what the EU expected her to cover in her presentation. She asked if the EU had made any enquiries regarding the laws in ICT and further said the organisation should be focusing on assisting the country with funds in the agriculture sector to eradicate poverty as compared to the political dialogue meeting. Dube informed the minister that most of the topics were covered before the minister arrived and that officials from the ministry provided sufficient answers to questions from the EU delegate. The minister then picked up her other phone and called someone she referred as her advisor while engaging briefly with the live audience on instagram. consult She revealed, in the phone call, that the meeting wanted to engage on the Broadcasting Bill aimed at increasing the number of broadcasters in the country. She also mentioned that the issue of the unbundling of Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) was another important issue that she was expected to address. She was advised to consult the Board as it was at a better position to clarify the matter. The minister wondered why international organisations were interested in the unbundling of EPTC. She also indicated her appreciation for the work that EU had done in supporting the country by providing financial support. However, the minister also indicated that the EU had an upper hand over the country and such meetings were usually tough. I should be preparing and going over my remarks, when preparation meets opportunity success is guaranteed. Bayafaka labantfu imali lakaNgwane (they greatly assist the country financially). I am not sure if I was cut out for political dialogue or not. I wish I could always come with good news and always give to people than to deal with hardcore stuff, she said. While inside the meeting, the ministers phone captured discussions live and the audience on Instagram could hear what was being discussed. The death of Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko was among the topics discussed during the political dialogue held between Eswatini and the European Union (EU). recommendations Though the discussion on the death of the renowned lawyer and political activist did not feature in the live broadcast by Princess Sikhanyiso, information sourced from EU website www.eeas.europa.eu reflected that this issue was discussed and recommendations were made. The communication was posted on the website on Thursday June 8, 2023. On human rights matters, the EU was briefed on the investigations into the assassination of Maseko, who was cold-bloodedly gunned down on January 21, 2023 in front of his wife and children inside his house at KaLuhleko, in the Manzini Region. The EU took the opportunity to brief the government on the implications of the European Parliament resolution of February 16, 2023 on the human rights situation in Eswatini taken in the wake of Masekos assassination. As a way forward, the EU proposed the establishment of a human rights dialogue with Eswatini to be held annually between the two partners, said the statement. The EU also got an update from the government on the recently concluded case of Members of Parliament (MPs), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi. The two MPs were, on the eve of the dialogue (June 1, 2023), both found guilty by High Court Judge Mumcy Dlamini on three counts of terrorism, murder and inciting violence. Their charges emanated from the June 2021 political uprising, which left at least 46 people dead and others injured (according to Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration/Integrity (CHRPAI) report). high-level EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, led the EU side, which comprised six other Ambassadors from EU Member States (Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, The Netherlands and Spain) accredited to Eswatini but based in Pretoria and Maputo. Senior diplomats from Belgium, Portugal and Sweden were also a part of the high-level meeting. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, led the Eswatini Government side, which comprised four Cabinet Ministers including Princess Sikhanyiso and other government officials. Ambassador Choumelova and Minister Shakantu co-chaired the dialogue. The dialogue, held at Royal Villas in Ezulwini, covered a wide range of issues including political and legislative matters, human rights, the rule of law, development cooperation and trade, as well some regional and global issues. Realme 11 Pro Plus vs Samsung Galaxy F54 5G | Which is the best smartphone under Rs 30,000? Features oi -Carlsen Martin The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G was recently unveiled in India mid-range smartphone market. The Galaxy F54 5G succeeds the Galaxy F52 5G from 2021. However, the Galaxy F54 5G is not alone in the space with the recent arrival of the Realme 11 Pro series. Challenging the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G in this comparison will be the Realme 11 Pro Plus. The Realme 11 Pro Plus arrived as the most premium smartphone in the company's 'Number' series. So, let's see how the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G fares against the Realme 11 Pro Plus and which is the best smartphone under 30,000 rupees. Realme 11 Pro Plus vs Samsung Galaxy F54 5G: Full Specs Compared Samsung Galaxy F54 5G Realme 11 Pro+ Exynos 1380 SoC (5nm) MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC (6nm) 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display, 120Hz Refresh Rate 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display, HDR10+, 120Hz Refresh Rate 8GB/256GB (MicroSD Support) 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB (No MicroSD Support) Rear Cameras - 108 MP with OIS, 8 MP (Ultrawide), 2 MP (Macro) Rear Cameras - 200 MP with OIS, 8 MP (Ultrawide), 2 MP (Macro) 32 MP, f/2.2 Selfie Camera 32 MP, f/2.5 Selfie Camera 6,000 mAh Battery with 25W Charging (No Adapter) 5,000 mAh Battery with 100W Charging (Adapter Included) Stereo Speakers Stereo Speakers Meteor Blue, Stardust Silver Colours Astral Black, Sunrise Beige, Oasis Green Colours Rs 29,999 Rs 27,999 / Rs 29,999 Samsung Galaxy F54 vs Realme 11 Pro Plus: Design, Dispaly While design is subjective, Samsung appears to have a subtle back panel, while the Realme 11 Pro Plus stands out from a mile away. Additionally, the Realme 11 Pro Plus features a soft leather back as opposed to the plastic back on the Galaxy F54 5G. However, Samsung uses toucher Gorilla Glass 5 to protect the screen. Both phones feature 120Hz AMOLED displays. If you are a fan of curved screens, then the Realme 11 Pro Plus will be the way to go. Realme also offers a more seamless viewing experience with smaller bezels. Additionally, the panel on Realme's latest mid-ranger also supports HDR10+. However, screens on Samsung smartphones tend to do a better job under direct sunlight. Realme 11 Pro Plus vs Samsung Galaxy F54 5G: Performance, Cameras When it comes to performance, both phones are evenly matched. Both the Exynos 1380 and MediaTek Dimensity 7050 are well-rounded mid-range chips, offering reliable performance and functionality. The Realme 11 Pro Plus comes with up to 12GB of RAM for the same price as the Galaxy F54 5G, giving it an ever-so slight edge. In terms of camera hardware, the Realme 11 Pro Plus has a major advantage in the camera department with its 200 MP Samsung HP3 primary sensor. But considering the role software plays in camera performance, it is too hard to call. Moreover, Samsung tends to do a better job in delivering consistent camera performance, particularly between the main and ultrawide sensors. Additionally, Samsung also has a better selfie camera, which is the only one in the segment to support 4K video recording at 30fps. Realme 11 Pro Plus vs Samsung Galaxy F54 5G: Battery, Software The Galaxy F54 5G has a major advantage over the Realme 11 Pro Plus in terms of battery life. Not only does the F54 5G uses a 5nm chip as opposed a 6nm chipset on the Realme 11 Pro Plus, but it also has a much larger battery. On the flip side, Realme's charging support is unrivalled as not only is it faster, but it also has an adapter is also offered in the box. In terms of software, Samsung offers more customization and significantly better support in the long run than Realme. Realme 11 Pro Plus vs Samsung Galaxy F54 5G: Our Thoughts The Realme 11 Pro Plus does offer a few advantages in the hardware department. However, software plays a bigger role in offering a better smartphone experience and the Galaxy F54 has a clear advantage here. If you are looking for a more reliable smartphone under Rs 30,000, then the Galaxy F54 5G is the way to go. The Galaxy F54 5G delivers the best software support in the segment, promising more Android updates than most flagships. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Russo-Ukraine War - 10 June 2023 - Day 472 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in the last 48 hours significant Ukrainian operations have been taking place in several sectors of eastern and southern Ukraine. In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defences. In others, Ukrainian progress has been slower. Russian performance has been mixed: some units are likely conducting credible manoeuvre defence operations while others have pulled back in some disorder, amid increased reports of Russian casualties as they withdraw through their own minefields. The Russian Airforce has been unusually active over southern Ukraine, where the airspace is more permissive for Russia than in other parts of the country. However, it remains unclear whether tactical airstrikes have been effective. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that tonight, the Russian occupiers launched another air and missile attack on Ukraine, using 8x missiles, including 4x Iskander land-based cruise missiles, and 35x Iranian strike UAVs of the Shahed type against military facilities and critical infrastructure facilities. Ukrainian Air Defense Forces in cooperation with the air defense of other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed 2x cruise missiles and 20x strike UAVs "Shahed-136/131". In addition, Russian forces carried out 66x airstrikes and launched 39x MLRS attacks. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population, destroyed and damaged private houses, other civil and administrative infrastructure. The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine. Russia is concentrating its main efforts on attempts to completely occupy the Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts. During the day, 28x combat clashes took place. Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces shelled with artillery and mortars such settlements as Senkivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Novovasylivka, Seredyna-Buda, Chuykivka, Kharkivka, Sosnivka, Stepok, Popivka, Dmytrivka in the Sumy Oblast, as well as Udy, Staritsa, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Nesterne, and Mala Vovcha in the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian adversary carried out airstrikes in the Kislivka and Kotlyarivka districts of the Kharkiv Oblast. Petro-Ivanivka, Novomlyns'k, Zapadne, Masyutivka, Kislivka, Tabaivka of the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivske of the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by artillery and mortars. Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the Bilogorivka area. They carried out airstrikes at Nevs'ke, Yampolivka, Zarichne, Lyman, Spirne, Vesele, Rozdolivka, Rai-Olexandrivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Nevs'ke, Bilogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'ians'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka of the Donetsk Oblast shelled by artilleryg. Bakhmut axis: Russians carried out offensive operations on the Bila Hora axis, albeit without success. They carried out airstrikes near Bila Hora, Dilyivka, Torets'k, New York of the Donetsk Oblast. Vasyukivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Ivanovske, Bila Gora, Druzhba, Toretsk, Zalizne, and Pivnichne of Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery. Avdiivka axis: Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They carried out airstrikes near Avdiivka and Nevelske settlements. russians shelled the areas of Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke, Karlivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled all Russian attacks in the vicinities of Marinka. Russian forces launched an air strike in the Krasnohorivka area. At the same time, the occupiers shelled the districts of Gostroy, Maksimilianivka, Mar'inka, Pobyeda and Novomykhailivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Shakhtars'k axis: Russian forces carried out airstrikes near Prechistivka, Zolotaya Niva, and Velika Novosilka, and shelled Vugledar in the Donetsk Oblast. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They carried out airstrikes in the Novopavlivka, Gulyaipol and Orikhov districts of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. They carried out artillery fire on more than 20 settlements. Among them: Vremivka, Novosilka, Novopil of the Donetsk Oblast; Olhivske, Malynivka, Gulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Biloghirya, Stepove and Kamianske of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Sadovye and the city of Kherson. Russia continues to suffer heavy losses, which he tries to hide. Thus, in the temporarily captured Berdyansk of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Russian occupiers closed the territory in the western part of the city around the city morgue to visitors. On the territory of the morgue itself, a cluster of up to ten sanitary cars and several refrigerator cars was noted. The movement of medical vehicles in the northern axis to the line of battle continues. Ukrainian Air Force conducted 15x strikes on Russian manpower concentrations and 2x strikes on the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile systems. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 2x control points, 5x concentrations of manpower, weapons and military equipment, 1x artillery unit at a firing position and 4x more important objects of the Russian occupiers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RADNOR, Pa., June 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (Charles River) (NYSE: CRL). The action charges Charles River with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the companys business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Charles Rivers materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Charles Rivers investors have suffered significant losses. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CHARLES RIVER LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/charles-river-laboratories-international-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=crl&mktm=r LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: JULY 18, 2023 CLASS PERIOD: MAY 5, 2020 THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2023 CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS: Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the worlds foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent. CHARLES RIVERS ALLEGED MISCONDUCT Charles River is a full-service, non-clinical global drug development partner with a mission to create healthier lives. The company has three reporting segments: Research Models and Services, Discovery and Safety Assessment, and Manufacturing Solutions. The Discovery and Safety Assessment segment accounts for approximately 60% of the companys total revenue and offers, among other things, safety assessment studies required for regulatory submission of therapeutic solutions. On February 22, 2023, Charles River revealed that the company had received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice relating to an ongoing investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into the supply chain and illegal importation of non-human primates for research. On the same day, during an earnings call with investors, James C. Foster, the companys CEO, stated that the investigation in current [non-human primate] supply situation will result in study delays in our Safety Assessment business. He further stated that the investigation into the Cambodian non-human primate chain would reduce the annual revenue forecast by approximately 200 basis points to 400 basis points. Following this news, the price of Charles River shares declined by $24.51 per share, or approximately 10.06%, from $243.60 per share to close at $219.09 on February 22, 2023. WHAT CAN I DO? Charles River investors may, no later than July 18, 2023, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Charles River investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Charles River, captioned Coleman v. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., et al, Case No. 23-cv-11132, is filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts before the Honorable Denise Jefferson Casper. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF? A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Jonathan Naji, Esq. 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 (484) 270-1453 info@ktmc.com Short-term contract extension for Espoir Ivoirien BW Offshore has signed a short-term extension for the lease and operation of the FPSO Espoir Ivoirien in order to discuss a potential purchase of the FPSO by the client. The firm period has been extended until 15 June 2023. For further information, please contact: Stale Andreassen, CFO, +47 91 71 86 55 Anders S. Platou, Head of Corporate Finance & Strategy, +47 99 50 47 40 IR@bwoffshore.com or www.bwoffshore.com About BW Offshore: BW Offshore engineers innovative floating production solutions. The Company has a fleet of 8 FPSOs with potential and ambition to grow. By leveraging four decades of offshore operations and project execution, the Company creates tailored offshore energy solutions for evolving markets world-wide. BW Offshore has around 2,000 employees and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Selbyville, Delaware, June 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthcare Payer Services Market size to cross USD 140 billion by 2032. The industry growth is driven by increasing demand for innovative solutions to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and improve patient outcomes to overcome unprecedented challenges faced by the healthcare systems. Healthcare payer services help in managing the financial aspects of healthcare, such as claims processing, billing, customer service, and data analytics. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5701 The rising healthcare costs and the growing burden of chronic diseases are driving payers to adopt innovative approaches to control expenses while maintaining the quality of care. Payer services enable effective utilization management, fraud detection, and prevention, resulting in significant cost savings for both payers and patients. Moreover, advancements in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Evolving regulatory framework to drive KPO services segment The healthcare payer services market is divided into KPO services, ITO services, and BPO services. The market share from KPO segment will grow at notable rate during 2023 and 2032. KPO services within this sector encompass a wide range of critical activities, including claims processing, medical coding and billing, healthcare analytics, revenue cycle management, risk assessment, and compliance management. These services require deep industry knowledge, advanced data analytics, and domain expertise to effectively manage the complex financial and administrative aspects of healthcare payer operations. By outsourcing these knowledge-intensive processes to specialized KPO service providers, healthcare payers can streamline their operations, enhance accuracy and efficiency, mitigate risks, and optimize financial outcomes. Additionally, KPO services in the healthcare payer domain enable payers to adapt to evolving regulatory frameworks, navigate complex reimbursement systems, and leverage advanced analytics to identify patterns and trends for better decision-making. Browse key industry insights spread across 200 pages with 282 market data tables & 16 figures & charts from the report, Healthcare Payer Services Market Size by Service Type (BPO Services, ITO Services, KPO) By Application (Claims Management Services, Analytics & Fraud Management Services, HR Services), By End-use (Private Payers, Public) & Forecast 2023 - 2032 In detail along with the table of contents: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/healthcare-payer-services-market Public end-use segment to support market progression The healthcare payer services market is segmented into public and private payers. The healthcare payers services market value from public segment will witness significant expansion through 2032 as public payers are responsible for ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare services to the population. The public healthcare payer services focus on managing the financial aspects, claims processing, eligibility verification, and program administration for these public healthcare programs. With the increasing healthcare needs of the population, coupled with rising healthcare costs, public payers face significant challenges in maintaining the financial sustainability of their programs while delivering quality care. These services help optimize operations, manage costs, and enhance compliance with regulatory requirements. They also facilitate efficient utilization management, fraud detection, and prevention, ensuring that public funds are utilized appropriately & efficiently. Economic growth and medical transformation to boost APAC share Asia Pacific healthcare payer services market with record a robust CAGR by 2032, backed by rising demand for quality healthcare services. There are increased investments in healthcare infrastructure and insurance coverage schemes. With a shift in disease patterns, rising burden of chronic diseases, and increased focus on preventive care, the medical payer services focus on managing healthcare costs, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving patient outcomes. The implementation of healthcare reforms, such as universal health coverage schemes is driving the need for reliable payer services. Secure a copy of the premium research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/securecheckout/paymenta/5701?gmpaycod=sugmp Healthcare Payer Services Industry Players Cognizant, Accenture, Oracle Corporation, Merative (IBM Watson Health) among others. Healthcare Payer Services Market News In May 2023, Marpai, Inc. announced the launch of Marpai Connect which utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technology to transform self-funded employer health plans. Marpai Connect is an innovative matchmaking platform that actively pairs health plan members with a diverse selection of value-based providers. Partial Table of Contents (ToC) of the report: Chapter 3 Healthcare Payer Services Industry Insights 3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis 3.2 Industry impact forces 3.2.1 Growth drivers 3.2.1.1 Rising adoption of health insurance policies 3.2.1.2 Increasing outsourcing of services to increase efficiency and reduce cost 3.2.1.3 Growing burden of chronic disease 3.2.1.4 Rise in healthcare fraud cases 3.2.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.2.2.1 Risk of data breach and loss of confidentiality 3.2.2.2 High cost associated with outsourcing of services 3.3 Growth potential analysis 3.3.1 By services type 3.3.2 By application 3.3.3 By end-use 3.4 COVID- 19 impact analysis 3.5 Technological advancements 3.6 Regulatory landscape 3.6.1 U.S. 3.6.2 Europe 3.7 Application potential 3.8 Porter's analysis 3.9 PESTEL analysis Chapter 4 Competitive Landscape, 2022 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Company matrix analysis, 2022 4.3 Competitive analysis of major market players 4.4 Competitive positioning matrix 4.5 Strategy dashboard 4.6 Strategic outlook matrix Browse Our Reports Store - GMIPulse @ https://www.gminsights.com/gmipulse About Global Market Insights 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. Selbyville, Delaware, June 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultrasonic Air Bubble Detectors Market is expected to surpass USD 350 million by 2032, as per a recent study by Global Market Insights Inc. Ultrasonic air bubble detectors industry will witness significant growth by 2032 as these devices are designed to detect the presence of bubbles in various fluid systems, ranging from medical equipment to industrial applications. One of the major factors driving the market growth is the increasing demand for accurate and reliable monitoring in critical industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals. These detectors play a crucial role in preventing air embolisms during medical procedures, where even small air bubbles can have severe consequences. As a result, healthcare providers are increasingly adopting ultrasonic air bubble detectors to enhance patient safety and improve treatment outcomes. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5702 Use of ultrasonic air bubble detectors for semiconductor fabrication Based on application, the ultrasonic air bubble detectors market size from the semiconductor application will observe USD 40 million by 2032. Ultrasonic air bubble detectors play a crucial role in this domain by detecting and removing air bubbles during semiconductor fabrication. During the fabrication process, semiconductors go through different stages that involve the use of various liquids, such as chemicals, solvents, and etchants. The presence of air bubbles in these liquids can lead to defects in the semiconductor's structure, affecting its performance and reliability. Therefore, detecting and eliminating any air bubbles present in the liquids is essential. High demand for ultrasonic air bubble detectors across various industries In terms of product, the ultrasonic air bubble detectors market share from the detectors segment will record over 5% CAGR between 2023 to 2032. The working principle of ultrasonic air bubble detectors involves the emission of ultrasonic waves into the fluid. These waves propagate through the liquid medium until they encounter an air bubble. When the ultrasonic waves reach the interface between the liquid and the air bubble, they are reflected back toward the detector. The detector analyzes the reflected waves to determine the presence and characteristics of the air bubble. These detectors find applications in various industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, oil and gas, and chemical manufacturing. Growing popularity of adjustable ultrasonic air bubble detectors On the basis of type, adjustable type of ultrasonic air bubble detectors market is a specialized category of detectors that offer flexibility in detecting and monitoring air bubbles in fluid systems. These detectors allow for adjustable settings and parameters, enabling customization to meet specific application requirements. One of the key features of adjustable-type detectors is the ability to modify the detection threshold or sensitivity level. This feature allows users to set the detector to respond to air bubbles of varying sizes or concentrations, ensuring optimal performance in different fluid systems. The adjustable threshold also helps in reducing false alarms or unnecessary interruptions in the process. Secure a copy of the premium research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/securecheckout/paymenta/5702?gmpaycod=sugmp Technological developments driving North America market North America ultrasonic air bubble detectors market is a prominent and thriving sector in the region. The market is driven by the strong presence of well-established healthcare systems and a focus on patient safety. Ultrasonic air bubble detectors are widely adopted in medical procedures and equipment, ensuring the prevention of air embolisms and enhancing patient care. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and chemical manufacturing in North America also contribute to the market's growth by utilizing these detectors to maintain the integrity of fluid systems. The region is witnessing technological advancements and innovations in ultrasonic air bubble detectors, further fueling market expansion and providing opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers. Competitive landscape of the ultrasonic air bubble detectors market Some of the major leaders in the ultrasonic air bubble detectors industry are PendoTECH, Biosonix, Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG, CeramTec GmbH, Introtek International LP, Moog Inc., Strain Measurement Devices., Shenzhen Dianyingpu Technology Co., Ltd., Sensaras LLC, Siansonic, Siansonic, Strain Measurement Devices, and Piezo Technologies. Browse Our Reports Store - GMIPulse @ https://www.gminsights.com/gmipulse About Global Market Insights 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. MBABANE The attention of the Attorney Generals Office has been drawn to an alleged smear campaign reportedly meant to blackmail Industrial Court Judge Abande Dlamini to step aside from hearing the matter of SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini. This is in the matter where the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) president is seeking an interim order to stay his disciplinary hearing and for the Industrial Court to dismiss or fire the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and order the appointing authority to appoint new commissioners. There is an allegation that an unsubstantiated accusation portraying the judge to be a member of proscribed political entity, the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), as well another uncorroborated claim that he is a close friend of Mbongwa will be made in open court as reasons that he should not preside over the matter. banned PUDEMO was proscribed as a terrorist entity in 2008 by the then Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini. It was banned alongside its youth wing the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) and Umbane. The Times SUNDAY has been reliably informed that on Wednesday, Mbongwas lawyer, Senior Attorney Lucky Howe, allegedly approached the judge in his chambers and asked him to recuse himself but the request was turned down. Howe allegedly told the judge that his client (Mbongwa) had told him that he was a close friend of the judge hence the request for recusal. However, the judge reportedly turned down the request and denied that he was Mbongwas friend, let alone a close one, and told Howe to file a full blown application for the recusal. recusal That recusal application was reportedly supposed to be filed on Thursday but that has still not happened and there has been no condition application for late filing. While the application has been pending, further allegations aimed at forcing the judge to recuse himself were made. This publication has seen correspondences between Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Mbuso Simelane and Howe in which these allegations are addressed. On Friday (June 9, 2023), Simelane wrote to Howe reminding the latter of an order that he should file the recusal application on Thursday, June 8, 2023. condonation Simelane confirmed in the letter that Howe had not complied with the said court order, thus the instructions given to the office of the AG were not to accept the recusal application without having sought and be granted a condonation order. Howe was reminded that it was his client Mbongwa who had sought the interim order and the lawyer was further advised that the disciplinary hearing against the SNAT president would continue if a rule nisi (court order) has not been granted. Simelane alleged that Mbongwa was hell-bent on frustrating his very own court-instituted process. Our instructions are that inasmuch as His Lordship Justice Abande Dlamini might wish to speedily exonerate himself from the baseless and scandalous allegation that: He is a bosom friend of Mr Mbongwa Dlamini, thus he will issue a favourable judgment in support of his case despite that Mr Mbongwa Dlamini does not believe that he has any prospects of success in his case, but is just abusing the court process; That the Learned Judge is a card carrying member of PUDEMO, that we allow due court process to take place to avoid a chaotic situation to manifest itself in the administration of justice and the rule of law, reads the assistant AGs letter to Howe. coerced Simelane informed Howe that the AGs clients were desirous of presenting evidence that the recusal application is just a smear campaign meant to blackmail the honourable judge so that he may be coerced to drop this matter and any matters that come from the SNAT president when no such challenge was raised in past matters that he handled involving Mbongwa Dlamini which he dismissed. He alleged that there was intelligence information to the effect that similar recusal applications awaited almost the entire bench of the Industrial Court in order to instil fear among the judges. It was made clear to Judge Msimango in the contempt proceedings involving the same parties, argued on the June 5, 2023, that a similar challenge may be raised at any time against her, the assistant AG said. Simelane then cited the words of former Chief Justice, the late Michael Ramodibedi, when he said: tThat one day there will be an unjustified and horrendous attack on the bench by people in the labour and political spheres, seeking for the dismissal or unnecessary recusal of judges, failing which they will resort to blackmail, failing which they will report the country to the international organisations so that sanctions could be imposed on the country. prospects He went on to inform Howe that the AGs clients were also desirous to present evidence that Mbongwa allegedly worked with a certain individual when an instruction was made to teachers not to attend school. He said when the National Commissioner of Police, William Dlamini, sought clarity from him and/or to warn him about such instructions; the SNAT president allegedly rebuffed the opportunity to assist the police. Other evidence that the clients are said to be itching to present is that Mbongwa has allegedly convinced the President of NAPSAWU and SNAGAP, their members and teachers to support him for not attending work while he diligently attended to their duty stations. Government is very much happy with both presidents and their members and teachers that are religiously attending work and get rewarded with their salaries. All other labour concerns are attended to in the joint labour forums that government and the unions are engaged in, the assistant AG wrote. Howe responded to Simelanes letter by writing his own on June 9, 2023 and addressed it to Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, to whom he stated that they would still proceed with the application for the judge to step down. He apologised to the AG for any inconvenience caused and said their instructions were that they would proceed with the application for the recusal of Judge Abande and that their reasons for seeking the recusal would appear in the application. Howe, however, refuted the bosom friend allegation brought against Mbongwa, but did not touch on the PUDEMO membership one. allegation We deny our client has ever alleged that the Justice is his bosom friend and we are not aware of any such allegation by our client in this regard, the attorney said. He further stated: With regard to the balance of the paragraphs in the said letter, they are noted and as and when the matter arises and come to the front we will deal with them appropriately. Howe then expressed grave concerns regarding the language used in Simelanes letter and requested the AG to discuss the matter with him (Simelane) in this regard. The lawyer had first apologised to the AG for any inconvenience caused by the application for recusal not being filed timeously. The lawyer claimed that Mbongwa was out of the country on national duty and as such they were not able to make the necessary arrangements for him to confirm the affidavit and sign it for purposes of the recusal. We wish to place it on record that the application for condonation will be made as is required and we will proceed to file our application no later than Monday, the 12th on his return. In this regard, please kindly accept our apologies, Howe said. With regard to the contents of Simelanes letter, he said they would not respond to the matter verbatim but a lot of issues that had been said in that correspondence left a lot to be desired. The assistant AG responded to Howes letter on the same day (Friday) and said it was a blatant lie that Mbongwa had attended to national duties, thus depriving him of an opportunity to depose to the affidavit in support of the scurrilous attack on the Industrial Court judges. expose You may wish to consult the office of the Prime Minister in order to expose Mr Mbongwa about his lies, Simelane said. He alleged that the fact of the matter was that Mbongwa had abandoned his duty station and his whereabouts were unknown to his employer for the past two weeks, up to Friday. Simelane said Mbongwas plea to the AG to rein in the assistant AG was a sign of desperation which must not be entertained by the AG because all that the AAG (Assistant Attorney General) wrote was per clients instructions. We thought that the multiple challenges of the judges to hear Mr Mbongwas application was per his instructions, but we are now left in doubt if indeed Mr Lucky Howe is acting on instructions to even put to paper such shocking plea to the AG. The AAG acts on instructions for the record, Simelane responded. He said Mbongwa must attend school and stop destroying the children future. The AAG said the SNAT president was entitled to attend union activities so long as he reported to his immediate supervisor, instead of flashing Judge Msimangos judgment that he may disappear as and when he felt like, thereby compelling the employer to search for him and thereafter consult him before cessation of his salary. apology Regarding the apology extended over the late filing, Simelane said it was nothing pulling wool over the eyes because they filed an urgent application and despite our attempts as much as possible that the matter be heard so that his gripe can be determined with the urgency he deserves, Mr Mbongwa is blocking that process. Adding, Simelane said the condonation application will be opposed per their instructions since it was allegedly an abuse of court process and an unjustified attack on the bench. When Howe was contacted, he pleaded for understanding and said he cannot discuss what is said in chambers. Simelane and Judge Abande could not be reached for comment as their mobile phones rang without any responses. WhatsApp messages were sent to them but these too were not responded to. Theres been endless discussion on the impact of new residents in core cities, but were not talking enough about whats happening in the suburbs and whether those peripheral areas are ready for the accelerating changes taking place there. Growing numbers of African-Americans, Latinos and Asians are finding new homes on the metro periphery -- contributing to the diversification of American suburbia but also to its difficult problems.South Cook County, immediately south of Chicago, is an area with nearly a half million residents, comparable in size to the city of Atlanta. It has long been an affordable bedroom destination for people who worked in factories on Chicagos South Side, or later at factories that relocated to the suburbs.Racial change in south Cook County began in earnest in the 1980s. In 1970, 89 percent of its residents were white and 7 percent black. By 1990, blacks made up 30 percent of residents; by 2010, 54 percent. Today, 26 out of south Cooks 36 municipalities are majority black. The area has become one of the nations largest concentrations of black suburbanites. Meanwhile, south Cooks much smaller Latino population has begun a recent uptick.South Cook has seen more of the downsides of contemporary suburbia than the benefits. Its residents were impacted heavily by manufacturing job loss, and the area was especially vulnerable to the run-up of subprime mortgages that helped cause the Great Recession. As a result, incomes and property values have stagnated. In 2017, the city of Chicago surpassed suburban south Cook overall in median household income for the first time since 1980. Median home values in south Cook remain about half as much as for the metro area.Other factors contributed to south Cooks present status. As a cluster of bedroom communities, the area developed few of the village centers that thrive elsewhere in suburbia today. South Cook is also surrounded by low property tax jurisdictions -- Will County, Ill., to the south and west, and Lake County, Ind., to the east -- and this has put considerable pressure on businesses to leave. It also appears that south Cook has inherited many of the old segregation patterns of Chicagos South Side.If you think south Cook is a special case, think again. Analogs in the Washington, D.C., area (Prince Georges County, Md.), Atlanta (DeKalb County, Ga.) and St. Louis (north St. Louis County, Mo.) immediately come to mind. All have become or are becoming havens for poorer residents and for immigrants newly arrived in the United States. These areas often escape the view of those examining metro area trends. But they are dealing with seemingly intractable issues and require policy strategies that speak to their needs.One such approach is a reimagining of the physical environment. Many suburban regions like south Cook have been wedded to the model of single-family homes dependent on highway access. But todays successful suburbs are prospering in part by offering a wider range of housing options.Another is sharing services with other jurisdictions, or possibly consolidating special districts overseeing things like firefighting and, in some places, school systems. Yesterdays suburbs were rarely burdened with increasing costs because they enjoyed continued growth. As growth has slowed, costs have increased, straining budgets. Todays suburban municipalities will have to find ways to increase efficiency.Finally, they must make racial equity a priority. Cities have a considerable head start in addressing the race gap, even if they havent always been successful in working to close it. Todays diversifying suburbs must make themselves comfortable with the language of current discussions of racial justice.Increasing diversity may be the development that bridges the longtime gap between city and suburb. Lets take advantage of the transformations. Adehyeman, Ghana Commodity Exchange sign agreement to support farmers Kwame Larweh Business News Jun - 10 - 2023 , 13:34 Savings and Loans entity Adehyeman Savings and Loans Ltd (Adehyeman) has partnered with Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) to offer commodity-backed loans to farmers and aggregators to cushion them. The partnership known as the Warehouse Receipt Financing Scheme allows using agricultural commodities as collateral to secure loans. The mechanism sees interested farmers who store their commodities at a certified independent warehouse, secure the loan and pay back after selling the farm produce. At the signing of the partnership this morning at the Africa Trade Office in Accra, the Chief Operations Officer of GCX, Mr Robert Dowuona Owoo, noted that the warehouse receipt had come at a time when smallholder farmers faced serious financial challenges as they could not access funds from the banking sector to finance their operations. This initiative will guarantee these farmers from incurring post-harvest losses, ensure the safety and quality of their produce and cure the last of the three main challenges which faces farmers which is access to finance, he stated. In a short remark after the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of Adehyeman Savings and Loans Limited, Joe Emmim, expressed gratitude to the Ghana Commodity Exchange for the opportunity and noted that the agreement would allow the farmer to use the receipts to access funds from Adehyeman. We are happy to offer this support to farmers in the country because we see the agricultural sector of the economy as key to ensuring food security in the country and for export to generate foreign exchange for the economy. Against this background, we must step in when others deem the sector risky and, therefore, shy away from providing the needed financial support to make the farmers realise their full potential. Mr Emmim said under the agreement, the warehouse receipt would serve as evidence that specified commodities with the stated quantity and quality had been deposited at a GCX warehouse. He expressed the hope that farmers would take full advantage of the opportunity and avail themselves to secure loans that offered them the peace of mind to operate. The partnership was facilitated through technical assistance provided within the Financial Institution Resilience and Strengthening project (FIRST+) framework funded by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by CapitalPlus Exchange. The FIRST+ project provides capacity building and technical assistance to Adehyeman SLC in the area of agricultural finance, which includes technical support in the development and operationalization of the Warehouse Receipt Loan product and its current pilot implementation in various regions. About Adehyeman Adehyeman Savings and Loans LTD is a regulated financial institution in Ghana. It has the legal and regulatory mandate to receive deposits and offer loans to businesses, groups and individuals. The company has its head office in Accra with branches and offices in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti, and the Central Regions of Ghana. Allow private sector involvement in fertiliser distribution - Government urged Mary Anane-Amponsah Business News Jun - 10 - 2023 , 13:22 Ghana Initiative-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Project (GIRSAL) has urged the government to introduce a private-sector-led approach in the distribution of fertilisers to farmers under its Fertiliser Subsidy Programme (FSP). The private sector, it said, should be allowed to compete openly in the market for the distribution of the fertiliser instead of the government playing this role. Through this approach, GIRSAL is proposing that the government adopt an in-kind subsidy policy instead of cash subsidy to make the programme more effective and also reduce cost of fertilisers. This formed part of recommendations by GIRSAL on an assessment of the fertiliser subsidy programme under the government agricultural flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ). At a stakeholder validation workshop on the assessment last Wednesday in Accra, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of GIRSAL, Takyi Sraha, who presented the findings, said the in-kind subsidy would enable certain charges and levies along the fertiliser cost build up to be absorbed by the government. The buildup cost, he said, included the port charges, transport /logistics and cost of the PFJ bags used for bagging the fertiliser. Mr Sraha said: "The government will absorb the cost buildup and allow the private companies who want to participate in the programme to bring their fertiliser, benefit from these charges and sell it at the retail point under a reduced price," he said. Government subsidy Currently, the farmers pay 85 per cent of the price of fertiliser while the government absorbed 15 per cent subsidy. He explained that per the analysis, if a company delivered fertilisers at retail point at GH215 per a bag of fertiliser and the build-up cost were absorbed, it would reduce the cost of the fertiliser by GH33. "The government does not have to give that money out as subsidies to the companies but will direct that the companies bring their fertilisers, the government then absorb these cost and the companies take the fertiliser to the farmgate for farmers to buy. So you cut out rent seeking behaviour and this will reduce the cost," he added. From the 2017 to 2021, about 1.36 million metric tonnes of fertilisers were supplied, in terms of seed, 93,219 metric tonnes were supplied, expenditure on fertiliser and seed supply was GH 2.7 billion and over 5 million farmers benefitted from the PFJ programme. The government was also urged to support indigenous fertiliser importers with special initiatives, including guarantee-backed credit system and other interventions to enable them to meet the local demand. Other necessary actions for the government to take were to increase percentage of government subsidy, add agrochemicals to the programme and ensure the quality of subsidised inputs under the programme. Mr Sraha said the FSP had generally been successful as most of the commodities under the programme had witnessed and increase in productivity and production. However, he said some of the challenges identified in the assessment of the FSP included poor fertiliser quality issues, financial challenges, political interference in fertiliser distribution, smuggling and hoarding. Also he said the bureaucracy associated with the payment process had resulted in excessive delays, which had caused some fertiliser companies to opt out from the programme. Indias Infinite Mining & Energy has signed an agreement with Sharjah's Hamriya Free Zone Authority (HFZA) to set up a multifunctional oil refinery with a daily production capacity of 10,000 barrels. Infinite announced that is going to double its investment in the free zone and establish the plant with annual refining capability of up to 3.6 million barrels alongside a modern oil storage facility equipped with over 20 loading slots. Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of the HFZA, and Bilal Merchant, Managing Director of Infinite Mining & Energy FZE, signed an agreement at HFZA headquarters in the presence of senior officials from both sides. Storage capacity Under the agreement, Infinite will lease a 200,000-sq-ft plot of land in the free zone to build its facilities. This expansion is expected to significantly increase the company's storage capacity, catering to the growing demand for its services and products. The free zone serves as a prosperous hub for regional and international companies specialising in the oil industry. With an ideal business environment and a system of exceptional services and benefits, HFZA continues to stand as a prominent industrial base for international companies in the sector. This latest investment by Infinite further underscores HFZAs success in attracting key players in the oil and energy industries. Leading position Al Mazrouei said Infinites new expansion plans demonstrates HFZAs leading reputation as a preferred investment destination for heavy industries and the petrochemical sector. This also reinforces HFZAs appeal and significance in the oil, energy, and various other sectors, a testament to our commitment to the visions and directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which have transformed the free zone into a role model, showcasing a strong return on investment and an ideal environment for establishing key projects, thereby becoming a vital contributor to the national economy," he said. Al Mazrouei added: "Infinites new facility will be a significant addition to the emirate's burgeoning economic landscape through its production volume, which caters to the demand for energy products and derivatives for both existing and future industrial projects." High global standards He said the company's choice of Hamriya Free Zone underscores the high global standards and the favourable investment climate HFZA offers to investors in the energy and oil sectors. As of today, the free zone houses over 1,200 companies, including major international corporations specialising in this sector. They operate within a dedicated area for petrochemical industries, which boasts a strategic location and is connected to a commercial port with a depth of 14 metres." "This strategic positioning supports import and export operations for our investing companies, offering easy access to major markets. Coupled with our range of distinguished services, state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class logistics services, and facilities, we have grown to become the second-largest petrochemical center in the country," Al Mazrouei added. Merchant said: Infinite began operations in the Hamriya Free Zone in 2018, and our plans to set up a multifunctional oil refinery is a testament to our strategic expansion to broaden our reach in both regional and international markets. HFZAs strategic geographical location aligns perfectly with our company's specialties in the petrochemical, metallurgy, and energy sectors, enabling us to maintain direct interactions with leading manufacturers both locally and globally." He also highlighted the competitive advantages offered by the free zone accelerate our ability to reach a larger customer base in the most efficient, speedy, and cost-effective manner. Dr Katherine Attohdeedei Attoh: A beacon of perseverance in the medical field Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah Life Jun - 11 - 2023 , 01:11 Dr Katherine Attohdeedei Attoh joins the ranks of those who have achieved remarkable feats in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In an interview with The Mirror, Dr Attoh opens up about her inspiring journey of triumph. Her pursuit of a one-year Masters degree in Public Health (MPH) in September 2019 took an unexpected turn just two months into the programme. What initially appeared to be malaria turned into a turbulent roller coaster ride filled with multiple hospital stays. Amid these challenges, Dr Attoh discovered that she was expecting a child. Unfortunately, following her doctor's advice, she had to defer the MPH programme and focus on bed rest. However, as the 2020/2021 academic year commenced, Dr Attoh found herself as a first-year Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OB/GY) resident and a mother to a nine-month-old baby. Despite the desire to defer her MPH studies once again, she was determined to persevere. The University of Ghana presented her with a choice: resume studies or forfeit school fees. With her determination and resolve to honour her father's legacy, Dr Attoh chose to soldier on, balancing her roles as an MPH student, a new mother, a first-year OB/GYN resident and a wife. To navigate this demanding juggling act, Dr Attoh embraced her new normal, taking online classes, expressing breast milk before rushing off to theatre and emergency duties. One particular day during the first semester, overwhelmed by the pressure of a delayed research proposal, lagging presentation preparations and the strain on her personal life, Dr Attoh broke down in tears during a 24-hour duty. However, her supportive team lead provided the much-needed solace and encouraged her to push forward. In order to complete the academic year successfully, she asked her mother for help. My mum took over the care of my son Brian, my Ridge Hospital study group helped fill in the knowledge gaps, my girlfriends were there when I needed to vent and de-stress, my brothers kept reminding me of my brilliance, my co-residents covered for me on days when MPH schedule clashed with OB/GYN duties, my husband rode all the highs and lows with me and I, Attohdeedei, gave it my all, she said heartily. At the end of the programme, she did not only receive the award for the Best Female MPH Student, she was also adjudged the Overall Best MPH Student at the University of Ghana Vice-Chancellor's Awards for the 2021/2022 academic year. Dr Attoh, who believes in perseverance, said: Looking back at the challenges I went through, it is always good to put in place mechanisms that will lessen your stress and enable you to put in your best. Background of Dr Attoh HNBQ : Tell me about yourself. Dr Attoh: I was born and raised in Osu, Accra, by my parents Dr Victor Attoh of blessed memory and Ms Esther Adjei. I am the last of six siblings -- Albert, Elsie, William, Nancy, Nathaniel and me. I started my education at Ridge Church School in Accra then to Wesley Girls' High School in Cape Coast. I entered University of Ghana, Legon to study biological science with the aim of entering medical school but I was unable to make it then so I went to get a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. I did a year of national service as a research assistant at the university and proceeded to University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences. I graduated as a medical doctor in 2014 and have since worked at the 37 Military Hospital, Tema General Hospital, Bethel Specialist (now Ultimate Care) Hospital. I am currently in my final year of specialist training at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge). I also run a health consultation service called Daystar Health Consult where I offer online health advice to clients from the comfort of their homes and also do health talks for organisations. I am married to Emmanuel Berko, a banker, and we have one adorable son called Brain Kofi Prempeh Berko. HNBQ: What inspired you to be a medical doctor? Dr Attoh: My dad , the late Dr Victor Attoh, was an obstetrician/gynaecologist at the Ridge Hospital. A lot of his patients used to come by the house and I used to pass by the hospital sometimes. The respect I saw them accord him, the joy with which theyd greet him because of his care for them and the fact that many named their children after him was an inspiration to me. I wanted to have that kind of effect on people too. Even up till today I sometimes meet some of his old co-workers at Ridge and they say to me "you really take after your dad, he was such an excellent doctor." HNBQ: What makes a good doctor? Dr Attoh: A good doctor has empathy and compassion, keeps updated with the latest guidelines needed to treat his patients and knows his/her limit. HNBQ: What is your area of speciality and why did you choose that? Dr Attoh: My area of speciality is Obstetrics and Gynaecology. I chose to specialise in the diseases of the female sexual and reproductive system and care of women during pregnancy and childbirth because it is the one speciality I found challenging and extremely rewarding. Nothing beats the feeling of helping a woman bring life into this world. I plan to sub-specialise in psychosexual therapy because it's an area where women especially have struggles, with very few specialists to attend to their needs. HNBQ: How do you balance your job as a doctor and family? Dr Attoh: I do a lot of planning. I delegate some house chores, I do bulk cooking at weekends and I don't compromise on family time. I prioritise spending time with my son and my husband on my days off. I also make a conscious effort not to beat myself up when once in a while a work emergency keeps me away from family functions: one can only try but I doubt I'm able to get a balance all the time and that's okay. HNBQ: How do you unwind when you are not attending to patients? Dr Attoh: I love to dance. I spend at least 30 minutes to an hour most days learning dance routines on YouTube. I also like to watch medical and legal drama series. I schedule a girls' hangout with my friends and sometimes I just spend time alone reading or doing some self-care at the spa. HNBQ: What is your greatest strength? Dr Attoh: My resilience and perseverance! I am a tough woman. When I focus on a goal, no excuse gets in my way of achieving it. HNBQ: What are your hobbies? Dr Attoh: I love to dance, I love to travel and watch series based on medicine and the legal profession. When it comes to food, I think fufu and ebunuebunu is the best food in the whole world! hadiza.graphic.com.gh Bortianor: Police kill five suspected criminals Graphic.com.gh Jun - 11 - 2023 , 06:26 The Police has confirmed the killing of suspects during a shootout at Bortianor in Greater Accra. The Police in a statement on Saturday, June 10, 2023, said the five were suspected landguards, who engaged the police in a shootout when the police visited the area. "On June 8th, 2023, the police conducted an operation targeting criminal elements involved in robbery and land guard activities. These individuals had been terrorizing residents and landowners in Bortianor and nearby communities," the police statement explained. Upon detecting the approaching police team, the suspects opened fire from their hideout, prompting the police to retaliate. As a result, five of the suspects were injured and later pronounced dead at the hospital, while the remaining suspects fled the scene and are still at large, the police added. According to the police, various weapons, including guns and ammunition, were seized as exhibits from the suspects. "Exhibits retrieved from the crime scene include one (1) AK47 assault rifle, ten (10) rounds of AK47 ammunition, one (1) pump-action gun with nine (9) rounds of BB cartridges, two (2) pistols with ten (10) rounds of 9mm ammunition, one (1) unregistered Toyota Tacoma pickup, four (4) motorbikes, three (3) of which are unregistered, a knife, and a pepper spray," the police reported. The police said they were actively pursuing the remaining suspects, including those who sustained injuries during the shootout. They appealed to the public, particularly residents of the Bortianor community, to promptly report individuals with gunshot wounds who may seek medical treatment, as such information would assist the police in taking immediate action. Clamp down illegal tree felling - Chief of Staff charges Forestry Commission Juliet Akyaa Safo Jun - 10 - 2023 , 10:51 The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, has charged the Forestry Commission (FC) to clamp down on illegal felling of trees in the country. She also urged district , municipal and metropolitan security councils and security agencies to support the commission in its activities. Mrs Osei-Opare urged the public to report any unlawful felling of trees to the police, saying that it would be of no use if the nation kept planting trees but not protecting the forest cover. Mrs Osei-Opare said this when she joined the Municipal Chief Executive of the Ga West Municipal Assembly(GWMA), Clement Wilkinson, to plant trees at the Achaiman Basic Schools as part of activities marking this year's Green Ghana Day in Accra yesterday. The assembly intends to plant 70,000 trees in schools within the community by the end of this month. Plant seven trees each Addressing staff and students of the schools in the municipality, the Chief of Staff urged each person to plant at least seven trees so that the future generation would benefit from them. She explained that the Green Ghana Day was instituted to address the substantial decline of the countrys forest cover caused by human activities and other climatic conditions. It is significant to stand up and engage in a nationwide tree planting exercise to reduce health and environmental threats posed by deforestation, Osei-Opare said. She said this could be achieved through concerted efforts and broader stakeholder involvement, adding the set target is to plant 10 million trees across the country. The Chief of Staff commended the Amasaman community for a good work done as she observed that trees planted in the municipality last year were blossoming. Partisan politics Mr Wilkinson said seedlings would be given to assembly members to distribute to interested persons within their respective electoral areas. We will then monitor and advice them as to how to take care of the seedlings to grow, he said. He, however, entreated the people to desist from associating partisan politics with the exercise and rather focus on the significance of the trees. Speaker urges citizens to participate in tree planting exercise Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Jun - 10 - 2023 , 05:16 The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged citizens to actively participate in the ongoing Green Ghana tree planting exercise across the country. He said they must also strive to be custodians of the trees they planted to secure a greener and brighter future for generations to come, adding visit them and nurture them regularly as the trees grow into majestic symbols of hope, resilience, and sustainable development. The speaker, who was speaking after leading legislators and staff of Parliament to plant trees in Accra yesterday, said planting trees is not merely an ecological gesture, it is a profound act of love and responsibility towards our nation and health. Yesterdays event was on the theme: "Our forests, our health". In all, 300 species of trees were planted, bringing the number of trees planted by Parliament between 2022 and 2023 to 700. The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako; the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; the acting Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Djietror, were among those who planted the trees. Others were the MP for Oforikrom, Dr Emmanuel Marfo, who planted a tree on behalf of the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, while the acting Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission (FC), George Agbenowoshi, also planted a tree on behalf of the commission. Significance The Speaker also underscored the critical need to preserve forests and vegetation for the well-being of humanity. He described forests as the lush lungs of the planet which played an irreplaceable role in mitigating the impact of climate change. They act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and replenishing our atmosphere with oxygen to ensure that the air we breathe remains pure and invigorating. It is important that we recognise the immense value of these ecosystems and take proactive measures to restore and conserve them, Mr Bagbin added. He also said trees purified the air people breathed, filtered harmful particles and pollutants and ensure the well-being of citizens, especially those in urban areas where air pollution was high. Role of Parliament The Speaker further said Parliament had a role in enacting legislation to safeguard both livelihoods and the environment. He said the Forest Protection (Amendment) Act of 2002, Act 264 was a pillar in safeguarding the environment and promoting sustainable forestry practices. Mr Bagbin expressed worry that the country had experienced significant decline in its forest cover over the years, saying Ghana now ranked among the tropical nations with the highest percentage of deforestation. From a staggering 8.2 million hectares of forest cover in 1900, it had dwindled to a mere 1.6 million hectares. This distressing trend highlights the environmental degradation caused by various factors, including informal small-scale gold mining and uncontrolled tree felling without the commensurate reforestation efforts, he said. The acting Greater Accra Regional Manager of the FC, Mr Agbenowoshi, also said the tree planting exercise was aimed at creating awareness of the importance of forests in enhancing biodiversity. For his part, Mr Djietror commended the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the initiative which, he said, had the support of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Speaker of Parliament to restore depleted forest reserves nationwide. Ghana to issue Ghana Card numbers at birth - Vice President Bawumia Graphic Online Politics Jun - 11 - 2023 , 09:03 In a recent announcement, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that starting in July 2023, newborn babies will be issued Ghana Card numbers at hospitals across Ghana. This move comes after the successful integration of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Ghana Health Service (GHS), and Births and Deaths Registry databases. During his address at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) International Women's Conference in London on June 10, 2022, the Vice President assured attendees that measures have been taken to combat issues such as fake birth certificates, bureaucracy, and corruption at the Births and Deaths Registry. By digitalizing the processes and linking the systems of the Births and Deaths Registry, Ghana Health Service, and NIA, the Vice President aims to streamline the issuance of Ghana Cards from birth. Dr. Bawumia stated, "I have not yet announced in Ghana, I'm happy to announce that the integration of the database of the NIA, GHS, and the Births and Deaths Registry is complete. So from next month, when a child is born in Ghana, we will issue the Ghana Card number right from birth." It is important to note that the National Identification Authority has already registered over 17 million Ghanaians in its system, demonstrating the progress made in this area. The plan as earlier mentioned by the Vice President is that, the child grows up, the biometrics would be taken and linked to the Ghana Card number issued at birth. During the same event, Vice President Bawumia addressed claims made by Alan Kyerematen, a former Trade Minister and aspiring flagbearer of the NPP, suggesting that the party lacks a message for the upcoming 2024 elections. Dr. Bawumia highlighted achievements of the NPP Government since assuming office in 2017, acknowledging that more work remains to be done. "Ladies and Gentlemen, when you look at this tall list of achievements, one cannot but admit that they are monumental. Let nobody tell you that we dont have a message for 2024," said Dr. Bawumia. "I must hasten to add that this does not mean we have done everything we intended to do or ought to have done. There is clearly a lot more to do and we will work hard to do more." In his speech, Dr. Bawumia discussed the challenges inherited by the government, including high unemployment, a prolonged power crisis (dumsor), a struggling national health insurance system, a near-collapse of the national ambulance service, freeze on public sector employment, a weakened banking sector, rising utility bills, poor economic indicators, low agricultural and industrial growth, and the burden of paying $1 billion annually for an excess energy capacity deal negotiated by the previous NDC administration. However, the Vice President also emphasized the various programs, projects, and policies implemented by the NPP Government to address these challenges. He cited improvements in the economy, education, healthcare, agriculture, industries, security, energy, and digitization as evidence of the government's accomplishments. Dr. Bawumia concluded his address by assuring the audience that the NPP indeed has a message for the 2024 elections, urging them to consider the monumental achievements and ongoing efforts of the government. He acknowledged that there is still much work to be done and reaffirmed the government's commitment to continue striving for progress. Vice President Bawumia addresses Alan Kyerematen's claims of NPP's lack of election message Kweku Zurek Politics Jun - 11 - 2023 , 09:20 Speaking at the NPP International Women's Conference in London, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia expressed his incredulity at suggestions that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lacks a message for the upcoming 2024 elections. Amid global challenges faced by economies worldwide, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the NPP government's commendable achievements since assuming office in 2017 while acknowledging the need for further progress. Former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, who aspires to be the NPP flagbearer, recently stated that the party lacks an election message. Mr Kyerematen said due to the economic hardship, the NPPs key message for campaigning as a party for the 2024 election had become difficult. However, the Vice President maintains that the NPP administration could run on its "tall list of achievements". "Ladies and Gentlemen, when you look at this impressive list of achievements, one cannot deny their monumental nature. Let nobody tell you that we don't have a message for 2024," declared Dr. Bawumia. He added a note of caution, acknowledging that while significant progress has been made, there is still more work to be done. The government remains committed to further efforts and endeavours to fulfil its responsibilities diligently. Dr. Bawumia's address in London is perceived by analysts as a response to Kyerematen's claim. Acknowledging the government's journey, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the solid track record of achievements despite facing global and domestic challenges. He underscored the importance of recognizing the country's state and the inherited challenges, along with the government's proactive solutions. Among the challenges mentioned by the Vice President were high unemployment rates, prolonged power outages (dumsor), a deteriorated national health insurance system, nearly collapsed ambulance services, a freeze on public sector employment, a struggling banking sector, skyrocketing utility bills, poor economic indicators, sluggish agricultural and industrial growth, the cancellation of teacher and nursing training allowances, and the burden of a $1 billion annual payment for a take-or-pay excess energy capacity deal negotiated by the previous government. Following the extensive list of challenges, Dr. Bawumia presented a comprehensive range of programs, projects, and policies implemented by the NPP Government in sectors such as employment, education, health, agriculture, industries, security, energy, and digitalization. Highlighting economic improvements achieved before setbacks from the global COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Dr. Bawumia showcased the government's efforts to enhance education by addressing unequal access through the flagship Free SHS program. He also highlighted infrastructure developments, including the construction of numerous classroom blocks nationwide. Addressing the "inherited problem" of high unemployment, Dr. Bawumia commended the government for lifting the freeze on public sector employment imposed by the previous administration. He noted that the NPP Government has created over 2 million jobs, which can be verified. Furthermore, the Vice President emphasized the growth achieved in agriculture and industries, underscoring the NPP's notable accomplishments in the health sector. These achievements include improvements to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the provision of ambulances for every constituency, the introduction of drones for emergency medical supplies in remote areas, and advancements in pediatric cancer treatment. Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the government's flagship Agenda 111 health initiative aimed at constructing district and regional hospitals. Reviving the industrial sector was another area of focus in Dr. Bawumia's address, with particular emphasis on the successful revival of companies such as Anglogold Ashanti, WAMCO, Ghana Publishing, Ghanapost, and the establishment of multiple factories under the 1D1F initiative. The pinnacle of Dr. Bawumia's speech came when he discussed digitization, listing various initiatives undertaken by the government and the problems they have effectively addressed. The audience responded with resounding applause, appreciating the detailed delivery of accomplishments. Nigerian troops kill 2 gunmen, arrest 5 in southern state 19 Jul 2023 | 3:36 PM Lagos, July 19 (UNI) The Nigerian military killed two gunmen and arrested five others in a recent encounter with members of a rebel group in the southern Delta state, authorities said. see more.. Imran's ex-secretary Azam terms cypher gate 'premeditated conspiracy' 19 Jul 2023 | 3:29 PM Islamabad, July 19 (UNI) Pakistan former prime minister Imran Khan's principal secretary Azam Khan has "recorded" a statement, terming the US cypher a conspiracy used by the ex-PM to "manipulate for creating a narrative against establishment and opposition," media reports said on Wednesday. see more.. Ten rescued after boat catches fire in Japan 19 Jul 2023 | 3:15 PM Tokyo, July 19 (UNI) Ten people were rescued from a burning pleasure boat in Tokyo Bay on Wednesday, the Japan Coast Guard said. see more.. 32 killed as bus collides with car in Algeria 19 Jul 2023 | 1:51 PM Tunisia, July 19 (UNI) A total of 32 people were killed in a collision between a passenger bus and a car in the Algerian province of Tamanrasset, media reported on Wednesday, citing the country's civil protection department. see more.. Last weeks poll shows that Motorola is onto something with the dual release of a vanilla and a flagship foldable. The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra was the one most people prefer, but the vanilla Razr 40 found a fanbase as well. The biggest criticism of the base model is that Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. It was deemed too under-powered for an 800 phone the new 7+ Gen 2 would really have boosted Razr 40s standing in the eyes of would-be buyers. Interestingly, no one complained about the tiny screen, which seemed like it would be the phones biggest weakness (the large cover display may be the best thing about the Ultra). Speaking of the Razr 40 Ultra, it scored a very positive result in the poll. This phone (as the Razr+) will go head to head with the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip5 in the US rumor has it that the Samsung foldable will match the Ultra price tag of $1,000. Motorola is promising 3 OS updates for the phone, which isnt as good as Samsungs 4 but should be enough to give people peace of mind. Some arent too happy with the extra tall 22:9 aspect ratio of the internal display. At least Motorola moved away from the extra wide form factor of the Razr 2022 (that one was a whopping 79.8mm wide). The new model is also lighter and it has the option for a grippy faux-leather back, so ergonomics have been improved. Battery life was another concern the Ultra scored 83 hours in our review, up from a measly 64 hours for the Razr 2022. Thats a fine improvement, but is still behind the Z Flip4 and the Z Flip5 promises to do even better. Using a smaller, lower-resolution sensor for the main camera compared to lat years Razr 12MP 1/2.55 vs. 50MP 1/1.55 along with a narrower lens for the ultra wide camera also drew criticism. After all, this phone costs 1,200/1,050 in Europe and $1,000 in the US and that is a lot of money for a basic camera setup such as this. Right now Motorola is the only rival that Samsung has in the flip foldable market on the global stage. Oppo Find N2 Flip can be hard to find in Europe, the vivo X Flip never arrived. And both are nowhere to be seen in North America. Motos two-pronged approach holds promise as the vanilla model will undercut the Z Flip5 pricing, the Ultra phone will try to fight it on features. India's Enforcement Directorate just issued a show cause order to Xiaomi Technology India Ltd and three foreign banks - Citi bank, HSBC Bank and Deutsche Bank AG. An order to show cause is the type of court order that requires one or more parties to prove or disprove something to the court. In this case, it's about a Foreign Exchange Management Act violation amounting to the equivalent of $676 million. The actual violation is by Xiaomi, but the banks listed above received their orders as well since they have a role in the violation. According to ED, the banks allowed foreign remittances without obtaining any Technical Collaboration Agreement. The issue dates back to 2022 when the Indian government seized the equivalent of $6.7 million from Xiaomi India's bank accounts due to illegal outflow of capital. After the ED carried out an investigation, it was concluded that Xiaomi India transferred foreign exchange out of the country and held it there on behalf of the group entity. This is in direct violation of section 4 of the FEMA, 1999. Source You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Bahrain's Bapco Energies (formerly nogaholding) announced that it has received two international awards in recognition for its $2.2 billion sustainability-linked corporate financing facility and contributions to both ESG and the Islamic finance sector. The company was awarded the Best Islamic Finance Facility Award at the 15th edition of the EMEA Annual Achievement Awards 2022 and ESG Loan Deal of the Year by the GFC Media Group at their annual Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards. The awards follow Bapco Energies successful refinancing of its $1.6 billion Murabaha Facility and upsizing it to $2.2 billion. The new facility, a first of its kind for Bapco Energies and the largest in sustainability-linked finance in Bahrain, was structured as a dual-tranche (conventional and Islamic) sustainability-linked loan. The transaction demonstrated high investor confidence in Bapco Energies credit and sustainability storey, with interest from international, regional, and local banks leading to an oversubscription of more than two times. The awards demonstrate the great potential for ethical ESG and sustainability-driven transactions and continued growth in sustainable funding across the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region. Lauding the companys dual achievement, Bapco Energies Group CEO Mark Thomas said: "We are deeply honoured to have been awarded the Best Islamic Finance Facility and ESG Loan Deal of the Year. These two accolades are a testament to the confidence in our strategy and the growth seen across the company." "Bapco Energies continues to drive forward by adopting the best practices across sustainable financing, aligning with the Kingdoms Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Bahrains Economic Vision 2030," he noted. The dual-tranche (conventional and Islamic) sustainability-linked loan was based on a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) with a maturity date of September 2026. Gulf International Bank (GIB) and Mashreq Bank together acted as the Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners (IMLABs) for arranging the facility, along with being the Sustainability Coordinators. Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait DIFC Branch, GIB, and Mashreq together acted as Joint Coordinators, the Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers, and Underwriters for the transaction. GIB was also appointed as the Sole Structuring Bank and the Global Facility Agent. The bookrunners were Mashreq and GIB, while Linklaters acted as the legal advisor to the borrower and Norton Rose Fulbright served as the Legal Adviser to the JLMs. Gulf International Bank CEO Jamal Al Kishi said: "GIB is proud to have used our expertise in sustainable financing to support Bapco Energies on this landmark transaction and its ongoing efforts to contribute to the realization of Bahrains energy transition goals." "GIB is deeply committed to taking a leadership role in helping our clients utilize innovative instruments that allow them to transact and operate in a more sustainable way. The success and uptake for this loan attests to the strong appetite from investors for such instruments and underscores market confidence in Bapco Energies vision and strategy for a more sustainable energy future," he added. Mashreq Group CEO Ahmed Abdelaal expressed delight at having the privilege of collaborating with Bapco Energies on their groundbreaking ESG landmark transaction. "Being recognized in two leading international awards reflects Bapco Energies key role in driving energy transition across the region. As a leading regional financial institution with a global footprint, Mashreq is committed to actively supporting Bapco Energies and contributing to the sustainable development of the region's energy sector," noted Abdelaal. "This facility not only highlights Bahrain's dedication to advancing the broader framework of decarbonization and energy transition but also signifies the increasing commitment of regional investors and financial institutions to finance Sustainability-Linked transactions," said Abdelaal. "We firmly believe that collaboration among financial institutions, governments, and energy stakeholders is paramount to addressing the financing challenges posed by the energy transition in the region," he added. Rami El Rifai, General Manager and Senior Executive Officer at Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (DIFC branch), said: "We are incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to convey our commitment to Bahrain and support its journey to a sustainable future." "These awards serve as a validation and affirmation of our dedication to ESG initiatives and our efforts toward an environmentally friendly future," he added.-TradeArabia News Service China spying on US from military base in Cuba since 2019 Beijing, June 11 (UNI) China has been using a military base in Cuba to gather intelligence on the United States since 2019, Politico reported on Saturday, citing a US administration official. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that China and Cuba had entered into a secret agreement to establish a Chinese base in Cuba to spy on US military bases. "When this [US President Joe Biden] administration took office in January 2021, we were briefed on a number of sensitive PRC efforts around the world to expand its overseas logistics, basing, and collection infrastructure globally This effort included the presence of PRC intelligence collection facilities in Cuba. In fact, the PRC conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. This is well-documented in the intelligence record," the official was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Subscribe to our daily NewsLetter Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password or receive our NewsLetter. Stay logged in Lost password Contact Published on 2023/06/11 | Source Set against the chaos of war, the highly anticipated "War and Revolt" (WT) takes viewers on a gripping journey through the lives of two childhood friends turned adversaries. Starring Gang Dong-won as the formidable Cheon-yeong and Park Jung-min as the conflicted Jong-ryeo, the historical film will captivate audiences with its thrilling narrative and star-studded cast. Advertisement The inclusion of globally acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook as producer and co-writer adds another layer of excitement and significance, as it is his first film collaboration with Netflix. Known as the filmmaker who put Korean cinema on the map, Park Chan-wook has garnered international acclaim for his distinct storytelling style and visually stunning films. In "War and Revolt", Gang takes center stage as the enigmatic Cheon-yeong, a character whose remarkable martial prowess defies his humble origins as a slave. Struggling to break free from the chains of servitude, Cheon-yeong will be brought to life by Gang's extraordinary talent, exuding charm and delivering breathtaking action sequences that will leave audiences in awe. Opposite Gang, Park Jung-min assumes the role of Jong-ryeo, Cheon-yeong's former master and scion of Joseon's most influential military family. After passing the military service exam, Jong-ryeo becomes King Seonjo's personal guard, leading to a heart-wrenching reunion with his former friend. Park's portrayal is expected to be nothing short of mesmerizing, as he delves deep into the complex psyche of a man torn between friendship and duty, ultimately facing his own downfall. Both Gang and Park are sharing the screen for the first time. Exceptional ensemble cast to bring tale to life Adding to the stellar cast, Cha Seung-won steps into the role of King Seonjo, a monarch who abandons his people at the onset of the Japanese invasion, only to seek redemption by restoring his royal authority after the war. With a proven track record of delivering riveting performances, Cha is set to enthrall audiences once again with his portrayal of the turbulent ruler, embodying the complexities of power and resilience. Kim Shin-rok, known for her remarkable performance in Hellbound, portrays the resolute Beom-dong, a member of the civilian militia who fearlessly defies social norms and confronts any obstacles that cross her path. Jin Sun-kyu takes on the role of Kim Ja-ryeong, a civilian militia leader descended from the traditional ruling class who emerges as an inspiring force amid the chaos of the invasion. Meanwhile, Jung Sung-il-I, hailed for his intense performance in The Glory, brings the intimidating Japanese warlord Genshin to life, a character who recognizes Cheon-yeong's extraordinary swordsmanship. Director Kim Sang-man, lauded for the daring and unique storyline on action-thriller Midnight F.M.,masterfully combines the dramatic elements of life during a tumultuous era with exhilarating battle and chase sequences, promising an immersive experience that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. "War and Revolt" is produced by MOHO FILM, the powerhouse behind notable works such as "Decision to Leave", "The Handmaiden", and "Snowpiercer", in collaboration with Semicolon Studio. Diesen Artikel lesen Sie hier in deutscher Sprache. Anzeige Wired named him an "unrepentant hippie and world networker". The Internet Society introduced him into their Internet Hall of Fame the year it was opened. South Africas Rhodes University conferred an honorary doctorate to Randy Bush for the contributions he made to connecting countries in Africa. Which he accepted together with South African legendary leader Nelson Mandela. Bushs story goes back far beyond the beginning of the Internet to the days of punch cards and main frame computers. Coming with a background in computing the "Hippie" contributed to shaping the start of networking in the Pacific Northwest, the US and globally, sometimes from the periphery, as he notes. Bush is weary of organizations and governments, perhaps a legacy of his political activism in the 1960s in the US peace movement. Bringing people to the Internet was done by the people, not so much by organizations, he said in a talk on connecting the developing world last year. In our interview Bush is not shy to point to what he considers wrongs and weaknesses in the afterwards development of the net, old and new. Only to add in an email afterwards that his life, and especially his career, was really the story of the work and help of others. heise online: Youre not only an Internet pioneer. We have to start earlier. You built a computer in the seventies already with NorthWest Microcomputer Systems, and when you did that you already had 12 years of experience in the industry. Tell us about building computers in the sixties... Randy Bush Randy Bush: I wasnt building them. Lets see. It has to be 1965. I'm working my way lackadaisically through university by working at a clinical chemistry lab of the hospital in the University of Chicago. The chemistry lab was in the basement and one day somebody said, Randy, on the way to lunch, would you take this deck of cards up to room 534. I said, sure, and I did and when I got there I asked, what is that machine? They said, it's a computer. And I said, how does it work? And they just handed me the manual which I took home that evening. The next day I went back there and said, I have this little program I want to try. And thats how I fell down the rabbit hole. That was an IBM 1401. Self-made programmer and network engineer Anzeige But you were an engineer by training. No, I wasn't trained. I'm just a geek. And I never finished. No university degree. Well, I have some honorary ones, but they don't count. So that computer was in the hospital in the biomathematics department and there was a senior medical computing scientist, Carol Newton, who took me under her wing and forced me to take classes in numerical methods and stuff like that. Soon I got involved working with a doctor in obstetrics who wanted to watch the heartbeat of the fetus while watching contractions. We used a PDP-8 LINC minicomputer (produced by Digital Equipment) for this. When we were finished, the doctor gave it to Hewlett Packard and Beckman. But the fun part of the story was, when my daughter was giving birth to my granddaughter in 2009, the alarms of such a device went off, and they performed a cesarean section and it saved her life. I like the circle that came around. How long did you stay with the University of Chicago? I worked for some time at the Chicago computation center that was then behind the University of Chicago nuclear reactor. We had to run a line from the hospital over to that center that was operated by the High Energy Physics department. In those years, computer science came of either high energy physics, mathematics, or business. For some reason I got dragged into floating point arithmetic. I was making $0.87 an hour and my wife, who was in the admissions department, was making $0.92 an hour. Not a lot, but we were happy and enjoying our life. Then came an offer from Kaiser Oakland California. Do you know Kaiser Industries in the US? Built the Hoover Dam, warships for WWII, During World War II, Kaiser Steel and Shipbuilding Company wanted health care at scale for their workers. So they formed a hospital division called Kaiser Permanente, and it's what we call group medical practice. They essentially insured their employees, and after the war opened this to the public providing integrated total lifetime health care. It's almost first world medical care. Kaiser Oakland offered me a job for $11,000 a year. We had been coming to the West Coast for the summer for some years. We would camp out in the Olympic Mountains and then go down the coast and party in San Francisco. This is in the mid-sixties. We saw Jimi Hendrix live and Janis Joplin and all that stuff. Then we spent a month in Southern California. Carol Newton, the professor that had taken me under her wings in Chicago, had gone to UCLA and they gave her one of the few monster machines IBM made, an IBM 360/91. So I went down to the City of Hope Hospital, west of LA. It treats people with tuberculosis and children with cancer, and I helped them connect to Carols facility at UCLA to do remote jobs. So I was familiar with the West Coast. I had been raised in Seattle as a child, my father taught at the University of Washington. So when they offered me a job, we said, great, and moved to California and I worked at Kaiser Permanente, and did all the systems stuff administering two IBM mainframes. That was in the sixties It was in 1968. We left Chicago right after the convention, we wont go into it. (Democratic Convention 1968 to elect a democratic presidential candidate which resulted in violent clashes between opponents of the Vietnam War and the notorious Chicago Police, ed) I worked for Kaiser Permanente with large-scale IBM machines and started participating in users and standards groups. That was in Oakland. My wife worked in the metallurgy department at Berkeley. In 1972, we had our first child and decided, we did not want to raise kids there. So we moved to the middle of nowhere in South Western Oregon. We had a farm on Cherry Creek, about 25 miles east of Coos Bay. We stayed there for many years and I worked remotely all sorts of places. Wood outside, Pascal inside: Northwest Microcomputer Systems You already worked remotely then? My first telecommuting was 1972. During that time everything was party line. Three or four or five houses were on the same pair of copper. But the telco ran a private line from Myrtle Point. That was 25 miles south from us, so I could use a modem. That was really nice of them and I was impressed. Using the network, I did all sorts of strange contract work from the farm before we moved to Portland in 1986. You were building microcomputers for Northwest Microcomputer Systems while working from Cherry Creek farm? Yes. The funding folk were in Coos County. The microprocessors first came in then. The Intel 8080 and so on. (The 8080 was a second 8-bit microprocessor that extended the earlier 8008). I was playing with them on breadboard and a group of people from town, two doctors and the young owner of a giant old style hardware store, Farr True Value Hardware, approached me if I could program a point-of-sale and bookkeeping app for them. And I stayed on the farm and wrote 20,000 lines in assembly language in a year. The group wanted to have it packaged up with hardware and software, so we did that. I read it was made from wood. Really? Yes. The case of the machine was made back in Coos County by Alan Peters, a neighboring woodworker. A plastic injection mold would have been over $50k. Your co-founders were John Burles, Michael McKeown, Jim Long, and Jay Farr, right? Farr was the heir of True Value Hardware. John Burles was an accountant. Mike McKeown was the doctor I worked with at the University of Chicago. Jim Long in fact came to me at the age of 15 and said, I want to be a computer programmer. He later became one of the first hundred employees of Cisco. I found a hardware crew in Eugene and all together became Northwest Micro. We probably built over 20 of these machines. Only 20? Yes. But what happened was that after I had written the monster code, I found out that UCSD had that cool thing, Pascal. At that point, it only ran on a DIGITAL PDP-11. But I said I would take anything to get me away from this assembly language and so http://www.bitsavers.org/magazines/Pascal_News/12_Pascal_News_Jun78.pdfconnected with them and helped. I didn't do the work, but I helped them get it to the 8080 processor and we put it on the board in Eugene. I'd commute up to Eugene, which was a two plus hour ride from the farm. So, we had a Pascal machine. The machines were bought by Hewlett Packard, General Electric and so on. "Missing Link" Was fehlt: In der rapiden Technikwelt haufig die Zeit, die vielen News und Hintergrunde neu zu sortieren. Am Wochenende wollen wir sie uns nehmen, die Seitenwege abseits des Aktuellen verfolgen, andere Blickwinkel probieren und Zwischentone horbar machen. Mehr zum Feuilleton "Missing Link" Why did you only make so few? Its because the big companies always loved the machine. The hardware guys wanted to make a run for it. Then there was Apple starting and both Northwest Microsystem and Apple went to the West Coast Computer Fair in San Jose in 1979. While the hardware guys wanted to go for it, the doctors who were big funders said no. It turned out the purpose of their funding was to have a tax loss. That's why when the company failed, I got a T-Shirt from some friends that said, "God helps those who own a majority share". Pride Month picnic includes celebration and protest Drum music was one of several activities visitors enjoyed Saturday during the third annual Picnic for Progress at Jackson Park Hendersonville celebrated Pride Month Saturday with a picnic in the park that included food, music, numerous exhibits, speakers, a proclamation from the city and a few protesters. Its bigger this year than last year. Weve outgrown this space, Laura Bannister, the chairperson of Hendersonville Pride, said of the third annual Picnic for Progress held at Jackson Park to celebrate Pride Month. I love the turnout to celebrate all that we are, the bad times weve come through to achieve equity in Hendersonville. Bannister said the group might consider holding the picnic in Mills River or Fletcher next year. She estimated around 1,000 people attended the picnic while county officials put the number closer to 500. Regardless of the exact number, many who came to the picnic struggled to find parking along with other visitors who wanted to enjoy the parks new all-inclusive playground and other attractions. The picnic also included 47 exhibitors, Bannister said. A small number of people turned out to protest the event. Holding signs that read Love is Not Proud and Jesus Saves, a group of about 10 people came to protest the picnic with some saying they thought events like the one in the park set a dangerous example for children. Im personally out here to represent the God-ordained relationship between one man and one woman, a protester who identified himself only as Patrick said. The Pride movement is targeting children. Another protester, Allura Lightfoot of Hendersonville, said she and some of the others who came to protest also protest against abortion in Asheville. She said she too believes the Pride movement is dangerous for children. At one point during the picnic, four Henderson County Sheriffs Department deputies, park officials and Henderson County Business and Community Development Director Christopher Todd were on-hand to keep the peace between protesters and the people at the Pride event. Deputies asked a few protesters to move from the space Pride organizers had rented for the picnic to a location in the park directly across from the picnic. Deputies physically escorted one female protester from the picnic site after she refused the officers requests to leave. Park officials at another point asked both protesters and people attending the picnic to stop using sound equipment with amplification after a protestor using a loud speaker and a person from the Pride event with a bullhorn began shouting at each other. Todd said organizers of the picnic received a permit from the county for the event because it included more than 50 people. The others were free to protest in the park outside the event space. As long as they are abiding by the law, they can be here, he said of the protesters. Bannister said she did not mind the protest or the request to stop using sound equipment. They have their First Amendment rights. We cant argue with that, she said. I thanked the officers for doing what they do what they do to keep the peace. Most people who attended the event seemed to take the protest in stride. They visited the exhibits offered by several local organizations, visited with one another, played cornhole, listened to music and ate a variety of food offered for sale by a few food trucks. Paul Simons, who lives in both Hendersonville and Florida, said he was excited that a member of Hendersonvilles City Council was scheduled to speak. You dont see a lot of that these days, especially in Florida, he said. Hendersonville Mayor Pro Tem Lyndsey Simpson was one of several speakers during the picnic. She read a proclamation designating June 2023 as Pride Month. Hendersonville welcomes the guests and residents who will gather to celebrate and honor the fight against discrimination and prejudice towards LGBTQ + individuals during the month of June 2023, according to the proclamation. Celebrating pride month influences awareness and provides support and advocacy for Hendersonvilles LGBTQ + community. Simpson in an interview after reading the proclamation said she felt it was important for her to attend the picnic. We want to ensure Hendersonville is a community where everyone can feel welcomed and included, she said. One of the ways we can do that is to be at the Pride picnic and proclaim June as Pride Month. Islamabad, June 11 (UNI) At least 28 people were killed and over 100 injured after heavy rains and thunderstorms hit several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Saturday. media reports said. As per the provincial disaster management authority, 25 people were killed in rain-related incidents in KP's Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak and Lakki Marwat while 145 were injured. It added that at least 69 houses were partially damaged by the rain. As per PDMA's breakdown, 15 people died and 100 were injured in Bannu. It also added that 68 houses were partially damaged in the area. Meanwhile, at least five people were killed, and 42 others were wounded in the Lakki Marwat district, Geo news reports. Meanwhile, in Karak, four people died and one person was injured. In, Dera Ismail Khan a child died due to the rains, two people were injured and one house was partially damaged. A Rescue 1122 official said that all stations of their Rescue 1122 in KP are on the alert to deal with any untoward incident. He said relief activities continued as due to heavy rain, roof collapses occurred at many places in Lakki Marwat, Bannu and other parts of the province. He disclosed that Rescue 1122's search and rescue operations are ongoing as all the injured are being shifted to the hospital after providing medical aid on the spot. KP caretaker Information Minister Barrister Feroze Jamal Shah, in a statement, said that a high alert had been issued in the hospitals of the affected districts. He said the interim government was in contact with the authorities of the affected areas. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed regret over the loss of life and property in rain-related incidents in a telephonic conversation with Deputy Speaker National Assembly Zahid Akram Durrani, who hails from Bannu district. The prime minister directed the KP chief secretary and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to take urgent measures to deal with any untoward situation. UNI XC AKS GNK American online mortgage firm Better.com, which laid off 900 employees over a Zoom call in December 2021, has reportedly undertaken a fresh round of job cuts, terminating the entire real estate team, and has shut down the unit. Vishal Garg is the founder and CEO of Better.com (Image courtesy: Better,com) The layoffs were carried out as the company is looking to move from an in-house agent model to a partnership agent one. Little to no severance paid According to reports, there is no clarity yet on the number of people who were working in the real estate division. An employee who got laid off in this round, however, revealed Better.com gave little to no severance to those relieved, adding that he himself was subjected to a 50% pay cut in November last year. Also, in May 2022, the organisation founded by Indian-American entrepreneur Vishal Garg (who is also the CEO) asked staffers to resign voluntarily, and close to 920 resignations were accepted later. Thousands of employees laid off Better.com has carried out multiple rounds of layoffs before the latest one, with the fourth round taking place in August 2022. Till now, around 4,000 people have been handed pink slips. Better.com-Amazon deal In March, the company entered into a deal with Amazon under which those working for the e-commerce giant were allowed to use their vested equity as a collateral for down payment to buy homes. Even though equity is a valuable asset, most banks consider it ineligible when calculating the necessary downpayment on a home, Garg said at the time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Karnataka government on Sunday launched the Shakti Yojane, the scheme that provides free bus travel for women across Karnataka. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiahand deputy CM DK Shivakumar inaugurated the scheme at Bengalurus Vidhana Soudha and called it a move for women empowerment in the southern state. It was Congress' one of the five poll promises before the assembly elections. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar launched Shakti scheme on Sunday Also read - Free bus travel for women in Karnataka: Here is all you need to know about guidelines The travel in ordinary buses will be free for all women in Karnataka, starting from 1 pm on Sunday. Speaking to the reporters, Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said, Our priority is to make travel convenient for women across Karnataka. We will also increase bus services in those routes where shortage is observed. All women across Karnataka can travel for free from 1pm today. The minister also asked the women to apply for Shakti smart cards in next three months. Answering about the privacy breach, We have designed these smart cards in a way that the data privacy will not be breached. The portal will be open for next three month and I request women to apply for Shakti smart cards. Meanwhile, until the cards are issued, women who would like avail the free travel benefit must carry a government photo ID card with their residential address on it. It is compulsory for women to carry the Shakti smart card, after three months from June 11. The scheme applies for all women in Karnataka, including the transgender community. The Shakti scheme applies only on the ordinary state run bus services of Karnataka. Airavat, Airavat Club Class, Airavat Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari Dream Class, Ambari Utsav, Fly Bus, Vayu Vajra, Vajra, Non-AC Sleeper, Rajahamsa and EV Power Plus AC buses are excluded in this scheme. The scheme doesnt also apply to those buses which travel outside the state. 50 per cent seats on KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTCs ordinary and express buses will be reserved for men. The Congress-led government in Karnataka on Sunday rolled out the Shakti scheme offering free travel to women and transgender people in state buses fulfilling the first of its five poll guarantees. The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government rolls out Shakti scheme, providing free bus rides to women in the state. (PTI) Chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and transport minister Ramalinga Reddy on Sunday launched the scheme outside the Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru, and also issued token smart cards to five beneficiaries, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders invited to the event, stayed away. In the run up to the elections, the Congress had promised 200 units of free power to all households under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, 2,000/- month to each woman head of the family under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, free travel for women in government-run buses under the Gruha Shakti scheme, 3,000/month to unemployed graduates and 1,500/month to unemployed diploma graduates for two years under the Yuva Nidhi scheme and 10kg food grains to each member of a below poverty line (BPL) family under the Anna Bhagya scheme. On June 2, Siddaramaiah said that all the five guarantees would be implemented in the present financial year. After the launch, the chief minister took on the role of a bus conductor and issued zero-value tickets to women passengers. Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and other dignitaries travelled in a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus along with women passengers from Vidhan Soudha to the bus terminal at Majestic. The CM said that the free bus travel scheme has been rolled out for social equality and will benefit the minorities, women and deprived classes. Women, who make up half of the society, have been exploited for centuries. Minorities, women are deprived of opportunities. Womens participation in the workforce is low in India compared to other countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and the United States, the chief minister, adding that he hoped the move will boost womens participation in the workforce. The BJP which only cares for the rich, cannot bear our concern [towards the poor]. Our aim is to alleviate the suffering of the people. The first guarantee came into effect within 20 days of taking oath and all the women have started taking advantage of it. The scheme has been launched across the state, the CM added. Several BJP leaders who were invited for the inauguration of the scheme in Bengaluru, including Union minister of state for skill development and electronics and information technology Rajeev Chandrashekar, BJP MPs PC Mohan and Tejasvi Surya among others skipped the ceremony on Sunday. Earlier, the state BJP had threatened to launch statewide agitations if the Congress government in Karnataka fails to fulfil its five guarantees to the people. They will continue the five guarantees only till the Lok Sabha Elections. Congress will cheat people later. If the guarantees continue, the development work will have to be stopped. The development of Karnataka will be stunted due to this, former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi said while speaking at a meeting with the party workers in Belagavis Athani on Sunday. The scheme was launched at 1pm at all district headquarters of the state, said an official communique. Women can apply for the Shakti Smart Card by registering on the Seva Sindhu government portal, to avail the benefit of the scheme. As per officials, the free travel service will benefit over 4.18 million women passengers daily and would cost the exchequer an estimated 4,051.56 crore annually. According to officials, all women, including girl students, without any discrimination on the basis of caste, religion caste, can avail the facility. Gender minorities are also included in the scheme, they said. The free travel service can be availed in city transport, ordinary and express buses which accounts for 18,609 buses in all four state-owned Road Transport Corporations (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and Kalyan Karnataka Road Transport Corporation). Until smart cards are issued, free bus travel can be availed by producing a valid photo identity card issued by Government of India, Government of Karnataka or government-owned offices, and getting a zero-value ticket. Calling the scheme, the epitome of female empowerment, Shivakumar said, Women are like the eyes of a family... women are given first priority in our culture. We have implemented this Shakti scheme as the epitome of female empowerment. Talking to mediapersons, minister Reddy said the aim of the scheme is to prioritise easy and safe travel for women commuters, adding that smart cards for free bus travel will be available in three months. You can apply for the smart passes within three months. Smart passes do not breach any privacy... people in rural areas can reach out to help centres for those who do not have access to online mediums. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala took to Twitter and asserted that Congress fulfilled its commitment to offer free bus travel. Shakti the Congress Guarantee rolls in Karnataka today Guaranteeing free travel in buses to Women across the State. Congress is truth! Congress is commitment! Congress stands with people, Surjewala tweeted. Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa expressed his happiness on the launch of the Scheme and said that all the schemes promised by Congress in the state would be implemented by August 15. We are very happy that we are launching Shakti scheme for women of all ages. We have already started executing (the schemes) one by one. By August 15, all the schemes will be implemented. We will start delivering as we promised, he said. Bangarappa also said that the Congress manifesto promised the provision of buses for the states children and that more buses will be introduced. I have got 1.2 crore children up to 12th standard. I want them to avail this service. In our manifesto, we had promised this. We will be adding more buses. Our target is 15,000 buses. We want them to avail all facilities, the education minister said. The Shakti scheme applies only on the ordinary state-run bus services of Karnataka. Airavat, Airavat Club Class, Airavat Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari Dream Class, Ambari Utsav, Fly Bus, Vayu Vajra, Vajra, Non-AC Sleeper, Rajahamsa and EV Power Plus AC buses are excluded from the scheme. The government has also reserved 50% of the seats for men in the services which women are eligible to avail in all RTCs, except BMTC services. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress government in Karnataka on Sunday rolled out its first of the five poll guarantees, the Shakti scheme, which offers free travel to women and transgender people in government-run buses in the state. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar interact with women passengers in a bus during the launch of the 'Shakti scheme' in Bengaluru on Sunday. (PTI) Chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and transport minister Ramalinga Reddy launched the scheme and issued smart cards to five beneficiaries at an event on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The five women were handed replicas of the smart cards that would be issued to women passengers in the next three months. The chief minister also took on the role of a bus conductor and issued free tickets to women passengers at the Majestic bus station, and to those travelling from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala on Sunday. Meanwhile, the district in-charge ministers and legislators simultaneously launched the scheme in their respective districts and constituencies, with some of them taking the role of a conductor as well. According to officials, the free travel service will benefit over 41.8 lakh women passengers every day and would cost the state exchequer an estimated 4,051.56 crore annually. After taking part in the launch, CM Siddaramaiah underlined that the free bus travel is for social equality, and will benefit the minorities, women, and deprived classes. Women, who make up half of the society, have been exploited for centuries. Minorities and women are deprived of opportunities. Womens participation in the workforce is low in India compared to other countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the US, Siddaramaiah said, as he hoped the move will boost womens participation in the workforce. The BJP, which only cares for the rich, cannot bear our concern. Our aim is to alleviate the suffering of the people. The first guarantee came into effect within 20 days of taking oath and all the women have started taking advantage of it. The scheme has been launched across the state, Siddaramaiah added. Shivakumar said, Women are like the eyes of a family...Women are given first priority in our culture. We have implemented this Shakti scheme as the epitome of female empowerment. Ramalinga Reddy, briefing people about the scheme, said that the aim is to prioritise easy and safe travel of women commuters. Reddy also said that the smart cards for free bus travel would be granted after three months. You can apply for the smart passes within three months. Smart passes will not breach any privacy. People in rural areas can reach out to help centres for those who dont have access to online mediums. Karnataka education minister Madhu Bangarappa said, We are very happy that we are launching Shakti scheme for women of all ages. We have already started executing (the schemes) one by one. By August 15, all the schemes will be implemented. We will start delivering as we promised. Bangarappa also said that the Congress manifesto had promised buses for children. I have got 1.2 crore children up to 12th standard. I want them to avail this service. In our manifesto, we had promised this. We will be adding more buses. Our target is 15,000 buses. We want them to avail all facilities, the Education Minister said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and asserted that the party has fulfilled its commitment. Free bus travel for every woman in Karnataka from today - Another guarantee fulfilled! Empowerment of women and economic savings - Congress government will fulfil our responsibility, their right, he tweeted. . The Shakti scheme is available for women and transgender persons, who are domicile of Karnataka. They will be able to travel in general and express services operated by the RTCs. The windscreens of city, ordinary, and express buses run by the states four road transport corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC) will have Free travel for women labels placed on them. Women can apply for the Shakti Smart Card by registering on the Seva Sindhu government portal. Until the cards are issued, women who would like avail the free travel benefit must carry a government photo ID card with their residential address on it. The Shakti scheme applies only to the ordinary state-run bus services of Karnataka. Airavat, Airavat Club Class, Airavat Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari Dream Class, Ambari Utsav, Fly Bus, Vayu Vajra, Vajra, Non-AC Sleeper, Rajahamsa and EV Power Plus AC buses are excluded from the scheme. The government has also reserved 50% of the seats for men in all RTCs, except BMTC services. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two first information reports (FIRs) were filed on Sunday against a private residential school owner in Shivamogga district after the death of a 13-year-old girl on June 8 and complaint of sexual assault in another case, in the school hostel, police said. A private school owner in Shivamogga was booked under POCSO act after two FIRs against him. (Reprentational image) A Class 8 student died four days after her admission at Vanashri private residential school in Sagara Taluk, police said, adding that she was taken to the hospital after her health deteriorated on Thursday afternoon where doctors declared her brought dead. Police has not revealed any information about what the doctors suspect led to the teenagers death. We are waiting for the autopsy report from the hospital authorities, only then we will know the exact reason for her death, Shivamogga superintendent of police (SP) GK Mithun Kumar said. The school owner BK Manjappa has been arrested and produced before the Judicial Magistrate of the first class (JMFC) court, the SP said. The teens parents alleged that the school did not inform them about their daughters deteriorating health, police said. The parents and relatives of the girl staged a protest in front of Sagara Rural Police Station seeking strict action against the school management. In a complaint filed by the aunt of another 14-year-old girl alleged that the teenager complained of stomachache, but the owner did not take her to the hospital, instead he took her to his room and gave her some tablets, police said. The woman also alleged that the school was providing free education to poor students, but the owner used to sexually assault minors, police said. After receiving the complaint from the girls father we have registered a case against Sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and other sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, SP Kumar told HT. Shortly after, another girl aged 14, filed a complaint alleging that the school owner sexually assaulted her, police said, adding that another FIR was registered based on relevant sections. Further investigation is underway, said police. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Moscow, June 11 (UNI) Twenty NATO member countries have supported Ukraine's membership in the alliance, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva said on Saturday. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kiev. During the meeting, the parties signed a joint declaration, Zhovkva noted. "The joint declaration clearly registers Canadas support for Ukraine to become a member of NATO as soon as conditions permit. This is the strongest wording among all the G7 countries that are members of NATO," Zhovkva said on social media, adding that the total number of countries that supported Ukraine's accession to NATO had reached 20. Zhovkva recalled that Kiev signed a similar document with Romania during the European Political Community Summit in Moldova on June 1. In September 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine was applying to be fast-tracked to join NATO. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed the bloc's unchanged position on the right of each country to determine its own path and on its "open door" policy but noted that the alliance would concentrate its efforts on helping Ukraine defend itself. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation, recalling that Kiev's orientation toward the alliance was one of the reasons for the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine last year. On Saturday, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said that there was currently no consensus within the alliance on Ukraine's entry into the bloc. UNI/SPUTNIK GNK Soon after the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka launched the Shakti scheme on Sunday, women travellers were issued free tickets for their bus rides across the state. Shakti scheme is expected to benefit 25 million women across the state, and 4.18 million women passengers every day at a cost of over 4,051.56 crore to the exchequer every year. During the journey, the women were overjoyed by the free tickets, and expressed happiness for the opportunity to travel with the chief minister Women passengers praise Shakti scheme launched by the Congress government on Sunday. (PTI) Sumitra, who was among the five women who received the smart card from chief minister Siddaramaiah said she was very happy that she received the smart card from him. The scheme will help women, especially the poor and middle class, she said, adding that the amount saved in travelling on a daily basis could now be used for other household expenses. Launching the scheme in Bengaluru on Sunday, chief minster Siddaramaiah issued the Shakti smart cards to five women Radha, Sumitra, Pavitra, Kalavathi, and Prema. Siddaramaiah also turned into the bus conductor and issued the first zero-value tickets while riding on a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus from Vidhana Soudha the Kempegowda bus station. Out of the Congresss five poll promises, Shakti Scheme has been the first one to be rolled out. According to officials, all women, including girl students, without any discrimination on the basis of caste, or religion caste, can avail the facility. Gender Minorities are also included in the scheme. Sanjana, a student studying at Maharani College in Bengaluru, feels that the scheme would ease out her parents burden as they work as construction labourers. Student bus pass for each semester would cost 1,500. Now, since this is made free for girls, 3,000 will be saved. I can buy something useful for my family, she said. Sanjana was also happy to travel with the chief minister after he launched the scheme in Bengaluru. Sarala, a domestic help, travels to Hebbal from Ganganagar in Bengaluru every day for work. She said this would help her save 20 every day and the savings could be used for her household needs. Ganga Gauri, another domestic help, was all smiles when she said the free travel scheme makes her happy. Shashikala, another student studying at Malleshwaram Girls PU College in Bengaluru, lost her father recently. Her mother works as a construction worker to make both ends meet. This free travel facility, she said, will help buy something that supports her education. Ambika, who works near Mysore Bank Circle, said would be able to save 40 every day. This savings will help me be a little more generous with grocery, and daily use items etc. Nandini, the conductor of the bus in which Siddaramaiah travelled in, was proud to have had the opportunity to issue the first ticket. Suitable modifications have been made in the Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) to facilitate free travel for women and there is no confusion about it, she explained. In other buses, women were overjoyed by the free tickets, and celebrated by taking pictures during the journey. In Belagavi, women travelled for free and expressed their happiness by dancing in the bus. The video of the incident, was widely shared on social media. A man who was travelling with his wife in a government bus from Yadgir to Shahapur, said that his wife got a free ticket while he had to pay for it. We have saved money since my wife got a free ticket. I have some money left to buy more food. God bless women, the government and Siddaramaiah, he said. The union government has given a green signal for the expansion of Karnatakas Hubballi airport terminal, announced union minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi on Saturday. He said that the works to expand the airport terminal will begin in the month of January and it will be open for public use in next two years. Hubballi's airport terminal. Also Read - Another feather in cap': Minister praises this Karnataka airport on green goal Joshi also said that the new version of terminal will spread over 20, 000 square meters. He tweeted, I am thankful to PM @NarendraModi ji & Civil Aviation Minister @JM_Scindia ji for approving Rs. 273 crores for expansion of Hubli Airport Terminal. New terminal will be spread over 20,000 sq mt ( Ground+ First Floor). And will be able to handle up to 1400 passengers ( 700 Arrival & 700 Departure) in peak hour. He further said that this project will benefit the people of north Karnataka. This will be a huge boon for North Karnataka passengers. Expansion project is expected to start in January 2024 and is likely to be completed in 2 years, added Joshi. Hubballi is an educational hub with students from all over the country, studying in various institutions. Currently, the Hubballi airport operates flights to Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru. After launching the Shakti Yojane in Bengalurus Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar boarded a bus and distributed free tickets to women. Siddaramaiah also hoped that more women would step out of the bus and use the scheme. Siddaramaiah, DKS and Ramalinga Reddy distribute free tickets to women inside the bus. Also Read - Free bus travel for women in Karnataka from today, Shakti scheme launched Both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah stepped into a BMTC bus and issued pink tickets to women on board. Siddaramaiah said, Previously, over 30 per cent women used to travel in state run buses. But during the BJPs tenure, it came down to 24 per cent. The BJP leaders did not want women to step out of their houses. He also said that this scheme is dedicated to those mothers who take up the family responsibilities. He tweeted The Shakti Yojane is dedicated to my sisters who are working hard with the responsibility of the family on their shoulders and for the female students who travel to schools and colleges dreaming of a bright future. The driving force behind this project is every woman of Kannada land who has not lost her passion for life despite the financial difficulties and has survived through the challenges. I sincerely wish that all the women of the state will take advantage of this scheme and become more empowered and self-reliant. Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy asked all the women to get Shakti smart cards in the next three months. He said, Our priority is to make travel convenient for women across Karnataka. We will also increase bus services in those routes where shortage is observed. All women across Karnataka can travel for free from 1pm today. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mysuru: Three people were killed and one was severely injured when a car in which they travelling in rammed a lorry coming from the opposite direction in the wee hours on Sunday at Kyarakoppa village on Hubballi-Dharwad bypass road. Mysuru:Three people were killed and one was severely injured when a car in which they travelling in rammed a lorry coming from the opposite direction in the wee hours on Sunday on Hubballi-Dharwad bypass road. (Representational Image) The deceased were identified as Chandan Tatanahalli (28), TV Deepu of Holenarasipur (26) and Puttanna Madikeri( 33), while Kiran Kumar (28) was injured. He is being treated at the KIMS hospital. According to police, the four friends, who hail from Hassan and Mysuru districts were travelling from Holenarasipura to Mumbai. The mishap occurred when car driver Chandan lost the control and rammed to a lorry coming from the opposite direction. It is said that all the four were friends and going to Mumbai to purchase furniture for the new home stay in Holenarasipura of Hassan district. Dharwad rural police have registered a case under IPC section 279 (rash and negligent driving) and are investigating the case. The mishap occurred at around 1 am on Sunday. Preliminary investigation revealed that the negligence of the car driver as the cause for the mishap, Dharwad rural police inspector B Manjunath told HT. He said the highway has no road divider and the driver of the car might have rammed to the lorry due to lack of sleep. Soon after the incident, we shifted the bodies to KIMS district government hospital for autopsy and another injured Kiran Kumar is out of danger, he said, adding that the car might have crossed speed of 100 kilometre as the impact of mishap is too severe. A new Zomato resting point has been set up at Bengalurus Vega City mall on Sunday for the delivery partners of the food delivery aggregator. This is said to be south Indias first resting point and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya participated in the launch event. Zomato launches south India's first resting point in Bengaluru Surya took to Twitter and wrote, Set up South India's 1st Resting Point for Delivery Partners at Vega City Mall in association with @zomato and @vegacitysocial. With essential amenities such as first-aid, drinking water, & clean restrooms, the point will serve as a place for all delivery partners to rest, rejuvenate, and recharge. Earlier, Zomato announced that such resting points can also be accessed by the delivery partners of other brands too. In February this year, Zomato CEO Depinder Goyal wrote, Announcing 'The Shelter Project' we've started building public infrastructure (Rest Points) to support the well-being of delivery partners of various companies. High-speed internet, first aid, phone charging facility, washrooms and drinking water are some of the amenities that come with the rest points, which are open to delivery agents from other companies too, Zomato earlier announced. He also called delivery partners as the heart and soul of their business and revealed Zomatos plans to set up more shelter places in the most dense clusters of its food delivery service. A few rest points are already in place at Gurgaon, where Zomatos headquarters is located. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Though the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) has suspended three officials in March this year in the case pertaining to a loss of more than 1 crore, it has come to light that some senior officials of the corporation were directed to forfeit the bank guarantee of 35 lakh of the firm, but they kept sitting on the file for 18 months. As per the case, the firm, OSCAR Security and Fire Service is accused of encashing 35 lakh bank guarantee submitted with CITCO on a fake document. (HT File Photo) As per the case, the firm, OSCAR Security and Fire Service is accused of encashing 35 lakh bank guarantee submitted with CITCO on a fake document. The firm also caused a loss of 67 lakh to the corporation. As per the documents in possession of Hindustan Times, it has come to light that in January 2022 after it was brought to the knowledge of the then additional managing director of CITCO Nitika Pawar that the firm has taken double benefit of 67 lakh as employees provident fund (EPF), she had directed the officials to forfeit the bank of guarantee of 35 lakh of the firm, but the officials concerned failed to act. Even in November 2022, the then MD Jaswinder Kaur also directed the officials to forfeit the bank guarantee of the firm, but they kept sitting on the file for nearly 18 months, which caused a loss of 1 crore to CITCO. The scam came to light in January 2023, when officers of CITCO went to encash the bank guarantee of 35 lakh, but found that the guarantee had already been encashed by the firm in June 2022 and CITCO was only having the coloured photocopy of the bank guarantee. Even after repeated attempts, MD Purva Garg could not be contacted for comments. What is the case? In 2018, CITCO awarded the contract to M/s OSCAR Security and Fire Service for providing manpower, for a period of three years, and again it was extended from January 2021 to April 2022. The firm caused a loss of 67 lakh to the corporation by receiving provident fund (PF) amount for more than 200 employees, which were provided to the corporation on a contract basis between 2018 and 2019. Besides collecting the PF amount of 67 lakh from CITCO, the company also received 67 lakh PF amount for the same employees from the Central government under Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana. The Central government scheme is meant to encourage the people to provide employment to the youth. Under this scheme, the Central government pays for the PF of people, who were provided jobs through a manpower-providing company. CITCO had conducted an internal probe in the bank guarantee case and suspended three officials namely manager Anil Sharma, clerk Balwinder Kaur, and junior assistant Rikkhi Ram for allegedly conniving with the company officials. Even, FIR has been registered against two employees Anil Sharma and Rikkhi Ram. However, they are yet to take action against the official for claiming double the amount by the firm. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day before the all-party meeting of councillors called by UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held protests against the BJP over the integrated garbage processing plant in Dadumajra. Congress activists during the protest in Chandigarh on Sunday. (HT Photo) During the house meeting on June 6, the BJP had approved the agenda amid objections from the opposition. Leaders from AAP and Congress had written a letter to Purohit, requesting him to declare the proceedings of the house void. The Chandigarh Congress held a protest on Sunday at Dadumajra colony, near the dumping ground site. Led by Chandigarh Pradesh Congress president HS Lucky, protesters raised slogans against the BJP-led municipal corporation. The protesters said that the residents of the area are suffering because of the continuous stench from the dumping ground. HS lucky said that the people living in the vicinity of the dumping ground suffered various medical issues. Stating that the locals are battling skin allergies and respiratory ailments, the spokesperson said that the fires in the dump release toxins that reach all over Chandigarh. He added that the fires have the potential to contaminate the groundwater and soil in the UT. The Aam Aadmi Party held a protest on Sunday under the leadership of Pradeep Chhabra and area councillor Kuldeep Tita. The protesters opposed the five-acre temporary shed approved for the dumping ground. Pradeep Chhabra claimed that the situation has worsened so much that the locals find it difficult to breathe. Due to the garbage of the dumping ground, the stench has spread all across and another shed is going be built in the name of new technology, he said. Issue will be resolved before January 24: Mayor Municipal corporation (MC) mayor Anup Gupta said on Sunday that the problem of the garbage dump will be resolved before January 2024. He was speaking as the chief guest at executive committee meeting of the Federation of Sectors Welfare Association Chandigarh (FOSWAC) at People Convention Centre, Sector 26. The mayor also said that work is under progress for ensuring 24x7 water supply to the city. He added that FASTag will be introduced in sector markets to solve the parking problems. Chairman Baljinder Singh Bittus term was extended for two years after a unanimous vote in his favour. Other issues discussed during the meeting included a review of contractual labour for sweeping inner roads in southern sectors, garbage collection in residential areas, erratic supply of drinking water and cleaning of road gullies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Farmers will be holding a mahapanchayat in Pipli on Monday over the issue of guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Thousands of farmers associated with various farmer associations from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi are likely to reach at Pipli grain market to attend the mahapanchayat. Farmers leaders hold a meeting in Karnal on Sunday. (HT photo) Agitated over the lathicharge on farmers who were protesting for procurement of sunflower seeds on MSP of 6,400, state farmer leaders had given a call to farmers to reach Pipli in large numbers to ensure a huge gathering at the mahapanchayat, which is being termed as the last attempt to protect MSP. Farmer leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, who are associated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, have also extended support to their Haryana counterparts. Leaders of around 10 farmer associations held a meeting in Karnal and unanimously decided to attend the mahapanchayat in Pipli. In a meeting, all farmer leaders decided that they will reach Pipli. This is the beginning of a new movement for MSP and every farmer of the state should attend the rally, said BKU (Tikait) Haryana president Ratan Mann. The police will try to stop us but the rally will be held successfully. Also, block-level leaders have been told to lead a group of farmers from their blocks, he added. Farmer leader from Uttar Pradesh Rakesh Tikat said the government cannot stop farmers from attending the mahapanchayat. We will attend the mahapanchayat and take a decision regarding MSP and arrested farmer leaders, he said in a video message. Farmer leaders also slammed the Haryana police for issuing notices to farmer leaders directing them not to attend the Pipli event and to report in the local police stations. The police are threatening farmers by issuing such notices under Section 160 of the CrPC but they cannot stop farmers from reaching Pipli and a strong decision will be taken at the mahapanchayat, said BKUs (Charuni) legal cell in-charge Chitwan Godara. Elaborate arrangements by police Kurukshetra superintendent of police Surinder Singh Bhoria said the district police have made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order to ensure the safety and security of common man and public properties. He urged farmer leaders to conduct the mahapanchayat in a peaceful manner and cooperate with the district administration. The SP said proper traffic arrangements have been made so that there is no difficulty in the movement of vehicles of common citizens. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neeraj Mohan Neeraj Mohan is a correspondent, covering Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Yamunanagar districts of Haryana. ...view detail Over a month after the UT education departments orders to revoke the recognition of St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, the school has not admitted the 23 students from economically weaker sections (EWS) who were allotted the school during the centralised draw of lots. School authorities say that they will depend on the court for relief from the de-recognition proceedings. The UT education department, in the order issued by director school education on May 10, had informed the school that if the 23 students are granted admission within a month, it will consider recognition for the school beyond March 31. (HT File Photo) School administrator Gurpreet Bakshi, who had previously said that the school will not change its stance, added that the school has already moved court in the matter. We will wait for the court to rule. The matter is listed for July 13, he said. The UT education department, in the order issued by director school education on May 10, had informed the school that if the 23 students are granted admission within a month, it will consider recognition for the school beyond March 31. Bakshi claimed that in the previous hearing, the order was interpreted as the one-month period for admitting the students coming into effect from the start of 2024-2025 academic session. I will send a representation to the UT administration for clarification on this issue soon, he said. Hearing the case on May 24, the Punjab and Haryana high court issued a notice to the UT administration on the plea challenging the derecognition order. The court, however, did not provide interim relief to the Independent Schools Association, the petitioner in this case. Besides seeking quashing of the derecognition order, the association had also demanded that it be stayed till their plea was pending in the high court. Association president HS Mamik had said that the department has overstepped its authority in issuing the order and it must pay the pending reimbursements to schools that had admitted the EWS students. UT education department officials said that they will comply with the directions that will be issued by the court. There are nine other schools, eight minority and one non-minority, that did not participate in EWS admissions. The department is yet to take action against them. What comes next for the students There are around 1,600 students who will be affected by this move. The UT education department order stated that the students can be shifted to government schools with their parents consent. In a circular issued to the students parents, Bakshi had assured them that the school will take every possible measure to safeguard the interests of students and staff. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Up until recently, the scenic corridors of the Hafruda forest range, lined with dense kail and pine trees, were trodden only by infiltrators. But with encounters or gunfights subsiding amid concerted efforts, tranquillity is finally back in sight. Falling in the Shamshabari mountain range, Kashmirs Hafruda forests connects Tanghdar, Keran and Nowgam sectors. (HT Photo) Falling in the Shamshabari mountain range, the stretch that connects Tanghdar, Keran and Nowgam sectors was often used as a transit point by militants, especially foreigners, to cross the Line of Control (LoC) before moving to Sopore, Bandipora or Srinagar. Now, there are no more hideouts in the forests. The armys patrol, however, are keeping a close eye on the forests and receiving inputs about militant presence. Constant searches have not yielded any results and locals are increasingly beginning to believe that inputs were nothing but a hoax. The army went deep into the forests and also searched neighbouring villages, but could not find anything. This could have been false information, a forest department employee said. Today, the forests are sans trouble. People venture deep inside without any fear. Even the patrol parties never trouble people anymore. With numbers of active militants in the Valley falling, officials say the months ahead could be crucial. This is the time when infiltrators strike. The army units are keeping a close watch on the LoC and adjacent villages. Apart from electronic surveillance, the forces also rely on human inputs. So far things are normal here, an army officer said. The launching pads are still intact and thats the reason the soldiers are always on alert, an army officer deployed in north Kashmir said, adding, This year also there have been attempts of infiltration from across the LoC and many attempts were foiled. Notably, two infiltration bids were foiled in North Kashmir last month in the Uri and Machil sectors. Security forces had also foiled similar bids and killed a militant near LoC in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district in North Kashmir in March and February. After the LoC ceasefire in 2021, the infiltration bids have come down in north Kashmir. However, drugs are still being smuggled regularly as per officials. The months of June, July and August witness the most number of infiltration bids. Even many mountains in northern Kashmir that fall on the traditional infiltration routes are still covered under blankets of snow, officials fear heightened activity once it clears out. Trekkers haven? Trekkers en-route to the Bangus meadows also often use Hafruda and adjacent forests. Earlier, people feared coming to the villages close to LoC especially, Hafruda, Hangankote, Phalmarg, Sharkote, Harduna as there were frequent checkpoints. Now, one can witness them stopping over for picnics and lunches, Mohammad Ashraf of Harduna, a mason, said. The army also acknowledges the shift being felt across the Valley, with defence spokesman Colonel Emron Masuvi saying, Infiltration had come down to nearly zero this year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mariana Lenharo in Nature: Adam Mastroianni was always bothered by anecdotal claims that people are becoming less kind, respectful and trustworthy over time. So he took a deep dive into such claims: he wrote a PhD dissertation. Now Mastroianni and a collaborator have drawn on decades worth of survey results and other data to find that people around the world have perceived a general moral decline for at least the past 70 years1. But the data also show that individuals evaluation of their contemporaries morality has remained largely unchanged during that time. Mastroianni, a psychologist at Columbia University in New York City, and his co-author Daniel Gilbert, a psychologist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, conclude that the perception of moral decline is an illusion. More here. A 19-year-old delivery van driver was arrested after a 13-year-old girl alleged that she was raped and threatened by him in his vehicle in Ajit Vihar near Burari in north Delhi on Thursday night, the Delhi Police said on Sunday. Police said that the girl initially did not tell anyone in the family because she was scared. But when her family asked her why she was late, the victim told them what happened. (Representational Image.Getty Images) Also read: Teen Dalit girl raped, killed by minor; accused hanged body to mislead police The crime was reported to the police on Saturday, after which a case was registered under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act at the Burari police station, said Sagar Singh Kalsi, deputy commissioner of police (north). We identified the suspect and arrested him on Saturday. The name of the suspect is not being disclosed at this moment because we want to verify and be sure that he is not a minor. He was known to a friend of the survivor, said DCP Kalsi. The DCP said that according to the complaint, the incident happened late on Thursday when the girl was walking with her friend, who was also a minor. The girls saw the driver in the three-wheeler he used for delivering goods and the girls friend requested a ride. After initial reluctance, the driver agreed. A few minutes later, he dropped the victims friend at her home and then took the girl to an isolated place in Ajit Vihar, where he raped her inside the vehicle and threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about it, added the DCP. Apart from arresting the suspect, we have also seized the delivery van inside which the crime happened. Also read: Fake rape cases: Woman cop faces action on suspicion of helping suspects in Gurugram Police said that the girl initially did not tell anyone in the family because she was scared. But when her family asked her why she was late, the victim told them what happened. The family then took her to the police station, police said. Another police officer associated with the case said, The girl was provided with medical attention and counselling through a counsellor. The FIR was registered under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and Pocso Act and the accused was arrested. We are now trying to ascertain if the suspect was previously involved in similar crimes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In its first major public show of strength against he Union governments ordinance on services in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a mega rally at central Delhis historic Ramlila Maidan with party leaders saying that nearly one lakh people from Delhi are expected to attend the event which will be attended by AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, party MPs and MLAs and other top leaders of the party. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (HT Photo) Also read: Kejriwal moves Gujarat HC seeking review of its order on PM Modi's degree A party leader privy to the rally arrangements said that all MLAs and councillors of the party have been told to mobilise participants for the rally from their respective constituencies. The rally is scheduled to start at 10am, and CM Kejriwal is likely to address the event around 12noon, said the leader who asked not to be named. On Friday, convener of AAPs Delhi unit Gopal Rai met party bearers to discuss the rally preparations. Rai said the party has held several meetings at the grassroots levels, including door-to-door campaigns in the city to make people aware of the ordinance and how it affects their lives, and urged them to participate in the rally . The rally is going to serve as a platform for the people of Delhi to express their indignation and rage towards the Narendra Modi governments ordinance. It is important to understand that the Constitution grants every citizen the right to vote, and any attempt by an individual or organisation to undermine this right should be met with a united public voice of opposition, Rai said. The ordinance cast a bundle of new provisions in the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act, 1991, reincarnating the supreme authority of LG in having the final word in matters of transfers and postings of bureaucrats assigned to various departments under purview of the elected government in Delhi. While the Supreme Courts May 11 judgment found no justification in a 2015 notification of the Centre putting services as found in Entry 41 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India out of the ambit of the legislative and executive power of the elected government in the national capital, the ordinance seeks to lend statutory protection to this notification by adding it as Section 3A of the Amendment Act. Kejriwal has met opposition leaders across the country to shore up support against the ordinance when it will be tabled in the Parliament. The AAP chief has met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Bihar CM and his deputy Nitish Kumar and Tejashvi, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, NCP president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (Uddhav) leader Uddhav Thackeray. The second party official above said that arrangements have been made at the rally venue to protect people from heat. A huge tent has been erected at the venue and arrangements for air coolers, fans and drinking water have also been made. AAP volunteers will be stationed all across the venue and to help people, the official said. Incidentally, the rally venue -- Ramlila Maidan -- is the birthplace of the AAP. The party arose from the massive anti-corruption protest of 2011. So far, on all three occasions when the party formed the government in Delhi --- 2013, 2015 and 2020, the AAP organised the swearing in function at the Ramlila Maidan. The huge ground, situated between old and central Delhi on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, also hosts one of the oldest Ramlila functions in the national Capital. Traffic diversion The Delhi Traffic Police have made arrangements in central Delhi on Sunday in view of the Maha Rally by the Aam Aadmi Party that is expected to be attended by several VIPs and draw a large crowd. In order to ensure smooth traffic flow and the safety of the attendees, the Delhi Traffic Police has announced specific arrangements and restrictions for the day. Several diversion points have been identified for traffic rerouting, said the traffic police. These include Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg, Mir Dard Chowk, Ajmeri Gate, JLN Marg, Bhavbhuti Marg, Minto Road, Delhi Gate, roundabout Kamla Market to Hamdard Chowk, and roundabout Paharganj Chowk. Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly and follow the directions of traffic police personnel, said the traffic police. Also read: AAP aims to challenge Centre's ordinance in Rajya Sabha. Parties that support so far To facilitate the smooth movement of traffic, certain road stretches will face restrictions and diversions starting from 8 am on Sunday. These include the Ranjeet Singh Flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, Minto Road to Kamla Market, Vivekanand Marg, JLN Marg from Delhi Gate to Guru Nanak Chowk, Kamla Market to Guru Nanak Chowk, Chaman Lal Marg, Ajmeri Gate towards Asaf Ali Road, and Pahar Ganj Chowk and Jhandewalan, Desh Bandhu Gupta Road to Ajmeri Gate. The Delhi Traffic Police have urged commuters to plan their travel in advance, use alternative routes if possible, and cooperate with the authorities to ensure a hassle-free experience. Strict action will be taken against any violations of traffic rules and regulations during the event, said the traffic police. Twenty-eight-year-old Kishan, and his 26-year-old cousin, Ankit Kumar Singh Rajput, arrested last week for the alleged double murder in east Delhis Krishna Nagar, had used two kitchen knives and not one, as was suspected earlier, the Delhi Police said on Sunday. A videograb of the two suspects buying the knives. (HT Photo) Also read: Mumbai Mira Road murder accused claims to be HIV+, says Saraswati was possessive: Report Police said that the two allegedly purchased the kitchen knives for a total of 70 from a shop in Laxmi Nagar six hours before the crime when they slit the throats of 76-year-old Rajrani Karar and her 39-year-old daughter Ginni Karar at their Krishna Nagar flat on the night of May 25, police said on Sunday. Both the knives were recovered from Gonda in Uttar Pradesh following the interrogation of the two suspects. Police officers associated with the investigation said they found out about two knives being used in the crime after the CCTV footage from the shop emerged, which purportedly showed the Kishan and Rajput buying the knives with yellow and orange handles. Police said the shopkeeper initially quoted 40 for each knife, after which the suspects bargained with him and bought each knife for 35. Rajput made a UPI payment for the knives after scanning the QR code with his phone, the officer added. In the 2.28-minute-long footage, the two men were purportedly seen at a shop with a helmet each in their hands. The footage then showed Kishan picking up a knife and giving it to Rajput, after which they discuss something with the shopkeeper. Initially, we did not know that the suspects used two knives. Rajput, who was arrested first, also did not disclose this. It was only when we got the CCTV footage and spoke to the shopkeeper, we found out about the two knives, said an investigator, who did not want to be identified. Kishan, who was Ginnis computer tutor, brought Rajput into the scene after Rajrani was looking for a music tutor for her daughter. The two suspects gained easy access into the house as Kishan was known to the mother-daughter duo. After Kishans arrest, it came to light that they threw the knives somewhere in Gonda while they were headed to Lucknow the morning after the murders. The highly decomposed bodies of Rajrani and her daughter Ginni, who suffered from autism and a speech impediment, were found at their first-floor flat of a four-storey apartment building in Krishna Nagar on May 29, nearly four days after they were murdered. Also read: Two associates of Lawrence Bishnoi held after a shootout in Delhi While Ginnis body was between the kitchen and living room, Rajranis body was near the door of the bedroom and the entire flat was ransacked. After committing the murders, the two allegedly took 58,000 along with some jewellery three laptops, three iPhones, one iPad, and an Apple smartwatch from the house, police said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karn Pratap Singh Karn Pratap Singh has been writing on crime, policing, and issues of safety in Delhi for almost a decade. He covers high-intensity spot news, including terror strikes, serial blasts and security threats in the national capital. ...view detail The Bharatiya Janata Party took strong objection to the alleged derogatory remarks against the Prime Minister by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during a rally on Sunday, while also charging ministers of his Aam Aadmi Party of large-scale corruption. Delhi BJP leaders take selfies at the launch of a new political campaign against the AAP, on Sunday. (Vipin KumarHT Photo) Also read: Back in Ramlila ground, Arvind Kejriwal's tanasahi, Hitler' jab at PM Modi over Centre's ordinance Kejriwal is ill-mannered, corrupt and useless but the language used by him today shows the shallowness that he has reached to cover the corruption. He says in his speech that he has hundreds of Manish Sisodias and Satyendar Jains, which shows that the entire party is floating in the river of corruption. Jain looted Delhi and Sisodia undertook excise scam worth several crores. This is a party of corrupt and cunning people, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva alleged. At his rally held at the citys Ramlila Maidan against the central governments May 19 ordinance on power over services in the national capital, Kejriwal said that the Prime Minister is an arrogant dictator and that the BJP, which is in power at the Centre, if not stopped, will promulgate similar ordinances to disempower elected governments will in other states too. Sachdeva said that Delhi chief minister was acting like ill-mannered nawab (royal). His only goal is to loot Delhi, Sachdeva said. People of Delhi have now seen the reality. This is no longer a party of the aam aadmi (common man) but that of a corrupt man. The Delhi BJP will expose their every act of corruption and bring him to justice like his two other ministers, Sachdeva said. Former Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia are currently lodged in Tihar jail for alleged money laundering and corruption cases under investigation by two central agencies. The BJP also attacked Kejriwal for alleged irregularities in renovating the chief ministers official residence, with north-east Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari likening that Kejriwal to a king. Raja Sahib Kejriwal reached Ramlila Maidan from his 174 crore palace with cars worth several crores... This was the same place where Anna Hazare and Kejriwal sat under the banner of India against corruption, he said. The AAP has, however, said that the renovation was necessary, as the CMs residence was constructed 80 years ago and there had been three recent incidents of roof collapse. It also said that the renovation was recommended by the the Public Works Department. At the joint press conference, south Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri said that the central government is being criticised even as the Union home minister was overseeing the development of a 10,000-bed hospital while the Delhi CM was busy developing a palace at the his official residence. The Delhi BJP also placed posters and banners highlighting the issue of money spent on the CMs house renovation on Sunday. , besides displaying a model of the house near Connaught Place and urging people to take selfies with it, naming it as the Selfie With Corruption Ka Rajmahal campaign. Also read: If Kejriwal has 100 Sisodias: BJP's jibe at Delhi CM's Ramlila rally We requested him (Kejriwal) to open the sheesh mahal (his residence) for people of Delhi. Now this selfie model will be run in all the assemblies across Delhi, Sachdeva said. The AAP did not respond to HTs queries on the allegations. Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday gave a new slogan, Assi harao, BJP hatao (defeat BJP on all 80 UP Lok Sabha seats and oust it), implying that if the saffron party was to be removed from the seat of power in 2024, then UP voters should ensure its defeat on all Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh also said that under the Yogi Adityanath government, the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh was becoming worse. (HT file photo) UP sends 80 Lok Sabha members to the Parliament. Akhilesh has been talking about the 80 UP Lok Sabha seats in different ways. Earlier, when some BJP leaders had made statements that their party would win all 80 LS seats in UP, Akhilesh repeatedly said that the BJP would lose all 80 seats. Then he also said that the SP and its allies would win all 80 seats. On Sunday, Akhilesh targeted the BJP government by saying: The BJP government does not do what it says and does not say what it does. UP CM vows zero-tolerance against corruption; but under him corruption and crime are patronised. Corruption has risen 10 times in the state. In a statement, Akhilesh also said that under the Yogi Adityanath government, the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh was becoming worse. Police are registering an FIR against the ruling party MPpolicemen were involved in robbing of silverstolen goods are being recovered from police stationWhat a double-engine government of the BJP!, Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi and used the hashtag #Assi_Harao_BJP_Hatao. He was apparently referring to the registration of an FIR against BJPs Kannauj MP Subrat Pathak for allegedly assaulting police personnel and the recovery of sliver from a policemans house. Of the 80 Lok Sabha seats, the SP had only won five in 2019 and lost two of them -- Rampur and Azamgarh -- to the BJP in the by-elections. In 2014 LS polls too, the SP could win only five seats. In a statement issued here, Yadav said, In the BJP government, UP ease of doing means murder, rape, loot and corruption. Were MoUs for the supply and manufacturing of country-made pistols signed in the Investor Summit? Is training for crime being provided under skill development? Instead of providing security and facilities to traders, there is freedom for extortion and ransom, he added. The SP chief also alleged that corruption flourished under the BJP rule in Uttar Pradesh. Why is the chief minister not seeing what is happening right under his nose? Is there any involvement at a higher level? Why is the chief minister not remembering the claim of zero tolerance for crime and corruption?, he asked. Reacting to Yadavs statement that the SP would win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections, BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav tweeted in Hindi:, Leave alone the claims of winning 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, just win only one Lok Sabha seat, Varanasi. If your party does this, I will retire from politics and also resign from the Rajya Sabha membership. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament (MP) and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment by women wrestlers, on Sunday asserted that he would contest the Lok Sabha polls from his parliamentary constituency Kaiserganj in east Uttar Pradesh again in 2024. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (PTI) The six-time MP, who has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, made the assertion about the polls after a rally in his Lok Sabha constituency in Gonda district. The rally was held on the completion of nine years of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government at the Centre. 2024 ka chunav Kaiserganj se ladoonga, ladoonga, ladoonga (I will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Kaiserganj), he said, repeating the word ladoonga (will contest) thrice, to queries by media persons seeking his response on if he would contest the 2024 polls from Gonda or Ayodhya. He also said that the BJP would again form a majority government at the Centre. The rally was part of the maha jansampark abhiyaan (mega mass connect campaign) announced by the BJP. He had earlier called off his June 5 public meeting in Ayodhya citing the ongoing police investigation against him. On the wrestlers protest, he said that he was waiting for the courts verdict in the case. On Saturday, the top wrestlers protesting against him, had said that they would relaunch their agitation if all investigations into the charges of sexual harassment levelled against Singh werent completed by June 15. He also held a road show from his residence to the public meeting venue, demonstrating his clout in the region. He targeted the Congress over the Emergency of 1975 and the anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh security guards. He also said that had a Modi-like PM been there in 1960s and 70s, the Indian territory grabbed by neighbours would have been freed. Political experts noticed that during the rally, Singh targeted the Congress but steered clear of any attack on the UPs main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), from which he had defected to the BJP, or the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). It could also mean that he may want to keep his options open. One would well recall how he had praised SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for not joining the wrestlers protest. In politics, you work on possibilities, and this surely appears to be one if he fails to get a BJP ticket, said Athar Siddiqui of the Centre for Objective Research and Development. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On a sizzling summer Sunday, several city heritage aficionados donned hats and airy cottons to take a heritage tour of the city. Lucknow heritage lovers at a heritage walk led by historian PC Sarkar organised in old city area of Hussainabad, Lucknow on Sunday (HT Photo) Forty people of various ages and from assorted walks of life congregated at 6:30 am at the historic clock tower in the Hussainabad area. These heritage walkers were ready to be awed and regaled by untold stories about historical landmarks. Organised by the Citizens for Lucknow, the walk began with the picture gallery and was led by PC Sarkar, a scientist and a historian and co-ordinated by city-based heritage enthusiast Swapnil Rastogi. The first floor of the Hussainabad Picture Gallery was built during British rule, and its architecture differs from the ground floor, which was built during the Nawabi era using Nawabi architecture. While the clock tower in the centre was built by the British to dominate the other structures in the area, informed Sarkar. Many mistake it for Nawabi architecture but it is actually a Moorish architectural structure, built during the Colonial period, added Sarkar. Telling some unknown facts about Satkhanda which is adjacent to the Picture Gallery, Sarkar said that each floor of the structure is independent as top floors are unsupported by lower floors. People also spoke about the pond beside the Clock Tower which has dried up, where Jyotsna Kaur Habibullah suggested it could be restored with water-harvesting which is easy and economical. The walk ended with a small tour of the Sheesh Mahal led by Masood Abdullah where he informed that the entire Sheesh Mahal is spread over 25 acres including Asifi Kothi which is a ruin today and many old structures replaced by new. Reminiscing his childhood tales, Abdullah informed that the Sheesh Mahal Talab in the area was said to be connected to the Gomti. Additionally, Sarkar said that the original gate of Sheesh Mahal no longer exists, and the current gate is not the original one. Such tours are meant to know more about our city which has so much. Until we know about our city, we will not be able to educate others. More such walks will be organised, said Adity Chakravarty, an organiser of the walk. The Lucknow University has announced a collaboration with technology giants Google and Meta (formerly Facebook) to establish The Bharat Lab. The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) marks a significant milestone in the universitys efforts to gain insights into consumer behaviour in tier 2 and tier 3 towns and cities across India, collectively known as Bharat. The LU campus in Lucknow (HT File Photo) The Bharat Lab aims to bring together corporate entities, including Google and Meta, to gather valuable data and statistics on the aspirations and consumption patterns of consumers, particularly those from India. Leveraging the expertise and resources of these technology giants, the initiative will delve into various aspects of consumer insights, said Durgesh Srivastava, LU spokesperson. Googles vast repertoire, encompassing online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, e-commerce, and consumer electronics databases, will be explored to gain in-depth understanding and insights into India. Similarly, Metas popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp will serve as valuable sources for understanding the hopes, desires, and motivations of Gen Zers, who are representative of Bharat, according to a press release issued by Lucknow University. This unique collaboration between academia and corporate entities will provide extensive information on consumers, enabling the analysis and review of data to design and develop more effective and efficient products, services, and brand-building strategies. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, The Bharat Lab aims to create a symbiotic relationship that benefits both the university and the corporate partners. Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, vice-chancellor, Lucknow University, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, The establishment of The Bharat Lab signifies a significant step towards understanding and catering to the needs of consumers from Bharat. We are grateful to Google and Meta for their support in this endeavour, and we are confident that this partnership will pave the way for groundbreaking insights and innovations. This type of study and the work to be done on it is very necessary to make India a 5-trillion-dollar economy and to reach the category of developed nation by 2047. The Bharat Lab is set to become a hub for research, data analysis, and collaboration, enabling academia and industry to work together in a mutually beneficial manner. This initiative aligns with the universitys commitment to stay at the forefront of knowledge and leverage cutting-edge technology to address the evolving needs of society. Lucknow The B.Ed. Joint Entrance Examination 2023 will be conducted on June 15 in all 75 districts of the state. Approximately 4.73 lakh candidates will appear in the test to be conducted by the Bundelkhand University. The state government has issued guidelines for a transparent entrance exam. (Pic for representation) The state government has issued guidelines for a transparent entrance exam. The entrance exam will be held under live CCTV camera surveillance. The Bundelkhand University has made all arrangements for the examinations, including the biometrics and face recognition system for registering the attendance of all the candidates in both the shifts. With the assistance of the district administration, strong security arrangements are being made at all centres. Each centre will have a representative and a static magistrate. To implement the Yogi government instructions, a detailed presentation regarding the security during the examination was made before chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra. According to the presentation, live CCTV surveillance has been provided in all centres across the state, which will be operationalized by the university from June 12. Besides, each district will have a city in charge appointed by the district magistrate while there will also be a centre representative. A static magistrate will be deployed at each examination centre. Supported by the representatives of Bundelkhand University, there will also be nodal officer and deputy nodal officer. The entrance examination has been divided into three components, which include the administration of all districts, besides Bundelkhand University, and 16 other nodal universities. Notably, complete information regarding their roles and responsibilities has been provided to everyone. The city incharge will be responsible for handling all examination-related confidential material (including OMR sheets and papers) from depositing it in the district treasury to delivering it to the examination centre. Thereafter, all confidential materials will be opened at the designated time in the presence of the static magistrate. Apart from ensuring the distribution and collection of question booklets and OMR sheets, the inspection during the examination will also be the responsibility of the static magistrate. Confidential material to be kept under tight security Bundelkhand University has made arrangements for tight security of confidential materials related to the examination. The assistance of the district administration and the police department will be sought for this purpose. According to the directives, along with the centre representative, an armed police constable will also be deployed to transport the confidential materials from the treasury to the examination centre. Similarly, appropriate arrangements will be made for police force and escorts at all examination centres. Keeping in line with the security instructions, two armed police personnel will accompany the representatives from Bundelkhand University during the dispatch of confidential material to Jhansi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai: As Dyaneshwar Maharajs palanquin from Alandi to Pandharpur commenced for the annual wari, a clash erupted between warkaris (pilgrims) and the police over entry to the Alandi temple. lathi charge on warkaris in Alandi Opposition parties claimed that the police had resorted to lathi charge on the pilgrims and demanded a high-level probe. However, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, called it a minor skirmish and said that nobody should play politics in this matter. The journey of Saint Dyaneshwar Maharajs palanquin began early on Sunday from Alandi, a small town in Pune. Thousands of devotees had gathered to witness and participate in this sacred procession. As last year there had been a stampede with several women getting injured, this year only 47 groups were selected for darshan inside the temple with a maximum of 75 pilgrims per group. However, hundreds of pilgrims gathered outside the temple demanding entry. When the police tried to prevent some of them from going in, a clash broke out. It is alleged that the police then resorted to mild lathi charge on the pilgrims. Videos of police controlling the mob with lathis went viral leading to an uproar among warkaris and elicited a strong political reaction. Opposition parties criticised the Shinde-Fadanvis government over the incident. The leader of the Opposition Ajit Pawar, of the NCP, condemned the state government over the incident. This is an unfortunate incident. An incident like this at such a sacred place has never happened in the history of Maharashtra. This could have been avoided through proper planning by the government and the administration, said Pawar. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut expressed anger over the incident. He criticised the government and compared it with the regime of Mughal king Aurangzeb. The Shinde-Fadnavis government used to pretend to be a pro-Hindutva government but today they were exposed. The mask is down. How are they different from Aurangzeb? The Mughal rule has come back to Maharashtra, said Raut. Congress state president Nana Patole demanded strict action. Shinde-Fadnavis government has failed in punishing the culprits of riots but has attacked warkaris by ordering lathi charge at Alandi. We condemn the government for this lathi charge. The government should order a high-level inquiry and strict action should be taken against the concerned officers, demanded Patole. Fadnavis, however, denied that there was lathi charge at Alandi. In order to control the mob as a preventive measure, it was decided to limit the number of attendees to 75 people. But hundreds of people gathered there and tried to enter and when police tried to prevent them from entering, a minor skirmish broke out. It was not a lathi charge. No one should bring politics into this, said Fadnavis. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai: After his resignation as NCP chief over a month ago and his subsequent return to the post, Sharad Pawar on Saturday named senior party colleague Praful Patel and daughter Supriya Sule the new working presidents of the party. The NCP has never appointed working presidents before, as Pawar has been heading the party on his own for the last 25 years. An NCP carries a chair during the party's foundation day celebrations in New Delhi, Saturday, June 10, 2023. During the programme NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as working presidents of the party.(PTI) Also read: Not concerned: NCP chief Sharad Pawar reacts to death threat allegations The announcement, made on the 25th Foundation Day of the NCP, also signals Pawars succession plan, with Baramati MP Sule emerging as the most powerful leader of the party after him. Both the working presidents have been put in charge of several states where they will have to work to strengthen the party in the run-up to the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections next year. Sule has been given the responsibility of Maharashtra, which is the base of the party. The decision is significant against the backdrop of the power tussle between Sule and Pawars nephew Ajit, who is the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly. Sule has also been appointed chairperson of the central election authority, which means that the power to distribute election tickets now lies with her. Pawar, however, denied any dynasty politics and said that the decision was taken by senior leaders of the party after a months discussion. This is a consensual decision taken by the party and not by me alone. If I had to take the decision, why would I have waited for three terms (of Sules MPship)? the 82-year leader asked reporters in New Delhi. Pawar announced that Sule would also handle the affairs of other states such as Haryana and Punjab. Patel will look after the responsibility of building a party base in MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Goa, he said. Ajit was also present when Pawar made the announcement. Pawar emphasised that Ajit was one of the senior leaders who had suggested Sules name as working president. If he has suggested the name, from where does the question of happiness and unhappiness arise? he asked. Amidst speculation that Ajit, along with a group of NCP legislators, was putting pressure on Pawar to join hands with the BJP, Pawar had announced his resignation as national president on May 2. Four days later, while withdrawing his decision, he had said that he would ask senior partymen to prepare a succession plan soon. HT on May 3 had reported that Sule was likely to get a bigger role in the NCP. Many new faces have been given the responsibility of assisting me in improving the partys position in the next few months, as we have to be prepared for the upcoming Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, Pawar said in response to why positions had been created for working presidents. From Rajya Sabha MP to NCP working president Sule was introduced to active politics with her election as Rajya Sabha MP in September 2006. In 2009, she took over the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, which was represented by Pawar till then, and went on to win the seat thrice. Sule also formed the Rashtravadi Yuvati Congress, a wing of young women, to connect with the youth and build a network across the state. Her rise in the NCP in recent years was viewed as a sign that Pawar was preparing his daughter for more significant responsibilities. Sule was part of the partys top brass and always had a say in major decisions. She has become more vocal of late and has been spiritedly taking on the central government and the Shinde-Fadnavis state government. Ajit Pawar keeps mum, avoids questions Ajit, who had emerged as Pawars clear political heir, as he was the most popular leader after Pawar until his unsuccessful attempt to split the NCP in November 2019, avoided answering questions after Sules elevation. Pawar chose to defend his nephew and said, The buzz about Ajit and Jayant Patil being unhappy is untrue, as Ajit has the responsibility of the leader of the opposition post while Patil is Maharashtra NCP president. In contrast, Patel and Sule were not holding any posts and were also ready to give time (for the party). Their names were suggested by all the senior leaders. In response, Ajit Pawar said Some media channels ran stories that Ajit Pawar did not get any responsibility, I would like to tell them that I have the responsibility of leader of opposition in Maharashtra, said Ajit clarified in Pune after returning from Delhi. Also read: Ajit Pawar's 'congratulation' to Supriya Sule, Praful Patel as they gain big in NCP Is Jayant Patil sulking? Jayant Patil is said to be sulking. An NCP insider said that he had expressed his interest in becoming the working president of the party and was also willing to give up his position of Maharashtra NCP chief. Patils discontent was evident when he said that the decision had been taken at the national level, and he was not aware of it. It is the prerogative of Pawar saheb to take a decision. There is no need for him to discuss it with us, Patil said. His remarks, however, belied Pawars claim that all the senior leaders of the NCP had discussed the issue for a month. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police arrested a 20-year-old man and his accomplice here on Sunday and claimed to have cracked the murder case of wife of a footwear trader. (Pic for representation) The main accused claimed to be in love with the minor daughter of the victim, said police. The womans body was found in a forest area on the outskirts of the city within limits of Sikandra police station of Agra on June 9. The husband of the deceased had informed police at Sikandra police station on Friday that he along with his wife had gone to Vankhandi temple on the banks of river Yamuna on June 7. He came back home for some work and found his wife missing at the temple when he returned. Police began search for the missing woman and found her body in forest area near temple on June 9. In this regard, a case was registered under section 302/201 of Indian Penal Code at Sikandra police station. Suspicion was raised on 20-year-old Prakhar Gupta residing in the apartment at Dayalbagh in Agra. On Sunday, police got a tip off about Prakhar Gupta and his associate Sheelu and both were arrested in Khandari area of Agra city, said deputy commissioner of police Vikas Kumar. The main accused Prakhar Gupta, during interrogation, revealed that he had known the daughter of the deceased for the last 6 to 7 months and was in love with her. Gupta revealed that he used to have conversations with the girl through social media and even met her often. The girls mother came to know about it about three months ago and asked her daughter to stay away from the accused. The accused told police that he and the girl then planned to kill the latters mother and on June 7, the accused and his accomplice Sheelu committed the crime. The accused asked the minor girl to call her mother at temple near forest area. But to his dismay, the woman came with her husband in a car. The accused then convinced the girl to call her father back home for some work. When the husband left the woman alone at the temple, Prakhar along with Sheelu overpowered her and stabbed her to death and threw the body in a drain along with the knife used in the crime. The accused also switched off the mobile phone of the deceased and took it to village in Kasganj district, but returned to Agra on Sunday because his mother and brother were worried for him, stated official. The accused had told the minor daughter of the deceased that he was studying at Delhi University and was from a rich family. However, his father was killed due to enmity in village in Kasganj district and thus his widowed mother moved to Agra along with his younger brother. LUCKNOW Hostel inmates of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Lucknow, a constituent college of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), created ruckus late on Saturday evening over the disruption of drinking water supply in their hostel. Angry students raised slogans against the institute administration and staged demonstration. Angry students raised slogans against the institute administration and staged demonstration. (HT Photo) The students called off their protest only after the water supply was restored. Angry inmates of Ramanujam Hostel -- meant for first-year students -- came out of their hostel and created a ruckus as the drinking water supply was disrupted. There are 390 students in the hostel. The protesting inmates even tried to vandalise the vice-chancellors residence. Director of IET, Prof Vineet Kansal, tried to pacify the protesting students. He said that construction work is going on near the hostel on the campus. Due to this, on Saturday evening, the pipeline got damaged and the water supply to Ramanujan Hostel got disrupted. When the students complained about it, they were told that it would get fixed soon. Students agreed after the assurance of quick resolution of the problem. However, when it was not done, the students got angry and started their protest again. Students from other mens hostels also joined the protest. Inmates carrying cans and bottles proceeded towards the Vice-Chancellors residence shouting slogans. On receiving information about this, the officials of the institute arrived at the spot and tried to pacify them. They started a demonstrated in front of the directors residence too. The protesting students said that there is a water problem almost every week but no solution has been found. Nevertheless, director Prof Vineet Kasal has assured an early solution to the problem. The supply of drinking water was restored at 11 pm after fixing the problem. On Sunday, AKTU V-C Prof JP Pandey and IET director Vineet Kansal together visited some of the hostels, held meeting with students and provost in a bid to address their problems. Prof Kansal said that all necessary instruments were given to the hostel provost and hopefully, all the issues of hostel inmates has been addressed. There are 14 hostels with a total student capacity of 1,900. Of these, two bigger boys hostels are -- Ramanujam Hostel with a capacity of 390 inmates; and the Aryabhat Hostel with a capacity of 400 inmates. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested four suspected terrorists from Assams Goalpara and Bongaigaon districts in different operations conducted on Friday and Saturday, officials said. The four suspected terrorists were arrested by NIA last year and were released on bail recently. (Representative Image) Three of them were arrested from Goalpara while one was nabbed from Bongaigaon. All of them were arrested by NIA last year and were released on bail recently, said people familiar with the matter. The search operations started on Friday and were conducted by a special team of NIA, assisted by teams of the Assam Police. Superintendent of police (SP) of Goalpara district, Rakhesh Reddy told HT that NIA was conducting the operation under a case registered in their Guwahati office. We provided the support as per the orders, we dont have specific information about the case, he said. The persons arrested from Goalpara have been identified as Abdus Suwahan, a resident of Govindapur, Jalauddin, a resident of Matia, and Abdus Suwahan, a resident of Tinkonia, according to the police. The person arrested in Bongaigaon has been identified as Hafizur Rahman, a resident of Kabaitari area under Jogighopa police station. Based on specific information, NIA had detained these four men from different areas in August last year. Hafizur Rahman, a teacher of Markazul Ma Arif Qariana Madrasa in Goalpara, was detained on August 26 last year for his alleged involvement in terrorist activities. The madrassa was later demolished by the state government. In September, NIA registered two cases against them for their alleged connection with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and they were arrested. The cases were registered in Guwahati under 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (attempting to wage war against Nation), 121A (Conspiring to commit certain offences against the State) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and 18 and 18B (recruiting anyone or being recruited for a terrorist act), 19 and 20 (being member of terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The murder of a retired army personnel, Dharmendra Singh, on the night of May 31, turned out to be a road rage killing. For representation only (HT Photo) The Dhumanganj police arrested five youths who assaulted and killed Singh, 48, after an argument over overtaking snowballed into the crime, on Sunday. Acting on tip off on Sunday, police teams nabbed the suspects identified as Suresh Kumar aka Panchhi, 25, Ankit Bhartiya, 23 of Abubakarpur, Vikas Bhartiya, 21 of Pritam Nagar, Nitin Bhartiya, 22 of Sulem Sarai and Vikas, 22 of Kabir Ashram area. The arrested youths confessed to have assaulted the retired army man after the argument, police said. ACP, Dhumanganj, Varun Kumar said that following investigations and scanning of available CCTV footage, the police team under SHO Dhumanganj police station, Rajesh Kumar Maurya, identified five suspects. During questioning the accused confessed to attacking the retired army man near Abubakarpur crossing on the night of May 31. Singh was with his friend on his bike and had an argument with the accused when he tried to overtake their vehicles. The accused waylaid Singh ahead on the way and attacked him. He received multiple injuries, including head injuries, and died on the spot. The palkhis of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar will arrive in the city on Monday. The Palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar departed from Alandi on Sunday. (RAHUL RAUT/HT PHOTO) However, a day before their arrival, there was a minor skirmish between warkaris (pilgrims) and police over entry at Alandi. While warkaris claimed lathi charge from the police, senior officials denied it. Opposition parties too claimed police lathicharged warkaris and demanded a high-level probe and strict action. The Palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar departed from Alandi on Sunday when the temple management decided to allow only 75 dindis to enter the temple this year due to which there was disappointment among warkaris. This led to an argument between the warkaris and police. One person has been detained after he resisted the police and tried to enter the temple. The incident took place outside the temple of Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi in Alandi. Accordung to Vinay Kumar Choubey, Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissioner on Sunday, 56 main palkhis arrived at Alandi. Last year there was a stampede in which some women were injured. To avoid this, the temple management decided to permit only 75 people from each palkhi group. All the Dindi heads also accepted it and passes were distributed accordingly. However, on Sunday, some local youths tried to break the barricade and enter the temple premises. When we tried to stop them, there was only a minor skirmish with the locals. Contrary to the reports, the police did not lathi charge. All the Warkaris are cooperating well with the administration. Therefore, it is my humble request that no one should try to insult Wari tradition, which is a prestigious tradition of Maharashtra, Choubey said. As opposition leaders criticised police action,Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked to not politicise the event that did not happen. Some members tried to enter but police stopped them. There was no lathicharge in Alandi. So do not politicise the issue, Fadnavis said at Nagpur. I condemn the (state) government for the incident of lathi-charge on warkaris. This has never happened in so many years. The pilgrimage (to Pandharpur) has been a tradition for the past few centuries.The administrations mismanagement put a blot on this annual celebration. It is anguishing to see the lathi-charge on the warkari community. Those who are at fault should face action, NCP working president and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule said. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against the guilty. He said police officials involved in lathicharge should be suspended. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto described the incident as shameful. Since March, an atmosphere of tension and violence prevails in the state. Today warkaris in Alandi have been lathicharged. This is shameful. If Devendra Fadnavis (home minister) cannot run the state, he should resign, he said. G20 delegates to witness procession Meanwhile the Pune district administration is all set to welcome the devotees, with the foreign delegates who have arrived in the city for the G20 meet will also witness the procession. Special arrangements have been made for them at the entrance of Fergusson College Road. Other citizens will not be allowed to enter this premise for security reasons, said officials. On Monday evening when both the Palkhis enter Pune city from Fergusson College Road, the foreign delegates will be there to witness it. A special pandal has been set up for them. They are all from different countries, and hence, it is important for them to witness our tradition. PM Modi has changed the image of our country globally, and witnessing this age old event is a testament to that, said Pune district guardian minister Chandrakant Patil. Pune police commissioner Retesh Kumaar said, The palkhis will arrive on June 12 and pass through city limits on June 15. Representatives of 37 countries from around the world who will be in Pune for the G20 meet will also witness the event. Traffic diversions are in place. Four motorbikes with GPS will tail the palkhi so as to track them live. Along with this, the crowd will also be monitored and controlled through drones. Keeping in view the possibility of mobile network jams, walkie-talkie sets will be made available in large quantities for communication. BOX G20 meet Making progress on the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is organising the third in-person meeting of DEWG in Pune from June 12-14, 2023. This is the second G20 meeting in Pune after first one happened in January. The first day of the third meeting of DEWG will begin with the inauguration of two days Global DPI Summit and Global DPI Exhibition, by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State in MeitY and MSDE, in the presence of Gevorg Mantashyan, First Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia; Tamba Edward Juana, Permanent secretary Sierra Leone, Rishma Nimi Kuldipsingh, minister, Suriname and Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, MeitY, Government of India. The inaugural session will also have signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some of the interested countries on sharing INDIA STACK i.e. successful digital solutions implemented at population scale. (with agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Studio MAPPA, known for its work on hit anime series like Attack on Titan and Chainsaw Man, is facing a hectic schedule with multiple projects on their plate. With the highly anticipated Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 on the horizon, even the series creator, Gege Akutami, expressed his worries about the workload the animation studio is shouldering. Studio MAPPA, known for hits like Attack on Titan and Chainsaw Man, faces a busy schedule with Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 and more.(MAPPA) In a recent author's comment, Akutami praised the stunning animation cuts showcased in the second trailer for Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 but couldn't help but voice his concern for the studio. "All of the animation cuts for the 2nd trailer for Jujutsu Kaisen season two were too good. I'm concerned about the [animation] studio," shared Akutami. Studio MAPPA's plate is overflowing with projects, including the highly anticipated Jujutsu Kaisen season 2. However, their workload extends beyond that. They are currently putting the finishing touches on the final episode of Attack on Titan, scheduled for release this fall. The fate of Chainsaw Man, which wrapped up its first season recently, hangs in the balance. Moreover, MAPPA is juggling multiple other endeavors, such as Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku. Given the studio's jam-packed schedule, it's no surprise that both Akutami and fans are apprehensive about the workload they bear. The anime industry is notorious for its demanding work conditions, and MAPPA, despite its stellar reputation, is not exempt from these challenges. With their dedication to delivering exceptional quality, the studio is busier than ever. As Jujutsu Kaisen's new season debuts in July, fans are encouraged to show their support and appreciation for the hardworking team behind the scenes. For those who are not up to date with Jujutsu Kaisen, the series can be easily accessed for streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu. The official synopsis sets the stage for the captivating world of the show: "In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna's body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!" As fans eagerly await the arrival of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2, it's crucial to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of the talented individuals at Studio MAPPA. Their passion for bringing these stories to life deserves recognition and support from viewers worldwide. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Filmmaker Hansal Mehta is currently basking in the success of his latest web series Scoop. In an interview, the director recalled how at the time of making his 2012 film Shahid, the producers were reluctant to cast Rajkummar Rao as the lead. However he was sure of the actor for the role and managed to convince them to cast him as the lead. (Also read: Hansal Mehta says 'there is no agenda' behind his films: It is my job to raise questions for the audience) Hansal Mehta said the producers refused to fund Shahid if Rajkummar Rao was in the lead. About Shahid Shahid was based on the life of lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated in 2010. For the film, Rajkummar Rao and director Hansal Mehta both went on to win the National Awards for Best Actor and Best Director respectively. Now, Hansal has shared how the producers of the film were hesitant to cast Rajkummar in the lead role. How the producers reacted Now in an interview with Humans of Bombay, Hansal said, I found Shahid Azmis story and my life restarted. Basically, I found my voice again and my muse in finding that voice was Rajkummar. Shahid, the script was sent to a lot of stars, and somehow either the star did not want to work with me, or if the star wanted to work with me, he wanted to change the way Shahid was written, change the narrative completely. I put my foot down. I said, Either it is this or its nothing. And in that process, Mukesh Chabbra, Anurag (Kashyap), just threw Rajkummar, my way. They kept saying that meet Rajkummar. I said I cant meet him. What will I do with him?. There was no money. The producer said, Anurag is going to send Rajkummar to you. Im not funding it. Im not putting money in for Rajkummar. He was very new. He had just done Love, Sex Aur Dhokha. "They said have chai with him right now, hes standing outside your office. He walks in, and in half an hour, I mean, there was something. I felt the right energy. I felt I connected to him and I saw honesty and hunger. He said he wanted to prove it. Shahid was a dream role and he recognised that... Hansal also said how before meeting the producer, he made a poster of Shahid with Rajkummar first. The producer had said after looking at the poster, Poster is cool, but who is this fellow? The director then told him to watch his then-upcoming film Ragini MMS, which convinced him on the acting skills of the actor. Hansal Mehta and Shahid went on collaborate on three more projects after Shahid, which are City Lights, Aligarh and Omerta. Rajkummar was last seen in Anubhav Sinha's Bheed. He recently won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his work on Badhaai Do. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a stunning turn of events, the highly anticipated sequel to the Oscar-winning film "Gladiator" was struck by an unfortunate accident on set, leaving several crew members injured. The incident occurred during the filming of a planned stunt sequence, casting a shadow of concern over the production. The highly anticipated sequel to the Oscar-winning film 'Gladiator' was struck by an unfortunate accident on set, leaving several crew members injured. Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the film, swiftly responded to the incident, assuring the public that the injuries sustained by the crew members were non-life-threatening. A spokesperson emphasized that immediate medical attention was provided, with the injured individuals currently in stable condition and undergoing continued treatment. Reports suggest that the accident involved burn injuries, with six crew members requiring medical care. The incident took place at the film's set in Morocco, adding to the air of mystery surrounding the much-anticipated sequel. As the news spread, fans and industry insiders expressed their concern for the well-being of the cast and crew. Paramount reiterated their commitment to the safety of their personnel, highlighting the rigorous health and safety procedures in place during all their productions. They assured everyone that the situation would be closely monitored, and necessary precautions would be taken as the production resumes. The "Gladiator" sequel holds a special place in the hearts of fans, who eagerly await the return of director Ridley Scott and the captivating performances that made the original film a masterpiece. Russell Crowe's portrayal of Maximus won him a Best Actor Academy Award, further raising expectations for the sequel. The star-studded cast of the sequel includes familiar faces such as Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, who reprise their roles from the first film. Joining them are new additions like Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and the rising star of "Stranger Things 4," Joseph Quinn. Also read | Love triangle on fast lane! Lewis Hamilton and Shakira caught between Hollywood star Tom Cruise's affections While the accident has caused a temporary setback, fans can still look forward to November 2024 when the "Gladiator" sequel is set to hit the silver screen. Until then, the production team will work diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of their crew members, ensuring that the film lives up to its predecessor's legacy of epic proportions. Twitch streamer Felix "xQc" Lengyel has expressed his visible frustration after experiencing a series of incidents involving the police repeatedly showing up at his house. Popular Twitch streamer xQc's is frustrated with regular police visit in his house. (Image Credit: Twitch) The 27-year-old entertainer, renowned for his streaming career and former professional Overwatch player, recently voiced his concerns about the state of the Grand Theft Auto Online RP server NoPixel after revealing his co-ownership of the platform. Having focused on his streaming career after being released from the Dallas Fuel in 2018, xQc relocated back to Canada due to the excessive police raids he faced while residing in the United States. During his time there, Lengyel was frequently targeted by swatting, a malicious act involving deceiving the police into raiding a victim's home based on false threats. But, the relocation did not alleviate xQc's encounters with the police, as they continued to show up at his residence in recent days. On June 7, the popular Twitch figure shared a short video tour of one of his homes on Twitter, which concluded with a glimpse of a patrol car with flashing emergency lights and a police officer at his doorstep. In the video, xQc can be heard expressing gratitude to the officer for their assistance. The tweet accompanying the clip sarcastically commented on his ability to own a nice house and live in peace. A day later, xQc revealed during a live stream that the police had once again visited his house. This time, he appeared visibly frustrated, stating that he no longer cared about the situation and reiterating that he was not involved in any illegal activities that would warrant such frequent police attention. Many speculated on social media that these incidents might be connected to xQc and Adept's ongoing divorce proceedings. ALSO READ| Ninja shakes up streaming world by joining Kick, leaving Twitch behind Despite Lengyel's previous claims that he was never married to Adept (Samantha Lopez), Texas court filings revealed that the pair had a scheduled divorce trial starting on May 19. In a subsequent stream on May 31, Adept disclosed that she and xQc had been married for three years, expressing her desire to share the truth about their relationship. It remains unclear whether the recent string of police incidents is related to the ongoing divorce trial between Lopez and Lengyel. The streamer's mounting frustrations may also stem from a previous incident in which he was unable to receive emergency assistance during a home break-in. Actor Gehana Vasisth, who has featured in shows like Behenein and Gandii Baat, has tied the knot in a nikah ceremony. She tied the knot with actor-boyfriend Faizan Ansari. She also converted her religion to Islam. Pictures of the couple as bride and groom have surfaced online. She was arrested in a porn case related to Raj Kundra in 2021 and got a bail later. Also read: Gehana Vasisth stages naked protest against Raj Kundra's arrest: 'Is this porn?' Gehna Vasisth is now married to Faizan Ansari. Gehana and Faizan's love story A source close to the actor has said that Gehana and Faizan are madly in love with each other and their relationship is pure. The source has claimed that Gehana did not undergo religion change for marriage purpose but it was her own personal choice. Gehana Vasisth and Faizan Ansari during the nikah ceremony. Gehana Vasisth and Faizan Ansari as bride and groom. More about Gehana and Faizan Faizan Ansari is a social media influencer and was also seen in the Amazon MiniTv reality show Datebaazi. Gehana Vasisth is an actor-model and has performed several special dance numbers in Hindi and Telugu films. As per the reports, Gehana and Raj Kundra created pornographic movies and were taken into custody for the same. Gehana came out in support of Raj when he was arrested by the Mumbai Police. She was arrested by the Property Cell of the Crime Branch for her alleged role in shooting and uploading porn videos on a website. Gehana on her involvement in a porn case She had said the case was a ploy to frame everyone involved with their erotic app. She had told Hindustan Times, First of all theres no censorship on digital platforms, whatever people want, theyre making. But whatever videos that weve made for the app, in no way can you call it porn. We all know what porn is, but we were not doing porn. One needs to watch these videos first and then call them porn. These are the same category of content which other big OTT platforms make. But when we dont target them, why target me, why target Raj Kundra? How can you say we make porn? Were in fact making what the other big apps are making. Why are they tagged as bold and ours is called porn? These are normal bold erotic films," she had added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Asia and the Pacific region has several climate vulnerable communities ranging from pacific communities, which face sudden and slow-onset disasters, rainfall variations and El Nino and La Nina climate patterns to Himalayan communities, which encounter extreme weather events like flash floods, landslides and debris flows worsened by climate crisis and depleting Himalayan glaciers. The climate crisis poses threats to food security, water and energy security, and also produces climate displacement and migration. The region has to strengthen collective efforts towards mitigation at the regional level. People protest against the climate. (Reuters) Asia-Pacific region is running behind schedule to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has raised concerns with the lack of progress in the region in its Asia-Pacific SDG Progress Report 2023. In 2022, the efforts of the countries in the region on climate action (Goal 13) are critically regressed. Considering membership of the ESCAP framework, Asia-Pacific region has 53 member-States and nine associate members in pursuit of solutions to sustainable development challenges. The regions overall progress is dismally slow at about 15% in 2022 which will push the 2030 timeline by several decades, unless efforts are multiplied now. The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) assesses that given the possibility of global temperature rising to 3 degrees the triple planetary crisis of climate, biodiversity loss and pollution needs immediate actions. As the United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) flagship environmental assessment, the seventh edition of GEO has focused on the transformative role of policies in energy, food and waste in combating the climate crisis. The population rise, economic development, technological change, urbanisation and lifestyle have put tremendous pressure on the environment. However, challenges to practical application of these policies include politico-economic conditions and unsatisfactory coordination at multilateral level. Current policies in Asia and the Pacific continue to remain inadequate, and their implementation cannot catch up to prevent environmental degradation. The region is responsible for over half of the global greenhouse gas emissions. It is seen as the perpetrator and the victim of the climate crisis. At this rate of progress, fighting against climate crisis and environmental degradation requires radical measures to protect human health and environment from the deteriorating impacts of climate crisis and pollution. Given the variation and criticality of the region in climate crisis discourse, one can have a perspective from the preparedness of countries in special/vulnerable situations like least developed countries (LDCs) (11 in number), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) (12 in number) and small island developing states (SIDS) (15 member-States and seven associate members). But, the progress in SDGs for the five countries with highest GDP per capita is as poor as the regional average. Despite several challenges, about 50 per cent of the countries in Asia and the Pacific have been leading in at least one goal. However, there is no country in Asia and the Pacific that has done enough to set as a pace leader for gender equality (Goal 5) and the average regional performance has regressed for climate action (Goal 13). LLDCs have recorded a good progress for sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11) by decreasing the proportion of the urban living in slums, for instance, about 84% reduction of it found in Kyrgystan since 2014. It was further complemented by effective disaster risk reduction strategies. However, among LLDCs, Armenia continues to strengthen its food security, while Afghanistan, Bhutan and Kyrgystan have seen an increase in food price anomaly during 2019-2020 period. In Timor-Leste, percentage of births by skilled health professionals are low, despite an increase from 30% in 2009 to 57% in 2016. In this effort, Timor-Leste is supported by the United Nations Population Fund, UNICEF and WHO. Child marriage in India has decreased thanks to the conditional cash or in-kind transfers to support schooling. It is complemented by capacity-building programmes and reproductive health care services. In January 2022, Cambodia launched countrys first evidence-based air pollution monitoring plan. The data identifies major sources of emissions helping in devising appropriate policy and action. The plan aims to achieve a 60% reduction in PM2.5 seeking to improve air quality and also an 18% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions by 2030. At macro-level of sustainable practices, the scope of improvement in connectivity for Asia and the Pacific region constitutes a critical factor in sustainable development. Regional networking in transport, energy and ICT sectors can contribute to establishing low-carbon economy, according to ESCAPs 79th Commission Report 2023. Several global programmes of connectivity for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS have sought to strengthen sustainable growth in these countries. For examples, the Doha Programme of Action for LDC for the Decade 2022-2031 focuses on transport, energy and ICT; the Vienna Programme of Action for LDCs for the Decade 2014-2024 recognises the significance of transit access for the LDCs and, thus, cooperation with the transit countries is prioritised; and, the SAMOA Pathway (2014-2024) underlines the essentiality of building quality infrastructure in SIDS. National action and leadership is significant in implementing intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) to reduction of carbon emissions. Aligning national policies with regional planning for sustainable transport and energy systems can promote long-term development. It is further reported that transport connectivity in LLDCs and SIDS is very poor. And, mobile broadband Internet is thrice as expensive as the regional average. LLDCs are struggling to have energy trade with their neighbours, on the one hand, SIDS are adopting local means to produce energy and microgrids to sustain their energy demands, on the other hand. The Report stressed that these countries can benefit from harmonisation of operational, planning, financial and regulatory procedures for regional energy connectivity. LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS are distanced from major international markets which render higher transportation costs. They have to incorporate new technologies in terms of scientific monitoring and reliable fibre-optic cables, accessible, efficient and quality Internet connectivity. Synchronisation of transport, energy and ICT can be implemented, for instance, through electrification of transport supported by ICT infrastructure which will produce low carbon emission as well as transform local renewable energy resources in SIDS. Asia-Pacific countries adopted about 10 UN resolutions during the 79th session of the ESCAP in Bangkok from 15-19 May. These resolutions acknowledged the uniqueness of the countries in special situations which have been troubled by impacts of climate crisis, geopolitical tensions, economic challenges. Further, ESCAP and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on SDGs, climate action and regional economic and trade cooperation in the Pacific. Cooperation at the national and regional levels create enabling environment for more capital investments in connectivity infrastructure in transport, energy and ICT sectors. The countries can support it through sustainable economic and financial models. The Asia-Pacific countries have to commit to a strong action towards building resilience to climate crisis and its impacts, and strengthening their adaptive capacity through appropriate adaptation measures. Sustainable development approach is, thus, critical for Asia-Pacific region to promote a sustainable growth. It should be incorporated as the principal of cooperation at regional level to resolve inter-connected challenges of poverty, gender and income inequality, insufficient infrastructure and unemployment. Countries need to strengthen their commitment to a timely achievement of their INDCs by further matching with the standards set by the UNEP and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Their economic, social and environmental milieu should be well-integrated to achieve sustainable development. This article is authored by Mehdi Hussain, doctoral candidate, Centre for South Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. As a diplomat, representing one of the oldest and most refined civilizations of the world, there is the perpetual dilemma of how much one needs to change in order to conform to what foreign interlocutorsespecially from the Westexpect your social profile to be. Somewhere in the course of my career, I began to ask why must I be homogenised to behave like them, when my own customs, traditions and way of life, are different. It is for this reason that when I was the director of The Nehru Centre in London, I stopped wearing a tie and suit, though I have nothing against either, and replaced them with a bandgala or a kurta-pyjama and Jawahar jacket. PREMIUM Some foods simply can't be eaten with a fork and a knife, no matter where one's consuming them. (Wiki Commons) Often, quite imperceptiblyeven thoughtlesslywe fall into the trap of not being ourselves even if we are otherwise proud of our roots. An American diplomat once told me how a well-known Indian, who pontificated at length throughout the evening about the importance of indigenous traditions, spent all his energies at dinner trying to eat his roti and mutton curry with a knife and fork! In my own case, I recall with amusement the reaction of some ambassadors in New Delhi, when I told them at a dinner where Indian food was being served, that I was going to eat with my hands. The host had predictably put a knife and fork next to each plate. I put them aside, and said that in our tradition, we wash our hands before a meal, and eat with our hands, which is the way Indian food should be eaten. I added that if the food was Western, I would happily use a knife and fork. The ambassadors immediately nodded in agreement, and with palpable relief, promptly ate their rotis and the juicy tandoori chicken using their hands. In London, I was on the jury for the Satyajit Ray Memorial Award given to a young Asian every year for short films. A film by a Bangladeshi director left a lasting impression on me. Only three minutes long, it was called A Place to Be. The film, without any commentary, showed a Bangladeshi family at dinner in their modest London home. The faces could not be seen, but the conversation could be heard. The camera was still and unmoving, almost meant to be invisible, but intrusive nevertheless, as it kept its gaze steady on the hands and the food and the serving and the eating. The food consisted of fish curry, rice and some vegetables. One could see it being ladled into plates. The family sat on the ground around a dastarkhan and everybody ate with their hands. The camera merely watched as plates were wiped clean by fingers working dexterously and uninhibitedly. From a Western point of view, it was a messy process. The other jury members were all white British folk. I felt a little uncomfortable, because the film was so deliberately stark in its portrayal of native eating habits. The Bangladeshi familylike any Indian familyate as it would normally do when in the privacy and comfort of its own space. But in a foreign land, that normalcy was rarely ever exhibited to the outsider. In the outsiders presence, the same family would pick up a knife and fork in order to prove that it was not uncivilised and had the requisite social graces. This duality, which requires people to practice being split, is a burden that migrants and diplomats, in particular, have to live with. On the one hand is the persistence of their traditional way of life, and on the other are the demands of socially correct behaviour of the dominant idiom; and between the two is an entire world of aspiration, denial, camouflage, resentment and emulation. The interesting thing is that this dichotomy persists even within India. Many of our elite clubs, which have been bastions of an anglicised culture modelled on their erstwhile British masters, still do not allow Indians to wear traditional attire even when that dress, in our own cultural context, is entirely acceptable, indeed even formal. If Mr P.C. Chidambaram, former finance minister, would go to one of these clubs wearing his trade-mark starched white shirt and veshti, should he be stopped because of antiquated colonial rules? I myself was stopped many years ago at the Delhi Gymkhana Club, of which I am a member, from entering even though I was wearing a silk kurta and churidars with Peshawari sandals. The irony was that people in jeans and tee-shirts could go in. I had a similar experience once at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata. Such rules are outrageous and need to be jettisoned immediately. At least I am happy that I had a role in changing the dress rules of the Delhi Gymkhana Club, where earlier, even Sir Mark Tully, a Britisher, was stopped from entering because he was wearing a pyjama-kurta. Diplomats represent the interests of their country. Those interests must include being representatives of their own culture and civilizational ethos, even if on occasion, some kind of protocol conformity is necessary. In this context, I am glad that Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as foreign minister in 1977, broke from tradition and spoke for the first time at the United Nations' annual General Assembly in Hindi, a practice that is continued today by Prime Minister Modi. Pavan K Varma is author, diplomat, and former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Just Like That is a weekly column where Varma shares nuggets from the world of history, culture, literature, and personal reminiscences with HT Premium readers. The views expressed are personal Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress and DMK over dynasty politics and alleged corruption, calling them "2G, 3G, 4G" parties and said the time has come in Tamil Nadu to throw away these and give the power to a "son of the soil". Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the meeting with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Shaktikendra-incharges, district office bearers, and mandal presidents, at South Chennai Parliamentary Constituency, on Sunday.(Twitter/Amit Shah) Responding to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's demand that Shah list out the Centre's special schemes for Tamil Nadu in the past nine years, the senior BJP leader detailed the various initiatives of the Narendra Modi-led Union government for the state in sectors including aviation, railways and roads. Addressing a public meeting here to highlight the nine years of the BJP-led NDA government's achievements, he also lashed out at the two opposition parties at the Centre for opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "uniting Kashmir" with India with a stroke of the pen. "Congress and DMK are 2G, 3G, 4G parties. I am not talking about the 2G (spectrum allocation scam). 2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations," he said. "The Maran family (of the DMK) is doing corruption for two generations. The Karunanidhi family is doing corruption for three generations. The Gandhi family is 4G. Rahul Gandhi is fourth generation and for four generations they are enjoying power," Shah said attacking the two parties. He said the time has come to "throw out 2G, 3G, 4G and give the power in Tamil Nadu to a son of the soil." Asking the crowd if Article 370 should have been removed or not and "if Kashmir is ours or not," he said both Congress and DMK opposed the abrogation of the Article which gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status. "Both these parties -- Congress and DMK -- were against its abrogation. With one stroke of the pen on August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra modi ended Article 370 and united Kashmir with India," Shah added. He charged the DMK and Congress of indulging in corruption running to several thousands of crores of rupees during its 10 year period from 2004 to 2014 and said there were no such allegations against the nine-year-old NDA government. Taking on Stalin over his remarks on the establishment of AIIMS Madurai, Shah said while the DMK was in power for 18 years at the Centre, it had not taken steps to bring the premier medical facility to Tamil Nadu "but only does corruption", even as he highlighted the various initiatives of the Centre for Tamil Nadu. This included a manifold increase in devolution of funds to Tamil Nadu, allocation of a defence corridor, two Vande Bharat train services, a new integrated airport terminal that was inaugurated by PM Modi recently here, 11 medical colleges in as many districts benefitting over 1,400 students, renovation of major railway stations in the state including Chennai Egmore and Madurai, a new ESIC medical college hospital that would come up in Coimbatore at an estimated 1,500 crore, 62 lakh toilets and over 2,500 km of roads. Besides these, the Centre and PM Modi in particular were doing a lot for the Tamil language. In many global fora, the Prime Minister has heaped praised on Tamil language, its icons, the Tamil culture and the literature. Tamil classic Tirukkural has been translated into 13 Indian languages. Shah highlighted the Kashi and Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam events and said it was an effort by the Centre to popularise the language in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, respectively. Referring to the 2019 summit between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram near here, Shah said the PM promoted Tamil Nadu's tourism by inviting the neighbouring country's leader for talks here. He also hailed the installation of the 'Sengol' (sceptre) in the Parliament during its inauguration last month by Modi. Further, aspirants can now write CAPF exams and NEET in Tamil, which was not the case when the Congress-led UPA, in which the DMK was a key constituent, was in power, he said. Expressing confidence that the BJP will return to power with 300 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Union Cooperation Minister wanted Tamil Nadu to return 25 NDA parliamentarians, and said some among them could be inducted in the cabinet as well. At the event, Shah was presented a 'Sengol' as memento. Earlier in the day, Shah attended a meeting of the BJP's Tamil Nadu leaders, including its state president K Annamalai, in Chennai. At the meeting, he pitched for making a Tamil as Prime Minister in the future, party sources said. The BJP veteran, also its former national president, made the remarks at the closed door meeting. Meanwhile, a power cut outside the airport last night when Shah arrived in the city has not gone down well with the BJP leaders. At the Vellore public meeting, Annamalai, in an apparent jibe at the ruling DMK said: "You may swithch off the lights but not the BJP workers' enthusiasm." An Ahmedabad-bound IndiGo flight from Amritsar strayed close to Lahore till Gujranwala in Pakistan from Attari in Amritsar on Saturday evening before returning to Indian airspace within 30 minutes without any issues. The flight has landed safely in Ahmedabad now. (Reuters/File) The aircraft, which had the speed of 454 knots, reached north of Lahore at about 7:30 pm and returned to India by 8:01 pm, Pakistan's news agency Dawn reported. Speaking to news agency ANI, an IndiGo spokesperson said, An IndiGo flight temporarily entered Pakistan airspace yesterday (10th June) due to bad weather. The flight was scheduled from Amritsar to Ahmedabad. It landed safely in Ahmedabad. An IndiGo statement said, IndiGo flight 6E-645, operating from Amritsar to Ahmedabad had to take a deviation over Attari into Pakistan airspace due to bad weather. The deviation was well coordinated with Pakistan by Amritsar ATC via telephone. The crew was in continuous contact with Pakistan on R/T and the flight landed in Ahmedabad safely post the deviation. A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) senior official, as quoted by Dawn said, that it wasn't an unusual thing and was allowed internationally in bad weather conditions. Pakistan experienced a severe weather conditions with intense rainfall and powerful winds and thunderstorms on Saturday. At least 34 people were killed in Bannu, Dikhan, Lakki Marwat and Karak districts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanskriti Falor Sanskriti Falor is a Senior Content Producer at the News Desk of HT Digital. Having worked in Digital Media for the past two years, she is interested in covering civic issues and global affairs. ...view detail Bihar Nagar Nikay Chunav highlights: The counting for the third phase of Bihar's Municipal elections, which were held for 31 cities on June 9, began on Sunday, and is currently underway. Bihar municipal polls (Representational Image) The voting of the third phase of the state's Municipal elections was held from 7 am to 5 pm on Friday. The counting began at 8 am and results will be announced the same day. Read: Bihar urban local body bypolls: Check voter turnout 18 municipal councils, 2 municipal corporations and 11 village panchayats went to the polls in total. The election was necessitated as the tenure of 31 municipal bodies expired in June. In this phase, 24 newly formed and upgraded cities and seven cities whose term ends in June this year were included. These 31 municipalities are from 21 districts. Welcome to hindustantimes.com updates platform where you can find breaking news from India and across the world. Find fast updates about the latest news as it breaks. Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Steps taken by Canadian authorities to stay the deportation of some Indian students who allegedly submitted fraudulent admission letters to educational institutes are a welcome development, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and to take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault. (File) Indian authorities in New Delhi and Ottawa had taken up the matter of the Indian students with their Canadian counterparts in recent days, and external affairs minister S Jaishankar had said last week it would be unfair to punish the students. Some reports have said about 700 Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters, though the people said the actual number is much lower. Most of these students had gone to Canada during 2017-19. After completing their studies, some obtained work permits while others continued their studies. India had taken up the matter with Canadian authorities in Canada and in New Delhi. The external affairs minister took up with matter with his Canadian counterpart and the secretary (East) from the external affairs ministry raised it during his visit to Canada in April, one of the people said. Some students have recently received stay orders on their deportation notices, the person said, without giving details. It is welcome that consistent efforts by the government of India have been instrumental in the Canadian government adopting a humane approach and taking on board the perspective of the students. The people said Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and to take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault. It was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visas and allowed to enter Canada, the person cited above said. Canadian parliamentarians from different political parties also spoke in support of the students, and immigration minister Sean Frasier indicated Canada is pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau too acknowledged the need for fair treatment of the students. Addressing a media briefing last week, Jaishankar said the matter involved students who the Canadians say did not study in the college which they should have studied and then faced difficulties when they applied for work permits. Our point is that, look, the students studied in good faith. If there were people who misled them, the people who misled them, the culpable parties should be acted against. It is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith, he said. If a student has done no wrong, they accept the idea that they have to find some solution for it. So, we will continue to press [this issue], and I would very much hope that the Canadian system is fair in that regard. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Steps taken by Canadian authorities to stay the deportation of some Indian students who allegedly submitted fraudulent admission letters to educational institutes are a welcome development, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau too acknowledged the need for fair treatment of the students (AP) Also read: Canada's Opposition leader condemns depiction of Indira Gandhis killing Indian authorities in New Delhi and Ottawa had taken up the matter of the Indian students with their Canadian counterparts in recent days, and external affairs minister S Jaishankar had said last week it would be unfair to punish the students. Some reports have said about 700 Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters, though the people said the actual number is much lower. Most of these students had gone to Canada during 2017-19. After completing their studies, some obtained work permits while others continued their studies. India had taken up the matter with Canadian authorities in Canada and in New Delhi. The external affairs minister took up the matter with his Canadian counterpart and the secretary (East) from the external affairs ministry raised it during his visit to Canada in April, one of the people said. Some students have recently received stay orders on their deportation notices, the person said, without giving details. It is welcome that consistent efforts by the government of India have been instrumental in the Canadian government adopting a humane approach and taking on board the perspective of the students. The people said Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and to take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault. It was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visas and allowed to enter Canada, the person cited above said. Canadian parliamentarians from different political parties also spoke in support of the students, and immigration minister Sean Frasier indicated Canada is pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau too acknowledged the need for fair treatment of the students. Also read: Canada unemployment rises for first time in nine months Addressing a media briefing last week, Jaishankar said the matter involved students who the Canadians say did not study in the college which they should have studied and then faced difficulties when they applied for work permits. Our point is that, look, the students studied in good faith. If there were people who misled them, the people who misled them, the culpable parties should be acted against. It is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith, he said. If a student has done no wrong, they accept the idea that they have to find some solution for it. So, we will continue to press [this issue], and I would very much hope that the Canadian system is fair in that regard. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nationalist Congress Party working president Supriya Sule on Sunday said she was proud to be the daughter of Sharad and Pratibha Pawar and that she would never run away from nepotism or dynasty politics. 'I can't go away from nepotism because I was born in a political family. I am very proud to be Pratibha and Sharad Pawar's daughter. Why should I run away from this? I have even said this in Parliament," Supriya Sule said a day after Sharad Pawar elevated her to the post of the working president along with Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel. The announcement triggered reaction and speculations that Sharad Pawar sidelined nephew Ajit Pawar to promote his daughter. "If only Sharad Pawar love his nephew as much as Mamata Banerjee loves hers," BJP's Amit Malviya tweeted in a jibe. Supriya Sule said reports that Ajit Pawar was unhappy were just rumours, not reality. 'Parliament is not run by my father' "Why can't we talk about performance while we talk about dynasty politics? Look at my Parliament performance. Now Parliament is not run by my father, uncle or my mother. But that performance data in the Lok Sabha shows that I am on the top of the chart. There is no dynasty politics. That's on merit. I think you can't selectively use nepotism against me or anybody," Supriya Sule said. Sharad Pawar on choosing daughter over nephew While Supriya Sule and Praful Patel's elevation to the rank of the working president dents Ajit Pawar in the party, Sharad Pawar downplayed it and said Ajit Pawar was one of those who took the decision of making Supriya Sule and Praful Patel the working presidents of the party. Sharad Pawar on Saturday said Ajit Pawar already had a lot on his plate as the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, while Supriya Sule and Praful Patel had no such defined responsibilities. On the allegation of dynasty politics, Sharad Pawar said it was not his decision. "This is a conscious decision by the entire party and not me alone. If I had to make a decision, why would I have waited all these years," Sharad Pawar said. "Who says he is unhappy? Has anyone asked him? Reports are gossip. What is the reality? Of course, it is different," Supriya Sule said on reports of Ajit Pawar being upset over her elevation. Ajit Pawar officially cleared the air and said Supriya was doing well in the national politics while his focus was in Maharashtra. "I am interested mainly in Maharashtra politics, so I have always cleared that point in the party. For the past several years, Supriya is in Delhi. Praful Patel and I became MP at the same time in 1991, but as I was not interested in national politics, I resigned and joined state politics," Ajit Pawar said adding that he was happy with the decision. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress will continue to engage with former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and might announce a suitable position for him in the run up to the assembly elections in the countrys geographically largest state later this year if the high command is convinced that he will stay in the party, Congress leaders said. Congress will continue to engage with former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and might announce a suitable position. (PTI) Also read: 15-yr-old girl, 25-yr-old man found dead in Rajasthans Barmer Pilot, who rebelled against chief minister Ashok Gehlot in 2020, observed his father Rajesh Pilots death anniversary in Dausa on Sunday, when he vowed to act against injustice. His demands were not aimed to defame anyone, Pilot said in an apparent reference to Gehlot. I have not gone back on my promises in the past and will not do in future, Pilot said. PMs and CMs come and go. What remains is peoples trust. I am not after any post. I am for people trust. In 20-25 years of my political career, I have done nothing to break this trust. And I want to not allow you to lower your trust on me. The Congress leadership will continue to follow the Rajasthan situation closely, a functionary said, declining to be named. He said that the meeting between Pilot, Gehlot and the party high command on May 29 was crucial and involved an in-depth analysis of the situation. In the meeting, Pilot was reminded of his rebellion. But the party views both Gehlot and Pilot as assets and a suitable position would be offered to Pilot in the coming days. There is a possibility that the announcement on Pilot might come soon, the leader said. There is no possibility of projecting Pilot as the chief ministerial face, as demanded by his loyalists, and reinstating him state Congress chief might not be accepted by the Gehlot camp, a second leader said, seeking anonymity. We dont know what he will do (forming his own outfit), but the Congress is like a large ship and leaders can be honourably accommodated, said the first leader. Some Congress leaders said Pilot can be made the chief of the campaign committee of the Rajasthan assembly election to be held towards the end of this year. Pilot is unlikely to announce a new party on his fathers death anniversary, HT had reported on June 6. Pilot, who has hit the roads over three issues against the Gehlot government, is waiting for administrative and political measures for his three demandsdisbanding Rajasthan public service commission, compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases and probe against corruption charges during the preceding Vasundhara Raje regime. Also read: Reconciliation with Sachin Pilot is permanent, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot The Congress has maintained that 90% of his issues have been resolved even as the Pilot camp claimed that a week after his meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi, where Gehlot was also present, nothing has happened. In the meeting, 90% of the issues were resolved, and the remaining 10% have no such issue, Addressing the media in Jaipur last week, Congress Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had told the media in Jaipur last week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday put to rest the speculation over his next political move but made it clear that he will continue to raise his voice for the rights of the people, especially youth, and their future. Congress leader Sachin Pilot addresses supporters. (ANI file) The Congress leadership was keeping a close on the dissident leader's next move and if he would float a new outfit at an event to commemorate his father Rajesh Pilot's death anniversary in Dausa. Last month, Pilot had defied a warning from the Congress and went ahead with a day-long fast targeting chief minister Ashok Gehlot over his inaction on alleged corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje government. I have raised my voice for the rights of the youth and their future... There was a time, I felt alone but you all supported me, Pilot said at the rally in Dausa. Pilot also paid homage to his father at a programme in Dausa amid speculations he may make some significant announcement there on his political future. ...if there is something lacking in our governance then without blaming others we should rectify it...I didn't put forward my demands to defame someone...raising your opinion is very important in politics..., Pilot said. On Sunday morning, Pilot took to Twitter to pay homage to his father. My respected father, I bow down to Shri Rajesh Pilot ji on his death anniversary. His attachment to his workplace, his affinity with the public and his dedicated working style towards public welfare are my guide. He never compromised on his principles considering public interest as paramount. I will always follow his thoughts and ideals, Pilot tweeted. Rajesh Pilot ji served in the military during his life, piloting combat aircraft and facing the challenges of Pakistan. He also expressed his views with integrity in politics. Today, the country needs a similar kind of politics - speaking fearlessly, supporting truth and honesty, and not compromising even in adverse circumstances, the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said in Dausa. Congress rubbished Pilot may-leave party reports On Saturday, the Congress exuded confidence a positive solution would be found to the intra-party discord in Rajasthan. 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mussoorie: The construction of the Helang-Marwari bypass restarted in Joshimath on Monday after the state government gave permission to the Chamoli district administration and concerned agencies to do so. (HT Photo) Residents and traders of Joshimath in Uttarakhands Chamoli district opposing the construction of the Helang-Marwari bypass road took out a protest march on Sunday under the banner of Prantiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal. The construction of the Helang-Marwari bypass restarted in Joshimath on Monday after the state government gave permission to the Chamoli district administration and concerned agencies to do so. The work on the 5km bypass was halted on January 5 after dangerous cracks developed in many houses of the town, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of families, many of whom are still living in relief camps. Over 300 protesting traders and residents of the gateway town to the Badrinath shrine marched across the markets of Joshimath against the restarting of construction and raised slogans against the government. With no business in the winter due to houses and hotels developing cracks, the locals including the trading community have suffered immensely and the construction of the Helang Bypass Road will add to the woes as the Chart Dham pilgrims will take the bypass road instead of entering the town, said Nain Singh Bhandari, president of the Mandal. The bypass aims to establish a new route that will end at Marwari and residents and traders fear that pilgrims on their way to the Badrinath shrine will prefer it instead of the old one as the distance will be shortened. The proposed bypass construction is an attack on religious tradition as devotees before embarking on the journey to Badrinath stop at Narsingh Temple at Joshimath, but with this construction of the bypass, they will avoid the town and head for Badrinath directly, he said. A delegation of local residents had also met with the district administration officials a few days ago, urging them that the work on the bypass should be stopped, Bhandari said. If the work is not stopped soon, we will launch a massive agitation, including blocking the Badrinath highway. The towns economy is dependent on tourists who stay overnight at Joshimath, and after the visit to Narsingh temple, they head to Badrinath, but with the construction of the bypass road, no tourists or pilgrims will be interested in coming to the town as the new bypass will be much shorter in distance, said Kailash Joshwal, a resident of Gandhinagar area in Joshimath. The Helang-Marwari bypass, once constructed around 13km from Joshimath, aims to shorten the distance to Badrinath by 30km. It is part of the governments 12,000 crore all-weather road project to the Char Dham Hindu shrines in the Himalayan state. The Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, a civil society organisation that has been demanding rehabilitation of the displaced people, has also objected to the building of the road. After the agitation in January, we met the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and presented an 11-point demand letter, including stopping the construction on the bypass road, but the government has given a go-ahead to the project even after the widespread damage to public and private property in Joshimath, which is unfortunate, said Atul Sati, convener of the association. The work on the bypass road was restarted based on reports of experts from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, the public works department and the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, according to Ranjit Kumar Sinha, secretary of the state disaster management authority. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said that the very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) Biparjoy located over the east-central Arabian Sea intensifed into an extremely severe cyclonic storm at 5.30 am. Coastal road workers walk as waves hit the city's waterfront during high tide in the Arabian Sea at Marine Drive in Mumbai, India, Saturday, June 10, 2023. The Bombay Municipal Council is making arrangements to tackle the approach of Cyclone Biparjoy.(AP) IMD's latest tweet read, VSCS BIPARJOY intensified into an ESCS at 0530IST today, about 480 km SSW of Porbandar, 530 km SSW of Dwarka and 610 km SSW of Naliya . To cross Saurashtra & Kutch and adj. Pakistan coasts bw Mandvi, Gujarat and Karachi, Pakistan around noon of 15th June as VSCS. According to IMD, the VSCS Biparjoy is likely to move nearly northwards and reach near Pakistan and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch coasts on Thursday. Earlier, IMD had announced, "VSCS BIPARJOY lay centered at 2330IST of today, near lat 17.4N and long 67.3E, about 600 km WSW of Mumbai, 530 km S-SW of Porbandar & 830 km S of Karachi. To intensify further and likely to reach near Pakistan & adjoining Saurashtra & Kutch coast around A/N of 15th June as VSCS." In a bulletin, IMD stated, "The very severe cyclonic storm "Biparjoy" (pronounced as "Biporjoy") over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved nearly northwards with a speed of 5 kmph during past 6-hours and lay centered at 2330 hours IST of 10th June, 2023 over the same region near latitude 17.4N and longitude 67.3E, about 600 km west-southwest of Mumbai,530 km south-southwest of Porbandar, 580 km south-southwest of Dwarka, 670 km south-southwest of Naliya and 830 km south of Karachi." The IMD categorises a system as a Cyclonic Storm when its 3-minute average maximum sustained wind speeds fall between 63-88 kmph. Similarly, a severe cyclonic storm has winds between 89-117 kmph, a very severe cyclonic storm between 118-165 kmph, and an extremely severe cyclonic storm between 166-220 kmph. Wind speeds above 221 kmph give rise to a super cyclone. Here are the latest updates: Heat wave conditions continued in Rajasthan on Saturday while rains lashed parts of the state, according to the local MeT department. Rains are likely to lash part of the state next week due to cyclone Biparjoy. Southern and western parts of Rajasthan may witness showers on June 14-15. There is also a possibility of rain along with thunderstorms in the districts of Jodhpur and Udaipur. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and other coastal regions were put on alert on Saturday after meteorologists warned that Biparjoy over the Arabian sea would intensify over the next 24 hours. After high waves were observed at Tithal Beach in Valsad on the Arabian Sea coast, it has been closed to tourists until June 14. 3. Authorities also instructed fishing communities on Saturday to halt operations for the next five days in the eastern and central Arabian sea, and along the Indian Saurastra and Kutch region. 4. IMD has warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places in Kerala and coastal Karnataka in next three days. Monsoon showers were expected to arrive in Kerala on June 4, but the formation of Biparjoy delayed it. 5. Heavy rains swept through Pakistan's northwest, causing several houses to collapse and leaving at least 25 people dead and 145 injured, authorities said. Rain and hail hit the Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Karak districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. 6. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered officials to put in place emergency measures in advance of the approaching Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea. The severe and intense cyclone with wind speeds of 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) was on a course toward the country's south, Pakistan's disaster management agency said. 7. The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has issued a 'red alert' and emergency guidelines as the VSCS Biparjoy over the east-central Arabian Sea continues to maintain its intensity. In a statement, the KPT suspended shipping activities and banned double-bunking of ships at the Karachi International Container Terminal, the ARY News reported. 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 Biparjoy is likely to cross Saurashtra, Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) around noon of June 15 as very severe cyclone with wind speed reaching 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph, India Meteorological Department has warned on Sunday. Biparjoy is also the strongest cyclone in Arabian Sea after cyclone Tauktae. (ANI) Very severe cyclonic storm, Biparjoy over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 9 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into an Extremely Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 165 to 175 kmph gusting to 195 kmph and lay about 580 km west-southwest of Mumbai, 480 km south-southwest of Porbandar, 530 km south-southwest of Dwarka, 610 km south-southwest of Naliya and 780 km south of Karachi. This cyclone has again gone rapid intensification (2nd in its lifetime) and intensified by 75 kmph to reach peak intensity of 195 kmph. Biparjoy is also the strongest cyclone in Arabian Sea (including all months) after cyclone Tauktae, said Vineet Kumar Singh, researcher from Typhoon Research Centre, Jeju National University. Also, this is only the 2nd time in north Indian ocean history, that both the Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal had a category 3 or higher intensity cyclone in the same pre-monsoon season. Only such incidence was in 2019, he added. Biparjoys slow movement raised concerns about weak monsoon conditions till at least mid-June over interior parts of the country. IMDs extended range forecast released on Thursday showed rains picking up during last week of June and rainfall over interior parts of the country during the week of June 30 to July 6. Rains havent started in interior parts of the country yet as forecast by IMD. As per IMD, cyclone Biparjoy has intensified rapidly from deep depression (55.65 kmph) to very severe cyclone (121 KMPH) in just 24 hours. That is an increase in wind speed of 65 kmph in 24 hourrs, which is rapid intensification. High sea surface temperatures (31-32 degree C) which is 2-3 degree above normal; high ocean heat content has led to very warm ocean surface and subsurface conditions. Along with this vigorous upper atmospheric level outflow, and moderate wind shear has aided the system to intensify rapidly, Vineet Singh had explained on Wednesday. Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, had tweeted that the imprint of climate change on the Arabian Sea is clear. The increase in cyclone activity in the Arabian Sea is tightly linked to the rising ocean temperatures and increased availability of moisture under global warming. Arabian Sea used to be cool, but now it is a warm pool. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four of the six women athletes who have accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment have provided audio and visual evidence to corroborate their allegations, the police said on Sunday. Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.(PTI) Also read: Neither compromised nor defeated: Wrestlers warn restarting stir if no arrest made Police are preparing to file an indictment against Singh, against whom some of Indias most successful athletes, including Olympic medallists and world champions, have been on protest, though they have suspended the stir till June 15 after the government sought time for a charge sheet to be filed. A senior Delhi Police officer, aware of the matter, said separate notices, under Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), were issued to the six complainants on June 5 by the special investigation team (SIT) probing the matter. In such cases, burden of proof lies on investigating agencies. And for that, we are trying to collect the smallest evidence available in possession of the accused as well as the victims. In this case, we had given 24 hours time to the complaints to furnish all the evidences they have. But only four of them could give us the documentary, audio or visual evidences so far, he said, asking not to be named. Delhi Police had told a local court about the SIT on May 12. The police did not respond to requests for comment when asked why the complainants were only given 24 hours notice to submit evidence on June 5. The conduct of the Delhi Police leaves scope for significant questions. Due process is important and the nature of allegations against Singh and his position of power make for a difficult mix that will need police and prosecutors to walk the extra mile to demonstrate they are functioning free of political influence. That police did not file a first information report (FIR) for weeks until they were directed by the Supreme Court to do so has already cast doubts over the nature of the probe. The officer cited in the first instance claimed that the two complainants did not provide substantial evidence which could support their allegations against Singh. We had asked the complainants to furnish all the dates and time of the alleged incidents. They had also been asked to provide the details of their roommates and the hotels where the alleged sexual harassment took place during overseas tournaments, he said. Another investigator said that the case is still under active investigation and no amount of goading shall impact the investigation by the SIT, ostensibly referring to posts on social media. Evidence collection, establishing sequence of events and ensuring that it holds in court is the prime responsibility that is being carried out with utmost proficiency. The SIT had also issued summons to the accused in these cases to provide all evidence that refutes the allegations levelled against them. They have also provided certain documents and visuals in their defence. So far, the SIT has questioned and recorded the statements of over 200 people in connection with this case. Our team had also visited my places in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, besides different locations in the national Capital while probing this case, the officer said. The second officer, however, said the call for evidence from the complainants was not a new practice. It is an integral part of any investigation that if someone makes serious allegations against anyone, the investigators have the power to issue the notice to the complainant to provide all the evidences within the stipulated timeframe mentioned in the notice, which may corroborate the allegations made in the complaints, he said. Also read: Amid wrestlers protest, BJPs approach in dealing with deadlocks back in focus But multiple former police officers believe that the manner in which the probe is proceeding is questionable. Firstly, in such cases, the police should have been proactive, which they were not yet. The FIR should have been a foregone conclusion, which did not happen without the intervention of the Supreme Court. The manner in which Delhi Police are dealing with this investigation, I would say that the less said the better, said Vikram Singh, former DGP of Uttar Pradesh. This investigation is very basic first is the FIR, followed by recording the statement of the victim, the survivor or the prosecutrix, corroborating the evidence and other material found during the course of investigation. And thats the end of the investigation. But nothing like this has happened in this case, Singh said. On Friday, a team of Delhi Police visited the WFI office with one of the complainants for about 30 minutes to recreate the sequence of events even as Singh was in his house on the same premises. Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, who is among the prominent names involved in the agitation, said the complainant went through mental trauma after the visit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An affiliate of Rashtra Sevika Samiti (RSS), a Hindu right-wing womens organisation, is set to launch a campaign on Sunday to encourage pregnant women to raise sanskari and deshbhakt (cultured and nationalistic) kids, news agency PTI reported. Titled Garbha Sanskar, the initiative by Samvardhinee Nyas urges women to study religious texts like Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana, chant Sanskrit mantras and practice yoga. A senior nurse uses a stethoscope to examine a 25-year-old who is nine months pregnant, at a government maternity hospital which runs on rooftop solar power, in Raichur.(AP) The programme will reportedly be launched across the country and will be endorsed by doctors associated with the RSS-affiliate. A Nyas functionary said that the country has been categorised into five regions with a team of 10 doctors each, who will be assigned 20 pregnant women from their respective areas. An eight-member central team, which comprises doctors from ayurvedic, homoeopathy and allopathy disciplines as well as a 'subject expert, has been constituted to oversee the implementation of the programme. According to Samvardhinee Nyas, a wing of the organisation that parallels the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, parents who recite Sanskrit chants and read religious scriptures during the nine months of pregnancy will positively impact the development of the babys brain in the womb. "Positive vibrations reach the baby in the womb with chanting of Sanskrit shlokas," the report added. This is to ensure that values and culture are inculcated in the womb itself. The programme has reportedly been charted with a scientific approach towards pregnancy right from conception to delivery and will produce the next generation patriot, according to the right-wing body. that "Every child taking birth, be it a boy or a girl, should come with good sanskar, good thoughts, and be a deshbhakt (patriot). Our future generations should come to this world and grow up with a sense of service, values, culture, and respect for women," one of the members of the Nyas organisation told PTI. Families will also receive guidance on communicating with the baby in the womb and taking care of a child including providing nutritious food and a healthy environment to grow up in. Lessons in yoga will also be imparted to the participating women to strive for a normal delivery. "After four months in the womb, the baby starts listeningparents will tell the baby about family members, Bharat, the state they live in, and stories of India's great personalities," the organisation, that claims to celebrate the physical, intellectual, and spiritual development of Indian women, said. The process will continue till the babies reach the age of two, the report stated. A member of the organisation expressed confidence in the programme helping shape 'Bharat Nirman' (India's development). Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and other dignitaries are expected to be present during the virtual launch. (With inputs from PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritu Maria Johny Multimedia journalist with Hindustan Times. Covers India, world, business and tech news with a keen eye for human-interest stories rooted in gender and culture. ...view detail Biparjoy has intensified into extremely severe cyclonic storm and is likely to cross Saurashtra, Kutch and neighbouring Pakistan on June 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. PREMIUM A team of National Disaster Response Force deployed ahead of the landfall of cyclone Biparjoy, in Vadodara (ANI) It is very likely to move nearly northwards till Wednesday morning, then move north-northeastwards and cross Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan around noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm, the Met department said, warning that the winds could go up to 150kmph. The extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy over east central Arabian Sea moved slowly northward with a speed of two kmph during the past six hours and lay centred at 8.30pm over the same region... about 540km west of Mumbai, 390km south-southwest of Porbandar, 430km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 520km south-southwest of Naliya and 690km south of Karachi (Pakistan), IMD said in a bulletin. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh and Morbi districts of Saurashtra and Kutch on Wednesday, IMD said. The intensity of rainfall would increase with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rain at isolated places over Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts of Gujarat on June 15, IMD said. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat region on Thursday, it said. An extremely severe cyclonic storm classification denotes the highest of IMDs four-grade nomenclature: a cyclonic storm one with three-minute average maximum sustained wind speeds in the 63-88 kmph range. A severe cyclonic storm has winds between 89 and 117 kmph, a very severe cyclonic storm between 118 and 165 kmph, and an extremely severe cyclonic storm between 166 and 220 kmph. Biparjoy is yet another reminder of what the human-triggered climate crisis could hold for India and the world. The storm is similar to one in 2021, when cyclone Tauktae became the unusual system to batter Indias western coast -- most cyclones occur off the eastern cost in the Bay of Bengal. Like Tauktae, Biparjoy has intensified rapidly and if it follows further in its predecessors footsteps, it can lead to loss of life and property. Tauktae killed 57 people and left a trail of destroyed villages and flooded towns. In its bulletin, IMD warned of rough sea conditions till Wednesday evening, and high (6-9m wave height) to phenomenal (9-14m wave height) thereafter till June 15. In Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagarh and Morbi districts, storm surge of about 2 -3 m above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas during the time of landfall. There can be total destruction of thatched houses, extensive damage to kutcha houses, some damage to pucca houses; bending/uprooting of power and communication poles; damage and flooding of roads; minor disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems; widespread damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards etc in Saurashtra and Kutch, IMD warned. Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla reviewed the preparedness of different wings of the central government and the Gujarat administration to deal with the cyclone, officials said. The Union home secretary chaired a meeting of the National Executive Committee to review the preparedness of the central ministries, agencies and the government of Gujarat to deal with the impending cyclone, a ministry spokesperson said. Adequate numbers of teams and assets of the National Disaster Response Force, army, navy, air force and the coast guard are being deployed to assist the Gujarat government in their preparedness, rescue and restoration efforts. We are briefing the government on the strength of the cyclone regularly. The National Disaster Management Authority will be evacuating people from vulnerable areas and preparing the Saurashtra and Kutch region for impacts of Biparjoy, a senior IMD official said. Biparjoy is the strongest cyclone in Arabian Sea after cyclone Tauktae, Vineet Kumar Singh, researcher from Typhoon Research Centre, Jeju National University, said. This cyclone has again undergone rapid intensification (second time since it developed on June 7) and intensified by 75 kmph to reach peak intensity of 195 kmph on Sunday. Biparjoy is also the strongest cyclone in Arabian Sea (for all seasons) after cyclone Tauktae, he said. Also, this is only the second time in north Indian ocean history, that both the Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal had a category 3 or higher intensity cyclone in the same pre-monsoon season. The last time this happened was in 2019, he added. Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said, Wave rider buoy by INCOIS at Veraval shows 4 m high waves. Storm surge forecasts indicate 5-8 m high waves in the open seas. As cyclone intensity increases with Arabian Sea warming, these storm surges are also becoming larger. We need more wave buoys to monitor these along the coast and the open seas. Biparjoys slow movement has also raised concerns about weak monsoon conditions till at least mid-June as the cyclone has been pulling along convection and moisture along its track leading to a weak monsoon surge since it formed on June 7. IMDs extended range forecast released on Thursday showed rains picking up gradually during last week of June and during the week of June 30 to July 6. Rains havent started in interior parts of the country yet as forecast by IMD. IMD declared that monsoon has made onset over Kerala on June 8, seven days after it normally arrives in the state on June 1. On Sunday, IMD said monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, some more parts of Karnataka, Goa, some parts of Konkan, most parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, some parts of Andhra Pradesh, entire southwest and some more parts west-central Bay of Bengal, some more parts of northwest Bay of Bengal and remaining parts of northeast Bay of Bengal. There will be rainfall over the west coast due to Biparjoy approaching the Indian coast but I cannot say that it will pull the monsoon current along. It may enhance wind speed and rainfall briefly but once it dissipates around June 16, monsoon will be on its own again. We are not seeing very strong signals yet of the monsoon covering interior parts of the country, the IMD official cited above said. Biparjoys track was uncertain until Saturday mainly because the cyclone was between two anti-cyclones that had slowed down its pace. There was no consensus among models until the system came closer to the Indian coast. Biparjoy may help to advance monsoon to more parts of the Maharashtra coast. I am not finding any signals of Bay of Bengal strand of monsoon. It should wake up for monsoon to progress over interior parts. This cyclone may bring some rains over Gujarat, Rajasthan, said M Rajeevan, former secretary, ministry of earth sciences. More than 150 websites and YouTube-based news channels have been taken down by the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) since May 2021 for producing anti-India content, officials aware of the details said. In July last year, I&B minister Anurag Thakur informed Parliament that 78 YouTube-based news channels and 560 YouTube links were blocked for public access between 2021 and 2022 over violations. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Also read: Govt blocks 14 mobile messenger apps used by terrorist groups: Officials The websites and channels were removed over violation of Section 69A of Information Technology (IT) Act, which empowers the Centre to issue directions to any government agency or an intermediary to block content in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to such matters. A senior I&B official, who did not wish to be named, said: Over 150 websites and YouTube-based news channels have been brought down by the ministry in the past two years for producing anti-India content. The YouTube news channels, which were brought down, had over 12,123,500 subscribers and over 1,320,426,964 views in total. Among the channels which were taken down were Khabar with Facts, Khabar Taiz, Information Hub, Flash Now, Mera Pakistan, Hakikat Ki Duniya and Apni Dunya TV, the official said. The I&B ministry has, from time to time, issued orders to take down YouTube channels for spreading misinformation and threatening the countrys sovereignty under the new IT rules incorporated on February 25, 2021. In July last year, I&B minister Anurag Thakur informed Parliament that 78 YouTube-based news channels and 560 YouTube links were blocked for public access between 2021 and 2022 over violations. He had said: Any (social media) account that is trying to spin a conspiracy or mislead people will face action. Also read: From India to UK, these countries have banned TikTok. See full list In January last year, the Centre blocked 35 Pakistan-based YouTube channels and two websites for spreading anti-India fake news in a coordinated manner over digital media. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Sixteen Indian crew members of an oil tanker have returned home after being in detention in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria for about nine months after lengthy negotiations by Indian authorities. Vadodara, June 11 (ANI): Harshvardhan Savche, one of the Indian sailors detained in Navy of Equatorial Guinea and later in Nigeria, being welcomed by his family and friends on his arrival at an airport in Vadodara on Sunday. (ANI Photo)(ANI) The Indians were part of the 26-member crew of MT Heroic Idun, which was detained in international waters in August 2022 by the navy of Equatorial Guinea. The detention was made on the basis of a request from Nigeria. After being held in Equatorial Guinea for some time, the crew were taken to Nigeria. Also read: Im a much better sailor now: Abhilash Tomy after achieving second place in gruelling global race The ship and crew were accused of various crimes, including oil theft and falsely accusing the Nigerian navy of piracy. Besides the 16 Indians, the ships crew included eight Sri Lankans, a Polish national and a Filipino. The Indian side took up the matter with foreign authorities at various levels, including through the countrys missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria and at bilateral meetings, people familiar with the matter said. The foreign authorities were pressed for an early resolution of the matter and repatriation of the Indian crew, the people said, declining to be named. Following interventions with the Nigerian government, the crew were allowed to remain on board the ship instead of being taken to a detention centre on land, and were provided with food and other supplies. The crew were allowed periodic contact with their families. Indian officials remained in regular touch with the crew and undertook consular access on many occasions, the people said. The Indian authorities worked with the shipping company to arrange legal representation for the crew. The Indian side also highlighted to Nigerian authorities that there had been no oil theft and that necessary permissions had been accorded for the cargo carried by the vessel, the people said. The Nigerian authorities were also informed that the crew were not privy to decisions regarding the ships operations and, at the same time, the Indian side highlighted the humanitarian issues of some crew members. Also read: 9 Indian sailors released after months in captivity in Libya Following lengthy negotiations, all charges against the crew were dropped and the ship was released on May 27 after paying of fines, one of the people said. The Indian crew members have now returned to India. Toronto: Canadas principal opposition party has condemned the despicable display of a tableau depicting the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi during a procession in Brampton city, and said it is unacceptable to celebrate such killings. Canada's Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre said: We condemn this despicable display, unequivocally (REUTERS) The remarks by the Conservative Party came days after the float sparked an outrage in India, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar saying that such activity is not good for relationships between the two countries. The Canadian law enforcement, however, ruled out any hate crime and said their citizens are guaranteed freedom of thought, belief and expression under section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a statement on Saturday, Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, said: We condemn this despicable display, unequivocally. It is unacceptable to celebrate assassinations, such as the assassination of (former) Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. The controversial tableau, which was put on display during a parade on June 4, depicted the assassination as revenge for Operation Bluestar, the military action ordered by Gandhi in 1984 to flush out separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and his supporters from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. On Wednesday, Indias high commission in Ottawa sent a formal note to the Global Affairs Canada or GAC, the countrys foreign ministry, to express displeasure over the float, which had mannequins depicting Gandhi and her killers, two members of her security detail. The high commission is yet to receive a response. A day later, Jaishankar told a special media briefing that the float is linked to the bigger issue of the space that Canada has continuously provided to Khalistani elements. Frankly... we are at a loss to understand, other than the requirement of vote bank politics, why anybody would do this... I mean, you would imagine that they learn about history and they wouldnt like to repeat that history, he said, in an apparent reference to Canada being a key base for Khalistani elements in the past. It isnt only one incident, however egregious it may be. I think there is a larger underlying issue about this space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence. And I think its not good for the relationship and I think its not good for Canada, he added. Besides the Conservative Party, Indo-Canadian Liberal Party MP Chandra Arya has criticised the float. Khalistan supporters in Canada have reached a new low with a despicable float in a recent Brampton parade, Arya tweeted on Thursday. The Canadian law enforcement has maintained that the float did not comprise a hate crime. Police have looked at the video and its their determination it does not constitute a hate crime, Brampton mayor Patrick Brown said in a statement. On Friday, a GAC spokesperson told HT that the ministry has nothing further to add to the tweet from Canadas High Commissioner to India Cameron McKay on June 5th. That tweet, the only official reaction from a Canadian official so far, said: I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities. After the Indian Navy showcased its maritime teeth and flawless execution of two carrier battle group operations off the coast of Goa in the first week of June, Indias latest aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is headed for a guarantee refit at Cochin Shipyard and will be prepared for long endurance operations by the end of 2023. INS Vikrant (R 11) and INS Vikramaditya (R 33) in action off the coast of Goa in Arabian Sea on June 3 Around June 3-4, the Indian Navy put out its formidable maritime capabilities on display with strike forces headed by INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant wargaming on high seas in Arabian sea with 35 MiG-29K strike aircraft, newly acquired MH 60 R helicopters from US, and a host of warships and submarines. The synchronized war drill was watched by top naval commanders as India projected its dominance in the Indian Ocean. Even though INS Vikrant is headed for its mandatory guarantee refit, the INS Vikramaditya carrier is fully operational after a major overhaul last year and will be charting oceans this year. The Indian Navy will be sending its warships, submarines and P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the Quad Malabar exercises off the coast of Sydney this August with serious multi-level participation from US, Japan, and host Australian Navy. While INS Vikrant is getting refitted, the Narendra Modi government is also expected to take a decision on acquiring possibly 26 Rafale-Maritime aircraft for the new aircraft carrier to maintain operational synergy and seamless maintenance of its top end fighter platforms with the Indian Air Force. The IAFs Rafale fighters will be seen in action at the Bastille Day parade on July 14 in France with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance at the show. The Indian Navy is also expected to get 10 Sikorsky multi-role helicopters from the US by the end of this year with remaining joining the fleet next year. Given that the Indian Navy has the maritime capability to project dominance in the Indo-Pacific, it is no longer either operationally or doctrinally bound between the Straits of Malacca and the Gulf of Aden as was projected in the past. While the Indian Navy is projecting demand for a third aircraft carrier, the Navy has plans to deploy one carrier on the east and another carrier on the western seaboard of India with mission specific deployments and no maritime diplomacy. With China investing in ports and bases in ASEAN, Indian sub-continent and the Middle East the Indian Navy has to also look at new bases to operate in the south Indian Ocean and deter any sub-continental power to host Chinese PLAN warships. India is also seeking investments from oil rich powers in the Middle East to invest in ports in Indian Ocean littoral states so that there is ready infrastructure for future maritime security of the Southeast Asia region. That city state of Singapore has the largest military in the ASEAN does not bode well for countering the challenge of expansionist Chinese Navy. 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 External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Sunday took a moment to enjoy breakfast at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party Dalit booth level worker Sujata in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Saturday. In a video shared by news agency ANI, Jaishankar can be seen enjoying his meal alongside other BJP workers seated on the floor. Jaishankar at BJP dalit booth level worker Sujata's residence.(HT Photo) Also Read | Mobilise G20 to propel long-delayed UN reform Sujata said she was delighted to know about the visit of such a dignitary to her home highlighting that preparations had begun the previous day, and her entire family were involved in cleaning the house. A variety of traditional Indian dishes were prepared in honour of the booth-level BJP worker. Jaishankar arrived in Varanasi on Saturday to attend the G20 development ministers' meet scheduled from June 11 to 13. Upon his arrival, he received a warm welcome from Navratan Rathi, the BJP spokesperson for the Kashi region, along with senior party leaders and district administration officers. Following the breakfast at the Dalit booth president's residence, Jaishankar proceeded to attend a seminar organised by the BJP Kashi region. The seminar aimed to enhance the understanding of India's foreign policy among party workers and intellectuals, contributing to India's strengthened global position. The event was attended by students, doctors, chartered accountants, entrepreneurs, and exporters. Jaishankar in Varanasi for G20 developmental ministers' meet Addressing the upcoming G20 meeting in the seminar on Sunday, which is set to take place in 60 cities in Varanasi, Jaishankar emphasised that these are cultural cities. He expressed the importance of showcasing the diversity of Indian culture to foreign delegates through the G20 platform, allowing them to understand and become brand ambassadors for it. Jaishankar praised the transformative changes in India over the past nine years, attributing them to a human-centric approach, nationalistic ideology, technological advancements, and the collaborative efforts of Team India. During his visit to Varanasi, as India holds the G20 presidency, Jaishankar will chair the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to deliver a special video address on June 12. Around 200 delegates are scheduled to attend the meeting, and a state dinner will be hosted by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday evening. Both the chief minister and Jaishankar will meet with the delegates during the event. The G20 meeting will feature two main sessions: one on "Multilateralism: Collective Actions for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs" and another on "Green Development: A LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Approach." (With inputs from Sudhir Kumar) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Japan's ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki's recent tweet on his culinary journey on the streets of Pune and a restaurant trying vada pav and misal pav along with his wife drew Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attention on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan's ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki. A video of Suzuki trying Maharashtrian-style street food in Pune has gone viral on social media. Apparently, the envoy, who was in Pune for an event, tried vada pav and misal pav, but he had a minor complaint -- that it was too spicy for him. Taking to Twitter, he posted the video of him eating the street food with a caption that read, I love street food of India ...but thoda teekha kam please! The Japanese envoy also tried Pune's famous misal pav, on the recommendation of his Twitter followers, and also posted a video of tucking into the delicacy. "Because many followers recommended me...! MisalPav," the envoy posted. He put out another video on Twitter saying that he wanted a "little less spicy". In another video posted on Saturday, Suzuki said, My wife beat me! He received several reactions from netizens for his posts about trying out Indian street food in Pune and the Indian prime minister was one of them. This is one contest you may not mind losing, Mr. Ambassador. Good to see you enjoying Indias culinary diversity and also presenting it in such an innovative manner. Keep the videos coming! Modi tweeted. Suggestions from social media followers Some of his social media followers urged Suzuki to try other delicacies in the comments section, while others admired his willingness to try new foods. "Quite brave of you, these literally have a lot of chillies in them. You should have a mango lassi or mango ice cream to cool down your tummy," a social media user commented. "Have a glass of buttermilk," wrote another. "Eat sweet dish also," said another. This was not the first time that a Japanese official tried out Indian street food. Earlier, in March, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, on his visit to India, tried different Indian delicacies, including 'gol-gappe', 'aam panna' and 'lassi' during a visit to the Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi with Modi. (With inputs from ANI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Days ahead of the 9th International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21, Ayush minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke about the relevance of observing the day, how India has popularised yoga globally, actions that the government has taken to stop self-proclaimed yoga gurus from running shops in the country and government emphasis on mainstreaming traditional therapies by launching integrated medicine centres in prominent hospitals. Edited excerpts from an exclusive interview: Sarbananda Sonowal (HT Photo) What is expected in this years International Yoga Day celebrations? The key mantra behind the success of past eight editions of International Day of Yoga has been jan bhaagidari (public participation) and this year, too, we expect participation of at least 250 million people from across the world. In the eighth edition, we focused on creating the guardian yoga ring that celebrated the movement of the sun and started performing common yoga protocol at Fiji island with the rising sun and ending at San Francisco. Last time, the direction was from east to west, and this time we are looking to go from north to south north pole to south pole. This year, our first attempt will be to create the ocean ring, involving all five oceans. Our ministries of defence, external affairs and port, shipping and waterways will work in tandem and a common yoga protocol will be demonstrated on our ships wherever these are stationed. The second point will be to go from the Arctic to Antarctica to activate our research centres there, one is Himadri and the other is Bharati. We will also involve nearby 10 countries. At the national level, we will create 50,000 amrit sarovars where yoga will be performed; it will also be performed in 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres and 2 lakh common service centres, among other places. The main event will be at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. How has celebrating this day since June 21, 2015, helped? Earlier, yoga was seen merely as a form of exercise by Indians, but now it has been made popular globally in its true form. Yoga works at two levels body and mind. Yoga is a drugless therapy and has several benefits, but earlier people globally werent much familiar with its benefits. Several countries and foreign institutions have signed and are signing MoUs with India to promote yoga in their country. WHO established its first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India last year, even though there are around 170 countries that practice traditional medicine. All this is a part of our success story. What is the ministry doing to stop self-proclaimed yoga gurus from running centres in the country that may do more harm than good? We have created a yoga certification board that assesses centres and trainers before awarding them a certificate. They have to follow certain protocols laid down by the certification board. It is advisable for people to opt for duly certified yoga trainers and institutes for authenticity. India hasnt really been able to monetise yoga as yoga gears and mats are still largely produced in other countries. Any plans to improve that? We are making efforts in the direction under the Make in India initiative. Like other sectors, even in Ayush, manufacturing is being encouraged and promoted under that initiative. Things are moving in the right direction and we are seeing changes taking place. The market size has grown from $2.6 billion and is expected to reach $80 billion. We believe it will further grow after the 9th edition. The government emphasis is on integrated medicine but in the absence of adequate scientific evidence in treatment of serious ailments such as cancer, do you think it will mislead people into believing in miracle cures that may not exist? The scientific rigour is duly followed. We have started a centre at New Delhis Safdarjung Hospital to work in tandem with modern system of medicine. The goal is the same, to bring relief to patients. We are offering a choice to patients, but it is not being forced upon them. The government is providing them a choice. There is a combined team created that assesses a patients case history, and treatment road map is followed based on taking the best of the systems that is right for the patient and treating them. For example, if surgery happens under modern medicine, traditional system can benefit in rehabilitation. A lot of research is being conducted in our central research institutes to scientifically prove benefits of the traditional medicine system. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rhythma Kaul Rhythma Kaul works as an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She covers health and related topics, including ministry of health and family welfare, government of India. ...view detail A day after the central government constituted a peace committee headed by Manipur governor Anusuiya Uikey to restore amity among warring ethnic groups in the northeastern state, a prominent Kuki organisation on Sunday said normalcy should first be restored and security ensured for the community. PREMIUM Heavy police force deployed after violence occurred in several areas of Manipur, on Sunday. (ANI) Manipur has been roiled by ethnic clashes since May 3 between Meitei and Kuki communities that have claimed at least 105 lives, injured more than 300, displaced over 40,000 and damaged close to 2,000 houses. While Kukis want peace, they cant overlook attacks by Meitei groups that have burnt 160 Kuki-Zo villages till date, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a collective of Kuki groups in Churachandpur district, said in a statement on Sunday. ITLF strongly reiterates the need for normalcy to prevail before the constitution of any peace committee in the region, the statement said, demanding the immediate imposition of Presidents rule in the border state. Besides Uikey, other members of the peace committee will include chief minister N Biren Singh, few Manipur ministers, members of parliament and MLAs, leaders from political parties, former civil servants, educationists, litterateurs, artists, social workers and representatives of different ethnic groups. The mandate of the committee is to facilitate peace among ethnic groups and initiate dialogue and negotiations. The committee should strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups, the central government said in a statement on Saturday. The ITLF blamed the state machinery under Singh to be responsible for the start and escalation of violence. ITLF strongly condemns the inclusion of CM N Biren Singh, the very perpetrator of the current violence, in the peace committee, it said on Sunday. No immediate reaction was available from the state government or the chief ministers office to the statement by the Kuki collective. Muslim religious leaders in Uttarakhands Dehradun have called for a mahapanchayat on June 18 to protest what they said is increasing targeting of their community, days after traders belonging to the minority group in Uttarkashi were asked to shut shops and leave the state amid communal tension. Members of Bhairav Sena Sangathan burn an effigy during a protest in Uttarakhand, in Dehradun on Sunday. (ANI Photo) (ANI) Also read: Shashi Tharoor on posters threatening Muslim traders in Uttarakhand: Gandhi would be ashamed The interfaith tensions trace back to May 26 after two men, a Muslim and a Hindu, allegedly tried to abduct a 14-year-old girl. Local residents alleged it was a case of love jihad a term used by right-wing groups to describe an alleged conspiracy by Muslim men to woo and seduce Hindu women, although courts and the Union government do not officially recognise it. While the two accused Ubed Khan (24), a local shopkeeper, and Jitender Saini (23), a motorcycle mechanic were arrested on May 27, the incident led to right wing groups holding protests in several areas and attacking shops and houses of several Muslims. Posters threatening Muslim traders to shut shops and leave the state by June 15 also came up at Uttarkashis Purola market on June 5. The tension has prompted Muslims to keep their shops shut and some families to leave the district. A meeting of Muslim religious leaders was chaired by Dehraduns Shehar Qazi Mohammad Ahmad Qasmi on Saturday to discuss the current atmosphere of hatred against Muslims across Uttarakhand. A mahapanchayat of Muslim religious leaders will be held on June 18. People from across the state, including Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Haldwani will participate, Waseem Ahmed, media in-charge of Muslim Seva Sangathan an organisation that works for the rights of Muslims, said. Mohammad Ahmad Qasmi, Dehraduns Shehar Qazi, said: In the hills, innocent Muslims are being forced out. Those who have committed the crime should be punished. The whole community should not be targeted and rendered unemployed because of one person. He added: Through the mahapanchayat, we just want to make an appeal not to punish the innocent. The developments in the state are worrying. The posters, and the sentiment echoed by right-wing groups during protest marches, amount to hate speech. Hate and fear-mongering on the basis of religious identity has no place in India. The state police now have a duty to crack down on such instances, especially since the Supreme Court in April ordered several states including Uttarakhand to prosecute hate speech even if no complaint is made. Right-wing organisations, which are scheduled to hold a mahapanchayat on June 15, said they will not allow the Muslims to hold their meeting on June 18. We will not allow this (mahapanchayat by Muslims) to happen even if we have to take a big step, Swami Darshan Bharti, founder of Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan, said. We will hold a mahapanchayat in Purola on June 15, Bharti added. Dehradun additional district magistrate (ADM) Shiv Kumar Baranwal said: We havent been approached yet by anybody to seek permission for a mahapanchayat in Dehradun. If permission is sought, we will take appropriate action. On May 29, a protest march in Purola turned violent after some of the agitators attacked shops and establishments belonging to the Muslims. A similar protest was held on June 3, under the banner of Yamuna Ghati Hindu Jagriti Sangathan. Nearly 900 people took part in the stir. The protesters also handed over a memorandum to the Purola sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), seeking verification of people coming from outside for business in the town. On June 5, a few Muslim families handed over a memorandum to Purola SDM, highlighting the financial crisis they are facing and seeking security to reopen businesses. In a high-level meeting with senior police officials on Friday, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami instructed director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar to take strict action against increasing love jihad cases in the state. Also read: Joshimath bypass work resumes after state nod Reacting to the Muslim leaders call for a mahapanchayat, state BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said: If Muslims have called for a mahapanchayat, they can discuss any issue but they should not justify rising cases of love jihad. State Congress chief spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni said, We dont support extremism from any side It can have an irreparable impact on the harmony of the state and its tourism-based economy. The National Investigation Agency has rearrested four persons booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged connections with Bangladesh -based terrorist groups, officials said. The search started on Friday and were conducted by a special team of the NIA, police said (AFP) They were arrested from Assams Goalpara and Bongaigaon districts in different operations conducted by the federal agency with the help of Assam police on Friday and Saturday. Three of them were arrested from Goalpara, while the other was apprehended from Bongaigaon. The search started on Friday and were conducted by a special team of the NIA, police said. The arrested persons from Goalpara have been identified as Abdus Subhan, a resident of Mornoi in Govindapur, Jalaluddin Sheikh, a resident of Matia, and Abdus Subahan, a resident of Tinkonia. The NIA conducted the operation under a case registered in its Guwahati office, said Rakhesh Reddy, superintendent of police, Goalpara. We provided the support as per orders, he said. We dont have specific information about the case. A district court in Assam granted Subhan, Sheikh and Subahan bail. The bail was rejected in a higher court and they were rearrested, officials said. The NIA did not release an official statement in the matter. The person arrested in Bongaigaon has been identified as Hafizur Rahman, a resident of Kabaitari area under Jogighopa police station. Rahman, a teacher of Markazul Ma Arif Qariana madrasa in Goalpara, was detained on August 26 last year for alleged involvement in jihadi activities. The madrasa was demolished by the state government. Rahman was granted bail by the NIA for a limited period but he didnt report to the authorities after the period of bail ended. He was asked by the NIA court to appear but he missed that too. Hence, the agency arrested him and he might face additional charges for contempt of court, officials said. The NIA had detained these four in August last year. In September, it registered two cases against them for their alleged in connection with Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). The cases were registered in Guwahati under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (attempting to wage war against nation) and 121A (conspiring to commit offences against the state) of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 18 and 18B (recruiting anyone or being recruited for a terrorist act) and sections 19 and 20 (being member of terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, describing the Centre's ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital as "Hitlerism and dictatorship". Delhi chief minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses the party's "maha rally" against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital, at Ramlila Maidan, in New Delhi, Sunday,(PTI) Kejriwal was speaking at the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila ground against the Centre's ordinance. When PM Modi says that he does not accept the decision of the Supreme Court, then it is called Hitlerism. Modi ji's black ordinance says- I do not believe in democracy, now dictatorship will run inside Delhi. Now, people are not supreme, the L-G is supreme, Kejriwal said. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ramlila-ground-arvind-kejriwals-tanasahi-pm-narendra-modi-centres-ordinance-101686470177204.html The AAP convenor , his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Delhi minister Gopal Rai and party MP Sanjay Singh also addressed the rally. Gopal Rai spoke speak as the party's Delhi convenor. Notably, eminent lawyer and former Union minister Kapil Sibal also addressed the rally and spoke about the legal and constitutional aspects of the ordinance. Sibal is attending the rally at the invitation of Kejriwal. They have insulted the people of Delhi Delhi first to be attacked, similar ordinances will be brought for other states too, Kejriwal said. They put Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in the jail to stop work, we have 100 Sisodias, 100 Jains, Kejriwal added. PM Modi can't take care of the country but he wakes up every day and stops the works that are being done in Delhi, the Delhi CM alleged. For the first time, such a prime minister came who does not believe in the Supreme Court, Kejriwal alleged. Calling the Ramlila ground a sacred platform, Kejriwal said 12 years ago, the movement against corruption was successful from the same venue. Today, the movement that is starting from this platform to remove the dictatorial government, to save democracy and the constitution, this movement will also be successful, he added. Delhi Police has made a heavy security deployment around the Ramlila Maidan in view of the rally. Arvind Kejriwal on a nationwide tour to seek support From May 23, Kejriwal embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the ordinance. The AAP national convenor has so far met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav. On Wednesday, Kejriwal said that if non-BJP parties come together, then the Centre's ordinance can be defeated in Rajya Sabha. He said this would send a strong message that the Modi government will not come to power in 2024. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Tamil Nadu police have refuted the claims by an Army personnel, posted in Kashmir, that his wife was stripped half naked and beaten continuously by men in the state, officials familiar with the matter said. The police, on Sunday, said that the case is of a dispute over a land lease between the soldiers wife, Keerthy, and some men. The police also said that the department has given protection to Keerthy. Initial investigations show no one attacked Keerthy or insulted her or her mother, said a statement from the police, adding that the video posted by the soldier appears to be exaggerated. Tamil Nadu police have refuted the claims by an Army personnel, posted in Kashmir, that his wife was stripped half naked and beaten continuously by men in the state. (HT Archives) Also read: On Army jawan's video claiming wife stripped half-naked, cops say 'exaggerated' Identifying himself as Prabhakaran, a havildar from Thiruvannamalai district, the soldier had recorded a video on June 10, speaking in Tamil, which went viral on social media after a retired army officer Colonel N Thiagarajan shared it on Twitter. Police from the Kandavasal village of Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, in a two-page statement, said that some people had thrown away things from his wifes shop, which is that disputed land, on June 10. The soldiers wife and her mother had signed an agreement in February to return the land for money, but they refused to vacate after which the men took goods from their shop and threw it away, the police added. My wife has a shop. More than 120 people have beat her up. She is bleeding from her ears and nose, Prabhakaran said, showing a petition submitted to superintendent of police (SP), Thiruvannamalai district, K Karthikeyan. The Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K Annamalai spoke to the havildar over phone to express his partys support. Truly gutted to hear her story and I felt ashamed that this had happened to her on our Tamil soil, Annamalai tweeted. The investigation is underway, the police said, assuring that the culprits will be arrested and action will be taken soon. Also read: Manipur violence: Almost all arms of Kuki militants still intact in camps, says army With regards to the video made by Indian army soldier Mr. Prabakar on social media, preliminary investigation reveals that his family has a civil dispute with one Ramus family over a leased shop, said the SP Karthikeyan. There was a scuffle between both sides yesterday (on Saturday). FIR has been registered based on the complaint and the case is under investigation. Appropriate legal action will be taken. The soldiers family has been given police protection. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Divya Chandrababu Divya Chandrababu is an award-winning political and human rights journalist based in Chennai, India. Divya is presently Assistant Editor of the Hindustan Times where she covers Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. She started her career as a broadcast journalist at NDTV-Hindu where she anchored and wrote prime time news bulletins. Later, she covered politics, development, mental health, child and disability rights for The Times of India. Divya has been a journalism fellow for several programs including the Asia Journalism Fellowship at Singapore and the KAS Media Asia- The Caravan for narrative journalism. Divya has a master's in politics and international studies from the University of Warwick, UK. As an independent journalist Divya has written for Indian and foreign publications on domestic and international affairs. ...view detail At least 25 National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders should be elected from Tamil Nadu to Parliament in the upcoming 2024 general election, Union home minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said during a rally in the states Vellore on Sunday, adding that he was confident Prime Minister Narendra Modi would secure a third straight term at the Centre. Union home minister Amit Shah being felicitated with a mace during a rally organised to celebrate the completion of nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, in Vellore on Sunday. (ANI) In 2024, Tamil Nadu should bless Narendra Modi and give the NDA more than 25 seats, he said. He also hit out at the Congress-Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) combine in the state, accusing them of corruption and nepotism. Congress and DMK are 2G, 3G, 4G parties. I am not talking about the 2G (spectrum allocation scam). 2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations, he said. Earlier in the day, Shah also held a meeting with party workers based out of the Chennai south region and said state BJP chief K Annamalais work gives him confidence that the party can win more than 25 seats in Tamil Nadu and appoint people from the state as central ministers. Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats, with one seat in Puducherry. The DMK coalition swept the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, winning 38 seats. NDA constituent and the DMKs chief opponent in the state, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won just one seat, the sole win for the alliance. Shah arrived in Chennai on Saturday night as part of the BJPs month-long campaign marking nine years of the Modi government at the Centre. His arrival immediately kicked off a row, with the BJP accusing the states DMK government of security lapses after street lights went off near the Chennai airport after the home minister landed and was on his way to his hotel in Guindy. Though Shah did not mention the incident during the rally, a BJP leader who asked not to be named said that he discussed it with Annamalai during the meeting in Chennai south. He (Shah) did think the street lights were purposely switched off but he told us not to worry about it, said a BJP leader who was at the airport and the Chennai meeting. He spoke to us about strengthening booth committees, the person added. The Union minister took up chief minister and DMK president MK Stalins challenge a day ago asking him to list the work the BJP has done for Tamil Nadu in nine years. If you have the courage, you can respond to me tomorrow, Shah said, addressing Stalin, before he listed his governments achievements. During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime from 2004 to 2014, Tamil Nadu received 95,000 crore whereas the Modi-led Union government has given the state 2,47,000 crore in the last nine years, he said. Shah also listed more than a dozen central projects and grants being implemented in Tamil Nadu such as two Vande Bharat Express trains, a new terminal for the Chennai airport, completion of 2,352 km of national highway and on-going construction of stretches of another 3,719km at a cost of 58,000 crore. Tamil Nadu had a Congress-DMK government for 10 years. Their government indulged in corruption and scams worth 12,000 crore. However, in nine years, no one levelled a single allegation of corruption against Modi jis government. Our government has enhanced and elevated Indias stature before the world, he said. DMK spokesperson A Saravanan lashed back at the home minister and said Shahs tactics which worked in his home town in Gujarat will not work in Tamil Nadu. We already have several medical colleges which are on par with AIIMS. But BJP has to answer why they are not capable of completing it, said Saravanan, referring to the branch of the institute that was inaugurated four years ago, but work on which has not progressed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has alleged she was heavily misquoted by Reuters in an 'on-record' interview, which, according to the news agency, is her first since wrestlers protesting against the national federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh were evicted by Delhi Police from their Jantar Mantar protest site, on May 28. Vinesh Phogat (Image courtesy: PTI) @Reuters journalist @rupamjn interviews me and publishes heavily misquoted story. When I try to argue that she has misquoted me on various occasions in the story, she threatens that its not a Hindi newspaper that I will change whatever you want. Is this the standard of your reporters? Phogat tweeted at 11:25pm on Saturday. Phogat, however, did not mention the misquote(s) she was referring to. Both Reuters and Rupam Jain, the reporter, are yet to respond to the Commonwealth and Asiad gold medalist's post. Rupam Jain's Twitter wall (Image courtesy: twitter.com/rupamjn) The story, titled Top Indian wrestler accuses government of silence over sexual harassment probe, on the other hand, acknowledges an amendment was made to the original copy: to a quote in paragraph 5. A screenshot from the Reuters interview. What did the story say? In the interview, the grappler reiterated her previous charge that she had informed prime minister Narendra Modi in 2021, that Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment, sexually harassed several female wrestlers, including minors. Also Read | No case of hate speech made out against protesting wrestlers: Delhi Police The PM's silence over the issue hurt meI have only felt a deep sense of humiliation since I mustered the courage to protest. It's been emotionally draining, the PM has not said anything about the case, she is quoted as saying. Sports minister Anurag Thakur, on the other hand, was informed about Singh's alleged actions in greater details, Phogat further said, claiming that Thakur was just not interested in listening to her concerns, and was busy with his phone throughout their meeting. Singh, who like Modi and Thakur is a parliamentarian from the ruling BJP, has repeatedly denied the sexual harassment allegations. He is being investigated by the Delhi Police, who have filed 2 separate cases against him, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). What is the current status? As many as 7 female athletes, including a minor, have accused the BJP MP of making sexual advances. The non-arrest of Singh is the biggest bone of contention between the Union government and wrestlers, whose agitation is being led by Phogat and Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, and who have agreed to suspend their stir till June 15. In a meeting with Thakur earlier this week, the athletes were assured that the police will complete their probe before and file a charge sheet by the said date. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said he will continue to raise his voice against injustice and not go back on the promises he made to the people, especially on corruption, as their trust is the biggest asset for him. Congress leader Sachin Pilot said he will continue to raise his voice against injustice. (Sachin Pilot Twitter) Pilot also said that he has not put forward his demands to the government to defame someone, in an apparent reference to chief minister Ashok Gehlot with whom he has been locked in a power tussle since 2018. Addressing a rally in Dausa after attending a prayer meeting on his father and Congress leader Rajesh Pilots death anniversary, the Tonk MLA said: I will continue to fight against corruption and injustice. I will not go back on the promises I made to the people. Prime ministers and chief ministers come and go. What remains is peoples trust. Peoples trust, promises made to them and credibility are the biggest assets in politics. Also read: Sachin Pilot's never compromised tweet on father's death anniversary; Congress watchful He added: I am not after any post. I am for (upholding) peoples trust. In 20-25 years of my political career, I have done nothing to break this trust. And I dont want you to lessen the trust you have on me. Sachin Pilot, however, made no announcement on the formation of a new political outfit amid speculations. A former deputy chief minister, Sachin Pilot is seeking action from the state government against alleged corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime, reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and compensation to those affected by the job exam paper leaks. In April, he had observed a day-long fast over his demands, even as Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the protest was against the interests of the party. On May 15, the Congress leader had threatened to launch a statewide agitation if his demands were not met by the end of the month. The developments come months ahead of the assembly elections in the state. On June 9, HT had reported that the Congress might offer Sachin Pilot a larger role in the upcoming assembly elections campaign and even make him the head of the panel that will oversee the partys efforts to retain power in the desert state as part of efforts to project unity. Sachin Pilot said he is not putting forward his demands to malign anyone. If there is something lacking in our governance then without blaming others we should rectify it. I didnt put forward my demands to defame someone...raising your voice is very important in politics, he said. Recalling his stints in the Union and state cabinets in the past, Sachin Pilot said: I got a chance to work in the government. I raised issues while I was in the government. I have always raised my voice against injustice. He added: Helping the youngsters and the needy will not make us go bankrupt. We should always help them. If we have raised any demand, then it is for the people. I dont care about posts, peoples trust is more important to me. Sachin Pilot also recalled how Gehlot had stressed on punishment for those who were found indulging in irregularities in allocation of mines. The Congress MLA said his father always fought for the farmers and the underprivileged. My father fought for the country. He flew jets for the Air Force. He spoke from his heart, whether he held any position or not. Today, we need leaders like that who can speak from their heart, he said. Rajesh Pilot served as an MP from Dausa Lok Sabha seat. He died in a car accident on June 11, 2000. I was only 22-years-old when my father, Rajesh Pilot, passed away but the people of Dausa always supported and blessed me, Sachin Pilot said. Differences between Gehlot, a three-time chief minister, and Sachin Pilot spilled out into the open in 2020 when the latter rebelled against the government, plunging the Congress administration into crisis. Then last year, lawmakers close to Gehlot did not attend a Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting in Jaipur called to elect a new leader at a time when it seemed almost certain that Gehlot would become the Congress president and Sachin Pilot would succeed him as chief minister. Also read: Reconciliation with Sachin Pilot is permanent, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot With just months to go for the assembly elections, the Congress leadership met Gehlot and Sachin Pilot separately on May 29 before calling both leaders for a meeting. After the meeting, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said: Gehlot and Sachin Pilot both are in agreement that the Congress party has to go together and fight the elections unitedly. In an interview to a YouTube channel last week, Gehlot said: Hamari toh suleh permanent hai (our reconciliation is permanent). A few Rajasthan ministers and MLAs participated at the Dausa rally, mainly Hemaram Chaudhary, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Omprakash Hudla, Rakesh Pareek, Ramniwas Gawariya, Mukesh Bhakar, Indraj Gurjar, Deependra Singh, Murari Lal Meena, GR Khatana, PR Meena, Parsadi Lal Meena, Mamta Bhupesh, Brijendra Ola, Rajendra Guda and Suresh Modi. A chronicler of the 20th century, from her surrealist experiments with Man Ray to gripping photos from World War II, Lee Miller put her unique stamp on all of her work, as shown by a retrospective in Hamburg. Lee Miller's photography offers a compelling insight into the early 20th century, from fashion to art to war reporting.(Lee Miller Archives, East Sussex, England. www.leemiller.co.uk) Born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1907, Elizabeth "Lee" Miller showed early interest in the arts and in Europe, moving to Paris at age 18 to study lighting, costume and design at a theater school. A year later, she moved to New York City, studying theater, drawing and painting. The accidental model Soon after, she became one of the most sought-after models in New York, purely by accident, when Conde Nast, the publisher of "Vogue" magazine, prevented her from getting run over by a car. But Miller quickly tired of modeling, and was far more interested in taking photographs herself. Surrealism's golden couple In 1929, she returned to Paris, where she became the student, muse, lover and collaborator of the artist and photographer Man Ray. Together, they made the technique of solarization used here in this portrait of Miller made by Ray one of their aesthetic trademarks. Miller set up her own photographic studio and established herself as an artist. Making art in the desert After leaving Man Ray, Miller married her first husband, Egyptian businessman Aziz Eloui Bey, in 1934 and moved with him to Cairo. There, she applied her surrealism-trained eye to photographing the natural landscape of Egypt, resulting in some of her best-known artworks like this photo, "Portrait of Space." War photography through a surrealist's eye In 1937, Miller returned to Paris, where she met her second husband, the British surrealist painter Roland Penrose, with whom she later had a son. The couple settled in London, and with the outbreak of the Second World War, Miller decided to put her photographic skills to use as a war correspondent for "Vogue" magazine. She traveled through England and Europe and was at the frontlines, the only woman photographer granted permission to travel independently in the war zones. The photos she took during this period merged photojournalism with art, as her surrealist sensibilities informed the framing of her shots. The woman in Hitler's bathtub She was also praised for picking out small moments that a man might have missed. One of her most famous photos shows her bathing in Hitlers bathtub in Munich on the same day the Nazi dictator committed suicide in Berlin. She was billeted in Hitler's Munich apartment after documenting the liberated Dachau concentration camp. Miller was motivated by empathy more than a desire to aestheticize, and her photos of the death and destruction und human suffering she witnessed retain their shocking power more than seven decades later. Pals with Picasso Lee Miller shared close friendships with several of her fellow artists, including Pablo Picasso. She took nearly 1,000 photos of him during the four decades they knew each other, and he painted her six times. Millers son, Antony Penrose, has written a childrens book about his childhood experiences with the artist, titled, "The Boy Who Bit Picasso." This photo by Miller of the two was taken at Picassos studio in Paris shortly after the liberation of the city by Allied forces. A farewell to photojournalism Miller remained deeply affected by what she saw and documented during the war, and suffered from depression and alcoholism after returning to England. She eventually gave up photography, turning her creativity to cooking gourmet meals for her friends and family. Lee Miller died of cancer at the age of 70 in 1977. Her trailblazing influence and legacy, both as an artist and a war reporter, have earned her an important place in the history of 20th century photography. The Bucerius Kunst Forum in Hamburg is now dedicating a retrospective to this remarkable photographer. Edited by: Manasi Gopalakrishnan The Internet is brimming with countless videos showcasing people experimenting with different food items. Turns out that even ice cream is not spared from culinary experimentation. And videos showcasing the creation of unusual ice cream flavours like tandoori chicken and chole bhature have sparked curiosity among netizens, leaving them questioning the reasoning behind such creations. Now, one such video that is giving foodies a hard time to digest shows a street food vendor in Indore making hari mirch (green chilli) ice cream. Yes, you read that right! The image shows a street food vendor making hari mirch ice cream. (Instagram/@oyehoyeindia) A food vlogger named Kushal shared the video on Instagram with the caption, Sarafa Bazaar , Indore. 100. This is in their menu card. The video shows a street food vendor making ice cream using green chillies. He first places a few green chillies on the ice cream counter. Next, he adds caramel, melted chocolate and a dash of caramel. He then gives the ingredients a good mix to make Jhannat Mirchi Ice Cream. Towards the end, he garnishes it with gems, coconut shavings, a piece of capsicum and chocolate sauce. Watch the video right here: The video was shared on May 22 on Instagram. It has since been viewed over 2.4 lakh likes and the numbers are still increasing. The share has also received numerous likes and comments from netizens. Heres how Instagram users reacted to the video: To be honest I love spicy food, but I will never dare to try this stupid thing in my entire life, commented an individual. Another wrote, Wont even feed this to my enemies dude. Friends, there is no turmeric, lemon, garam masala and tadka in it. It will not be fun, expressed a third. A fourth shared, Yuck. Just one question, why? posted a fifth. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Peru is reeling under the worst dengue outbreak on record for the country that could intensify further as an El Nino climate phenomenon brings torrential rains driving the death toll this year past 200 with over 130,000 recorded cases, the health ministry said. The country's health authorities have pointed towards the climate phenomena, El Nino, as one of the key drivers of the surge in cases. A worker fumigates a house against the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the spread of dengue fever in a neighborhood in Piura, northern Peru.(AFP) El Nino- cyclical warming of the world's oceans and weather- has fueled tropical cyclones in the Pacific, bringing rainfall and flood risk in the region. Owing to the increase in rainfall, mosquitoes have become a menace due to the accumulation of water in the cities. Amid the spike, Peru's health officials are prohibiting residents from storing still water in open containers. "Dengue kills," Peru's health minister Rosa Gutierrez said, adding, "Because of that, help me eliminate mosquito breeding sites. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared El Nino is now underway after the past three years have been dominated by a cooler La Nina pattern. This year could be particularly worrying like the last strong El Nino which was recorded in 2016 when the world witnessed a historic hottest year. "We're in unprecedented territory," Michelle L'Heureux, a meteorologist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said while Peru declared a two-month "state of emergency" in 18 of the country's 24 regions stating that there is an "imminent danger from heavy rainfall" this year and next. 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 Three people were killed and another ten injured as Russia shelled a rescue boat evacuating civilians after a devastating flood in southern Ukraine, regional authorities said. Emergency teams help rush to safety injured civilian evacuees.(AP) Civilians were being evacuated from the Russian-occupied left bank of the Dnipro River in the southern region of Kherson, authorities said. "Three civilians were killed, another ten were injured, including two law enforcement officers," said the governor of the Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin. He said that a 74-year-old man covered a woman with his body when Russian troops opened fire. "The Russians shot him in the back. He died of his wounds," Prokudin said in a post on social media. The Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam along the front line in the Kherson region was destroyed on Tuesday, forcing thousands to flee and sparking fears of humanitarian as well as environmental disasters. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, while Moscow says Kyiv fired upon it. While Ukrainian authorities quickly launched a rescue operation, many living on Russian-controlled territory say they have been left to their own devices. bur-as/cw SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Exhausted but happy, four Indigenous children who had been missing for more than a month in the Colombian Amazon rainforest were reunited with their relatives Saturday, in a happy ending to a nerve-racking saga that gripped the nation. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro greets a nurse tending to one of the four Indigenous children who survived an Amazon plane crash that killed three adults and then braved the jungle for 40 days before being found alive, at a military hospital in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 10, 2023. (Colombia's Press Office via AP)(AP) The siblings, who had been wandering alone in the jungle after surviving a small plane crash that left their mother and two other adults dead, were discovered after an intense rescue operation involving sniffer dogs, helicopters and aircraft. Looking thin and frail, the children were transported by army medical plane to a military hospital in Bogota, according to AFP journalists at the scene. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez, who visited them in the hospital with President Gustavo Petro, said they are recovering, but cannot yet eat solid food. The youngest two children, now five and one, spent their birthdays in the jungle, as Lesly, the oldest at just 13 years old, guided them through the ordeal. "It is thanks to her, her courage and her leadership, that the three others were able to survive, with her care, her knowledge of the jungle," Velasquez said. General Pedro Sanchez, who led the search operation, credited Indigenous people involved in the rescue effort with finding the children. "We found the children: miracle, miracle, miracle!" he told reporters. - 'A joy for the whole country' - Members of the Huitoto Indigenous group, the children -- aged 13, nine, five and one -- had been lost in the jungle since May 1, when the Cessna 206 in which they were traveling crashed. The pilot had reported engine problems only minutes after taking off from a deep Amazon area known as Araracuara on the 350-kilometer (217-mile) journey to the town of San Jose del Guaviare. The bodies of the pilot, the children's mother and a local Indigenous leader were all found at the crash site, where the plane sat almost vertical in the trees. Officials said the group had been fleeing threats from members of an armed group. "They are happy to see the family... they have all their senses," the children's grandfather, Fidencio Valencia, told reporters shortly after visiting them. "They are children of the bush," Valencia said, adding that they know how to survive in the jungle. They "survived at first by eating a little flour (which was on board the plane), then seeds," he said. At the request of their father, General Sanchez will be made the youngest child's godfather. "For me, it is an honor," the visibly moved officer told lcoal television, placing his hand on his heart. A massive search involving 160 soldiers and 70 Indigenous people with intimate knowledge of the jungle was launched after the crash, garnering global attention. Army chief Helder Giraldo said rescuers had covered over 2,600 kilometers (1650 miles) in total to locate the children. "Something that seemed impossible was achieved," Giraldo said on Twitter. Petro posted a photo on Twitter showing several adults, some dressed in military fatigues, tending to the children as they sat on tarps in the jungle. One rescuer held a bottle to the mouth of the smallest child, whom he held in his arms. He heralded the success as a "meeting of Indigenous and military knowledge" that had demonstrated a "different path towards a new Colombia." - Warrior spirit - The area is home to jaguars, snakes and other predators, as well as armed drug smuggling groups. But the siblings were not strangers to the jungle. "They are Indigenous children and they know the jungle well. They know what to eat and what not to eat. They survived because of this and their spiritual force," said Luis Acosta of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia. During the search, trackers found clues such as footprints, a diaper, and half-eaten fruit led authorities to believe they were on the right track. Worried that the children would continue wandering and become ever more difficult to locate, the air force dumped 10,000 flyers into the forest with instructions in Spanish and the children's own Indigenous language, telling them to stay put. The leaflets also included survival tips, and the military dropped food parcels and bottled water. Rescuers had also been broadcasting a message recorded by the children's grandmother, urging them not to move. According to the military, rescuers found the children about five kilometers (three miles) west of the crash site. The children's grandmother Fatima Valencia said 13-year-old Lesly kept her younger siblings safe with her "warrior" spirit. But the search is not completely over: the army announced Saturday it would continue looking for Wilson, a rescue dog that went missing during the search. "No one is left behind," the army said in a tweet containing a video of the six-year-old Belgian Shepherd Malinois. The dog was key to finding some of the items left behind by the children in the jungle, and may have at one point -- while straying from the Army -- tagged along with the kids. They recounted a dog following them, but it's unclear if it was Wilson. jss/des/sco/nro/bfm/tjj SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four siblings who had been missing for around 40 days since May 1 in the Colombian Amazon rainforest after surviving a small plane crash, were reunited with their family on Saturday. The children - members of the Huitoto people aged 13, nine, four, and an 11-month-old baby - were transported by army medical plane to a military hospital in Bogota, reported news agency AFP. According to reports, while the Colombian Amazon rainforest area is home to jaguars, snakes, and other predators, the siblings were not strangers to the jungle. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro greets a nurse tending to one of the four Indigenous children who survived an Amazon plane crash that killed three adults and then braved the jungle for 40 days before being found alive, at a military hospital in Bogota, Colombia(AP) Member of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia Luis Acosta told AFP, They are Indigenous children and they know the jungle well. They know what to eat and what not to eat. They survived because of this and their spiritual force. Reportedly, the children survived on some Cassava flour, rainforest fruits, plants, and seeds. When the plane crashed, the siblings took out farina from the wrecked plane and ate that for a few days, the Guardian reported citing one of their family members. Once they ran out of the farina, they began to eat seeds and fruits. Another family member of the children told a radio station that the children are fine despite being dehydrated and having insect bites, reported the Guardian. Amazon plane crash On May 1, a small plane crashed in the Amazon while traveling from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare. The crash killed the pilot, the siblings' mother, and another person. (With inputs from agencies) Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that reaching a deal with the West over country's nuclear ambitions was possible if the infrastructure remained intact. "There is nothing wrong with the agreement (with the West), but the infrastructure of our nuclear industry should not be touched," he said as per state media. Tehran should continue working with the UN nuclear watchdog under the framework of safeguards, he added. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (AP/File) Talks between Tehran and Washington to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear accord have been at a stalemate since September, with both sides accusing each other of making unreasonable demands. In 2019, Iran began breaching the deal's terms in response to a US withdrawal from the pact in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump. The Iran nuclear agreement limited countrys uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms. Khamenei also said Iran has never sought to build a nuclear bomb. "Accusations about Tehran seeking nuclear weapons is a lie and they know it. We do not want nuclear arms because of our religious beliefs. Otherwise they (the West) would not have been able to stop it," Khamenei said. Earlier, at an annual speech marking the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, his predecessor and the founder of the Islamic Republic, Iran's supreme leader had said, Some people are mistaken to think if we back down from our stances in certain cases that will cause the enmity of the US, the global arrogance, or Israel toward us to diminish. This is a mistake." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan said that the conspiracy to push him out of the post began while he was in office, as he claimed that political forces within Pakistan swayed Washington to portray him as an enemy of the US. Accusing the West of double standards and defending his own non-aligned policy in international affairs, Imran Khan told Newsweek, So, what happened subsequently was unique in Pakistan, because on April 9 last year, my government was removed. And on April 10, which has never happened in this country, hundreds and thousands of people came out on the streets to protest. Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan. When the people came out, it was a shock to everyone, including myself. By the way, I'd never expected people because we never planned it. It was a spontaneous reaction. And then I went to the public, had a series of rallies, and all were massive rallies, bigger than any rallies in Pakistan. And then there were by-elections. So, my party swept. Imran Khan was pushed out of power following a no-confidence vote in April last year which was followed by a slew of charges lodged against him. "Well, the people who conspired to pull down my government, which was the ex-Army Chief [Qamar Javad Bajwa], and afterwards, he quite clearly stated [as such]. Because within his own circles, within the army circles, they kept asking, "Why did they remove me?" So, he actually then justified it that I was dangerous. He claimed I was dangerous for Pakistan. And they gave some other reasons, too." On assassination attempts against him, Imran Khan said, There were two, by the way, there was another assassination attempt on me on March 18. They were part of that, whatever happens, I can't come back. Talking about the cases against him, the former Pakistan PM said, "Then, this false flag operation, which happened on May 9, they could easily have come and pick me up, the police could have come and said, "Here's your warrant, and we're taking you to jail." That could have happened, but instead, while I'm sitting in the High Court [of Islamabad], I have this commando operation where they come and smash everything...They beat up everyone. I was hit over my head." And then they took me away like I was some sort of the biggest terrorist in this country, not someone who was having the biggest party in the country. But the moment I was in the jeep, suddenly they were completely polite, very courteous and polite. It was unlawful, clearly what they did was unlawful. They call it abduction. It wasn't an arrest, he asserted. 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 Toronto: Even though the removal order for one among them has been postponed by Canadian authorities, former students from India facing potential deportation from Canada are continuing their indefinite protest at a site in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as their status still remains murky. Ex-Indian students continue their indefinite protest at a site in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada on Saturday where they were joined by politicians like Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre (seen with hand raised). (Supplied photo) Lovepreet Singh, originally from Mohali, has won a temporary reprieve as he was informed on Friday that the removal order he had received from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to leave the country on June 13, has been postponed. The ex-students are continuing their indefinite protest at the site near Toronto airport and next to a CBSA office in the town of Mississauga. Lovepreets deportation has been postponed, not stopped. And our protest is not just about him, there are many other cases, Inder Singh, one of the impacted ex-students said. About 300 protesters gather at the site on average in the evenings, mostly those supporting the ex-students. There are at least 30 other such Indian students facing removal proceedings, though all cases havent escalated to the final order being passed, as yet. Another 130 or so cases are being investigated. These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019, and in rare instances, in 2020. They started receiving notices from the CBSA in 2021 and last year, for a hearing as the agency concluded the letter of offer of admission to a Canadian higher education institution, which formed the basis of their study permits, was fake. Agents in India used fraudulent documentation to procure study permits for them and they started receiving notices from immigration authorities late last year once these were detected. Inder Singh said their group has three principal demands. The first, obviously, is to stop deportations. Then they also want the adverse entries in their immigration history to be cleared so they can later apply for permanent residency. Finally, they are seeking a pathway to permanent residency. He said their protest will continue till these demands are met. Our protest is very peaceful, its like a dharna in Delhi, he said SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail In a tragic incident in California, a career criminal shot and killed a police dog before being fatally shot by officers. Johnny Ray Llamas was gun down by cops. (Image Credit: Facebook/Riverside County Sheriff's Office) The suspect, Johnny Ray Llamas, had been evading the authorities for weeks and was being pursued in Riverside County, near Los Angeles. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco revealed that Llamas had three outstanding felony warrants for robbery, sexual assault of a child, and parole violation. The Special Enforcement Bureau of the sheriff's office had been actively tracking Llamas. Sheriff Bianco released body camera footage of the incident, describing Llamas as a career criminal. According to a report, a 911 caller from Perris, California, informed the police on April 14 that a man and woman, who were under the influence of drugs, had entered her property to evade capture by law enforcement. The caller stated that Llamas instructed the woman to stay while he proceeded alone, ensuring only he would be apprehended. Deputies, accompanied by the K-9 officer named Rudy, responded to the scene. Rudy's keen senses led them to Llamas' hiding spot in a densely foliated residential area. Shaky body camera footage captured the moment deputies shouted "shots fired" and informed their colleagues that Rudy had been struck. The footage, along with helicopter visuals, showed Llamas evading arrest by crossing a road while deputies on the ground repeatedly commanded him to drop the gun and get on the ground. The video recorded one deputy exclaiming, "You see that gun move, he gets it." Despite law enforcement's warnings, the notorious career criminal continued to flee towards nearby homes and ultimately aimed his gun at the deputies. In response, the officers opened fire, fatally shooting him. ALSO READ| US to host first-ever Hindu American summit on June 14 Rudy, the heroic police dog, was immediately rushed to a veterinary hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries. The sheriff's office revealed that just a week before the incident, Rudy and his handler had achieved first place at the Las Vegas Metro Police K-9 Trials in the Handler Protection Category. Fortunately, none of the deputies were injured during the confrontation. The woman who had been evading capture alongside Llamas was successfully arrested. Scientists in Wuhan working alongside the Chinese military were combining the worlds most deadly coronaviruses to create a new mutant virus when the Covid pandemic began, a report claimed. Investigators believe Chinese scientists were running a covert project of dangerous experiments, which caused a leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology and started the Covid outbreak, The Sunday Times reported. Covid In China: Security guards wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the Covid-19 pandemic sit at an entrance of a building in Beijing.(AFP) The report is based on hundreds of documents, including previously confidential reports, internal memos, scientific papers and email correspondence. It has become increasingly clear that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was involved in the creation, promulgation, and cover-up of the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the investigators said adding that there is no published information on the work is because it was done in collaboration with researchers from the Chinese military, which was funding it. China is pursuing bioweapons, the investigators believe. Risky experiments on coronaviruses The Wuhan Institute of Virology started hunting the origins of the Sars virus in 2003 and was engaged in risky experiments on coronaviruses it gathered from bat caves in southern China. The findings were made public initially. In 2016, researchers found a new type of coronavirus in a mineshaft in Mojiang in Yunnan province similar to Sars. China did not report these deaths but the virus found then are now recognised as the only members of Covids immediate family. They were then transported to the Wuhan Institute and the work of the scientists became classified. The report also pointed out that over a dozen investigators were given access to metadata, phone information and internet information from intercepts collected by the US intelligence services. US State Department investigators said, Despite presenting itself as a civilian institution, the United States has determined that the Wuhan Institute of Virology has collaborated on publications and secret projects with Chinas military. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has engaged in classified research, including laboratory animal experiments, on behalf of the Chinese military since at least 2017. 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 Marriages in China dropped in 2022 to a record low point, Reuters reported quoting local news outlet Yicai. Data showed a steady decline over the past decade although the matrimonial total may have been affected by stringent Covid lockdowns in the country. Only 6.83 million couples completed their marriage registrations last year, data on the website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed. It is down about 800,000 from the previous year. People walk at a shopping and office complex in Beijing. (AP) The drop comes as pandemic restrictions kept tens of millions locked in their homes for weeks last year. This also comes as China deals with a declining birth rate and a falling population. In 2022, China's population fell for the first time in six decades, marking the start of a long period of decline that could impact the country's economy and the world, experts believe. China's birth rate fell last year to 6.77 births per 1,000 people, the lowest on record from 7.52 in 2021. This implies that China will get old before it gets rich, as its workforce shrinks and local governments spend more on their elderly population. Last month, with the aim of encouraging marriage and boosting the birth rate, China launched pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a "new-era" marriage and childbearing culture. Some provinces in the country are also giving young newlyweds an extension of paid marriage leave. 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 Former US president Donald Trump's old favorite newspaper the New York Post named him the "worst man in America" in an editorial published a day after he was indicted for mishandling classified documents. Former US president Donald Trump is seen. (AFP) "Used to believing that the rules don't apply to him, he ignored the law and mocked the authorities. And guess what: They called him on it. Trump admits to taking the classified documents, and obstructing the government's efforts to get them back, claiming he had the 'right' to do so even when he didn't," the paper's editorial board wrote. Donald Trump is facing charges related to violations of US national security laws and conspiracy to obstruct justice, special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to oversee the case. With this, Trump has now become the first former president in US history to face federal charges. The Post's editorial noted, Why did he take them? To serve his own ego. To show starstruck Mar-a-Lago guests how important he used to be. It's shamefully irresponsible, and so, so petty. He rails against the indictment, yet would have avoided one had he just given back the documents. "He just couldn't concede because everything in Trump's life is about 'winning' or 'losing,' not what is right. His actions with these documents, and on January 6, show how unfit he is to be president again. Yet here we are," it continued. The newspaper also targeted Joe Biden saying that the president "let" his son, Hunter Biden, get involved in foreign business dealings. 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 A group of eminent Indian-Americans from across the country have come together to host the first ever Hindu-American Summit for Political Engagement at the US Capitol, which organisers said along with others would be addressed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Indian Americans listen to the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship radio programme, "Mann Ki Baat", in Washington on Sunday. (ANI) Being organised by the recently formed Americans4Hindus political Action committee in association with over 20 other diaspora bodies, the Hindu-American Summit is to be held at the US Capitol on June 14 to raise the concerns of the Hindu community before the lawmakers. About 130 Indian American leaders from all over the country -- Florida, New York, Boston, Texas, Chicago and California representing 20 Hindu and Indian organisations are coming to the US Capital for the event. Hindu Americans, he said, are doing good across the country, but politically they are way behind. Politically, we think, we've never been discriminated against, we are doing well. But unfortunately, tides are changing. I'm from California, where unfortunately, on the caste basis now, they want to add this to the discriminating factors, cardiologist Dr Romesh Japra said on Saturday. He alleged that organisations like Equality Labs and CARE are trying to dismantle Hinduism. They are behind many (anti-Hindu activities) of these things. So, we thought we should get together, unite all the Hindu Americans, all the leaders, all the executive heads of the organisations, and get here on the Capitol Hill, come to the powerhouses, the Congress and put our case forward, he said in response to a question. Along with McCarthy, several other Congressional leaders both from the Democratic and the Republican side are expected to address the summit, he said. McCarthy, he said, would deliver the keynote address. Prominent among those include Indian American lawmakers. Dr Japra said the community is working towards creating the first ever Hindu Caucus a group of lawmakers working towards protecting the interest of Hindu Americans in the House of Representatives. We are trying to put together the Hindu Caucus, where we will ask all these congressional leaders, Senators and Representatives to become part of our caucus, he said. The community, he said, would endorse and raise funds for the Congressional leaders who agree with Hindu principles and values and are willing to help the community and talk about Hindu phobia, Hindu hate, and concerns of immigration. Among the organisations who are part of this Hindu American Summit are American Hindu Coalition, American Hindu Federation, Americans for Equality PAC, Ekal Vidyalaya, Federation of Indian Americans, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies, Hindu Action, Hindu Action PAC of Florida, Hindu PACR, Hindu Swyamsevak Sangha, Hindu University of America, Kashmir Hindu Foundation, Patriot America, Sewa International, US India Relationship Council and World Hindu Council of America. During a recent interview on "Fox News Sunday," Bill Barr, the former Attorney General, shared his thoughts on the accusations that Donald Trump is a victim of a political witch hunt. Barr firmly rejected these claims as "ridiculous" and emphasized the gravity of the 37-count indictment filed against Trump by the Justice Department. Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends the North Carolina Republican Party convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. June 10, 2023. (REUTERS) In his conversation with Shannon Bream, Barr remarked, "The indictment is highly detailed and extremely damaging. It's simply absurd to present Trump as a victim in this scenario as if he's being unfairly targeted." While acknowledging that Trump has faced baseless allegations and relentless pursuit from his adversaries in the past, Barr stressed that the current situation is distinct. Barr also expressed his concerns about Trump's handling of classified documents. He pointed out that the investigation into Trump's alleged mishandling of sensitive materials was not driven by political motives or a witch hunt. Instead, Barr underlined that if Trump had cooperated by surrendering the documents, the situation could have been resolved differently. In his recent interview, Barr reiterated his stance, emphasizing the distinction between national security-related documents and personal belongings. "Battle plans for an attack on another country or Defense Department documents about our capabilities are in no universe Donald J. Trump's personal documents. They are the government's documents," Barr stated firmly. Also Read | Former President Trump vows to defy indictment and pursue the presidential campaign He further emphasized that the government acted responsibly in investigating Trump's handling of classified material, asserting that it was Trump himself who acted irresponsibly by retaining sensitive documents. Barr noted that other former presidents had followed secure and orderly procedures for handling the turnover of such documents, making a clear distinction from Trump's approach. Regarding Trump's future, Barr expressed concern, stating, "If even half of [the indictment] is true, he is toast." He described the indictment as highly detailed and damning, countering the claims that it was politically motivated. In response to Trump's recent speech in Georgia, where he criticized the indictment and labeled the Justice Department as corrupt, Barr rejected these assertions. He stated that the indictment resulted from the president's reckless conduct and the government's legitimate efforts to retrieve official records. In a resolute statement, former President Donald Trump boldly declared his intention to forge ahead with his presidential campaign, undeterred by the looming 37-count federal felony indictment against him. Speaking from his aircraft during an interview, Trump firmly stated, Look, if I would have left, I would have left before the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable. GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump talks about trans weightlifters as he delivers remarks June 10, 2023, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Trump spoke during the North Carolina Republican party's annual state convention two days after becoming the first former U.S. president indicted on federal charges. (Getty Images via AFP) While no legal obstacles are preventing Trump from running for president even if convicted or serving time, his candidacy would undoubtedly present a formidable challenge to the country's political and legal systems. Trump spared no criticism for special counsel Jack Smith, asserting that the case against him was driven by political motives and lacked substance. He didn't hold back in his characterization of the prosecutors, labeling them as "thugs and degenerates who are desperate to target me." Radiating confidence in his innocence, Trump confidently predicted that he would not face conviction and dismissed any notion of accepting a plea deal. Nevertheless, he did acknowledge the possibility of seeking damages as part of a potential settlement. When probed about the hypothetical scenario of self-pardoning if he were to win the 2024 presidency, Trump responded assertively, "I don't think I'll ever have to. I didn't do anything wrong." Acknowledging the surge in campaign fundraising since the indictment was unsealed, Trump admitted that he regarded the development as undesirable. He stated, "Nobody wants to be indicted. I don't care that my poll numbers went up by a lot. I don't want to be indicted. I've never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months. It's been political." Throughout the interview, Trump repeatedly invoked the Presidential Records Act to justify his actions, despite ongoing debates and disputes regarding his interpretation of the law. Trump's remarks were made during his travel between speaking engagements in Georgia and North Carolina. These engagements followed the unsealing of the comprehensive 37-count indictment, encompassing allegations of violating the Espionage Act, retaining classified documents, and obstructing justice. Trump's upcoming court appearance in Miami on Tuesday is eagerly anticipated. Accompanying Trump on his journey was his personal valet, Waltine Nauta, who also faces charges. Trump's dedicated supporters continued to rally behind him, lining the highway near the airport in Columbus, Georgia, waving flags and displaying signs expressing their belief in a "witch hunt." The impact of this recent indictment on the GOP presidential primary remains uncertain. However, previous accusations in New York had the unintended consequence of bolstering Trump's poll numbers and attracting increased fundraising support as Republican voters rallied to his side. Undeterred by the legal challenges, Trump's campaign team is actively reaching out to supporters, seeking small-dollar contributions. Trump's unwavering supporters demonstrated their steadfastness as he made public appearances, receiving an enthusiastic welcome from crowds adorned with "Make America Great Again" hats. While Trump's adversaries hope that his legal predicaments will distract him from the campaign, his unwavering influence over the congressional wing of his party was on display as he was joined on the trail by Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, both ardent Trump supporters. As the serious classified documents case looms large, the detailed and extensive indictment is perceived as a significantly more serious challenge than previous cases. Trump's opponents are banking on these legal entanglements to undermine his campaign and political aspirations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a touching connection to their late grandmother, Princess Charlotte and Princess Lilibet, the royal cousins, share a special bond through their names. Born into the esteemed British monarchy, these young princesses pay tribute to Princess Diana in a profound and meaningful manner. Princess Charlotte and Princess Lilibet, the royal cousins, share a special bond through their names. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge, daughter of Prince William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales, carries a name brimming with significance. Her middle name, Elizabeth, honors both her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and her late grandmother, Princess Diana. It is a poignant testament to the deep familial ties and the love that transcends generations within the royal family. Similarly, Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, born to Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, bears a name laden with symbolism. Lilibet, a nickname bestowed upon the late Queen Elizabeth by her father, serves as a heartfelt homage to her memory. Diana, the second middle name, not only pays tribute to the beloved Princess of Wales but also reflects the profound love Harry held for his grandfather, Prince Philip, who affectionately called the queen by that nickname. The choice of names for these young princesses holds great significance within the royal family. Princess Charlotte's namesake is not limited to her, as other members of the family, including Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, and Lady Louise, share the middle name Elizabeth. This tradition of honoring Queen Elizabeth underscores the deep respect and admiration the royal family holds for their matriarch. Interestingly, Princess Catherine, Charlotte's mother, also shares the middle name Elizabeth, albeit unrelated to the queen when she was given the name. The serendipitous connection continues with Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, whose middle name is Charlotte. These overlapping names further highlight the interconnectedness and subtle influences that shape the family's choices. Also read | Did Kate Middleton remove Prince Harry and William's portrait from London's National Portrait Gallery? Here's the truth Through their names, Princess Charlotte and Princess Lilibet embody the enduring love and cherished memories of Princess Diana. The deliberate nods from her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, demonstrate their unwavering commitment to preserving their mother's legacy for generations to come. In this touching tribute, the spirit of Princess Diana lives on, uniting the royal family in love and remembrance. Bahrain is set to host 2024 Arab Summit where the member states will discuss the mechanisms of joint Arab action, reported BNA. It will focus on strengthening the just and comprehensive peace approach in bid to ensure security, stability and prosperity in the region, stated the report citing Arab Parliament Speaker Adel bin Abdulrahman Al Asoomi. Al Asoomi expressed full confidence that the kingdoms hosting of the next Arab Summit will make it an extraordinary event in developing the mechanisms of joint Arab action. "This is based on His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas approach to supporting Arab solidarity and integration at all levels," he stated. While addressing an Arab Parliament session held under his chairmanship, Al Asoomi, commended the efforts exerted by the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to consolidate joint Arab action. An Indian-American man, Srinivasrao Alaparthi, has filed a lawsuit against a Florida resort, a parasailing boats captain and his first mate, alleging negligence and wrongful death after his 33-year-old wife died while on a vacation last year. Srinivasrao Alaparthi with his wife Supraja. (AmericanKahani.com) It is terrifying, said Srinivasrao Alaparthi on Thursday, recalling the accident which left his 10-year-old son and nephew injured, reported The Washington Post. On May 30, 2022, Alaparthi, his wife Supraja, their son, and nephew went parasailing while vacationing in the Florida Keys when the weather turned bad. Minutes after the parasail lifted into the sky, the boats captain cut the towline connecting it to the boat, and the wife and the two boys plunged into the water. The wind propelled the parasail, dragging the family through the water for two miles until they slammed into the concrete pillar of a bridge. In a 68-page lawsuit filed this week, Alaparthi alleged that the boats crew should have done any number of things that would have prevented the fatal accident. Instead, he stated that the crew failed to check the weather forecast, which would have shown an incoming storm. They resorted to cutting the towline before trying to regain control of the rogue parachute and didnt radio the US Coast Guard for help as the independent chute dragged his wife to her death. I cant help but think that if the people we trusted from the parasailing company and Captain Pips Marina had done their jobs, my wife would still be with us today, said Alaparthi. We trusted these companies, but they let us down in the worst possible way. In September last year, the boat's captain was charged with manslaughter and multiple boating violations. He has pleaded not guilty. China has been using Cuba as a spy base since at least 2019, the White House said after it was reported last week that both the countries reached an agreement to build a spy base on the island. The Wall Street Journal, quoting senior US officials, reported that China planned to pay Cuba billions of dollars in exchange for the spy base. Chinese president Xi Jinping(AFP) The report was dismissed by the White House at first but later it said, This is an ongoing issue and not a new development" though the arrangement as characterised in the reporting does not comport with our understanding. When Joe Biden joined office in January 2021 he was briefed on Chinas efforts to expand its global military and intelligence presence, the statement said, adding, The PRC [Peoples Republic of China] conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. This is well-documented in the intelligence record. Chinese government will keep trying to enhance its presence in Cuba, and we will keep working to disrupt it. We think the PRC isnt quite where they had hoped to be," it added. The White House also claimed that the US has taken diplomatic and other steps to slow down the Chinese government in Cuba. WSJ's report had claimed that the spy stations would allow Xi Jinping to gather electronic communications from the southeastern United States, home to many US military bases. China responded saying that the US is spreading rumours and slander calling Washington the most powerful hacker empire in the world. As we all know, spreading rumours and slander is a common tactic of the United States. The United States is also the most powerful hacker empire in the world, and also veritably a major monitoring nation Wang Wenbin, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Afghanistan's national environmental protection agency (NEPA) said that Kabul's air pollution levels have tripled over the past week. Airborne particles and climate change are key factors contributing to the capital city's growing air pollution, the agency was quoted as saying by TOLO News. The agency added that it was making efforts to lower the amount of air pollution in Kabul but it is unable to do so due to a lack of adequate equipment. People gather in a street market late afternoon in Kabul, Afghanistan.(AP) Inspection control officer of NEPA, Basir Amin, said: "All the equipment we have installed at the National Environmental Protection Agency's facilities, the statistics we have collected over the last two or three days, and our graphs, especially about dust and airborne particles with a diameter of 2.5 cubic meters relatively, all show that pollution is increasing beyond the standard air quality of the World Health Organization." Meanwhile, Kabul residents said that the air pollution has increased diseases, especially among children. "The air is really polluted and it has caused various problems for Kabul residents, including breathing problems, and it has also created a ground for other diseases," Tariq Habibzai, a resident of Kabul told TOLO News. Another resident Noorullhaq Shams said, I ask the Islamic Emirate to stop the businesses and investors who use poor materials. "It is important to focus on the creation of green areas in the cities as well as the creation of green belts around the cities that are mainly made up of trees and perennial plants," Sayed Qayum Hashemi, an expert on environmental issues said. 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 A female member of former US president Donald Trump's family was involved in decisions over how to handle classified US government documents that he took from the White House, prosecutors said as the historic indictment unsealed this week. Authorities alleged that an unnamed family member gave instructions to Donald Trump's aide Walt Nauta as he was preparing to sneak away documents that he did not wish to give back. Donald Trump walks with Melania Trump.(File) The allegation widens the circle of people who may have had unauthorised influence over sensitive information on US nuclear weapons, military plans and foreign relations. The identity of the family member remains a mystery with the only clue being that Walt Nauta allegedly addressed her as "ma'am". ABC News reported that the woman was likely to be Melania, citing sources. Donald Trump is facing 37 criminal charges including willfully retaining national defence information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, concealing a document in a federal investigation, and false statements and representations. Prosecutors claimed that the former US president wanted to keep hold of some documents in defiance of a legal order to give them back, storing them at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Although Donald Trump denied all the charges and said that he is "an innocent man" who is suffering because of "a hoax" contrived by his political enemies. According to the indictment, Donald Trump's family member became involved just day before a lawyer was due to search his storage room for classified documents. Donald Trump allegedly asked Walt Nauta to remove 64 boxes from their storage room when the family member allegedly texted the latter, "Good afternoon, Walt. Happy Memorial Day! I saw you put boxes to POTUS' room. Just FYI, and I will tell him as well: not sure how many he wants to take on Friday on the plane. We will NOT have room for them. Plane will be full with luggage. Thank you!" Will Nauta replied, "Good afternoon ma'am. Thank you so much. I think he wanted to pick from them. I don't imagine him wanting to take the boxes. He told me to put them in the room and that he was going to talk to you about them." The indictment says nothing more about who this family member might have been. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Princess Diana's former butler hit out at Prince Harry over his claims that he sold items belonging to the late princess during a High Court appearance in London. Paul Burrell worked for Princess Diana from 1987 up until her death in 1997, after which he gained public notoriety culminating in a legal scandal in which he was accused of stealing hundreds of items belonging to Diana, Prince William and King Charles III. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, departs the Rolls Building of the High Court in London, Britain.(Reuters) "I'm finding deeply upsetting and hurtful and I need to process what's been said because I think it's careless and callous," he said following Prince Harry's testimony. The trustees of the princess' estate took Paul Burrell to court in a lawsuit which ultimately collapsed at trial following an intervention from Queen Elizabeth II, it was then reported. Paul Burrell became a focus of Prince Harry's witness testimony as he argued information in a British tabloid story in 2003 which stated that he had a disagreement with Prince William over whether or not to meet the butler, was obtained illegally. Prince Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) publishers of the Daily Mirror and Sunday People over allegations of phone hacking and other illegal acts between 1996 and 2011. In his witness statement Prince Harry said that the article "accurately sets out the position that my brother was open to fixing a meeting with Paul to discuss his ongoing exposes about our mother, however I had made up my mind about the kind of person I thought Paul was and was firmly against meeting him at this point in my life. To the best of my recollection, I do not believe a meeting went ahead in 2003." Both my brother and I had very strong feelings about how indiscrete Paul had proven to be with the way he had sold our mother's possessions and how he had given numerous interviews about her. We firmly believed that she would have expected some privacy in death, especially from someone she had trusted, and we were so upset at the way he was behavingI didn't want to hear his reasons for it. Therefore, our disagreement over to how to handle the situation going forward was not something I wanted splashed across the Defendant's newspapers, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry was told that his court witness statement contradicts his book in relation to a disagreement between him and his brother Prince William over Princess Diana's former butler. Paul Burrell- Diana's once trusted confidant made the claim as Prince Harry sued United Kingdom-based tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers on allegations of phone hacking, including in relation to a story in The People published in 2003. Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex leaves the Royal Courts of Justice, Britain's High Court, in central London.(AFP) Prince Harry's account of what happened appeared to disintegrate during cross-examination. Prince Harry said the article reveals details of a private disagreement between myself and my brother regarding a proposed meeting with Paul Burrell, our mother's former butler adding that "this kind of article sows distrust between brothers." The article accurately sets out the position that my brother was open to fixing a meeting with Paul to discuss his ongoing exposes about our mother, however, I had made up my mind about the kind of person I thought Paul was and was firmly against meeting him at this point in my life. To the best of my recollection, I do not believe a meeting went ahead in 2003, he continued. Lawyer for the Mirror Group, told Harry that his statement contradicted his memoir, Spare. Mummy's former butler had penned a tell-all, which actually told nothing. It was merely one man's self-justifying, self-centering version of events. My mother once called this butler a dear friend, trusted him implicitly. We did too. Now this. He was milking her disappearance for money. It made my blood boil. I wanted to fly home, confront him. I phoned Pa, announced that I was getting on a plane. I'm sure it was the one and only conversation I had with him while I was in Australia. Heand then, in a separate phone call, Willytalked me out of it, Prince Harry had written. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For Prince William's wife Kate Middleton, being an active parents seems quite important as the mother of three is often seen dropping off or picking her children- Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis- from Lambrook School in Windsor. According to royal insiders, Kate shuns her glamorous public persona in favour of a more normal appearance at home. Catherine, Princess of Wales arrives at the Windsor Family Hub.(Reuters) A friend told the Daily Record, There are no blow-dries - it's always hair up in a ponytail. She's either in her gym clothes, or a dress and sneakers, very little makeup, apologising as she's late for the school run before dashing off. It's the life of a working mum with three young children - just a different sort of day job to most. One parent told the Daily Mail, "No one really gives Kate a second glance when she does the school drop-off. We have a Victoria's Secret model doing the school run, too, and the dads are far more interested in her." The 41-year-old royal, according to a friend, is very chilled at home and avoids "airs and graces" in favour of a less formal parenting style. The friend told PEOPLE, "It's a normal, busy family home with kids running around and knocking things over. There's no airs and graces. She is doing that to help her children be more grounded and keep their reality in check. That's what really matters to her. The children are apparently required to abide by Kate Middleton's household rules, which are fairly strict. One such rule that is strictly upheld is the prohibition against shouting, UK media reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry revealed the truth behind reports that he and Prince William were at odds over how to handle a former member of their mother's staff during a High Court trial. As the Duke of Sussex discussed a tabloid report during the phone hacking trial as part of his ongoing legal battle against a UK publisher accused of having obtained information on the royal illegally, he provided a December 2003 article published by an MGN title which detailed his personal objections to meeting with Paul Burrell. Paul was Princess Diana's butler from 1987 up until her death in 1997. Prince Harry: Britain's Prince William and Britain's Prince Harry are seen.(AP) It was reported earlier that Prince William sought to meet with Paul Burrell in order to stop any distressing revelations about his mother. But Prince Harry was resolute in staying away from the person willingly telling Diana's secrets to the world, the reports had then claimed. The article accurately sets out the position that my brother was open to fixing a meeting with Paul [Burrell] to discuss his ongoing exposes about our mother. However I had made up my mind about the kind of person I thought Paul was and was firmly against meeting him at this point in my life. To the best of my recollection, I do not believe a meeting went ahead in 2003, Prince Harry said. Referring to the disagreement with William, Prince Harry also disclosed that: "Both my brother and I had very strong feelings about how indiscrete Paul had proven to be with the way he had sold our mother's possessions and how he had given numerous interviews about her. We firmly believed that she would have expected some privacy in death, especially from someone she had trusted, and we were so upset at the way he was behavingI didn't want to hear his reasons for it. Therefore, our disagreement over to how to handle the situation going forward was not something I wanted splashed across the Defendant's newspapers." He then added that he had "no idea" how journalists would have obtained the information used in the article. When questioned on the witness stand regarding contradictory accounts, Prince Harry conceded, I cannot remember whether I wanted a meeting or not. This is not the first time Prince Harry revealed that he and William were opposed on important matters. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russian army engineers have rigged explosives to an industrial chemical plant in Crimea next to a toxic acid lake reservoir, Ukrainian news outlets reported. Oleksandr Prokudin, Ukraine-appointed head of the Kherson region's military administration, warned that detonating the explosives would result in a disaster worse than than the Soviet Union's 1986 accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, The Kyiv Post reported. Russian president Vladimir Putin is seen. (Reuters) Russia has been accused of targeting Ukrainian infrastructure throughout the more than 15 months of invasion that began in February last year. This week, Ukraine blamed Moscow for destroying a Soviet-era dam in Nova Kakhovka, a city in Ukraine's Kherson. This resulted in massive flooding and necessitated the evacuation of thousands of civilians in Ukraine. Ukrainian military analyst Roman Svitan said that Russians could set off the explosives at the plant if they fear Ukrainian forces are prepared to attack. "The plant is already completely mined, including containers with acid, chlorine and reagents," Roman Svitan said, adding, "They recently began to rig explosives there, because they saw the Armed Forces of Ukraine [AFU] could cross the Dnieper [River] and attack Armiansk....Blowing Crimean Titan up will have military expediency for the Russians, since chemical emissions can slow down the movement of the AFU." Oleksandr Prokudin warned that the explosives going off at Crimea Titan would "release thousands of tons of toxic substances into the atmosphere" and cause a incident worse than Chernobyl. "Residents of the Republic of Crimea and at least seven other Ukrainian regions will be affected, as well as Turkey [across the Black Sea] and the aggressor country itself," he said. 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 Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine should be perceived as a "gift" to the West. One of Russian president Vladimir Putin's most trusted allies, Lukashenko said, "Let's face it: we gave them [the West] a gift when we got bogged down in Ukraine." Russian president Vladimir Putin and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko speak.(AP) This is, of course, a gift to them. And here they started clinging to it to bring our space to its knees," the Belarusian president added. Artyom Shraibman, Belarusian political analyst and founder of Sense Analytics consultancy told Newsweek that he believes Lukashenko's reference to the "gift" is an acknowledgement that the unity of Western forces has caused Russia and Belarus to spend more resources on the war. "In his mind it's basically the West finding the way to help Russia fail without fighting it directly," Artyom Shraibman said. The Belarusian president was likely already too attached to Vladimir Putin to be able to make any other determination than to fight alongside him, the analyst said. Mikhail Troitskiy, professor of practice at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Newsweek, His point was rather that before starting the war, Russia and Belarusand personally Putin, and Lukashenko as a mediatorexhausted all peaceful options to ensure their own security in the face of the western onslaught on China (via Belarus, Russia and Eurasia). Lukashenko puts the blame for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the rigidity of the Ukrainian and western positions since 2014. He stresses that Ukraine was cheating when it signed the Minsk agreements that Lukashenko supposedly helped broker. [The fact that] Russia got stuck in Ukraine is just one problem that the West rushed to exploit mercilessly, according to Lukashenko," he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russian president Vladimir Putin will threaten strikes against NATO member nations over their support for Ukraine, Russia Today (RT) editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said as per Newsweek. As the Russian boss finds himself in a strained relationship with the West which has condemned Moscow's invasion that was launched by Vladimir Putin last February, Margarita Simonyan said that she believes Putin will soon give NATO an "ultimatum" over its aid to Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin.(AFP) Putin thinks that the West giving Ukraine weapons constitutes participation in the war, she said, adding, One morning we'll wake up to find out that last night Vladimir Putin has declared an ultimatum, saying that if F-16 jets taking off from the airfields of such countries continue striking Russian territoryif such and such weapons, shipped from the ports of such and such countries, continue being supplied, then we will consider these airfields and these ports legitimate war targets. Russia also has the right to declare with no ultimatum that NATO countries are legitimate targets, she asserted. Video of her remarks was shared on Twitter by Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs. Simonayn's RT has largely towed the Kremlin line on the Russia-Ukraine war. She has made headlines for previous threats against Ukraine and the West. Last April, the RT editor-in-chief floated the idea of "complete destruction" of Ukraine and a nuclear strike. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three people died in eastern China after strong winds toppled a shipyard crane, authorities said on Sunday, as storms caused damage across the country, including large swaths of farmland. In Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China, large trees were felled on Saturday, crushing vehicles and blocking roads, local media reported.(Representative image/ Reuters) The deaths of security staff in the city of Wuhu occurred after the 450-tonne crane keeled over on Saturday into the security post where they were stationed, the authorities said. In Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China, large trees were felled on Saturday, crushing vehicles and blocking roads, local media reported. "The solar water heater on the roof of my mother's house was blown down. Luckily it didn't hurt anyone," a Jiangsu resident wrote on China's Twitter-like Weibo social media platform. Hailstorms lashed Wafangdian in the northeastern province of Liaoning, causing an estimated loss of 200 million yuan ($28 million) in damage as it hit 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres), state broadcaster CCTV reported. A village on the outskirts of Wafangdian received 48.1 millimetres (1.8 inches) of rainfall in one hour on Saturday, the highest across the province, the Liaoning Meteorological Service Centre said. In the central province of Henan, a Chinese breadbasket where heavy rains have battered crops in recent days, the authorities announced 10 measures on Sunday aimed at increasing grain production, state media reported. The measures include 275 million yuan for prizes to family farms and cooperatives to encourage high yield, CCTV reported. These losses in the province that provide about a third of China's wheat may force higher grain imports by the world's biggest wheat consumer. On Friday, heavy rain hit parts of southwest China, including Guangxi, engulfing roads and partially submerging buildings. China's meteorological authorities on Sunday renewed a blue alert, the lowest of its four-tier warning system, for rainstorms in regions including Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Henan and Hubei. Up to 120 millimetres (4.7 inches) of rain was expected in the northern part of Hainan province. With some parts of the southern city of Guangzhou flooded, rescue workers waded through waist-deep water to free residents trapped in vehicles, CCTV reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Toronto: The leader of Canadas principal opposition party has described the display depicting the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on a float, as despicable. The depiction of the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at an event in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada which has infuriated New Delhi. (Supplied photo) Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, said, We condemn this despicable display, unequivocally. In a release issued by his party, he added, It is unacceptable to celebrate assassinations, such as the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The display featured on a tableau that was part of a shaheedi diwas or martyrdom day event in Brampton, a town in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), on June 4, marking the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar. Indian forces stormed the Golden Temple in Amritsar on that day in 1984 to flush out separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters. Other tableaux at the event had featured posters of Bhindranwale. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two members of her security detail on October 31 that year. The only other elected official to have denounced the float is Indo-Canadian Liberal Party MP Chandra Arya. While Peel Regional Police (PRP) has determined the float did not comprise a hate crime, Indias High Commission in Ottawa is still awaiting a formal response from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the countrys foreign ministry, to a diplomatic note sent last week, protesting the appearance of the tableau. The police finding was disclosed in a statement issued by the office of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown on Friday. In a response on Friday, a GAC spokesperson told the Hindustan Times that it has nothing further to add to the tweet from Canadas High Commissioner to India Cameron McKay on June 5th. That tweet, the only official reaction from a Canadian official so far had said, I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities. The separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has defended the float and said it does not provoke, promote or incite violence. In a statement on Saturday, SFJs legal counsel Gurpatwant Pannun claimed the assassination was the direct outcome of Operation Bluestar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kyiv announced on Sunday that Ukrainian forces have retaken a village in the war-torn country's south, the first reported gain of the offensive. Ukrainian soldiers stand in front of a building with a Ukrainian flag on it, during an operation that claims to liberate the first village amid a counter-offensive, in a location given as Blahodatne, Donetsk Region, Ukraine.(Reuters) Ukraine's ground forces said in a statement that soldiers of the 68th separate ranger brigade had "liberated the settlement of Blagodatne" in the region of Donetsk. Unabomber Ted Kaczynski was found dead in his prison cell, as confirmed by federal officials. Unabomber Ted Kaczynski (File Photo) Kaczynski, 81, was responsible for the death of three people and permanently injuring several others through a mass mailbombing spree. He confessed to committing 16 bombings from 1978 to 1995. Ted Kaczynski was a math prodigy with an IQ of 167. He skipped two grades and got accepted into Harvard University at the age of 16. He retired in 1969 as a mathematics professor post which he adopted an ascetic lifestyle in a cabin deep in the mountains of Montana. In his second year at Harvard, Kaczynski participated in a psychological study conducted by a Harvard psychologist, Henry Murray. The experiments were immensely abusive, humiliating, and deeply traumatising for the subjects. Over the course of three years, Kaczynski spent 200 hours participating in the study. Many suggested that this may have motivated his criminal activities although he himself said that it caused no significant effect on his life. Unabomber constructed his bombs with primitive scrap materials which made them untraceable. His targets were randomly chosen and he frequently left misleading clues for the authority. The FBI spent nearly two decades trying to catch the genius terrorist. The big break came in 1995 when the Unabomber sent the FBI his 35,000-word manifesto Industrial Society and Its Future. The manifesto outlined his motives for the bombings and his views on the ills of society. He asked the FBI to publish it and said that he would desist from terrorism if they did so. The FBI eventually agreed to his demand in hopes that a reader would be able to identify it and aid the investigation. When David Kaczynski read the manifesto, he recognised his brother's writing style. He provided other write-ups of his brother to the FBI. A linguistic analysis confirmed that the writer of the manifesto was David's brother Ted Kaczynski. The Unabomber was arrested on April 3, 1966, after evading capture for 20 years. He was sentenced to four life terms in prison without parole. In his cabin, the officials discovered a plethora of bomb components, one live bomb ready to be mailed, and over 40,000 handwritten journal pages that included detailed descriptions of his crimes and bomb-making experiments. The Unabomber manifesto highlighted his beliefs about how the Industrial Revolution and its aftermath led to the destruction of humanity. He blamed technology for causing widespread psychological suffering and a destabilising effect on society. Furthermore, he accused Leftists of causing the majority of society's issues. However, he also criticised conservatives for preserving their traditional values yet supporting technological advancements. Also Read | Unabomber Ted Kaczynski moved to prison medical facility in North Carolina Ted Kaczynski has fascinated many who still try to understand his psyche. Meanwhile, the Unabomber himself has been honest about who he was. I certainly dont claim to be an altruist or to be acting for the good (whatever that is) of the human race,' he wrote, I act merely from a desire for revenge. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Vietnamese police have arrested 16 suspects in a police station shooting in which several policemen and civilians were killed or injured, police said on Sunday. The people killed include four policemen aged between 30 and 35, the ministry said in a statement, adding that other casualties included local government officials and civilians. (File) A group of people shot at Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur police stations in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak early on Sunday, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement, without giving the exact number of casualties. The people killed include four policemen aged between 30 and 35, the ministry said in a statement, adding that other casualties included local government officials and civilians. Police have also rescued two hostages in the case, according to the statement, adding that another hostage managed to escape. The ministry didn't provide details about the suspects, and said the police are searching for other alleged attackers. The government in a statement on its website shared photos of some of the suspects in handcuffs as well as images of their rifles and knives. State media reports earlier on Sunday said five of those arrested were from Dak Lak province and the other from the neighbouring province of Gia Lai, both in the Central Highlands, Vietnam's largest coffee growing area. It was not clear if the suspects belonged to any political group. In 2020, a Vietnamese court sentenced 20 people to between two and 24 years in prison on terrorism charges, after finding them guilty of involvement in a police station bombing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON June is Atlantic Hurricane Season FRAMINGHAM In conjunction with the beginning of Atlantic Hurricane Season on June 1, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) announced a series of online resources for the Commonwealth's residents to deepen their awareness of and prepare for the impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes. Residents are encouraged to go online, make a plan, and stay informed about storms that may emerge this season. "With severe weather events occurring more frequently due to our changing climate, it's more important than ever that Massachusetts is prepared to respond before, during and after emergency weather situations like hurricanes," said Governor Maura Healey. "Our administration has a host of helpful resources available, and we encourage everyone to go online, make a plan and stay informed about potential storms to keep themselves and their loved ones safe." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seasonal outlook predicts near-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic this year, but it only takes one storm to cause significant impacts. "History shows that regardless of where you are in Massachusetts on the coast or inland a tropical storm or hurricane can have significant impacts on your area," said MEMA Acting Director Dawn Brantley. "Ensuring Massachusetts communities are prepared for hurricane season requires immense collaboration among emergency management partners at the state and local levels, as well as participation from all residents to prioritize personal preparedness." The beginning of hurricane season is a timely reminder for all residents to prepare for the effects of a hurricane by learning if you live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone, developing an emergency plan that reflects your local conditions, building an emergency kit to meet your household needs, and staying informed before, during, and after the storm. If you have a disability or care for someone who does, it may require extra planning to handle an emergency. Steps to Prepare Know Your Evacuation Zone Visit www.mass.gov/knowyourzone to learn if you live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone. If you live in an area that may flood and may need assistance evacuating, plan with family, neighbors, and friends who may be able to assist, and contact your local public safety officials to make them aware of your needs. Make an Emergency Plan A plan should address how your family would communicate, evacuate, and shelter in place if needed. Be sure to account for the needs of all your family members, including seniors, children, individuals with access and functional needs, and pets: https://www.mass.gov/info- details/make-a-family- emergency-plan. If you receive medical treatment or home health care services, work with your medical provider to determine how to maintain care and service if you are unable to leave your home or have to evacuate. Build an Emergency Kit Build an emergency kit that will sustain your household for three to five days without power. For tips on what to include, visit https://www.mass.gov/info- details/build-an-emergency-kit Stay Informed Every family should have multiple methods for receiving emergency alerts. Learn more about different types of alerting and information tools, including the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio, social and traditional news media, Mass 2-1-1 and local notification systems: https://www.mass.gov/info- details/be-informed-and- receive-emergency-alerts MEMA will share preparedness and safety information throughout hurricane season. For more resources, visit the Hurricane Safety Tips section of MEMA's website at https://www.mass.gov/mema/ hurricanes. Governor Pledges to 'Lengthen Massachusetts' Lead' in Life Sciences BOSTON At the BIO International Convention today, Governor Maura Healey announced that her administration is launching a new strategy for connecting employers to skilled, diverse workers in Massachusetts called MassTalent. MassTalent will serve as a one-stop front door for companies to access multiple talent pipelines in high-growth industries like the life sciences, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. It streamlines government resources to allow employers and jobseekers to tap into Massachusetts' thriving ecosystem, world-class talent, and robust infrastructure to accelerate their success. "Massachusetts didn't become the global epicenter of the life sciences industry by resting on our laurels. We don't get complacent in Massachusetts we get competitive," said Governor Healey. "We want to lengthen our lead in the life sciences industry by opening up great STEM careers to more students and unlocking the untapped potential of all our diverse communities, connecting employers with the talent they need grow their workforce, and paving the way to spark more discoveries, cure more diseases and help more patients. Our administration is thrilled to be announcing two programs today, MassTalent and Pathmaker that will help to move us forward on these goals." To power these pipelines of talent, the administration has proposed historic investments in early education and care, early college, innovation and career pathways, community college, apprenticeships and other workforce development initiatives. Currently, $50 million is available through the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to fund partnerships between education and training partners and companies to train future workers. Governor Healey also announced another component of the MassTalent initiative funded through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center called Pathmaker. This program will fund new training partnerships between life science companies and training providers, with a goal of creating 8 to 10-week training programs that are free and accessible to students and adults with a high school education and no previous experience. A request for proposals for the Pathmaker program will be finalized in summer 2023, with $2 million initially available for programs that will launch in the fall of 2023 and are expected to graduate 150-200 students by the first quarter of 2024. Funding awards will be made contingent on training programs that provide quality training that address core competencies identified in the three Pathmaker training tracks for biomanufacturing (PathmakerBIO), advanced medtech manufacturing (PathmakerTECH), and quality assurance/quality control (PathmakerREG). These core competencies have been informed by conversations with industry leaders, nonprofits, and academia to ensure that they will meet the current need. In her remarks, Governor Healey also reiterated her commitment to reauthorizing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, saying: "15 years ago, our state government created a groundbreaking, new model for public-private partnership, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative. Across bipartisan administrations, through ups and downs in the global economy, we have been committed to this partnership. And we will remain committed to this partnership, because it's rooted in our state's identity and it has advanced both our scientific leadership and our economic competitiveness. We are working with a coalition of industry leaders and partnering with the legislature to plan the next reauthorization of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative when the current initiative expires in 2025 with a new investment for a new era of success." 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 been using Cuba as a spy base since at least 2019, the White House confirmed on Saturday. It was reported last week that Cuba and China had reached an agreement in principle to build a spy base on the island. The Wall Street Journal, quoting senior US officials familiar with the matter, reported that China planned on paying Cuba billions of dollars in exchange. Initially, the White House said that the report was inaccurate. However, on Saturday, it said: This is an ongoing issue and not a new development. It claimed though that the arrangement as characterised in the reporting does not comport with our understanding. The statement said that Joe Biden upon joining office in January 2021 was briefed on Chinas efforts to expand its global military and intelligence presence. The PRC [Peoples Republic of China] conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. This is well-documented in the intelligence record. It said the Chinese government will keep trying to enhance its presence in Cuba, and we will keep working to disrupt it. The statement added: We think the PRC isnt quite where they had hoped to be. It also claimed that the US has taken diplomatic and other steps to slow down the Chinese government in Cuba. The WSJ had earlier reported that an electronic eavesdropping station on the island would allow Beijing to gather electronic communications from the southeastern United States, home to many US military bases, as well as monitor ship traffic. China, meanwhile, accused the US of spreading rumours and slander and called the US the most powerful hacker empire in the world. As we all know, spreading rumours and slander is a common tactic of the United States, Wang Wenbin , spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry said. The United States is also the most powerful hacker empire in the world, and also veritably a major monitoring nation. 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 }} Honduras has opened up a new embassy in China after cutting diplomatic relations with Taiwan earlier this year. The inauguration of the Central American nations new embassy reportedly took place on Sunday. Chinas foreign minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Reina took part in the inauguration of the embassy on Sunday morning, Chinas official CCTV said. The symbol of Honduras and Chinas strengthening diplomatic ties came during Honduran President Xiomara Castros six-day visit to China. Honduras established formal relations with China in March, becoming the latest in a string of countries to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China sees self-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary, and prohibits its own diplomatic partners from having formal ties with Taipei. Ms Castro arrived in Shanghai on Friday on her first visit since the establishment of relations. During her stay in Shanghai, she visited the headquarters of the New Development Bank, a bank established by the BRICS nations, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. (AP) Honduras requested admission to the bank, Ms Castros office tweeted Saturday. The president also visited a research centre for technology giant Huawei before arriving in Beijing on Saturday night, Chinas official Global Times newspaper reported. The ties formed in March were a diplomatic victory for China amid heightened tensions between Beijing and the US, including over Chinas increasing assertiveness toward self-ruled Taiwan. It also signalled Chinas growing influence in Latin America. China and Taiwan have been locked in a battle for diplomatic recognition since they split amid civil war in 1949, with Beijing spending billions to win recognition for its one China policy. 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 }} Taiwans air force swung into action on Sunday as 10 Chinese warplanes crossed the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, it was reported. Taiwans defence ministry also said earlier that four Chinese warships carried out joint readiness combat patrols. In a statement, Taiwans defence ministry said that as of 2.00pm local time on Sunday, it had detected 24 Chinese air force planes, including J-10, J-11, J-16 and Su-30 fighters, as well as H-6 bombers. At least 10 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said. Four Chinese naval ships were also engaged in joint combat readiness patrols, the ministry added. On Thursday last week, more than 30 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwans air defence zone. However, it was reported that the warplanes did not enter Taiwans territorial airspace. China claims Taiwan as a part of its territory and often conducts military exercises nearby. Meanwhile, Taiwan on Sunday said is closely monitoring the situation and deployed its own aircraft, naval vessels and land-based missile systems in response. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday said the self-ruled island would work to improve its rescue and defence capabilities with new technologies, adding that strengthening Taiwan is key to maintaining peace. Ms Tsai also pledged that her government would promote policies to safeguard maritime and border security after inspecting an anti-terror drill in Kaohsiung city in southwestern Taiwan. The safer Taiwan is, the safer the world is, she said. Honduras opened an embassy in Beijing on Sunday, Chinese state media reported, months after the Central American nation broke off relations with Taiwan to form diplomatic ties with China. Additional reporting with 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 Air India jet that was stranded in the remote Russian town of Magadan since Tuesday has finally returned to Mumbai after the airline confirmed that the plane left the port town on Saturday morning after necessary engine repairs. According to a statement issued by the airline, the aircraft landed in Mumbai at 8.16pm on 10 June, after flying for ten-and-a-half hours. The aircraft which was flying from New Delhi to San Francisco on Tuesday, developed a technical glitch, which led to its diversion to Magadan. The flight, which carried 216 passengers and 16 crew members, was stranded in the Russian town till Thursday morning, before a rescue flight sent by Air India took off to the intended destination, San Francisco, from Magadan. According to local reports, Air India sent a specialised engineering crew to Magadan aboard the same relief flight on Thursday to solve the underlying issue. We can confirm that a defect in the oil system of one of the aircrafts engines has been rectified by our engineering team that flew on a ferry flight to Magadan (GDX), an Air India spokesperson said in a statement. The aircraft was checked on all safety parameters and certified serviceable before take-off from GDX today. In a previous statement, Air India revealed details of how the stranded passengers and crew members were being taken care of. As we do not have any Air India staff based in the remote town of Magadan or in Russia, all ground support was being provided to the passengers in the best possible in this unusual circumstance through our round-the-clock liaison with the Consulate General of India in Vladivostok, Ministry of External Affairs, local ground handlers, and the Russian authorities, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday. Air India has announced that it will refund the fare and provide an additional voucher to everyone who was stranded in Magadan for two days. In an apology letter to the passengers, the airline wrote: Please allow me to sincerely apologise, on behalf of Air India, for the extended delay in bringing you to San Francisco. As you are all too aware, the aircraft encountered a technical issue whereby the pilots received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine. Out of caution, they elected to land the aircraft at a nearby airport rather than continue the journey. 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 }} Many Indian states have been put on alert ever since Cyclone Biparjoy intensified into an extremely severe storm. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm has been undergoing rapid intensification. Coastal areas of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala are set to experience high-speed wind and harsh weather. The agency also revealed that the cyclone is likely to move northwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts on 15 June. Additionally, the state of Gujarat has been put on alert as it might witness thunderstorm activity during the next five days with wind speed remaining high. As a precautionary measure, Tithal Beach in Valsad, Gujarat has also been closed to tourists for at least four days. We told the fishermen not to venture into the sea and they all have come back, a senior official, TC Patel of Valsad said in a statement, as per Indian Express. People will be shifted to the village at the seashore if needed. Shelters have been made for them. We have closed Tithal Beach for tourists till 14 June. Several districts in Saurashtra and Kutch have been issued a yellow warning. Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra and Kutch Coast: Yellow Message, IMD wrote in a statement on Twitter. ESCS Biparjoy lay at 1130IST today, about 450 km SSW of Porbandar, 490 km SSW of Dwarka, 570 km SSW of Naliya. To cross Saurashtra and Kutch and Pakistan coasts around noon of 15 June as VSCS. According to local reports, fishermen have been warned against venturing into the Arabian Sea until things calm down. The people who are already out sailing are also advised to return to the nearest coast as soon as possible. Indian Coast Guard in North West India has also initiated outreach to advise the fishing community, mariners, and stakeholders of states Gujarat and Daman & Diu to take necessary precautions and safety measures. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered officials to put in place emergency measures in advance for Cyclone Biparjoy which is likely to cause flooding and rainstorms in low-lying areas of Karachi and Sindh province, local reports said. Heavy rains followed by strong winds killed at least 27 people, including eight children, in northwest Pakistan, officials said Sunday. 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 }} Death toll from heavy rains and strong winds in northwest Pakistan rose to 27 on Sunday as Cyclone Biparjoy approaches the country. Eight among the 27 dead were children, local media said. At least 12 people were buried alive after the roofs and walls of their houses collapsed, Taimur Ali Khan, a provincial disaster management authority spokesperson told the media. The storms hit four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan late Saturday, with 15 people killed in the Bannu district, including five siblings aged between two and 11, the Dawn reported. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also said that at least 147 people were reportedly injured in several rain-related incidents. Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said the gusty winds and heavy rainfall in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunwala were a cause for concern and expressed grief over the lives lost. Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered officials to put in place emergency measures in advance for Cyclone Biparjoy, likely to cause flooding and rainstorms in low-lying areas of Karachi and Sindh province, local reports said. Pakistans National Disaster Management Authority [NDMA] on Sunday urged people to stay away from shorelines as Cyclone Biparjoy approaches. According to Radio Pakistan, the officials have banned entry to the beaches in Karachi as Biparjoy gathers strength. Pakistans Meteorological Department [PMD] said that the cyclone had intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm. It said the cyclone was at a distance of about 760km south of Karachi, 740km south of Thatta and 840km southeast of Ormara, according to local reports. Karachi authorities have also ordered the removal of billboards, similar signages and weak trees as rains could make them a danger resulting in loss of precious human lives and damage to properties. In neighbouring India, many Indian states have been put on alert ever since Cyclone Biparjoy intensified into an extremely severe storm. According to the India Meteorological Department [IMD], the storm has been undergoing rapid intensification. Coastal areas of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala are set to experience high-speed wind and harsh weather. Additional reporting with agencies. After more than a day and a half in the witness box, his courtroom ordeal was finally over. How has that made you feel? his barrister, David Sherborne, asked sympathetically. Harry puffed out his cheeks and replied, emotionally: Its a lot. This was, in fact, only round one of the princes egocentric battle to reform what he insists is wrong with the free press in Britain. According to Harry, his father, King Charles, has described this quest as a suicide mission. After becoming the first senior royal to give evidence in court for more than a century, it wasnt quite as bad as that. But unlike when the future King Edward VII took to the stand in what became known as the royal baccarat scandal, there is a lot at stake. 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 }} Chris Hemsworth has expressed immense gratitude for his wife of 13 years, Elsa Pataky. During an interview with British GQ, the 39-year-old actor spoke candidly about his partner, with whom he shares an 11-year-old daughter, India, and nine-year-old twins, Tristana and Sasha. He described some of the foundations of their relationship as he said that they both have the desire to have a good time, to laugh, and be involved in new adventures. The Thor star also confessed that without his wife, he wouldnt have the personal or professional success that he currently has. Her sacrifice, commitment, work, support, forgiveness everything that she has given me over the years has been incredible, he said. I couldnt have done any of the things Ive done without it. He noted how his life has moved so fast, before recalling a point in marriage where he ultimately felt closer to his wife. We were having kids [at] the same time my career was taking off, same time we were getting married, same time we were getting to know each other, he said. It feels like we got to know each other halfway through our relationship, five, six years ago. In a beautiful way. Once our kids were out of nappies, things became a bit more manageable. Hemsworth continued to explain how he felt like his life was on fast forward when his children were born. He said that after the release of Thor, he was constantly focused on his career, which was a feeling that didnt stop until the last couple years. I was going from one film to another, didnt know if the phone was going to stop ringing, he said. Id spent so many years coming up thinking, Am I going to make it? And once it starts to roll youre like, I dont want to get off this train. This could be my one shot. He noted that throughout the making of his 2022 series Limitless he realised that he needed to take a step back from acting. All of these beautiful moments were rapidly flying past me, Hemsowrth continued. It made me just kind of want to wrap that show and get back and see my family. And I did. The actors comments about his family come a few months after he and his wife made headlines as they shared a prank that they pulled on their twin sons birthday. To celebrate his kids ninth birthday in March, Hemsworth posted a photo of his family on Instagram, in which Pataky held her sons head down in a chocolate cake. Despite the amused looks on Hemsworths and his two other childrens faces, the prank sparked mixed reactions from fans. In the comments section, some Instagram users said the stunt was just a bit of harmless fun, while others branded the move as ridiculous and violent. The Marvel star and the Spanish actress first met in 2010 and got married that same year. The family of five soon relocated from Los Angeles to Australia, where they are currently living in the southeastern coastal town of Byron Bay in New South Wales. 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 }} Sharon Horgan has opened up about having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after her eldest daughter was diagnosed with meningitis as a baby. The Irish actor, who will star in the forthcoming BBC One drama Best Interests with Michael Sheen, said she drew on the experience in order to play her character in the new series. Horgans daughter survived the life-threatening illness, but it left an aftershock on her mother. We were so unbelievably lucky and we know that, the Bad Sisters star told The Times in a new interview, published today (Sunday 11 June). But the aftershock theres definitely PTSD and I dealt with any of my second daughters illnesses with blind panic because you always think, If it can happen, why couldnt it happen again? Both of Horgans daughters, Sadhbh and Amer, are now teenagers. She shares them with her ex-husband, Jeremy Rainbird. Best Interests tells the story of Nicci (Horgan), a mother who sues the NHS after doctors decide her Marnie (Niamh Moriarty) should be taken off life support after her condition, muscular dystrophy, deteriorates. Sharon Horgan and Sadhbh Rainbird attend the 2023 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at The Royal Festival Hall on May 14, 2023 (Getty Images) Horgan stars opposite Sheen, who plays Niccis husband Andrew. In the show, Andrew is torn between his love for Marnie and his unwillingness to support his wifes case. The friction between Nicci and Andrew shows that they had a real relationship that has difficulties, Horgan said. When things get really, really bad, the accusations are there, a certain amount of finger-pointing, which happens anyway, just even in normal parenting, she explained. Best Interests (BBC/Chapter One) After her divorce from Rainbird in 2019, Horgan said the adjustment to co-parenting made her doubt if she was a good mother. During an appearance on Desert Island Discs in 2020, she told host Lauren Laverne: I was fun mum for years. I entirely thought that was my role but that changes when you co-parent. Everything changes and you take on a lot more roles and I am much more practical than I was, and I think that is a positive thing. She continued: It had some dips in the middle where I thought, Oh, that thing I thought I was, which was a good mother, I am not entirely sure about. When you bring anything like that into your kids life its tricky, when you turn the roles upside down, but it balances out and everything eased back. 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 }} Naomi Watts has confirmed that she and Billy Crudup have tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Manhattan, New York City. The Mulholland Drive star, 54, shared a photograph of her and Crudup, also 54, standing in front of a courthouse with their arms around one another on Saturday (10 June). Watts wore a white lace sleeveless dress by Oscar de la Renta and held a bouquet of flowers while Crudup wore a navy suit with a white shirt and no tie. The pair beamed in the photograph, with Watts writing in the caption: Hitched! In her Instagram Stories, Watts posted more photographs from her and Crudups special day and revealed her flowers were from a deli. She shared a selfie of her and Crudup smiling at the camera and wrote: Hubby. Another photograph showed the happy couple celebrating with a few friends, including Mark Ruffalo. Watts and Crudup met in 2017 while co-starring in the Netflix psychological thriller Gypsy. Replying to a comment congratulating the couple, Watts replied: Gypsy launched a love story! They kept their relationship largely private for five years and only made their red carpet debut in 2022 when they attended the Screen Actors Guild Awards arm-in-arm. Celebrity friends were quick to congratulate the couple, including Watts ex-husband Liev Schreiber, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Coolidge, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Chloe Sevigny. Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup have officially tied the knot (Instagram/Naomi Watts) Schreiber, with whom Watts shares two children, Kai, 14, and Sasha, 15, wrote: Congratulations! Gorgeous! Coolidge gushed: Hooray!! Just woke up to this!! Congrats! You two couldnt look happier! Meanwhile, Moore simply wrote: Finally! Naomi Watts wore an Oscar de la Renta dress for her nuptials, with flowers from a deli in New York (Instagram/Naomi Watts) Crudup also has a child from a previous relationship. He shares 19-year-old son William with ex-girlfriend Mary Louise Parker. On Friday (9 June), PageSix published photographs of the couple wearing their wedding gear on the way back to their apartment in the city. The couple first sparked rumours that they were engaged in April, when the King Kong star appeared on the Today programme wearing a large diamond ring on her left hand. Host Hoda Kotb said at the time: My eye is hurting. Theres a big glint coming from some ring over here. It just struck me. But its beautiful. Watts did not confirm whether it was an engagement ring but said: Oh the brain fog! 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 Prince of Wales reviewed his troops on horseback on Saturday (10 June) as at least three soldiers fainted in sweltering London temperatures. Thousands gathered at Horse Guards Parade in St Jamess Park to witness The Colonels Review ahead of Trooping the Colour during the Kings Birthday Parade next week. The ceremony involved hundreds of horses and soldiers carrying out complex battlefield drill manoeuvres to military music. But with temperatures reaching 28C, the baking heat proved too much for some, and the prince later tweeted his thanks to those who had taken part. At least three soldiers fainted and were taken off on stretchers while two more were helped off the parade ground. One member of the Massed Bands of the Household Division returned to his feet after collapsing and was greeted with a round of applause from the audience. He appeared to attempt to carry on playing his instrument but was swiftly escorted off by medical staff. Prince William acknowledged the difficult conditions in a tweet he personally signed with his initial. He wrote: A big thank you to every solider (sic) who took part in the Colonels Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job. Thank you. W. James Calford, 18, from Cardiff, who was the youngest soldier in the Welsh Guards to take part, described Trooping the Colour as like being stood in a sauna with a 200kg dumbbell in your left hand. He said the ceremony is a lot harder than it looks on the TV. Once you have got your tunic and bearskin on and carrying your rifle in heat it is incredibly uncomfortable. The Colonels Review is the final evaluation of the Household Division before the soldiers and horses parade for the King during Trooping the Colour on June 17 to mark the monarchs official birthday. Britain Royals Colonel's Review (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) William inspected his troops on horseback, wearing a bearskin cap and red dress uniform, for the first time as Colonel of the Welsh Guards. His horse, named Darby, was a gift to the late Queen from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and it led the funeral procession for Williams grandmother last year. This year, it is the turn of the Welsh Guards the Kings former division to Troop their Colour. Charles was Colonel of the Welsh Guards for 48 years before passing the role to William in 2022. (PA) Preparations for the ceremony began even before the Kings coronation, with all seven regiments of the Household Division taking part, including the five regiments of the foot guards Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh and two mounted regiments the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. New music was performed by the Massed Bands of the Household Division, including a piece by Major Lauren Petriz-Watts, who will become the first female composer to have her music played on a monarchs birthday parade. Britain Royals Colonel's Review (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Welsh Guards Second Lieutenant Freddie Hopkisson, 23, said of the 17 June event: This parade will be huge. Its such an honour and were all feeling it. To get to do this key role at such a young age, carrying the Colour and all it represents, is the absolute pinnacle of my life. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the Mall to witness the Kings Birthday Parade. The Trooping the Colour parade traces its origins back to the Middle Ages when each Lord or Baron flew their banner, known as a colour, so their followers could spot them in battle. The annual event has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign for more than 260 years. 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 }} Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the right to commemorate the dead must apply to every section of society as he addressed a controversial IRA memorial event in Co Armagh. Mr Finucane, who faced calls to rethink his attendance at the commemoration in Mullaghbawn in south Armagh, spoke of his fathers murder during the Troubles as he stressed the importance of remembering lost loved ones. The North Belfast MPs solicitor father Pat was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries inside the family home in north Belfast in 1989. Mr Finucanes decision to address Sundays event, which was billed as the South Armagh Volunteers Commemoration, prompted anger from victims representatives and rival politicians who cited the many murders perpetrated by the IRAs South Armagh unit during the Northern Ireland conflict. Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of whipping up a controversy to distract from the partys role in the ongoing political impasse at Stormont. The republican party said the event has been held for 13 years and asked why it has not prompted such a reaction in the past. Remembrance is a time of mixed emotions for us all, especially for those who knew and loved the very people who are being remembered Sinn Fein MP John Finucane Mr Finucane began his speech on Sunday afternoon by thanking organisers for the invite. He said he stood in solidarity with the families gathered to remember their loved ones and their sacrifices and contributions. Remembrance is a time of mixed emotions for us all, especially for those who knew and loved the very people who are being remembered, he said. It raises feelings of sadness and loss, as well as pride and joy at the lives that were lived and lost. Such basic and understandable human reactions to loss are no different here in south Armagh than in north Belfast, or indeed anywhere else. And it is for those very basic human reasons that we should always cherish our right to remember those who are no longer with us. This of course is a right that should apply without prejudice to every section of the society which we now live in today. He added: As you know, I was eight years old when two gunmen burst into my family kitchen and shot my father 14 times, and my mother once, in front of me and my brother and my sister. Throughout our campaign for truth and justice, I have been clear, repeatedly, that truth and justice is something which every person who has been impacted by our conflict deserves and is entitled to irrespective of whether those that inflicted the harm were loyalists, the British state or republicans Sinn Fein MP John Finucane This loss, and the brutality of it, is something that will never leave me, just as such loss will never leave anyone who ever experienced such a thing. You will know that what followed for us as a family was a campaign for truth and justice. And over the subsequent decades we uncovered that the loyalist gunmen who entered my home did so as part of a system alongside the police, the British Army, MI5, and along with political cover and sanction, resulted in the deaths of so many too many for an incredibly long and sustained period of time. Throughout our campaign for truth and justice, I have been clear, repeatedly, that truth and justice is something which every person who has been impacted by our conflict deserves and is entitled to irrespective of whether those that inflicted the harm were loyalists, the British state or republicans. I have been consistent in this view whether it be personally as a campaigner, professionally as a lawyer or politically as the MP for north Belfast. And I would like to expand on that belief for today. For just as truth and justice applies equally to everyone, so too does the right to remember and the right to commemorate. I suffered a very personal and up-close loss by those I have mentioned. And those same organisations, within loyalism, the police, the British Army and military intelligence, all commemorate, remember and stand with the families of their loved ones and those that they respect. Those commemorations take place right across our society and are regularly attended by civic and political representatives. And I will defend, without hesitation, their right to do so. There is nothing to celebrate in conflict or in our difficult and painful past, but to commemorate those we have loved and lost is a right which everyone, including every single one of us gathered here today, is entitled to, and we do so with dignity and with pride. So today we remember with pride the many Irish republicans who gave or lost their lives, with deep sympathy for their grieving families and also respectful of all those who continue to suffer the grief and trauma of conflict Sinn Fein MP John Finucane And while there are very different and often conflicting perspectives of the causes of conflict, conflict is thankfully now a thing of the past. So today we remember with pride the many Irish republicans who gave or lost their lives, with deep sympathy for their grieving families and also respectful of all those who continue to suffer the grief and trauma of conflict. As I was eight years old in 1989, I was 18 years old in 1998, voting for the first time in my life for the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement provided a peaceful and democratic pathway to constitutional change and created institutions, inclusive of all communities. It addressed the many causes and effects of conflict and allowed us all to consign conflict to the past and to move forward. While there is still work to be done, particularly in relation to legacy issues, the last 25 years of relative peace is a truly remarkable achievement. In a weekend message to party members, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated his criticism of Mr Finucane. Challenging Sinn Feins attempts to rewrite history is not about being stuck in the past, rather it is about respecting the sons, daughters, mothers and fathers who were cruelly murdered by balaclava wearing IRA terrorists, he wrote. I will use every fibre of my body to stop Northern Ireland ever being gripped by the terrorism of the 1970s, 80s and 90s but part of that is honestly reflecting the barbarity of taking 12 innocent workmen from a van in (Kingsmills) South Armagh. The one Catholic was told to run away and the remaining 11 Protestants were lined up and shot with only one surviving to tell the story. Celebrating anyone's membership of the IRA or any other terror group is wrong. Violence or the threat of violence has no place in politics DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson That is the truth about the Provisional IRA in South Armagh. I am mindful that those listed on the South Armagh Roll of Honour have family who grieve. They have the right to remember, as do we all. This is not the problem, but rewriting history or eulogising terrorism most certainly is. Celebrating anyones membership of the IRA or any other terror group is wrong. Violence or the threat of violence has no place in politics. Sir Jeffrey added: We challenge this narrative of the past because failure to do so will aid some misled young people to think violence in some cases is honourable and justifiable. The Sinn Fein leadership have a responsibility to honestly address the role of violence in Irish politics. Unless this fundamental is tackled, there will always be a mindset which believes if their objective is not being advanced electorally or politically, then violence must be the only path to progress. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Politics has moved on from the drama of the Boris Johnson era, according to a Cabinet minister who played down speculation about the former prime minister making a swift return to Westminster. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps, who served in Mr Johnsons cabinet, said he does not think the former Tory leader is in the mindset to fight the next general election. It comes after Johnson ally Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said the ex-incumbent of No 10, who quit the Commons on Friday in protest against an MPs inquiry into partygate, could contest the next election for the Conservative Party and would be in pole position during a future leadership contest. Sir Jacob said, in an article for the Mail On Sunday, there could be a Tory civil war if the party tried to block him from standing. Mr Shapps told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: There is no kind of chance of him coming back and saying, Right, now Im going to stand again. From what I understand, even he has said he doesnt want to do that. So we are rather in the realms of the hypothetical. Mr Shapps said Mr Johnson would have been perfectly entitled to remain as an MP but decided to step down. He told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: I think people around the country inside and outside the party recognise that Boris was somebody with many qualities. I think the world has moved on from what was quite a dramatic period Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps But we are now in a world where there are different challenges to face and weve got new management in No 10 getting on with the job and getting on with the priorities of this country. I think the world has moved on from what was quite a dramatic period under Brexit and of course under the issues related to Covid, the vaccines and the rest of it. He said the UK is in a calmer period under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who he said is doing proper Conservative things in a response to Mr Johnson accusing the Government of ditching 2019 manifesto pledges. Mr Shapps also said he disagrees with Mr Johnsons criticism of the Commons Privileges Committees investigation into whether he misled MPs when he said Covid rules were followed in Downing Street during the pandemic despite lockdown-busting parties taking place. Mr Johnson attacked the seven-person panel on Friday as he resigned as an MP, accusing them of a witch hunt and likening the panel to a kangaroo court. But Mr Shapps said he has no reason to support the accusations, denying suggestions the investigation was motivated by a desire to reverse Brexit. The former Tory chairman said, while Mr Johnson had successes as prime minister, he thinks people both in the Conservative Party and outside dont miss the drama of his premiership. Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said Mr Johnsons attack on the partygate probe and the manner of his exit was akin to mutiny. The former minister told GB News: It is a grave moment for our party. Johnson quit not only kicking the milk bottles on the way out but rallying other MPs to follow in order to inflict maximum damage to the party he claims to support. It comes as Guto Harri, a former Johnson spin doctor, told Sky his former boss has been hounded out of politics. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for a snap general election after Mr Johnson, along with two of his close allies Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams quit the Commons within 24 hours of each other, triggering by-elections in their seats. Pat McFadden, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said the country will be bedevilled by chaos and instability if the Tory chaos is allowed to continue. He accused Mr Johnson of acting like a baby-man with the way he reacted to the yet-to-be-published Privileges Committee conclusion. The probe, which was chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but had a Tory majority, is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson lied to Parliament over partygate. Reports suggest it was set to recommend at least a 10-day suspension, reaching the threshold for a by-election in his now-former Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency to be potentially triggered. Mr McFadden said the committees report, which is expected to be published promptly, is not the last word. It then goes to Parliament, where the Tories are sitting on a majority of around 66 seats at least it was on Friday before they all started resigning, he told Ridge. Even then, it just triggers a recall petition where he could face the voters. But the truth is he didnt want to face any of the verdicts because he can never accept responsibility for his own actions. Thats true of all these right-wing populist leaders. They are like baby-men. Whenever anything goes wrong, it is everybody elses fault. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, the former Brexit Party leader turned broadcaster, said he sees the potential for an insurgent party to emerge after the fallout of Mr Johnsons resignation. He suggested more than 10 Conservative MPs have been in touch in relation to potentially joining a new party. More than before, I think there are quite a lot of Conservative MPs right now who know they are going to lose their seats, he told the BBC. The Red Wallers know theyre going to lose their seats as it is running as Conservatives, and if there was a coming together on the centre-right, which is where the gap is, I think quite a few would. I dont know whats going to happen, I dont know what Boris Johnsons going to do, but I see a bigger gap for insurgency today than I did before. Mr Farage later told GB News he had been in discussions with people very close to Mr Johnson about a coming together between the pair so they can defend their Brexit legacy. 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 governments new small boats bill could lead to asylum seekers taking more dangerous routes to the UK, benefit people smugglers and worsen trafficking, a parliamentary report has found. An inquiry by the cross-party Joint Committee on Human Rights said the government had not provided any evidence backing its claim that the Illegal Migration Bill would deter Channel crossings. Its damning 152-page report also found that many of the bills provisions were unlawful, and its central aim to see small boat migrants detained and deported without considering their claims would deny refugees and modern slaves protection. Committee chair Joanna Cherry KC said it was overwhelmingly clear that the plans breach the European Convention on Human Rights, Refugee Convention and other international obligations. Most people fleeing persecution or conflict have no safe and legal way of getting here, she added. By treating victims of modern slavery as illegal migrants subject to detention and removal, this bill would breach our legal obligations to such victims and would risk increasing trafficking of vulnerable people. When the law was introduced to parliament, Suella Braverman made an unusual statutory declaration that she was unable to say it was compatible with the Human Rights Act, but she stated elsewhere that it was compatible with international law. The committee disagreed, and censured the home secretary for failing to appear before its inquiry, and for an unexplained six-week delay answering questions in writing. The joint committee finds that the scope of this duty is so broad that in practice it would remove the right to asylum for the vast majority of refugees coming to the UK, it said. The committee found that this would breach numerous legal obligations under the Refugee Convention, which guarantees the rights of refugees irrespective of how they arrived in the country, and would see the UK fail to play its part in the global system of refugee protection. Theresa May says small boats bill 'shuts door' to genuine victims The government has not yet published an official assessment of the bill, which has already been approved by the House of Commons and is being considered by the Lords. During a debate on Wednesday, peers accused ministers of pressuring them to pass laws that have no practical operability because the UK has insufficient detention capacity to hold all small boat migrants and returns agreements with only two countries. Government minister Lord Bellamy said people can only be deported to countries where Britain has struck an agreement to take them back, adding: That is not at present the case, except in relation to Rwanda, but it may in future be the case in relation to other countries. The Joint Committee on Human Rights said the majority of experts who provided evidence to its inquiry believed the bill would fail to achieve Rishi Sunaks stated aim of stopping the boats. Instead, they said it could lead to people attempting to come to the UK through more dangerous routes, which could both benefit people smugglers (who could charge more for their services) and lead to more people tragically losing their lives on those routes, the report added. We are concerned that the modern slavery provisions of the bill not only breach the UKs legal obligations towards victims, but may also result in the increase in trafficking and slavery. Rishi Sunak has claimed the bill will achieve his aim of stopping the boats (SBOC) Duncan Capps (PA) The bill would bar trafficking victims who arrive irregularly from receiving support and allow them to be deported while officials are still investigating potential abuse. It was introduced weeks after Ms Braverman delayed the appointment of an anti-slavery watchdog, and in the same month that the home secretary expanded the scope of the Rwanda deal to include modern slaves as well as asylum seekers. The committee also warned of the impact the law would have on children, pregnant women and vulnerable people, because of its creation of a legal duty to detain and deport all small boat migrants regardless of their need for protection. It called for 40 amendments to the bill, including stripping out the core removal duty or creating exemptions, stopping ministers from overriding the European Court of Human Rights, preventing the deportation of unaccompanied children, limiting detention and removing the power to seize all small boat migrants phones. 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, was reported missing from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve on 3 May 2007, a case still unsolved and still the subject of intense interest among the public and press. Her parents, Kate McCann 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. Follow all the latest updates on The Independents liveblog 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 Amelia and Sean 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. 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. Madeleine McCann (PA) 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. 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. Gerry and Kate McCann (PA) 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 (AFP/Getty) 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. Investigators explore the Barragem do Arade beauty spot (EPA) 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. Later that month, the case unexpectedly lurched back into life in when investigators launched a major search operation at a reservoir in the Algarve, with Mr Wolters saying they were acting on certain tips from Brueckner, whom the prosecutor said he remains very confident holds the key to Madeleines disappearance. With help from Portuguese police and with Scotland Yard detectives watching on, German investigators carried out a thorough examination of the Barragem do Arade beauty spot in Silves. They combed the shoreline and surrounding grasslands with sniffer dogs, rakes, spades and pickaxes and inspected the water in a rigid-hull inflatable boat. A no-fly zone was put in place in the skies overhead to allow police drones to survey the region undisturbed. The site is located approximately 30 miles northeast of the Ocean Club resort, from which the missing girl first disappeared. In their most recent update, the investigators said they were comparing soil samples from the reservoir with others taken from Brueckners VW camper van in an attempt to establish for certain that he was in the area during the timeframe of interest in order to try to close the net around him. 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 woman who died after being hit by Sophie Wessexs police escort shared a loving hug with her sister shortly before her death. Helen Holland, 81, had lunch with her older sister, Dorothy Phillips, on 10 May to celebrate Ms Phillipss forthcoming 89th birthday. As Ms Holland went to leave her sisters flat in Earls Court, the pair shared a loving hug that Ms Phillips said she will never forget. Within minutes of leaving the flat, Ms Holland was hit by a police motorcyclist escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh along West Cromwell Road in southwest London. A witness said she was thrown 40ft across the road. Despite being rushed to hospital, Ms Holland died two weeks later. We did have a hug, and thats awful for me because I feel if we hadnt had a hug maybe shed be alive, but then I wouldnt know. It was very, very loving. Ill never forget it, Ms Phillips told The Sunday Times. It was pretty rare because our side of the family was not a huggy one, so it was a lovely thing to happen really. She was looking round the room as if she was taking it all in again. The three hours that we spent together were a beautiful three hours. Ms Phillips only learned about the tragic incident hours later when she called to check whether her sister had made it to her home in Birchanger, Essex. Sophie Wessex was deeply saddened by the news (PA) During this time she was lying in the road, bleeding and I knew nothing about it, she said. Before her death, Ms Holland was perfectly mobile and fit, she said, and both of them had always been careful at the crossing as it can be dangerous. The crash left Ms Holland with multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries, which she sustained while using the safe route of [a] pedestrian crossing, her son Tom Holland said. She was placed in a coma but was left with irreversible brain damage, which led to her death a fortnight later, he added. The news emerged days after it was revealed that the police officer riding the motorbike that hit Ms Holland could face criminal charges. Police watchdog IOPC confirmed that the constable who was riding the vehicle is being investigated for offences including causing death by dangerous driving. The IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: Our thoughts remain with Ms Hollands family, friends and everyone affected by her death. This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision-making of the officer under investigation. We have been in regular contact with Ms Hollands family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses. At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings. The Duchess of Edinburgh has previously said she was deeply saddened by the news. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away. Her Royal Highnesss deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Hollands family. 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 parking firm has lost a court case against a woman it tried to fine after only sending her a letter in English. Elysteg Llwyd Thomas was initially sent a 60 fine in English after a stay at Lligwy beach in Anglesey, north Wales in August 2021. Ms Thomas, from Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd, offered to pay it but only if Simple Intelligent Parking Ltd corresponded with her in Welsh, including with a copy of the fine. Her request was ignored and the amount was progressively hiked to 160 by the time the case arrived at a civil court in Caernarfon. Sitting at the court, Judge Merfyn Jones-Evans rejected the firms application and issued a judicial warning that all signs in car parks in Wales should be bilingual. Referring to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, his ruling stated that notices in Welsh or English only were not sufficient notices in Wales. In court, Ms Thomas was represented by her father, Eifion Lloyd Jones, who is a member of Welsh-language campaign group Dyfodol ir Iaith. Mr Jones, from Prion, Denbighshire, said he hoped the ruling would lead to the end of Welsh people being penalised for asking for correspondence in Welsh. Despite this, he predicted the struggle will continue for a while yet. Dylan Rhys Jones, head of the School of Law at Wrexhams Glyndwr University, said he believed absolutely no precedent had been set by the case. He told the BBC: There can be another case heard next week and a decision to the contrary made. If people continue to challenge fines that are given in English only like this, and that companies realise that it is cheaper for them in a way to provide documentation in Welsh rather than going to court then it is going to be cheaper for them to provide documents in Welsh. The parking firm has since told Welsh broadcaster S4C Newyddion that it intended to appeal against the decision. A spokesman said: We are waiting for the written judgment so that we can take the appropriate steps. However, we anticipate that we will appeal against the decision as it is wrong according to the law. 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 Boris Johnson ally who quit the Commons in a reported row over a peerage has insisted that he will do his utmost to help Rishi Sunak win the next general election. Conservative Nigel Adams announced on Saturday that he was stepping down as Selby and Ainsty MP with immediate effect, becoming the third Tory to quit Westminster in the space of 24 hours. In a fuller statement released on Sunday, the ex-minister said he wanted to make clear that he remained committed to the governing party despite following Mr Johnsons lead in announcing his resignation. He said it was essential that the Prime Minister won the next election as he vowed to return a Tory MP in the by-election triggered by his own departure. It is essential that the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak win the next election and I will do my utmost to ensure that happens Nigel Adams, former Tory MP Mr Adams resignation came only a day after former prime minister Mr Johnson dramatically quit as an MP over complaints about the yet-to-be-published findings of a Commons partygate inquiry. Mr Adams was reportedly one of a number of Tory MPs, including Nadine Dorries and Sir Alok Sharma, who were put forward for a peerage by Mr Johnson in his resignation honours but did not feature in Fridays published list. Downing Street has denied taking any names off the list handed to the Prime Minister. In a post on LinkedIn, Mr Adams said: Further to my announcement to stand down from Parliament with immediate effect, I want to make clear that I remain committed to the Conservative Party and support this Government in its work to continue delivering on the issues that matter most to the British people. I have left Parliament to return to my private sector career but I will continue to make the case for Conservative values. It is essential that the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak win the next election and I will do my utmost to ensure that happens. I am also looking forward to helping our excellent new candidate, Michael Naughton, in the by-election and at the general election. He knows the area and was born in Selby. He has served our country well and I know he will serve our part of North Yorkshire well. The former Foreign Office minister also praised Mr Johnsons premiership, heralding his landslide 2019 election victory and response to both Covid and Russias invasion of Ukraine. He said the Leave campaigner had saved Brexit from attempts to thwart it. Mr Johnsons resignation honours included the appointment of seven new peers to the House of Lords, with Tory Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen among those to be given a seat in the upper chamber. The House of Lords Appointments Commission, which vets peerages, confirmed on Sunday that it did not support eight nominees submitted by Mr Johnson. A spokeswoman told the PA news agency it was a point of principle for the commission that those approved for a Lords appointment cannot be sitting MPs. 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 }} A committee of British lawmakers said Sunday that the U.K. will break its international human rights commitments if it goes through with government plans to detain and deport people who cross the English Channel in small boats. Parliaments Joint Committee on Human Rights said the Illegal Migration Bill breaches a number of the U.K.s international human rights obligations and risks breaching others. Scottish National Party lawmaker Joanna Cherry, who chairs the committee, said the law would leave most refugees and victims of modern slavery with no way of seeking asylum in Britain. By treating victims of modern slavery as illegal migrants subject to detention and removal, this bill would breach our legal obligations to such victims and would risk increasing trafficking of vulnerable people, she said. The committee urged the government to make sweeping amendments to the bill, including exempting trafficking victims and curbing the governments power to detain people indefinitely. The government, which had pledged to stop the boats, is unlikely to heed the recommendations. The legislation bars asylum claims by anyone who reaches the U.K. by unauthorized means, and compels officials to detain and then deport refugees and migrants to their home country or a safe third country, such as Rwanda. Once deported, they would be banned from ever re-entering the U.K. Britains Conservative government says the law will deter tens of thousands of people from making perilous journeys across the Channel and break the business model of the criminal gangs behind the trips. Critics, including the United Nations refugee agency, have described the legislation as unethical and unworkable. The parliamentary committee questioned whether the law would act as a deterrent and said it could lead to people taking other, potentially more dangerous, routes into the UK. The bill has been approved by the House of Commons, where the governing Conservatives have a majority, but is facing opposition in Parliaments upper chamber, the House of Lords. The Lords can amend the legislation but not block it. More than 45,000 people, including many fleeing countries such as Afghanistan, Iran and Syria, arrived in Britain in small boats last year, up from 8,500 in 2020. The government has housed many of those awaiting asylum decisions in hotels, which officials say costs taxpayers millions of pounds (dollars) a day. Authorities have said they plan to place new arrivals in disused military camps and a barge docked on the southern English coast. ___ Follow APs coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration 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 }} Nicola Sturgeon has said she is innocent of any wrongdoing following her arrest by police investigating allegations of financial misconduct at the Scottish National Party. The former first minister was held in custody and questioned as a suspect by detectives looking into claims that 600,000 in donations for an independence campaign was misspent by the party. She was later released without charge pending further investigation. Following her release, she released a defiant statement protesting her innocence in the strongest possible terms. Ms Sturgeon said that the arrest was both a shock and deeply distressing. She continued: Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing. She thanked her close circle of family and friends who are giving me much-needed strength at this time. Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down in February after eight years leading the Scottish government, is the third high-profile SNP figure to be arrested as part of Operation Branchform, the Police Scotland name for the investigation into Scotlands governing party. Ms Sturgeons detention comes after her husband Peter Murrell was arrested at the home they share in Uddingston near Glasgow on 5 April. He was interviewed under caution for nearly 12 hours before he too was released without charge. Colin Beattie, an MSP who was then the partys treasurer, was also arrested and questioned as part of the same investigation on 18 April. He was also released later without charge, pending further investigation. Opposition parties seized on the news. The Scottish Conservatives urged SNP first minister Humza Yousaf to suspend Ms Sturgeon from the party, while Labour branded the arrest deeply concerning. Just hours before Ms Sturgeons arrest, Scotlands first minister Mr Yousaf had told the BBC she was in a good place and doing well, adding he welcomed advice from one of the best politicians, the most impressive politicians, Europe has seen over the last couple of decades. A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon confirmed she was cooperating with the investigation and said: Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11 June, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform. Nicola has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so. Ms Sturgeon announced she was planning to step down as first minister on 15 February, saying that in my head and in my heart she knew it was the right time. She said the decision may seem sudden but that it was based on a deeper and longer-term assessment. A spokesperson for the SNP said: These issues are subject to a live police investigation. The SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing. A statement issued by Police Scotland issued on Sunday afternoon said: A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday 11 June 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media. As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further. Labours shadow Scottish secretary, Ian Murray, said the arrest was a deeply concerning development, adding that for too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 6 July 2023 Queen Camilla during a visit to Lochcarron of Scotland at the Waverley textile mill in Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, as part of the first Holyrood Week since the King's coronation. PA UK news in pictures 5 July 2023 Anti-monarchy protesters hold placards near the St Giles Cathedral on the day of the National Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving for Britains King Charles, in Edinburgh Reuters UK news in pictures 4 July 2023 Andy Murray celebrates break point against Ryan Peniston in their mens singles first round match at Wimbledon Getty UK news in pictures 3 July 2023 A cigar smoked by Winston Churchill, which is expected to fetch 600-800 is pictured on his statue in Westerham, Kent PA UK news in pictures 2 July 2023 Englands Ben Stokes hits a six off the bowling of Australias Josh Hazlewood during the last day of the second Ashes test at Lords Cricket Ground in London Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 1 July 2023 Pata Yamaha Prometeon rider Toprak Razgatiloglu followed by Aruba.It Racing - Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista (right) during the World SBK race 1 on day two of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 at Donington Park, Derby PA UK news in pictures 30 June 2023 Rembrandt Harmenszs Portrait of Jan Willemsz, van der Pluym and Jaapgen Carels is held by gallery staff, during a photo call for highlights from the forthcoming Classic Week Sales, at Christies, London. PA UK news in pictures 29 June 2023 A visitor walks through a part of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusamas installation You, Me and The Balloons during a preview ahead of the start of the Manchester International Festival Reuters UK news in pictures 28 June 2023 England player Jonny Bairstow carries a Just Stop Oil pitch invader during day one of the second Ashes Test at Lords Cricket Ground Getty UK news in pictures 27 June 2023 A Dolly Parton impersonator banned from Facebook protests outside the offices of parent company Meta in Kings Cross, London, as part of their Stop Banning Us appeal Lucy North/PA UK news in pictures 26 June 2023 Glastonbury site clean-up operation in progress PA UK news in pictures 25 June 2023 Lil Nas X performs on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 June 2023 Chemical Brothers perform beneath the Arcadia spider in the very early morning at the Glastonbury Festival PA UK news in pictures 23 June 2023 A performer entertains festivalgoers in the circus field at Glastonbury festival AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 June 2023 Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Racecourse AP UK news in pictures 21 June 2023 Katherine Jenkinson from Carlisle with her jersey calf in the wash bay at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh, ahead of the Royal Highland Show PA UK news in pictures 20 June 2023 The sunrises at 04.25am at St Marys Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, on the North East coast of England, the day before Summer Solstice the longest day of the year PA UK news in pictures 19 June 2023 The King and Queen depart the annual Order of the Garter Service PA UK news in pictures 17 June 2023 Typhoon fighter jets fly over The Mall after the Royal family attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, as King Charles III celebrates his first official birthday since becoming sovereign. PA UK news in pictures 16 June 2023 A peregrine falcon nesting at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park PA UK news in pictures 15 June 2023 Newborn alpaca Sir Steveo, who has been named after one of his keepers, ventures outside in the Pets Farm area of Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling PA UK news in pictures 14 June 2023 Grace Kumars father and Barnaby Webbers brother, Charlie, embrace ahead of a vigil at the University of Nottingham after they and Ian Coates were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks on 13 June PA UK news in pictures 13 June 2023 Police forensics officers on Ilkeston Road PA UK news in pictures 12 June 2023 People relax in a suspended swimming pool as hot weather continues, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 11 June 2023 Usain Bolt and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning Soccer Aid 2023 Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 10 June 2023 A cyclist trains in the early morning, as hot weather continues, in Richmond Park, London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 June 2023 A performer walks on a tightrope at Covent Garden during a sunny day in London AP UK news in pictures 8 June 2023 A women rides her horse through the river during the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 7 June 2023 The Princess of Wales during a game of walking rugby during her visit to meet local and national male rugby players at Maidenhead Rugby Club PA UK news in pictures 6 June 2023 An aerial view shows the dry bed of Woodhead Reservoir, revealed by a falling water level after a prolonged period of dry weather, near Glossop, northern England AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 5 June 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover PA UK news in pictures 4 June 2023 A hot air balloon rises into the sky above Ragley Hall, Alcester, south of Birmingham in central England AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 June 2023 Skaters use the mini ramp at the Wavelength Spring Classic festival in Woolacombe Bay in Devon PA UK news in pictures 1 June 2023 The And Beyond installation, during a photo call for the London Design Biennale at Somerset House in London PA UK news in pictures 31 May 2023 Emergency services attending to a blaze at a derelict listed building in Samuel Street, Belfast PA UK news in pictures 30 May 2023 A robot named Stella interacts with visitors during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation ICRA in London AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2023 Dave Hackett and his daughter Daisy, five, explore the laburnum arch in the grounds of Preston Tower, East Lothian, in the warm Spring Bank Holiday weather PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2023 Great Britains Nick Bandurak scores their sides third goal of the game during the FIH Hockey Pro League mens match at Lee Valley, London PA UK news in pictures 27 May 2023 People enjoy the sunny weather at a park in London AP UK news in pictures 26 May 2023 People drink coffee inside Daleks during MCM Comic Con at the ExCel London in east London PA UK news in pictures 25 May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a visit to Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2023 Horses enjoy the sunny weather on Middleham Gallops in North Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2023 An aerial view of a yellow rapeseed field in Hemel Hempstead, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 22 May 2023 Manoj Malde and Clive Gillmor kiss after getting married, the first wedding ever at the Chelsea Flower Show AP UK news in pictures 21 May 2023 People enjoy the warm weather as they take punt tours along the River Cam in Cambridge PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2023 Protesters emerge from the sea as Surfers Against Sewage hold a UK-wide paddle-out protest at Brighton West Pier in East Sussex PA UK news in pictures 19 May 2023 Good Karma ridden by Daniel Muscutt (right) wins the Earl & The Pharaoh Novice Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire PA UK news in pictures 18 May 2023 Choristers from the Choir of St Johns College at the University of Cambridge look out from the top of the Chapel Tower before performing the Ascension Day carol - a custom dating back to 1902. PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2023 Oxfam activists wearing 'big heads' of G7 leaders during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, highlighting their lack of action to tackle the East Africa hunger crisis ahead of the start of the G7 summit in Japan PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2023 Part of a childs jacket during a photo call for the Chinas hidden century exhibition, which opens at the British Museum PA Mr Murray, whose party is hoping to make gains at the general election off the back of a narrowing poll lead, added: The same culture that leads to police tents in front gardens created the deeply dysfunctional government that is currently failing Scots. Humza Yousaf must urgently come clean on what he knows the people of Scotland deserve answers. Scottish Conservative chair Craig Hoy said: Nicola Sturgeon and other senior SNP figures including Humza Yousaf must cooperate fully with this police investigation and commit to full transparency surrounding it. The SNP continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor from the SNP. The SNP set that precedent when politicians such as Michelle Thomson and Natalie McGarry were under investigation and must do so again here. This extremely serious matter is continuing to escalate and the result is that the SNP are totally distracted at the worst possible time. This is the time they should be focused on the real priorities facing the people of Scotland, such as the cost of living crisis, fixing our NHS and strengthening our economy. 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 }} Police Scotlands investigation into alleged financial irregularities within the Scottish National Party (SNP), known as Operation Branchform, has taken a further twist after Nicola Sturgeon was arrested. Police Scotland said the former SNP leader, who quit in February, was held custody and questioned by detectives before being released without charge on Sunday (June 11). A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said she attended an interview by arrangement with Police Scotland, where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform. Nicola has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so, the spokesperson said. The former first ministers arrest comes after her husband Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, was arrested in April, just weeks after he had resigned his post. He was released without charge pending further enquiries as police searched several properties and seized a luxury mobile home from the driveway of Mr Murrells 92-year-old mother in Fife. MSP Colin Beattie was later arrested while in the role of party treasurer but released without charge pending further enquiry. He stepped down from his role. It had been widely expected that Ms Sturgeon, who continues to be the MSP for Glasgow Southside, would be quizzed by police as part of the probe. She has also pledged to fully cooperate with the investigation. But the affair still represents an ignominious fall from grace for Scotlands first female and longest-serving first minister just months after she announced her resignation, with Humza Yousaf since elected to succeed her. The party in power in Scotland now appears to be haemorrhaging support as Mr Yousaf tries desperately to steady the ship, taking charge of the SNPs finances himself since Mr Beatties resignation and reassuring his supporters the party does not face bankruptcy. Were definitely not facing bankruptcy, Im pleased to say we are on a steady footing when it comes to the partys finances, he said, I dont think parliament is the place to do a statement on the partys finances... Ive, of course, instructed the governance and transparency review, and when the report comes in on that review, Ill make that public. Here, we look back at the origins of the inquiry. Police Scotland first launched its investigation into potential criminality within the SNPs fundraising in July 2021 after a formal complaint was filed in March that year by party activist Sean Clerkin, who alleged that around 666,953 in donations raised since 2017 for a second independence referendum campaign had been spent on other things, contrary to promises made to supporters. In the months preceding the announcement of the probe, several senior figures including SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman and MSP Joanna Cherry quit the partys national executive committee (NEC). Mr Chapman had complained that a lack of transparency about the finances had prevented him from carrying out his fiduciary duties. Asked about the affair by STV in June 2021, Ms Sturgeon said: Im not concerned about the partys finances. The finances of the SNP are independently audited... so theres full scrutiny around that. Money hasnt gone missing... We dont hold separate accounts, were under no legal requirement to do that, our accounts are managed on a cash flow basis. By May 2022, the inquiry had been given the codename Operation Branchform but frustration over the apparent slow pace of its progress began to be expressed, with Mr Clerkin calling on police to step up their efforts. The following December, it emerged that Mr Murrell had given a personal loan of 107,620 to the SNP in June 2021, which was paid to help out the party with a cash flow issue after the last Holyrood election, the SNP said. No interest was being charged by Mr Murrell and 47,620 had been repaid in two instalments in August and October of 2021, Electoral Commission records revealed. Mr Yousaf has since confirmed that the party still owes the remainder of the loan, presumably around 60,000, to its former chief executive. Police searched the South Lanarkshire home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell (PA) Mr Clerkin lodged a fresh complaint with Police Scotland in January 2023 after it emerged that the SNPs leadership had still not been questioned 18 months on from the inquirys launch, prompting the force to ask the Crown Office, the Scottish prosecution service, for advice and direction in the case. On 15 February, Ms Sturgeon unexpectedly announced her resignation as first minister and SNP leader after eight years in power. In an emotional address from Bute House in Edinburgh, she spoke candidly about her time in office and the stresses of the job but declined to be drawn on the investigation when asked by one reporter, saying only, as she gathered her notes: Im not going to discuss an ongoing police investigation. I wouldnt do it on any issue and Im not going to do it now. Six weeks later, after the conclusion of the election race to find her successor ended with Mr Yousafs victory over Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, the investigation returned squarely to the spotlight with the arrest of Mr Murrell. Officers also carried out searches at a number of addresses as part of the investigation, including the South Lanarkshire home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh, culminating in the confiscation of the campervan, which insiders said had been bought by the SNP for use as a campaign battle bus. Following Mr Murrells release, Mr Yousaf came under pressure to suspend his predecessor after Scotlands Sunday Mail reported that detectives had been handed emails showing Ms Sturgeon quashed the idea of appointing a fundraising manager in June 2021, also publishing a video of her telling the NEC there were no problems with the SNPs finances, dismissing concerns. Mr Beattie was arrested and released in April and later resigned after the best part of two decades as party treasurer. Ms Sturgeon was arrested on 11 June, as part of a pre-arranged interview with police, in what is unlikely to be the last development in the saga. 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 }} Four children who survived a plane crash have been found alive after being lost in the Colombian jungle for 40 days, according to the countrys president. Gustavo Petro announced that the four siblings who disappeared after a plane they were on went down in the Amazon rainforest had survived their ordeal and were receiving medical treatment. A joy for the whole country! The 4 children who were lost 40 days ago in the Colombian jungle appeared alive, Mr Petro tweeted on Friday. The president said the youngsters, who were found alone, are an example of survival and predicted their saga will remain in history. The siblings 13-year-old Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, nine-year-old Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, four-year-old Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, and 11-month-old Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy were travelling in a Cessna 206 plane when it crashed on 1 May near the Guaviare province. Their mother Magdalena Mucutuy, the planes pilot, died in the accident but the children were nowhere to be found, according to the Colombian Air Force. Una alegria para todo el pais! Aparecieron con vida los 4 ninos que estaban perdidos hace 40 dias en la selva colombiana. pic.twitter.com/cvADdLbCpm Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 9, 2023 Days into the initial search Mr Petro announced that the minors had been located and were in good health. But hours later, he walked back that assertion, clarifying that the Air Force and indigenous communities had established contact with the children, but that their location remained unknown. Ms Mucutuy was travelling with her children to Bogota to meet her husband Manuel Ranoque and start a new life together. A soldier stands in front of the wreckage of a Cessna C206 that crashed in the jungle of Solano in the Caqueta state of Colombia in May According to El Tiempo, Mr Ranoque, who is related to a local political leader, previously lived in the indigenous reserve of Puerto Sabalo with his family. Scenes from the Amazon rescue attempts (Aeronautica Civil de Colombia ) He had to flee the community on foot after receiving threats from crime groups operating in the area. Mr Ranoque completed his odyssey through the jungle and eventually arrived in Bogota. Magdalena mucutuy died in the crash. Her four children survived, says the countrys president (OPIAC Amazonia/Twitter) He reportedly found a job and saved money for a month and a half to afford his familys transport from their remote community to the Colombian capital. The search for the children has captivated Colombia during the 40 days since they vanished after surviving the crash. Mr Petro told reporters that the children were alone when they were found, according to the AP. On 1 May, the plane carrying six passengers in addition to the pilot suffered an engine failure and declared an emergency. After the plane fell off the radar, the search for any survivors started. The plane wasnt found until two weeks later on 16 May in the rainforest. The remains of the three adults on the plane were located, but the children werent there. The Colombian armed forces flew 150 soldiers with dogs to the area to search for the siblings with dozens of volunteers from Indigenous tribes also joining the search efforts. As they searched in areas with low visibility because of the forest and mist, soldiers in helicopters dropped boxes of food into the jungle for the children to hopefully find. At night, planes fired flares to help ground crews search, and megaphones were used with a recording by the childrens grandmother telling them to stay in one place. At one point, rumours emerged concerning the childrens location and Mr Petro tweeted on 18 May that they had been found but soon deleted the message, saying that he had been misinformed by one of the government agencies. The children were travelling with their mother from Araracuara, a village in the Amazon, to San Jose del Guaviare, a small city on the outskirts of the rainforest. The children are a part of the Huitoto people, with officials saying that the oldest siblings have a level of understanding of how to survive in the forest. The president said on Friday following the finding of the children that for a time he thought that they had been rescued by one of the nomadic tribes that still travel through the jungle with little interaction with the authorities. During the search, signs that the children were alive appeared, including footprints, a baby bottle, diapers, and fruit with what appeared to be human bite marks. The jungle saved them, Mr Petro said, according to the AP. They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia. 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 chorus of cheers erupted along the Pikes Peak Pride parade route on Sunday as grand marshal Richard Fierro the local brewery owner and Army veteran who famously tackled the Club Q shooter banged a drum and waved at the rainbow-clad crowd celebrating Colorado Springs LGBT+ community less than seven months after it was attacked. The city showed up in full force for the first Pride since the November massacre which left five dead including Raymond Green Vance, the boyfriend of Mr Fierros daughter. The names and photos of the victims were front and centre throughout the weekends festivities: Daniel Aston, 28; Kelly Loving, 40; Ashley Paugh, 35; Derrick Rump, 38; and Mr Vance, the youngest at just 22. Their family members and other survivors were also marching at the front of the parade on Sunday, one day after Colorado Springs residents gathered for a memorial and commemoration ceremony at the citys Alamo Square Park. Volunteer Terhesa Phillips was standing in the gazebo on Sunday at the park, which marked the parade route end, offering people the chance to write a message to be included on the memorials panels. It just hits a little heavier today, said the 28-year-old, adding that the volunteer coordinator warned the duties would be really heavy lifting on the heart. Pikes Peak Pride attendees were invited to write messages to add to a memorial for the victims of the November Club Q shooting (Sheila Flynn) Its super important to me to support my friends, because the majority of my friend group are queer or identify in that sort of way, and its important for me to be here and be very publicly on their side, Ms Phillips said. The first Pride festival since the massacre, she added, represented an important opportunity for the wider Colorado Springs community to mark its support and inclusivity. I think a lot of us feel like it, and we have to show them what side were on and its the only side to be on, Ms Phillips said. The full weight of this years festivities was not lost upon the organisers. Every year, we do our best to pull off the very best events that we possibly can, but this year is especially important, of course, Gretchen Pressley, the festivals director of communications and marketing, told The Independent, less than 24 hours before the weekends events began. Not only is it the first Pride after the Club Q tragedy that happened to our community in November, but across the nation, we are just seeing so much anti-LGBTQ legislation sweeping our nation. And so, even though here in Colorado we feel so lucky to have a state that cares about us, that is setting up safe legislation for us, we know that so many of our friends in other states are not so lucky. Erin Retka attended the Colorado Springs Pride parade with her five-year-old son, Oscar (Sheila Flynn) Ms Pressler added: We really want this particular Pride to be a huge moment of healing for our community. We want to remember those we lost; we want to recognise the survivors; we want to recognise the heroes; and we just want to continue standing together and helping everyone through their healing journey. Safety concerns, however, were top of mind. Especially after Club Q, we have worked extensively with the Colorado Springs Police Department and other security forces to do pretty much constant sweeps of the area, she said. We also made the decision to have an open Pride. We considered putting up barriers and having entrances, but that would restrict the entrances and exits in case there is a problem. Mother-of-two Erin Retka, who was setting up to watch the parade more than an hour early with her five-year-old, had a hard conversation about if it was going to be safe to even come out with her husband. Club Q on 11 June. (Sheila Flynn) We ultimately decided that that makes it all the more important for us to be here and be visible and supporting this community and making sure that we are part of creating that safety and that theyre not kind of bullied back into the shadows, she told The Independent. A few blocks away across the street, another mother felt similarly. April Lavely-Robinson, 39, was attending the parade with not only her own children but also her mother and sister, who is gay. They stood proudly alongside a sign reading: I promise to teach my babies to love your babies. An annual Pride attendee, Ms April Lavely-Robinson said that today is going to be more emotional. April Lavely-Robinson, 39, and her mother, Robbie, attended Pikes Peak Pride as a family event on Sunday (Sheila Flynn) It already has been for me, she told The Independent, tearing up behind her sunglasses. I saw the names of the victims of the Club Q shooting, and I got choked up. The shooting hit home, and the Club Q, Ive been going there since I was a teenager ... I couldnt believe that this happened in my home, in our place of community and safety. I think its going to be emotional, this today, and good it should be, she said. Im getting choked up now. We should grieve because were angry. That undercurrent of outrage and defiance was bolstered in Colorado Springs during Pride weekend by an outpouring of positivity and love. Virginia Dunn, standing at the end of the parade route, joined other parents in a booth offering free mom hugs. I have children, nieces, nephews that are part of the [LGBT+] community, she told The Independent. And I think more parents should support their children regardless of who they are ... more people in the community than you would think have families that dont support them, and so theres a lot of tears from people who dont have a mom, per se, or a dad or a grandma who can come out and give them those hugs. Following the Club Q shooting, she said, Colorado Springs needed Pride more than ever now. I think that this community is really showing up big this weekend just to prove that we are there for our whole community, regardless of who they are, she said. Virginia Dunn was offering free hugs at the end of the Pikes Peak Pride parade route on Sunday (Sheila Flynn) Music blared and parade-goers danced as flags swirled around her just miles from the site of the November shooting. Club Q remains closed, its cordoned-off parking lot adorned with flowers and messages. Plans and fundraising are underway for a permanent tribute. For many including the grand marshal Pikes Peak Pride offered an important and visible opportunity to showcase the strength of Colorado Springs and its diverse residents. Its a mark of kind of a restart, Mr Fierro told The Independent on Friday. I think this is a good moment for everybody to come out, show support, let the LGBTQ community in the Springs know that theyre welcome, that nobody has hate for them, and were all safe again. Weve got to keep that mentality, because, at the end of the day, you cant always fear. You have to get to live in the present. So thats the goal. The festival organisers echoed his words as did the theme of 2023 Pikes Peak Pride itself. Our theme this year is the power of Pride and what that means to us is that we are stronger when we stand together and when we come together for a common goal, communications director Pressley said. Were here to support each other. Were here to fight for each other. Were here to love each other and continue that love in the face of all hatred. 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 mother has been arrested for the murder of her toddler three years after claiming that the one-year-old died after getting stuck in a couch. Brandy Lynn Parker, 39, was arrested on Wednesday morning and charged with one count of felony murder and one count of child abuse and neglect resulting in serious injury, according to Law & Crime. The Lynchburg Police Department said in a press release that officers responded to a 911 call at around 10.40am on 23 January 2020 about an infant being discovered not breathing at an apartment building on Terre Drive. Ms Parker was later identified as having made the call. When officers arrived, they continued the life-saving efforts begun by Ms Parker until the arrival of the Lynchburg Fire Department, who attempted to save the child, taking the toddler to Lynchburg General Hospital in an ambulance. Not long after the child got to the hospital, the toddler was pronounced dead. A search warrant was issued for a blood sample to be taken from Ms Parker. The warrant states that Ms Parker called 911, saying that her other child, aged two, fell asleep on top of the [victim] on the couch. Parker allegedly added that she located the victim stuck in the couch. After taking the victim to the hospital, officers still at the scene said they detected the odour of alcohol coming from Parker. The mother said she had been drinking the evening before. Child Protective Services (CPS) was called in. Ms Parker agreed to take a preliminary blood test conducted by the agent from CPS, showing that she had a blood alcohol content of 0.14. The authorities took a blood sample from Ms Parker for testing, saying that it was due to the fact she was the sole caretaker of the [victim] and two-year-old at the time of the infants death. According to the warrant, police also took a bottle, blanket, formula, two onesies, and swabs of the suspected area of death during their investigation at the residence. Ms Parker is held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail without bond.. 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 }} Watch as Donald Trumps supporters gather after he was indicted on 37 counts. The indictment, filed on 8 June in US District Court in Florida, includes more than two dozen counts of illegally withholding classified documents under the Espionage Act. In the past weeks, federal law enforcement was able to retrive mounds of boxes with sensitive government documents from his primary residence in the notorious Mar-a-Lago resort. Photographs in an unsealed indictment released on 9 June showed stacks of them on a ballroom stage and gilded bathroom with a chandelier. Despite the charges, Donald Trump has pledged to continue his 2024 presidential campaign even if he is convicted of a felony. The former president took the stage at state Republican conventions in Georgia and North Carolina where he called his recent indictment a travesty of justice and repeated unsupported conspiratorial claims that Joe Biden had stashed secret documents in Washington DC. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} One of Donald Trumps most loyal champions in the House of Representatives battled a CNN reporter on Sunday over whether all the documents retained without the consent of the National Archives at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate were declassified. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Oversight Committee, appeared on CNNs State of the Union for an interview with Dana Bash. During the interview, the two disagreed over whether Mr Trump himself had admitted that some of the documents he retained were still classified, which statements cited by the Justice Department in his indictment suggest was the case. In this indictment, he states on at least one occasion that he did not declassify the information, Bash told the Republican congressman in the interview. Mr Jordan responded, however, by pointing to numerous public statements by the former president insisting otherwise, an apparent contradiction of the statements cited by the DoJ in the agencys investigation. Dana, he has said time and time again that he declassified all this material, Mr Jordand responded. He later added: I go on the president's word and he said he did. Its an interesting defence of the former presidents remarks, given that Mr Trump has a long and well-documented history of spreading false claims and misinformation. Most recently, the twice-impeached ex-president has been reported, according to The New York Times, to have told supporters at his events at Mar-a-Lago that he will be reinstated as president in some sort of vindication of his (also false) claims that the 2020 election was rigged. Mr Jordan has long been a defender of the former president amid his various legal escapades, a role more establishment-aligned Republicans (especially those in the Senate) have shunned. In recent weeks he has sought to use his powerful chairmanship of the Oversight Committee to impose an investigation on the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in response to that offices prosecution of Mr Trump for falsifying business records in connection to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Mr Trump was charged with 34 criminal counts in that case earlier this year; he now additionally faces 37 felony counts brought by the US Department of Justice. 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 welcomed hundreds to the White House for a delayed Pride Month celebration aiming to demonstrate his administrations support for the LGBTQ+ community. Advocates have recently been warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses. The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from Canadian wildfires. But the haze that blanketed a huge swath of the East Coast this past week had lifted over the nation's capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party. So today, I want to send a message to the entire community especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You belong, Biden said. Pride Month is being celebrated this year as state lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights. That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill into that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that he was running for president. In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum last month signed a bill that prohibits public schools and government entities from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who like DeSantis has made culture issues a central part of his tenure as governor, joined the White House primary field. Josh Helfgott, an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the tide of legislation added another layer to this years celebrations. Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry, Helfgott said The other side is so loud, incredibly loud. Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India. Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, she said, she was shunned by family and society as a transgender person. Times were tough in the United States, too, she said. She was pushed out of a job after she came out, was homeless for a time, and took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States. Its a moment that we are going to cherish for a lifetime, said Rimi, an activist in San Franciscos LGBTQ+ community. "This is a joyful moment, but its also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do. 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 }} Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert has suggested that the Pentagon believes that shes a security threat. Apparently the Pentagon thinks Im a security threat because I oppose Bidens plans for a woke military. Call me whatever you want, but Im not backing down today or ever, she tweeted on Saturday. Author Kurt Eichenwald responded: Well, given that the Pentagon doesnt designate individuals as security threats, I highly doubt this. Another unconnected agency does that, but Im sure the minute I tell you which one, you will claim they have done it. Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson said: Bless your slow little heart. The Biden administration launched an initiative early on in its term attempting to combat extremism in the military, including individuals such as Jack Teixeira, an Air National Guardsman with past incidents of violent and racist acts who now stands accused of perpetrating one of the largest leaks of classified material in the modern history of the US. Two years have now passed since the Defense Department initiated its anti-extremism efforts, and the Countering Extremism Working Group has disappeared for unclear reasons, according to CNN. The network reported last month that the Pentagon abandoned the effort when faced with the political pressure coming from Republicans over wokeism in the military. Progressive political organisation Vote Vets told Ms Boebert on Twitter: Define woke, Lauren? Because it sounds like youre bashing the strongest military in the world. The fringe right wants to impose its extreme social agenda on our Military by alienating and kicking out LGBTQ+ Troops. Theyd sacrifice our security and Military for their extremism. No. They think that because your family life and your political affiliations with insurrectionists make you an obvious target for blackmail and manipulation. Also youre dumb, Hal Sparks wrote. In February, the White House avoided answering the question if President Joe Biden was woke, from James Rosen of Newsmax. And so, we hear so much talk about woke capitalism, a woke military, and so on. And by way of trying to clarify this for the American people, I wonder if we couldnt begin with a threshold question to wit is President Biden woke? he said. As a subtle sense of amusement spread in the press briefing room, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sidestepped the query. So, let me tell you what the president cares about and whats important to this president, she said. The president doesnt doesnt concern himself about what Republicans are trying to do in creating political stunts, in making an issue out of the things that they feel benefits them politically, not the American people, not what matters to the American people, but what benefits them politically for their own, for their own ability to move forward. So you wouldnt describe him as woke? Mr Rosen asked. Ms Jean-Pierre pressed on, saying that the GOP wanted to cut major social programmes, such as social security and Medicare. Thats not what were about, she said at the time. Were about fighting for these programmes. And thats what youre going to see from the president, and thats what he cares about. 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 }} Fox News host Mark Levin delivered an eight-minute on-air rant after news broke of Donald Trumps indictment over his alleged mishandling of classified papers. Appearing on Sean Hannitys segment on Thursday night, Mr Levin became irate as he accused the Biden administration of weaponising what he called the Department of Injustice to advance a criminal case against Mr Trump. None of the key players at the centre of the Palm Beach, Florida, case against the former president escaped the vicious rant. The radio personality especially honed in his criticism against US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Special Counsel Jack Smith, who Mr Levin branded a mob lawyer and a Soviet star prosecutor, respectively. This is a disgusting mark in history by these bandits in the White House, Mr Levin yelled to the camera. Joe Biden is the crookedest crook that has ever been in the oval office... Whats going on here is a disgusting disgrace and it is a war on Trump, a war on the Republican party, and a war on the Republic Mr Levin went as far as claiming that Thursday, 8 January, was the real insurrection, not the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol which put the lives of elected officials in danger and left five people dead all while unchallenged by Hannity. The host of Life, Liberty & Levin, who once claimed he would never support Mr Trump, continued to spew more accusations against the FBI, the DoJ, and the Biden administration. He noted he [doesnt] want to hear about the technicalities [in Trumps case] and his [alleged] obstruction, because it is a documents case and it should have never been criminalised. For what? For what? And they indict him today? And they indict him today in Miami? a flustered Mr Levin said. Dont be bamboozled by these cable channels and these fools telling you, Hes not above the law, Are you kidding me? Mr Trump faces seven criminal charges, including the willful retention of national defence information, obstruction of justice and conspiracy related to his alleged unlawful retention of national defence information at Mar-a-Lago. The scope of the evidence remains unclear as the indictment is under seal. Mr Trump has already been indicted in New York in connection to hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels. He faces more potential indictments in Georgia and Washington, DC, a prospect that could see him facing trial in four separate jurisdictions while running to return to the highest office in America. 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 }} Former President Donald Trump said Saturday night in North Carolina that he would endorse Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson for governor in a move many delegates expect will cement Robinson's place as the front-runner in a competitive GOP primary and propel him to the governor's office. Trump threw his support behind the similarly sharp-spoken Robinson at the state GOP convention in Greensboro during one of his first public appearances since he was hit this week with a historic indictment the first federal case against a former president. Trump said he would save his formal endorsement for another time but told Robinson from the stage, You can count on it, Mark. He referred to Robinson as one of the great stars of the party, one of the great stars in politics." The former president, meanwhile, faces 37 felony counts for improperly storing in his Florida estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides to help him hide records demanded by investigators and showing off a Pentagon plan of attack and a classified map. But several North Carolina delegates, who greeted the former president and 2024 GOP front-runner with roaring applause, dismissed the indictment as a bad-faith attack by President Joe Biden's administration to undercut his strongest competitor. Many Republican voters anticipate the indictment, which Trump called a travesty of justice, will boost his presidential campaign and boost Robinson's along with it. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Trump in that he doesnt pull any punches, said Mia Brydie, a 52-year-old GOP delegate from Greensboro. I admire him because hes a man that speaks for the people. Robinson was elected in 2020 as the states first Black lieutenant governor in his first run for public office. He would make similar history if he wins the governorship. Brydie, a Black woman, said she thinks Robinson is the best person to represent her and other Black and working-class families. Robinson released an autobiography last year that talked about a childhood of poverty and the various financial challenges he has faced as an adult. But some members of the party have questioned whether Robinson's long history of harsh comments which some women, Jewish people and members of the LGBTQ+ community have blasted as misogynistic, antisemitic and homophobic might hurt the party's chances of winning back the governorship in a closely divided state. Robinson's campaign did not immediately respond Saturday to email and phone messages seeking comment on the endorsement. Despite Republican success in controlling both chambers of the state legislature, the GOP has held the governors office just once since 1992 back in 2012. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has held the office since 2017, is term-limited and cannot run again in 2024. State Attorney General Josh Stein is the only prominent Democrat who has entered the race to succeed Cooper. His campaign spokesperson, Kate Frauenfelder, said she expects Trump's endorsement of Robinson will spur even more chaos in the already messy Republican primary. State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who is running against Robinson in the GOP primary, told The Associated Press by text message Saturday during Trumps speech that he never intended to ask for or receive the former presidents endorsement. Trump doesnt know me or my track record for governing or explaining conservatism without offending people, Folwell said. Charles Norwood, a delegate from Hampstead, said shortly before Trumps speech Saturday that he was undecided about which gubernatorial candidate to support. Robinson is very dynamic, Norwood said. But he and his wife, Lynn, said they were both leaning toward Folwell, who has impressed them during his time as state treasurer. Mark has got the enthusiasm, but he may be unfamiliar with the levers of power, Norwood said. He may not work the political system as well as he works the emotional system. Robinson, Norwood said, is not as politically sophisticated as Folwell. But the husband and wife agreed that Trumps endorsement of Robinson would be enough to sway them because Trumps going to be president, and the governor should be on his side," he said. Jonathan Bridges, a campaign spokesperson for former U.S. Rep Mark Walker, another GOP candidate for governor, said he fully anticipated Trumps expression of support for Robinson but expects he might not want to follow through once he learns more about the lieutenant governor. Jim Forster, an 81-year-old delegate from Guilford County, drew several parallels between Trump and Robinson, including their hardline conservative positions on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights and their uncensored approach to campaign speeches. Like Trump, Robinson is strong and aggressive, he said. He would make a lot of mistakes but would do a lot of good things, too, Forster said. He's loud, he's noisy, he's pushy and he's right that's what makes him special. ___ Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. ___ Associated Press writer Gary Robertson contributed from Raleigh. 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 production company of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck has asked the Trump campaign to stop using their work in the fundraising videos. Former President Donald Trump posted a video on Saturday on his Truth Social platform that included a monologue from the Amazon movie Air in which Mr Damon plays the Nike marketing and sales representative Sonny Vaccaro, a film directed by Mr Affleck. The film depicts the story of Nikes rise as a brand. Money can buy you almost anything, Mr Damon can be heard saying in the video as footage of Mr Trump is shown. It cant buy you immortality that you have to earn. The caption states MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and also has a link where supporters can donate to the campaign. The video was posted after an indictment of Mr Trump was unsealed on Friday afternoon, revealing that the ex-president has been charged on 37 counts in relation to his handling of classified national defence information after he left the White House in January 2021. A spokesperson for Mr Damons and Mr Afflecks production company Artists Equity told Axios that We had no foreknowledge of, did not consent to and do not endorse or approve any footage or audio from Air being repurposed by the Trump campaign as a political advertisement or for any other use. Specifically in terms of any and all rights available to us under US copyright law, we hereby, expressly give notice that in the case of any use of material from Air by the Trump campaign where approval or consent is required, we do not grant such consent, the spokesperson added. No matter how viciously they attack me, I will NEVER, EVER SURRENDER, Mr Trump said in a statement alongside the video. With your support, we will once again surge even higher and prove that our America First movement truly is UNSTOPPABLE. Mr Damon supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, later calling Mr Trumps response to the riots in Charlotteville, Virginia, which included white nationalists, absolutely abhorrent in scathing comments to The Hollywood Reporter. A lot of people, myself included, are really waking up to the extent of the existing racism, and its so much worse than I naively thought. I just feel naive at this point. It was shocking to see those kids they looked 20 and 30 years old in button-down shirts, with Tiki torches, walking down the street, he said at the time in 2017. I thought, Those people are a lot younger than me. Who raised them? Again, I naively thought that, behind our generation, [another one] was coming with more awareness and inclusiveness, and that everything was getting better with each generation. And to see these young, aggrieved, white boys walking with their torches and screaming Jews will not replace us! It was just shocking. Then the night that the president [made his] many sides comment was absolutely abhorrent, Mr Damon said about Mr Trump, who had claimed there were good people on both sides. In the monologue in Air used by the Trump team, Mr Damon says: People are going to build you up ... Because youre great. And new. We love you. Man, well build you into something that doesnt even exist ... But you know what? Once theyve built you as high as they possibly can, theyre going to tear you back down. 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 }} Any thought that Donald Trumps latest would dampen Republican primary voters enthusiasm for his candidacy was quickly dispelled by the overwhelming reception the former president received at the North Carolina Republican Convention in Greensboro. Before Mr Trump took to the stage, a video montage highlighted how the former president had faced multiple investigations, which it called persecution. When he took the stage at the Koury Convention Center on Saturday evening, he received a standing ovation. And rather than waving to the crowd or giving a thumbs up as he normally does, Mr Trump seemed to stand still as if to take in the wellspring of support from the GOP faithful. More tables were added to the ballroom for his speech than the night before, when Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, his chief 2024 GOP rival, spoke at the same event. Mr Trump has been on a pre-arraignment tour of sorts, having spoken in Georgia earlier on Saturday before his appearance in North Carolina. Mr Trump baselessly argued that Joe Bidens administration indicted him because Democrats do not want the current to run against him, despite the fact Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith to independently lead the investigation of Mr Trump specifically because he would be a future political candidate. They say well, we want to run against Trump, Mr Trump said. In the meantime, we got 5,000 prosecutors after us, because they dont want to run against me. The speech came days after a federal grand jury voted to indict the former president. The unsealed indictment accused Mr Trump of showing highly classified information to unauthorised people on two separate occasions first with a author and publisher who was writing a book with his former chief of staff, and a second time involving a map of an unnamed country and staff for his political action committee. People applaud as former President Donald Trump speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, June 10, 2023. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (AP) But throughout the weekend, Mr Trumps supporters said the indictment made them all the more likely to rally around him, just as the earlier indictment in New York City energised his base. Its the same old racket the Democrats have been pulling for him, Jim Forster told The Independent. They have never had a good thing to say about anybody. Patricia Koluch of Pender County told The Independent that she already supported Mr Trump but the indictment would make her more likely to get behind him. Oh, absolutely, 110 per cent now, she said and said it would get more Republicans behind him. It already has. So far, Mr Trumps numerous legal troubles have weighed down his political prospects. After the federal indictment, scores of Republican lawmakers attacked the Justice Department and crowed about a two-tiered system of justice. Mr Trumps poll numbers did not drop after his arraignment in Manhattan in April for charges related to his payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Nor did they deflate after a jury in New York found him liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of writer E Jean Carroll last month. Former US President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Trump on Saturday decried the investigation as tampering with elections. They just tried to stop our movement, they want to do anything they can to thwart the will of the American people its called election interference, Mr Trump told the crowd. Telia Kivett, the chairwoman of the Sampson County Republican Party, told The Independent that as a county party leader, she had to be neutral but she loved both Mr Trump and Florida Gov Ron DeSantis. But she said that the indictment if anything made Republicans more likely to support Mr Trump. The Democrats think that this is going to suppress voters, but it actually will embolden them, she said. Its making them angrier. Its making them see the government for what it really is. Ms Kivett said she thought that Mr Trump would be the next president. People cheer as former President Donald Trump speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, June 10, 2023. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (AP) Thats why theyre so against Trump, that hes put out everything, you know, as far as what was going on with the FBI, the Department of Justice, CIA, all of that, she said. Thats why they do not want Trump to run. Other elected officials threw their support behind Mr Trump. Rep Richard Hudson, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said he endorsed the former president, citing the fact that his wife worked in Mr Trumps administration. Similarly, the two other presidential candidates who appeared at the convention, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and former vice president Mike Pence, criticised the Justice Department for their pursuit of Mr Trump. Is there a different standard for a Democrat secretary of state versus a former Republican president, Mr DeSantis said during his speech on Friday evening. I think there needs to be one standard of justice in this country. Meanwhile, despite the fact Mr Pence attempted to draw a line between himself and Mr Trump, particularly when it came to Mr Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, Mr Pence criticised the Justice Department and Mr Smiths prosecution. Now, as I said earlier this week, I had hoped the Department of Justice would see its way clear to resolve the issues involving the former president without an indictment and Im deeply troubled to see this indictment move forward, he said, warning about its capacity to further divide our country at a time when the American people are stronger as never before. A woman holds a pro-life sign as she listen to Former US President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump speak at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) Throughout the weekend, many attendees continued to wear Trump memorabilia, and Mr Trumps endorsement continues to be coveted, as he said he planned to endorse Lt Gov Mark Robinsons gubernatorial campaign at a later date. Mr Trumps indictment also comes as a number of other Republicans have announced their candidacies. This week, Mr Pence, North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie all announced their campaigns for president of the United States, adding to an already crowded GOP field. But few voters seemed to express interest in other candidates and Mr Trump was introduced as the next president of the United States at the North Carolina event, despite the fact that several of his challengers also appeared over the weekend. 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 }} Former Trump administration attorney general Bill Barr gave a devastating analysis of the indictment against Donald Trump, his former boss, in an appearance on Fox News Sunday. Mr Barr said that if even half of what is alleged in the 49-page, 37-count document is true, then the former president is toast. Host Shannon Bream asked the former attorney general about the argument from Trump loyalists that the case should have been handled under the Presidential Records Act and not under the Espionage Act. Mr Barr explained that this all began under the Presidential Records Act with the National Archives trying to retrieve the documents that Mr Trump had no right to have. However, it quickly became apparent that the government was particularly worried about how sensitive the classified documents were. He continued by saying that their sensitivity and how many there were shocked him, and that because Mr Trump had wilfully retained those materials that made the counts under the Espionage Act solid. If even half of it is true, he is toast, the former attorney general told Bream. I mean, its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. Mr Barr also demolished claims that Mr Trump is some kind of victim being politically persecuted in a Democrat-led witch hunt. This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here or a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous, he said. Yes, hes been a victim in the past. His adversaries have obsessively pursued him with phony claims. And Ive been at his side defending against them when he is a victim. But this is much different. Hes not a victim here. Mr Barr continued: He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents. Those documents are among the most sensitive secrets that the country has. They have to be in the custody of the archivist. He had no right to maintain them and retain them. The former attorney general then reminded viewers of his history of sticking up for Mr Trump despite the current hostility the former president now has for him. Hes been angry with me for a while, Mr Barr told Bream. But you know, I defended the president on Russiagate. I stood up and called out Alvin Braggs politicised hit job. And I have spoken out for 30 years about the abuse of the criminal justice process to influence politics. He continued: But this is simply not true. In this particular episode of trying to retrieve those documents, the government acted responsibly. And it was Donald Trump who acted irresponsibly. In further remarks, he said that the entire classified documents case came about because of the reckless conduct of the former president, something he has said before. Mr Barr also noted: There are two big lies that are out there right now. One is that: oh, these other presidents took all these documents ... and the second thing is this idea that the president has complete authority to declare any document personal is facially ridiculous. The former attorney generals remarks did not go unnoticed by his former boss, who took to Truth Social calling him a gutless pig and telling his followers to turn off Fox News whenever Mr Barr is on as a guest. Virtually everyone is saying that the Indictment is about Election Interference & should not have been brought, except Bill Barr, a disgruntled former employee & lazy Attorney General who was weak & totally ineffective. He doesnt mean what hes saying, its just MISINFORMATION. Barrs doing it because he hates TRUMP for firing him. He was deathly afraid of the Radical Left when they said they would Impeach him. He knows the Indictment is Bull. Turn off FoxNews when that Gutless Pig is on! @realDonaldTrump Mr Barr had previously drawn the former presidents ire by predicting he would face charges over the classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. He also described it as a crisis of his own making. Mr Trump lashed out at him for those comments calling him sloppy and weak. The former attorney general has also warned that Mr Trump getting a second term as president would deliver chaos to the country. If you believe in his policies, what hes advertising as his policies, hes the last person that could actually execute them and achieve them, Mr Barr said at a City Club of Cleveland luncheon in Ohio in early May. 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 }} Former president Donald Trump delivered a defiant speech in North Carolina on Saturday night despite being indicted just days before, taking swipes at the Justice Department, the investigation that led to the indictment and even his Republican opponents. Mr Trump took the stage at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro for the North Carolina GOP Convention, where he received an overwhelming reception despite his increasing legal woes. The Independent first reported that the Justice Department was ready to seek an indictment agianst Mr Trump, who now faces 37 charges related to his improper handling of classified materials. A federal grand jury under the supervision of special c ounsel Jack Smith indicted Mr Trump on on a slew of charges, including showing highly classified information to unauthorised people on two separate occasions. Mr Trump proclaimed his innocence onstage in North Carolina, calling the indictment a plot by the radical left Democrats and their lawless partisan prosecutors. They say, well, we want to run against Trump, in the meantime, we got 5,000 prosecutors after us because they dont want to run against us, he said. We beat them the first time, we did much better the second time. The speech was Mr Trumps second in the day at a state party convention. Earlier in the day, he spoke at Georgias state party convention, where he excoriated Mr Smith and the probe that led to the former presidents second criminal indictment. Mr Trump called the indictment a witch hunt, like the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election as well as his first and second impeachment. Its called election interference, he said. Remember, its not me theyre going to go after when you think of it. Mr Trump then used his indictment to make the case that he is the best-qualified Republican because hes able to absorb the blows and scrutiny, arguing that other GOP hopefuls would not be able to stand the onslaught. That person will not be able to withstand the fire, he said. And they come to me, How do you stand this? And I usually look at them and say, In a sick way I sort of enjoy it. The former president criticised the media for not focusing on supposed corruption from President Joe Biden and his administration or the fact that President Joe Biden president found classified documents at the Biden Centre at the University of Pennsylvania and his private residence in Delaware. The difference between the incumbent president and his predecessor is that Mr Biden and his legal team quickly alerted the US government of the records and expedited their return. Mr Trump, according to prosecutors, went to great lengths to prevent the handover of classified material in his possession. As the 2024 GOP races comes into focus, Mr Trump also used the speech to attack his main rival for the Republican nomination, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, whom he has taken to calling Ron DeSanctimonious or DeSantus for short. We are leading Desanctimonious by massive numbers, he said. Hes heading south quickly. No personality. You gotta have a personality to win. Hes got no personality. The former president credited himself with getting Mr DeSantis elected governor in 2018 as he endorsed the then-congressman in the Republican gubernatorial primary that year. Mr Trumps words came despite the fact that Mr DeSantis decried the indictment of the former president, arguing that it showed a two-tiered system of justice. Earlier in the day, former president Mike Pence addressed a much smaller ballroom here, accusing Mr Trump of backing down from the fight against abortion despite the fact he nominated the justices who overturned Roe v Wade. But Mr Trump took credit for the victory of the conservative and anti-abortion movement. What I did by killing Roe v Wade, which everyone said was impossible, he said. Number one, we got it sent back to the states. And number two, and very importantly, I gave you power to negotiate. You had no power before. The former president repeated some of his more popular lines such as banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth and railing against vaccine mandates in schools. Mr Trump ended his speech with a defiant tone ahead of his court date in Miami next week. These radical left lunatics want to interfere with our elections using law enforcement, he said. Its totally corrupt and we cant let it happen. This is the final battle. 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 }} Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that counter-offensive actions are underway against Russian forces in an apparent confirmation of the long-awaited pushback of Putins troops. The Ukrainian president also had words for Vladimir Putin after his Russian opposite number claimed the long-expected counter-offensive was already failing. In a joint press conference with the Canadian prime minister in Kyiv, Mr Zelensky said: Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail. It is interesting what Putin said about our counter-offensive. It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion. He added, with a smile: They (the generals) are all in a positive mood. Pass that on to Putin. The prime minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands and hug (Getty Images) Mr Trudeaus visit had been unannounced and was the second such trip he had made to Kyiv since the start of the invasion in February 2022. The two leaders hugged each other at the end of the press conference. The prime minister of Canada added that he thought Russian forces had blown up the Kakhovka dam, although the Kremlin has blamed Ukraine for the destruction earlier in the week. The Canadian said: There is absolutely no doubt in our minds that the destruction of the dam was a direct consequence of Russias decision to invade a peaceful neighbour. Mr Zelensky also provided scant detail of the offensive in his nightly video message but urged troops to keep fighting. Ukraine's general staff said its forces had repelled enemy attacks around Bakhmut and Maryinka, sites of heavy clashes in the east. Russian forces, it said, "continue to suffer heavy losses which they are trying to conceal". Deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar made it plain on Telegram that the military would issue no statements until battlefield positions became clear. "Ask yourself this...am I prepared to receive information about the liberation of this or that town not when our troops enter it, but once they establish a stronghold?" she wrote. Also on Saturday, fifteen cars of an empty freight train derailed in Russia's southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine The local governor shared the news late on Saturday, adding there was no immediate information about the cause. "According to preliminary information, there are no casualties," Vyacheslav Gladkov, said on the Telegram messaging app. The accident happened near a train station in the Alexeyevsky municipal district and the train was empty, Reuters reported - although the news agency added it could not independently verify the report. 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 }} Some 40 kilometres of white sand lined with hotels stretches along Egypts Red Sea coast, making up the picturesque beach resort town of Hurghada, where tourists flock to dive in its sparkling blue sea. But beachgoers relaxing in the sun were jolted out of their contented torpor by a bloodcurdling scream of papa! coming from someone swimming out in the water. Horror descended on this peaceful scene as the blue waters of the Red Sea, just off Dream Beach, appeared to suddenly turn the colour of its name. Some 40 kilometres of white sand lined with hotels stretches along Egypts Red Sea coast, making up the picturesque beach resort town of Hurghada (Andrew Eames) A man, latterly identified as a 23-year-old Russian national, seemed to be thrashing about as he was pulled down into the water and then resurfaced, desperately fighting off a tiger shark in a brutal attack. In the disturbing nearly minute-long video taken from the beach, he also appears to scream out papa and cry out loudly as the shark repeatedly circles and comes back in to attack. Later in the footage, a witness is heard saying it is eating his remains now as a small ship sails in the distance. Tiger sharks are large species that reside in tropical and temperate waters and are among sharks most cited by the Florida Museum of Natural History in its International Shark Attack File (ISAF) for unprovoked attacks on humans. But shark attacks are generally rare overall, with confirmed unprovoked cases totalling 57 worldwide in 2022, according to the ISAF, which is lower than the most recent five-year (2017-21) average of 70 incidents annually. Shark attacks are generally rare overall, with confirmed unprovoked cases totalling 57 worldwide in 2022, according to the ISAF (The Independent/Datawrapper) Meanwhile, the database suggests those that end in a fatality are even rarer, numbering just five of last years figure, which is roughly in line with the five-year global average of six unprovoked fatalities per year. It adds there were an additional four shark-related deaths in 2022 that were classed as provoked. However, the ISAF notes two of those unprovoked killings happened in Egypts waters, making it the highest, joint with South Africa, for fatal cases last year. It states two was also the countrys total figure for unprovoked shark bites, which means all attacks there resulted in death. Although there were 41 unprovoked shark bites in the USA in 2022, the database shows only one resulted in death, while of the nine people who were bitten in Australia, all survived. The ISAF notes two of the global total of unprovoked killings last year happened in Egypts waters, making it the highest, joint with South Africa, for fatal cases (The Independent / Datawrapper) Egypts Red Sea resorts, including Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, boast some of the countrys most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European tourists. Divers are attracted by the steep drop-offs of coral reefs just offshore, which offer a rich and colourful sea life. Yet these tourist hotspots also seem to attract aggressive sharks. The two unprovoked fatal attacks that happened in Egypt in 2022 both took place in Hurghada, when an Austrian and a Romanian tourist were killed within days of each other. Tiger sharks are large species that reside in tropical and temperate waters and are among sharks most cited by the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) for unprovoked attacks on humans (Getty Images/iStockphoto) In July last year, 68-year-old Austrian Elisabeth Sauer, a former councillor, was snorkelling when she was believed to have been attacked by a Mako or Oceanic whitetip shark in front of horrified onlookers, telling her husband Ill go back in for a moment just before she was mauled. The second woman, identified as a Romanian national aged in her 40s, is believed to have been similarly killed just 650ft away, with reports her terribly disfigured remains were found on a nearby reef the same day. Former Austrian councillor Elisabeth Sauer, 68, died in a shark attack while snorkelling near Hurghada in Egypt (Die Grunen Kramsach) And, in previous years, a Czech tourist was killed by a shark off a Red Sea beach in 2018, while a German tourist was similarly killed in 2015. A particularly frightening spate of attacks was the five that happened in five days in 2010, unusually close to the shore of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing one German and maiming four other foreign tourists. Then there was the shark attack in 2020 when a young Ukrainian boy lost an arm and an Egyptian tour guide lost a leg. Tourists flock to Hurghada to dive in its sparkling blue sea (AFP via Getty Images) In the most recent shark attack on Thursday that killed the young Russian, authorities closed off a 74-kilometre (46-mile) stretch of the coastline, announcing it will remain off limits until Sunday. The ministry later said it had caught the shark and was examining it in a laboratory to try to determine the reasons for the rare attack. A gory video circulating online appears to show the Egyptian authorities capturing the shark in the water with nets and dragging it ashore for inspection, with crowds gathering around to watch as the predator bleeds from where someone has hooked its nose. Egypt has in recent years sought to revive the vital tourism sector, which has been hurt by years of political instability, the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The countrys tourism industry has also suffered from the fallout of a number of terrorist attacks. In 2005, bombings in Sharm el-Sheikh killed dozens in one of Egypts deadliest militant attacks. And in 2017, two German tourists were stabbed to death and at least four others injured at a hotel beach in the popular Red Sea resort of Hurghada in Egypt. In a bid to restore confidence, Egyptian authorities built a 22-mile long concrete and wire wall around the tourist resort of Sharm El-Sheikh in 2021. Those entering the city by road are now required to pass through one of four gates equipped with cameras and scanners. Officials say the structure will protect tourism at the Red Sea resort on the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula. After visits to Egypt decreased over the period between 2012 to 2019, according to Statista, the UK government reports an estimated half a million British nationals made a trip to the country last year, adding: Most visits are trouble free. Prince William observed soldiers rehearsing for Trooping the Colour on Saturday (10 June) as temperatures hit 28 degrees in London. Thousands gathered at Horse Guards Parade in sweltering heat to witness The Colonels Review ahead of ahead of next weeks event for the Kings Birthday Parade. The baking temperatures proved too much for some as at least three soldiers fainted. They were taken off on stretchers and two more were helped off the parade ground. The Prince of Wales tweeted to thank the soldiers who took part in difficult conditions. You all did a really good job. Ukrainian forces on Sunday, 11 June, said that soldiers had recaptured the village of Blagodatne in the Donetsk region. The 68th Jaeger (Hunter) Brigade "Oleksa Dovbush" posted footage it said showed soldiers installing the Ukrainian flag on top of a damaged building. The brigade also reported that a number of Russian troops were captured. A spokesperson told the Associated Press that a Ukrainian assault team entered several buildings in the village, capturing six members of Russian forces who refused to surrender. 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 13-year-old girl used survival games to keep her and her siblings including a baby alive in the Amazon Rainforest for 40 days, her family have revealed. Before news of their rescue emerged on Friday Lesly, 13, Soleiny, nine, Tien Noriel, four, and one-year-old Cristin spent more than a month trapped in the dense Colombian jungle after the light aircraft they were travelling in crashed on 1 May. It killed everyone else onboard including the childrens mother Magdalena Mucutui Valencia. With no outside help, Lesly and Soleiny resorted to using their knowledge of the jungle to survive, their aunt Damarys Mucutuy said. Speaking to the Caracol news network, she said the teenager and nine-year-old would frequently play a game setting up little camps before the disaster. She translated this after the crash and used hair ribbons to make camps and keep her younger brothers safe in the jungle which is home to predators including jaguars, pumas, and snakes. The area is also used by armed gangs that smuggle drugs. In pictures released by the Colombian military after they were rescued, hair ties can be seen among branches on the jungle floor. Searchers found evidence the children were still alive (Aeronuatica Civil de Colombia) In addition to making a camp, Lesly knew what fruits she cant eat because there are many poisonous fruits in the forest. And she knew how to take care of a baby, her grandmother Fatima Valencia explained. Ms Valencia added that Leslys experience looking after her siblings while her mother was at work also helped. It is thought that this knowledge, combined with food they managed to salvage from the planes wreckage and other skills learned growing up in the Huitoto indigenous group, helped the children survive for such a long period. The childrens grandfather Fidencio Valencia said they were very weak but happy to see their family (AFP) She gave them flour and cassava bread, any fruit in the bush, they know what they must consume, she told the BBC. They were raised by their grandmother, said John Moreno, a leader of the Guanano group in Vaupes, in the southeastern part of Colombia where the children were raised. They used what they learned in the community, relied on their ancestral knowledge in order to survive. The children have since been taken to a military hospital to recover (AP) Speaking after they were found, their grandfather Fidencio Valencia said they were very weak but happy to see their family. Ms Mucutuy told a local radio station that the children are fine despite being found with signs of dehydration and insect bites and have been offered mental health services. They are currently being cared for at a military hospital in the capital, Bogota. Fridays announcement came after weeks of searching for the children by authorities in the South American country. President Gustavo Petro called them an example of survival and predicted their saga will remain in history. One of the four children is stretchered out of a plane upon landing at a military base in Bogota on Saturday (AFP) The manhunt was sparked after their childrens bodies were not found alongside the planes wreckage which was discovered between 15 May and 16 May. Around 200 soldiers and indigenous people who knew the area were later dispatched to comb through some 320 square km (124 square miles) of the jungle. It is thought that at points they came within 100m (300ft) of them, but storms, thick vegetation, and marshy terrain prevented them from making contact. The air force also dropped food parcels and 10,000 flyers telling them to stay put and giving them survival tips. One of the children at the Bogota military base on Saturday (AP) After being found, army radios could be heard saying: Miracle, miracle, miracle, miracle. Defence minister Ivan Velasquez has since paid tribute to the various army units' unshakeable and tireless work, as well as to the Indigenous people who took part in the search. Following the children being found, footage showed how the dehydrated and malnourished children were lifted into a helicopter. I never lost hope, I was always supporting the search. I feel very happy, I thank President Petro and my countrymen who went through so many difficulties, the grandmother said. The children were treated by Special Operations Command medics before they were flown to a hospital. They were flown to the military base of San Jose del Guaviare, according to the Daily Mail. Colombia's first lady Veronica Alcocer, left, presents a gift to one of the children (Colombian Presidency/AFP) Family fleeing threats from crime groups Days into the initial search Mr Petro announced that the minors had been located and were in good health. But hours later, he walked back that assertion, clarifying that the Air Force and indigenous communities had established contact with the children, but that their location remained unknown. Ms Mucutuy was travelling with her children to Bogota to meet her husband Manuel Ranoque and start a new life together. According to El Tiempo, Mr Ranoque, who is related to a local political leader, previously lived in the indigenous reserve of Puerto Sabalo with his family. He had to flee the community on foot after receiving threats from crime groups operating in the area. Mr Ranoque completed his odyssey through the jungle and eventually arrived in Bogota. He reportedly found a job and saved money for a month and a half to afford his familys transport from their remote community to the Colombian capital. The search for the children has captivated Colombia during the 40 days since they vanished after surviving the crash. Members of the Colombian army with one of the children (Colombian Presidency/AFP) Plane suffers engine failure On 1 May, the plane, which was carrying six passengers and the pilot, suffered an engine failure and declared an emergency. After the plane fell off the radar, the search for any survivors started. The plane had been on a route between Araracuara in the Amazonas province and San Jose del Guaviare for the first leg of the trip when it disappeared. The plane wasnt found until two weeks later on 16 May in the rainforest, as weather conditions delayed search operations. The remains of the three adults on the plane were located, but the children werent there. The Colombian armed forces flew 150 soldiers with dogs to the area to search for the siblings. Dozens of volunteers from Indigenous tribes also joined the search efforts. As they searched in areas with low visibility because of the forest and mist, soldiers in helicopters dropped boxes of food into the jungle for the children to hopefully find. Colombian president Gustavo Petro visits the four children (Colombian Presidency/AFP) She had been living in the jungle for so long Mucutuys mother Fatima told El Tiempo she was combing parts of the jungle herself with other members of indigenous communities. Im waiting for them to return [my daughters] body. She had been living in the jungle for so long. Im waiting for her, Fatima said at the time. God is good and I know the children will be found alive. Authorities said rescue efforts involved three helicopters, including one which blasted out a recorded message from the childrens grandmother in the Huitoto language telling them to stop moving through the jungle. At night, planes fired flares to help ground crews search. Confusion as rumours emerges about childrens location At one point, rumours emerged concerning the childrens location and Mr Petro tweeted on 18 May that they had been found but soon deleted the message, saying that he had been misinformed by one of the government agencies. At the time, Mr Petro claimed in a statement on Twitter that the children had been found after a search by the military, firefighters, and civil aviation authority officials in the dense jungle of Colombias Caqueta province. After arduous searching by our military, we have found alive the four children who went missing after a plane crash in Guaviare. A joy for the country, he said. Mr Petro deleted his previous tweet, later issuing an apology: I have decided to delete the tweet because the information provided by [the governments child welfare agency, ICBF] could not be confirmed. I apologise for the confusion. The Military Forces and the indigenous communities will continue in their tireless search to give the country the news it is waiting for. At this time there is no other priority other than moving forward with the search until you find them. Childrens lives are the most important thing, he said last month. The Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF) said previously that it had received information from the field that the children had been found in good health. However, defence ministry sources then told local media that they had no confirmation that they had been found. Information was received from the area assuring contact was made with the four children who were part of the group transported on the aircraft. This report stated that they had been found alive and in good health, said a statement from the ICBF before the children were located. However, the military forces have not yet been able to establish official contact due to adverse weather conditions and difficult terrain, the statement added. Authorities were not able to corroborate the information received by the ICBF from various sources. ICBF director Astrid Caceres told Caracol Radio last month that the children were safe but that officials lost communication via satellite with them. However, Ms Caceres said they had sent teams to three key areas where the children were believed to be, and she was very confident that they would soon be found. The children were travelling with their mother from Araracuara, a village in the Amazon, to San Jose del Guaviare, a small city on the outskirts of the rainforest. They are children of the jungle The president said on Friday following the finding of the children that for a time he thought that they had been rescued by one of the nomadic tribes that still travel through the jungle with little interaction with the authorities. During the search, signs that the children were alive appeared, including footprints, a baby bottle, diapers, hair ties, childrens scissors, improvised shelters made with jungle vegetation, and fruit with what appeared to be human bite marks. The jungle saved them, Mr Petro said. They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia. Food Innovation Summit showcased the capability of our food industry Pharmacist Sinead Crowther hated disappointing parents who asked her to recommend an over-the-counter remedy for their childrens sore throats and coughs. There just wasnt a good product available. To solve the problem, she teamed up with Denise Lauaki to develop Tonstix, a natural honey jelly pop, engineered to soothe sore throats. Soothing Solutions, the firm they set up to develop the Tonstix pops, already employs nine at its facility in Dundalk, with more jobs in the pipeline. Its just one of a host of innovative Irish-owned food and drink enterprises across the dairy, meat, consumer foods, nutraceuticals, pet foods and animal nutrition, seafood and horticulture sectors. Irish-owned companies are delivering significant strides in sustainable food innovation, with thanks to high-quality raw materials, innovative entrepreneurs, world-class R&D facilities, a skilled workforce, and a government that invests in innovation. Our food companies have deservedly earned a global reputation for delivering world-class products, they employ over 60,000 people and generate annual sales of close to 50bn, half of which comes from exports. Hundreds of business leaders from this sector recently came together at Enterprise Irelands Food Innovation Summit 2023 in Pairc Ui Caoimh, Cork, on May 31. The event the first of its kind showcased the innovation capability within the food industry, and put a spotlight on the strength of Irelands food research ecosystem, presenting the latest international best practices. World-class speakers and panellists included Jim Bergin, CEO of Tirlan, and food futurologist Dr Morgaine Gaye, who spoke about trends in what and how well eat and how this feeds into the innovation plans of food companies. Innovation in food doesnt just mean new products or iterations of existing products to reduce salt or sugar, for example. Its much broader, and can improve any part of a food business. For example, packaging can be made more eco-friendly, or improved to bring costs down by enabling more products fit in a shipment. Other innovations might involve the manufacturing process, and can include sensors, robotics, automation or new software any of which can help to increase margins and reduce costs. The summit also heard from other best-in-class food companies, who outlined how innovation has played an important role in their success in scaling globally. Other key themes included the urgent need for more sustainability in food production, and the important role of regulation. Partner organisations Bord Bia and Teagasc also attended, as did national and local government representatives, and food researchers from universities and food technology centres. These include the Dairy Processing Technology Centre, Food for Health Ireland, Meat Technology Ireland, Irish Manufacturing Research and CeADAR, the Centre for Applied AI. Enterprise Ireland works with manufacturing and services companies across all food sectors, from start-ups to large companies, and our job is to help them innovate, export and grow internationally. To succeed, they must be highly competitive, which in turn demands investing in innovation. Nicola Nic Phaidin is manager of prepared consumer foods, drinks, seafood & horticulture at Enterprise Ireland The Revenue Commissioners are demanding more information on payments and the identity of property owners from next month Tenants who pay rent to a landlord based outside Ireland will be pushed to supply a range of information on their landlords and their rental income under a new online system being launched by Revenue. Under Finance Act 2022 changes next month aimed at streamlining the process, a tenant paying rent into a non-resident landlords Irish or foreign bank account will be required to file a rental notification (RN) on the platform within 21 days of paying the rent. The RN will require details such as the landlords tax reference number or the landlords email address and phone number as well as the accommodations local property tax (LPT) ID reference, the landlords address, the date the rent was paid, and the size of the rent. Revenue revealed the details last week in an update on its website to a tax manual. Tenants paying rent directly to individual overseas landlords such as Irish people who emigrated during the recession or people who inherited or purchased property here are already obliged to deduct 20pc of the rent for income tax and pay this to Revenue. While the changes mean tenants will no longer be deemed chargeable for the tax and or be responsible for accounting for the withholding figure of 20pc on their personal tax returns, Chartered Accountants Ireland believes the withholding tax should be abolished altogether. The tax withholding requirement remains an administrative burden for tenants, Gearoid OSullivan, a tax manager at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said. The new system does make it easier to file the tax but it still requires quite a lot of work on the part of the tenant. The question we should be asking is why they need to do this when the information is available on LPT returns anyway. To avoid tenants having to withhold tax, landlords who live abroad often appoint a property management company, letting agent, solicitor or relative to become their Irish collection agent and make tax payments on their behalf. The Irish Tax Institute, among other tax bodies, previously called on the Department of Finance to make this process easier as collection agents faced difficulties completing tax returns when, for instance, they lacked required information such as a landlords other Irish income. But under the changes, collection agents will no longer have submit a tax return for an overseas landlord or be chargeable for the income tax due if they withhold tax from rental payments and pay it to Revenue. Instead, the responsibility for submitting a tax return shifts to the overseas landlord. The Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV) said in a newsletter to its members this month that it had been lobbying for these changes for years. IPAV is happy with the amendments that once an agent pays the relevant 20pc withholding tax for non-resident landlords, the agents liability is fulfilled, Pat Davitt, its chief executive, said in a statement to the Sunday Independent. Revenues new Non-Resident Landlord Withholding tax platform goes live on July 1. 'I was told to take a Panadol and go to bed, but I knew my baby was coming' what its like giving birth in emergency circumstances The Irish are all happy... until the drink is flowing Irvine Welsh on booze, Bono and why the Celtic Tiger did us no favours The Scottish author talks about the perils of capitalism, feeling pity for Thatcher, and how music shaped his writing style Irvine Welsh still has the power to provoke. Photo: Kate Green Barry Egan Sun 11 Jun 2023 at 03:30 Agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue has urged Fine Gaels grouping at EU level, the European Peoples Party (EPP) to rejoin negotiations over nature restoration laws. The EPP pulled out of talks last week over proposed new laws to restore and protect nature. The plans to restore Europe's natural habitats - 81pc of which are classed as in poor health - have drawn significant opposition from some governments and lawmakers. The European Commission has proposed that countries would have to introduce measures restoring nature on 30pc of farmed peatlands by 2030, rising to 50pc by 2040 and 70ps by 2050. Nature restoration and retweeting have been majorly contentious issues which have been the crux of yet another row within the Coalition. Minister McConalogue has urged EPP to rejoin talks and said it was very, very disappointing to have the grouping walk away last week. I was very, very disappointed to see the European Peoples Party walk away from negotiations, he told RTEs This Week. That is not the way to get a proportionate outcome here. He said the Irish position is reflected in the proposed laws. At national level, the three parties in government have worked very closely to ensure that our national situation can be reflected in relation to the new nature restoration law. What we now need to see is that EPP rejoin those negotiations at European level and we need a balanced, proportionate outcome. Sinn Fein has said it will now support the proposed EU Nature Restoration law after it said additions to the legislation's text should alleviate concerns expressed by Irish farmers and rural communities. Mary ORegans life has been turned upside down by the effects of mica, as her home in Co Donegal teeters on the edge of collapse. With each passing day, the 72-year-old fears ending up homeless and paints a stark picture of the plight faced by owners like her who are having to deal with the crumbling blocks crisis. Mica Story: Mary O'Regan A chance encounter with a workman at her Manorcunningham home brought her face to face with the harsh reality of her situation. He said to me, That gable wall is going to collapse, she recalls. Ive been told my chimney stack is considered the worst in the entire county. But the toll of mica extends beyond the structural damage, as the pensioners own health has suffered as a result. In December 2021, she had a fall that left her with a fractured skull, a brain bleed and a fractured coccyx. I put that all down to stress and the anxiety of having mica, she says. Ms ORegan criticises what she says is the lack of support from central government. I think its disgraceful. I think the reason I got involved in the mica campaign was because were not being looked after. Where are the people like me supposed to go? I live on a state pension. Am I going to be homeless? She describes it as soul-destroying and frightening and adds: Like other people, I dont know where Im going to end up. My house has been passed for demolition. Where am I going to go? If I have to use the meagre savings I have for the rebuild of the house, Ill end up homeless. I couldnt afford to maintain the house on a state pension. Nobody understands the pressure we all face. She says she loves her home, but will have to soon leave. Im the type of person who buys really good furniture, Im not one of these people who buys something and changes it next year, she says. In 15 years Ive changed soft furnishings in one small room. Ive had no painting done in 10 years. Do you know what I do? I tell the painters to make sure its scrubbable paint. I wash the walls. I take pride in my home, but how can you when its full of cracks and could fall down? Ms ORegan points out the difficulties faced by pensioners who have limited means of earning or borrowing money and says that as she grows older the challenges only intensify. This is a serious situation, she says. You cant be relying on family, and I wouldnt ask my family for one penny towards us. Its nothing to do with them. I feel like Im a bloody nuisance to them. You feel worthless, absolutely worthless. Were at the end of our lives and should be able to sit at the end of the day and read a book. I love reading, I should be enjoying life. But you know, you sit in my lovely sunroom and youre sitting there and then it hits you Oh my God. Whats going to happen? Where am I going to go? Its basic human rights. Im terrified of ending up homeless, terrified, and its the Government should be looking after me. OAPs should be presented with a house where we can live when our homes are being rebuilt. Homeowner Winnie ONeill (72) is also living with the constant fear of homelessness due to the devastating effects of mica damage on her home in Elm Park, Buncrana. All I can think about is where Im going to sleep if this happens. Its not a matter of not wanting to deal with it, Im not able to because of the impact it has on me. I cant go down that road, she says. They will probably have to put me into a nursing unit somewhere, or will I have to move to my sister in Co Fermanagh? Ms ONeill says living with mica is actually very lonely, and she worries about the future. Where I go from here is just beyond me. I think about it several times a day, its never really out of my mind. Even when Im away, its always on your mind, then you come back to the house and all you can see are the cracks, theyre everywhere. The lack of available rental properties from the council exacerbates Ms ONeills concerns, leaving her with limited options for finding alternative accommodation. Compounding her worries is the fact she is still burdened by a mortgage on her current home, which she says is making it even more challenging to navigate this difficult situation. There are cracks everywhere, I dont know what to do, she says, expressing an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I havent even been approved by the council yet for support, they havent even read my application. Im told they havent got round to mine yet. With the deterioration of her home reaching an alarming state, she finds herself at a loss for viable solutions. I cry a lot, an awful lot, she says. The mental anguish caused by the constant uncertainty and the threat of homelessness takes its toll. If I have to move out of my home, my life will be changed for ever. Its going to be knocked down and the clock is ticking. The Government has just ignored us, they have turned their backs on us and left us dealing with all of this on our own. Theyve ignored thousands of potential votes, but if this was happening in Dublin it would have a very different outcome. Mary OConnor, a 72-year-old pensioner residing on Inch Island, shares similar anxieties. Becoming homeless is a real possibility and this is just torture, and Ill tell you why, she says. If my house falls down right now, Im not on the scheme to access the emergency funds or the housing allowance. Mica Story: Mary O'Connor Her once-promising new build has turned into a nightmare, with structural issues plaguing the place both inside and out. Ms OConnors worries are not limited to the deteriorating state of her house they extend to the financial burden it places on her as well. Its really bad inside and out now, and when we get the Donegal weather youre hoping that everything will be OK. Its a big worry. Financially, its a big worry because it looks to me that Ill probably need about 50,000 to do my house over. The gravity of the situation is evident as she describes the bulging side of her house and the extensive cracking at the base. What was meant to be a secure and low-maintenance home has become a source of constant anxiety and uncertainty. Living alone and with no immediate family in Donegal, Ms OConnor is faced with the prospect of finding alternative accommodation. However, due to her respiratory issues, the idea of living in a caravan is causing her a great deal of worry. Theres no housing available. If my home falls down, Im homeless, I have nowhere to go. I just dont think I could deal with living in a caravan during the time that the house is built, and knowing that theres no housing anywhere in this area doesnt help, she says. Ms OConnor highlights a problem in the system that many affected homeowners are facing and voices her frustration with the Governments failure to recognise the urgency of the situation. The Government doesnt understand what the word emergency is. You know, we have an emergency and Im not on the scheme, she says. There are many people like me who arent on the scheme yet what are we going to do? Were just sort of waiting to hear whats happening next. She says the lack of clarity and support from the authorities adds to the distress and uncertainty experienced by her and others in similar circumstances. There are many people like me who need help, she says. Ms OConnor believes the burden of dealing with mica damage and its consequences has consumed her life, and forced her to put it on hold. This has been all-consuming, unfortunately. I want to do all the things I enjoy, like writing, and Im involved in a number of different things in the community, and thats really taken a back seat. The Dubliner, brother of Regency victim David, jetted into Spain from Dubai but police were waiting Liam Byrne is arrested by police in Spain after flying in from his Dubai hideout The close bond between gang leader Liam Byrne and mob boss Daniel Kinahan is wildly exaggerated according to sources but Byrnes dramatic arrest in Spain last week is still a headache for the leader of the Kinahan cartel. The global record industry is dead. But the live music scene has never been more alive. And front and centre of that scene is a former boyband star who crosses musical genres like he crosses gender divides. Harry Styles is big. Really big. Sell-out Slane big. The atmosphere at his concert yesterday in Co Meath was inclusive and diverse. Where it was OK to be whoever you want to be. Indeed, it was celebrated. Such was the feeling yesterday in and around Slane Castle. It was as if the sentiment of Styless 2019 song Treat People With Kindness had somehow seeped into the atmosphere. That such an ally and champion of the LGBTQ+ community as Styles is so popular in Ireland no doubt says something about this little, post-Catholic country of ours. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Sunday Independent yesterday: Harry has expressed that view that he thinks the public labelling of your sexual orientation is outdated. Its interesting to see him experiment with different looks, concepts and cultures. He is a very talented musician who has made the difficult transition from band to solo. Id love to be at Slane this weekend to see Harry Styles and Inhaler, but I have to go to a friends 40th birthday party. I was in Slane for Kings of Leon and Bon Jovi and it was a great experience. I am really glad its going to be felt by a whole new generation this weekend. 80,000 Harry Styles fans descend on Slane Castle Under cloudy skies, Inhaler, featuring Bonos son Elijah on lead vocals, proved they were destined for big things with a rousing performance earlier on. But everything yesterday was about building towards one giant, euphoric moment. And at 8.30pm, it happened. Styles, an international pop icon full of relentless positivity and relentless avant-garde rig-outs, took the stage to a deafening roar. The 29-year-old is every inch the stellar showman, a retro dandy who seemingly always has an outfit more flamboyant than the previous one. He owned the stage like he owned 2022 and the first half of 2023 moving about its giant expanse like a young Elvis Presley or a heyday Prince or Bowie. He jolted 80,000 fans en masse out of a prescribed comfort zone with his gender and genre fluidity. He moves from 1970s funk to alternative pop to old school soul, and everything in between. He transcends as much as reinterprets these genres. Co Meath is suddenly a huge 1970s outdoor disco. He opened up with Daydreaming (from current album Harrys House), following it with Golden, Adore You and Keep Driving. He got his second biggest applause of the night when he performed Stockholm Syndrome by his old band One Direction. By the nightfall, encoring with As It Was, Harry had rocked Lord Mountcharless castle to its foundations. FREELANCE journalist and poet Ian Bailey (66) claimed the failure to find the murderer of French film executive Sophie Toscan du Plantier (39) is "a dark stain" on the reputation of An Garda Siochana and insisted the case hinges on a mystery man seen with the mother-of-one in west Cork in the days before her killing. "It is the greatest murder mystery in Ireland's history and the case, still open, is a dark stain on the otherwise good name of members of An Garda Siochana, the Irish police force," he said. "At the time of this recording there is a (Garda) case review underway and I am waiting to assist in any way I can," he vowed. Mr Bailey said the cold case review was partly triggered by him personally contacting the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. "I am offering my full co-operation to the re-investigation but, at the time of this recording, I have not been contacted." "My hope and prayer is that the true identity of the killer can be established and, if not, at least it be acknowledged that I had nothing to do with this terrible crime." Mr Bailey levelled the plea in his podcast series, 'Ian Bailey - In His Own Words,' the second episode of which is about to be released. The Manchester-born poet was twice arrested by Gardai for questioning in relation to the death of Ms du Plantier in 1997 and 1998. He was released without charge on both occasions. Mr Bailey has now claimed he was humiliated during his questioning, threatened with paramilitaries, stripped to his underpants and then given replacement clothing in black-and-tan colours. "It was a definite tone of xenophobia - I remember one officer saying: 'Do you think an Englishman is going to come over here and get away with doing that? It was as though there was, like an historic xenophobic...I don't know. My head was reeling. My head was wrecked - I had a deep sense of fear, anxiety and apprehension." "Over the 25 years plus I have become tired of reiterating my denial - but I will never cease to do so because I had nothing to do with this terrible crime." Mr Bailey compared what he described as "the false narrative" in his case with those of the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four in the UK. "There was a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Apparently there were originally 50-plus suspects including viable perpetrators, one of whom lived close to the victim and in January 1997 returned to his native Germany and left a suicide note for his brother saying he had done something so terrible he could no longer live with himself. The man then threw himself off a cliff - but he was never investigated." The French mother-of-one was found brutally beaten to death on a laneway leading to her isolated holiday home at Toormore outside Schull in west Cork on December 23 1996. She had apparently tried to flee from an intruder at her home but was caught and fatally assaulted when her clothing snagged on barbed wire. Mr Bailey has always protested his innocence in relation to the crime. After the failure to charge anyone in relation to the killing in Ireland, the French authorities launched their own eight year investigation having been provided with the full Garda case file. In May 2019, Mr Bailey was tried in absentia before a Paris criminal court and was convicted of Ms du Plantier's murder. A French magistrate imposed a 25 year prison sentence. Over the past 13 years, the French have attempted to extradite Mr Bailey on three separate occasions - with the extradition bids rejected by the Irish courts on each occasion. In the opening podcast episode, Mr Bailey insisted he was wrongly targeted over the past three decades. "The entire subject of this podcast is one of false allegations," Mr Bailey said. Mr Bailey claimed that a mystery man, wearing a French-style beret, was seen shadowing Ms du Plantier in the days before her death. He said Ms du Plantier arrived in Ireland that December with the option of two return tickets to Paris - one on December 23 and a second for December 24. Mr Bailey claimed that while Ms du Plantier was clearly travelling alone on the flight, she had a lot of luggage with her. "She was observed on CCTV at Cork Airport where she hired a car and then made the two hour journey to west Cork." "Subsequently she was reported to have stopped for petrol in the town of Skibbereen and the pump attendant...gave a very exact statement that she had a male passenger with her." "This was the first of several unconfirmed sightings of an unidentified male." Mr Bailey said it was "significant" that, after the Skibbereen petrol stop, there were no sightings of her with the male companion. However, on the day before her death, there were sightings of a 5ft 8 inch man wearing a dark coat and a French-style beret. "Significantly, Mrs Farrell (Marie Farrell - a School shopkeeper) was to report that at the time Ms du Plantier was in her shop she observed a man wearing a dark coat and a French-style beret across the road from her shop. She further said that this man, who was about 5ft 8 inches thereabouts, had subsequently followed the French visitor up the road to her parked car in Ardnamanagh." However, the last known sightings of Ms du Plantier were in Crookhaven where she was alone and having tea - and later having a walk at the Three Castle Head. "Ms du Plantier told friends that while at the ruined castle (reputedly haunted by a white lady), she had experienced a strong feeling of fear and apprehension." "Around midnight, Ms du Plantier had twice called her husband in France at his family chateau at Ambax." Mr Bailey said he had no inkling that when he agreed to work on the story on December 23 1996 for 'The Cork Examiner' it would change the course of his life. He said he was "an old newshound" and had gone to the Toormore area including the local post office in a bid to obtain information on what had happened. "The late postmistress...said she had heard of the death and knew the victim as Madam Sophie Bouniol and not du Plantier." In the days after the murder, Mr Bailey said he worked as a freelance reporter on the case for a number of outlets but was perturbed by rumours about the case that were now swirling around west Cork. "Rumours were beginning to fly like a flock of crows. What I did not know was that the rumours were based on a lie which was being deliberately circulated about myself and that I had been responsible for the crime." Mr Bailey said he later voluntarily gave hair samples to the Gardai as he knew he had nothing to hide. "I had no principled objection and certainly no fear from giving the sample. Over the early weeks of January 1997 and into February I became the lead journalist on the story." However, he said he was then targeted by the Gardai and arrested on February 11 1997. "I was targeted by An Garda Siochana, arrested, handcuffed, falsely accused and then publicly rebranded as the prime suspect." "Little did I know at that particular moment that I was at the beginning of what was to become and still is a 26 year living nightmare." He was later released without charge - and was released without charge again after his second arrest in 1998. Mr Bailey said he was again the subject of false allegations, this time that he was seen washing wellington boots after the killing. He also said that several people twisted his words and turned them into false admissions. Subsequently, Mr Bailey said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) rejected the Garda file on him as "thoroughly flawed and prejudiced." "These are strong words - and he was right." Mr Bailey said the third episode of his podcast will deal with a personal betrayal and the controversy over a Netflix documentary on the killing. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has referred a criminal complaint by Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave against Fianna Fail Minister Niall Collins to senior gardai in the south of the country. Gardai confirmed last month they are examining allegations that Collins, Junior Minister for Skills and Further Education, broke the law by not recusing himself from a Limerick council committee meeting more than a decade ago, where it was decided to sell land which was subsequently bought by his wife. Separately, Cosgrave wrote to Drew Harris at the end of May, requesting he conduct a criminal investigation into suspected breaches of the Local Government Act by Collins. Garda HQ confirmed to Cosgrave last week that the matter has been referred to Assistant Commissioner, Southern Region Eileen Foster. Collins is not under criminal investigation at this time, and has maintained previously that it is his judgment that he did not break the law, while admitting that in hindsight he should have recused himself from the meeting at the centre of the controversy. The garda press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking an update on the matter, but as of May 10, they had said: An Garda Siochana cannot comment on named individuals. We are carrying out an assessment to examine whether there was any criminality involved, in respect of certain matters related to alleged breaches of the Local Government Act 2001 in the Southern Garda Region. This is not a criminal investigation at this time. Niall Collins declined to comment. It is understood the Limerick TD has not been contacted by gardai about the matter. Cosgraves 28-page complaint sets out the facts of the case, includes nine pages quoting directly from the Local Government Act, and also sets out the alleged breaches, as well as including supporting documentation, including a copy of Niall Collins and his wifes marriage certificate. Like many people across the country, I was concerned and frustrated by the States failure to acknowledge the serious allegations against Niall Collins and his role in the decision to sell public land that was ultimately bought by his wife, Cosgrave said this weekend. I decided, as did at least several others, to make a complaint to An Garda Siochana so these allegations would be investigated. Collins became embroiled in controversy over land at Patrickswell in Limerick earlier this year, after The Ditch website revealed that as a county councillor he sat at a meeting of the Bruff Electoral Area Committee in January 2007. The meeting discussed and agreed to sell the land. A few weeks earlier, Collinss wife Dr Eimear OConnor, a local GP, had expressed an interest in buying the land in question. The area committee agreed to sell the land without a vote being taken, but Collins did not recuse himself from the meeting despite being aware that his wife had in December 2006 enquired about purchasing it. OConnor subsequently bought the land in 2008 after Limerick County Council formally agreed in September of that year to sell it to her. At this point in time, Niall Collins had left the local authority, having been elected to the Dail in May 2007. In a statement to the Dail in April, Collins said that in hindsight and given the focus and perception amongst some it would have been better had I not participated in the local area committee meeting in January of 2007, while insisting it is absolutely clear that my wife did not benefit in any way from my attendance at the meeting. The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) is currently considering two separate complaints against Collins for alleged breaches of the Local Government Act 2001. New treatments and new ways to detect the deadly disease have been hailed as thrilling Last week I attended the Canadian Society for Immunology annual conference near Montreal, where all the talk was about recent breakthroughs in cancer. New treatments and new ways to detect the disease are being reported, which bring hope that it will be beaten once and for all. Many immunologists work on cancer because one way to treat or even stop it developing is to get your own immune system to target and kill cancerous cells in your body. It turns out you have an immune system for two reasons. Firstly, to kill germs that infect you (remember Covid-19?) but secondly, because theres always a risk of cancer developing in your body so your immune system is there to also kill those cancerous cells which, like a nasty germ, might kill you. Cancers can develop because of chemicals like those found in cigarettes or in response to the UV in sunlight. In both cases, cells in your body become altered in a process called mutation, and that alteration turns them into malignant cells that form tumours. The good news is that your immune system can spot the changes and then kill the cancerous cells which are seen as foreign, just like it would a virus or bacteria. So-called cancer immunotherapy has already shown remarkable success for certain blood cancers but also for cancers like melanoma that start in the skin but can then spread to other organs where the cancer can kill you. The percentage of people who can be effectively cured of these cancers by mobilising the immune system is increasing all the time. However, sometimes your immune system doesnt work properly, and tumours can develop devious ways to dodge the immune bullet. The latest breakthroughs concern medicines that can be taken in tablet form that can directly kill the cancer cells. We sometimes call these medicines magic bullets. Chemotherapy can work in the same way but it doesnt work in everyone, or only works partially, with cancers returning. It can also have nasty side effects. The evidence so far is that these new treatments work much better than chemo. What are they? Well firstly in lung cancer, in a study run by Yale University, a drug called osimertinib cut the risk of dying of lung cancer by 51pc. Thirty years ago, nothing could be done for these patients. Doctors are calling the results thrilling and unprecedented which you dont often hear, since doctors usually err on the side of caution. This was a heroic study as it ran for 10 years, involving patients in 26 countries. Lung cancer is the worlds number one cause of cancer death, resulting in 1.8 million deaths a year. A sub-type of lung cancer was studied, since not all types are the same. The patients on the trial had a mutation in something called EGFR, which occurs in around 25pc of lung cancer patients, although it is as high as 40pc in Asia. This mutation is more common in women than men, and much more common in people who dont smoke or who are light smokers. This breakthrough, therefore, doesnt mean that people can smoke safely. It wont work as well in those who have got lung cancer from smoking, who are less likely to have the EGFR mutation. But in people with the mutation, who represent an awful lot of cancer patients, the drug will decrease risk of dying by half, with 88pc of those diagnosed still alive after five years. And patients in Ireland are already able to access the drug. In another study which this time involved breast cancer, another drug, called ribociclib, was shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer recurring in 25pc of patients. More than two million people per year are diagnosed with breast cancer and although treatments have improved in recent years, many patients see their cancer return. And if it does recur, it is often more serious. The study involved 5,101 patients who were followed for three years, and the results are being called very promising. Again, this drug is available in Ireland and its use earlier in the disease, when tumours can be removed surgically, is a seen as a big breakthrough given the large number of breast cancer patients in that category. The study suggests that it could help nearly 70pc of all breast cancer cases. Finally, the third impressive study concerned ovarian cancer. A new combination of drugs has been shown to shrink ovarian tumours in nearly half of patients. Ovarian cancer is one of the more difficult cancers to treat, and the doctors involved are calling these positive results fantastic and very exciting, again words you dont normally hear. This study was run by the Institute of Cancer Research, London, who tested a drug called avutometinib in combination with a drug called defactinib. It remains a mystery to me how they come up with these tongue-twisting names. The drug combo worked especially well in patients with another mutation, this time in a gene called KRAS. This type of ovarian cancer is more likely to affect younger women and so this study is seen as especially encouraging. A drug combination approach is being used increasingly in most cancers. This is because tumours can sometimes dodge one bullet but not two or more. Its almost as if cancer can put a shield up, but if bullets are hitting different parts of the cancer, one might get through. On the testing side, two new tests were reported. This is an important goal for cancer researchers since the earlier you can detect cancer, the quicker you can treat it. If its too late, then its a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. One test detected 50 forms of cancer in a blood sample. The study was run by the University of Oxford and comprised 5,461 people who were referred to hospital by their GP because of a suspected cancer. The test revealed two-thirds of cancers among those in the study, and in 85pc it could detect the site of the tumour. A blood test is more convenient than other types of tests, and it could one day be carried out in the GPs surgery, And lastly I hope youre keeping up with all these tremendous advances a possible breath test for cancer. Maybe one day you will just blow into a bag in your GPs surgery and it will tell whether you might have cancer. Tumours release what are called volatile chemicals. Fifteen of these were detected in the breath of people and revealed cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas and colon. Its been known for some time that dogs can smell cancer in humans and its likely that their powerful sense of smell can detect these volatile chemicals. And now there is a possible test that can do the same thing. What all of this tells us is that we are getting closer all the time to beating cancer once and for all. For our parents and grandparents cancer was a frightening disease and a likely death sentence. We are getting closer all the time to when what has been called the Emperor of Maladies becomes a thing of the past. Luke ONeill is professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin Frank Coughlan: Reaction to Ricky Gervais gigs in Dublin shows its funny how we take offence when we could look the other way The Royal Commission for Jubail, represented by its education sector, has won a major award from the Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International (RIMA-I) at the 2023 International Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Conference (I-RIM Conference), held in Rome. The recognition came for its development of a computer programme based on artificial intelligence that calculates the thermal resistance of steel construction columns containing reflective insulators with an accuracy of up to 99%. The Royal Commission for Jubail dubbed it as one of its kind programme. Director of the Deanship of Research and Industrial Development Dr. Saleh Alshehri said the programme was a result of research conducted by the Research and Industrial Development Agency in the field of energy conservation. The agency's scientific research focuses on studying advanced methods of insulation for residential and commercial buildings, whether in old or modern cities, in a way that makes saving energy an achievable goal. Chair of Research and Consultations Department at the Deanship of Research and Industrial Development Dr. Hamed Saber said that presenting this innovation at the conference was an opportunity to demonstrate the progress and development of research in reflective insulators at the Royal Commission for Jubail. Through the multiplicity of research and innovations, the Research and Consultations Department has become a global reference in this field, with international organizations concerned with specifications and standards reaching out to register such innovations and tools, he stated. Director General of the General Administration of Education Dr. Fadye Al Fayad lauded the commission's endeavour to improve the working conditions of the staff and support research and innovation, contributing to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and to projecting a positive image of the country and of the commission.-TradeArabia News Service Donald Trump has become the first former president to face federal charges. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP Donald Trump has been credited with doing more than most to bring us to the post-truth era. For his next trick, he seems intent on being the first to usher in the post-reality era. Having become the only former president to be indicted on a state charge, he has now been hit with a federal indictment too. As might be expected of someone who reigns over his own realm of alternative facts, the seven charges he will face were dismissed by him as election interference at the highest level difficult to take entirely seriously from someone who stands accused of the grand larceny of the democratic process. His ordering of a state governor to conjure up non-existent votes to overturn a legitimate election also puts something of a dent in his credibility, and all this before the disgrace of the Capitol riots is even mentioned. Yet Trump, and too many Republican heavyweights, brush away all such charges as so much legal dandruff. Even those vying with him for the party ticket are using phrases like witch-hunt. They too are railing against the weaponising of the Justice Department. Last time out, those who wrote off the Trump clown car lived to regret their ridicule. But the wheels of justice are also moving. No matter how long he keeps his hand on the horn, he is beginning to lose much of the old tootle. No amount of clowning about or carnival barking can detract from his mounting legal headaches. His lawyer, Jim Trusty, has said the court summons suggests the charges will include violating the Espionage Act. There are also multiple false-statement charges, as well as an obstruction of an official proceedings. Thousands of documents were seized in an FBI search of Trumps Florida estate last year, including about 100 marked Classified. So secret were some of the files that they had the potential to do exceptionally grave damage to national security. So, however much his campaign handlers may deride and chortle, legal experts are at one in believing the 2024 contender could face prison if convicted. The thrashing of the case before it is even heard would be concerning enough, were it confined to the Trump camp. However, rival Ron DeSantiss comment that the weaponisation of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society shows how perilous and insecure cherished institutional and constitutional shibboleths have become. Support for the law ought to be beyond partisanship. To depict the justice system as unworthy and unjust is now key to Trumps survival strategy. That he would adhere to his trusted shtick as a persecuted, powerless victim is not so remarkable. That practically his whole party would facilitate in promoting just such a fiction is arguably even more consequential. The finding that loneliness is significantly more prevalent in Ireland than any other European country demands greater government focus and intervention on an issue which, growing evidence suggests, can give rise to poorer mental- and physical-health outcomes. Notwithstanding cultural and demographic differences and possible sampling anomalies, the first ever EU-wide survey on loneliness has found that 20pc of people here are lonely at least some of the time. This places Ireland significantly ahead of the EU average (13pc) and more than twice where the lowest loneliness levels are observed in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Croatia and Austria (all below 10pc). Even though the elderly may be more socially isolated than other age groups, they do not report more frequent feelings of loneliness. If anything, according to the EU survey, the prevalence of loneliness decreases with increased age as well as income and education. Contrary to some expectations, the survey found loneliness affects all age groups. People experiencing major life events such as separation, job loss or finishing a course of study are more often lonely. Research has also shown loneliness and social isolation can have harmful repercussions, seen not only in mental and physical health, but in social cohesion and community trust. Loneliness and social isolation are being increasingly recognised as critical public health issues that deserve attention, so it needs to be addressed with effective intervention strategies. The Department of Health will be aware that loneliness affects people across all walks of life young and old, rural and urban, those living alone or with others and can affect people at any stage of life. However, despite occasional worthwhile initiatives and programmes across a range of departments, there is no co-ordinated approach to what a serious challenge in this country is now. There is merit, therefore, in calls from organisations and charities for a whole-of-government approach to the issue and, indeed, the development of a national plan to identify loneliness as a public-health priority. The Covid-19 pandemic dramatically reshaped lives and social practices here and across Europe. Mobility restrictions and social distancing measures adopted to contain the spread of the virus also prompted public discussions on the unintended side-effects. In particular, people feared the consequences of loneliness long after the virus receded. And the long-term effects on mental health during Covid are still unclear. Our health minister and chief medical officer recently tried to encourage older people when they launched a campaign to address loneliness and isolation after the pandemic. It is evident from the EU survey, however, that loneliness runs far wider and deeper through society and it is something that could potentially develop into a public health crisis. At a time when we have never been more connected online, the wider public also have a role to play. The presence of supportive people in our lives cannot be underestimated the need for friends, support and meaningful relationships is relevant to all age groups, whether 24 or 84. To paraphrase WB Yeats, there should be no such thing as strangers in Ireland, only friends we have not yet met. Maia Dunphy: Unless youve a copy of tomorrows exam, the kids dont want to hear it None of the anecdotes Leaving Cert students are regaled with based on misplaced, wistful nostalgia are remotely helpful or even reach their target audience Belittling how monumental the State exams feel by telling youngsters its not the end of the world, when it feels like it might be, isnt beneficial Maia Dunphy Sun 11 Jun 2023 at 03:30 A Sligo woman has become the first patient in Ireland to benefit from a pioneering post operative technique at University Hospital Galway (UHG). Imelda Ryan Jones from Riverstown had surgery in February and the new procedure helped greatly in reducing post operative pain. The hospital has become the first centre in Ireland to introduce a nerve blocking probe which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze nerves and remove pain post surgery. The CryoNerve blocking probe delivers liquid nitrogen at a temperature of around -190 degrees from the tip of the device during invasive surgery. This device is applied to the nerve underneath each rib, freezing it and temporarily stopping its conduction. These nerves are one of the main sources of pain after chest surgery, and cryo nerve block helps by temporarily shutting off the nerve. Once frozen, it thaws over a period of months, reducing pain for patients recovering from major surgery. Dr Alan Soo, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at University Hospital Galway, who has introduced the technology to Ireland for thoracic surgery says the device also has the potential to be rolled out to cardiac surgery. Evidence has shown that this is effective in reducing pain and does not cause permanent damage to the nerves and surrounding structures. This device had been used in thoracic surgery to freeze the intercostal nerve which is the Achilles heel of thoracotomy pain. Emerging evidence has also shown that it is effective in cardiac surgery following sternotomy. In UHG, we have been designated as the first centre to introduce this device. We have since employed this device in around 8 patients. All patients who received this treatment on top of their usual analgesic strategy had dramatic improvement on their post-operative pain and reduction in length of stay. We aim to introduce this strategy on to patients receiving cardiac surgery soon, he added. Mrs Ryan-Jones was the first person to avail of the device in Ireland. She underwent surgery in February during which the device was used on the nerve endings in her back. I can honestly say that I have had zero pain since my surgery in this area on my back, which I affectionately call my Shark Bite, said Imelda. I have had severe pain around my front ribs, as they were moved so much during surgery, but much to my relief my Shark Bite has definitely been pain free. I practically forgot it was there and it has healed tremendously well too. I highly recommend this new innovative procedure and it was my pleasure to participate, she added. Chris Kane, Hospital Manager of Galway University Hospitals praised the team who introduced the innovative technique. This device is making a real difference to the patient experience and we are delighted to have introduced it here in Galway. It is another example of the ground-breaking innovation taking place at the hospital. Boris Johnsons narcissistic attempt to take democracy down with him must fail Former PM is lashing out at imagined plots against him Boris Johnson. Photo: Reuters John Rentoul UK Independent Sun 11 Jun 2023 at 03:30 Image: Wallpaper Cave Gurugram: InterGlobe Aviation Ltd which operates Indias largest airline IndiGo has refused to answer queries over news reports that it is trying to buy a majority stake in troubled carrier Go First. Earlier media reported that IndiGo is moving in the direction to buy a stake in low-cost carrier Go First, controlled by the Wadia Group. Financially challenged Go First had sought initiation of voluntary insolvency proceedings and imposition of an interim moratorium under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in May. "IndiGo is aware about certain media reports stating that IndiGo has expressed an interest in Go First. IndiGo does not comment on market speculation and remains focussed on its growth strategy," an IndiGo official told CNBC TV18 on Thursday. The report by a Gujrati daily had said IndiGo is considering merging its operations with GoFirst and several rounds of talks have taken place. As per the report, the merger and acquisition could take up to five years. IndiGo, Indias largest airline in terms of market share and fleet size, holds nearly 70 percent of the Indian market. In its last Q4 results, IndiGo announced a profit of Rs 919 crore, reflecting a significant increase of 76.5 percent in revenue. Go First, in its bankruptcy filing submitted to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), has disclosed that it has outstanding debts amounting to Rs 6,521 crore ($797.38 million) owed to Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, and Deutsche Bank. The airline has said that its total liabilities stand at approx. Rs 11,463 crore to various entities such as banks, other creditors, vendors, and others. On May 10, the NCLT granted Go First bankruptcy protection and appointed Abhilash Lal as the Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP) responsible for overseeing the airline's operations. Image Credit: LinkedIn/Amir Suhail Wani In the enchanting valley of Kashmir, amidst an era of frozen turbulence, Amir Suhail Wani emerges as a remarkable intellectual and writer, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity. With a diverse range of interests spanning philosophy, literature, religion, and science, Wani's pursuit of knowledge has garnered international acclaim. Raised in Chattabal, Srinagar, Wani's insatiable curiosity and thirst for knowledge became evident from a young age. After obtaining his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Kashmir, he embarked on a unique path that blended his love for his homeland with his intellectual pursuits. Wani's contributions extend beyond academia, with numerous articles published in local and national journals. His thought-provoking analyses delve into topics of social, religious, and academic significance, offering unique perspectives. Moreover, his research papers have gained significant attention, and his book "Lights From Sinai" received international recognition for its profound insights. As a guest lecturer at the University of Kashmir and the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Wani shares his knowledge and inspires students. His association with All India Radio Srinagar allows him to reach a wider audience, broadcasting scripts on various themes. Professionally, Wani has made notable contributions as an engineer at SA Power Utilities and as a Social Innovations Officer at ELFA International, a prominent Kashmir-based NGO. His involvement in the advisory board of Aab E Rawan highlights his commitment to preserving Kashmir's rich cultural heritage. Wani's literary talents extend to poetry, exploring themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. His ability to navigate the delicate balance between tradition and modernity has earned him widespread acclaim. Amir Suhail Wani's courage and intellectual depth have positioned him as an inspiring figure in Kashmir's future. Embodying the harmony between change and continuity, he engages with the wisdom of revered Kashmiri scholars while embracing transformative knowledge. Wani's relentless pursuit of knowledge continues to inspire generations, shaping a narrative that challenges, enlightens, and unites. (ANI Inputs) A churning is taking place among the Sikhs in Punjab out to challenge and demolish the archaic religious and political constructs that dominated the community in the last 50 years. The Sewa Dal of 1920, prior to the enactment of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925, led to the creation of the Shiromani Sewa Dal, only to get transformed into Akali Dal in the 30s. It was a part of the democratisation process started by the British that has very recently taken shape of Shiromani Akali Panth (SAP). The new non-political entity aims to protect and maintain the Sikh shrines in Punjab besides rejuvenating the community in accordance with the philosophy of the Gurus. Former president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Bibi Jagir Kaur, the founder of the SAP, seems to be attempting to unite the Sikhs working in different political parties and social groups under one umbrella. The professed aim of the nascent organisation, as of now, is only to do some sort of surgery to remove the malignant growth (malpractices) within the Sikh community. The decay in the social and cultural life of the members of the community, many feel was maximum during the continuous 27-year-long presidency of the SGPC of Gurcharan Singh Tohra one of the most influential and controversial leaders that is now being rectified. Tohra dabbled into religion and state politics, at the same time, always trying to checkmate his contemporary Parkash Singh Badal. On the other hand, Parkash Singh Badal always remained busy to keep Tohra under check, not allowing him to grab power and usurp the position of Chief Minister. Badal became CM 5 times despite the machinations of Tohra. The degeneration in the Sikh ethos and politics set in mostly during the previous regimes of Akalis and, even the Congress. After one and a half decades of terrorism, the sacrilege incidents of 2013 onwards, discredited the Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which today has just 3 MLAs in the state Assembly. The Congress is also in disarray with infighting taking over and the garrulous Navjot Sidhu hitting at and ignoring the state president Raja Amrinder Singh Warring. The splinter Akali groups and other smaller parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India ((CPI) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) are in-consequential in Punjab. The existing social and political vacuum as detailed above is now seeking to be filled up under the leadership of Bibi Jagir Kaur. The formation of SAP (Shiromani Akali Panth) on June 3, 2023, is a step in the same direction. On the face of it, going by the public announcements made by Bibi, this religious grouping seeks to unite all the Sikhs who followed Gurus secular philosophy, though they might be politically active in Congress, the BJP, the Communists, the BSP representing Dalits or any other party. For the first time, an all-encompassing approach is envisaged to challenge the monopoly of the Badal family-led SAD over the Gurdwara-controlling SGPC. For a long time, the lifafa (envelope) culture promoted by Badals would lead to the hoisting of a new president of the SGPC instead of a regular voting process. Many Sikh thinkers termed this practice a result of the total mental, moral and financial subjugation of the SGPC members. Bibi Jagir Kaur, who remained a political lackey of the Badals for many years, ultimately, in early 2023, dared to stand up to reject the religious fascism as exhibited by the complete unprincipled surrender of the SGPC members to lifafa culture in SGPC. A US-educated Sukhbir Badal was declared as an heir to his political legacy Badal senior and made president of SAD. He was also allowed to run the government as Deputy CM from 2012 to 2017, with all powers vested in him. According to a member of the think-tank of the SAP, the new group would ensure the fielding of only educated and clean candidates for contesting the coming elections to the general house of the SGPC. Before choosing a candidate to contest the election, his devotion to the Gurus philosophy and adherence to the Sikh rehat-maryada would be the main deciding criterion for the selectors. The historical preference of Badals to mostly field Jats for Gurdwara elections is certain to be dispensed with. In other words, the SAP seems to be making an attempt to instil an estimated about 80 per cent of non-Jat members of the Sikh community to pilot the ship themselves in otherwise somewhat troubled waters of Punjab. In view of the churning process, the nervous SAD is firing salvos at Bibi Jagir Kaur, branding her as the B-team of the BJP-RSS combine, which does not seem to be true. Talking to a web channel, Bibi said, It was Badal-led SAD that forged an alliance with the BJP and repeatedly won elections with its support. Admittedly I too, at that time, acquiesced with the decision of the party president and, they are now trying to hide their past just to discredit me, she added. (Image and text credit: Khalsavox.com) Image Credit: UNI Hamirpur: Union minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday accused Rahul Gandhi of minority appeasement to get their votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, this gimmick would not help the Congress party, he told reporters here today. Thakur was in Hamirpur to speak to the media about the Central governments achievements in the last nine years. In a press conference, he asserted that the people will vote for PM Modi in the 2024 elections to keep the country safe. Anurag Thakur said in the last nine years, the Central government has taken many steps for the welfare of the farmers. During the UPA regime, the farmers faced several difficulties to get fertilizers. At that time shortage of fertilizer was often discussed in the parliament, he added. In the last nine years, the fertilizer supply has been adequate and the Centre has also ensured to keep the prices steady. Slamming Rahul Gandhi for his statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Centre, Thakur said the Congress leader bore the brunt of his own actions. He was removed from the Lok Sabha following his conviction by a court in the 'Modi' surname case after he failed to apologise to the OBC people for his derogatory remarks. About forming alliances with other political parties, Thakur said alliances are always formed in a democracy and good alliances are always in the interest of the nation. Taking a jibe at the Oppositions attempts to form a pre-poll alliance, Thakur said Oppositions unity has several weak links and would fall like a pack of cards or like the bridge in Bihar that collapsed a few days ago. He pointed out that some political parties have already refused to be part of that alliance. Anurag Thakur claimed that the people will ensure Narendra Modis win in the 2024 elections as they are aware of how India progressed under Modi's rule while maintaining self-respect despite grave economic and other challenges. (With UNI inputs) FBI website Washington: Theodore Ted Kaczynski, the Harvard-trained math professor who unleashed a deadly bombing campaign from a shack in rural Montana and became known as the Unabomber, has died, media reports said. He was 81. Kaczynski was found unresponsive in his cell at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, around 12:25 a.m., Saturday morning, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said in a statement as quoted by CNN. Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures, the bureau said. Staff requested emergency medical services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued. Mr. Kaczynski was transported by EMS to a local hospital and subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital personnel. Theodore Ted Kaczynski came to attention in 1978 with the explosion of his first, primitive homemade bomb at a Chicago university. "Over the next 17 years, he mailed or hand delivered a series of increasingly sophisticated bombs that killed three Americans and injured nearly two dozen more. Along the way, he sowed fear and panic, even threatening to blow up airliners in flight," read a statement issued by the FBI. In 1979, an FBI-led task force that included the ATF and U.S. Postal Inspection Service was formed to investigate the UNABOM case, code-named for the UNiversity and Airline BOMbing targets involved. The task force would grow to more than 150 full-time investigators, analysts, and others. In search of clues, the team made every possible forensic examination of recovered bomb components and studied the lives of victims in minute detail. These efforts proved of little use in identifying the bomber, who took pains to leave no forensic evidence, building his bombs essentially from scrap materials available almost anywhere. And the victims, investigators later learned, were chosen randomly from library research. We felt confident that the Unabomber had been raised in Chicago and later lived in the Salt Lake City and San Francisco areas. This turned out to be true. His occupation proved more elusive, with theories ranging from aircraft mechanic to scientist. Even the gender was not certain: although investigators believed the bomber was most likely male, they also investigated several female suspects. The big break in the case came in 1995. The Unabomber sent us a 35,000 word essay claiming to explain his motives and views of the ills of modern society. After much debate about the wisdom of giving in to terrorists, FBI Director Louis Freeh and Attorney General Janet Reno approved the task forces recommendation to publish the essay in hopes that a reader could identify the author. 19:36 | Lima, Jun. 9. "The first important action is the start of a formal FTA with Hong Kong. The first round of negotiations has already been held in Hong Kong; the second round is coming to Peru in three weeks, and the agreement is expected to be completed during the first quarter of next year," he noted during the he noted during the presentation of a report on the Government's performance over six months in office. Mathews indicated that the start of a Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia was also formalized, "and we are seeking to resume negotiations with India, which were stalled by the pandemic." The high-ranking official commented that foreign trade generates around 1.5 million jobs in Peru. Thus, the ministry continues working to open up more markets for Peruvian exporters. Afterwards, he highlighted the launch of the Productive Exports Route (RPE) program, which has managed to benefit nearly 10,500 families related to the banana, coffee, and cacao value chain in Piura, San Martin, and Junin regions. Furthermore, the minister welcomed the development of the Internationalization Support Program, which relies on funds to co-finance the internationalization initiatives by Peruvian companies. Moreover, he highlighted the work that PromPeru and Peruvian Trade Offices abroad (OCEX) have been carrying out, by implementing specialized promotional actions. "Those specialized fairs, missions, and visits have been generating deals worth US$437 million over the last six months," he highlighted. Image: ISPR website At least three Pakistani soldiers died during a gun battle with terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas North Waziristan district, media reports said. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that an exchange of fire took place between troops and terrorists in Miran Shah on the night of June 9/10, reports Dawn News. Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists location and resultantly three terrorists were sent to hell while four terrorists were injured. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, the statement said as quoted by the newspaper. It added that 40-year-old Subedar Asghar Ali, 26-year-old Sepoy Naseem Khan and 22-year-old Sepoy Muhammad Zaman were martyred during the intense exchange of fire. Sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, the ISPR said. Image: Wikimedia Commns The United Kashmir Peoples National Party (UKPNP) has issued a memorandum where it has addressed concerns regarding the ongoing illegal land grabbing, construction on valuable tourist resorts, green belts, and the increasing rate of deforestation by Pakistan in areas of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan, media reports said. As per recent reports, construction activities in Lesdana in District Bagh, Neelum and Peer Chinasi in Districts Muzaffarabad are encroaching upon these fragile ecosystems, leading to irreversible damage, reports ANI. UKPNP in a memorandum addressed to the Pakistan High Commissioner in London, demanded that Pakistan should refrain from land grabbing, allocating land to its citizens in disputed areas of Jammu Kashmir. Illegal occupation and construction on tourist spots and green belts play a crucial role in preserving the natural habitat and cultural heritage. These areas are not only essential for the local population but also attract a significant number of domestic tourists. UKPNP has serious concerns about intimidation and harassment of the Kashmiri nationalist witch hunt of the United Kashmir People`s National Party (UKPNP) and its student wing activists United Kashmir National Student Organization UKNSO, the Indian news agency reported. The London-based party in the memorandum issued on Thursday strongly condemned restrictions on the freedom of Expression, Association, and Peaceful Assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan. Image: Pixabay The Pakistani government's budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, presented by Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday, remained a matter of disappointment for housemakers. The budget failed to provide a respite to them from surging household expenses. Reeling under an economic crisis of the kind seldom experienced in the countrys history, women in Pakistan are finding it hard to make ends meet, with many voicing their outrage over the surging prices of basic household products, reports ANI news agency. There is no use in listening to the statistics when it becomes difficult for even feeding, educating your children, Saima Azhar, a teacher in a private school, told The News International. A single parent of two, Saima earns only Rs25,000 per month. She said, Please ask the budget makers to do me a favour and make a monthly budget for my house for only one month. All I know is the fact that nothing will change after the budget. In fact, it will increase problems, Nadia Majeed, a housewife, a housewife who did not bother to listen to the budget speech, told the newspaper. Image: Unsplash Karachi: Pakistan's Karachi city witnessed an unruly situation on Friday when a mob stormed the Surjani police station to free a detained person from police custody. A video going viral on social media showed several policemen inside a police station resorting to heavy firing into the air as several people could be seen standing outside the gate of the police station, reports Dawn News. West-SSP Faisal Bashir Memon in a statement was quoted as saying by Dawn News that some people attempted to get their accomplice freed from the custody of the Surjani police, who fired bullets into the air to disperse the mob. Four people who had forcibly entered the police station have been arrested, said the SSP statement. Image: Pixabay A top Tibetan leader has asked for the establishment of an alliance of like-minded diplomatic allies and partners in confronting the common opponent China, media reports said. The Sikyong, or executive head, Mr Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), was quoted was saying by Tibetan Review: We need to jointly pool together every effort and resource in the periodic assessment of the developing situation in China and its approach to global governance. He made the remark on the inauguration of a three-day conference on June 8 to deliberate on China and the Changing Global Order. According to reports, 50 research scholars and experts on China had gathered in Dharamshala for the conference. Representatives from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Inner Mongolia and Uyghur were stated to have reiterated in unison the common need to forge an alliance in tackling the growing repression of China. Four children have been found alive after surviving a plane crash and spending weeks fending for themselves, all alone, in Colombia's Amazon forest. Colombia's president said the rescue of the siblings, aged 13, nine, four and one, was "a joy for the whole country". Reuters The Cessna single-engine propeller plane was carrying three adults and the four children when the pilot declared an emergency due to an engine failure. The children's mother and two pilots were killed when their light aircraft crashed in the jungle on 1 May. The remains of the Cessna light aircraft were found two weeks later, with the bodies of three adults still inside, but the children were nowhere to be seen. The small aircraft fell off the radar a short time later and a search for survivors began. The children are Lesly Jacobo Bonbaire, 13; Solecni Ranoque Mucutuy, 9; Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, 4; and Cristian Neryman Ranoque Mucutuy, now one, who come from the Huitoto Indigenous community. The missing children became the focus of a huge rescue operation involving dozens of soldiers and local people. A search operation packed with hope A massive search began and in May, rescuers recovered items left behind by the children, including a child's drinking bottle, a pair of scissors, a hair tie and a makeshift shelter. The remains of fruit with bitemarks made by small human teeth, a pair of scissors and nappies in the rainforest mud, were among the tantalising clues left behind by the children. Small footprints were also discovered, which led search teams to believe the children were still alive in the rainforest, which is home to jaguars, snakes and other predators. Helicopters hovered over the area around the crash, broadcasting messages from the childrens grandmother, telling them they hadnt been forgotten, urging them to stay in one place, and dropping packets of food that may have helped them survive. In the middle of May, the childrens father also joined the hunt. The rescue effort, Operation Hope, ramped up rapidly, eventually encompassing 150 soldiers and 200 volunteers from local Indigenous communities and a team of 10 Belgian shepherd dogs, covering an area of more than 323 sq km (125 sq miles). Reuters As the days stretched into weeks, and the weeks into a second month, some in Colombia began to wonder if they were deluding themselves. Some of the rescuers went home, a combined command headquarters was dismantled. But a little more than a week before their discovery, Brigadier General Pedro Sanchez said he was convinced the children were alive, because bodies would be easier to find than a small group who were moving through the forest. Then on Friday, about 4pm local time, army radios crackled into life. Miracle, miracle, miracle, miracle. It was the army code for a child found alive; repeated four times it meant all four had survived, in a remarkable feat of resilience. Although malnourished, and covered in insect bites, none were in a serious condition. The military tweeted pictures of a group of soldiers and volunteers posing with the children, who were wrapped in thermal blankets, surrounded by the team that found them, with Cristian cradled in the arms of a rescuer. Reuters How did they survive? Cassava flour and some familiarity with the rainforests fruits were key to the childrens extraordinary survival in an area where snakes, mosquitoes and other animals abound. When the plane crashed, they took out (of the wreckage) a farina, and with that, they survived, the childrens uncle, Fidencio Valencia told reporters. Farina is a cassava flour that people eat in the Amazon region. After the farina ran out, they began to eat seeds, Valencia said. Timing was in the childrens favor. Astrid Caceres, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, said the youngsters were also able to eat fruit because the jungle was in harvest. The children's grandmother, Fatima Valencia, said after their rescue: "I am very grateful, and to mother earth as well, that they were set free." Reuters She said the eldest of the four siblings was used to looking after the other three when their mother was at work, and that this helped them survive in the jungle. "She gave them flour and cassava bread, any fruit in the bush, they know what they must consume," Valencia said. President Gustavo Petro said finding the group was a "magical day", adding: "They were alone, they themselves achieved an example of total survival which will remain in history." Their learning from indigenous families and their learning of living in the jungle has saved them, Petro told reporters on Friday, after announcing on Twitter that they had been found 40 days after they went missing following a plane crash. They are children of the jungle and now they are children of Colombia, he added. The survival and the discovery of children brought a happy ending to a search-and-rescue saga that captivated a nation and forced the usually opposing military and indigenous people to work together. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Today in History: June 12th is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are days 202 remaining until the end of the year. There are several notable events that happened on June 11 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 June 12. Take a look: Today in History: What Happened This Day in India History Events World Day Against Child Labour The World Day Against Child Labour is observed annually on June 12th. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the issue of child labor and advocating for the rights of children worldwide. The International Labour Organization (ILO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, established this day in 2002 to highlight the plight of millions of children who are engaged in laborious work that is harmful to their physical and mental well-being. 1975 - Indira Gandhi was convicted of election fraud Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India, is found guilty of electoral corruption in her successful 1971 campaign. Despite calls for her resignation, Gandhi refused to give up Indias top office and later declared martial law in the country when public demonstrations threatened to topple her administration. The June 12, 1975, verdict delivered by Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court had convicted the then prime minister of electoral malpractices and debarred her from holding any elected post under the Representative of Peoples Act. 1990 - INSAT-1D was launched The specification for the INSAT-1D is the same as the INSAT-1B but with expanded battery and propellant capacities, launched on 12 June 1990 to conclude the first generation INSAT series. 2016 - Saina Nehwal won the Australian Open title for the second time Saina Nehwal won the Australian Open Super Series Badminton tournament title in 2016 in women's singles category. She defeated Chinese Sun Yu in the finals thus earning herself the title for the second time. What happened in World History on June 11 1898 - Philippine independence declared The annual June 12 observance of Philippines Independence Day came into effect after past President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Republic Act No. 4166 regarding this matter on August 4, 1964. This Act legalized the holiday, which is based on the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces from the Spanish colonization. The Philippines flag was raised and its national anthem was played for the first time in 1898. However, liberty was short-lived because Spain and the United States did not recognize the declaration. 1964 - Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison In 1964, South African Black nationalist Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison along with seven other people, including Walter Sisulu, for committing sabotage against the apartheid regime (all were eventually released, Mandela in 1990). 1982 - One million people demonstrate in New York City against nuclear weapons A stunningly large and diverse crowd descends upon New York Citys Central Park on June 12, 1982, demanding nuclear disarmament and an end to the Cold War arms race. By the end of the day, estimates place the number of attendees at over a million, making it the largest disarmament rally in American history. 2016 - Mass Shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida On June 12, 2016, a gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub, a gay establishment in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded; Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group during a three-hour standoff before being killed in a shootout with police. What Happened this Day in India History Events. Todays Highlight in History: - In 1630, Englishman John Winthrop, leading a fleet carrying Puritan refugees, arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he became its governor. - In 1776, Virginias colonial legislature adopted a Declaration of Rights. - In 1942, Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl living in Amsterdam, received a diary for her 13th birthday, less than a month before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis. -In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Loving v. Virginia, unanimously struck down state laws prohibiting interracial marriages. - In 1978, David Berkowitz was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for each of the six Son of Sam .44-caliber killings that terrified New Yorkers. - In 1987, President Ronald Reagan, during a visit to the divided German city of Berlin, exhorted Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev to tear down this wall. - In 1991, Russians went to the polls to elect Boris N. Yeltsin president of their republic. - In 2004, former President Ronald Reagans body was sealed inside a tomb at his presidential library in Simi Valley, California, following a week of mourning and remembrance by world leaders and regular Americans. What Happened this Day in India History Events Also on this day: In addition to these historical events on June 12 events, there is also the birthday and death of several notable individuals that you must know about. Famous People's Birthday on June 12 1932 - Padmini, an Indian film actress and dancer, was born Padmini Ramachandran was an Indian actress and trained Bharatanatyam dancer, who acted in over 250 Indian films. She acted in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Russian language films. 1932 - India's Metro Man E. Sreedharan Birthday E. Sreedharan, popularly known as the "Metro Man," is a renowned Indian civil engineer and public servant. He is best known for his instrumental role in the planning and execution of several major infrastructure projects in India, particularly in the field of urban transportation. Born on June 12, 1932, in Palakkad, Kerala, Sreedharan graduated in Civil Engineering from the Government Engineering College, Kakinada. He joined the Indian Railways Engineering Service in 1954 and worked on various assignments throughout his career. Important Days in June 2023 India June 2023 Important Days: Complete List June 2023 Important Days Important Events In May 1 June World Milk Day 1 June Global Day of Parents 2 June Telangana Formation Day 2 June International Sex Workers Day 3 June World Bicycle Day 4 June International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 5 June World Environment Day 7 June World Food Safety Day 8 June World Brain Tumor Day 8 June World Oceans Day 12 June World Day Against Child Labor 13 June International Albinism Awareness Day 14 June World Blood Donor Day 15 June World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15 June World Wind Day 16 June Guru Arjan Dev Martyrdom Day 17 June World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 18 June International Picnic Day 18 June Autistic Pride Day 18 June Fathers Day (Third Sunday of June) 19 June World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 19 June World Sauntering Day 20 June World Refugee Day 21 June World Music Day 21 June International Yoga Day 23 June International Olympic Day 23 June International Widows Day 23 June United Nations Public Service Day 26 June International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 29 June National Statistics Day 30 June World Asteroid 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 June 12! For more such informative content, keep following Indiatimes. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says there is a plot to arrest lawmakers-elect opposing the choice candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as leaders of the 10th National Assembly (NASS). Recall that the ruling APC had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, and Jibrin Barau, a lawmaker from Kano, as senate president and deputy senate president respectively. For the House of Representatives, the Party nominated Tajudeen Abbas, a member-elect from Kaduna, and Benjamin Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia, as the preferred candidates for speaker and deputy, respectively. However, some lawmakers-elect, including Orji Kalu, Abdulaziz Yari, and Idris Wase, have opposed the zoning arrangement of the party while insisting on contesting the positions. Debo Ologunagba, PDPs Spokesperson, speaking at a press conference on Saturday, said members of the National Assembly should be allowed to elect their leaders freely, warning against any form of intimidation. Reports in the public space indicate plots to arrest individuals who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature, Ologunagba said. The PDP notes that the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy and therefore insists that members-elect in both chambers must be allowed to elect their leadership. READ ALSO: Tribuna: Lack Of 25% In FCT Disqualifies Tinubu, Atiku PDP Witnesses The national assembly is the symbol of the sovereignty of the people in a democracy. The people exercise such sovereignty through choices made by their representatives on the floor of the national assembly. Fundamental to this sovereignty is the choice of presiding officers which must not be appropriated by any group or individuals. Such will amount to a dethronement of the sovereignty of the people, he added. Ologunagba further advised lawmakers-elect to assert their independence in the election of the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives. He also called on the members-elect to note that Nigerians reposed their trust in them to uphold the independence of the legislative arm of government in electing their leadership. As a party, we charge the lawmakers to remain steadfast in their resolve because we are conscious that the majority of them are resolved to defend the independence of the legislature. We call on them to keep in mind that Nigerians expect them to assert their independence in the election of the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives, he said. The Department of State Services is likely to approach the court on Tuesday to obtain an order to keep the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, in its custody for as long as his interrogation will last. A source from the DSS in a conversation with PUNCH NEWSPAPPER, revealed that the secret police would likely approach the court to obtain an order to detain the suspended CBN boss for an indefinite period to allow for unfettered interrogation. According to the source, Emefiele has been on the watch list of the service for long, and his arrest signifies an escalation in the DSSs pursuit. The source said, He (Emefiele) has been on the watch list of the service for a long, now that he has been arrested, he will be spending the night in custody at our headquarters and may not be released anytime soon. There is also the likelihood of his residence and office being searched in furtherance of the services investigation. READ MORE: DSS Confirms Arrest Of Suspended CBN Gov, Emefiele INFORMATION NIGERIA gathered that DSS had previously attempted to obtain a warrant for Emefieles arrest but failed to provide sufficient evidence to convince the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho. The DSSs investigation into Emefiele includes allegations of terrorism financing, mismanagement of Nigerias social investment program, and the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, among other things. Meanwhile, the Maitama, FCT residence of the suspended CBN boss was conspicuously empty on Saturday. Reporters on the scene from noon till around 3 pm did not see any security operatives or significant activity around the compound. Socio-political commentator, Reno Omokri has told Nigerians criticizing the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to have a rethink. Recall that, Emefiele, was taken into custody by Nigerias secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended him from office. Commenting on the situation via Twitter on Sunday, the former presidential aide disclosed that the embattled CBN governor is the only Nigerian who has held the position in the apex bank for two tenures in the last 30 years. READ ALSO: Emefiele Failed To Redeem Himself, His Suspension A Relief To Nigerians Laolu Akande The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party opined that Emefiele, should be given the privilege of defending himself by charging him to court. He tweeted, In the last thirty years, Emefiele has been the only CBN Governor reappointed for a second tenure. And what makes his case even more unique is that he was appointed by one President from one party and reappointed by another from a different party. So think twice before you condemn Emefiele. He held an office that was literally the most sought-after non-elective position in Nigeria. There are lots of accusations against him and no evidence as of yet. A media trial by a mob will not get to the bottom of this issue. If the Tinubu administration feels he has a case to answer, let him be charged to court and given the judicial and media space to defend himself. "Peru has a unique asset, one of the very few in the entire world and strategically located," said Benjamin K. Malphrus, Professor of Space Science at Morehead State University. Also, he highlighted the high level of scientists, as well as of astronomy researchers and students. news agency. "I've been impressed with Peruvian students. They're brilliant. They possibly lack some opportunity. So, our goal is to bring opportunity for Peru through its students," Malphrus said in an interview with Andina news agency. But why the Peruvian radio telescope was selected? "(It is) because this dish is so big and so precise that it can pinpoint where that (space) vehicle is. And when it is used together with our other dishes, we can precisely figure out exactly where those spacecraft are and where they are going. So, it is a way for us to navigate as well. It's just an incredible asset," said Jack D. Fischer, former NASA astronaut and Vice-President of Production & Operations at Intuitive Machines. Sicaya Radio Telescope will be the only asset in South America that integrates Intuitive Machines' lunar tracking global network. The company will confirm the capability of the dish before the end of the year. "The reason why Peru is the perfect partner for executing this dish is because the dish itself is amazing. It is located in the perfect location. It's in great shape. It can be upgraded to a world-class asset. But more importantly, the people of Peru are a truly special part of this," he concluded. Peru is represented by the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) in the contract agreement with Intuitive Machines for lunar exploration investigations. Lunar missions NASA , in cooperation with Intuitive Machines, is moving the landing site for the first Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission to Moon's South Pole as an important first step in managing risks for future Artemis landings. The company's first flight, Intuitive Machines-1 (IM-1), will carry six NASA payloads on its Nova-C lunar lander to a site near the Malapert A crater, which lies near the southern limb. This relatively flat and safe region is within the heavily cratered southern highlands on the side of the Moon visible from Earth, according to America's space agency The NASA payloads will focus on demonstrating communication, navigation, and precision landing technologies, as well as gathering scientific data about rocket plume and lunar surface interactions, plus space weather and lunar surface interactions affecting radio astronomy. (END) SPV/RMB A 32-meter radio telescope in Peru was selected to join Intuitive Machines ' lunar tracking global network for space exploration. Sicaya Radio Telescope, in Huancayo, will be essential for the next lunar missions such as NASA-led Artemis program and lunar tourism.Publicado: 11/6/2023 Wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Oluremi Tinubu, has recounted her time in the Senate, saying she had at a time considered quitting to focus on her family. Oluremi, who spent three terms in the senate, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, at the ninth senates valedictory session on Saturday, said it takes sacrifice to be able to serve in any public office. God sustained me for three terms. From the seventh assembly, eighth assembly and ninth assembly, I am still confused as to how I have been able to continue this journey, the senator said. I even thought that let me retire and begin to face my family because serving the nation takes a lot of sacrifice and it starts with a sacrifice from your home, your children, even your better half. It takes a lot of sacrifices to want to give time to serve the nation. READ ALSO: Nigeria Now Ripe To Have Female President Obasanjo However, she added the new administration is a beacon of hope for all Nigerians. This new administration beacons hope for this nation and for anyone who does have hope you cant even move ahead. This new (administration) beacons that and we have to make the necessary sacrifice which starts with the new 10 assembly, she said. For me as a woman of faith, I believe it is double grace. Number 10 will give us double grace, and God will sustain us, and I can only wish my colleagues well. A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba, has described confirmation by the Department of State Services, DSS, that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele is in its custody as a shock. Recall that the DSS had earlier confirmed that Emefiele was in its custody after initial denial, which has been a major topic nationwide. Reacting to the development via a statement on Saturday, Agbakoba questioned what role the DSS would play in Emefieles arrest and prosecution. The senior lawyer noted that Emefieles suspension did not come as a surprise to him as his tenure was way beyond monetary policy. READ MORE: Emefiele Should Not Be Made Scapegoat For Buharis Sins Omokri However, he insisted that the role of the DSS is internal security and it is not within its jurisdiction to arrest Emefiele. Manchester Citys long quest to win the Champions League finally came through, after a 1-0 triumph against Inter Milan in Istanbul as Pep Guardiolas side completed the Treble. The feat came after winning the Premier League and FA Cup, City, thereby emulating Manchester Uniteds triple trophy haul in 1999. They now became only the second English club to achieve the feat after Rodris crisp 68th-minute strike. Guardiolas all-conquering side were never at their best against a brilliantly organised Inter and had to cope with the loss of Kevin de Bruyne to injury in the first half. But the massed ranks of City fans inside Ataturk Stadium did not care about that as they joyously celebrated the greatest night and season in the clubs history. And for Guardiola, it seals his status as one of the managerial greats as he added a third Champions League to the two he won at Barcelona, the last coming in 2011. READ MORE: Burna Boys Performs At UEFA Champions League Final (VIDEO) This was never the walkover many predicted and City had to survive a few scares when Federico Dimarcos header bounced off the bar and Ederson made a stunning late save to deny Romelu Lukaku but ultimately this was all about the victory. The Champions League has brought suffering to City and Guardiola especially when they lost to Premier League rivals Chelsea in the 2021 final but all the pain disappeared just before midnight on a sultry night in Istanbul. City survived late anxiety, especially when Inter substitute Lukaku headed straight at Ederson with the goal at his mercy, but there was an explosion of joy on the pitch and in the stands at Ataturk Stadium as they finally secured the giant trophy that has remained so elusively beyond their grasp for so long. Guardiola said, whether it was fair or not, that his time at Manchester City would be judged on whether he was able to bring the Champions League to the club. Now that judgement can be made. The Catalan, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, will now be an iconic figure at City as well as Barcelona. It is a simple fact that many outside the Abu Dhabi-owned club will always view their triumph through the prism of the charges of 115 financial breaches brought against them by the Premier League, charges they fiercely deny. For Citys owners, with Sheikh Mansour attending only his second game since taking control in 2008, this was the night they have planned for and the one when they finally claimed that holy grail. A Nigerian national has been arrested in India for the alleged possession of mephedrone worth more than Rs 1 crore in Thane district, Maharashtra. The arrest of the 35-year-old was confirmed by the Indian police on Saturday, June 10, 2023. The anti-narcotics cell of the Mira Bbayander-Vasai Virar police acting on a tip-off, intercepted the accused at Mira Road area on Thursday, Inspector Amar Marathe said. According to Inspector Marathe, the suspect attempted to flee but was pinned down by the police and taken to MVV Police station. READ ALSO: 33-Year-Old Man Arrested For Drugging, Defiling 10-Year-Old Girl In Bauchi The police team found 503 gm of mephedrone worth more than Rs 1 crore on the accused person during his interrogation and search. A further probe revealed that the man was a resident of Pragati Nagar locality in Nallasopara and used to supply contraband to different parts of Mumbai and its adjoining areas. The accused, who was lodged at Yerwada Jail, had recently come out on bail in a similar case and some of his associates are also under scanner. A case under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered, Inspector Marathe added. Former Senator representing Bayelsa East and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ben Murray-Bruce, has hailed President Bola Tinubu over key decisions made in his two weeks in office. Bruces comment comes in the wake of the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Murray-Bruce highlighted Tinubus success in turning Lagos into the 6th largest economy in Africa and expressed excitement for his administrations future. Tinubu has already made significant moves, including declaring the end of the petrol subsidy regime and unifying the foreign exchange markets. Despite some backlash, Tinubus intervention in the tussle between the DSS and EFCC and signing of bills extending the retirement age of high court judges and empowering states to generate and distribute electricity have been seen as positive steps towards development. In a tweet via his verified Twitter handle on Friday, Murray-Bruce said Nigerians should watch out for Tinubus administration in the coming days. He wrote; President Bola Tinubu is making the right calls. He turned Lagos into the 6th largest economy in Africa, and now he is in charge of the largest economy in Africa. Watch out. However, some Nigerians took the comment of the tweet to berate the former Senator for commending Tinubu for the decisions made in the last two weeks in office. See some of the reactions below: @shyna4me wrote This is supposed to be an opposition healing the government. A PDP chieftain with fused. Disgrace. PDAPC is the most useless PP in Africa. @olajobi wrote: Youve just made the most uncommon sense. All the doubting Thomases are now coming out one by one to testify to the wonders of God in Asiwaju. Enu ti igbin yin fi bu orisa.. @NDrAgwoTurumbe wrote: As an economist, I have taken a screenshot of this tweet and I am very certain I will be reminding Ben Bruce about it in no too distant future. Time reveals all things. READ MORE: Its Ethnic Cleansing, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Condemns Emefieles Suspension @theoloriherself wrote: Easy on the cap, youve almost removed it naww. Rochas Okorocha, Senator representing Imo West, has asked Senate President Ahmad Lawan for lessons on how to return to the Senate without participating in its election. Information Nigeria reports that Lawan will be part of the 10th senate after his attempt to be elected the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Lawan and Okorocha contested the presidential primary election of the APC but were defeated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The former Imo state governor who said this during the valedictory session of the 9th senate on Saturday. The Senate Presidents participation in the primary meant he would not be able to contest the Yobe north senatorial ticket of the APC, according to the Electoral Act. READ ALSO: lawanYobe North Fasted For Four Days, I Campaigned For Two Days To Emerge Winner Senate President, Lawan The former Imo state governor who said this during the valedictory session of the 9th senate on Saturday wondered how Lawan made it as he (Okorocha) is not returning to the senate. I did not contest for the senate this period. I only contested for the office of the president. You are a very smart politician. How you came back to the senate is another chapter in our political history that we need to discuss. I was there in the field with you running for president, I never knew how you were able to meander, leaving some of us. Next time you must teach me how to do that, he said. Lawan in response said: It was easy. I was there with you in the field and after our defeat, my constituents thought they needed me again. They asked for me to come back and it was a tortious journey because we had to go through the courts. I didnt even appeal the judgement that did not give me the contest. The party and the stakeholders appealed on my behalf up to the supreme court, so there is nothing critical or remarkable. In fact, you have nothing to learn from it. Katherine Anderson shows a photo of herself (right) at age 11, with younger sister Tara and their mother, Mary Brown, who had just been diagnosed with kidney disease. Anderson now has kidney disease too, and recently learned that a race-based formula prevented her from being eligible for a transplant more than five years ago. Read more Katherine Andersons kidneys have been going downhill for years, increasingly unable to filter her bodys waste products from her blood. She is often exhausted and has no appetite, losing 20 pounds in the last year alone from her slender, 5-foot-5 frame. On Jan. 27, she finally got good news: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital placed her on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. But two months later, the 59-year-old Norristown woman, who is Black, got a follow-up message that left her confused. It said that, in the past, doctors had estimated her kidney function with a formula that included race as a variable, making her and other Black patients appear healthier than they really were. When the hospital used a newer, race-neutral formula to recalculate Andersons kidney function, it found that in fact, she should have been added to the transplant waitlist more than five years ago. Hospitals nationwide have sent similar letters to more than 3,700 Black people with kidney disease, in response to a new federal requirement that patients kidney function be estimated without taking their race into account. Thousands more are expected to receive such letters by years end, as hospitals go through their waitlists to determine who should get additional credit to shorten their wait for a life-saving transplant. Advertisement The backstory of why race was included in the older formulas is complicated. The short version: The formulas were developed in a quest for more accuracy, and for many patients, they represented an improvement over inexact estimates of kidney function that had been used before. But in recent years, reviewers have determined that the evidence for treating Black patients differently was flawed and incomplete, rooted in medical racism. When using the older formulas, doctors had overestimated the kidney function of some Black patients by as much as 20%. In some cases, that meant they waited years longer than non-Black patients to get a new kidney, if they got one at all. Every year, thousands of people in the United States die while waiting for a transplant. Jefferson is a leader among transplant centers in using a newer, race-neutral formula to update its kidney waitlist. As of April 10, the hospital had credited 102 Black patients with additional waitlist time, representing one-eighth of patients nationwide whod had their waitlist time augmented by that date. Since then, the transplant staff has done it for 70 more, coming in on weekends to pore over old lab results and rerun the numbers. The result: On average, the 172 patients have qualified for an additional two years of credit for waitlist time, transplant surgeon Jaime Glorioso said. Seven already have undergone transplants. This adjustment is correcting for inequity, she said. These are peoples lives. For Anderson, the recalculation meant she should have gone on the waitlist in December 2017. A few days after she got the notice, a staff member from the Jefferson Transplant Institute followed up with a phone call, explaining that it was positive news. But Andersons reaction was mixed. I had more questions than anything, she said. Like, how could this happen? The trouble with kidneys Kidney disease can develop gradually over years, and it is helpful to catch it in the early stages, when many patients have no symptoms. But it takes at least four hours for a precise measurement of how well the bean-shaped organs are filtering the blood an impractical timeframe for widespread screening. So, instead, physicians make indirect estimates, using various formulas based on the amount of a substance called creatinine in the persons blood. (Higher creatinine levels, generally speaking, can mean the kidneys are not filtering as well as they should.) One such formula, developed in a 1999 study, became widely accepted in the field because it was more accurate than others. That is, the creatinine-based formula provided an estimate of kidney function that was reasonably close to the direct measurements that took hours. But there was a new wrinkle: Unlike the earlier formulas, the new one included race as a variable. Thats because in the study, for a given level of kidney function, Black people had higher creatinine levels than non-Black patients, on average. In order to plug Black patients creatinine levels in a formula, the researchers determined that they needed to use a multiplication factor. Black patients estimated kidney function, they calculated, should be adjusted upward by 18%. Why race was in the formulas Few doctors, if any, raised concerns about the formula. And as newer calculations were developed, most followed the 1999 example, including race as a variable. But Toni Martin, a primary-care physician in Berkeley, Calif., was at a loss. Time after time, her Black patients asked her why their estimated kidney function had been adjusted upward. Why, for a given creatinine level in the blood, were they deemed to have healthier kidneys than their white counterparts, meaning they would have to wait longer for a transplant? She did some research, looking up the original 1999 study, and the answer troubled her. The studys authors had concluded that Black people likely had higher creatinine levels because they had more muscle mass. To Martin, who is Black, that sounded like bad science from an earlier, racist era when Black people were thought to be poor swimmers because of denser bones, or were judged to be inferior due to measurements of the skull. Though not a kidney specialist, Martin called the editor of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases in 2011 and proposed writing an essay about why the formulas were off-base. In the result, titled The Color of Kidneys, she made her case: The so-called races are not distinct biological categories, but labels drawn from the superficial characteristics of hair and skin color. Yes, some characteristics may be slightly different from race to race, on average, but generally the average differences between two racial groups are smaller than the differences within a group. In other words, although some Black people may have higher creatinine levels than white people, plenty do not. There is no scientific basis for slotting everyone into a racial box, she wrote. And even if there were, who decides on the label? The patient? The doctor? What about people with ancestry from multiple races? I suspect that few clinicians could guess President Obamas ancestry by looking at him, she wrote. And if they could, which [number] should they use? A new formula Little by little, others started to listen. And in 2021, a national team of kidney specialists came up with a new, race-neutral formula. One of the authors was Andrew Levey, a Tufts Medical Center kidney specialist who was part of the team that came up with the original, race-based formula in 1999. He now thinks the old formula that he helped develop, though more accurate than earlier formulas, was a mistake. In an interview, he cited some of the same reasons as Martin. Race is not a biological category, he said, but a social construct. It turned out that the extra accuracy that we were able to obtain from including race in the prediction was not worth the tremendous objection to using a social construct, he said. Among those joining him in crafting a new, race-neutral formula was Nwamaka Eneanya, an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine. The new formula is not perfect, either, but it does not systematically disadvantage one racial group over another, she said. The old formulas were flawed from the outset, she said. You cant continue to use something like that. The wait for a kidney By the end of this year, hospitals are required to go through their lists and recalculate the kidney function of all Black patients using a race-neutral formula either the new one developed by Levey, Eneanya and their colleagues, or one of several other options. Some hospitals are moving faster than others. As of June 5, just 76 of the nations 200-plus transplant centers had submitted waitlist adjustments to UNOS, the not-for-profit organization that manages the U.S. transplant network. A total of 3,788 patients so far have been credited with additional wait time, including the 172 at Jefferson, 125 at Temple University Hospital, and 40 at Penn Medicine. Anderson, the Norristown woman now on Jeffersons waiting list, is happy that she is in line for a new organ. But her feelings are bittersweet, as she is not the first family member with kidney trouble. Anderson was just 10 years old when her mother was diagnosed with kidney disease, in the early 1970s. Her mother was so sick that family members told her she would have to help take care of her younger siblings, she recalled. Yet, despite her illness, her mother did not get a transplant until 1999. She died of other causes in 2022, but her ongoing struggle with kidney disease made her life a challenge. Anderson now wonders: Had her moms kidney function been evaluated with the new, race-neutral formula, might she have gotten a kidney sooner? Might she even be alive today? Two of her sisters also have kidney disease, one of whom got a transplant in 2005. Did she, too, wait longer than she had to? How many people of color died waiting on a kidney because of this error? Anderson asked. My heart is heavy because of this. Now that shes on the list, Anderson has no way of knowing when a compatible donor kidney from the greater Philadelphia area will become available. All she knows is that, on average, patients spend four years on the list before receiving a transplant. And she has now been credited for waiting more than five. Tom Gano speaks to high school students about organ donation Wednesday at Cherry Hill West High School. Gano has met his goal to bring his message about organ donor awareness to 300,000 students. His family donated his sons organs when he was struck by a motorist while riding his bike. Read more After more than 30 years of meticulously tracking the number of students who heard his organ donor awareness message, Tom Gano knew exactly when he hit his milestone. On Wednesday, after six presentations to sophomore classes at Cherry Hill High School West, he reached 300,240 students, surpassing the 300,000 goal he set after his son Curtis, 16, died from injuries sustained while riding his bike in 1987. To channel their grief, he and his wife, Vivian, became volunteer ambassadors for the Gift of Life to promote organ donor awareness. READ MORE: Marcia R. Cohen, one of the worlds oldest liver transplant recipients, dies at 94 I saw this as the only way to keep him alive, said Tom Gano, 80, a retired IT specialist. Advertisement After Curtis was declared brain dead, the Cherry Hill couple decided to donate his organs, which saved four lives and helped others through tissue donation. His liver was donated for research. Their son had not indicated his wishes, but his parents believed it was the best way to keep his memory alive and help other families. Tom Gano organized a local group of other donor families, living donors, and recipients, and with his wife began visiting high schools around 1989. They gave talks to schools in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, conducting more than 170 days of school talks annually before the pandemic. This year, as schools fully reopened and started allowing visitors inside again, Gano resumed a busy schedule. Vivian, 75, a retired teaching assistant, likes to stay closer to home and usually goes to nearby schools. She often shares an emotional story of why she wanted to donate Curtis organs: to spare other families awaiting a transplant the pain of losing a child. Gano tracks his speaking engagements and prepares a monthly report to share with other volunteers. He was fairly confident the 300,000 mark would come this week and close to home. Curtis, a sophomore when he died, attended Cherry Hill East. Im right down to the number, he smiled brightly. Richard Hasz, president and CEO of the Gift of Life, called Ganos service to promote awareness amazing. Gano has been recognized as an outstanding volunteer by United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, a private, nonprofit organization that manages the U.S. organ transplantation system. Its just a tremendous accomplishment, Hasz said Thursday. I dont think he has let up in his vocabulary. Hasz believes Gano has reached more students than any ambassador in the program. As the students share with friends and family what they learned from Gano, Hasz estimates the couple have reached more than 1 million people. On Wednesday, Tom Gano spent seven hours at Cherry Hill West after arriving for the first period sophomore health and physical education class at 7:30 a.m. He repeated his presentation six times to about 40 students in each session. He likes to target 10th graders because they take drivers education and can sign up to become organ donors, although it wont become legal until they turn 18. Students also learn more about organ donation as seniors. I think its great information for them, said health teacher Heidi Brunswick. A lot of them have no idea its a possibility. READ MORE: Tom and Vivian Gano keep their son's memory alive Gano methodically shared information about the Gift of Life program and organ procurement, who can donate, and what organs can be donated. He explained how students could become organ donors by checking a box on their drivers license in a few years or by signing up at www.organdonor.gov. The students listened intently as sobering statistics flashed on a screen: More than 105,000 adults and children are on the national transplant waiting list, the majority needing kidneys. Every day, 17 people die while waiting for an organ transplant. In the Philadelphia region, about 5,000 people are on the transplant list, some waiting for more than five years. Every nine minutes another person is added to the transplant waiting list. Gano brought along a donor recipient Wednesday to meet students so they can see the impact. He met Elizabeth Bean, a liver transplant recipient, when she was a senior at West and he encouraged her to share her story for the first time with her classmates. I reluctantly said yes, Bean, 26, recalled with a smile. It was kind of a secret. No one really knew I had a transplant. READ MORE: HIV-positive heart donor's family, recipient meet Bean, now a surgical nurse at Jefferson Health in Cherry Hill, told the students that she was diagnosed with a rare liver condition when she was 7. After her health deteriorated, she was eventually placed on a waiting list and underwent a transplant as an eighth grader, she said. After graduating from West in 2015, Bean attended Widener University. She said she studied nursing, partly because of the nurse who tended to her after her transplant. Bean said she enjoys an active life with a few restrictions, including taking immunosuppressants drugs to prevent organ rejection. All of this because of my donor, she said. Most people dont know what it means to check that box. The students peppered Gano and Bean with questions. They wanted to know if Bean had met the family of her donor only known as Bobby. She has exchanged letters with them. Bean candidly described her transplant operation and a painful recovery period. Gano told them that an open casket funeral could be held for organ donors. Whats the downside of this? Youre dead, Gano said. Gano and his wife could add 300 more students to the list with talks scheduled this week at Millville High School in Cumberland County and Camden County Technical School in Gloucester Township. They have already set up 10 visits in January. To echo so many leading MAGA Republicans and even the conservative editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, If the government can do it to William Johnson, they can do it to you. OK, we all know thats not actually what they said. What Americans on the right side of the political dial were really claiming this weekend is that if the U.S. government can indict Donald Trump, the once and would-be future president, on top-secret documents and obstruction charges, then an all-powerful, weaponized, unjust deep state can go after anyone. But since MAGA Republicans are all about no justice, no peace these days, Im thinking they might want to learn who William Johnson is. The government sure seems to have done it to Johnson. He was a 24-year-old Philadelphia Black man in 2005 when police charged him with the murder of an off-duty cop. He was convicted and sentenced to more than 30 years after prosecutors introduced a statement from a witness even though shed already claimed, in letters to then-District Attorney Lynne Abraham and others, that detectives had coerced false testimony. Abraham and another top prosecutor reportedly never disclosed that letter to Johnsons lawyers, which this week led a judge to throw out Johnsons wrongful conviction only after hed surrendered 18 long years of freedom. Advertisement The allegations of outrageous misconduct by the government in Johnsons case are hardly a fluke. Here in Philadelphia, roughly 30 wrongful convictions most for murder, most linked to gross misconduct by prosecutors or police detectives have been tossed in the last five years, and there are likely more to come. Black suspects like Johnson are seven times more likely to be wrongfully convicted than white ones. Thats the leading edge of a shameful era in American history that hasnt ended yet the age of mass incarceration led by the most politicized prosecution you could imagine, an overcaffeinated war on drugs in which not only the U.S. Justice Department and top federal agencies but local law enforcement were clearly weaponized against American citizens who were disproportionately Black and brown. The Republican politicians who are the heirs to the law and order legacy of GOP founding fathers Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and who relentlessly enhanced sentencing guidelines and other laws to fill the jails, are now 2023s social justice warriors. When hundreds of right-wing zealots were arrested by the Justice Department for their role in 2021s violent insurrection that injured scores of cops, movement leaders like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene were shocked, shocked to learn that U.S. criminal defendants arent jailed in luxury accommodations. Trump and his chief rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seem locked in a bidding war over who can offer the Jan. 6 defendants the best pardon deal an offer not extended to the suspects charged with federal crimes in the racial justice protests after George Floyds 2020 police murder. READ MORE: On CNN, lying Trump was a late-night comedian for an America I didnt recognize But those were just a warm-up for the screams of injustice! that rang out after last weeks stunning 37-count federal indictment that accused Trump of taking top-secret documents including nuclear secrets and battle plans with him after he was voted out of office, and then engaging in an elaborate cover-up. Typical was this tweet from DeSantis: The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society. We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. But the most egregious offender this weekend was arguably the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, the bible of unfettered free-market capitalism, which has taken the notion that consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds to unprecedented heights. The Rupert Murdoch-owned paper that in 2001 argued that Bill Clinton should be indicted over the alleged Monica Lewinsky perjury, thus upholding the principle that even Presidents and ex-Presidents are not above the law, and which called in 2016 for criminal charges against candidate Hillary Clinton over her emails has had an abrupt change of heart. It was once unthinkable in America that the governments awesome power of prosecution would be turned on a political opponent, the WSJ wrote in an editorial this week. That seal has now been broken. It didnt need to be. The piece turns on its head what was actually unthinkable before this week: that federal laws that are constantly charged against everyday citizens could be applied to an ex-president. There are three layers of ridiculousness to the idea that Donald Trump is being unfairly persecuted here. First, Trumps federal charges are the long-overdue fulfillment of an American promise that until now has only been honored in the breach, which is that no one not even the nations highest office holder is above the law. Bizarrely, many top officials have continued to proclaim this platitude even after Richard Nixon received a presidential pardon for the egregious crimes of Watergate, which empowered Nixon to tell David Frost the reality that was actually locked into place, that when a president does it, that means it is not illegal. Last weeks indictment involved righting a ship that had nearly capsized. Second, the idea that the law is being applied unequally to Trump utterly collapses when one looks at the history of the law that POTUS 45 allegedly violated, the Espionage Act, during the four years that Trump was in the White House. The best known case involved the whistleblower Reality Winner, who printed out one document and sent it to a news org, acting on her belief of the public interest, and who was denied bail, pressured to plead guilty and spent four years in prison. Nghia Pho of the National Security Agency, or NSA, took home classified papers for work, and was hacked by Russians. He was sentenced to more than five years. But now folks are saying the president during that era, who stored top-secret documents on his stage at a busy resort and showed some of them to randos, should get off scot-free? Really? Third, I dont think people are thinking hard enough about what Trump truly represents for many of the 74 million who voted for him in 2020. In the end, theyre not coming after me, Trump told supporters in Columbus, Ga., yesterday. Theyre coming after you and Im just standing in their way. Thats the notion that Trumps I alone can fix it authoritarianism is the last line of defense for white supremacy, the patriarchy, and Christian-fundamentalist morals now under assault in a better-educated and more diverse America that animates his movement. The criminal justice system is where the rubber hits the road for these outdated hierarchies. Simply put, Trump and his people believe the laws exist to rein in people who dont look like them whether its Philadelphias William Johnson and the hundreds of thousands of faceless Black and brown Americans trapped in our national gulag, or desperate refugees at the border. That is exactly what Trump, DeSantis, and all the Republicans out on the campaign trail are talking about when they prattle on about freedom the freedom to dominate other people. The indictment of Donald Trump is the most powerful symbol imaginable that for some people but especially the white conservative dudes who love him the most their obscene notion of freedom might no longer apply. Equal justice under the law is their worst nightmare, so of course they are having a meltdown. No wonder that so many of us fear that the last throes of Trump-fried supremacy will be served with a side of violence. Meanwhile, the rest of us should celebrate a rare win for the idea that no person is above the law. And we should aspire for a truly just America where, indeed, If they come for Trump, they can come for you but only if you and Trump actually broke the law. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the film's producer, confessed that it was his idea. "I always wanted to go to Machu Picchu; it was one of the biggest desires of my life. The great thing about Transformers is that it allows you to go to these marvelous places. Peruvian culture and the jungle are incredible. We couldn't have had a better experience," he said. The reception of Peru during the filming, in the midst of the pandemic in 2021, and the connection with its people were appreciated by Steven Caple Jr., the film's director. He chose Cusco to give a magical presentation to the 'Maximals,' a new race of robots that will assist the 'Autobots.' "The locations are beautiful, and I felt that there was a lot of history that could be incorporated with the Maximals and much history to learn. Now the pressure is to ensure that Peru is happy with what we have on screen, as we highlight its culture," Caple Jr. stated. On the other hand, the film's protagonist, Dominique Fishback, highlighted the energy and mysticism of Cusco. "A shaman came to bless the land. It was an incredible experience," she said. For his part, Anthony Ramos also shared his experience on set. "Peru is the films main character, with its festival, people in their costumes, and artistic displays. You can simply feel it," he commented. Ramos was referring to the Inti Raymi festival , recreated in the film, which involved more than 800 extras, including dancers, musicians, and actors For the first time in the history of the saga, a robot will speak the Quechua language, the most widely spoken indigenous language in Latin America. "It's my favorite part of the movie. One of the things we had never done before was to have a transformer speaking a language other than English. We wanted to respect the native culture, indigenous people, and their cultural heritage. One of the messages of the film is for Optimus to trust the people, and this scene shows that connection through a language we hadn't used before," Di Bonaventura said. During exclusive interviews with a PromPeru team that traveled to New York, the actors and directors received a silver chain made by Peruvian artisans with the characteristic logo of the Autobots. The chain had inlays of spondylus and sodalite stones. Retablos with Cusco designs were also delivered At the premiere and Red Carpet event, New York was adorned with Peruvian red and white posters at the Kings Theater. The Peruvian brand was showcased in Times Square with bright panels. Peru: destination for filming In the past two years, major international film studios have recognized Peru as an attractive destination for filming locations. This is evident in the feature films, short films, series, and documentaries that have been shot in our country, such as "La Reina del Sur," "No Mires Arriba," and "Dora y la Ciudad Perdida," among others. All of these audiovisual productions received continuous support from PromPeru through its Film in Peru strategy, providing them with an unforgettable filming experience. PromPeru also aimed to promote the country as a film destination, showcasing the identity and image of Peru. The astonishing geography and rich culture make Peru a destination with countless locations and diverse settings where all kinds of stories can be told. Peru is history, nature, culture, and adventure. Premiere The film premiered in Peru on June 7. "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," which features Peru and its people as main characters, can be enjoyed in 2D and 3D, as well as special formats such as 4DX, MacroX screen, XD, Atmos. The seventh iteration of the Paramount Pictures franchise was shot thanks to the constant support and backing of the Peruvian Commission for Promotion of Export and Tourism (PromPeru) , through Film in Peru , which coordinated the corresponding filming permits with different government institutions to ensure an adequate experience. "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" opened in the United States on June 9, 2023. (END) NDP/RMB The " Transformers: Rise of the Beasts " premiere has been a resounding success. The mega-production, filmed in Peru almost entirely, showcases the beautiful and ancient landscapes of Cusco (Machu Picchu) and San Martin (Tarapoto) regions.Published: 6/11/2023 New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Georgia cities and counties, along with trucking and auto insurance companies, are preparing for the impact of a new law that raises the weight limit of tractor-trailers hauling agricultural and timber products in the state. House Bill 189 was scaled back slightly during the recently ended legislative session, but will still allow big rigs to deviate by as much as 10% from current weigh limits on most Georgia roads and highways. Georgia law limits most rigs to weigh up to 80,000 pounds, similar to federal regulations, but allows a variance of up to 84,000. The law will now allow variances of up to 88,000 pounds. The final bill, signed into law in May, notes that trucks must be hauling goods within a 150-mile radius of their point of origin. It also sets penalties for weight violations and allows local law enforcement officers to stop truckers if the officers have reason to believe the rig is too heavy. The much-debated measure has met with criticism from some local officials, who fear it will mean more wear and tear on roads, and could lead to more-severe accidents. A Tift County commissioner told a local TV news outlet that taxpayers will end up paying more for maintenance. Some plaintiffs law firms also have warned that heavier rigs will mean more devastating accidents if they collide with passenger cars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has reported that in 2021, some 4,714 people died in crashes involving large trucks, a 17% increase from 2020. HB 189 took effect upon the governors signature, May 3. It has a sunset date of July 1, 2025. Topics Georgia The role that competition law plays in our day-to-day activities has come to the fore in recent times, particularly in relation to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis which has dominated the news in the past weeks and months. Our competition watchdog, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), came in for scrutiny following its preliminary advice which strongly advised the Government against introducing price controls in the grocery market after the recent Retail Forum meetings. The CCPC said it had not seen any evidence to suggest that an emergency or market failure exists in relation to the grocery market which would warrant such action, or that price controls would benefit consumers. Indeed, notwithstanding heckles from members of the opposition, the CCPC doubled down by subsequently issuing public advice on price controls. That advice highlighted how implementing such measures may disrupt the natural dynamics of supply and demand in the market and flagged that only two countries in the EU namely Hungary and Croatia had taken such action. Ronan Dunne, partner and head of competition, regulated markets, and EU Law at Philip Lee. File picture Intuitively, this advice seems correct. Price controls are, by their nature, intrusive government-imposed regulations that limit the prices at which goods or services can be sold in the market. We limit such measures wherever possible tobacco and, to some extent, minimum pricing for alcohol, being notable exceptions to that rule. This is the way that modern competition law theory operates. The market will, given time, regularise pricing so that customers get the best value and intervening measures are invariably considered counterproductive. However, these recent events in an Irish context also highlight the limits of regulation in an open market economy. Which leads to a broader question: Is it time for a change in our competition law policy? In particular, do we need to align competition policy better with that other crucial pillar of our economic landscape, namely industrial policy? While competition law aims to ensure fair market competition and prevent anti-competitive practices, industrial policy seeks to promote the growth and development of specific industries. These concepts are not mutually exclusive. EU-wide alignment There is now a growing debate at an EU level as to whether there needs to be a greater alignment of competition law with industrial policy to foster balanced economic development on a European-wide basis. Some have interpreted this as a bald question as to whether competition law enforcement should become more lenient in favour of European or national member state champions, and much of the focus in this regard stems from a 2019 decision of the European Commission to block a proposed rail industry merger between Germanys Siemens and Frances Alstom. That prohibition decision was viewed as a major setback for the French and German governments who had hoped to create a European industrial champion. The French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, called the decision a grave political error, with the suggestion from many EU capitals being that Europes competition law policy no longer reflected the realities of the modern-day geopolitical position of the EU, with the growing power of US tech behemoths to the west and Chinas increasing industrial strength to the east. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said the decision to block a merger between French and German rail firms Siemens and Alstrom was a grave political error. Picture: Ian Langsdon/AP The issue of closer alignment is likely to come to the fore during the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, which will start on July 1. Spain has stated that it intends to push for consolidation in the telecoms industry as part of its plans. This is likely to run into immediate problems with the European Commission, which has generally shown a preference for more competitors in national telecoms markets to provide consumers with choice, with the effect that there remains a downward pressure on prices. Spain is arguing the other side of that coin, saying more concentrated markets are necessary to bring economies of scale, increase efficiency, improve innovation, and most importantly, thereby permit investment in creaking networks. But where to draw the line? Striking a balance between consolidation and competition is not easy. Attempts by the Spanish presidency must not lead to the creation or strengthening of market dominance by a few companies, but investment is needed. Further, it will be essential to have close collaboration with the European Commission, and other relevant competition authorities, to align efforts and ensure compliance with EU competition laws. IDA could work with competition authorities This collaboration will need to reconcile the objectives of consolidation with the maintenance of healthy competition and consumer welfare. Which leads us back to the question of alignment. Industrial agencies such as our own IDA could work closely with competition authorities, both at the EU and domestic level, to identify sectors where targeted interventions or exemptions may be necessary to promote competition and innovation without distorting the market. By designating such industries, governments could provide targeted incentives, infrastructure development, and research and development support, creating an environment for these industries to flourish without falling prey to anti-competitive practices. Levelling the playing field This could also help level the playing field for domestic firms, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who often face challenges in competing with larger, more established firms due to limited resources and economies of scale. Aligned policies could help play a role in supporting SMEs by providing financial assistance, access to markets, and regulatory simplification, enabling them to thrive. Ultimately, bending the rules to allow European champions to be created seems like a short-term fix for a broader problem. If the political threat of larger, better-resourced or more closely integrated businesses from non-EEA countries is real, then it seems the most sensible way to address this would be through detailed sector-specific policies that align with the EUs industrial strategy and competition law. This would, of course, likely call for significant reform, but Rome was not built in a day. And Just Like That the thing they said could never happen is happening. Kim Cattrall is back. As season two of the Sex & The City spin-off gets ready to launch on June 22, Variety breathlessly reports that yes, Cattrall will have a cameo, to be aired during the final episode in August. And just like that, Samantha Jones effortlessly upstages her former co-stars with a single scene. Filmed separately in New York in March, the scene is a phone conversation with Carrie, alluded to at the end of season one. As we all know, real-life Samantha and Carrie are not friends; Cattrall declined to get on board with the reboot fronted by her former colleague Sarah Jessica Parker, with words roughly translating as my dead body and over. Perhaps some extra zeroes added to her fee persuaded her back, plus being dressed by the inimitable Patricia Field, the original S&TC stylist (who does not work on AJLT). The S&TC actors were never friends, Cattrall has emphatically told anyone whod listen, from Piers Morgan to Instagram. A mean girls culture is said to have finished Sex & The City off, although the other three actors SJP, Cynthia Nixon (Miranda), and Kristin Davis (Charlotte) apparently get along famously. When original creator Darren Star left and was replaced by SJPs friend Michael Patrick King, Cattrall was left feeling further isolated there are feud timelines all over the internet outlining the fallout between real-life Carrie and Samantha. Which is kind of sad, given how the whole premise of the original series was not so much about sex as female friendships. Kim Cattrall arrives at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Outernet London. Ms Cattrall will reportedly reprise her role of Samantha Jones for a one scene cameo in the Sex And The City spin-off And Just Like That. THE OVERHAUL Its a brave venture to take a beloved, seminal series and recreate it twenty years later; reactions to John Cleese bringing back Fawlty Towers after forty years have veered between trepidation and outright horror. S&TC was very much of its time; straight rich white women wafting around Manhattan, shopping, and fucking. All jolly good fun, but to integrate it into the 2020s, it needed a profound cultural overhaul. And it got one. But has the overhaul been overdone? The original series, set in New York City rather than some quaint Connecticut backwater, was frankly crying out for diversity; it desperately needed a non-binary Mexican-Irish LGBTQ+ activist like Che, or a 13-year-old they/them who morphs from Charlottes floral-clad daughter to a Bat Mitzvah-refusing teen renamed Rock, or a Smita-Smitten-Showbiz-Kitten type character called Seema inserted from nowhere to hang out with Carrie, in order to reflect the world around them. So its not so much these new characters which are problematic, despite being sledgehammered in to modernise the series. No, the real problem with AJLT is what has been done to the established characters. Have they become a bit unrecognisable? Basically, Miranda. Whats happened to her? Always S&TCs most underrated character, while Carrie and Samantha were consuming Cosmopolitans and men, and Charlotte husband-hunting up and down Park Avenue, Miranda was making partner at her law firm and single parenting a red-haired baby; she was the feminist of the quartet, except we thought she was the boring one. Then in 2017, someone came up with the We Should All Be Mirandas t-shirt in an homage to the shows strongest role model, produced in response to Carrie wearing one of those eight hundred dollar Dior t-shirts suggesting we should all be feminists. Please. On her freelance income? Fast forward a couple of decades from the original series and Miranda modern, focused, fearless Miranda seems to have been replaced by a dithery, castrated Karen who isnt tech-savvy, cant figure out podcasts, and freaks when her red-haired baby now a young adult smokes weed (its legal in NYC). Yes, shes had an awakening away from corporate law to something more meaningful but seems to not know how to behave around fellow New Yorkers who are not white, just as her same-sex awakening and dead marriage to Steve are being played out by an unrecognisable character lacking confidence and bite. Who is she, and where is Miranda Hobbes? The disintegration of her character would make a bit more sense if there were some overt menopause references Miranda, Carrie, and Charlotte are in their mid-fifties but instead, we have an unconvincing storyline about Mirandas drinking. This new chapter of the iconic HBO series Sex and the City finds Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York navigating life and friendship in their 50s. WONKY LETRASET And then theres the problem of Che. Unfunny comedian Che Diaz, flung at us and Miranda in a box-ticking exercise which could have been radical and brilliant but instead is implausible and faintly daft, is not a disaster because of bad acting as much as bad writing. Sara Ramirez has done her best. Its the series writers who seem to have constructed the Che character and Mirandas hypnotised reaction to her from wonky Letraset. She just doesnt work. Nor does the idea of Miranda quitting her internship at a human rights organisation to run off to LA with Che while wanting to extricate herself from a dead marriage to poor old Steve is entirely believable, tearing up her own career to chase someone elses seems to be astonishingly out of character. Am I not allowed to change a little bit? she asks Carrie. Or a lot? Or change back again if I feel like it? Do I have to follow my own rigid rules until the day that I die? What AJLT fails to deliver is not someone evolving as much as someone being killed off and replaced by a Stepford version of themselves. In this case, the formerly formidable Miranda. Still, at least Carrie is reasonably consistent. She still wears heels, even in an era where we are all about yoga and spine health. Her grieving for Big was nuanced, although her career move to podcasting was as clunky as the Che character who plays her boss. And unlike Chris Noth, who will definitely not be returning to the series anytime ever, his character killed off in the face of multiple accusations of real-life sexual misconduct, another of Carries exes is set to make a comeback in season two. Enter Aidan (John Corbett), the outsized anti-smoking furniture maker from S&TC, last seen by Carrie when the pair implausibly crossed paths during the franchises ill-advised film outing to Abu Dhabi. In the absence of Mr Big, Mr Unfeasibly Large is set to rekindle something with Carrie. Will it work? Do we care? Or have we realised that watching AJLT is a bit like getting back with a lover who was fun at the time, but whom we have massively outgrown? Will this be the dynamic between Carrie and Aidan, or will they bring something fresh to their storyline? (Given the inconsistencies of the writing, this could be anything from a sudden shared passion for flat shoes to smoking crack together). Carrie and Aidan in And Just Like That... SEX WITH THE EX Unexpectedly, its the prissily uptight Charlotte who seems to be moving forward in terms of character development. Charlotte has always been the punchline, the shockable maiden aunt, the pursuer of style-cramping marriage and motherhood as the other three followed sex and money; when we re-engage with Charlotte as the parent of two teenagers, still happily married to everyones favourite Jewish divorce lawyer, and still hanging out with the Samantha-replacing Anthony, has she loosened up a little? The obvious subtext of her stepping in to be Bat Mitzvahed - when her teenage child Rock refuses - is that one can become a woman at any age. However, the real question is can S&TC successfully become AJLT, launching itself forward in time, without disintegrating on impact? The more fifty- and sixty-something women on screen the better, but without credible character development, the whole reboot teeters like high heels on uneven ground and just like that, falls over. Well still watch it though its TVs equivalent of sex with the ex. Styles takes fan welfare seriously Harry Styles is part of a growing number of pop stars who keeps a keen eye on the crowd at gigs. Early in his Slane gig, he promised attendees that he was there to help them have fun but if he saw anyone in distress in the 80,000-strong audience he would stop the show until they were helped. Our job this evening is going to be to entertain you, I promise you we will do our absolute very best. Your job tonight is to have as much fun as you actually can, if you want to sing, if you want to dance, please feel free to do whatever it is you want to do in here tonight, please feel free to be whoever it is you have always wanted to be in this room tonight. Theres a lot of people gathered on this hill. If you need anything at any point let me know, we can stop at any time. Were going to keep it safe, were going to have fun and were going to do it together. Harry with the Irish flag on stage at Slane Castle in Slane, Ireland - 10 June (via @tpwkcore_) pic.twitter.com/JST2woZvHk HSD Love On Tour (@hsdlot) June 11, 2023 It may seem an empty promise to naysayers but Styles held true to his word, pausing the show at one point because he saw a fan slip and fall in the crowd before him. He directed help to them and waited until he knew they were okay to move on and sing Matilda. At other times, the halo effect was in use effectively. This saw attendees lift their phone torches up and point them towards the stage to make a ring of light around someone in difficulty in the crowd to get them help as soon as possible. From a higher aspect like the stage it could be clearly spotted and Styles often subtly pointed staff towards them. He has been practicing his Irish A view of Harry Styles performing at Slane Castle, Co Meath Its not unusual for a visiting pop star to attempt a phrase or two as Gaeilge but Styles clearly practices his cupla focal before arriving at Slane. Conas a ta tu? My name is Harry and Im thrilled to be able to perform for you, is how he greeted fans upon arrival on stage to much cheering and praise. It didnt end there. Styles also attempted a rather impressive farewell in Irish as well. Before wrapping up after two hours on stage, he thanked those in the crowd with a classic cead mile failte, before bowing out with slan leat, go n-eiri an bothar leat. He is proud of his boyband roots Styles has won four Brit awards, two Grammy awards, an Ivor Novello award, and countless others in 2023 alone, so you would be forgiven for thinking he has moved beyond his One Direction days but you would be wrong. There is still a place in Styles heart for the Directioners, the fans who have supported him in his music and other ventures for 14 years. An aerial view of the scene at Slane Castle for Harry Styles. Picture: Garda Siochana During his set at Slane, he performed one of the groups biggest early hits, Thats What Makes You Beautiful and the reaction from the crowd reached a fever pitch. Clearly, there is still a lot of love for the boyband that sparked a global fandom. He gives a subtle shout-out too to his Irish bandmate Niall Horan too, encouraging the crowd to sing out for Mullingar, where Horan is proudly from, and he thanked his fans for supporting him since the start. If youve been supporting me for one year, five years, 13 years, whatever it is, you have changed my life and I thank you so, so much for being here tonight. He knows the significance of Slane Mick Jagger performing with The Rolling Stones at Slane Castle in 1982. Picture: Eddie O'Hare/Examiner Archive Slane Castle has hosted some of the biggest music acts ever and some of the acts to grace its stage include Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Queen. When Styles was announced as a headliner there were disgruntled remarks from some because he wasnt the typical rock act that fans have travelled for in the past. However, the sea of pink and neon as far as the eye could see was a testament to his success and Styles briefly acknowledged his place among those icons from the stage at the beginning of his show. It is an absolute pleasure to be with you, thank you so, so much for making this happen. I havent met a single Irish person this week who hasnt told me what a big deal it is that were playing Slane Castle tonight. This is going to be a special one: one, because were at Slane Castle, and two, because its a Saturday night." He will never forget Tallaght but he does forgive it Poor Niall Horan will never live down the party that went wrong. A few years ago during a One Direction concert at the 3Arena, Styles shared a story from the stage of a night out in Dublin with Horan. The destination: a party in Tallaght. During their 2015 show, Styles asked Horan to explain to the crowd what happened to him in the Dublin suburb, to which Horan replied: Some fella stuck you a headbutt. Styles added: I went to Tallaght one time and got the nut stuck on me, but luckily for him, he managed to run away quick, I could have had him if I wanted to but Im a lover Im not a fighter. He mentioned the incredible incident once more at Slane. I got headbutted when I went to Tallaght. Is there anyone here tonight from Tallaght? Its okay, I forgive you, Tallaght, I forgive you. A Cork poet, whose work appeared in this years Leaving Cert exam, has had a deluge of messages from students, asking "rather sweetly" if they interpreted her poem correctly. Victoria Kennefick, a native of Shanagarry, Co Cork, now living in Co Kerry, said she feels very honoured to have her poem Guest Room from her book Eat Or We Both Starve appear as the 2023 unseen poem on the higher level English paper 2 exam. It's been extraordinary, said Ms Kennefick, who only learned her work had featured in the exam after it ended. I found out pretty much when everybody else did because obviously the whole affair is crowded in secrecy and no one knows anything. "Some of my friends are invigilators so when the exam was finished I got this flurry of messages and pictures. It was very exciting and very unexpected. I suppose I never really thought about it as a student myself actually getting in touch with the poet as when I was doing the Leaving Cert, the poets were not with us. It was extraordinary to have this deluge of very funny, very engaged, maybe a little bit stressed out but very interested messages from students from all over the country. They enjoyed the poem, or it spoke to them in some way or they admired something in the poem, which is really, really lovely. Some of them were asking about writing poetry themselves and then also asking, rather sweetly, did they interpret the poem correctly. Theres a little bit of debate about whether the mother in the poem is dead or not, she added. Im trying to tell them the examiners dont know that either and it's all about the journey of the poem and what the poem tells them about themselves. Every single interpretation Ive read, because theyve sent me their interpretations, is extraordinary and really well thought out and mature and well-balanced, especially given the time restraints that they are under. I feel very honoured to have been put on the paper and that the poem has been read by the most discerning cohort of readers and consumers of popular culture in the country and that I shared a tiny little bit of their big journey. It feels very special. Ms Kennefick is a graduate of University College Cork where she holds a doctorate in English. She is the current writer in residence at University College Dublin. Her new book is due to be published in February by Carcanet Press. Almost 8,000 people have been waiting longer than 18 months for a first appointment with a consultant at Cork University Hospital. The Department of Health has insisted that progress is being made to tackle waiting lists around the country despite new figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund showing little or no improvement in many areas and a worsening situation in others. Hospital consultants have described the national waiting list figures as unacceptable. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said there are now 893,600 people on various types of waiting lists across the country, and this stretches past one million when people waiting for scans are counted. Hospital cancellations could exceed 250,000 this year if the rate continues, with 85,000 operations and appointments already cancelled to end of April, the consultants warned in a statement. They said spiralling waiting lists are also linked to the fact the health service is not ready for a rapidly increasing population. Their analysis shows that annual attendance figures at emergency departments rose by 461,000, or 38%, in the last ten years, and the average waiting time to be seen is now approaching 12 hours. IHCA President Professor Robert Landers urged the Government to produce the beds they have promised. The Minister for Health recently announced a rapid build programme to deliver 1,500 additional beds in acute public hospitals to be opened this year and in 2024, he said. The Government needs to commit the promised 1 billion capital budget for the additional capacity urgently. The doctors argue interventions, including Winter Plans, are ultimately ineffective as they do not address the underlying problem, the shortage of beds. Read More Cork farmer was thinking of his wife and kids as he was being attacked by bull Out-patients are also affected, including 85,671 people who have been waiting longer than 18 months for their first appointment with a consultant. The HSE has previously said patients are prioritised by need. The IHCA also highlighted 250,021 people waiting for scans, including MRI, CT or ultrasounds, up to May 4 based on information released to Sinn Fein Health spokesman David Cullinane. Patients will, unfortunately, continue to languish on trolleys and unacceptable waiting lists, and suffer poorer outcomes as a result, until the Government implements credible, funded, time-bound plans, the IHCA said. More beds and the filling of 900 doctor posts which are either unfilled or filled by a locum doctor on a temporary basis are needed, the IHCA said. Daily there are around 550 patients which consultants have clinically discharged from hospital, but who are waiting often months for step-down care to be arranged, while a similar number of admitted patients are being treated on a trolley while awaiting a bed, Prof Landers said. A Department of Health spokesman said progress is being made against some targets, but conceded: This progress, however, has been offset by a higher-than-expected additions to waiting lists. He said it is expected the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan will see results as winter pressures ease. The HSE attributes the higher than anticipated additions to waiting lists to several factors, including post-pandemic pent-up demand, and highlights it is also the case internationally e.g., the NHS in Britain is seeing higher additions compared to previous years, he said. The Women of Honour group has called for a tribunal of inquiry to be established into allegations of emotional abuse, physical torture, bullying, and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces. In a statement on Sunday morning, the group published their terms of reference for the inquiry, which they said would allow "as many people as possible with a chance to have their situation examined". A statutory inquiry has been recommended after the publication of a damning report in March into the Defence Forces. It found that 88% of female respondents in a survey had experienced one or more forms of sexual harassment, compared with 17% of male respondents. Ahead of the group's meeting with the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste tomorrow, the Women of Honour group has identified their main priorities for the inquiry. In a strong statement, they criticised the 'flawed' Review Group that had previously been established by the Department of Defence, which they had previously said could "not do the job" A spokesperson said: "We will be proposing to (the Taoiseach and Tanaiste) our terms of reference for a tribunal of inquiry carried out in public, answerable to the public, and a report that will be made available to the public. "It will be more transparent which will work towards building confidence and trust. It can still allow for anonymity for those who want it but it will finally put an end to the secrecy and concealment. "A tribunal can be costly and may take longer but this is a matter of real public importance and so the public needs to know exactly what is going on and have confidence that it will be done right." The group added that the terms of reference drawn up so far from the Government were "very narrow" and exclude a "huge number of issues and a large number of people". They said: "In simple terms, the terms of reference need to look at all the football pitch. If, as proposed by the Government, in any match we only look at what happens inside the centre circle it would be a pointless exercise. Everything on the pitch needs to be looked at." If anyone would like to connect with the Women of Honour group, they can be contacted in confidence at irishwomenofhonour@gmail.com. The Department of Integration is facing huge challenges as it struggles to meet the States obligations to international protection applicants and people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Two years and three months after the Government published its white paper to end direct provision and to establish a new international protection support service, a significant rethink is sorely needed. The evidence is there for all to see that Ireland needs a fundamental overhaul on how we handle the reception, accommodation and integration of refugees. Involuntary migration is not a temporary phenomenon, and yet Irelands response has been a series of short-term measures that fail to meet the basic needs of people seeking protection here. Ukrainian refugees waiting at a train station in Warsaw, Poland, on March 30, 2022. The UN says the millions fleeing Ukraine since Russia's invasion last year constitutes the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Picture: Czarek Sokolowski/AP According to the UNs Refugee Agency, the number of people forcibly displaced globally now exceeds 100m. More than 32m of these are refugees. This means 1.2% of the worlds population has been forced to leave their homes over persecution, conflict, human rights violations or other events. The 14,000 new applications for asylum expected in Ireland this year is a tiny fraction of the worlds refugee population. Each of the applicants will be seeking international protection from persecution or serious harm, and if successful they will, for the most part, be recognised as refugees. And yet, the response of many of our politicians and policymakers is to frame increasing refugee numbers as a crisis that needs to be managed. This is in line with the wider European response, as policing of migration at the borders, legal restrictions, and the development of return programmes all point to a reluctance to accept the inevitability of ongoing forced migration. A prime example of this is how EU policy focuses on stamping out smuggling and trafficking across the Mediterranean Sea while failing to ensure safe pathways for the people making often perilous journeys to find safety. People waiting in a reception centre for refugees from Ukraine at the main train station in Berlin, Germany, on March 13, 2022. Picture: Hannibal Hanschke/DPA/AP Even more worrying is the far right framing of refugees as an existential threat to our way of life. A small, disjointed collection of individuals and groups, many with links to international extremists, peddle misinformation and orchestrate opposition to their presence in our communities, seemingly intent on completely excluding refugees from our society. Almost 75% of the worlds refugees and people in need of international protection are hosted in low- and middle-income countries. Ranked as one of the wealthiest countries in the OECD, Ireland can do more to protect the small numbers who arrive on our shores. In the EU, measures to restrict migration flows especially via the Mediterranean and western Balkans routes are in stark contrast to the decision to allow displaced persons from Ukraine to avail of a range of rights in the EU. These include residence, access to the labour market, medical assistance, and access to education for children. Ireland quite rightly afforded beneficiaries of temporary protection these rights. Doras CEO, John Lannon. File picture Notwithstanding the failure to put a sustainable, long-term strategy in place to meet the accommodation needs, the Government showed that where there is a willingness to respond to a humanitarian crisis, we can. Despite this, people escaping war and persecution in Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other parts of the world face a different set of circumstances. Until such time as they are legally recognised as refugees, international protection applicants face years trying to survive on 38.80 per week. They also now face the prospect of street homelessness or living in tents, coupled with vitriol and violence fuelled by far-right extremists. The problematisation of migration and the failure of the Government to clearly articulate its responsibilities to refugees has led to public uncertainty over their legitimacy and rights. Using fences and teargas to block migrants at the borders of Europe contributes to this undermining of efforts to welcome them into our communities. The same goes for language used by politicians and leaders that unintentionally constructs asylum seekers as a threat. People escaping war and persecution in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, and Syria struggle to survive on 38.80 per week in Ireland. File picture: Moses Sawasawa/AP The European Commission has committed to creating a humane, comprehensive approach to migration that can help those in clear need of protection while attracting migrants with the skills needed to contribute to Europes growth, innovation and social dynamism. However, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of the worlds refugees are hosted in developing countries, the EU has shown little commitment to global resettlement efforts. It continues to emphasise border controls while paying little attention to providing safe migration pathways. Just in the last month, the European Parliament endorsed new rules seeking to speed up the return of migrants who enter Europe without permission and to prevent them from travelling to other countries in the EU. Attempting to identify and eliminate undesirable and irregular migration flows is an ongoing feature of our response to the displacement of people in our unequal world. More needs to be done in Europe to respond positively to forced migration flows. However, we must also consider the glaring failure to address the root causes. Extreme violence, environmental destruction, political instability and poverty all contribute to the involuntary movement of people. These are all exacerbated by ever increasing levels of militarisation that fuel wars and oppression, and by climate change. Europes military spending grew at a record pace last year , contributing to global military expenditures of 2.08tn. By increasing subsidies to the arms industry, the EU is feeding the global arms race, which in turn fuels conflicts and displaces people worldwide. Militarising countries from which refugees come is one part of the problem. Another problem is involving the military in enforcing border controls, as is the case in the Mediterranean. We also see increasing militarisation of refugee camps, which leads to the perception of migrants and refugees as a security risk. Ireland has an opportunity to put this right, at least and within its own borders. By focusing on the human rights of people seeking international protection, it can ensure they are afforded the dignity and respect they deserve while avoiding penalties such as the 1.5m payment to be made to the EU for breaching our legally binding humanitarian obligations. It can also use its EU membership to help bring an end to the shameful practice of pushbacks at the EUs external borders, particularly by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Migration and asylum policies, no matter how harsh, will not stop people from seeking international protection. They just make it harder for them to find safety. Even by the standards of the University of Limerick, May 25 was a remarkable day. The university was in recovery mode after a bruising session at the PAC exactly a week previously, wherein its president, Kerstin Mey, had come in for a torrid time at the hands of her interlocutors. That is not to do a disservice to the committee members who, by and large, asked fair questions of the president. The problem was that she refused to answer most of them. Some of that stance was, at least, explicable chiefly that a report by KPMG regarding the 8.3m acquisition of the former Dunnes Stores at Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick City in 2019, a purchase completed with no formal valuation in place, could not be discussed as it is before the courts. UL at PAC has kicked off. Will be worth a watch: https://t.co/V3dST1u3EY Kerstin Mey, president of the uni, has just made her opening statements in both public and private sessions. Could be a long 3 hours for her pic.twitter.com/NKjcxqa8Hd Cianan Brennan (@ciananbrennan) May 18, 2023 But the university president went further she also refused to answer questions that were certainly not sub judice, the most notable probably being the 23 times she was asked if she had received media training ahead of the Oireachtas public accounts committee (PAC) meeting. It turned out that she had indeed received such training. Why she thought it was something that should not be answered, your guess is as good as mine. Yes, the PAC meeting was something of a disaster, made all the worse by the fact that the college had shown up indeed had requested a private session ahead of the public one in the hope of running with the narrative that all is now well at the institution which has had countless protected disclosures, external reports, and governance scandals to deal with in the past 10 years. You cant push the clean slate narrative while simultaneously refusing to answer questions of any sort. Like all disasters, there was both a fallout and an inquest. All week ahead of May 25 there had been rumblings amongst staff and students that the PAC performance could not simply be ignored. The president sought to tackle those mutterings head-on on May 24, sending a mail to all campus staff acknowledging that much of the criticism of her performance was completely fair, but adding that she would continue to focus on the issues that need to be resolved as quickly as possible. The following morning, all hell broke loose. At midday, word began to filter out from the university that provost and deputy president Shane Kilcommins had left his post for reasons unknown. Prof Kilcommins had sat beside Prof Mey at the PAC, and had faced some difficult questioning himself, but nothing on the scale of what the president endured. Word came out on May 25 that UL provost and deputy president Shane Kilcommins had left his post. However it later emerged he is now jointly leading a new strategic governance committee along with the university president. File picture: Arthur Ellis Theories abounded. One constant from discussions with those inside the university is that the PAC performance had been deemed unacceptable and that it had allegedly been suggested to the president that the governance of the university needed to change. Regardless, for a period that morning, senior sources believed Prof Kilcommins, a nine-year veteran professor of law at UL, was out. Nothing happened for several hours, except Prof Mey messaging all staff, inviting them to a Mad Hatters Tea Party on May 31 on the campus plaza to celebrate ULs 50th anniversary. Later that day, it emerged that Prof Kilcommins was to remain in his post. An emergency meeting was held after 5pm, with representatives of the universitys faculties, Prof Kilcommins, Prof Mey, and ULs chief corporate officer, Andrew Flaherty, all attending. It is understood that the overwhelming message at that meeting was that the provost should remain in his positions of deputy president and provost of the university. At roughly 7pm, a fresh communication emerged jointly from the president and her deputy, communicating as a fully united executive committee, acknowledging the considerable disquiet on campus, but also advising that Prof Kilcommins remains in his post and that a new strategic governance committee, to be helmed jointly by Prof Mey and Prof Kilcommins, was to be set up. Whether that unified front can hold, only time will tell, but precedent would suggest the odds arent in its favour. University of Limerick chancellor Mary Harney with then UL president Des Fitzgerald on Sarsfield's Bridge in November 2019 at the announcement of UL's plans for the former Dunnes Stores site. File picture: Diarmuid Greene A meeting of the governing authority on Sunday, May 28, in the shadow of the Mad Hatters big top on campus, presumably heard from the two professors. In a subsequent statement, they acknowledged the difficult period for everyone that had just occurred and promised to keep the campus informed of progress relating to the new committee, and to the city centre campus in the former Dunnes Stores site. A progress report is due to be delivered to the governing authority next Thursday. Things have been low-key ever since. That will likely change. UL is an institution that doesnt seem to be able to keep quiet for long. In my early 20s, I thought heading off to sea for months at a time was a perfectly normal thing to do. My father had a small boat in the pier near home and we would go mackerel fishing in the summer back when mackerel was much more abundant than nowadays. So when I boarded much larger boats to set off to the North Sea, the Mediterranean or to Antarctica in the early 1980s, it was clear that the salt sea had made its way well into my bloodstream, and for good. Many Irish people feel that same attraction and connection to the sea, though sometimes you wouldnt think it given how the State has treated our maritime space since Independence. Grace O'Sullivan climbing the anchor of a Russian warship with Greenpeace 1989. We are an island nation, yet it would be difficult to say we have the same relationship with the seas as our not-so-distant island neighbours in Iceland or Atlantic-dominated Portugal. Our fisheries and ports, spurned by our former colonial rulers, have continued to fall victim to Irelands historic neglect of our maritime heritage even after 1921. Our Atlantic ports in Galway, Clare and Kerry remain underdeveloped compared to sister ports in the UK and mainland Europe. Our naval service, which carries out vital roles both off our shores and in the Mediterranean, is composed of just 6 ships compared to 36 in nearby Portugal. These days, Portugal even has a Minister of the Sea dedicated to the marine and maritime affairs. And yet despite it all, there is something in the Atlantic Ocean, Celtic and Irish Seas that still calls to us from the deep. Nature needs more than just platitudes As the Atlantic Ocean, Celtic and Irish Seas come under increasing strain from climate change, acidification and even the weakening of the Gulf Stream, its time we answer the call with a little more than the usual platitudes. I have been heartened to be a part of this response in recent years as an MEP. Across Europe, there has been a wave of support for action on climate change and biodiversity decline over the last decade. A lot has been made in Ireland about the need to examine our relationship with the land and bring nature back into the way we organise our towns, farm the land, produce and consume on a daily basis. But this approach also repeats some of the mistakes of the past. As a nation in the embrace of the Atlantic Ocean we need to look past our shorelines for opportunities for solving our climate and biodiversity crises. To do this we need to face up to the dire conditions we have left our marine area in. Dark reality of our coastal dumping On dry land in tourist shops in every town, we are still more than happy to sell postcards of breathtaking cliffs and romantic seaside scenes. On closer inspection of these idyllic scenes of white beaches and rocky islands, however, we can see a much darker reality. A reality that shows how for decades the State only really saw the coast as a dumping ground for waste and sewage and a place to potentially drill for gas deposits. By the latest count, raw sewage continues to flow into rivers and seas in at least 32 Irish towns at a rate of almost 7.5 million litres every day. Very few of Irelands marine habitats are now in good health, while only half of the rivers that flow to the sea are in satisfactory condition due mainly to agricultural and urban pollution. Over recent decades the State has established a network of over 600 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) intended to restore nature and protect bird species as a priority. It was a noble effort, but it still left us with the fourth lowest level of environmental protection in Europe. On top of that successive governments have become adept at skirting the commitments and promises of these conservation areas, to the point where many SPAs exist just as lines on a map. This could be all about to change though, as Ireland is looking at a new decade of ocean and maritime action unprecedented in its scope. Grace O'Sullivan MEP with Flossie Donnelly on a beach cleanup in Bray, Co Dublin. On an EU level, the European Green Deal has been the focus of my time in Brussels as an MEP. While it may not have been as ambitious as I would have liked, the EU Green Deal has been the overarching description given to a suite of climate and environmental proposals brought forward by the European Commission. With a Green Party navigating steadily the choppy waters of government coalition in Dublin, the European Green Deal legislation has come at a good time to be put into action on the ground. As a result of this process, keep an eye out for the Marine Protected Areas Bill set to be published in the coming weeks from the office of Minister Malcolm Noonan. This Bill for the first time in Irish history puts the ocean at the centre of Irelands very identity, with the aim of protecting a massive 30% of our seas by 2030. This April I had the great pleasure of taking a boat from Ventry Pier to the Great Blasket Islands, which lie at the centre of an area of outstanding Atlantic beauty that could very soon be a Marine Protected Area (MPA). As I looked out at the rolling sea I thought what it would feel like to be the first person in a new National Park. With new Marine Protected Areas we would be essentially designating natural heritage to be cherished by generations to come as a part of our intangible cultural and natural heritage. Europe's 'Green Deal' offers hope Perhaps the final piece of the European Green Deal as we know it will be the Nature Restoration Law. While some disinformation abounds about the potential impacts of this piece of legislation, which intends to repair significant damage done to Europes degraded habitats, one important element of this proposed legislation has been entirely ignored by its detractors. This groundbreaking measure, if implemented, will see at least 20% of our seas restored to healthy status by 2030. It will also see the removal of ma- made river barriers so that a massive 25,000km of European rivers will return to free-flowing state. This will be instrumental if we are to see the recovery of the Wild Atlantic salmon or the endangered European eel. Meanwhile, I have never seen the scale of investment in Irelands ports as is happening today. Following a European Parliament fact-finding mission to Ireland in May, I reported back to the Parliament Committee that places like Rosslare Europort which was historically a relatively small ferry and freight port, now found itself a new role as the most important connection between Ireland and mainland Europe following Brexit. Ports in Galway and Ringaskiddy are well underway for new phases of expansion too. These initiatives and legislation come at a time when Irish people are more interested than ever in our relationship with our oceans and seas. Even during the worst days of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a surge in sea swimming and beach clean-up activities led by incredible activists like June Curtin of Snamhai Sasta in Clare and Flossie Donnelly of the Flossie and the Beach Cleaners group. These community activities, often led by women, popped up across the country as we found new ways to keep ourselves busy and healthy and maintain that social contact we desperately needed in the darkest of times. As a result, many of us rediscovered our connection with the sea, and found a link between healthy oceans and healthy humans. None of this should be taken for granted of course. And as elections approach either in Ireland or in Europe, environmental measures are often the first on the political chopping block. Already the Nature Restoration Law is coming under serious pressure from lobby groups in Brussels and Dublin while Marine Protected Areas are facing serious pushback from industrial fisheries lobbies and fossil fuel companies. This World Oceans Day, I will be reflecting on Irelands role in the future of the European Green Deal, and how our greatest gift to the world could very well be a healthy and thriving Irish Ocean. graceosullivan.ie Today, we say goodbye to our pastor, the Rev. Patrick Heery. After seven years at Westminster, Patrick preaches his last sermon in our pulpit this morning, and we officially dissolve the pastoral relationship in a congregational meeting following worship. Patrick moved to Auburn in May 2016, the result of an extensive nationwide search following the retirement of our previous pastor of 14 years, Phil Windsor. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Patrick was the editor of the denominational magazine Presbyterians Today. He had never led a church before, but we were so impressed by his passion, energy and intelligence that we called this young man to be our pastor. He and his wife, Jenna, moved here from Louisville, Kentucky, bought a home, and hit the ground running. He, and we, will never be the same. A lot can happen in seven years, and weve walked side by side with Patrick through all of it. We lost many longtime, beloved members, and many new individuals and families joined us. The Westminster Nursery School, a ministry of our church for over 60 years, closed its doors, and a new educational program began, including a teen drop-in center for LBGTQ+ youth. A longtime tenant, The Rev, moved out, but their move resulted in more space for our ministries and new initiatives in our buildings. New babies arrived and joined the church family, including Emerson and Josephine Heery. The congregation and the Heerys celebrated joys and shared sorrows. We laughed, cried, worshiped, prayed and worked together. Oh, and a pandemic happened. In March 2020, everything shut down, and we had to figure out how to keep being a church in brand new ways. At the very time that people most needed the comfort and support of a church community, we were suddenly unable to gather. We quickly (within a week) figured out how to worship online. For over a year, Patrick sat in front of his office laptop on Sunday mornings, a solitary person leading worship with an online community that grew over the course of the pandemic. We learned how to hold meetings on Zoom, support each other remotely, and continue to be a church community. Eventually, we cautiously began to gather again, while continuing to include online and hybrid ways to participate. Westminster actually grew during these hard times, finding new ways to be church in person and online. We are still finding our way in this brave new world, and now well be looking for a new pastor to walk the walk with us. Just as Patrick is called to move on to a new phase of his life, so is the church. Patricks journey takes him and his family to his hometown of Cincinnati, where they will live with his father Patrick concentrating on being a son and a dad, and Jenna pursuing her career in ministry. Where will Westminsters next steps take us? Westminster Church in Auburn has a unique identity shaped by its his long history. It is a church founded in 1862 over the abolition of slavery, and the call for social justice has remained constant through today. It has historically supported children, education, equal rights, rich and vibrant worship, and full inclusion of all in the life and work of the church. And although the church is constantly changing, with people and leaders coming and going, it maintains a consistent identity because of the priorities which have been important throughout its history. Presbyterians govern themselves in a unique way, believing that Gods voice is best heard through collective discernment. Authority does not lie with a single individual, not even the pastor. Community and communal decision-making are important. As one of our curriculum says, we believe theres more Holy Spirit in a bunch of us than in any single one of us. Since Patrick announced his departure in February, Ive been reminded of a poignant story in the Old Testament. Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt and wandered with them for 40 years, never got to enter the promised land. He glimpsed it from a nearby mountain, but passed the torch of leadership to Joshua to lead the Israelites into their new home. Westminster and Auburn will miss Patrick dearly, and we are exceedingly grateful for his time with us. But Westminster is not his church nor is it our church. It is Gods church, and God is still with us, calling us forward. Honduras has opened an embassy in Beijing, months after the Central American nation broke off relations with Taiwan to form diplomatic ties with China. Chinese state media reported foreign minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Reina took part in the inauguration of the embassy on Sunday morning. It added that Honduras still needs to determine the embassys permanent location and will increase its number of staff. Mr Qin pledged China will establish a new model with Honduras of friendly co-operation between countries with different sizes and systems, according to a statement from Chinas Foreign Ministry. The symbol of the two sides strengthening diplomatic ties came during Honduran President Xiomara Castros six-day visit to China. Honduras established formal relations with China in March, becoming the latest in a string of countries to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China sees self-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary, and prohibits its own diplomatic partners from having formal ties with Taipei. Ms Castro arrived in Shanghai on Friday on her first visit since the establishment of relations. During her stay in Shanghai, she visited the headquarters of the New Development Bank, a bank established by the Brics nations, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Honduras requested admission to the bank, Ms Castros office tweeted on Saturday. The president also visited a research centre for technology giant Huawei before arriving in Beijing on Saturday night, Chinas official Global Times newspaper reported. The ties formed in March were a diplomatic victory for China amid heightened tensions between Beijing and the United States, including over Chinas increasing assertiveness towards self-ruled Taiwan. It also signalled Chinas growing influence in Latin America. China and Taiwan have been locked in a battle for diplomatic recognition since they split amid civil war in 1949, with Beijing spending billions to win recognition for its one China policy. British prime minister Rishi Sunak faces a third by-election test after a close ally of Boris Johnson resigned from the UK House of Commons with immediate effect. In a tumultuous 24 hours for the Conservative Party, Nigel Adams MP announced on Saturday that he was following the former prime minister and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries lead in quitting Westminster. In a tweet, Mr Adams said: Yesterday, Selby Conservatives selected an excellent new parliamentary candidate. Ive today informed the chief whip that I will be standing down as a Member of Parliament with immediate effect. It has been an honour to represent the area where I was raised (and) educated. Mr Adams and Ms Dorries had been tipped for peerages in Mr Johnsons resignation honours but neither featured in Fridays published list. There has been speculation that Downing Street wanted their names removed to avoid by-election contests, although No 10 said Mr Sunak had no involvement in producing the final list. While the Tories enjoy a comfortable 20,000 majority in Selby and Ainsty, Mr Adams decision to exit immediately rather than wait until the next election means the Tories will face contests on three fronts. Mr Johnson sensationally quit Westminster on Friday as he launched a fierce attack on the Commons Privileges Committee investigation into whether he misled MPs with his assurances over parties held in Downing Street during coronavirus lockdowns. In a 1,000-word statement, he said the seven-person panel, which is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority, was on a witch hunt and compared it with a kangaroo court. Mr Johnson said he was bewildered and appalled at being forced out, anti-democratically by a probe that he claimed had set out from the beginning to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. He denied lying to MPs and said he corrected the record as soon as possible after receiving information about lockdown gatherings in No 10. The former Tory leaders Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, where he had a 7,000 majority, was in Labours top 100 targets at the next election even before Mr Johnsons resignation. Labour wasted no time in targeting the seat, with the partys campaign co-ordinator Shabana Mahmood and a host of other MPs joining activists and candidate Danny Beales in Uxbridge on Saturday. The Liberal Democrats have briefed that they could potentially pull off an upset in Ms Dorries former Mid Bedfordshire constituency. The TalkTV presenter said on Friday that she did not plan on triggering a by-election but later U-turned, resigning shortly before Mr Johnsons honours roll was made public. Labour came second in Selby at the 2019 election. It comes as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey ruled out a pact with Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party to encourage tactical voting in a bid to secure victories in the by-elections. Therell be no pacts, no deals, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Sir Eds party said the flurry of resignations showed the Tories were in meltdown and urged the Prime Minister to call a general election. Labour began campaigning in Boris Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip on Saturday ahead of a by-election (Andrew Matthews/PA) Mr Johnsons decision to step down came ahead of the publication of the Privileges Committee report into whether he lied to the Commons when he said No 10 had followed social distancing rules during the pandemic. While the committees findings have yet to be released, Mr Johnsons response appears to confirm that the MPs have concluded he had not been truthful about the boozy parties. Ms Harmans panel will meet on Monday and publish its findings promptly. The committee was reportedly preparing to recommend a 10-day suspension from the Commons for Mr Johnson, a conclusion which would have paved the way for a recall petition and a potential by-election in his west London constituency if more than 10% of his constituents voted for one. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called him a coward for quitting the Commons and said he jumped before having to face the verdict of voters. The truth of the matter is, ask around Parliament, ask most of the MPs, most people are fairly sure he misled the House Veteran Tory MP David Davis, who served in Theresa Mays cabinet alongside Mr Johnson, said most MPs thought the former No 10 incumbent had lied. The former Brexit secretary told GB News: The truth of the matter is, ask around Parliament, ask most of the MPs, most people are fairly sure he misled the House. And he did so many times and he did so knowing that these parties had occurred and he had been at some of them. It is hard to be at a party and not notice it is a party. He said his fellow Brexit campaigner had been given hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money to pay for the most expensive lawyers in the land to advise him during the inquiry. He added: I hardly think thats unfair treatment. Mr Johnson appeared to leave the door open for a return to Parliament, saying he was leaving for now in his lengthy statement. But Tory MP Bob Seely told Times Radio that Mr Johnson aint going to be leader of the Conservative Party again and that his achievements were all in the past. Ukraines military has reported recapturing a village in the southeast of the country amid Russian claims of repelling multiple attacks in the area. It is the latest indication that a highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive may be underway even as officials in Kyiv stop short of publicly acknowledging it. The 68th Separate Hunting Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces posted a video on Facebook showing soldiers installing a Ukrainian flag on a damaged building in what the post said is the village of Blahodatne in the partially occupied eastern Donetsk region. In a separate social media post, Ukraines Ground Forces confirmed the brigade has retaken Blahodatne. Brigade spokesman Myroslav Semeniuk said an assault team captured six Russian troops after entering several buildings where 60 soldiers were holed up. The enemy keeps shelling us but this wont stop us, he said. The next village we plan to reclaim is Urozhayne. After that, (well proceed) further south. While the recapture of Blahodatne points to a small Ukrainian advance, western and Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly said efforts to expel Russian troops more broadly are expected to take time. Russia has made much of how its troops have held their ground elsewhere. The Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday continued to insist it is repelling Ukrainian attacks in the area. The situation is developing. Nothing extraordinary is happening It said in a statement that Ukrainian attempts at offensive operations on the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia axes of the frontline over the past 24 hours have been unsuccessful. Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region, said Blahodatne, along with two other villages in Zaporizhzhia, are in a grey area in terms of who controls them. According to Mr Rogov, the Ukrainian forces briefly seized another village in the neighbouring Donetsk region but were swiftly routed by Russian troops. The situation is developing. Nothing extraordinary is happening, he said in a Telegram post. The Russian military has also accused Ukrainian forces of attacking albeit unsuccessfully one of its ships in the Black Sea. According to a statement by Russias Defence Ministry, the attempted attack took place on Sunday when six unmanned speedboats targeted Russias Priazovye reconnaissance vessel, which was monitoring the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the southeastern part of the Black Sea. All the speedboats were destroyed by the Russian military and the ship did not sustain any damage, the ministry said. The claim could not be independently verified and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. Moscow made a similar allegation last month and said Ukrainian unmanned speedboats targeted another reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea, the Ivan Khurs. Several days later, Ukraines Defence Ministry published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for the Ivan Khurs but did not show the drone hitting the ship. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions were underway against Russian forces. He refused to disclose any details but asked to pass it on to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his top commanders were in a positive mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the frontline. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, hugs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in Kyiv (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP) Mr Zelenskyy made the remarks at a Kyiv press conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in response to a question about Mr Putins comment a day earlier that Ukraines counteroffensive has started and Ukrainian forces are taking significant losses. Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive is underway, though some western analysts said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggested it is. A sitting president arresting his political opponent is the ultimate weaponization of government. A federal judge in Florida unsealed an indictment that accuses former President Donald Trump of hiding classified national security documents after he left the White House, improperly storing them and sharing sensitive information with people who lacked security clearance. Though hes not the only former federal official to improperly take classified documents with him after leaving office, federal prosecutors allege Trump did so on purpose and went to great lengths to conceal his possession of them. Its the second indictment this year for the former president, who is also facing state business records fraud charges in New York. Trump is running for the Republican nomination for president. News of the indictment, which Trump delivered himself on social media Thursday evening, sparked divided reactions among members of Congress and Trumps fellow contenders for the GOP nomination. Why was Trump indicted? According to a 37-count indictment, Trump brought boxes of classified documents with him from Washington to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, when he left office. When pressed by the National Archives and Records Administration and, later, by the Florida federal grand jury he did not return all the documents with classified material. Many documents were marked top secret and contained highly sensitive information about U.S. and foreign military capabilities. Trump knew the materials were classified and went to great lengths to conceal his possession of them, even after the grand jury subpoenaed them, according to the indictment. The FBI searched Trumps Mar-a-Lago club and residence in South Florida in August 2022 and discovered classified material Trump had failed to turn over. What did Trump say about the indictment? In written statements and a video posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Thursday, Trump called himself an innocent man and painted himself as the victim of political attacks. Trump also noted his successor, President Joe Biden, had also improperly stored classified material after Bidens tenure as vice president. What is the next step? Trump said he will make an appearance at a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday. That would be an arraignment, where the charges against him are formally presented and he enters a plea. In the meantime, Trump has continued posting on Truth Social. He has not indicated any disruption to his schedule, which included an appearance at the Georgia Republican Convention this past Saturday. What has Biden said? Nothing. During a tour of Nash Community College in North Carolina on Friday, Biden was asked about the indictment. I have no comment, he said. Speaking to reporters Friday, White House spokeswoman Olivia Dalton declined to comment and deferred questions to the Justice Department, which she noted runs its criminal investigations independently. Attorney General Merrick Garland added another layer between the prosecution and political figures by appointing special counsel Jack Smith to oversee the prosecution in November. Pressed to respond to Republican criticisms that the prosecution was political, Dalton said Biden would not weigh in to avoid any perception of White House interference. Thats precisely why were not commenting here, she said. Biden believes in respecting the independence of the DOJ and protecting the integrity of their processes. And thats, again, why well leave it there. Trump, who lost to Biden in 2020, leads polls to win the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in next years election. What has the special counsel said? In a brief public appearance Friday, Smith said his office plans to seek a speedy trial in this matter, consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States, and they must be enforced, Smith said. Violations of those laws put our country at risk. Hasnt Biden also had problems with documents? Yes. And so has Trumps vice president, Mike Pence. Biden attorneys discovered classified documents dating from his tenure as vice president in the Obama administration in November at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, a Washington think tank associated with the president. They alerted federal authorities, who searched Bidens private home and discovered more classified documents on Dec. 20, Jan. 11, and Jan. 12. Pence in January alerted the FBI about a small number of documents with classified markings that were found in his Indiana home. Both Biden and Pence self-reported the improper possession of materials. Wasnt Trump already indicted? Yes, in New York state court on felony charges he falsified business records by using campaign cash to pay hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty to the state charges. Thursdays indictment was related to separate activity and on federal charges. No other former president has been charged in a federal indictment. He is also under investigation for election interference in Georgia. And the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol made a criminal referral to the U.S. Justice Department to probe Trumps role in instigating that riot. What are other Republican presidential candidates saying? At this point in the race, Trumps rivals for the GOP nomination are largely defining themselves in relation to the former president. Their reactions to the indictment reflected their position on Trump. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson called on Trump to drop out of the race. Fellow Trump critic former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie voiced skepticism of Trumps account and said he would wait for more facts to come out, but added that no one is above the law, no matter how much they wish they were. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has said Trump inspired his entrance into politics and presents himself as a Trump ally, blasted the indictment as an example of selective prosecution. We cant have two tiers of justice: one for Trump, another for Biden, he said. Trumps strongest competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, sounded a similar note. We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation, he said, adding that as president he would bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all. How are Republicans in Congress reacting? Theyre mostly defending Trump, with House members more united in that effort. Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said in a Thursday post to Twitter. It is unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him. McCarthy pledged to stand with President Trump against this grave injustice. U.S. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio tweeted, Sad day for America. God Bless President Trump. This sham indictment is the continuation of the endless political persecution of Donald Trump, U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana said. A sitting president arresting his political opponent is the ultimate weaponization of government, Kentuckys Thomas Massie said. In the Senate, Republicans were quieter and one, Utahs Mitt Romney, criticized Trump. Mr. Trump brought these charges upon himself by not only taking classified documents, but by refusing to simply return them when given numerous opportunities to do so, Romney said in a statement. The top two Senate Republicans, Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Whip John Thune of South Dakota, had not released statements by Friday afternoon. Thune has already endorsed South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott for president. The Senates No. 3 Republican, Conference Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming, said the indictment certainly looks like an unequal application of justice. What about Democrats? Congressional Democrats have for years sought to prosecute Trump for various alleged misdeeds. Thursday and Friday, many implored Trump to be prosecuted without any regard for his former position. Todays federal grand jury indictment tells us that former President Donald Trump put our national security in grave danger as he pursued yet another lawless personal agenda by pilfering and hoarding government documents, House Oversight Committee ranking Democrat Jamie Raskin of Maryland said Thursday. Trump will have his day in court, in Miami and Manhattan and Atlanta too if it comes to it, House Judiciary ranking Democrat Jerry Nadler of New York tweeted. But I am grateful to live in a nation where no man is above the law. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat and member of the Judiciary Committee, tweeted that Trump should be treated like any other defendant. Due process and rule of law are essential American virtues, upon which politics must never intrude, he wrote. This case will play out under established law and judicial supervision. Will this affect Trumps campaign? We dont know. Conventional wisdom in pre-Trump American politics was that a criminal investigation would sink a candidate. And the indictment contains damning details alleging Trump jeopardized national security. But Trump has routinely harnessed potentially damaging news stories to feed a narrative that media and government elites unfairly target him. He broke the news of the indictment himself and sent a fundraising email to supporters within hours. Trump could hold the office of president even with a criminal record, National Public Radio has reported. The Constitution requires only that an individual be at least 35 years old, and a natural born citizen who has lived in the country for at least 14 years. This report first appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee and part of the national States Newsroom. Jacob Fischler, based in Oregon, covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Senior Washington reporter Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. AUBURN Bill Berry said the Auburn Enlarged City School District's diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan is meant to evolve as time goes on and prepare students for the world of the future. Berry, consultant on the school district's DEI work, and Dr. Renee Burgess, Auburn's executive director of diversity, equity, inclusion and instruction, spoke to over 15 people about an event on the district's DEI strategic plan at the Carriage House Theater at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art Wednesday afternoon. The district's approach is a "long-range plan," Berry said, particularly in regards to diversification and including people. "Just economically, this region is going to look a certain way 10-15 years from now. Do we ignore that or do we start right now, preparing our students so that when they graduate from high school and they go on to college or if they don't go on to college, they're well-equipped to be part of that economic resurgence of this particular community," he continued. "So it's kind of long-range thinking, it will always change and everybody in this room is a participant." New York state requires districts to have diversity, equity and inclusion plans, but Auburn Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo previously said Auburn began developing its strategic plan in 2020, around a year and a half prior to that directive. Burgess told attendees Wednesday the district DEI plan includes four main priorities. According to the presentation from Berry and Burgess, the first priority is recruiting a culturally and ethnically diverse teaching staff and retaining all teachers. Burgess said that priority encompasses three different goals, including "defining and expanding internal leadership, ladders for opportunities of advancement within our district. Another goal is giving orientation for newly hired employees "to facilitate their successful transition into employment," the slides said. To that end, Burgess noted that at this year's new teacher orientation, she and Berry went on a bus tour the district's newly hired staff members. "We were able to go to each of our school communities because we know they're all very different, and show all of the staff that (were) hired the school buildings throughout the district," she said, adding that that opportunity may not have been available recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also said the tour gave new staff a perspective "on what Auburn is and what it encompasses." The second priority involves professional learning to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, the presentation said, and the third is related to holding celebrations "to enhance and empower community building and belonging." The slides said that by Sept 30, all eight district buildings will have plans to use at least one appropriate space within their buildings to showcase students and staffs' accomplishments each month, starting at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. "Also looking at celebrations, successes, possible heritage months, and so know that our schools do a really good job of highlighting and showcasing student work but we want to make sure that it's being done in an equitable fashion and possibly showcasing particular pieces that may not be showcased at this time and really representative of not only the school building but the community and the world in general," Burgess said. Fostering a safe, welcoming and affirming environment is the fourth priority under the plan. Adding that the district wants to make students feel safe within the school buildings, Burgess said there was a survey for students held earlier this year assessing whether students feel safe in school, with 87.2% of respondents at the elementary school saying they feel and 50.5% saying they feel safe at the secondary level. The goal within that priority, the slides said, is that June 30, 2024, the amount of district students saying they feel safe will increase by 5% as measured by the 2023 survey results. After the event, Berry noted the district will also be trying to determine what students mean in terms of safety. The presentation also noted action items, collaborations with other entities, a job recruitment flier and communication efforts with stakeholders that have been implemented already. Burgess said after the meeting that some of the priorities included in the DEi plan are imbedded in the district strategic plan and that she and Berry have been working on some of these DEI priorities since March 2022. Minnesota Reformer ) WASHINGTON More than 1,200 hate and anti-government extremist groups were active across the United States in 2022, according to the Southern Poverty Law Centers latest report on the nationwide prevalence of extremists who target people of color, LGBTQ people, Jewish communities and other religious minorities. While the overall number of hate and anti-government groups tracked by the SPLC has remained relatively steady in recent years, trends and tactics have changed over time, according to the organizations annual audit. And some groups identified by the organization, which has long analyzed U.S. extremism, gained influence among a segment of elected Republicans. America is now seeing organizing locally to pursue a hateful agenda in public view, including the targeting of community safe havens like schools and houses of worship, said Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center and SPLC Action Fund, during a virtual press conference Tuesday. As these groups have grown bolder, right-wing lawmakers have acted in lockstep pushing legislation to control our bodies, to erase Black history in schools, and to criminalize the LGBTQ+ community, she continued. Titled The Year in Extremism and Hate 2022, the report attributes some trends to growing GOP extremism, specifically naming some officials in federal and state offices, and cites comments from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Greenes office and leadership of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus, the group that represents the chambers most far-right members, did not respond to requests for comment on the report. The survey, published annually since 1990, monitors leafleting and recruiting, alt-tech social media platforms, subversion among law enforcement, militia activity and anti-inclusion campaigns at the school district level. Researchers at Tuesdays press conference said they found increasing extremist activity in numerous states, including Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio and Virginia. The gunman in the 2022 mass shooting that claimed 10 lives at a Buffalo grocery store in a predominantly Black neighborhood had compiled a manifesto based on the racist and anti-Semitic Great Replacement theory one of the ideologies tracked by SPLCs report. Of the 12 alt-tech social media sites tracked by the SPLC in 2022, five of them ranked among the top 10% most visited domains in the U.S., researchers found. The report defined alt-tech sites as platforms and message boards with little to no content moderation. Article continues after bonus IC video WVTM 13 News: SPLC names active hate groups in U.S. Gab, one of the platforms that continues to be a safe haven for extremist rhetoric, according to the report, was the site where Robert Bowers, the alleged gunman in the 2018 deadly Pittsburgh synagogue attack, published his anti-refugee screeds before opening fire on three Jewish congregations one that had just hosted a refugee support event. Eleven worshipers died in the attack. Bowers is on trial in federal court in Pittsburgh. The groups The SPLC defines hate groups as those that attack or malign people, typically for their immutable characteristics. The reports criteria for anti-government groups include seeing the federal government as an enemy of the people and often spreading baseless conspiracy theories. The report identified 523 hate and 702 anti-government groups active in 2022. The activities of several groups are detailed in the 39-page document, including the targeting by Proud Boys members of more than 40 LGBTQ events in 2022. The report also detailed some groups activities in Congress and state legislatures. The Florida-based Moms For Liberty, with chapters throughout the U.S., targeted school curricula, including a chapter in Tennessee that campaigned against a book about Martin Luther King Jr. as anti-white, according to the report. Moms For Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice testified in front of Congress in March during a hearing focused on a 2021 FBI memo about threats to local school officials. Aftermath of Jan. 6, 2021 SPLCs report found that militia activity declined after playing an outsized role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol though a decentralized anti-government movement continues to grow. The drop was largely a result (of) members and leaders being held accountable for their role in the Jan. 6 attack, said Rachel Carroll Rivas, deputy director of research, reporting and analysis for SPLCs Intelligence Project. Researchers found that the Oath Keepers whose founder Stewart Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack significantly declined in local chapter numbers. While four Proud Boys leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy in the attack, their chapters have increased to 78 in 2022 from 43 in 2020 but are now more autonomous, with notable growth in Tennessee, said Cassie Miller, senior research analyst for SPLCs Intelligence Project. Anti-government groups tactics shifted, and local leafleting and flyering have gone up dramatically, Miller said. The report provides several recommendations, including increasing public and private investment in community-centered prevention, advocating for civics and inclusion education in schools, mandating that local police departments report hate crimes for the FBIs annual report, and holding social media sites accountable. AUBURN Terry Leonino, half of the folk duo Magpie, has been impressed by the efforts of the different Auburn students she was worked with for a decade. Since 2013, Leonino and her husband and musical partner, Greg Artzner, have been a part of the Harriet Was Here in My Backyard research and song-writing project, where Artzner and Leonino have created a different song with fourth-grade students at Genesee Elementary School every year about Harriet Tubman, the iconic abolitionist who spent much of her adult life in Auburn. An event acknowledging the program's 10-year milestone was held at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center Saturday morning. After Magpie performed the latest collaborative song with the current students in front of around 50 people at the center, Leonino talked about what it has been like to take on this annual endeavor. "I just think it's amazing, what these kids are coming up with. They just write such moving things," she said. "They have a real sense of where they are and that's this program does, it helps them be grounded in the very place that they were and the history that's underneath their feet." The new song is called "Still Standing" and largely focuses on the relationship between Tubman and the family of William Seward, a former Auburn resident who was secretary of state under President Abraham Lincoln and the former New York governor. Talking to the crowd before the performance, Artzner marveled at the "genuine admiration and love between these people." As the students sang the lyrics of the song, they also performed the words in American Sign Language. Following the performance, local advocate Laurel Ullyette presented Leonino and Artzner with a gift recognizing their work. At one point, Ullyette told the twosome "Our Genesee students are better for having known you." After the event, as people had cake donated by Wegmans, students Chloe Welch and Zoey DeMarse said they enjoyed working with Magpie on this year's song. Chloe, 9, said she was initially worried about being nervous while performing on stage and thought it might be hard to learn the song, but she felt good about being in front of the crowd and noted she practiced the lyrics and sign language. She said she and her fellow students researched the relationship between the Seward and Tubman. "We got to make the whole song based on what we were saying, so it was really fun," Chloe said. Zoey, also 9, said her favorite part of the process was writing the song because the students voted on different aspects of the song, such as lyrics and the title. Artzner said that after 10 years of the program, he and Leonino feel at home in Auburn. "Auburn has become a home away from home for us. We like coming back here, we really enjoy the whole community. We just loving being in a place where the history is just seeping up from the spirit of the town and people here have embraced it a time when embracing that history is very important because it's under siege in parts of the country," Artzner said. Wildland firefighters spray water on hotspots in a forest near Lac Waconichi, Que., in a June 4, 2023, handout photo. Quebec's natural resources minister says wilderness firefighters are now taking the offensive against the province's forest fires, instead of just reacting to the fires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-SOPFEU, Audrey Marcoux, *MANDATORY CREDIT* There were only a handful of votes in the House of Representatives last week as conservatives blocked action to protest Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt ceiling deal with President Joe Biden. The House passed the debt ceiling agreement with bipartisan support, but more Democrats than Republicans voted for the final bill. Some conservatives did not think the spending cuts went far enough. That disdain for the deal set the stage for the surprising failure of a procedural vote to allow consideration of four Republican bills. With a simple majority needed, 12 Republicans broke with their party to vote against the rule a move that prevents the House from moving forward with final debates and votes on the legislation. Central New York's members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams, are not among the GOP dissenters. They sided with most Republicans on the procedural vote. Before the House was brought to a standstill, there were two bills approved by the body. The Encouraging Public Offerings Act passed by a 384-13 vote. The bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Missouri Republican, aims to encourage more businesses to go public. Wagner said this would be achieved by codifying a rule that allows companies to communicate with potential investors to gauge interest in an initial public offering, or IPO. Tenney, R-Canandaigua, and Williams, R-Sennett, voted for the public offerings legislation. The House also passed the Middle Market IPO Underwriting Costs Act. The vote was 390-10, with Tenney and Williams supporting the bill. According to the legislative summary, the bill would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to study the costs of small- and medium-sized companies undertaking IPOs. The measure was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat. But that was the extent of the House's work for the week. The failure of the procedural vote meant that the full House would not consider four bills the REINS Act, a bill requiring congressional approval of major executive branch rules; the Separation of Powers Restoration Act, which aims to clarify judicial review of federal agency actions; the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, which would prevent the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves; and the Save Our Stoves Act, a bill that seeks to limit the Department of Energy's regulation of stoves. The House is scheduled to be in session this week, but it's unclear if they will be able to get any work done. Coconino County will be receiving $4 million in funds from a national opioid settlement that it plans to use to support its existing programs to treat and prevent substance-use disorders. The One Arizona Agreement, created in August 2021, was signed by every Arizona county as well as 90 counties and towns to allocate the funds from two national settlement agreements. The first 2021 settlement, with opioid distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, will total $21 billion in payments across the United States over 18 years, while the second with manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals will be for $5 million over nine years. Distribution totals from the agreement were determined by how much opioid use had affected each region, based on the amount of opioids shipped there and the totals of opioid deaths and people with opioid use disorder at each location. A total of $542 million from the settlements will be going to Arizona, with Maricopa (57.930%), Pima (18.647%) and Mohave (4.898%) counties receiving the largest shares of the 56% allocated to local governments (44% will be used for state programs). Coconino County and its cities and towns will be receiving a combined estimated total of $4 million (1.688%) over the next 18 years. Coconino County received the first payments from the agreement in March and has been working to distribute those funds and determine the best ways to use them. Estimated total payout from 2021 opioid settlements Coconino County: $2,896,212 Flagstaff: $750,915 Fredonia: $12,617 Page: $138,787 Sedona: $166,463 Tusayan: $27,269 Williams: $78,144 The county will be distributing the funds to various cities and towns and reporting on usage, as well as determining how to allocate its portion of the total (71.16%). The cities and towns are still in the first stages of deciding how to use the funds from the first four payments, as each will be receiving them by the end of June. Starting next year, the county will be submitting an annual report on the settlement funds' use by July 31. The agreement allows for funds to be used in a variety of ways, falling into the categories of treatment, prevention and other strategies -- including supporting first responders, coordination and research. The county primarily plans to use its portion of the funds to expand on its existing substance-use treatment programs, said Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Director Kim Musselman. Its a fair amount of money that is going to be infused back into the county, unfortunately because of folks who had suffered from opioid use disorder, she said. The primary goal is to make sure that we put these monies to good use helping those who have been impacted most by the opioid epidemic to be able to get the access to treatment and services that they need. According to CCHHS, opioid-induced deaths are the 20th-ranked leading cause of death in the county, behind cardiovascular disease, cancer, unintentional deaths and those related to alcohol (ranked first through fourth, respectively). While we have a pretty significant problem, in comparison to [for example], Mohave County, it seems much less, Musselman said of opioids. ... Alcohol continues to be Coconino Countys number one issue with respect to people both addicted and losing their lives to alcohol-related disorders. Between Feb. 1, 2022, and January 31, CCHHS reported 54 opioid cases and nine deaths, with 47 cases receiving Naloxone. The annual total of opioid deaths in 2022 was similar to the previous year (31, compared with 29 in 2021), with deaths more than doubling between 2019 and 2020 (from 14 to 35, with the rate of deaths rising from 5.2 deaths per 100,000 in the population to 13.4). The presentation also noted that the proportion of opioid deaths involving fentanyl is decreasing. The biggest needs Musselman said she saw in relation to opioid use in the county was in connecting people with peers to help with recovery and to expand both treatment options and access to those services. Were getting more opportunities every day, but we still dont have access to nearly the number of residential types of treatment facilities and the varying types of treatment facilities, she said. She added: "It's still work to send people all over the state to get into treatment opportunities. And while thats great, we also have to have supports and sober clean-living environments for people to then reintegrate back into when they return back home. Our housing crisis complicates that for everyone, and then you have the addition of substance-use disorder or being in recovery their challenges are exponential. The approach CCHHS is taking with these funds focuses on enhancing several programs already in existence, as Musselman said they want to make sure they can sustain any new programs they create. The countys goal is to really focus on things that are already in place that can maybe be enhanced, she said, adding that the distribution gives a rare opportunity for the department to analyze the results of their implementation and adjust along the way. [We're determining] how are we going to implement that over the long term, and so looking at things that are going to be sustainable, things that can make an immediate impact and then also things that can be adjusted over time depending on the results, she said. ... We know we have some things that are seemingly making a difference and working, but we need some additional resources around them." CCHHS has received proposals from four other county departments that work with the justice system for programs to use these funds. For example, it will be working with the Coconino County Sheriffs Department and supporting Recovery Courts ongoing needs. The funds will also be used on Pathways efforts, as, Musselman said, the countys opioid crisis team had tripled its caseload recently. She attributed this change to success in outreach and the partnership with Pathways, more than increased need. CCHHS will also be adding more harm-reduction strategies and continuing to train staff in CCHHS, probation and other county agencies involved with criminal justice on how best to interact and provide treatment and pathways to recovery. [Were] looking at ways we can enhance those interactions to do even more harm-reduction things such as getting people more access to medication-assisted therapies and treatment, Musselman added. They are also considering adding approaches such asvending machine concepts to distribute harm-reduction options, a clean needle exchange program and expanding case management -- though these have not yet been finalized. Musselman said the county planned to analyze the impact of these changes and continue to make adjustments throughout the course of the settlement. Our approach from HHS is anytime you start something brand new you want to be able to sustain it," Musselman said. " ... Three years is a good time frame to say we do make some significant investments that we can actually look at it over time and see what that return on investment, how impactful it's being, and then we can adjust it accordingly. The needs may change, too. I think that's another factor that we also look at, and in three years we say, 'Oh, this is certainly working, great. Let's keep doing what we're doing.'" Judith Collins has announced: A National government will end New Zealand's ban on gene editing and genetic modification to unlock enormous benefits for climate change, agriculture and health science, National's Science, Innovation, and Technology spokesperson Judith Collins says. New Zealand can be a world leader in reducing agricultural emissions and benefit from other innovations in health, nutrition and the environment with gene technology rules that are fit-for-purpose, says Ms Collins. Gene technology is being used around the world to treat cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and blood disorders. It is also being used to combat climate change and protect the natural environment. It has been used in New Zealand laboratories since the 1970s, but restrictive rules, drafted in the 1990s, make research outside the lab all but impossible. This means our scientists must head overseas to conduct further research. A National government will make New Zealand's biotechnology rules fit for purpose so we can benefit from the huge advances in gene technology which will help grow the economy, reduce the cost of living, lift incomes, and afford the public services New Zealanders deserve. This is great news, and well overdue. The science is long settled that ge is safe. Any Green activist who actually sincerely is concerned about climate change should welcome this. Ag Research have been working on a strain of ryegrass that could reduce methane emissions by 23% from livestock. But they can't even test it in NZ. The former PM's Chief Science Advisor, Sir Peter Gluckman has said: The science is as settled as it will be [I]t is safe, there are no significant ecological or health concerns associated with the use of advanced genetic technologies If we are to remain a biological economy, we will have to have another [national]conversation about it. And the current PMCSA, Dame Juliet Gerard has said: [O]ur current legal and regulatory frameworks are not fit for purpose Hypothetically, if CRISPR-Cas [gene editing] were used to cure your grandmother's cancer, a case could be made that she was a new organism and therefore if she lived, she could not leave containment. These anomalies need addressing. The Productivity Commission has also identified our current regulatory settings as a major impediment. The main aspects of National's policy is: End the effective ban on GE and GM technologies in New Zealand Create a biotech regulator to ensure safe and ethical use of biotechnology Streamline approvals for trials and use of non-GE/GM biotech I am very excited by the fact that if we get a change of Government, we may finally get a more balanced approach to GM in New Zealand. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr A soldier stands next to the wreckage of a plane during the search for child survivors from a Cessna 206 plane that crashed in the jungle more than two weeks ago in the jungles of Caqueta, Colombia on May 19. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Get Rating) by 13.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 566,379 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 68,532 shares during the period. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF makes up approximately 1.0% of Cetera Advisor Networks LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Cetera Advisor Networks LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $121,341,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IWF. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 38,134,434 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $8,169,921,000 after purchasing an additional 3,186,645 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1,242.7% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 2,894,163 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $608,932,000 after acquiring an additional 2,678,614 shares in the last quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 329.8% during the 4th quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 2,537,512 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $543,637,000 after acquiring an additional 1,947,087 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 121.3% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 2,327,138 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $489,630,000 after acquiring an additional 1,275,425 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 166.8% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,366,009 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $292,654,000 after acquiring an additional 854,044 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of NYSEARCA:IWF traded up $0.92 during trading on Friday, hitting $263.98. 2,431,059 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,501,261. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $249.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $235.44. The company has a market cap of $68.12 billion, a PE ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 12-month low of $202.05 and a 12-month high of $266.33. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cetera Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating) by 24.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 32,193 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 6,296 shares during the quarter. Cetera Advisors LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $17,068,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Investors Research Corp raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 51.1% during the 4th quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 71 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 192.3% during the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 76 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.31% of the companys stock. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total value of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total value of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,684 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $488.46, for a total value of $822,566.64. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 8,675 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,237,390.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 8,852 shares of company stock valued at $4,313,962. Insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of UNH stock traded up $3.39 on Friday, reaching $493.62. 3,174,372 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,747,345. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $449.70 and a 12-month high of $558.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81. The company has a market capitalization of $459.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.68. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $492.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $496.67. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.24 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $91.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $89.77 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 27.05% and a net margin of 6.16%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.49 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.97 earnings per share for the current year. UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Investors of record on Monday, June 19th will be given a dividend of $1.88 per share. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.52%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.18%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently commented on UNH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $562.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Oppenheimer restated an outperform rating and issued a $610.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $591.00 target price on the stock. Loop Capital raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $590.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $592.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, April 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $599.06. About UnitedHealth Group (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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Itau Chile (NYSE:ITCL Get Rating) is one of 67 public companies in the Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Banco Itau Chile to related businesses based on the strength of its risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability and earnings. Risk & Volatility Banco Itau Chile has a beta of 0.98, suggesting that its share price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Banco Itau Chiles peers have a beta of 0.95, suggesting that their average share price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Banco Itau Chile alerts: Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.2% of Banco Itau Chile shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.9% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are held by institutional investors. 8.2% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Itau Chile $2.94 billion $487.62 million 4.96 Banco Itau Chile Competitors $13.04 billion $2.94 billion 10.05 This table compares Banco Itau Chile and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Banco Itau Chiles peers have higher revenue and earnings than Banco Itau Chile. Banco Itau Chile is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Dividends Banco Itau Chile pays an annual dividend of $0.17 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.9%. Banco Itau Chile pays out 24.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies pay a dividend yield of 2.4% and pay out 16.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Profitability This table compares Banco Itau Chile and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banco Itau Chile 11.23% 13.12% 1.06% Banco Itau Chile Competitors 18.59% 11.82% 0.97% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Banco Itau Chile and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Itau Chile 0 0 0 0 N/A Banco Itau Chile Competitors 594 2119 2148 62 2.34 As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies have a potential upside of 80.60%. Given Banco Itau Chiles peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Banco Itau Chile has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Summary Banco Itau Chile peers beat Banco Itau Chile on 8 of the 12 factors compared. Banco Itau Chile Company Profile (Get Rating) Banco Itau Chile engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It specializes in banking products such as financing, leasing, loans, insurance and credit cards. It operates through the following geographical segments: Chile and Colombia. The Chile segment consists of commercial and corporate banking, real estate and construction, large companies, retail banking, personal banking, small business, retail companies, Banco Condell consumer banking, international and treasury and other financial services. The Colombia segment offers commercial and retail banking and treasury and international business operations. The company was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Las Condes, Chile. Receive News & Ratings for Banco Itau Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Itau Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arizona has set aside funds to expand dual enrollment programs, as research shows participation increases college attendance and persistence when compared to similar groups of non-participating students. Participation in dual enrollment has increased by 4% in the state over the past four years, according to Paul Perrault, the Helios Education Foundation senior vice president of community impact and learning. Overall rates, however, are just under a quarter of all students. The rate of dual enrollment participation in Arizona increased every year between 2017 and 2020, with slightly over 24% of all 2020 graduates completing at least one course (from 21% in 2017). While subsequent years were not included in the report, Perrault said the pandemics effects on dual enrollment have been mixed, depending largely on each school or district. English, math, and career and technical education were Arizonas most common dual enrollment course subjects. Increases in attendance were highest among students who were low income (33.5% higher in 2020 than 2017, compared to a growth of 9% in non-low-income students), Hispanic (39% growth between 2017 and 2020), Black (21.5% growth), women (19.2% growth) or whose school was located in a city (27.4%). Students in all of these categories had reported the lowest rates of dual enrollment participation compared to the other subcategories between 2017 and 2020. Flagstaff-based high schools have reported higher rates of dual enrollment attendance than the state average 80% of Flagstaff High School's class of 2021 had taken dual enrollment courses, as had 40% at Coconino High School. Even so, Perrault said, there are more opportunities to take that higher. A recent Helios study looked at the outcomes of dual enrollment in schools across Arizona in order to see how taking these courses impacted the students in college. The study matched students into groups based on nine characteristics and then compared how each groups experience after high school differed based on their participation in dual enrollment courses. The researchers found that students in every group who had taken a dual enrollment course were more likely to attend college than those who hadnt, with the differences being the greatest for male (2.2 times as likely in the class of 2019), Hispanic (2.3), low-income (2.3) and students with an IEP (2.8). Overall, dual enrollment students in the class of 2019 were 2.1 times more likely to attend college than their peers who hadnt and 1.2 times more likely to persist, Perrault also noted that dual enrollment format can help with college preparation and that entering college with credits earned in high school can reduce its costs. For a number of students, if you dont have parents or aunts or uncles or family members who have been to college, you might think that college is harder than you could ever do, he said. I think having an immersive experience in dual enrollment [means] you can really show a lot of students that they can be college-level students as well. Dual enrollment has been a focus in Arizona lately, with SB 1717 adding $15.5 million to the state budget meant to expand programs across the state. Of that, $15 million will help students pay for their courses, while the rest is used for teacher incentives. Students who pass their dual enrollment course with at least a 2.5 GPA can be reimbursed $50 per credit hour -- up to $300 for students in their first two years of high school and up to $600 for 11th- and 12th-graders. Priority is given to students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Teachers can also receive a $1,000 one-time incentive for completing certification and instructing at least one course. Local programs are growing as well. For instance, Flagstaff Unified School District has agreements with Coconino Community College and Yavapai Community College on the agenda for its next board meeting, which is set for Tuesday. The main challenges Perrault said he saw in expanding dual enrollment was in making sure there are enough certified teachers and that students understand the reasons to take these courses. Schools in urban areas with a higher socioeconomic status more often have dual enrollment options, as well as a wider variety. According to Perrault, this was often because of a lack of teachers with dual enrollment certification in the area, particularly as certification is subject-specific. Online courses or teacher sharing between districts could be a way to respond to these needs, Perrault said. Helios has also been raising awareness with schools and families. Education Forward Arizona's College Knowing and Going campaign focuses on showing students in early high school the opportunities available at their schools, for example. A big part of that work is making sure theres early advising with students, letting them know those opportunities, so youre not a junior or senior and say, 'Oh, I wish Id have this opportunities,' he said. He added: [Its] really an opportunity to get students in ninth and 10th grade to think about those courses as well. Helios had previously been working to expand Advanced Placement courses, with similar legislation helping students pay for taking the AP test. While taking an AP course is free, students only receive college credit based on their score on the AP test, which costs $75. Perrault said that, anecdotally, low-income schools in the program had seen increased rates of AP test-taking. Perrault said the hope is to continue expanding access to both programs to reach more and more students. This legislation is short term right now. So how do you continue to build more educational opportunities and funding so that maybe that expands to all students so dual enrollment is paid for and all students [take AP]?" he said. "Right now, we're focused on a narrow group, and how do we continue to expand those efforts so that even more students have this opportunity. More information can be found at helios.org/latest/briefs/dual-enrollment-in-arizona-high-schools/. Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:VFL Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, June 9th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be given a dividend of 0.0325 per share on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.39 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.89%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 22nd. Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance VFL stock opened at $10.02 on Friday. Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund has a 1-year low of $9.90 and a 1-year high of $12.70. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.32 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.64. Get Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund by 61.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 82,848 shares of the companys stock worth $1,048,000 after purchasing an additional 31,631 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in shares of Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund by 787.7% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 68,044 shares of the companys stock valued at $860,000 after acquiring an additional 60,379 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund by 54.0% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 35,059 shares of the companys stock valued at $443,000 after acquiring an additional 12,289 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC bought a new position in shares of Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $429,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new position in shares of Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $358,000. About Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Delaware Management Holdings, Inc The fund is managed by Delaware Management Business Trust. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in investment grade municipal obligations, the income from which is exempt from federal income taxes. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nitorum Capital L.P. decreased its stake in shares of Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Get Rating) by 18.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 529,957 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 118,525 shares during the period. Dell Technologies makes up 2.0% of Nitorum Capital L.P.s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Nitorum Capital L.P. owned about 0.07% of Dell Technologies worth $21,315,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Yousif Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Dell Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $238,000. Fox Run Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in Dell Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $292,000. Mirador Capital Partners LP grew its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Mirador Capital Partners LP now owns 13,310 shares of the technology companys stock worth $535,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Mangrove Partners raised its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Mangrove Partners now owns 411,813 shares of the technology companys stock worth $14,072,000 after purchasing an additional 16,201 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 52.7% in the 3rd quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 26,742 shares of the technology companys stock worth $914,000 after purchasing an additional 9,230 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.42% of the companys stock. Get Dell Technologies alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CAO Brunilda Rios sold 22,042 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.78, for a total value of $964,998.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 18,647 shares in the company, valued at approximately $816,365.66. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CAO Brunilda Rios sold 22,042 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.78, for a total value of $964,998.76. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 18,647 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $816,365.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Thomas W. Sweet sold 283,388 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.14, for a total transaction of $11,375,194.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 211,608 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,493,945.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 522,371 shares of company stock worth $22,038,868. 48.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Dell Technologies Trading Down 0.6 % NYSE:DELL traded down $0.28 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $47.61. 3,293,572 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,868,907. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.03, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.02. Dell Technologies Inc. has a twelve month low of $32.90 and a twelve month high of $50.70. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $44.65 and a 200 day moving average of $42.09. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The technology company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.45. The firm had revenue of $20.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.27 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 2.01% and a negative return on equity of 147.96%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 19.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.64 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 4.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on DELL. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $50.00 to $56.00 in a report on Friday, June 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $45.00 to $48.00 in a report on Friday, June 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Dell Technologies from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $47.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, April 17th. KGI Securities upgraded shares of Dell Technologies from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Dell Technologies in a research report on Monday, March 20th. They set a buy rating and a $43.00 price objective on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $49.81. Dell Technologies Profile (Get Rating) Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG). Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFS Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:MFM Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, June 2nd, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be given a dividend of 0.018 per share by the closed-end fund on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.24%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 13th. MFS Municipal Income Trust Stock Performance MFS Municipal Income Trust stock opened at $5.09 on Friday. MFS Municipal Income Trust has a 1 year low of $4.66 and a 1 year high of $5.94. The companys 50-day moving average is $5.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.16. Get MFS Municipal Income Trust alerts: Institutional Trading of MFS Municipal Income Trust A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MFM. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of MFS Municipal Income Trust by 33.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,863,385 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $9,652,000 after acquiring an additional 464,829 shares during the period. UBS Group AG raised its position in shares of MFS Municipal Income Trust by 284.3% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 461,980 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $2,467,000 after acquiring an additional 341,780 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of MFS Municipal Income Trust by 336.5% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 375,808 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $2,300,000 after acquiring an additional 289,712 shares during the period. Robinson Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MFS Municipal Income Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,333,000. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of MFS Municipal Income Trust by 33.6% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 607,541 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $3,718,000 after acquiring an additional 152,721 shares during the period. 19.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About MFS Municipal Income Trust MFS Municipal Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in tax-exempt bonds and tax-exempt notes. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Barclays Municipal Bond Index. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MFS Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFS Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pipestone Energy Corp. (OTCMKTS:BKBEF Get Rating) declared a dividend on Friday, June 9th, investing.com reports. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.0224 per share on Friday, June 30th. This represents a yield of 4.8%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This is a positive change from Pipestone Energys previous dividend of $0.02. Pipestone Energy Stock Performance Shares of Pipestone Energy stock opened at $1.88 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $1.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.09. Pipestone Energy has a 52 week low of $1.65 and a 52 week high of $5.00. Get Pipestone Energy alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes BKBEF has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. National Bank Financial dropped their price target on Pipestone Energy from C$4.00 to C$3.50 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Pipestone Energy from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. About Pipestone Energy Pipestone Energy Corp. is an oil and gas exploration and production company, which focuses on developing its condensate assets in the Pipestone area of Alberta. The company was founded on January 4, 2019 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pipestone Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pipestone Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo / Korea Times file By Jun Ji-hye Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who is a member of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), has urged the government to protest Japan's plan to discharge radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. "Korea will not agree with Japan's plan. Korea shouldn't do that," Hong wrote on Facebook, Sunday. "The plan is a separate issue from the economic and security alliance between Korea, the United States and Japan. The issue is related to the health of people around the globe." Beginning later this month, the Japanese government is expected to start releasing into the Pacific Ocean water containing tritium, an isotope of hydrogen, from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was devastated by a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in March 2011. Hong, who ran in the presidential election in 2017 under the flag of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the PPP, claimed Japan's export of marine products will become impossible if the country pushes ahead with its discharge plan, despite opposition from neighboring countries. "Japan should know that no country will want to import its marine products," he wrote. "Pushing ahead with the plan will eventually harm Japan itself." The Fukushima plant, on the east coast of Japan, holds an estimated 1.25 million tons of contaminated water in more than 1,000 tanks. Though Japan said powerful filters would remove all radioactive substances except tritium, which it says is harmless to humans in small doses, the discharge plan has invited fierce protest from opposition parties, some civic groups and fishermen in Korea. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the PPP maintained a position that the government would not be able to stop the plan if the scientific analysis of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the government's inspection team finds no problems. The Yoon administration dispatched a 21-member delegation to Japan last month to conduct an on-site inspection at the plant. By Mark Leonard BERLIN May was a busy month for Arab diplomats. Twelve years after the Arab League suspended Syria's membership, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was officially welcomed back into the fold. As the protracted war in Yemen shows signs of winding down, Iran and Saudi Arabia appear headed toward reconciliation. Meanwhile, Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad, and Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key player in the efforts to end the civil war in Sudan. What is remarkable about these recent developments is the West's near-total absence. While Western involvement in the Middle East has fluctuated over the years, the United States and its European allies have spearheaded the vast majority of diplomatic breakthroughs in the region since the end of the Cold War, including peace between Israel and Jordan, the normalization of relations between Israel and the Gulf states, and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Western engagement also included the invasion of Iraq in 2003, military intervention in Libya in 2011, support for anti-Assad rebels in Syria, and routing the Islamic State from its base in Syria and Iraq. The U.S. also backed Saudi Arabia's air campaign in Yemen. But all that remains of these efforts is 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria. America's disengagement from the Middle East is part of a calculated strategy to shift its focus to its escalating rivalry with China. As a former U.S. official told me, this is not simply a return to America's pre-9/11 posture; rather, the U.S. seeks to revert to its pre-1990 approach to the region, which combined a minimal military presence with reliance on regional allies to keep the peace. President Joe Biden takes pride in his administration's ability to resist the Middle Eastern quagmire that ensnared his immediate predecessors, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, as they tried to pivot toward Asia. There are two ways to understand the new reality in the Middle East. The first is to lament the gulf between Western aspirations and conditions on the ground. While the U.S. and the European Union still verbally endorse the two-state solution, Israelis and Palestinians have moved away from it. As Israel's Jewish majority becomes more nationalist and ultra-orthodox, most Palestinians have come to favor armed resistance over President Mahmoud Abbas's sclerotic Palestinian Authority. Meanwhile, as the West continues to tout the importance of diplomacy in addressing Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, there has been little action on this front. American and European passivity can be attributed to Iran's brutal repression of the massive public protests that erupted across the country in September, as well as its military assistance to Russia in the Ukraine war. But Iran's nuclear program is becoming a ticking time bomb. Earlier this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency found uranium particles in Iran enriched to a weapons-grade level of 83.7 percent. Iran's breakout time the time it would need to produce enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon has gone from 12 months when the nuclear deal was implemented to around 12 days. Other countries have rushed to fill the vacuum created by Western withdrawal from the region. When a brief missile exchange between Israel and Islamic Jihad in Gaza threatened to escalate into a larger conflict, Egypt took charge of the mediation efforts that ultimately ended the hostilities. Similarly, it was Turkish special forces, rather than a U.S. drone strike, that killed Islamic State leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi in late April. While many in the West may despair at these sobering developments, there is another way to understand the emerging post-American order. Despite initial concerns that a U.S. withdrawal would plunge the region into chaos and disarray, many in the Middle East now view Western interventionism itself as destabilizing, with the West's hasty departure from Afghanistan a case in point. The new order, led by regional actors and external powers such as Russia and China, may not align with Western preferences, owing to the role of autocratic regimes; still, it represents a distinct form of order. Although the West may have hoped for a different outcome, there is no denying that the Middle East has become less violent, as reflected in the de-escalation of the conflict in Yemen, the (China-brokered) Saudi-Iranian detente, and the maturation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Likewise, the increased sense of responsibility among regional leaders to address crises such as the incipient civil war in Sudan is a positive development. To be sure, the emerging order can be described as an authoritarian peace, and the challenges facing Middle Eastern countries remain significant. But the region is currently focused on economic integration and development, while Western policymakers always seem to focus on other problems. Of course, the Middle East could just be experiencing an interregnum between violent eras. But it is more likely that we are witnessing a glimpse into the multipolar future. As a Chinese observer of the Middle East told me, his country has come to see the region as a "laboratory for a post-American world." As the U.S. continues to pull back, regional players assert themselves, and countries such as India, Turkey, Russia, and China gain influence. In a multipolar world, as Julien Barnes-Dacey and Hugh Lovatt note, the West must either invest significant resources in shaping global affairs or learn to adapt to others' priorities. The latter option may not always result in outcomes that the West desires, but that is not necessarily a terrible thing. Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, is the author of "The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict" (Bantam Press, 2021). This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). South Africa: Zikalala warns construction companies against non-delivery Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Sihle Zikalala, has warned construction companies and developers , who abandon construction sites after doing shoddy workmanship in public infrastructure projects, saying they face blacklisting and being barred from doing business with government. Zikalala issued the warning during his tour of Public Works projects located in the Free State province. The oversight visit was on the unfinished R232 million Correctional Service Centre in Parys as well as the Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein. The two facilities are incomplete and have missed their completion date by over four years due to a growing tendency where construction companies will claim liquidation and incapacity to continue after claiming portions of the project funds. The work then gets ceded to a new company which leads to cost escalations and eventually the ballooning of costs and delays in the delivery of key infrastructure. During the visits, Zikalala was accompanied by the MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure in the Free State, Dibolelo Mance, as well as Community Safety Roads and Transport MEC, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae. As government, we can no longer tolerate this tendency of projects being halted due to construction company incapacities. We need to have projects delivered on time and within scope. This calls for proper planning, monitoring and consequence management, Zikalala said. We should not have a project started in 2017 and still incomplete in 2023. In one project, a total of three different companies were appointed but the projects are still incomplete. We need to respond to this challenge of failing contractors especially after some monies have been paid. This is unacceptable, Zikalala said. Zikalala said one of the most critical action in fighting corruption and entrenching a culture of timeous delivery of projects is to restrict those serial non-performers from doing business with government. The facilities that gets delayed are centres from which service delivery is launched by the police to build safer communities and other departments to render service delivery to citizens. It is high time that we address poor project management in government programmes, the minister said. Zikalala is also calling for an audit on all the blocked and incomplete projects estimated at billions of Rands. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure needs to earn the confidence of departments as the implementing agent of choice and we will not have our name being liquidated by poor planning, project management and outright incompetence. We will not associate ourselves with any company that performs poorly, Zikalala emphasised. Giving emphasis to the sentiments of Minister Zikalala, MEC Mance indicated that someone has to take responsibility and that it can't be that, the name of our Government is tarnished by companies and persons who do not see value to the work that Government is providing for communities. The Minister will soon be meeting with the Infrastructure Built Environment Anti-Corruption Forum to assess work done to mitigate the threats of corruption and fraud within the construction and infrastructure sector. As the driver of infrastructure for economic growth and job creation, we need to remove all obstacles that are preventing our country from being turned into a construction site. In these construction sites communities are provided work opportunities and youths are empowered with skills. When projects stall, livelihoods of people are negatively affected, Zikalala said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-06-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Bahrain has re-entered the top 100 in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Global Rankings for the first time in five years, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication. ICCA is a well-respected and prestigious global association of more than 1,000 member companies and organisations that organise, transport, and accommodate international meetings and events. Claiming the 89th position in terms of international events held in 2022, the kingdom achieved its highest ranking in the last decade, it added. 100 years ago 1923: Sharp & Fellows, Santa Fe railroad contractors, moved in with 30 horses and a lot of grading equipment last week and at once started grading the last 2 or 3 miles of roadbed to complete the extension of the Flagstaff Lumber companys railroad from Flagstaff to and along the west shore of Mormon Lake and down past Mormon Dairy springs to the Bill Wallace ranch. There are 3 miles of this road yet to build. The terminal will be 24 miles by rail from Flagstaff. A switchback will be built up to the top of the Mormon mountain saddle. This is a wonderful tract of timber that the new road will tap. It is virgin timber, the first tract of the kind the Flagstaff Lumber company has ever cut from. It is expected to have the road completed in 90 days. Emerson School closes today with the issuing of the final report cards. After a week of many interesting activities, the children are welcoming a long summer vacation. The graduation exercises for the eighth-grade pupils was held Tuesday afternoon at 3 oclock, preceded by a delightful three-course luncheon furnished by Miss Myrtle Webber and her domestic science class, for the faculty and eighth-grade students. Many clever toasts and short speeches were delivered between courses. 75 years ago 1948: As the first special feature in a series of events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Museum of Northern Arizona, a program of Hopi songs has been arranged for Sunday afternoon, June 13. The concert will take place in the patio of the museum and the public is invited. Ten Hopi men, residents of Flagstaff and vicinity, will present traditional songs of their people. Those who will participate are: Jim Kewanwytewa, Willie Coin, Andrew Nutima, Willis Kewanwytewa, William Quoichkuiva, Wilbur Sekyayesva, Raymond Puhuyesva, Robert Lomadofkie, Reuben Lomayesva, and Ross Soesyesva. The Teen-Agers canteen, a project of the Flagstaff Recreation Associations summer program, has begun operation and will be open four nights weekly during the summer months. The canteen, which includes a room for dancing equipped with a jukebox; a game room including pingpong and billiards, a reading room; and a soft drinks and candy bar stand, is located at the high school and is under adult supervision, with high school students active in the management. A fee of 50 cents entitles boys or girls who will be in the seventh grade or above as of next September to attend either the junior or senior high canteen activities for the entire summer. 50 years ago 1973: Emergency Mothers are now stationed throughout Flagstaff. All display a big red E in the front windows of their homes. As melodramatic as this may sound, it is a real and positive program designed to do just one thing help children in times of stress or emergency. The program was organized through the District 14 Safety Committee of the Flagstaff Pilot Club, under the direction of Mrs. Opel Abel. Its purpose is to provide a security system for the children of the community. If a child is on his or her way to school or simply running an errand and encounters any sort of emergency, he can quickly look about, find a home nearby that is displaying the E symbol and know help is available. The Pilot Club will furnish a complete set of guidelines for the interested mother and a full-sized E sign. Northern Arizona history comes alive the minute a person sees the Pioneers Historical Society Museum in Flagstaff. Even the building is historical. It used to be the old County Hospital for the indigent. Old persons spent the remainder of their years in a small room with a bed, sink, chair and spittoon. Walking into the museum is kind of like entering into another world. One finds the Dr. Raymond as one of the first places seen in the building. It has medical equipment dating back at least a 100 years. The curator of the museum, Harry Metzger, also has many of his items in a special room. Metzger, 82, was one of the pioneer ranchers in this area and has donated many bridles, chaps and his wifes leather riding skirt among other things. Each room is named after a pioneer in the Flagstaff and northern Arizona areas, and the friends and families have donated pictures, letters and almost every historical item they had. 25 years ago 1998: A new Grand Canyon National Park concessionaire contract proposal would have the parks key concessionaire go from putting no money back into the park to paying $8 million per year, and even more if Grand Canyon visitation continues to grow. The staggering increase comes as a 30-year contract with AmFac Parks and Resorts, of Aurora, Colorado, sunsets at the end of the year. If AmFac, formerly the Fred Harvey Co., gets the new contract, the Park Service is proposing to have it pay 10.5% of its gross profits back to the Park Service to be spent on projects that relate to the concessionaire. The new fee will be in addition to the 2.7% of gross receipts AmFac has, and would continue to pay, to the U.S. Treasury. The 2.7% fee is the only fee AmFac has had to pay for the right to operate its hotel, food, retail, mule ride and RV vamping facilities in the park. Days after three men killed a Colorado police officer and then drove to this ancient Anasazi settlement (Hovenweep National Monument) a Navajo medicine man drove from his Arizona home to perform a purification ceremony here. The journey took him across the San Juan River, which Navajos believe protects them from marauders. It is considered bad luck to cross the river without prayer, Bill George, 27, a Navajo from Bluff, told the Salt Lake Tribune. That these outlaws would use the river to escape, to kill near here worries us. It is bad luck for everyone. Close Karen Black (left), Joya Sosnowski (middle) and Dawn McAuley (right) dance to the music Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival at the Continental Country Club driving range grounds. Kelvin Starks enjoys blues, brews and sunshine Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival hosted at the grounds of the Continental Country Club driving range. Blues and Brews Fest Kicks Off in Flagstaff Aaron McCall of the Aaron McCall Band kicks off the weekend with his set Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival hosted at the Continental Country Club driving range. Robin and Al Piccirilli (left to right) laugh as they listen to blues music and fan themselves with tiny guitars Friday afternoon during the Blues and Brews festival at the Continental Country Club driving range. Mariana laughs as she spins 10 hula hoops Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews Music Festival. Sue Rose, Marilou Neigh and Lynn Bistany (left to right) listen to music while enjoying a beer Friday afternoon during the Blues and Brews festival. Buffalo Nichols starts his set with a song off his first album Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews hosted at the Continental Country Club driving range. Chris De Herrara, bass player of the Aaron McCall Band, jams out on stage Friday afternoon during Blues and Brews. People dance to the music Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews Music Festival at the Continental Country Club driving range. The crowd enjoys the music from lawn chairs Friday afternoon during the Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival. Gallery: Blues and Brews and sunshine come to Flagstaff Good weather, tasty beer and deep blues kicked off the Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival Friday at Continental Country Club's driving range grounds. Karen Black (left), Joya Sosnowski (middle) and Dawn McAuley (right) dance to the music Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival at the Continental Country Club driving range grounds. Kelvin Starks enjoys blues, brews and sunshine Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival hosted at the grounds of the Continental Country Club driving range. Blues and Brews Fest Kicks Off in Flagstaff Aaron McCall of the Aaron McCall Band kicks off the weekend with his set Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival hosted at the Continental Country Club driving range. Robin and Al Piccirilli (left to right) laugh as they listen to blues music and fan themselves with tiny guitars Friday afternoon during the Blues and Brews festival at the Continental Country Club driving range. Mariana laughs as she spins 10 hula hoops Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews Music Festival. Sue Rose, Marilou Neigh and Lynn Bistany (left to right) listen to music while enjoying a beer Friday afternoon during the Blues and Brews festival. Buffalo Nichols starts his set with a song off his first album Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews hosted at the Continental Country Club driving range. Chris De Herrara, bass player of the Aaron McCall Band, jams out on stage Friday afternoon during Blues and Brews. People dance to the music Friday afternoon during the 2023 Flagstaff Blues and Brews Music Festival at the Continental Country Club driving range. The crowd enjoys the music from lawn chairs Friday afternoon during the Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival. Patna, Jun 11 (PTI) Women won 458 posts of ward councillors, mayor and and deputy mayor in the Bihar municipal polls, the results of which were declared by the State Election Commission on Sunday. The Bihar State Election Commission (SEC) also declared 347 male candidates elected for different posts in 31 municipalities in 21 districts, elections for which were held on June 9. Also Read | G20 Delegates Attend Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat Along With EAM S Jaishankar; Watch Video of G20 Summit 2023 Delegates Experience Varanasi Culture. The counting of votes for 31 municipal bodies in the state began at 8 am on Sunday, amid tight security arrangements. A total of 58 centres had been set up for counting of votes for 805 posts of ward councilors, mayor and deputy mayor. The final result for the Bihar Nagar Nikay elections was declared by the SEC on Sunday evening. Also Read | Delhi Weather Forecast For Monday: IMD Predicts National Capital to Witness Partly Cloudy Sky With Strong Surface Winds on June 12. In all, 4,431 candidates2,197 men and 2,234 womencontested the municipal elections in Bihar. Nine of them had already been declared elected unopposed. The polling took place in Patna, Buxar, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Vaishali, Nalanda, Nawada, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Kishanganj, Munger, Lakhisarai, Saharsa, Jamui and Banka districts. For the first time, the SEC used a Facial Recognition System (FRS) to confirm voters' identities. Officials said the election in 31 urban local bodies includes 24 where the election was not held in the last urban polls held in December, and another seven whose five-year term is ending in June. This include Saharsa and Madhubani municipal corporations. Besides, bypolls were held in seven wards in urban local bodies where elected representatives resigned in the last few months after the December urban elections. (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, Jun 11 (PTI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has carried out a joint exercise with the Indian Army in the central sector with deployment of multiple combat assets to check the operational readiness of the two forces. The exercise follows the IAF's two strategic missions over the Indian Ocean region that involved Rafale and Su-30MKI jets. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Will Contest Polls From Kaiserganj Constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Says BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "The #IAF recently concluded a joint exercise with the Indian Army in the central sector. Multiple combat assets were employed to simulate realistic combat situations for all participants," the IAF tweeted on Sunday. It, however, did not divulge the details such as date and venue of the operations. Also Read | Gujarat Fire: Five Parked Cars Gutted in Botad, Operation Underway To Douse Flames (Watch Video). A few days back, a fleet of Su-30MKI jets of the IAF carried out a strategic mission over the Indian Ocean region for eight hours, days after a similar operation was carried out by four Rafale aircraft. The Su-30MKI jets flew over the South Western region of the Indian Ocean on Thursday demonstrating their operational prowess and capability to carry out long-range missions. The six-hour mission involving the Rafale fighter aircraft last month covered the eastern region of the Indian Ocean. The IAF carried out the two missions at a time China has been ramping up its presence in the Indian Ocean region, which is largely considered as the backyard of the Indian Navy. The Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 11 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday paid a visit to the construction site of the under-construction bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati and took stock of the progress of the construction work. According to the official statement, Chief Minister Sarma boarded a ship at Lachit Ghat and took close inspection of the works across the river up to North Guwahati. During his on-site inspection, CM Sarma held a discussion with the construction engineers of the executing agency as well as PWD. Also Read | India Weather Forecast: IMD Issues Orange Alert for Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh; Heatwave Warning Issued for Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Over Next Three Days. While addressing the media, Chief Minister Sarma said that the IIT will be engaged to carry out its quality auditing. "Out of the total Rs 2600 crore financial outlay, till date, Rs 1900 crore have been spent. In view of the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bihar, special attention and monitoring have been laid with regard to the construction of this bridge. An IIT will be engaged in the quality auditing of the under-construction bridge so that the bridge meets all safety protocols," Assam Chief Minister Sarma said. Also Read | G20 Delegates Attend Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat Along With EAM S Jaishankar; Watch Video of G20 Summit 2023 Delegates Experience Varanasi Culture. Assam Chief Minister also took stock of the risk management taken into consideration during the construction of the bridge. The Assam Chief Minister also took a view of the presentation prepared by the executing agency and the PWD and assessed the financial and physical progress of the bridge, an official statement said. He also said that the bridge will be dedicated to the service of the nation by next year. Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika also accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit. (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, Jun 11 (PTI) Opposition parties are trying to come together for the 2024 polls but are unable to name a prime ministerial candidate, and will be defeated again as in the last two general elections, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Sunday. The Shiv Sena leader was speaking to a select group of reporters at the Raj Bhavan where he met Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Also Read | Delhi Weather Forecast For Monday: IMD Predicts National Capital to Witness Partly Cloudy Sky With Strong Surface Winds on June 12. "In the coming elections, all records of the Lok Sabha elections will be broken under the leadership of PM Modi and the BJP will win with a thumping majority under Modi," Shinde said. Later at a press conference, he took a swipe at the opposition parties which are set to meet on June 23 in Patna to chalk out a joint strategy against the BJP. Also Read | Wrestlers Protest: Vinesh Phogat Says Government Is Trying To Protect WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "If we talk about the 2024 polls, many parties are getting together against Modi, but they have not been able to name a person who can be their candidate. This had happened in 2014 polls as well, but Modi got a clear majority. "In 2019 as well, parties came together, but what happened? Modi got a thumping majority. Now again, they are getting together... but Modi will again get a thumping majority," he said. "Modi does not respond to criticism, but works for the people. He does not give importance to his critics," Shinde added. He said his party will use its strength to help the BJP retain power under Modi's leadership. He said the amount of work done in the last nine years has surpassed what was done in 40-50 years before that. "The elections will take place on the issue of development. So many roads and airports have been built and several schemes implemented for the welfare of women. It is obvious that the people will vote for those who work for them. So, all records will be broken in 2024 elections," he said. The Maharashtra chief minister said developmental projects were being undertaken across the country under Modi's leadership and the economy was growing rapidly. "Getting the G20 presidency is a matter of pride for the people of the country. People from across the world are coming to India, they came to Kashmir as well, Maharashtra as well... It gives us an opportunity to give exposure to our infra projects because they come to know how much the country is moving forward. "The world is facing economic problems, but our country's (economy) situation has improved from 11th position to fifth position because of PM Modi. His target of USD five trillion economy is a huge achievement in itself," he said. Shinde said he had visited the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and then came to Kashmir. "Today, I met (J-K) LG Manoj Sinha. It was a courtesy meet. He is our well-wisher. He called me for a tea, so I came," he said. The Maharashtra CM said the situation in J-K has improved a lot after the Centre abrogated Article 370 in August 2019. "It is a matter of satisfaction that there is a huge difference in J-K since the last time. Many developmental works are taking place. Roads are being built, and tourists are coming here in large numbers. A belief has been created among the people of J-K that they are getting all the facilities. "Under the prime minister's leadership, (Union) Home Minister (Amit Shah) abrogated Article 370. We can see a lot of changes here now. Tourism is increasing, projects are going on, people will get employment. This was not seen before. But, today, there is development, that is what people want," he said. This is a paradise and tourists come here not only from various corners of the country but also from across the world, he added. "The fear in the hearts of people is ending. This is what is needed. When there is development, people get their livelihood," he added. Shinde said revocation of Article 370 was the dream of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. To a question on political parties in J-K demanding the conduct of assembly elections in the Union Territory, Shinde said the prime minister will definitely take a decision on it. Shinde also urged LG Sinha to provide land in Srinagar to set up 'Maharashtra Bhavan'. Pune-based NGO Sarhad, which is dedicated to fostering people-to-people relationships and promoting harmony across India's borders for the past 30 years, welcomed the proposal. Shinde had formed the government in Maharashtra with the BJP's support in June last year after revolting against the then chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde's faction was in February this year recognised as the Shiv Sena by the Election Commission. In recent days, there has been some strain in the BJP-Sena ties over Kalyan Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra represented by Shinde's son Shrikant. On Friday, Shrikant Shinde had said some leaders were trying to create hurdles in the alliance in Dombivali area (under Kalyan Lok Sabha seat) for their selfish politics and that he was ready to leave the seat since the aim was to ensure the Narendra Modi government returns with a thumping majority in the 2024 LS polls. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, June 11 (PTI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-linked Muslim Rashtriya Manch has resolved that its members will donate and serve cows on Eid Ul Zuha, a senior leader said on Sunday. They have also resolved to participate in Yoga Day programmes, RSS leader Indresh Kumar told reporters on the concluding day of the Manch's 'Abhyas Varg' or brainstorming session held in Bhopal. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath Government Issues Guidelines for B.Ed Entrance Examination, Says Exams To Be Held Under Live CCTV Surveillance. Kumar said all Hindustanis have common roots and DNA. "The people in the country dream in Hindustani and not in foreign languages," he added. Also Read | Manipur Violence: Internet Ban in the State Extended Till June 15. He said confusion prevails among people over Eid Ul Zuha, which some people call Bakra Eid. "Bakra, which some people understand as goat but in the Arabic world, Bakra stands for cows. The Manch has approved a proposal that its members will serve and donate cows and not sacrifice them. The Manch will appeal not to sacrifice cows," he said. Kumar said 2,500 units of the Manch will celebrate Yoga Day as yoga is a way to heal body, mind, and soul and has nothing to do with religion or caste. He said Manch members have also resolved to celebrate Raksha Bandhan, which is not a religious festival. "Raksha Bandhan is a festival of women's respect and security and a large number of Muslim women observe it," Kumar claimed. He said the Manch will hold big programmes at 100 places on Raksha Bandhan to remove discrimination based on religion and caste to make the world free of riots. A public contact campaign will be organised between August 20 to September 30 this year during which Manch members will reach out to 15 lakh families with a resolve to make the country free of strife, discrimination, and pollution and to spread brotherhood, Kumar added. He said more than 100 new workers of the Manch have been given the responsibility at the national, zonal and state levels to hold the upcoming programme. During the four-day session, the Manch passed 11 resolutions including upholding the idea of "one nation, one law" by celebrating diversity. "Resolutions on population control, love jihad, Uniform Civil Code were also passed," a release said. Muslim intellectuals including former vice-chancellors, professors, lawyers, and doctors put their views at the session, it 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, Jun 11 (PTI) Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal is expected to address the Aam Aadmi Party's "Maha Rally" on Sunday against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital, a party functionary said. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Delhi AAP leader and Minister Gopal Rai and AAP MP Sanjay Singh will address the rally. Also Read | Germany Accuses Climate Activists of 580 Offenses. "Sibal has also been invited to speak at the rally as a constitutional expert. Sibal has better understanding about the constitutional position of Delhi," the functionary said. The ordinance issued by the Centre on May 19 set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority, bringing back executive control over matters related to services to its domain. Also Read | Fortnite Used for Religious Conversion in UP: Ghaziabad Conversion Case Exposes Rampant Misuse of Gaming Platforms. It was issued close on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict on May 11, through which the Delhi government was given the executive control over service-related matters, including transfers and postings of Delhi government officers but excluding those related to police, public order and land. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): The Air India aircraft that had been grounded in the Russian town of Magadan since Tuesday following an engine glitch has landed in Mumbai, as per a spokesperson of the airline. The flight landed in Mumbai on Saturday evening. Also Read | Odisha Train Tragedy Aftermath: Railway Ministry Launches Drive To Ensure Safety of Signalling Equipment, Relay Rooms. Earlier in the day, the airline confirmed that the plane left Magadan on Saturday morning after necessary engine repairs. The official further said that the aircraft was checked on all safety parameters and certified serviceable before take-off. Also Read | Ajmer-92 Controversy: 'Girls Can Make Even the Biggest Person Slip', Says Sarwar Chishti of Ajmer Dargah (Watch Video). "We can confirm that a defect in the oil system of one of the aircraft's engines has been rectified by our engineering team that flew on a ferry flight to GDX on June 7. The aircraft was checked on all safety parameters and certified serviceable before take-off from GDX today," the airline's spokesperson said. On Tuesday, an Air India flight, headed to San Francisco from New Delhi with 216 passengers and 16 crew was diverted to Magadan in Russia after a technical issue with one of its engines. A total of 216 passengers and 16 crew members aboard the aircraft were stranded in the small town till Thursday morning, when the rescue flight sent by Air India took off for their intended destination, San Francisco, from Magadan. However, Indian passengers stranded in Russia's Magadan have expressed their gratitude to the Russian authorities for their assistance after a reserve flight on Thursday transported all passengers to San Francisco. However, in a statement on Thursday morning, the airline said it had mobilised additional on-ground support at the destination to carry out the smooth clearance formalities for all passengers upon arrival. Air India has said that it will refund journey fare and provide a voucher for future travel to passengers who were stranded for nearly two days in Magadan after their New Delhi-San Francisco flight was diverted to the Russian city following a technical snag in one of its engines. In a letter to the passengers, the airline said that the pilots received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine and out of caution, they elected to land the aircraft at a nearby airport. "Please allow me to sincerely apologise, on behalf of Air India, for the extended delay in bringing you to San Francisco. As you are all too aware, the aircraft encountered a technical issue whereby the pilots received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine. Out of caution, they elected to land the aircraft at a nearby airport rather than continue the journey," the letter said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kochi, Jun 11 (PTI) Union Minister of Fisheries, Parshottam Rupala and Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the modernisation and upgradation of Cochin Fishing Harbour at Thoppumpady. At an event held at the Cochin Port Authority hall here, Rupala said the project is expected to benefit 700 fishing boats operating at Cochin fishing harbour. Also Read | Cyclone Biparjoy Latest Update: IMD Issued 'Thunderstorm' Alert in Coastal Maharashtra in Next 3-4 Hours Amid Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Over Arabian Sea. Sonowal virtually joined the foundation stone laying function. The Fisheries Minister said that the project will support direct livelihoods of about 10,000 fishermen and indirect livelihoods of about 30,000 from the community across the value chain. Also Read | Train Derails in Tamil Nadu: Suburban Train From Moor Market to Tiruvallur Derails at Vyasarpadi Railway Station in Chennai, No Casualty Reported. The Union government has sanctioned projects to the tune of Rs 7,500 crore for the development of fishing harbours and welfare of fishermen community, he said. "Government has approved projects to the tune of more than Rs 7,500 crore for the development of modern fishing harbours and fish landing centres under Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Sagarmala scheme and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Yojana (PMMSY) Scheme," he said. The modernisation project will result in substantial improvement of the hygienic conditions and increase in earnings from export of fish and fish products, the Union Minister said and added that the project involves setting up of infrastructural facilities on par with international standards. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared by the consultant E&Y with a total cost of Rs 169.17 crore, the Ministry said in a release. "The project includes a public private partnership model operator which will focus on cold storage, ice plants, multilevel car parking, reverse osmosis plant food court, retail market among others," it said. The first stage of the project includes three air conditioned auction halls, one hall, one fish dressing and ancillary unit, internal roads loading, unloading platforms, waste management area canteen facilities among others. On completion, it is expected to earn Rs 1,500 crore per annum through exports of fish and fish products. As part of the 'Sagar Parikrama' programme, Rupala also held a meeting with the seafood exporters association at Cochin Port Authority office. The members of the association shared concerns related with rising ocean pollution, effluent treatment in the seafood processing plants, diesel price among other issues. Rupala, along with Union Minister of State L Murugan has been participating in various programmes across Kerala since past few days as part of the 'Sagar Parikrama' programme. The Ministers held discussions with coastal communitites at Beypore, Thriprayar, Thrissur and Kochi. On Monday, they will visit Thiruvananthapuram. The event was attended by Ernakulam MP, Hibi Eden, MLAs K J Maxi, T J Vinod, Mayor M Anil Kumar, among other dignitaries. The Sagar Parikrama programme aims to meet fishermen, fish farmers and beneficiaries of various government schemes and to interact with them to hear directly about their issues and suggestions they have to further uplift the fisheries sector in the country for the benefit of all stakeholders. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bilaspur/Korba (Chhattisgarh), Jun 11 (PTI) South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) is aiming to scale up the capacity of its Gevra mine to 70 MTPA to make it the world's largest coal producing site by the end of ongoing fiscal, company's CMD Prem Sagar Mishra said. Located at Korba, about 193 kilometer from Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, SECL's Gevra mine is the world's fourth largest coal mine at present, the official told PTI in an interview at Bilaspur. While two of the largest coal mines are in the US, one is in Indonesia, Mishra said adding "we are in expansion mode of our Gevra mine to 70 million tonne per annum (MTPA) to make it the world's single largest coal producing site." Also Read | MHT CET 2023 Result Date: PCM and PCB Group Results To Be Announced on June 12 at cetcell.mahacet.org, Know How To Check Scorecard. In financial year 2022-23, the mine produced 52.5 MT of coal which was above its target for the year, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director said. When asked about the timeline for achieving the 70 MTPA target, the CMD replied "we aim to achieve it by the end of the current fiscal year. We are waiting for the environmental clearances which we expect to attain by the mid of this financial year." Also Read | Cyclone Biparjoy Update: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm To Intensify Further, Says IMD. The company has applied for environment clearances for around 20 MT excavation capacity, the official said. Sharing details of the Gevra mine, Mishra said it is an open cast mine spread over an area of 27 square kilometer. The mine has been excavated up to a depth of about 600 metres. Around 1.5 lakh tonne of coal is mined from the block on a daily basis. SECL is also building a railway corridor connecting Gevra to Pendra Road and is in the process of installing two silos and a 20 million tonne per year coal handling plant in Gevra mine region for faster loading and transportation of coal from the block. The plan is to transport the coal to the silos through conveyor belts and load it on the rakes through the silos. This process will reduce the loading time significantly and improve supplies of coal. Based in Bilaspur, SECL with 67 blocks, is among the top three coal producing subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd (CIL), under Ministry of Coal. In FY23, CIL's output was 703.21 MT, out of which SECL's contribution was 167 MT. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Daraga (Philippines) Jun 11 (AP) Philippine authorities were evacuating more than 2,000 cows and water buffaloes away from a restive volcano to minimize potential losses in case of a major eruption, officials said Sunday. The farm animals were being herded out of rural communities within a 6-kilometre radius of Mayon volcano's crater in northeastern Albay province to 25 temporary grazing area. Also Read | Imran Khan Upset Over Losing Army's Backing, Says Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto. They're following more than 12,600 villagers who have moved to emergency shelters since last week, when Mayon began spewing superheated gas and heavy ashfall in a sign of a possible major eruption within days or weeks. Thousands more people may still need to be relocated to shelters, usually schools and other public buildings, officials said. Also Read | Pakistan: Former Minister Zahoor Buledi's Brother-in-Law Abdul Qayyum Buledi, Cop Shot Dead in Balochistan. "It's not only people that should be brought to safety but their farm animals too, Albay provincial veterinarian Manny Victorino told The Associated Press. He said authorities were taking steps to avoid a deeper economic impact if the volcano erupts. In Matnog village in Daraga town, Victorino and his team of veterinarians provided deworming medicine, injected vitamin supplements and punched identifying tags to the ears of several cows and buffaloes for better monitoring. Animal evacuations had preceded Mayon eruptions in the past, Victorino said, adding that the Philippines and Indonesia, which is also prone to earthquakes, have compared and shared techniques. The cattle evacuations underscore the government's dilemma in dealing with threats from about two dozen active volcanoes, led by Mayon, across the sprawling archipelago. Located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the Philippines is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms a year, making the Southeast Asian nation one of the world's most disaster-prone. Albay was placed under a state of calamity on Friday to allow more rapid disbursement of emergency funds in case a major eruption unfolds. On Thursday, authorities raised the alert level for the 2,462-metre volcano. A key tourist draw for its picturesque conical shape, Mayon is one of the country's 24 active volcanoes. It last erupted violently in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of villagers. In 1814, Mayon's eruption buried entire villages and reportedly left more than 1,000 people dead. But many of Albay's people have accepted the volcano's fury as a part of their lives. On Sunday morning, throngs of people jogged or biked, joined a group dancing to disco music and walked their dogs in a seaside promenade in Albay's capital city of Legazpi. About 14 kilometres away, the volcano lay hidden in thick clouds. A resident, Violeto Peralta, caught attention when he painted an image of Mayon's explosive eruption on the concrete fence of his roadside house. Passing schoolchildren, he said, will be happy to see his painting as a backdrop for their selfies. He said that many businesses in the province have grown rich from diverse tourist activities that have sprung from Mayon, including sightseeing tours to gravel and sand that could be found in abundance around the country's most active volcano. We're not scared of it, the 76-year-old said. We've learned to live with it. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 11 (ANI): G20 delegates from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Indonesia and China on Sunday arrived at the Varanasi Airport to participate in the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting scheduled to be held from June 11-13. Awadh's Faruwahi dance and Kashi Vishwanath Damru Vadan Samiti gave a grand welcome to the foreign guests at the airport. The foreign guests also performed Damru Vadan and Indian dance at the airport. Also Read | Japan Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki Enjoys Street Food With His Wife in Pune, PM Narendra Modi Reacts to Viral Video. Among those who arrived were Australian politician Patrick Conroy, Brazil's Ambassador to India Mauricio Lyrio, European commissioner for International partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, German minister for economic cooperation and development Svenja Schulze, Japanese Minister Shunsuke Takei and China's Zhao Yifan among others. Foreign guests were very happy to see the reception at the airport. Also Read | China Weather Forecast: Meteorological Authorities Renew Blue Alert for Rainstorms in Various Regions Across Country. The G20 Development Ministers' Meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to be held between June 11-13 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair the meeting. The meeting, to be held as part of India's G20 Presidency will also see a special video address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs statement said. The Varanasi Development Ministers' Meeting takes place in the midst of mounting developmental challenges that have been made worse by the slowdown in the global economy, debt distress, the effects of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, rising poverty and inequality, the cost of living crisis, supply chain disruptions around the world, and geopolitical tensions and conflicts. The G20 Development Ministerial meeting will be an opportunity to collectively agree on actions for accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering synergies between the development, environment and climate agendas while avoiding costly trade-offs that hold back progress for the developing countries, the statement 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) Washington, Jun 11 (PTI) Indian-American LGBTQ members on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support the equal rights of the LGBTQ community in India. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden this month. During his four-day visit starting on June 21, the US president and the First Lady will host Modi for a state dinner on June 22. Also Read | Mayon Volcano Erupts in Philippines: More Than 6000 Residents Evacuated Near Crater of the Mayon Volcano After It Spews Ash. I would say the Indian Supreme Court has been debating the issue of gay marriage, LGBTQ marriage for a couple of months now. I would urge Prime Minister Modi to support this, to support the equal rights of the LGBTQ community in India and to understand that our children and LGBTQ folks are entitled to equal rights because we are all human, Aruna Rao, executive director, Desi Rainbow, told PTI. Rao was among the handful of Indian Americans who were invited to participate in the historic Pride Rally on the South Lawns of the White House which was addressed by President Joe Biden and the First Lady Dr Jill Biden. Also Read | Is Vietnam Backtracking on Its Environmental Promises?. My understanding is in the metro areas, there is some support for LGBTQ people. Legislatively also, the government has moved forward in terms of transgender rights. But there is a lot to be done, particularly not in the metro areas, in the small towns, in the villages where people don't have support, don't have access to any kind of equal rights, she said. In every which way, economically, socially, culturally, LGBTQ folks in India, in South Asia need a lot of support, Rao said. Another Indian-American participant at the White House Pride Rally, Lesley Kingston hoped that President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a good meeting later this month. I hope that their bilateral relationships between the two countries get stronger. But I do hope that Prime Minister Modi really spends some time taking a look at the South Asian, the Indian community here and learning how we are striving for progress and to be able to implement the same kind of things and give the rights of LGBTQ people in India: all the rights that we have here and more. Because they deserve it, Kingston told PTI. (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], June 11 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday appointed Vipul as the next Ambassador of India to Qatar. Earlier, Vipul was serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He is an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1998 batch. Also Read | Shawn Mendes Releases New Song What the Hell Are We Dying for? About Climate Change Following Canadian Wildfires (Watch Video). The Ministry of External Affairs informed in a press release, "Shri Vipul (IFS: 1998) presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the State of Qatar." He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. (ANI) Also Read | Imran Khan Upset Over Losing Army's Backing, Says Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, April 11: Armed men in Pakistan's Gwadar gunned down the brother-in-law of a former provincial minister as well as a senior police officer on Saturday, Dawn reported. Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper. Abdul Qayyum Buledi was shot dead by men riding a motorcycle while he was sitting outside his home. "Qayyum Buledi died on the spot after receiving multiple bullet injuries," a Levies official said. Pakistan Horror: Two Motorcyclists Shot Dead by Police in Multan for Disobeying Stop Orders. He was the brother-in-law of Zahoor Buledi, an ex-finance minister of Balochistan. According to Dawn, the body was shifted to a nearby hospital. Zahoor Buledi had recently joined the PPP. Pakistan: Doctor Belonging to Minority Ahmadi Community Shot Dead in Punjab Province, Say Police. In another incident, the chief of special branch of police, Mohammad Rafiq, was gunned down in an attack while he was talking to a friend. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sindh, June 11: The engine of Green Line Express on Sunday derailed in Pakistan's Ghotki, ARY News reported, quoting Pakistan Railways officials on Sunday. ARY News is a Pakistani news channel. As per details, the engine of the Green Line Express from Karachi to Rawalpindi running at full speed suddenly descended from the track in Ghotki. The up track was blocked for rail traffic, while rescue teams have been summoned for the revival of the track. Balasore Train Accident: Passenger Recounts Horrifying Moments When Mishap Involving Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast and Goods Train Happened in Odisha (Watch Video). Ghotki is located on the main line that connects Pakistan's southernmost city of Karachi with other parts of the country including Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. The Peshawar-bound Khyber Mail has been stopped at Pano Aqil, a town in the Ghotki district. Odisha Train Accident: Yuzvendra Chahal Reportedly Donates Rs 1 Lakh for Victims of Tragedy During Gaming Stream. According to railway officials, the relief train from Rohri has been sent, and soon the railway track will be restored. Initially, the cause of the accident was not known. According to railway officials, the engine derailment did not cause any casualties. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, June 11: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) released the Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) Commerce 2022 result today, June 11. Candidates who appeared for the Bihar STET Commerce 2022 examination can visit the official website of Bihar STET at secondary.biharboardonline.com and biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in to check and download their exam results. Bihar STET Commerce 2022 Result Declared Candidates will require a User ID and password in order to check Bihar STET 2022 or Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test Commerce Exam results. The Bihar Board took to social media to announce the STET Commerce exam results. Here's the direct link to check Bihar STET Commerce 2022 result. NEET UG Result 2023 Date and Time: NTA Likely To Announce Results Soon on neet.nta.nic.in, Know How To Check Scorecard. Steps To Check Bihar STET Commerce 2022 Result: Visit the official website of Bihar Board at secondary.biharboardonline.com Click on the "Result of STET Commerce 2022" link on the homepage A new page will be displayed on the screen Next, enter using your login details Your Bihar STET 2022 results will be displayed on the screen Take a printout for future reference Meanwhile, the State Common Entrance Test Cell of Maharashtra will release the MHT CET Result 2023 tomorrow, June 12. Candidates who appeared for MHT CET (PCM and PCB Group) 2023 examination can visit the official website of MAHACET at mahacet.org to check and download their exam results. NEET UG Result 2023 Date and Time: NTA Likely To Announce Results Soon on neet.nta.nic.in, Know How To Check Scorecard. The MHT CET Result 2023 will be announced tomorrow at 11 am tomorrow. Once declared, the MHT CET Result 2023 link will be available on mahacet.in. "MHTCET (PCM & PCB Group) 2023 result will be announced on 12-06-2023 on www.mahacet.org and www.mahacet.in websites at 11.00 am." the official notice read. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2023 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, June 11: A memorial of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on a traffic junction in Dhule in Maharashtra was demolished by the civic body which claimed it was illegal. It was allegedly built by Dhule City All India Ittehadul Majlis-e-Muslimeen MLA Faruk Shah Anwar on the intersection of Vadjai Road, some 322 kilometres from here, a police official said on Sunday. Tipu Sultan's Bedchamber Sword Sold for Whopping Rs 140 Crore at Hotly-Contested Auction in London, Sets New World Record for Indian and Islamic Object (See Pics). "It was demolished on Friday under police bandobast by the civic corporation. The MLA was told to remove it himself. However, after a meeting between the district collector and PWD officials, the memorial was broken," he said. Tension in Kolhapur: Stone Pelting in City Over Use of Tipu Sultans Image With Offensive Audio As Social Media Status; Maharashtra Police Send Proposal To Suspend Internet (Watch Video). The situation is peaceful in the area and no case of any untoward incident has come forward, the police official added. Several parts of Maharashtra are seeing acrimony among communities and protests over the use of images of Tipu Sultan and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as part of offensive and communally sensitive social media messages and status. Imphal, June 11: Over 50,650 men, women and children, displaced in Manipur's ethnic violence were sheltered in 350 camps, Information and Public Relations and Health Minister S. Ranjan said here on Sunday. The Minister said that district and cluster nodal officers have been deputed to take care and look after the relief centers set up in more than 10 districts in Manipur, which witnessed devastating ethnic violence since May 3 killing 105 people and injuring over 320. Manipur Violence: Internet Services Suspension Extended Till June 15 To Curb Spread of False News, Rumours and Misinformation. He said that relief centers have also been opened specially for pregnant women and special care has also been taken up for lactating mothers, aged persons and children. Ranjan stated that goods and essential commodities are being brought through Imphal-Jiribam National Highway via southern Assam and so far 2,376 trucks loaded with 35,000 metric tons of construction materials, fuels, essential commodities have been brought into the state. The state government is trying to make Khongsang railway station activated within the next 10 days for convenient transportation of essential items. Helicopter services from Moreh-Imphal, Imphal-Churachandpur and Imphal-Kangpokpi have already been started, the Minister added. Manipur Violence: Women Belonging to Kuki Tribal Community Protest Outside Home Minister Amit Shahs Residence in Delhi, Detained. Various Kuki tribal organisations continue to block the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Manipur, creating a serious problem of transporting essentials, foodgrains, transport fuel, and life-saving drugs. Though the state government with security escorts has been trying to ferry various essentials from different parts of the country through the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), the NH-2 (via Nagaland) is considered as the lifeline for Manipur. Ranjan, who is also the spokesman of the government, said that so far a total of 990 arms and 13,526 ammunition have been surrendered to the government. "Combing operations have been continued by the Army and other central and state forces in all districts, particularly in vulnerable areas, to nab the militants and miscreants," said the minister. Media reports claimed that thousands of different types of arms and a large quantity of ammunition were looted by mobs and miscreants from many police stations and security camps after the riots broke out on May 3. Noting that the roadmap of education for the affected students are being chalked out by the government, the minister said that the details of the government plan would be announced soon by the Education Minister concerned very shortly. Regarding the banking sector, out of the 242 branches, 198 bank branches are made operational as of now, and the rest will be made functional at the earliest, he stated. Ranjan said that a price control mechanism is put into force to check the price rise of essential commodities. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2023 04:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Just a week before of his birthday, famous Punjabi cine star, director and producer Mangal Dhillon, who was battling cancer, passed away in a hospital in Ludhiana on Sunday. He was 48. According to statistics compiled by the Swedish Police, 18 people were killed and 41 injured in 144 shootings around the country during the first five months of the year. Ten of the fatalities during the period were recorded in the Stockholm region. San Francisco, June 11: Elon Musk-run Twitter has reportedly refused to pay Google Cloud bills as its contract comes up for renewal this month. According to a report in Platformer, unless Twitter pays up or works something out, "its access could be cut off on June 30th when their contract ends". Prior to Musk acquiring the micro-blogging platform for $44 billion in October last year, the company signed a multi-year contract with Google to host services related to fighting spam, removing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and protecting accounts. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Hails Elon Musk for Making Twitter A Lot Leaner Which Is Good for Industry Overall. If Twitter fails to pay Google Cloud, its trust and safety teams can be left crippled. Twitter has been trying to renegotiate its contract with Google since at least March. "It had also delayed payments to Amazon Web Services (AWS), leading the company to threaten withholding advertising payments," the report noted. Smyte, a company Twitter acquired in 2018 that offers tools to stop abuse and harassment, is among the services currently running on Google Cloud Platform. Twitter New Feature Updates: Elon Musk-Run Platform Rolls Out Major Features in DMs, To Soon Launch Voice and Video Chat. "It is now scheduled to be shut down June 30, sources say. If Smyte goes down, it will likely reduce Twitter's ability to achieve two of Musk's stated priorities: removing CSAM and bots," Zoe Schiffer, Managing Editor of Platformer, tweeted on Sunday. In March, Platformer first reported, citing people aware of the situation, that Twitter sales and marketing staff were told by their colleagues that "Amazon had threatened to withhold payment for advertising it runs on Twitter because the social network for months refused to pay its Amazon Web Services bills for cloud computing services". (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2023 01:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The field of science, to a large degree, is about innovation. Research innovation, technological innovation, you name it, science has innovated it, probably. The Da Vinci Science Centers future PPL Pavilion location is going to be innovating education right in the heart of its own community. The interactive, nonprofit science museum and the Allentown School District agreed to a six-year contract on Thursday that establishes Da Vincis in-progress downtown facility as an official secondary campus for Central Elementary School students, according to a news release from the school district. The partnership will provide students with state-of-the-art immersive learning experiences in science, technology, reading, engineering, art and mathematics, or STREAM. Da Vincis new campus, at which construction is well underway, is located two blocks from Central Elementary, and itll house what the district is calling its STREAM Academy. Central Elementary students will have ongoing access to immersive exhibit experiences, state-of-the-art classrooms, and STEAM professionals, ASD Superintendent Carol D. Birks said in the release. The ASD STREAM Academy is an incredible opportunity for our students and teachers to have access to the latest educational resources to support next generation science learning and new technology developments and experts in their fields in a stimulating learning environment. The science centers impact on Allentown and the school district will go well beyond just Central Elementary. Every ASD family will get a free ASD membership to Da Vinci to visit year-round. Of the 52,000 Allentown residents that live within a mile of the new facility, 43% are ASD students. According to the release, the model prioritizes professional learning for teachers and administrators across the district to expand ASDs capacity for next-generation science teaching and learning, customized field trips annually for two grade levels, family science celebrations annually at all the elementary and middle schools, a STEAM Career Pathways Certificate Program for middle and high school students culminating in a paid internship experience at the Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion or with local employers. This unprecedented approach underscores what we set out to do when we decided to build a new science center in the heart of Allentown, said Lin Erickson, Da Vincis executive director and CEO. Together with our ASD partners, we are truly reimagining the role science centers can play in formal education. Karen Knecht, the senior director of education for the science center, noted in the release that the ASD involvement doesnt interrupt field trips or other programs for other schools in the region, as part of the new facilitys purpose was to have the size available to maximize those kinds of opportunities for schools and groups around the Lehigh Valley. The new Da Vinci Science Center facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2024. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. By the standards of the 18th century or today, this was one sweet commute to work. Beside what is today the 1869 Luckenbach Mill on the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Colonial Industrial Quarter near the Monocacy Creek stands the 1782/1832 Grist Millers House. The house built in the late 1700s and enlarged in 1832 was literally where the miller who ground grains next door lived with his family, according to Historic Bethlehem consultant Christine Ussler, of Artefact Inc. based on Southside Bethlehem. The house has sat unused and vacant for about 25 years, with exterior steel beams keeping it from collapsing. Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is now embarking on the stabilization and restoration of the Grist Millers House as part of the nonprofits mission to preserve and interpret Bethlehems storied history. This is a really exciting project for the community, Historic Bethlehem President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch told lehighvalleylive.com. The organization in 2021 was awarded a $753,397 grant from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for the project. It requires a match, with two anonymous donors having provided large gifts toward that end but with additional support from the community needed, Wukitsch said. A rendering shows a proposed connector between the 1782/1832 Grist Millers House and 1869 Luckenbach Mill on the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Colonial Industrial Quarter near the Monocacy Creek.Courtesy Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites | For lehighvalleylive.com Part of the project includes plans for an enclosed steel-frame-and-glass connector between the house and Luckenbach Mill, where Historic Bethlehem offers a learning center and maintains its library and archives on the third floor. The goal for the house is to create a hands-on experience where visitors can learn about Colonial trades and crafts, she said. Through the renovation project, Historic Bethlehem hopes to make the house the designated home of the Ralph G. Schwarz Center for Colonial Trades and Industries. Schwarz was a World War II veteran who went on to a career in architecture, planning, development and preservation, according to his obituary published upon his death in 2018 at age 93. He was also a visionary for preserving Bethlehems Moravian and industrial past, and instrumental in the efforts of the 1960s to clear the automobile salvage yard that had taken over the Colonial Industrial Quarter, Wukitsch said. Luckenbach Mill itself, built on the foundations of the earlier 1751 Grist Mill, functioned as a mill until the late 1940s when it became an automotive parts store surrounded by the junkyard, according to historicbethlehem.org. It was important for the miller to live close by to the Mill, Ussler wrote in description of the project submitted to the Bethlehem Historical and Architectural Review Board. The home, which included a kitchen, one large room and a basement, was one of the early private, family homes constructed after the period of the General Economy ended in the 1760s. Ussler and Charlene Donchez Mowers, senior adviser to efforts to add Historic Moravian Bethlehem to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List, appeared Wednesday night before the HARB to solicit feedback on the Grist Millers House project. HARB members welcomed the proposal in their preliminary look at the effort. The project involves structural repairs to eliminate the need for the steel bracing and new electrical and plumbing systems, according to the description related to the state RACP grant. Exterior restoration/preservation work involves installing a wood shingle roof; the preservation, repair and painting of wooden windows; painting doors; installing gutters and downspouts; installing building tie rods and restoring a walkway. Interior work includes stabilizing two levels of the 1782 portion; repairing beams on the first floor; re-opening stairs from basement to first floor; new electrical; new plumbing and fixtures for galley kitchen and restroom; installing an HVAC system; refinishing original wood floors; painting all walls and woodwork; and upgrading the alarm system. Historic Bethlehem hopes to begin construction on the improvements in fall, with completion by the end of summer 2024, Wukitsch said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. The most popular room service order around the world is not what you think. According to the first ever Room Service Report from Hotels.com, the most popular room service order around the world is burgers, beating out other comfort foods such as pizza, french fries, tacos and club sandwiches. The report not only found what the top room service order was around the world, it also analyzed room service trends, demand and the most unique requests hotels have had to fulfill for room service orders. But just because people are ordering simple items does not mean that they are spending less money on room service. Out of all U.S. hotels surveyed, 27% said their guests spend more than $100 on room service, on average. Furthermore, guests have a tendency to order things that are not necessarily on the menu, and some hotels have expanded the definition of room service to include an in-room experience. The Milestone Hotels and Residences in London, for example, offers in-room concerts from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And the Ashford Castle in Ireland appeals to the inner child of each hotel guest by providing them with a Lego butler who will select a set of kits and deliver them to your room. Looking for more than just bottle service? The Il Salviatino in Florence offers guests a luxurious bath filled with the choice of Champagne, Prosecco or Spumante. So next time you are thinking about ordering room service, whether it be for the experience or just for a quick bite, know that you are in good company. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Everyone involved in the decades-long saga of the former Smurfit-Stone mill site agrees on at least one thing: The toxic industrial wasteland along the Clark Fork River near Frenchtown must be cleaned up. What not everyone agrees on is when it should be cleaned up, or how much testing should be performed before physical work begins. The federal Environmental Protection Agency and some local stakeholders including the Frenchtown Smurfit-Stone Community Advisory Group (CAG) that liaises between local stakeholders and the EPA are committed to the site assessment and cleanup process outlined in CERCLA, the law that created the federal Superfund cleanup program. Smurfit-Stone is proposed for listing on the National Priority List of Superfund cleanups. The agency is currently conducting a remedial investigation to determine exactly where the 3,200-acre site is contaminated, how badly and by what, and how much risk the contamination poses. Last winter, after strong insistence by the CAG and Missoula County, the EPA agreed to perform additional sampling of the site that could illustrate how much ground shows contamination. In conjunction with a separate EPA-funded sampling of fish tissue along a broader stretch of the Clark Fork, the combined data could conclusively link the site to natural resource damage. But the sampling is estimated to take about two years to complete. That pushes a final remedial investigation report back to 2028, according to Allie Archer, the EPA's Helena-based remedial project manager for the site. The subsequent feasibility study, which determines the viability of possible cleanup actions, takes about another two years, she said. That means that a signed record of decision to actually implement a cleanup action wouldn't come until at least 2030, if everything goes according to schedule. The EPA and CAG maintain that the process, frustrating as its pace may be, is methodical for a reason: A carefully studied and designed cleanup is one that can be done effectively on the first try, even if it takes awhile. But others want to see the process accelerated while additional sampling occurs. Missoula County officials, the state Department of Environmental Quality, groups like the Clark Fork Coalition and American Rivers, and developers hoping to reimagine the site all are pushing the EPA to fast-track physical cleanup. The year 2030, they say, is too late. EPA Region 8 Administrator KC Becker flew over the site Thursday as part of a meeting with groups pushing for a faster timeline. The night before, she attended a CAG meeting along with many of the same people. The CAG was not part of Thursday's event, which was organized by the Clark Fork Coalition and American Rivers. DEQ Director Chris Dorrington was also part of Thursday's overflight and subsequent discussions, as were all three Missoula County commissioners, EPA staff and multiple state legislators. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester issued a video statement supporting the CAG's work. Rep. Ryan Zinke's district director attended Thursday's event. Tribal representatives attended both events. The Smurfit-Stone site was home to a cardboard container factory from 1957 to 2010. It has been vacant and unused since then. A 138-acre section of floodplain within the 3,200-acre property is home to an immense collection of toxic sludge dumps that also contain fly ash, plastic, lime kiln grits, asbestos, equipment and other garbage. Contaminated wastewater was impounded in a sprawling array of settling ponds covering 900 acres. Most of the pond sites were built in the Clark Fork River floodplain and historical river channels. A porous earthen berm constructed in 1958 is all that keeps the river from sweeping contaminants downstream. A 1972 meander in the river is pushing into the upstream end of the berm. Oxbows from the 1952 river channel form depressions in the old pond sites that often fill with groundwater coated in a shimmering chemical sheen. About 460 acres of the river's channel migration zone is impeded by 4 miles of Smurfit-Stone berm on the river's north side. The berm has been damaged and repaired before, and the ponds were designed to allow wastewater to percolate out of them. The site has been on the EPA's radar for years. It's drawn the ire of environmentalists since at least the 1970s. In 2020, the state warned anglers not to consume fish caught in the Clark Fork from Missoula to Paradise, due to contaminants in fish tissue that likely came from Smurfit-Stone. Karen Knudsen, executive director of the Clark Fork Coalition, said in an interview Thursday that she hoped the flight and subsequent discussion would impart upon Becker that "it's time." "We know theres contaminated waste at the site, we know that the rivers on the move, its time to take care of cleaning up this threat to the river and downstream communities and sooner than 2030," she said. "So we wanted to get her up in the air, show her the risk, show her the rivers moving, show her the site and how you can see groundwater repopulating historic channels, just bring that message home." The urgency, she said, is necessary because the Clark Fork River naturally wants to flow where toxic soil and waste is dumped. There's no telling when a flood event could compromise the berm and wash it all downstream, she said. Over the past 50 years of the Clark Fork's stream migration, she said, most of the channel's movement occurred in the past 10 years meaning the river is becoming more likely to impinge on the berms. The river's current morphology shows it wants to flow through the pond sites the berm is blocking it from. "Seven years is seven runoffs with climate change accelerating," Knudsen said. "Weve got a revved-up river system. We just dont know, we cant predict the future. We dont know what Mother Natures going to dish up every year. And how tragic would it be to see a catastrophic flood send millions of tons of toxic waste into the river to downstream communities, and knowing that we let that happen. Lets do it now while its relatively contained. Do it right before Mother Nature makes a mess." Becker acknowledged at Wednesday's CAG meeting and Thursday's gathering that many in the community see 2030 as too long to wait for a cleanup action. "Im hearing from people what they really want is to make sure its done right, but they also want it done quickly," she said in an interview Thursday. "And sometimes those are sort of hard to accommodate both, but were trying. Doing additional sampling will certainly slow down the final cleanup, but people are also starting to talk about how you can continue to do the sampling and at the same time start developing the feasibility plan." Elena Evans of the Missoula Valley Water Quality District, which pushed for additional sampling, said that the EPA's willingness to conduct the additional sampling was a "groundbreaking" development in the county's relationship with an agency that seemed disinterested during the Trump administration. Becker, a Biden appointee, has made six visits to Montana since being appointed about 18 months ago. Evans said that additional sampling, though time-consuming, can show how widespread contamination is at Smurfit-Stone and could lead to a broader, more comprehensive cleanup action. Using only the less granular sampling the EPA had already conducted, she said, the agency would only clean up around points where it found contamination: "You're going to get little weird Tetris pieces and it's going to start at the point that's sampled." At the CAG meeting, a woman who said she owns property adjacent to the site used the rehabbing of Missoula's Sawmill District as a cautionary tale of rushing a cleanup. When that site closed, she said, "there wasnt all of these regulations, there wasnt all of these groups of people that showed up, and things were taken care of differently." The site was supposedly cleaned up, she said, but then in coming years babies born to families who lived in the area had birth defects. "In Missoula we all live on top of land that was once treating logs, and it wasnt done right, and some of us have walked around with the consequences of it," she said. "Kudos to you guys and kudos to being trustworthy and ethical and moral in making those decisions." Dorrington, the head of DEQ, said in an interview Thursday that he'd like to see cleanup action before 2030, "but I also know, having been through this quite a few times especially Superfund, regardless of whether its in Missoula or you pick another site it takes a lot of time to make certain youre doing the right thing, not going backwards or harming water, ground, the economics of the situation." Steve Malsam, a Seattle-based developer originally from Montana, owns a less contaminated portion of the site. At Wednesday's CAG meeting, he pushed Becker on why the agency approved more sampling for one portion of the site that will delay cleanup and his plans to redevelop his part of site. He said he felt the narrative was "one-sided" and that an imbalanced approach led to some parties "dictating all the new testing that needs to be done." Becker responded, "I dont think anyone here is trying to slow down the process, I dont think thats the goal. I think people need assurance that EPA fully knows whats out there." By the end of Thursday's event, Becker said, "I think 2030 seems too long to me, and Im definitely going to look into trying to speed that timeline up." But as she left the event, she lamented: "EPA operates on this glacial timeline. It's a bummer." Data or delay: Is 2030 too late to clean up Smurfit-Stone? When Josie Koury reopened her Centre Square deli at 11 a.m. Saturday, there was already a line of customers three years in the making. Josies New York Deli, a Downtown Easton staple since the early 1980s, held its grand reopening on Saturday, welcoming customers inside for the first time since it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Koury said back in December that the deli would be back in the spring, a deadline she kept by a couple of weeks. The enthusiasm for the sandwich spot was evident by crowds that were consistent into the late afternoon. But those expecting the old Josies were in for a surprise, as the eaterys full-scale renovation made it unrecognizable. After the lengthy time away, the deli now has a brand new look. The drastic facelift includes a black and white motif with ceramic tiling and white marble tables, a far cry from the delis original look. Koury was originally preparing to come back in 2021, sharing a space with a vegan deli, but scrapped those plans after the vegan deli shut down in favor of an extensive total makeover, hence the long hiatus. Hungry regulars came in droves on Saturday, some bringing balloons and plants in celebration. The kitchen was busy but Koury occasionally poked her head out to say hello to customers, whom she said, multiple times during the long time away, she missed seeing and serving. The delis visage is not the only modern update to the four-decades-old business. Starting on June 13, the deli will be taking orders for pick-up and delivery online on its website, josiesnewyorkdeli.com. The deli also posted its new menu on Facebook. The deli is opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. 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. The Old Fort located within the centre of Portlaoise, from which the modern town has developed was built by a new wave of English Tudor Settlers in 1547/48. Its most iconic remaining feature, the round bastion tower is located across the road from the former St. Marys CBS School at Fitzmaurices Place. It was one of two purpose-built forts constructed in the Midlands, the other located in OConnor Country at Daingean, built during the Plantations of Laois and Offaly. These forts were designed to hold a considerable garrison of troops of up to 500 men, who could be called upon in times of disturbance and rebellion throughout the two counties. At the time many of the native chiefs of these lands were constantly harassing new English plantation settlers who had been granted their lands by the crown. Laois was seen as an important asset to pacify as it was the land link between the Pale and the consolidated Ormonde Kingdom under the Butlers, linking it further south into Desmond Munster. The English wished to incorporate both counties into the Pale and ensure safe passage and economic harmony between the English administration in Dublin and as far away south as Cork. Contemporary accounts from the time tell us that Laois had abundant resources including great ancient forests, which were an important source of high-quality hardwood timber, wools, hides, tallow, honey, corn and cattle which were rich and plentiful. We even hear stories of highly prized birds of prey such as Goshawks, being gifted to the English Court from the Laois woodlands. Ever since the support lent by the O'Mores and other Chieftains of Laois and Offaly to the Silken Thomas rebellion in the 1530's, the English grew suspicious to the activities of the natives in these lands. The stage was set to plant the county, pacify the natives, and open its resource potential to Tudor adventurers and settlers who had journeyed to Ireland. The choice of Portlaoise as the site for the construction of the Fort may be explained as follows. Geographically, it was located within the centre of a Gaelic territory which was dominated by the OMore clan and its allies. A defensive network of castles, such as at Dysart, Shaen, Clonreher and Stradbally, located within the landscape of the new Fort could be readily supplied by the new garrison at Portlaoise in times of trouble. MORE BELOW PICTURE. The presence of the near-by esker ridge known today as the downs and the Triogue River would have provided natural features on which trade and troop movements could be controlled within the landscape. The river provided a water source on which a settlement could establish itself. Water-powered mills were constructed during the period which allowed for flour and oats to be processed, a requisite to feed the garrison and subsequent town population. Records show that a license for a tannery and indeed a brewery, the first documented public house in Laois, were applied for to the Crown by John Moorton in 1549, all of which required a fresh local water source. The original name of the settlement mentioned on early maps and documents was Fort Protectour. The name being attributed to the uncle of the young King Edward VI, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset known as the Protector of the Realm. At the time of its construction the King was only nine years of age, and the English were fighting a war with the O'Mores who were trying to regain their lands lost during the Silken Thomas revolt. St. Leger, the then Viceroy, assisted by a force of over 1,000 troops who landed under the command of Sir Edward Bellingham & Sir Francis Bryan at Waterford laid waste to much of the remaining Gaelic lands in the area. Bellingham & Bryan are widely considered to be the men responsible for the building of Fort Protectour, under sponsorship of the Crown. They were notable war leaders, courtiers, and diplomats, both had fought in France, and Bellingham had even soldiered as far away as Hungary in the years before he replaced St. Leger as Viceroy of Ireland in 1548. The first Governor of the Fort was William St. Loe, who eventually went on to become Captain of Queen Elizabeth Guard or Yeomanry. Orders were given to cut passes in these districts and keep repair of roads and fords, in an effort to tame the wilds and crush the rebels within County. By 1550 the O'Mores and other Chiefs had submitted to the Lord Justices at Dublin, with many of their fighting men including clan leaders being compelled to join the King's army in England as part of the surrender conditions. MORE BELOW PICTURE. A Lord Chancellor report on Ireland in May 1552 indicated that Laois and Offaly were considered part of the Pale, with Fort Protectour acting as the administrative, economic, and military centre of Leix. Reports also emerged that the plantation in the county was costing 7,000 pounds per annum and much of the land had not been leased. By 1555 a new Lord Deputy or Viceroy emerged on the scene, The Earl of Sussex. His policy of aggression on the natives and the shiring or creation of an official County known as Queens County (in honour of the recently crowned Queen Mary) in the following year was an attempt to underpin the influence of the plantation. Fort Protectour was to become known as Maryborough. In 1567 it was granted a market and achieved borough status in 1570, complete with its own church at Old S. Peters which has recently undergone conservation works. A battle was fought at the Fort in 1597, during the Nine Years War, which saw much of the town being burnt. However, the walls remained intact, with the fort itself only being relieved some months later by a force led across the Barrow which brought victuals to its starving occupants who had been reduced to eating horsemeat. The town again flourished in the early 1600s but was the scene of another debacle during the Cromwellian Conquest, when the Papal Nuncio Cardinal Rinuccini took refuge within its walls along with members of the Catholic Confederacy who managed to avoid capture by the brutal Parliamentary Forces. A conservation plan of the Old Fort spearheaded by the Laois Heritage Society and supported by Laois County Council and the Department of Heritage has ensured that the Fort, the origins of the modern town of Portlaoise, will remain an important historic and cultural area within the town moving forward. The annual Old Fort Festival, which has emerged as a cultural event from the plan will be returning to the streets of Portlaoise from June 22nd 25th. It includes lots of heritage, educational and family fun activities coming your way over those coming days, as a celebration of the history of the Fort and the struggle which the natives endured under Tudor Planation and beyond. Planning permission approval for houses rose by nearly 40 per cent in the first quarter of this year, when compared to 2022 according to latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). There was an annual increase of 37.8% in the total number of dwelling units approved at 11,659 units in Q1 2023 compared with 8,463 units in Q1 2022. Housing units accounted for 53% of all dwelling units approved, while apartments accounted for the remaining 47%. The number of houses granted planning permission rose by 31% on an annual basis to 6,146 housing units, while apartment approvals rose by 46% to 5,513 units. There was an annual rise of more than 81% in the number of multi-development houses receiving planning permission, compared with a decrease of almost 32% in one-off houses. Across the four local authorities of Dublin, planning permission was granted for 4,637 apartments in Q1 2023, accounting for more than 84% of all apartments granted planning permission in the state between January and March of this year. More than half (53.4%) of all dwelling units granted planning permission in the state in Q1 2023 were in the Fingal County Council local authority area, with 4,031 apartment units and 2,193 houses. Planning permission was granted for 4,637 apartments in Dublin in Q1 2023, accounting for 84.1% of all apartments granted planning approval in the state. There were 6,224 dwelling units approved in the Fingal County Council area (4,031 apartments and 2,193 houses), accounting for 53.4% of all dwelling units granted planning permission in Q1 2023. During the same period, the West Region (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) recorded the lowest number of apartment units (17) granted planning permission. Of the 6,042 planning permissions granted for all developments in Q1 2023, 1,734 were for new construction dwellings, 1,782 for other new constructions, 1,616 for extensions, and 910 permissions were for alterations and conversions. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman is his country's de facto leader due to the declining health of his father, King Salman. Although difficult to assess in Saudi Arabia in the absence of an independent survey, his popularity is at an all-time high in the rest of the Arab world, where the press has eagerly compared him to a "new Nasser," referring to the 20th-century Egyptian president. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes 'MBS': The ambitious prince who wants to rebuild Arabia According to one American editorialist, this approval is explained by the "middle finger" bin Salman gave to US President Joe Biden in July 2022. The latter had traveled to Jeddah seeking a significant increase in Saudi oil production, crucial to lowering gasoline prices at the pump in the United States. The request, made in the run-up to the US midterm elections, was rejected outright by bin Salman, reflecting a resolve that plays a big part in his current standing in the region. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Joe Biden reunites with Mohammed Bin Salman but leaves empty-handed A target of $80 a barrel Saudi Arabia is not just the most powerful economy in the Arab world. According to a recent census, out of a population of 32.2 million, it boasts 18.8 million Saudi nationals (two-thirds of whom are under 30). By contrast, the nationals of other oil monarchies constitute a distinct minority in their own countries (10% in the United Arab Emirates, for example). Bin Salman has banked on such demographic dynamism with his "Vision 2030," a vast program of forced modernization driven by a number of projects that are as futuristic as they are controversial. But to realize these ambitions, the Saudi leader needs to keep the price of crude oil at a minimum of $80 a barrel, which is why he rebuffed Biden. The Saudi leader has entrusted this strategic portfolio to his half-brother, Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), founded in 1960, was expanded in 2016 to become OPEC+, adding 10 new members, including Russia. The exclusive partnership between Riyadh and Moscow has helped regulate oil prices ever since. The target of $80 a barrel seemed within reach in April. But that was before Russia became bogged down in Ukraine, selling ever-greater quantities of oil via third countries to finance its campaign of aggression. India, for one, has seen the proportion of its oil imports from Russia increase from 1% to 40%, with transactions significantly below $60 a barrel, the ceiling set in December 2022 by the G7, in order to elude Western sanctions. Zelensky in Jeddah Against this backdrop, the spectacle of the Ukrainian president's appearance at the Arab League summit in Jeddah on May 19 begins to make sense. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who maintains close relations with most Arab autocrats, has never been accorded such honors. In fact, bin Salman made his Arab peers watch Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech, despite their muted sympathy for Kyiv. You have 33.06% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A protester holds a sign showing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he stands in front of the entrance to Downing Street in London, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. FRANK AUGSTEIN / AP UK opposition leader Keir Starmer on Sunday, June 11 demanded a general election as three MPs from the ruling Conservative Party, including Boris Johnson, quit parliament following a probe into Covid lockdown-breaking parties. Labour leader Starmer tweeted that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak "must finally find a backbone, call an election, and let the public have their say on 13 years of Tory failure." "This farce must stop. People have had enough of a shambolic Tory government and a weak prime minister no one voted for." Johnson announced on Friday he was leaving as a member of parliament, claiming he had been forced out in a stitch-up by his political opponents. The 58-year-old has been under investigation by a cross-party committee about whether he deliberately lied to parliament over parties when he was in office. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Boris Johnson resigns from UK Parliament, decrying 'witch hunt' As the committee prepares to make public its findings, Johnson said they had contacted him "making it clear... they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament". By quitting, Johnson avoids the consequences of a humiliating fight to remain an MP in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency in northwest London, where he holds a slim majority of just over 7,000. He denounced the committee, chaired by veteran opposition Labour MP Harriet Harman, as a "kangaroo court". "It is very sad to be leaving Parliament at least for now but above all I am bewildered and appalled that I can be forced out, anti-democratically... with such egregious bias," he said. Nadine Dorries, one of Johnson's allies quit on Friday, while another, Nigel Adams, resigned on Saturday, triggering three by-elections for a government languishing in the polls. Speculation is rife about Johnson's next move, and whether he will attempt to run to become an MP again at the next general election, due next year. Influential Johnson supporter Jacob Rees-Mogg wrote in the Mail on Sunday that said the former Tory leader could "easily get back into parliament at the next election." He also warned party officials against blocking such a bid, saying it would "shatter our fragile party unity and plunge the Conservatives into civil war." Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Sunak challenges UK Covid-19 Inquiry over releasing Johnson-era WhatsApp messages LIMERICKS Redemptorist community is preparing for the highly anticipated annual solemn novena, a significant religious event in the Mid-West region. Taking place from June 16 to 24, the organisers expect a daily attendance of over five thousand people. This year's novena, titled A New Vision of Church, will look ahead to the upcoming synod in Rome, scheduled for October. The synod, called by Pope Francis, aims to address the major challenges facing the Church in the 21st century. Novena director, Fr Brian Nolan, emphasised the significance of the synod, calling it one of the biggest developments in the Church in the last 60 years. After more than two years of discussion and preparations in dioceses worldwide, the synod will introduce a groundbreaking change: women and lay men will have the right to vote, bringing inclusivity to the event. During the novena, various topics that will arise at the synod will be explored to raise awareness about the synod. Fr Nolan expressed the desire to inform as many people as possible about the synod's importance. He highlighted the significance of writing out prayers of petition and thanksgiving, saying: We are praying not just for ourselves, but for the local community. The novena will feature six sessions daily, between 7.30am and 9pm, and individuals from all over the world can also join online via the novena website and share their prayers of petition and thanksgiving. Apart from the traditional novena highlights, such as the special session for the sick and elderly on Saturday, June 24, the blessing of babies and children during each session on Sunday, June 18, and a celebration for First Communion classes on Monday, June 19 at 11.30am, additional services will be available. These include confession, a free walk-in counselling service, and language-specific sessions for the Ukrainian and Brazilian communities. There will also be sessions in Limerick prison. A CAR stolen from outside a Limerick home was later involved in a collision causing damage to another vehicle. On Friday, June 2 at 8pm, a car owner in his 40s who lives in the Bloodmill Road area of Limerick parked his car near his home and locked it. He went into his home and thought nothing more about it until the following morning when he received a phone call from gardai. They informed him that his car had been involved in a collision with another car and they were enquiring if he was the owner of this car, if he knew where his car was and had he given anybody permission to drive it. The man was confused and told gardai that his car was parked in his estate but when he looked out there was no sign of it. He went to look for his car keys but could not find them. It soon became clear that his car keys and car had been stolen sometime overnight. A thief had entered his home as he had neglected to lock his front door and simply walked out with his car keys. Fortunately, no injuries occurred in the collision but the driver of the stolen car left the scene and now the other car owner must apply through the Motor Insurance of Ireland to try to reclaim some costs for the damage to his car. Sergeant Ber Leetch, Crime Prevention Officer Henry Street Garda Station said: "There are many good reasons to keep your car keys safe for instance, the terrible inconvenience of a missing car, the cost to replace it or repair it if it is recovered and the harm a car thief could do in your car. "Lock your doors and store your keys out of sight in a drawer or in a bowl in a press, anywhere that they cannot be seen by a thief looking through your windows or the glass in a door." Inland Fisheries Ireland is asking the public to report any sightings of fish in distress, or that have died, over the bank holiday weekend - and during the current hot spell. Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) is concerned about potential mortalities due to reduced oxygen levels in lakes, rivers and streams at this time. Commenting on the issue Barry Fox Head of Operations at IFI said: During this sunny and dry weather, air and water temperatures are approaching dangerous and potentially lethal levels for salmonids in parts of the country. The risk to fish mortality may be unavoidable due to low oxygen levels and thermal stress. Once the water temperature exceeds the 20C threshold during daylight, fish species such as salmon and trout, will suffer thermal stress. Our fisheries staff are continuously monitoring inland waters for any signs of fish experiencing thermal stress. Fish need cold, clean water and high water levels to survive and thrive. IFI is mandated, as a State conservation agency, to protect the welfare of fish. Anyone who encounters distressed fish, or fish kills, illegal fishing and pollution, can contact our confidential 24/7 number on 0818 34 74 24. Separately, IFI is asking boat owners to help stop invasive species spread in rivers, lakes and canals by carefully checking, cleaning and drying their boats and equipment when travelling from one waterway to another over the bank holiday weekend. In particular, IFI is asking users of the River Shannon and its tributaries to adopt preventative measures to halt the proliferation of non-native species that can foul, and cling to, craft when in waterways where invasive species are present. Anglers, boat owners, cruisers, sailing, and recreational waterways users on kayaks, canoes or jet skis are being asked to implement preventative biosecurity measures in line with Check, Clean, Dry protocols. Barry Fox of IFI added: We are appealing to users to be proactive in reducing the advance of invasive species in our inland Irish waters. This will greatly contribute to slowing the spread of very harmful organisms such as the bloody red Shrimp, Zebra mussel and the Quagga mussel, which was first detected on the Shannons lakes in 2021. We are asking boat owners and anglers not to move any watercraft between waterbodies due to the risks involved in carrying invasive species with them. However, if they must do so, then we urge them to make time to disinfect their boats and fishing equipment afterwards as per Check, Clean, Dry guidelines. These recommended methods of sanitisation include: Checking craft, equipment, and clothing after leaving the water for mud, aquatic animals or plant material, removing anything found and leaving it at the site; Cleaning equipment, clothing and footwear, using hot water, as soon as possible, paying attention to ropes, bilges, trailers, the inside of boats, and areas that are damp and hard to access; Drying all parts of the boat/craft and trailer before leaving the site, and allowing to air dry for at least 48 hours. Printer company Epson India has signed actor Rashmika Mandanna as its brand ambassador. The actress will collaborate with the company to promote its products in a multi-media campaign for its EcoTank printers this month.In collaborating with the actress known for her performances across Kannada, Telugu, Hindi and Tamil cinema, the company said in a statement that it hopes to leverage her popularity to reach a wider audience across the country, particularly the younger generation.Mandanna said, I am delighted to be associated with them and to promote printing solutions being offered by them. I am excited and eager to spread the message of change."Tushad Talati, director brand and communication at the company, said, We are thrilled to have Rashmika Mandanna as our brand ambassador. Through this campaign we hope to reach a wider audience to spread awareness about the printers and their benefits. This association will help us communicate how our products deliver purposeful value that enriches lives and helps create a better world."Mandanna also endorses brands like PlayerzPot, 7Up, TTK Healthcare owned Eva and others. Every parent remembers the day we took our child to their first day of school. It pulls at your heartstrings. Fortunately, in Montana, we knew our children were in good hands. They were entering schools with teachers who were well qualified and supported, learning lessons from curriculum we had approved, and following the rules set by school boards we had elected. As a mom, a teacher and a legislator, I believe that the work Montanans have done for public education provides a pathway for every child to be their best, for every parent to be engaged in their childs learning, and for every community member to know what their schools are teaching and with what results. In the 2023 legislative session, we legislators strengthened that framework in a few important ways. In rural areas, low salaries and a tough housing market have made it difficult to recruit and retain teachers. I rolled up my sleeves and gained support for my bipartisan bill that will significantly help recruit teachers in rural areas by offering bonuses for those with student loans. I also supported raising salaries for teachers. Because being able to read is crucial to mastering the curriculum of the higher grades, I carried a bill that will ensure children are good readers by third grade. In all honesty though, the 2023 session was tough for Montanas public schools, children, and families. The educational priorities passed by the Republican-led 2023 Legislature will damage the very foundation of public education in Montana, hurting our sense of community, the involvement of the public in the schools we fund, and most importantly, our children. The most dangerous legislation to pass establishes charter schools. One bill will take the taxes you pay for local public schools, governed by school boards you elect and meeting state standards for curriculum and teacher qualifications you had a say in, and divert those funds to charter schools that need not hire qualified teachers or meet minimum standards for teacher qualifications or curriculum. You dont even get to elect the charter school board! In terms of accountability and transparency, the charter school legislation cuts against the grain of everything Montanans expect and Montanas Constitution requires. It is simply not acceptable. The impact of this legislation on our chronically underfunded public schools will be devastating. Instead of shifting resources away from our public schools, we should be investing more in them. Thats what I hear when I listen to parents, teachers, and school board members who wake up every day working to help our children succeed in this changing world. Lets be clear. These innovations are not Montana solutions to Montana problems. They are part of a national agenda to divide our children from one another. That agenda is advanced by inundating citizens with misinformation about what is being taught or read or learned in our public schools. It is shameful. I believe in a Montana where every child is inspired to learn. I believe in a Montana where every child, regardless of background, income or zip code, is given every opportunity to succeed. I believe in a Montana where we work together with our public schools to create a place that is safe, welcoming, exciting simply a great place to learn. I think you believe in these things too. Public education is the greatest equalizer in our country. It is essential to the special bond Montanans enjoy in their communities. I will continue to fight for Montana students, teachers, families, and communities. 2 min read Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra are expected to experience rainfall for the next few days due to Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea. The official onset date of the monsoon over Mumbai is set for June 11. However, an extended range forecast indicates a prediction of below normal rainfall for most of Maharashtra, with intermittent thunderstorms until June 22. Netizens expressed sarcasm on Twitter as Mumbai awaits monsoon arrival amid dry conditions. The eagerly anticipated Mumbai rains have experienced a longer delay than expected, leaving residents waking up to a sunny morning instead of the anticipated light downpour. The delay in the arrival of monsoon showers has brought disappointment to the city, which had been eagerly awaiting relief from the scorching heat. The forecast also suggests below normal rains until June 15 along the west coast, including south Konkan, and further into parts of Maharashtra until June 22. Typically, monsoon is expected to cover the entire state by June 15. Sushma Nair, Scientist of The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai, said, there is a possibility of rain hitting Mumbai and Maharashtra over the next 48 hours. While Mumbai will not experience very intense rain, the other districts may get heavy rain." The reason for the rain is Cyclone Biparjoy that has formed over the Arabian Sea the spiral band of cyclone have brought in cloud and moisture for rain also. The state is recording higher temperature, therefore, the possibility of rain cant be ruled out," Nair added. Mumbai will witness light rainfall for the next three to four days, while Thane and Palghar can anticipate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-40kmph) at isolated places on June 11 and 12. The rainfall is expected as a result of the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy. While Mumbai will experience sporadic light to moderate rainfall at isolated places, other districts in Maharashtra may witness heavy rain, according to IMD officials. A yellow alert has been issued by the IMD for several districts, including Palghar, Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, and Solapur, until Monday morning. The yellow alert indicates the likelihood of rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. The Regional Meteorological Center in Mumbai issued a weather advisory on June 9 urging fishermen to refrain from venturing into the Central Arabian Sea until June 13th. In addition, fishermen are advised to avoid the adjoining areas of the north Arabian Sea from June 12th to 15th, as well as the coasts of Saurashtra and Kutch from June 10th to 15th. New Delhi: Free trade talks between India and Israel have hit the skids over the movement of Indian IT professionals and the perception that Israel would stand to gain more from the mismatch in the size of the two economies, two people privy to the negotiations said. The first disagreement stemmed from a cap on the movement of Indian IT professionals in Israel due to the countrys low labour absorption capacity. The issue assumed significance as the negotiations were largely centred around the services sector, with most goods trade having already been liberalized. The problem is the size difference. India expects Israel to allow Indian IT workers to work in Israel. Israel cannot allow too many because of its internal unemployment issues. Israel just gave India an allowance of 42,000 workers34,000 for construction and 8,000 caregivers," said one of the persons cited above. This person said both the minister of economy and foreign affairs of Israel visited India recently and the FTA (free trade agreement) is still a matter to discuss". An FTA at the moment is challenging due to a wide gap in the size of the economies of the two countries. And an agreement would largely be in Israels favour so it is not in Indias interest to go ahead with the same," the other person said. Trade experts said an FTA between the two countries could prove to be crucial for Indian agriculture as the Israeli agri- tech industry is fairly advanced and could help India achieve greater efficiency and productivity at a time geo-political tensions and climate change have posed food security challenges. Sunitha Raju, professor at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade said: India should not be only focused on movement of IT workers. India should leverage Israels expertise. Israel is known for its adaptive, productivity enhancing agriculture technology. We should negotiate for access to this technology that can help us to upgrade our water resources and agricultural productivity." The Indian economy is the worlds fifth largest with a gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion while Israels is roughly the size of $500 billion. While Indian exports to Israel in calendar year 2022 stood at $7.59 billion, Israeli exports to India were $3.94 billion as per the UNs COMTRADE database on international trade. Indian exports were driven by petroleum products, which comprised 65% of total exports in FY23. Other traditional exports such as gems and jewellery, engineering goods, electronic goods and pharma exports surged 35-115%. Israeli stakeholders agreed the two countries should break the logjam. The parties should not give up on the FTA discussions, or other trade agreements. The partnership between India and Israel is strategic, thus, viewing the FTA through pure economic glasses is not right. I am sure that the parties can reach even a partial agreement that can progress the bilateral trade to greater heights. We are touching the $10 bn mark and it can easily reach $15 bn, if only an FTA or other trade agreement is signed," Anat Bernstein-Reich, President, Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce said. During his visit to India in May, foreign minister Eli Cohen spoke about Israels intention to pursue an FTA with India. Cohen spoke of boosting bilateral trade volumes to $20 billion. He also said Israel could act as a bridge between the East and West by ferrying Indian goods from the Indian Ocean and sending them forward to European markets. Talks for an FTA have been on since 2010, when the first round of negotiations were held in New Delhi. Queries emailed to the commerce and industry ministry, ministry of external affairs and Israels embassy in New Delhi remained unanswered till press time. What do you do with the property that you inherit? Do you want to sell it or be involved in its upkeep? It is a dilemma that most people face when they receive an inheritance. An inheritance is usually a windfall in the form of assetsreal estate property such as commercial or residential buildings and vacant plots of land, besides shares, jewellery and even money. Some of these assets can be disposed of easily unless there is an emotional attachment involved. Thus, while inheriting a property can significantly bump up the value of your assets, it can also come with a host of challenges and costs. For instance, a vacant plot of land may gain value over the years. But if the inherited property is an old building, the cost of renovation and repairs could prove to be a financial setback. View Full Image Graphic: Mint Similarly, if the property is located far from your own residence, its maintenance could prove to be a cumbersome task. This is one of the reasons why many people prefer to sell their inherited property. Yet, others hold on to the property for various reasons such as the sentimental value attached to it, lower realty prices that dont meet their expectations, and the higher costs associated with buying new property. The deciding factors There are several factors to consider once you come into an inheritance, says Rajat Dutta, founder and initiator of Inheritance Needs Services. The beneficiary needs to assess whether the property is fit for use by his family either at present or in the future. If it is not, then selling the property would be better. If the individual is in need of funds to meet any future requirements, the property can be sold and the sale proceeds used for this purpose," Dutta says. The beneficiary should also take into account the maintenance costs associated with property. Beneficiaries will have to bear any outstanding dues pertaining to taxes or levies or clear any debt if the property is mortgaged. Then, there can also be legal hassles of getting the property transferred in the beneficiaries names. However, emotional and sentimental value can be a strong reason for individuals to retain the property, regardless of the costs involved," he adds. Kavitha Menon, founder of Probitus Wealth, says she advises her clients to liquidate their properties in their own lifetime since their children can have a tough time getting the properties transferred after their deaths. With financial assets like bank fixed deposits, mutual funds, bonds, etc. the process is simpler, but when it comes to property and land, it can become a complex exercise," she says. Menon relates the case of a client who had donated all his assets to a trust with his three nieces as beneficiaries. The entire process took more than three years after his death as the property was still registered in his name. The property had to be first transferred to the trust before it could be disposed of and the proceeds distributed among the nieces. But that was not the end of the problem. It was a very high-value transaction and so the beneficiaries faced certain tax issues. This was a 1968 property and indexation is only available from 1981-1982. So, this required another legal step of getting the property valued by a registered valuer to compute the capital gains," Menon adds. Sentiments and costs After their grandmother died in 2016, Prakhar and Sunny Dungarwal found that they had been willed her property. They decided to fulfil her dream and construct two additional floors at the ancestral home, where both the brothers could live together with their families. The brothers started work on renovating the property in January 2019 and completed it in October the same year. They spent 8 lakh and also took a home loan of 30-35 lakh. Either one of us could have taken up this work independently, but since we inherited it jointly, we wanted to do the work together," says Sunny Dungarwal, 32, who is currently working in Dubai. Both Prakhar (who works in Pune) and Sunny stay at the house when they visit Indore. Eventually, they want to stay there after their retirement. Sunny even plans to retire early, when he is in his late 30s. Unlike the Dungarwal brothers, some people find it difficult to retain the property. Menon of Probitus Wealth says she has had to deal with a case of property inheritance in her own family. Menon, who lives in Mumbai, had to take a decision on her fathers property in Kerala after he died in 2017. To begin with, getting the propertya huge bungalowtransferred in her mothers name was a challenge as all the documents were in Malayalam. Finally, a translator helped them with the paperwork. The bungalow is located on a large plot of land in Irinjalakuda town near Thrissur. So, it requires regular maintenance and someone has to be physically present there to look after the property. There is a fertile patch of land in our backyard, where my father grew vegetables. That needed tilling. There is a well which needed to be cleaned and kept in working condition. The plants and trees around the land need to be watered regularly. So, it all boils down to labour costs. And, in a state like Kerala, it is difficult to find labour or good caretakers for all this. Since we had no relatives or friends there, it became even more difficult to get certain basic things done from Mumbai," she says. She recalls an incident where the boundary wall of the property was damaged during heavy rains in the state. Fortunately, we found a local person there who helped us with the repairs and other work. But once all the renovation works were completed, we realized that it made no sense to keep the house empty. My mother usually stays with my brother in the US for six months every year. But, selling the house was out of question as long as my mother was around. The property means a lot to my mother. Besides, getting a good price for the house is very difficult at the moment. And we dont want to sell it at throwaway prices. So, we have given it on rent," Menon says. Heena Joshi, 31, faced a different set of problems with her inherited property at Ulhasnagar. She had a choice. Either sell it and buy a new property or renovate it. Joshi decided on the second option due to the huge costs that she would incur on buying a new property despite selling the old one. Even after taking into consideration the sale proceeds, a new property would cost around 50 lakh more and come with a loan burden. She was able to renovate the old property for 5-7 lakh. Legal and tax issues For any beneficiary, inheriting a property is the easiest part. Disposing it of is tough. US-based Fazal Bandukwala, 64, a non-resident Indian, is still seeking clarity on the impact of taxation as per US laws if he sells his inherited property in Mumbai and shifts the proceeds to the US. So, for now he has decided to give the property on rent. Bandukwala would prefer to sell his house but wants to be sure about the tax implications as per US laws before doing so. Bandukwala says that he can move all his inherited money to the US only once, as per information available with him. It is not just international laws that can be troublesome. In some cases, local government laws can also lead to challenges. Take the case of Subham Thakur, 29, who has inherited a land parcel in Jharkhand. He wants to sell it but he says that laws related to tribals make it difficult to buy and sell land in the state. Ahead of Father's Day 2023, search engine giant Google has wished 'Happy Father's Day' with a special doodle. This year Father's Day will be celebrated on the 18 June. During this Day, children express their love towards their fathers and show how much importance they hold in their lives. Some celebrate by giving gifts, while some prepare their favourite meal or just by simply sending some quality time with them. The Day is celebrated worldwide to honour the importance of dads in their children's lives. In most countries, the day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, but in Spain and Portugal, it is celebrated on March 19. In Russia, Taiwan, and Thailand, father's day is celebrated on October 15, August 8, and December 5, respectively. View Full Image Google's special wishes with a doodle ahead of Father's Day History of Father's Day The special day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd in the US. Sonora's father William Jackson Smart was a war veteran who selflessly raised six children all alone. Sonora had heard about how Anna Jarvis had created International Mother's Day in honor of her mother. So she told the pastor of her church that should be something similar to celebrate fathers. She believed that fathers also deserved the recognition and appreciation for their role they play in raising their children. As per reports, Sonora had proposed the idea to celebrate Father's Day to her local YMCA and the Spokane Ministerial Association. She had earlier suggested to celebrate the day on 5 June, however, the date was changed to the third Sunday in June. In 1910, the first official Father's Day was celebrated on 19 June in Spokane, Washington. Father's Day 2023 Wishes Thank you for all the many sacrifices you have made for our family and all the joy you bring into our lives. Couldn't have asked for a better dad! Happy Father's Day. You are the first person I think of when I have a question about something or when I just need some support and good advice. Thank you for being there Thanks for acting like a kid when I was a kid, acting like a friend when I needed a friend, and acting like a parent when I needed one. You are the best man I know. Happy Fathers Day Thank You Dad for always pushing me to be the best and believing in me. An IndiGo flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad strayed into Pakistani airspace for approximately half an hour on Saturday. The incident took place at around 7:30 pm due to bad weather conditions with the plane going up to Gujranwala (close to Lahore). According to local media reports it eventually returned to India at 8:01 pm. An IndiGo flight temporarily entered Pakistan airspace yesterday due to bad weather. The flight was scheduled from Amritsar to Ahmedabad. It landed safely in Ahmedabad," IndiGo officials told news agency ANI. According to a report by Pakistani publication Dawn citing flight radar data, the Indian carrier had entered north of Lahore with a ground speed of 454 knots. The report quoted a Civil Aviation Authority official to explain that this was internationally allowed" in bad weather conditions. Several flights heading to Lahore were also diverted to Islamabad on Saturday due to poor visibility. Rain accompanied by strong winds and thunder lashed parts of Pakistan on Saturday evening. Several people were killed due to inclement weather conditions in the three adjoining districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Authorities have declared an emergency in four districts of northwest Pakistan. According to data from flight tracking websites, the plane had deviated from its route soon after takeoff from Amritsar at 7:45 pm. The IndiGo flight travelled over Gujranwala and forming a wide loop around Lahore before it eventually returned to Indian airspace near the Sri Muktsar Sahib city in Punjab. In spite of the detour, records indicate that the flight landed slightly ahead of time at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. (With inputs from agencies) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his deputy Dushyant Chautala have both denied claims of a rift between their respective parties. The remarks came amid persistent rumours that the BJP was set to part ways with the Jannayak Janta Party. Questions arose earlier this week after BJP Haryana in-charge Biplab Deb reportedly met with four Independent MLAs and Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda in Delhi. Khattar however said that there were no problems, insisting that the coalition is continuing and will continue. He also said that any update or new decision would be taken by Deb. What happens now is for our party affairs in charge to decide, in the interest of the party. Only he can explain the reasons behind his meeting people Yes, Deb met me, but we discussed other issues," he said. The Deputy CM has also made similar assertions. Both parties are working together. We have a stable government and working for the progress of the state. Our effort is to reach out to more citizens and solve their problems accordingly," he said. Chautala's party had emerged as kingmaker during the 2022 polls after all parties fell shy of the halfway mark of 46 seats. The BJP holds 41 seats in the state Assembly while the JJP has 10. The Opposition Congress has 30 MLAs. (With inputs from agencies) Netizens cheer, share photos as rain brings relief to Mumbai 1 min read Rain brought relief to Mumbai and adjoining districts on Sunday, with elated netizens sharing photos of overcast skies. Premium Commuters cover themselves with an umbrella as they cross the road amid heavy rainfall in Jalandhar on Saturday | Representational image (ANI) Rain brought temporary relief to large swathes of Mumbai and its adjoining districts on Sunday evening, with the topic soon trending on social media platforms. Elated netizens shared photos of overcast skies and subsequent showers as Cyclone Biparjoy bore down towards the coastline. From here on showers will start rolling over Mumbai. This starts Mumbais 4 months long love-hate relationship with Rains. Overall light to moderate rains for next few days. After week or so typical monsoonal heavy downpour will start," announced one social media handle tracking the weather. Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department had issued a rainfall warning for the coastal city. Meanwhile others lamented the lack of rain in their part of the city. Kaunse Mumbai ke part main baarish ho rahi hai bhai? Andheri toh sukha pada hai," lamented one user. According to IMD officials, Mumbai city as well as coastal parts of the state witnessed strong winds and rain as the intensity of cyclone Biparjoy increased. Extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' is expected to cross Saurashtra and District Kachchh around noon on June 15. Strong winds also affected the air quality and visibility due to dust particles. Photos also showed a dust storm with strong winds raging through Mumbai during the evening. Civic officials said that some trees had also fallen in parts of Mumbai due to gusty winds. OpenAI founder Sam Altman had made waves earlier this week after asserting that India's attempts to develop an artificial intelligence tool like ChatGPT was "hopeless". The remarks came during an interaction with venture capitalist and former Google India head Rajan Anandan during his recent visit to India. The latter had sought to know how Indian startups could embark on the journey of developing models akin to those created by OpenAI. We will explicitly tell you that it's completely hopeless to challenge us in training foundational models, and you shouldn't even attempt it. However, it is your responsibility to still make the attempt, and I genuinely hold both of these perspectives. I genuinely believe that the chances of success are quite slim," Altman had said during the interaction with Anandan. The response had left many fuming while others including Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani said they accepted the challenge. Altman however clarified in a social media post that his remarks had been taken out of context and misconstrued. The question was about competing with us with $10 million, which I really do think is not going to work. But I still said try! However, I think its the wrong question. The right question is what a startup can do thats never been done before, that will contribute a new thing to the world. I have no doubt Indian startups can and will do that! And no one but the builders can answer that question," he tweeted. Altman met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi earlier this week, discussing various aspects of AI including the need for global regulation. "We welcome all collaborations that can accelerate our digital transformation for empowering our citizens," PM Modi had written following the interaction. Talking about his plan for India, Altman said that the first thing he will do in India is to fund startups. "We were always amazed and quite grateful for the quality of Indian startups," he said, adding that he had met some startups in India. (With inputs from agencies) Japan's ambassador to India, Hiroshi Suzuki, gained attention on social media after posting a video on twitter of himself indulging in Indian street food with his wife during his visit to Pune. In the video, Suzuki can be seen sampling vada pav and misal pav, popular Maharashtrian snacks. However, he jokingly expressed that the food was a bit too spicy for his taste, adding the caption, "I love street food of India ... but thoda teekha kam please!" Suzuki also took the recommendation of his Twitter followers and tried Pune's famous misal pav, sharing another video of his culinary adventure. "Because many followers recommended me...! MisalPav," the envoy tweeted. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda has assured the opposition parties that Panchayat elections in the state will be conducted in a free and fair manner. West Bengal Panchayat elections will be held on July 8 while the counting of votes will be done on July 11. The statement by West Bengal governor comes amidst opposition parties requesting central forces to be called during the panchayat polls. The Governor CV Ananda on Saturday said, "West Bengal Panchayat election will be conducted in a free and fair manner. Violence will not be tolerated at any cost. I had a meeting with the State Election Commissioner, all steps will be taken to ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully," West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar had met the governor at Raj Bhawan on June 10 to apprise him about the grim law and order situation and requested the deployment of the central Parliamentary forces for the upcoming Panchayat polls. West Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in a letter written on June 9th also requested for conducting the upcoming panchayat polls under the supervision of central forces. While pointing out the assassination of Congress worker Fulchand Shaikh, Chowdhury argued that anarchy reigns supreme in every nook and corner of the state. In the letter to Bose, Chowdhury wrote that he has solid reasons to be apprehensive about a free and fair election in July and noted that thugs and miscreants of the ruling party are preying on the opposition workers in the state. Panchayat election in West Bengal will be fiercely contested between Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, BJP and the Congress. It will serve as a litmus test for the ruling TMC government in the state that won with a thumping majority just last year. (With inputs from ANI) Few governors deliberately would refuse to provide food to 73,000 hungry children. But thats what Governor Gianforte plans this summer. Despite available federal funding and a surplus state budget, the Governors Administration is opting out of the federal program that would have paid for childrens meals this year. Sadly, the Governors hard-hearted extremism is harming far more than these kids and is part of a pattern as Gianforte repeatedly has attempted to deny needed care for senior citizens. As a result, the Governor is yanking the states steering wheel so far toward radicalism that hes driving Montana into the ditch at the expense of families and communities across the state. Democrats firmly believe the goal of state government should be to ensure public safety while helping create opportunity for Montana families, small businesses, and retirees. Unfortunately, Republicans used the recent legislative session to focus most of its time and energy on benefiting the wealthy, ignoring the middle class, and taking away Montanans individual freedoms. Now the Governor is continuing that work at the expense of Montanans. Take the recent shocking news that the Governor is refusing federal funding to feed hungry Montana kids, even though federal funding expressly for this purpose is available. This decision is astonishingly wrong, lacks a moral compass, and is a terrible policy. The results are clear: giving kids enough to eat helps them stay healthy, learn better, and grow into productive adults, saving taxpayers money many times over. For the Governor its Groundhog Day. Last year, Gianforte tried to deny food for hungry kids but backed down after a public uproar. Ultimately 96 Montana schools or districts then participated in the program. But Gianforte seems to have learned nothing. Despite 35 other states joining this summer and support for the program from Montana schools, the Governor claimed the paperwork was too hard. One wonders: Has Gianforte hired staff less able to do their jobs than in other states? Or is the goal to do as little as possible for struggling kids? Turning to care for seniors and veterans, many Montana nursing homes which provide vital long-term care are in trouble. Already 12 nursing homes across the state closed in the last year. This loss of essential care for vulnerable Montanans, and the shuttering of Montana businesses, could have been prevented. An independent study found that rate adjustments were necessary to keep remaining facilities open. Nevertheless, Gianfortes budget this year still severely short-changed funding for long-term care. This penny-wise pound-foolish proposal was mean spirited and would cause even more nursing homes to close, harming seniors and their familiesespecially in rural Montana where care is harder to come by. Conversely, the Democrats proposal prioritized everyday folks. Democrats stuck to their guns and secured additional funding for senior care, filling the unnecessary gaps left by Gianforte and his gang of elites. The Governor, however, is still trying to harm seniors and veterans. In late May he vetoed a popular bill that saved taxpayer money and cleaned up a waiting list for in-home services. His veto leaves Montanas senior citizens and veterans languishing on the waiting list while closing the door on nursing home care. And now weve learned that the Governor has told Legislative Republicans that if they dont support his vetoes on other issues, he will veto the needed funding for nursing homes. In other words, Gianforte is holding seniors hostage because he cant corral his own party. Gianforte is willing to sacrifice seniors for his own political needs. Governor Gianforte still hasnt learned that people are more important than politics. Montanans deserve a leader that focuses on the issues of highest concern to citizens putting regular Montanans first and focusing on families, communities, and helping create a fair chance for Montanans to succeed. India and Bangladesh will hold biannual four-day talks between their border guarding forces in Delhi starting from today i.e. 11 June. On Saturday, a 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi and were welcomed by Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force at the airport, officials told PTI. During the meeting, the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy. The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area. "The conference is being organised to discuss the border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces." As per a BSF spokesperson, Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb the various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between both the border guarding forces." Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the spokesperson said. This will be the 53rd edition of the talks. Last year, the meeting was held in July when the BSF delegation had travelled to Dhaka. Earlier, these talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka. The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on India's eastern flank. A senior BSF officer had earlier told PTI that the relations between the two countries and their border forces are very good and the conference is expected to enhance these ties. A 'joint record of discussions' will be signed by the two sides at the end of the conference. (With inputs from PTI) In a devastating turn of events, a 9-year-old boy lost his life when police opened fire on a stolen car driven by his father in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, Iran. According to authorities, the incident unfolded when the boy's father stole a car and fled the scene with his son inside. The police attempted to stop the stolen vehicle by resorting to gunfire, inadvertently causing the young boy to become caught in the crossfire. The boy, identified as Morteza Delf Zaregani, tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene, leaving the community in mourning. The father, who had a criminal history involving car theft and drug smuggling, had reportedly received multiple warnings from the police before the situation escalated, AP reported. This unfortunate incident is not the first of its kind in Iran. Last November, 9-year-old Kian Pirfalak was fatally shot during anti-hijab protests in the city of Izeh. The mother of the young victim held the security forces responsible for her son's untimely demise. Meanwhile, tensions in the region have further escalated as Iran erected a provocative billboard in Tehran featuring the Fattah hypersonic missile, coupled with a menacing message in both Persian and Hebrew. The billboard, which reads "400 Seconds to Tel Aviv", directly threatens Israel's largest city and has added to the already volatile situation. Iran's President, Ebrahim Raisi, recently attended the unveiling ceremony of the Fattah missile, claiming it has a remarkable range of 1,400 kilometres and the ability to travel at speeds up to 15 times the speed of sound. Iran asserts that this advanced weapon can bypass air defence systems and strike any region within Israel. (With AP inputs) A New Jersey-based restaurant has launched an elaborate thaali meal in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's for upcoming state visit. Named the Modi ji Thali it showcases a diverse range of dishes from various parts of the country. The restaurant owner also plans to launch a second thali dedicated to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the coming days. The dishes in the thali include khichdi, rasgulla, sarso da saag, dum aloo, idli, dhokla, chaach, papad and more. It also pays homage to the to the fact that 2023 has been dubbed the International Year of Millets. The menu curated by chef Shripad Kulkarni has made generous use of millets. We plan to launch this thali soon. I'm very positive that it's going to gain popularity. Once this does well I also plan to launch a Dr Jaishankar Thali, because he too has that rockstar appeal amongst the Indian American community," the restaurant said. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. During his trip, Modi will become the first Indian PM to address the Joint Meeting of the US Congress for a second time. He will receive an official welcome upon arrival and hold bilateral meetings and delegation level talks. Modi's state visit will also be one of the longest of any leader to the US. On the agenda are agreements on trade, defence and critical minerals and significant progression of the Indo-US defence partnership, with the signing of a joint production agreement. (With inputs from agencies) Billionaire businessman Bill Gates recently released his summer reading list, opining that his choices were not bad for a granddad. Opting to mix it up and try something different this year, he also included a TV series and a Spotify song list. Im recommending just two booksone novel and one nonfictionplus a mix of other things Ive enjoyed lately, including a TV series set in Denmark and a few dozen songs that are on regular rotation for me," he explained. The well known investor and philanthropist however insisted that while there was more to life than reading" it was still the best". Gates recommended Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin for those inclined towards fiction. He also said that the story had reminded him of his own journey with Microsoft. This terrific novel tells the story of two friends who grow up bonding over Super Mario Bros. and then, in college, start making their own games together. I really related to the storyin fact, it reminded me a lot of my relationship with Paul Allen and our work together at Microsoft," he explained. He also recommended Born in Blackness by journalist Howard French. Im a student of Africa, but I still learned a lot from this thoughtful, well-researched bookI mean it as a compliment when I say that Born in Blackness left me wanting to know more," Gates added. He recommended a Danish political drama called Borgen. Named for the palace in Copenhagen where the Danish government is based, it follows the countrys (fictional) first female prime minister as she navigates a complex political landscape. Im fascinated by how political coalitions come together and stay together, and I loved watching the PM, Birgitte Nyborg, figure it all out," he explained. I cant imagine my life without music. Some of my fondest childhood memories took place in Paul Allens basement, where hed turn on the record player and turn me on to artists like Jimi Hendrix and albums like Are You Experienced?" he recalled, sharing his summer Spotify playlist. We are living in a time when mishaps, murders, and protests cause controversies rather than concern. The conflict in Manipur and the train accident in Odisha are examples. First, lets discuss the train accident. Why did this awful accident occur? How did it take place? Was there a large conspiracy at work? Although the CBI has begun its probe, every deadly accident requires extensive relief effort prior to investigation. The government is leaving no stone unturned, but what are the parties in the Opposition doing? They are politicizing it the old-fashioned way. They are criticizing from the comfort of their armchairs waiting for the next problem. They could have sent volunteers and aid from states where they are in power, but they chose to only speak. Such situations are not new. An illustration of this was the 2013 Kedarnath disaster. When natures wrath erupted in Kedarnath, the Congress was in power at the Centre. It, too, was similarly targeted. Our politicians believe in opposing simply for the sake of opposing. Another example of this is the controversy that followed the collapse of the bridge in Bhagalpur, Bihar, which had been constructed at a cost of 1,700 crore. The Bharatiya Janata Party was then a coalition partner. The Rashtriya Janata Dal and other opposition parties at the time sharply condemned the government. Power equations in Bihar had taken a U-turn by the time a major portion of the bridge collapsed once more last week. The BJP is no longer in power in Bihar; RJD is. You can now compare the recent and previous statements made by BJP and RJD leaders. Whatever the BJP leaders are saying right now, the RJD leaders already said yesterday. Does it impact the average person? Let us recall last October. Gujarats assembly election campaign was at its height. In the meantime, a bridge in Morbi over the Machchu River collapsed, killing roughly 135 people. The majority of the victims were from Morbi and its surroundings. There was an attempt by the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party to turn it into an election issue. The verbal attacks began, but how much of an impact did it have? The BJPs Kantilal Shivlal Amritiya was declared the winner from Morbi after the election results were announced. This does not imply that the public is not sick of corruption. Because they find similar individuals in all parties, they do not associate voting with corruption. There was a time when our politicians were sensitive to such tragedies. In the early 80s a high-tension electric cable fell on an Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus in rural Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Thirty passengers were killed. I witnessed the horrific scene myself. I was curious about the reactions of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janeshwar Mishra after returning from the tragedy site. Both replied almost in same manner, Now is the hour of sadness, it is not right to say anything." This trend can also be witnessed in the case of Manipur. Violence erupted in the state following a court order. Clashes broke out between the Meitei, the majority community, and the Kuki, the minority tribe. So far, over 100 people have been killed and approximately 30,000 evacuated. The atrocity climaxed last week when an ambulance was set on fire. A Meitei woman married to a Kuki man, her sick child, and one of their female relatives died in the attack. Breaking down caste, religious, and tribal barriers was once seen as a key objective of progress in our society, and pledges were made for that. The recent violence has not only impeded the peace effort but also ceded gains civil society and administration had worked hard for decades to achieve. As a journalist, I spent several days in the remote parts of Manipur and Nagaland in the 1990s. There I understood what separatism was and how the Indian establishment has to stretch every nerve and sinew to maintain the countrys sovereignty. Have you seen any senior Opposition leader make a comment on the Manipur violence to heal peoples wounds or call for peace? Our politicians use different phraseologies when they are in power and when they are in the Opposition. Their attitude shifts depending on their place in the power equation. As we approach the 2024 general elections, the likelihood of more hostility seeping into the political environment is growing. Could we ever hope for equanimous policy and a judicious approach from our popular politicians? Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has sought to distance the party from the controversy surrounding the removal of certain chapters on RSS Founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar from the class 10 textbook. Let us not discuss issues on emotions, let us only discuss issues of development. Emotional issues do not have any value and we must remember that India is a land of diversity. We don't want to go to any polarisation issue and we leave that chapter to BJP, " Shivakumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI Also Read: Karnataka Government urged to scrap NEP and revise textbooks by writers and academics The Congress Karnataka president also spoke about his party's poll promise to ban organizations like the Bajrang Dal, he said, Any organisation which tries to bring unrest, destroy the peace of the state...we are looking into them and we will set an example. No moral policing will be allowed and no one should unnecessarily create confusion in the minds of the people. Karnataka is a developing state and we would restore peace Shivakumar's statement comes just days ahead of a remark by his colleague MLC BK Hariprasad who had questioned why a 'coward' like Hedgewar should be given space in the state's textbooks. He said, BJP and RSS claim that Hedgewar is a freedom fighter. If that is the case, they need to clearly tell why he gave apology letters to the British six times. Hedgewar himself has written in a book Chitragupta why he sought an apology. We cant keep stories of such cowards in our textbooks," Meanwhile, BJP General Secretary and former Karnataka MLA CT Ravi has hit back at the state government saying that the Congress can change the syllabus while they are in power but they cant change the history. The Congress had promised in its election manifesto to reverse the changes in the school curriculum introduced by the previous BJP government and to scrap the National Education Policy (NEP) in the state. (With inputs from agencies) Hitting out at the Central government over its ordinance on the control of services in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sounded a warning for the Delhi residents, saying there will be dictatorship" in the capital. Arvind Kejriwal said while people can vote for whichever party they support, the Centre will run Delhi". He also alleged that Delhi was first to be attacked", and similar ordinances will be brought in other states" as well. Addressing the Aam Aadmi Party's "Maha Rally" at the Ramlila Maidan, the party's national convener said the Centre's ordinance was an insult to the people of the city. The ordinance says that there will be no democracy in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal alleged. "There will be dictatorship in Delhi and the LG [lieutenant governor] is supreme. People can vote for whoever they want, but the Centre will run Delhi," Kejriwal said, adding, I have been travelling across the country and I want to assure the people of Delhi that they are not alone. The 140 crore people of India are with them." Arvind Kejriwal alleged such ordinances will also be brought for Rajasthan. On the arrests of AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, he said they were arrested in order to stop works in the national capital. "But we have have 100 Sisodias and 100 Jains. They will continue the good work," the chief minister said. In February, former deputy chief minister Sisodia was apprehended on charges of corruption related to the formulation and execution of the liquor policy for 2021-22, which has since been discarded. Similarly, Jain was taken into custody in May of the previous year in connection with a money laundering investigation. Arvind Kejriwal said, "I want to ask that PM Modi has been in power as Gujarat chief minister and then as prime minister for long, and Kejriwal has been in power for eight years, who has done more work for people." As we near the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic flooding of June 2022, we need to recognize the efforts of Sen. Jon Tester, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee for championing millions in disaster relief money at the federal level to assist in the recovery efforts. In addition to assisting towns, homes, and farmers and ranchers, some of this critical funding is allocated to the Custer Gallatin National Forest and will restore and repair flood damage in the Beartooth Mountains. Montanans and tourists who come from all over owe him a big thank you for his efforts. The Beartooths are one of the most popular recreation areas in the state. According to the District Ranger, a recent visitor survey showed more than 3 million visitors annually, the most visited national forest in Region 1 (Montana, Northern Idaho, Western Dakotas). Next closest forest was the Flathead with 1.5 million. Many of us that enjoy it were cut off to our favorite spots last year. The federal funding will repair and restore roads, trailheads, campgrounds, picnic areas, trail bridges, toilets, and damaged watersheds. It wont be long before we can again enjoy them again. Thanks to Sen. Tester and his staff and the Custer Gallatin National Forest folks for recognizing the importance of this area and working hard so that we can look forward to returning to our favorite places in the Beartooths. Teresa Erickson Billings Unfortunately aspects of competition and rivalry have increased in relation to China, Germanys Annalena Baerbock told reporters ahead of a gathering of her EU counterparts in Stockholm. The strategy of de-risking will therefore become the guideline of EU politics. Sweden's Tobias Billstrom, whose country holds the EUs rotating presidency, said the bloc should discuss how to focus its strength and create more unity in dealings with China, while deepening transatlantic links. The EU is seeking a common approach toward China, balancing a harder stance with preserving supply chains still interlinked with the worlds second-biggest economy. A paper drafted by the EUs foreign affairs arm, which is due to kick-start discussions, calls on member states to avoid being drawn into a zero-sum contest between Washington and Beijing as it works to manage Chinas rise. The paper reaffirmed the blocs strategy of dealing with China simultaneously as a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival, but said the balance of those approaches will be conditional on how China responds to Europes approach. European officials, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have increasingly spoken about de-risking but not de-coupling relations with China. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed the same sentiment this week, while Italy has signaled to the U.S. that it intends to pull out of a controversial investment pact with China before the end of the year. Chinas assertiveness, its military posturing in the Taiwan Strait is something we have to take very seriously, Billstrom said. He added that nations must not be naive in their dealings with China, both a state economy and a one-party state. This is something where both the EU and the rest of the global society have to reconsider its positions, Billstrom said, referring also to an EU-Indo Pacific forum due in Stockholm on Saturday. The debate comes as the blocs ties with China risk further tensions following an EU proposal to extend strict trade restrictions to several Chinese companies. The EU is looking to crack down on firms supplying Russia with banned goods that have aided its war in Ukraine. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said while touring European capitals this week it would react strictly and strongly to any such measures. U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, speaking later Friday, said in an interview in Stockholm that he was confident that we will see a lot of overlap in terms of our perspective in relation to the EUs strategy on China. We respect that theres a multiplicity of views within the EU, even though at a strategic level there is greater convergence on the PRC within the EU, and between the U.S. and the EU, than at any moment than we have had in our history, since 1949, Chollet said. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis echoed Billstrom in pushing for a stronger approach. If you engage with China from a position of weakness where you declare your strategic dependence on China, that puts us in a very disadvantaged position and weve been in that position with Russia for a very long time, he said. Landsbergis also called for broader trade restrictions on sanctions circumvention outside the EU, beyond just several Chinese companies. If Chinese companies do that, they should get that message, he said. But any other country assisting Russia to circumvent sanctions should understand that theyre also under the radar. The foreign ministers will also discuss Russias invasion of Ukraine. Beijing will send a special envoy Ambassador Li Hui to Ukraine, Russia and other European countries next week in efforts to foster a diplomatic resolution to Russias war in Ukraine. In the EU paper, the EU said Chinas relationship with the bloc would be critically affected if Beijing does not push Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macrons visit to China last month and his push to enlist its help on possible talks on Ukraine without first consulting with European allies fueled doubts as to whether the EU is able to adopt a common stance toward Beijing. His trip amounted to a diplomatic coup for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is seeking to appear as a potential mediator. (Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been urged to call a snap general election after three quick-fire MP resignations left him facing by-election battles on multiple fronts. Labour leader Keir Starmer said Sunak "must finally find a backbone" and send the country to the polls after the prime minister found himself three members of Parliament down in the space of 24 hours. The call was echoed by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey as rival parties hope to inflict more damaging by-election defeats on the Tories. Nigel Adams on Saturday became the latest to announce he would be quitting as an MP with "immediate effect". An ally of Boris Johnson, he followed the former prime minister and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries in departing the green benches. Adams and Dorries had been tipped for peerages in Johnson's resignation honours but neither featured in the published list. Johnson announced his exit on Friday as he directed a scathing attack on the Commons Privileges Committee probe into whether he misled MPs with his assurances over parties held in Downing Street during coronavirus lockdowns. He compared the process, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but which has a Conservative majority, to a "kangaroo court" and accused the seven-person panel of being on a "witch hunt". In his lengthy statement, Johnson appeared to keep the door open for a return to Parliament, saying he was leaving "for now". Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Johnson acolyte who was knighted in his resignation honours, said the former Tory leader could "easily get back into Parliament at the next election", a suggestion which could mean Johnson may be back in Westminster next year. In an article for the Mail On Sunday, the former business secretary warned of a potential schism if the party machinery attempts to "block" his return. "I would most strongly warn Conservative Party managers against any attempt to block Boris if he seeks the party nomination in another seat," he said. "Any attempt to do so would shatter our fragile party unity and plunge the Conservatives into civil war." Johnson's decision to step down came ahead of the publication of the Privileges Committee report into whether he lied to the Commons when he said No 10 had followed social distancing rules during the pandemic. The committee's findings have yet to be released but Johnson's response appears to confirm that the MPs have concluded he was not truthful about the boozy parties. According to The Sunday Times, Johnson was told by Harman that his punishment would be a suspension from the Commons for a time that would "significantly exceed" 10 days, thereby reaching the threshold for a by-election to possibly be triggered. While Johnson won his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat with a 7,000 majority in 2019, early polling has suggested Labour could snatch it from the Tories in the upcoming by-election following his exit. The Liberal Democrats have briefed that they could potentially pull off an upset in Dorries' former Mid Bedfordshire constituency despite a Tory majority of 24,000. The Tories enjoy a comfortable 20,000 vote cushion against Labour in Adams' former Selby and Ainsty constituency in North Yorkshire. But the governing party's record has been poor in recent years, with the Tories losing four seats in by-elections since June 2021, three of them to the Lib Dems and a fourth to Labour. The timing of the fresh contests in the three vacant constituencies has not yet been announced. PA news agency understands that chief whip Simon Hart could feasibly move a motion know as a "writ" next week in at least one of the seats, giving between 21 and 27 working days for a vote to be held. Meanwhile, Labour's Starmer, in an article for the Sunday Mirror, accused the prime minister of accepting a resignation honours list from Johnson that he said had seen Sunak "agree to hand gongs to a cast list of cronies". It comes as No 10 confirmed that a meeting between Sunak and Johnson took place on June 2, where the subject of his pending honours roll was mentioned. Several reports have suggested that Johnson's allies blame Downing Street for Tory MPs, including Dorries, Adams and Cop26 president Alok Sharma, not appearing on the published peerages list on Friday despite them being nominated for the upper chamber. Downing Street has denied any involvement by Sunak in the process, other than to accept the House of Lords Appointments Committee's approved list. Holac has, according to the Institute for Government think tank, confirmed that it rejected eight peerage nominees put forward by Johnson on the grounds of propriety. There has been suggestion that Holac would not approve peerages for MPs unless they were due to stand down immediately or were prepared to do so within six months. A source close to Sunak said: "When the prime minister met with the former prime minister recently, the former prime minister raised the matter of peerages with him, to which the current prime minister made clear he would follow precedent and not interfere with the process. "Any suggestions of promises made or guarantees given are categorically untrue." A source familiar with the conversation said that, when Johnson noted that his nominations could trigger by-election contests, Sunak replied with words to the effect of "so be it". By Patrick Daly, PA Political Correspondent source: PA Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Happy Freedom Day! Let's celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Philippines Independence Day with discounts and savings! Check out theseavailable in the metro! CHECK ALSO: CELEBRATE PINOY PRIDE WITH THESE #SUPERPINOYDEALS Be free to celebrate our independence this long weekend with a fun staycation at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel! Explore the sights, sounds, and tastes within the exciting township of Eastwood City and enjoy the comforts of the newly renovated rooms of Richmonde and a filling breakfast buffet for as low as P 4,700 nett (single occupancy) and P 5,300 nett (double occupancy). Room only rates also available starting at P 4,200 nett. Rates also include complimentary use of the gym and pool, Wi-Fi access, and parking slot for 1 vehicle. For inquiries and reservations, call (632) 8570 7777 or (63) 917 531 6867, or send an email to stay@eastwoodrichmonde.com, The Sale-abration is on! Enjoy up to 40% off on Best Available Rates of Seda hotels! To book, visit sedahotels.com. Terms and Conditions: 1. Book and buy at sedahotels.com. 3. Bookings are non-refundable but re-bookable from June 10, 2023 to November 30, 2023. 4. Blackout dates apply and vary by property. 5. Hotel facilities may vary by property. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime offer! Check out Holiday Inn Manila Galleria Independence Day 1 Peso Sale! Enjoy 1 Peso Buffet for 2 when you book an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room at P 4499 from June 12-13, 2023. Stay period is from June 12 to October 31, 2023. For more information, call 02 8790 9400 or email higm.reservations@ihg.com *terms & conditions apply Check out also Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria's Incredible 1 Peso Sale on June 12-13, 2023! Enjoy 1 Peso Buffet for 2 when you book an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room at P 5499 from June 12-13, 2023. Stay period is from June 12 to October 31, 2023. For more information, call 02 8790 3100 or email cpgm.reservations@ihg.com *terms & conditions apply Celebrate Independence Day in style and enjoy unbeatable savings with Acacia Hotel's Freedom Fiesta Staycation Promo . Indulge in the comfort of their well-appointed guest rooms and the signature Acacia Dream Beds for that restful slumber paired with a scrumptious Filipino Breakfast Buffet at Acaci all for P 4,288 net. INCLUSIONS: Overnight stay in a Deluxe Room for two (2) Breakfast Buffet for two (2) at Acaci Access to Acacia Fit and Swimming Pool Shuttle Service within the Alabang Area Booking period: June 6 to 16, 2023 only Stay period: June 11 to 16, 2023 only *Also available for room-only configuration at P 3,288 nett. Book now: booking.acaciahotelsmanila.com 7720-2000 reservations@acaciahotelsmanila.com Indulge in traditional Filipino dishes on Independence Day! In celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Philippines Independence Day, Cafe Rizal offers an array of popular Filipino meryenda for only P125 per bundle! This menu is available from June 10-12, 3PM to 6PM. Don't miss out on the latest shoppenings! Follow Manila Shopper: facebook.com/ManilaShopper instagram.com/ManilaShopper Walk with Manila Shopper on youtube: MS Walks The Philippines and the United States have renewed their partnership to undertake needed programs aimed at improving the countrys bureaucratic efficiency following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s call for digital transformation in government. This came after Anti-Red Tape Authority Secretary Ernesto Perez paid a courtesy visit to US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson at the US Embassy on June 9. In a Facebook post, the ARTA described the meeting as a significant milestone in ARTAs partnership with the US Government for regulatory reforms. Perez and Carlson reportedly engaged in fruitful discussions, exploring collaborations and sharing insights to foster an environment encouraging investment and sustainable economic growth. ARTA is committed to strengthening the partnership between the Philippines and the United States as steadfast friends, equal partners, and enduring allies for bureaucratic efficiency, the agency said. According to the agency, the assistance provided by the US Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) enabled ARTA to swiftly implement programs to enhance the ease of doing business in the Philippines and promote transparency and efficiency in government processes. Among such programs are the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Manual, the Philippine Business Regulations Information System (PBRIS), and Anti-Red Tape Electronic Management System (ARTEMIS). Carlson was one of the speakers during ARTAs fifth-anniversary celebration at the Manila Hotel on May 29. In her remarks, the US diplomat expressed her appreciation for the hard work that the Philippines had undertaken to promote the ease of doing business in the country. The ambassador said she was pleased that ARTA works closely with USAID to promote electronic systems to consolidate information on regulations and government services, particularly streamlining the clearance of permits and developing manuals and capacity building efforts to assess the impact of regulations. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Donnie Adams of Tampa Bay, Florida, was enjoying himself at a recent family gathering when two relatives got into a dispute. Adams attempted to intervene but one of the two people arguers bit him on the leg. He smartly visited the hospital for a tetanus shot and antibiotics, but the fun didn't end there. From KTLA: "By the third day, my leg was very sore. I couldn't walk, it was very warm and very painful," said Adams. His infection worsening, Adams was rushed to the ER at HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg. "I looked at him and I said to him that I need to take you to the operating room," recalled Dr. Fritz Brink, an osteopathic physician at HCA Florida. Dr. Brink said he found something worse than what he expected: necrotizing fasciitis. This bacterial condition, more commonly known as a flesh-eating bacteria, travels along the muscle sheath and destroys healthy tissue[] "There's a lot of really bad bacteria that live between our teeth in our gums in our mouth," said Dr. Brink. A lawmaker is pushing for a measure that implements an alert system against kidnapping and other crimes. In his Senate Bill No 2256 or the Philippine Amber Alert Act, Senator Mark Villar said in a news release issued Sunday that kidnapping and other forms of crimes can be easily solved through the system which provides the public with immediate and up-to-date information regarding a missing or kidnapped child through a widespread media broadcast on television, radio and wireless devices. The system, first developed in the United States, aimed to involve community members to search for the kidnapped child and suspect. The AMBER Alert system, or Americas Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, is the namesake of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted while riding her bike in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 13, 1996, and found dead four days later about eight kilometers away from where she was last seen. The system is designed to inform the general public quickly when a child has been kidnapped and is in danger so the public would be alerted. The bill will provide a mechanism that will quickly disseminate information in case of kidnapping or disappearance of a child at risk of death or serious injury. Under the proposed measure, the Philippine Alert System shall be established and maintained by the Department of Interior and Local Government in cooperation with other relevant government agencies, broadcast media entities, and social media platforms. An Amber Alert may only be activated after the following conditions have been met: abduction or kidnapping has been confirmed and the victim is a child (17 years old and below); the victim is at risk of serious bodily injury or death; sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in the recovery of the missing or abducted child; and alert coordinator determines that activation of the alert is necessary. Any person who knowingly and falsely activates an Amber Alert or who provides false information regarding the abduction or disappearance of a child shall be penalized with imprisonment of not less than two years and not more 10 than six years and a fine of not less than P500,000 and not more than P1 million, the bill states. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. We must be firm and maintain an uncompromising position over the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the 2016 arbitral ruling and international law Today, the Filipino nation raises its flag to commemorate 125 years of Philippine Independence in a complex and in what experts are seeing is now in an environment at a high level of flux where our governments vow to implement an independent foreign policy will be tested by the high stakes geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific. It is important to reflect on the history of our nationhood and remember how we have struggled and evolved from what is still mostly centuries of colonial rule, fighting revolutions, wars, and treaties. In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, independence from Spanish rule was declared on June 12, 1898, by Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the First Philippine Republic. Aspirations of sovereignty was thwarted when the Treaty of Paris of 1898 ceded the Philippines to the United States. The next year Filipinos fought the Americans in the Philippine-American War until defeated in 1902, then the United States established a civil government with the promise to eventually grant independence. In 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was created as a transitional government to independence, but World War II broke out with Japan invading and occupying the Philippines from 1941 until liberation by American and Filipino forces in 1945. The Treaty of Manila finally recognized Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946, as a unitary presidential Constitutional Republic. President Manuel Roxas was its first president. This historical digest of Philippine Independence shows how after nearly eight decades of post-war, post-cold war, post-Soviet Union, post-Arab Summer, post-economic booms and crises, and post-COVID 19 pandemics, economic and geopolitical alignments have, and will continue to change. The Philippines is now in the strategic center of polarizing alignments amidst aggressive expansionist actions of China threatening the stability of the region. Celebrating Independence Day is not just about honoring the sacrifices of our heroes and cherishing the culture and heritage we now have. It is an opportunity to re-assess and recalibrate goals and directions as we recover from the deep scars of the pandemic. The spirit of independence as a nation is intimately related to the governments ability to protect and pursue national interests which goes beyond securing our territories from external and internal threats. The pandemic has taught the world that national security encompasses the intermeshed dimensions of the environment, health, and economic sustainability. Still recovering from the global pandemic, escalating geopolitical tensions spawned by Chinas expansionist ambitions are threatening to cause a serious disruption in the Indo-Pacific region that, like the ongoing Ukraine war, will radiate more damaging economic shocks globally. In a responsive shift from his predecessor, President Marcos Jr. has recalibrated the Philippine defense strategy to focus on external capabilities. In his recent statement during the 125th Anniversary of the Philippine Navy, he said, In this crucial transition, full support for the Armed Forces must be guaranteed especially for the Philippine Navys priority goals of enhancing its intelligence, defense and coordinative capabilities. The Philippine Coast Guard is now pro-actively patrolling and responding with bold professionalism to regular encounters with Chinese vessels intruding in our territories. Ten navigational buoys have been installed to warn mariners of shallow waters and also serve as sovereign markers. Last week, the coast guards of the Philippines, Japan, and Australia started its first patrols in the West Philippine Sea. Newly appointed, returning Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Gibo Teodoro Jr. who first served in the post during the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said in a recent press briefing, Our territory is our territory, and UNCLOS cannot be changed by the passage of time, nor changes in administration. I liked his slight twit to Beijing when he said, As a stronger country, it (China) has the bigger obligation to be magnanimous and show trust and to earn the trust of the Filipino people by conforming its activities to recognize norms of international law, which in our case is UNCLOS. The Philippines has undergone much political, social, and economic evolutions and continues to be confronted by challenges, so many hits and seemingly much more misses, but with the Filipinos ever resilient and good nature the country has always managed survive as a democratic state. Chinas aggressive behavior poses a serious threat to regional stability and directly violates Philippine sovereign rights. We must be firm and maintain an uncompromising position over the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the 2016 arbitral ruling and international law. We must strengthen alliances and partnerships with like-minded states committed to uphold the rules-based international order that would create what geopolitical experts call a collective deterrence against Chinas aggression. This is an alliance that wants deter war, an alliance to sustain the peace and stability that has fostered a global, and Chinas economic boom. Equal focus should be on economic engagements for trade and investment partnerships that will reboot our economy to a higher trajectory and directly benefit Filipinos. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. FREEDOM.FUTURE.HISTORY June 12 marks the 125th year of Philippines independence, a testament to how Filipinos valiantly fought for democracy and recognition from oppressors throughout the centuries. In celebration of the annual nationwide event, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is holding a month-long festivity with the central theme, Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan. (Freedom. Future. History.) Some activities in line with Independence Day include concerts, parades, ceremonies, and job fairs across the country from June 11 to 30. Advocating freedom and a better future The freedom Filipinos enjoy today is a result of the courage of earlier generations. And many organizations and government agencies organized ventures to preserve the privileges of independence. For instance, the NHCP will also launch the #BatangMalaya campaign on Independence Day to create a safe space for Filipino children and help push forward a child labor-free country, coinciding with the International Labor Organizations 2023 World Day Against Child Labour. Moreover, in partnership with the NHCP, the Department of Labor and Employment is hosting the Kalayaan Job Fair 2023 nationwide on June 12. Other cultural organizations and educational discussions will also highlight the anniversary of Philippine Independence. An example is the bike initiative titled Lakbay Aral, Rutang Makabayan 2023: Bike Ride para sa Kalayaan, Kapayapaan, at Katarungan from BAYAN at the University of the Philippines Diliman Oblation in Quezon City. It will stroll through different historical sites in Quezon City, San Juan, and Manila, allowing participants to understand the history of heroes, who fought for freedom and democracy. The route will end at Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila. Those feeling more festive can partake in the Human Rights and People Empowerment to the MiyerKULET! Freedom Extravaganza every Wednesday and Friday, 6 p.m., from June to July, at the Rooftop of Fil Garcia Tower, Kalayaan Avenue, in Quezon City. The event features films, live performances, and discussions. Attracting the youth to participate in the annual celebration is also a primary goal among groups and organizations to continue the Philippines appreciation of the independence Filipinos have enjoyed and continued to do so for centuries. Katribu Youth, in collaboration with Katribu PUP and Katribu University Belt, invites the public to an educational discussion titled YARN: Paghabi ng Isyu at Kwento ng Paglaban ng Pambansang Minortya,on June 13, Wednesday, at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Besides local organizations and government agencies, the Philippine Embassy of Israel is joining the celebrations with a cultural festival dubbed Halina sa Hayarkon: Magsama-sama sa Kalayaan. The event will feature songs and cultural dances by the Filipino community in the Middle East on Saturday, June 17, at the Sky Town, HaYarkon Park, in Tel Aviv. Understanding history The Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1898. Along with the many heroic efforts to free the country from colonization during earlier years, the move ignited a fire among local patriots to further their efforts in giving Filipinos the freedom they deserve. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippines, issued a decree on June 5, 1898, proclaiming June 12 of the same year as Independence Day. The Philippine flag was officially unfurled for the first time, while the Nacional Filipina played at his house, then known as Cavite El Viejo. Around 190 municipal presidents from the 16 provinces controlled by the revolutionary army promulgated the proclamation in Bacoor, Cavite on August 1, 1898. The Malolos Congress officially ratified it on September 29, 1898. However, the Philippines failed to win global recognition for its independence, especially from the United States of America and Spain. Eventually, the Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United States via the 1898 Treaty of Paris. The Philippine Revolutionary Government didnt heed the treaty, and disagreements from both sides became the Philippine-American war. Despite the setback, early Filipinos didnt stop fighting for their freedom. Finally earning recognition After much resistance from Filipino troops, the United States formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. It was the culmination of the process that began in 1916 when the Jones Law pledged the recognition of Philippine Independence and the Philippine Independence Act of 1934, which provided a 10-year transitional government to prepare the country. Manuel Roxas commemorated the momentous event by retaking his oath as President of the Philippines. By July 4, 1946, the United States formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. At first, the celebration was held on the fourth of July, coinciding with the United States own Independence Day. By 1962, the late President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28, which effectively moved the date of Philippine Independence from the American date to June 12, the initial date Aguinaldo proclaimed independence from Spain. Macapagal, during his proclamation, said that the establishment of the Philippine Republic by the Revolutionary Government under General Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898, marked our peoples declaration and exercise of their right to self-determination, liberty, and independence, further solidifying why the date holds much relevance to Filipinos and their sense of self. Eventually, Macapagal adopted the perspective of historians and many political leaders about how June 12 was the day the nation was founded, and July 4, as the restoration of the independence many fought for in the early years. Freedom. Future. History. These are the three primary values emphasized in the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence. Modern-day Filipinos enjoy the liberty they have today because of the valiant efforts of the patriots that came before them. Its these privileges that allow them to progress toward the future. Yet whats most relevant with the continuous celebration of Philippine Independence is that people should continue appreciating what June 12 means to the country, especially to future generations, who will continue to uphold nationalism. After all, looking back on history is how they can truly appreciate what they have in the present and for years to come. So heres to 125 years of Philippine Independence and more to come. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. A recent donation to a Boston thrift store prompted a hazmat response last week. Boomerangs, a store at 716 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain, received a donation of a small lead container with a screw top last week, which was recognized on Thursday by an employee as an antique lead pig, which was once used to transport radioactive materials, the stores manager wrote on Facebook. The stores staff contacted Fenway Health, which owns the store, as well as Boston Fire Department and the Boston Hazardous Materials Response Team. Hazmat responders determined that while the object had been used to hold a radioactive material that is usually powdered, and that it did contain low-level Type A radiation, Bob Johnson, director of safety, security and facilities at Fenway Health, said in a statement. Three Boomerangs employees who had handled the object without gloves before realizing what it was were brought to Boston Medical Center for testing but were released later that night. The store is safe and everyone who was present on Wednesday and Thursday should not be worried about exposure, the store manager wrote. All of our tests came out okay and were all resting and recovering after the ordeal. The store was closed Friday because of the emotional impact of the incident on its staff, but reopened Saturday. Johnson said the incident is believed to have been an accident, not malicious. The Boston Police Department does not deem this as a criminal act, but until their investigation is complete, we will remain on high alert for this location to keep our store and employees safe, Johnson wrote. This appears to be someone with good intent to make a donation who didnt realize what this item may have been. Boomerangs is operated by AIDS Action and all proceeds from its three locations directly help fund work to prevent new HIV infections and improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS, according to its website. The stores other locations are in Central Square in Cambridge and in the South End in Boston. HOLYOKE In 2020, packaging manufacturer Sonoco Products Co. sold its Holyoke plant to marijuana manufacturer Pleasantrees for $3 million. In March, Pleasantrees sold the property at 111 Mosher St. to real-estate investors for $5 million. They never built it out, said Kevin Jennings, president of Jennings Real Estate Services. Jennings helped broker both sales and now represents the new owners New York investors as they attempt to lease 113,700 square feet of manufacturing or warehousing space, some of it with 22-foot ceilings. Were seeing a contraction in the cannabis industry for sure, he said. Holyoke was ground zero. They were the most progressive out of the gate. Rebecca Rivera, real estate broker with B & B Real Estate in Holyoke, said a few years ago that a renter could expect to pay $18 a square foot. Today, its going for closer to $7. And Rivera said her phone is ringing today with investors looking to convert space for residential use, not cannabis. Jennings said what hes seeing is a lot of buildings snatched up in the early days of cannabis expansion coming back on the market. Which is a good thing, he said. 111 Mosier St., Holyoke, was to have been a marijuna cultivation site and is now for lease. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 6/7/2023 Holyoke courted cannabis growers and retailers in the early days of the states legalized industry. The Paper City jokingly referred to as Rolling Paper City touted cheap hydropower, large empty mill buildings ready for conversion, available workers and a progressive city government willing to embrace cannabis growers and streamline permitting rules. But now, the buzz is fading thanks to neighboring states allowing legalized marijuana industries of their own and stiff competition from the illicit market. Prices are falling. An ounce of flower is selling for $171 this month, according to the state Cannabis Control Commission. Thats down from more than $400 as recently as early 2021. Pleasantrees closed its Easthampton retail location in February. That leaves Holyoke, and its real estate market, trying to figure out what comes after the green gold rush. Aaron M. Vega, Holyoke director of planning and economic development, estimates there are 20 properties across Holyoke that were purchased or leased by the cannabis industry but are now unused. The city issued 36 special permits and, now, only 10 companies retailers, growers and manufacturers are in business today. Aaron Vega is the director of Planning and Economic Development for the city of Holyoke. He was touring renovations at One Cabot Street. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 3/2/2023 So whats happening at those properties? Not much, said Vega, a former state representative. The list includes 100 Water St., the closed Hampden Papers complex which Hampden Papers sold to Green Thumb Industries for $4.55 million in 2021. Green Thumb never expanded its operations. Following plumbing electrical and structural repairs outlined in city building permits, the five building mill complex totaling 326,664 square feet has been on the market for nine months with an asking price of $4.9 million. Green Thumb maintains its manufacturing and cultivation business at 28 Appleton St. Also in 2021, a New York investor bought the former Holyoke Machine Co. building on Main Street for $1 million and the city has been told the plan is to use it for cannabis cultivation. At the time, the sellers real estate gent said, (Marijuana) cultivation ultimately drove the purchase price. Last week, Vega said the new owners of Holyoke Machine Co., 514 Main St. are now marketing the property for other uses. Holyoke Machine, founded in 1863, specialized in equipment for paper mills. Earlier in its life, it made water wheels and its foundry cast doors for the U.S. Capitol building. It closed in 2017. In 2021, cannabis interests bought the old Edaron plant at 333 Canal St. for $1.5 million. Edaron was a maker of puzzles and games. A search of available industrial properties in Holyoke also shows other industrial properties advertised for marijuana growers: 195 Appleton St. is listed for sale with a price of $2.7 million. 109 Lyman St. is posted for sale at $895,000. 475 Canal St. is listed as 10,000 square feet available for lease. The inventory will only grow because Trulieve is pulling out of Massachusetts and will sell off its indoor growing facility at 56 Canal St. It is a massive block-long former paper mill Trulieve bought from Conklin Office Furniture for $3.2 million in 2019. The Trulieve cannabis growing facility in Holyoke that will be closing. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 6/1/2023 Trulieve invested about $30 million on renovations and repairs, installing specialized equipment and creating a 60,000-square-foot grow room one employee said was big enough to supply smokers across the whole of the Northeast. But is there a market for the space if no other grower wants to step in? Jennings, the real estate guy, said yes: There is interest from warehouse operators and a shortage of renovated, turnkey space. And the cannabis companies invested in much-needed repairs. But an industrialist is skeptical. Theyve got so much money in these buildings, said John Hazen, president of Hazen Paper Co. Based on everything I know, its all priced way above market. So it wont sell. Unless they are willing to take a loss, Hazen said. Vega said this sort of marijuana gentrification makes things difficult for the city. So these small manufacturing companies cant afford that, he said. Its not viable for a small manufacturing company. One possibility, and one of his fears, is that marijuana manufacturers, like the papermakers before them, will abandon the properties due to a changing economy and the city will end up taking them for back taxes and then be in charge of getting them redeveloped. Hazen, whose family-owned company specializes in coatings allowing for 3D imagery including the holographic covers of Super Bowl programs, said he tried to lease space at Hampden Papers in 2020 after that business sold its product lines and closed. It would have given him a leg up, he said, because he knew Hampden Papers had a piece of equipment, a sheeter, that he knew it would sell at auction. His idea was to lease the space, buy the machine and then put it to use. We could have saved the business, Hazen said. Moving paper converting equipment, even across town, and reassembling it is often prohibitively expensive. Hazen said his company has plans now for a new building adjacent to its plant, on property it purchased that was once part of University Products. Vega said that even with recent bad news, Holyoke was right to go after the cannabis industry. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia estimates $590,000 next year in cannabis retail tax. And the city has collected $3.75 million in cannabis impact fees since 2019. To get a host community agreement or a special permit, applications have to be current on taxes. Cannabis applicants have paid more than $152,000 in back taxes on properties since 2019, including $25,000 owed on 333 Canal St. The biggest total was $77,000 that was owed on the still-vacant 16 Commercial St. Vega also points to rising assessed values. He said the industry also invested in structural repairs, leaving in Boy Scout fashion places better than they found them. Even after Trulieve leaves at the end of the year, there will still be a cannabis industry in Holyoke. There will be two existing manufacturers and cultivators including GTI and Mill Town at 1 Cabot St., and the city will have four retailers and one lab. If we didnt have an open door policy, Vega said. We would have nothing. At the center of the debate about books in Ludlow is contention over what some are describing as sexualized content for students in public schools. Much of the focus is on books on the shelves at libraries for elementary and middle school students, and depending on who you ask, a proposed book policy is either about removing literature with sexual references or excluding materials about LGBTQ topics. Western Massachusetts unique identity is inextricably tied to the colleges and universities that dot the region whether in the center of the city, or as the foundation of a small college town and so is our economy and standard of living. Now, an exhaustive independent study of the economic impact of the 59 private colleges and universities that comprise the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts has quantified just how much these non-profit institutions contribute to our state as a whole, and in the college-rich regions surrounding Boston, Worcester and Springfield. Economic researchers at Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI) analyzed impact in terms of economic output, total jobs created, and tax revenues generated from institutions annual operations and large-scale capital projects, as well as from spending from students and visitors, and the induced impacts of alumni earnings. The results for western Mass underscore just how crucial a healthy private higher education sector is to the region. The 11 private colleges and universities of western Mass contribute $3.3 billion annually to the regional economy and are responsible for 19,400 jobs. Breaking down the economic impact, ESI determined that day-to-day private higher-ed operations the cost of running the campus contributed nearly $2 billion a year in purchasing, services and payroll. In many western Mass communities, the college or university is the largest single employer and procurer of goods and services. Student and visitor spending in the community - on lodging or meals or retail, reunions and commencements contributed an additional $140 million. Finally, these institutions build a lot providing construction jobs and large-scale spending on labor, equipment, materials, engineering and architecture. ESI estimates that annually the region sees $280 million in capital spending, creating jobs and vendor profits. For example, Springfield College will open a four-floor state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center in the fall. It is approximately 76,000 square feet that include technology-rich classrooms and immersive learning laboratories to prepare students for careers as physician assistants, occupational and physical therapists, and other highly needed healthcare professionals. The colleges also make significant investments in tackling the big issues of our times with far-reaching impact, such as climate change. Smith College sources one-third of its electricity from the NECRP solar collaborative. This, along with its geothermal project, which enters the second phase this summer, will help Smith achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Mount Holyoke College has launched its $175 million geothermal energy project to replace its heating system with a geothermal heat-exchange system that will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80%. Certainly, the jobs we create, the taxes we pay and the other economic impacts are important. But the impact for western Mass goes far beyond whats in ESIs findings. Private colleges and universities in Massachusetts serve the majority of low-income students, first-generation college attendees and Pell Grant students bright and deserving students who need financial aid. Our institutions also educate the majority of students pursuing STEM degrees or careers in nursing and allied health professions. Depending on where you live, the private university or college near you is not only likely to provide scholarships and internships to local students, but they also grow and/or donate tons of food annually as they do at Bard College at Simons Rock and Hampshire College; or provide free legal advice to the community, as they do at Western New England University. But what all these schools specialize in is opportunity. Williams College is the first in the nation to offer all grant financial aid for students, helping them receive an affordable education without going into debt. At Amherst College, need-blind admission and no-loan financial aid allow the College to enroll talented students from Massachusetts and around the world regardless of economic status. Elms College just graduated its first cohort from the Center for Equity in Urban Education that it launched in 2019 to improve the pipeline of diverse and culturally-competent educators for the region. Bay Bath University is educating mental health counselors, physician assistants, public health providers, and nurses, including through its recently launched online MS in Nursing, for critically understaffed healthcare fields in the Commonwealth; while at Thomas Aquinas College, graduates pursue a life of service, with more than a third going into teaching and some 10 percent pursuing priestly or religious vocations. As a region, we need to keep these numbers, and the role of private higher education in the life of our communities, front of mind as we make policy. At a time when we are facing dire predictions about the challenges of a shrinking workforce, demographic shifts, and engaged in ongoing dialogue about the essential and evolving contributions of higher education, we cant take what we have for granted. The bonds between town and gown need to remain strong for the good of both. Michael A. Elliott, Amherst College; John Weinstein, provost and vice president, Bard College at Simons Rock; Sandra J. Doran, Bay Path University; Harry E. Dumay, Elms College; Edward Wingenbach, Hampshire College; Beverly Daniel Tatum, Mount Holyoke College; Kathleen McCartney, Smith College; Mary-Beth A. Cooper, Springfield College; Paul OReilly, Thomas Aquinas College; Robert E. Johnson, Western New England University; and Maud Mandel, Williams College. I doubt anyone following the massive engineering and design failure that is the Millennium Tower will be surprised that building engineer Ron Hamburger's statements are, once again, conflicting with those of outside observers. Nor will anyone be surprised that a victory declaration regarding the building recovering from some of its lean appears to have not held up. Ron says everything is great, but a graph people have been relying on to show the danger says otherwise. We are then told that Mr. Hamburger suggests looking at a different graph. Other engineers explain their lack of confidence in the situation as described. I wonder if there will be a Vegas betting pool as to tear it down or watch it fall down, and when? A house in Osterville that sold for $10.9 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Cape Cod between June 4 and June 11. In total, 93 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $827,222. The average price per square foot ended up at $537. The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of June 4 even if the property may have been sold earlier. 10. $1.2 million, single-family house at 173 Metoxit Road A sale has been finalized for the single-family house at 173 Metoxit Road in East Falmouth. The price was $1,200,000 and the new owners took over the house in May. The house was built in 1928 and the living area totals 1,730 square feet. James F Whittaker and Susan B Lord sold the house to Stephan Rejto and Janice Rejto. The price per square foot ended up at $694. The deal was finalized on May 26. 9. $1.2 million, condominium at 69 Howland Street The sale of the condominium at 69 Howland Street in Provincetown has been finalized. The price was $1,220,000, and the new owners took over the condominium in May. The condominium was built in 1985 and has a living area of 1,285 square feet. The price per square foot was $949. Malek Amirshahi bought the condominium from Howland Realty Llc 69. The deal was finalized on May 25. 8. $1.3 million, single-family home at 1855 Nauset Road The sale of the single-family house at 1855 Nauset Road, Eastham, has been finalized. The price was $1,250,000, and the new owners: Robert Howard and Suzanne Howard, took over the house in May from Robert E Whitney and Concetta G Whitney. The house was built in 1992 and has a living area of 3,226 square feet. The price per square foot was $387. The deal was finalized on May 26. 7. $1.4 million, single-family residence at 17 Salt Marsh Lane The property at 17 Salt Marsh Lane in North Falmouth has new owners. The price was $1,405,000. The house was built in 1991 and has a living area of 2,102 square feet. The price per square foot is $668. Ft Wellington sold the house to Joseph Sain and Jennifer Sheldrick. The deal was finalized on May 22. 22 East Commercial Street, Wellfleet, MA 6. $1.5 million, detached house at 22 Commercial Street The property at 22 Commercial Street in Wellfleet has new owners. The price was $1,500,000. The house was built in 1840 and has a living area of 1,966 square feet. The price per square foot is $763. Michael J Fish and Pamela J Fish sold the house to John Meehan and Deborah Meehan. The deal was finalized on May 26. 5. $1.5 million, single-family residence at 151 Tonset Road The 3,304 square-foot detached house at 151 Tonset Road in Orleans has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in May and the total purchase price was $1,544,000, $467 per square foot. The house was built in 2017. George Panagopoulos and Kellye D Panagopoulos sold the house to Mitchell Woodward and Julie Woodward. The deal was finalized on May 26. 227 Menauhant Road, East Falmouth, MA 4. $1.6 million, detached house at 227 Menauhant Road The 1,785 square-foot single-family residence at 227 Menauhant Road, East Falmouth, has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in May and the total purchase price was $1,550,000, $868 per square foot. The house was built in 1969. Katelyn Albano and Stephen Albano acquired the house from Brian W Oconnor and Lynn C Oconnor. The deal was finalized on May 25. 3. $2.6 million, single-family home at 36 Sea Cove Road The 2,511 square-foot single-family house at 36 Sea Cove Road, North Chatham, has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in May and the total purchase price was $2,600,000, $1,035 per square foot. The house was built in 1986. Brown Irt Dooley sold the house to David Coogle and Virginia Coogle. The deal was finalized on May 26. 2. $6 million, single-family house at 202 Daniels Island Road The property at 202 Daniels Island Road in Mashpee has new owners. The price was $6,000,000. The house was built in 2001 and has a living area of 5,320 square feet. The price per square foot is $1,128. 202 Daniels Island Rd Nt bought the house from Massachusetts Nt Mc. The deal was finalized on May 23. 1. $10.9 million, single-family home at 19 Marquand Drive The sale of the detached house at 19 Marquand Drive in Osterville has been finalized. The price was $10,900,000, and the new owners took over the house in May. The house was built in 2017 and has a living area of 9,891 square feet. The price per square foot was $1,102. Darrell J Mays and Tara B Mays sold the house to Ek 2013 Marquand Dr Llc. The deal was finalized on May 25. Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News by Tanya Gazdik , June 11, 2023 Subaru of America recently donated dozens of pre-production vehicles to the North American Vehicle Rescue Association for training exercises. The three-day rescue workshop session and competition in Chester, Pennsylvania supports training for emergency responders and offers a second life to cars that would have otherwise been crushed. First responders from six fire departments attended the event, which included live rescue scenarios with real victims using lifesaving tools. The association provides education and training for firefighters, first responders, paramedics, nurses, physicians, manufacturers and other related groups. The event took place at Subaru Park and featured a two-day workshop on skills and tactics, as well as a mini rescue challenge. The event marked the first time that the training has taken place in the Northeast. advertisement advertisement The groups mission is to reduce the number of motor-vehicle-related injuries and deaths by enhancing the skills and knowledge of expertly trained emergency professionals, says John-Paul Shirley, Chester Bureau of Fire Battalion Chief. We normally only have the opportunity to train on older vehicles from junkyards, and its important that we are familiar with newer vehicles with strong construction to help us better adapt lifesaving procedures and skills when dealing with accidents and emergency scenarios, Shirley says in a release. This event marked the 145th vehicle that Subaru has donated to emergency rescue organizations across the country over the last few years to help with their training events, said Shira Haaz, corporate responsibility manager at Subaru of America, Inc. 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 At The New Yorker, Emma Green explores the dramatic rise and fall of The Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism, a non-profit aimed at undermining "woke" ideology. In "Is It Possible to Be Both Moderate and Anti-Woke?" (archive), radical centrists take the stage but soon exit on the right. [Bari] Weiss, [Peter Boghossian], and the other founders recruited an informal board of advisersa mix of podcasters, journalists, academics, and lawyers. Among them were the media personality Megyn Kelly, the writer Andrew Sullivan, and the anti-critical-race-theory activist Christopher Rufo. In some circles, these people are celebrities: Angel Eduardo, who later joined the staff as the director of messaging and editorial, described one adviser, Daryl Davis, a Black musician known for persuading white nationalists to leave the Ku Klux Klan, as "my Obi-Wan." I've sat through some mind-numbing corporate DEI training sessions. I've also met some (mostly white) people who do treat their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion in some weirdly cultish ways that end up feeling even more racist and tokenizing. And sure, I've witnessed situations where I thought an accusation of racism was perhaps unwarranted, if not overblown. But FAIR's idealized version of itself (taken at face value) would preemptively end all such unfortunate scenarios by actively preventing anyone from talking about race in certain ways that FAIR deemed unacceptable. The organization presented itself as an alternative institution that appealed to the moderate American who has been terrorized by social media to think that they, too, might some day get cancelled over a poorly placed micro-aggression (insert eyeroll here). Even in the most charitable interpretation, FAIR existed not to fight for anything, but rather to fundraise millions of dollars to prevent certain groups of left-ish people from "going too far," in their estimation. Which is why it was bankrolled, in part, by Harlan Crow, a donor relationship cultivated by Bari Weiss. Naturally, it's entertaining to watch the internal implosion of a group of wealthy, influential personalities who are determined to protect free speech (for wealthy powerful people) by limiting the allowable terms of discourse used by the "radical left" (as they define it). There's a particularly rich irony in the fact that the organization was essentially founded to control the terms of racial discourse in Americaand ultimately imploded over arguments about how viciously they should be attacking trans people, too. The organization named chapter leaders all over America, and made them responsible for starting local groups. The model was challenging: fair was trying to achieve professional-level work with volunteers, often inexperienced ones. Some volunteers found it difficult to make much progress. Rob Schlapfer, a volunteer state coordinator in Oregon, told me that he worked on a plan to mobilize parents to attend school-board meetings, but it "didn't go anywhere. I was just spinning my wheels." He found it hard to get direction from the national office about what to focus on, or how his chapter's work should fit into fair's mission. As time went on, other volunteer chapter leaders around the country started calling and texting Schlapfer to vent their frustrations. "fair was basically virtue-signalling for the anti-woke," he said. "It was not an organization designed to actually do anything." What's also interesting, however, is what goes un-said in the article. Writer Emma Green acknowledges, for example, that she has an existing albeit casual relationship with Weiss: But it was Weiss, more than anyone else, who was clearly the group's big draw. She brought in a half-million-dollar donation from Harlan Crow, a Texas real-estate developer who, ProPublica recently reported, paid for years of undisclosed vacations and private-jet travel for the Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Suzy Edelman, another donor, who gave fair a million dollars in 2021, wrote in an e-mail to Weiss, "It's your courage that inspired me to join the movementnot just to reform what's been captured, but to build new, wonderful things." I know Weiss a little bitwe've hung out in professional settings a few times over the years. "I think we are in a moment of profound change in American life, in which many old institutions are crumbling or have lost trust," she told me recently. The casual friendship between Green and Weiss is not particularly surprising, given Green's previous writing history. She recently wrote a piece about a private elite social club of "Cancelled People" bankrolled by anonymous wealthy donors, which focused more on the tragic lamenting of the "Cancelled People" who are conveniently still employed and housed and bankrolled by anonymous donors, than she was about the story's other implications (such as those anonymous wealthy donors bankrolling everything!). She also authored the infamous "The Liberals Who Can't Quit Lockdown" published by The Atlantic in the spring of 2021, which took condescending aim at the people of Brookline, Massachusetts for not immediately getting on with their lives as soon as a few of them received their first COVID vaccinations. After the publication of that article, the world quickly realized that COVID was mutating, and that a single vaccine was not going to make the whole pandemic disappear overnight like a bad dream. Green has continued to cover the mocking-people-who-are-still-concerned-about-COVID beat while wearing her own mask of faux objectivity. That faux mask of objectivity is on full display in this FAIR-For-All piece for The New Yorker, too. Green is careful not to express any of her personal opinions or pre-conceived biases towards the subjects or people about which she writes. Indeed, she writes with the precision of a surgeon as she craftily removes her own perspective from the story while also ignoring the fact that such surgery leaves clear, visible scars and gaps, revealing where those things once were. In a lot of ways, the article reads like a carefully conceived smear piece designed to slander FAIR's disgraced former figurehead, Bion Bartning, and protect Weiss's reputation. Even things like the revelation of Weiss's deep pocket relationship with Harlan Crow are presented unquestioningly, almost with pride. While Green expertly recreates the drama between the members of FAIR over their failures to define things like "anti-woke," even amongst each other in private, there's an air of manufactured consent about the whole thing a whiff of unspoken implication that what they were fighting for was good and even righteous, even if they were ultimately torn apart by juicy in-fighting. There's not even any reflection on how, hey, maybe this goes to show that everyone's susceptible to tribalism, and that maybe these "anti-woke" crusaders aren't so different in that regard from the extreme examples of "wokeness" which they've committed their lives to destroy. Case-in-point: Green presents several quotes from Colin Wright, whom she describes as "a former FAIR senior editor who frequently writes on gender issue." This is technically accurate Wright does indeed write frequently on gender issues. He's a white man with a PhD in the evolutionary biology of bugs who has decided to commit his life to becoming one of the most prominent anti-trans crusaders on the Internet. He has gleefully, trollishly launched legions of his followers on social media harassment campaigns against several personal friends of mine all women of color, naturally who dared to interview experts on things like human biology and human sexuality who purported such radical beliefs as "trans people exist" and "human sexuality is way more complicated than your middle school sex ed class explained it." And here, his reputation is laundered. What greater legitimacy is there than a New Yorker interviewer in which you present yourself as the calm, sober-minded rationalist? Ultimately, the New Yorker piece is a fascinating read both because of and in spite of these glaring editorial omissions. Is It Possible to Be Both Moderate and Anti-Woke? Archived [Emma Green / The New Yorker] In the fallout from the Florida governor and Republican candidate for the presidential nomination, Ron DeSantis's anti-human laws, Republicans are talking out of both sides of their mouths -again. Senate Bill 1718, signed into law in early May, targets immigrants that are part of the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, specifically Florida's service and agricultural sectors. Thomas Kennedy posted about a public publicity event on Monday, June 5th, where State Representatives Alina Garcia, Rick Roth, and Juan Fernandez Barquin sold their snake oil-infused prerolled propaganda and misinformation to the ready-made crowd. Rick Roth states, "This bill is 100% supposed to scare you. I'm a farmer, and the farmers are mad as hell. We are losing employees. They are already starting to move to Georgia and other states. It's urgent that you talk to all your people and convince them that you have resources and state representative and other people that can explain the bill to you." After declaring that Donald Trump is the best presidentthen quickly edited his statement to the past tense before kneeling sycophantly at the feet of DeSantis, claiming, "I love my Governor. He's the greatest Governor" Alina Garcia follows up with, "This is a bill basically to scare people from coming to the state of Florida. And I think that it has done its purpose. This bill doesn't have any teeth." She ends by playing to Cuban migrant for freedom card. According to Politico, Senate Bill 1718 will "require medium-sized and large employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the status of new employees and mandates hospitals to ask patients about their legal status. The bill, S.B. 1718, will also allow authorities to charge someone with human trafficking if they knowingly transport an undocumented migrant across state lines. It would also prohibit an undocumented immigrant from driving a car even if they have a driver's license from another state." The Florida Senate bill is reminiscent of the attrition through enforcement strategy of the Republican party in Arizona and Georgia. In Arizona, the violent organized abandonment of immigrant communities culminated with SB1070, signed into law by then-Governor Janet Brewer. People organized for their rights then and left the state another form of protest. 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 Postal Code The Red Sox announced that outfielder Raimel Tapia has been released, and that left-hander Matt Dermody has been outrighted to Triple-A. Both players were designated for assignment earlier this week. Tapia signed a minor league deal with Boston during the offseason, and after his contract was selected, Tapia locked in a $2MM salary for the 2023 season. The Sox are still on the hook for the remainder (roughly $1.22MM) of that money owed, and that salary could be why teams passed on Tapia on the DFA wire. An interested club can now sign Tapia to a minors contract and only owe him the prorated MLB average salary, with the Red Sox covering the rest. The 29-year-old Tapia is hitting .264/.333/.368 over 97 plate appearances this season, roughly in line with the career .277/.318/.392 slash line he carried with the Rockies and Blue Jays from 2016-22. Limited mostly to facing right-handed pitching this year, Tapia has a hit a strong .309/.373/.441 in 76 PA against righties, and he has seen action for the Red Sox in all three outfield positions. Since Tapia has over five years of Major League experience, he had the right to reject an outright assignment to Triple-A and elect free agency. It could be that Tapia planned to take this avenue anyway, so the Sox simply opted to release him after no trade possibilities emerged when Tapia was on the waiver wire. Given Tapias track record as a respectable backup outfield option and his good numbers against right-handed pitching, it seems likely that hell catch on with another team in relatively short order. Dermody has been outrighted before in his career, so he also had the option to elect free agency but he has instead decided to remain in Bostons organization. In cup-of-coffee fashion, Dermody was selected to the Red Sox roster and then DFAed on the same day, with a four-inning start against the Guardians on June 8 sandwiched in between the two transactions. It marked the first Major League start for Dermody, though he has started regularly in the minors and in his non-affiliated stints in the KBO League and with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters. That one outing gave Dermody appearances in five different MLB seasons, though 23 of his 31 career games came with the Blue Jays in 2017. The southpaw will likely continue starting at Triple-A Worcester, where he has a 4.50 ERA over 44 innings with a 24.4% strikeout rate and 4.7% walk rate. Loves Greek to Me premieres tonight at 8/7c. Stream the Hallmark Channel for free with Philo, Fubo, and Sling 7-day trials. About the movie: Loves Greek to Me follows Ilana and her boyfriend to a wedding. Headed to sunny Santorini to be with family, she and Mike are excited to relax, enjoy the party, and spend some time together. So when he proposes, Ilana is both surprised and delighted, albeit a little overwhelmed by her new fiances family around every corner. Watch the premiere of Loves Greek to Me tonight at 8/7c on Hallmark. Where to watch: GRAND HAVEN, MI Thousands of people of all ages packed the waters edge in Grand Haven to celebrate the communitys first ever Pride festival. The Grand Haven Pride Festival was held at and near the Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium on Saturday, June 10. The festival, sponsored by St. Johns Episcopal Church, drew thousands of people from across the state throughout the day to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II kicked off the festival around noon. I am so proud as a Michigander and as a person to see this community in Grand Haven come together on so many levels to mark the first ever Pride festival in Grand Haven, Gilchrist said. Grand Haven Mayor Catherine M. McNally, event co-chair Jessica Cole Robinson and Fr. Jared Cramer also addressed the crowd. The festivities kicked off with a drag show hosted by Veronica Scott and DeeDee Chaunte. The show consisted of performances from Dymond Denae, Cocky Divine, Dona Tella, Miss. Moscato as well as Scott and Chaunte. Crowds were entertained with music throughout the day and the drag show by DJ Jason G. During the festival, people played drag bingo, danced, explored the vendor fair and made artwork in the kids activity corner. The vendor fair featured a mix of local artists, businesses, and organizations. Queer Hair Alliance gave haircuts for donation, with all proceeds going back to the festival. A full list of the vendors can be found here. A portion of the event was fenced off for alcohol consumption and local food vendors. At 6 p.m. the MI Drag Brunch featuring The Brunchettes took center stage to highlight the evening. The festival, which was approved unanimously by the city council in mid-April, received pushback from several community members who did not want the event to be hosted in their city. RELATED: Pride fest approved in Grand Haven, bucking Ottawa County trend Councilmember Ryan Cummins said its important for the city to be welcoming to everyone, especially in light of actions by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. I think its important that we are truly welcoming for all that all folks understand that they belong here, Cummins said. The community pushback led to some safety concerns for patrons who wanted to attend the festival. MLive spoke with local resident, Aleecia Contreras, who attended the festival with her partner. Contreras reached out to Fr. Cramer about their safety concerns after he posted on TikTok about the pushback. How many times weve come out to be ourselves and its not accepted, but reassured that everything will be okay and that their would be security and police, it made us feel a lot more safe coming down hear knowing that their were also a lot of people interested in the event, Contreras said. Others, like Sam and Gary Spencer, who relocated from Muskegon to Ann Arbor after 40 years, came back to the lakeshore community to show their support for the community. We came here to be visible, to support the LGBTQIA+ community on this side of the state where it is much more conservative, Sam Spencer said. The Grand Haven Musical Fountain had planned to do a pride themed show, but after community pushback the show was cancelled/reverted to a regular planned show. You can read the full statement from the city here. Also on MLive: This Pride month, major Michigan brands face a minefield Drag queens take over downtown for Kalamazoo Pride 2023 As climate warms, Michigan can expect more smoke and unsafe air Muskegon Heights community turns out to celebrate first home construction in 17 years MONROE COUNTY, MI A man who was in critical condition after unexpectedly being hit by a car at the Milan Dragway has died, Monroe County sheriffs deputies said. The man was identified as 78-year-old Keith C. Hallett of Waterford. The crash happened around 5:33 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, at the Milan Township-based race track. Police said 35-year-old Nicholas J. Tilley, of Holland, was operating a Chevrolet Camaro a Z28 Funny Car in reverse in the right lane of the drag strip and traveling southbound. Police said while in motion, the Chevrolets engine experienced a mechanical malfunction causing the vehicle to accelerate at a high rate of speed. It eventually caused Tilley to lose control of the vehicle. The Chevrolet then struck Hallett who was standing at the rear of the vehicle. The Chevrolet continued in motion striking another Funny Car, which was staging, before coming to rest. Police said Tilley was wearing safety apparel at the time of the crash. Hallett was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation. Read more on MLive: Investigators looking for 2 suspects who attacked off-duty police officer Man taken into custody for outstanding warrants after rollover crash, police say 5 great restaurants to check out after hitting the bars in Ann Arbor GRAND RAPIDS, MI Five teens were arrested between two separate incidents in downtown Grand Rapids involving different groups of disorderly people, police said. Grand Rapids police first responded to a 9:10 p.m. report of a large disorderly gathering on Saturday, June 10, near Oaks Street and Ionia Avenue by Studio Park theater. As officers tried to disperse the crowd, one teenager tried to disarm a Grand Rapids police officer of his Taser. Another teen later tried to help the other teen, but both were eventually arrested. The crowd later ended up dissolving before getting back together moments later near Van Andel Arena, police said. There, a group of teens started destroying some property as a concert was being let out at Van Andel. Some teens were firing airsoft guns into crowds of people, police said. Additionally, three teens were arrested stemming from that incident. No injuries were reported in either incident. The scene began to clear around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 11. Read more on MLive: Investigators looking for 2 suspects who attacked off-duty police officer Man shot, killed by Ottawa County sheriffs deputy See images of $85M Adelaide Point development opening on Muskegon Lake in 2024 OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Three people suffered injuries after a wrong-way, head-on collision, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said. Police responded to an 8:33 p.m. report of a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, June 10, along 96th Avenue in Blendon Township. Police said a 30-year-old Holland man was driving a Ford Fusion southbound on 96th Avenue in the northbound lane. The man then collided head-on with another Ford Fusion driven by a 28-year-old Allendale woman that was headed north in the northbound lane of 96th Avenue. The Holland man and his passenger, a 30-year-old Cedar Springs woman, as well as the Allendale woman were all transported to area hospitals for treatment. Police said their injuries were minor. The crash remains under investigation. Read more on MLive: Man shot, killed by Ottawa County sheriffs deputy Man killed by gunfire at local concert Guide to Miss Michigan 2023, featuring the 24 candidates The reopening of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, presents an opportunity to see old favorites many of which are considered masterpieces and recent acquisitions that, over time, could become just as beloved and as highly regarded. Think of the art as something old, something new. The artwork will be on view during Preview Week, which begins June 12 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and opening of the museum. The general public gets its chance June 16-19. The newly chronological-ordered collection begins in the refurbished Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers Building and continues in the new Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building. There is also art in the M&T Room in the reimagined Seymour H. Knox Building, whose free admission includes the Creative Commons and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Town Square. After that, the Gundlach Building will be closed until around July 19 to finish the building, while the other two buildings remain open. Here are six masterworks to look for in the museums permanent collection, and four among the 504 pieces of art acquired while the museum was closed. Sharing their views about them are Buffalo AKG Godin-Spaulding Senior Curator for the Collection Holly Hughes, Chief Curator Cathleen Chaffee, Associate Curator Andrea Alvarez, Curator of Public Art Aaron Ott and Curator Tina Rivers Ryan. Something Old... Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash, Giacomo Balla, 1912 Italian futurist painter Giacomo Balla was influenced for this oil painting by chronophotography, a technique that captured phases or movements of animals or objects. Here he depicts the rapid, blurry movements of a dachshund on a leash and a woman walking the dog. Giacomo Balla was hopeful about what the rise of industry and technology would bring in the early 20th century, and I love the way he conveys his excitement for the future in this painting, Hughes said. The repetition of the lease, the dachshunds skittering paws, and near vibrating ears and tail capture a feverish movement of eagerness as the dog tries to keep up with its owner. The Transparent Simulacrum of the Feigned Image, Salvador Dali, 1938 Spanish artist Salvador Dali was a key figure in the surrealist movement in the 1930s. In this painting, he brings together incongruous objects and natural surroundings to create an unsettling, hallucinatory effect. In surrealist paintings such as this one, Salvador Dali tried to undermine our sense that reality itself is stable and knowable, Chaffee said. The composition can either appear to depict a still life with a fruit bowl on a table, or a landscape with a lake in the distance, or both. Convergence, Jackson Pollock, 1952 This painting represents Jackson Pollocks drip painting approach, splattering colors on canvas to create shapes, lines and textures. Before making Convergence, Jackson Pollock had abandoned painting with color for more than a year, and the ground layer here is actually a fully realized black-and-white painting, Chaffee said. But he was not satisfied with it, and the dynamic convergence of this underlayer and the riotous skeins of colored paint on top were his solution. New York, NY, Ellsworth Kelly, 1957 Ellsworth Kellys abstract images were typically in large formats with bright colors, but he also worked in black and white, seen here in New York, NY. Ellsworth Kelly distilled the world he saw around him into bold geometric designs that have a cool, almost classical beauty, Ryan said. In this painting, the letters NY are suggested by dynamic lines shaped by the contrast between light and dark, capturing the essence of the citys skyline. Sky Cathedral, Louise Nevelson, 1958 Russian-born American Louise Nevelsons 38 matte black-painted boxes presents objects in an array of unusual shapes and combinations. Louise Nevelson was an innovator of abstract sculpture, and Sky Cathedral is an excellent example of how, in her hands, what might be considered scrap or trash can be made into something altogether new, Hughes said. Nevelsons work also helped pave the way for the feminist art movement of the 1970s by breaking the taboo that only mens artwork could be monumental in feeling and scale. Mirrored Room, Lucas Samaras, 1966 Lucas Samaras created this mirror-cubed room of 24-inch-square mirrors, the only light coming from an open door. The Mirrored Room is one of the most beloved works of art in the AKGs collection, and it was created as a space in which the images are drawn on the surface by the reflections of visitors, Alvarez said. Before he made this work, Samaras was interested in performative and publicly engaged art as well as much smaller, sculptural boxes; this installation brought those interests together to create an environment where a sense of acrophobia and vanity meets with infinity and wonder. Something New... This property will not be demolished, Teresa Margolles, 2011 Mexican-born artist Teresa Margolles created a series of 40 images to show the effect of drug cartel violence and corruption in a Mexican border town. As we open our amazing new museum campus, I am struck by this poignant photographic series of structures in the border town of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that have been abandoned, often by citizens seeking to escape the effects of the international drug trade, Chaffee said. This property will not be demolished is a reminder that all architecture has a very long life that shapes and is shaped by community. People Like Us, Jeffrey Gibson, 2019 Jeffrey Gibson, an artist of Choctaw and Cherokee descent, uses this androgynous work to explore the complexities of identity in present-day Native American culture. People Like Us exemplifies many of the aspects of Jeffrey Gibsons practice for which he has become well-known: it is a garment that bears bright colors, text, objects that make sounds like bells and dried gourds, and a nylon fringe that suggests bodily movement and dance, Alvarez said. Its potential energy and vibrancy conveys the lively nature of powwows, the longstanding Native American tradition that this garment references, and it demands our attention in the galleries a strategy he uses to advocate for Indigenous and minority representation. Deborah Roberts, That One, 2018 Deborah Roberts uses collages of Black children to present societal observations about race, beauty and the body by combining hand-painted details with photographs, magazines and internet images. Robertss large-scale work, That One, is a mixed-media painting and collage that portrays Black boys seated together, one with his hands in the air, prompting questions about their depiction and preconceived cultural presumptions about Black youth culture, Ott said. This sensational work is carefully arranged to move viewers eyes even as it challenges our hearts and minds. Simone Leigh, Village Series, 2021 One of the museums newest collections is an example of art by Simone Leigh that draws attention to the cultures of Africa and the African diaspora and how they are often left out of history. This clay sculpture depicts a heroic Black woman who proudly wears an afro but has her eyes and mouth closed, as if to keep her innermost self private, Ryan said. Her bell-shaped raffia skirt, which combines the hoop skirts of the antebellum South with traditional African materials, is almost six feet wide, literalizing the importance of taking up space in places that historically have not been open to Black women including the canon of Western art, whose armless Greco-Roman goddesses she resembles. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Residents will have an opportunity to learn about a proposed 12,000-seat riverfront amphitheater at 201 Market Ave. SW during a community meeting Monday, June 12 at Van Andel Arena. The meeting, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., is open to the public. Information will be presented about the venues design, the anticipated project timeline, and outcomes on studies about the venues sound, traffic, parking and economic impact, according to a news release from Grand Action 2.0, the private economic development group leading the push to build the amphitheater. Residents will have an opportunity to speak with architects and engineers about the project following the presentation at the arena, located at 130 Fulton St. W. Related: New renderings give most detailed look yet at Grand Rapids amphitheater Officials in attendance will include Kara Wood, executive director of Grand Action 2.0, and Bill Culhane, principle of Grand Rapids-based architectural firm Progressive AE. To register for the event, click here. For those unable to attend Monday evenings event, there is an online open house scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Monday, June 12. That event, via the online meeting platform Zoom, can be accessed here. The development of the amphitheater has been under discussion since at least 2018, when the project received its first infusion of state money: $5 million in supplemental budget signed by former Gov. Rick Snyder in December 2018. The amphitheater is the first piece of a large-scale, planned redevelopment of a 31-acre stretch of land along Market Avenue between Fulton and Wealthy streets. The area is now home to surface parking lots, the former Charleys Crab restaurant, and industrial buildings owned by the city of Grand Rapids, and there is no public access or walkway along the river. The projects budget has not been finalized, but its expected to cost more than an estimate last year of $116 million, Wood said. The state kicked in an additional $30 million in public funds in a state budget Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed in July 2022. The venue would be located at whats now city-owned property at 201 Market Ave. SW. The site is now home to the citys public works buildings and other operations. Its expected to cost the city $58 million to purchase a new site for its public works operations, the Kent County Road Commissions central complex at 1500 Scribner Ave. NW. The city plans to borrow $60 million to finance that effort. Grand Action 2.0, the private economic development group leading the push to build the amphitheater, is co-chaired by Dick DeVos, Carol Van Andel, and Tom Welch, the regional president of Fifth Third Bank. The groups original incarnation, Grand Action, helped develop through public-private partnerships the Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, the Downtown Market and more. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. More on MLive: ArtPrize 2.0 gets $150K from arena board, fireworks celebration and drone show unveiled Grand Rapids businessman knighted by Dutch ambassador Roundabout construction near downtown Grand Rapids to begin after Fourth of July OTTAWA COUNTY, MI An investigation is underway after a 28-year-old man was fatally shot by an Ottawa County sheriffs deputy. The deputy involved in the Saturday, June 10 incident has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol following such incident, police said. The mans identity was not immediately available as of Sunday morning. Sheriffs deputies were initially investigating a 10:30 p.m. complaint of an armed man who was threatening to kill other people as well as himself, investigators said. Police later found the 28-year-old man at the end of River Avenue in Georgetown Township. As deputies made contact with the man, one deputy discharged their firearm and fatally shot the man. Police did not say where the man was shot or if he was armed. The investigation has been turned over to Michigan State Police, which is also standard protocol. No other injuries were reported. Read more on MLive: Community open house planned for proposed Grand Rapids amphitheater Texting and driving law changes, Trump indicted: Your guide to Michigan politics Park reopens after $1M reconstruction for new playground, exercise equipment JACKSON, MI - Around 3,500 people sampled beverages and art at the 18th annual Art, Beer & Wine Festival. The event was held 2-8 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Ella Sharp Museums Hillside Farm Lane, 3225 Fourth St. in Jackson. The annual event, featuring a wide variety of food, drink and art vendors, is the museums largest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds, including bottled wine and beer sales, benefit museum programming, said Jesse Yaeger, event coordinator. The Ella Sharp Museum participates in a program called Museums for All. The festival also helps supplement that program, which allows anyone with an EBT card into the museum for free. Yaeger said they were hoping to raise about $200,000 from the event. This event included more than 30 different Michigan wineries, breweries and cideries. There were also some liquor options, which has been a new addition in the last few years. Local options included Ogma Brewing Co., Grand River Brewery, Cherry Creek Cellars and North River Vodka. About 50 artists and 20 food options were also available. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: Herbs for wellness and gentle care can now be found at this downtown Marshall store Roundabout construction is closing a busy Jackson County intersection Petition language for recall of Rives treasurer passes With 26 wins and another district title, Addison softball is flying high When Hipolito and Maggie Garcia were growing up in Mexico, even a middle and high school education was a luxury their families couldnt afford. As a young married couple, the Garcias emigrated to the United States and were living in Kalamazoo in November 2005 when The Kalamazoo Promise was unveiled. The free college program for Kalamazoo Public Schools students, funded by anonymous donors, was the first of its kind. UPDATE: Contestant No. 20, Miss Oakland County Layla Cypher, of Oxford, has withdrawn from the competition, Miss Michigan scholarship program officials told MLive Monday, June 12, citing a job opportunity. MUSKEGON, MI The Miss Michigan Scholarship Program is returning to the iconic Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon this week for the 2023 competition, after a temporary venue change last year. The Frauenthal has been the home of the Miss Michigan competition since the 1950s. Last year, the pageant was temporarily moved to the Orchard View High School auditorium due to budget shortfalls. This year, the three-day pageant will kick off Thursday, June 15, back inside the historic 1,725-seat theater. Here is everything you need to know about the Miss Michigan and Miss Michigans Outstanding Teen program and the 2023 candidates. What: The 2023 Miss Michigans Outstanding Teen Program and the 2023 Miss Michigan Scholarship competition. Candidates will model evening wear, give social impact statements, answer on-stage questions and perform talents. When: The 2023 Miss Michigan competition starts with preliminary rounds at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 15. The finals, which end with the crowning, are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 17. The 2023 Outstanding Teen competition takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16. The winner will be crowned at the end of the evening. Prior to the three-day competition, there will be activities during the week where the public can meet the 2023 Miss Michigan candidates. On Monday, June 12, there will be a Welcome/Autograph Party at The Deck, 1601 Beach St., a restaurant and bar in Muskegon at Pere Marquette Park. The Miss Michigan contestants will be there from noon to 2 p.m. for lunch and mingling. On Friday, June 16, the contestants will be at Aquastar Cruises, 560 Mart St., for a cruise on Muskegon Lake, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Where: Both competitions will take place at the historic Frauenthal Theater, 425 W. Western Ave., in downtown Muskegon. RELATED: Miss Michigan returns home to Muskegons Frauenthal Theater for 2023 competition Why: The 24 Miss Michigan contestants and 18 Miss Michigan Teen contestants are competing for over $65,000 in scholarship funding this year. Winners of the Miss Michigan competition receive scholarship money of $10,000 to the title winner, $4,000 to the runner-up, $3,000 to the second runner-up, $2,000 to the third runner-up, $1,500 to the fourth runner-up and $1,000 to the other seven semi-finalists. Miss Michigan 2021 will also earn the opportunity to compete for the Miss America title in December. Michigan Michigans Outstanding Teen 2021 will have the chance to compete to be named Miss Americas Outstanding Teen. In addition to a chance at the crown and thousands in scholarship money, organizers say the Miss Michigan competition serves as an opportunity to empower young women everywhere to dream big, to insist that their voices be heard and to inspire change in the world around them. The contestants: Twenty-four young women representing communities across Michigan will compete for the Miss Michigan 2023 title. This years candidates range from 18 to 27 years old. This is the first year the competition was open to 27- and 28-year-olds. Previously, the competition was capped off at age 26. Tickets: Tickets are $40 to attend the preliminary night of the Miss Michigan competition (Thursday) and $45 to attend the final nights for the Outstanding Teen and Miss Michigan programs (Friday and Saturday). You can purchase tickets online at the Miss Michigan Scholarship Competition website here. The Miss Michigan program is livestreaming the competition again this year for those who cant to make it in person. The live stream of the the Miss Michigans Outstanding Teen and Miss Michigan finals are available for $35 each. Get tickets here. In this 2022 photo, Melissa Beyrand walks across the stage Saturday after she was crowned Miss Michigan 2022 by Miss Michigan 2021 Vivian Zhong during the scholarship competition at the Orchard View High School auditorium in Muskegon. Photos by Daniel Shular, MLive.com Miss Michigan 2022 Melissa Beyrand Melissa Beyrand, 23, of Milford, was crowned Miss Michigan 2022 during last years scholarship competition at Orchard View High School in Muskegon. It was Beyrands very first year competing in the Miss America organization, and she walked away with the crown. She competed as Miss Oakland County with the social impact initiative, Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts & Mathematics (STEAM). As a 2022 University of Michigan graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering, Beyrand said she believed in integrating the arts into the traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum to increase student engagement and motivation, especially among young women. For her talent, Beyrand waltzed on stage in a glittering red jumpsuit playing the Final Countdown by Europe on her violin bending over backwards when the song peaked. Beyrand and Miss River Raisin Festival Laurel Hammis both received a preliminary award for best talent performance on Thursday, opening night. Beyrand also received an award for her response to the on-stage question during the preliminary night of competition. She was asked how she would help young women receive equal opportunities as men if she were named Miss Michigan. I think the first step to equal opportunity for women is to have representation of diverse women in these careers in the STEM field, she said. For me, having mentors and seeing people who are doing the things that I wanted to do with my career, my dream job, it was absolutely so inspiring for me to keep going and a motivation for the rest of my educational career. At the 2022 Miss America organization held in Uncasaville, Connecticut, Beyrand received $3,000 in scholarship funding along with the other competitors. She did not make it to the top 10. Beyrand will attend the Miss Michigan 2023 competition to crown her successor. In this 2022 photo, Miss Monroe County Kendall Comer reacts to being announced as the fourth runner up during the Miss Michigan Scholarship competition at the Orchard View High School auditorium in Muskegon on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Daniel Shular | MLive.com)Daniel Shular | MLive.com Miss Michigan returns to crown a new winner The 24 Miss Michigan contestants will compete in the preliminary round Thursday, which will feature on-stage questions, a social impact initiative speech, a talent portion, a health and fitness portion and evening gowns. In the preliminary round, points are awarded with 30% for the private interview with the judges, 20% for talent, 20% for health and fitness, 20% for evening gown and 10% for the on-stage question. In past years, the top 10 contestants proceeded from preliminaries to the competitions final night. This year, organizers added a Peoples Choice award, where people vote for their favorite contestants, and the Peoples Choice winner will advance to the final on Saturday among the Top 11 preliminary winners. On finals night, the Top 11 contestants will compete for a final score that is composited of 30% from the preliminary score along with new scores of 20% from talent, 20% for health and fitness, 20% for evening gown and 10% for the on-stage question and social impact. A winner will be crowed at the end of the competition Saturday evening, June 17. Meet the Miss Michigan 2023 candidates Scroll down to learn more about the 24 women competing in the 2023 Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant. Included with each photo is the contestants name, title, age, talent and platform or cause she would advocate for as Miss Michigan. Miss At-Large Hannah Palmer (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization Miss At Large Hannah Palmer Age: 22 Hometown: Brighton Talent: Spoken Word Poetry, Words are Weapons Social Impact Initiative: #BeTheirSunflower Miss At Large Mikaela Bannon (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss At Large Mikaela Bannon Age: 21 Hometown: Rogers City Talent: Ballet En Pointe to Curse of the Black Pearl Social Impact Initiative: Paws With A Cause Miss At-Large Taylor Towers (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss At Large Taylor Towers Age: 27 Hometown: Ypsilanti Talent: Musical Theatre Vocal Memory Social Impact Initiative: Speak Up: Preventing Sexual Assault Miss Cardinal Spirit Sarah Dudinetz (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Cardinal Spirit Sarah Dudinetz Age: 24 Hometown: Sanford Talent: Musical Theater Vocal Let Me Be Your Star Social Impact Initiative: Amplify the Arts: Inspiring Arts Advocacy Miss Wayne County Taylor James (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Wayne County Taylor James Age: 21 Hometown: Detroit Talent: Vocal Performance My Man Social Impact Initiative: Confronting Environmental Inequity: Climate Justice is Social Justice Miss Water Wonderland Indigo Dudley (Photo Provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Water Wonderland Indigo Dudley Age: 25 Hometown: Saginaw Talent: Self-Accompanied, Vocal Performance If I Aint Got You Social Impact Initiative: My Music Matters Miss Saginaw County Katie Klaczkiewicz (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Saginaw County Katie Klaczkiewicz Age: 23 Hometown: Saginaw Talent: Tap Dance to Perm by Bruno Mars Social Impact Initiative: Bringing Awareness to Childhood Anxiety Miss Flat River Heritage Sadie Loveless (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Flat River Heritage Sadie Loveless Age: 20 Hometown: Saginaw Talent: Vocal Performance, The Little Mermaids Poor Unfortunate Souls Social Impact Initiative: Feeding the Future: The Importance of Urban Agricultural Education Miss River Raisin Festiva Rylee Clairday (Photo Provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss River Raisin Festiva Rylee Clairday Age: 21 Hometown: Onsted Talent: Contemporary Dance to Skyfall Social Impact Initiative: Disability Awareness: Breaking Barriers and Building Pathways Miss Great Lakes Bay Laurel Hammis (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Great Lakes Bay Laurel Hammis Age: 22 Hometown: Saginaw Talent: Operatic Vocal to Glitter and Be Gay Social Impact Initiative: Give of Yourself, Donate Blood Miss Bay County Kayleigh Carter (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Bay County Kayleigh Carter Age: 24 Hometown: Saginaw Talent: Contemporary Dance Listen Social Impact Initiative: Listen to Her: Preventing Maternal Mortality Miss Monroe County Payton Perry-Radcliffe (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Monroe County Payton Perry-Radcliffe Age: 22 Hometown: LaSalle Talent: Vocal Performance to You Say Social Impact Initiative: Unity Through Diversity Miss Lighthouse Coast Riana Hardyniec (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Lighthouse Coast Riana Hardyniec Age: 24 Hometown: Ann Arbor Talent: Lyrical Dance Rise Up Social Impact Initiative: Growing Through Grief Miss Ludington Area Arianna Smith (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Ludington Area Arianna Smith Age: 18 Hometown: Ludington Talent: Vocal performance Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again Social Impact Initiative: Loving Our Lakes Miss Washtenaw County Cecilia Petrush (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Washtenaw County Cecilia Petrush Age: 22 Hometown: Ann Arbor Talent: Broadway Vocal rendition of Dont Rain on My Parade from the musical Funny Girl Social Impact Initiative: The Arts: A Megaphone for Social Justice Miss SouthCentral Katie Schleis (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss SouthCentral Katie Schleis Age: 25 Hometown: Oshkosh, WI Talent: Baton Twirling and Dance Holding Out for a Hero Social Impact Initiative: Taking Small Steps to Giant Leaps; Boosting Resiliency in Children Miss St. Clair Shores Izzy Wallace (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss St. Clair Shores Izzy Wallace Age: 23 Hometown: Washington Talent: Vocal Performance of I Who Have Nothing by Jordin Sparks Social Impact Initiative: Success By Professional Development: Bridging The Employment Gap Miss Southwest Michigan Breckyn Bussey (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Southwest Michigan Breckyn Bussey Age: 19 Hometown: St. Joseph Talent: Acrobatic Lyrical Dance Ashes Social Impact Initiative: Flippin For Fitness: Healthy for Life Miss Sunrise Side Brooklynn Lambert (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Sunrise Side Brooklynn Lambert Age: 26 Hometown: Monroe Talent: Jazz Dance to Big Noise Social Impact Initiative: Think Pink: Early Detection for Breast Cancer Miss Oakland County Layla Cypher (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Oakland County Layla Cypher Age: 21 Hometown: Oxford Talent: Lyrical Dance to Hold My Hand Social Impact Initiative: True Heroism Miss Shoreline Lauren Mroczek (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Shoreline Lauren Mroczek Age: 23 Hometown: Mattawan Talent: Jazz Dance to Lets Get Loud Social Impact Initiative: Feeding Ourselves: The Importance of Fruits and Vegetables Miss West Michigan Lacy Jewell (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss West Michigan Lacy Jewell Age: 20 Hometown: Charlotte Talent: Rock Drumming Bohemian Rhapsody Social Impact Initiative: Save the Music: Advocating for Music Education Miss Jackson Crossroads Peyton Lowder (Photo provided by Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Jackson Crossroads Peyton Lowder Age: 19 Hometown: Jackson Talent: Vocal Performance of Somethings Got A Hold On Me Social Impact Initiative: EDEN: Eating Disorder Education Network Miss Spirit of the State Maya Schuhknecht (Photo provided by the Miss Michigan Organization) Miss Spirit of the State Maya Schuhknecht Age: 22 Hometown: Buchanan Talent: Speed Painting Salute Social Impact Initiative: Art For All More on MLive: Mackinac Islands school needs more students but theres nowhere to live This boardwalk trail skims the water at Hollands Lake Macatawa Summer recreation programs starting in Muskegon parks Officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a barn, several buildings and shutdown a stretch of M-83 in Frankenmuth Township Sunday, June 11. Around 9:56 a.m. Sunday morning, the Frankenmuth Fire Department responded to a barn fire in the 2300 block of S. Gera Rd., south of Bradley Rd, according to a post from the departments Facebook page. The barn was fully engulfed in flames with several other buildings being at risk once firefighters arrived. The buildings were in a deteriorated condition and eventually the barn and several buildings were totally destroyed by the blaze, the post reads. Firefighters were able to clear the scene after three hours. One firefighter sustained a minor ankle injury, and no other injuries were reported. The Frankenmuth Fire Department was assisted by Birch Run Township Fire Department, Bridgeport Fire Department and Blumfield FD Fire Departments. Frankenmuth Police, the Saginaw County Sheriffs Office and the Michigan Department of Transportation also assisted as M-83, between Bradley and King Roads, was closed for several hours. Read more from MLive: Senior citizens-aiding agency faces post-pandemic test in Saginaw County Guide to Miss Michigan 2023, featuring the 24 candidates Taylor Swifts surprise songs from both of her huge Ford Field Detroit concerts Texting and driving law changes, Trump indicted: Your guide to Michigan politics SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI For many, the COVID-19 pandemic persists. That sentiment perhaps rings truest to senior citizens served by agencies such as the Saginaw County Commission on Aging, a $6.8 million-per-year operation that offers services primarily to the 60-and-older age group most vulnerable to the deadly virus. Protecting the eldest populations from that vulnerability became a central component of the agencys work after COVID-19 arrived in Michigan in 2020. Now, adjusting the agencys services in the pandemics wake and adapting to the trauma it produced has become the latest challenge, said Jessica Sargent, the commissions director since 2017. Leaders with the county-operated agency recently drafted its new strategic plan, which extends to 2026. Its a document influenced heavily by hard lessons learned during the last four years. COVID really took a hammer to the way we do things, and were still climbing out of that, said Sargent, 37. The strategic plan is where we really tried to identify where were at and what we want to work towards, especially coming out of COVID. The Saginaw County Commission on Aging turned 50 this year. Sargent, who first joined the organization 12 years ago as the nutrition manager, said the pandemic was one of the biggest challenges this agency has ever faced in its first half-century. As of last week, the states COVID-19 data dashboard showed 1,036 Saginaw County deaths recorded since 2020 involved individuals with confirmed cases of the virus. Of those fatalities, 929 people or 89.7% of the total county deaths tied to COVID-19 cases were people aged 60 and older. While the fatality rate has slowed considerably there have been 36 total Saginaw County deaths tied to confirmed COVID-19 cases so far this year compared to 194 virus-tied deaths during the same 6-month period in 2021 many older residents continue to isolate themselves to avoid potential exposure to the virus, Sargent said. Tanya Monville spent much of her 25-year career at the agency as a case worker, a responsibility that involves her engaging regularly with some of the same clients for more than two decades. She said the pandemic continues to haunt many of those individuals shes grown to know so well. Theres still a lot of fear out there, she said. And can you blame them? You could really see how hard the pandemic was on so many of them and the toll it took on people, emotionally and physically as well. Priscilla Adams, a 77-year-old Saginaw Township resident, counts as both a client as well as a member of the Saginaw County Commission on Aging advisory board. The people I talk to, a lot of them are still afraid to be around people, the retired nurse said. When they go out, they always wear a mask. Its not over yet. Sargent said, of the clients who remain often isolated in their homes, some were regulars at the commissions 11 senior centers, where people gather for social activities. Theres definitely a lot of people on the spectrum of fear, she said. That fear was so prominent during the pandemic that there are still people who just wont come out of their homes; they wont come to our centers. Many people among that wary group, though, continue to tap into the commissions most popular programs including Meals on Wheels, which brings food to clients doorsteps with little-to-no contact with the deliverer. Still, the program is not exempt from the challenges the commission faces as a whole in the wake of the pandemic. Before COVID-19, Meals on Wheels delivered five days per week. That frequency dropped to twice weekly during the pandemic after health advisories led the commission temporarily to reduce its 250-person roster pool to zero, instead relying on its paid staff of about 70 employees to perform more duties. The commission now utilizes volunteers again, but the number of them dropped to about 200 people, Sargent said. As a result, Meals on Wheels remains a twice-a-week delivery operation. Hiring for open, paid jobs grew more challenging since the pandemic, too, Sargent said. The commission likely faces some of the same post-pandemic hurdles in hiring reported by organizations and companies in other industries, she said. Its hard to fill positions, she said. Even our kitchen staff; we dont know where all the people went. That decline in staff and volunteer levels remains significant for an agency that serves about 4,000 clients across the county, Sargent said. Along with the popular Meals on Wheels program, the commissions services include offering rides to appointments and grocery stores, in-person visits from social workers, support for caregivers of the elderly, and legal consultation and referral clinics. There was some good news for the Saginaw County Commission on Aging to emerge from the pandemic, Sargent said. The experience continues to provide a test of character. We really showed how resilient our agency is and how awesome our staff is, she said. Among the challenges during the pandemic included scheduling clients to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Because of their vulnerability to the virus, older populations were among first groups along with health care workers to receive the life-saving measure beginning in December 2020. Sargent said, despite the shortage of staff and absence of volunteers at the time, the commission worked around-the-clock to navigate a vaccine rollout that was unprecedented and for a population whose lives literally depended on the effort. The pandemic also created new services, including a curbside pickup program that Sargent said remains a popular option to this day. The commissions new strategic plan document, which addresses objectives and anticipated challenges through 2026, will provide a general outline for navigating that post-pandemic world, Sargent said. The document outlines tactics including forming new collaborative partnerships, seeking grants, using technology to streamline processes, engaging the public with more marketing of the agencys services, and tapping into research that could address unmet needs. The document also calls for advocacy of a renewal of the millage that supports the agencys budget, Sargent said. County voters last approved a renewal in August 2018, with 24,636 in favor of the tax compared to 17,290 votes against it. The millage expires in 2025. Among the commissions other anticipated challenges outlined in its new strategic plan: Addressing an expected rise in the countys older population, which could translate into a rise in number of clients during a time when the agency faces staff and volunteer shortages. While the 2020 U.S. Census showed the countys overall population was on the decline, much of that drain was exclusive to residents younger than 60. Meanwhile, the Baby Boom population continues to age into the 60-and-older population served by the Saginaw County Commission on Aging. Also, advances in health care continues to extend life expectancies even in the face of deadly global pandemics. How do we make things better and how do we stay relevant for the next 50 years, Sargent said of the central questions her commission must answer in the coming years. I wont be here when that next 50-year mark hits, but somebody will be, and we need to keep working on maintaining the services that help people as the generations change. For more information about the Saginaw County Commission on Aging, call the agency at (989) 797-6880 or visit its website at saginawcounty.com/departments/commission-on-aging. 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 from MLive: True crime documentary, Sex & Murder, focuses on shocking Michigan case A throwback experience with 2023 films awaits at this Michigan drive-in theater Another Saginaw City Council meeting got heated over rules review plan Kumawood actor Oboy Siki claims that fellow actor Agya Koo's magnificent mansion showcased recently was constructed with funds from the New Patriotic Party (NPP). In an interview with Poleeno Multimedia, which was monitored by ModernGhana News, Oboy Siki argued that Agya Koo had been facing financial difficulties in the movie industry, making it impossible for him to have financed such an expensive house solely from acting. Oboy Siki asserted that Agya Koo's endorsement deal with the ruling NPP played a crucial role in the financing of his luxurious mansion. Agya Koo was sidelined in the movie industry, so things werent going well for him, so in 2016, he went to do an endorsement for NPP, and that is where he got enough money. So, I want to explain to Ghanaians that, for us, the movie actors, if we can build, our money cannot build a proper house, he said. He continued, So, all those who have built in Accra with these big mansions are not funds from the movie industry. So if anybody says so, that is a very big lie. The NPP money helped Agya Koo to fund his building with my knowledge and the things I know, that money was used for the building. Oboy Siki further disclosed that Agya Koo engaged in another endorsement deal with the NPP in Cape Coast in 2020 which came with huge financial reward. In 2020, he went to do another endorsement for NPP in Cape Coast and took a lot of money, per my knowledge, because those times I was following politics, I know the inside and outside of politics, but I havent involved myself, Oboy Siki said. While Oboy Siki acknowledged that Agya Koo initially used his own money to start building the mansion, he asserted that the project's completion was made possible with funds from the NPP. The truth is that for that building, he started with his own money, but the finishing was done with political money. I am telling you the truth, and even the last time I told him to his face that I would tell the public about it, so in case he hears, he shouldnt be surprised. Lastly, he has also gone to endorse Kennedy, and he is going to take another big money," he expressed. Residents reported a welcome lull in fighting in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Saturday after a 24-hour ceasefire between two warring generals took effect, but few believed it would hold. Fighting has raged in the north African country since mid-April, when army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), turned on each other. Multiple truces have been agreed and broken since the conflict flared, and Washington slapped sanctions on both rival generals after the last attempt collapsed at the end of May. The air strikes and artillery bombardments that have rocked greater Khartoum almost daily subsided at least temporarily, allowing trapped civilians to venture outdoors to buy desperately needed supplies. In one Khartoum market, people were seen scrambling to stock up on fruit and other basic goods. "The truce is a chance for us to get some food supplies after we lived on rationed quantities in recent days," said one of the shoppers, Mohamad Radwan. Hajar Youssef said she had gone out in search of an open pharmacy to buy insulin for her mother, who has diabetes. "Unfortunately, I did not find one." Khartoum residents take advantage of a lull in fighting in the first few hours of Saturday's truce to stock up on fruit and other basic goods that have been in short supply. By - (AFP) Many people expressed disappointment that the promised ceasefire was so limited in scope. "A one-day truce is much less than we aspire for," said Khartoum North resident Mahmud Bashir. "We look forward to an end to this damned war." Bus station employee Ali Issa said many people were using the truce to flee the capital for the relative safety of the provinces. "Today, numbers... have risen significantly, maybe even doubled," he said. Mediator warning There was no immediate word on observance of the ceasefire in the conflict's other main battleground, the flashpoint western region of Darfur. Map of Sudan and neighboring countries showing the number of refugees fleeing the conflict by country of destination as of June 7, according to UNHCR.. By Sophie RAMIS, Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA (AFP) Announcing the latest truce on Friday, US and Saudi mediators warned the warring parties they would break off their diplomatic efforts unless they honoured their commitments this time. "Should the parties fail to observe the 24-hour ceasefire, facilitators will be compelled to consider adjourning" talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah which have been suspended since late last month, they said. Sudan specialist Aly Verjee said he saw little reason why this truce should be any better than its predecessors. "Unfortunately, the incentives have not changed for either party, so it's hard to see that a truce with the same underlying assumptions, especially one of such short duration, will see a substantially different result," said Verjee, a researcher at Sweden's University of Gothenburg. Upwards of 1,800 people have been killed in the fighting, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Nearly two million people have been displaced, including 476,000 who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, the United Nations says. Mediator warning The Saudi and US mediators said they "share the frustration of the Sudanese people about the uneven implementation of previous ceasefires". The army said it has "agreed to the proposal", adding it "declares its commitment to the ceasefire". Khartoum residents unable to leave have been forced to camp out for weeks as supplies of vital goods run low. By - (AFP) The paramilitary RSF said: "We affirm our full commitment to the ceasefire." Both statements said the truce could support humanitarian efforts, while cautioning against violations by their opponents. "If observed, the 24-hour ceasefire will provide an important opportunity... for the parties to undertake confidence-building measures which could permit resumption of the Jeddah talks," the US-Saudi statement said. Friday's ceasefire announcement came a day after Sudanese authorities loyal to Burhan declared UN envoy Volker Perthes "persona non grata", accusing him of taking sides. UN chief Antonio Guterres later expressed support for Perthes, who is currently in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for talks. Sudan's government has declared United Nations envoy Volker Perthes (C) 'persona non grata'. By - (AFP/File) Speaking through his spokesman, Guterres said "the doctrine of persona non grata is not applicable to or in respect of United Nations personnel." The fighting has sidelined Perthes's efforts to revive Sudan's transition to civilian rule, which was derailed by a 2021 coup by the two generals before they fell out. It has also complicated the coordination of international efforts to deliver emergency relief to the 25 million civilians that the United Nations estimates are in need. burs/kir/dv Indigenous communities around the world are faced with the challenge of preserving and transferring ancestral knowledge. A new exhibition at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris is an example of how indigenous Australian elders are finding innovative ways to protect the bridge between ancient and modern worlds. Dalisa Pigram, a dancer and co-artistic director of the contemporary Australian dance company Marrugeku, has been invited to present a series of recitals as part of the "Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters" exhibition. Her piece "Gudirr Gudirr" takes its name from the warning cry of the guwayi shorebird from Western Australia. "Watch out," it cries. "The tide is coming in, you might drown!" It could be interpreted as a universal alarm bell for society in general, but in particular for young indigenous people. Pigram, who belongs to the Yawuru/Bardi people of Western Australia, created "Gudirr Gudirr" with the Belgian choreographer Koen Augustijnen ten years ago. It was a way to address the past and the present with all their contradictions, pain, anger, frustration and joy. Using dance, video, music and text, Pigram explores the fallout of colonialism and the trauma of younger generations, lost between cultures. She broaches the topic of young people fighting each other for kicks, and the record high child suicides in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Even after several world tours, the urgency of the message has not changed. The movements are robotic, hypnotic, blending martial arts with aerial acrobatics. The music is modern, punchy rock, sometimes with lyrics in Pigram's native tongue. She whirls around the stage using a fishing net suspended from the ceiling. It is an important symbol, representing both friend and foe. While it is a tool for survival to find food, it is also a trap. "Dalisa told me a lot of stories," Augustijnen told RFI, referring to their chance encounter many years ago. "Then she asked me to give her some 'tasks' or themes to prepare for the dance. This was new way of working for me." The cross-cultural partnership has enriched both their experiences on and off the stage, with Augustijnen hailing the recital's ability to recount important historical events from a physical perspective. "Our truth-telling hasn't begun yet, telling both sides of the historical story," Pigram told RFI after her performance on Thursday, adding she was thrilled to be part of the "Songlines" exhibition. "The youth are still struggling with their place in the world and their connection to culture, their connection to who they are. Also the country is at risk every single day with the different policies, mining and loss of language, loss of elders and all of that. In the last ten years, nothing has changed," she laments. Decolonising minds Born in the pearl industry town of Broome, Pigram recognises the wealth of her own mixed Asian and indigenous cultural heritage, and her attachment to the stories and traditions passed down from her elders. "I can see people [in the audience] processing it. They ask me, 'how did you manage to say all those hard things in a dance?' They are surprised that dance and theatre has the ability to address complex issues." She says her piece poses questions: "How can we decolonise indigenous minds? Can the past hold keys to the future? And who will pass on that knowledge?" This question of transfer is raised in the rest of the "Songlines" exhibition. Passed down through the generations for thousands of years, these oral guidelines continue to provide a spiritual and practical map for the people of today. They explain moral principles, rules of society, how to care for nature, and essential knowledge for survival in the desert. The Quai Branly exhibition introduces one of the major pillars of the First Australians' creation legends, known as the Seven Sisters songline. An evil sorcerer is threatening the lives of seven sisters, who flee into the desert. Pursued relentlessly through what may seem an inhospitable environment, the women learn to survive thanks to their knowledge of the terrain and of nature, guided by the songlines. Their story, presented visually, takes place across three of the continent's vast central and western deserts and provides the backbone of the exhibition. Fragmented knowledge The museum has gone to great lengths to present a fully immersive experience with nearly 200 works, including 20 multimedia pieces, on display in partnership with the National Museum of Australia. Curator Margo Neale says that the process of gathering material began in 2010, with the close collaboration with a group of elders from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands in central Australia and the Ngaanyatjarra and Martu in the West. They expressed concern that many of their descendants no longer have a meaningful connection to their ancestral lands, nor do they have access to the language. The project provided a vehicle to preserve this fragmented knowledge before it was too late. Recognising the fact that the digital age has changed the way people consume culture and knowledge, there has been a push to make the presentation as interactive as possible. By following the lines on the ground of the gallery, visitors can listen to the songs and testimonies of the Aboriginal artists and elders as if they were standing there in person. The videos are part of what Neale calls "a living library", assuring that the elders' knowledge does not die out with them. "They said to themselves that they too had to record their knowledge in digital form if they wanted to maintain a link with the younger generations," she writes in the exhibition notes. 'Everything is alive' The landscape is described in extraordinary colourful dots, lines, shapes and patterns, all holding their own significance. Each artist has the responsibility to recount the legend, leaning on the ancestral knowledge passed down to them. "For Aboriginal peoples," Neale explains, "country is a multidimensional concept that includes everything. There is no distinction between animate and inanimate worlds. "Everything is alive, everything has its place: people, animals, plants, earth, water and air." "Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters" is at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris until 2 July A Buffalo priest has dropped his defamation lawsuit against a man who claimed he had been sexually abused as a child in the 1980s by the priest. The Rev. Roy T. Herberger said he couldnt afford to continue toward a trial after spending $20,000 in legal fees since filing the defamation case in 2020 in State Supreme Court in Erie County. Herberger consulted with his attorney, Steven K. Long, and decided that pressing further was unlikely to accomplish anything more. He asked me what do I want to do, and I said, financially I cant do it anymore, not after all that money already spent, Herberger said. Herbergers lawsuit is believed to be the first and only defamation case in Western New York alleging that a plaintiff in a Child Victims Act lawsuit was lying about abuse accusations to slander an innocent priest. The Buffalo Diocese put Herberger on administrative leave in June 2018 after receiving a complaint that the priest had sexually abused an 8-year-old boy in the 1980s. Herberger vehemently denied the allegation in a letter to parishioners and friends. Following a diocese investigation that determined the allegation was unfounded, he was returned to active ministry in December 2018. The man who complained to the diocese is now 45 and lives in Niagara Falls. He sued in August 2019 under the Child Victims Act, naming the diocese as a defendant, but not Herberger. The Buffalo News is not identifying the man because he says he is a child sex abuse victim and The News does not identify sex crime victims without their consent. With little explanation, diocese has reinstated 17 priests accused of sexual abuse The diocese publicized the priests returns to ministry by stating that a review board had examined the claims and found them to be not substantiated. Herberger, 80, has been a priest since 1968. He retired as a pastor in 2017 but still celebrates Masses and performs other priestly duties at the University at Buffalo Newman Center and various churches. Testimony by Herberger and the 45-year-old man during separate depositions were mostly consistent with statements they gave to attorney Scott Riordan, an investigator hired by the diocese to examine the abuse allegations. Herberger and his accuser knew each other when the accuser was a boy, because the priest tried to help the mans father with an alcohol problem on several occasions. But Riordan had determined that the mans claims against Herberger were completely false based upon some of his statements not lining up with basic facts, such as where the alleged abuse happened, where the priest lived and what church he was assigned to at the time of the alleged abuse. Herberger said in his testimony that he met the boy two or three times. On those occasions, the priest found the boys father, who struggled with alcohol, sleeping outside the rectory and brought him home to his wife, Herberger said in a deposition. The priest recalled once asking the boy at the familys home what grade he was in, but aside from that had no further conversation with him. Herberger also said he was never alone with the boy, and he denied taking him out to eat at fast-food restaurants, as the accuser maintained in his deposition. The priest said the claims were false and made up for the sake of money. The original case by him against me we proved was absolutely false, Herberger said in an interview this week. He just continues to change his story. Well, it happened here, well maybe not here, but somewhere near there. Maybe not then, but maybe at this point. Almost every time you asked him a question the story changed. Herberger said he knew he was unlikely to collect any money from his accuser if he won the case at trial, but he sued out of principle and to let anyone else who would falsely accuse someone of sexual abuse know that they can face legal consequences. Attorney Scott Duquin, who represented the defendant in the defamation suit, declined to comment on Herbergers assertions about his client. He said any of the disputed issues in the case could have been resolved at trial. But at the end of the day, the defamation case is over, said Duquin. The man has not dropped his Child Victims Act lawsuit, which has been put on hold due to the Buffalo Diocese bankruptcy case. We believe our client. Our client gave sworn testimony. And whether he gets his day at trial or its some other bankruptcy resolution, that remains to be seen, Duquin said. But we believe our client, and were going to represent him zealously and to the best of our ability. An Accra High Court has ordered the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the 37 Military Hospital to release an investigation report conducted on the death of Mr Solomon Asare-Kumah, a 48-year-old man, to his family. The Court presided over by Justice Charles Ekow Baiden, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court Judge, ordered that the report should be released within 10 days. The family of Solomon Asare-Kumah had sued the Hospital together with Col/Dr. G. A. O. Appiah, a Doctor at the facility, the CDS, and Attorney General, demanding GHS2 million in damages for medical negligence leading to his death. The bereaved family contended that the death of their relative at the Hospital in October 2019 was due to breach of contract and negligence by the Hospital and the doctor, Col. Dr Appiah, who took care of him. The family, then petitioned the CDS for an enquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of their relative but after the investigation, the report was not given to them. Following suing the Hospital in damages and pending the determination of the case, the family through one Emmanuel Asare-Kumah, on October 21, 2022, filed an application for an order for Discovery. The plaintiff sought for; an order directed at the 2nd Defendant (CDS) to furnish plaintiff with the final Report of the Board of Inquiry held in respect of the death of Solomon Asare-Kumah and allegations of extortion against Col/Dr Appiah. The Plaintiff also sought an order directed at the 3rd Defendant (37 Military Hospital) to furnish Plaintiff with the full and complete medical record of Solomon Asare-Kumah (deceased). Mr Justice Oteng, a Legal Officer at the Depatment of Legal Services at the Ghana Armed Forces, General Headquarters, responding to the application, opposed to the request and said the report was exclusively for internal use. He said ..The 2nd Respondent is vehemently opposed to the request by the Applicant for the Report/Record of the Board of inquiry. He said the Report of the Board of inquiry was a restricted document meant for the exclusive internal use of the Ghana Armed Forces. The Court said the report or record of proceedings of the Board of Inquiry relating to the admission, treatment and death of the deceased, howsoever described by the AG, CDS and the Hospital, together with the medical records of the deceased shall be furnished to the Plaintiff within 10 days. The 10 days order is expected to end on Monday June 12, 2023. Justice Baiden in his ruling said, I take judicial notice and it is so proven that on or around January 2023, a summary report of Board of Inquiry into the alleged missing baby at the 37 Military Hospital maternity unit, which Board of Inquiry was convened by the Hospital was disclosed to an aggrieved couple in that matter. I am of the humble view that the principles of accountability enshrined in the Preamble, Articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution frowns upon unbridled exercise of such wide discretionary power contained in Article 21.17.1 of AFR (Volume 1) C.I 12 which purports to oust the jurisdiction of the court, he said. He said even if, the Defendants had the discretion to not disclose a Board of Inquiry Report to the Plaintiff/ Applicant, such discretion must be exercised fairly, reasonably and not arbitrarily or in a biased manner. Indeed, Article 17 of the 1992 Constitutions abhors discrimination against persons such as the Plaintiff/Applicant herein. He said Article 17(3) provides that: For the purposes of this article, discriminate means to give different treatment to different versons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, gender, occupation, religion or creed, whereby persons of one description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another description are not made subject or are granted privileges or disadvantages which are not granted to persons of another description. The Judge said it had not been demonstrated to the Court that there was a reasonable justification for treating the Plaintiff/Applicant differently from the manner the couple has been treated. He said the Defendants/Respondents have denied the existence of a contract. If so, the Defendants/Respondents must be made to subiect this dispute to the ordinary rules of negligence in tort, contract and the remedies available to a party who alleges violation. He said in so far as the Defendants/Respondents engaged in commercial transactions, they must necessarily abide by the rules of engagement, including good faith obligations and the duty of care, among others. The Defendants/Respondents ought not to be allowed to seek refuge elsewhere, he added. He said for all the above reasons, l am of the firm view that the Plaintiff/Applicant has shown reasonable cause for this Court to grant the order prayed for as the report relating to the death of the Deceased is necessary to fairly dispose of the matter, pursuant to the overriding objective of Order 1rule 2of C.I. 47. The family contended that, the Hospital and its employees failed to exercise due care when they wrongly inserted Solomon's breathing tube under his skin thereby denying oxygen for a considerable amount of time and as such causing stain on his heart and other organs thus causing his death. They argued that they, therefore, requested for a refund and for an administrative enquiry into the claims as well as the allegations of breach of contract and negligence but the Hospital refused to accede to the demand for investigations. The family said a petition was therefore lodged with the Medical and Dental Council which took up the matter with the Military Command. It said the Military Command subsequently commissioned a Board of Inquiry to look into the petition, where they were invited to give testimony as part of proceedings held by the Military Command and it did in March 2020. Unfortunately, the Military Command, just like the Hospital has failed and or refused to communicate its findings or make available its report to the family, in spite of several demands by the family and plaintiff's lawyer, they said. The Plaintiff stated that indeed, the CDSs office failed to respond to plaintiff lawyer's letter requesting for a copy of the report on behalf of the grieving family. When officers from the lawyer's office subsequently followed up, they were informed that the office would get back to the family, but that had not happened as at the time the plaintiff's lawyers served a notice of plaintiff's intention to sue. GNA 11.06.2023 LISTEN In an effort to curb criminal activities in the Bortianor and surrounding communities in the Greater Accra Region, the police have conducted an anti-robbery and anti-landguard operation on June 8 leading to the death of five suspects. The operation, according to the police, was aimed at apprehending suspects who had been terrorizing residents and landowners. A statement released by the police sighted by DGN Online indicates that upon approaching the suspects hideout, the police were met with resistance in the form of gunshots fired by the suspects. In an effort to defend themselves, the police returned fire resulting in the death of five suspects. The remaining suspects fled the scene and are currently on the run. Exhibits retrieved from the scene include weapons such as an AK47 Assault Rifle, pistols, ammunition, and motorbikes that were being used in the suspects activities. According to the police, they are actively pursuing the remaining suspects, and it is speculated that some of them may have sustained injuries during the operation. Therefore, the public, particularly those in the Bortianor community, is urged to be vigilant and report any individuals with gunshot wounds who may be seeking medical attention, the statement dated Saturday June 10, 2023 and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Grace ANSAH-AKROFI, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service stated. This operation demonstrates the polices commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents in the area by effectively carrying out their duties. The police continue to urge the cooperation of the public to help them combat criminal activities in the community and promote peace and security. DGN online An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 58-year-old steel bender to 21 years imprisonment for having sex with a seven-year-old girl at Nungua, Accra. Michael Asante charged with defilement, pleaded not guilty. However, at the end of the trial, the court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann found him guilty. The facts as presented by Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, are that the complainant is uncle of the victim. The prosecution said Asante, the accused person, now convict, and the complainant resided in the same vicinity in Nungua. It said on May 3, 2021, evening, the victim went behind their house where a bathroom and toilet are located to urinate. The prosecution said Asante followed her and lured her inside the bathroom and had sexual intercourse with the victim on the bare floor. It said the complainant, who accidently passed by the scene saw Asante and the victim. It said Asante on seeing the complainant run out of the bathroom. The prosecution said when the complainant engaged the victim, she told her that Asante had had several intercourses with her on several occasions. It said the complainant took the victim to the Nungua Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service and lodged a complaint. The prosecution said the Police issued a medical report form to the complainant to seek medical care for the victim and Asante, arrested. GNA Former Member of Parliament and Minister of Justice Joseph Nii Ayikoi Otoo has insisted that the Supreme Court order to Parliament concerning the judgement on Mr James Gyakye Quayson should not be too difficult to carry out. The former Attorney General said the order is not ambiguous as some are trying to make it seem. Speaking on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM on Saturday, June 10, he said some persons are only playing politics with the judgement. Upon resumption of Parliament on Tuesday, June 6, Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin told the House that leadership must confer to find out how the order will be carried out. He later hinted that the legislative arm of government may have to go back to the Supreme Court for clarity in carrying out the order. The order did not say the Speaker should expunge [his name]. It did not say any Member of Parliament or Clerk should expunge [the name], it says the institution called Parliament. So that institution must carry out the order. The only way the institution can carry out the order is for the institution to reason together. And that is only done in a sitting where the opportunity is given to members to think through it. I don't want to assume powers that are not clearly spelt out in any law. So I did indicate and mentioned to some members of the Supreme Court that there is a need for clarification. Mr Ayikoi Otoo said there is no ambiguity regarding the order. You know [the Speaker] beat a retreat himself when he first said the name should be there and later on when the clerk whispered into his ears said the seat had been declared vacant. . .he came back and said then dont put his name there. I am saying [and] if they want my advice, they should pass a resolution that in view of the judgement of the Supreme Court, [Gyakye Quaysons] swearing-in, election or whatever is deemed not to have taken place and therefore for all purposes he never became part of the Eighth Parliament And anybody who reads that will understand. He warned that not carrying out a Supreme Court order could constitute treason under the laws of the country. But former MP Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, who was also on the programme, disagreed and said the Supreme Court ought to have been careful in ordering another arm of government. It flouts settled principles of separation of powers. Can one arm of government direct another arm of government? So there are a lot of jurisprudential questions. 3news.com Women's education is essential for a just society as well as to facilitate social transformation. Despite significant progress in reducing the gender gap in education, several obstacles still prevent women in developing nations. These challenges relate to building up human capital, such as the cost of education, travel distance, safety concerns, lack of agency, and ingrained cultural barriers. Education has a high impact on women's well-being as well as the growth and development of the nation. Therefore, most developing countries need to address these gender-specific barriers to advance the goal of an inclusive society. Undoubtedly, the adage "teach a woman, and you teach a nation" captures well the significance of women's education for any society. Zambia is a large, landlocked, resource-rich nation with a sparsely populated area in the middle of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its strategic location allows a larger regional market for goods and services. Zambia is also one of the world's youngest countries by median age and is currently undergoing a significant demographic shift. Zambia's population is largely urban. With a rapid growth rate of 2.7% per year, which reflects the country's relatively high fertility rate, its population is projected to be around 19.6 million in 2021. As a matter of fact, as the population is expected to double in the next 25 years, it will add a lot of pressure with regard to the demand for jobs, health care, and other social services. Additionally, poverty rates in rural Zambia continue to be unrelentingly high. While 78 per cent of rural people in Zambia live in poverty, adolescent girls and women are disproportionately affected, especially concerning their educational opportunities. Despite nearly complete primary education coverage in the nation, only about 40 per cent of students of school age were enrolled in secondary education. And only a tiny portion of it is women. It's believed that two out of every five girls in Zambia get married when they're still young, which limits their access to education and puts their health at risk through early pregnancy. Based on this knowledge, the Zambian government made it a priority to help more girls and women reach their potential through education. And to transform girls' education, Zambian authorities took inspiration from the "Mukhymantri Balika Cycle Yojana" or CM bicycle scheme launched in Bihar, India. As per the World Bank data, the most critical determinant of primary school enrolment is the proximity of a school. Indeed, evidence shows that the farther children are from school, the less likely they are to attend. And this is precisely the challenge the scheme has addressed. Zambia tried to learn from the scheme of Bihar and, around May 2022, started implementing a similar model. As per the scheme, every participating schoolgirl would receive money to buy a bicycle to commute to school after passing a particular grade. The major objective of this programme is to stop any girl child from dropping out of school because of school distance. As per the guidelines, each candidate will be given some cash money to purchase a cycle. To ensure the money has been utilised, the candidates must submit the purchase receipt at the school office. And within one year of intervention, Zambia managed to reduce girls' absenteeism by 27 per cent. The average travel time to schools and late school arrivals decreased by 35 and 66 per cent, respectively. Additionally, as per a survey, the bicycle programme improved girls' test results and gave them a sense of control over their life. Now that they have a more positive self-image, they are aiming higher. Finally, the girls also expressed their desire to wait until a suitable age before getting married and having children. In sub-Saharan Africa, girls have a challenging time travelling the distance to school. The fundamental issue facing girlsthe countless miles of unpaved roads between their homes and schoolsis not resolved by lowering tuition and offering conditional cash transfers to families who enrol their daughters in school. According to a World Bank study, more than one-fourth of primary school students live more than two kilometres from the closest school, and secondary schools are frequently hours away for students living in rural areas. For the transformation of any society, it is important to promote girls' education. Girls who complete their education are more likely to have long, happy lives and are less likely to get married young. They improve their own life, get financially independent by earning and increasingly take part in decisions that directly impact them. Education for girls boosts economies and lowers gender inequality. It promotes the development of more stable, robust societies where all people, including men, can realise their full potential. However, educating girls involves more than just enrolling them in classes. Girls also need to feel safe. The success of the scheme can be attributed to the fact that it successfully addressed the fundamental problems that many adolescent girls in rural Zambia confront, including the dangers associated with going to school by walking, the long walking distances to the schools, and engrained cultural inhibitions that discourage walking to school. The Sustainable Development Agenda, adopted by UN Member States in 2015, set a 2030 deadline for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As gender equality and equitable quality education are interconnected, it is not possible to achieve one without the other. Thus, without a strng commitment to girls' education, gender equality will remain an unrealised goal. The time is apt to act and invest in women and girls. It is expected that many developing countries would adopt similar models and work towards attaining an inclusive society. When in Afghanistan, poisoning attacks, including suspected gas attacks at girls' schools is, becoming commonplace or in Iran, poisoning incidents at girls' schools are estimated to have affected almost 13,000, mostly female, it is heartening to learn that replicating the Indian model, the transformation in girls' education is taking place in Zambia. And now, in addition to the UN endorsement of the concept, six more African countries have also started implementing similar projects. Girls are powerful agents of socioeconomic change. Hopefully, India and African countries can lead together to create a gender-just world. Samir Bhattacharya The author is a Senior Research Associate with the Vivekananda International Foundation and doctoral scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University One person has lost her life and others injured in an accident at Tadzewu Torkpokope stretch on the Akatsi-Dzodze road in the Volta Region. The accident, which occurred near Wovenu Senior High School on Friday, at about 1700 hours, saw the commercial sprinter vehicle with registration number ER 849- 19 completely burnt. Victor Kale, an eye witness and a reporter for Kaleawo Fm, an Akatsi-based local radio station, told the Ghana News Agency that the vehicle, which was moving from Accra to Dzodze, burst its back tyre causing it to somersault severally leading to the death of a female passenger on the spot. The driver of the vehicle (name withheld) who escaped unhurt, in an interaction, explained that ten passengers were on board when the accident occurred. The injured have been rushed to St. Anthony Hospital at Dzodze for further medical attention. Police officers from Dzodze, have since conveyed the body of the deceased to the St Anthony Hospital morgue for autopsy. GNA On May 24, 2023, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an announcement through a press release regarding a new visa policy that has sparked controversy and raised concerns among politicians and citizens in Bangladesh. The policy, implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) ("3C") of the Immigration and Nationality Act, specifically targets politicians, judges, civil-military officials, and members of law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh. In the press release, Secretary Blinken stated that the new visa policy is aimed at supporting Bangladesh's goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections. Under this policy, the United States will have the ability to restrict the issuance of visas to any Bangladeshi individual believed to be responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. This includes current and former officials, members of political parties (both pro-government and opposition), as well as law enforcement, judiciary, and security service personnel. The announcement of this new visa policy has generated confusion and uncertainty among the people of Bangladesh. Some experts and citizens have referred to it as a "blanket restriction" imposed on Bangladeshi citizens, raising questions about its fairness and potential consequences for bilateral relations between the United States and Bangladesh. Shahidur Rahman Tapa, a prominent opposition politician and Presidium Member of the Jatiya Party, expressed his disappointment with the sudden implementation of the new visa policy. In a statement, he remarked, "Given the cordial and warm relationship between Washington and Dhaka, it is unfortunate that the Biden administration abruptly announced a new visa policy for Bangladeshi citizens. This has created doubts in people's minds about the true intentions of the Biden administration. If this policy is aimed at pressuring Bangladesh to align exclusively with the United States while distancing itself from India and China, it will ultimately jeopardize the existing friendly relations between Dhaka and Washington." Shahidur Rahman Tapa emphasized that Bangladesh is a sovereign nation and should not allow any foreign country to assume a superior position or dictate its policies. He argued that while maintaining friendly relations with the United States is important, it should not come at the cost of sacrificing relations with other nations, particularly neighboring countries like India and China. Tapa further questioned the rationale behind targeting a specific group of individuals, including politicians and law enforcement officials, and raised concerns about potential biases and unintended consequences of the visa policy. The implementation of the new visa policy has prompted discussions among politicians and experts in Bangladesh. Some argue that it infringes upon the sovereignty of the nation and interferes with its internal affairs. Others believe that the policy reflects the United States' genuine concerns about democratic processes and human rights in Bangladesh, as well as its desire to support fair and transparent elections. Critics of the policy highlight that Bangladesh has made significant progress in recent years in terms of democratic reforms and improving its electoral system. They argue that singling out Bangladeshi politicians and officials could undermine the progress made and create tensions between the two countries. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact on the relationship between the people of Bangladesh and the United States, including restrictions on academic exchanges, cultural events, and people-to-people interactions. Proponents of the policy argue that it is a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the democratic process in Bangladesh. They contend that there have been instances of election-related violence, corruption, and human rights abuses in the country, and that the United States has a legitimate interest in preventing individuals involved in such activities from entering the country. The controversy surrounding the new visa policy underscores the complexities of balancing national interests, sovereignty, and the promotion of democratic values in international relations. It highlights the challenges faced by both the United States and Bangladesh in navigating their respective priorities and maintaining strong bilateral ties. Moving forward, it is crucial for both countries to engage in open and constructive dialogue to address concerns and find common ground. This includes clarifying the objectives and scope of the visa policy, as well as exploring avenues for cooperation in strengthening democratic institutions, promoting human rights, and ensuring fair and transparent elections. Ultimately, the relationship between the United States and Bangladesh should be built on mutual respect, shared interests, and a commitment to democratic values. It is essential to strike a balance between supporting democratic processes and preserving the sovereignty and dignity of nations. Only through such an approach can both countries work together to address challenges and advance their bilateral relations in a manner that benefits the people of Bangladesh and upholds the principles of democracy and human rights. Jatiya Party presidium member Shahidur Rahman Tapa is a popular name in Bangladesh and he regularly appears on the local television channel talk shows discussing national, regional and international issues. He also is an author who has recently written a book on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During his political career, Shahidur Rahman Tapa has been emphasizing on Bangladeshs further deepening cordial relations with India and China, while he said, United States should not jeopardize its existing good relationship with Bangladesh through Mr. Blinkens recently announced visa policy. As a freedom fighter I can say, we surely give value to our existing relations with every country in the world, including the US, But we definitely are not going to accept when any foreign country interferes into Bangladeshs domestic politics and makes any attempt of undermining our sovereignty. Shahidur Rahman Tapa also is vocal against rise of religious extremism in Bangladesh. Jennifer Hicks is currently pursuing postgraduate PhD on Political factors in the South Asian nations. Robert Kennedy, son of the assassinated in 1968 Robert Francis Kennedy, US Attorney General, New York Senator and 1968 Democratic presidential candidate, and nephew of the also assassinated in 1963 US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, will be a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for the November 2024 presidential election. But who is Robert Kennedy? He is a lawyer-activist, specializing in environmental issues, 69 years old. Raised in the political environment of the Kennedys and embracing the values and political views that have been transmitted to him, he has said: "My father told me when I was a child: 'People in power lie. And if we want to continue living in a Democracy we must understand that the people in power are lying. The people in power are abusing the power we gave them''. It is at the same time a leading figure of the anti-vaccination movement. Robert Kennedy's public attack on the "philanthropist" promoter of the "vaccines" Bill Gates had caused a global sensation with his post, describing how Bill Gates is using the "vaccine" to impose a global dictatorship (Europost, 9-4 -2020): "Vaccines for Bill Gates is a strategic philanthropy that fuels his many related business activities to gain himself a dictatorial control of global health politics, the spearhead of neo-imperialism". Robert Kennedy, before the start of vaccinations for COVID-19, sent a message to the global community in December 2020 sounding the alarm about mRNA vaccines by saying: Avoid vaccinations at all costs, at all sacrifices, For the first time in the history of vaccinations the mRNA technology used interferes directly with the genetic material of the recipient-patient and consequently this intervention involves genetic modification, which is already internationally prohibited and considered criminal", "Dear prospective recipients you should know that after receiving the vaccine you will no longer be able to manage the symptoms of the vaccine in an effective way. You will have to live with the effects as you will not be able to remove the toxins from your body. The genetic damage caused to you by these vaccines will be irreversible and irreparable," "In my opinion these new technology vaccines represent a crime against humanity that has never happened before and on this scale. On February 11, 2021, "Instagram" closed Robert Kennedy's account for "fake news! ". "We removed this account because it repeatedly posted false claims about the coronavirus and vaccines," Facebook, Instagram's parent company, said in a statement. At the time, Kennedy had about 800,000 followers on his account. It is obvious that the promoters of "vaccines" did not like the public positions of Robert Kennedy, because he himself was staunchly opposed to the so-called "vaccines! " . Then in November 2021 he visited Italy and spoke in Milan in Piazza dell' Arco della Pace in a large demonstration, where he was received as a hero by many thousands of people, against the so-called Green Pass, the COVID-19 certificate, characterizing it as " instrument of oppression". And speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Robert Kennedy said: "The Green Pass is not a public health innovation, it is an instrument of obedience and economic control, just like the pamphlets issued by the Third Reich. During his speech at the Milan demonstration he encouraged protesters to go out and fight and resist, telling them: "Reclaim your government, reclaim your lives, reclaim your freedom for your children, for the your country, for future generations," and ended saying amid cheers and prolonged applause: "I will stand by, with you, and if necessary I will die for it. I'll die in my boots". In August 2022, Robert Kennedy was in Berlin and spoke about modern Orwellianism and the bioterrorism agenda of multinational pharmaceutical companies. Among other things, he said: Governments love pandemics the same way they love wars, because it gives them power, gives them control, and gives them the ability to enforce obedience on human beings. And today we have the distortion of new technologies that give governments the ability to impose controls on populations they never imagined". In November 2022, Robert Kennedy made shocking statements about the side effects of mass vaccinations, saying: We're seeing a 40% increase in unexplained deaths, in excess deaths, and we're seeing them especially happening to young people! The number of people dying from mass vaccination is much higher than the number of people dying from COVID-19. Some doctors will say we don't know if it's from the vaccine. Then why does the CDC discourage coroners and public health authorities from performing autopsies on people whose deaths are suspicious?''. Regarding so-called "climate change" speaking during an interview with radio producer Kim Iversen in April 2023, Robert Kennedy warned that the elite are using "climate change" to usher in total population control and take away individual liberties. As for the war unfolding in Ukraine, his position is clear. In his statements in May 2023, he said the following: "Let's be honest! This is a US war against Russia for geopolitical reasons! These are geopolitical machinations that have been going on since 2014 with (US) intelligence agencies and neoconservatives. They are essentially sacrificing the "flower" of Ukrainian youth in a slaughterhouse of death and destruction for the geopolitical ambition of the neoconservatives behind the scenes. To depose, change the regime of Vladimir Putin and exhaust the Russian military so that it cannot fight anywhere else in the world". So, we see, based on Robert Kennedy's entire journey, that we have before us an anti-establishment candidate, a candidate who is not afraid to clash with huge financial interests, a candidate who is not afraid to go against the dominant system, defying the risks. In closing, I would like to emphatically emphasize that the overwhelming majority of politicians who appeared in the past, before the elections, against the dominant system, when they gained power not only did not change a single hair from it, but instead turned into components of the system. Let's hope that in the case of Robert Kennedy, if he wins the nomination of the Democratic Party and is elected president of the United States, the same will not happen. Curriculum vitae Isidoros Karderinis was born in Athens in 1967. He is a journalist, novelist and poet. He studied economics and completed postgraduate studies in tourism economics. His articles have been published in newspapers, magazines and websites around the world. His poems have been translated into English, French and Spanish and published in poetic anthologies, literary magazines and literary newspaper columns. He has published eight books of poetry and three novels in Greece. His books have been translated and published in the United States, Great Britain, Italy and Spain. Isidoros Karderinis Social media Facebook: Karderinis Isidoros Twitter: isidoros karderinis Linkedin: ISIDOROS KARDERINIS Gettr: ISIDOROS KARDERINIS 11.06.2023 LISTEN Dr William Mensah-Ansah, a Tema-based industrialist, has called on the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) to build a conducive relationship with the investor community to repose confidence in the private sector players by providing a level playing field for business. "Recent antagonistic actions and comments against the management of Sunon Asogli Power Plant by Dr Yaw Baah, TUC Secretary General, during the May Day Celebration in Bolgatanga and at the ongoing 11th International Labour Organization Annual Conference in Geneva could send the wrong signals to potential investors across the globe. He said ironically that the ILO conference seeks to address many issues, including a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships, and labour protection; unfortunately, "our TUC used the occasion to attack a local company". Dr Mensah-Ansah told newsmen in Tema at the weekend that such pronouncements on international platforms send wrong signals to the investor community about the antagonistic posture of Organized Labour against investors. "Ghana is gradually becoming unfriendly to investors; with such pronouncements, especially on global platforms, we cannot throw away the bath water with the baby. There are numerous internal channels for the settlement of industrial disputes," Dr Mensah-Ansah stated. Dr Mensah-Ansah noted: "Workers need a conducive environment to work, while investors also demand the same, as well as protection and security of their investment. Any threat or underground dealings from labour against management, especially in the private sector, sends a dangerous message to the investor community". The Tema-based industrialist called on the TUC to adopt modern diplomatic means for mediation instead of the old antagonistic fighting strategy, which has become outmoded. "We are not protecting and endorsing bad labour practices by management, but we must be fair and sincere in the protection of workers without killing the chicken that produces the golden eggs," he said. Dr Mensah-Ansah also called on the workforce of Sunon Asogli to protect their source of daily bread, "Ghana Mineworkers Union leadership and the general leadership of national unions are not workers but depend on the dues paid by workers. "If Sunon Asogli or any company collapses, the national union leaders are unaffected. You cannot sit down and watch the consistent attack on your management; if the ground becomes too dangerous and the shutdown occurs, most of you will lose your livelihood". Ms Juliet Okai, a banking consultant, also stated that labour and management must coexist through peaceful means, stressing that modern labour engagement must ensure the relationship between workers, employing entities, trade unions, and the government is conducive. Ms Oaki stressed the need for a strong relationship between labour unions, the government, and investors for a harmonious business environment, adding this is the "way to attract investors who we need to grow the economy for the future; labour cannot scare investors away through constant agitation against private companies". Ms Ramatu Ayisha, a communication consultant, expressed concern about the posture of the Ghana Mineworkers Union (TUC), which has resulted in protracted hostilities with the management of Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited. She said the wilful interferences, threats, and intimidating tactics adopted by the Ghana Mineworkers Union to force management at Sunon Asogli Power to accept the formation of the union are unfortunate. "The union cannot adopt intimidation to force management to follow a process. We must engage through cordial means, not with one party holding a gun to the head of the other," Ms Ayisha stated. The Tema-Based Communication Consult reminded management and unions that whatever action "we embarked on collectively or individually, we must look at the general impact on the investor community, the Ghanaian workers interest, and the general work atmosphere in the country". Some workers in Tema have called on the TUC to work in the interests of both workers and investors, saying that "without investors, there will not be any workforce for labour unions to protect their interests.". Some of the workers in Tema expressed concern about the recent impasse between the Ghana Mineworkers' Union and TUC on one side and the management of Sunon Asogli Power Plant on the other. Meanwhile, scores of workers in Tema noted that the protracted antagonism between the TUC and management of Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited is unhealthy for both workers and investors and that "the formation of a union should not create a landmine at Sunon Asogli". Other workers also appealed to the Ghana Mineworkers Union of the TUC and the workers and management of Sunon Asogli to back out of their entrenched positions in the best interest of Mother Ghana and the workers of Sunon Asogli. 11.06.2023 LISTEN In February 2023, African leaders convened in Addis Ababa to discuss implementing the continental free trade agreement. The summit was an event of the 36th Ordinary Assembly of the African Union (AU) session. Talk followed sustained violence in the Sahel, driven by insurgency, climate change, and clan wars. African leaders have touted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) as Africa's economic savior. However, economic freedom on the continent cannot coexist with wars. The continental body should prioritize addressing the root causes of conflicts, including human rights violations, by investing in appropriate interventions. It should openly condemn countries and actors involved in such violations through public statements and declarations. Further, AU should provide sufficient funding to operationalize the African Standby Force (ASF). The African Union (AU) established the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) in 2002 to end war and violence in Africa. The African Standby Force (ASF) was subsequently established as part of APSA. The force comprises soldiers, civilians, and police from all African regions. The ASF was designed for rapid deployment at short notice. However, despite being declared ready for action in 2016, the force meant to maintain peace in Africa has never been deployed. Instead, the AU has relied on United Nations missions and regional interventions to stabilize volatile regions within the continent. Adequate funding is necessary to support the ASF. According to the African Union (AU), the African Standby Force (ASF) required at least $1 billion to become operational. However, in 2018, the organization reported that the ASF had only received 37 percent of the funding needed to be fully functional. Consequently, the AU floated the idea of seeking donor support to compensate for the deficit. The implications for dependency on unpredictable external sources of financing have repeatedly jeopardized the organization's ability to sustain its operations. In January 2016, the European Union (EU) cut its funding to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by 20 percent. The EU expected that AMISOM troop-contributing countries would cover the difference. Instead, some of the missions troop contributors threatened to withdraw their forces from Somalia due to reduced funding. The AU must, therefore, enforce the implementation of the 0.2 percent levy on imported goods in Africa to finance security operations. Since adopting the levy in 2016 as part of the historic Kigali decision on funding the union by member states, only 31 percent of the members have implemented the agreement. To implement the agreement, AU could consider adopting transparency measures, such as the quarterly publication of payment data from individual member states. Presently, the AU seldom provides such information, except in some instances. Some members object to disclosing data on specific states, viewing it as a form of naming and shaming. Nevertheless, the system seems efficient. It is especially so for countries that do not remit their payment after the stipulated grace period of six months provided by the AU. For instance, in June 2020, it became public that the AU banned South Sudanese officials from attending continental meetings. The ban resulted from Jubas failure to pay its annual contributions, which amounted to over $9 million in the stipulated time. In response, South Sudan quickly reduced its arrears to lift the sanctions and regain access to AU meetings. The AU must re-evaluate the effectiveness of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS). CEWS is one of the five pillars of APSA. CEWS should anticipate and stop conflicts in Africa before they deteriorate. Over time, the system, though it relies on timely data collection, has yet to predict potential conflicts in Africa. Part to blame is the poor data collection, low adoption of technology use in data collection, and poor funding that has rendered it ineffective. CEWS needs more linkage to civil society organizations (CSO) within the AU member states that are on the front line documenting violations perpetuated by different actors. The AU needs to strengthen its partnership with CSOs by providing these groups with funds and other support. CEWS requires enhanced collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) in AU member states, particularly those actively documenting violations by various actors. The AU should strengthen its partnership with CSOs by allocating funds and offering necessary support. Tapping into the network of CSOs can further enrich AU data collection capacity. The AU should fast-track the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. Such technologies would better predict impending conflicts six months to a year upfront. The AU must also address underlying causes of conflicts, such as human rights violations and the lack of respect for constitutionally imposed term limits. For instance, the March 2023 protests in Kenya were partly due to police brutality against demonstrators. As a result, there were gross violations of the rights to peaceful demonstration and assembly. The AU should warn Kenya strongly, urging them to refrain from using force by issuing statements condemning those actions and calling for an end to the violence. To maximize the potential and benefits of AfCTA, the AU must end protracted conflicts that have curtailed Africas development. To achieve this, the AU must adopt the strategy of resolving the causes of conflicts instead of waiting until they begin. David Marii is a writing fellow at African Liberty. A Niagara Falls man has been convicted of first-degree murder and two other charges stemming from the death of a woman in 2020, Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced. A Niagara County Court jury also found Atrel M. Hudson, 29, guilty of second-degree burglary and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the shooting death of Mariah Wilson, 28, in her Niagara Falls apartment on Sept. 4, 2020. Mariah Wilson was a young single mother living with her two young children in Niagara Falls, Seaman said. This defendant entered her home in the middle of the night, entered her bedroom, brutally beat her and then shot her to death while her children were in the other room. These despicable crimes merit the maximum allowable sentence, life without the possibility of parole. Hudson is scheduled to return Aug. 9 before Niagara County Court Judge John Ottaviano for sentencing of these charges and for a previous conviction of first-degree robbery for an armed holdup of a 7-Eleven convenience store in September 2020. Seaman noted that the jury acquitted Hudson of sexual abuse and a murder charge based on the sexual abuse count. - Dale Anderson Mourners gathered to bury the dead and bodies lay in a Khartoum hospital Sunday as deadly shelling and gunfire resumed after the end of a 24-hour ceasefire in Sudan. Fighting has raged in the northeast African country since mid-April, when army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, turned on each other. The latest in a series of ceasefire agreements enabled civilians trapped in the capital Khartoum to venture outside and stock up on food and other essential supplies. But on Sunday they gathered on a sandy plot of land in the south of Sudan's capital to bury victims of an artillery strike. Witness told AFP that only 10 minutes after the truce ended at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday, the city was rocked again by shelling and clashes. Men in Khartoum's Azhari neighbourhood carried a woman, her body lying on a green cot and covered with a light-coloured cloth, toward her final resting place, a hole dug out of the soil on bumpy ground across from some houses. Her own home had been shelled, leaving her among more than 1,800 killed during eight weeks of war, according to figures from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. The bodies of victims, killed when an artillery shell struck their house, lie at a hospital in southern Khartoum. By - (AFP) One relative, who did not give his name, condemned the "unacceptable" act and said: "We pray for an end to this war." A pro-democracy neighbourhood group had reported that fighting in Khartoum's south sent "shells landing in citizens' homes". On beds at a hospital in the area, two bodies lay under coloured cloths. Heavy artillery fire was heard across greater Khartoum. Residents also reported air strikes and anti-aircraft fire. 'Return of terror' The one-day lull was "like a dream" that evaporated, said Nasreddin Ahmed, a resident of south Khartoum awakened by the renewed fighting. Asmaa al-Rih, who lives in the capital's northern suburbs, lamented the "return of terror" with "rockets and shells shaking the walls of houses" once again. Fighting in Khartoum's south sent 'shells landing in citizens' homes,' a pro-democracy neighbourhood group reported. By - (AFP) Clouds of smoke were also seen billowing for a fifth successive day from the Al-Shajara oil and gas facility near the Yarmouk military plant in Khartoum. Multiple truces have been agreed and broken, including after the United States imposed sanctions on both rival generals after a previous attempt collapsed at the end of May. Sudan's military elites as well as Daglo amassed considerable wealth during the rule of longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir, whose government was subjected to decades of international sanctions before his overthrow in 2019. The 24-hour ceasefire that ended on Sunday had been announced by US and Saudi mediators who warned that if it failed they may break off mediation efforts. The two warring sides had "agreed to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country", the Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday. The mediators said in a joint statement they "share the frustration of the Sudanese people about the uneven implementation of previous ceasefires". After a shell hit her house, a wounded woman received treatment at a hospital in southern Khartoum. By - (AFP) A record 25 million people -- more than half the population -- are in need of aid and protection, according to the UN. Fighting has gripped Khartoum and the western region of Darfur, uprooting nearly two million people, including 476,000 who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, the United Nations says. More than 200,000 of those have entered Egypt, mostly by land. But Cairo on Saturday announced it was toughening requirements for those Sudanese who had previously been exempted from visas -- women of all ages, children under 16 and anyone over 50. Egypt said the new requirements were not designed to "prevent or limit" the entry of Sudanese people, but rather to stop "illegal activities by individuals and groups on the Sudanese side of the border, who forged entry visas" for profit. My words are inadequate to express my disgust for the atrocious murder incidents that have suddenly taken over this country in recent times where husbands or boyfriends are slaying wives, girlfriends, or side-chicks due to possessive behaviour and betrayal of trust or confidence. It has occurred too many times this year to be overlooked. A police inspector in Kumasi recently shot and killed his side-chick for opting out of the relationship. A barber stabbed his 19-year-old girlfriend to death for cheating on him. A US-based Ghanaian man shot his wife and himself because she wanted a divorce, and many other such cases are on the rise in the country. The authorities, state institutions like the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), parents, teachers, and religious leaders must find a way out to curb this menace and educate the youth, especially on emotional intelligence and healthy behaviour with respect to romantic relationships. This generation isn't practising the kind of love that they would live for; many of today's relationships are ephemeral since the benefits aren't mutual anymore. The expected ethereal feeling from their significant others is rarely forthcoming. They seldom have a taste of magic, romanticise important dates, or show each other real affection. We don't live for each other any longer. People are becoming more and more insensitive to their partners needs with total disregard for their sacrifices for them, hence the increased cases of domestic violence. And these hurt persons seem to have no other recourse but to resort to murder, causing fear and trepidation in our communities. Theres no justification whatsoever for such crimes, but to be on the safe side, women, or young girls, who are mostly the victims, should stop saying yes to men they know they do not like too much. Dont say yes because of the material things or support youll get from men. Its dangerous and could put your life in jeopardy, as weve seen in the past months, weeks, and days. Its dreadful to play with the feelings or emotions of others; if you do, you will eventually have yourself to blame. Stop playing games and date or marry people you truly love; its for your own good. This advice also goes to men who take advantage of women or girls. Some of these men must grow up and stop spending their hard-earned money on women or girls who are off limits or do not take them seriously. If you've got to use money to convince a girl to love you, thats a red flag, and you must immediately stay away from her. When a girl or woman loves you, she wants nothing from you, even if she needs it. Shell be soft with you; she wont play games or manipulate you. Love doesnt hide; it always shows itself. Be in control of your emotions and stop loving girls more than you love yourself. Be a high-value man. Invest the money in yourself and contribute to the growth of your community and country. Parents should perform their responsibilities and not leave their daughters to depend on men they do not love for survival. They must work hard to raise their daughters not to need the support of men in exchange for sex or relationships. They should teach them not to be greedy, selfish, and patronising, though I know some children are intransigent despite their parents admonition. They should equally teach their sons not to be in haste to take care of girls or women they think they love. Its not bad to support a girl, but dont do it in return for her love and affection. Dont do too much for a girl or a woman you know isnt real with you. If a woman doesnt love you, its always discernible or obvious, but some men ignore these red flags because they believe theyre in love. Its absurd to be in love with someone who isnt in love with you. No woman respects a simp, and if youre simping, even the one who loves you will eventually fall out with you. As a man, you must arm yourself with emotional intelligence to avoid going to jail or obliterating your own life. If you plan to murder your girlfriend or wife because they betrayed you, think about the consequences and repercussions of being a murdererthe aspersions, slurs, and shame youll bring upon yourself, your family, and your community. Harming an ungrateful wife or girlfriend isnt coterminous with your peace of mind or freedom. Quit pandering to women who dont love you and build yourself up the social scale or ladder. #WaterzYidana #Writer #Author #Activist.... Research analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI Get Rating) in a report released on Saturday. The firm set a hold rating on the stock. Flexible Solutions International Stock Performance About Flexible Solutions International (Get Rating) Flexible Solutions International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets specialty chemicals that slow the evaporation of water in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Energy and Water Conservation Products, and Biodegradable Polymers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Flexible Solutions International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Flexible Solutions International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued their buy rating on shares of Aviva (LON:AV Get Rating) in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a GBX 545 ($6.78) price target on shares of Aviva in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a GBX 520 ($6.46) target price on shares of Aviva in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Aviva from GBX 545 ($6.78) to GBX 535 ($6.65) and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, Berenberg Bank dropped their price objective on shares of Aviva from GBX 546 ($6.79) to GBX 532 ($6.61) and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 526 ($6.54). Get Aviva alerts: Aviva Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of LON:AV opened at GBX 400.90 ($4.98) on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.38, a current ratio of 3.31 and a quick ratio of 1.57. The stock has a market cap of 11.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,055.00, a P/E/G ratio of 8.09 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 413.11 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 431.82. Aviva has a one year low of GBX 366.70 ($4.56) and a one year high of GBX 473.70 ($5.89). Insider Activity About Aviva In other news, insider Amanda Blanc sold 322,369 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 416 ($5.17), for a total value of 1,341,055.04 ($1,667,149.48). In other Aviva news, insider Amanda Blanc sold 322,369 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 416 ($5.17), for a total value of 1,341,055.04 ($1,667,149.48). Also, insider Pippa Lambert purchased 1,302 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 419 ($5.21) per share, for a total transaction of 5,455.38 ($6,781.92). Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Aviva plc provides various insurance, retirement, investment, and savings products in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and internationally. The company offers life insurance, long-term health and accident insurance, savings, pension, and annuity products, as well as pension fund business and lifetime mortgage products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Aviva Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aviva and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC Get Rating) had its price objective hoisted by Bank of America from $195.00 to $200.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday, The Fly reports. They currently have a buy rating on the stock. Several other research firms also recently issued reports on ABC. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a research note on Friday, May 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Citigroup started coverage on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a research report on Friday, March 31st. They set a buy rating and a $185.00 target price on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on AmerisourceBergen from $174.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on AmerisourceBergen from $182.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $184.00. Get AmerisourceBergen alerts: AmerisourceBergen Trading Up 1.0 % ABC stock opened at $178.22 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $36.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $169.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $164.34. AmerisourceBergen has a one year low of $135.14 and a one year high of $178.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.13, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.51. AmerisourceBergen Announces Dividend AmerisourceBergen ( NYSE:ABC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $3.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $63.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.40 billion. AmerisourceBergen had a net margin of 0.65% and a return on equity of 809.53%. AmerisourceBergens quarterly revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.22 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that AmerisourceBergen will post 11.88 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were issued a dividend of $0.485 per share. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.09%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. AmerisourceBergens dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.94%. Insider Activity In other AmerisourceBergen news, major shareholder Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. sold 292,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.77, for a total transaction of $50,000,089.84. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 33,366,388 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,697,978,078.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other AmerisourceBergen news, major shareholder Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. sold 292,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.77, for a total value of $50,000,089.84. Following the sale, the insider now owns 33,366,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,697,978,078.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of AmerisourceBergen stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $167.34, for a total value of $1,756,902.66. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 257,967 shares in the company, valued at $43,168,197.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 324,289 shares of company stock valued at $55,111,633 over the last quarter. 20.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On AmerisourceBergen A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI grew its holdings in AmerisourceBergen by 153.3% during the 1st quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI now owns 4,334 shares of the companys stock worth $694,000 after acquiring an additional 2,623 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of AmerisourceBergen during the 1st quarter valued at about $279,000. Golden State Equity Partners acquired a new stake in AmerisourceBergen during the first quarter worth approximately $278,000. ProShare Advisors LLC bought a new stake in AmerisourceBergen in the first quarter worth approximately $6,923,000. Finally, Toroso Investments LLC lifted its stake in AmerisourceBergen by 76.0% in the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 6,125 shares of the companys stock valued at $981,000 after buying an additional 2,644 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.79% of the companys stock. About AmerisourceBergen (Get Rating) AmerisourceBergen Corp. engages in the provision of pharmaceutical products and business solutions that improve access to care. It operates through the Pharmaceutical Distribution Services and Other segments. The Pharmaceutical Distribution Services segment distributes an offering of brand-name, specialty brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, and long-term care and alternate site pharmacies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for AmerisourceBergen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AmerisourceBergen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Brinker International (NYSE:EAT Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Thursday. A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on EAT. Citigroup upped their price target on Brinker International from $42.00 to $43.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Northcoast Research started coverage on Brinker International in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. They set a neutral rating for the company. 51job reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Brinker International in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Brinker International from $45.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on Brinker International from $29.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Brinker International currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.70. Get Brinker International alerts: Brinker International Stock Performance Shares of EAT opened at $36.00 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $38.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.12. Brinker International has a 52-week low of $21.47 and a 52-week high of $42.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.59 billion, a PE ratio of 18.46, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 2.37. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brinker International Brinker International ( NYSE:EAT Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The restaurant operator reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.17 by $0.06. Brinker International had a negative return on equity of 44.32% and a net margin of 2.17%. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.07 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.92 EPS. Brinker Internationals quarterly revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Brinker International will post 2.79 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAT. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in Brinker International by 81.3% in the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 990 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 444 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. bought a new position in Brinker International during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Brinker International during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its position in Brinker International by 451.6% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,052 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 1,680 shares during the period. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC increased its position in Brinker International by 276.5% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 1,600 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 1,175 shares during the period. Brinker International Company Profile (Get Rating) Brinker International, Inc engages in owning, developing, and franchising Chilis Grill and Bar and Maggianos Little Italy restaurant brands. It operates through the following segments: Chilis, and Maggianos. The Chilis segment includes the results of company-owned Chilis restaurants in the U.S. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Brinker International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brinker International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSE:CP Get Rating) (NYSE:CP) had its price target decreased by BMO Capital Markets from C$130.00 to C$128.00 in a report published on Thursday, The Fly reports. Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$116.00 to C$122.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$106.00 to C$107.00 in a research report on Monday, April 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$117.00 to C$120.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$90.00 to C$89.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, TD Securities lifted their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$110.53. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Price Performance Shares of CP opened at C$102.04 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.11. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a twelve month low of C$86.42 and a twelve month high of C$112.27. The company has a market capitalization of C$95.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a 50 day moving average of C$106.40 and a 200 day moving average of C$105.39. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Dividend Announcement About Canadian Pacific Kansas City The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.74%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is 19.69%. (Get Rating) Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cetera Advisors LLC increased its stake in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Get Rating) by 25.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 103,095 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 20,603 shares during the period. Cetera Advisors LLCs holdings in AbbVie were worth $16,661,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABBV. Edmp Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of AbbVie by 15,607.4% in the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 5,249,578 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,483,000 after buying an additional 5,216,157 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in AbbVie by 426.5% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,652,122 shares of the companys stock worth $754,155,000 after purchasing an additional 3,768,579 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in AbbVie by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 156,022,414 shares of the companys stock worth $20,939,769,000 after purchasing an additional 2,442,663 shares in the last quarter. Amundi raised its position in AbbVie by 19.3% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 6,157,313 shares of the companys stock worth $968,727,000 after buying an additional 997,983 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its position in AbbVie by 146.8% during the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,352,924 shares of the companys stock worth $219,322,000 after buying an additional 804,700 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.71% of the companys stock. Get AbbVie alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on ABBV. Argus lowered shares of AbbVie from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of AbbVie from $155.00 to $160.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on shares of AbbVie from $172.00 to $171.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of AbbVie in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of AbbVie from $200.00 to $195.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $163.40. Insider Buying and Selling AbbVie Trading Up 0.4 % In related news, SVP Elaine K. Sorg sold 6,130 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.00, for a total value of $1,011,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 35,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,829,450. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . In related news, EVP Jeffrey Ryan Stewart sold 53,125 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.28, for a total value of $8,089,875.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 60,941 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,280,095.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, SVP Elaine K. Sorg sold 6,130 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.00, for a total value of $1,011,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 35,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,829,450. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 85,276 shares of company stock worth $13,277,658. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. NYSE:ABBV traded up $0.54 on Friday, reaching $138.18. 4,359,676 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,650,104. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $243.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.58. The business has a fifty day moving average of $149.76 and a 200-day moving average of $153.70. AbbVie Inc. has a 52-week low of $131.10 and a 52-week high of $168.11. AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.02. AbbVie had a net margin of 13.37% and a return on equity of 153.92%. The firm had revenue of $12.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.16 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that AbbVie Inc. will post 10.97 earnings per share for the current year. About AbbVie (Get Rating) AbbVie Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Humira, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune, intestinal Behcet's diseases, and pyoderma gangrenosum; Skyrizi to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic disease, and Crohn's disease; Rinvoq, a JAK inhibitor to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, axial spondyloarthropathy, and ulcerative colitis; Imbruvica for the treatment of adult patients with blood cancers; and Venclexta/Venclyxto to treat hematological malignancies. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABBV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for AbbVie Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AbbVie and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ciena (NYSE:CIEN Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Jefferies Financial Group from $65.00 to $60.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on CIEN. StockNews.com started coverage on Ciena in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Ciena from $67.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and issued a $70.00 target price on shares of Ciena in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Rosenblatt Securities reissued a buy rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of Ciena in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, Loop Capital boosted their target price on Ciena from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $63.93. Get Ciena alerts: Ciena Price Performance CIEN stock opened at $41.35 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $46.56 and a 200-day moving average price of $48.29. Ciena has a 52-week low of $38.33 and a 52-week high of $56.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.63, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 2.54 and a current ratio of 3.66. Insider Activity at Ciena Ciena ( NYSE:CIEN Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, June 6th. The communications equipment provider reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $1.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.09 billion. Ciena had a net margin of 5.02% and a return on equity of 9.31%. Cienas revenue was up 19.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.36 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Ciena will post 2.16 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, CEO Gary B. Smith sold 3,541 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.37, for a total transaction of $174,819.17. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 466,933 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,052,482.21. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Ciena news, CEO Gary B. Smith sold 3,541 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.37, for a total value of $174,819.17. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 466,933 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,052,482.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Scott Mcfeely sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.77, for a total value of $126,925.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 100,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,088,677.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 16,041 shares of company stock worth $773,414. 0.99% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Ciena by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 16,827,359 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $680,330,000 after acquiring an additional 933,250 shares during the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Ciena by 5,220.2% during the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,927,512 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $112,862,000 after acquiring an additional 5,816,096 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Ciena by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,262,245 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $223,853,000 after acquiring an additional 31,333 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Ciena by 11.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,052,505 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $212,838,000 after acquiring an additional 424,453 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Ciena by 11.6% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 4,031,790 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $163,830,000 after acquiring an additional 420,111 shares during the last quarter. 96.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Ciena (Get Rating) Ciena Corp. engages in the provision of network and communication infrastructure. It operates through the following segments: Networking Platforms, Platform Software and Services, Blue Planet Automation Software and Services, and Global Services. The Networking Platforms segment consists of Converged Packet Optical and Packet Networking portfolios. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ciena Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ciena and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ASOS (OTCMKTS:ASOMY Get Rating) had its price objective lowered by Credit Suisse Group from GBX 550 ($6.84) to GBX 450 ($5.59) in a research note published on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Several other research firms have also issued reports on ASOMY. Barclays dropped their price objective on ASOS from GBX 500 ($6.22) to GBX 450 ($5.59) in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Berenberg Bank lowered their price target on ASOS from GBX 1,000 ($12.43) to GBX 940 ($11.69) in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. Liberum Capital upgraded ASOS from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on ASOS from GBX 950 ($11.81) to GBX 725 ($9.01) in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on ASOS from GBX 610 ($7.58) to GBX 550 ($6.84) in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ASOS presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $788.89. Get ASOS alerts: ASOS Stock Down 4.4 % ASOS stock opened at $4.14 on Wednesday. ASOS has a one year low of $4.10 and a one year high of $16.21. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $7.29 and a 200-day moving average price of $8.28. About ASOS ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer worldwide. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for ASOS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASOS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Federal prosecutors claim strip club owner Peter G. Gerace Jr. arranged sex for John L. Michalski, a State Supreme Court justice who later died by suicide, and gained judicial favors from him. Feds search home of State Supreme Court Justice John Michalski, who was hit by train last year Federal agents executed a search warrant at the Amherst home of State Supreme Court Judge John Michalski, who was hit by a train 13 months ago days after FBI agents questioned him about his friendship with the owner of a Cheektowaga strip club. Michalski, described as an unindicted co-conspirator in Geraces sex-trafficking case, sent Gerace a text message mentioning a prostitute he liked, according to prosecutors. At a March hearing, a federal prosecutor said Michalski could be referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator to a sex-trafficking crime because of evidence showing him to be a customer of high-end prostitution. Prosecutors accuse Gerace of exploiting drug-addicted dancers at his Pharaohs Gentlemens Club in Cheektowaga by providing them drugs to get them to perform sex acts for him and his friends a key accusation in the federal case against him. But Gerace was also grooming people in high places, such as Michalski, they say. It goes to show you that people in a position of power this defendant has access to, absolutely ruin peoples lives, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi said at a March hearing urging U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. to keep Gerace in jail prior to his trial. Judge's dangerous encounter with train astonishes those who know him The fun-loving Judge John L. Michalski was the last person his friends expected to lie down in front of a slow-moving freight train, they told The Buffalo News. Gerace has been behind bars since the hearing, and Sinatras ruling this past Tuesday will keep him in custody ahead of his trial in August. The U.S. Attorneys Office invited Michalski in 2021 to talk to prosecutors about Gerace and what he knew about him, but the judge declined, said attorney Anthony J. Lana, who represented the judge. Lana said Michalski told him that he didnt know about any suspected drug- or sex-trafficking at Pharaohs, telling his lawyer, I have nothing to tell them. Lana said that when he pressed Tripi to show him any evidence of criminality involving the judge, it was all speculation all nebulous. Hes not going to win husband of the year award, but thats a far cry from being an unindicted co-conspirator, Lana said of Michalski. Michalskis widow expressed anguish Thursday in a statement to The Buffalo News after she was asked about the prosecutors allegations against her husband. Judge refuses to release strip club owner ahead of bribery, sex- and drug-trafficking trial U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. decided against reopening a detention hearing for Peter G. Gerace Jr. and will keep the Pharaoh's Gentlemen's Club owner in pretrial custody. Heres how Michalski helped Gerace, according to prosecutors: The judge issued a protective order shielding witnesses identities in a previous police investigation of suspected drug trafficking at Geraces club, and did not recuse himself, although he and Gerace were friends. And then, ultimately, that case went nowhere. I dont think that was a coincidence, Tripi said at the hearing. Michalski handled a vehicular assault case involving Geraces ex-wife in which she pleaded guilty. Previously, Michalski mocked the former spouse whom Gerace has been at odds with. The judge approved a name change for Geraces son on the same day Gerace made the request. Gerace flaunted his connections with powerful people, Tripi said at the hearing. He has bragged to witnesses that he has contacts in every local police department, political figures and many others, the prosecutor said of Gerace. His unindicted co-conspirators include drug dealers, organized crime associates and even a local judge, the U.S. Attorneys Office wrote in a recent court filing. A suicide after a raid The judge had also been hospitalized Feb. 28, 2021, after he lay in front of a moving freight train in Depew and was hit by it. The train incident happened about two weeks after federal agents contacted Michalski about his friendship with Gerace. During the 2022 search of his home, police from federal and state agencies seized documents related to a small online business run by the judges wife, Lana previously confirmed. Given the judges fragile mental state at the time, theres no coincidence of the suicide shortly after that happened, Lana said of the raid. I thought that was egregious. Michalski was never charged with any crimes. I had the privilege to assist Judge Michalski with the inquiry by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Office of Court Administration, attorney Terrence M. Connors told The News. After both of these matters were concluded, the judge was returned to the bench. Both of these agencies cast aside the unreliable, scurrilous accusations from anonymous sources with no credibility. Theres nothing more that the government and the media can do to us as a family that will hurt us, said the judges widow, Susan Michalski. It is shameful to be talking about a man who has recently passed on, and a family who is trying so hard to heal. Please just leave us alone, she said in a statement to The News delivered by Connors. Tripi declined to comment to The News about mentioning Michalski at the March detention hearing for Gerace. The U.S. Department of Justices prosecutors manual counsels against identifying an unindicted co-conspirator in an indictment, because it does not give the person a chance to defend himself or herself, Connors said. With the judge, it was worse because it wasnt even a finding returned by a grand jury, Connors said. In this case, Michalski was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator, not in the indictment, but at a detention hearing in which Tripi described Gerace as a danger to the community. We do not comment on pending cases, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross told The News. As a general matter, there is a legitimate government interest in providing the court with information relevant to inform its decisions. Gerace faces multiple charges Gerace has pleaded not guilty to a 2021 indictment that he bribed a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, conspired to distribute controlled substances, maintained Pharaohs as a drug-involved premises and exploited the drug addictions of dancers at the club to coerce them into engaging in sex acts. During a March 24 hearing after Gerace was arraigned on additional charges, Tripi said a former Pharaohs dancer will testify at Geraces trial about how she began dancing at Pharaohs as an 18-year-old and continued there for approximately five years. When she began working there, she told authorities, she had never used drugs. But within two months, she was addicted to cocaine and heroin and began having sex in exchange for drugs and money with Gerace and his friends, Tripi said. At that March arraignment, Gerace pleaded not guilty to the three additional counts of witness tampering and selling cocaine. It was at a detention hearing afterward when Tripi sought to have Gerace returned to pretrial detention, calling him a danger to witnesses and the community. At the hearing, Tripi said Gerace had engaged in criminal conduct while on pretrial release and he cited what he called Geraces history of witness tampering and intimidation. Moreover, he has boasted about having law enforcement and judicial contacts and has described himself to one witness as untouchable, Tripi said. Texts between Michalski and Gerace During that hearing, Tripi said he anticipated introducing at Geraces trial text messages from Michalski to corroborate the expected testimony of some witnesses. Tripi said text exchanges between Gerace and Michalski reveal the judge as one example ... of people in high places that we submit the defendant has been able to groom over time. Tripi cited a 2015 text from Michalski to Gerace using a vulgar term indicating he was looking for a woman for sex. Gerace responded, Where and when? Tripi said. At the hearing, Tripi said he anticipates introducing evidence against Gerace about high-end prostitution for important people in this community, including some lawyers. Regarding some of the high-end prostitution, there was evidence that Judge Michalski was one of those high-end customers, and that he liked the female name Shelby, Tripi said. Tripi also provided Sinatra with a 2017 exchange of texts in which Gerace and Michalski discussed Geraces former wife Katrina L. Gerace, also known as Katrina Nigro. he was sending screenshots of her mug shots to the judge, who mocked her. Who said things like: Wow. Unbelievable. Ha ha ha. And, She looks like crap. Give her enough rope. Despite that and despite knowing full well the relationship that he had with Gerace and the witness in this case, when (Geraces) ex-wife was arrested for driving drunk and hurting someone, the judge heard the case, took the plea. And then only when publicity in this case started, he recused himself prior to sentencing. The Buffalo News has reported that Katrina Gerace has served as a witness for federal law enforcement authorities investigating suspected organized crime activities involving her ex-husband and others. Gerace is the nephew of Joseph A. Todaro, whom prosecutors and federal agents have identified in court documents as the leader of Buffalos Italian Organized Crime organization. Todaro, the owner of La Nova Pizza, is not charged in this case and has repeatedly denied being involved in organized crime. Gerace has also denied being involved in organized crime. Geraces lawyer criticizes prosecutor Steven M. Cohen, one of the attorneys who represents Gerace, lashed out at Tripi earlier this week. The assistant United States attorney continues to make allegations and propound innuendo, no evidence, Cohen said. We look forward to a trial before impartial jurors so that our client can be acquitted and finally move beyond these baseless allegations. Cohen said the reason Gerace has many friends in law enforcement and in positions of trust and honor is because he is a good and decent man. Cohen also defended Michalski, saying Tripi besmirched an excellent judge of blessed memory. There seems to be no depths to which he will not plunge to attack Mr. Gerace, Cohen said. John Michalski was a true gentleman and a fair judge. Michalski was appointed to serve as a judge in 2006 to fill a vacancy on the State Court of Claims and assigned to handle cases in State Supreme Court in Erie County. Gerace was a client of Michalskis before he became a judge. In an example of the connection between Gerace and Michalski, Tripi cited an incident from 2015 when the Erie County District Attorneys Office obtained a protective order from Michalski involving a police undercover investigation at Pharaohs involving drugs. The Erie County DAs Office at the time, surely unaware of the relationship between Judge Michalski and Peter Gerace, actually went to Judge Michalski to get a protective order to not disclose the names of identifying witnesses in the case Tripi said. That investigation went nowhere, Tripi said. Continued efforts by defense lawyers, as recently as this week, to gain Geraces release ahead of his Aug. 14 trial with co-defendant Joseph Bongiovanni, the former DEA agent, have been unsuccessful. Alimentation Couche-Tard (OTCMKTS:ANCTF Get Rating) and Seven & i (OTC:SVNDF Get Rating) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Alimentation Couche-Tard and Seven & is top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Alimentation Couche-Tard alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Alimentation Couche-Tard N/A N/A N/A $1.55 31.33 Seven & i N/A N/A N/A 197.96 0.22 Seven & i is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Alimentation Couche-Tard, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Alimentation Couche-Tard N/A N/A N/A Seven & i N/A N/A N/A Dividends This table compares Alimentation Couche-Tard and Seven & is net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Alimentation Couche-Tard pays an annual dividend of $0.41 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Seven & i pays an annual dividend of 57.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 132.0%. Alimentation Couche-Tard pays out 26.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Seven & i pays out 28.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Insider & Institutional Ownership 6.7% of Alimentation Couche-Tard shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 19.6% of Seven & i shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Alimentation Couche-Tard and Seven & i, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Alimentation Couche-Tard 0 1 3 0 2.75 Seven & i 1 0 0 0 1.00 Alimentation Couche-Tard currently has a consensus price target of $73.00, indicating a potential upside of 50.14%. Given Alimentation Couche-Tards stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Alimentation Couche-Tard is more favorable than Seven & i. Summary Alimentation Couche-Tard beats Seven & i on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Alimentation Couche-Tard (Get Rating) Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. engages in the operation of independent convenience stores. It sells goods for immediate consumption, road transportation fuel, and other products mainly through company-operated stores and franchises stores. It operates under Circle K, Ingo, Couche-Tara brands. The company was founded by Alain Bouchard, Jacques DAmours, Richard Fortin, and Real Plourde in 1980 and is headquartered in Laval, Canada. About Seven & i (Get Rating) Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. engages in retail, food, financial, and IT businesses in Japan, North America, and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Domestic Convenience Store operations, Overseas Convenience Store Operations, Superstore Operations, Department Store Operations, Financial Services, Specialty Stores Operations, and Others. The company's Domestic Convenience Store Operations segment operates convenience stores comprising directly managed corporate stores and franchised stores. Its Overseas Convenience Store Operations segment engages in convenience store operation and gasoline retail businesses. The company's Superstore Operations segment operates retail business that provide daily life necessities, such as food and other daily necessities. Its Department Store Operations operates department stores that provide various merchandise products. The company's Financial Services segment offers banking, leasing, and credit card services. Its Specialty Store Operations segment operates specialty retail stores. The company's others segment engages in real estate and other businesses. It operates approximately 22,500 stores in Japan and 71,800 stores internationally. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for Alimentation Couche-Tard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alimentation Couche-Tard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alpha Pro Tech (NYSE:APT Get Rating) and Vicarious Surgical (NYSE:RBOT Get Rating) are both small-cap industrial products companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and analyst recommendations. Risk & Volatility Alpha Pro Tech has a beta of -0.77, indicating that its stock price is 177% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vicarious Surgical has a beta of 1.19, indicating that its stock price is 19% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Alpha Pro Tech alerts: Profitability This table compares Alpha Pro Tech and Vicarious Surgicals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Alpha Pro Tech 3.98% 3.73% 3.51% Vicarious Surgical N/A -74.50% -56.58% Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Alpha Pro Tech $61.98 million 0.75 $3.28 million $0.19 20.00 Vicarious Surgical N/A N/A $5.16 million ($0.51) -4.24 This table compares Alpha Pro Tech and Vicarious Surgicals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Vicarious Surgical has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Alpha Pro Tech. Vicarious Surgical is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Alpha Pro Tech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional & Insider Ownership 19.6% of Alpha Pro Tech shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 42.8% of Vicarious Surgical shares are held by institutional investors. 13.6% of Alpha Pro Tech shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 14.7% of Vicarious Surgical shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Alpha Pro Tech and Vicarious Surgical, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Alpha Pro Tech 0 0 0 0 N/A Vicarious Surgical 0 0 1 0 3.00 Vicarious Surgical has a consensus price target of $7.00, suggesting a potential upside of 224.07%. Given Vicarious Surgicals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Vicarious Surgical is more favorable than Alpha Pro Tech. About Alpha Pro Tech (Get Rating) Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets a range of disposable protective apparel, infection control, and building supply products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Disposable Protective Apparel and Building Supply. The Disposable Protective Apparel segment provides shoe covers, bouffant caps, coveralls, frocks, lab coats, and gowns, hoods, as well as face masks and shields. The Building Supply segment offers construction weatherization products, such as housewrap and housewrap accessories, including window and door flashing, and seam tape, and synthetic roof underlayment, as well as other woven material. The company markets its products under the Alpha Pro Tech brand name, as well as under private labels. Its products are used primarily in cleanrooms; industrial safety manufacturing environments; health care facilities, such as hospitals, laboratories, and dental offices; building and re-roofing sites. The company distributes its products through a network of purchasing groups, distributors, and independent sales representatives, as well as through its sales and marketing force. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada. About Vicarious Surgical (Get Rating) Vicarious Surgical Inc. operates as a robotics technology company in the United States. The company focuses on developing and commercializing Vicarious System, a single-incision surgical robot that virtually transports surgeons inside the patient to perform minimally invasive surgery. Vicarious Surgical Inc. was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Receive News & Ratings for Alpha Pro Tech Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alpha Pro Tech and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IRON Financial LLC reduced its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Get Rating) by 6.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 39,811 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,632 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF comprises about 1.6% of IRON Financial LLCs holdings, making the stock its 17th largest holding. IRON Financial LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $2,870,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. W.H. Cornerstone Investments Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. W.H. Cornerstone Investments Inc. now owns 6,480 shares of the companys stock worth $477,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.5% during the 4th quarter. Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLC now owns 3,742 shares of the companys stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 15,106 shares of the companys stock worth $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Cornell Pochily Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Cornell Pochily Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 11,267 shares of the companys stock worth $812,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Personal Capital Advisors Corp raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Personal Capital Advisors Corp now owns 2,770 shares of the companys stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Price Performance Shares of USMV stock traded down $0.02 during trading on Friday, reaching $72.28. The company had a trading volume of 2,681,175 shares. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $72.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $72.59. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a one year low of $47.44 and a one year high of $55.45. The company has a market capitalization of $28.70 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75. About iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding USMV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kamunting Street Capital Management L.P. raised its position in Hippo Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HIPO Get Rating) by 81.3% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 66,887 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 30,000 shares during the quarter. Hippo comprises about 1.4% of Kamunting Street Capital Management L.P.s portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest holding. Kamunting Street Capital Management L.P.s holdings in Hippo were worth $910,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Hippo by 60.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 2,080 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 780 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hippo in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $46,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its stake in shares of Hippo by 37.6% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 10,061 shares of the companys stock valued at $137,000 after purchasing an additional 2,749 shares in the last quarter. Caz Investments LP acquired a new stake in shares of Hippo in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Finally, Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Hippo by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 30,408 shares of the companys stock valued at $414,000 after purchasing an additional 3,800 shares in the last quarter. Get Hippo alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on shares of Hippo from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Hippo Stock Down 4.9 % Shares of NYSE HIPO traded down $0.82 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $15.98. The stock had a trading volume of 41,287 shares, compared to its average volume of 61,424. Hippo Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $11.30 and a twelve month high of $28.75. The companys 50 day moving average price is $17.63 and its 200 day moving average price is $16.24. Hippo (NYSE:HIPO Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported ($3.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($2.64) by ($0.37). The firm had revenue of $39.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $30.00 million. Hippo had a negative return on equity of 44.09% and a negative net margin of 248.59%. Equities analysts forecast that Hippo Holdings Inc. will post -8.5 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity In related news, Director Noah Knauf acquired 96,167 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The stock was bought at an average price of $14.26 per share, for a total transaction of $1,371,341.42. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 96,167 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,371,341.42. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 11.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Hippo (Get Rating) Hippo Holdings Inc provides home protection insurance in the United States and the District of Columbia. Its insurance products include homeowners' insurance against risks of fire, wind, and theft; and commercial and personal lines of products. The company distributes insurance products and services through its technology platform; and offers its policies online, over the phone, or through licensed insurance agents. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HIPO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hippo Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HIPO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Hippo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hippo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC (LON:MONY Get Rating) insider Peter Duffy bought 57 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 262 ($3.26) per share, for a total transaction of 149.34 ($185.65). Peter Duffy also recently made the following trade(s): Get Moneysupermarket.com Group alerts: On Friday, May 5th, Peter Duffy acquired 56 shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 267 ($3.32) per share, with a total value of 149.52 ($185.88). Moneysupermarket.com Group Stock Down 0.5 % Shares of LON:MONY opened at GBX 254.60 ($3.17) on Friday. The company has a market cap of 1.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,958.46, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.69. Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC has a 12 month low of GBX 167 ($2.08) and a 12 month high of GBX 282.60 ($3.51). The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.81. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 259.02 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 231.86. Analyst Ratings Changes About Moneysupermarket.com Group Several analysts have commented on MONY shares. Numis Securities reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 260 ($3.23) price target on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a research note on Monday, February 20th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 260 ($3.23) price objective on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of GBX 250 ($3.11). (Get Rating) Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides price comparison website in the United Kingdom. The company operates through Insurance, Money, Home Services, Travel and Cashback segments. It offers online and app-based tools to save money on their household bills across insurance, money, and home service channels under the MoneySuperMarket brand; and compares travel deals, including holidays, car hire, flights, and hotels under the TravelSupermarket brand. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Moneysupermarket.com Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Moneysupermarket.com Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR Get Rating) and Superior Plus (OTCMKTS:SUUIF Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, dividends and institutional ownership. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for New Jersey Resources and Superior Plus, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get New Jersey Resources alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score New Jersey Resources 1 2 0 0 1.67 Superior Plus 0 0 3 0 3.00 New Jersey Resources currently has a consensus target price of $48.50, indicating a potential downside of 2.67%. Superior Plus has a consensus target price of $13.10, indicating a potential upside of 73.97%. Given Superior Plus stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Superior Plus is more favorable than New Jersey Resources. Dividends Institutional & Insider Ownership New Jersey Resources pays an annual dividend of $1.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Superior Plus pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.0%. New Jersey Resources pays out 51.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Superior Plus pays out 312.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. New Jersey Resources has increased its dividend for 27 consecutive years. 74.1% of New Jersey Resources shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 27.9% of Superior Plus shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of New Jersey Resources shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings and Valuation This table compares New Jersey Resources and Superior Plus top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio New Jersey Resources $2.91 billion 1.66 $274.92 million $3.02 16.50 Superior Plus N/A N/A N/A $0.19 39.25 New Jersey Resources has higher revenue and earnings than Superior Plus. New Jersey Resources is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Superior Plus, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares New Jersey Resources and Superior Plus net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets New Jersey Resources 10.94% 14.22% 4.22% Superior Plus N/A N/A N/A Summary New Jersey Resources beats Superior Plus on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About New Jersey Resources (Get Rating) New Jersey Resources Corporation, an energy services holding company, provides regulated gas distribution, and retail and wholesale energy services. The company operates through four segments: Natural Gas Distribution, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Services, and Storage and Transportation. The Natural Gas Distribution segment offers regulated natural gas utility services to approximately 569,300 residential and commercial customers throughout Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, and Sussex counties in New Jersey; provides capacity and storage management services; and participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets. The Clean Energy Ventures segment invests in, owns, and operates commercial and residential solar installation situated in New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. The Energy Services segment offers unregulated wholesale energy management services to other energy companies and natural gas producers, as well as maintains and transacts a portfolio of physical assets consisting of natural gas transportation and storage contracts in the United States and Canada. The Storage and Transportation segment invests in natural gas transportation and storage facilities. It provides heating, ventilation, and cooling services; holds commercial real estate properties; and offers solar equipment installation, and plumbing repair and installation services, as well as engages in the water appliance sale, installation, and servicing activities. The company was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Wall, New Jersey. About Superior Plus (Get Rating) Superior Plus Corp. distributes and markets propane and distillates in both the United States and Canada. It operates through three segments: The United States Retail Propane Distribution (U.S. Propane); Canadian Retail Propane Distribution (Canadian Propane); and North American Wholesale Propane Distribution (Wholesale Propane). The U.S. Propane Distribution segment distributes propane gas and liquid fuels primarily in the Eastern United States, the Midwest, and California to retail customers, including residential and commercial customers. The Canadian Propane segment distributes propane gas and liquid fuels across Canada to retail customers, including residential and commercial customers. The Wholesale Propane segment supplies propane gas for the Canadian Propane and the U.S. Propane segments, as well as propane and other natural gas liquids to third-party wholesale customers in Canada and the United States. Superior Plus Corp. was incorporated in 1989 and is based in Toronto, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for New Jersey Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Jersey Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (TSE:OR Get Rating) Equities research analysts at Raymond James issued their FY2023 earnings estimates for Osisko Gold Royalties in a report released on Tuesday, June 6th. Raymond James analyst B. Macarthur expects that the company will post earnings per share of $0.50 for the year. Raymond James has a Outperform rating and a $25.50 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for Osisko Gold Royalties current full-year earnings is $0.62 per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for Osisko Gold Royalties Q4 2024 earnings at $0.12 EPS. Get Osisko Gold Royalties alerts: A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Haywood Securities cut shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. TD Securities lifted their price objective on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$22.00 to C$27.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. CIBC lifted their price objective on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$23.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Monday, April 17th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$21.00 to C$27.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Cormark boosted their target price on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$22.00 to C$23.00 in a research note on Monday, February 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$25.67. Osisko Gold Royalties Trading Down 0.8 % Osisko Gold Royalties Increases Dividend TSE:OR opened at C$21.45 on Friday. Osisko Gold Royalties has a 12 month low of C$11.90 and a 12 month high of C$24.42. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$22.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$19.29. The company has a current ratio of 8.82, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.14. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.64, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.65. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This is an increase from Osisko Gold Royaltiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.12%. Osisko Gold Royaltiess dividend payout ratio is currently 51.06%. Insider Buying and Selling at Osisko Gold Royalties In related news, Director Victor Bradley sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$21.76, for a total value of C$108,794.00. Insiders own 0.52% of the companys stock. About Osisko Gold Royalties (Get Rating) Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd acquires and manages precious metal and other royalties, streams, and offtake and other interests in Canada and internationally. It also owns options on royalty/stream financings; and exclusive rights to participate in future royalty/stream financings on various projects. The company's primary asset is a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine located in Canada. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Osisko Gold Royalties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Osisko Gold Royalties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Friday, June 9th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Friday, June 23rd will be given a dividend of 1.27 per share on Tuesday, July 11th. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 22nd. Philip Morris International has increased its dividend by an average of 2.9% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 14 years. Philip Morris International has a payout ratio of 74.1% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Philip Morris International to earn $6.79 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $5.08 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 74.8%. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.5 % PM opened at $92.59 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $143.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.56, a PEG ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.68. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $95.54 and a 200-day moving average price of $98.53. Philip Morris International has a twelve month low of $82.85 and a twelve month high of $105.62. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.80% and a negative return on equity of 128.55%. The companys revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.56 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Philip Morris International will post 6.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $114.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $106.00 to $116.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $110.60. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Philip Morris International Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Studio Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 33.8% during the 4th quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC now owns 428 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 54.9% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 525 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the period. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $82,000. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $94,000. Institutional investors own 75.85% of the companys stock. Philip Morris International Company Profile (Get Rating) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products that are sold in markets outside the United States. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ProPetro (NYSE:PUMP Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Barclays from $14.00 to $12.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. ProPetro Trading Down 2.8 % NYSE:PUMP opened at $7.67 on Thursday. ProPetro has a 12 month low of $6.33 and a 12 month high of $13.62. The firm has a market cap of $883.81 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.13 and a beta of 2.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The companys 50 day moving average is $7.20 and its 200-day moving average is $8.66. Get ProPetro alerts: ProPetro (NYSE:PUMP Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.09). ProPetro had a net margin of 1.33% and a return on equity of 16.74%. The firm had revenue of $423.57 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $410.08 million. Equities analysts anticipate that ProPetro will post 1.55 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity Institutional Investors Weigh In On ProPetro In related news, Director Michele Vion sold 21,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.89, for a total transaction of $144,690.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 40,094 shares of the companys stock, valued at $276,247.66. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in ProPetro by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,847,360 shares of the companys stock worth $143,672,000 after buying an additional 1,445,598 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in ProPetro by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,033,275 shares of the companys stock worth $88,817,000 after buying an additional 361,312 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in ProPetro by 25.7% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,750,490 shares of the companys stock worth $48,536,000 after buying an additional 1,381,397 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in ProPetro by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,584,796 shares of the companys stock worth $32,965,000 after buying an additional 289,537 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners lifted its position in ProPetro by 42.8% during the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,992,577 shares of the companys stock worth $28,701,000 after buying an additional 1,196,513 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.58% of the companys stock. ProPetro Company Profile (Get Rating) ProPetro Holding Corp. is an oilfield services company that engages in the provision of hydraulic fracturing and other complementary services. It operates through the following segments: Hydraulic Fracturing, Cementing, Coil Tubing, Flowback, and Drilling. The Hydraulic Fracturing segment intends to optimize hydrocarbon flow paths during the completion phase of horizontal shale wellbores. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for ProPetro Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ProPetro and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James assumed coverage on shares of Reinsurance Group of America (NYSE:RGA Get Rating) in a report released on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued a strong-buy rating and a $199.00 target price on the insurance providers stock. Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on RGA. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Reinsurance Group of America from $170.00 to $164.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Reinsurance Group of America in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. They issued an overweight rating and a $163.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Reinsurance Group of America in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Citigroup upgraded Reinsurance Group of America from a sell rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $133.00 to $158.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, 58.com restated a maintains rating on shares of Reinsurance Group of America in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Reinsurance Group of America has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $161.50. Get Reinsurance Group of America alerts: Reinsurance Group of America Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of Reinsurance Group of America stock opened at $144.29 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.14 and a current ratio of 0.14. Reinsurance Group of America has a 52 week low of $109.06 and a 52 week high of $153.35. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $142.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $141.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.60 billion, a PE ratio of 10.42 and a beta of 0.91. Reinsurance Group of America Dividend Announcement Reinsurance Group of America ( NYSE:RGA Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The insurance provider reported $5.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $1.79. The company had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.23 billion. Reinsurance Group of America had a return on equity of 23.94% and a net margin of 5.66%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.47 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Reinsurance Group of America will post 17.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th were given a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 15th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Reinsurance Group of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.10%. Insider Activity In other news, CFO Todd C. Larson sold 1,018 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.96, for a total transaction of $151,641.28. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,592,969.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Todd C. Larson sold 1,018 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.96, for a total transaction of $151,641.28. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,592,969.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP William L. Hutton sold 1,952 shares of Reinsurance Group of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.03, for a total value of $292,858.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13,970 shares in the company, valued at $2,095,919.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.31% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Reinsurance Group of America A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in RGA. Profund Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 2,850 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $405,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,183 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $290,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 33.9% in the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 300 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,622 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $614,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. Finally, Legacy Advisors LLC raised its stake in Reinsurance Group of America by 2.0% during the first quarter. Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 4,537 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $602,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. 96.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Reinsurance Group of America (Get Rating) Reinsurance Group of America, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Corporate and Other. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Reinsurance Group of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reinsurance Group of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. An organization that has quietly helped tens of thousands of people in Western New York over the past 175 years now could use a bit of help itself, in the form of some new volunteers. The Buffalo council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides food, clothing, furniture and other items to families in Erie County, Niagara County and six other counties. The organization has about 800 volunteers, some of them in their 80s and 90s. They serve lunches, collect and distribute food donations, and help families including refugees, immigrants and people facing severe poverty get clothing, furniture and other household items. While he is thankful for the volunteers help, executive director Mark Zirnheld said he is trying to recruit some younger volunteers to keep the society viable for the future. I would estimate that at least 90% of our volunteers are age 70 or older, Zirnheld said. The people we have are great, and the organization is healthy. We would just like to attract some younger people to help us. The society is one of Americas oldest charitable organizations, and a Buffalo bishop helped establish the not-for-profit group in this country. Founded in 1833 by law students in Paris, France, the groups first American council was founded 12 years later in St. Louis. One of the founders was the Rev. John Timon, a St. Louis priest. Timon moved to Buffalo in 1847, becoming the first bishop of the Buffalo Catholic Diocese, and one of his first initiatives was to start a St. Vincent de Paul council in Buffalo. While many Catholics volunteer and dozens of local Catholic churches provide space for donation boxes, the Buffalo conference is not run by the diocese, Zirnheld said. We welcome help from people of any religion, and we serve people regardless of how they worship, said Zirnheld, who has headed the Buffalo council for 35 years. We collaborate with the Red Cross, Erie County Social Services, Jewish Family Services, Parents Anonymous and many other organizations. He said the society assists about 500 families each week with food, clothing and other necessities. Some volunteers visit medical patients, prisoners and people who live alone. The group serves free lunches five days each week at its dining room at 1298 Main St., and provides bags of free food at 12 pantries throughout the region. They also sell used goods at their extreme discount store at the Main Street location and another in Olean. Twenty paid employees including nine part-timers work with the 800 volunteers. Zirnheld said the society would not be able to serve so many people without the help of longtime volunteers like Joyce LaMendola, Joan Laible and Vince Perrello. LaMendola, 80, is a retired advertising salesperson who began volunteering at the dining room at age 63. Im not the spring chicken I used to be, but I still enjoy helping people, she said. Ive had a very good life, and it makes me feel good to help people who have had some problems, said Laible, 79, a retired nurse who has volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul for more than 50 years. Laible, a widow, and Perrello, 82, a widower, have been partners for 10 years. They live in Lancaster and frequently drive to Buffalo to help out with the lunches. You look at the people who come in, and you realize, they are just like you and me but they have hit some kind of hard times, Laible said. I try to put them at ease. Were there to help them, Perrello said, but I think we get more of a lift from them than they do from us. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating items can contact the Buffalo council at 716-882-3360 or info@svdpwny.org. Redwood Financial Network Corp trimmed its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW Get Rating) by 16.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 5,884 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,188 shares during the period. Redwood Financial Network Corps holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF were worth $344,000 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 10.4% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 52,641,996 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,079,556,000 after acquiring an additional 4,966,835 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 33.3% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 12,121,368 shares of the companys stock valued at $709,100,000 after acquiring an additional 3,025,396 shares during the period. UBS Group AG increased its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 8,990,438 shares of the companys stock valued at $525,941,000 after acquiring an additional 297,081 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 18.6% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 6,729,280 shares of the companys stock valued at $513,983,000 after acquiring an additional 1,054,992 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 5,197,761 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,069,000 after acquiring an additional 31,187 shares during the period. Get iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF alerts: iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Trading Up 0.3 % IVW traded up $0.19 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $67.94. 1,000,872 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,789,480. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $65.17 and its 200 day simple moving average is $62.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.15 and a beta of 1.05. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $55.30 and a 1-year high of $71.81. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Company Profile iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF, formerly iShares S&P 500 Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500/Citigroup Growth Index (the Growth Index). The Growth Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shop Apotheke Europe (OTCMKTS:SAEYY Get Rating) was downgraded by investment analysts at HSBC from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, The Fly reports. A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on SAEYY. Credit Suisse Group downgraded Shop Apotheke Europe from an outperform rating to an underperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Shop Apotheke Europe from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 23rd. Get Shop Apotheke Europe alerts: Shop Apotheke Europe Price Performance Shop Apotheke Europe stock opened at $9.55 on Friday. Shop Apotheke Europe has a one year low of $3.82 and a one year high of $10.55. The business has a fifty day moving average of $10.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.57. Shop Apotheke Europe Company Profile Shop Apotheke Europe N.V. owns and operates online pharmacies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands. It provides prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and pharmacy-related beauty and personal care products, as well as food supplements. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Sevenum, the Netherlands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Shop Apotheke Europe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shop Apotheke Europe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SVNLY Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the seven ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $99.00. Separately, Barclays lowered Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Get Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) alerts: Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) Stock Performance Shares of SVNLY opened at $4.20 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $16.65 billion, a PE ratio of 7.93, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.79. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $4.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.89. Svenska Handelsbanken AB has a 1 year low of $3.87 and a 1 year high of $5.34. Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) Increases Dividend Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 13th. Investors of record on Friday, March 24th were paid a dividend of $0.2699 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.95%. This is a positive change from Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)s previous dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 23rd. Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)s payout ratio is presently 50.91%. (Get Rating) Svenska Handelsbanken AB engages in the provision of financial and banking services. It operates through the following segments: Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Norway, The Netherlands, Capital Markets, and Others. The Capital Markets segment refers to the investment bank, including securities trading, and investment advisory services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tesco (LON:TSCO Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from GBX 290 ($3.61) to GBX 270 ($3.36) in a report published on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the retailers stock. Several other research firms have also commented on TSCO. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Tesco to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from GBX 260 ($3.23) to GBX 310 ($3.85) in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Tesco in a report on Monday, May 22nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Tesco has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 308 ($3.83). Get Tesco alerts: Tesco Trading Down 0.0 % LON TSCO opened at GBX 261.90 ($3.26) on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 123.29. Tesco has a 12 month low of GBX 194.35 ($2.42) and a 12 month high of GBX 285.30 ($3.55). The companys 50-day moving average price is GBX 270.60 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 252.59. The stock has a market cap of 18.99 billion, a PE ratio of 2,619.00, a PEG ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.64. Tesco Increases Dividend Tesco Company Profile The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 11th will be given a dividend of GBX 7.05 ($0.09) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. This is a boost from Tescos previous dividend of $3.85. Tescos dividend payout ratio is currently 11,000.00%. (Get Rating) Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It offers grocery products through its stores, as well as online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating) Stock analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q2 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Southern in a report issued on Wednesday, June 7th. Zacks Research analyst N. Choudhury now anticipates that the utilities provider will post earnings of $0.75 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.74. The consensus estimate for Southerns current full-year earnings is $3.61 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Southerns Q3 2023 earnings at $1.49 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $0.56 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $0.93 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $1.10 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.06 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $3.99 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $4.27 EPS. Get Southern alerts: Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Guggenheim lifted their target price on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $79.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Southern in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a buy rating and a $80.00 price objective for the company. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Southern presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $74.07. Southern Stock Performance NYSE:SO opened at $71.26 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The firm has a market cap of $77.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.93 and a beta of 0.51. The firms fifty day moving average price is $71.96 and its 200 day moving average price is $69.37. Southern has a 1-year low of $58.85 and a 1-year high of $80.57. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $6.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 10.78% and a net margin of 11.53%. The firms revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.97 EPS. Institutional Trading of Southern Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SO. Prudential PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southern by 23.4% during the 1st quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 19,438 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,409,000 after acquiring an additional 3,689 shares in the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in shares of Southern by 33.5% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,727 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $126,000 after buying an additional 433 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Southern by 63.0% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,902 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 735 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in Southern by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 49,925 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,621,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Southern by 35.8% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 907,132 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $65,776,000 after acquiring an additional 239,325 shares during the period. 61.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Southern news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total value of $3,758,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Bryan D. Anderson sold 9,491 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.03, for a total value of $712,109.73. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,119 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,710,008.57. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total transaction of $3,758,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 150,678 shares of company stock valued at $10,992,871 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. Southern Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.93%. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. Southerns dividend payout ratio is 90.32%. About Southern (Get Rating) The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Utah Retirement Systems lowered its stake in Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:CAG Get Rating) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 83,470 shares of the companys stock after selling 400 shares during the quarter. Utah Retirement Systems holdings in Conagra Brands were worth $3,230,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 64,185 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,155,000 after buying an additional 3,975 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 309,389 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,942,000 after buying an additional 1,186 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 22,548 shares of the companys stock valued at $758,000 after buying an additional 807 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 19.8% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 27,151 shares of the companys stock valued at $911,000 after buying an additional 4,487 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 509.0% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 366,225 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,294,000 after buying an additional 306,086 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.08% of the companys stock. Get Conagra Brands alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently issued reports on CAG shares. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Conagra Brands from $44.00 to $42.00 in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $35.00 to $38.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $43.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on shares of Conagra Brands in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a hold rating and a $43.00 price objective on the stock. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $41.08. Insider Activity Conagra Brands Trading Down 0.2 % In other news, EVP Charisse Brock sold 7,036 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.04, for a total transaction of $260,613.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 94,802 shares in the company, valued at $3,511,466.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In other Conagra Brands news, EVP Charisse Brock sold 7,036 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.04, for a total value of $260,613.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 94,802 shares in the company, valued at $3,511,466.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, COO Thomas M. Mcgough sold 45,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.66, for a total transaction of $1,739,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 104,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,053,848.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 0.98% of the companys stock. CAG stock traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $34.38. The company had a trading volume of 2,757,475 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,305,557. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of $16.40 billion, a PE ratio of 20.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.56. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $36.64 and a 200 day moving average of $37.15. Conagra Brands, Inc. has a 12 month low of $31.07 and a 12 month high of $41.30. Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 5th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.12. Conagra Brands had a net margin of 6.59% and a return on equity of 15.34%. The firm had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.08 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.58 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Conagra Brands, Inc. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Conagra Brands Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th were paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.84%. Conagra Brandss dividend payout ratio is presently 79.04%. Conagra Brands Profile (Get Rating) Conagra Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer packaged goods food company in North America. The company operates in four segments: Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice. The Grocery & Snacks segment primarily offers shelf stable food products through various retail channels in the United States. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Conagra Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Conagra Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Weaver C. Barksdale & Associates Inc. raised its stake in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Get Rating) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 15,872 shares of the medical technology companys stock after buying an additional 355 shares during the period. Weaver C. Barksdale & Associates Inc.s holdings in Medtronic were worth $1,234,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Medtronic by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 123,861,994 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $10,001,857,000 after purchasing an additional 1,056,995 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position 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 worth $9,366,883,000 after purchasing an additional 5,620,477 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted 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 worth $4,802,998,000 after purchasing an additional 928,929 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Medtronic by 33.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 19,374,686 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $1,564,508,000 after acquiring an additional 4,816,172 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.37% of the companys stock. Get Medtronic alerts: Medtronic Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MDT opened at $83.73 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $85.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.21. Medtronic plc has a 1 year low of $75.76 and a 1 year high of $95.60. The company has a market capitalization of $111.40 billion, a PE ratio of 29.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.71. 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 Increases Dividend Medtronic ( NYSE:MDT Get Rating ) last posted 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 business had revenue of $8.54 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.25 billion. Medtronic had a net margin of 12.03% and a return on equity of 13.54%. The companys revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.52 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Medtronic plc will post 5.05 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.30%. This is an increase from Medtronics previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. Medtronics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 96.45%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Medtronic from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $104.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $89.00 price target on shares of Medtronic in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Medtronic from $93.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Medtronic from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the company from $77.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Medtronic from $80.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $89.53. Medtronic Company Profile (Get Rating) Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MDT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Get Rating). 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. The Congress government has rolled out Shakti, the free bus travel scheme for women, one of the partys five poll assurances, in Bengaluru on June 11. Women are eligible to travel for free in government-run non-luxury buses operated by BMTC, KSRTC, NWRTC, and NEKRTC from 1 p.m. today. The free bus ride will also apply to destinations within 20 km of Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in Nanjangud, near Mysuru, on Saturday. The windscreens of city, ordinary, and express buses that make up roughly 94 percent of the schedules run by the state's four road transport corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC) will have "Free travel for women" labels placed on them. It is estimated that nearly 42 lakh women would avail themselves of the service on a daily basis. Also read | Karnataka women can travel up to 20 km inside border states free of cost in buses: Siddaramaiah Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy were in attendance at the launch programme at Vidhana Soudha today. Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet colleagues are expected to take a bus ride till Kempe Gowda bus stand, Majestic, where both BMTC and KSRTC buses commence services to different destinations in the city and the State, respectively. The expected annual cost of implementing the plan is Rs 4,051.56 crore. RTCs operate 18,609 buses everyday across the state. 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 With the Nifty50 falling below the 18,600 mark on June 9, we saw selling pressure in equity benchmarks for yet another session as all sectors trended down, led by FMCG and IT. The BSE Sensex dropped 223 points to 62,626, while the Nifty50 declined 71 points to 18,563, and formed a bearish candlestick pattern on the daily charts for the second straight session. Overall, the Nifty is not displaying any major signs of weakness. However, "at higher levels, signs of exhaustion are emerging, with negative divergence observed in momentum indicators, suggesting a potential for profit booking in the market," said Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart. He feels the immediate and crucial support level stands at the 20-day moving average (DMA) of 18,450, and if breached, the next support level would be 18,180. On the upside, the 18,800-18,888 range is seen to be a resistance zone, he said. Broader markets also trended downward, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices falling over one-tenth of a percent each on weak breadth, even as volatility remained lower levels. The India VIX closed at a one-and-half-month low (11.12), indicating that the market is more stable. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks in this article are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month. Key support, resistance levels on Nifty According to the pivot point calculator, the Nifty may find support at 18,552, followed by 18,523 and 18,477. If the index advances, then 18,645 will be the key resistance, followed by 18,673 and 18,720. Nifty Bank The Bank Nifty failed to sustain at higher levels in the later part of the session and ended the day 6.3 points down at 43,989, forming a small-bodied bearish candlestick pattern with a long upper shadow on the daily scale. "We expect the prices to oscillate within a broad horizontal range of 43,500-44,500. Currently, the index is trading above the 21-day EMA (exponential moving average), which aligns near 43,850. A significant breach below this EMA level would strengthen the possibility of further decline towards 43,500," said Arvinder Singh Nanda, Senior Vice President at Master Capital Services. As per the pivot point calculator, the Bank Nifty is expected to find support at 43,937, followed by 43,870 and 43,760, while the resistance is likely to be at 44,157, then 44,225 and 44,335. Call options data On the weekly options front, with 1.55 crore contracts, the maximum Call open interest (OI) was at 18,700 strike, which is expected to be a crucial resistance level for the Nifty. This was followed by 77.53 lakh contracts at 18,800 strike, while 75.76 lakh contracts comprised the 18,600 strike. Maximum call writing was seen at 18,600 strike, which added 52.45 lakh contracts, followed by 18,700 and 18,900 strike, which added 50.21 and 31.9 lakh contracts, respectively. Maximum call unwinding was at 18,200 strike, which shed 19,450 contracts, followed by 17,800 and 17,500 strike, which shed 1,150 and 1,100 contracts, respectively. Put option data On the Put side, the maximum open interest was at 18,700 strike, with 65.27 lakh contracts, which is expected to be an important support level for the Nifty50 in the coming sessions. This was followed by the 18,600 strike, comprising 56.75 lakh contracts, and the 18,300 strike, which has 48.08 lakh contracts. Put writing was seen at 18,300 strike, which added 24.44 lakh contracts, followed by 18,600 and 18,000 strike, which added 24.09 and 18.35 lakh contracts, respectively. Put unwinding was seen at 18,700 strike, which shed 8.35 lakh contracts, followed by 18,900 and 19,100 strike, which shed 66,500 and 7,750 contracts, respectively. Stocks with high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. The highest delivery was seen in Alkem Laboratories, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ipca Laboratories, HDFC, and Asian Paints, among others. 31 stocks see a long build-up An increase in open interest (OI) and price indicates a build-up of long positions. Based on the OI percentage, 31 stocks, including Balrampur Chini Mills, India Cements, Hindustan Aeronautics, Apollo Tyres, and Delta Corp, saw a long build-up. 48 stocks see long unwinding A decline in OI and price generally indicates a long unwinding. Based on the OI percentage, 48 stocks, including Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, Siemens, Escorts, and Container Corporation of India saw a long unwinding. 78 stocks see a short build-up An increase in OI along with a price decrease indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the OI percentage, 78 stocks, including Indian Energy Exchange, Atul, State Bank of India, Exide Industries, and Dr Lal PathLabs, saw a short build-up. 31 stocks see short-covering A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Based on the OI percentage, 31 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included Manappuram Finance, Abbott India, IndiaMART InterMESH, DLF, and Larsen & Toubro Bulk deals (For more bulk deals, click here) Investors Meetings on June 12 Stocks in the news InterGlobe Aviation: The low-cost carrier has expanded its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines for the US. It will launch codeshare flights to four cities in the US via Istanbul from June 15. The flights will connect New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington. Jupiter Wagons: NCLT, Kolkata, has approved the resolution plan submitted by Jupiter Wagons for acquiring the controlling stake of Stone India under the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. After implementation of the resolution plan, Stone India will become a subsidiary of Jupiter Wagons. Cochin Shipyard: The Indian Navy has declared the shipbuilding company as L1 (lowest) bidder for the mid-life upgrade of a ship. The estimated contract value of the project is around Rs 300 crore, and it is to be executed in about 24 months. TVS Motor Company: The PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II will acquire additional stock of TVS Credit, the TVS Motor subsidiary, for Rs 257.02 crore. PI Opportunities Fund will hold approximately 9.72 percent stake in TVS Credit, which is raising the proposed investment from PI to ensure sufficient capital for its growth plans. In addition, its subsidiary TVS Motor (Singapore) has agreed to acquire an additional 25 percent stake in Swiss E-Mobility Group (Holding) AG. Info Edge: The technology company has agreed to sell its entire shareholding in associate company Happily Unmarried Marketing (HUM) to VLCC Health Care. The stake sale will be done via a mix of cash and swap of shares, for Rs 61 crore. Steel Authority of India: Life Insurance Corporation of India acquired additional 2 percent stake in the steel company via open market transactions. Thus, LIC has increased its shareholding in SAIL to 8.687 percent, up from 6.686 percent earlier. Fund Flow FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FII) sold shares worth Rs 308.97 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DII) bought shares worth Rs 1,245.51 crore on June 9, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange shows. Stocks under F&O ban on NSE The National Stock Exchange has added Indian Energy Exchange and India Cements to its F&O ban list for June 12, and retained Indiabulls Housing Finance on the list. Securities thus banned under the F&O segment include companies where derivative contracts have crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Mumbai, Jan 3 (PTI) Maharashtra Congress today rejected allegations that it had taken up the issue of sanctioning the Indu Mill land for a memorial for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh only to win Dalit votes ahead of the forthcoming municipal elections in the city. Giving an assurance for the memorial and getting the land allocated in reality is a tribute paid to the Dalit icon, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre said in a release issued here. "It is wrong to say that it being done to win Dalit votes. The Congress always had the willingness to construct the memorial for Dr Ambedkar, even when RPI president Ramdas Athawale was with the party," he said. Athawale has forged an alliance with the Shiv Sena-BJP in early 2011. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had yesterday in his party mouthpiece 'Samana' had said that the Congress-led government has agreed to give the Indu Mill land in central Mumbai for construction of Ambedkar's memorial to win Dalit votes in the municipal corporation. Thakre said that the Shiv Sena had opposed the memorial when Athawale was with Congress but was raising the issue only because the RPI leader had entered into an alliance with them. He also sought to know why no leader from Shiv Sena was part of the delegation which met the Prime Minister on December 31 over the issue. "In a way Shiv Sena expressed its opposition (to the memorial) as none of its leaders were part of the all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to meet the Prime Minister on the issue," Thakre said. PTI KVS VKV The distracting clank of shifting marble tiles on the Albright-Knox Art Gallerys second floor, a critical lack of exhibition space and the necessity of airlifting large works into buildings by crane were among the issues confronting a museum that opened in 1905. With the renamed and reimagined Buffalo AKG Art Museum reopening Monday, they are now a thing of the past. Roughly 430 works of art will be on exhibit in galleries that can accommodate almost anything an artist or curator can conjure, three times the amount previously on view. A loading dock, freight elevators and a bridge can now transport artwork throughout the museum. And that marble floor? It has been replaced by more durable red oak. Creating new spaces to meet the museums needs in the 21st century, and pursuing new approaches to broaden and diversify its audience are all part of the museums $195 million expansion, restoration and renovation that began in January 2020, two months after the museum temporarily closed. Museum Director Janne Sirens enthusiasm for the additional art that can be exhibited was evident late last week, as he gave a Buffalo News reporter an early tour of the buildings and grounds. The amazing Elaine de Kooning, no one has seen that work, Scrimmage, Siren said about the abstract and figurative artists 1953 work. Or Ellsworth Kellys such an important work, New York, NY, from 1957, acquired in 1959, he said, gesturing to another. Thats Ellsworth when he was back from Paris, becoming Ellsworth. The transformative museum project, steered by Siren, a former paratrooper in the Finnish special forces who took the museums helm 10 years ago, is a stunning accomplishment. It adds to the prestige the museum has long brought to Buffalo and Western New York, and boosts the Buffalo AKGs global reputation as one of the great repositories of modern and contemporary art. The big addition is the three-story, translucent Jeffrey M. Gundlach Building, a glass-and-marble structure named for the Amherst native whose $65 million contribution paid for one-third of the project. It was designed by OMAs Shohei Shigematsu, with 13 galleries of different sizes and shapes, and a sculpture terrace that wraps around the second floor. Buffalo AKG Art Museum's opening is almost upon us. Here's what you need to know A renovation and reimagination that was spurred by the largest private individual donation to a cultural organization in Western New York history will be unveiled on June 12. The gleaming, E.B. Green-designed 1905 building, a major beneficiary of the changes, now looks as pristine as when it opened more than a century ago. The grand stairs and front lawn, removed in 1962, have returned, with parking now underground. But the biggest change to what was known as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery can be seen in the campus last addition the Gordon Bunshaft-designed building that opened in 1962, now the Seymour H. Knox Building. The Knox Buildings gateway is a 6,000-square-foot gathering space, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Town Square. Its topped by Common Sky a kaleidoscopic canopy that for many will elicit a state of childlike wonder when entering. The sculptural work created by Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann of Studio Other Spaces with a twisty funnel off to one side, was designed with Buffalos turbulent winters in mind. For the first time, a part of the museum building is also free and open to the public. Visitors can now go to the Knox Building to get a cup of coffee and a pastry from Cornelia, the cafe named for Cornelia Bentley Sage Quinton, who in 1910 became the first woman to direct an art museum when she was named to lead the then-John J. Albright Museum. Or, they may want to sit with friends, read a book or work from their laptop. They can also look at art in the 2,000-square-foot M&T Gallery Room, where The Mirror Room an audience favorite that has been painstakingly conserved is back. The space includes a custom-made photo booth, allowing images to appear on a screen and be emailed. Or stroll Shop AKG, featuring the newly published Collection Handbook. The Knox Building also offers the child-friendly Creative Commons, the LEGO Foundations first involvement with an art museum, and four well-equipped studios and classrooms located under the restored museum auditorium. Fittingly, the Knox Building is accessible from two entrances, to the west from Elmwood Avenue, and the east from Delaware Park. The building, like the rest of the campus, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with ramps replacing steps, and elevators that have been made more accommodating. There is a family room, a nursing room for mothers and an all-gender bathroom. Extensive renovations have also been made back of the house, with new offices, a docent lounge and other amenities for employees and volunteers that followed a major plumbing overhaul. The architectural features of the 1905 building inexplicably named for Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers and not John J. Albright, who paid for its construction, and whose name adorned the building from the start have been beautifully restored, along with a new roof in seafoam green to resemble the previous patina copper. The interior has also been restored, represented by small sunbursts adorned with gold leaf high in the Sculpture Court that was long obscured by white paint. It is on the second floor, where those noisy marble slabs were, that the museums weighty collection begins. Buffalo AKG Art Museum by the numbers It cost $195 million and took 42 months to build and renovate the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. The museum has 50,000 square feet of gallery space, 430 pieces of art on exhibit and 80 underground parking spaces. The entry room makes its own statement with Albert Bierstadts Capri, the first major work to enter the collection that was given by the artist in 1863, one year after the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy incorporated, along with Adolph Gottliebs Dialogue I, from 1960 and Rashid Johnsons 2015 work, Falling Man. We are a contemporary museum, and we are collecting the art of our time, as we were with the Bierstadt and the Gottlieb and now the Johnson, Siren said. They are all markers of the moment. For the first time in anyones recollection, the art is arranged in chronological order. The paintings begin with works from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s, before pivoting to Realism, the Impressionists and into the first decades of the 20th century and Modernism. Knox, an heir to the Woolworth fortune, and Director Gordon Smith changed the course of the museum between 1955 and 1958 by acquiring before much of a market existed for them paintings by Abstract Expressionists such as Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell and Helen Frankenthaler, and sculptors David Smith and David Hare. Many of them are now on display. Buffalo AKG Art Museum will have new audio tours, with a little help from Thurman Thomas, others The changes, part of the $195 million project that is remaking the former Albright-Knox Art Gallery, will also be reflected in the museum's docent tours and the labels that will inform almost half the museum's artwork. Pop art takes center stage next, including 100 Soup Cans, the first Andy Warhol to enter an American museum collection. The 1970s and beyond continue across the new, curved bridge, named for Albright, on Level 2 of the Gundlach Building. The largest gallery space, on the third floor, spans some 7,530 square feet, lending itself to works of enormous scale and weight such as Arthur Jafas Big Wheel III, featuring a 10,000-pound tire that sits on a structural column on the third floor. Anselm Kieffers Milky Way, in which molten lead was poured onto the canvas, hangs on the wall with a weight of more than 1,000 pounds. The tallest gallery space is on the first floor at 38 feet tall, a height slightly greater than Fenway Parks Green Monster. All of Clyfford Stills 33 works owned by the museum can be found. So can a representation of the 504 works of art acquired since the museum shut down in November 2019. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is now a 21st-century, state-of-the-art museum, the biggest cultural achievement Buffalo has seen in many decades, and the latest expression of a city that has seen its share of significant advancements this century, even as there is still much to do. A memorial of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on a traffic junction in Dhule in Maharashtra was demolished by the civic body which claimed it was illegal. It was allegedly built by Dhule City All India Ittehadul Majlis-e-Muslimeen MLA Faruk Shah Anwar on the intersection of Vadjai Road, some 322 kilometres from here, a police official said on Sunday. It was allegedly built by Dhule City All India Ittehadul Majlis-e-Muslimeen MLA Faruk Shah Anwar on the intersection of Vadjai Road, some 322 kilometres from here, a police official said on Sunday. "It was demolished on Friday under police bandobast by the civic corporation. The MLA was told to remove it himself. However, after a meeting between the district collector and PWD officials, the memorial was broken," he said. The situation is peaceful in the area and no case of any untoward incident has come forward, the police official added. The situation is peaceful in the area and no case of any untoward incident has come forward, the police official added. Several parts of Maharashtra are seeing acrimony among communities and protests over the use of images of Tipu Sultan and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as part of offensive and communally sensitive social media messages and status. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A 37-year-old man who works about 17 hours a day at a corporate job on Sunday contacted a doctor on Twitter because he was concerned about his blood pressure. The doctor's first recommendation was -- "reduce working hours by 50 percent." The man who goes by Harshal (@HarshalSal67) on Twitter claimed that his job demanded hectic long hours. "Hi Doctor, I am 37 yo, in corporate job, current working hours from the past 6 months are more than 16-17 hours, have to give non-stop coverage for all global regions, I recently did BP check, and it's 150/90 and 84 min. Please advise next steps," he tweeted. Responding to it, Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist from Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, said, " Reduce working hours by 50 percent, and ensure an unemployed person gets a job (whose job you are doing in addition to yours)." 1. Reduce working hours by 50%, and ensure an unemployed person gets a job (whose job you are doing in addition to yours) (+follow other advice from the pinned post on my timeline) https://t.co/wThD7cEvMt Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) June 10, 2023 Thanking the doctor, Harshal then revealed that he had to finally quit the job because he was told to work during the weekend as well. "Thank you for the suggestion, I have quit the job now because it was getting very toxic at the top. Left at my best high because I told my boss I can't be available on a weekend and then she said, she will have to find a replacement then, quit immediately after it (sic)," he wrote. Dr Sudhir hailed Harshal's resignation as a "great decision". Meanwhile, several Twitter users empathised with his situation. " commented Doc_Sona (@Sona_unplugged). Another Twitter user said, "Sixteen to seventeen hours of continuous work is not due to work pressure but it is the result of bad planning, bad management and bad resourcing! And this sets a bad culture for others in the company too! Start saying NO! Things will change!" It is unlikely that you will be able to scroll through Instagram at the moment without stumbling on reels and more reels paying homage to filmmaker Wes Andersons aesthetics and cinema. Suddenly, the world has rediscovered Anderson; the reels have attracted millions of views worldwide. Tracing the genesis of this viral social media trend isnt difficult. In April, American TikToker Ava Williams posted a video headlined: You better not be acting like youre in a Wes Anderson film. The viral Tik Tok video saw Ava filming herself on a New York commuter train, and close-ups of her ticket and shoes, which garnered over 2 million views in 10 days. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AW (@avawillyums) It triggered countless Tik Tok videos and then Instagram reels, with highly stylized, symmetrically framed video montages of people going about their everyday life, striding with a seeming purpose. They reference the filmmakers poker-faced characters, walking to a coffee shop or a florist on New Yorks streets, dressed in '60s-style wide-bottomed pants and an open-collared shirt or dresses, often floral. The social media videos are backed by whimsical music by Alexandre Desplat (specifically Obituary from Andersons 2021 film, The French Dispatch). In one video, Josh Rimmey documented himself working in his wood shop. The title card read: The shop. 5:30 pm (PST). Quick cutting shots move between carefully organized close-ups of tools on his workbench, to others of him donning safety equipments before going about his woodwork. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joshua Rimmey (@joshrimmey) The colour-saturated world of Wes Andersons cinema It's clear that Andersons colour-saturated cinematic aesthetic has hooked a new generation of social media users and influencers, many of them not familiar with his style of filmmaking. The attempt is to recreate his unique cinematic aesthetic, which is visible in classics such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Darjeeling Limited, and Fantastic Mr Fox. The visual appeal of balance and symmetry, a touch of enchantment and the whimsical are difficult to ignore. Victor Lopez G., a film critic and Instagram content creator, believes Wes Andersons cinematic view lends itself to a largely beauty-driven social media. Symmetry is tremendously attractive to the brain since it is easy to analyze and process; it creates a sense of order, elegance and simplicity, he says. Thisalong with zenithal shots, the ones that are seen from abovecreates a pleasant sensation for the viewer while the characters interact and seem to be part of the story in an integrated way. Andersons use of colour in a cinemascape dominated by sombre grey palettes, makes him apt for creating videos that have the potential for going viral. Indians, with no access to TikTok, have taken the trend viral on Instagram. That the country has colour woven into its DNA, makes it easier to recreate some of the aesthetic. But how many know that Anderson has, over the years, spoken about how India inspired his cinema? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ranveer Allahbadia (@beerbiceps) India in Andersons cinema In an interview with The New York Times a couple of years ago, Anderson spoke about how Satyajit Rays cinema and Indias colour-splashed heritage buildings, such as Hawa Mahal, inspired so much of his visual aesthetics. The filmmaker acknowledged that the idea of The Darjeeling Limited was rooted in his desire to pay tribute to Ray, whose "films have inspired all my other movies in different ways. Rays Pather Panchali, about an impoverished priest who leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work, has direct ties to Darjeeling. In the final scene, Jack, Peter and Francis run after the Bengal Lancer train, mirroring the way Durga and Apu from Pather Panchali run across a meadow as a train goes by in the distance. Those who have watched and loved The Darjeeling Limited may also remember a portrait of Ray seen above the three Whitman brothers while they sit in their cabin aboard the Bengal Lancer. For The Darjeeling Limited, Anderson also borrowed Rays music score Charus Theme from the film Charulata, which bounds the tragi-comedy of the Whitman brothers together in the film. Its some of the most unique music that weve ever used, Anderson had told The Rolling Stone magazine at the time. I had to personally introduce myself to the Satyajit Ray family and foundation and convince them that it was worthwhile to digitize all of his master tapes. I wound up sitting in Calcutta for five days waiting for them to hand them over. But that was one of the great experiences of my life. The song Charus Theme for the other Ray classic, Charulata, plays in the background when Jack invites Rita into the trains bathroom to smoke a cigarette, and again when Rita says goodbye to Jack and his brothers through the train window. The Darjeeling Limited also included music from Rays other films such as Joi Baba Felunath, Teen Kanya and Jalsaghar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wes Anderson (@wesandersonplanet) How Hawa Mahal in Jaipur inspired Anderson The mithai pink of Jaipur's old city buildings, particularly Hawa Mahal, has found resonance in many of Andersons movies. The red sandstone palace in Jaipur, India, with its five-story pyramidal shape, built-in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, is one of the most beautifully symmetrical and colour-saturated buildings I have seen, he said in The New York Times interview. The famous honeycomb latticework was originally built to allow royal ladies to observe the city from above without being seen since they could not go out in public without face coverings. From Fort Kochi to Mumbais Ballard Estate, Kolkatas buses, Delhis Lodhi Colony to Goas pastel-coloured homes, the country has no dearth of locations Anderson loved and wanted to film in. Wes Anderson and pop culture Is the current viral trend just a blip in the social media universe, or is Wes Anderson fast achieving pop-culture icon status, much like Che Guevara, of whose politics and philosophy the young generations know little, but whose image continues to be printed on everything, from T-shirts to bags and bandanas. Or like Frida Kahlo, the Spanish artist who has, in recent times, achieved cult status on social media. Andersons colour palette, the graphic design elements in his films, the symmetry and the world he creates, have a legion of fans, and two Instagram handles dedicated to his visual aesthetics. Accidentally Wes Anderson (2 million followers) creates pink and blue and yellow-saturated colour guides on atypical destinations. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AWA (@accidentallywesanderson) Then there is Wes Anderson Planet, which posts photographs of destinations, cities and moments shot by Wes Anderson fans and followers across the world in his quintessential style. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Duncan Berg (@the.feel.bad.rainbow) In the meantime, Wes Anderson refuses to see any of these viral videos. Talking to Jake Coyle in an interview with the Associated Press, he said self-effacingly: Ive not seen the ones related to me or the ones not related to me. I have a feeling I would just feel like, gosh, is that what Im doing? So I protect myself. In a scene from Laxman Utekars Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Kapil, played by the charming Vicky Kaushal, acts part-cocky part-cheap by paying a roadside eatery attendant a Re 1 tip. In a blunt little twist, the young boy gives Kapil the coin back, as a comment on his thriftiness. Main apna dekh lunga, the boy says, to which Kapil offers neither anger nor reconciliation. He instead gladly picks up the coin and leaves. Kaushals latest feels like a sequel to his Netflix film Love Per Square Foot. Built around the premise of a young millennial couples desire for private space, however, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke takes the Baghban route instead, to return them to the abstract prison of the Indian joint family. Kaushal, however, is delightful; a sober, un-imposing presence, he recedes into the unassuming fabric of a world that no longer allows heroes to emerge with ease or aplomb. Much like Amol Palekar in the '70s, and much like the millennials today trying to make sense of the shore from the sea, this is a new kind of middle cinema. In Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Kaushal plays a yoga teacher plying his trade in Indore. He is married to Saumya (an acceptable Sarah Ali Khan), a chemistry teacher who dreams bigger and better than her partner. Both live in the house that belongs to Kapils father and yearn for a private space of their own where romance and maybe even lust, can be practiced freely and fairly. Their plan to get out of this economically imposed rut is to hack a government scheme by pretending to get divorced. Chaos, errors and some harmless comedy ensues, as Kaushal holds together the film through his sheer, self-deprecating charm. He is never quite the loser, but simply a plucky underdog bogged down by eccentricities. In Disney+Hotstars Govinda Naam Mera, Kaushal played an aspiring choreographer, trying to break free of a semi-toxic marriage. Infidelity and abuse are part of the canvas here, but the actors ability to exhibit vulnerability as a symptom of design as opposed to destiny, manages to exact a light-hearted comedy. In Love Per Square Foot, Sanjays (Kaushal) considerations, the grammar of the film feel far more self-serious and yet Kaushal boasts the kind of tender exterior through which you can distil your own concerns about modern life, its imposing and, at times, intimidating geometry. The desire for a personal space, after all, is universal, especially in a country that is increasingly becoming crowded. Kaushal is a directors actor, having tried an entire bouquet of roles from heroic militarism (Uri: The Surgical Strike) to horror (Bhoot: The Haunted Ship) via the odd biopic or two (Sardar Udham). In his comedies, however, he echoes the everyman antiquity of the Palekar of Hrishikesh Mukherjees films. Where conflicts are modest yet intimate, challenges echo the complexity of deft social manoeuvres and villains emerge from the unremarkable. Where masculinity thrives through the comfort of self-assurance rather than the necessity of territorial symbolism. Across his three rom-coms, the actor has played a man regularly tripped by men and women around him with bemusement plastered to his face. All the more impressive since sandwiched in-between these roles are grim, moving performances like Sardar Udham and Manmarziyaan. Indias middle cinema, a euphemism for the urban young in the '70s, has quietly been enveloped by the edgy, quirky theatrics of small towns of late. Kaushals rom-coms, however, claw at concerns and anxieties that most millennials in this country would relate to, especially through their language of compliance and surrender. In one film, he chases a Mumbai home with the romantic ideal of viewing it as the climax to his story. Its young Indias dream. In another he fantasizes about space as a form of escape. In Govinda Naam Mera, he orchestrates a coup, so he can finally make the kind of art that he wishes to. In all three, he is never quite the loser, but merely the man trying to battle on the fronts of luck and leverage. Winning here merely rids him of obligations, as opposed to reincarnating him as the controller of his own self-will. No heroes are cast or born in his films. Comparisons with Palekar and middle cinema of the '70s are natural here but yet to comply with the wider canvas of the industry. With the heroic figure waning despite Pathaan in the imagination of the Hindi audience, Kaushals work isnt exactly a rebuttal nor does it function as a critique of the immensity of the hero. It does, however, speak to a specific audience. Ironically, the actor himself is imposingly built, and yet disappears under the skin of characters written to evoke the ordinary. Its a trait we millennials most concur with, this ability and possibly desire to disappear in our urban forests. Allow our battles to become the dotted line either side of which, Hindi cinema writes self-serving, fetishized homages of social and romantic conquest. On that dotted line, however, like Kapil and Sanjay, we are simply trying to hold the pages of our lives from spiralling away from each other. Dreaming frugally, living unexceptionally. A century-old, 44.6-plus-feet scroll painting inscribed 1924 by the artist Benode Behari Mukherjee, who was filmmaker Satyajit Rays teacher at Santiniketan, is on exhibition before the public for the first time. Gallerist and archivist Rakesh Sahni, who runs Gallery Rasa in Kolkata, acquired the scroll about five years ago. Mukherjee had given it or sold it to the painter Sudhir Khastagir, who was also a student at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, under Nandalal Bose. The scroll is made on thin paper, said Sahni, joined together to create this long work. The join marks are visible as vertical lines on the scroll. If it was thicker paper, it would have probably creased, like even chart paper does, Sahni said on the phone. It is luck that it was such thin paper. But this apart, the scroll took months of meticulous restoration before we could even think of showing it. Displayed in a very long and slender rectangular case designed specifically for the scroll, Scenes from Shantiniketan offers a cinematic view of the landscape and seasons of Santiniketana rural, and at the time, wooded and slightly wild quarter that became the home for Rabindranath Tagores university-school complex founded in 1921. I say cinematic rather than panoramic because the work changes perspective. At the start is a ground-level view featuring the lower trunks and vine-like hanging roots of a thicket of trees with a small hunched figure seated in the cave-like canopy. The work then moves to whole trees in a wooded area, as if you are walking amid them and looking up in wonder; and then to an overhead, birds view of paddy fields with small settlements of huts adjacent to them and foot-worn pathways leading away. The impression is of a camera moving across the landscape, on the ground and travelling up and down, zooming in and out to capture the setting in detail and overview. Mukherjee uses space as a transitioning device to change perspective. The effect is once again cinematic: his use of space is similar to the use of editing cuts in cinema to transition from one sequence or scene to another. In Chinese scrolls, mist is used as a transitioning device, curator R Sivakumars text notes. There is, furthermore, a change of seasons along the scroll. We start in what feels like late winter or what passes for spring in Bengal with leaves on the ground. Then, summer marked by the unmistakeable silhouette of a bulbul, then the monsoon where the mostly black and muted red work takes on a verdant green for the paddy that is readying for harvest. By the time we near the end of the scroll, it is what looks like the beginning of winter, when nature starts to retreat, in the bare, leafless, tablet-like Khoai terrain of Birbhum. These details are brought to our attention with audio notes, because while the scroll is long, it is small in width. Only 6 inches high, about the size of a childs notebook. The details are minute, most of these would escape the viewer without the excellent audio notes. Sivakumar has divided the work into 10 sections, using Mukherjees space transitions as cues. Each section comes with an audio note in English. The curation is excellent, with intelligent unintimidating use of technology, and the notes, both audio and text, are accessible and clear and often biographical, which works as a wonderful point of interest. Almost as if a central character is taking us through the Santiniketan of 1924. A Young Man With Severely Limited Vision Mukherjee would have been 20, if the inscribed date is correct, at the time of painting this scroll, only five years into his training in art. He joined Kala Bhavan when an eye-specialist in Calcutta (as it was then called) gave permission for him to study art at the age of 15, Satyajit Ray narrates in his documentary The Inner Eye. The 21-odd minute film, available on YouTube, plays on a loop in the exhibition. Mukherjee was born blind in one eye and severely myopic in the other and was, hence, not able to pursue an education in the normal course. But he had a gift for drawing, like all his five brothers, and drew from a young age. He was admitted to Patha Bhavan, the school at Santiniketan, three years before he joined Kala Bhavan. The minute hunched figure at the beginning of the scroll is likely a representation of himself, the shows note says. At the start of the show, we see two reproductions of Mukherjees self-portraitsin both, he has the hunched bent-over posture that we see in the first section of the scroll. In Santiniketan, one had got used to the sight of him hunched over his painting, brush poised over paper for that sensitive precision of stroke that would set the seal of distinction upon it, Ray says in The Inner Eye. Ray was a student of his when he studied drawing at Kala Bhavan. Before he became a filmmaker, Ray made a name for himself as an illustrator and book cover designer with Signet Press. Indeed, throughout his life, Ray continued to drawfor his legendary story boards, for his scripts and his Feluda and other books for young adults. The scroll proceeds from right to left, the opposite of traditional scroll paintings such as patachitra in India, which go from left to right. This is in the East-Asian style, the curators text reads. Mukherjees deep interest in the physical landscape is also an East-Asian influence, Sivakumar has pointed out. Indian art, both traditional and modern work, has been invested in mythology. Nature is an important element in Indian art, but a singular focus of the landscape did not exist. For instance, the nomenclature of the Pahari school may suggest an inclination towards nature, the mountains, but the works are mainly devoted to depictions of Krishna. Mukherjee is the first major landscape painter in India, alongside his teacher Nandalal Bose. In fact, this particular scroll predates Boses work on landscape, said Prof Sivakumar. Mukherjee got an opportunity to travel to Japan in 1937. But Nandalal Bose, the mastermoshai of Kala Bhavan, travelled to China and Japan in 1924 and brought back several books on art from these two counties, the academic and writer Swati Ganguly writes in Tagores University: A History of Visva Bharati 1921-1961. It was the same year that Scenes from Shantiniketan is dated. Right from the start, even before Visva Bharati had opened formally, Tagore had envisaged a space were students could learn about both Oriental and Occidental art. Scenes from Santiniketan is one of four complete scrolls by Mukherjee that survive in their entirety. Two more exist in fragments, said Siddharth Sivakumar, who works with the Kolkata Centre for Creativity team. All the scrolls, completed before 1942 and considered to mark the artists early career, are the subject of this show. But only Scenes from Santiniketan is displayed in the original, the rest are reproductions. Even so, they offer a palpable sense of the desolate beauty of Santiniketan 100 years ago, when the woods were lovely, dark and ghostly. (Rabindranath Tagores own drawings, begun from the age of 67 around the same time that Mukherjee was making these scrolls in the 1920s, evoke a similar sense of eerie loveliness. To my mind, it is the wild, uninhabited nature of the terrain that brings out this sense of the supernatural.) But unlike Tagore where the lines are less certain, you know you are in the presence of a master in Mukherjees work, most of all for how adroitly he summons a sense of three-dimensionality to his drawings. Its magical to see three dimensions appear on a flat surface just like that, where the skill of the artist does the work of 3D glasses. The scroll titled 'Khoai' is especially stunningan outstanding portrait of the barren, mini canyon-like formation of red laterite soil known as the Khoai that was a geographical feature of Birbhum where Santiniketan is located. Today, the Khoai is no longer visible in Santiniketan, even Ray struggled to find it when he made the film half a century ago in 1971. He used still photographs to depict the distinctive terrain, not only in The Inner Eye, but also in his earlier documentary on Tagore titled Rabindranath Tagore (1961). To see Mukherjees scroll 'Khoai', is to see those photographs shimmer to life. This documentation of Santiniketan as it was in the 1920s was a major consideration to me, Sahni said. We dont have too many photographs of that time either, barring some images by E.O. Hoppe. But Mukherjee walks us through his Santiniketan. A Wider, Richer Meditation The principal feature of scroll painting, whether Indian or Japanese or Chinese, is the presence of many foci because of the size unlike the tight single focus of framed Western painting, the curator R Sivakumar has noted. Many scenes, many characters, many storiesa richer, more expansive meditation on the world, rather than a sharp focus on a particular subject. Later in his career, when he taught at Santiniketan, Mukherjees interest in large, complex works with multiple elements and multiple points of viewing found another mediumhe was commissioned to do frescoes and murals for the Visva Bharati campus. One fresco is the ceiling of a dormitory, depicting rural life in Santiniketan, which is captured with loving care in Rays documentary. Another famous mural on medieval saints in India is on the walls of the Hindi Bhavan. Cheena Bhavan has a mural about campus life, and contains, like the scroll Scenes from Santiniketan, a self-image. In The Inner Eye, Ray documented Mukherjee making another mural with tiles from Purulia. This was done when Mukherjee was completely blind, and felt his way through the work by his hands. This is the first time where both form and spacing is a blind mans space, Mukherjee said about this work in The Inner Eye. Mukherjees scrolls, made as a young artist, offer a window to his frescoes and muralshis most public-facing and likely to be his most enduring works. This year, there is news that Unesco is considering awarding world heritage status to Santiniketan. At least, one part of the honour will be for the work of Mukherjee alongside his teacher Nandalal Bose and colleague Ramkinkar Baij. The works of all three adorn the campus of Visva BharatiBaij with his sculptures in public spaces and Bose and Mukherjee with their frescoes and murals on the walls of the campus buildings. The trio are considered to be the most important modern artists in the Bengal school, and a formidable influence in modern Indian art alongside the Bombay Progressive Artists Group comprising Maqbool Fida Husain, Francis Newton Souza, Sayed Haider Raza, VS Gaitonde, to name the best-known of them. Scenes from Santiniketan was on view at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity from 20 May 20 June. The show is scheduled to travel to Santiniketan and Kochi after this. Aircraft lessor Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Ltd has moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to initiate insolvency against Indian low cost carrier SpiceJet. According to the tribunal's causelist, the case is likely to come up for hearing on June 12. In May 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) deregistered three planes of SpiceJet at the request of lessors, one of the aircrafts belonged to Wilmington. Lessors Wilmington Trust SP Services, Sabarmati Aviation Leasing and Falgu Aviation Leasing approached the civil aviation regulator, requesting deregisteration of three Boeing 737-800s over non-payment of dues. The DGCA deregistered the planes with call signs VT-MXJ, MXF and SZJ. Other insolvency pleas against SpiceJet: Wilmington is the third lessor to have moved the NCLT for recovering their dues from SpiceJet. Pleas by aircraft lessor Aircastle and engine lessor Willis lease finance are already pending in the tribunal. The NCLT on May 8 issued notice in Aircastle's plea and sought the airline's response. SpiceJet had accordingly filed a response to the plea, Aircastle sought for a short adjournment on May 25 to respond to the the airline's reply. Subsequently, SpiceJet had filed an application questioning the maintainability of Aircastle's insolvency plea. The case is expected to be heard by the tribunal on July 17. Engine lessor Willis lease finance's case was also adjourned to July 4 for hearing. Real Estate company Acres Buildwell Private Limited, which had initiated insolvency proceedings against SpiceJet, has filed an application in the NCLT to withdraw its plea after the parties resolved the dispute. On May 11, SpiceJet said it is taking steps to revive its grounded fleet using the $50 million it received from the government's Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) and internal cash accruals, as it sought to quash rumours of insolvency. SpiceJet has been maintaining that it has no intention of filing for insolvency and is focused on its business. Australia's national airline has announced that it will scrap its gender-based uniform guidelines, allowing male cabin crew to wear make-up and giving women the option to ditch high heels. Qantas said it had overhauled its guidelines to better reflect modern expectations and to make uniforms more comfortable for staff from "diverse cultural backgrounds". The airline has drawn attention for its fastidious style guide in the past, which banned handlebar moustaches, policed the length of sideburns, and specified the ideal shades of eyeliner. The changes came at the insistence of labour unions, who urged Qantas to scrap rules such as the requirement that female staff wear make-up. "Fashions change and so have our style guidelines over the years," the airline said in a statement. "Our uniform standards have always been reflective of the times." Qantas said the new "style and grooming guidelines" would ditch the previous "male" and "female" uniform categories. Now cabin crew can choose whether to wear make-up, can opt for flat shoes, and can have long hair as long as it is in a ponytail or bun. Diamond earrings are also allowed, while strict rules governing the size and style of watches have been dumped. Tattoos, however, still need to be concealed. The update doesnt change our uniform but modernises the way employees wear it in line with employee feedback and evolving customer expectations, a Qantas spokeswoman told The Guardian. In a statement, Qantas said its uniform standards had always been reflective of the times. In the 80s, sideburns had to stop at mid-ear, 'gelled spikes' were out and we recommended navy blue as the best eyeliner colour, the airline said. In the 70s, women had to wear skirts above the knee. Today, our employees can choose whether or not to wear makeup, flat shoes and boots are in, and strict rules on watch sizes are out. (With inputs from AFP) News / National by Erick Matotoba The Pentagon has been accused of blocking the sharing of US intelligence with the international criminal court (ICC) about Russian war crimes in Ukraine.The Biden White House and state department have been a proponent of cooperation with the Hague-based ICC, as a means of holding Russian forces accountable for widespread war crimes, but the defence department is firmly opposed on the grounds that the precedent could eventually be turned against US soldiers.Avril Haines, Christopher Wray, Paul Nakasone Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines speaks alongside FBI Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Cyber Command Director Gen. Paul Nakasone, during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing to examine worldwide threats at the Capitol in Washington, says "Russia unlikely to make major Ukraine gains this year"The New York Times quoted current and former officials as saying Pentagon resistance was the obstacle. It reported that the national security council (NSC) convened a meeting of senior officials on 3 February to try to resolve the dispute, but that the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, did not budge. Joe Biden has yet to give a final decision.The Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who was behind a congressional resolution urging US support for the court over Ukraine, also blamed the Pentagon."DoD [Department of Defence] opposed the legislative change - it passed overwhelmingly - and they are now trying to undermine the letter and spirit of the law,' Graham told the New York Times, in remarks confirmed to the Guardian by his office. "It seems to me that DoD is the problem child here, and the sooner we can get the information into the hands of the ICC, the better off the world will be.'Asked for comment, the NSC spokeswoman, Adrienne Watson, said: "Russian forces have been committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people deserve justice.'She added: "The United States supports a range of investigations to identify and hold accountable those who are responsible, including through the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, the United Nations, the expert missions established under the OSCE's [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] 'Moscow mechanism', and the international criminal court, among others,' Watson said.A senior defence official said only: "The defence department believes we should hold Russia accountable.'US legal experts helped draw up the Rome statute, which created the ICC. It was signed by Bill Clinton in 2000, but not ratified by the Senate, and Clinton's successor, George W Bush, took the unusual step of withdrawing the US signature.US opponents of the court argued that it could be used by America's enemies to prosecute US soldiers fighting in foreign wars, despite safeguards written into the statute stating that the international court would only have jurisdiction if the courts in a suspect's home country were unwilling or unable to prosecute.Speaking at the Munich security conference in February, Kamala Harris said the US had determined that Russia had committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine.The vice-president added that the US "will continue to support the judicial process in Ukraine and international investigations, because justice must be served'.Harris did not specify cooperation with the ICC, but last week, Beth van Schaack, US ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice, told a conference in Lviv: "The international criminal court occupies an important place in the ecosystem of international justice, and the United States supports the investigation by the ICC prosecutor.' June 11, 2023 The MoA Week In Review - (Not Ukraine) OT 2023-138 Last week's post on Moon of Alabama: --- Other issues: Picture story of the week: Mixed: Economy: Censorship: Middle East: Tech: Use as open, not Ukraine related, thread ... Posted by b on June 11, 2023 at 14:19 UTC | Permalink Comments next page June 11, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-139 Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict. The current open thread for other issues here. Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators. Posted by b on June 11, 2023 at 14:19 UTC | Permalink Comments next page News / National by Staff reporter AFTER a colourful ceremony in South Africa where he wedded Queen Zandile Mhlambi recently, King Mambo's subjects gave a rousing welcome to his new bride, with people from around the country gathering to welcome the Lozwi/Rozvi monarch's second wife.In 2020, King Mambo married his then second wife, Queen Ndlovukazi Priscilla Percy Ndlovu, before his first wife, Queen Ndlovukazi Nomalanga Ndiweni-Moyo, passed away in January 2021.Born Mike Moyo, King Mambo who is also referred to as Ilitshe Aligiqiki, had a traditional installation ceremony attended by 80 chiefs drawn from across the country in 2020 at his homestead in Umzingwane district, Matebeleland South Province, thereby reviving the Mambo dynasty which had been dormant for years.The Mambo National Head Chief, Chief Sithole, said they were excited to receive the new Queen."People from different tribes gathered to witness this occasion. As King Mambo is also referred to as Moyo Bvumavaranda, he welcomes and unites all people, people come in their different tribes, languages, cultures, religion (like other religions in our traditional spirituality we pray to God the creator) and we all come under King Mambo who ruled this land way before the arrival of all the settlers," he said.Meanwhile, King Mambo has anointed an additional 10 Mambo Chiefs and two headmen/women that are meant to preside over the country's urban areas. In a statement, King Mambo said he had made the move upon the realisation that many of his subjects had moved to urban areas."People have moved from rural to urban centres due to rural urban migration due to so many reasons and factors. Hence there is need for our Dzimbahwe traditions, culture and spirituality to follow them there or else we remain with a disoriented society.He has already written to request an audience with His Excellency the President via the Minister of Local Government to discuss matters regarding the revival of the same.He is fully aware of the provisions of the constitution of this country and that Zimbabwe is a Republic where the President works with his administration and constitution.At the same time it rests on our Dzimbahwe Traditional Culture and Spirituality which we all know and revere so much but this part was left silent in the constitution, how to make it work solely depends on us the Zimbabweans," he said.King Mambo said that the names of the newly appointed traditional leadership would soon be forwarded to government."The King will forward the names of the anointed to the Ministry of Local Government for consideration, who will then engage the appointing authority His Excellency the President to officially appoint these and others into office.The King will also request for inclusion of the Bulawayo and Harare Metropolitan Province Chiefs into the Senate and the Chief's Council as these two provinces, towns and cities were left out in the 2013 Constitution," he said.King Mambo said the new appointees would be charged with reviving and strengthening some of the country's traditions."Newly anointed traditional leaders are to cooperatively work together on an agreed upon thrust to revive our Dzimbahwe Traditions, Culture, Heritage and Spirituality.They are expected to mobilise people into our traditional roots, culture and spirituality and also facilitate Traditional Culture Education, Training of the young boys (Amabutho), Grooming of the young girls (Amatshitshi), Events, Spirituality functions like picking up of bones and visits to Sacred Shrines like the Njelele Shrine for prayer and rituals.They will assist to resolve disputes in their communities, attend funerals, participate in charity work, assist in community crime prevention, curb drug and substance abuse, restore traditional morals and good behaviour across the board, respect for the elderly, environmental health management, community health issues and promote unity, peace, harmony and development in collaboration with other stakeholders," he said. The philanthropic arm of Joeten Enterprises, Joeten Daidai Foundation, has donated $30,000 to the Guam and NMI chapters of the American Red Cross for Typhoon Mawar relief efforts. A shelter for displaced residents of Typhoon Mawar is seen on Ypao Road in Tamuning on Saturday. GREEN BAY While all eyes will be on Wisconsin for next years presidential election, attendees of the Democratic Party of Wisconsins state convention Saturday made clear that, in addition to reelecting President Joe Biden in 2024, securing a third term for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin will be just as critical. Baldwin, 61, took center stage at the partys convention at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay, which comes months after Janet Protasiewiczs election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April, in which liberals secured a majority on the states high court. Baldwin, of Madison, said Protasiewiczs 11-point victory after the U.S. Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade marked the first step toward restoring our rights and freedoms that we lost, but there is so much more left to do. Im confident that we can win and win big next year, Baldwin said. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Baldwin championed a measure to codify the right to same-sex marriage due to fears the courts ruling could overturn other precedential cases that rely on the same right to privacy justices determined the U.S. Constitution provided for abortion in Roe. Your senator did that, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, the special guest for Saturdays convention, told attendees. She led the nation with that bill. Despite recent statewide GOP losses, including the 2022 governors race and Aprils state Supreme Court election, Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, last year staved off Democratic challenger and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Brian Schimming, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said hes very, very bullish on next year. Schimming, who took helm of the state Republican Party in December, said while Baldwin will certainly be a strong candidate, Republicans will look to tie the two-term incumbent to Biden, who will be at the top of the ticket next November. Bidens numbers are upside down in nearly every single category in Wisconsin, Schimming said. That helps make Wisconsin a competitive state, it puts Biden and Kamala Harris in trouble because of their drag it puts Tammy Baldwin in more trouble than people realize she may be in, and its a drag on the ticket. The Republican Party of Wisconsin will hold its state convention next weekend in La Crosse. Baldwin, a two-term incumbent, is expected to be a formidable opponent to whomever faces her in 2024, in a presidential election year that is expected to draw high voter turnout in the battleground state. The Cook Political Report lists Baldwins seat as one that leans Democrat. Baldwin had more than $3 million in campaign funds at the end of last year, according to records with the Federal Elections Commission. Theres not an A- or B-level candidate who is going to be dumb enough to take on Tammy Baldwin because we will work harder than ever to make sure she is reelected, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Black Earth, said. U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, one of the highest-profile Republicans considering a run against Baldwin, announced Friday he would seek another term in his 8th Congressional District, rather than join the race for Baldwins U.S. Senate seat. Several other prominent Republicans are considering running, including U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who won a special election in May 2020 for his 7th Congressional District seat. Others considering a Senate run are Madison businessman Eric Hovde, who lost in a Republican primary for Senate in 2018, Franklin businessman Scott Mayer and former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, a staunch Trump supporter who backed false claims of fraud after the 2020 election. Schimming said theres plenty of time for the GOP field to fill out. I will say theres like half a dozen names in play, Schimming said. Some of them are out there, some of them are not so much out there right now, but I like where Im at right now. Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Ben Wikler said he expects Republicans to meet in bitterly contested primaries leading up to the November 2024 election, similar to recent primaries between 2022 gubernatorial candidates Tim Michels and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, as well as GOP-backed state Supreme Court candidates Jennifer Dorow and Daniel Kelly. Right now all signs point to the same thing happening in the Republican primary in 2024, Wikler said. 404 404. Thats an error. The requested URL was not found on this server. Thats all we know. While many are celebrating the strengths and gifts of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month in June, it is important to remember that when it comes to transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) individuals, using the proper pronouns can actually save lives. According to Community Commons, a staggering 82% of TGNB individuals have seriously contemplated suicide. TGNB individuals may face bullying and harassment, and frequently grapple with a life-threatening combination of increased mental health struggles and difficulty accessing appropriate medical care due to under-educated physicians, insurance coverage complications, and discrimination. Using a persons proper pronouns and chosen name has been proven to directly benefit the health and well-being of TGNB people. This is especially pronounced for gender-expansive youths, who often have less autonomy and fewer resources than adults. For adults with TGNB young people in their lives, it is important to recognize that while using new pronouns may feel unusual, it can be lifesaving. Research shows that TGNB youths who can safely use their chosen names at school, home, work and with friends experience a significant improvement in health outcomes, when compared to youths who are not supported in this way. The benefits of using a young persons chosen name include: 71% fewer symptoms of severe depression 34% decrease in suicidal thoughts 65% decrease in suicidal attempts. If you are an adult looking for ways to support a TGNB young person, it is important to remember that while you may feel uncertain, what matters most is safety, support and validation for young people. Listening to young people, being willing to make mistakes and be accountable, and practicing use of a persons pronouns while visualizing them are steps that anyone can take. Check out the following websites for more information: The Trevor Project also has a specific guide on how to be a TGNB ally: Local Pride events during June6 p.m. Thursday: Pride Book Event with Chris Glendenning at The Center at Belvedere. 9-11 p.m. June 23: University of Virginia Department of Astronomy is hosting its first Pride Night at McCormick Observatory. Dr. Sean Johnson from the University of Michigan will speak about his research and experiences as a queer astronomer. This is a free, family-friendly event. 10 a.m. June 25: Pride Worship Service at Sojourners Church. Community members of all faiths are invited to a special Pride-centered service, featuring a message from the Coalitions Public Awareness Committee member, Jason Elliott, followed by a light picnic on the church grounds. Cant come in person? Watch the live feed on Sojourners Facebook page. 6 p.m. June 26: Memorial to Enslaved Laborers Tour with Out and About LGBTQ+ Social Group. This guided tour at UVa offers a history of enslaved laborers resistance and resilience at UVa and of the advocacy by community members to fully acknowledge and memorialize their labor. The Out and About LGBTQ+ Social Group, based in the Charlottesville area, organizes various monthly gatherings, including some alcohol-free events suitable for individuals younger than 21 or who are part of the recovery community. Click here for a list of 10 LGBTQ+ spaces to visit locally. LGBTQ+ behavioral health services11 a.m. Thursdays: LGTBQ+ Support Group at Region Tens Blue Ridge Center. This new support group meets weekly and is open to anyone in the community; a person does NOT need to be receiving services at Region Ten in order to attend. 6 p.m. Wednesdays: Queer Support Group with On Our Own. This group is open to any LGBTQ+ adult experiencing challenges with mental health, substance use disorder or trauma. 11 a.m. Thursdays, beginning Thursday: LGBTQ+ Support, Empowerment and Processing Group at Region Tens Blue Ridge Center. 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month: Cville Trans Women Circle of Support Group at The Womens Initiative. Email cvilletranswomen@gmail.com for information and registration. 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month: PFLAG Trans Families and Trans Peer Groups. For more information on the Trans Families Group, email pflagbr@gmail.com. For the Trans Peer Group, email cvilletranspeergroup@gmail.com. American mothers wait to deliver their babies as pregnant illegals flock border hospitals, RFK Jr. reveals Democrat presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has revealed that the United States-Mexico border hospitals are filled with pregnant migrant women , and that American women are being forced to delay their scheduled deliveries because of this. "Moms occupied 32 of 36 beds in Yuma hospital maternity ward so that local moms had to delay induced pregnancies for two weeks," Kennedy tweeted on June 7. The founder of the nonprofit activist group Children's Health Defense slammed President Joe Biden's administration for allowing the "illegal alien invasion" problem to strain American border towns to the point that pregnant American women would have to wait to give birth at their local hospitals. "Unfortunately, the Biden administration has let its relationship with Mexico and the Central American countries deteriorate and we need cooperative agreements with all of them to stop the flow of immigration," Kennedy told Breitbart News. Immediately after assuming office, Biden canceled former President Donald Trump's cooperative agreements with Central America, which were supported by RFK Jr. From February 2021 to mid-April 2023, Biden has welcomed about five million border crossers and illegal aliens to the U.S. many of whom were released directly into American communities by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). For fiscal year 2022 alone, undocumented immigrant crossings at the southwest border topped 2.76 million, breaking the previous record by more than one million, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. Meanwhile, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has found in a study that illegal immigration costs America's hospital systems at least $23 billion annually. What is worse is that about $8.2 billion of uncompensated medical care for the illegal crossers comes from the pockets of taxpayers yearly. In February, Yuma Regional Medical Center's Dr. Robert Trenschel exposed that local taxpayers were left with $26 million in unpaid medical bills for just a year from the undocumented immigrants who came to hospitals asking for medical assistance. And yet Biden thinks the situation at the southern border after the expiration of pandemic-era policy Title 42 on May 11 is "much better than you all expected." (Related: DELUSIONAL: Biden gloats post-Title 42 border "looks much better than expected" despite record-high crossings.) A closer look: The difference between Trump's and Biden's border policies Since Biden took office, he vowed to end what he called Trump's "moral and ethical shame" immigration policies. While the Trump administration adopted a strict border policy, the current administration promised a more "humane" approach. But for many analysts and observers, Biden's policies are too soft. At the start of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020, Trump invoked Title 42, a policy that allowed U.S. authorities to expel migrants at the border to avoid the spread of the virus. Nearly 400,000 people were detained and expelled between the start of implementation and January 2021, when Trump left the White House. Biden kept Title 42 in place, using the pandemic as justification and over 2.28 million people were expelled between January 2021 and March 2023. However, as soon as the public health emergency ended on May 11, the pandemic-era policy 42 expired with it. The current administration then encouraged "legal pathways," such as opening regional processing centers in Latin America that are helping migrants apply via the CBP One, an app that migrants can use to schedule asylum appointments. Republicans expressed fear that these policies would only cause an influx of migrants. Some Democrats even claimed the policies violate international refugee law. Also, under Trump's regime, the government had a "zero-tolerance" policy that allowed authorities to deport adults who crossed the border illegally. In some cases, parents were deported back to their countries without their children, who were placed in government custody. Biden moved to reverse the practice. In December 2021, the administration moved to stop holding families in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention. In a separate policy, the Biden administration announced it would let in 100,000 migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia who have families in the United States. InvasionUSA.news has more stories on illegal immigration and Biden's soft border policies. Watch RFK Jr.'s video as he visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DeSantis: Florida National Guard "proud to help" Texas counterparts in addressing Biden-inflicted BORDER CRISIS. Counterterrorism analyst urges border states to shut down ILLEGAL ALIEN INVASION facilitated by the federal government. Glenn Beck: Biden TURNING A BLIND EYE to the situation at the southern border. OPEN SESAME: Biden administration opens border to millions of ILLEGALS by lifting Title 42. Sources include: Breitbart.com Twitter.com NBCNews.com FAIRUS.org BBC.com Brighteon.com Two centuries after President James Monroe sold two dozen enslaved people to a Florida plantation owner, their descendants gathered at the Founding Fathers Highland estate in Albemarle County to honor a shared past. Our goal is to give our ancestors the voice that they didnt have then, Jennifer Stacy told The Daily Progress at the Saturday event. They were invisible and now theyre not. Stacy was one of some 200 people to gather for the second annual Descendants Day, where the distant relatives of the people the former president once enslaved joined together, many meeting for the first time. Eric Armstrong traveled from Tampa, Florida, to be there. This is a place where I can come to show respect to my oldest ancestors, Armstrong said, speaking of Dudley and Eve McGuire, whom he believes to be his fourth- or fifth-great grandparents. To come back as a free person to the place where they were enslaved, its important, Armstrong told The Daily Progress. For well over a century, relatives of the people who had once been enslaved at Highland lived just a few miles from the site. But it was only recently that the plantation-turned-museum learned of their existence. After years of family histories being excluded from the museum, in 2017, a number of descendants decided to form what is now known as Highlands Council of Descendant Advisors in an effort to have shared authority over the exhibits and stories told at Highland. It started out with lunches and dreams, Stacy said, referring to conversations that were had between descendants and Highland officials. One of the things we talked about was a huge family reunion and that morphed into what we have today, she said. Although the stories of the enslaved had largely been excluded from Highland for much of its existence as a museum, today Stacy describes the relationship between Highland and descendants of the enslaved as strong. Foundationally, its about respect, trust and feeling like youre being heard. And the evidence is in the exhibits and days like today, she said. Highland and its descendant community are not alone in their efforts. Highlands next-door neighbor Monticello, the former residence of Monroes political ally and fellow Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, has its own descendants project known as Getting Word, which has been in operation for decades now. And farther north in Orange County at James Madisons Montpelier, the home of yet another Founding Father, the estate-turned-museum offers its own Descendants Project committed to researching and interpreting African American history in an accurate, comprehensive, and compelling way. Back at Highland, F.W. Scott said he and his family always knew about the former plantation and their connection to it, but it was rarely, if ever, discussed. The parents of Scotts great-great-grandfather Ned Monroe are believed to have once been enslaved at the plantation. While Scott who is from Albemarle County had driven by the site many times in his life, it was not until 2017 that he stepped foot on the property. When I got here I actually cried, Scott said of his original visit. The first thing that lit up in my mind when I got here was seeing them toiling out here in the fields. Scott is one of 10 members on the Council of Descendants, which last October took a trip to Monticello, Florida, the place where in 1828 James Monroe sold two dozen enslaved people for $5,000 in an effort to pay off his many debts. After emancipation, some of those same formerly enslaved people established Casa Bianca Church. The current pastor and first lady of that church, Tobbie and Sharon Berrian, drove with some of their congregants who are themselves descendants to attend Saturdays event. Its a powerful experience, Sharon Berrian told The Daily Progress. Its wonderful connecting the past to the present. David Williams said he experienced that connection shortly after arriving at Highland from his home in Utah. In chatting with other descendants, he met a woman who thought he looked familiar. She pulled up a photo on her phone of her own late family member, another David Williams. Now, they both believe the photo to be of the Utah David Williams long-lost father. I never knew anything about my father until now, he said. The day ended with a Calling of Names, during which the names of all 133 people known to have been enslaved at Highland were distributed among the crowd. For three full minutes, attendees, many with tears in their eyes, shouted the names of each enslaved person, an effort to honor them after theyd been forgotten for so many years. Rakeem Walker, 26 years old and the youngest member of the Council of Descendant Advisors, led the reading. It used to be a negative thing to know that you were once enslaved, he told the crowd before starting. But now I feel very proud, because its a great thing to know that my people were able to persevere. Walls closing in on Biden: House to absolutely impeach over $5 million Ukrainian bribe reported by top FBI informant potentially treasonous! Update: On Thursday, Biden answered a reporter who asked about congressional Republicans claiming he sold out the country by taking a $5 million bribe from a Ukrainian oligarch by asking, Where is the money? (Article by Kelen McBreen republished from Infowars.com) Im joking, Biden said, adding, Its a bunch of malarkey. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) assured the American public on Thursday the House Oversight Committees investigation into a reported $5 million bribe to then Vice President Joe Biden will result in the House impeaching Sleepy Joe. Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo asked Biggs if impeachment is the next step after Congress learned of an FBI informants allegations Biden took the bribe from a Ukrainian oligarch. Absolutely, Biggs responded. He would need to be impeached and then once he was impeached hopefully thered be some Democrats in the Senate that would recognize how grave the situation is and encourage him to resign like Goldwater did to Nixon. But, once hes out of there, then he would have to be indicted because this is gross criminal misconduct and some would even suggest treasonous. NEW: Rep. Andy Biggs says the House will absolutely be impeaching Joe Biden in response to the FBI document that allegedly claims Biden accepted a $5 million bribe. Biggs also asserted that Biden must be indicted after impeachment. He would have to be indicted because this pic.twitter.com/DvpslYudhj Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 8, 2023 We have got to find out how extensive this was. And then we have to take action, the GOP congressman continued. I mean enough talk. Talk is talk, but if we produce this evidence that were starting, thats starting to pile up. By the way, theres so much evidence thats voluminous thats taking everything we have with our staff to go through this. But as it piles up, if it is consistent with where the direction it seems to be headed, he should be impeached. And the Democrats cannot defend them with the lies going out that we heard earlier this week, theyre gonna have to come to grips with this thing. Biggs comments come a day after the FBI caved to pressure from the House Oversight Committee as it threatened to hold the bureaus director Christopher Wray in contempt for withholding subpoenaed documents. The committees chair, Rep. James Comer, (R-Ky.), explained, After weeks of refusing to even admit the FD-1023 record exists, the FBI has caved and is now allowing all members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee to review this unclassified record that memorializes a confidential human sources conversations with a foreign national who claimed to have bribed then-Vice President Joe Biden. Americans have lost trust in the FBIs ability to enforce the law impartially and demand answers, transparency, and accountability, Comer added. Allowing all Oversight Committee members to review this record is an important step toward conducting oversight of the FBI and holding it accountable to the American people. After viewing the FBI documents, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) spoke to the press, saying, Reading this form today shows the pure distinction. This information, this source that came forward, its a paid informant by the FBI. This has nothing to do with [Rudy] Giuliani, this has nothing to do with the information he brought forward in 2020, and its extremely credible because hes a paid informant. I just read the FBIs FD-1023 form implicating Joe Biden in a political bribery pay-to-play scheme. Heres what the American people deserve to know. pic.twitter.com/b3X8qh9MPf Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) June 8, 2023 MTG went on to explain that in 2015, the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, which had hired Hunter Biden the year prior, was looking to buy a U.S. oil and gas company using Hunters connections. Around this time, Joe Biden said Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin was corrupt and threatened to withhold $1 billion from the European nation. Throughout this process, the FBI informant behind the Biden allegations was witnessing the entire thing go down from the inside. According to the paid FBI mole, the president of Burisma told him hed previously paid $5 million to two different members of the Biden family in a bribe to get Shokin fired and end his investigation into Burisma. Eventually, the company head allegedly told the informant he indeed sent money directly to Joe and Hunter Biden. This was definitely illegal for a vice president of the United States and his family members, MTG said before pledging to continue investigating the matter. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) also saw the document, telling The Benny Shows Benny Johnson on Thursday, What I can say is, this has been going on for many years and there was a 5 million dollar payment made to Joe Biden. Not Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, The Big Guy. Its clearly laid out that they [Burisma] used Hunter Biden because he was stupid and that he could go through his dad for protection and that it would all just go away anyway, she said. Burisma is now a top trending topic on Twitter. Infowars has been exposing the Hunter Biden Burisma scandal alongside fellow alternative media outlets for years now and this information would already be widely known if it werent for Big Tech censorship and mainstream media gatekeepers. Check out some of our exclusive coverage of Hunters shady business deals in the videos below: Read more at: Infowars.com DRUNK with POWER: How the Biden Regime and globalists aim to take everything you have, including your health, money, guns, land, home, rights, and even children Communism is based on the end game of creating a classless society where everyone is dirt poor except for the ruling elites, who control all wealth and property. Under totalitarian rule, as we are experiencing right now in America with the Biden Regime, political dissidents are silenced through censorship, imprisonment, and death. Also common under socialist/communist rule is religious persecution, as we see happening to Christians in America now, as the new cancel culture and perverted "woke" mentality tries to erase all family values, ethics, morals, and belief in God. "Enemies of the state" are all US citizens who oppose the communist narratives and Godless counterculture Anyone who criticizes, challenges, or opposes the CCP-led regime in Washington DC is considered an enemy of the state, a domestic terrorist, and a white supremacist MAGA extremist. Did you vote for Trump? You must be a domestic terrorist who hates all immigrants, according to the lunatic Democrats inside the DC beltway. This is all part of a plan to replace the middle class in America with illegal immigrants, who will replace the work force, rely 100 percent on the government for support, and vote for more free stuff offered by the Democrats, forever insuring a one-party system that rules by dictatorship. The pandemic has ushered in a tsunami of health catastrophes like nothing ever seen before in this country. The vaccine holocaust has not only taken countless lives, but has wrecked the health of even more. The plandemic helped the current fake president and his cabal take over Washington DC, ushering in a new era of injustice, where the FBI, DOJ, and CDC are the ultimate criminals, looking to wipe out all opposition, for good. If you are a patriot who owns land and guns, you are the ultimate enemy of the communist party the Democrats. That means you have power and wealth, which "belongs" to them. If you run your own business, you are now an enemy of the state, because you do not rely on the government for handouts, funding, paychecks, food, or healthcare (most likely). That is why all of mainstream media and social media try to shut down, censor, and bankrupt all independent businesses, because they are competition for the ruling class. If you do not support transgenderism and grooming children for perverted lifestyles, then you are also an enemy of the state, because the ruling class believes they OWN your children, just as they believe they own you, your land, your business, and what's left of your medical rights. The Democrats in DC are part of a child trafficking syndicate that even the Wall Street Journal has recently documented, called Pizza Gate. This is one key reason the Biden Regime keeps the US borders wide open to illegal immigration; because it makes it easier to kidnap children and turn them into slaves, prostitutes, and tranny gimps. The FBI works under this corruption umbrella and that is why they will not prosecute the Democrats for these atrocities. It is also why during and after every mass shooting, the Democrats talk about gun control; because as long as millions of law-abiding citizens have guns, the communists can't take over. That is why the peaceful protesters from January 6th are held illegally in prison and abused, as a deterrent for anyone else who challenges the DC cabal of freaks and perverts. Remember, socialism is just the introduction to communism. It's just like a foreword in a book. The real end game is to eliminate the middle class in America by killing us, starving us, taking our guns, seizing our property, kidnapping our children, and setting fire to the constitution once and for all. Stand up and be heard. Fight for your inherent rights as a US patriot and citizen. Protect your home, land, guns, and children. Eat local and organic food. Use natural remedies and natural medicine. We must put an end to the tyranny that disguises itself as government, for the government officials are the TRUE domestic terrorists who are all drunk with power. Tune your food news frequency to FoodSupply.news and get updates on more toxic foods and food shortages coming to stores near you. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com TheGatewayPundit.com FBI offers reward for Janes Revenge extremists responsible for violent threats against Nebraska pro-lifers The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a reward to individuals with any information about the violent threats issued by extremist group Jane's Revenge against pro-life advocates in Nebraska. According to the Nebraska Examiner, the FBI Field Office in Omaha, Nebraska made the offer in a press release. It urged those with information about the culprits to submit tips via telephone call or online, with tipsters having the option to remain anonymous. Up to $15,000 will be given out by the federal law enforcement agency. The FBI recounted that in December 2022, a threatening note was posted at the door of the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Nebraska Omaha. It warned: "If our right to abortion in Bellevue is taken away due to the attempt to pass an abortion ban and it gets passed, we will shoot up your Newman Center with our new AR14 rifles." A similar note was taped to the door of the Christ Community Church, also located in the city, carrying the same warning. Both the threats at the center and the church were signed: "Sincerely, Jane's Revenge." According to the Examiner, FBI agents are also looking for a vehicle in connection with the threats. The said vehicle was a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck in either tan or silver color, with a model between 1998 and 2004. It also noted that "there was no explanation in the news release from the FBI about why a reward was being offered" six months after the threats were posted. Pro-life group Live Action recounted the moment when the threat was discovered at the Newman Center. A member of the Students For Life of America (SFLA) reportedly found the note when the group arrived to hold a political leadership at the venue. SFLA President Kristan Hawkins wrote in a Facebook post at that time: "When we arrived, a death threat via guns from Jane's Revenge was posted on the door." She added that her team then "called the police" and began "scrambling to find a hotel or other paid location that will be safe to still host the event." Hawkins warned that pro-lifers "are headed toward tragedy" if Attorney General Merrick Garland, who heads the Department of Justice, refuses to lift a finger to protect peaceful pro-lifers from extremist groups like Jane's Revenge. (Related: Why aren't the violent crisis pregnancy center firebombers being prosecuted like the January 6 "insurrectionists?") Jane's Revenge has a history of targeting pregnancy centers Jane's Revenge, which first emerged amid the overturn of the Roe v. Wade ruling in June 2022, had previously targeted pregnancy centers across the country. A month before the ruling's overturn, the group firebombed and vandalized the office of pro-life group Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) in Madison, Wisconsin. Unknown assailants broke into the WFA office during the early hours of May 8, 2022 and threw at least two Molotov cocktails inside, damaging the interior. They also scrawled graffiti on the office's outside wall, including the message "If abortion isn't safe, then you aren't either." Jane's Revenge also firebombed a pregnancy center in New York state in June 2022. Molotov cocktails were lobbed at the Buffalo office of CompassCare, shattering glass panels and burning the interiors. The perpetrators also sprayed the message "Jane was here" on the side of the building's wall. In April 2023, Jane's Revenge vandalized the Bowling Green Pregnancy Center in Bowling Green, Ohio that was operated by HerChoice. Security footage captured the lone suspect spray-painting the east wall of the clinic and a glass panel beside it with messages such as "fund abortion" and "abort God." Fortunately, the demeaning messages were cleaned up with the help of some college students and members of the local Knights of Columbus council. Visit Extremism.news for more stories about Jane's Revenge. Watch this video about the "night of rage" planned by Jane's Revenge, which culminated in attacks on pregnancy centers. This video is from the WGON channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Over 20 pregnancy resource centers have been ATTACKED by pro-abortion extremists since May. Leftists make good on "night of rage" riot threats after Roe v. Wade gets overturned. Op-ed: Abortion activists reveal their EVIL nature through threats and vandalism. Radical group Jane's Revenge attacks, vandalizes Ohio pregnancy center. Pro-abortion leftists FIREBOMB Buffalo, NY pregnancy center. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com NebraskaExaminer.com DailyCitizen.FocusOnTheFamily.com NationalReview.com Breitbart.com Brighteon.com Japan begins secret discharge of RADIOACTIVE WATER from Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean Japan has begun to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean. A June 6 report by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK confirmed the move, saying that the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began releasing the irradiated seawater on the afternoon of June 5. The water was released into a purpose-built submerged tunnel that would discharge the contaminated water into the sea. TEPCO estimated that the tunnel would be filled with some 6,000 tons of seawater by noon on June 6. It was previously stated that all construction work will be done by the end of the month. But according to a separate report by China Daily, the process was carried out "secretly." This is because Tokyo's unilateral decision to dump more than 1.3 million metric tons of treated, but still radioactive, water into the ocean provoked constant protests from parties inside and outside Japan. (Related: Japan PM: Dumping radioactive Fukushima water into the ocean is "unavoidable.") Parties who opposed the decision included China and Pacific Island communities. The decision was also met with outrage from civil society groups in the most affected prefectures such as Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi. Under the Japanese government's plan, the tunnel which was completed in April of this year will guide contaminated water from the downed Fukushima nuclear plant to an area about one kilometer offshore. The whole release system is almost complete as of writing, save for a reservoir that will store the contaminated water prior to release. The amount of irradiated water to be discharged would fill about 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to China Daily. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima plant's cooling systems, triggering the meltdown of three reactors and the release of high amounts of radiation. The water to be discharged was used to cool the highly radioactive reactor cores. Expert: Discharge of Fukushima radioactive water could take 100 YEARS However, an expert on nuclear issues noted that Japan's discharge of radioactive water from the Fukushima plant could last until the next century. Shaun Burnie, senior nuclear specialist at Greenpeace East Asia, issued this prediction during an April 2023 press conference in the South Korean capital Seoul. "Those discharges could begin as early as July, possibly later, and continue for many decades," he said. "Not just the 30 years but maybe 50, 60, 70 [or] 80 years. Next century is really possible." Burnie also denounced the decision to release the water, arguing that sufficient storage space exists near the site of the now-decommissioned plant. He deemed the discharge a deliberate choice to unnecessarily pollute and contaminate the environment. The Greenpeace East Asia specialist also casts doubt on the effectiveness of the advanced liquid processing system (ALPS) used to treat the contaminated water before discharge. According to Burnie, around 70 percent of the water in storage tanks still requires further processing before release. Experts insisted that water processed using ALPS is devoid of radioactive elements. They also insisted that tritium, minute amounts of which remain in the ALPS-treated water, does not pose a threat to human health. But Timothy Mousseau, a biological science expert at the University of South Carolina, begged to differ. "When tritium gets inside the body, it's at least as dangerous as any of the other radionuclides," he said during the same press conference. "The tritium molecule comes inside the cell and ejects an electron. It's like a bullet coming from a gun. That bullet hits something like the DNA." Mousseau added that the high-energy electron moves slowly. It hits different parts of the body, causing "clustered damage." "Ingestion is really the most dangerous. People have said that tritium is not dangerous, based on the concerns for external exposure. But using the same argument, you would say that uranium-235 is not dangerous." Visit Fukushima.news for more stories about the discharge of radioactive water from the now-defunct nuclear power plant. Watch this video arguing that the U.S. and the United Nations were behind the Fukushima nuclear disaster. This video is from the WesTruther channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Radioactive water being stored at the Fukushima power plant approaches the limit; Japanese officials still have no plan to dispose of it. Nuclear specialist: Discharge of Fukushima's radioactive water into Pacific Ocean could last until NEXT CENTURY. Radiation at "safe levels" near Fukushima, but experts raise concerns over contaminated storage tanks. Japan and TEPCO claim radioactive Fukushima water can be "safely" dumped in the Pacific Ocean. Fukushima is running out of storage tanks for radioactive water Where will they dump it now? Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca Global.ChinaDaily.com.cn 1 Global.ChinaDaily.com.cn 2 Brighteon.com New York Citys air quality reaches hazardous level one of the worst recorded in decades The wildfires raging all over Canada have caused New York City's air quality to worsen to over 56 times the World Health Organization's recommended pollution limit, knocking out the air quality in Duba and Delhi to be the worst in the world. On Wednesday, June 7, around 4 p.m., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned that the Air Quality Index in New York City had reached "hazardous" levels at 413 out of 500 placing it well into the most serious band of air quality recorded in decades. The National Weather Service revealed that data from private air quality monitoring company IQAir has shown New York City has the worst levels of air pollution among the top 95 global cities in the world surpassing even New Delhi in India and Dhaka in Bangladesh. Flights were delayed into and out of, La Guardia and Newark airports on Wednesday, June 7, due to the prevalence of smoke and haze that reduced visibility. Such air, with small particles, is unhealthy. Officials and physicians in New York City have urged residents to remain indoors or wear a mask if they venture outside. For people who are outdoors for an extended period of time, they are prone to serious respiratory issues and other health concerns, physicians said. "Every place is unhealthy except for the Adirondacks the only place with clean air in the state right now. We are seeing unhealthy air quality levels on Long Island, New York, eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York, Western New York," Hochul said. Air quality problems are likely to spread to other parts of the United States, including areas south of New York such as New Jersey, parts of Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., as prevailing wind patterns are causing the smoke from the wildfires to keep drifting southward. The overall wind pattern should begin to shift toward the weekend, pushing more of the smoke and haze offshore into the Atlantic Ocean, which should provide some relief to the eastern United States. (Related: Wildfire plumes worldwide are contributing to ozone pollution and harming air quality.) Record-breaking wildfires in Canada force 125,000 people to evacuate Originating from the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the wildfires in Canada quickly spread east to Quebec by Tuesday, June 6, covering enormous swathes of land. The fires in the province are 500 to 600 miles north of Rhode Island and close enough to enable strong winds to carry both the smoke and the toxic particulate matter deep into the United States. Furthermore, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center noted that nearly half of the more than 400 active wildfires in Canada are located in the eastern part of the country, especially in Quebec, the country's largest province. Typically, wildfire season in Canada affects mostly western provinces. Many of the fires in eastern Canada are also only a few hundred kilometers away from the American border. While none of the wildfires have crossed the border, they are devastating entire communities in Canada. About 125,000 people have already been forced to evacuate, including over 10,000 residents in Quebec, and nearly 100,000 acres have already burned down as of press time. Learn more about natural disasters like wildfires at Disaster.news. Watch this video to learn about how the Canadian wildfire smoke is impacting much of the northeastern United States, including the metro areas of Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. This video is from the Alex Hammer channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Emergency preparedness: Fireproofing your home against house fires and wilfires. Report: China is a bigger air pollution contributor than all developed nations combined. HEPA filters used in the home significantly reduce fine-particulate matter, researchers confirm. Air quality determined to be a leading environmental threat to public. Air quality across the world has reached toxic levels. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Standard.co.uk BQPrime.com ArsTechnica.com Brighteon.com Park Hotels & Resorts FLEEING San Francisco, says citys path to recovery remains clouded One of America's largest publicly traded real estate investment trusts is leaving San Francisco because of the city's rapid decline into anarchy and post-apocalyptic demise. Two major downtown hotels owned by Park Hotels & Resorts Inc., the 1,921-room Hilton San Francisco Union Square and the 1,024-room Parc 55 San Francisco, are both expected to be removed from the trust's portfolio due to "major challenges" in the California city. Because many of San Francisco's streets are now too unsafe to walk, Park Hotels & Resorts no longer wants the liability of having these two properties in its portfolio. "This past week we made the very difficult but necessary decision to stop debt service payments on our San Francisco CMBS loan," announced Park Hotels & Resorts CEO Thomas J. Biltmore Jr. in a statement. "After much thought and consideration, we believe it is in the best interest for Park's stockholders to materially reduce our current exposure to the San Francisco market." "Now more than ever, we believe San Francisco's path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challenges both old and new: record high office vacancy; concerns over street conditions; lower return to office than peer cities; and a weaker than expected citywide convention calendar through 2027 that will negatively impact business and leisure demand and will likely significantly reduce compression in the city for the foreseeable future." (Related: Rampant homelessness, curbside drug use, and shoplifting have all been driving businesses out of San Francisco for years.) Will San Francisco survive the retail and now hospitality exodus? At its June investor presentation, Park Hotels emphasized the "ongoing concerns over safety and security" that continue to plague the city of San Francisco. By divesting these two properties from its portfolio, the trust can save $30 million a year in interest payments, as well as about $200 million in maintenance expenses over the next five years. Right now, the company operates 46 hotels and resorts, most of which are located in city centers and resort locations, including the New York Hilton Midtown, the Hyatt Regency in Boston, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu, and the Orlando Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Fla. Park Hotels is hardly the only company pulling its assets out of San Francisco. Many, many different retailers are fleeing the city due to ongoing problems with theft, homelessness, and what Fox Business described as "a raging drug crisis." If businesses continue to leave San Francisco as has been the trend over the past several years, business tax revenues will only continue to decline. As this happens, there will be increasingly more empty and abandoned buildings littering the city, which in turn will attract more vagrants and other anti-business presence, further driving the city into oblivion. "Laid-off employees no longer pay income tax but instead sign up for unemployment benefits, welfare, food stamps, etc. which the city / state then has to pay out of less and less tax revenues," one commenter wrote about how the whole situation is likely to continue spiraling in San Francisco. "So now who are they going to raise taxes on to pay for their grandiose giveaway programs? When no one is left but the unemployed and / or homeless, you collect nothing. This is the only way these cities will ever learn to reverse their anti-police, anti-business, woke policies by hitting them in the wallet." Another asked how San Francisco's guaranteed minimum income entitlement is working out these days in light of all the businesses fleeing the city. "San Francisco is an example of what happens when cities pander to the debit side of the budget instead of the credit side," this person added. The latest news about the collapse of left-wing America can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: FoxBusiness.com NaturalNews.com TREASON: FBI colluding with Ukrainian government to censor American journalists on Twitter Ukrainian intelligence has been colluding and conspiring with the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to censor social media users and obtain their personal information, newly leaked emails show. In March 2022, a special agent from the FBI sent Twitter a list of accounts compiled by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Ukraine's primary intelligence agency, notifying the social media platform that all of them "are suspected by the SBU in spreading fear and disinformation." In an attached memorandum, the SBU asked Twitter directly to remove the accounts, some of which are members of the media, and hand over their user data to Ukrainian officials. The list the SBU gave to the FBI, which was then sent to Twitter, included The Grayzone journalist Aaron Mate, a contributor to Real Clear Investigations who also hosts the program "Pushback." Twitter responded to the FBI about the list that it would agree to review the accounts for "inauthenticity," but expressed concerns about the inclusion of Mate and other "American and Canadian journalists." "The FBI's attempt to ban Twitter accounts at the request of Ukrainian intelligence is among the most overt requests for censorship revealed to date in the Twitter Files, a cache of leaked communications from the social media giant," Mate wrote in a piece about these damning revelations. "The FBI's censorship request was relayed in a March 27th, 2022 email from FBI Special Agent Aleksandr Kobzanets, the Assistant Legal Attache at the US Embassy in Kyiv, to two Twitter executives. Four FBI colleagues were copied on the exchange." (Related: The FBI also pressured Facebook to censor "disinformation" about the situation in Ukraine.) If ever there was a clear-cut example of treason by the FBI, Twitter and the Biden Crime Family, this is it In that correspondence, Kobzanets thanked Twitter for agreeing to converse about complying with Kiev's wishes. He also attached the SBU document containing a list of 163 accounts, Mate's included, that Ukraine wants axed from the internet. According to the SBU, Mate and the other names on the list have accounts that are "used to disseminate disinformation and fake news to inaccurately reflect events in Ukraine, justify war crimes of the Russian authorities on the territory of the Ukrainian state in violation of international law." In order "to stop Russian aggression on the information front," the SBU further wrote in the correspondence, "we kindly ask you to take urgent measures to block these Twitter accounts and provide us with user data specified during registration," adding that it feels "gratitude for the existing level of interaction." That a foreign nation now has control over the free speech rights of Americans and that Twitter is complicit shows just how far-gone this country now is at the hands of its globalist overlords. This is treason, by the way, as both the FBI and Twitter conspire with a rogue foreign government one that fake president Joe Biden and his crime family are deeply in bed with, just to reiterate to eliminate the First Amendment rights of American journalists. Yoel Roth, Twitter's then-Head of Trust and Safety, agreed to "review the reported accounts under our Rules," though he warned the FBI that the inclusion of American and Canadian journalists may not fly in terms of silencing them at Kiev's demand. Roth did say that Twitter would "focus first and foremost on identifying any potential inauthenticity," whatever that means. He also clarified that he would be open to suspending "authentic" accounts as well, just so long as it could be "proven" that they have a hidden tie to a foreign government oh the irony. The FBI is one of the most corrupt three-letter agencies in all of government. Learn more at FBI.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com A potentially hazardous asteroid called "1994 XD" will zip past Earth on Sunday night, June 11, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The skyscraper-sized asteroid is unlikely to direct hit our planet since it will miss us by a few million miles, but this is considered as "dangerously close" in terms of astronomical scale. Asteroid 1994 XD has almost the same size as the U.S. Capitol building. It has been classified as an Apollo-class asteroid and a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA). The space rock has been considered as "potentially hazardous" due to its proximity and predicted close passes with Earth, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). In recent years, many significantly large asteroids had fly by the Blue Planet safel, although some have been reported entering our planet and atmosphere. Last year, an asteroid strike was observed off the coast of Iceland and it has become the fifth known Earth impact ever recorded in modern history. Despite the rarity of direct asteroid impacts, space authorities are still monitoring them daily. June 11 Asteroid Flyby Asteroid 1994 XD will make a close approach while passing Earth at a distance of 1.9 million miles (3.1 million kilometers) from our planet and this is eight times the average distance between us and our lunar neighbor, according to NASA. 1994 XD has an estimated size between 1,200 and 2,700 feet (370 to 830 meters) in diameter. Initial observations of the space object showed it is a binary asteroid, consisting of a large asteroid with a smaller moonlet orbiting around it, Live Science reported. Also Read: Asteroid Hits Off the Coast of Iceland, Becoming the Fifth Known Earth Impactor 1994 XD Asteroid Officially known as 488453 (1994 XD), the asteroid is considered a very small one whose orbit also crosses Earth's orbit. The upcoming asteroid flyby on Sunday evening is not the first time. In fact, 1994 XD made several close approaches to our planet in the past and is predicted to continue to do so in the coming decades and even until the year 2174, according to the website spacereference.org. Asteroid Defense System As our space technology advanced, scientists have also developed measures to efficiently monitor and potentially deflect incoming asteroids perceived as a threat to our planet. In September 2022, the world's first-ever planetary defense test became successful after NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft was able to impact its asteroid target after a 10-month journey into space. The target was an asteroid moonlet called Dimorphos, a small celestial object with a diameter of 530 feet (160 meters) that orbits the larger asteroid Didymos. Neither of the asteroids was a threat to Earth, according to NASA. The feat of the DART mission was significant since it changed the trajectory of the target. However, it is still unclear whether NASA and other space agencies can deflect a much large asteroid like the 99942 Apophis asteroids, which was initially thought back in 2004 to have the potential to hit our planet in 2029. Related Article: Asteroid Impact: NASA Estimates Space Rock the Size of the Great Pyramid May Hit Earth on May 6 Linn County is taking efforts to be tough on weeds the invasive, often toxic kind that is. Earlier this year Linn County reinstated the noxious weed advisory committee, and now its expanding its membership. On Tuesday, June 6, Linn County commissioners approved expanding the Noxious Weed Control Advisory Committee to nine members from its previous membership of seven. The group has been inactive for decades but was reinstated in April by Linn County commissioners after hearing land owners' concerns over the invasive plant Tansy. Tansy can be toxic to horses, Oregon Department of Agriculture noxious weed program manager Troy Ambercrombie said. The yellow flowering plant can have a detrimental effect on pastures, making them unfit for livestock. Many noxious weeds follow a boom and bust cycle. Right now, Tansy and Hemlock are especially prevalent, Ambercrombie said. Its common when a long wet spring is followed by really warm weather, he said. According to the proposal to reinstate the committee, noxious weeds were creeping up in pastures, logged-over lands, right-of-ways and by streams and rivers. Because Linn County is an agricultural-centric community, disturbances in the ground can often welcome invasive species, Ambercrombie said. Some weeds can be toxic to animals, or cause skin irritations. Others can contaminate crops or block irrigation systems, he said. But to the untrained eye, there are a lot of look-alikes between noxious weeds and other plants, he said. Formerly known as the Linn County Weed Control Committee, the group had been inactive for several years. The last official documentation of the group is from 1997. Im glad the commissioners saw the need, said Debra Paul, District Administrator of Linn Soil and Water Conservation District. Paul said the group is still discussing what actions to take in terms of methods for eradication and prevention and encouraged residents to reach out when they are concerned about weeds they see in their community. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Sixteen Indian sailors who got detained in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria nine months back returned home on Saturday. The sailors faced accusations of oil theft by the Nigerian authorities and underwent trials and when a settlement was agreed upon, they were set free. Oil tanker MT Heroic Idun and its 26 crew members, 16 of whom are Indian nationals, had been in detention since August 2022, initially in Equatorial Guinea and subsequently in Nigeria (they moved there in November 2022). The ship and crew were accused of various crimes, including oil theft and falsely accusing the Nigerian Navy of piracy. "From the outset, the Government of India, through its Missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, and in bilateral meetings, took up the matter with the respective foreign authorities at various levels. They were pressed for early resolution of the issue and repatriation of the Indian crew members," say sources. Following interventions with the Nigerian Government, the crew were allowed to remain on board the ship with the provision of regular food, instead of being taken to a detention centre on land. They were also allowed periodic contact with their families. Indian Mission officials remained in regular touch with the crew and also undertook consular access on numerous occasions. "The Indian Mission worked with the shipping company for legal representation to be arranged for the crew. It was highlighted to the Nigerian authorities that there had been no oil theft; necessary permissions had apparently been accorded and the crew was not privy to the decisions of operations. Humanitarian issues of some of the crew members were also highlighted, sources added. Following lengthy negotiations, all charges against the crew were dropped and the ship was released on May 27 after paying fines. NEW DELHI: Sixteen Indian sailors who got detained in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria nine months back returned home on Saturday. The sailors faced accusations of oil theft by the Nigerian authorities and underwent trials and when a settlement was agreed upon, they were set free. Oil tanker MT Heroic Idun and its 26 crew members, 16 of whom are Indian nationals, had been in detention since August 2022, initially in Equatorial Guinea and subsequently in Nigeria (they moved there in November 2022). The ship and crew were accused of various crimes, including oil theft and falsely accusing the Nigerian Navy of piracy. "From the outset, the Government of India, through its Missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, and in bilateral meetings, took up the matter with the respective foreign authorities at various levels. They were pressed for early resolution of the issue and repatriation of the Indian crew members," say sources. Following interventions with the Nigerian Government, the crew were allowed to remain on board the ship with the provision of regular food, instead of being taken to a detention centre on land. They were also allowed periodic contact with their families. Indian Mission officials remained in regular touch with the crew and also undertook consular access on numerous occasions. "The Indian Mission worked with the shipping company for legal representation to be arranged for the crew. It was highlighted to the Nigerian authorities that there had been no oil theft; necessary permissions had apparently been accorded and the crew was not privy to the decisions of operations. Humanitarian issues of some of the crew members were also highlighted, sources added. Following lengthy negotiations, all charges against the crew were dropped and the ship was released on May 27 after paying fines. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); By PTI KOLKATA: In view of reports of stray incidents of violence before nomination centres for panchayat elections in West Bengal, the State Election Commission is mulling imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC near such centres from Monday, a senior SEC official said. "We are contemplating imposition of prohibitory order under Section 144 Crpc around nomination venues very soon. Once we take the decision the notification will be issued and passed on to the DMs on clamping Section 144 CrPC and will be in force within a 1 km radius distance of every such venue to prevent gathering," the official told PTI on Sunday. Asked what prompted the decision, the official said "After assessing the ground situation for the sake of smooth and peaceful electioneering process to enable all stakeholders to perform their role." The state's three-tier panchayat elections are scheduled to take place on July 8. The decision was preceded by reports of violence during two days of nomination filing during which a TMC worker was allegedly shot at in a clash in Coochbehar, a Congress activist was shot dead in Murshidabad, and a TMC leader was caught with a firearm in Murshidabad. Opposition BJP, Congress and CPI(M) also claimed that their candidates have been prevented by ruling party activists from submitting papers in Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas district. "Action has been taken on the basis of receiving reports of every incident and the nomination process went on smoothly across the state since Thursday including the arrest of a political leader for moving around with a firearm in Murshidabad. The SEC will act strictly and promptly in every situation," he added. The official said over 10,000 nomination papers were filed for three-tier elections on the first two days across the state with the majority numbers filed by opposition parties. A Congress activist was shot dead on Friday, the first day of nomination filing, in Murshidabad district allegedly by TMC activists, a charge denied by the ruling party. On the second day, incidents of violence and scuffle between workers of the ruling and opposition parties were reported in Bankura, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts. Opposition BJP demanded immediate deployment of central forces to conduct the panchayat polls while the TMC asserted that the opposition is hunting for excuses fearing defeat. TMC Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Shantanu Sen said the opposition had faced severe drubbing in the 2021 assembly polls and several assemblies and one Lok Sabha by-elections, all of which were conducted in the presence of central forces. "People of Bengal are solidly behind the TMC and not with the BJP, Congress or the CPI(M). The opposition may demand deployment of peacekeeping force from the United Nations in panchayat polls if they want," Sen said. The panchayat polls will be held in the state on July 8. The 2018 rural poll process was marred by violence and alleged malpractices in several districts. KOLKATA: In view of reports of stray incidents of violence before nomination centres for panchayat elections in West Bengal, the State Election Commission is mulling imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC near such centres from Monday, a senior SEC official said. "We are contemplating imposition of prohibitory order under Section 144 Crpc around nomination venues very soon. Once we take the decision the notification will be issued and passed on to the DMs on clamping Section 144 CrPC and will be in force within a 1 km radius distance of every such venue to prevent gathering," the official told PTI on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Asked what prompted the decision, the official said "After assessing the ground situation for the sake of smooth and peaceful electioneering process to enable all stakeholders to perform their role." The state's three-tier panchayat elections are scheduled to take place on July 8. The decision was preceded by reports of violence during two days of nomination filing during which a TMC worker was allegedly shot at in a clash in Coochbehar, a Congress activist was shot dead in Murshidabad, and a TMC leader was caught with a firearm in Murshidabad. Opposition BJP, Congress and CPI(M) also claimed that their candidates have been prevented by ruling party activists from submitting papers in Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas district. "Action has been taken on the basis of receiving reports of every incident and the nomination process went on smoothly across the state since Thursday including the arrest of a political leader for moving around with a firearm in Murshidabad. The SEC will act strictly and promptly in every situation," he added. The official said over 10,000 nomination papers were filed for three-tier elections on the first two days across the state with the majority numbers filed by opposition parties. A Congress activist was shot dead on Friday, the first day of nomination filing, in Murshidabad district allegedly by TMC activists, a charge denied by the ruling party. On the second day, incidents of violence and scuffle between workers of the ruling and opposition parties were reported in Bankura, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts. Opposition BJP demanded immediate deployment of central forces to conduct the panchayat polls while the TMC asserted that the opposition is hunting for excuses fearing defeat. TMC Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Shantanu Sen said the opposition had faced severe drubbing in the 2021 assembly polls and several assemblies and one Lok Sabha by-elections, all of which were conducted in the presence of central forces. "People of Bengal are solidly behind the TMC and not with the BJP, Congress or the CPI(M). The opposition may demand deployment of peacekeeping force from the United Nations in panchayat polls if they want," Sen said. The panchayat polls will be held in the state on July 8. The 2018 rural poll process was marred by violence and alleged malpractices in several districts. By PTI AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government is deploying NDRF and SDRF teams in coastal areas and will set up shelters in six districts as the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is likely to make landfall between Kutch district and Pakistan's Karachi on June 15. The exact place where the cyclone will make landfall will become clear in the coming days. Kutch, Jamnagar, Morbi, Gir Somnath, Porbandar, and Devbhumi Dwarka districts are likely to be impacted by the cyclone with heavy rainfall and very high wind speed during June 13-15 which may go up to 150 kmph, an official said on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the "extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy'" is very likely to cross Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan around the noon of June 15 with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has held a meeting with collectors of coastal districts, representatives of the Army, Navy and Indian Coast Guard and officials of various departments, Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey told reporters. He said officials of various departments have been directed to prepare in advance to mitigate the impact of the cyclone in coastal districts and establish coordination to keep casualties to the minimum. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are being deployed along the coastal areas and various departments including fisheries, health and agriculture have been asked to work in coordination, Pandey said. The government will set up shelter houses in the six districts for those residing within a 5-10 km radius of the coastline who will be shifted to safer places. "At the meeting, the chief minister has directed all the departments to carry out maximum possible relief and rescue works in coordination with collectors of coastal districts likely to be affected by the cyclone," said Pandey. Waves crash against the jetty at a fishing harbour ahead of the expected landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy, in Dwarka district on Sunday, June 11, 2023. (Photo | PTI) The CM has assigned the responsibility of coastal districts to senior ministers who will guide the local administration to plan and undertake disaster management works considering the possible impact of the cyclone. The chief minister instructed Rishikesh Patel, Kanubhai Desai, Raghavji Patel, Kuvarji Bavaliya, Mulu Bera, Harsh Sanghvi, Jagdish Vishwakarma and Parasottam Solanki to reach their assigned districts, the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement. The IMD has issued heavy rainfall warnings for Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi districts on June 14 and 15. On June 14, the intensity of rainfall is likely to increase to 'heavy to very heavy ' in a few places and 'extremely heavy ' at isolated places over the affected districts on June 15. The remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions are also likely to witness very heavy rainfall on that day, the IMD bulletin said. Wind speed along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts will reach 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from June 13-14. A wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph is very likely to prevail from the evening of June 14 before reaching a speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph from the morning of June 15 for the subsequent 12 hours, the IMD said. At 4:30 pm on Sunday, the extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' over east central Arabian Sea moved northeastward with a speed of 8 kmph. It lays centred about 550 km west of Mumbai, 450 km south-southwest of Porbandar, 490 km south-southwest of Dwarka and 570 km south-southwest of Naliya in Kutch and 750 km south of Karachi in Pakistan, the Met department said. Fishing boats docked at the harbour due to Cyclone Biparjoy, in Porbander, Gujarat, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (Photo | PTI) Sea conditions along and off the Saurashtra and Kutch coast are likely to remain "rough to very rough" till Wednesday, and very rough to high on Thursday, it said. The IMD has advised total suspension of fishing operations in the region till June 15. It has advised fishermen to not venture into the central Arabian sea till Thursday, the north Arabian sea during June 12-15, and along and off Saurashtra-Kutch coasts till June 15. It has further advised those out at sea to return to the coast and regulate offshore and onshore activities judiciously. ALSO READ | Cyclone Biparjoy intensifies into 'very severe' cyclonic storm "In view of the above, the state governments are advised to keep a close watch, monitor the situation in their areas regularly and take appropriate precautionary measures. District authorities are advised accordingly," the IMD said. A cyclone moving over the land after its intensification in the ocean is said to make landfall when the centre of the storm (eye) moves across the coast. AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government is deploying NDRF and SDRF teams in coastal areas and will set up shelters in six districts as the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is likely to make landfall between Kutch district and Pakistan's Karachi on June 15. The exact place where the cyclone will make landfall will become clear in the coming days. Kutch, Jamnagar, Morbi, Gir Somnath, Porbandar, and Devbhumi Dwarka districts are likely to be impacted by the cyclone with heavy rainfall and very high wind speed during June 13-15 which may go up to 150 kmph, an official said on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the "extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy'" is very likely to cross Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan around the noon of June 15 with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has held a meeting with collectors of coastal districts, representatives of the Army, Navy and Indian Coast Guard and officials of various departments, Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey told reporters. He said officials of various departments have been directed to prepare in advance to mitigate the impact of the cyclone in coastal districts and establish coordination to keep casualties to the minimum. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are being deployed along the coastal areas and various departments including fisheries, health and agriculture have been asked to work in coordination, Pandey said. The government will set up shelter houses in the six districts for those residing within a 5-10 km radius of the coastline who will be shifted to safer places. "At the meeting, the chief minister has directed all the departments to carry out maximum possible relief and rescue works in coordination with collectors of coastal districts likely to be affected by the cyclone," said Pandey. Waves crash against the jetty at a fishing harbour ahead of the expected landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy, in Dwarka district on Sunday, June 11, 2023. (Photo | PTI) The CM has assigned the responsibility of coastal districts to senior ministers who will guide the local administration to plan and undertake disaster management works considering the possible impact of the cyclone. The chief minister instructed Rishikesh Patel, Kanubhai Desai, Raghavji Patel, Kuvarji Bavaliya, Mulu Bera, Harsh Sanghvi, Jagdish Vishwakarma and Parasottam Solanki to reach their assigned districts, the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement. The IMD has issued heavy rainfall warnings for Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi districts on June 14 and 15. On June 14, the intensity of rainfall is likely to increase to 'heavy to very heavy ' in a few places and 'extremely heavy ' at isolated places over the affected districts on June 15. The remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions are also likely to witness very heavy rainfall on that day, the IMD bulletin said. Wind speed along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts will reach 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from June 13-14. A wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph is very likely to prevail from the evening of June 14 before reaching a speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph from the morning of June 15 for the subsequent 12 hours, the IMD said. At 4:30 pm on Sunday, the extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' over east central Arabian Sea moved northeastward with a speed of 8 kmph. It lays centred about 550 km west of Mumbai, 450 km south-southwest of Porbandar, 490 km south-southwest of Dwarka and 570 km south-southwest of Naliya in Kutch and 750 km south of Karachi in Pakistan, the Met department said. Fishing boats docked at the harbour due to Cyclone Biparjoy, in Porbander, Gujarat, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (Photo | PTI) Sea conditions along and off the Saurashtra and Kutch coast are likely to remain "rough to very rough" till Wednesday, and very rough to high on Thursday, it said. The IMD has advised total suspension of fishing operations in the region till June 15. It has advised fishermen to not venture into the central Arabian sea till Thursday, the north Arabian sea during June 12-15, and along and off Saurashtra-Kutch coasts till June 15. It has further advised those out at sea to return to the coast and regulate offshore and onshore activities judiciously. ALSO READ | Cyclone Biparjoy intensifies into 'very severe' cyclonic storm "In view of the above, the state governments are advised to keep a close watch, monitor the situation in their areas regularly and take appropriate precautionary measures. District authorities are advised accordingly," the IMD said. A cyclone moving over the land after its intensification in the ocean is said to make landfall when the centre of the storm (eye) moves across the coast. By Express News Service THRISSUR: Devaki Nambeesan, one of the key figures in the 1950s movement against barring Nair women from participating in a temple ritual wearing blouses, died here on Sunday. Devaki died of age-related ailments. She was 89. Devaki, worked among Dalit women in Velur and other parts of the Thrissur district to fight for the right to cover their breasts. The 1956 agitation, later known as 'Velur maaru marakkal samaram (Velur breast-covering protest), was a movement against a custom that prevented Nair women from covering their breasts while taking part in certain rituals during the annual temple festival at Manimalarkavu Temple near Velur. At the time, while Nair women were allowed to participate in the temple rituals topless, Dalit women were not even allowed to take part in the ceremony. Devaki and other leaders persuaded Dalit women to take part in the ritual wearing blouses while the Nair women attended the ceremony without covering their breasts. Though Devaki couldn't participate in the festival in 1956, she was one of the leaders who played a key role in uniting the women who participated in the temple ritual covering their breasts to defy the existing system. The movement was successful as temple authorities thereafter allowed Dalit women to perform the rituals, besides putting an end to the practice of women being barred from wearing blouses during the rituals. Devaki is the wife of Communist leader and former MLA, the late A. SN Nambeesan. THRISSUR: Devaki Nambeesan, one of the key figures in the 1950s movement against barring Nair women from participating in a temple ritual wearing blouses, died here on Sunday. Devaki died of age-related ailments. She was 89. Devaki, worked among Dalit women in Velur and other parts of the Thrissur district to fight for the right to cover their breasts. The 1956 agitation, later known as 'Velur maaru marakkal samaram (Velur breast-covering protest), was a movement against a custom that prevented Nair women from covering their breasts while taking part in certain rituals during the annual temple festival at Manimalarkavu Temple near Velur. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); At the time, while Nair women were allowed to participate in the temple rituals topless, Dalit women were not even allowed to take part in the ceremony. Devaki and other leaders persuaded Dalit women to take part in the ritual wearing blouses while the Nair women attended the ceremony without covering their breasts. Though Devaki couldn't participate in the festival in 1956, she was one of the leaders who played a key role in uniting the women who participated in the temple ritual covering their breasts to defy the existing system. The movement was successful as temple authorities thereafter allowed Dalit women to perform the rituals, besides putting an end to the practice of women being barred from wearing blouses during the rituals. Devaki is the wife of Communist leader and former MLA, the late A. SN Nambeesan. By PTI NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces here beginning Sunday during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy. A 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi on Saturday. Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force welcomed them at the airport, officials said. The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area. "The conference is being organised to discuss the border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces. Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb the various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between both the border guarding forces," a BSF spokesperson said in a statement. Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the spokesperson said. This will be the 53rd edition of the talks and the last such meeting was held in July last year when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka. The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on India's eastern flank. These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka. A senior BSF officer had earlier told PTI that the relations between the two countries and their border forces are very good and the conference is expected to enhance these ties. A joint record of "discussions" will be signed by the two sides at the end of the conference. READ MORE: India has to watch out for its eastern border NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces here beginning Sunday during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy. A 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi on Saturday. Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force welcomed them at the airport, officials said. The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The conference is being organised to discuss the border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces. Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb the various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between both the border guarding forces," a BSF spokesperson said in a statement. Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the spokesperson said. This will be the 53rd edition of the talks and the last such meeting was held in July last year when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka. The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on India's eastern flank. These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka. A senior BSF officer had earlier told PTI that the relations between the two countries and their border forces are very good and the conference is expected to enhance these ties. A joint record of "discussions" will be signed by the two sides at the end of the conference. READ MORE: India has to watch out for its eastern border Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Manipur is limping back to normalcy after over a month-long unrest which was triggered by ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis. Official sources said no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state during the past 48 hours. The states Information and Public Relations Minister and government spokesperson Dr Sapam Ranjan said it was evident from the non-occurrence of any untoward incidents in the past two days that peace and normalcy were returning to the state. According to him, 50,648 people, displaced by the violence, are lodged in 349 relief camps set up in the Imphal Valley and some hill districts. Ranjan said essential commodities were being brought by using National Highway 37 which enters the state from Assams Barak Valley. National Highway 2, which traverses from Nagaland, is the shorter route but the protesting Kuki organisations have enforced a blockade on it. The minister said altogether 2,370 trucks, carrying essential items, arrived in the state by Saturday. We are trying to make the Khongsang railway station functional early to bring goods by trains, he said. Sharing details on the recovery of arms and ammunition, Ranjan said 990 arms and around 13,500 bullets were recovered. There are no official figures but the miscreants reportedly looted some 4,000 guns and at least one lakh bullets from police stations and battalions during the violence. Meanwhile, the Kuki MLAs camping in Delhi are trying to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to pursue the demand for a separate administration for the Kukis. In the Imphal valley, members of the All Manipur Yoga Fraternity Union staged a sit-in protest on Sunday on the present situation. The union said it would not celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 and instead, observe it as a day of mourning as lives were lost and people were also injured and displaced. Nearly 100 people were killed in the violence which broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March organised by a tribal students union to oppose the move for the inclusion of Meiteis the states largest community in the Scheduled Tribes list. GUWAHATI: Manipur is limping back to normalcy after over a month-long unrest which was triggered by ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis. Official sources said no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state during the past 48 hours. The states Information and Public Relations Minister and government spokesperson Dr Sapam Ranjan said it was evident from the non-occurrence of any untoward incidents in the past two days that peace and normalcy were returning to the state. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to him, 50,648 people, displaced by the violence, are lodged in 349 relief camps set up in the Imphal Valley and some hill districts. Ranjan said essential commodities were being brought by using National Highway 37 which enters the state from Assams Barak Valley. National Highway 2, which traverses from Nagaland, is the shorter route but the protesting Kuki organisations have enforced a blockade on it. The minister said altogether 2,370 trucks, carrying essential items, arrived in the state by Saturday. We are trying to make the Khongsang railway station functional early to bring goods by trains, he said. Sharing details on the recovery of arms and ammunition, Ranjan said 990 arms and around 13,500 bullets were recovered. There are no official figures but the miscreants reportedly looted some 4,000 guns and at least one lakh bullets from police stations and battalions during the violence. Meanwhile, the Kuki MLAs camping in Delhi are trying to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to pursue the demand for a separate administration for the Kukis. In the Imphal valley, members of the All Manipur Yoga Fraternity Union staged a sit-in protest on Sunday on the present situation. The union said it would not celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 and instead, observe it as a day of mourning as lives were lost and people were also injured and displaced. Nearly 100 people were killed in the violence which broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March organised by a tribal students union to oppose the move for the inclusion of Meiteis the states largest community in the Scheduled Tribes list. By PTI MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday denied reports of lathi-charge on warkaris by police in Alandi town in Pune district. He said a minor scuffle broke out between warkaris- devotees of Lord Vitthal- and the police. "There was no lathi-charge on the warkari community," he told reporters in Nagpur. Opposition parties, however, claimed police lathi-charged warkaris and demanded a high-level probe and strict action. The incident occurred when devotees were scrambling to gain entry into Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi Mandir in Alandi town, 22 km from Pune city, during the ceremonial procession which is part of the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage to Pandharpur. "We learned from the last year's stampede-like situation at the same place (Alandi) and tried giving a few numbers of entry pass to various groups. It was decided to issue 75 passes to each group that participate in the pilgrimage," said Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio. He said some 400-500 youths insisted that they would participate in the pilgrimage and won't follow the decision on the restricted allotment of the entry pass. "They broke the barricades and the police tried to stop them, during which some police personnel were injured," Fadnavis said. Oppositions condemn Maharashtra police resorting lathicharge to disperse devotees-Varkari. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole says this is century old tradition of going to Pandharpur & part of Vari, but Shinde Fadnavis govt first time resorted lathicharge on Varkari pic.twitter.com/kw6NTNecGc Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) June 11, 2023 This decision (of allotting a limited number of the entry pass) was taken after a joint meeting with the principal district judge, the charity commissioner and the heads of various groups as part of the preparation for the pilgrimage, he added. Police had made elaborate arrangements and held meetings with temple trustees to prevent any untoward incident, Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, Vinay Kumar Choubey, had said. While the police were sending batches of 75 devotees at a time, a few people breached the barricades and tried to enter the temple, he said. "There was an altercation when police tried to stop them," Choubey said but refuted allegations that police lathi-charged warkaris. Nationalist Congress Party working president Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed warkaris were lathi-charged by the police and condemned the incident. MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday denied reports of lathi-charge on warkaris by police in Alandi town in Pune district. He said a minor scuffle broke out between warkaris- devotees of Lord Vitthal- and the police. "There was no lathi-charge on the warkari community," he told reporters in Nagpur.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Opposition parties, however, claimed police lathi-charged warkaris and demanded a high-level probe and strict action. The incident occurred when devotees were scrambling to gain entry into Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi Mandir in Alandi town, 22 km from Pune city, during the ceremonial procession which is part of the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage to Pandharpur. "We learned from the last year's stampede-like situation at the same place (Alandi) and tried giving a few numbers of entry pass to various groups. It was decided to issue 75 passes to each group that participate in the pilgrimage," said Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio. He said some 400-500 youths insisted that they would participate in the pilgrimage and won't follow the decision on the restricted allotment of the entry pass. "They broke the barricades and the police tried to stop them, during which some police personnel were injured," Fadnavis said. Oppositions condemn Maharashtra police resorting lathicharge to disperse devotees-Varkari. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole says this is century old tradition of going to Pandharpur & part of Vari, but Shinde Fadnavis govt first time resorted lathicharge on Varkari pic.twitter.com/kw6NTNecGc Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) June 11, 2023 This decision (of allotting a limited number of the entry pass) was taken after a joint meeting with the principal district judge, the charity commissioner and the heads of various groups as part of the preparation for the pilgrimage, he added. Police had made elaborate arrangements and held meetings with temple trustees to prevent any untoward incident, Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, Vinay Kumar Choubey, had said. While the police were sending batches of 75 devotees at a time, a few people breached the barricades and tried to enter the temple, he said. "There was an altercation when police tried to stop them," Choubey said but refuted allegations that police lathi-charged warkaris. Nationalist Congress Party working president Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed warkaris were lathi-charged by the police and condemned the incident. By PTI DAUSA: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said people's trust is the "biggest asset" for him and asserted that he will keep fighting to get them justice and not back down on his demands. He has been attacking the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan over alleged inaction into charges of corruption levelled by him against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP dispensation. The state's former deputy chief minister has also demanded disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and its reconstitution and compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases. Addressing a programme after unveiling a statue of his father and former Union minister Rajesh Pilot on his death anniversary at the Gurjar hostel here, Sachin Pilot said, "For me, credibility among the public is the first priority. People's trust, promises made to them and credibility are the biggest assets in politics. In the last 20-22 years, since I have been in politics, I have not done any such thing which has led to decrease in trust." href="https://t.co/9vyxW2IzGi">pic.twitter.com/9vyxW2IzGi Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) June 11, 2023 "In the coming times also, your trust is the biggest asset for me, I will never let it decrease, I promise," he said and added that no matter what situation, it is his promise to fight for the people and get them justice. Sachin Pilot also said as Rajasthan Congress chief, he had taken on the BJP when it was in power in the state. Earlier, there was intense speculation over his announcing his plans for his political future at this programme to commemorate his father's death anniversary. ALSO READ | Rajasthan tussle: All eyes on Sachin Pilot as Congress hopeful of 'positive solution' However, the Congress has exuded confidence that a "positive solution" would be found to the intra-party discord in Rajasthan and rubbished reports that Sachin Pilot will float a new party. Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018. In 2020, Sachin 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. ALSO READ | Rajasthan politics: Party is supreme, will fight unitedly, says Congress amid Gehlot-Pilot tussle 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. Sachin Pilot had in April 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. DAUSA: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said people's trust is the "biggest asset" for him and asserted that he will keep fighting to get them justice and not back down on his demands. He has been attacking the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan over alleged inaction into charges of corruption levelled by him against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP dispensation. The state's former deputy chief minister has also demanded disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and its reconstitution and compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Addressing a programme after unveiling a statue of his father and former Union minister Rajesh Pilot on his death anniversary at the Gurjar hostel here, Sachin Pilot said, "For me, credibility among the public is the first priority. People's trust, promises made to them and credibility are the biggest assets in politics. In the last 20-22 years, since I have been in politics, I have not done any such thing which has led to decrease in trust." href="https://t.co/9vyxW2IzGi">pic.twitter.com/9vyxW2IzGi Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) June 11, 2023 "In the coming times also, your trust is the biggest asset for me, I will never let it decrease, I promise," he said and added that no matter what situation, it is his promise to fight for the people and get them justice. Sachin Pilot also said as Rajasthan Congress chief, he had taken on the BJP when it was in power in the state. Earlier, there was intense speculation over his announcing his plans for his political future at this programme to commemorate his father's death anniversary. . pic.twitter.com/mQWIETSyEB Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) June 11, 2023 ALSO READ | Rajasthan tussle: All eyes on Sachin Pilot as Congress hopeful of 'positive solution' However, the Congress has exuded confidence that a "positive solution" would be found to the intra-party discord in Rajasthan and rubbished reports that Sachin Pilot will float a new party. Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018. In 2020, Sachin 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. ALSO READ | Rajasthan politics: Party is supreme, will fight unitedly, says Congress amid Gehlot-Pilot tussle 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. Sachin Pilot had in April 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. By Express News Service RANCHI: A stillborn baby was allegedly burnt along with the garbage by the hospital staff without the family members' knowledge at Majhiaon Referral Hospital in Garhwa. According to the family members, they had gone to bring shrouds to perform last rites for the dead, in between, the Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) and the midwife put the stillborn child in the burning garbage dump within half an hour of its birth. When the family enquired about the dead child after returning from the market, the ANM and midwife told them that they burnt it along with the garbage. Procreants mother Rajmati Devi said that she had brought her daughter Madhu Devi to the hospital at 3 pm on Saturday. After one and a half hours, a stillborn child was born, but without handing it over to us ANMs Nirmala Kumari and Manju Kumari along with the midwife Daulat Devi put it into the garbage in the hospital campus. Since the garbage was being burnt in the dump, the child also got burnt along with it, said mother Rajmati Devi. Madhus father Hari Kishore said that they had gone to bring shrouds to perform the last rites of the child but, when they reached back, they were told that the child has been burnt along with the garbage. The ANM and the midwife blame each other for the incident. Garhwa Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Singh, expressing his sympathy with the parents of the child termed it an inhuman act by the hospital staff. Undoubtedly this is an inhuman act and those found guilty in this ghastly act will not be spared at any cost. FIR will be lodged and strict action will be taken against those who were involved in it, said the civil surgeon. Ideally, the child should have been handed over to the family members; instead, it was burnt along with the garbage which is an inhuman act, he added. We dont need such insensitive staff in the hospital and will see to it they get dismissed from their jobs, said Dr Anil Singh. The doctor in-charge Dr Govind Seth also said that burning a stillborn child along with the garbage dump is a shame on humanity. Hence, an investigation will be initiated into the matter and those found guilty will be punished accordingly. RANCHI: A stillborn baby was allegedly burnt along with the garbage by the hospital staff without the family members' knowledge at Majhiaon Referral Hospital in Garhwa. According to the family members, they had gone to bring shrouds to perform last rites for the dead, in between, the Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) and the midwife put the stillborn child in the burning garbage dump within half an hour of its birth. When the family enquired about the dead child after returning from the market, the ANM and midwife told them that they burnt it along with the garbage. Procreants mother Rajmati Devi said that she had brought her daughter Madhu Devi to the hospital at 3 pm on Saturday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After one and a half hours, a stillborn child was born, but without handing it over to us ANMs Nirmala Kumari and Manju Kumari along with the midwife Daulat Devi put it into the garbage in the hospital campus. Since the garbage was being burnt in the dump, the child also got burnt along with it, said mother Rajmati Devi. Madhus father Hari Kishore said that they had gone to bring shrouds to perform the last rites of the child but, when they reached back, they were told that the child has been burnt along with the garbage. The ANM and the midwife blame each other for the incident. Garhwa Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Singh, expressing his sympathy with the parents of the child termed it an inhuman act by the hospital staff. Undoubtedly this is an inhuman act and those found guilty in this ghastly act will not be spared at any cost. FIR will be lodged and strict action will be taken against those who were involved in it, said the civil surgeon. Ideally, the child should have been handed over to the family members; instead, it was burnt along with the garbage which is an inhuman act, he added. We dont need such insensitive staff in the hospital and will see to it they get dismissed from their jobs, said Dr Anil Singh. The doctor in-charge Dr Govind Seth also said that burning a stillborn child along with the garbage dump is a shame on humanity. Hence, an investigation will be initiated into the matter and those found guilty will be punished accordingly. By PTI MUMBAI: A memorial of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on a traffic junction in Dhule in Maharashtra was demolished by the civic body which claimed it was illegal. It was allegedly built by Dhule City All India Ittehadul Majlis-e-Muslimeen MLA Faruk Shah Anwar on the intersection of Vadjai Road, some 322 kilometres from here, a police official said on Sunday. "It was demolished on Friday under police bandobast by the civic corporation. The MLA was told to remove it himself. However, after a meeting between the district collector and PWD officials, the memorial was broken," he said. The situation is peaceful in the area and no case of any untoward incident has come forward, the police official added. Several parts of Maharashtra are seeing acrimony among communities and protests over the use of images of Tipu Sultan and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as part of offensive and communally sensitive social media messages and status. READ MORE: Kolhapur clashes: Normalcy returns after violence over Tipu Sultan post; police deployment continues MUMBAI: A memorial of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on a traffic junction in Dhule in Maharashtra was demolished by the civic body which claimed it was illegal. It was allegedly built by Dhule City All India Ittehadul Majlis-e-Muslimeen MLA Faruk Shah Anwar on the intersection of Vadjai Road, some 322 kilometres from here, a police official said on Sunday. "It was demolished on Friday under police bandobast by the civic corporation. The MLA was told to remove it himself. However, after a meeting between the district collector and PWD officials, the memorial was broken," he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The situation is peaceful in the area and no case of any untoward incident has come forward, the police official added. Several parts of Maharashtra are seeing acrimony among communities and protests over the use of images of Tipu Sultan and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as part of offensive and communally sensitive social media messages and status. READ MORE: Kolhapur clashes: Normalcy returns after violence over Tipu Sultan post; police deployment continues By PTI THANE: Shahnawaz Khan alias Baddo, the prime accused wanted by UP police for allegedly operating a racket involved in the religious conversion of youngsters through an online gaming application, has been arrested from Raigad district of Maharashtra, an official said on Sunday. He was arrested from Alibaug town. Ghaziabad Police were searching for Khan, who hails from Mumbra township in Thane district of Maharashtra, the official said. Khan is being taken to Mumbra for questioning, he said while refusing to elaborate. As per the case details, Khan and the cleric of a mosque in Ghaziabad were booked under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act based on a complaint. A man from Ghaziabad had lodged a complaint with the police last month alleging that the cleric and Baddo had unlawfully converted his son, who recently passed the class 12 board exam, to Islam, police had said. The complainant alleged that his son came in contact with Baddo through an online gaming app and frequently spoke to him, following which he got inclined towards adopting Islam, the police said. The boy told his father that he had converted to Islam after being convinced by Baddo, according to police. THANE: Shahnawaz Khan alias Baddo, the prime accused wanted by UP police for allegedly operating a racket involved in the religious conversion of youngsters through an online gaming application, has been arrested from Raigad district of Maharashtra, an official said on Sunday. He was arrested from Alibaug town. Ghaziabad Police were searching for Khan, who hails from Mumbra township in Thane district of Maharashtra, the official said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Khan is being taken to Mumbra for questioning, he said while refusing to elaborate. As per the case details, Khan and the cleric of a mosque in Ghaziabad were booked under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act based on a complaint. A man from Ghaziabad had lodged a complaint with the police last month alleging that the cleric and Baddo had unlawfully converted his son, who recently passed the class 12 board exam, to Islam, police had said. The complainant alleged that his son came in contact with Baddo through an online gaming app and frequently spoke to him, following which he got inclined towards adopting Islam, the police said. The boy told his father that he had converted to Islam after being convinced by Baddo, according to police. Philadelphia at sunset, showing smog covering the city before the Clean Air Act was enacted. Photo: Dick Swanson / EPA By James Pasley 8 June 2023 (Insider) Dont let the soft, sepia tones fool you. The United States used to be dangerously polluted. Before President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, the environment and its well-being was not a federal priority. In the early 1970s, the EPA launched the The Documerica Project, which leveraged 100 freelance photographers to document what the US looked like. By 1974, they had taken 81,000 photos. The National Archives digitized nearly 16,000 and made them available online. Many of the photos were taken before water and air pollution were fully regulated. The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, and the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972. Baltimore, Birmingham, Cleveland, Delaware, Denver, Kansas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco all feature here, in shots filled with smoke, smog, acid, oil, rubbish, and sewage. None of the 35 photos weve selected are pretty (other than the film-photo haze), but its worth remembering what US cities used to be like before we cared what we put into the air, soil, and water. [] Though it might not be clear, this is the George Washington Bridge going over the Hudson River, covered in thick smog. In 1965, a study by New York City Council found breathing New Yorks air had the same effect as smoking two packets of cigarettes a day. The George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River in the 1960s, before the Clean Air Act. Photo: Chester Higgins / EPA In Washington D.C., raw sewage flows out into the Potomac river. In 1970, a hot summer resulted in a stomach-turning smell coming from the Potomac, due to the mixing of sewage and algae. The pollution was blamed on a hundred years of under-estimates, bad decisions, and outright mistakes, a director of the Federal Water Quality Administration told The New York Times. His description can be applied to a lot of the US before the EPA. Raw sewage flows through the Georgetown Gap, into the Potomac River in Washington D.C., in 1973. Photo: John Neubauer / EPA [more] 35 vintage photos taken by the EPA reveal what American cities looked like before pollution was regulated By PTI GUWAHATI: With the onset of monsoon and the possibility of floods across the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday directed the government machinery to be ready to meet any flood-related eventuality. Monsoon arrived in the northeast, including Assam, on Saturday and the state has been experiencing rainfall over the past couple of days. In a video conference with deputy commissioners (DCs) and other senior officials, Sarma said all government departments, including NHAI, NHIDC, NDRF and SDRF, should remain alert to reach out to the affected people during the natural calamity. We are adopting a whole of government approach to mitigate the impact of floods. All administrative units have to work with synergy and remain on high alert. Prevention is always better than cure. https://t.co/dsLJoJGYjQ Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 11, 2023 The chief minister asked the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, to take steps for the pre-positioning of NDRF and SDRF personnel in vulnerable districts, especially in Dima Hasao. He also asked the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) to activate an early warning system to warn people about potential threats of flood. In the event of flood water submerging low-lying areas, Sarma asked the DCs to set up relief camps and streamline relief distribution in these centres. He asked the deputy commissioners to visit the embankments breached during floods in 2022 and take precautionary measures. The chief minister also directed the DCs to assess the available stock of food materials and fodder in their respective districts. Referring to the damage caused to an embankment in Cachar district last year which caused a catastrophic flood in Silchar town and its adjoining areas, Sarma asked the DCs to keep vigil and, if required, ensure area domination to avert unscrupulous elements from causing harm to embankments. The CM also reviewed the preparedness of medical teams, including the availability of medicine stock, to meet any emergency. He asked the DC, Kamrup Metropolitan, to have constant surveillance on 382 landslide-prone areas of the district and take remedial steps in case of heavy and incessant rain. GUWAHATI: With the onset of monsoon and the possibility of floods across the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday directed the government machinery to be ready to meet any flood-related eventuality. Monsoon arrived in the northeast, including Assam, on Saturday and the state has been experiencing rainfall over the past couple of days. In a video conference with deputy commissioners (DCs) and other senior officials, Sarma said all government departments, including NHAI, NHIDC, NDRF and SDRF, should remain alert to reach out to the affected people during the natural calamity.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We are adopting a whole of government approach to mitigate the impact of floods. All administrative units have to work with synergy and remain on high alert. Prevention is always better than cure. https://t.co/dsLJoJGYjQ Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 11, 2023 The chief minister asked the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, to take steps for the pre-positioning of NDRF and SDRF personnel in vulnerable districts, especially in Dima Hasao. He also asked the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) to activate an early warning system to warn people about potential threats of flood. In the event of flood water submerging low-lying areas, Sarma asked the DCs to set up relief camps and streamline relief distribution in these centres. He asked the deputy commissioners to visit the embankments breached during floods in 2022 and take precautionary measures. The chief minister also directed the DCs to assess the available stock of food materials and fodder in their respective districts. Referring to the damage caused to an embankment in Cachar district last year which caused a catastrophic flood in Silchar town and its adjoining areas, Sarma asked the DCs to keep vigil and, if required, ensure area domination to avert unscrupulous elements from causing harm to embankments. The CM also reviewed the preparedness of medical teams, including the availability of medicine stock, to meet any emergency. He asked the DC, Kamrup Metropolitan, to have constant surveillance on 382 landslide-prone areas of the district and take remedial steps in case of heavy and incessant rain. By IANS KOCHI: Three sailors from Kerala, who were released from Nigerian captivity after 10 months and reached home on June 10, told media persons that they were forced to drink toilet water in captivity. The three, Sanu Joseph from Kochi, who was the Chief Officer of the Ship; Heroic Idun along with V VIjith, third officer of the ship from Kollam and Milton D' couth, who was the ship's oiler from Mulavukad in Kochi, reached home on Saturday. The ship along with its crew were taken into custody first by Equatorial Guinea on allegations that the ship had crossed its territorial waters and were there in custody for three months. According to reports, the 26-member crew, comprising 16 Indians three of them Keralites eight Sri Lankans, besides a Polish and a Filipino, were first detained in Equatorial Guinea in August 2022 and moved to Nigeria in November. There were reports that the shipping company had paid a heavy ransom to Equatorial Guinea, but they were not released and in between the Government of Nigeria brought in fresh charges that the crew in the ship had smuggled oil from Nigerian oil tankers. The Nigerian police took the vessel and the sailors into custody and the ordeal continued for the next eight months. The Government of India as well as several other agencies intervened in the matter and secured the release of the sailors. The sailors said that they suffered a lot while in captivity and they fell ill and had to be hospitalized due to malarial fever. One of the sailors said that they had lost hope and never expected to see their family and friends again. KOCHI: Three sailors from Kerala, who were released from Nigerian captivity after 10 months and reached home on June 10, told media persons that they were forced to drink toilet water in captivity. The three, Sanu Joseph from Kochi, who was the Chief Officer of the Ship; Heroic Idun along with V VIjith, third officer of the ship from Kollam and Milton D' couth, who was the ship's oiler from Mulavukad in Kochi, reached home on Saturday. The ship along with its crew were taken into custody first by Equatorial Guinea on allegations that the ship had crossed its territorial waters and were there in custody for three months.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to reports, the 26-member crew, comprising 16 Indians three of them Keralites eight Sri Lankans, besides a Polish and a Filipino, were first detained in Equatorial Guinea in August 2022 and moved to Nigeria in November. There were reports that the shipping company had paid a heavy ransom to Equatorial Guinea, but they were not released and in between the Government of Nigeria brought in fresh charges that the crew in the ship had smuggled oil from Nigerian oil tankers. The Nigerian police took the vessel and the sailors into custody and the ordeal continued for the next eight months. The Government of India as well as several other agencies intervened in the matter and secured the release of the sailors. The sailors said that they suffered a lot while in captivity and they fell ill and had to be hospitalized due to malarial fever. One of the sailors said that they had lost hope and never expected to see their family and friends again. Jaison Wilson By NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has refused to grant bail to Manish Kothari, the Chartered Accountant (CA) of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal, in a money laundering case allegedly linked to the cattle smuggling case across India-Bangladesh border. Dismissing Kotharis bail application, Special Judge Raghubir Singh said the stage was not right to grant him bail. The accused was seeking his regular bail on grounds that his custody was no longer required in the case. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Kothari helped Mondal, TMCs Birbhum district president considered close to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, to siphon off money, the proceeds of the cattle smuggling racket, through shell companies. Mondal, who is in judicial custody, was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the case and was named in the charge sheet and was subsequently arrested by the ED. NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has refused to grant bail to Manish Kothari, the Chartered Accountant (CA) of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal, in a money laundering case allegedly linked to the cattle smuggling case across India-Bangladesh border. Dismissing Kotharis bail application, Special Judge Raghubir Singh said the stage was not right to grant him bail. The accused was seeking his regular bail on grounds that his custody was no longer required in the case. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Kothari helped Mondal, TMCs Birbhum district president considered close to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, to siphon off money, the proceeds of the cattle smuggling racket, through shell companies.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mondal, who is in judicial custody, was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the case and was named in the charge sheet and was subsequently arrested by the ED. By Express News Service FRANKFURT: More than a third of men in Germany find violence against women "acceptable", according to survey results that campaigners described as "shocking" on Sunday. A total of 33 per cent of men aged 18-35 said they found it "acceptable" if "their hand slipped" occasionally during an argument with their female partner, according to the survey set to be published by the Funke newspaper group on Monday. Thirty-four per cent of respondents admitted that they had been violent towards women in the past. The results are "shocking", said Karsten Kassner from the Federal Forum Men, an umbrella group that advocates for gender equality. "It's problematic that a third of the surveyed men trivialise physical violence against women. This urgently needs to change," he told the Funke newspapers. The nationwide survey, which questioned 1,000 men and 1,000 women aged 18-35, was commissioned by children's aid organisation Plan International Germany and carried out online from March 9-21. It further found that 52 percent of men said they believed their role was to be the main provider in a relationship, and that their partner should mostly run the household. Just under half of the respondents (48 per cent) also expressed a dislike for seeing public displays of homosexuality, saying they felt "disturbed" by it. "Traditional gender roles are still deeply ingrained in people's minds," Alexandra Tschacher, a spokeswoman for Plan International Germany, told the Funke newspaper group. More than 115,000 women were victims of partner violence in 2021, according to federal police data -- or 13 women each hour. A total of 369 women were killed by their current or former partners in 2021. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann last year said he would push for legal changes to punish violence against women more severely, saying such acts should not be downplayed as "private tragedies". "Gender-based violence must be named as such and punished with the necessary severity," he said at the time. FRANKFURT: More than a third of men in Germany find violence against women "acceptable", according to survey results that campaigners described as "shocking" on Sunday. A total of 33 per cent of men aged 18-35 said they found it "acceptable" if "their hand slipped" occasionally during an argument with their female partner, according to the survey set to be published by the Funke newspaper group on Monday. Thirty-four per cent of respondents admitted that they had been violent towards women in the past.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The results are "shocking", said Karsten Kassner from the Federal Forum Men, an umbrella group that advocates for gender equality. "It's problematic that a third of the surveyed men trivialise physical violence against women. This urgently needs to change," he told the Funke newspapers. The nationwide survey, which questioned 1,000 men and 1,000 women aged 18-35, was commissioned by children's aid organisation Plan International Germany and carried out online from March 9-21. It further found that 52 percent of men said they believed their role was to be the main provider in a relationship, and that their partner should mostly run the household. Just under half of the respondents (48 per cent) also expressed a dislike for seeing public displays of homosexuality, saying they felt "disturbed" by it. "Traditional gender roles are still deeply ingrained in people's minds," Alexandra Tschacher, a spokeswoman for Plan International Germany, told the Funke newspaper group. More than 115,000 women were victims of partner violence in 2021, according to federal police data -- or 13 women each hour. A total of 369 women were killed by their current or former partners in 2021. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann last year said he would push for legal changes to punish violence against women more severely, saying such acts should not be downplayed as "private tragedies". "Gender-based violence must be named as such and punished with the necessary severity," he said at the time. Los Angeles Times to reduce 13% of staff amid advertising declines San Francisco, June 10: US-based Los Angeles Times has announced to lay off about 13 per cent of its newsroom staff, or 74 employees, amid economic pressures brought on by advertising and print readership declines. Los Angeles Times to reduce 13% of staff amid advertising declines According to Los Angeles Times, full-time and temporary workers will be let go, including a handful of managers, however, reporting positions are expected to be mostly preserved, but production staff will be reduced.Almost a third of the cuts come from the ranks of news and copy editors. Some photographers, audience engagement editors, and audio producers will be impacted as well.In a note to the newsroom, Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida announced the layoffs, saying the decision was "made more urgent by the economic climate and the unique challenges of our industry"."Decisions that result in talented staffers losing their jobs are agonising. We will be saying goodbye to some tremendous colleagues," Merida was quoted as saying.Moreover, the report said that the Times has been experiencing ongoing advertising declines, a problem that affects the majority of the media.In addition, news publishers have suffered as social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter have reduced their promotion of news articles.In recent months, growth has stalled in a once-promising area -- digital subscriptions.The Times has about 5,50,000 digital subscribers, including via direct sales and third-party partnerships, such as Apple News+.After the cuts, about 500 newsroom employees will remain, the report mentioned.In April, Vice Media announced to lay off over 100 employees as part of restructuring its global organisations, along with shutting down its Vice News Tonight broadcast.Popular news outlet Insider has announced to lay off 10 per cent of its workforce, which includes staff writers.In the same month, BuzzFeed News, the Pulitzer Prize-winning news arm of BuzzFeed.com, was shut down, plus, the media outlet reduced the workforce by approximately 15 per cent across the business, content, tech and admin teams.IANS10 June 2023 Shared Recently! DogeMiyagi, Cosmos, and Chainlink: How social media strategies drive growth in Crypto ATK, New Delhi, June 10: It's no surprise that social media platforms play a crucial role in tokens driving growth and encouraging community engagement. DogeMiyagi, Cosmos, and Chainlink: How social media strategies drive growth in Crypto Here, we will evaluate , Cosmos (COSMOS), and Chainlink (LINK), three popular tokens that all have strong social media strategies. By looking at their approaches, we aim to shed light on how these platforms leverage social media to facilitate the expansion of their ecosystems.DogeMiyagi's Social Media Strategy, a brand-new meme token, has recognized the power of social media platforms in driving brand awareness and community engagement. Their strategy revolves around leveraging popular social media platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, and Discord to connect with their target audience.Through fun and captivating content, DogeMiyagi taps into the humor and entertainment aspects of the cryptocurrency community. Memes, witty tweets, and engaging visuals are regularly shared across their social media channels, keeping their followers entertained while staying informed about the project's progress. In a nutshell, MIYAGI aims to update its fans but in a conversational and engaging tone.Cosmos' Social Media StrategyCosmos (ATOM) takes a more informative and educational approach to its social media strategy. Recognizing the importance of engaging and educating their audience, Cosmos utilizes various platforms to provide valuable insights and updates about the industry.On platforms like Twitter and Medium, Cosmos regularly publishes thought-provoking articles, tutorials, and in-depth analyses to inform and educate their followers. They aim to position themselves as a reliable source of information, catering to people looking for well-researched and informed updates about cryptocurrencies. By sharing knowledge and industry insights, Cosmos not only drives traffic toward its platform but also cultivates a sense of trust and credibility within their community.Chainlink's Social Media StrategyChainlink (LINK) is a decentralized oracle network that has embraced a multi-faceted social media strategy focusing on education and community engagement. Recognizing the need for active participation and interaction, Chainlink maintains an active presence on various platforms, including Twitter, Telegram, and Discord.Chainlink's strategy centers around sharing informative content while encouraging community ties. They organize interactive AMAs (Ask Me Anything) and live events to directly engage with their followers, answering questions and addressing concerns. By maintaining an open line of communication and actively involving their community, Chainlink creates a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that encourages collaboration and mutual growth!DogeMiyagi (MIYAGI), Cosmos (COSMOS), and Chainlink (LINK) have all demonstrated strong social media strategies. DogeMiyagi utilizes humor and entertainment to engage its audience, while Cosmos focuses on education and providing valuable insights. Chainlink excels in community engagement through interactive events and direct communication. These tokens have harnessed the power of social media to connect with their audiences, build strong communities, and contribute to the overall expansion of the cryptocurrency ecosystem!Follow the Links For More Information on DogeMiyagi!WebsiteTwitterTelegram(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI10 June 2023 Shared Recently! India has consistently taken up issue of students facing deportation in Canada, some recently received stay orders: Sources New Delhi, June 10: India has been raising the issue concerning Indian students facing deportation in Canada with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also taking up the matter with his Canadian counterpart, sources said and noted that Canadian authorities have been repeatedly urged to be fair since the students were not at fault. India has consistently taken up issue of students facing deportation in Canada, some recently received stay orders: Sources The sources said some Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters and the actual number is much less than the 700 being reported in the media.The sources said some students have recently received stay orders on their deportation notices.They said it is welcome that the consistent efforts by the Government of India has been instrumental in the Canadian Government adopting a humane approach and taking on board the perspective of the students.The sources said most of these students had gone to Canada during 2017-2019. After completing their studies, some of them obtained work permits, while others continue to study in Canada."India has been taking up the matter with Canadian authorities, in Canada and in New Delhi. EAM also took up with matter with his Canadian counterpart. Secretary (East), MEA raised it during his visit to Canada in April this year. Indian Consulate in Toronto, where most of the students are based, have met many of them. Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault," a source said.Sources said it was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visa and also allowed to enter Canada.Since then, Canadian parliamentarians across political parties have spoken in support of the students, sources added.Immigration Minister Sean Frasier has indicated that Canada is actively pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the need for fair treatment of students.ANI10 June 2023 Shared Recently! J-K: Women-led businesses are shaping entrepreneurship in Kashmir Srinagar, June 10: Through innovative and dynamic processes, women in Kashmir are excelling in almost every sphere. Women across the valley are showing interest in becoming economically independent and coming up with their own unique ideas of becoming entrepreneurs. J-K: Women-led businesses are shaping entrepreneurship in Kashmir The story of two young women Huzaifa Bazaz and Arifa Jan indeed provides us with the opportunity to recognise and appreciate the contributions made by women of Kashmir in all disciplines.Huzaifa Bazaz, a young entrepreneur and MBA graduate from Srinagar has started an online shopping portal with her friends and her online venture is not just a business but rather an emotion for her.She started her business with her two friends when she was pursuing her BBA."The idea of starting an online portal for cosmetics came into my mind as back then in my 12th standard I was a member of a beauty company and used to sell cosmetics and other beauty products. They give a membership to sell their products to the customers and the idea actually stroke my mind as I thought to take it to social media. I started with that and I got a good response from the people," said Huzaifa.Initially, when she started her online business back in 2015 there were some shortcomings of the business so in order to overcome those shortcomings she decided to share it with her friends."Initially due to some shortcomings of the business, I shared it with my friend Mehak Bilal who is my partner now and she gave me full support. In the beginning, the idea was only of selling products of beauty products where I was working but when my other partner Muneeb Jeelani came to know about this he said to make it grow by adding more accessories to it including cosmetics," she said.This online store is aimed to cater to the shopping needs of youngsters and since the start-up of this business, the store has witnessed a lot of love and support from people, especially youngsters."All of us, the trio had a mutual consent on taking our business to the next level by adding more items to it and we started it initially by making a page on social media and it works online only. We got a good response especially from youth because our market segmentation is particularly the youth and that's the main reason for choosing social media as a platform for our business," she told ANI.Her store has always tried to stay in alignment with the fashion trends and make it available to customers at affordable prices.Huzaifa said, "We deliver 10-15 items in a day and we are just a team of three, if we will grow it, our business will definitely grow on a large scale."Moreover, Arifa Jan, an entrepreneur has been working on reviving traditional Namda--a rug made of felted wool.She said that due to the lack of skilled manpower and low availability of raw materials, the traditional Namda was vanishing from Kashmir.Jan, an entrepreneur who is a commerce graduate has pursued her studies at the Craft Development Institute (CDI)."After joining CDI, I got to know more about the crafts and the artisans. Therein I got to know how our crafts have taken a huge dip," said Arifa.While Arifa was pursuing a course at CDI, she had to go out for an internship in different states.During that period of internship, she saw how other states have preserved their traditional crafts and keeping in view their efforts to revive the diminishing craft, an idea popped into her mind and she started working on a revival of Namda."I took up the revival of the Namda craft project in 2012 and I started it with five artisans. However, after three years, 15 more artisans joined me to revive the Namda work," Jan said.Jan said that she did not work really to earn out of it. "My main motive of revival was to keep the dying crafts of Kashmir alive," she said.Jan resident of Eidgah Srinagar, went on to sell her products to different countries and now works with 25 artisans and has trained more than 100 women in Kashmir.She has also established three manufacturing units to revive the traditional Namda.Arifa said that the Namda art has given her a number of opportunities to travel far and wide to Kyrgyzstan and the United States where she received a lot of appreciation for her work.In 2020, Arifa was awarded the Nari Shakhti Purskar, which was presented to her by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.In 2018 she was also nominated as the chairperson of the women's wing of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and has also bagged a state award.Jan said, "Besides employing 25 artisans and training more than 100 women I am also focused on increasing the wages of the artisans from Rs-100 to Rs-450."ANI10 June 2023 Shared Recently! Japan intercepts Chinass Y-9DZ electronic-warfare aircraft over Pacific Ocean Tokyo, June 11: Japan's Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on Thursday intercepted PLA's Y-9DZ electronic-warfare aircraft over the Pacific Ocean, The EurAsian Times reported. The map given by Japan's Ministry of Defence hinted that the surveillance aircraft was detected approximately 225 kilometres south of the Yaeyama Islands in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Japan intercepts Chinas's Y-9DZ electronic-warfare aircraft over Pacific Ocean The Y-9DZ is China's newly developed electronic warfare version of the Y-9 aircraft, the report said. After detecting the aircraft, Japan's Air Self-Defense Force deployed fighter jets to visually identify and escort the Chinese military aircraft into international airspace, Ashish Dangwal said in the EurAsian Times reported.The statement said, "On the morning of June 8, 2023 (Thursday), a Chinese Y-9 electronic intelligence aircraft was spotted flying over the Pacific Ocean." The statement did not give details regarding the specific fighter jet dispatched by the Japanese Ministry of Defense to intercept the Chinese military aircraft.The Chinese airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft was seen at a time when the US and Japan are strengthening their cooperation in the face of the increasing Chinese military aggression in the region, as per the news report.The region is witnessing an increase in the presence of spy aircraft deployed by both sides, potentially hinting at a rise in close-in intelligence-gathering activities with a goal to collect, categorise and evaluate various electromagnetic signals, as per The EurAsian Times report.Apart from military aircraft, a Chinese navy survey ship also made an incursion into Japan's territorial waters near islands in Kagoshima Prefecture on June 8, the report said. In the past few years, Chinese ships have recurrently entered Japan's territorial waters or navigated through nearby areas.China has also claimed these uninhabited islets which are under Japan's control and referred to as Diaoyu. The disputed islets continue to remain a cause of tension between Japan and China. according to EurAsian Times report.While addressing a press conference, Tokyo's top spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno said that Japan has officially filed a protest against China over the incursion of Chinese naval and coast guard vessels into Japan's territorial waters near the southwest archipelago.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Brahim Diaz returns to Real Madrid after three years Madrid, Jun 10: Real Madrid on Saturday announced that their Spanish midfielder is returning to Madrid after spending three years with Serie A side AC Milan. Brahim Diaz returns to Real Madrid after three years Along with this, he has also penned down a contract with the club till 2027, a statement said."Real Madrid CF announces that on Tuesday, June 13, at 1200 at Real Madrid City, the presentation ceremony for Brahim Diaz will take place, who will return as a player for our club until June 30, 2027, after his loan for three seasons at AC Milan. At this stage he has become a fundamental player in the historic Italian team.""With Brahim, AC Milan has once again been Serie A champion in 2022 and has reached the Champions League semifinals this season. Brahim Diaz has been a Real Madrid player since January 2019 and has already won 1 League and 1 Spanish Super Cup with our club, before being loaned to AC Milan in September 2020. Following the presentation ceremony, Brahim Diaz will appear before the media," it added, according to www.realmadrid.com.The Spanish midfielder signed for Real Madrid in January 2019 from Premier League champions Manchester City. He won the La Liga title in 2019/20 and the Spanish Super Cup in 2020.In September 2020 he was loaned to AC Milan, where he honed his skills and excelled in the last three seasons, scoring 18 goals in all competitions. In his early days, Brahim made his professional debut in England at the age of 17 against Swansea in the EFL Cup of the 2016/17 season.The following year, he appeared for the first time in the Premier League and FA Cup and helped Manchester City to win the league title and the League Cup. He also lifted the Community Shield trophy in 2018.In his career, Diaz has won 1 La Liga title, 1 Spanish Super Cup, 1 Serie A title, 1 Premier League title, 2 English League Cups and 1 FA Community Shield.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Map showing the thermal comfort index in Southeast Asia, averaged over the period 1 April 2023 25 May 2023. Thailand saw its hottest day in history at 45.4 degrees Celsius (114 degrees Fahrenheit) on 15 April 2023, while neighboring Laos topped out at 43.5 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) for two consecutive days in May 2023, and Vietnams all-time record was broken in early May 2023 with 44.2 degrees Celsius (112 degrees Fahrenheit). Data: Copernicus Climate Change Service. Graphic: Lou Robinson / CNN By Carlotta Dotto, Krystina Shveda, and Lou Robinson 7 June 2023 HONG KONG (CNN) Every day, countless mopeds crisscross the congested city of Hanoi, in Vietnam, with commuters traveling to work or motorbike taxis dropping off everything from parcels to cooked food and clients. One of them is Phong, 42, who starts his shift at 5 a.m. to beat the rush hour, navigating the dense swarm of mopeds and drives for over 12 hours a day with little rest. But an unprecedented heat wave that engulfed his country in the past two months has made Phongs job even more arduous. To get through the heat of the day, he equipped himself with a hat, wet handkerchiefs and several bottles of water precautions that provided little relief as recorded daytime temperatures soared to more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The average May temperature in Hanoi is 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). If I get a heatstroke, I would be forced to suspend driving to recover, he told CNN. But I cannot afford it. Phong, who declined to give his surname, said he carries a tiny umbrella to protect his phone, the main tool he uses for work as a driver for the ride-hailing platform Grab, along with his bike. If the phone breaks, he misses out on much-needed income. I was worried that the battery would overheat once exposed to the sun, he said. Daily highest feels-like temperatures in Southeast Asia in April and May 2023. In many places, feels-like temperatures exceeded 46C (115F), which is considered extremely dangerous to health. Data: Copernicus Climate Change Service. Graphic: Lou Robinson / CNN Nearby in the same city, sanitation worker Dinh Van Hung, 53, toils all day cleaning garbage from the bustling streets of Hanois central Dong Da district. It is impossible to avoid the heat, especially at noon and early afternoon, Dinh told CNN. Extreme temperatures also make the garbage smell more unpleasant, the hard work is now even more difficult, directly affecting my health and labor. Dinh says there is no other way but to change when he starts and finishes his shift. I try to work early in the morning or afternoon and evening, he said. During lunch break when the temperature is too high, I find a sidewalk in a small alley, spread out the cardboard sheets to rest for a while and then resume work in the afternoon. Phong and Dinh are among millions of drivers, street vendors, cleaners, builders, farmers, and other outdoor or informal economy workers across Southeast Asia who were hit the hardest during what experts called the regions harshest heat wave on record. Workers like them make up the backbone of many societies but are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events, with dangerously high temperatures greatly impacting their health and the already precarious nature of their professions. April and May are typically the hottest months of the year in Southeast Asia, as temperatures rise before monsoon rains bring some relief. But this year, they reached levels never experienced before in most countries of the region, including tourism hotspots Thailand and Vietnam. Thailand saw its hottest day in history at 45.4 degrees Celsius (114 degrees Fahrenheit) on April 15, while neighboring Laos topped out at 43.5 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) for two consecutive days in May, and Vietnams all-time record was broken in early May with 44.2 degrees Celsius (112 degrees Fahrenheit), according to analysis of weather stations data by a climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera. Herrera described it as the most brutal never-ending heat wave that has continued into June. On June 1, Vietnam broke the record for its hottest June day in history with 43.8 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) with 29 days of the month to go. In a recent report from the World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international coalition of scientists said the April heat wave in Southeast Asia was a once-in-200-years event that would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. The scorching heat in Southeast Asia was made even more unbearable and dangerous due to high humidity a deadly combination. Linear regression of yearly average change in global temperature against average feels-like temperature in Thailand and Laos in April, 1950-2023. There has been an upward trend in April heat in Southeast Asia since at least 1950. In 2023, the feels-like temperature averaged 42.4C (108F) in the hottest April on record. The yearly average change in global temperature exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.2C (2.2F). Data: World Weather Attribution / Copernicus Climate Change Service. Graphic: Krystina Shveda / CNN Humid heat causes extreme distress and climate change can make it worse Humidity, on top of extreme temperatures, makes it even harder for your body to try and cool itself down. Heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, have severe symptoms and can be life-threatening, especially for those with heart disease and kidney problems, diabetes, and pregnant people. When the surrounding humidity is very high, the body will continue to sweat trying to release moisture to cool itself, but because the sweat is not evaporating it will eventually lead to severe dehydration, and in acute cases it can lead to heat strokes and deaths, said Mariam Zachariah, research associate in near-real time attribution of extreme events to climate change at World Weather Attribution initiative at Imperial College London. Which is why a humid heat wave is more dangerous than a dry heat wave, she told CNN. [more] A once-in-200 years heat wave caught Southeast Asia off guard. Climate change will make them more common Uttarakhand CM inaugurates, lays foundation stone of 110 schemes worth Rs 34710.19 lakhs Uttarkashi, June 10: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 110 schemes worth Rs. 34710.19 lakhs on Saturday while participating in the Main Sevak Aapke Dwar programme organized at Government Kirti Inter College, Uttarkashi. Uttarakhand CM inaugurates, lays foundation stone of 110 schemes worth Rs 34710.19 lakhs The inauguration of 54 development schemes worth Rs. 13699.01 lakh and foundation stone laying of 56 development schemes worth Rs. 21011.18 lakh were included in it. During this, he also observed the stalls set up by various departments.On this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami distributed a check of honour amount from the Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund to 6 talented students and presented grant money and house keys to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Along with this, checks were distributed to a total of 63 beneficiaries of various public welfare schemes of dairy development, fisheries, cooperatives, horticulture etc. departments. The Chief Minister distributed disaster relief kits, and equipment related to agriculture and horticulture to 16 beneficiaries along with wheelchairs to Divyangjan.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made various announcements for the development of Uttarkashi. In which the renovation work of the district road from Bagi bridge to Arakot of Mori Mautad motor road of the Mori development block should be done. New construction of motor road from Jkhol to Dhara village of Mori development block. Expansion and strengthening of the motor road should be done to connect Kuva Scheduled Caste-dominated village of development block Naugaon. Sanctions to be given for the development of Kharsali to Malthach track route, Hanuman Chatti to Gulabikantha track route, Rana Chatti 1 to Ghinada track route and Banas Tapt Rishi Kund and natural springs and places near Yamunotri Dham for tourists.Approval of eco-park in Barkot and Chinyalisaur is to be given. Astha Path to be constructed from Tiloth Bridge to Lakseshwar and from Tamakhani to Tiloth Bridge. Connecting Paturi Dhanari with Sem Mukhem Motorway and construction of Motorway from Gyansu Upper Kot Motorway to Sthanachatti and Malla, Belak Trijuginarayan Motorway.Keeping in view the Chardham Yatra, construction of vehicle parking from Main Market to Leesa Depot in district Uttarkashi and approval for construction work of other pocket parking in Uttarkashi city. Sarnaul to Sottri Bugyal Sarutal is to be presented as a tourist circuit. The building for Rajiv Navodaya Vidyalaya in Chinyalisaur was approved and the announcement of the renaming of Raika Maneri after late mountaineer Savita Kanswal was included.Accepting the felicitations of a large number of people, Chief Minister Dhami said that a new chapter of development is starting in the district with the inauguration and foundation stone laying of 110 development schemes for the Uttarkashi region.He said that with these inaugurations and foundation stones, roads, health facilities, non-residential buildings for development block offices and schools, facilities for libraries, toilets and laboratories in schools and hostels for sportspersons and parking facilities for tourists and local people will be provided in the district. There will be expansion and development of basic facilities.Chief Minister Dhami said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure of 9 years has been dedicated to service, good governance and poor welfare. Rs. 6000 is being given annually to more than 11 crore farmers from the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Today affordable and accessible health services are being made available to all. People are being treated free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Road, rail, and air connectivity has expanded rapidly in the country. With the Navratna of development given to Uttarakhand by the Prime Minister in 9 years, today work has been done in every field at a rapid pace. Kedarnath - Reconstruction work is going on in Badrinath Dham with Rs. 1300 crores. The work of Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission is going on at a fast pace."Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that more than 21 thousand people have benefited in district Uttarkashi under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, more than 13 thousand families and under the Food Security Scheme, more than 34 thousand families have benefitted. Against the target of 7488, 6278 families have benefited under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Uttarkashi district. He said that the state government is working to lay a new foundation of development in the state. With the promotion of homestays, today more than 4000 homestays are registered in the state. 16 eco-tourism destinations are being developed. Work on the Rs. 2,000 crore Tehri Lake Development Project is in full swing.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, more than 3 crore houses have been given in the country. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the work of registering the houses allotted to the beneficiary families in the name of women has been done. Against the target of 1544, 1457 people have benefited under Pradhan Mantri Awas (Rural) Yojana in Uttarkashi district. And under Pradhan Mantri Awas (Urban) Yojana, 306 people have benefited against the target of 652. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, an amount of about 1390 crore has been transferred to the accounts of about 9 lakh farmers of the state. Loans up to Rs. 3 lakh to farmers and up to Rs. 5 lakh to women self-help groups without interest, under the "Farm Machinery Bank" scheme, agricultural equipment is being made available to farmers at a subsidy of up to 80 percent.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Indian sailors who were detained in Nigeria return home after nine months Kochi, June 11: Indian sailors who had been detained in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria for nine months finally returned home on Saturday. Indian sailors who were detained in Nigeria return home after nine months The 16 sailors, who had faced accusations of oil theft by Nigerian authorities, arrived at Kochi Airport in Kerala after undergoing trials and reaching a settlement.They were warmly welcomed and greeted with garlands at the Kochi airport by their family and Indian Authorities.Notably, the 'MT Heroic Idun' crew who were in detention since August 22, were released with a warning to carefully conduct their maritime-related activities.Sanu Jose, one of the sailors who returned to India thanked the governments as he reached Kerala after 'lots of uncertainty'."I am very happy that I am now at home with my children. There was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen to our lives and we were told that our lives would end in Nigeria but I thank everyone including the government of India and Kerala government for helping us," Sanu Jose said while speaking to ANI.Another sailor V Vijith said that the Government of India made a tremendous effort in this case and they did a great job of getting all the sailors released."It was a difficult experience for us but the Government of India made a tremendous effort in this case and they did a great job of getting us released. The value of our passports played a tremendous role in our release. I would like to thank the Ministry of External Affairs and G. Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to Nigeria," V Vijith said.The ship has a total of 26 crew members out of which 16 are Indians who were first detained in Equatorial Guinea in August 2022 and later moved to Nigeria in November 2022.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Jammu Deputy Commissioner convenes meeting to review arrangements for Amarnath Yatra Jammu, June 10: Jammu Deputy Commissioner Avny Lavasa convened a meeting to review the arrangements for the smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra 2023 at the DC Office complex here on Saturday. Jammu Deputy Commissioner convenes meeting to review arrangements for Amarnath Yatra ADC L and O Harvinder Singh, ADC ADM Sandeep Seointra, ACR Piyush Dhotra, SDMs, Tehsildars and other concerned officials were present in the meeting.The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the arrangements for pilgrims, especially at registration counters.He also allotted the duties to SDMs as nodal officers at different registration counters to ensure that all necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Yatra, to be carried out by respective departments, are put in place well in time before the commencement of the pilgrimage.He was informed pilgrims can do online registration while five counters put up for Tatkal registration of the pilgrims at Vaishnavi Dham, Mahajan Sabha, Panchayat Ghar and two at Geeta Bhawan and Ram Mandir for the registration of seers.It was also apprised that RIFD and e-KYC will also be done at these counters and a token counter has also been put up at Saraswati Dham for the disbursement of pilgrims and crowd management.Deputy Commissioner Avny Lavasa asked the nodal officers to visit their respective counters and ensure the provision of all the required facilities before June 25.She also asked them to conduct a test run of the facilities so that pilgrims don't face any problems during the yatra.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Oh, my God - totally!: Jennifer Lawrence on reprising her The Hunger Games series role Kentucky, June 11: Actor Jennifer Lawrence is more than ready to rekindle the fires and take on the role of the 'Girl on Fire' once more. Oh, my God - totally!: Jennifer Lawrence on reprising her 'The Hunger Games' series role The 32-year-old actor informed Variety on Friday while promoting her new comedy 'No Hard Feelings' that she would be "totally" open to resuming her fan-favourite role of Katniss Everdeen in 'The Hunger Games' series."Oh, my God - totally!" Lawrence said when asked if she would ever want to pick up her character's bow and arrow once more."If Katniss could ever come back into my life, 100 percent," she added.Lawrence played the lead in the first four 'Hunger Games' films, which are adaptations of Suzanne Collins' young-adult dystopian book series of the same name. From 2012 through 2015, the films shattered box office records, grossing more than $3 billion globally.The show also starred Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Julianne Moore, and others along with Lawrence.'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes', a 'Hunger Games' prequel movie based on Collins' 2020 book of the same name, is scheduled to hit theatres on November 17, 2023.Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Jason Schwartzman, and Zegler's boyfriend, Josh Andres Rivera, with whom she made her acting debut in Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' remake last year, are all included in the cast.The story follows an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (played by Sutherland in the original series and in the new film by Blyth), who would grow up to become the oppressive president of the dystopian country of Panem and the 'Hunger Games' series' primary antagonist.While at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, Lawrence told reporters what advice she would give to the cast of the prequel "You guys are going to have the best time. Just have fun -- don't worry about anything." In November, the Academy Award winner also joked that hearing news about the prequel made her "feel old as mold", reported People.'No Hard Feelings' is in theaters June 23, while 'The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' is set to premiere in theaters November 17.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! G20 delegates from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, China arrive in Varanasi for Development Ministers Meeting Varanasi, June 11: G20 delegates from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Indonesia and China on Sunday arrived at the Varanasi Airport to participate in the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting scheduled to be held from June 11-13. G20 delegates from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, China arrive in Varanasi for Development Ministers' Meeting Awadh's Faruwahi dance and Kashi Vishwanath Damru Vadan Samiti gave a grand welcome to the foreign guests at the airport. The foreign guests also performed Damru Vadan and Indian dance at the airport.Among those who arrived were Australian politician Patrick Conroy, Brazil's Ambassador to India Mauricio Lyrio, European commissioner for International partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, German minister for economic cooperation and development Svenja Schulze, Japanese Minister Shunsuke Takei and China's Zhao Yifan among others.Foreign guests were very happy to see the reception at the airport.The G20 Development Ministers' Meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to be held between June 11-13 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair the meeting.The meeting, to be held as part of India's G20 Presidency will also see a special video address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs statement said.The Varanasi Development Ministers' Meeting takes place in the midst of mounting developmental challenges that have been made worse by the slowdown in the global economy, debt distress, the effects of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, rising poverty and inequality, the cost of living crisis, supply chain disruptions around the world, and geopolitical tensions and conflicts.The G20 Development Ministerial meeting will be an opportunity to collectively agree on actions for accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering synergies between the development, environment and climate agendas while avoiding costly trade-offs that hold back progress for the developing countries, the statement added.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Childrens emotional and physical health are benefited by helping others: Study Washington, June 11: A recent UTHealth Houston study found that kids and teenagers who volunteer grow both mentally and physically. The study, led by Kevin Lanza, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology, human genetics, and environmental sciences at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, was published recently in JAMA Network Open. Children's emotional and physical health are benefited by helping others: Study Overall, the research team found that youths who had volunteered in the past year were in better physical health, had a more positive outlook on life, and were less likely to have anxiety, depression, or behavioural problems compared to their peers who did not volunteer."These study results bring optimism that youth volunteering could be a win-win, where youth are serving society to their own benefit," said Lanza, who is based in Austin, adding, "Further, youths may be joined by household members and others while volunteering, strengthening social bonds while building community."The positive effects of volunteering on the health and well-being of adult volunteers is well-established, and two past studies with small sample sizes have shown that teen volunteers may be in better health, and more engaged at school, than their peers. However, Lanza said the effect of volunteering on youths remained largely unknown, inspiring him to launch the study.Lanza's team analyzed parent-reported data from a long-running national survey tracking the health and well-being of U.S. children and teenagers, focusing on nearly 52,000 children and teens ages 6 to 17 who were surveyed from 2019-2020. Of those respondents, one-third of children and just over half of teens had done volunteer work in the past year.Parents whose kids volunteered were 33% more likely to say their child was in "very good" to "excellent" health compared to parents whose kids did not volunteer. Those parents were also between 18% and 35% less likely to say their child had battled depression or anxiety, or had behavioral problems, in the past year.Moreover, children and teens who did volunteer work were 66% more likely to be "flourishing" - defined based on how parents answered questions about their kids' curiosity, willingness to complete tasks, and ability to stay calm when faced with challenges.One limitation of the study is potential response bias from parent-reported data. Furthermore, researchers noted, the study results do not answer the question of whether kids who were already healthy and flourishing were more likely to volunteer. Lanza hopes to explore the cause-and-effect relationship of volunteering on kids' health and well-being more in the future."There is a wealth of volunteering options for youth in different settings - parks, schools, hospitals - and with different purposes, such as environmental conservation or health promotion," he said, adding, "Volunteer experiences may help shape values and interests in youth that track into adulthood."ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Assam CM holds meeting with officials on preparations to combat possible floods during monsoon Dispur, June 11: Keeping in view the coming monsoon season, Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sharma, on Sunday, held an in-depth meeting with the Deputy Commissioners of the state and other officials via video conferencing to gear up to tackle possible floods in the state. Assam CM holds meeting with officials on preparations to combat possible floods during monsoon "Honourable Chief Minister has directed all officials to be present on the ground and keep a tight vigil on the situation", said the official statement by Chief Minister's Office.In addition to this, Chief Minister Sharma issued instructions to the officials to keep the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on alert. He also directed the officials to visit embankment breach areas and monitor them."HCM has issued instructions to; Keep NDRF and SDRF on alert. Visit embankment breach areas and monitor them. Maintaining roads in flood and landslide prone areas. Availability of doctors and medicines Keeping ample buffer and fodder stock. Allot dedicated phone numbers", said the official statement.Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon set in over the northeast on Saturday.Assam saw light drizzle on Sunday bringing relief from the scorching heat.Monsoon is crucial, especially for kharif crops dependent on rains. India has three cropping seasons -- summer, kharif and rabi.Monsoon hit Kerala on Thursday (June 8), a week late than its actual expected date of June 1. .ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Jaishankar, UNCTAD Secy General Grynspan agree that G20 has key role in voicing Global Souths concerns Varanasi, June 11: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UNCTAD and concurred on G20's important role in voicing concerns of Global South. The two also agreed to work closely to ensure the advancement of SDG goals. Jaishankar, UNCTAD Secy General Grynspan agree that G20 has key role in voicing Global South's concerns Jaishankar met with Rebeca Grynspan and other global leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Development Ministers' meeting in Varanasi on Sunday.G20 delegations have arrived in Varanasi and so Jaishankar is engaged in a raft of bilaterals."A good meeting with Secretary General of @UNCTAD, @RGrynspan on #G20DMM sidelines. Agreed that G20 plays an important role in alleviating concerns of Global South. Will also work closely to ensure the advancement of SDG goals," tweeted Jaishankar.Jaishankar also met with Australian Development Minister, Pat Conroy. The two ministers held discussions on how Australia and India can collaborate on issues of development in the Pacific. Jaishankar and Conroy also spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Australia.The EAM took to his Twitter to inform of his meeting with the Australian development minister."Glad to welcome Australian Development Minister @PatConroy1 in Varanasi for the #G20DMM. Naturally, we spoke about PM @narendramodi's recent visit to Australia. Also discussed how our two countries can cooperate on development issues in the Pacific," tweeted Jaishankar on Sunday.Earlier in the day, G20 delegates from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Indonesia and China on Sunday arrived at the Varanasi Airport.Awadh's Faruwahi dance and Kashi Vishwanath Damru Vadan Samiti gave a grand welcome to the foreign guests at the airport. The foreign guests also performed Damru Vadan and Indian dance at the airport.Among those who arrived were Australian politician Patrick Conroy, Brazil's Ambassador to India Mauricio Lyrio, European commissioner for International partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, German minister for economic cooperation and development Svenja Schulze, Japanese Minister Shunsuke Takei and China's Zhao Yifan among others.Foreign guests were very happy to see the reception at the airport.The G20 Development Ministers' Meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to be held between June 11-13 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair the meeting.The meeting, to be held as part of India's G20 Presidency will also see a special video address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs statement said.The Varanasi Development Ministers' Meeting takes place in the midst of mounting developmental challenges that have been made worse by the slowdown in the global economy, debt distress, the effects of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, rising poverty and inequality, the cost of living crisis, supply chain disruptions around the world, and geopolitical tensions and conflicts.The G20 Development Ministerial meeting will be an opportunity to collectively agree on actions for accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering synergies between the development, environment and climate agendas while avoiding costly trade-offs that hold back progress for the developing countries, the statement added.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration at Mauna Loa observatory, 1958-2023. In 2023, heat-trapping carbon dioxide in Earths atmosphere increased to a record high in its annual Spring peak, jumping at one of the fastest rates on record. Graphic: UC San Diego / Scripps Institution of Oceanography By Seth Borenstein 5 June 2023 (AP News) The cause of global warming is showing no signs of slowing as heat-trapping carbon dioxide in Earths atmosphere increased to record highs in its annual Spring peak, jumping at one of the fastest rates on record, officials announced Monday. Carbon dioxide levels in the air are now the highest theyve been in more than 4 million years because of the burning of oil coal and gas. The last time the air had similar amounts was during a less hospitable hothouse Earth before human civilization took root, scientists said. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration announced that the carbon dioxide level measured in May in Hawaii averaged 424 parts per million. Thats 3 parts per million more than last years May average and 51% higher than pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm. It is one of the largest annual May-to-May increases in carbon dioxide levels on record, behind only 2016 and 2019, which had jumps of 3.7 and 3.4 parts per million. To me as an atmospheric scientist, that trend is very concerning, said NOAA greenhouse gas monitoring group leader Arlyn Andrews. Not only is CO 2 continuing to increase despite efforts to start reducing emissions, but its increasing faster than it was 10 or 20 years ago. We are absolutely at levels unseen in human civilization. Humans are running a massive experiment on the Earth climate system via burning carbon, and the results are turning out not great for a lot of people on this planet. Jason Furtado, meteorology professor at University of Oklahoma Emissions used to increase by maybe 1 part per million per year, but now they are increasing at twice and even three times that rate, depending on whether there is an El Nino, Andrews said. The relentless rise in atmospheric CO 2 is incredibly worrying if not wholly predictable, said Brown University climate scientist Kim Cobb, who was not part of the research. Carbon dioxide levels are rising so that each year is higher than the last. However, theres a seasonal cycle with carbon dioxide so that it reaches its highest saturation point in May. Thats because two-thirds of the globes land is in the northern hemisphere and plants suck carbon dioxide out of the air, so during late spring and summer carbon dioxide levels fall until they start rising again in November, Andrews said. Carbon dioxide levels rise more during El Nino climate cycles because it is hotter and drier in the Tropics. An El Nino is brewing. That 3.0 increase may be a sign of an El Nino bump, she said. Steam rises from the coal-fired power plant Niederaussem, Germany, on 2 November 2022. The cause of global warming is showing no signs of slowing as heat-trapping carbon dioxide in Earths atmosphere increased to record highs in its annual Spring peak, jumping at one of the fastest rates on record, officials announced Monday, 5 June 2023. Photo: Michael Probst / AP Photo There are two main ways of tracking greenhouse gases. One is to monitor whats coming out of smokestacks and exhaust pipes, but about half of that is absorbed by the oceans and lands, Andrews said. The other way is to measure how much carbon dioxide is in the air. NOAA and partner agencies measure all around the world. Hawaii has the longest history of direct measurements and is the home of the Scripps Institution of Oceanographys Keeling Curve, which has kept track of carbon in the air since 1958 when the May reading peaked at 317.5. Emissions have gone up about 33% since then. Current emissions are going to remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years and theyre going to continue to trap heat energy near Earths surface for thousands of years, Andrews said. Because of that we are still dealing with CO 2 in the atmosphere that was emitted in the early-to-mid 20th century, University of Oklahoma meteorology professor Jason Furtado, who wasnt part of the monitoring teams, said in an email. This is why we have to see emissions DROP in order to have a chance to reverse climate change. And even if/when we reverse the CO 2 emissions rate, it will take some time before the climate system responds. Estimated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration for the last 10,000 years. Modern observations are current to 11 June 2023. Graphic: UC San Diego / Scripps Institution of Oceanography This year NOAA had a complication in its reading. NOAA and the Scripps Institution have two distinct monitors that have slightly different measurements. Scripps measured 423.8 parts per million and often runs a bit below NOAA. Both have been at the remote Mauna Loa volcano for decades but last Novembers eruption cut off power to the NOAA monitor and its been unable to use it since. NOAA established another one at Mauna Kea Volcano, 21 miles away. Scripps got their Mauna Loa site working and put one at Mauna Kea and their data shows that Mauna Kea is an accurate substation for Mauna Loa, Andrews said. Many activists and scientists advocate for returning to 350 parts per million levels. CO 2 now is higher than any time in the last 4 to 4.5 million years when the atmosphere was about 7 degrees Fahrenheit (3.9 degrees Celsius) warmer and sea levels were 5 to 25 meters (16 to 82 feet) higher, Andrews said. Temperatures were higher with similar amount of carbon dioxide in the air because carbon dioxide traps heat for so long and millions of years ago the build up of carbon dioxide was much more gradual, allowing heat to build and ice to melt to raise seas, scientists said. We are absolutely at levels unseen in human civilization, Furtado said. Humans are running a massive experiment on the Earth climate system via burning carbon, and the results are turning out not great for a lot of people on this planet. Amount of warming triggering carbon dioxide in air hits new peak, growing at near-record fast rate Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. This story contains original reporting by News-Gazette staff. If you are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one, because local journalism is only possible with your support. A subscription to The News-Gazette plays a vital role in making this reporting possible. Thank you for your support and helping us continue to connect our community. We always need to be careful about projecting todays values onto a painting from the 1700s. Nonetheless, Riccis resistance to more conventional approaches to the subject stands out. The Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is preparing to release the JKBOSE Class 10 result 2023. Students can check their scores on the official website at jkbose.nic.in. Students will have to fill in their registration number and roll number in the result portal to access the JKBOSE 10th result 2023. As per reports, the Jammu and Kashmir 10th board exam results will be declared in the following week, however, JKBOSE officials are yet to confirm on the result date and time. The JKBOSE Class 10 soft zone exams were held from March 9 to April 5. While the JKBOSE 10th hard zone exams started on April 8 and ended on May 9. The Class 10th result will mention details such as the name of the student, date of birth, roll number, registration number, parents name, exam year, subject-wise marks, total marks, grade secured, and qualifying status. JKBOSE 10th Result 2023: Steps to Download Step 1: Go to the official page of JKBOSE at jkbose.nic.in Step 2: Look for and click on the JKBOSE Secondary School Examination (Class 10th) Result link, when activated. Step 3: Enter the registration number and roll number on the login window. Then click on the View Result option. Step 4: The JKBOSE 10th Result 2023 will appear on the screen. Step 5: View the class 10 results and download them. Keep a copy of the JKBOSE Class 10 result. JKBOSE 10th Result 2023: Steps to Download Via SMS If the official website is taking time to load or access the results, candidates can access the Class 10 scores via SMS as well. Step 1: Go to your inbox and type JKBOSE10 followed by a space and your registered roll number. Step 1: Send the message to 5676750. Step 1: The JKBOSE 10th result will be sent to your phone via SMS. On June 9, JKBOSE released the Class 12th result 2023. This year, 1,27,636 students enrolled for the Class 12 examinations, with 82,441 of them passing the exam and recording a pass percentage of 65 per cent. With a pass percentage of 68 per cent, girls outperformed boys. Boys, on the other hand, had a pass rate of 61 per cent. From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column - GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom. From a train accident being averted in Jharkhand to Indian students protesting in Canada, this week, we witnessed some of the worldwide significant events that will soon be mentioned in the book of current affairs. Hence, it becomes highly important for us to stay updated. It is also one of the most crucial components of many employment or admission test. So, in order to assist you, we have gathered the most important news stories from the past week. Cyclone Biparjoy The Indian Meteorological Department had said that a severe cyclonic storm is expected to intensify on Saturday i.e. June 10 and will move north-northeastwards during the next 24 hours. As a precaution, the NDRF is sending one team each to Porbandar, Gir-Somnath, and Valsad in Gujarat. Additionally, the IMD warned against fishing in the waters along the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep. Bangladesh has given the name Biparjoy" to this years first cyclone in the Arabian Sea. The name is Bengali for disaster" or calamity". Major Train Accident Averted in Jharkhand Days After Odisha Train Collision On June 6, the New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express (train number 22812) was going through Bokaro, Jharkhand, in the evening when a tractor smashed into a railway gate close to the Santhaldih railway crossing, preventing a serious train accident, a railway official said. The incident occurred at the Santhaldih railway crossing near Bhojudih Railway Station. The tractor got stuck between the railway track and the gate. The gateman has been suspended while the tractor has been seized. Indian Students in Canada Stage Protest Fearing Deportation Dozen Punjabi students who fell for false admissions fraud are protesting against Canadian government deportation orders. According to the Times Of India, the Canadian authorities are reportedly keeping an eye on close to 700 Indian students. Due to suspicions that they were admitted using bogus offer letters," which they believe were a scam run by travel brokers back home, these students have taken to the streets in Canada in an effort to avoid being deported. Students have gathered outside the Canada Border Service Agency ( CBSA) headquarters on Airport Road in Mississauga since May 29. Canada Wildfires Millions of people were under air quality alerts in the US after the smoke from the Canadian Wildfire entered different states of America, on June 6. It resulted in the hazy veil in the sky hence resulting in raising the Air Quality Index Levels. Officials advised people to avoid outdoor activity as states in the east, including New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, issued air quality alerts. Outdoor activities were postponed by schools along the US East Coast, commercial aviation travel was hindered, and millions of Americans were warned to stay inside. Due to this New York City topped the Worlds worst air pollution for some time crossing New Delhi, India. Kapil Sharma, a popular comedian, has been entertaining fans for a long time with his chat show The Kapil Sharma Show. The show is one of the most watched ones and the audience love it. However, now the show team is all set for their international tour but looks like Krushna Abhishek wont be going them. The tour is reportedly to begin on July 8th. Krushna Abhishek in talks with ETimes mentioned why he is not going with Kapil Sharma and the team. He said, There is no issue. I have other commitments will be going later on the tour. The report also mentions that Kapil Sharma and his team will be performing live in New Jersey on July 15. In the same interview, Sam Singh, the local promoter, said, Good things always happen after some good reasons. We got visa approvals last year but couldnt get the date for visa approvals last year but couldnt get the date for visa stamping from the US consulate on time due to delays in appointments. But this year, we are ready to deliver this show to our beloved audience when all our visa formalities are done. Pinkvilla mentioned that in July they will be in the US touring six cities, and in August they will be in the UK covering two cities. So Kapil will be shooting for the last few episodes of The Kapil Sharma Show till around mid-June, and it will be on air till the beginning of July. After which the show will go on a short break. Talking about Krushna, he returned to The Kapil Sharma Show after solving his agreement issues. The show features Kapil Sharma, Kiku Sharda, Sumona Chakravarti, Archana Puran Singh, Srishti Rode, Gaurav Dubey, Ishtiyak Khan, Sidharth Sagar, and Srikant G Maski. Archana Puran Singh is seated as the guest judge. The Kapil Sharma Show airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 pm on Sony TV. A view of the drought that affected the Los Bermejales reservoir, which was at 18 percent of its capacity in Arenas del Rey in Granada, Spain, on 13 May 2023. Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images By Sam Meredith 5 June 2023 (CNBC) European policymakers are battling to get to grips with a growing water crisis ahead of what researchers fear could be yet another climate crisis-fueled summer of drought. Water resources in Europe are growing increasingly scarce because of the deepening climate emergency, with record-breaking temperatures through spring and a historic winter heatwave taking a visible toll on the regions rivers and ski slopes. Reservoirs in Mediterranean countries like Italy have fallen to water levels typically associated with summer heatwaves in recent weeks, threatening agricultural production, while protests have broken out over water shortages in both France and Spain. It comes as temperatures are poised to climb through summer and many fear Europes already very precarious water problem could get even worse. A farmer displays a water pot as she talks in a microphone about drought during a demonstration of farmers to draw attention on rural living conditions and to claim the importance of agriculture in the society and its contribution to the countrys economy, in Madrid on 13 May 2023. Photo: Oscar Del Pozo / AFP / Getty Images Satellite data analyzed by researchers from Austrias University of Graz at the start of the year found that drought was impacting Europe on a much larger scale than researchers had previously expected. The study was published after European Union researchers found that Europe experienced its hottest summer ever last year, with the intense drought thought to be the worst the region had seen in at least 500 years. Researchers at the University of Graz said Europe had been suffering from a severe drought since 2018, with the effects becoming clear last year as receding waters wreaked havoc for food and energy production, while numerous aquatic species lost their habitats. A few years ago, I would never have imagined that water would be a problem here in Europe, especially in Germany or Austria, said Torsten Mayer-Gurr, a lead author of the satellite study. We are actually getting problems with the water supply here we have to think about this. [more] Europe is struggling with a precarious water situation ahead of another drought-riven summer After enduring an exhausting and challenging ordeal, four Indigenous children, who had been missing in the Colombian Amazon rainforest for over a month, were joyfully reunited with their relatives on Saturday. The siblings, who had been alone and wandering in the jungle following a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of their mother and two adults, were eventually located through a determined rescue operation involving sniffer dogs, helicopters, and aircraft. When found, the children appeared thin and weak. They were then transported by an army medical plane to a military hospital in Bogota, as witnessed by AFP journalists on-site. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez, accompanied by President Gustavo Petro, visited them in the hospital and reported that they are in the process of recovery, although they are not yet able to consume solid food. So, how did the children survive alone for a month in the jungle? News18 explains: How Did they Crash? The children, aged 13, nine, five, and one, belong to the Huitoto Indigenous group, according to an AFP report. They had been missing in the jungle since May 1, when the plane they were traveling in, a Cessna 206, crashed. Shortly after takeoff from Araracuara, a remote area in the Amazon, the pilot reported engine problems during the 350-kilometer (217-mile) journey to San Jose del Guaviare. Tragically, the bodies of the pilot, the childrens mother, and a local Indigenous leader were discovered at the crash site. The plane was lodged vertically in the trees. Authorities revealed that the group had been fleeing threats posed by members of an armed group. So, How Did They Survive? Despite being malnourished and having insect bites, none of the children were in critical condition. The military shared pictures on social media showing a group of soldiers and volunteers posing with the children, as per the Guardian. The photos depicted the children wrapped in thermal blankets, surrounded by the rescue team that discovered them. One particular picture showed Cristian, the one-year-old child, being held tenderly by a rescuer. Theyve given us an example of total survival that will go down in history, Colombias president, Gustavo Petro, said, according to the report. In a treacherous and unforgiving environment teeming with jaguars, snakes, and other predators, as well as armed drug smuggling groups, the courageous siblings faced an incredible challenge. However, the dense jungle was not entirely foreign to them, AFP reported. These are Indigenous children who possess deep knowledge of the jungle. They know what to eat and what to avoid. It is their spiritual strength combined with this knowledge that enabled their survival," remarked Luis Acosta from the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia. The childrens grandmother, Fatima Valencia, shared that 13-year-old Lesly, with her warrior-like spirit, protected her younger siblings. When discovered, the children had ingeniously wrapped rags around their feet to navigate the muddy forest floor. Due to the dense vegetation, rescuers had to employ winches to lift them onto helicopters, as landing aircraft was not feasible. During their astonishing 40-day survival in the Amazon jungle following the plane crash, cassava flour and a basic familiarity with the rainforests fruits played a vital role, as explained by the childrens uncle, Fidencio Valencia. He revealed that after the crash, they salvaged cassava flour (known as farina) from the wreckage, which sustained them. When the farina supplies depleted, they resorted to consuming seeds. The childrens ordeal coincided with a fruitful period in the jungle. Astrid Caceres, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, mentioned that the children had the opportunity to eat fruits as the jungle was in harvest," the Guardian report. Officials praised the eldest sibling, a young girl, for her bravery and knowledge of survival in the rainforest. It was her guidance that led the siblings through the arduous journey. This is an untamed forest, dense and perilous," warned John Moreno, an Indigenous leader from the nearby Vaupes region. To endure, they must have relied on ancestral wisdom." In addition to eluding jungle predators, the children weathered fierce storms, all while being mindful of the presence of armed groups in the area. How Were They Finally Rescued? A massive search operation unfolded, capturing global attention, as 160 soldiers and 70 Indigenous individuals with exceptional knowledge of the jungle rallied together to locate the missing children after the plane crash. Army chief Helder Giraldo expressed his astonishment on Twitter, stating that rescuers had covered a staggering 2,600 kilometers (1,650 miles) in their relentless pursuit. He hailed the success as a remarkable collaboration between Indigenous wisdom and military expertise, representing a path toward a new Colombia. During the search, trackers discovered vital clues such as footprints, a diaper, and partially eaten fruit, which provided reassurance that the search was headed in the right direction. Concerned that the children might continue to wander, making their rescue increasingly challenging, the air force devised a strategy. They dropped 10,000 flyers into the forest, containing instructions in both Spanish and the childrens own Indigenous language, urging them to stay put. The leaflets also included survival tips, while the military airdropped food parcels and bottled water. To maintain hope and motivation, rescuers played a recorded message from the childrens grandmother, imploring them not to move from their location. According to military reports, the children were found approximately five kilometers (three miles) west of the crash site. After enduring weeks in an environment teeming with snakes, mosquitoes, and other wildlife, the childrens incredible survival story took another twist. On Friday, a military sniffer dog successfully located the children, alive and well. According to the childrens accounts, they had spent some time with a dog, forming a bond with their four-legged companion. However, the dog, a Belgian Shepherd named Wilson, eventually disappeared. As of Saturday, the military continues their search efforts to locate Wilson. AFP contributed to this report Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a counteroffensive against Russian forces was underway, while declining to give specifics on his troops operations. Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail," Zelensky said on Saturday, commenting after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Kyivs operation was already failing. Russia has reported thwarting Ukrainian attacks in the east and south. Its interesting what Putin said about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion," Zelensky said. He added that he was in daily touch with military commanders, including armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny, and everyone is positive now tell that to Putin!" Amid the developments, lets take a look at what a counteroffensive is, and what it means for this point in the Russia-Ukraine war: What is a Counteroffensive? In military strategy, a counter-offensive is a tactical response used by a defending force against an attackers assault, as per a report by Wikiwand. It involves engaging the enemys forces to disrupt their offensive operations and regain control of the situation. The goal of a counter-offensive is to neutralize the enemys attack. A counter-offensive is typically launched after the defending force has worn down the enemys frontline troops and the enemy reserves have been deployed but proven ineffective in breaching the defenses. It is executed before the enemy has a chance to establish new defensive positions. In some cases, a counter-offensive may be more limited in nature, focusing on specific operational objectives rather than aiming for a broader strategic goal. According to military theorist Clausewitz, a counter-offensive is the most effective way to compel the attacker to abandon their offensive plans. Counter-offensives can be carried out on land, as well as by naval and air forces. Throughout military history, strategic counter-offensives have been documented in various wars. They are often discussed by historians in conjunction with the defensive phase, such as the notable example of the Battle of Moscow. About Ukraines Counteroffensive Kyivs forces have recently initiated counteroffensive operations in multiple front-line areas. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), based in Washington, reported that at least four such operations took place on Saturday. According to ISW, Russian sources have claimed that Ukrainian forces possess tactical advantages during nighttime assaults, attributing this to the advanced night optics systems provided by Western countries, AFP reported. To strengthen their military capabilities, Ukrainian President Zelensky held discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit, securing additional commitments of military aid. To shore up that stockpile, Zelensky secured fresh pledges of military aid while meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the weekend. Escalation in Fighting Recent days have witnessed an escalation in fighting in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, according to Russian officials, BBC reported. Ukrainian forces are reportedly attempting to advance southward in order to divide Russian forces and penetrate the occupied territory that connects Russia to Crimea. However, Ukraines progress in the region may face obstacles due to extensive flooding caused by the destruction of the Nova Khakovka dam last week. The flooding has affected an area of approximately 230 square miles (596 sq km) on both sides of the Dnipro River. Zelensky announced in his nightly address on Saturday that around 3,000 people have been evacuated from the flooded Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. Although water levels have decreased by 27cm, more than 30 settlements on the right bank of the river, which is under Ukrainian control, remain inundated, with nearly 4,000 residential buildings still submerged. Both NATO and Ukraines military have accused Russia of intentionally blowing up the dam, while Russia has placed the blame on Ukraine. However, it is highly likely that Russian forces, who had control over the dam, deliberately destroyed it to impede the crossing of the river by Ukrainian forces as part of their ongoing counteroffensive, as suggested by the BBCs Paul Adams. AFP contributed to this report Security has been upped in and around Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a Maha Rally" on Sunday against the Centres ordinance on control of services in the national capital. The rally saw huge public participation, including that of Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal. AAP spokesperson Reena Gupta earlier said the party has carried out extensive campaigns to inform the masses about the ordinance and its impact on their daily life, and huge public participation was expected > We have done extensive campaigning, reached out to people and explained to them about the ordinance and how it will impact their day-to-day livesWe are expecting one lakh people to join the rally," Gupta had told news agency PTI. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday also urged the residents of the national capital to turn up in large numbers at the Maha Rally that will be organised to protest the Central governments ordinance on service matters. In a tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: Tomorrow, the people of Delhi will come together at Ramleela Maidan to protest against the dictatorial ordinance of the Central Government, which is depriving the people of Delhi of their rights. Join this rally to save the Constitution and democracy." Security Enhanced Around 12 companies of paramilitary forces, along with the local police, have been deployed at Ramlila Maidan, according to a senior police officer, who said surveillance through CCTV is also been conducted. Police also install metal detectors at the entry gates of the ground. Senior officials from the district are also present at the spot, the officer said. Delhi Traffic Police has earlier asked the residents to regulate vehicular movement during the programme. Fire tenders and ambulances arealso be deployed there, police said. Traffic Advisory The traffic police has issued an advisory mentioning Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg, Mir Dard Chowk, Ajmeri Gate, JLN Marg, Bhavbhuti Marg, Minto Road, Delhi Gate, round about Kamla Market to Hamdard Chowk and round about Paharganj Chowk as diversion points. The traffic restrictions/regulation/diversion may be imposed on Ranjeet Singh flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, from Minto Road to round about Kamla Market, Vivekanand Marg, JLN Marg (Delhi Gate to Guru Nank Chowk), Chaman Lal Marg etc from 8 am on Sunday, the advisory said. People are advised to avoid these roads/stretches. Commuters going to railway stations and ISBT should leave with sufficient time at hand. People should avail public transport to help decongestion of roads and vehicles should be parked only at designated parking lots, it stated. In case any unsual/unidentified object or person is noticed in suspicious circumstances, information should be given to the police, the advisory added. Protest Against Centres Ordinance The ordinance issued by the Centre on May 19 set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority, bringing back executive control over matters related to services to its domain. It was issued close on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict on May 11, through which the Delhi government was given the executive control over service-related matters, including transfers and postings of Delhi government officers but excluding those related to police, public order and land. Seeking the withdrawal of the ordinance, the AAP has stated that the Central government should reconsider its stance and prioritise the welfare of the people of Delhi. The AAP has also vowed to utilise all its might and voice strong opposition against the ordinance during the Maha-Rally. (With PTI Inputs) An IndiGo flight flying from Amritsar to Ahmedabad on Sunday entered Pakistan airspace due to bad weather, went up to Gujranwala before it came back to the Indian airspace safely. In a statement, the airline said, IndiGo Flight 6E-645 had had to take a deviation over Atari into Pakistan airspace due to bad weather on Saturday." This deviation, the airline added, was well coordinated" with Pakistan by Amritsar ATC through telephone and the crew was in continuous contact with authorities. The IndiGo plane with a ground speed of 454 knots entered north of Lahore around 7:30 in the evening, according to Dawn. The plane re-entered the Indian airspace around 8:01 pm. Citing a senior official of Pakistans Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Dawn said, that it was no unusual for airlines to enter each others airspaces due to bad weather conditions. Last month, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan. The flight, PK248, was returning from Muscat on May 4 and was attempting to land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. However, heavy rainfall made it difficult for the pilot to land the Boeing 777 aircraft. With agency inputs Days after Kolhapur witnessed violent clashes, a curfew has been imposed in Amalner in Maharashtras Jalgaon after two groups clashed on a minor issue. A curfew has been imposed in the city for 48 hours. According to India Today, the clash broke out after two groups followed a heated argument between them over childrens toys. The skirmish then turned violent and both the groups began to hurl abuses and pelt stones at each other. The violent incident took place around 10 pm on June 9 and over 100 cases have been registered pertaining to the case. The police have also arrested 31 people in connection with this clash. This comes days after violence broke out in Maharashtras Kolhapur after an alleged post carrying Tipu Sultans image and an objectionable audio message surfaced on social media causing communal disharmony. The police had to disperse hundreds of protesters after they hurled stones during a demonstration at Shivaji Chowk against the social media post. So far, at least 36 people have been arrested and cases registered in connection with the violence, police said adding that normalcy is slowly returning to the violence-hit region. Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit said the situation is getting back to normal and regular activities are taking place in the city. Internet services, which were snapped following the violence, were also resumed. In a tragic incident, a newly married couple from Chennai drowned and died in Bali during their honeymoon while riding a waterbike for a photoshoot. According to TOI, Lokeshwaran and Vibushnia, who got married on June 1 were on their honeymoon in Bali and drowned when a speed boat ride they planned to capture went awry. While Lokeshwarans body was recovered on Friday, Vibushnias body was found on Saturday morning. The families of the couple have been informed about the accident. In preliminary investigations, authorities found that the couple had planned a speed boat ride and decided to shoot it but the boat toppled, dragging them into the sea. The exact details leading to the tragedy are yet to be disclosed as the probe is on. The family is now making arrangements to bring the bodies back to Chennai, and for this purpose, the family has urged for the Tamil Nadu governments intervention, TOI reported. The family had reportedly contacted the Tamil Nadu government and the central government, requesting support through the Indian embassy in Indonesia. TOI reported that due to the unavailability of direct flights from Indonesia to Chennai, the bodies will be transported to Malaysia before being brought back to Tamil Nadu. Lokeshwaran and Vibushnia tied the knot on June 1 at a marriage hall in Poonamallee in the presence of family and relatives. On the 10th year anniversary of their detention, the Centre for Uyghur Studies (CUS) urged the international community, in particular the Indian authorities, to look into the ordeal of three Uyghur siblings who fled to Kashmir from Chinas persecution and have been under the custody of Indian immigration authorities since 2013. The Uyghur siblings Adil, Abdulhaliq and Salam were 16, 18 and 20 years old, respectively when they fled China after some of their relatives were detained by the Chinese regime, according to their lawyer. The siblings crossed the border when they had no other option available to them to escape from the persecution of the Chinese authorities. Moreover, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) that detained the siblings initially did not find anything against them except that they crossed the border illegally. However, their case remains unresolved after a decade-long predicament. This issue requires urgent attention of the Indian government to bring an end to their plight," said the CUS. The CUS called on the Indian authorities to safeguard the principles outlined in international law, particularly those related to human rights and humanitarian considerations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights emphasise the importance of safeguarding and protecting the fundamental rights and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status. The prolonged detention of the young Uyghurs who have only fled China to find safety in a third country is detrimental to their well-being and future. The genocide the Uyghur people are facing in their homeland is no longer a secret to the world. In lieu of this reality, the Indian government must ensure that the siblings will not be deported to China." Abdulhakim Idris, Executive Director, CUS, said, While we acknowledge the need for the Indian authorities to maintain and enforce immigration laws, we urge them to consider the unique circumstances surrounding the Uyghur siblings situation. The Indian authorities must ensure that they do not deport the siblings to China, where they will face imminent persecution and threat to their lives. Furthermore, we call upon the Indian government to take a humanitarian and compassionate approach to their case, free them from the prolonged detention and grant them an opportunity to rebuild their lives. The CUS stressed that by providing an opportunity to the young Uyghurs, India would demonstrate its commitment to upholding humanitarian values and fulfilling its international obligations. It would also contribute to the promotion of human rights and democracy for the Uyghurs as a whole. A fire broke out on Sunday evening in a furniture factory in Delhis Kirti Nagar area. Till now no causalities or injuries have been reported in it. The blaze occurred on the upper floor of the factory and all the furniture of the floor was destroyed in it. As of now, it is not clear what was the exact cause behind the fire. According to officials, at least 20 fire tenders were rushed to spot to douse the fire, news agency PTI reported. The fire department received a call around 6 pm and as of now four fire engines are still at the spot. The fire fighting operation is currently underway. With agency inputs India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces here beginning Sunday during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy. A 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi on Saturday. Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force welcomed them at the airport, officials said. The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhis Chhawla area. The conference is being organised to discuss the border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces." Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb the various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between both the border guarding forces," a BSF spokesperson said in a statement. Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the spokesperson said. This will be the 53rd edition of the talks and the last such meeting was held in July last year when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka. The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on Indias eastern flank. These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka. A senior BSF officer had earlier told. In another shocking revelation in the Mira Road Murder case, the accuseds search history revealed that he looked for information on the decomposition of a dead body. According to a Mid-Day report, the 56-year-old accused, who allegedly killed his live-in partner in Mumbai, googled After cutting a body how many hours will it take for it to decompose and start smelling? on his phone. We checked his mobile internet history and learnt that the accused had tried to find out how long it would take a body to decompose after it was chopped into pieces," a police official told Mid-day. While the accused, Manoj Sane, denies any wrongdoing and maintains that he did not kill the victim, the post-mortem of the woman is still ongoing. JJ Hospital, which is conducting the post-mortem, told the police that 10 per cent of the body parts are still missing, Mid-Day reported. Manoj Sane (56) was arrested for allegedly murdering his `live-in partner Saraswati Vaidya, chopping her body parts and boiling them. The womans body parts were found pressure-cooked and roasted inside the flat where they resided in the Mira Road area of the bustling district adjoining Mumbai. The probe later revealed that the couple was in fact married to her but the couple had concealed this fact. Mumbai Cop Who Entered the Victims House Threw Up After Finding the Body Unprepared for the horror that awaited them, some policemen, who entered the crime scene reportedly threw up after seeing human body parts scattered all over the place, boiled and roasted flesh in utensils in the kitchen. Victim Saraswati, who was a school dropout, lived in a shelter home though she had three sisters. When she met Sane, she decided to live with him. She told people at home that he was her maternal uncle. The remains of the woman will be handed over to her sisters for last rites as per their wish once DNA testing and other formalities are over, the official added. An FIR has been registered against Sane under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) at the Naya Nagar police station. Smoke billowed from a fire near the town of Shelburne on 29 May 2023, when an astronaut on the International Space Station took this photograph. By the morning of 31 May 2023, after four days of burning, the fire had scorched 17,000 hectares (66 square miles) near the southern tip of Nova Scotia. It became the largest forest fire in the provinces history, according to CBC Nova Scotia, exceeding the area burned (13,000 hectares) by a fire in Guysborough County over six days in June 1976. Photo: Wanmei Liang / NASA Earth Observatory By Nathan Coleman 7 June 2023 (The Weather Network) Wildfires raging across Canada have already scorched more than 10 times the land than usual, causing a massive amount of damages in multiple provinces as dangerous air quality lingers overhead. All our infrastructure was built for a climate that doesnt exist anymore, University of Toronto atmospheric physics professor Kent Moore told The Weather Network as he spoke about the recent wildfires impacting Nova Scotia just one of many areas that have seen a terrible start to the fire season in Canada. He explained how the lack of snow this past winter followed by a dry April and May meant that fire spread rapidly through the Tantallon neighbourhood, taking more than 150 homes with it. At the same time, a separate fire burning in Barrington Lake was the largest in Nova Scotias history, prompting the call for firefighting resources from as far away as Montana. With no lightning reported in the areas at the time, these fires were most likely human caused. However, the lack of rain and warm temperatures allowed the forest to become tinder dry, with strong and steady winds acting like a blow dryer making matters worse. Moore said depending on exactly where people are in the province, there was also Hurricane Fiona damage to the canopy so theres a lot of dying, or dead trees, from last fall that perhaps contributed to the severity of the fires. Were most confident in the temperature predictions that are coming with climate change and so the whole country is warming and warming conditions do a couple things, Moore said. Theres a greater chance of extreme temperatures, which of course help dry fires. And also the warming temperatures help dry out the soil. So I think in the longer term were looking at just a longer fire season and more intense fire season across the country just as the country warms. He added the global average surface temperature in Eastern Canada has only increased by about 1 C or so since preindustrial times, but as you travel north accelerated warming may be upwards of 3 C which contributed to wildfires in northern Alberta and the southern part of the territories. Scientific consensus has determined that human activities, mostly burning fossil fuels and land use practices, are the main cause of global warming. Smoke rises from a wildfire near Barrington Lake in Nova Scotias Shelburne County, 31 May 2023. Photo: Nova Scotia Government / AFP / Getty Images Moore also points out another important human factor when it comes to wildfires: expanding cities and communities. Were putting people in situations where theres a greater chance of a fire because now theyre encroaching on areas that are quite forested. And so I think we have to think about where we build in the future, he explained. I think we have to sort of view it as a change in climate and theres a need to adapt to that change. And that means we need to change how we build things and, of course, the houses where we live. He added it is similar to floods and allowing people to build in floodplains. Given the greater chance of floods, there may be a greater chance therell be some damage to infrastructure [on] floodplains. The same thing goes with building in forested areas, Moore said. I think we have to rethink that and also strengthen those existing buildings. How climate change factored into Nova Scotias wildfires In a shocking video that has emerged on social media, an Army Jawan claimed that his wife was stripped half naked and brutally beaten by over 100 men in Tamil Nadu. The video was shared by a retired Army officer, Lt Col N Thiagarajan, and it featured Army jawan Havildar Prabhakaran. He hails from Tamil Nadus Padavedu village and is currently posted in Kashmir. Prabhakaran alleged in the video that her wife, who runs a shop in Tamil Nadu, was brutally beaten by 120 men, and stripped half-naked while her shop was vandalised in Thiruvannamalai district. The Army Jawan further informs that he had filed a complaint with the SP who has assured action in the case. pic.twitter.com/Pck0EEJWyH Lt Col N Thiagarajan Veteran (@NTR_NationFirst) June 10, 2023 My wife was physically assaulted by 120 men and the shops items were thrown out. I have sent a petition to SP and he has assured action. DGP sir, please help. They have attacked and threatened my family with knives. My wife was stripped half-naked and brutally beaten," Prabhakaran can be heard saying in the video, which was recorded in Tamil. Meanwhile, Kandhavasal Police which has conducted a preliminary probe into the incident released a statement and claimed the incident has been exaggerated." As per media reports, a scuffle broke out between the jawans wife and the men due to a land lease dispute. The woman reportedly runs a shop on land leased by Renugambal temple. The police told media that an agreement to return the land in exchange of the money was signed in February but the jawans wife and her mother refused to vacate the land after which the clash broke out between the parties. The police further added that the women were not attacked at all. On the other hand, BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai also took stock of the incident and said that he spoke with the Havildar. Had a telephonic conversation with the Havildar, who is bravely serving our country in Kashmir and his wife, based out of Tiruvannamalai. Truly gutted to hear her story & I felt ashamed that this had happened to her on our Tamil soil! Our party people are rushing to attend to https://t.co/E1E3vbXr3n K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 11, 2023 Had a telephonic conversation with the Havildar, who is bravely serving our country in Kashmir and his wife, based out of Tiruvannamalai. Truly gutted to hear her story & I felt ashamed that this had happened to her on our Tamil soil! Our party people are rushing to attend to her now, who is admitted to a hospital in Vellore," he wrote on Twitter. Japanese ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzukis culinary contest with his wife involving Indian street food caught Prime Minister Narendra Modis attention on Sunday with him asking the Japan envoy to keep more of his food videos coming. Japanese ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki shared a post on Twitter of him enjoying culinary delights with his wife in Pune. Suzuki tweeted a video montage of them enjoying culinary delights in Pune such as vada pav, with his wife opting for spicy food and the envoy for less spicy. My wife beat me!," read Suzukis tweet with a chilli emoji. Responding to this, PM Modi tweeted, This is one contest you may not mind losing, Mr. Ambassador." This is one contest you may not mind losing, Mr. Ambassador. Good to see you enjoying Indias culinary diversity and also presenting it in such an innovative manner. Keep the videos coming! https://t.co/TSwXqH1BYJ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 11, 2023 Good to see you enjoying Indias culinary diversity and also presenting it in such an innovative manner. Keep the videos coming!" PM Modis tweet read. In another such tweet on Friday, Suzuki had shared visuals of him and his wife enjoying Maharashtras famous Vada Pav. I love street food of Indiabut thoda teekha kam please" read Suzukis tweet. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday enjoyed breakfast at Dalit booth president Sujatas residence in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi. Jaishankar reached Varanasi on Saturday to head the three-day G20 development ministers meeting scheduled for June 11-13. #WATCH | Varanasi, UP: EAM S Jaishankar having breakfast at Dalit booth President Sujatas residence https://t.co/zVQVRY5cVw pic.twitter.com/yk1v63i2uf ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 11, 2023 Sujata expressed immense happiness at the ministers visit to her house. Speaking to ANI, the Dalit booth president said, We are busy in the preparations to welcome him since yesterday. My whole family is busy cleaning the house. I am happy that someone as powerful as him is visiting our house." #WATCH | Varanasi, UP: EAM S Jaishankar will do breakfast at Dalit Booth Presidents ResidenceSujata Kumari says, We are busy in the preparations to welcome him since yesterday. My whole family is busy cleaning the house. I am happy that someone as powerful as him is visiting pic.twitter.com/hkAoqf9zto ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 11, 2023 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will host a dinner for the development ministers and delegates of the G20 member countries at the Taj Hotel in Varanasi on Sunday evening. Good news for fans of the iconic film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Finally, the much-awaited sequel, Gadar 2 is all set to unveil its teaser tomorrow i.e. June 12. Starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel in the lead roles, the movie has generated immense buzz among fans. Helmed by Anil Sharma, the film is all set to release on 11th August. Recently, to increase the excitement level, the makers re-released Gadar in cinema halls. The response is very positive. The lead actors were also seen celebrating it with the media and fans. Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh also shared the news on his Twitter handle. He wrote, GADAR 2 TEASER ARRIVES TOMORROW While #ZeeStudios and director #AnilSharma have already attached the teaser of their much-awaited film #Gadar2 with #Gadar [first part] in *cinemas*, the team will launch the teaser on digital/social media platforms TOMORROW [12 June 2023] at 12 noon. Today, Viral also shared a video in which Ameesha was seen at the cinema hall. She came with her friends to watch Gadar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @varindertchawla In an exclusive conversation with News18, Ameesha was quoted saying, I cant believe this is happening. What is the chance of one of Indias biggest blockbusters to be remastered and released on my birthday again? Its a beautiful feeling. The fact that its a prequel to the sequel coming out in just two months post that is amazing. And how has her fans been reacting considering they showered immense love on her for her portrayal of Sakeena, a Pakistani girl, after Gadar had released? The reactions from my fans and the people Ive met wherever Ive been stepping out has been tremendous. Theyre very excited to see this remastered and revamped version. I dont know anybody whos not a Gadar fan. A recent clip of Sunny and Ameesha has landed Gadar 2 in a controversy. In a video doing the rounds on social media, Sunny and Ameesha are seen filming a scene in a Gurudwara. The duo was seen shooting for a romantic scene inside the place of worship. Hansal Mehta is known for making realistic and gripping films. The film-maker boasts of a repertoire consisting of movies like Aligarh, Omerta and the critically-acclaimed web series Scam 1992. His most recent series Scoop is also being hailed by the critics. In 2012, Mehta had helmed Shahid that earned Rajkummar Rao a lot of recognition. However, the film-maker reveals that producers were hesitant to cast Rajkummar. Speaking with Humans Of Bombay, Hansal Mehta recalled, I found Shahid Azmis story and my life restarted. Basically, I found my voice again and my muse in finding that voice was Rajkummar. Shahid, the script was sent to a lot of stars, and somehow either the star did not want to work with me, or if the star wanted to work with me, he wanted to change the way Shahid was written, change the narrative completely. I put my foot down. I said, Either it is this or its nothing. In the meantime, Anurag Kashyap and Mukesh Chabbra insisted Hansal Mehta to test out Rajkummar Rao who was still quite fresh in the industry, They kept saying that meet Rajkummar. I said I cant meet him. What will I do with him?. There was no money. The producer said, Anurag is going to send Rajkummar to you. Im not funding it. Im not putting money in for Rajkummar. He was very new. He had just done Love, Sex Aur Dhokha," he stated. Hansal Mehta further added, They said have chai with him right now, hes standing outside your office. He walks in, and in half an hour, I mean, there was something. I felt the right energy. I felt I connected to him and I saw honesty and hunger. He said he wanted to prove it. Shahid was a dream role and he recognised that Much later, Hansal Mehta convinced the producer by asking them to watch Ragini MMS. He also created a poster with Rajkummar Rao as Shahid to which the producer responded, Poster is cool, but who is this fellow? Shahid was a biographical film about a lawyer Shahid Azmi. Azmi toyed with the idea of becoming a terrorist but decided to change the course of his life. After being arrested under TADA, he completed his education in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. Once acquitted of the charges, he went on to study law and started representing people wrongly accused of terrorism. He became a successful lawyer and was working on the case of Faheem Ansari in the 26/11 case when he was killed by four gunmen at the age of 32. Ansari was acquitted of all the charges by the Supreme Court in 2012. Harman Baweja recently made his comeback with Hansal Mehtas web series, Scoop. His performance has been earning rave reviews from fans and critics. Harman whos last film was Whats Your Rashee took a long sabbatical from acting. And not just that, he was often compared with Hrithik Roshan. Now in a new video, he took a hilarious dig at his critics who called him Hrithik Roshans look alike, while talking about Scoop. In the video, Harman is seen sitting at his office desk, where he says, Oh God! Please! Let me silence my Hrithiks. I mean critics. I thought I knew what the future would be but I was wrong. But, I was not the only one. Have a look at the video: He then shows a framed news report, with the headline Harman Be-waja, the actor says, Even they were wrong. I am Baweja not be-waja. Showing another article with the headline The future doesnt look Roshan for him, he sarcastically says, You know what I call my haters, Critic Roshans. Im looking to start my second innings in acting. No, no, no, no. I am not talking about Victorys sequel. I am talking about Scoop. Scoop on Netflix! Woohoo Woohoo! He also reads out a few reviews, where viewers have not recognised him as Harman, instead appreciated him with the role he played. Harman plays the role of JCP Harshavardhan Shroff in Scoop. Actor Harman Baweja, made his debut in 2008, with Bollywood film Love Story 2050, but he decided to leave the industry following the disappointment of his 2014 film Dishkiyaoon. Earlier in an interview with Mid-day, he admitted that his career didnt go as planned, leading him to quit. Today, the same family who avoided reading papers is now looking forward to the next article on me, he said. The actor has finally found success with Hansal Mehtas new Netflix series, Scoop. The series is based on the real-life story depicted in journalist Jigna Voras book, titled Behind The Bars In Byculla: My Days in Prison. In the series, Karishma Tanna portrays an ambitious crime journalist who finds herself being accused of murder. Shahid Kapoor is getting trolled on Reddit for his comments about Alia Bhatt. The actor, who is starring in newly released Bloody Daddy, was seen talking about various actors in an interview when Alias name popped up. Having worked with her in Udta Punjab and Shaandaar, Shahid opened about Alia and confessed that he couldnt believe that Alia is already a mother. Speaking with Bollywood Bubble, Shahid was asked to reveal what he would do if he meet Alia. The actor said, Alia is the inquisitive one, so I guess she will be asking the questions. We met recently and its great to hang with her. Now shes a mother, I cant believe shes a mother. When I had worked with her, she was 21. Sometimes, when you spend a lot of time with somebody and then youve not met, you still feel they are that only. Like you dont feel so much has happened to them." Although the statement was heartwarming, it seems to have rubbed off a few Reddit users wrongly. A few pointed out his disbelief over Alia being a mother at 29 doesnt go down well, especially when his wife Mira Rajput embraced motherhood at 21. The clip of the interview was shared on Reddit with the caption, Wasnt his wife actually 21 when they had a child? Weird that he thinks its too young" and many reacted to it in the thread. Pls make him stop talking.. geez," a Reddit user wrote. When they married, Mira was 20 and Shahid was 34. Alia is only a year older than Mira," another pointed out. However, a few also defended him. Maybe its more personality wise. Alias behaviour comes across like a teenager," a user pointed out. Iss baar kya bakwaas tha? SeriouslyOP is making things upnot once he said she is too young to be a mother," added another. Maybe some people need to work on their comphrehension skills if they find what he is saying problematic..like seriouslyit isnt about age its not timepeople change with time but sometimes we think that other people are same as before (ehich doesnt happen)," a third user said. Stop looking for issues. Its very common to see people younger than us as kids, no matter how we felt at that age. He also didnt say anything about 21 being too young or anything. Also also, 21 and 30 years old put you in two completely different stages of life. It is absolutely staggering to see someone make that change when you havent followed their journey," a fourth user added. What do you think about the comments? Tweet to us at @News18Showsha and let us know! Zoya Akhtar is bringing the world of Riverdale with Archies. The much-awaited film that has been in the headlines for its intriguing cast of actors including Shah Rukh Khans daughter Suhana Khan might just be around the corner. Or so it seems from a recent post shared by the official handle. On Sunday, Archies Netflix Instagram handle posted an update with a twist that incorporated a famous line from Pathaan. While the image shared on their timeline had Welcome to Riverdale imprinted all over it in English and Hindi, it was the caption that tickled the fancies of the netizens. It read, BRB, kursi ki, aur humari peti baandh rahein hai to go to Riverdale! Grab some Pop Tates shakes and burgers and get ready to meet #TheArchies gang, coming soon to @netflix_in #TheArchiesOnNetflix." Following this post, elated fans soon took to the comment section to express their excitement. One of them wrote, Wuhuu! Cannot wait . Another one commented, HAYE! SO EXCITED . Someone else said, Cant wait!!! Damn!!!" A fan also stated, Hurry up so excited and cant wait !! ". The first teaser of The Archies was released last year and it received mixed reactions. While some were pleasantly intrigued by the Indian adaptation of the comic, others were quite conflicted as they found it not-so-relatable and Western in the context of the Indian milieu. Now, the director has come forward to quash such speculations. In a conversation with the CEO of Archie Comics, Jon Goldwater, the Zindagi Na Milega Dobara director had shared, We have set it in the Anglo-Indian community in India and cant wait to transport you to the magical, fictional town of Riverdale. Zoya Akhtar added, The story revolves around the interpersonal relationship within the seven characters and their shenanigans. I tried to retain the original vibe of the comic, but did feel a lot of pressure since Riverdale had already come out. It is super exciting to take these beloved characters and introduce them to a new generation but still keep the nostalgia of the original comic alive. We have set it in the Anglo-Indian community in India and cant wait to transport you to the magical, fictional town of Riverdale. The film will mark the debut for Shah Rukh Khans daughter Suhana Khan, Janhvi Kapoors sister Khushi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda. The coming of age film would also introduce fresh faces like Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Dot and Yuvraj Menda. The film is slated to release in 2023. The Idol premiered last weekend and it dropped several jaws. The HBO series, starring The Weeknd and Lily Rose-Depp, featured not only several bold scenes with extreme nudity but also had a few controversial dialogues that did not go down well with the viewers. If you thought that the first episode was bad, it is said that the second episode of The Idol doesnt get any better. The Idol episode 2 is set to premiere on Sunday night, June 11 (Monday morning, June 12, IST). A Cannes attendee told Page Six that the second episode features graphic sex scenes. The second episode [airing Sunday] is almost worse. Theres this uncomfortable scene where he orders her to do certain things and then a very graphic sex act. Its all very p**ny most people in the audience were shocked, the Cannes audience member said. While well have to wait and see what the episode holds for viewers, a report has claimed that Johnny Depp is proud of his daughter Lily for starring in such a controversial and bold show. A source told Daily Mail, Johnny loves that Lily is carving out a career of her own and challenging herself to take on roles that interest her and test her. He loves that she is her own person and becoming her own actress. She isnt resting her career on his success." He loves that she is such a strong person, especially now that she has gotten some extra attention with her recent role in The Idol. He is proud of her and not lending anything to the extra chatter and drama that the role brings. He believes that she must be doing something right since the role is getting so much attention, and he is proud of her success," the source added. The Idol has garnered massive backlash for various reasons. Many users took to social media to point that the show is vulgar and provocative. The makers have not reacted to the backlash. The Idol episode 2 will stream on Jio Cinema on Monday IST in India. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhis recent visit to the United States has raised a serious concern about how compromised our politicians are. And how far they would go in quest of power. This visit also raises another question: In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is there a massive anti-India toolkit under preparation? Or, has it already been prepared and launched? How anti-Indian elements are aiding the Opposition in India to mount an aggressive campaign against the Modi government and especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Is the Opposition unaware of the presence of such elements, or is it readily taking help from this anti-India nexus? These are serious questions and their answers would have strong implications for Indias national security. We must not forget that there are several states ruled by the Congress and what its top leadership is doing sends a signal to the leadership and its governments in the states also. During Rahul Gandhis visit, names of at least four individuals have emerged as they are known to be anti-India elements and had association with the events organised for him. These four individuals are: Tanzeem Ansari, Mohamammed Aslam, Minhaj Khan and Sunita Viswanath. Tanzeem Ansari The June 4 events in New York are coordinated, among others, by Tanzeem Ansari, who is the Amir Outreach Committee of Muslim Community of New Jersey (MCNJ). MCNJ is led by a Pakistan-born cleric Imaam Jawad Ahmed. The latter is also Project Director of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA). ICNA is a radical Islamist organsiation associated closely with Pakistans Jamaat-e-Islami. It is known to carry forward Pakistans anti-India propaganda. It also has linkages with other radical and terrorist organisations. Its publications have glorified terrorists such as Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin by publishing their detailed interviews where he spewed venom against India Mohamammed Aslam Another coordinator of the June 4 event was Mohammed Aslam. He is a member of Muslim Center of Greater Princeton (MCGP), another close partner of ICNA. It needs to be mentioned here that anti-India fronts like Justice for All, Hindus for Human Rights, etc, operate under the ICNA/Jamaat Umbrella. Minhaj Khan Another self-appointed coordinator for the June 4 event, Minhaj Khan is linked to anti-India lobbying group Indian American Muslim Council(IAMC). IAMC relentlessly targets India on pretext of human rights, religious freedom and is known for sharing fake news to stir communal unrest in India. IAMC had engaged a US lobby firm, and paid $55,000 for lobbying the United States Commission for Inter-Religious Freedom (USCIRF) against India in 2013-14. IAMCs executive director Rasheed Ahmed is the executive director of another Jamaat-affiliated charity front Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), which exploited Indias goodwill and raised millions of dollars during Covid in the name of helping India. It had siphoned off all the money. In fact, organisations like IAMC, ICNA, IMANA Jamaat and Muslim Brotherhood (MB) are part of the same ecosystem which is rabidly anti-India. IMANAs members have been part of Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) which is another front of Muslim Brotherhood. In 2017, ISNA Canada was implicated by Canada Revenue Agency for funding the charity wing of Hizbul Mujahideen. Sunita Vishwanath The Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank, tweeted images of Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the institute. There was an event where Rahul Gandhi had an interaction with intellectuals at Hudson Institute. During this conversation he is seen seated alongside Sunita Vishwanath. These images are now being widely discussed because of the dubious credentials of Sunita. She is the moving force behind a front mischievously named Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR). Disinfo Lab, an organisation that monitors and investigates the information warfare on digital platforms had conducted an investigation revealing that the Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) had been promoting the misleading narrative of Hinduism Vs Hindutva. The same organisation was also seen endorsing the Dismantling Global Hindutva event that was aimed at tarnishing Indias image abroad as a majoritarian country targeting its minorities. As per Disinfo Lab, HfHR was formed in the year 2019 by two Islamist advocacy groups - Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and the Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI). Interestingly, the three organisations had formed another outfit called the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA) also. Their newly formed organisation, AJA, had been at the forefront of leading demonstrations against the visit of PM Modi to Houston on September 22, 2019. According to Disinfo Lab, the co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights, Sunita Vishwanath, also runs an organisation named Women for Afghan Women, which is funded by George Soros Open Society Foundation. Soros is a billionaire who is known for funding regime changes across the world. He has been quite critical of the Modi government and his foundation is known to have funded a large number of organisations that have been causing trouble in India. All these organisations have been peddling anti-India propaganda in the garb of protecting civil rights of Indians. These organisations have played a key role in anti-CAA agitation as well as anti-farm law agitation. They also get support from several international agencies. In a nutshell, it is a nexus of anti-India forces within India as well as outside which has been trying to hijack the opposition for uprooting the current government. Unfortunately, the Opposition is also becoming a puppet in the hands of anti-Indian forces. It is important to understand that there is nothing wrong in the opposition targeting the ruling party on any issue. But to do that Congress and other parties dont have to become part of the tool kit gang. As an Opposition, they shouldnt become so desperate to come to power that they compromise the interest of the country. The writer, an author and columnist has written several books. He tweets @ArunAnandLive. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh is making headlines once again, this time with his speech at the Uttar Pradeshs Gonda. In his fiery speech on Sunday, Bhushan took a poetic dig at the protesting wrestlers without mentioning them. Singh, who made some big announcements during this address, began his speech with sentimental lines about love, suffering and betrayal. Kabhi ashq, kabhi gham, to kabhi zeher piya jata hai. Tab jakar jamane me jiya jata hai. Yeh mila mujhko mohabbat ka sila, bewafa kehke mera naam liya jata hai. Isko ruswai kahen ki shohrat apni, dabe hontho se mera naam liya jata hai," Bhushan Singh said. The lines translate to sometimes you bear tears, sorrow, and sometimes even poison. Only then do you become able to live and face society. This is the reward I have received for my love, they call me unfaithful. Call it notoriety or fame, they take my name with pursed lips." The BJP leader made the remarks while speaking at the partys Mahasampark Abhiyan for the 2024 elections. Bhushan, a BJP MP, also announced that he would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections again from the Kaiserganj constituency amid charges of sexual harassment against him. He also said the BJP will form a majority government next year. On being asked about why he was not commenting on the wrestlers protest and what was he waiting for, the BJP MP said, Court ke faisle ka (courts verdict)." Singh has remained defiant despite facing possible action from Delhi Police, which has recorded statements of over 200 people in connection with the case against him and will file a chargesheet by June 15. On Saturday, the protesting wrestlers alleged he was using his influence to put sexual harassment victims under pressure and forcing them to change their statements. They also threatened to resume their stir if decisive action was not taken against the MP by June 15. Singh has denied the allegations against him and has claimed that some Congress leaders from Haryana had hatched a conspiracy to defame him because of the reforms he had brought as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. (With PTI inputs) The AAP is back at the Ramlila Maidan after nine years as it takes its fight against the Centres ordinance to Delhis streets. News18 catches up with Saurabh Bharadwaj, Delhis minister for services, over which the newest battle is being fought. The AAP leader said the constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had declared that these powers always existed and belonged to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. But the central government had stooped as low as to overturn the SC judgement and bring in the ordinance, which was a shameful" act. Without commenting on whether the AAP was ready to form an alliance with opposition parties, Bharadwaj also said they had approached others as this was not a poll contest but a fight to protect the Constitution of India and save democracy". This slogan Take the ordinance back, enforce Supreme Court order is to put pressure on the central government. What was the need for this? The central government has been complaining over the past nine-and-a-half years that what the Arvind Kejriwal-led government is saying is wrong and what the Centre is saying is right. After a long battle in the top court of the country, the constitutional bench of the SC headed by none other than CJI (Chief Justice of India) DY Chandrachud, has unanimously declared that these powers belong and always belonged to Arvind Kejriwal. They did not say we are giving you these powers; these powers always existed. When the SC went on vacation, the Centre stooped so low that it brought this ordinance in and wrote that this is to overturn the judgement of the constitution bench of India. This is shameful; people will laugh at us, at our democracy that we as a country have stooped so low that the prime minister is not ready to give away legitimate powers of a chief minister back to him. That is why people have gathered here in Delhi to indicate that they are unhappy. People of Delhi are unhappy with the arrogance of the central government; they are unhappy at the manner in which they have been treated. And I am saying it with all responsibility today they have taken away the basic powers of a state government that is Delhi. Tomorrow, through an ordinance, they will take away the police powers of Bengal, may take away the powers of Karnataka and then the opposition parties will have nothing. Arvind Kejriwal has reached out to opposition parties; in fact, the very leaders he had targeted earlier Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Nitish Kumar. How is it that he is turning to those very people for support today? All political parties contest elections against each other. We will point out irregularities, allegations, illegalities. This is natural. Today, we are here not to contest an election. We are here to protect the Constitution, to protect the country. The day is not far when through a single ordinance the central government will take away all the democratic principles of this country. There may come a time when there is no election. We have to be united. Otherwise, India will be under a dictatorship. You are being targeted by your opponents for sharing the stage with Kapil Sibal today again someone you had alleged was very corrupt. Kapil Sibal is a celebrated jurist. He has been known for his constitutional clarity. We cannot find a better luminary or a jurist than him to explain the nitty gritty of the Constitution how this ordinance is illegal, how its against the basic democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution. We welcome him here. He is ready despite being in the opposition and in another political party; he is here to talk about the Constitution. The BJP has targeted you with posters demanding accountability for the money splurged in building the chief ministers official residence, that you have to be answerable for the Rs 45 crore allegedly spent on renovating it. They are targeting the CM on his core calling card of honesty The government has spent some money Rs 4 crore, Rs 5 crores I dont know how much. It is the government that has spent money on government property. How is it tied to Arvind Kejriwal? He cannot take it away. Money has been spent to create Raj Bhavan. Money has been spent to construct the lavish bungalow of the prime minister. I have heard that it costs more than Rs 400 crore. If spending Rs 45 crore is corruption, spending Rs 400 crore is mega corruption. How is it corruption? I dont understand. The AAP believed in walking alone but now, more and more it is allying with opposition parties. Are you willing to contest elections in alliance with opposition parties? These are larger questions that have to be answered by our leaders. What I understand is that the situation is such that all opposition parties should be together to save the Constitution, to save democracy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that Andhra Pradeshs Jagan Mohan Reddy government has done nothing except corruption in four years. Addressing a public meeting here, he launched a scathing attack on the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for rampant corruption. In these four years, Jagan Mohan Reddy government has done nothing except scams, rackets and corruption," he said For a second consecutive day, a top BJP leader targeted Jagan Mohan Reddy government over corruption. BJP President J.P. Nadda had launched an attack on the state government while addressing a public meeting at Srikalahasti in Tirupati district on Saturday. Jagan government claims to be pro-poor but Andhra Pradesh stands at third place in the country in terms of farmer suicides. Jagan Mohan Reddyji, you should be ashamed of this," said Amit Shah. He also alleged that the funds given by the Modi government to Andhra Pradesh were swindled by the YSRCP. Amit Shah claimed that from 2009 to 2014 when UPA was in power, Andhra Pradesh received only Rs 78,000 crore from the Centre in the form of tax devolution and grants-in-aid but after the Modi government came to power at the Centre, the state received Rs 2.30 lakh crore in 5 years. In 10 years the state may have received Rs 5 lakh crore. Where this money has gone. It was lost to the corruption of Jagan cadre," he said. The Union Home Minister also alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy was claiming the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi to be his own scheme by giving it the name of YSR Rythu Bharosa. Modi ji is sending rice to the poor of Andhra Pradesh but Jagan Babu is putting his photo on the rice," he remarked. The Union Home Minister alleged that Visakhapatnam has become a hub of anti-social elements. He said the leaders of the ruling party were involved in land scam and sand mining scam. Exuding confidence that Narenrda Modi will once again become the Prime Minister in 2024 by winning 300 Lok Sabha seats, Shah appealed to people of Andhra Pradesh to play their role by sending 20 MPs from the state. He listed out the measures taken by the Modi government for development of Andhra Pradesh. He cited construction of a new airport for Visakhapatnam, two Vande Bharat trains, modernisation of Visakhapatnam railway station, increasing the length of national highways from 4,000 km to 9,000 km and setting up of central educational institutions. Amit Shah claimed the Modi government came to power after 10 years of UPA rule during which scams of Rs 12 lakh crore had taken place" but in 9 years, no one could make even one allegation of corruption against the Modi government". He claimed that the Modi government ensured internal security and secured the countrys borders. He said when Pakistan backed terrorists carried out attacks in Uri and Pulwama, the Modi government responded within 10 days with surgical and air strikes. Amit Shah said under the Modi government, Indias fame spread across the world and its image improved. Wherever he goes people welcome him with slogans of Modi Modi. These slogans are in honour of the people of India," he said. He alleged that when Article 370 was being repealed, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had cautioned that there would be bloodbath in Kashmir. Let alone bloodbath, no one even dared to pelt stones," he remarked. Shah also spoke about various measures taken by the Modi government to help the poor by providing them food, building houses, supplying cooking gas cylinders and building toilets. The Karnataka government launched its Shakti scheme on Sunday in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, fulfilling the first of its five pre-poll guarantees. The scheme aims to provide free travel service to women across the state in all non-AC government buses. Unveiling the logo, chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar distributed Shakti smart cards to some women beneficiaries. The smart cards will serve for identification and access, enabling women to avail free bus services. The government said women residents of the state can apply on the Seva Sindhu government portal starting from June 11, and a smart card will be issued to them within three months. Congress leaders also boarded the state buses for a ride to Kempegowda bus station, one of the popular stops in Bengaluru. As directed by Siddaramaiah, incharge ministers and MLAs launched the scheme in their districts and constituencies across the state. According to transport department officials, this free bus service will benefit more than 41.8 lakh women passengers every day and will cost the state exchequer an estimated Rs 4,051.56 crore annually. Comparing womens participation in developed countries and India, Siddaramaiah said, Womens participation is about 53% in America, 54% in China, 57% in Australia, 57% in Indonesia. In Bangladesh, it amounts to 30% whereas in India it amounts to just 24%." He added: After 2014, this rate has come down to 24% from 30% in the country. Countries that have more womens participation will develop. Economic and social inequalities in society can be gradually erased when women are empowered." Hitting out at the BJP for causing confusion among the people about the state governments guarantees, Shivakumar told News18, The BJP is a party with no mission and vision. They are confusing people, but the states people have given them an answer in the form of numbers. Our goal is development and we will continue working for the welfare of the people." Here is all you need to know about the Shakti scheme: All women, including girl students, of the state without discrimination on the basis of caste or religion can avail free bus service. Gender minorities, too, are included in the scheme Other than the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), 50 percent of the seats will be reserved for men in the remaining three state road transport corporations KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC The free travel service can be availed in city transport, ordinary and express buses, which account for 18,609 buses in all four state-owned road transport corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC) To avoid any confusion, free travel for women posters will be pasted that is included in the scheme Women can travel up to 20 km inside border states free of cost in buses under the Shakti scheme. However, even as the Congress government launched the scheme in Bengaluru, senior leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa in the Davangere district caused the party a significant amount of embarrassment. The former minister, during the launch of the scheme, slammed his own government for imposing conditions on the schemes and said he will take the issue up in the assembly session for discussion. I dont understand why the government is imposing conditions. Why are they asking for various identity cards? You can easily distinguish between men and women. Let women from other states also be given these facilities. The government shouldnt impose so many conditions and this is not right. This is my opinion and I will take this up in the upcoming session for discussion," Shivashankarappa said. BJP national secretary Pankaja Munde has said if two people have come together purely out of love then it should be respected. However, she said if there is some conspiracy behind this then it should be seen differently. I think love is love. Love sees no walls. If two people have come together purely out of love, it should be respected. But if there is some bitterness and artifice behind it, it should be seen differently," said Munde while responding to a reporters question on a Hindu man marrying a Muslim woman in Jabalpur recently. #WATCH | I think love is love. Love sees no walls. If two people have come together purely out of love, it should be respected. But if there is some bitterness and artifice behind it, it should be seen differently," says BJP national secretary Pankaja Munde on Love Jihad, pic.twitter.com/xj4v4yU6xM ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023 Munde, daughter of late senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde, has maintained a low profile since her defeat in the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections. She earlier said that she belongs to the BJP but the party doesnt belong to her. She was a cabinet minister when BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was the Maharashtra chief minister between 2014 and 2019. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has recently said love will be allowed but the state will not tolerate jihad. He said that the government will take action against those behind love jihad. Last month, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra ordered a high-level probe after open letters alerting Muslim girls against a saffron love trap" were distributed by some unidentified people in Indore. Titled Khula Khat (open letter) the pamphlets criticise the RSS and associated right-wing Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal. Attempts are being made to turn 10 lakh Muslim girls into Kafir (non-believers of God and tenets of Islam), reads the letter. It also claims that about 800 Muslim girls in Amravati city of Maharashtra were subjected to conversion. In May, Seven of 16 people arrested in the state for their alleged links with an Islamist organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), were involved in operating the Love Jihad nexus", Mishra had claimed. The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), in a joint operation with the Intelligence Bureau and the Telangana Police, busted a module affiliated with the HuT, and nabbed 16 people. Seven of them were converted to Islam and they were operating the nexus of love jihad. During questioning, they confessed that they were originally Hindus, and converted to Islam. Significantly, these individuals include professors, engineers, teachers etc," Mishra had said. (With IANS inputs) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will kick off the Congresss campaign for the year-end Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls from Jabalpur on Monday after praying at the banks of the Narmada river, a party leader said. Jabalpur is at the centre of the states Mahakoshal region, which has a sizable number of tribal voters. In the 2018 Assembly polls, the Congress won 11 of the 13 Scheduled Tribe reserved seats in the eight-district division, with the remaining two bagged by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Priyanka ji will launch the partys campaign and Sankalp 2023 by addressing a public meeting on Saturday at Shahid Smarak at around 11.15 am. She will land in Jabalpur at around 10:30 am and head to Gwarighat to pray to the Narmada river, Jabalpur mayor and Congress city chief Jagat Bahadur Singh told. Ahead of Aam Aadmi Partys Maha Rally in Delhis Ramlil Maidan today, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), in an apparent swipe on AAP national conevnor Arvind Kejriwal, released a new poster titled AAP maha ghotala. Sirf ek banda kaafi hai..Delhi ko tabah karne ke liye, naam hai Kejriwal (Just one guy is enough to destroy Delhi - the name is Kejriwal)," the poster read. ALSO READ: AAPs Maha Rally Against Centres Ordinance In Delhi Today; Security Upped Around Ramlila Maidan The poster is seemingly inspired by the movie Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai starring Manoj Bajpayee. According to an India Today report, other posters targeting the AAP chief over the renovation of his residence were also seen in the national capital today. One such poster read, Kejriwal Ji, hume bhi aapka Rs 45 crore wala AAP ka rajmahal dekhna hain" (We also wish to see Arvind Kejriwals Rajmahal worth Rs 45 crore)." Earlier this year in April, the BJP launched a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying he spent around Rs 45 crore on the beautification" of his official residence in the Civil Lines area of the city and demanded his resignation on moral" grounds. SEE: Arvind Kejriwal Spent Rs 45 Crore on Beautification of Official Residence During Peak Covid: BJP To counter AAPs Maha Rally, the BJP is set to launch a campaign against the Delhi governments corruption" and nepotism". AAPs Maha Rally Delhi education minister Atishi Singh told News18 that the partys Maha Rally today is for the people of Delhi, and their fight for the right to vote and democracy. Todays Maha rally is not a Maha rally of Arvind Kejriwal or AAP it is the rights of the people of Delhi that have been taken away. It is the power of their vote that has been taken away. If the people of Delhi have elected a government to power, snatching the rights of that government is (like) snatching the rights of the people of Delhi. That is why, people are coming out in large numbers to protect their right to vote and the Constitution, the Delhi minister told News18 on Sunday morning. According to AAP, around one lakh people are likely to attend the rally today. Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) Maha rally today is for the people of Delhi, and their fight for the right to vote and democracy, Delhi education minister Atishi Singh told News18 ahead of the event, which is being held against Centres ordinance promulgated last month. Todays Maha rally is not a Maha rally of Arvind Kejriwal or AAP it is the rights of the people of Delhi that have been taken away. It is the power of their vote that has been taken away. If the people of Delhi have elected a government to power, snatching the rights of that government is (like) snatching the rights of the people of Delhi. That is why, people are coming out in large numbers to protect their right to vote and the Constitution, Atishi Singh told News18 on Sunday morning. Around 1 lakh people are expected to take part in the rally at Ramlila Ground in Delhi where Kejriwal started off his anti-corruption crusade in 2012, with activist Anna Hazare at its helm. Singh said the people of Delhi will come to Ramlila Maidan to express their unhappiness against the dictatorship of the central government. The Constitution of India has given the people of Delhi the right to elect a government, and that is what they are fighting for, she stressed. When asked about the partys back-up plan, Singh said the ordinance will not stand the test of the Constitution. It is unconstitutional, it is against the order of the Constitution Bench and therefore it will be struck down in the court of law, she added. AAP convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to address the gathering around noon. None of the leaders from other parties have been invited to the rally, since its an all AAP affair. Kejriwal had met leaders of the opposition party, including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar over the last month to gather support against Centres ordinance in Rajya Sabha. The Centre had promulgated an ordinance that allows it to exercise authority over civil service officers working in all Delhi government department except those in public order, police and land. It would decide transfer, postings, prosecution, vigilance and disciplinary actions. The opinion of the Lieutenant Governor would be considered final in case of difference of opinion. The Supreme Court had, however, held that even the limited discretionary power afforded to the L-G ought to be exercised in a careful manner in rare circumstances such as on matters of finance and national security. The L-G cannot refer every matter to the President. Twitter has refused to pay its Google Cloud bills as its contract comes up for renewal this month, which could result in the social media companys trust and safety teams being crippled, Platformer reported on Saturday. Before Elon Musks takeover of the social media platform last year, Twitter signed a multi-year contract with Google related to fighting spam and protecting accounts, among other things, the report said. The Platformer report did not give details on how the conflict between the companies could hinder Twitters trust and safety teams. The Information said Twitter has been trying to renegotiate its contract with Google since at least March. Twitter hosts some services on its server and houses others on the cloud platforms of Amazon and Google, Platformer said. In March, Amazon warned Twitter that it would withhold advertising payments because of the companys outstanding bills to Amazon Web Services for cloud computing services, according to the Information. Since Musks acquisition, Twitter has cut costs dramatically and laid off thousands of employees. Musk ordered the company to cut infrastructure costs, such as spending on cloud services, by $1 billion, a source had told Reuters in November. Twitter did not immediately respond to an email inquiry while Google did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The British government has warned last week that thousands of Afghan refugees in the UK are likely to face homelessness in August, a report has revealed. The council officials in a secret meeting last Thursday have informed the Rishi Sunak government that 8,000 Afghan refugees allowed in the country in 2021 are due to be evicted from hotels in August because of a government deadline, The Guardian reported. The emergency meeting comes as PM Rishi Sunak dropped a controversial plank of last years asylum law that had introduced a two-tier refugee system making lives tougher lakhs of people arriving in the UK using small boats. The meeting was also attended by the Home Office civil servants and number of Home Office private contractors. During the meeting, officials discussed low-cost options to shift 50,000 asylum seekers currently living in hotel accommodation, which costs 6 million pounds (Rs 62 Crores) a day. However, it became quickly evident that councils would struggle to help because of an acute housing shortage, the report. Meanwhile, the pressure on the government is expected to grow further with increasing number of small boat crossings as the weather conditions have improved. The UK government is struggling to process the record numbers of asylum seekers arriving on its shores. More than 45,000 migrants arrived on the shores of southeast England on small boats last year, a 60 percent annual increase on a perilous route that has grown in popularity every year since 2018. Sunak, whose office has reiterated that no refugees will be forced onto the street, said that the government had acquired two more barges to house about 1,000 people. Meanwhile, the MPs and councillors have accused the ministers of wasting taxpayers money over converting unused facilities into refugees centres. The government is committed to ending the expensive use of hotels for asylum seekers which is why we continue to source new alternative sites and vessels, which are cheaper and more manageable for communities, the Home Office said. The asylum system currently costs more than 3bn a year so taxpayers rightly expect the government to find alternative solutions, it added. The UK had welcomed around 24,500 Afghans under resettlement and relocation schemes introduced as the Taliban took over their country in 2021. Around 8,000 of those, half of them children, remain in temporary hotel accommodation. The Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) has received $6 million in funding from Gov. Kay Ivey and the state legislature for the Preservation of Alabamas Significant Sites (PASS) grant program. The program will assist in the preservation and repair of historic sites in Alabama. Preference will be given to any structure constructed for government or public purposes prior to 1840 that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and that is owned by a local city, town, county government, or non-profit organization, or any structure built before 1965 that is eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places and significantly contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. Local and county governments, as well as non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for the PASS program. Sites receiving grant funds from the National Park Service or receiving state or federal historic tax credits are not eligible for funding. In addition, there is no maximum grant amount and funds will be given to brick and mortar projects for the physical preservation of historic sites. These funds will open up new opportunities for historic places prior to 1840 with Civil Rights history to be restored and renewed for future generations, said Alabama Historical Commission Chairman Dr. James Day. Thanks to the legislature and their dedication, the Alabama Historical Commission is able to continue preserving and maintaining the elements of our states past. AHC thanks Gov. Kay Ivey and the state legislature for this new grant program that serves as an additional avenue for local governments and non-profit organizations to preserve historic places in Fiscal Year 2023, said Lisa D. Jones, Executive Director of AHC and State Historic Preservation Officer. The protection and preservation of historic places is central to the mission of the Alabama Historical Commission. This new grant program provides essential assistance for properties prior to 1840 and sites associated with the Civil Rights movement to gain more support and additional funding to protect the places in Alabama that have rich history. The application period is June 8 July 10, 2023. AHC is looking forward to the partnership with Submittable for the application process. To apply for the PASS program, apply here at the AHC Submittable program website. Located in historic downtown Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission is the state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to protect, preserve and interpret Alabamas historic places. AHC works to accomplish its mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and promotion of state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and statewide programs to assist people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation activities. For a complete list of programs and properties owned and operated by the AHC, hours of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov. New and intensifying fires are forcing the evacuation of thousands across Canada as the country battled out-of-control blazes that a provincial minister warned on Saturday could last all summer." Nearly 17,800 square miles have burned since the beginning of the year, well above previous averages as the country warms quicker than the rest of the world amid climate change. The countrys west has been particularly hit. After several days of respite, fires intensified in Alberta, where Friday night the town of Edson saw its second evacuation since May. Canada is on track to face its worst-ever year of wildfire destruction. Blazes are burning in nearly all Canadian provinces and territories, and federal government officials said their modeling shows increased wildfire risk in most of Canada through August https://t.co/QU7KK6eXkm pic.twitter.com/QF5AAOCb3H Reuters (@Reuters) June 6, 2023 The fire is so out of control that some forestry crews have had to back off," said Luc Mercier, chief administrative officer of Yellowhead County, where Edson is located. They cant fight this fire." Speaking to broadcaster CBC, resident Hayley Waites said the evacuation of Edson took place in the form of an enormous convoy" of people fleeing the town. When youre panicking to go all out, all you think about is running away," she said. But as soon as you leave in the car, you ask: What if my house is no longer there when I come back?'" In British Columbia, the 2,400 person town of Tumbler Ridge was largely evacuated as a fire approached within a couple miles of the city. BREAKING: Footage of the George Washington Bridge that connects New Jersey and New York City amid smoke from Canada wildfires.pic.twitter.com/d3FhjdRy6W The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 7, 2023 In the countrys east, Quebec Minister of Public Security Francois Bonnardel said Saturday morning that the situation in the central and northwestern parts of the province remained difficult, with several towns threatened. Fires in northeast Quebec were considered stable." This is a first in the history of Quebec to fight so many fires, to evacuate so many people," he said. We are going to have a fight that we think will last all summer." Some 14,000 people are under evacuation orders in the province, with Bonnardel having declared that we havent yet won the battle." Environmental authorities currently list 416 active fires in the country, 203 of which are classified as out of control. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that a counteroffensive was underway as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Kyiv and criticised Russia over flooding from the breached Kakhovka dam. Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail," Zelensky said at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Trudeau. Zelensky commented after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Kyivs long-expected counteroffensive was already failing. Russia has reported thwarting Ukrainian attacks in the east and south. Its interesting what Putin said about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion," Zelensky said. He added that he was in daily touch with military commanders, including armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny, and everyone is positive now tell that to Putin!" Trudeau, 51, and Zelensky, 45, hugged each other and used each others first names as the Canadian leader made his second unannounced visit to Kyiv since full-scale war broke out in February last year. Canada, which hosts a large Ukrainian diaspora, has been one of Kyivs key allies since the Russian invasion. It has provided Ukraine with significant military aid, trained more than 36,000 soldiers and adopted sanctions against Moscow. Direct consequence Trudeau denounced Russias role in the destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday. The flooding from the breached dam has forced thousands to flee their homes and sparked fears of humanitarian and environmental disasters. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam, while Moscow says Kyiv fired on it. In his daily address, Zelenksy condemned the shameful indifference" from the international community to the fallout of the dams destruction, including the failure to form and send a rescue mission to the occupied territory" or come out with clear and strong statements condemning this latest Russian war crime." He urged international organisations to come to the aid of those in Russian-occupied territories. Pledging 10 million Canadian dollars (US $7.5 million) in new funding for flood relief, Trudeau said the dams destruction was the direct consequence" of Russias invasion. There is absolutely no doubt in our minds that the destruction of the dam was a direct consequence of Russias decision to invade a peaceful neighbour," Trudeau said, adding Russia will be held to account" for its actions in Ukraine. Pilot training The Canadian leader said he would provide 500 million Canadian dollars in new funding for military assistance to Ukraine. He also pledged Canada would be part of the multinational efforts to train Ukraines fighter pilots. Earlier in the day Trudeau placed flowers by a wall of remembrance displaying the faces of soldiers killed in combat while a military orchestra played. He also visited an open-air exhibition featuring destroyed Russian military vehicles. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Oleksandr Polishchuk handed Trudeau a box that he said held shrapnel from a rocket that fell on the Black Sea port city of Odesa. He said the gift was intended to remind Trudeau of Ukraines suffering from Russian strikes. Iran must end support for Russia Three people were killed early Saturday in a fire sparked by debris from shot-down Russian drones in the Odesa region. French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to immediately end" Tehrans support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, which involves supplying Moscow with attack drones, the Elysee said. Macron in a telephone call underlined the serious security and humanitarian consequences" of Irans drone deliveries and urged Tehran to immediately end the support it thus gives to Russias war of aggression against Ukraine", said a statement. The call came a day after White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Russia was receiving materials from Iran to build a drone factory on its territory that could be fully operational early next year". The United States has said that Russia has received hundreds of Iranian attack drones to attack Kyiv and terrorise" Ukrainians, a charge denied by Tehran. According to US data, the drones are built in Iran, shipped across the Caspian Sea and then used operationally by Russian forces against Ukraine", Kirby said. The link between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and symbiotic, according to a report published by the United Nations (UN). The fourteenth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN Security Councils 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee, released on Friday, highlights the increased manoeuvre for a range of terrorist groups under the Taliban, Dawn newspaper reported. They are making good use of this, and the threat of terrorism is rising in both Afghanistan and the region, the report read, a copy seen by the Pakistani newspaper. While they have sought to reduce the profile of these groups and conducted maintaining links to numerous terrorist entities, the Taliban have lobbied member states for counter-terrorism assistance in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), which it perceives as its principal rival. The fourteenth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN Security Councils 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee noted that a range of terrorist groups has greater freedom of manoeuvre under the Taliban de facto authorities.https://t.co/iEMAqQ7pFy Dawn.com (@dawn_com) June 11, 2023 According to the report, the Taliban forces have carried out operations against ISIL-K in a general sense, but they have not fulfilled the counter-terrorism provisions outlined in the UN peace deal. The report also indicates signs of Al-Qaeda rebuilding its operational capabilities, the TTP launching attacks into Pakistan with support from the Taliban, foreign terrorist fighters posing a threat across Afghanistans borders. It also shows that the operations of ISIL-K are becoming more sophisticated and deadly, though not necessarily more frequent. Moreover, the UN report also stated that the group was battling internal conflict over key policies, the centralisation of power and the control of financial and natural resources in the country. The Statement of IEAs Spokesperson on the Recent Report of the United Nations Security Councilhttps://t.co/giXFbTtuqK pic.twitter.com/1cHoZocsyo Zabihullah (.. ) (@Zabehulah_M33) June 11, 2023 However, the Afghan Taliban has dismissed the report, referring to it as full of prejudice." In a statement, the group said that rumors of disagreement between the leaders of the Islamic Emirate are in particular the continuation of the propaganda of the past twenty years." We strongly reject the assessment of this report that the Islamic Emirate is helping the opponents of neighboring and regional countries or using the territory of Afghanistan against other countries" the statement added. The latest UN report is consistent with past assessments that TTP and other armed groups carry out their operations from Afghan territory. The Taliban facilitated peace negotiations between the TTP and Pakistani security officials with the aim of resolving the ongoing violence within Pakistan. However, the talks broke down last year due to the imposition of stringent conditions by both parties involved. At least 27 people, including eight children, were killed following heavy rains and strong winds in northwest Pakistan. The storms hit four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province including Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Karak districts on Saturday. 15 people were killed in Bannu district alone, including five siblings aged between two and 11, AFP reported. At least 12 people were buried alive after the roofs and walls of their houses collapsed," Taimur Ali Khan, a spokesman for the provincial disaster management authority, reportedly told the news agency. The authorities have declared an emergency in all four of the districts. https://twitter.com/ferozwala/status/1667796283262930950 Around 145 people were injured and more than 200 livestock died. The heavy wind also uprooted trees and knocked down electrical transmission towers. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of life loss from the storm and ordered authorities to carry out relief operations. Tragic news from #KPK & #Punjab: At least 28 people died & over 145 injured in rain-related incidents. 69 houses damaged, 145 cattle perished & electricity disrupted in the affected areas. 3 innocent girls died in Khushab, Punjab when a wall of their house collapsed. #rain pic.twitter.com/3mJ3DISBfP OCHA Pakistan (@OCHAPakistan) June 10, 2023 Last year, Pakistan was lashed by unprecedented monsoon rains over the summer that put a third of the country under water, damaging two million homes, killing more than 1,700 people and affecting 33 million people. Meanwhile, in the south of the country, authorities said on Sunday that a cyclone was approaching Pakistan and India from the Arabian Sea. Sharif ordered officials to put in place emergency measures in advance of the approaching Cyclone. The severe and intense cyclone with wind speeds of 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) was on a course toward the countrys south, Pakistans disaster management agency said. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the open sea till the system is over by June 17,"it said. The World Health Organization (WHO) condemns in the strongest possible terms the complex attack on the Pearl Beach Hotel and Restaurant located in the Abdiaziz district of Mogadishu, Somalia, on 9 June, which resulted in the deaths of 16 innocent civilians, including a WHO national staff member. This tragic event also left more than 10 people injured. We are appalled by the tragic loss of life in this senseless attack, including the death of Ms Nasra Hassan, a WHO national female staff member. Nasra, 27 years old, joined the WHO country office in Somalia to support the drought emergency response operations in Jubaland. She was known for her dedication, ambition and commitment among her colleagues, said Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. WHO strongly condemns the heinous attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, #Somalia, which resulted in the deaths of civilians, including that of a WHO staff member, Nasra Hassan.Full statement:https://t.co/cLil7fxEMs World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 11, 2023 We extend our deepest condolences to Nasras family, as well as to the families and friends of all those who died during the attack," Dr Al-Mandhari added. We condemn in the strongest terms this heinous attack on a hotel that claimed so many lives, including the precious life of one of our dearest colleagues Nasra. We condemn all attacks on innocent civilians and humanitarian aid workers and express our deepest condolences to the family members of all those who were killed in this attack, said Dr Malik Mamunur, WHO Representative in Somalia. In a statement, WHO said it is committed to continuing efforts to preserve health and respond to emergencies in Somalia. It also affirmed that the safety and security of its staff is a paramount factor in ensuring ongoing life-saving response operations. Busting the rumours, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that no minus one plan has been proposed by PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. A Pakistani court last Tuesday ordered the immediate release of Qureshi, who was arrested following the May 9 violent protests. Qureshi, 66, served as Pakistans foreign affairs minister from 2018 to 2022 under Khans regime. He was among the top PTI leaders arrested after violent protests following Khans arrest on May 9. He has been arrested multiple times since his first arrest. Khan, meanwhile, said that he doesnt believe in deals and power politics, and for him, politics is only for a cause and mission. Khan once again emphasised on talks with Army Chief Asim Munir. I want to talk to the army chief, but he is not ready to talk. I dont want talks because of my personal interests, Allah has given me everything already and my nation stands with me. I want talks for the nation." #BreakingNews | I want to talk to the army chief but he is not ready to talk: Former Pakistan PM Imran KhanExclusive Input by @manojkumargupta. @siddhantvm shares more details with @GrihaAtul pic.twitter.com/LyEc41jMh3 News18 (@CNNnews18) June 11, 2023 STAGE SET FOR COURT MARTIAL Khan said on Friday that the stage has been set for his court martial" after the countrys all-powerful Army vowed to try the masterminds and planners" of the May 9 violence in military courts. His remarks came a day after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah accused Khan of planning the countrywide violence that erupted after his arrest in a corruption case on May 9. Talking to reporters after appearing before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday in connection with 10 different cases, including two ongoing petitions and eight new bail petitions, the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: chief said he knew he would be tried by a military court. He termed a civilians trial in the military court as the end of democracy and the end of justice in Pakistan. The trial in the military court will be illegal, he was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. They knew that over 150 cases registered against me are baseless and there is no chance of my conviction in these bogus cases, therefore, they have decided to conduct my trial in the military court, Khan said. Pakistans powerful army on Wednesday vowed to tighten the noose of law around planners and masterminds who mounted a hate-ripened and politically-driven rebellion against the state. Khans party found itself in hot waters when protesters allegedly belonging to the party attacked civil and military properties on May 9 following the arrest of Khan in the Al-Qadir corruption case. The trial of people involved in the attacks on military installations in different parts of the country, including the attack on General Headquarters in Rawalpindi as well as Lahores Jinnah House where the Corps Commander was residing, has already begun. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has also hinted at Khans trial in a military court and it could stem from the federal cabinets decision that the protesters who vandalised military installations on May 9 would be tried under the Army Act and Official Secrets Act. With PTI Inputs The Alabama Community College System is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. In the last 60 years, the two-year colleges in Alabama have undergone some significant changes. Jimmy Baker has been the Chancellor of the System since 2017 and oversees the 24 colleges that are spread throughout the state. Baker spoke recently to the Enterprise Lions Club. Baker said that he grew up in Coffee County and graduated from New Brockton High School. He began his career in education administration when he was named superintendent of Daleville City Schools. He also served as superintendent of the Coffee County School System before moving on to the State Board of Education in Montgomery. After working closely with the previous chancellor of the two-year college system for several years, Baker was named chancellor in 2017 when the previous chancellor retired for medical reasons. On his first day on the job, Baker reported, there were nine interim presidents throughout the community college system. He knew, he said, that it was difficult to make significant improvements at institutions that had interim presidents. Facilities across the state needed improvements, curriculum reviews needed to be undertaken, new programs needed to be implemented. None of this could be accomplished effectively with so many interim presidents in place. One of the first permanent presidents hired would be Matt Rodgers, selected to head up Enterprise State Community College, Baker said. Under Rodgers leadership, the college saw upgrades in its facilities, new programs added, and plans made for additional buildings to be constructed on campus. Sadly, Rodgers was lost to a cancer diagnosis only a few years into his presidency. Baker said he was proud to announce that today not one college has an interim president, and progress is being made at many institutions across the system. Baker reported that the needs of businesses and industry have changed over the years, and so has the mission of the community college system. At one time, the two-year college system consisted of junior colleges, community colleges, and vocational or trade schools. All of those institutions of higher learning have been folded into the community college system. Former schools known as vocational or trade schools operate under the umbrella of a community college in most instances and junior colleges no longer exist, having been re-designated as community colleges. As their names suggest, community colleges should have at their core a commitment to work closely with their communities. Baker commented that the system is dedicated to expanding its offerings to train more people for jobs in the local communities, based on the needs of those communities. For example, here in the Wiregrass area, the aviation-based programs offered at the Ozark campus of ESCC have provided employees for the maintenance contractors at Ft. Novosel. Nursing programs at the Enterprise campus are expanding to provide skilled nursing staff for local hospitals and for the new VA home being built in Enterprise. On campuses located near automobile plants, the programs offered mirror the needs of those plants. To address the needs of businesses and industries, the ACCS is constructing eight new workforce development centers across the state. In Enterprise, the city has partnered with ESCC to bring such a center to the local area. Baker reported that some of the programs currently offered at the Ozark campus will be duplicated in Enterprise, but the college will also offer new programs not previously available in Enterprise. Baker also related that he had met with representatives of the hospitality industry and the independent business owners association and had asked them how the community colleges could help prepare employees for jobs in their respective areas. A large percentage of Alabama adults are not employed, and more recent high school graduates are choosing not to go to college. But, Baker stressed, these people still need to learn a trade or skill so that they can be gainfully employed. The programs do not have to be lengthysome can be completed in as little as six weeks. In most instances, students who complete these programs have jobs waiting for them when they finish the course of study. At one time, the states two-year colleges were governed by the State Board of Education. However, Baker noted that after he became the chancellor, the legislature created a separate Board of Trustees to govern the system. John Mitchell, a local business owner, serves as a member of the board. Baker also said that the local senator and state representative have been very supportive of the community college system in recent years. Even though many post-secondary institutions have seen declining enrollments nationwide in recent years, the community colleges in Alabama have touched 160,000 students statewide every year, which is more than all the states four-year schools combined, and enrollments at several two-year schools are increasing. The Enterprise Lions Club meets weekly on Wednesday at the Enterprise Farmers Market. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., followed by a brief business meeting and a guest speaker. Guests are invited to visit. One effective way to wrangle with tough emotions is to keep a journal, but for Sarah Gregory, she channeled her rage into a letterone sent to her grandmother's killer, now on death row in Alabama. As told to Elizabeth Bruenig in her piece for the Atlantic , Gregory recalls the fury she felt for years toward James Barber after he murdered her grandmother, 75-year-old Dorothy Epps, in her Alabama home while high on alcohol and drugs in May 2001 (he says he doesn't fully remember what happened). Then, in the fall of 2020, Gregory decided to purge her anger and write Barber a note offering forgiveness. "I am tired of carrying this pain, hate, and rage in my heart," she wrote. When Barber received her note at the Holman Correctional Facility, he says it "brought me to my knees." He wrote back to Gregory, telling her that, except for the time he "forced the county jail to be baptized," receiving her letter "was the single most edifying, uplifting moment that I have experienced." After that correspondence, everything shifted. Gregory said her anger level dropped to "zero," and they soon started talking on the phone monthly, even sometimes weekly. "These people had experienced something profoundly, transcendently emotional; there, where the most justified anger and hatred had been, was something growing that looked like love," Bruenig writes. Now, Barber says, "I love that girl more than I love anybody else in this world." They never discuss his upcoming execution, set for next month, but Gregory tells Bruenig that now she wishes it wasn't going to happen. "I spent so long believing in 'an eye for an eye'I've changed," she says. Barber, for his part, says he's at peace with what's coming, and not afraid. And Bruenig's take? "It is in the nature of American justice that anger can end a life, yet forgiveness cannot necessarily save one. But then again, maybe it already has." Read the full piece here. (Read more Longform stories.) The River Thames is a cleaner river than it was a few decades agoand far cleaner than it was in Victorian times, when survivors of a shipwreck on the outskirts of London died from ingesting polluted waterbut there's still plenty of room for improvement. That's the purpose of a huge project dubbed the "Super Sewer," Popular Science reports. The Thames Tideway Tunnel project, which includes a 15.5-mile tunnel mostly built beneath the Thames, is designed to take the pressure off the sewer system built by chief engineer Joseph Bazalgette in the 1860s. London is three times bigger than it was in Bazalgette's day and much more of it is paved, meaning even small amounts of rain can cause sewers to overflow. Taylor Geall, spokesman for construction company Tideway, tells Popular Science that London's combined sewer systemin which stormwater and sewage go through the same pipescauses an estimated 44 million tons of rainwater and untreated sewage to flow into the Thames every year at overflow points. This kills wildlife and creates what Deborah Leach, CEO of the environmental group Thames 21, calls "disgusting" mounds of wet wipes in places like Hammersmith Bridge. "We are still seeing these stinking foreshores that you last saw back in Victorian times," she says. The tunnelwhich Geall calls "ridiculously big," with a diameter of almost 24 feetis now complete. At its deepest, it is 217 feet below the ground. The entire project, including new sewage treatment facilities, is due to be finished in 2025, with a budget of more than $5 billion. Tideway estimates that it will reduce sewage spillage into the Thames by 95%. In a look at the project earlier this year, the Times of London described it as a "second River Thames." The newspaper noted that when construction began six years ago, archaeological finds were made as an access shaft was dug for tunnel-boring machines. The most notable one was a 16th-century skeleton of a man, who was wearing only leather boots and had been beaten to death. (Read more London stories.) The artificial intelligence chatbot asked the believers in the fully packed St. Paul's church in the Bavarian town of Fuerth to rise from the pews and praise the Lord. The AP reports the ChatGPT chatbot, personified by an avatar of a bearded Black man on a huge screen above the altar, then began preaching to the more than 300 people who had shown up on Friday morning for an experimental Lutheran church service almost entirely generated by AI. "Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year's convention of Protestants in Germany," the avatar said with an expressionless face and monotonous voice. The 40-minute serviceincluding the sermon, prayers, and music was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. I told the artificial intelligence 'We are at the church congress, you are a preacher what would a church service look like?'" Simmerlein said. He asked for Psalms to be included, as well as prayers and a blessing at the end. "You end up with a pretty solid church service," Simmerlein said, sounding almost surprised by the success of his experiment. The entire service was "led" by four different avatars on the screentwo young women and two young men. At times, the AI-generated avatar inadvertently drew laughter as when it used platitudes and told the churchgoers with a deadpan expression that in order "to keep our faith, we must pray and go to church regularly." Some people enthusiastically videotaped the event with their cell phones, while others looked on more critically and refused to speak along loudly during the Lord's Prayer. Simmerlein said it is not his intention to replace religious leaders with artificial intelligence. Rather, he sees the use of AI as a way to help them with their everyday work in their congregations. "Artificial intelligence will increasingly take over our lives, in all its facets," Simmerlein said. "And that's why it's useful to learn to deal with it." However, the experimental church service also showed the limits to implementing artificial AI in church, or in religion. There was no real interaction between the believers and the chatbot, which wasn't able to respond to the laughter or other reactions as a human pastor would have been able to do. "The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning," Simmerlein said. "Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation." (Read more ChatGPT stories.) In his first public appearance since his indictment this week, former President Donald Trump on Saturday cast his legal fight and election campaign in apocalyptic terms. "This is the final battle," Trump told Georgia Republicans. "With you at my side, we will demolish the Deep State, we will expel the warmongers from our government." Trump listed globalists, Communists, "the fake news media," and the "sick political class" as groups that will be driven out, the New York Times reports. "We will defeat Joe Biden, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all," he added. Trump addressed delegates in Columbus, in a building that turned out mortars, guns, and cannons for the Confederate Army's use in the Civil War, for almost 90 minutes. Supporters booed and jeered when Trump mentioned Democrats. He called the 37-count indictment "ridiculous and baseless," per the BBC. Special counsel Jack Smith is "deranged," he said, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is "a lunatic Marxist." Trump called the Justice Department "a sick nest of people that needs to be cleaned out immediately." He said the country is being run by "sinister forces." The former president provided misleading accounts of the way he handled classified documents and the investigations into it, per USA Today. Kari Lake, who lost the Arizona election for governor, followed Trump to the microphone, saying 75 million armed Americans will defend him. "That's not a threat," she said, per Yahoo News. "That's a public service announcement." Trump was headed next to North Carolina to address the state Republican convention there. Both trips were scheduled before he was indicted. (North Carolina GOP censures senior senator over voting record.) President Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation , particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses. The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from Canadian wildfires. But the haze that blanketed a huge swath of the East Coast lifted over the nation's capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party, the AP reports. "So today, I want to send a message to the entire communityespecially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You're understood. And you belong," Biden said. State lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer rights. That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation backed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Josh Helfgott of New York City said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the legislation added another layer to the celebrations. "Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry," Helfgott said. "The other side is so loud, incredibly loud." Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended with her mother, who recently immigrated from India. Rimi came to the US more than 20 years ago because, she said, she had been shunned as a transgender person. In the US, Rimi said she was pushed out of a job after she came out and was homeless for a time. She took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the US. "This is a joyful moment," Rimis said, "but it's also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do. (Read more Pride Month stories.) "Miracle, miracle, miracle" is how a Colombian general involved in the search for four missing siblings described their survival over 40 days in the Amazon jungle. The Indigenous children, ages 1 to 13, were found Friday by searchers hunting for them ever since their small plane crashed on May 1, killing their mother and two pilots. So how did they survive? Three factors helped: flour from the plane wreckage, fruit and seeds from the jungle, and having an extraordinarily capable 13-year-old leading them. The children's grandfather told reporters they found cassava flour, or farina, in the wreckage, reports the Guardian. After the farina ran out, they began to eat seeds, said Fidencio Valencia. Theres a fruit, similar to passionfruit, called avichure, said Edwin Paki, an Indigenous leader who helped in the search. They were looking for seeds to eat from an avichure tree about a (mile and a half) from the site of the plane crash. A key factor in their favor: "The jungle was in harvest," says the head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare. Officers arriving at a pop-up block party in New York state early Sunday found at least 13 people had been shot, stabbed, or hit by vehicles. Syracuse police received a call about shots fired early Sunday at a gathering of hundreds of people, USA Today reports. The victims ranged in age from 17 to 25, per Syracuse.com, including three males and 10 females. Five were stabbed, four were shot, and four were struck by vehicles fleeing after the gunfire began. Officials said all of the injured are expected to survive. Police said they'd release more information as their investigation progresses. (Read more Syracuse stories.) An elevated section of I-95 in Philadelphia collapsed Sunday after a tanker truck carrying gasoline caught fire below it. The interstate was closed in both directions while crews battled the fire, CNN reports. "It looked like we had a lot of heat and heavy fire underneath the underpass," a fire official said at a news conference. Officials said it wasn't clear how the truck, which can carry 8,500 gallons, caught fire. The Coast Guard said that a sheen was visible on the surface of the Delaware River, and that the agency was dealing with runoff there, per the Philadelphia Inquirer . Explosions in the northeast part of the city followed the bridge collapse, said a battalion chief for the Philadelphia Fire Department, possibly caused by the leaking fuel or damaged gas lines. "We have fire coming out of those manholes," said Derek Bowmer. A Drexel University engineering professor who examined photos said the girders holding up the bridge appear to be steel, not steel-reinforced concrete. "There is no concrete surrounding them," Amir Farnam told the Inquirer. "That means they are very susceptible to any sort of high temperature." Steel loses about half of its strength at 1,000 degrees, which he said the fire Sunday could well have reached. But steel could have been the most logical choice, Farnam said. "You don't expect an outdoor structure to experience fire," he added. Philadelphia officials did not immediately report any injuries in the fire or collapse. A seven-mile stretch of the interstate was closed, as were streets around the site; heavy construction equipment will be needed to clear the debris. "Today is going to be a long day, said Dominick Mireles, director of the city's Office of Emergency Management. (Read more Philadelphia stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region MONTGOMERY- The Organized Community Action Program Inc. serving Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Pike, and Lowndes Counties has received $818,738 to assist low income and elderly residents with weatherizing their homes. The award is part of $8.5 million in grants announced Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey to assist low-income and elderly Alabama residents with weatherizing their homes to lower energy costs. The grants support Alabamas Weatherization Assistance Program which provides funds to improve the energy efficiency and safety of qualifying homes. Priority is given to people with disabilities, the elderly and low-income households with children. In the midst of the hot Alabama summer months, elderly, disabled and low-income residents on fixed incomes often struggle to pay their utility bills to keep cool and comfortable, Gov. Ivey said. These grants will assist in making home improvements that will lower the energy bills for those who qualify for assistance. An energy audit is conducted of each home that qualifies for weatherization assistance to determine the most cost-efficient measures. Common improvements include installing extra insulation in the attic, walls and floor; sealing air leaks around doors and windows; making repairs or tune-ups for air conditioning and heating units; and replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency bulbs. In addition to lowering energy bills, the improvements can reduce the risk of fire and other hazards. Ivey awarded the grants to 13 community agencies across the state that manage the program at the local level and receive applications from individuals who wish to be considered for assistance. These grants are in addition to $4.4 million in weatherization grants awarded earlier this year. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Energy. ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in supporting those who need it most through the Weatherization Assistance Program, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. The partnerships with these community agencies ensure that many underserved residents receive help in preparing their homes to stay cooler for the hottest part of the year both now and in the future. Other recipient agencies are: $763,542 to Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, serving Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Macon, Perry, Russell and Shelby Counties; $180,252 to Community Action Committee Inc. of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa, serving Chambers, Coosa and Tallapoosa Counties; $338,074 to Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc., serving Lee County; $538,031 to Community Action Partnership of Huntsville-Madison and Limestone Counties Inc., serving Madison and Limestone Counties; $854,378 to Mobile Community Action Inc., serving Choctaw, Mobile and Washington Counties; $508,508 to Montgomery County Commission, serving Montgomery County; $597,424 to Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc., serving Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Walker and Winston Counties; $2,009,630 to Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc., serving Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall and St. Clair Counties; $332,616 to Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc., serving Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale Counties; $570,628 to Community Action Agency of South Alabama, serving Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox Counties; $499,946 to Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne, serving Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph and Talladega Counties; and, $587,609 to Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc., serving Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa Counties. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Tran Tung, deputy director of the Thai Nguyen Provinces Department of Foreign Affairs is held at a police station. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Public Security Tran Tung, deputy director of the Thai Nguyen Provinces Department of Foreign Affairs, has been detained for allegedly receiving bribes in the organization of Covid-19 repatriation flights. His arrest was made on Friday as the Ministry of Public Security continued expanding the investigation into the flight repatriation bribery scandal, police announced Sunday. According to the investigation, Tung, 45, was accused of giving VND50 million ($2,129) to Luu Tuan Dung, former deputy head of the Citizen Protection Bureau under the Consular Department, as a Tet gift to a department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dung was arrested in January 2022. So far, 54 people have been charged with giving bribes, brokering bribery, receiving bribes, and obtaining property by fraud and power abuse in the flight scandal, according to the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam. In April 2020, the government began repatriation flights to bring Vietnamese citizens abroad back home during the pandemic. Businesses that wanted to organize flights to bring people back had to receive approval from authorities. Applications needed to be sent to the foreign affairs ministry where they they would be evaluated by several ministries. From 2020 to 2021, authorities approved and organized over 1,000 flights, bringing over 200,000 citizens back home from 62 countries and territories. The foreign ministry alone proposed the government approve 772 flights to bring citizens home. To "smooth the process," 20 businesses and over 100 legal entities raised ticket prices and increased costs for those who wanted to return to Vietnam during the pandemic. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, yesterday commended the growing relationship between Bahrain and Brunei Darussalam as offering promising opportunities for future development for both countries and their people. During talks yesterday with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, the Crown Prince also termed the official meeting between His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Sultan Bolkiah as significant to future development. The Crown Prince also emphasised the visit of Sultan Bolkiah to the Kingdom as a testament to the strong bond between the two nations. In this regard, HRH described the signed agreements between Bahrain and Brunei as a means to advance bilateral ties and create mutually beneficial investment opportunities. Discussions also encompassed various areas of common interest and explored avenues to enhance bilateral cooperation. The meeting was in the presence of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Adviser, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Minister of Finance and National Economy. Following the meeting, HRH Prince Salman held a dinner banquet in honour of Sultan Bolkiah. The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam expressed gratitude to the Crown Prince for his dedication to advancing bilateral relations and fostering further cooperation between the two nations. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at combating trafficking in persons. The agreement enables the exchange of critical information to effectively detect, investigate, and prosecute cases related to human trafficking. Additionally, it stresses the protection and assistance of victims, while also facilitating training programmes, educational initiatives, seminars, and workshops focused on addressing the issue of trafficking in persons. Its worth noting that Bahrain has consistently earned the designation of a Tier 1 country in the US Department of States assessment of global efforts to combat trafficking in persons since 2018. The signing took place during Interior Minister Shaikh Rashids visit to the United States of America. The discussions also delved into strengthening collaboration and sharing experiences in countering the risks associated with drones, as well as addressing challenges posed by online platforms and video games. Minister Shaikh Rashid expressed gratitude for the United States support in facilitating Bahrains inclusion in the Global Entry programme. This follows the activation of the Trusted Traveler agreement, signed by both countries in January 2021. Bahrain job market will eventually be taken over by citizens: Deputy Speaker Bahrain job market will eventually be taken over by citizens: Deputy Speaker TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Report by Ashen Tharaka A rising number of Bahraini businesses are laying off foreign workers in jobs that can be carried out by citizens, it has been revealed. This is consistent with government policy, which obliges organisations, both public and private, to give Bahrainis first priority when filling vacancies. According to Abdul Nabi Salman, the First Deputy Speaker of the Bahrain Parliament, Bahrainization is the government's main objective for the economic growth cycle's sustainability. From 2012 until the pandemic's breakout, Bahrain's unemployment rate hovered between 3.7 and 4 percent before rising to 7.5 percent. Since then, the government has steadily reduced it to 5.4, with the goal of keeping it below 3.5. Aside from construction, there is no scarcity of work for Bahrainis in any other field, said Mr. Salman. "Bahrainis are required to work in every industry throughout the year in order to preserve the country's economic growth and to guarantee that nationalisation is done in order to strengthen the long-term viability of the labour market." According to GOSI figures for 2022, 50,000 individuals work in the government or public sector, whereas 614,000 work in the private sector. The private sector employs 100,000 Bahrainis and 514,000 foreign employees. "Today, we have foreign employees working in various sectors throughout the country while we train Bahraini citizens to take over these jobs." Expats will gradually be replaced by Bahrainis for the same occupations since our objective is to have citizens as the first choice in the employability process." He stated that white-collar employment in the private sector may be completely taken over by Bahrainis in the near future. "This process will take time, but it is underway, and companies are working hard to replace expatriates with citizens." Foreigners shall be hired only when they are absolutely essential owing to unique credentials." Abdul Nabi Salman went on to say that "white collar non-Bahraini employees can be given priority in their countries unless the position and specialisation are required in our country."We must study the credentials and abilities of foreign employees before placing them in the labour market, as well as the additional values they wish to provide to the national economy." With the support of Bahrain's political and legal frameworks, the government has begun educating and training Bahrainis for the job market. "We anticipate making things happen and focusing on hiring Bahrainis rather than foreign workers in the job market." "The Council of Representatives focused on this issue by forming inquiry committees to investigate the actual numbers and statistics of Bahraini citizens employed. We also submitted findings and remedies for unemployment in Bahrain that are still being investigated by the government. Other ideas were also made through the government action plan, investigation committees, and parliamentary dome debates." Bahrain has recently taken many measures to limit the number of foreigners working in the country, who send about BD1.2 billion ($3.2 billion) to their home countries each year, accounting for more than 8 percent of Bahrain's GDP. Approximately 72 percent of non-Bahraini employees in the private sector earn less than BD200 per month, primarily in the carpentry, plumbing, building, contracting, and construction sectors. Meanwhile, 4 percent of foreigners working in the private sector earn more than BD1,000 each month. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain has reclaimed its position in the prestigious global ranking of the top 100 cities by the International Convention and Exhibition Association (ICCA) for hosting international association events. After a five-year hiatus, the Kingdom has secured the 89th spot on the esteemed list, asserting its prowess in organising international events at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in 2022. This is also the highest rating for Bahrain in the past decade. ICCA, comprising over 1,000 companies and members, is renowned worldwide for its influence in the events industry. The ranking evaluates various factors, including the number of international meetings held, the attendance figures, and the average duration of stays for participants in host countries. Since its opening in 2022, the centre has welcomed over a quarter of a million local and international visitors through its diverse array of 23 activities. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Export Bahrain has unveiled its new initiative, the National Exporters Directory, a comprehensive database and connectivity platform for Bahraini exporters. The first of its king reference point for locally made products and services can be accessed electronically through Export Bahrains website. Safa Sharaf AbdulKhaliq, the CEO of Export Bahrain, said the database was meticulously designed to facilitate the identification of exporting businesses in Bahrain. Users can easily search for companies based on categories, industries, products, or services, and gain access to brief company profiles accompanied by product and service visuals. The National Exporters Directory also includes a list of local exporters, providing their contact details, files, and portfolios showcasing their respective offerings. Zainab Matrook, the Senior Marketing Officer and Project Lead at Export Bahrain, stressed the significant benefits that the Exporters Directory will bring to local businesses. By featuring their profiles in front of a global audience of potential buyers seeking products from the Kingdom, it will enhance the operations and opportunities for Bahraini exporters. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attends a session of parliament via a video link in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, January 11, 2022. Photo handout via Reuters Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev canceled his official visit to Vietnam set for June 11-13 due to a major wildfire in his country. Due to the fire in Kazakhstan's Abay province, the Kazakh president postponed his official visit to Vietnam and wishes visit at a more suitable time, Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The fire began on June 8 and engulfed 60,000 hectares of forest in Abay Province in eastern Kazakhstan. It was the worlds biggest wildfire by area this year, Sputnik Kazakhstan reported. So far, the fire has killed three people with 14 missing. President Tokayev will inspect the area affected by the fire and hold an emergency meeting with local authorities to take necessary measures to support residents. Covering more than 2.7 million square kilometers with a population of 19 million, Kazakhstan is an important transshipment center for goods transported by road from Asia to Europe. Vietnam established diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan in 1992. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says he wont relent in his fight to bring about the leadership that Nigerians deserve. In a Democracy Day message, Obi said Nigerians should be inspired to correct the errors of the 2023 elections. According to the LP candidate, Nigerians on June 12, 1993, stated their unreserved preference for true democracy and chose a transparent voting system despite being under military rule. Our votes reflected our true choice as a people. Our choice on that day defied divisions of ethnicity, religion, and region, Obi said. It is these qualities that added up to make June 12 special in our search for true democracy. However, the current state of our politics tells a different story. Our democracy is deeply troubled while our nations destiny remains uncertain and precarious. We remain a nation in search of solutions to too many basic problems. One of these is the search for a credible electoral system that would command the trust, confidence, and belief of all Nigerians just like June 12 did. We should, therefore, use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to the true virtues of a truly democratic nation. We achieved that feat on June 12, 1993. He said Nigeria needs to have an electoral system that commands the trust of the people. This is in recognition of the tenets and core values of democracy, which rest on respect for the wishes of the people as expressed in their ballots, Obi said. Above all, the government must respect and protect the institutions of the democratic state by respecting the social contract with the people by meeting their needs, obeying their wishes, and fulfilling the responsibilities of responsible governance as contained in the constitution. A cardinal responsibility of government in this regard is respect for the rule of law. He said Nigeria is in an era where the foundational pillars of democracy are undermined by prevalent impunity and pervasive violence, and bloodletting. The trust deficit between the leaders and Nigerians continues to expand. The deficits of trust and efficiency in our last elections demonstrate this malady quite boldly. Obi urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the inbuilt design of our democratic system to self-correct. He expressed commitment and conviction that a new Nigeria is possible, noting that Nigerians aspiration for a nation of equity, justice, security, and peace is achievable. We are a nation blessed richly with human and natural resources, he said. What we lack, are selfless leaders who are committed to the national interest, sustainable development, and innovative thinking that offers every Nigerian irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or social strata, the freedom of choice of abode, and protection of lives, property, and ordered liberties. These aspirations are real and achievable, and I hereby reiterate my promise to Nigerians that we will not relent in our fight to bring about leadership that will accord them the priority they deserve. Laolu Akande, media aide to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele is being embattled due to corruption in the dual exchange rate policy of the apex bank. In a tweet on Saturday, Akande opined that the battle against Emefiele was not about the CBN cashless policy as was widely speculated but due to corruption. He said the suspension and subsequent arrest of Emefiele by the Department of State Services, DSS was a relief for Nigerians. He wrote, It was about time the CBN Governor faced suspension & investigation. All people of goodwill & those who value integrity, irrespective of political leanings would be thankful for this development. Emefiele was given a long rope, but he failed to redeem himself. His shenanigans & the colossal damages he perpetrated at the CBN was to the utter detriment of the Nigerian people. This is not even about cashless policy, but apparent corruption especially in the dual exchange rate policy which never made sense. What a sigh of relief! Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has alleged that the embattled former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele is the greatest sponsor of terrorism. The All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain stated this in a tweet, while reacting to the arrest of the suspended CBN governor. Emefiele was arrested on Saturday morning by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS in Lagos and flew to Abuja for interrogations. Reacting to the arrest, FFK expressed hope that the CBNs former boss would name those he worked for, saying Emefiele will not go down alone. He wrote, I commend the DSS for their swift action and professionalism. This is another first for them and a refreshing and encouraging display of heroic, courageous and decisive leadership by our new president. The DSS now have in their custody Nigerias greatest sponsor of terrorism and most ardent promoter of secession, a heartless crook and bloodthirsty and sadistic war criminal and a man who tried to subvert the democratic process on the orders of his co-conspirators and sponsors. I have no doubt that he will spill the beans and name many names once the interrogation begins. He will not go down alone: those he worked and fronted for will go down with him. A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba, has described confirmation by the Department of State Services, DSS, that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele is in its custody as a shock. Agbakoba questioned what role the DSS would play in Emefieles arrest. The DSS had earlier on Saturday confirmed that Emefiele was currently under its custody. Reports of Emefieles arrest had emerged shortly after he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on Friday. Emefiele was suspended sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy, according to a release by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Tinubu also appointed Mr Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi as the acting governor of the CBN. Reacting to the developments, Agbakoba, in a statement on Saturday, also insisted that the suspension of Emefiele as the CBN Governor was not a surprise. The statement read, The suspension of the Governor of the CBN from office is not a surprise as his tenure was way beyond monetary policy. But confirmation by DSS that Governor Emefiele is in its custody comes as a shock. The statutory role of DSS is internal security and I shudder to think what role DSS will play in this matter? The rule of law says it all can the relevant agency responsible for Governor Emefiele step forward, but this excludes the DSS unless this has security implications. A female officer of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) identified as George, has been reportedly found dead in her apartment in Lagos. Ayodele Famuyiwa, NAF director of public relations and information, confirmed the incident on Sunday. However, Famuyiwa said he has no full details to it. Military sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, that George, until her death, was a master warrant officer serving at 651 base services group in Lagos. One of the sources told the publication that the deceased was found unresponsive at her residence at block T5, Flat 8, in Sam Ethnan air force base in Ikeja. George was reported to have hung herself in her room at about 2 pm on Saturday. The sources told Zagazola that the NAF personnel was pronounced dead by three air provosts who came with another team of officers to evacuate the corpse to the 661 NAF hospital. The sources added that an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause of her death by the NAF authorities. The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has described the immediate past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje as his political boy. Kwankwaso was reacting to Gandujes latest threat to slap him. After meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Ganduje had threatened to slap Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso and Ganduje were at the Villa on Friday, and separately briefed President Bola Tinubu on the recent developments in the state. Dismissing Gandujes threat, Kwankwaso said the former governor cant look him in the face. Speaking with BBC Hausa service, Kwankwaso said the former governor was confused when he issued the threat. According to Kwankwaso: I heard Ganduje saying he would slap me, but its an empty threat. He was just confused. These are all my boys politically. They cant even look at me straight on the face if we meet. He was in a confused state when he said that. If they see me, they would lower their gaze. Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Tinubu, says she had considered quitting the senate. Oluremi, who has spent three terms in the senate, was elected to represent Lagos central senatorial district. Speaking during the ninth senates valedictory session on Saturday, the first lady said it takes sacrifice to be able to serve in any public office. God sustained me for three terms. From the seventh assembly, eighth assembly and ninth assembly, I am still confused as to how I have been able to continue this journey, the senator said. I even thought that let me retire and begin to face my family because serving the nation takes a lot of sacrifice and it starts with a sacrifice from your home, your children, even your better half. It takes a lot of sacrifices to want to give time to serve the nation. The first lady said the new administration of her husband is a beacon of hope for all Nigerians. This new administration beacons hope for this nation and for anyone who does have hope you cant even move ahead. This new (administration) beacons that and we have to make the necessary sacrifice which starts with the new 10 assembly, she said. For me as a woman of faith, I believe it is double grace. Number 10 will give us double grace, and God will sustain us, and I can only wish my colleagues well. Jerry Gana, a former minister of information, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not been fair to Nigerians with the conduct of elections. Speaking with NAN in an interview, Gana said INEC has not respected the introduction of technologies in the countrys electoral system. The former minister expressed optimism that the next electoral process would be better than the previous ones. Recently, INEC has not been fair to Nigerians in conducting national elections, he said. Therefore, we have a long way to go in our democracy if we allow this ugly development to continue. It is true that we have introduced a lot of modern technology to improve our electoral system but these technologies are not being respected today by INEC. To me, it is a major disappointment that INEC was not fair enough to give us the leaders of our choice. After going through the current democratic process, it is my hope that the next one will be better. Speaking on the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, Gana said the cancellation of the poll was a tragic mistake. Gana said some powerful forces pushed Ibrahim Babangida, a former head of state, to annul the election. It was a tragic mistake, it should not have happened but since it happened may God help us to get out of it, he added. Therefore, we must stay with democracy in order to better Nigeria because it delivers freedom, human rights and a good number of other things. An aerial view shows Thai Airways and Eva Air aeroplanes on a taxiway after making contact at Haneda Airport, in Tokyo, Japan, June 10, 2023, in this photo released by Kyodo. Photo by Kyodo via Reuters Some flights were delayed at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Saturday after two planes appeared to have collided on the ground near a taxiway, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing Japan's transport ministry. No injuries occurred, NHK and one of the airlines said, but the incident led to the closure of one of four runways at the airport from about 11 a.m. (0200 GMT). The broadcaster showed footage of jets from Taiwan's Eva Airways and Thai Airways on the ground. Part of the wing of the Thai Airways plane looked to be broken, and what appeared to be fragments could be seen near the runway. Thai Airways said its Bangkok-bound flight was on a taxiway preparing for takeoff when a winglet - a part at the tip of its plane's right wing - collided with the rear of an Eva aircraft that was also on a taxiway. The collision damaged the Thai airplane's winglet, meaning it was unable to operate the flight, the airline said. The Airbus A330 aircraft carried 250 passengers and 14 crew members.Eva was not available for comment immediately. Japan's transport ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Thai Airways said Japan's civil aviation authority was investigating the incident. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that there is a plot to arrest lawmakers-elect opposing the preferred candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as leaders of the 10th assembly. The inauguration of the 10th assembly is slated for June 13. The ruling APC had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, and Jibrin Barau, a lawmaker from Kano, as senate president and deputy senate president respectively. For the house of representatives, APC nominated Tajudeen Abbas, a member-elect from Kaduna, and Benjamin Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia, as the preferred candidates for speaker and deputy, respectively. However, some lawmakers-elect, including Orji Kalu, Abdulaziz Yari, and Idris Wase, have opposed the zoning arrangement of the party while insisting on contesting the positions. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said members of the national assembly should be allowed to elect their leaders freely, warning against any form of intimidation. Reports in the public space indicate plots to arrest individuals who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature, Ologunagba said. The PDP notes that the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy and therefore insists that members-elect in both chambers must be allowed to elect their leadership. The national assembly is the symbol of the sovereignty of the people in a democracy. The people exercise such sovereignty through choices made by their representatives on the floor of the national assembly. Fundamental to this sovereignty is the choice of presiding officers which must not be appropriated by any group or individuals. Such will amount to a dethronement of the sovereignty of the people. He advised lawmakers-elect to assert their independence in the election of the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives. He also called on the members-elect to note that Nigerians reposed their trust in them to uphold the independence of the legislative arm of government in electing their leadership. As a party, we charge the lawmakers to remain steadfast in their resolve because we are conscious that the majority of them are resolved to defend the independence of the legislature, he said. We call on them to keep in mind that Nigerians expect them to assert their independence in the election of the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives. Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, has visited Edwin Clark, convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), to seek his support. Akpabio, who is the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senate president position, met with Clark in his home in Abuja on Saturday. The senator assured the Ijaw leader that if he is elected senate president, greater attention would be paid to the Niger Delta region. I am here today, not to only tell you about the zoning arrangement but to formally tell you that I am coming out once again, to make you, the south-south region and the entire country proud and to also receive your blessings and prayers for the task ahead, he said. On his part, Clark urged the 10th assembly to work towards the unity of Nigeria by electing Akpabio. He argued that the division in the country will widen if all the top positions are taken by Muslims. The north cannot do it alone. And we the south cannot do it alone. We should be equal partners. If all the positions are taken by Muslims, then we dont have a country and the division continues, Clark said. The president of Nigeria is a Muslim. The vice-president of Nigeria is a Muslim. The chief justice of Nigeria is a Muslim. The chief of staff to the president is a Muslim. The speaker of the house of representatives they are going to elect is a Muslim. So what kind of country are we going to have? It is time to heal our land and in so doing, what I expect of the 10th senate is to give the position of the senate president to a Christian senator from the south south. Therefore, the president of the senate should be supported to emerge from the south south. A south south senator, who is a Christian. So, I am happy you are here and you have my blessings to become the next senate president. Two speakership aspirants Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi have stepped down for Tajudeen Abbas, the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of speaker of the house of representatives. Betara and Gagdi agreed to withdraw from the race after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday. The ruling party had recently nominated Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for speaker and deputy speaker of the 10th national assembly, respectively. The nomination of Abbas by the APC was rejected by some lawmakers, including Idris Wase, the immediate-past deputy speaker. Wase has insisted that he will contest the speakership position during the inauguration of the 10th national assembly on Tuesday. Speaking after the meeting, Shettima commended the duo for stepping down for Abbas, adding that President Tinubu was quite touched by their gestures. They have accepted to step down and accept the candidature of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas for the speaker of the house of representatives, he said. The president was quite touched by their gestures because what binds us together is superior to whatever that divides us. We are one big APC family and together we shall cross the Rubicon on Tuesday. Rochas Okorocha, a senator representing Imo west, says Senate President Ahmad Lawan should teach him how he returned to the upper legislative chamber after losing the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Lawan and Okorocha contested the primary election of the APC but lost to President Bola Tinubu. His participation in the primary meant that Lawan would not be able to contest the Yobe north senatorial ticket of the APC. Bashir Machina was elected as the candidate for the senatorial zone at the time. However, the supreme court in a verdict, affirmed Lawan as the authentic candidate even though he did not contest the primary. Speaking during the valedictory session of the ninth senate on Saturday, the former governor of Imo said how Lawan returned to the senate needed to be discussed. I did not contest for senate this period. I only contested for the office of the president, Okorocha, who is not returning to the senate, said. You are a very smart politician. How you came back [to the senate] is another chapter in our political history that we need to discuss. I was there in the field with you running for president, I never knew how you were able to meander, leaving some of us. Next time you must teach me how to do that. Responding, Lawan said there was nothing to learn from how he returned to the upper legislative chamber. It was easy. I was there with you in the field and after our defeat, my constituents thought they needed me again, he said. They asked for me to come back and it was a tortious journey because we had to go through the courts. I didnt even appeal the judgement that did not give me the contest. The party and the stakeholders appealed on my behalf up to the supreme court, so there is nothing critical or remarkable. In fact, you have nothing to learn from it. Okorocha said: I want to be your student next time. It is more of the more you look, the less you see. Four people were hurt in a crash on Interstate 80 in Montville on Saturday afternoon, two of them seriously, when a car headed west crossed the median and collided with two other vehicles near the border of Essex and Morris counties, police said. The eastbound side of the major interstate was reduced to a single lane for more than three hours in the direction of the George Washington Bridge Saturday afternoon, causing extensive delays, the New Jersey State Police said on Sunday. The driver of the westbound car, a 26-year-old Elmwood Park woman, and an 18-year-old Paterson woman riding with her, were ejected and suffered serious injuries in the 1:59 p.m. crash, the State Police said. One of them was airlifted by State Police helicopter to Morristown Medical Center, said Chief Anthony Manna of the Fairfield Township Police Department, which assisted in the nearby crash. The State Police said the westbound car, a Toyota Avalon, crossed into the highways center divider, at milepost 48.3, jumped the guardrail and entered the eastbound lanes. The car struck the left rear end of an box truck and was then struck by a minivan, both headed east, police said. The drivers of truck and minivan suffered minor injuries, and were treated at local hospitals, police said. The crash remained under investigation Sunday. Nobody knows Jersey better than N.J.com. Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com UPDATE: 2 people shot blocks away from Portugal Day festival With the skies clearing just in time, Newarks annual Portugal Day Festival is back this weekend, alighting the citys Ironbound section with the red, yellow and green colors of the Portuguese flag and the music, dancing and cuisine of the seafaring nation. The three-day festival that began Friday and will last through Sunday night is a celebration of Portuguese culture that has attracted thousands of visitors to Ferry Street and surrounding byways. But the festival was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 and limited in scope last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, after the Ironbound had been a hot spot for transmission of the virus. So festival fans welcomed an announcement in March from the Portugal Day Committee that it would be back in full swing this year. Mayor Ras J. Baraka is this years grand marshal. Check the festival Facebook page for details or updates. Just as welcome for the outdoor festival were forecasts that smoke from Canadian wildfires would be all but gone by Saturday, after having caused New Jerseys worst air quality in decades. The festival was created in 1979 by the Bernardino Coutinho Foundation, named for its founder, a businessman and civic leader who immigrated to New Jersey from Portugal, a nation of just over 10 million people along the Atlantic Ocean that shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain in Europes southwest corner. Nobody knows Jersey better than N.J.com. Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com Two men were killed and a woman was injured in a shooting in Newark Saturday night in what authorities said was a domestic-related murder-suicide. Newark officers found the victims after responding to a report of a shooting on the 100 block of Shephard Avenue at 11:30 p.m., Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens and Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Frage said in a joint statement on Sunday. One of the men, Isaiah Cobb, 33, of Hillside, was pronounced dead at the scene after having shot multiple times, according to the statement. It said the other man, Terrance Carroll, 51, of Newark, was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and taken to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m. The 31-year-old woman, whose name was not released, was found injured at the scene and was being evaluated at a local hospital Sunday, the announcement said. The investigation was ongoing Sunday. But authorities said it appeared that Carroll, who was married to the woman, confronted her and Cobb outisde the married couples home, where he assaulted her, shot Cobb, then turned the gun on himself. It was at least the second incident in which multiple people were shot in Newark on Saturday night, coming a little over an hour after authorities said a man and a woman were shot and injured on Van Buren Street a few blocks from the annual Portugal Day Festival in the citys Ironbound section. An organizer said the shooting did not effect the festival. Anyone with information was asked to contact the prosecutors confidential tip line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. Nobody knows Jersey better than N.J.com. Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com Need a little extra income? Looking to move an aging relative or out-of-work college grad back home, but just dont have the room? Jersey City feels your pain, and at the same time can ease its housing shortage so the city is proposing to allow homeowners to add accessory dwelling units on their property under new zoning amendments. The city planning board is expected to review and discuss proposed zoning amendments to the citys zoning map and land development as part of the citys master plan at Tuesdays meeting. In the 54-page document detailing potential changes to zoning districts, residential districts (RH1, R1, and R2) or areas with one to three-family homes could add an accessory dwelling unit regardless of lot size and in addition to unit(s) in the principal structure. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU), also known as a granny flat, is a smaller residential living space located on the same lot of often a single-family home, either attached or detached to the primary house. ADUs tend to be a detached garage that has been converted into their own studio or one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and bathroom. City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the new changes are zoning recommendations based on the citys master plan. It allows ADUs over or in garages as an accessory building, not another primary building, Wallace- Scalcione said. This is yet another creative tool the administration is implementing on the local level that is proven to help improve affordability in densely populated residential neighborhoods. The ADUs are allowed under conditional use if they are developments utilizing the Affordable Housing Overlay, which incentivizes developers to build more units in the same footprint as long as they dedicate 10-15% of units as affordable housing. Some parts of Jersey Citys Heights, West Side and Greenville are, fall under the new zoning changes as RH1, RH2 and R1 districts, according to the new zoning map. Permitting ADUs is the citys latest effort to improve affordability and it has been utilized in other communities like Princeton, Maplewood and Montclair. Regional Plan Associates (RPA) Senior Planner Marcel Negret said ADUs are not only affordable housing for tenants, but affordable to build as it shares systems like sewage with the primary home. It also gives the property owner an additional source of income, which could benenfit older homeowners on a fixed income. If you are renting that space to a prospective tenant it is likely the asking rent will be below market even without subsidies or incentives, Negret said. Having the option to retrofit or redesign their house or their property gives (seniors) that extra source of income and allows them to remain in place. RPA is an independent organization aimed at improving the economic health, environmental resiliency, and quality of life of the New York metropolitan area. The nonprofit has been one of the largest supporters of ADUs in the region and in a 2020 report, said policymakers should look at ADUs as innovative, low-impact solutions that work within a neighborhoods scale to expand housing options to seniors, young adults and workers. That is how Princeton Council President Mia Sacks envisioned ADUs in her municipality when the Mercer County township approved an ordinance in 2020. The median cost for a home in Princeton is $917,000 with some homes, often mansions, selling for as much as $12 million. Since putting the measure in place, Sacks said the township has seen approximatety four applicants a month. Applicants have been seniors looking for additional income or families aiming to create additional space for relative. All these options create additional flexibility within our housing stock for families as they are going through the life stages, which is what we wanted, Sacks said. Creating ADUs is not going to create a massive change. Confronting the housing crises is a responsibility for every municipality, town and city, it requires many different approaches and different types of solutions and ADUs are one approach among a variety of tools that elected officials have to create more housing. It falls under the category of gentle density and it is a way of creatively fitting in housing within your already existing built environment. In Jersey City, the average home goes for $650,000, according to Realtor.com, and rents rank among the highest in the nation at $5,500 a month in 2022, according to Rent.com. Thats a 66% increase from $3,300 in 2021. Expensive housing is about as far as the similarities go between Jersey City and Princeton. Jersey City is one of the densest cities in the state, with more than 19,835 residents per square mile, while Princeton comes at less than 2,000 residents per square mile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While Jersey City has 14.79 square miles of land, Princeton has 17.95. But as with any new housing in a dense city, how it will affect infrastructure, congestion, schools and parking are the concerns that must be addresses, or at least considered. Negret said in the case of ADUs, all those concerns are typically overblown or exaggerated. (ADUs are) geared to tenants who are single residents either a college student or a professional so the concern of having a population that would end up in school seats and all that other stuff is truly unfounded, Negret said, noting that the typical ADU is similar to a studio apartment. Unless you have a very large property and you could have enough space to make an ADU of that size that would have two to three bedrooms, at that point rather than an ADU you are more in the realm of turning that into an actual duplex and triplex, it is not exactly an ADU anymore. Restrictions on overall space and parking were loosened in Princeton, Sacks said. In an environment like Jersey City, it may be harder to do, she admitted. Many municipalities have passed ADU ordinances, but their residents have not shown interest for the most part, Sacks said about conversations shes had with officials from other other municipalities. Princeton is the only community that allows the owner to sell the ADU as a separate property if they choose to recoup the cost at some point. Jersey City Councilmen Yousef Saleh, James Solomon and Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey see ADUs as a helpful tool, not only for families, but for tenants having trouble finding housing. The Heights councilman is cautiously optimistic about ADUs as long as it doesnt become overly commercialized. An accessory dwelling unit is a lot cheaper than constructing an entirely new house, Saleh said. It is an innovative way to address a problem in a different way. The problem is we dont have enough units an aging population in the Heights. They are going to downsize. They are going to move in with their families. Prinz-Arey said it is a creative tool for more available housing, since the demand to live in Jersey City doesnt appear to be fad. We are going to need to see and study how it is affecting those areas, the West Side councilwoman said. In the other places and other cities where they have done this, some of the concerns never came to fruition. A train that did for commuters what the iPhone did for cell phones has been sleeping for years in Boonton. The now weather-worn blue, silver and red locomotive and the long aluminum passenger cars it pulled were built only for New Jersey in the 1970s but they influenced commuter train technology used to this day. The biggest artifact is the last massive U-Boat General Electric model U-34CH diesel locomotive that powered the long aluminum-bodied diesel liner passenger cars it pulled. They were nothing like what New Jersey commuters had seen or ridden before in the 1970s. This was the very first time a locomotive and cars were designed for New Jersey, said Kevin Phalon, United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey executive director. A lot of people remember it. The Boonton-based United Railroad Historical Society is restoring the last U-34CH locomotive in existence, with plans to have it in fresh paint and cosmetically restored for the museums September open house and NJ Transits 40th anniversary. The goal in September is it will look like it did in 1971, Phalon said. Then we will do the heavy work. One sentence sums up the museums mission, announced in September 2022: The last of the first of its kind and she will run again. The locomotive and its train predate NJ Transit. The New Jersey Department of Transportation had them designed and built to run on the Erie-Lackawanna railroads diesel-powered lines in the early 1970s. The technology it pioneered was called push-pull, which allowed commuter trains to be operated without having to move the locomotive to the opposite end. The U-34CH and its train were the first mass production rail equipment to use that and head end power where the locomotive powered heating, air conditioning and lights with electricity. What makes it unique is what came before it, Phalon said. Commuters in the late 60s and early 70s rode a fleet of rolling antiques. The U-Boat and its trains replaced aging commuter equipment on the Erie-Lackawanna railroad. Commuters rode in passenger cars built in the 1920s and 1930s, air conditioning was opening a window, the seats were covered with scratchy wicker or rattan, he said. Lights were dim and heat was supplied by a steam boiler on the locomotive that had one temperature setting: on or off. The locomotives that pulled them were hand-me-down engines built in the 1940s and 1950s. The problem was the bankrupt freight railroads didnt have the money to replace commuter trains that lost money. The stuff was really, really old. They had to do better, he said. Because of the need to keep commuters on trains and off the roads, the state of New Jersey financed the new trains. NJDOT negotiated with the Erie-Lackawanna and railcar builder Pullman Standard to create a new kind of commuter train with air conditioning, comfortable seats and good lighting. The state then turned to General Electric to create and build 32 unique locomotives between 1970 and 1973 to haul and power the train. The dieseliner cars were the basis for the familiar single-level Comet commuter cars used by NJ Transit and Metro North The historical society has a five-stage plan to put the U-Boat in operating condition, which could ultimately haul several diesel liner commuter cars the museum owns on special trips. Its one of the biggest projects we took on in 20 years, Phalon said. We waited to do it until we had a bigger volunteer base. We absolutely have the interest, people have signed up to volunteer to work on it. Whats the big deal? Everything thing about the locomotive and its trains is a story of Jerseys tenacity and innovation. People who were younger commuters then and those that are now retired rode behind this locomotive every day, Phalon said. They were big and loud and really distinctive. You definitely knew they were coming by the sound. NJ Transit recognized its historical significance and donated what was Erie-Lackawanna #3372 to the historical society when the U-Boat fleet was retired in 1994. The rest were junked and some were sold to railroads in Mexico and South America. None of those locomotives are thought to exist. The historical society started the restoration process by working with rail mechanical firm FMW Solutions to evaluate the locomotive and its motor. An inspection found no catastrophic problems, outside of normal wear and tear from almost 30 years of pulling trains. There is nothing catastrophic, nothing insurmountable, Phalon said. Recognizing the historical significance of the locomotive, the Tri-State Railway Historical Society will make matching donations of up to $10,000 grant to kick starts the restoration effort, Phalon said. Donations can be made online at the URHS website or by mail to the URHS, 104 Morris Avenue, Boonton, N.J. 07005 This article is part of Unknown New Jersey, an ongoing series that highlights interesting and little-known stories about our past, present, and future all the unusual things that make our great state what it is. Got a story to pitch? Email it to local@njadvancemedia.com. Read More Unknown New Jersey stories like this: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. The GOP primary is going to be weird. Sure, 2016 was weird, but that was pre-Trump. The party is now fully enrobed in Trumpism and as the 2024 field grows it might be worthwhile to look at exactly whos running. While perusing the lineup of Republican hopefuls one thing jumped out at me, Trump has actively tried to kill some of these guys. First, theres Chris Christie who Trump knowingly exposed to COVID, landing Christie a weeklong stay in the hospital. It still took a bit before Christie was willing to break from Trump, but hey, old habits die hard. Then theres Mike Pence of Hang Mike Pence! fame. I still cant figure out why hes running, other than to maintain the facade of responsible Republican. Pence was the presidents most loyal deputy right up until Trump led an angry mob to the capital to stop the vice president from certifying the vote. At least Christie is going to go directly at Trump while Pence has adopted the mealy-mouthed strategy of trying to embrace his former bosss policies while actively running against the man. Thats a tough needle to thread and Mike Pence isnt the guy to do it. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." Neither Christie nor Pence have a realistic chance of knocking off Trump and, along with DeSantis, theyre the top of the heap. Theres an entire other tier of candidates running for who the hell knows what reasons. Tim Scott, Nikki Haley and a guy I forgot existed named Asa Hutchinson are also in the mix. Theres also North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, failed Michigan gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson, the guy who used to be Larry Elder and someone named Ryan Binkley who may or may not be AI-generated. The field always has these candidates sprinkled in there, folks who are in reality running for a potential VP spot or, the more likely outcome, a weekend talk show on Fox News. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev over major wildfires in Kazakhstans Abai Region. We were extremely saddened by the news of heavy casualties and serious consequences as a result of major forest fires in Abai Region. On the occasion of this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I offer my profound condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed, and all the people of Kazakhstan, wish those injured a speedy recovery, and that the consequences of the natural disaster will be eliminated soon, the head of state said in his letter. Newark Superintendent Roger Leon is proposing a more than $2 billion bond to fix all the schools in his district, paid for by local taxpayers. And that is truly mystifying: This is an obligation that New Jerseys Supreme Court has quite clearly laid at the feet of state taxpayers. Does Leon not know that? Why would he ask Newark locals, among the neediest people in the state, to pay this bill? The Court has ruled that these communities cant handle that. Which begs the question: What is he talking about? The most delicious moment in Chris Christies two-hour campaign kick-off in New Hampshire last week came when he sunk his fangs into Jared Kushner, the poster boy of privilege, a man as oblivious and corrupt as Trump himself. Let me tell you something everybody, Christie said. The grift in this family is breathtaking. Its breathtaking. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Kushner walked out of the White House and two months later they get $2 billion from the Saudis? Do you think its because hes some kind of investment genius? Or do you think its because he was sitting next to the president of the United States for four years doing favors for the Saudis? Thats your money. Thats your money he stole. And you know what that makes us? A banana republic. Thats what it makes us. Ok, perhaps the governor went a tad overboard by saying Kushner stole $2 billion of our money. The money came from the Saudis and went straight to Kushners investment firm. But the deal was most surely corrupt. It came six months after Kushner left the White House, where he had personally shepherded $110 billion in arms sales to the Saudis in a 10-year deal, the biggest ever by far. It came over the objections of the Saudi committee overseeing the funds, which had found Kushners firm unsatisfactory in all aspects. The experts were overruled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the monster who ordered the dismemberment of a Washington Post columnist, whose military slaughtered countless Yemeni civilians, and who once said, I love working with Trump. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." Richard Painter, the chief ethics officer in the George W. Bush administration, noted that this deal could have been prosecuted as bribery if Kushner took this money while still in the White House. So, he waited six months. The ethics of the Trump administration were just terrible, and Jared Kushner was a large part of it, Painter says. Its obvious that Kushner got a cut (from the arms deal). Move over, Hunter Biden. You traded on daddys name for scraps, by comparison. Kushners corruption went big-time. For Christie, the joy of skewering Kushner must have been profound, given their history. The happy warrior never seemed happier. Kushner is the guy who got Christie fired as the head of Trumps transition team, according to several sources, including Christie. And hes suspected of blocking Christie from winning a coveted senior cabinet job, like attorney general. Why did Kushner dislike Christie? That brings us to one of the most depraved stories in modern New Jersey politics. And in this story, Christie is the hero, and Kushners father, the real estate mogul Charlie Kushner, is the villain. Heres the short version: In 2003, the Kushner family was in court fighting over money and Charlie Kushners own sister agreed to testify about Charlies illegal campaign donations. (He was later convicted.) Charlies response was to hire a prostitute to fake a flat tire, seduce his sisters husband, and invite him back to her hotel room, where Charlie had installed hidden cameras to record the fun. He sent the recording to his sister during a family gathering, a stunt that led to his conviction for witness tampering. One unforgettable detail: Charlie considered sending the tape to his sisters children as well, so they could see their daddy in that hotel room for themselves. The thugs Kushner hired to pull off this stunt talked him out of it. Thats right: The thugs had more scruples than Jareds dad. Succession, anyone? Jared apparently held a grudge against Christie for prosecuting his dad. Really? How could anyone fault a prosecutor who found this behavior depraved and criminal? It was one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. Attorney, Christie said later. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: No matter how hot your emotions run regarding Chris Christie and his biblical character flaws, you have to be glad hes in this race. Hes saying what must be said, and this precision-guided missile aimed at Kushner is only one of several that he launched during his campaign announcement. Granted, Trump has bigger problems than Christie, as we were reminded last week when he became the first president in history to face a federal indictment, with the likelihood that more are in the works. The man could be in handcuffs by the time voters go to the polls in 2024. But lets not bank on that. Christie surely isnt. He must know he has no chance to win the nomination, that the MAGA crowd wont listen; his mission is to draw blood, to cut into Trumps support among centrist Republicans and independents who may be up for grabs during the general election. His attack on Kushner is a good start. And no matter what you may think of Christie, lets keep listening. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphys administration wants to rewrite New Jerseys corporate tax code with sweeping changes that some experts warn will amount to significant tax advantages for the largest and most powerful corporations doing business in the state. The state Senate Budget Committee is set to vote Monday on a 51-page bill that lawmakers are moving swiftly through the Democratic-controlled New Jersey Legislature even as Murphy, a Democrat, and legislative leaders negotiate a record-breaking $53 billion state budget. Once upon a time, Port Authority police patrolled the Lincoln and Holland tunnels in tiny electric cars the width of a modest computer monitor that ran on catwalks above the roadway. The catwalks that the tiny patrol cars ran have been decommissioned for at least decade and police responding to incidents now must fight through the same traffic an incident is causing to get to the scene. Now, the Port Authority is asking engineers of the future to design a better way to patrol and respond to emergencies than stuffing an adult human something the size of a shopping cart or sending a full-sized police vehicle there. The bi-state agency wants a robot, designed by students at regional high schools in New Jersey or New York that have a focus on science, technology, engineering and math curriculums. There is a $750 cash prize for winners of the six-month challenge and a potential resume item likely to grab the attention of most college or corporate recruiters. The machine will have a tougher assignment than a star on BattleBots. The challenge for young engineers-to-be is creating a device to be the automated eyes, ears and possibly the mouth of police and tunnel officials monitoring traffic, crashes, break downs and delays in the tunnel and communicating with drivers. We are so excited to partner with young innovators within the New York and New Jersey region in the agencys first high school challenge, said Seth Wainer, Port Authority innovation director. It is time we dust off the cobwebs on the catwalks and utilize them with 21st century technology to find out about stoppages, effectively communicate with drivers and address stopped traffic within our tunnels. What does the student designed robot have to do? It must be mobile and flexible, provide two-way communication between a stopped vehicle and Port Authority employees, have cameras and be able to function in the limited tunnel space. There isnt a lot of space to play with-the width of the catwalk the robot will all home is 26.5 inches wide at the bottom between a handrail base and tunnel wall and 30 inches from the wall to the top of the handrail. The robot design and size cant get in the way of traffic. Students who want to participate must be a returning high school student in fall 2023 at a school in New Jersey. Applicants should be part of a group of five to eight students with a supervising teacher. The Port Authority will host three online information sessions during the summer for interested students. Application information for students and teacher is online. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. During the pandemic, people may have spent a lot more time than usual at home not working and hanging out with their families. That may or may not have been fun or entertaining. That isnt what Christopher Durang had in mind a decade ago when he wrote his Tony award-winning comedy about middle-aged siblings spending a weekend together. But it may affect audiences appreciation of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which Crescent City Stage opens this week at Loyola Universitys Marquette Theater. In the play, Vanya and Sonia live in their parents home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Neither of them has a job, and their bills are paid by their sister Masha. Shes a successful actress, and shes coming to visit. Its a chance to catch up, but some things never change. There is this stilted growing up that has happened, says director Elizabeth Newcomer. Its like when you go back to your family home and you revert to childhood habits and patterns. All of the siblings know how to push each others buttons. Even though youre older, you cant help but act like a child. The trios parents were academics who loved theater, and that explains them taking Russian names from the works of Anton Chekhov for their children. It also may explain Mashas leap into performing. Vanya and Sonia, who was adopted, took care of their parents and never left home. Durang also uses themes that are common in Chekhovs work, though this isnt Three Sisters or Uncle Vanya. Its not The Seagull, though there is an ambitious young neighbor named Nina, who also wants to be an actress. Its not The Cherry Orchard, although there are nine cherry trees on the property, and Vanya and Sonia argue over whether thats enough to call it an orchard. Chekhov describes his plays as comedies, but when you first read them, they feel really Debbie Downer, Newcomer says. So sad and so much longing and melancholy. Durang is known for comedy, including some of his short parodies, such as his takes on Tennessee Williams classics in Desire, Desire, Desire and For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls, both recently presented by the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans. But he isnt parodying Chekhov. Its akin to a remix of a song, Newcomer says. You have respect, and you love the beats of the original song, but youre going to bring it up to date and have fun with it. She says shes been thinking more along the lines of Christopher Guest movies than Russian writers. There also is some absurdity in Vanya and Sonia, including a maid named Cassandra who often offers grave predictions and practices Voodoo. Durang also dug into rather accessible themes. In Vanya and Sonia, the siblings wonder if they missed their calling, but with no particular urgency. And Masha is realizing that things are changing, as aging is beginning to affect her acting career. But Masha has not been caught up in melancholy. Shes brought along her current boyfriend, Spike. Hes much younger, not particularly bright and maybe too proud of his body. Chekhov says all of his plays are about some kind of love, Newcomer says. This play is about familial love, unrequited love and all the longing of this midlife crisis of unrealized potential and unfulfilled destinies. Durang plays with it in a heightened comedic way. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike runs June 15-30. For tickets and information, visit crescentcitystage.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Return to Azerbaijan's Aghdam city will begin at the end of next year, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh economic region (except Shusha district) Emin Huseynov said in an interview, Trend reports. "This process is proceeding at a rapid pace in the city of Aghdam. Since there is a large territory here and therefore a large amount of infrastructure construction is underway, it is expected that the settlement will begin at the end of next year," he said. Moreover, Huseynov noted that currently 6 micro districts are being built in the Fuzuli district. "Construction and installation works are being carried out promptly in 38 buildings. It is planned to relocate 800 families to this residential area by the end of the year. This process is planned in two stages. It is expected that 260 families will be settled at the first stage, which will be completed by September," he said. Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native lands. You would think we'd all be accustomed to the idea of different types of bathrooms by now. But noooooo. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The positions of the Azerbaijani army located in the direction of the Khojavend district were fired upon by members of illegal Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, at 11:50 (GMT +4), Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. The units of the Azerbaijani army have taken adequate response measures in this direction. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Priority is given to the return to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan [from Armenian occupation after Second Karabakh War] of families with a difficult social situation, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh economic region (except Shusha district) Emin Huseynov said in an interview, Trend reports. According to him, as part of the process of returning former internally displaced persons to the liberated territories that are part of the Karabakh Economic Region (with the exception of the Shusha region), a working group consisting of representatives of the special representative office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons has been established. "Preparatory measures are being taken for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their homeland. Currently, priority is given to the return to their homes of families with a difficult social situation who live in emergency living quarters and able-bodied people," he said. Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native lands. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Azerbaijan looks forward to further deepening Azerbaijan-Belarus bilateral cooperation, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. "Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus. We present our sincere wishes to the Government and People of Belarus on this occasion and are looking forward to further deepening of Azerbaijan-Belarus bilateral cooperation," the MFAs statement on Twitter said. . This summer, South Shore Arts welcomes you to Animal House, a group exhibition of work by artists who examine various facets of the animal world, curated by Linda Dorman and Tom Torluemke. The exhibition aims to inspire interest and illuminate details of the artists experience with animals as subject matter and raise awareness of the effects of mans impact on the natural world. Animals have appeared in art since the beginning of art history; frequently, they were used to help convey a story and represented as symbols of deeper allegorical meanings. Alongside each species' unique beauty, we have learned much more about our animal friends: they are loving, intelligent, expressive and playful. They are also industrious, lethal, powerful helpers, workers, congregants, couples and parents. Does that sound like anyone you know? This knowledge brings more dimension to animals as subject matter in art. Participating artists include Jason Brammer, Jno Cook, Laura Cutler, Victoria Fuller, Brandon Johnson, Kristina Knowski, Nathan Mason, Billy Pozzo, Jewlya Sturtevant, James Sutton and Tom Torluemke. The exhibit runs June 16 through Aug. 12, with an Opening Reception where you can meet the artists on Thursday, June 22, from 5:30-8 pm. An Art in Focus curators talk will be held on Monday, June 26, at 10am. An Animal Stories slideshow night will be held on Thursday, July 13, at 7pm, and a Call of the Wild gallery walk with the artists will be held on Thursday, Aug.t 3, at 7pm. www.southshoreartsonline.org/current-exhibits CROWN POINT A woman who was shot and killed Thursday behind a Menards has been identified as Ashley Bitikofer, 34, of Portage, the Lake County coroner's office said Saturday. Dejuan Boyd McIntyre was arrested Friday and charged Saturday with murder and attempted murder, Merrillville police Cmdr. Matthew Vasel said. Detectives identified McIntyre through witness statements and evidence collection, and obtained and executed a search warrant for his Gary home. Upon seeing officers and Merrillville's Tactical Apprehension Squad enter his home, McIntyre surrendered to police. He is in custody at the Lake County Jail and his first court appearance is set for June 20, according to court records. Officers were called around 11:15 p.m. to the home-improvement store, 6300 Mississippi St., where they found a man shot near the entrance. Medics arrived a short time later and began treating him, Vasel said. He was transported by helicopter to a Chicago hospital, where he was in critical condition as of Saturday. Officers continued to search the area and located Bitikofer, who was dead from a gunshot wound. McIntyre and Bitikofer were supposedly in a "tumultuous" relationship that had ended a few weeks prior, Vasel said. Bitikofers mother told police that she knew this was going to happen due to the nature of their relationship, charges stated. Charging documents said that McIntyre and Bitikofer had dated for approximately a year before they split. Bitikofers sister told police that McIntyre had been trying to reconcile their relationship, as he showed up at Bitikofers mothers house with gifts on Mothers Day, according to the probable cause affidavit. McIntyre also purportedly got a motel room for himself and Bitikofer a few nights prior to the shooting, charges stated. Police obtained text records from Bitikofers phone and found that she texted her friend on Thursday around 10:33 p.m. Dejaun just came in and then again around 10:39 He was in the room. Put his hands on me, according to the probable cause affidavit. The shootings are under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Alexander Van Rite at 219-769-3531, ext. 349, or avanrite@merrillville.in.gov. Anonymous tips can be sent to investigations@merrillville.in.gov. EAST CHICAGO A major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital is being hailed as a victory for East Chicago. The long-standing hospital in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood landed a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to improve health care access for people who are medically vulnerable or underinsured. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan helped line up the money and helped announce the investment. "Today is a victory for the residents of East Chicago because it's access to health care," he said. "I was born at St. Catherine Hospital. My grandparents were taken here. My mom and dad were cared for here. My sister was a candy striper here and went on to become a nurse practitioner for Northwestern. This was and still is an anchor for the community." East Chicago leaders were concerned about the hospital's future after Franciscan Health decided to close the similarly aged former St. Margaret Hospital in neighboring Hammond, Northwest Indiana's most populous city. "They wanted to make sure the safety-net hospital continued," he said. "What today is about is assuring the city of East Chicago and every resident that St. Catherine is thriving and investing in new technology that gives them access to care equal to anywhere around the world. This is an investment in East Chicago itself, and it allows the residents to understand they have access to quality care here in the city." When Mrvan was North Township trustee, he often heard complaints from residents that they didn't have access to care. "This is a safety-net hospital. That means it takes care of the most vulnerable populations," he said. "This technology is the gold standard for Northwest Indiana. It's the same technology you would have in the city of Chicago, but it's right here in East Chicago. The hospital is working to provide world-class health care. As a congressman, I will listen to your concerns and try to provide access to health care, the best technology and the best for East Chicago." St. Catherine CEO Leo Correa said the hospital continues to provide advanced technology to East Chicago and surrounding communities. "St. Catherine Hospital is committed to ensuring that our community has state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home," Correa said. "It's a well-known fact that in the 1960s, St. Catherine Hospital became the choice facility in the Chicagoland area for the treatment of heart disease, performing the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Indiana. And today, we continue to invest in cardiac care and treating heart disease." The hospital will install an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table, an image-guided therapy system that provides high-quality images with low doses of X-rays. Philips Healthcare is installing the new technology in its cath lab, which is undergoing a multiphase modernization project. It will allow for precision diagnosis and treatment for patients. The new technology can capture uncommon angiography views, provide real-time 3-D impressions for complex vascular interventions and better visualize stent and balloon placement in coronary arteries. "Our patients and clinicians benefit from the fast procedure times, reduced radiation exposure and superior image quality of this new technology," said Mary Miller, director of Cardiovascular Services. St. Catherine Hospital has long placed an emphasis on cardiac care while serving the community for nearly a century, Correa said. "During that time, we built a reputation for providing unparalleled cardiac care," he said. "That did not happen by chance. That's the result of an intentional investment in top health care providers and resources. "We have fortified a culture of excellence in cardiac care by continuing to invest in skilled specialists and technologies to diagnose and treat heart disease. St. Catherine, along with our fellow hospitals in Community Healthcare System, Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, operates one of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana. Our hospitals are certified chest-pain centers that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission or the American College of Cardiology. "Every day, highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologic and cardiac support staff walk through our doors and use their expertise to treat patients who put their trust in us." Indiana is a state of leaders, builders and innovators. We dont wait for the latest technologies to come online we build them ourselves. Creating new solutions and working hard to implement these ideas is in our DNA. As our country today contends with a slowing economy and, with a host of geopolitical challenges on the horizon, now is the time to take stock of the industrial prowess and community investment that sets our area apart and strengthens Americas global position. As the managing member of a world-class data center located in Northwest Indiana and the worlds first quantum-ready fiber network across Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, I can attest to our regions unique advantage when it comes to our industrial legacy and commitment to spurring the next generation of technological advancements here in America. Our campus was built on the site of the former State Line Generating Plant, which opened in 1929 and was the largest power plant in the world at the time of its construction. Instead of letting this site fall into disrepair upon the plants decommissioning in 2012, a group of Indiana business leaders decided that this location would be the perfect spot to create the flagship of American-made technological might, fueling the Midwests new digital economy. This bold plan would become Digital Crossroad, a sustainable and innovative data center serving the IT infrastructure needs of hyperscale cloud providers and large enterprises to rapidly expand digital services to customers throughout the Midwest. Ensuring that our region maintains a safe and robust digital infrastructure is not just a boon for Midwest companies but for our national security as well. For years, the U.S. has been progressively moving toward an increasingly dangerous economic showdown with China. We are in a technological arms race to secure an advantage when it comes to our digital innovation, infrastructure assets, and military capabilities. Northwest Indiana is the beating heart of these efforts, and you dont need to look very far to see examples of the American-made products that make up the backbone of our nations economy. The investment that large companies have made into northwest Indianas Quantum Corridor is a game changer. While Digital Crossroads is bringing tech and data center solutions in Hammond, U.S. Steel continues its leadership in technology and sustainability by churning out the highest-tech steel products in the world from its Gary Works, and Howmet is manufacturing critical components in La Porte for our aerospace, defense, and energy industries. These companies are also investing in our communities so that Northwest Indiana can continue to remain on the cutting edge. For example, earlier this year, U.S. Steel donated $100,000 to the Methodist Hospitals Foundation, the largest single corporate donation the foundation has ever received. It is efforts like this that set the bar for other corporate citizens to strive toward. Giving back to the communities in which we live and operate strengthens the institutions that keep our workforce and neighbors safe, educated, and thriving. Northwest Indianas diverse business community represents the best our country has to offer when it comes to American-made products and ingenuity. I am proud of the commitment that U.S. Steel and other manufacturers in northwest Indiana have to the American Dream and thrilled that our tech companies can play a small part. The innovation that these companies stimulate and the investments they make in our towns and cities make our region an indispensable asset in our nations contest against our geopolitical rivals. Todays column is the second in a series on the new problem-solving court within Lake County Criminal Division 4, serving offenders who have committed felony crimes as a result of severe addiction. Lake Superior Judge Samuel Cappas bristled in his seat from behind the courtroom bench. Look, Im the captain of this ship. This is the crew. Were all here to help steer you through your addiction and recovery, he told a young man standing at the podium in front of him. You are fighting for control of the wheel with me and this crew. If you do, youll be back in prison, Cappas said sternly. The man is a participant of the new Lake County Criminal Division Drug Court, which serves offenders who have committed felony crimes as a result of severe addiction. Despite a dedicated staff representing several offices, not all of the recovering addicts will make it through this program. Some will return to their old habits, promises, excuses and rationalizations. How are you going to break this pattern of yours? Cappas asked the man. The man said nothing with conviction. Cappas got more agitated. Youre saying all the same textbook crap that I hear when I ask this question, he said sharply. What are you doing to break your pattern? Answer me that. Otherwise, youre like a leaf blowing in the wind. Cappas asked his drug court staff for any insights or words of encouragement. No one had anything significant to offer. I dont know what else to say to you, Cappas told the man. Cappas did his best to end the exchange on a high note. He even referenced step three turn your life over to a higher power of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. The higher power could be this drug court program," he suggested. Miracles here typically first come with a trip through hell for most participants. Many of them spent several years searching for salvation at the bottom of a bottle or escaping demons through their next hit. Here, theyre seeking redemption by becoming reborn recoverers. They want to become a new creation, like it says in the Bible, Corinthians 5:17, said Mike Van Beek, a volunteer staff member who helped organize this new drug court. The passage, from Paul's second letter to the believers in Corinth, is one of the Bible's better-known ones: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Van Beek, who lives in Cedar Lake, meets with the participants in a separate room within Cappas courtroom before they give status updates to the judge. Van Beek checks in with each participant. He hears their progress or setbacks. He gives hugs. He gives hope. In Cook County, we didnt have this kind of court, he told me as the participants waited their turn. We didnt have all these professionals advocating for offenders and for their future. Its special here. They care. We care. Drug court team members include representatives from community corrections, adult probation, the public defenders office, the prosecutors office, a peer recovery specialist, treatment providers and community members. Their larger goal is to enhance public safety by transforming felonious addicts into constructive members of our community. This courts success can directly affect the Regions public safety, one recovering user at a time. These clients can accomplish so much for themselves on the other side of this, Van Beek said. Every two weeks, Cappas and his staff meet with participants in the judges second-floor courtroom in the Lake County government complex in Crown Point. Its a softer tone than Ive witnessed in most other courtrooms. Its also a confessional at times. I dont want to die. My family needs me, a female participant told the judge. I heard this refrain from many of them. Im the glue to my family, one man told me in the hallway. I need to get my life back on track. Dont rush to judgment about these people. Not all of them fit our convenient stereotypes about addicts. This man is a graduate of the esteemed Kelly School of Business at Indiana University. He is trying to pick up the pieces from his fractured life and paste them together with a new business plan. I didnt plan for this life, he told me. Everything was going in the right direction and then And then addiction carjacked his plans, tossed him in the trunk and sped away. Drug court candidates must undergo clinical evaluations and be found to have a diagnosis for substance use or alcohol use disorder. Priority in program placement is given to individuals who are at moderate and high risk of re-offending, according to the Indiana Risk Assessment Screen. There are four phases of drug court, and the first is the most restrictive. The length of each phase depends on individual progress, with the maximum length in the program 18 months depending on charges, sentencing and other factors. (Read the first column in this series at NWI.com with a search for my name.) I still get nervous when Im standing here, a female participant told the judge. She showed noticeable progress the previous two weeks, so she was allowed to spin a colorful wheel for various incentive prizes. Click, click, click, she won a home pass. And a round of applause from the staff. Such praise goes a long way for someone who may not have been sincerely praised for years. Research shows the more praise the better, though that's a tough sell in the corrections departments, said Kellie Bittorf, executive director of Lake County Community Corrections. If there are concerns about a participants lack of progress or a disappointing setback, a violation will be discussed. Such as increased supervision or treatment adjustments. The man who attempted to take control of the drug court ship, according to the judge, was ordered to undergo Moral Reconation Therapy, or MRT, a systematic cognitive-behavioral counseling program for clients who misuse substances. You have everything it takes to succeed here, but you have to start making it work, Cappas said. The man walked back to his seat and hung his head. In 2022, Stacy Batten said, her whole year was on fire. Her husband died of cancer, and her father died after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer. And she moved across the country from Seattle to Fairfield County, Conn., after selling the home that she had lived in for 26 years. In her devastation, she noticed that she felt better when she looked for the good parts of each day. So she took a large Mason jar and turned it into a gratitude jar, which she now keeps on her night stand. Every night, she writes down a few things that she is grateful for on a scrap of paper and drops it inside. They are often as simple as I met a new neighbor or I took a walk with the dog and my mom. The grief is still there, Batten, 56, said. But writing those daily notes has helped. Two decades ago, a landmark study led by the psychologist Robert A. Emmons sought to understand how people benefit from gratitude, a question that scientists had rarely explored until then. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko thanked Azerbaijan for sending another humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Trend reports. "High gratitude and appreciation to Azerbaijan sending another humanitarian assistance to Ukraine! It helps counter the consequences of horrible crime, destruction of Kakhovka dam," the ambassador wrote on his Twitter page. On June 9, Azerbaijan sent another batch of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Humanitarian aid was organized on behalf of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, taking into account the appeal of the Ukrainian side. The humanitarian cargo consisted of water pipes, water pumps, and life jackets. Moreover, 20 tons of fuel intended for equipment and vessels involved in rescue operations were sent to Ukraine. Joran van der Sloot, who has been linked to the 2005 disappearance of an American teenager, Natalee Holloway, pleaded not guilty to extortion and fraud charges in court in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday after he was temporarily extradited from Peru to the United States. At his appearance at the Hugo L. Black United States Court House, Mr. van der Sloot spoke only to decline the services of a Dutch translator and to acknowledge that he understood the charges against him. He pleaded not guilty through his lawyer, Kevin Butler, a federal public defender. Before arriving in Alabama on Thursday afternoon, Mr. van der Sloot, 35, had been serving a prison sentence in Peru, where he pleaded guilty to the 2010 murder of a 21-year-old Peruvian student, Stephany Flores. Last month, the Peruvian authorities announced that they would temporarily allow his extradition to ensure that he finally faces justice in the United States. Ted Kaczynski, the confessed killer who attacked academics, business officials and others over nearly 20 years and became known as the Unabomber, died by suicide on Saturday at a federal prison in Butner, N.C., according to three people familiar with the situation. He was 81. Here are the key facts about his life, the attacks and the long manhunt that led to his capture. Who was Ted Kaczynski? Theodore J. Kaczynski was a domestic terrorist who from 1978 to 1995 planted homemade bombs at or sent them to universities and other locations including peoples homes, killing three people and injuring 23 others. Federal authorities arrested Mr. Kaczynski in 1996. Two years later, he pleaded guilty to the bombings and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release. He said his violent campaign was intended to bring about the collapse of the modern social order. Image This composite sketch, based on a 1987 spotting of the Unabomber, was the only lead nine years into the bombing spree. Credit... via F.B.I. The rampage spurred one of the longest and most expensive manhunts in United States history, and years before the Sept. 11 attacks, it made many Americans fear opening mail and boarding planes. They sparkled in solo moments. They saluted with style. And Guo, with elegance and the ability to carve positions in space expansively in Limons solo, was a sign of the future if these young dancers choose to pursue it. There were new dances, too, including premieres by Figgins and works by faculty members: a collaboration by Robert La Fosse and Brian Reeder, each former members of both American Ballet Theater and New York City Ballet, and Men Ca. In his earthy Embers Of, Ca echoed Alvin Aileys Revelations a billowing piece of fabric at the back of the stage was the most obvious touch and paired modern dance with John Coltranes Blue World. There were rigid, righteous arms, which the dancers held up, bent at the elbows before hinging their torsos over. The dancers were serious, but what were the embers they were pining over? It was never quite clear. There was more jazz with La Fosse and Reeders Ad Lib City, a zingy ballet the best new work of the night set to Duke Ellington. Here, the choreographers peppered the stage with steps from the dancers training, a potpourri of small jumps and turns, while giving them occasions to be playful. In moments, they stood still, staring out, with crossed arms. They struck out an arm with a snap. Wearing black tights and Mondrian-inspired tops designed by Vernon Ross, the dance had a vintage flair with choreography, jaunty and musical, that sent the dancers darting across the stage in reconfigured groupings mini kaleidoscopes of motion and color. As they flew into the wings and back out again, you had the sense that the cast had multiplied. LONDON Its been 17 years since the Royal Ballet named Wayne McGregor its resident choreographer in 2006. McGregor came from a contemporary dance background and had little experience working with ballet companies, but Monica Mason, then the Royals director, recognized McGregors ranging curiosity about the physical capacities of the body. He probably could have applied that curiosity to almost any dance form, but the technique and principles of classical dance turnout, pointe work, flexibility, beauty of line, capacity for both speed and control particularly suit his hyperkinetic, fluid, fractured movement style, which mutated into something new and strange on the ballet body. Untitled, 2023, McGregors latest work for the Royal Ballet, opened at the Royal Opera House here on Friday night, on a program with Christopher Wheeldons Corybantic Games (2018) and Kenneth MacMillans Anastasia (1967). Like almost all of McGregors ballets, it shows his fascination with technique as a system or technology: What are its principles? How does it work? Where can it be subverted? The piece is set to a score by the Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, with stage design by the Cuban American artist Carmen Herrera, completed before she died last year at 106. The backdrop shows a spare green diamond, elongated across a white backdrop (similar to Herreras 1959 Blanco y Verde), with a chunky sculpture, a white triangle, positioned to the left of the stage. The costumes geometrically patterned green and white body tights, by Burberry echo the stage design, and the painterly lighting, by Lucy Carter, washes the stage in subtly changing yellows and pinks, clarity and haze. In June 1995, hefty packages arrived in the mail rooms of The Washington Post and The New York Times with identical contents: single-space typed copies of a document called Industrial Society and Its Future, with a note from an anonymous sender who said he would kill again unless the newspapers published the manifesto in its entirety within 90 days. The danger seemed credible. The author claimed to have been responsible for three deaths and dozens of injuries in a mail bombing campaign that had already lasted 17 years, and was increasing in frequency. But if they gave in to the threat, how did the newspapers know the bomber would keep his word or whether other terrorists would make such demands in the future? In September of that year, at the urging of the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the newspapers decided to publish. Because of its weekday printing capabilities, The Post ran the manifesto as an eight-page insert to distinguish it from the regular news and opinion sections; The Times covered half The Posts costs. The manifesto provided critical clues to his identity, and six months and two weeks later, the Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski, who died in a federal prison cell on Saturday was captured. But to many in the profession, acceding to Mr. Kaczynskis demands set a terrible precedent, undermining journalistic independence and doing the bidding of law enforcement. They dont know who this guy is, they cant sue him for breach of contract if he bombs again, said Jane Kirtley, then the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, in a round-table discussion soon after the manifestos publication. They really made a pact with the devil when they have no control ultimately over what he will do or not do. The day began with a dip into the cool Atlantic waters along the New Jersey shore near Avon-by-the-Sea. Mark Batista, a father of three and a veteran member of the New York Fire Department, brought his family to the beach on Friday morning, when the salty ocean air fell just shy of 70 degrees. Soon after, his daughter made a beeline toward the waves, splashing as she waded deeper into the dark blue. Suddenly, a deadly rip current emerged. The narrow, fast-moving stream swept her farther and farther away from the shore. Mr. Batista rushed in to rescue her, friends and authorities said. But the ocean, in all its cruelty, pulled him under. For years, the default conservative position has been to limit government and then get out of the way, DeSantis writes. Such reticence about using the power of government to fight back against the arrayed forces of the left including Facebook, Disney, the government, the schools, the media and much else means essentially greenlighting these institutions to continue their unimpeded march through society. My colleague Carlos Lozada traced many of the critiques of Trump that are threaded through DeSantiss book, but to his list Id add one more: DeSantis is saying that Trump, for all his complaints about the deep state, shied away from fully using the power of his office to destroy the threatening forces of the left. And DeSantis is trying to show, in vignette after vignette, that he has both the will and the discipline to do what Trump did not. (That Trump is now under federal indictment for, among other things, keeping boxes with classified documents piled in an ornate bathroom and scattered across a storage room floor at Mar-a-Lago, helps DeSantiss case.) Trump often appears in DeSantiss book as a faintly comic figure. When DeSantis requests federal aid after Hurricane Michael devastated the Panhandle, Trump says, according to DeSantiss recounting, They love me in the Panhandle. I must have won 90 percent of the vote out there. Huge crowds. What do they need? It is left to Trumps chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, to beg DeSantis to delay announcing the aid because Trump doesnt even know what he agreed to. The Trump that emerges in DeSantiss anecdotes is overmatched by the details and minutiae of government. That is clearest in DeSantiss extensive account of his Covid governance, in which he marinates in the details of his response and his decisions while battering away at Dr. Fauci as the personification of biomedical Leviathan. As Lozada observes, this is DeSantis criticizing Trump by proxy Dr. Fauci served under Trump, and DeSantis is making clear he would have never let that stand. The critique of Trump is not so much that he agreed with Dr. Fauci as that he didnt care enough to figure out where he disagreed with him and how to bend the state to his will. And so DeSantis delights in describing the methodical, relentless effort he put in to bending the state of Florida to his will. He describes winning Floridas governorship and ordering his transition team to amass an exhaustive list of all the constitutional, statutory, and customary powers of the governor. Much of the rest of the book is an exhaustive, and at times exhausting, account of how he used them. In April, secret documents allegedly photographed by a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard began making their way into the mainstream media. Many were briefings prepared by military intelligence services, and much of it dealt with the Russia-Ukraine war. They offered Americans a rare window into the governments most valuable intelligence on one of Europes deadliest conflicts since World War II. Weve been here before. In 2010, WikiLeaks began churning out hundreds of thousands of secret documents about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that had been leaked by an Army private, prompting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to declare that such disclosures tear at the fabric of the proper function of responsible government. Three years later, Edward Snowden, a National Security Agency contractor, leaked another batch of highly classified documents. President Barack Obama warned then that if anybody who disagreed with the government could choose to reveal its secrets, we will not be able to keep our people safe, or conduct foreign policy. This time the reaction has been quite different. The Pentagon did say that the latest disclosures widely known as the Discord leaks present a very serious risk to national security. But there has been curiously little public interest in the spilled secrets. News coverage has focused mostly on the banality of the person charged in connection with the leak and his motives: Jack Teixeira, a low-ranking 21-year-old in the Massachusetts Air National Guard with a penchant for far-right racist gibberish and guns, who allegedly printed out secret documents from his work to impress his online chat group on the social platform Discord. Reaction to the indictment of Donald Trump has followed a similar pattern, though the case revolves around a former presidents handling of classified files, not leaked secrets. So far, attention has mostly focused on the political repercussions of the indictment, even though the charges, including that he violated the Espionage Act, suggest that the government regards the documents as secrets whose disclosure could harm the United States or aid a foreign adversary. Also unclear is why Mr. Trump went to all this trouble to keep so many classified documents he knew he was not permitted to have. Did he intend to sell them? Use them for some other personal advantage? Did he just want to keep them to impress his friends and associates by flashing the governments most closely guarded secrets? A tape of Mr. Trump bragging about his secret documents calls to mind Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman who apparently posted hundreds of top secret Pentagon documents on social media to impress his fellow gamers and who almost certainly will spend much of the rest of his life in prison as a result. Mr. Trump and his defenders argue that the indictment against him is politically motivated. They argue that he is being prosecuted for retaining classified government documents even though President Biden and Vice President Mike Pence also were found to have some classified documents in their possession after they left office. In Mr. Bidens case, his personal attorneys came across classified documents from his time as vice president in a locked closet in his office at the Penn Biden Center. After additional searches, more documents were found in his Wilmington, Del., home. Mr. Pences personal lawyers found classified documents in his Indiana home; a search by the F.B.I. turned up additional documents with classification markings. The key difference between the legal situations of Mr. Biden and Mr. Pence and that of Mr. Trump is not politics. Rather, the difference lies in what they did once they discovered the classified materials: Mr. Biden and Mr. Pence immediately notified the federal government, turned over the documents, and fully consented to thorough F.B.I. searches of their personal offices and residences. They did not willfully retain documents that they knew they had no legal right to keep, and they certainly did not undertake elaborate schemes to mislead their own lawyers or the government in order to conceal and hold the documents. The special counsel working on Mr. Bidens case has not yet announced whether he will pursue charges, but the Justice Department has closed the case against Mr. Pence, announcing just days before the Trump indictment was filed that no criminal charges will be sought. What about Hillary Clinton? Mrs. Clinton was the subject of chants at Trump rallies during the 2016 presidential campaign after it came to light that she had sent and received classified information on a private email server while serving as secretary of state. Unlike Mr. Trump, Mrs. Clinton had the right to see the documents in question; she was in office at the time and was cleared to see the most sensitive classified materials. The concern instead was that she had made classified information vulnerable by sharing it over an unclassified server and then deleted thousands of emails in what some saw as an attempted cover-up. An F.B.I. investigation found that out of 30,000 emails sent to the State Department, 110 emails in 52 email chains contained classified information. Eight of the chains contained information at the top secret level. But only a very small number of the emails contained classification markings that would have signaled the presence of classified information. Announcing that no charges would be brought, James Comey, the F.B.I. director at the time, stated that Mrs. Clinton and her colleagues were extremely careless in handling classified information but that the F.B.I. had not found clear evidence that she intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information. Not only is Mr. Trump on tape discussing a classified document he knew he had no legal right to possess, but he also repeatedly attempted to play a shell game with classified documents to keep them out of the governments hands. In 2019, New York decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Two years later, the state legalized recreational marijuana. The laws had the effect of automatically erasing certain low-level convictions related to the drug. At the time, officials noted that the new laws were intended to rectify the states racially disparate enforcement of marijuana crimes. Yet, for many immigrants who received deportation orders because of their marijuana convictions, the benefits of these new laws have yet to materialize. I am an immigration attorney, and representing clients with deportation orders makes up much of my work. Among my clients is Kwame Siriboe, a Ghanaian immigrant who received asylum in 1992. Mr. Siriboe was ordered to be deported in 2013 because of three convictions for low-level marijuana sales from 1999 to 2001. However, the government was not able to immediately get a travel document from his home country, an issue that affects a small percentage of deportations each year. For nearly a decade, Mr. Siriboe was forced to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at least twice a year while he waited for the government to deport him. In that time, he took trade school classes in property maintenance. Upon graduating, he landed a job maintaining a domestic violence shelter and was classified as an essential worker during the pandemic. He also watched with hope as the New York Legislature debated, and then passed, its 2019 law decriminalizing marijuana. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has expressed condolences to Kazakhstan in connection with the victims of the forest fire, Trend reports. "Deeply saddened by news of devastating wildfire in Abay region of brotherly Kazakhstan. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of those lost their lives and wish speedy recovery to all injured. We express our solidarity with People and Government of brotherly Kazakhstan," the MFAs post on Twitter said. Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher When the former secretary of state and C.I.A. director Mike Pompeo, a man who had dealt firsthand with autocrats like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, described Randi Weingarten as the most dangerous person in the world last November, it seemed as though he couldnt possibly be serious. Weingarten is 65 and just over five feet tall. She is Jewish and openly gay shes married to a rabbi and lives in Upper Manhattan. She is the longtime president of the American Federation of Teachers, which is not even the countrys biggest union of public school educators. The A.F.T. did give in excess of $26 million to Democratic candidates and causes in the 2022 election cycle, but the Carpenters and Joiners union gave more than twice as much. The public education system may not be very popular right now, but both Democrats and Republicans tend to like their local schools and their childrens teachers. The unions that represent those teachers, however, are more polarizing. One reason for this is that they are actively involved in partisan politics and, more specifically, are closely aligned with the Democrats, a reality powerfully driven home during the pandemic. In some ways, Randi Weingarten and the A.F.T. the union boss and big labor are a logical, even inevitable target for the G.O.P. Owen Gingerich, a noted astronomer who was particularly interested in the history of his field so much so that he spent years trying to track down every first- and second-edition copy of Nicolaus Copernicuss revolutionary treatise and who was not shy about giving God credit for a role in creating the cosmos he loved to study, died on May 28 in Belmont, Mass. He was 93. His son Jonathan confirmed the death. Professor Gingerich, who lived in Cambridge, Mass., and taught at Harvard for many years, was a lively lecturer and writer. During his decades of teaching astronomy and the history of science, he would sometimes dress as a 16th-century Latin-speaking scholar for his classroom presentations, or convey a point of physics with a memorable demonstration; for instance, The Boston Globe related in 2004, he routinely shot himself out of the room on the power of a fire extinguisher to prove one of Newtons laws. He was nothing if not enthusiastic about the sciences, especially astronomy. One year at Harvard, when his signature course, The Astronomical Perspective, wasnt filling up as fast as he would have liked, he hired a plane to fly a banner over the campus that read: Sci A-17. M, W, F. Try it! Professor Gingerichs doggedness was on full display in his long pursuit of copies of Copernicuss De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium Libri Sex (Six Books on the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), first published in 1543, the year Copernicus died. Follow for live updates as Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Miami. The two indictments filed so far against former President Donald J. Trump one brought by the Manhattan district attorney, the other by a Justice Department special counsel charge him with very different crimes but have something in common: Both were based, at least in part, on the words of his own lawyers. In the 49-page federal indictment accusing him of retaining classified documents after leaving the White House and scheming to block government efforts to retrieve them, some of the most potentially damning evidence came from notes made by one of those lawyers, M. Evan Corcoran. Mr. Corcorans notes, first recorded into an iPhone and then transcribed on paper, essentially gave prosecutors a road map to building their case. Mr. Trump, according to the indictment, pressured Mr. Corcoran to thwart investigators from reclaiming reams of classified material and even suggested to him that it might be better to lie to investigators and withhold the documents altogether. Earlier this year, over Mr. Trumps objections, the special counsel overseeing the investigation, Jack Smith, obtained the notes through an invocation of the crime-fraud exception. That exception is a provision of the law that allows prosecutors to work around the normal protections of attorney-client privilege if they have reason to believe and can demonstrate to a judge that a client used legal advice to further a crime. The federal indictment of former President Donald J. Trump has left the Republican Party and his rivals for the partys nomination with a stark choice between deferring to a system of law and order that has been central to the partys identity for half a century or a more radical path of resistance, to the Democratic Party in power and to the nations highest institutions that Mr. Trump now derides. How the men and women who seek to lead the party into the 2024 election respond to the indictments of the former president in the coming months will have enormous implications for the future of the G.O.P. So far, the declared candidates for the presidency who are not Mr. Trump have divided into three camps regarding his federal indictment last Thursday: those who have strongly backed him and his insistence that the indictment is a politically driven means to deny him a second White House term, such as Vivek Ramaswamy; those who have urged Americans to take the charges seriously, such as Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson; and those who have straddled both camps, condemning the indictment but nudging voters to move past Mr. Trumps leadership, such as Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. The trick, for all of Mr. Trumps competitors, will be finding the balance between harnessing the anger of the partys core voters who remain devoted to him while winning their support as an alternative nominee. It took a moment to spot the fragment, initially: fist-size and unnaturally smooth, nestled between shrubs teeming with burrs in an endless expanse of arid plains. But after the first, the others were easier to pick out, gleaming dirty white against the red earth and run through with a honeycomb texture. Dinosaur bones. Theyre bloody everywhere, marveled Matt Herne, curator of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. About an hours drive from the town of Winton, he was inspecting the fossils for the couple who had found them, farmers whose property stretched as far as the eye could see in all directions. (The couple requested anonymity, not wanting the attention that would come if it were known that bones were on their property.) Its spongy bone. Just like a sheared steak bone, Mr. Herne said. These fragments are telling us that theyve probably come up from something underneath, and its probably quite a large animal. For as long as paleontologists have been looking, dinosaur fossils were extraordinarily rare in Australia, and the continent was a missing piece in scientists understanding of dinosaurs globally. But it is now experiencing a dinosaur boom, with a flurry of discoveries made over the past two decades that is rewriting the countrys fossil record. After a week of mostly silence about its newly launched campaign to drive Russian occupying forces from Ukrainian territory, Ukraines military on Sunday claimed its first small gains as fighting raged in at least three sectors of the front. The military operation is expected to be vast, but for the moment it appears to consist mostly of probing attacks and feints. At least three of them are said to have paid off. Ukraines 68th Brigade posted video on Facebook of its soldiers raising the nations blue-and-yellow flag over the village of Blahodatne, in the eastern region of Donetsk. A deputy defense minister said Ukraines forces had also taken the nearby village of Makarivka, and the Ukrainian Volunteer Army said it had reclaimed a neighboring settlement, Neskuchne. We are driving the enemy from our homeland, an unidentified soldier says in the video. Its the most pleasant feeling. Ukraine will be victorious. The leader of Russias Wagner private military company said Sunday that his group would not comply with an order that would require it to sign a formal contract with Russias defense ministry by July 1. The blunt refusal to comply with the order marks the latest flashpoint in a long-running feud between the mercenary boss, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, and Russias defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, that has highlighted disunity in Moscows ranks and infighting over the management of Russian troops in Ukraine. For months, Mr. Prigozhin has been publicly lambasting Mr. Shoigu and Russias military leadership, characterizing them as incompetent fat-cat bureaucrats who are ruining operations in Ukraine. On Saturday, deputy defense minister Nikolai Pankov, announced that the more than 40 volunteer formations fighting in Ukraine outside the traditional Russian military would be required to sign contracts with the ministry by July 1 to assume formal legal status. A man caught with 20 of cannabis was given a three month sentence at Portlaoise District Court. Vincent Wade, 47, with an address at 40 Beechlawn, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise admitted having the cannabis on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise on October 22, 2021. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant has a number of previous convictions including eight under the misuse of drugs act. He revealed one conviction had occurred the day before the latest offence. The day after he was convicted in Portlaoise District Court he was found with drugs on his person, Judge John OLeary noted. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client has a certain reliance on cannabis and needs to take the orders of the court more seriously. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was on a CE Scheme earning 247 per week. She said he is pleading at the earliest opportunity. Judge OLeary said the mans continued use is funding drugs gangs. He sentenced the man to three months in prison. I hope this is a wake up call, said Judge OLeary, who fixed recognisance in case of appeal. The defendant appealed the sentence later in the day. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Iran is interested in cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Iran's nuclear activities are in compliance with the agency's regulations, Vice President of Iran and Chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami said, Trend reports. According to Eslami, ensuring national interests is important for Iran. It is hoped that this interest will be ensured through bilateral and logical understanding with the agency. The accusations made by other countries are completely baseless. The vice president added that there are two issues that the International Atomic Energy Agency has identified for cooperation with Iran. The first is the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the second is the safeguards rules. So that all activities of Iran are under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The chief also noted that Iran is in full coordination with the agency on these two issues, and no non-compliance has been identified under the controls in place. Another issue is the special control that the UN Security Council has entrusted to IAEA with the resolution No. 2231 to limit Iran's nuclear activities. The IAEA has said in recent reports that Iran does not have control over its nuclear program, which is part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). If the obligations of the JCPOA are not implemented by any of the countries that signed it, it is natural that Iran will not follow it either, he said. In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. To preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal started in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed. On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories that have not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal. Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA on Sept.5. On Nov. 5, 2019, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. On Jan.2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA. On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany), and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur Tamil Nadu in No.1 position, overtaking Karnataka CM Stalins well deserved success of 233% growth in last 2 Army Jawan Alleges Wife Assaulted, Stripped In Tamil Nadu; Police Say Claims Exaggerated Chennai oi-Deepika S In a distressing incident, an Army jawan serving in Kashmir alleged that his wife was attacked and molested by a mob in Tamil Nadu. The incident came to light after Havildar Prabhakara, a serving jawan in the Indian Army, in a video appealed to Tamil Nadu DGP to take action against those who attacked his wife. "I am Havaldar Prabhakaran, working in Jammu and Kashmir. I hail from Tiruvannamalai district, Polur Taluka, Padavedu village. I would like to bring to your notice that more than 120 people joining together have badly beaten up my wife," he said in a video "The incident took place in Padavedu village in a place that belongs to the HR&CE departnment. They have destroyed the place and beaten up my wife also. She is bleeding from her nose and ears. Now she is admitted to the hospital. They have beaten up everyone," he added. The video of Havildar Prabhakaran was shared on Twitter by a retired Army officer Lt Col N Thiagarajan. "When a soldier leaves to protect the nation, it is the highest responsibility of the government to care for the spouse and family of the soldier," he tweeted along with the video. However, responding to the viral video, Tamil Nadu Police dismissed the allegation saying the claims made in the video were exaggerated and the jawan's wife was not attacked at all. "This was a dispute over a leased shop on a piece of land owned by Renugambal temple. The woman and her mother were at the spot when the incident happened. But the woman was not attacked at all," said SP Karthikeyan. Taking to Twitter, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai asked his party men to reach out to the jawan's family. "Had a telephonic conversation with the Havildar, who is bravely serving our country in Kashmir and his wife, based out of Tiruvannamalai. Truly gutted to hear her story and I felt ashamed that this had happened to her on our Tamil soil!," Annamalai tweeted. "Our party people are rushing to attend to her now, who is admitted in a hospital in Vellore. We will stand with her and our Havildar's family in getting justice for her," he added. Ahmedabad-Bound IndiGo Flight Strays Into Pakistan Amid Inclement Weather India oi-Prakash KL By Pti An IndiGo Airlines flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad strayed into Pakistan near Lahore due to bad weather and went up to Gujranwala before heading back to Indian airspace without any mishap, according to a media report on Sunday. According to flight radar, the Indian plane with a ground speed of 454 knots entered north of Lahore at about 7:30 pm on Saturday and returned to India at 8:01 pm, the Dawn newspaper reported. There was no immediate comment from the airline. A senior official of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that it was not unusual as it was "internationally allowed" in bad weather conditions, the report added. In May, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan. The flight, PK248, was returning from Muscat on May 4 and was attempting to land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. However, heavy rainfall made it difficult for the pilot to land the Boeing 777 aircraft. Meanwhile, several flights were diverted and delayed in Pakistan due to poor visibility at airports. The CAA spokesman said that it had extended the weather warning for Lahore till 11:30 pm on Saturday as the visibility at the Allama Iqbal International Airport was 5,000 metres. A number of flights heading to Lahore were diverted to Islamabad due to poor visibility. Rain accompanied by strong winds and thunder lashed parts of Pakistan on Saturday evening. The worst hit areas were the three adjoining districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province where about 29 people were killed, according to a report by The Express Tribune newspaper. Army Jawan Alleges Wife Stripped Half-Naked' In Tamil Nadu; Annamalai Slams India oi-Prakash KL After an Indian Army jawan posted a video on social media claiming that his wife was "stripped half-naked and brutally beaten" by a group of people in Tamil Nadu, TN BJP Chief K Annamalai said that he was ashamed that it happened in Tamil Nadu's soil. "Had a telephonic conversation with the Havildar, who is bravely serving our country in Kashmir and his wife, based out of Tiruvannamalai. Truly gutted to hear her story & I felt ashamed that this had happened to her on our Tamil soil!," Annamalai said on Twitter. The Controversy The solider alleged that his wife was "stripped half-naked and brutally beaten" by a group of people in the Thiruvannamalai district of his state while he was on duty in Kashmir. The solider identified Havaldar Prabhakaran posted a video on Twitter where he made the allegations against the action by the Tamil Nadu police. "My wife is stripped half-naked and beaten very badly." In what world is this just? This is the pathetic condition of an army soldier on duty in Kashmir kneeling down to save his wife in Tamilnadu," he said in a video shared on Twitter. The clip was posted by Lt Col N Thiagarajan, an Army veteran. He said that it is the "highest responsibility of the government" to take care of the spouse and family of a soldier when he is on duty. "The rise in such incidents in TN shows lawless [email protected] please take appropriate action and save the dignity of the women," he added. Prabhakaran also requested the Tamil Nadu cops to take immediate action against the miscreants. However, the Thiruvannamalai SP Karthikeyan has termed the allegations as "exaggerated". He told ANI: "Yesterday there was a video on social media, where an Indian soldier Prabhakaran put out allegations that his wife has been attacked, manhandled and assaulted by nearly 120 people. In our initial investigation, we have found out that it is an exaggerated allegation". "We have provided security to the wife of the soldier. On behalf of the Thiruvannamalai district police, I request the public to not spread any rumours regarding this," the SP added. The preliminary investigations have said that there is a dispute over a leashed shop on the property owned by Renugambal Temple. He said, "5 years ago a person called Kumar from Kunnathur Village, constructed a building and gave it for lease by getting Rs 9.50 lakhs with monthly rent of Rs 3000 to Selvamoorthy who is Kreethi's father and belongs to Padavodu Village. Meanwhile, last year the above Kumar died whereas his son Ramu asked Selvamoorthy to return the shop for which he said he would return the lease amount of Rs 9.50 lakhs. An understanding was also signed between Selvamoorthy and Ramu on February 10 that Selvamoorthy would vacate the shop. However, as per understanding Selvamoorthy didn't get the money back and refused to vacate the shop also." He added, "Ramu on many occasions tried to compromise with Selvamoorthy which failed. Apparently, when Ramu and his family went to the shop yesterday morning around 10 am, Selvamoorthy hit Ramu on the head which led to heavy bleeding. After this, the locals have gone in support of Ramu and demanded that Selvamoorthy should immediately vacate the premises and all village people forcefully vacated the shop by throwing things from the shop outside." The investigation claims that Keerthi and his mother were at the spot at the time of the incident. However, Keerthi was not attacked. Bengal: TMC's Abhishek Accuses BJP Of Desecrating Matua Holy Place India oi-PTI Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday accused the BJP of desecrating the holy place of the Matuas by harassing women devotees hours before his visit to Thakurbari in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas. Banerjee accused Bongaon's BJP MP and Union minister Santanu Thakur of appeasing his party bosses in Delhi forgetting the work done by Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee for the welfare of Matuas. Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, offered prayers at a shrine of Matua sect founder Harichand Thakur since the main temple at Thakurbari was locked. He said he could have forced his entry with his supporters but wanted to avoid any clash. "The Harichand Thakur temple has been desecrated by Santanu Thakur and his cronies. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans assaulted women devotees who had come to visit the shrine while throwing out the common people out of the compound," he said. Banerjee said he did not come to Thakurbari for politics. "My political campaign was in Habra, around 20 km away from Thakurnagar. Today will be remembered as a black day in the history of Bongaon," he said. He appealed to the people to "throw away BJP MP Thakur and his minions" out of Bongaon Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 general elections. Asserting he would visit the place every three months, Banerjee said, "Contrary to allegations by the BJP MP about disparaging comments made by TMC supremo against Harichand Thakur earlier this year, she had regretted the faux pas (Mamata had allegedly mispronounced the names of two Matua spiritual leaders, Harichanda Thakur and Guruchand Thakur, during a function in February). She has high regard for the sect and has been instrumental in the area's development." Banerjee is on the last leg of his two-month long mass outreach programme across West Bengal and is currently traversing through North 24 Parganas. He was accompanied by TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh, ministers Jyotipriyo Mallick, Bratya Basu and Sujit Bose among others. Reacting to Banerjee's charges, Thakur told reporters, "Abhishek Banerjee had brought in goons to foment trouble but he was thwarted by members of the Matua community. He has actually made the soil of Thakurnagar impure by his visit and we will purify it after he leaves." Thakur, the Union Minister of State for Shipping, later alleged he was manhandled by TMC activists and local police when he visited a hospital to meet BJP workers who were injured in a "clash" with the ruling party members before Banerjee's visit. He said Banerjee's doom "starts from today as the TMC general secretary was not allowed to use the Matua community for political gains." Refuting Banerjee's claims that Mamata had done a lot for the community, the BJP MP said, "She has not done any favours." "Let the elections come. People in Bongaon will show the TMC and its leaders like Abhishek their true place. Their arrogance will get a befitting reply," he said. Thakur wondered, "Why hundreds of police personnel had to be requisitioned for the visit of an ordinary MP who is neither a state nor a central minister." Thakur, who rushed to Chandpara Hospital on hearing that six-seven BJP workers, including Bongaon Uttar BJP MLA Ashok Kirtania, were injured in the clash, told PTI over the phone that as he tried to ensure proper treatment of those injured, TMC workers assembled at the spot charged towards him. Thakur said that as accompanying CISF jawans tried to shield him, a scuffle ensued between the TMC workers and the security personnel, and later jostling between local policemen and the central forces also took place. "I was manhandled first by TMC goons and then by the police as I tried to shield my injured party members from the mob of TMC miscreants. I have informed about the incident to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Even a Union minister has no security in TMC-ruled Bengal," he said. TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Shantanu Thakur is lying." "After the atrocities committed by his bodyguards on women devotees at the temple and the act of his bodyguards of entering the temple compound wearing shoes, he is trying to divert attention. He is free to complain to his boss Amit Shah a hundred times, but that won't change the reality," Ghosh, the state general secretary of the TMC, said. A senior police officer said there was no jostling between the two forces, and the police personnel present at the spot only wanted to clear the place and ensure the security of Thakur, who is the MP from Bongaon. He did not want to comment on the claims by Thakur but said if there was any complaint against any policeman, it will be investigated. Members of the Matua community, who make up a large chunk of West Bengal's Scheduled Caste population, had been migrating to the state from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) since the 1950s primarily due to religious persecution. There are about 30 lakh Matuas in West Bengal and the community electorally influences at least five Lok Sabha seats and nearly 50 assembly seats in Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas districts. Banerjee's visit to Thakurnagar has triggered a political slugfest with the BJP accusing the TMC of attacking members of Matua community. Leader of the Opposition and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari tweeted, "TMC goons have attacked the Holy Shree Dham temple of the Matua community in front of police. I request the Hon'ble Union Home Minister Shri @Amit Shah Ji and @HMOIndia to kindly intervene urgently and provide protection to the members and office-bearers of the Matua organisation." Countering Adhikari, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh tweeted, "[email protected]'s attempt to shift blame to the Trinamool Congress is OUTRAGEOUS!" "The CISF entered the temple premises with their shoes on, assaulted women, snatched their jewelleries and used unparliamentary language, showing a complete lack of respect for religious sentiments and basic decency... By defending his MP, Mr. Adhikari has revealed that the Matuas are no more than a pawn in BJP's political gambit!" Ghosh tweeted. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, June 11, 2023, 23:57 [IST] Clash Breaks Out Between Warkaris And Cops During Religious Procession In Pune India oi-Prakash KL Warkari devotees on Sunday were reportedly lathi charged by cops during a procession in the Pune district. The incident occurred after devotees allegedly got into an argument, according to a report in Times Now. However, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denied reports of lathi charge on Warkaris by police in Alandi town. He claimed that a minor scuffle broke out between Warkaris- devotees of Lord Vitthal- and the police. "There was no lathicharge on the warkari community," PTI quoted the reporters as saying in Nagpur. On the other hand, the Opposition parties accused the police of lathi charging Warkaris and demanded a high-level probe and strict action. The incident occurred when devotees were trying to enter into Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi Mandir in Alandi town, 22 km from Pune city, during the ceremonial procession which is part of the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage to Pandharpur, the agency reported. #Maharashtra The police on Sunday lathi charged Warkari (pilgrims) during a religious procession (Vaari) in #Pune district. The incident took place after the devotees allegedly indulged in an argument with police during the procession, as per details available, the quarrel took pic.twitter.com/CvACH9T2tn Mayuresh Ganapatye (@mayuganapatye) June 11, 2023 "We learned from the last year's stampede-like situation at the same place (Alandi) and tried giving a few number of the entry pass to various groups. It was decided to issue 75 passes to each group that participate in the pilgrimage," said Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio. According to him, some 400-500 youths insisted that they would participate in the pilgrimage and won't follow the decision on the restricted allotment of the entry pass. "They broke the barricades and the police tried to stop them, during which some police personnel were injured," Fadnavis said. After a collaborative meeting involving the principal district judge, the charity commissioner, and the leaders of different groups, a decision was made to allocate a limited number of entry passes for the pilgrimage, as part of the preparations. Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, Vinay Kumar Choubey, had mentioned that the police had taken extensive measures and conducted meetings with temple trustees to ensure the prevention of any undesirable incidents. Despite the police organizing batches of 75 devotees at a time, there were instances where a few individuals breached the barricades in an attempt to enter the temple. "There was an altercation when police tried to stop them," Choubey said but refuted allegations that police lathi-charged Warkaris. Nationalist Congress Party Working President Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed Warkaris condemned the incident accusing the cops of lathi charging the devotees. Congress And DMK Are 2G, 3G, 4G Parties: Amit Shah in Tamil Nadu India oi-Prakash KL Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday slammed the Congress and DMK over over dynasty politics and alleged corruption, calling them the "2G, 3G, 4G" parties. Speaking at a gathering, the Union Minister criticised the two opposition parties at the Centre for opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "uniting Kashmir" with India by a stroke of the pen. "Congress and DMK are 2G, 3G, 4G parties. I am not talking about the 2G (spectrum allocation scam). 2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations," he said. "The Maran family (of the DMK) is doing corruption for two generations. The Karunanidhi family is doing corruption for three generations. The Gandhi family is 4G. Rahul Gandhi is fourth generation and for four generations they are enjoying power," Shah said attacking the two parties. He said the time has come to "throw out 2G, 3G, 4G and give the power in Tamil Nadu to a son of the soil." Asking the crowd if Article 370 should have been removed or not and "if Kashmir is ours or not," he said both Congress and DMK opposed the abrogation of the Article which gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status. "Both these parties -- Congress and DMK -- were against its abrogation. With one stroke of pen on August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended Article 370 and united Kashmir with India," Shah added. Earlier in the day, Shah attended a meeting of the BJP's Tamil Nadu leaders, including its state president K Annamalai, in Chennai. In the event in Vellore, Shah said that the DMK-Congress ruled Tamil Nadu for 10 years and indulded in Rs 12,000 crores of corruption and scams. "In 9 years, nobody has levelled even one allegation of corruption against the Modi government. Narendra Modi govt has enhanced the respect for India before the world. The Govt has also made India secure," he added. Shakti Scheme Launched: Document Women Need To Carry For Free Bus Rides In Karnataka India oi-Prakash KL The women in Karnataka can travel in government buses for free from Sunday in Karnataka as the government launched the 'Shakti' scheme. After formally launching the scheme, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and other dignitaries travelled in a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus along with a few select women passengers from Vidhana Soudha to the bus terminal at Majestic. They even issued zero-value tickets to women passengers. This scheme will benefit over 41.9 lakh women passengers, every day. This will cost the state exchequer Rs 4,051.56 crore annually, PTI reported citing officials. A traveller named Sumitra, who was among the women who received the smart card from Siddaramaiah, said. "Very happy that I received the smart card from the CM. The scheme will help women, especially poor and middle class. It will help us as we can use the amount that was used for bus charges for some other household needs." A female bus conductor said she never expected that a day would come when ladies would travel for free in government buses during her service period. "I'm very happy as a woman as this scheme will help the community..." The government has asked the Road Transport Corporations to reserve 50 per cent of the seats on their buses for men. Who Can Travel? The scheme is available for women and students, who are domiciled in Karnataka, for the journey within the state limits. How To Get Benefit from the Scheme? Women should apply for the Shakti Smart Card by registering on the 'Seva Sindhu' government portal to avail the benefit of the scheme. Until smart cards are issued, free bus travel can be availed by producing a valid photo identity card issued by the Government of India, the Government of Karnataka or government-owned offices, and getting a 'zero value ticket', officials said. Can Women Travel In Any Govt Bus? People can travel in the BMTC, ordinary and express buses which accounts for 18,609 buses in all four state-owned Road Transport Corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC). "Free travel for women" stickers have been put up on buses which are included in the scheme. However, it has to be noted that inter-state buses are not covered in the scheme. Also, if a passenger has to cross the state border while travelling from one district to another district of Karnataka in RTC buses, they won't be charged, but this exemption is limited to up to 20 kilometres. Waiting For Court Verdict On Wrestlers' Row, Will Fight Next Polls: WFI Chief Singh India pti-PTI BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers, Sunday said he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Kaisarganj again and was awaiting the court's verdict to speak on the grapplers' stir. He was replying to queries from media persons after addressing a rally in the district's Balpur area where he skipped any direct reference to the wrestlers' protest for his arrest and chose to target the Congress over the Emergency, Ram temple, the 1984 anti-Sikhs riots and other issues. Asked by the reporters why he was not commenting on the wrestlers' protest and what was he waiting for, the BJP MP said, "Court ke faisle ka (court's verdict)." On whether he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Gonda or Ayodhya, Singh said, "Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat se chunav ladunga, ladunga, ladunga (I will definitely contest from Kaiserganj)." Brij Bhushan Singh has represented the Kaisarganj Lok Sabha constituency thrice -- once as an SP MP (from 2009 to 2014). He won the 2004 general elections from the Balrampur Lok Sabha seat, and the 1991 and 1999 Lok Sabha polls from the Gonda seat on BJP tickets. Currently, he is serving a sixth term as Lok Sabha MP. At the rally, he began his 23-minute speech with an Urdu couplet, "Kabhi ask, kabhi gumh, to kabhi zeher piya jata hai... tab ja kar zamane mein jiya jata hai. Yeh mila mujhko muhabbat ka silla, bewafa kehke mera naam liya jata hai. Isko ruswai kahen ki shohrat apni, dabe hontho se mera naam liya jata hai (Sometimes one has to take a lot of grief and poison to live in this world... This is the reward I got for my love, they call me unfaithful. Should I call it notoriety or fame, they take my name with pursed lips)." The rally was organised to celebrate the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. So far, Singh has remained defiant despite facing possible action from the Delhi Police, which has recorded statements of over 200 people in connection with the case against him and will file a chargesheet by June 15. On Saturday, the protesting wrestlers alleged he was using his influence to put sexual harassment victims under pressure and forcing them to change their statements. They also threatened to resume their stir if decisive action was not taken against the MP by June 15. Singh has denied the allegations against him and claimed that some Congress leaders from Haryana hatched a conspiracy to defame him because of the reforms he brought as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. During his address on Sunday, the MP also said that no force in the world could stop the BJP from coming to power again in 2024. In his attack on the Congress, Singh said, "In 1947, the country got divided when the Congress was in power. The wounds of the Partition had not even healed when Pakistan attacked and grabbed 78,000 square kilometres of our land while the Congress was in power." "In 1962, when the Congress was in power, China attacked (us) and grabbed 33,000 square kilometres of our land. In 1971 (India-Pakistan war), an unprecedented 92,000 (Pakistani) soldiers were made prisoners of war by the Indian Army. Still, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi freed them without settling the old score," the outgoing WFI president said. "Had there been a prime minister like (Narendra) Modi then in the country, the land that was grabbed would have been freed," he added. Singh also attacked the Congress for imposing the Emergency in the country in 1975. "The Congress got Sikhs massacred in 1984 in the anti-Sikh riots," he added. Showering praises on Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP leader said, "Earlier, we used to say 'Jahaan Balidaan (Syama Prasad) Mookerjee Huye, Woh Kashmir Hamara Hai' (the Kashmir where Syama Prasad Mookerjee attained martyrdom is ours). We proudly repeat this today, and it has been made possible because of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah." Apparently referring to former Congress leader Kapil Sibal's 2017 pitch for deferment of hearing of the Ayodhya title suit till after the 2019 general elections, Singh said, "The Congress posed hurdles and obstructions by fielding a lawyer so that any decision on the Ram Temple would not come in time. It made the Supreme Court work even during midnight to save a convicted terrorist from capital punishment." He also referred to the Congress demanding proof of the Indian Army's surgical strikes on terror camps following attacks in Uri and Pulwama and questioning the anti-COVID vaccine manufactured by scientists in India. Earlier in the day, Singh covered a distance of nearly 40 kilometres by road to reach the event venue. Tarabganj MLA Prem Narayan Pandey and Colonelganj MLA Ajay Kumar Singh accompanied him. A large number of BJP workers and supporters turned up for the rally, braving temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius. Higher Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav said, "The double-engine government of Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath is working very well. Whosoever has done wrong has been reduced to dust." He also listed the achievements during the nine years of the Modi government, and said, "When Modiji was the chief minister of Gujarat, he was denied a visa to the US. But now, every president wants to meet him. Not just the US but every nation wants to have a good relationship with India." Amid the wrestlers' protest, Brij Bhushan Singh had requested permission from the Ayodhya district administration to hold a rally on June 5 but was denied. However, the MP had said he postponed the 'Jan Chetna Maharally' at the Ram Katha Park for "a few days" due to the ongoing police probe into the wrestlers' allegations against him. First IIT Outside India Will Be In Tanzania Enormous Good Fortune For Country To Have Somebody Like Him: Jaishankar Hails PM Modi Jaishankar, Derek O Brien Among 11 Leaders Set To Be Elected Unopposed To Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha Elections 2023: S Jaishankar, Two Other BJP Candidates Elected Unopposed From Gujarat WATCH: Jaishankar Enjoys Breakfast At Dalit Booth President's Residence In Varanasi India oi-Deepika S External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday enjoyed a delicious home-cooked breakfast at the residence of a Dalit booth president named Sujata Kumari. News agency ANI tweeted a visual of the Union Minister being seated on the ground while eating with other people. "The breakfast was delicious. From today onwards we are having G20 programs in Varanasi; there will be discussions on food security, grains, fertilisers, and millet," said Jaishankar. #WATCH | Varanasi, UP: EAM S Jaishankar having breakfast at Dalit booth President Sujata's residence https://t.co/zVQVRY5cVw pic.twitter.com/yk1v63i2uf ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 11, 2023 Sujata expressed happiness at the minister's visit to her house. Speaking to ANI, the Dalit booth president said, "We are busy in the preparations to welcome him since yesterday. My whole family is busy cleaning the house. I am happy that someone as powerful as him is visiting our house." How 4 Children Survived In Deadly Amazon Forest For 40 Days After Plane Crash? International oi-Prakash KL On May 1, a plane carrying seven people crashed in the thick Amazon jungle in Colombia due to an engine failure. The remains of the aircraft were discovered two weeks later. The incident occurred when they were travelling from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare. However, there we only three bodies inside the plane while four children went missing. In what could be considered many as a miracle, they survived the crash. And they have been discovered a few days ago. The children are 13-year-old Lesly Jacobo Bonbaire, 9-year-old Solecni Ranoque Mucutuy, four-year-old Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, and 12-month-old Cristian Neryman Ranoque Mucutuy. The stunning part of the story is that these kids including a one-year-old survived in the deadly jungle for 40 days! Going by the pictures shared by Colombia's military, soldiers are seen with the four children in the middle of the jungle. #GeneralGiraldo: "La union de esfuerzos hizo posible esta alegria para Colombia" Gloria a los soldados de las @FuerzasMilCol, a las comunidades indigenas e instituciones que hicieron parte de la #OperacionEsperanza" pic.twitter.com/LO3BPldLgD Fuerzas Militares de Colombia (@FuerzasMilCol) June 10, 2023 Amidst a perilous and harsh environment filled with jaguars, snakes, and other predators, along with armed drug smuggling groups, the brave siblings encountered an extraordinary challenge. This has led many wondering - how did they survive in the forest for 40 days. Well, they belong to the indigenous group Huitoto who know to traverse the jungle and identify edible fruits, BBC reported. They managed to survive eating seeds, roots and plants they knew were edible. "The survival of the children is a sign of the knowledge and relationship with the natural environment that is taught starting in the mother's womb," according to the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (OPIAC). Four children who had been missing in Colombias dense jungle area for more than 40 days were airlifted on Friday after their dramatic rescue.#Colombiaplanecrash #Colombia pic.twitter.com/YSEgYgNS6l sunny pawan (@SunnySunnypawan) June 10, 2023 According to Luis Acosta of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), the resilient "children of the bush," as affectionately referred to by their grandfather Narcizo Mucutuy, managed to endure their ordeal by consuming yucca flour found on the ill-fated plane, as well as relying on provisions from relief packages air-dropped by search helicopters. In addition, their deep knowledge of the Amazon region enabled them to identify and consume various edible seeds, fruits, roots, and plants, according to a report in AFP. Acosta, who was involved in the search operations, stated that the children possessed a strong "spiritual force." "We have a particular connection to nature," Javier Betancourt, another ONIC leader, told AFP. He added, "The world needs this kind of special relation with nature, to favor those like the Indigenous who live in the jungle and take care of it." #BREAKING The Colombian Air Force plane lands with the children who were lost for 40 days in the #Guaviare jungle #Caqueta #Colombia The 4 minors who were found in the jungle of Guaviare and Caqueta are already on a FAC plane. They were be transferred to Bogota pic.twitter.com/3NKana557d Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) June 10, 2023 How The Soldiers Tracked The Kids? The search operation was carried out by soldiers and indigenous trackers for 20 days, side by side. Over 100 soldiers from Indigenous territories in the departments of Caqueta, Putumayo, Meta and Amazonas worked alongside 100 soldiers in the operation. Also, sniffer dogs were used to track the kids. While food supplies were being dropped off in the jungle to ensure that the children get food supplies, planes flew over the jungle firing flares to help search crews on the ground at night, Sky reported. In addition to it, the rescuers played the recorded message by the siblings' grandmother asking them to stay together in one place. They were instructions written in both Spanish and the kids' indigenous language where they were given survival tips. As the days passed the people on the mission discovered important clues - a baby bottle, diapers and pieces of fruit that indicated that they were alive. President Gustavo Petro, who expressed his joy to see the kids alive, claimed that one of the rescue dogs tracked them. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. After his successful re-election as President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to make his first foreign visits to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Erdogan intends to visit the TRNC and Azerbaijan on June 12-13. During his visit to the TRNC, the Turkish leader plans to discuss the development of bilateral relations in all areas. Issues related to the situation in Cyprus and the region as a whole, as well as the international agenda, will also be considered. In the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, Erdogan will hold talks on the development of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations in the future, as well as discuss the current situation in the region and in the world. After winning the elections on May 28, Recep Tayyip Erdogan will serve as president until 2028. No Sex On The Beach: Netherlands Town To Nude Sunbathers International oi-Prakash KL A campaign has taken off in the Netherlands to discourage people from having sex in the beach, The Guardian reported. The municipality of Veere posted warning signs on the beach on Thursday, telling the visitors that engaging in sexual activities on beach is prohibited. It has warned that there is "increased monitoring" to prevent "sexual meeting place activities in the dunes, nature reserve and beach". The municipality, water board and local nature organisation received complaints of tourists having sex on the dunes following which the campaign 'Project Oranjezon' has been launched. In a statement, Veere's mayor Frederiek Schouwenaar, told the Observer, "The dunes are hugely important to the local community and must be protected from undesirable behaviour that damages the natural environment and can disturb other holidaymakers. This is an important step to ensure public order and safety." It is an important step to ensure public order and safety, he stated. The authorities will not warn, but there will be "verbal" enforcement and eight new information boards will convey the message, the report added. The SGP, a conservative, Calvinist party which won the recent local elections, has extended its support to this campaign. "We greatly appreciate the fact that our mayor is taking enforcement action: these excesses need to be combatted," Perry de Visser, a spokesperson for the party, told the Observer. "There are regular complaints to the municipality and local organisations, and this is why we applaud strong council action." Distancing sunbathing and sexual activity is important, believes Naturist organisations. Karlien Lodewijk, a spokesperson for the NFN Open en Bloot (open and bare) naked recreation association, said, "Sex outdoors is not naked recreation, and people who come to sunbathe find it just as much of a nuisance as other people do. Naked recreation ... gives a real feeling of freedom, and it's very healthy to see real, naked bodies that are not photoshopped. On the other hand, there are people who oppose the conservative views about sex. "It has become a bit of a trend in the Netherlands and other countries that, because of a conservative movement, people who are less happy about sexuality and nudity have a louder voice. That's what we are seeing with this outdoor sex in the dunes (ban). Who does it bother? Someone who does it in order to be seen is breaking the Dutch law by confronting people with sexuality against their wishes," said Yuri Ohlrichs, a Sexologist at Rutgers, the Netherlands Centre on Sexuality. Indian-origin MP in Canada Slams Pro-Khalistani Posters; says Snakes In Our Backyard Raising Their Heads Some Indian Students Facing Deportation From Canada Receive Stay Orders International pti-PTI Some Indian students in Canada facing the prospect of deportation on charges of obtaining visas using fake admission letters have received "stay orders" from Canadian authorities, government sources said on Sunday. India has repeatedly been urging Canadian authorities to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were allegedly victims of some agents. The sources also said that the actual number of Indian students facing deportation from Canada is much less than 700. "Most of these students had gone to Canada during 2017-2019. After completing their studies, some of them obtained work permits, while others continue to study in Canada," said a source. India has been taking up the matter with Canadian authorities, in Canada and in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took up with matter with his Canadian counterpart. "Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault," said the source cited above. "It was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visa and also allowed to enter Canada," it added. In the last few days, Canadian parliamentarians across political parties have spoken in support of the students. Immigration Minister Sean Frasier has indicated that Canada is actively pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty, the sources said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the need for fair treatment of the students. "Some students have recently received stay orders on their deportation notices," the source said. "It is welcome that the consistent efforts by the government of India has been instrumental in the Canadian government adopting a humane approach and taking on board the perspective of the students," the source said. AAP's Mega Rally Against Centres Ordinance Today: Check Traffic Restrictions New Delhi oi-Deepika S The Delhi Police has stepped up security in and around Ramlila Maidan where the Aam Aadmi Party will hold a Maha Rally against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital on Sunday. Lakhs of people are expected to attend the rally due to which the Delhi Traffic Police has also been asked to regulate the vehicular movement during the programme. Around 12 companies of paramilitary forces, along with the local police, will be deployed at the venue. Metal detectors will be installed at the entry gates of the ground. Those entering the rally venue will be frisked. Senior officials from the district will be present at the spot, a senior police officer told PTI. Delhi Traffic Police advisory for Ramlila Maidan's rally: "In view of AAP's 'Maha Rally' at Ramlila Ground on June 11, 2023, diversion points will be effective and traffic restrictions/regulation/diversion may be imposed on certain roads. Kindly follow the advisory to avoid any inconvenience," the city's traffic police said. The traffic police has issued an advisory mentioning Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg, Mir Dard Chowk, Ajmeri Gate, JLN Marg, Bhavbhuti Marg, Minto Road, Delhi Gate, round about Kamla Market to Hamdard Chowk and round about Paharganj Chowk as diversion points. The traffic restrictions/regulation/diversion may be imposed on Ranjeet Singh flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, from Minto Road to round about Kamla Market, Vivekanand Marg, JLN Marg (Delhi Gate to Guru Nank Chowk), Chaman Lal Marg etc from 8 am on Sunday, the advisory said. People are advised to avoid these roads/stretches. Commuters going to railway stations and ISBT should leave with sufficient time at hand. People should avail public transport to help decongestion of roads and vehicles should be parked only at designated parking lots, it stated. In case any unsual/unidentified object or person is noticed in suspicious circumstances, information should be given to the police, the advisory added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, June 11, 2023, 8:59 [IST] Donetsk Oblast, also referred to as Donechchyna, is an oblast in eastern Ukraine. It is Ukraine's most populous province, with around 4.1 million residents. Its administrative centre is Donetsk, though due to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, the regional administration was moved to Kramatorsk. Historically, the region has been an important part of the Donbas region. From its creation in 1938 until November 1961, it bore the name Stalino Oblast as Donetsk was then named "Stalino", in honour of Joseph Stalin. As part of the de-Stalinization process, it was renamed after the Siversky Donets river, the main artery of Eastern Ukraine. Its population is estimated at 4,100,280. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. A 52-year-old has been detained and is being questioned by police as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of funds raised by the Scottish National Party. UK media report it's former leader Nicola Sturgeon. Counteroffensive action against Russian forces is under way, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, with troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line. US intelligence has determined that Chinese spying from Cuba has been an "ongoing" matter for years. Initially, the White House refuted the accuracy of reports suggesting this had been going on. Kyiv said it had made the first modest gains in reclaiming territory from Russia as part of its counteroffensive. DW has the latest Deutsche Welle 12 Jun 2023 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The Turkish Armed Forces neutralized seven PKK terrorists after they attempted to attack Turkish military positions in northern Syria, Trend reports citing the press service of the Ministry of National Defense. "The PKK/YPG terrorist organization fired mortars/MLRS at the Jibrin base and the Onjupynar police town area in the "Euphrates Shield" operation zone. There are no casualties among the Turkish military," the Ministry said. The Ministry stressed that as a result of the counterattack by the Turkish military, seven terrorists were neutralized, including two of their leaders, and the position of the militants was also destroyed. By Celia Belin, Majda Ruge and Jeremy Shapiro* America is changing and US foreign policy is changing with it. For most.. Eurasia Review 05 Jun 2023 Many Twitter users say President Biden violated the U.S. Flag code with a Pride display at the White House, which features the "Pride" flag most prominently. Paris (AFP) June 9, 2023 Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in the European Union fell by 2.8 percent last year, thanks to reduced use of natural gas following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Eurostat reported on Friday. The European Union's statistical agency said in a report that CO2 emissions from the 27 EU nations was almost 2.4 billion tonnes last year. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use are a maj Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in connection with the investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party (SNP). Police Scotland confirmed that the 52-year-old was reportedly taken into custody on Sunday (11 June) as part of the inquiry, where she will be questioned by detectives. In a statement on the investigation, Police Scotland said: The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media. As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further. Officers searched the former first ministers home and party headquarters on 5 April as part of the investigation, seizing a luxury motorhome in the process. Her husband and former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was arrested at the time and released without charge. Former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested two weeks later and released without charge. An investigation into a donation of more than 600,000 to the SNP was launched in 2021, dubbed Operation Branchform. The money was raised for a future referendum campaign on Scottish independence. A spokesperson for Sturgeon confirmed that she was cooperating with the investigation, saying: Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11 June, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform. Nicola has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so. After serving as Scotlands first minister for eight years, Sturgeon stepped down on 15 February, saying that she knew in my head and in my heart this was the right time to leave her post. As the longest-serving first minister and the first woman to hold the position, Sturgeon fought tirelessly for trans rights, overseeing the passing of the historic Gender Recognition Reform Act in December 2022 The legislation aimed to remove barriers to accessing a Gender Recognition Certificate, which Sturgeon said would make trans peoples lives that little bit better and easier. However, the UK government blocked the legislation with the unprecedented use of Section 35 of the Scotland Act. First minister Humza Yousaf, who succeeded Sturgeon as Scottish National Party leader on 27 March, immediately confirmed that he would mount a legal challenge to the Section 35 order, a move celebrated by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Lawmakers are considering rolling back an Obama-era rule that requires airlines to show the total price of a ticket upfront in advertising, while also tweaking training requirements for airline pilots and making other changes in a massive bill covering the Federal Aviation Administration. On #obama #republicans #democrats #faa #ricklarsen #williammcgee #garththompson #unitedairlines #thompson #colganair Sushiro, a sushi chain in Japan, has filed a lawsuit against a high school student seeking 67 million yen ($480,000) in damages. The student was captured on social media footage licking his finger and touching a plate of sushi as it passed by on a conveyor belt at a Sushiro outlet in the city of #sushiro #gifu #akindosushiro #unhygienic #akindosushiroco #osakadistrictcourt A mass shooting in a parking lot outside a Houston club left at least 6 people injured, one in critical condition, police said early Sunday. Somebody fired into a crowded parking lot, Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner told a news conference outside the Tabu club in west of the city #houston #troyfinner Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland, was arrested Sunday amid an investigation by authorities into the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party. The children, aged 13, 9, 4, and 11 months, are expected to remain for at least two weeks in a hospital receiving treatment after their rescue Friday. On Sunday, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election for a third presidential term. Within hours after the phone call being announced the presidency issued a statement confirming speculation that diplomatic relations between Cairo and Ankara, severed 10 years ago amid tensions over political changes in Egypt in the summer of 2013, would be upgraded. The page was already turning two years ago when Erdogan began to reconsider the foreign policy decisions that had got him into so much regional trouble, says an Egyptian diplomat. He added that in the wake of diplomatic and security consultations conducted over the past two years, Cairo is now reassured that Erdogan is no longer the problematic leader of the past, even though he is unlikely to revert to being the engaging and cooperative figure he was in 2003 when first elected prime minister. It was a post he held until 2014 when constitutional amendments allowed him to stand for, and win, the presidency. The Egyptian diplomat, joined by a number of foreign diplomats in Cairo, argues that Erdogan, who secured a win in the Sunday run-off with only 52.14 per cent of the vote, is no longer the charismatic and dominating leader who emerged on the political scene with plans to re-launch Turkey as the leader of the Arab-Muslim majority countries that were once part of the Ottoman Sultanate. Those ambitions are over. He now realises he cannot do it and has opted instead for a path of pragmatic cooperation, commented a Cairo-based European diplomat who served in Ankara during Erdogans second term as prime minister. Facing challenging economic conditions, Erdogan can no longer afford to play the Sultan wannabe. He needs investments to help support the Turkish lira which has undergone catastrophic devaluation in recent years, and it is highly unlikely, added the European diplomat, that Erdogan still entertains hopes of Turkey being admitted to the EU. Which means he needs to focus more on expanding and improving relations in the immediate vicinity, including with Syria, Egypt, and Arab Gulf states. Amr Al-Chobaky, political commentator and senior political analyst at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, agrees that in his new and last presidency, Erdogan will work on expanding the rapprochement and reconciliation that he has pursued over the last 12 months, and expects to see the Turkish president push to upgrade relations with key regional players, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt. Erdogan will probably strive for close economic partnerships with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, similar to the one he has with Qatar, says Al-Chobaky. Arab diplomatic sources say that there is a considerable interest in pursuing economic cooperation with Turkey in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, on condition that Erdogan refrains from interfering in their internal affairs. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE do not share the political ideology that Qatar does with Erdogan, they will be happy to talk business if Erdogan commits to halting support for the political Islamic movements both perceive as a threat. The all but a total U-turn that Erdogan introduced to his relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, the oldest political Islam group in the region, over the past year or two was key to the thaw in Ankaras relations with Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Egyptian diplomatic sources argue that in the coming months Erdogan, now past his last electoral stop, could well make more moves to contain the space he has allowed the Muslim Brotherhood. Erdogan is a pragmatic politician. No one really believed he would shift position on the Muslim Brotherhood ahead of a presidential election in which he desperately needed the Islamist vote, but he did, said a retired Turkish diplomat. He added that this does not mean he will abandon the Islamists completely, pointing out that Erdogans pragmatism has allowed him to maintain close ties with Russia while also providing military assistance to Ukraine. Erdogan is a leader with many faces. He has his squabbles with the West, but he cooperates well with Western countries under the umbrella of NATO, says Al-Chobaky. Al-Chobaky believes Erdogan will use the first months of his presidency to normalise diplomatic ties with the Bashar Al-Assad regime, though without abandoning Ankaras influence over, and relations with, the Syrian opposition in the north of the country. In 2011, Turkey intervened militarily in Syria to support the anti-Assad opposition. To contain public unease about the impact of Syrian refugees on the economy Erdogan hopes to return at least a third of the three million Syrian refugees in Turkey back home, says Al-Chobaky, arguing that normalising relations with Damascus, with Iranian and Russian help, will help him achieve this. Regional diplomatic sources also say Erdogan is likely to be lining up two significant meetings for the early months of his new presidency. The first, expected to be scheduled this summer, is with President Al-Sisi, and will most likely take place in Cairo. The second, with Al-Assad, is expected to be held within the format of consultations bringing together Turkey, Iran, Russia, and Syria. While the meeting with Al-Assad will focus mainly on the north of Syria, the meeting with Al-Sisi will have a wide-ranging regional political and economic focus. Egyptian sources agree that Al-Sisi and Erdogan will discuss a variety of regional sticking points, including Cairo and Ankaras divergent positions on Libya. Other issues are likely to include maritime demarcation between Egypt and Turkey, cooperation on East Mediterranean gas, the complex of relations between Egypt and Turkey on the one hand and both Egypt and Turkeys relations with Greece and Cyprus on the other, and possible avenues for Egyptian relations with one of Turkeys closest allies, Iran. Al-Chobaky does not expect any meaningful shifts in Erdogans relations with Israel. In 2011, Turkey downgraded diplomatic relations and suspended military cooperation with Israel over Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the occupied territories. Ties were resumed in 2016 but were cut again two years later over further Israeli violations against the Palestinians. Last year, Turkey and Israel decided to resume full diplomatic relations. It is significant, says Al-Chobaky, that the resumption of Turkish-Israeli relations coincided with Erdogans fixing ties with Cairo, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi, noting that the mood of reconciliation is part of a wider political trend that has been unfolding in the region, including Saudi-Iranian rapprochement and Syrias return to the Arab League. * A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Spinomenal is expanding into Switzerland's iGaming Market, backed by a B2B license and ISO 27001 Certification. Published June 11, 2023 by OCR Editor Spinomenal Expands its iGaming Presence to Switzerland! In a significant development, leading online casino games studio, Spinomenal has reported its entrance into the Swiss iGaming market. This move comes after the company was granted a Business-to-Business (B2B) license by the Swiss regulatory authority Eidgenossische Spielbankenkommission (ESBK). Spinomenal's ISO 27001 certification, an internationally recognized standard for best practices in information security, was a crucial factor that led to this development. This certification and the B2B permit demonstrate Spinomenal's commitment to securing high-quality iGaming experiences. Swiss online casino enthusiasts will now have access to Spinomenal's vast array of slot content. The selection includes popular titles such as Demi Gods II, Book of Rebirth, Majestic King, and Poseidon's Rising. Beyond individual games, Switzerland casino players will also be introduced to Spinomenal's unique "Universe" concept. This innovative approach weaves narratives from various titles into an epic, interlocking gaming experience. Spinomenal's CEO, Lior Shvartz, expressed his excitement about this new venture: "We're very happy to be entering the Swiss market with our top-class slots portfolio and supported by our ISO 27001 certificate. The regulated Swiss online casino space represents a great opportunity as we continue to deliver on our comprehensive roadmap." Spinomenal, one of the fastest-growing content providers in the industry, refreshes its catalogue with 10-12 new releases monthly. The company boasts a portfolio of over 300 HTML5 games, making it a force to be reckoned with in the online casino industry. Focused on quality graphics and engaging features, Spinomenal strives to deliver maximum fun for players. In addition, the company's suite of products offers a comprehensive solution for operators, further emphasizing their role as both content providers and innovation and technology providers. This development marks an exciting chapter in Spinomenal's growth, reinforcing its global position in the iGaming industry. Swiss players can look forward to exploring this dynamic gaming universe shortly. Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) June 11, 2023: The American journalist and biographer Jonathan Eig discusses the life and time of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his massively researched and lucidly written new nearly 700-page 2023 book King: A Life (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). I discuss Eig's book in my OEN article "Jonathan Eig on the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." (dated May 28, 2023): Click Here In Eig's "Epilogue" (pp. 553-557), he mentions "the strength of his [Dr. King's] philosophical and intellectual contributions" (p. 557). To highlight Dr. King's "philosophical and intellectual contributions" in the present essay, I want to discuss Marcia Pally's article "'Peculiar Relations of Affectability': Peirce and Royce as Resources for the Philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr." in the periodical Telos, serial number 182 (Spring 2018): pp. 161-182. For further information about Telos, see www.telospress.com (Even though Eig's book is massively researched, I do not see any references to the essays in the 2018 issue of Telos devoted to Dr. King.) Marcia Pally is also the distinguished author of the 2016 book Commonwealth and Covenant: Economics, Politics, and Theologies of Relationality (William B. Eerdmans Publishing), which I discuss briefly in my OEN article "Marcia Pally Does the Heavy Lifting to Advance Bernie Sanders' Political Revolution" (dated April 16, 2016): Click Here Now, Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) and Josiah Royce (1855-1916) were American philosophers associated with the American philosophical movement of pragmatism. Eig does not mention either Peirce or Royce - or the philosophical movement known as pragmatism. After Pally's introductory section (pp. 161-162), she develops her essay in the following subsections: "Charles Sanders Peirce" (pp. 162-166); "Josiah Royce" (pp. 166-171); "Theological Pragmatism as a Resource for [Boston] Personalism and King" (pp. 171-178); "Some Effects in [King's] Activism" (pp. 178-182); and "Conclusion" (p. 182). For further information about Boston personalism, see the Wikipedia entry on Personalism. I should point out here that the French Catholic philosopher and playwright Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973), on the occasion of the centennial of Royce's birth, published the book Royce's Metaphysics, translated by Virginia Ringer and Gordon Ringer (Henry Regnery, 1956; orig. French ed., 1955). Perhaps we can take a hint from Pally and speak of Royce also as a resource for Marcel's personalism. In Pally's introductory section, she quotes Peirce as saying "'Ideas tend to spread continuously and to affect certain others which stand to them in a peculiar relation of affectability'" (p. 161). "Peirce, Royce, and King are a case in point, as King's philosophical and theological framework stood in a 'peculiar relation of affectability' to Peirce's and Royce's 'continuously spreading' pragmatic epistemology and understanding of the transcendent - their theological pragmatism" (p. 161). "Peirce and Royce were among the resources for both the [Boston] Personalism movement that informed King's thinking and for King himself" (p. 161). Now, in Pally's subsection "Charles Sanders Peirce," she says that he "start[ed] the American pragmatist school with his 1878 essay 'How to Make Our Ideas Clear'" (p. 162). She says, "Peirce proposed that we don't really have ideas. We have beliefs, habits of thinking about the way things occur that lead us to act in certain ways" (p. 162). Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). One year after Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday, Gallup took a poll about the holiday. The majority of Americans had heard of Juneteenth. However, when probed about it a majority knew little to nothing about Juneteenth, its significance, and even why it was declared a federal holiday. Many of the states took their cue from the public's ignorance about the holiday. Most of the states did not give their employees the day off as a paid holiday day. Most private businesses followed suit. They did not give their employees the day off either. There was nothing that Congress or the White House could do about that. They did not have the power to compel states to observe a federal holiday. Federal holidays are just that federal holidays. The only employees who are legally entitled to a paid holiday day off are federal employees and those in the District of Columbia. The issue of who does and doesn't celebrate a federal holiday was a point of sharp contention and controversy in celebrating the King federal holiday from the moment Reagan signed the bill making it a holiday into law in 1983. For the first two decades, most businesses did not give their employees a paid day off. Most states followed the same pattern. That gradually changed as more states and businesses came on board to acknowledge the holiday with a paid day off for workers. Yet the fierce resistance continued. In 2020, the King Holiday was a workday for more than eighty percent of workers in manufacturing businesses. That remained the case in 2023. Despite the recognition of the King Holiday as a national holiday by all fifty states, observance of the King Holiday remained largely a discretionary matter for most state officials. The District of Columbia is the only public district that mandates the King holiday as a work-off day for federal employees. The mixed reaction to the King Holiday ranged from turning a blind eye, indifference, or just outright ignoring it in many quarters. In signing the King holiday bill, Reagan strongly signaled that this was not likely to change, "To make it a national holiday in the sense of businesses closing down and government closing down and everyone not working? I'd like to call your attention to [the fact that] we only really have a couple of those"not even Abraham Lincoln has that kind of a national holiday." In far too many public and private circles, the King Holiday was regarded as a "Black holiday" or more charitably a "civil rights issue." That reinforced the chronic fiction that King was solely a Black leader, that the civil rights movement was a movement only for Blacks, and that his holiday should be celebrated exclusively by Blacks. The same tag was inevitably slapped on Juneteenth. That fiction was amply reinforced by pictures of marches, rallies, events, and festivals on that day in which in most instances the marchers and celebrants shown were African Americans. There's also the question of numbers. The Juneteenth holiday is the eleventh federal holiday. In the century before Juneteenth was added to the federal holiday calendar, only four federal holidays were added. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, purely in terms of numbers, there is a scarcity of federal holidays. On the other, some consider that there are too many. It's a Hobbesian Choice dilemma. The more holidays on a calendar over time diminishes the impact and importance to many Americans of the holiday. It's just another day off for many. However, a holiday such as the King Holiday and the Juneteenth Holiday were intended as holidays to cajole, educate, and remind Americans of America's history of racial turmoil, struggles, and progress. They are not holidays for leisure or shopping. "Juneteenth marks the date of major significance in American history. It represents the ways in which freedom for Black people has been delayed," said Democratic Rep. Anthony Nolan, who fought to make making Juneteenth a paid holiday in Connecticut. He added, "If we delay this, it's a smack in the face to Black folks." The irony is that GOP state legislators in some of the states where legislators dragged their feet on making Juneteenth an official state holiday, moved with lightning speed to limit what can be taught about systematic racism in classrooms. They also moved swiftly to introduce and pass bills to scuttle critical race theory teaching even when almost none of the nation's school districts mandated in 2023 that it be taught. They likewise moved speedily to torpedo the expansion of voting rights protections and meaningful police reforms. Yet, despite the foot-dragging and obstructionism, fifty states in one way or another recognize Juneteenth. That speaks for itself. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book is The Juneteenth Drama (Middle Passage Press) He is the host of the weekly The Earl Ofari Hutchinson Show on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network. His political affairs commentaries can be found weekly on thehutchinsonreport.net. For any given war, one can examine the months or years or decades during which one or both sides worked diligently to make it happen, and both sides conspicuously failed to develop peaceful alternatives. Even in the moment of greatest violence, one can consider the unarmed-resistance alternatives that are carefully kept out of consideration. But even if you can explain away all justification for every side of every particular war "" yes, even that one, there remains the false claim that war is somehow simply part of "humanity." If ants were to stop waging wars, nobody would bat an eye, but such a feat is deemed simply beyond the intelligence of homo sapiens. There is a problem for this nonsense. It is the problem of peaceful human societies. We know that many, if not most, hunter-gatherer groups of humans engaged for the vast bulk of human existence in nothing resembling low-tech war. Even in recent millennia, much of Australia, the Arctic, Northeast Mexico, the Great Basin of North America, and even Europe before the rise of patriarchic warrior cultures, did largely or entirely without war. Recent examples abound. In 1614 Japan cut itself off from the West and from major warfare until 1853 when the U.S. Navy forced its way in. During such periods of peace, culture flourishes. The colony of Pennsylvania for a time chose to respect the native peoples, at least in comparison with other colonies, and it knew peace and prospered. The notion held by celebrity astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson that because 17th century Europe invested in science by investing in warfare therefore only through militarism can any culture advance, and therefore "" conveniently enough "" astrophysicists are 100% justified in working for the Pentagon, is a view based on an absurd level of blinkered prejudice that few liberals would accept if duplicated in explicitly racist or sexist terms. But simply to assert, or even indisputably prove, that various societies have lived without war will neither persuade the believer in the inevitability of war, nor provide any guidance in how the dominant global societies could shift to a war-free existence. What's needed is an examination of how various societies have lived for long periods with neither external warfare nor internal violence. A new book might help. It's called Peaceful Societies: Alternatives to Violence and War by Bruce D. Bonta. On a website, Bonta has posted information on numerous peaceful societies that are still around. In this book, he's examined 10 of them. The 10 are scattered around the globe and extremely diverse. They have different beliefs, languages, attitudes, and sensibilities. Some of them we know to have a history of having been violent and changed to nonviolence. They are all in danger of being overrun by dominant culture (or climate change or deforestation). What humanity (and many other species) need is a bit of the opposite process "" of the dominant global cultures learning from these societies instead of imposing their values on them. If anger and violence were universally condemned and mocked as infantile, as worthy of only small children, then national foreign policy designed around such ideas wouldn't be cheered for or even tolerated. Large groups of people with damn near the same DNA as Joe Biden's or Vladimir Putin's live and have lived in cultures just like that. They exist within worldviews that find war and even murder utterly unthinkable. So, just as it's not good enough to say that hyper-militarization is required by "human nature" because the 4 percent of humanity misgoverned by the rotten U.S. government has it, it's also not good enough to say that some level of acceptance of violence is required just because the vast majority of humans now alive are stuck with it. When you show ordinary Hollywood movies to people in some cultures, they are horrified and wish never to see such violence again. Children who grow up in societies without violence do not have it to imitate. Children who grow up in societies that condemn anger learn not to be angry. These facts are as endlessly proven as the reappearance of the sun each day. A culture that shrieks "follow the science!" cannot pretend that these facts are not real, or marginalize them by pretending they're a fantasy, or avoid them by overdosing on Pinkerism. The notion of "man the warrior" dates from an era in which Western scientists presented animal tooth marks on human bones as evidence of war. They were not. "Man the dinner" was more like it. The notion of violent urges building up when suppressed "" and bursting out if not given some release "" date from an even earlier era during which the latest technology was the steam engine, and the human sciences (in imitation of the physical sciences) believed they needed to make everything work in the manner of a steam engine. Bonta's book, and others like it, describe how cultures model and teach the absence, not the suppression, of anger "" cultures that still exist. You can look at these people's homes on Google Earth. You can read about them. You can visit them "" though I hope you can do so with a level of respect for others that may be difficult until after you've studied them. Chapter one is about the Lepchas, a minority group in Sikkim that does not know violence. Their culture avoids aggression and competition almost completely. They disapprove of quarreling as strongly as U.S. culture disapproves of failing to stand up to a bully. They are as tolerant of adultery as U.S. culture is of divorce. They have no tolerance, however, for lying "" a crime that can damage a family's reputation for generations. They don't manage this radically different existence because the rest of the world leaves them alone. Hello? Have you met the rest of the world? Since 2007, they have prevented the construction of massive hydropower dams "" and the military forces backing that construction "" through nonviolent action. Chapter two is about the Ifaluk, who live on an atoll of the same name in Micronesia. They exhibit no signs of anger or violence. The bizarre ways in which they care for babies and toddlers, and the weird stories of ghosts they teach to children, might seem difficult or undesirable to adapt. But what these people have in common with other peaceful societies is the unacceptance of tantrums "" whether in toddlers or presidents. Bonta writes of them: "On several occasions since World War II, U.S. Navy vessels have stopped at the island and have shown American films for the islanders. But the violence displayed in those movies""people being beaten and shot""panicked the islanders, terrifying some into illnesses that lasted for days. Many subsequently refused to watch American films. They constantly reviewed and talked about the violent scenarios, reinforcing in their communities their safety from such horrors." Does this mean they will find the will and the ability to keep the U.S. from turning what remains of Pacific islands, before they go under, into staging grounds for a war on China? Who knows! But it does mean that human beings, including human beings in the United States, are capable of a different way of existing. If a world beyond war requires a world without Hollywood, so be it. Surely you are not going to argue that Hollywood is required by your genes or your central essence or human nature or immutable soul or anything of the sort. Eliminating or completely altering Hollywood is not an easy task, but it's also not one barred by laws of physics, right? Chapter three is about the Semai in Malaysia. While the Ifaluk value calmness, the Semai go in for panic and hysteria. But they shun violence just the same. And they resolve conflicts when they arise, rather than passing judgment or seeking vengeance. Bonta worries that his readers may reject the Semai as valuing cowardice, but he writes: "[A]rguably it requires more strength to hold onto one's temper during a confrontation than it does to let things escalate into violence. The latter, the resort to fists or knives or guns or nuclear bombs during a confrontation, is perhaps the easy approach, the way of weakness, while approaching a conflict with a quiet determination to resolve it peacefully is often the more difficult choice." We also learn about the Batek in Malaysia, who may be denounced as fearful by some readers. They uproot and move a whole village on an hour's notice to avoid one dangerous person, rather than sending out a lynch mob. But their central values are cooperation, sharing, and equality "" including gender equality. They out-progressive Western progressives in a number of ways worth learning from, even if you cannot uproot Fort Lauderdale and move it into the jungle each time Trump is spotted nearby. We learn about the Piaroa in Venezuela and Colombia. At least until recent years, they have been almost totally free of violence and also of competition. Then it's off to the Buid in the Philippines, and on around the globe, with descriptions of societies that are very different from one another but in agreement on shunning violence "" within families, within villages, and with the outside world. These cases are not analogous to the Nobel Peace Prize-winning European Union, dealing weapons and wars around the world. These people are not just peaceful among themselves and vicious as crazed wolves toward others. They have taught their children that violence is shameful. They would be more ashamed to use it than to die "" just as many members of militaries would be more ashamed to not use it than to die. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). A judge overseeing the case against Bryan Kohberger, charged with killing four University of Idaho students last fall, heard arguments Friday over a gag order that largely bars attorneys and other parties in the case from speaking with news reporters. A coalition of more than 30 media organizations has challenged the order, saying it violates the Constitutions guarantees of free speech and a free press, as has a lawyer for one of the victims families. But prosecutors and the defendants lawyers insist its needed to prevent prejudicial news coverage that could damage Kohbergers right to a fair trial. It remains appropriate to have an Order reminding lawyers and their agents of the rules of engagement in this country and that we try cases in court, not in the press, one of Kohbergers attorneys, Jay Weston Logsdon, wrote in a memo to the court this week. Second District Judge John C. Judge indicated he would rule later on the gag order and on a separate issue of whether to allow cameras in the courtroom during further proceedings. Kohberger, 28, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the stabbing deaths in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. Judge entered not guilty pleas on his behalf last month. Prosecutors have not said if they will seek the death penalty. The bodies of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found at a rental home across the street from the University of Idaho campus. The slayings shocked the rural Idaho community and neighboring Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger was a graduate student studying criminology at Washington State University. The case has garnered widespread publicity, and in January Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall issued a nondissemination order barring attorneys, law enforcement agencies and others associated with the case from talking with the press or issuing statements unless they are quoting directly from a court document. The Idaho Supreme Court in April declined to vacate the gag order, saying the news organizations, including The Associated Press, should have first asked the lower court to lift the order. The justices did not weigh in on whether the gag order violates First Amendment rights. The news organizations subsequently did ask the lower court to revoke the order, and Judge scheduled arguments for Friday. The media coalition says that while it respects the defendants right to a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment, the court should not have issued a gag order without evidence that right would be infringed by their ability to speak with attorneys involved in the case. Intervenors agree that there has been, and will continue to be, great publicity surrounding this case, the coalitions attorneys wrote. But publicity alone is not prejudicial. ... The States and Mr. Kohbergers failure to present any evidence of prejudicial news coverage, and the Courts failure to consider alternative measures, means the competing constitutional rights here were improperly balanced and the Gag Order should be vacated. Gag orders that prohibit journalists from writing about certain cases are considered to be severely problematic under the First Amendment. But the U.S. Supreme Court and other appeals courts have upheld some that prohibit attorneys, police or others involved in a case those with privileged information about it from speaking with reporters to begin with, as a way to avoid influencing potential jurors or otherwise jeopardizing a defendants right to a fair trial. Shanon Gray, an attorney for the Goncalves family, has also asked the judge to lift the gag order, saying he should be allowed to speak on the familys behalf. During Fridays arguments, Wendy Olson, an attorney for the media group, argued that even if the gag order is vacated, ethical rules for lawyers will remain in place that prohibit them from making public statements that have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing the case. Olson suggested that allowing prosecutors and defense attorneys to speak with reporters if they want to to explain legal proceedings or terms, for example, would improve coverage of the case to the benefit of the public. Logsdon disagreed, denigrating the press at length and insisting reporters are merely interested in attracting clicks online. The reality is that if they spoke to us, they will pick and choose from our statements, they will twist what we said into things we never meant, and they will continue to put on the same narrative that gets them clicks, he said. By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press Hours before a Washington County woman died of a suspected drug overdose last week, she shared an Uber ride with her son to downtown Portland and gave him $200 to buy fentanyl in the area of the boarded-up Washington Center that had been the site of an open-air drug market earlier this spring, according to a federal affidavit. The son said he took the cash to buy drugs from their usual source, who they knew as Jose, near Southwest Fourth Avenue and Washington Street, according to the affidavit. They had bought fentanyl from him for the past three to four months, the affidavit said. After the deal went down Monday night, the mother and son grabbed another Uber ride back home with about 100 pills and $100 worth of fentanyl powder, Guy Gino, a federal Homeland Security Investigations Agent, wrote in the affidavit. Early the next morning, the son found his 60-year-old mother unconscious in their apartment in the 6600 block of West Burnside Street in Washington County. He called 911, and sheriffs deputy Nolan Hansen responded to their home at 5:43 a.m. Tuesday, and initiated a death investigation from the presumed fentanyl overdose death, the affidavit said. The woman who died was identified Sunday as Stephanie E. Davis Carmen, according to Washington County Sheriffs Detective Mark Povolny, a sheriffs spokesperson. Investigators from the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team had the son set up another buy from his drug source. He arranged by text message to meet the seller at Southeast 82nd Avenue and Stark Street about 10:40 a.m. last Wednesday, according to the affidavit. When the alleged dealer arrived, Portland police moved in to arrest him, Gino wrote. 100% thats the guy I bought from on Monday, the victims son told investigators, according to the affidavit. The man who the mother and son knew as Jose was detained and identified as Manuel Velasquez-Estrejo, 38. A police search of his backpack turned up 1,000 multi-colored counterfeit oxycodone pills imprinted with M30, on them, about two ounces of a white powder, a motel room key and a fake California ID card for Carlos Murillo, bearing Velasquez-Estrejos photo, the affidavit said. These pills were seized from Room 250 of the Studio 6 Extended Stay Motel on Northeast 82nd Avenue as part of the overdose death investigation, according to a federal affidavit.Court record Police tracked the key to the Studio 6 Extended Stay Motel room on Northeast 82nd Avenue where Velasquez-Estrejo had been staying, the affidavit said. Investigators did surveillance on the motel Room 250 and arrested two men they saw walk out of the room. An initial search of the room, which investigators said was obtained by consent from the two occupants, turned up 10,000 more multi-colored counterfeit oxycodone pills made of suspected fentanyl, according to the affidavit. Police obtained a warrant to search the room. Inside the room, investigators located 11,295 multi-colored counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills made of fentanyl, more than 6 pounds of fentanyl powder, 310 grams of suspected methamphetamine and about $11,700 in cash. Along with Velasquez-Estrejo, also arrested were Jorge Rivera-Nunez, 27, and Dennis Palma-Hurbina, 23, all of Honduras, on federal allegations. Theyre each accused of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and engaging in a conspiracy to possess and distribute fentanyl. They remain in custody on a federal hold in the Columbia County Jail on the federal allegations. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe The 22-year-old man accused of causing at least $20,000 worth of damage by tagging property in Portland and Vancouver took a plea deal Wednesday. Emile Laurent, who allegedly left the tag TENDO across multiple Portland buildings, pleaded guilty to one felony count and three misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief. In exchange, Multnomah County prosecutors dropped 21 additional charges, according to court records. A county circuit court judge sentenced Laurent to three years of probation, 100 hours of community service and $6,815 in restitution distributed amongst four victims. Laurent, a high-profile skateboarder who has been featured in Thrasher magazine, turned himself in to police Aug. 22. Officials announced the day before that they were searching for the prolific graffiti vandal. He was accused of damaging various locations owned by the city of Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation, as well as several private businesses and properties in Portland and Vancouver. Laurent was charged with criminal mischief in 2018, but prosecutors dropped the case. Under the plea deal, Laurent cannot possess spray paint, spray paint tips or other graffiti related instruments, unless approved by a probation officer, court records show. In another effort to curb vandalism in Portland, police arrested a 43-year-old man accused of graffiti tagging and ghost gun manufacturing in April. Jacob Ramos faces over 100 charges related to the crimes. He will appear in court next on June 21. A poll of Portland voters found that 61% of respondents saw graffiti as a very big or moderately big problem in October. Laurents lawyer, Bridget Donnegan, declined to comment Saturday. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 On Saturday, Debra Meier, her significant other Lauren Wagner, their miniature silky chicken named Chica and a couple thousand Portland-area parade enthusiasts ventured to the citys central eastside to watch the Portland Rose Festivals 2023 Grand Floral Parade. Meier loves adventure and serving her community, so she often looks for places where those interests intersect. Meier said volunteering for the Rose Festival was one of those opportunities, so she and Wagner spent the week building parade floats before serving as guides along the Grand Floral Parades route. She volunteered me; she kind of does that a lot, Wagner said as he chuckled. Its good for me though, it gets me out of the house and gets me to get out of myself and help others. Meier had 3-month-old Chica tag along too because she thought the chicken would enjoy the parade. With Chica slung under her arm, Meier began to get emotional as the first couple floats made their way past the intersection of Northeast Lloyd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, where the couple served as parade guides, answering questions from people watching the parade. I worked on that one, Meier said, pointing to an Alaskan Airlines float featuring a towering Mariner Moose wearing tropical swimwear. Brings tears to my eyes, it just makes me so joyful to see it. Parade volunteer Debra Meier with her miniature silky chicken named Chica at the Portland Rose Festivals 2023 Grand Floral Parade Saturday, June 10, 2023. Mark Graves Alongside the usual floats featuring larger-than-life characters made entirely of natural materials, the community and high-school marching bands and sailors stopping by for Fleet Week, this years Grand Floral Parade featured more than a dozen World War II era Rosie the Riveters who served as the grand marshals. The women, all between the ages of 94 and 101, rode on a float adorned with red roses and a 20 foot tall silhouette of their iconic namesake. Caroline Kilgore, 96, said she started building parts for airplanes at a factory in Rockford, Illinois, when she was 17 years old. She said she wanted to help with the war effort in any way she could. It was a factory full of women, Kilgore said. Wed send the parts to Oklahoma where the planes were assembled by a factory full of women just like us, and then the pilots who took them to their destination were all women, too. Kilgore made the trek from her home in Sun City, Arizona, not only to serve as a grand marshal, but to be among fellow riveters at the annual American Rosie the Riveter Association Convention, which was hosted in Portland for the first time this month. Kilgore said serving as a grand marshal was an incredible honor, and that she was grateful to do so alongside fellow Rosies from around the country. My arm is numb from all the waving, Kilgore said. Portland residents Chris Rockne and his wife Portia Hall Rockne attended the parade with their 3-year-old twin son and daughter. Hall Rockne said she grew up in Portland and that its nice to see the tradition carry on even though the Grand Floral Parade has changed a lot since she was a child. This year marked the second time the Grand Floral Parade featured a shortened route that stayed on the eastside of the Willamette River. The parade returned in 2022 after being canceled for two years due to the pandemic. Organizers and city officials say the eastside-only route is expected to stay for the foreseeable future. Rockne said the route made it easier for his family to get to the parade and see his favorite part, the marching bands. I used to be in the marching band in high school and Ive told the kids so now they get excited to see them, too, he said. We love being here, Rockne said. Its a great event for the kids and the family. We even lucked out with the weather this year. Those who missed the parade can still view some of the all-floral floats at the Grand Floral Float Showcase on Southwest Naito Parkway until 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Related story: Pickup truck driver nearly hits Portland Rose Festival paradegoers, leads police on chase A reckless driver in a pickup truck breached the Rose Festivals Grand Floral Parade route just after 10 a.m. Saturday, setting off a scary and bizarre chase through Northeast Portland streets jammed with paradegoers, police said. Followed by a Portland police officer on a motorcycle, the truck driver went east on Northeast Weidler Street just as the parade was scheduled to get under way at nearby Memorial Coliseum. The officer saw parade goers running out of the street and heard them screaming, trying to get his attention, police said in a statement later Saturday. The truck driver refused to stop for the officer, police said, and instead headed south on Northeast Martin Luther King Boulevard, the heart of the eastside parade route. Using lights and siren, the officer tried pulling alongside the driver to wave him over, then drove in front of the truck to try to stop him. The driver suddenly turned left onto Northeast Wasco Street and drove directly at families sitting on the curb, police said. No one was struck but moments later the truck went through a barricade, causing volunteers to flee to avoid being hit. Investigators said the driver had evaded two Oregon Department of Transportation trucks closing the northbound Interstate 5 ramp at Weidler by driving up into the ivy-covered hillside next to the offramp. Sidney Sean Mecham, 42, of Portland, was taken into custody at Northeast 24th Avenue and Clackamas Street, police said. He was booked into jail on accusations of recklessly endangering another person, attempt to elude, reckless driving, disorderly conduct, and hit and run (in an unrelated case). He also was driving while suspended and with no insurance, police said, and he was cited for those violations as well as failure to obey a police officer. Officer David Baer told The Oregonian/OregonLive it is not yet clear what Mechams intentions were, but that he was angered about the road closure. Mecham is not believed to have been under the influence at the time, but mental health struggles may have been a factor, Baer said. Hillsboro resident Nidia Us and her husband Juan Lopez said Mecham nearly struck their two children and their three nieces as they were waiting for the parade to begin. The couple was sitting with their family near Crowne Plaza Hotel on Weidler when they heard a commotion coming from the other end of the street. It was not like he was lost and he was trying to get out, Us said. No, he was going fast. Moments before Mecham sped by, Us said a group of children had gathered in the street near a stand where Grand Floral Parade announcers were tossing out candy. She said a woman ran by warning people, so she and her sister grabbed their kids just before the truck went through the intersection. She was telling them to get out of the way, Us said. If it wasnt for her, and we tried looking for her to thank her, some of those kids would have gotten ran over. Us said the incident turned the familys first Grand Floral Parade into a scary ordeal, but they still managed to enjoy the parade after gathering themselves. We did not wake up expecting that, Us said. We see it all the time, videos people share where something similar happened and its not something that you think you would experience or you would go through. It was pretty scary, but were happy that it didnt end any worse than just a scare. This was not the first time Portland paradegoers were threatened by a driver. In 2007, there were two incidents at the Rose Festivals Junior Parade. A Portland man pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering others for slowly plowing his way through dozens of middle school students getting ready to march in the parade. Portland police said the driver in that case was infuriated the street was closed off. Another driver, an 81-year-old woman, also pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering others after driving through barricades and police officers at the same parade. The woman was upset the parade was blocking her way home, police said. Police said they want to hear from anyone who felt endangered by the driver at this years Grand Floral Parade. Victims should contact Baer at David.Baer@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-152688. New homeless camping restrictions approved last week by Portland City Council are a step in the right direction. If Portland is ever going to turn the tide on homelessness, then enacting clear limits, such as the daytime ban on camping in public spaces, is necessary to curb the proliferation of tents in neighborhoods, downtown sidewalks and along trails. But the success of such actions depends on thoughtful follow-through to ensure those rules come with consistent outreach, access to a range of services, collaboration with nonprofit and government partners and judicious enforcement a combination that has largely eluded the citys and countys approaches to date. And early indications from Mayor Ted Wheelers office are worrisome: After initially deflecting a question about where the mayors office expected thousands of homeless campers will go each day, Wheelers spokesman Cody Bowman responded that as long as they are not camping, anywhere they please. Such a flippant answer ignores that most people who are homeless and who may have disabilities, mental illness or substance abuse issues cannot go where they please very easily, especially if theyre carrying their lifes possessions with them. But it raises other questions. If the mayors office does not have a cogent answer for the intended consequences of a daytime camping ban, how will it possibly handle the unintended ones? With just a few weeks before the law goes into effect, the city must quickly put in place the organizational and administrative structure to enact this ordinance competently. A camping ban that simply rousts thousands of people from tent sites each morning with insufficient support for where they will go will only add to the chaos and instability that the city is trying to counter. As the city works with governmental and nonprofit partners to flesh out its response, it should keep four principles front and center: Flexibility: The law takes effect on July 1, complying with state law deadlines for communities around Oregon to develop objectively reasonable guidelines on the time, place and manner in which homeless individuals can camp. City leaders have already indicated that they expect an educational period before enforcement takes place. But they should also take to heart the concerns, if not the exact prescription offered by City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, who wants the city to ensure sufficient police training and to wait for the opening of two planned mass camping sites before enforcement begins. Appropriate police training should be non-negotiable. And while the city should not wait for the opening of the sanctioned camping sites the first is to open in July and the second in the fall it must confirm that Portlands thousands of homeless residents have reasonable access to services, day centers and other locations to avoid violating the law. Simplicity: Advocates and attorneys noted the complexity of the citys camping restriction ordinance. Besides banning tents from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the city has also declared a long list of areas off-limits to camping at any time, including sidewalks, areas around schools, the public right-of-way along High Crash Corridor streets and within 250 feet of an Environmental overlay zone, River Natural overlay zone, River Environmental overlay zone, Pleasant Valley Natural Resource overlay zone, or a special flood hazard area. Like many things about Portland bureaucracy, this is ridiculously complicated. Which stretches of which streets count as high crash corridors? Whats a River Environmental overlay zone and where are the boundaries? The city must focus more on telling people where they can camp and where they can go, rather than dictating incomprehensible prohibitions. Sharing the financial burden: While the citys analysis of the ordinance considers various costs to city operations, it doesnt specifically contemplate the financial impact to nonprofits offering services during the day where homeless campers will likely go. And Bowman said the city may provide dollars, but he also noted that some day centers are already underutilized. Its unclear which operations hes referencing, but thats beside the point, considering how the new ordinance upends status quo. The city should work with the county and nonprofits to direct additional homeless services tax dollars to help organizations serve the expected increase in need. That conversation should also include how to help provide security and stability, perhaps by assigning outreach specialists and counselors to specific nonprofits where they can work with clients; whether to add facilities, such as sanitation services or storage lockers near day centers; and how to provide funding in an accountable way that doesnt place undue burdens on nonprofits. Collaboration: All of the above will require frequent, open and sincere collaboration among city agencies, Multnomah County departments, nonprofit service providers and homeless community advocates. The county will likely need to step up its day-center operations at the Behavioral Health Resource Center downtown to accommodate more people and prepare its libraries for an increase in visitors. While the city notes it is and has been in talks with various partners, the quick turnaround between the policys development and its effective date mean that clear communication and action are more critical than ever. As sudden as this is the mayor announced the possible ban just last month the shift is long overdue. Portlands overly-permissive approach has not served anyone well, and the city is right to insist that people who are homeless take advantage of available shelter and services or face consequences. But passing the law is only the beginning. The city, along with the county and state, need to do the work to make sure those options are there. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board This editorial was updated to correct that the ordinance will take effect in early July, not July 1. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced late on Saturday a major reshuffle in his cabinet, appointing new ministers for foreign affairs, treasury and finance, defense and vice president. Hakan Fidan, who has been at the helm of the National Intelligence Organization since 2010, assumes the role of foreign minister. The 55-year-old new top diplomat is considered one of Erdogan's closest confidants. The new treasury and finance minister is Mehmet Simsek, who served as finance minister and deputy prime minister from 2009 to 2018. Simsek is a respected economist who is seen as a safe pair of hands in the turbulent Turkish economy. Yasar Guler, who previously served as the chief of general staff and is seen as a hardliner on national security issues, takes on the role of defense minister. The new vice president is Cevdet Yilmaz, who previously served as deputy prime minister and development minister. Erdogan was sworn in for a third term as president on Saturday. In his inaugural speech, he pledged to introduce a more liberal constitution and to unite the Turkish people. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several foreign leaders, including NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Erdogan won 52.18 percent of votes in the presidential runoff on May 28 against his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the center-left Republican People's Party. Erdogan who has been leading the country since he became prime minister in 2003, became the first executive president of Turkiye in 2018 following a constitutional referendum in 2017 which changed Turkiye's parliamentary system into a presidential one. Search Keywords: Short link: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a counteroffensive against Russian forces was underway, while declining to give specifics on his troops' operations. "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail," Zelensky said late Saturday, commenting after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Kyiv's operation was already failing. Russia has reported thwarting Ukrainian attacks in the east and south. "It's interesting what Putin said about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion," Zelensky said. He added that he was in daily touch with military commanders, including armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny, and "everyone is positive now -- tell that to Putin!" On Saturday, Kyiv's forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four front-line areas, according to the Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). "Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces have tactical advantages in conducting assaults at night due to Western-provided equipment with superior night optics systems," ISW said. To shore up that stockpile, Zelensky secured fresh pledges of military aid while meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the weekend. 'Held to account' Trudeau, 51, and Zelensky, 45, hugged and used each other's first names as the Canadian leader made his second unannounced visit to Kyiv since full-scale war broke out in February last year. Canada, which hosts a large Ukrainian diaspora, has been one of Kyiv's key allies since the Russian invasion. It has provided Ukraine with significant military aid, trained more than 36,000 soldiers and adopted sanctions against Moscow. On Saturday, the Canadian leader said he would provide Can$500 million (US$375 million) in fresh military assistance to Kyiv, and pledged Canada would be part of the multinational effort to train Ukraine's fighter pilots. Trudeau also urged international organisations to come to the aid of those in Russian-occupied territories after flooding from the breached Kakhovka dam forced thousands to flee their homes and sparked fears of humanitarian and environmental disasters. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam on Tuesday, while Moscow says Kyiv fired on it. When asked why he stopped short of blaming Russia for the dam collapse, Trudeau said: "I know there are investigators and there are a lot of questions and intelligence being analysed on what exactly happened to have this dam collapse. "But there is no doubt in my mind that absent Russia's invasion of last February, that dam would still be standing today." Pledging Can$10 million in flood relief, Trudeau also said Russia "will be held to account" for its actions in Ukraine. Earlier in the day, Trudeau placed flowers by a wall of remembrance displaying photos of soldiers killed in combat. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Oleksandr Polishchuk handed Trudeau a box that he said held shrapnel from a rocket that fell on the Black Sea port city of Odesa. He said the gift was intended to remind Trudeau of Ukraine's suffering from Russian strikes. Iran must 'end support' for Russia Three people were killed early Saturday in a fire sparked by debris from shot-down Russian drones in the Odesa region. French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to "immediately end" Tehran's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which involves supplying Moscow with attack drones, the Elysee said. Macron in a telephone call underlined the serious "security and humanitarian consequences" of Iran's drone deliveries "and urged Tehran to immediately end the support it thus gives to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine", said a statement. The call came a day after White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Russia was receiving materials from Iran to build a drone factory that "could be fully operational early next year". The United States has said that Russia has received hundreds of Iranian attack drones to hit Kyiv and "terrorise" Ukrainians, a charge denied by Tehran. Search Keywords: Short link: Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - A large European delegation paid a brief visit to Tunis on Sunday in an attempt to reach a compromise with the Tunisian authorities that would pave the way for a loan agreement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) worth 1 Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Shoppers in Malis Gao, Timbuktu, and Menaka regions in Mali can snap up AK-pattern assault rifles for $750 and cartridges for 70 cents apiece, from locally handcrafted pistols to smuggled French and Turkish machine guns, as a dizzying array of illegal weaponry dots market stalls across the Sahel, a 6,000-kilometre-wide belt in the middle of Africa Photo: (Photo : Ana Maltez on Unsplash) As Father's Day draws near, many of us find ourselves contemplating the perfect way to honor the special men in our lives. This year, why not celebrate with a gourmet touch and transform the occasion into a culinary delight with a delicious line of authentic Italian charcuterie meats? Rovagnati, an established and respected Italian brand renowned for its high quality charcuterie, is an excellent choice for this special day. Their dedication to the art of Italian cured meats combined with their artisanal approach make Rovagnati charcuterie products the perfect accompaniment to any Father's Day celebration. Whether you're making a delicious brunch, putting together a beautiful charcuterie board, cooking a gourmet dinner, or making some tasty appetizers, Rovagnati has the perfect selection. With its brand new Rovagnati Paolo Rovagnati line of meats, there's an amazing flavor for every palate. The Art of Charcuterie Charcuterie, a culinary art hailing from France, encompasses the preparation and assembly of cured meats and other delicacies. Initially a means to preserve meats prior to the advent of refrigeration, charcuterie has evolved into a respected culinary art. The beauty of this art lies not just in the cured meats - from dry aged sausages to smoked hams and rich prosciuttos - but also in the carefully curated accompaniments, including cheeses, fruits, nuts, and breads. Each element, chosen for its complementary flavor and texture, contributes to an exquisite montage of tastes. Crafting a charcuterie board is akin to creating a gastronomic canvas. Each product has its place and role in maintaining a balance of flavors, textures, and colors. A perfectly designed board is a feast for the eyes as much as it is for the palate, with the interplay of robust, smoky meats, tangy pickles, creamy cheeses, and sweet fruits inviting an exploration of culinary delights. In essence, charcuterie is not merely about food, but a celebration of cuisine and shared experiences. Each board tells a tale of tradition, craftsmanship, and the joy of good food. On this Father's Day, let Rovagnati's charcuterie selections guide you in creating a memorable culinary narrative that will make Dad jump for joy. Why Choose Rovagnati? Rovagnati stands tall as Italy's number one charcuterie brand, setting the standard in the realm of charcuterie with their commitment to quality, tradition, and innovation. The brand's impressive history, rooted deeply in Italy's rich culinary heritage, paints a picture of its dedication to authentic craftsmanship. It's this dedication that highlights Rovagnati's distinct approach to charcuterie, elevating it from a mere culinary offering to a symbol of Italian gastronomic excellence. Rovagnati's products reflect an intriguing blend of time honored practices and forward thinking innovation. The brand holds firm to the recipes and methods passed down through generations, but it isn't confined by tradition. Rovagnati understands that tastes evolve, and that the modern person's palate often seeks a touch of novelty. This awareness fuels their continuous effort to reinvent and reimagine their products, ensuring they remain relevant and exciting to both traditional and modern consumers. Choosing Rovagnati for your Father's Day celebration is more than just selecting a brand - it's choosing an experience. It's choosing to honor the special man in your life with Italy's finest charcuterie, a reflection of the country's celebrated culinary tradition. It's choosing to indulge in the richness of flavors and textures that have helped Rovagnati secure its position as Italy's premier charcuterie brand. This Father's Day, let Rovagnati be the cornerstone of your celebration, and share a taste of Italy's finest with the man who means the most. The Paolo Rovagnati Line: An Exquisite Selection for Father's Day The Paolo Rovagnati line presents an opportunity to celebrate Father's Day in a uniquely gourmet fashion. Each product in this line is produced with meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to Italian excellence, making it an ideal choice for a Father's Day charcuterie board, lunch, appetizer, or dinner. This line offers a variety of choices - from mild selections such as Salame Milano and Mortadella to more intensely flavored products like Hot Soppressata and Salame Napoli. Each product delivers a unique taste experience, yet all are bound by the shared qualities of freshness, authentic Italian flavors, and Rovagnati's unwavering commitment to quality. The Paolo Rovagnati line's assortment of Italian charcuterie products is as diverse as it is mouthwateringly exquisite. Prosciutto Crudo, a dry cured ham, is the epitome of simplicity. With only three ingredients - meat, salt, and time - it stands as a testament to the powerful flavors born out of traditional Italian curing techniques. On the other hand, Prosciutto Cotto, also known as "Gran Biscotto," is Rovagnati's highly esteemed cooked ham, beloved for its exquisite taste and texture. The journey through Rovagnati's portfolio continues with the lean, classic Salame Milano. Renowned for its mild flavor and fine grain, it adds a subtle, sophisticated touch to any charcuterie board. Counterpart to Milano's delicate charm is the Salame Napoli, a peppery salami known for its robust flavor and coarse grain, sure to be appreciated by those who enjoy a more pronounced, hearty taste. Meanwhile, the Hot Soppressata, Italy's most sought after salami, promises a tantalizing taste experience. This salami stands out with its intense flavor, amplified by the piquant notes of garlic and chili pepper. Rounding out Rovagnati's allstar lineup is the Classic Mortadella. Known for its distinctive bright pink color and pearly white spots, this Italian staple offers a flavor that's as familiar as it is delicious, making it an indispensable addition to any charcuterie feast. So this Father's Day, elevate your celebration with a sophisticated charcuterie board featuring Rovagnati's new Paolo Rovagnati line. Pair it with your dad's favorite cheeses, olives, and a nice bottle of wine, and you've got a Father's Day feast that's as extraordinary as the man you're honoring. Celebrate Father's Day with a taste of Italy's finest charcuterie, a reflection of the love and appreciation that you hold for the special man in your life. With Rovagnati's commitment to quality, authenticity, and innovative culinary experiences, you're not just sharing a meal; you're creating unforgettable memories. Photo: (Photo : Todd Anderson/Disney Resorts via Getty Images) In a highly charged episode of ABC's popular talk show "The View," the co-hosts engaged in a fiery and divisive discussion surrounding the criticism of drag queens and the legislative efforts aimed at protecting children from "gender-affirming care" and drag queen performances. According to FOX News, the panelists passionately expressed their contrasting viewpoints, resulting in impassioned speeches, accusations, and a tense atmosphere. During the discussion, co-host Ana Navarro made a provocative and controversial statement, claiming that drag queens "don't even like children." Her remark immediately set the stage for a contentious debate, with co-host Whoopi Goldberg taking it a step further by accusing anti-woke conservatives of making LGBTQ kids feel undeserving of life, igniting strong emotions and deepening the divide. Republican Party Alleged of Using Transgender Issues for Political Gain Navarro, known for her outspokenness, passionately defended the transgender community and drag queens, arguing that the Republican Party's bills aimed at restricting their presence were driven by political gain rather than genuine concerns. She highlighted the historical pattern of using wedge issues, such as gay marriage and immigration, to incite fear and mobilize voters. Navarro emphasized that transgender issues had become the new target for the upcoming elections, with conservatives fueling paranoia and hysteria surrounding the notion that drag queens posed a threat to children. In response to concerns about drag queens influencing children, Navarro boldly asserted, "People, let me tell you this, drag queens don't even like children. They don't tip, and they don't drink, you know!" Her comment drew mixed reactions, with her co-hosts and the audience responding with laughter, while critics saw it as dismissive and provocative. According to Yahoo, the discussion then delved into the issue of regulating drag queen performances in order to protect children from exposure to adult content. In states like Tennessee and Florida, bills have been proposed to restrict where drag shows can be held. Navarro argued that parents should take responsibility for ensuring their children are not taken to inappropriate venues, shifting the focus away from blaming drag queens for potential exposure. Read Also: Massachusetts High School Parents Protest Drag Queen Missy Steak Performance at LGBTQ Awareness Day Event The View' Co-hosts Navigate Deep Divide on Drag Queens, Children's Well-being, and Personal Freedom Co-host Sara Haines entered the conversation by defending drag queen story hours, which involve reading children's literature to entertain and educate young audiences. Haines argued that these events serve the purpose of promoting inclusivity and diversity by presenting children's reading material in an engaging and entertaining manner. The debate then pivoted towards the topic of "gender-affirming care" for LGBTQ youth. Haines contended that the percentage of young people undergoing gender-related surgeries was relatively small and that conservatives were exaggerating the issue for political gain. On the other hand, Goldberg expressed frustration and disbelief at the intrusion into personal matters, emphasizing that individuals should have the autonomy to make decisions about their own lives and the well-being of their children. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin joined the conversation, expressing her perspective as a conservative ally of the LGBTQ+ community. Griffin criticized the Republican Party for alienating not only LGBTQ+ individuals but also conservatives who support inclusivity and equality. According to Head Topics, the intense debate on "The View" highlighted the deep divide on issues related to drag queens, gender-affirming care, and the protection of children. The clash of opinions and personal experiences underscored the ongoing societal discussions surrounding these complex and sensitive matters. It is important to note that the opinions expressed on "The View" reflect those of the individual co-hosts and not the views of this article or the AI model providing the information. Related Article: Drag Queen Barbada's Storytelling Event to Kids Cancelled in Montreal Due to Hate Mail, Threats Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images) Michigan State University (MSU) has unveiled its plans to create a memorial to honor the students who tragically lost their lives or were wounded in the devastating mass shooting that occurred on campus in February. The university announced that approximately $300,000 in donations will be allocated towards this permanent memorial, which will serve as a meaningful tribute to the victims. The news of the memorial came alongside the disclosure of how MSU intends to utilize the $2 million donated to the Spartan Strong Fund. Interim President Teresa Woodruff expressed gratitude towards the thousands of generous individuals who have contributed to the fund, stating that it has played a crucial role in fostering healing within the community. MSU's Plan To Support the Victims, Those Affected According to the Associated Press, out of the total donations received, around $1 million will be directed towards assisting individuals directly impacted by the shooting, with a particular focus on supporting injured students who wish to continue their education. Additionally, the funds will be utilized to aid 50 individuals who were present in classrooms at Berkey Hall or the food court kitchen at the MSU Union during the tragic incident. Recognizing the diverse healing process experienced by each person affected, MSU has allocated $500,000 from the fund to reimburse or directly cover mental health care services for students, faculty, staff, and first responders. This initiative emphasizes the importance of providing ongoing support and care for those grappling with the psychological aftermath of the tragedy. The remaining $200,000 will be dedicated to healing and resiliency programming administered through the Office for Resource and Support Coordination, benefiting students, staff, and first responders. Understanding the Shooter's Motives In a separate development, the Michigan State University Police and Public Safety Department released a detailed timeline of events related to the shooting, shedding light on the motives of the perpetrator. According to CNN, law enforcement officials found a note in the pocket of the gunman, Anthony Dwayne McRae, indicating that he was "tired of being rejected" and feeling hurt. The two-page document, written on spiral notebook paper, was dated a day before the tragic incident occurred. Parts of the note were redacted by the police for investigative purposes. The note revealed McRae's self-identification and mentioned his grievances, with repeated phrases such as "they hate me" and expressions of feeling rejected and unnoticed. It also included a list of targeted locations, indicating that McRae considered himself the leader of a group of 20 people and suggesting the existence of another team planning to attack those sites. However, investigations conducted by MSU DPPS, Michigan State Police, and the FBI have conclusively determined that McRae acted alone and did not have any accomplices. Read Also: FDA Panel Unanimously Recommends Approval of Nirsevimab To Protect Infants From RSV Moving Forward with Remembrance With the announcement of the memorial plan, Michigan State University aims to provide solace and support to the victims' families and the wider community affected by the February mass shooting. During February's shooting, according to the BBC, three people were killed and five others who were injured were in critical condition at the time. The victims were Arielle Diamond Anderson, Alex Verner, and Brian Fraser. The creation of a permanent memorial will serve as a lasting testament to the lives lost and the resilience of the MSU community. The university plans to embark on a collaborative process to ensure the memorial is planned with the utmost thoughtfulness and respect. By involving various stakeholders, MSU aims to create a space that honors the memory of the victims and provides a place for healing, reflection, and remembrance. As the healing journey continues, the unveiling of this memorial will undoubtedly serve as a poignant reminder of the strength and unity displayed by the Michigan State University community in the face of adversity. Related Article: New Louisiana Legislation May Require Parental Permission for Kids' Online Activities Photo: (Photo : THEO ROUBY / Getty Images) Ella Reed, a 13-year-old shark attack survivor, has joined a team of researchers on an exciting shark-tagging expedition. Her participation showcases her strength and determination, offering hope and inspiration to others facing similar challenges. This remarkable young girl's story of resilience and determination has inspired many, and now she is using her experience to contribute to scientific efforts aimed at understanding and conserving these magnificent creatures. Ella's participation in the expedition not only highlights her remarkable recovery but also serves as a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Life-Altering Encounter with a Shark In a fateful incident that took place last year, Ella Reed found herself in a life-or-death struggle with a shark during a family vacation. According to the New York Post, despite her young age, the 13-year-old's quick thinking and unwavering resolve allowed her to survive the harrowing ordeal. The attack left her with physical and emotional scars, but it also ignited a passion within her to understand and protect these often-misunderstood creatures. Ella's journey toward recovery was arduous, but she remained determined to regain her strength and reclaim her life. With unwavering support from her family, friends, and medical professionals, she underwent numerous surgeries and therapies to heal her physical wounds. Equally important was her emotional healing, which involved counseling and engaging in activities that brought her joy and purpose. As Ella's story gained attention, it reached the ears of Dr. Sarah Jensen, a renowned marine biologist and shark conservation advocate. Dr. Jensen, impressed by Ella's resilience, extended an invitation to the young survivor to join her team on an upcoming shark-tagging expedition. The expedition aims to gather vital data about shark populations, their migration patterns, and their behaviors, all of which contribute to efforts to protect these majestic creatures. Read Also: New Louisiana Legislation May Require Parental Permission for Kids' Online Activities A Unique Opportunity to Make a Difference Ella's acceptance of the invitation came as no surprise to those who know her. According to ABC, her deep fascination with marine life and her desire to make a positive impact made this opportunity a perfect fit. "I want to learn more about sharks and show others that they are not just mindless predators. They are vital to our ocean ecosystems, and we need to protect them," Ella expressed with determination. Accompanied by a team of experienced researchers, Ella is now embarking on an adventure that will take her to the heart of shark territory. During the expedition, she will participate in the process of catching, tagging, and releasing sharks while learning about their behavior and the conservation efforts underway to preserve their habitats. Ella's involvement in the shark tagging expedition is not only a personal milestone but also a significant contribution to scientific research. According to The World News, Devin Reed, Ella's mother, expressed her hope that this experience would provide valuable guidance for her daughter's future career path. "Now she has the opportunity to witness firsthand how marine biology can be applied and how it can create a positive impact," she remarked. In recognition of Ella's passion for science, Nova Southeastern University has even extended a scholarship offer for her to study at their institution when she reaches the appropriate age. Through her unwavering courage and determination, she shows us that even in the face of the most challenging circumstances, one can find strength, purpose, and a path towards making a meaningful difference in the world. Her participation in the shark tagging expedition not only propels scientific understanding but also sends a powerful message to the world: no matter how daunting the challenges, one can rise above them and become an agent of positive change. Related Article: Biden Sends Firefighters To Canada as Wildfire Smoke Engulfs US, New York Joins the Effort Were lodging not terribly far from Stonyhurst College, a residential school (formerly for boys only, but now coeducational) that has been ranked as the foremost Jesuit prep school in the English-speaking world and described as Eton for Catholics. We drove by it early this evening after dinner. The Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins taught classics at Stonyhurst, and his poems are said to feature details drawn from the local countryside. Given the idyllic beauty of this area, it would not surprise me in the least to learn that his famous poem Gods Grandeur was inspired by his surroundings at Stonyhurst: The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; And wears mans smudge and shares mans smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. And for all this, nature is never spent; There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And though the last lights off the black West went Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, was a student at Stonyhurst. Some have suggested that Baskerville Hall, in his 1902 novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, was modeled on Stonyhurst Hall. John Moriarty was a classmate of Conan Doyles at Stonyhurst who went on to be appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, then Attorney-General for Ireland, and finally a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ireland. But he may be most famous for having lent his surname to Sherlock Holmess archnemesis, the criminal mastermind known as Professor James Moriarty. Christopher Tolkien taught classics at Stonyhurst, and his father, J. R. R. Tolkien, wrote a portion of The Lord of the Rings during a stay at the college while visiting Christopher. At least a couple of elements of Middle-earth appear to have been based upon the local area, including Shire Lane (which is the name of a road in Hurst Green) and the River Shirebourn (which seems to be named after the Shireburn family, who founded and built Stonyhurst. And then, after returning to our hotel this evening, I came across this sobering article: Thinking about C.S. Lewis and todays emerging prophets of transhumanism. It even has a Latter-day Saint connection, though a sadly rather tenuous one. So now Im in a Tolkien-and-Lewis mood. And Im also fairly tired after a pretty long day. So, because I still have promises to keep and several miles to go before I sleep, Im going to share with you a column that I wrote eleven years ago: During a rambling, all-night discussion in the late 1960s, a famous Nobel laureate physicist told a group of Caltech students and their friends (among the latter a high school girlfriend of mine) that, though he loved C.S. Lewis science fiction novels, he hated the religious propaganda that Lewis tacked on to them. But surely Mr. Richard Feynman was wrong. The religious themes of C.S. Lewis stories are far from tacked on. Theyre central to his fiction, as they are to virtually everything he wrote. At first, Lewis conversion to Christianity following years of atheism could scarcely be described as enthusiastic: In the Trinity Term of 1929, he later wrote of his student days at Oxford University, I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. His reluctance soon left him, however, and he became, as William F. Buckley once described him, the most convinced and convincing Christian writer of his generation. While building a distinguished scholarly career in medieval and Renaissance English literature, first at Oxford and later at Cambridge, Lewis also managed to pour out a stream of essays, novels and theological works that sold widely and brought him a legion of admirers throughout the English-speaking world. He was at the center of a small rebellion in British university life during the 1930s and beyond. With his friends Charles Williams, Dorothy Sayers and J.R.R. Tolkien, he was a committed Christian author at a time when religion in general and Christianity in particular enjoyed (to put it mildly) little prestige among intellectuals. C.S. Lewis too-early death on Nov. 22, 1963, was obscured by the assassination of John F. Kennedy on that same day. (It was also the day on which the novelist Aldous Huxley died.) But Lewis fame and popularity have continued to soar. His books not only sell but are turned into movies. Why does he remain so popular? There are many reasons. He was, for one thing, a brilliant writer. Hes fun to read, endlessly quotable, with a good sense of humor and a marvelous gift for storytelling. His imagination was rich and well-stocked with vast learning, which he managed to wear quite lightly, indeed effortlessly. Importantly, he didnt disdain writing for ordinary people. In fact, he once proposed that every divinity student at Oxford should be required to explain sophisticated theological doctrines to Royal Air Force mechanics before taking a degree. These were intelligent men, Lewis reasoned, but not intellectuals and not very patient with jargon. If the student couldnt explain a difficult concept to them, it was because he didnt understand it himself. Lewis is approachable because, although he was a powerful thinker, he wrote about everyday realities of human behavior, of prayer and moral struggle, rather than about bloodless abstractions. He saw those realities for what religious people have generally claimed them to be: the arena in which eternally significant choices are made, the field of battle between the divine and the diabolical. Theres far more human insight in his famous Screwtape Letters or in the less well-known but brilliant Till We Have Faces than in many a ponderous volume of supposedly scientific psychology. Christians who lament the low state of the culture around them, who fear its moral effect on their children, could do far worse than to read aloud to their children from Lewis rich, Christ-centered Chronicles of Narnia. They would do well to take a few hours away from television or the latest hit film to enter into the excitement of his Perelandra trilogy and, along the way, to ponder its profound treatment of redemptive suffering, temptation and the reality of evil. Once, explaining why bowing or kneeling in prayer really matters, Lewis commented that it was necessary for the body to pray, as well as the spirit. In a similar way, one might say that, for us to be truly converted spiritually, our imaginations must be baptized, and not merely our bodies or even our minds. C.S. Lewis as much, perhaps, as any modern writer in any theological tradition had the ability to make his readers feel religiously, as well as to lead them to think about religion. His writings feed the mind, but they also nourish the heart. Few writers have been so successful in accomplishing that. Posted from Chipping, Preston, Lancashire, England The German-made MEKO A-200 frigate, named "Al-Qahhar," arrived at the Alexandria naval base Sunday to join the Egyptian Navy, nearly two weeks after it was handed over at the German port city of Bremerhaven. Built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) at SBN Shipyard, the Al-Qahhar incorporates advanced armaments and combat systems, according to a statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces on Sunday. This frigate is the second of the four MEKO A-200 frigates contracted between Egypt and Germany. The first MEKO A-200 frigate was received by Egypt in October 2022. During the reception ceremony for the frigate's arrival, Commander of the Egyptian Navy Ashraf Atwa conveyed greetings from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Minister of Defence and Military Production Mohamed Zaki to the frigate's crew. In May, Atwa raised the Egyptian flag on the frigate during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, marking the official handover to Egypt. Atwa emphasized the Armed Forces' commitment to a comprehensive strategy for the development and modernization of the Egyptian naval fleet, with the aim of enhancing security and stability in its area of operations. Search Keywords: Short link: How can we account for the different reports we get about the nature of certain deities? Do the Gods present Themselves in radically different ways to different people? What about the differences between peoples experiences today and what we read in the stories of our ancestors? Heres a question along those lines from the most recent Conversations Under the Oaks, edited for length: Can the Gods change? Do they change? I see debates where groups of people will argue over the personalities of the Gods they serve. One group says Theyre harsh and demanding, while another group says Theyre kind and nurturing. Do some Gods soften over time? Are some people just misinformed? Plain wrong? All experiences of the Gods are filtered through a human brain Everything we experience, we experience through our senses, either physical or spiritual or both. But experiences are just raw data. They are meaningless until we interpret them: when we place them in context and determine what they mean. That process is called discernment. Our experiences are always real. Our interpretations of those experiences are either more accurate or less accurate, more helpful or less helpful. Two people can have an identical experience of a God and interpret it in two very different ways, based on their foundational assumptions, previous experiences, expectations, hopes and fears. Which is right if either is impossible to say with certainty. But we can see how people respond to these experiences how they relate to others, serve their communities, and generally live their lives. We can see which interpretations are helpful and which are harmful. Separating me from not-me is a challenge Where ever our spiritual experiences happen, we interpret them inside our heads a place thats dominated by our own thoughts, feelings, and previous experiences. How can we know that what were hearing is the voice of a God and not our own imaginations? The best way is to know yourself. Know your thoughts and feelings. Know your hopes and fears. Know who you are. Not who you wish you were or who youre trying to become, but who you are right now. Because if you can reliably recognize your own thoughts and feelings, you can reliably identify the thoughts and feelings that are coming from outside of you. This is simple, but its not easy mainly because it requires that you be honest with yourself. Neither too positive nor too negative, but exactly as you are. Once we have a good grasp on what happened what the God in question was trying to tell us we have to put it into the proper context. The stories of our ancestors are a starting point Gods dont appear to us wearing nametags. We notice Their physical attributes, Their demeanor, and the nature of what They say to us. And then we try to match that against a catalog of the Gods and figure out who it is. The first place we start is with the stories of our ancestors. These stories are treasures. They tell us something about our ancestors and how they related to their Gods: how they experienced Them, worshipped Them, understood Them. They help us learn something about the Gods and give us a place to start in building our own relationships with Them. These stories are not scripture. They are not inerrant (and neither are the scriptures that some religions claim to be inerrant, but thats another rant for another time). They are certainly not meant to be read literally. But they are a source of information and wisdom, and theyre a great place to start. The world has changed since the Iron Age Everyones experience of the Gods is filtered through their Self. If you were an Iron Age Briton, thats going to be considerably different than if you are an Information Age American. The timeless wisdom in these stories is communicated indirectly. Anything that can be communicated directly is time-bound and must be re-examined in the light of contemporary culture. This is one of my biggest complaints with Christian fundamentalists. The cultural norms that served people well (or not) in ancient Palestine are simply not relevant to us here and now. Its also one of my biggest complaints with the Heathens who seem more interested in cosplaying Vikings than in adapting Norse principles and wisdom for the contemporary world. The nature of the Gods does not change how They express Their nature does The Gods are wiser than we are. They know all this better then we do. So while Their essential nature Their virtues and values doesnt change, how They express them does. They present Themselves in ways that will be meaningful to us, ways that help us understand what They want us to do to help promote Their work. So it should be no surprise that different people have different experiences of the same God. But people make mistakes All of this is to say that we should give great deference to peoples experiences of the Gods and what they take from them. If someone tells me the Morrigan told me to do this! Im not going to tell them theyre wrong just because it doesnt sound quite right to me. But that doesnt mean every interpretation is a good interpretation. The further from how a God is depicted in the lore, the less likely I am to accept the interpretation. Again, forms and expressions change Their nature does not. The further from how other people in our time have experienced a God, the less likely I am to accept the interpretation. This is one of the great benefits of the internet in general and social media in particular. We can share our experiences widely and quickly. We can get feedback from other people who see the world as we do. If someones experience of a God causes them to behave in ways that are harmful to others, to the community, or to themselves, Im not likely to accept their interpretation (yes, Im talking to the folkish, among others). And the more strident they are about insisting theyre right, the more convinced I am that theyre responding to their own preferences and not to the experience of a God. Anne Lamott is a Christian, but she spoke a universal truth when she said you can safely assume youve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. So, do some Gods soften over time? Yes, at least to our perception. Are some people just misinformed? Yes. Sometimes in small ways, sometimes in huge ways. Plain wrong? Also yes. A responsibility to get it right It is a great honor when a God speaks to us. It is also a great responsibility. We have a responsibility to Them, to our community, and to ourselves to interpret what we hear and see and feel as accurately as possible. That means putting aside our ego, that wants to feel important. That means putting aside our fears, that want us to do nothing because we might get it wrong. We will never get it perfectly right we are imperfect humans. But when were honest with ourselves, when we learn about our Gods in ancient times and today, and when we practice faithful discernment, our experiences can be a conduit for great wisdom. The President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on Ghanaians and the world to develop the habit of tree planting to save the planet. He said the climate crisis, and the consequences it is having on lives and livelihoods, particularly in Africa, requires that we take urgent steps to protect the world, and forests provide one the best solutions. The President said this at a commemorative tree planting exercise on the Green Ghana Day, June 9, 2023, held at the University of Ghana. The Green Ghana Day was introduced in 2021 as part of Governments aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover of the country, and contribute to global action against climate change. In the first two editions, the targets of five million and twenty million set by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources were exceeded. According to the Ministry, over thirty million trees were planted between 2021 and 2022, of which twenty-three million have survived. This year, the Ministry set a target of ten million trees. The President, who has participated in this national tree planting exercise since its inception, planted at the University of Ghana, with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the Vice Chancellor of the University. Speaking ahead of the tree planting exercise, President Akufo Addo said climate change has the potential to undo all the developmental gains we are making as a nation and a continent. He said fighting the climate crisis requires collective, ambitious, and meaningful efforts from all countries. The President said Ghana has committed, in its enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions bysixty-four million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. He said since most of our emissions emanate from land use change, addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation is key to achieving the 2030 target. The Green Ghana Project is, therefore, very crucial to delivering on our commitments, both in our Nationally Determined Contributions, and to the international community,the President added. He said Government remains committed to enhancing our forest cover through afforestation and reforestation programmes, and called on all Ghanaians and residents of Ghana to join Government in this national tree planting exercise. On his part, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, saidGovernment has since 2017, implemented several afforestation and reforestation programmes, including Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy, the Forest Investment Programme (FIP), the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP), and the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI). He said the Green Ghana Day was however crucial, as it serves as a day to awaken peoples consciousness about the importance of trees, inculcate the culture of tree planting in people, particularly the youth, scale up national awareness on forest protection and preservation, and demonstrate the countryscommitment to implementing nature-based solutions to halt climate change. According to the Minister, the target was revised downwards this year to devote more resources to nurturing the twenty-three million trees that have survived from the first two editions. He said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will continue to provide support for the nurturing of the trees. He however called on who all those who take part of the tree planting exercise, particularly in homes, offices and communities, to make conscious efforts to nurture the trees. 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 Ghanaians yesterday took another giant step towards restoring the countrys degraded landscape by planting 10 million trees in an exercise labelled Green Ghana Day. The tree planting exercise which was carried out across the country received patronage from high-profile personalities, the diplomatic community, organisations, companies, religious bodies, state and non-state institutions. The third in three years, yesterdays event brings to 43 million the number of trees that have been planted since the initiative was first held on June 11, 2021, with a post-planting monitoring survey putting the average tree survival rate at 71 per cent or 23 million trees planted during the previous two editions. In the first edition, seven million trees were planted, while 26 million trees were planted last year. Leadership President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led the country in the tree-planting exercise at the University of Ghana in the Greater Accra Region, where he was joined by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, and other personalities who were hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo. The President planted a tree to symbolically start the exercise just after 11 a.m. He planted Velvet Tamarind, known locally as yooyi by the Gas, atsitoe by the Ees and Asamba by Fantes, at the event which was on the theme Mobilising for a Greener Future. The legislative arm of government also actively participated in the national exercise, with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, leading legislators and staff of the Parliamentary Service to plant trees on the premises of the House. At the Nationalism Park in Accra, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Development led his charge in planting trees, while his counterpart from the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry organised a similar event at the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs at Dodowa. Other state agencies and institutions, including the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, and the Diplomatic community all joined at separate events to plant trees to mark the day. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, joined the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu Bio, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, in Kumasi, while the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, also joined the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, to plant trees in Koforidua. The President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, Pe Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam II, also joined the Upper East Regional Minster, Stephen Yakubu, and other dignitaries to plant trees in Bolgatanga. Prioritising Green Ghana Speaking ahead of planting a tree, President Akufo-Addo underscored the need for all citizens and residents in the country to play active roles in preserving the forest. We must do this with a sense of urgency and renewed purpose, noting that the success depends on our collective action, he stated. The President stressed the importance of all stakeholders focusing on tackling the drivers of forest degradation to mitigate its impact on climate change, health and the economy. President Akufo-Addo said the Green Ghana project was crucial to delivering Ghanas commitment to climate action, both in its nationally determined contributions and to the international community. We have a history of leading the charge when the need arises and our climate actions cannot be different. We must continue to work together to ensure that our contribution to climate solution is positive, transformative and sustainable, he added. The President said he was proud of the successes chalked up over the first two years of the implementation of the Green Ghana project and that it was important that the target was reviewed down this year to devote some time and resources to nursing the over 23 million trees that had survived over the past two years. Today, we have another opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to saving planet earth and protecting our livelihoods, he urged. Touching on how the country had taken concrete steps to mitigate the effect of the global warming and ensure that its actions did not negatively affect the planet, President Akufo-Addo said the country continued to adopt and implement policies aimed at addressing climate change. He said even though the countrys contribution was minimal, it recognised that this global crisis required collective, ambitious and meaningful efforts from all countries. Ghanas action President Akufo-Addo said Ghana had committed under its Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by some 64 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. These bold and ambitious targets reflect our vision of becoming a low-carbon climate-resilient economy. Since most of our emissions come from land use chain, achieving these targets require taking urgent steps to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, he added. Tree per student President Akufo-Addo commended the MLNR for instituting the One-student, One-tree initiative, in line with the Green Ghana project, through which, he said, the nation could inculcate the culture in the youth and hopefully jettison the culture of impunity that led to the destruction of forests. For her part, Prof. Amfo described the Green Ghana initiative as visionary because it would ensure that the vegetation cover of the country was protected. She noted that the adverse effect of climate change on food systems and humanity in general underscored the need to take tree-planting seriously as that was the surest way of restoring degraded forests. "I want to commend the President for initiating this laudable national project to safeguard our environment. The efforts by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry and the Forestry Commission in ensuring that the two previous editions of the Green Ghana Day achieve the desired impact is very commendable," Prof. Amfo added. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, has been admitted to a hospital in Milan, his spokesman has told CNN. Berlusconis latest stay at the San Raffaele hospital comes ahead of a big meeting of his party planned for Saturday. The 86-year-old leader of the Forza Italia party was released from his last stint in hospital on May 19 after a 45 day stay for a lung infection. In a statement on Friday, the hospital said Berlusconi was there for scheduled examinations related to his known hematological pathology. Berlusconi has previously been diagnosed with leukemia and was hospitalized in April with breathing problems. The hospital has previously said the politicians cancer is not acute and that he has carried the disease for some time. The hospital said Friday the present checkup meets clinical criteria of normal practice in medicine and is not related to any criticality or alarm. A controversial media tycoon, Berlusconi has served three stints as Italys prime minister, most recently between 2008 and 2011, before being banned from politics for six years following a conviction for tax fraud. He made a return to frontline politics in 2022 when he won a seat in Italys Senate, representing the northern municipality of Monza. In 2021 he was hospitalized for treatment for the symptoms of long Covid-19, according to the press office of his Forza Italia party. He also spent time in the hospital the previous year after contracting the coronavirus, and has had a number of other health concerns, including a 2016 heart surgery to replace an aortic valve. Source: CNN 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 Chairman of the Hajj Board, Ben Abdallah together with some Board members and secretarial staff, on Friday, called on the Northern Regional Imam, Alhaji Ahmed Abdul Salam, to brief him on Hajj preparations and also seek his prayers ahead of the first Hajj flight from Ghana to Saudi Arabia which took off from Tamale the same day. Before the visit to the Regional Imam, Ben Abdallah and his delegation called on the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu to brief him first ahead of the first flight. After the meeting with the Regional Minister, he accompanied the Hajj Board delegation to the Regional Imam who advised them and prayed for a successful Hajj this year. The Board Chairman also requested special prayers for the President and his Veep and for the entire country. While some of the Board members are already in Saudi Arabia as advance team members to receive Ghanaian pilgrims, the Board Chairman and the other members are in Tamale ensuring the smooth take-off of all scheduled flights in Tamale for pilgrims from the northern part of the country. Flights from Accra to airlift pilgrims from the southern sector is expected to commence next weekend. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mustafa Gbandi has disclosed that it took the intervention of the National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party for him to get an accommodation in the Assin North constituency. According to him, all 64 hotels in the area has been booked by the New Patriotic Party making it difficult for them to find a place to lodge whilst they carry out their activities in the constituency. Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that like they did in Kumawu they have announced their presence every where in the constituency. "We are all in the constituency campaigning but the NPP has taken over everything including the hotels and even eating joints. "When I was left stranded in the constituency, I had to fall on Nana B to give me a place to sleep because every where you go they tell you that the place has already been booked by the NPP." He, however, noted that this will not prevent them from campaigning to secure the seat once again. They will do whatever it takes to win the seat for the National Democratic Congress. Background Parliament declares Assin North seat vacant Parliament through its Clerk has declared the Assin North Parliamentary seat vacant following the Supreme Courts ruling on the eligibility of James Gyakye Quayson in occupying the Assin North seat. 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 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. Watch Video Below Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Pennsylvania Department Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality warning for high levels of ozone in the Harrisburg region Sunday, ahead of what are expected to be sunny skies and temperatures approaching 90 degrees this afternoon. The orange warning on the color-coded scale used by the DEP and the federal Environmental Protection Agency indicates that air quality may be unhealthy for particularly vulnerable or sensitive people. Young children, the elderly, and those with asthma or other lung ailments should limit outdoor activity, according to the DEP. Sundays warning applies to three regions of the state - the Philadelphia area, the Lehigh valley, and the Central PA counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York. Ozone is formed when precursor chemicals such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide react with sunlight, according to the DEP, and ozone level spikes are most common on summer days with extended sunshine. Precursor chemicals typically come from vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. As of Sunday morning, ozone readings at air quality monitor sites in Central PA, listed on the EPAs online map, remained in the green or lower-concern reading level. Readings for fine particulate matter - or PM2.5 - remained in the yellow or moderate concern zone, with one monitor in Lancaster reaching the orange zone for particulate pollution Sunday morning. PM2.5 readings throughout Central PA and the northeastern United States spiked to historic levels last week as smoke from the Canadian wildfires blanketed the region. The DEP encourages residents and businesses to reduce ozone by: Driving less by carpooling or using public transportation Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips Limiting engine idling Refueling cars and trucks after dusk Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature and turning off lights that are not in use For more information visit www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/AQPartnersWeb/. Authorities are advising motorists of detours around I-95 in Philadelphia following the collapse this morning of a section of the interstate in northeastern Philly. The city, in conjunction with PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police, is advising traffic passing through Philadelphia on I-95 to use the following detours: I-95 southbound: Route 63 west (Woodhaven Road), U.S. 1 south, 76 east, 676 east I-95 northbound: I-676 west, I-76 west, U.S. 1 north to Route 63 east (Woodhaven Road) An overpass section of I-95 near Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia collapsed around 6:20 a.m. this morning after a truck caught fire underneath it, according to emergency officials. The truck was carrying gasoline, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the exposed steel beams supporting the elevated section of highway were particularly vulnerable to damage from intense heat, according to a Drexel University engineer who spoke to the Inquirer. The northbound side of the highway completely collapsed, sending a massive concrete slab onto the road below, and the southbound side is compromised due to the fire, according to multiple media reports. At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Gov. Josh Shapiro said the truck and potentially other vehicles are still trapped under the roadway, saying it was still possible that someone may have been caught in the collapse, although Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said officials are not yet aware of any injuries or fatalities. Emergency crews said they are working as fast as possible to clear the wreckage; video is circulating on social media purporting to show motorists driving over the highway bridge while the truck burned below. Shapiro said Sunday that he expects to issue a disaster declaration Monday morning, freeing up funding for the response. Shapiro said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has guaranteed a fast turnaround of federal dollars to rebuild the highway, although we expect that to take some number of months, Shapiro said. In the meantime, officials are looking at interim solutions to connect both sides of I-95 to get traffic through the area, Shapiro said. The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a $212 million reconstruction project that wrapped up four years ago, PennDOT spokesman Brad Rudolph told the Associated Press, adding that officials would consider a fill-in situation or a temporary structure to accelerate the reopening of the highway. The collapsed segment of I-95 carries roughly 160,000 vehicles per day, according to PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, and crews are working as fast as possible to remove the remains of the collapsed roadway. By Thomas F ONeill Many Americans have become so divisive and hostile regarding the separation of church and state issue. The view that the state should be thoroughly secular and not influenced by religious values, especially Christianity was completely foreign to the first 150 years of American political thought. The Founding Fathers did not try to expunge every vestige of the Christian religion, thought, and values from all facets of public life. When you study the documents of the Revolutionary period, a very distinctive picture of what the Founding Fathers believed comes into view. The Founders believed moral leadership, and a virtuous electorate, were essential for the experiment of freedom to succeed. They created a political climate that encouraged religious faith and accommodated religion, rather than hostility to it. Protestant Christianity was the prevailing religious view for the first 150 years of our nations history. However, the Founding Fathers sought to set up a just society, not a Christian theocracy. They prohibited establishment of Christianity or any other faith as the religion of our nation. At the same time, the First Amendment was drafted to ensure the liberty needed for religious freedom to have an ongoing and profound influence in American society separate from government. Most of our Founding Fathers were influenced by the popularity of Newtonian physics and deism. The deist of their day did not believe in a personal god, which directly influenced our national destiny. Many of our Founding Fathers viewed Christianity as practicing and living within superstitious beliefs. However, the Founding Fathers supported religion and its public expression. It wasnt until 1947 that the United States Supreme Court first used the concept of separation to isolate government from religion. In Everson v. Board of Education, the court lifted a phrase from Thomas Jeffersons letter to a Baptist church in Danbury, Conn. He said the clause against the establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state. In this ruling, the Supreme Court quoted Jeffersons separation language as a normative guideline for understanding the First Amendment. This is especially remarkable when one realizes that Jefferson wasnt even a member of the Constitutional Convention, and the phrase separation of church and state does not appear anywhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. A careful reading of Jeffersons writings and the First Amendment reveals the government is restricted from intruding into any religious organization. People are not restricted from having religious views within government. However, they cannot use their office to impose religious views or implement them in government policy. Freedom of religion is the goal, and the non-establishment clause is the means. The only way to have true freedom of religion is to keep government out of religions affairs. This view defines religious freedom in terms of government neutrality toward religion in which no religion is favored. Neither is favored over secularism, or vice versa. The First Amendment was rewritten 12 times to clarify its intent. The concept set forth in the Bill of Rights is non-establishment of religion, not the isolation in the belief in God in government. For nearly two centuries, state and federal governments have had a benevolent attitude toward religion in general, and Christianity in particular. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, passed by the very same Congress which enacted the First Amendment, stated the following in Article III: Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. Notice that religion and morality were equal with knowledge as subjects of public education. Thomas Jefferson would have approved of comparative religion courses in the public school system that give us a deeper understanding of how humanity has searched for meaning and found purpose in life through myth. Jeffersons concept of Christianity was more philosophical than what Christian fundamentalists believe today. Thomas Jefferson would not, however approve of public schools teaching Christianity as the inspired word and Religion that we as Americans must follow to be truly American. Like most of the Founding Fathers, Jefferson believed Christianity and the gospels can be used as a moral guide. He did not believe in divine revelations. That was one of the reasons Jefferson wrote the Jeffersonian Bible; hoping it would provide a moral compass. He believed that nature and reason were key to unraveling the mysteries of our universe. A holistic education for Jefferson was not filling the mind with mundane facts but rather opening the mind to new ideas. Education is also the means to developing a virtuous and moral electorate to guide our nation forward. Many of our Founding Fathers supported religious expression in society separate from government interference. Most of our Founding Fathers would have also considered themselves deists, and they believed it best to live moral lives by example, free from religious influence, bigotry, and bias. Thomas F ONeill writes from Harrisburg, Pa. The Ethiopian government on Saturday criticised a move by two major aid organisations to halt the sending of food assistance to the country after discovering it was being diverted from those who need it. The Ethiopian government's spokesman Legesse Tulu told journalists the decision by USAID and the World Food Programme (WFP) "punishes millions". On Thursday, USAID, the US government's main international aid agency, said it was halting food distribution "until reforms are in place" to the way in which the aid is delivered. The WFP followed suit on Friday, saying it was temporarily halting only some food aid assistance. The decision will affect millions of Ethiopians facing severe food shortages due to a devastating war in the northern region of Tigray, and a punishing drought in the south and southeast that has also struck Somalia and parts of Kenya. Last month, USAID and WFP said they would freeze food aid to Tigray after the agencies discovered that shipments were being diverted to local markets. Neither agency has identified those responsible for taking the aid and reselling it. However, Tulu said the decision to halt assistance was "political," adding that "to make the government only responsible (for the diversions) is unacceptable." Ethiopia's government on Friday said in a joint statement with USAID that it was committed to addressing the "deeply concerning revelations of food aid diversion". Due to conflict and drought, around 20 million people in Ethiopia depend on food aid, the UN's humanitarian agency (OCHA) said in May. Ethiopia hosts nearly one million refugees, mostly from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. Nearly 30,000 fleeing the recent conflict in Sudan have since mid-April found refuge in the country. Search Keywords: Short link: PokerStars Summer Festival Running Through July 1 in MI/NJ & PA Markets June 11, 2023 Brandon Bloom Contributor The PokerStars Summer Festival is underway with a two-month action-packed poker and casino extravaganza for PokerStars US players in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, running from June 1 - July 31. A variety of promotions and events are slated throughout June and July with Summer Stacks and Bonus Bonanza headlining, in addition to plenty of other festivities to take part in such as Happy Hours, Exclusive Throwables, Summer Slots, and more. Youll be able to win exclusive merch through giveaways, and other exciting events on the schedule include Spin & Go Jackpots, Card Hunter, Freerolls, and Half Price Sundays. Special surprises and mystery prizes are also in store as the festival continues. Summer Stacks Summer Stacks is a poker tournament series running from June 9 to June 26, featuring 100 events all for $100 or less. Summer Stacks PA offers $1.25M in total guaranteed prize pools, while Summer Stacks MI-NJ features $1.5M in total guaranteed prize pools. With buy-ins ranging from $10 to $100, its a fantastic series for low and mid-stakes players. There will also be opportunities to qualify for even less, with traditional satellites and $1 Spin & Gos giving players other ways to get in on the action. Fans of mixed games will be happy to know there will also be offerings of variants other than Holdem, such as PLO, PLO8, H.O.R.S.E, 8-Game, Badugi, and Razz. The $100 Main Events will be two-day tournaments starting on June 25th, with a $100,000 guarantee in Pennsylvania and a $125,000 guarantee in the merged market of Michigan and New Jersey. Additionally, players can win exclusive merchandise as a trophy in select events, including the Main Event. Summer Stacks Series Highlights Date Time Platform Event 11-Jun 18:00 ET PokerStars MI-NJ $100 NLHE Summer Special, $80K Gtd 11-Jun 18:00 ET PokerStars PA $100 NLHE Summer Special, $70K Gtd 18-Jun 18:00 ET PokerStars MI-NJ $100 NLHE Deepstack Special, $65K Gtd 18-Jun 18:00 ET PokerStars PA $100 NLHE Deepstack Special, $65K Gtd 25-Jun 18:00 ET PokerStars MI-NJ $100 NLHE Main Event, $125K Gtd 25-Jun 18:00 ET PokerStars PA $100 NLHE Main Event, $100K Gtd 25-Jun 18:30 ET PokerStars MI-NJ $30 NLHE Mini Main Event, $30K Gtd 25-Jun 18:30 ET PokerStars PA $30 NLHE Mini Main Event, $25K Gtd 25-Jun 20:00 ET PokerStars MI-NJ $50 NLHE Turbo Main Second Chance, $40K Gtd 25-Jun 20:00 ET PokerStars PA $50 NLHE Turbo Main Second Chance, $35K Gtd Bonus Bonanza & More Bonus Bonanza runs June 13-19 and will offer 100,000 free spins to players in Michigan, 100,000 free spins to players in Pennsylvania, and 10,000 free spins to those in New Jersey. All you need to do to grab a piece of the promo is opt in and wager at least $10 on slots during the week to complete the challenge. The number of bonus spins awarded to each player at the end of the week depends on how many players complete the challenge. Head over to PokerStars blog for updates with more information on additional Summer Festival events and chances to win some epic prizes in the coming weeks. Sharelines The @PokerStarsUSA Summer Festival is underway in MI/NJ & PA and runs through July 31. It was a long three days here at Event #21: $,1000 Pot-Limit Omaha hosted by the World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. 2,071 entries were tallied among the many hopefuls who entered this eight-handed tournament. This eclipsed last year's entries of 1,891, a nearly 10% increase comparatively. All things said and done, it was Stephen Nahm who conquered the massive field. Sixty beers and $267,991 later, he could hardly believe it. He won just after the dinner break in a massive hand that scored a double knock out of runner-up Kevin Rand and Amir Mirrasouli, who busted in third. Upon rivering the winning hand, Nahm could be heard saying: Is that it, do I win? Did I win the tournament?! No matter how many libations he had over the last three days, this was the first time he was slow to read the board. It was true, this was real life, and he did win, receiving the lions share of the $1,795,130 prize pool. He might need to pinch himself in the morning, though, as he had at least 15 beers today and his rail insisted on going out to celebrate after. A less seasoned player may have needed a nap, but this seemed par for the course for Nahm. PokerNews got the opportunity to grab an interview with Vancouvers newest bracelet winner just after his winners photo and he had this to say: Every poker player, obviously, comes here - you dream of this shit, right? I kinda made my dream come true a little bit; Im not going to lie. Everyones new favorite Canadian was having a bit of trouble communicating at this point, but he did say hed be back to play the NLH/PLO mix and that hes predominantly a cash game player. Nahm was all laughs as he joined his rail in celebration. This is his first ever bracelet win. Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Stephen Nahm Canada $267,991 2 Kevin Rand United States $165,616 3 Amir Mirrasouli United States $123,060 4 Zachary Peay United States $92,231 5 Dan Matsuzuki United States $69,729 6 Ronald Keijzer Netherlands $53,182 7 Gheorghe Butuc Moldova $40,923 8 Jonathan England United States $31,772 9 Thomas Taylor Canada $24,891 Final Day Action At the end of Day 2, only 13 players remained in contention but short stacks were quick to put their chips in the middle. Nicolas Gola and Thomas Zanot were soon left without chips, both thwarted by the aces of Dan Matsuzuki. Paul Clotar fell in 11th place for $19,678 and Mike Gorodinsky came short of the final table with a 10th place finish for the same prize as Clotar. Final Table Action Thomas Taylor had a valiant effort but was first to fall in ninth place. Despite all the noise and his competitors' antics, Taylor remained even keel the entire tournament. Taylor recently won the C$1,100 Pure Poker Tour Main Event for C$53,000. He also final tabled the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo here at the WSOP in 2022. Hell be one to watching moving forward this summer. Jonathan England had the time of his life and was thrilled at the end of Day 1 just to have bagged. He worked a short stack almost the entirety of Day 2 and the same was true here on Day 3. Ultimately, he had just under four big blinds when he got it all in against Matsuzukis aces. He won an additional $500 because he had a side bet he had to complete if he made the final table. Mission accomplished. Gheorghe Butuc never made much noise this final table, gliding under the radar as his opponents clashed. Ultimately, he lost a flip off a short stack and was eliminated in seventh place. Butuc also cashed in the $600 Pot-Limit Omaha event that happened just a few days ago, having fallen in 41st place for $4,763. Ronald Keijzer won the $2,200 5-Card PLO event at the PGT PLO series in March for $43,700 and promptly followed that up with a runner up in the $10,000 PLO event at the U.S. Poker Open for $146,300. To say that Keijzer was playing with confidence is an understatement, but hell have to keep chasing the gold this summer, as he fell in sixth place when the wrong card paired for him against Kevin Rand. Dan Matsuzuki, who won a bracelet in 2015, came into the final table with the chip lead. Everything seemed to be going according to plan for him when he won a nice pot against Mirrasouli and Peay. After losing some small and medium pots, Nahm ended up getting the better of him when he rivered two-pair, sending Matsuzuki to the payouts in fifth place. Zachary Peay won a big hand on Day 2 that helped carry him to the final table. He had a stack like a yo-yo at this final table as he went from short stacked to tripling up, back to a short stack over his time during the course of competition. He also won a big hand against Nahm that featured quite the Rounders impersonation. The number of pay jumps he ended up making due to his patience was quite the sight to behold, but eventually his luck ran out and was left to settle for fourth place. This is Peays biggest recorded payday and nothing to sneer at in this massive field. Amir Mirrasouli was in his zone, quietly pecking away at his opponents, without many hands going to showdown. It was hard for him not to catch some attention as he started to rise in the chip counts. Mirrasouli managed to battle and stay in contention, despite doubling Nahm in a crucial spot. Mirrasouli was eliminated in the final hand, being awarded third place because he was the shortest stack when the river card fell. We'll explore that final hand with the story of our runner-up. Kevin Rand Kevin Rand was fresh off the final table of the $600 PLO Deep Stack with a ninth place finish for $21,221; a score he was able to best today with an incredible runner-up. Coming off of two deep runs in massive fields, Rand let PokerNews know that he's hungrier than ever and looks forward to making more deep runs this WSOP. Day 2 had a huge hand catapult Rand into the counts and he didn't let it go to waste, riding his stack to the final table. He did have to get lucky against the eventual winner to make it as far as he did, but that's always the case in tournaments. In the end, his hopes were dashed when his set was cracked on the river by Nahm. Stephen Nahm had a clear-cut strategy that he executed seamlessly this event. He entered the field each day sober as bone and steadily drank Coronas from there on out. It was reported by another player that he had over twenty beers on Day 2 and according to Nahm, he probably did close to the same on Day 1. By Day 3, he had it down to a science and he pre-tipped the service team, requesting that he be brought a new beer every 18 minutes. They did their best to oblige and by the end of it, he only had one eye open, but that was all he needed to see he had a big draw and spot a rivered straight. Nahm had a great time, going as far as doing Joe Peschi impersonations with Dan Matsuzuki. Nahm entered the final day as the chip leader, but lost it somewhere along the way at the final table. The momentum shifted back his way in a big hand against Mirrasouli and he got back to playing big pots. Nahm played fearlessly and ran well when it mattered most. The moment he said "Let's go" and put both players at risk three-handed, the tension was palpable, and despite all the beers, he was first to call out the winning hand. Congratulations again to Stephen Nahm, who won the final hand with a straight on the river. Stephen Nahm Stick with PokerNews for continuing coverage of all the other bracelet events at the 2023 WSOP. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The possible ramifications of the actions detailed in the Trump indictment might have sent chills down the spines of people who didnt realize just how bad things were when a Trump DHS Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism told ABC, This causes people to die. This causes people to die. This is very serious top secret, special access program when they fall into the wrong hands, people die. The United States security is deeply compromised, former Trump U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism Elizabeth Neumann told ABC This Week about the Trump indictment. Former Trump DHS Asst. Sec. for counterterrorism Elizabeth Neumann Trump indictment, This causes people to die. This is very serious top secret, special access program when they fall into the wrong hands, people die. The United States security is deeply compromised. pic.twitter.com/Avjv3HYINI Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 11, 2023 Transcript from ABC (my bold): STEPHANOPOULOS: Elizabeth, the presidents treatment former presidents treatment of the (ph) classified documents is something youre familiar with inside the Trump administration. ELIZABETH NEUMANN, FORMER DHS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR COUNTERTERRORISM AND ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Yeah, thats right. I found the indictment to be a really vivid picture for the American public of what the National Security Community dealt with for four years when he was president. He had a blatant disregard, just did not care to follow the rules. And not only did he not protect our countrys most sensitive secrets, thats not protecting American lives, because you have military and Intelligence Community personnel that are now put at risk. You have assets, our foreign allies information is put at risk. So, all of these things are leading to if, if, any of those documents have been accessed by SNOW: How possible would it be down at Mar-a-Lago? NEUMANN: Well, there were the indictment has 10,000 people that went through tens of thousands, I think it actually said, that went through it at various times where the boxes were easily accessible. And if youre a foreign intelligence agency, you know that Mar-a-Lago is a great target and youre probably trying to figure out what might be there. So, we dont know and or hopefully, the investigation and there are things not in the public domain, hopefully, were finding out what might have been leaked. But this causes people to die. Like this is very serious top secrets, special access programs. When they fall into the wrong hands, people die and the United States security is deeply compromised. Neumann is sadly not exaggerating the threat. The United States (U.S.) trove of top-secret intelligence is among the countrys most protected information. If this information falls into the wrong hands, it threatens national security and compromises the safety of the many spies and foreign citizens involved in gathering, protecting, and disseminating information. These consequences can be life-or-death, and the stakes are particularly high for foreign citizens who serve as U.S. government informants, the Cornell Policy Report explained. We covered the possible threat to our military the day the indictment was unsealed. We dont know and the intelligence community is not going to tell us, and more to the point, our enemies exactly how precarious our current situation is, but its worth noting that in 2017, while president, Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador which current and former U.S. officials said jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State. So this isnt new behavior by Trump, and as Neumann mentioned on Sunday, our intelligence community knew he was a threat to our security as it as it was happening. It was bad back then. In 2017, the U.S. undertook a secret mission to extract a highly placed in the Russian government spy from Russia. CNN reported in a 2019 exclusive that the move was driven in part by concerns over Trump and his administration repeatedly mishandling of classified information, A person directly involved in the discussions said that the removal of the Russian was driven, in part, by concerns that President Donald Trump and his administration repeatedly mishandled classified intelligence and could contribute to exposing the covert source as a spy. In 2021, the New York Times reported, Top American counterintelligence officials warned every C.I.A. station and base around the world last week about troubling numbers of informants recruited from other countries to spy for the United States being captured or killed In recent years, adversarial intelligence services in countries such as Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan have been hunting down the C.I.A.s sources and in some cases turning them into double agents. Its not clear that the unusual spy deaths are related to Trumps mishandling of classified documents as other factors were mentioned in that article (but they also wouldnt want it to be made public if it were related), but this is the level of deadly threat the former president poses to the United States, according to his own former DHS Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism. The indictment doesnt indicate that the government is sure it recovered all of the classified information Trump took, either. It shouldnt be lost in the shuffle that Neumann mentioned they dealt with this level of disregard for national security the entire four years of Trumps presidency. This is the behavior the majority of elected Republicans are not only justifying and excusing, but denying it even happened, in what might be seen as potentially refusing to do their duty to protect the United States against all threats, foreign and domestic. Neumann cant be disregarded as an opponent, either, as not only did she serve under Trump but she served on the Homeland Security Council staff in the George W. Bush administration. The United States is in danger right now due to willful disregard by Donald Trump, a man who also incited a domestic terrorist attack upon his own country in an attempt to stay in power after he lost an election, demonstrating that the threat he poses to the U.S. after losing the election is likely to be even higher than when he was in office. Trump denies all responsibility for his own behavior and says he is innocent of all charges. Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, affirmed that normalising relations between the two countries should continue. Shoukry called Fidan on Sunday to congratulate him on assuming the post and wish him success, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Egypt is keen to work jointly with Turkey to continue developing and normalising their relations, Shoukry said during the call. For his part, Fidan also stressed the importance of advancing the path of normalisation with Egypt. Shoukry and Fidan also discussed cooperation and exchanging visits at various levels. They also discussed other issues of mutual concern, the statement added. Fidan, a veteran diplomat and the director of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization from 2010 to 2023, was appointed as foreign minister in the new cabinet of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He succeeded Mevlut Cavusoglu, who had been in the post since 2015. Following Erdogans reelection late in May, he and Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi immediately upgraded diplomatic ties between the two countries and exchanged ambassadors after a decade of strained relations. Additionally, they expressed a desire to foster economic cooperation and coordination on regional issues, including matters concerning Palestine, Libya and Syria. Last month, Cairo and Ankara reached an agreement on a timeline for upgrading diplomatic relations, as announced by Shoukry in a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu during an official visit to Ankara. Over the past year, Cairo and Ankara held rounds of talks to normalise relations after both countries broke off diplomatic relations in 2013. Search Keywords: Short link: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print In a rare national interview outside of Fox, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan was called out for a Trump indictment defense that makes no sense by CNNs Dana Bash. Jordans claim was that Trump actually declassified the documents while he was president, so therefore, there was no crime committed. Video: Jordan kept claiming that the documents were already declassified, so CNNs Dana Bash asked him point blank, Do you have evidence that the president, when he was president, now former president, actually declassified these documents before he took them? Jordan answered, I go on the presidents word. He said he did. Chair Jordan kept repeating his talking point that the documents were already declassified and the Supreme Court said that presidents can do what they want with declassified documents, so at one point, Bash said to him, Sir, you can keep talking about this. I want to talk about the substance of this indictment. I want to talk about the alleged obstruction in the indictment. The big problem for Jordan came when he was asked about Trump admitting on tape that the documents were not declassified. Jordan tried to spin the tape and parse it, as somehow meaning that down is up and the documents were really declassified, but Bash responded, But he says point blank, on tape as president I could have declassified it. Now I cant. He says in his own words its on tape as part of this indictment that he did not declassify the material. Therefore, it is classified. Jordan could only respond with, Dana, saying he could have, saying he could have is not the same as saying he didnt. Bash later told Jordan that he wasnt making sense, He is saying point blank in this audio tape he did not declassify it. What youre saying just doesnt make sense on its face. Video: Dana Bash to Jim Jordan, "What you are saying doesn't make sense on its face." pic.twitter.com/AEPyeYTbR2 Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 11, 2023 Dana Bash telling Jim Jordan that he doesnt make sense sums up the whole interview. Any defense of Trump has to be based on magical thinking, nonsense, a complete denial of the facts, and Trumps own statements on tape. Jim Jordan made no sense, and if this interview was a dry run for the Republican defense of Trump, the GOP is in big trouble. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Sen. Lindsey Graham was asked if Trump did anything wrong. He responded by trying to change the subject to Hillary Clinton and then had an outburst when he was called out on it. Video: Graham was asked by ABC This Weeks George Stepanonopolus, Senator Graham, thank you for joining us. Donald Trump said repeatedly that he didnt do anything wrong, do you believe that? Graham answered, Here is what I believe. We live in America where if you are a Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton. And when an investigation is had about your activity - The This Week host stopped him, No, senator. Youre not answering the question. Graham blew up: No, let me finish. It is ridiculous. I am trying to answer the question from a Republicans point of view. It may not be acceptable on the show. I dont like Joe Biden had classified information in the garage. I dont like that Mike Pence carelessly took information. What I dont like is a secretary of the state whos a Democratic candidate for president has people take a hammer to social media devices and break them apart and applied bleach bit to a hard drive to erase e-mails and allow classified information to get on a felons computer, Anthony Weiner. Most Republicans believe that we live in a country where Hillary Clinton did the same thing and nothing happened to her. President Trump will have his day in court, but espionage charges is absolutely ridiculous. He did not provide information for a foreign power or a news organization to damage this country. Hes not a spy. Hes overcharged. Your own boss committed perjury in a civil lawsuit and obstruct justice in a dozen ways and he didnt get prosecuted. He was impeached. Republicans Cant Function Outside Of Conservative Media Grahams blow-up happened because a non-conservative media outlet would not allow him to change the subject to Hillary Clinton. If Graham was doing the same interview on Fox News, he would be able to have a whole discussion about Hillary Clinton and why Trump should not be prosecuted. The same situation happened when Jim Jordan went on CNN and was asked objective questions about Trumps indictment. Dana Bash wanted to talk about substance while Jordan was only interested in throwing Republican fantasies against the wall to see if anything would stick. Bash ended up telling Jordan that his argument made no sense. Lindsey Graham has plopped himself into the camp of this is all unfair to Trump, because if Hillary Clinton wasnt prosecuted, Trump shouldnt be either. Of course, Hillary Clinton didnt hide boxes of classified documents, lie to the Department of Justice, and show classified information to other people, so the situations are not the same in key areas, but Lindsey Graham cant defend Trump, so he is going to talk about Hillary Clinton then get angry if his BS is called out. Many Republicans are acting like a broken cult that cant accept reality in response to Donald Trump being indicted. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Former federal prosecutor and now congressman Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY) said that Trump could be facing jail time if he is convicted in the classified documents case. Video: Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) talks about the lawless bias toward Trump by Judge Aileen Cannon, "The concern I think for many right now is that the judge that it was assigned to is a judge that has demonstrated unusual and somewhat lawless bias towards Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/zaj2ioynUg Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 11, 2023 Goldman was asked by Jen Psaki about potential jail time for Trump, Well it should not be whatever the maximum sentences. There are sentencing guidelines that govern sentencing, and which will be dramatically less than the total, you know, statutory maximum of all of these crimes combined. You know, there is real potential, and likely jail time, if he is convicted. Rep. Goldman went on to say that there is concern over Judge Aileen Cannon and how she might try to shape the trial to help Trump because she has wide discretion on evidentiary rules, but if Trump is convicted, he will not get the maximum prison sentence, but he will be facing jail time. Trump is soon to be 77 years old, so it is not likely that the government would seek to lock him up for the rest of his life. Just getting a felony conviction would probably be enough to forever remove Donald Trump from national politics. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 94F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. A return trip from a stock car race took a terrifying high-speed turn last month. Not on a highway. On a runway, in rural Dorchester County. A newly released federal safety report paints the first detailed account of what likely caused a small jet with six souls on board to skid off the end of the 5,000-foot-long landing strip at Summerville Airport before going up in flames. No one was seriously hurt, fortunately and incredibly, in the early May 18 accident except for the roughly $6 million aircraft, which the fire rendered a total loss. The wreck prompted at least two voluntary safety reviews by other HondaJet HA-420 owners and operators. It also preceded the abrupt shutdown of a North Carolina aviation firm that sold "fractional" stakes in 20 of the twin-engine six-seaters, which the company grounded about a day after the incident. The trip to North Carolina was classified as a routine personal flight on the locally based jet, with a pilot ferrying five passengers to a May 17 motorsports event in North Wilkesboro, N.C., where a night race included some big-name drivers from the NASCAR circuit. They left late on the return leg on purpose, around 11:30 p.m., "to let rainstorms pass through the Summerville area," the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report released last week. The pilot told investigators that he had guided planes into the county-run Lowcountry airport 'hundreds' of times" in both wet and dry conditions "and had never had an issue" with running out of runway. "The wind was calm," and the 75-foot wide landing strip was in "excellent condition," according to the safety agency. The pilot told officials he approached the Dorchester County airfield shortly after midnight at about 120 knots, with the drag-inducing flaps extended in the down position. He hit the brakes upon landing, but they "immediately began to pulsate in anti-skid mode," doing little to slow the plane. He also reported that the anti-skid system was responding more sluggishly "than he had experienced on previous wet runway landings." The pilot soon realized he wouldn't make his planned taxiway turn-off but said he wasn't concerned either because he had "plenty" of room to work with, and "'this plane has always stopped with reserve length remaining even when this runway is wet.' He briefly considered accelerating and taking off for a go-around. But one of the brakes grabbed, forcing the plane's nose to one side. "This began a sequence of left and right skids," according to the report, which described some of the tire marks as resembling "an 'S' shape." The pilot said he maneuvered the pedals that control the rudder to stay on the paved surface and straightened the aircraft out just before hitting a runway light and launching off the end of the runway, according to the NTSB report. The HondaJet then traveled about 360 feet down "a series of embankments," including grassy areas and a rocky berm, before coming to a stop. "The airplane caught on fire, but all six occupants were able to safely exit through the main cabin door," investigators said. The NTSB and other agencies were on the scene the next day. All major components were accounted for, though the post-impact blaze "consumed the cockpit, center fuselage and the right wing." The report did not elaborate about the cause of the fire, and the pilot and the passengers haven't been identified. The wreckage, captured in a photograph posted on social media and verified by the NTSB, is being retained as part of the investigation. The accident is one of about 20 so-called runway incursions involving the HA-420A, which Honda Aircraft Co. builds in Greensboro, N.C. This one was stood out more than most. For example, Jet It LLC, which sells fractional ownership shares in private planes, said it grounded its entire fleet of about 20 HA-420s on May 19 after being "shook" by the sight of the fire damage, its CEO said last month. The company then told customer to find new homes for their jets, prompting suggestions that the business was in serious financial duress before the Summerville Airport wreck. Separately, the HondaJet Owners & Pilots Association asked members last month to take part in a stand down," which was described as a voluntary data-driven "focus on safety discussions. The analysis was still underway as of June 7, board member Tim Solms said during a "Town Hall" webcast organized by Corporate Jet Investor about the recent HA-420 drama. Honda said in statement Friday that it "is actively supporting the investigation" into the Summerville accident but was unable to share details. "In all closed investigations of previous runway events, investigators found no causal factors from the aircraft's design or any system malfunction," the company said. "Our engineering and analysis supports our product as a safe aircraft to operate. As a result, Honda ... will continue all of its flight activities under normal operation. The owner of the destroyed plane is Upfrunt Services LLC. A representative for the company, which kept the plane at Summerville Airport, said it wasn't ready last week to discuss the jet's final, harrowing ride home. Even though a University of South Carolina experiment administering cocaine to rats and giving them electric shocks was paused due to concerns, it has received another quarter million dollars in federal funding six months after an internal investigation. The five-year research project was halted in November after an anonymous tip to the university that the rats were shocked for longer and at a higher voltage than approved. Animal rights advocates says this reveals holes in regulations for animal research. This only came to light because of the whistleblower," said Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now!, an animal rights group advocating for a permanent end to the experiment. "How long was the protocol violated? How many animals were excessively electrically shocked for data that cannot even be used? This research comes at a time when USC is putting an emphasis on its research. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the universitys largest college and where USC psychology Assistant Professor Peter Ventos research on rats is housed, has increased its overall federal research awards and grants by 24 percent in the last two years, Dean Joel Samuels said in an interview. Cocaine rats research Vento runs the Vento Lab on Aversive Learning at USC. Public records show he began his cocaine-based experiments on rodents in 2019 using funding from the National Institutes of Health. Hes received more than $1 million in the past five years for this project. "Research in the Vento Lab focuses on brain pathways mediating aversive learning and cost-benefit decision-making," Vento's USC faculty page says. The rat research is intended to explore important questions about human cognitive processes and behaviors, the site says: "How do we learn from negative experiences in day-to-day life, and how do we come to avoid suboptimal outcomes in the future? What are the neural circuits that control these processes and how are they perturbed in individuals battling substance abuse, depression, or anxiety disorders? Charleston, SC (29403) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 95F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Egypt's Minister of Health and Population Khalid Abdel-Ghaffar announced the launch of the first stage of the Cancer Early Detection presidential initiative. As part of the broader 100 Million Health initiative, this programme offers free-of-charge services aimed at early cancer detection in the lungs, prostate, colon and cervix. The goal is to reduce both deaths and the financial burden associated with advanced cases, according to a statement by Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar. The initial phase of the initiative aims to screen between three and four million citizens for prostate and lung cancer. It is being implemented in nine governorates, including Alexandria, Beheira, Matrouh, Damietta, Qalioubiya, Fayoum, Assiut, South Sinai and Port-Said, with plans to expand it to more governorates in the future, the spokesman added. Citizens in these governorates above 18 can access services by visiting their nearest health unit and completing an electronic questionnaire to determine which disease to test for. Patients are then referred to initiative-affiliated hospitals for necessary radiological and laboratory tests, he explained. In cases where the results are positive, patients will be directed to a multidisciplinary committee to determine the appropriate treatment plan. Egypts cancer risks Egypt detects 166,000 cancer cases annually, according to a statement by the Head of the Oncology Department at the National Cancer Institute Mustafa El-Sayed. According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data, Egypt recorded 128,892 cancer cases in 2018, with 85,432 resulting in death. Breast and liver cancer had the highest incidence and mortality rates among various types of cancer. Figures released by the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) in 2020 show that there were 134,632 cancer cases in Egypt, with breast and liver cancer again recording the highest number of cases. Egypt has been exerting efforts toward minimizing the number of cancer cases and deaths through various initiatives that fall under the 100 Million Health initiative. Egypt launched a presidential initiative to screen for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, in March 2022 as an extension of the national initiative to screen for hepatitis C virus and non-communicable diseases. In May, the ministry signed an agreement with Roche, a Swiss multinational healthcare company, to improve medical care for liver fibrosis and early detection of liver tumours. Search Keywords: Short link: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham emerged Sunday as one of Donald Trump's most ardent and vocal defenders, questioning the federal indictment of the former president, scoffing at the FBI's 2016 investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and calling the Espionage Act charges against Trump "absolutely ridiculous." "Whether you like Trump or not, he did not commit espionage," the South Carolina Republican said in a June 11 interview on ABC News' "This Week." "He did not disseminate, leak or provide information to a foreign power good news organization to damage this country. He is not a spy. He's overcharged," Graham said. Graham's remarks put him at odds with Trump's former Attorney General William Barr, who described the charges against Trump under the Espionage Act as "solid counts" in a "Fox News Sunday" interview. "I was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents and how many there were, frankly," Barr said. He later stressed that the country must wait to see what the defense says in response. "But even half of it is true, then he's toast," Barr said. "It's a very detailed indictment, and it's very, very damning." With his comments, Graham becomes the latest high-profile South Carolina Republican to hit the national airwaves to defend Trump after a grand jury in Miami handed down the historic indictment. It is the first time a former U.S. president has ever faced federal charges. Trump faces 37 federal charges that accuse him of mishandling classified documents he kept after leaving office and then obstructing the governments efforts to reclaim them. The bulk of the charges, 31 of them, are related to the willful retention of national defense information a violation of the Espionage Act. According to the indictment, which was unsealed June 9 by the Department of Justice, Trump is accused of keeping documents related to "nuclear weaponry in the United States" and the "nuclear capabilities of a foreign country." Other documents came from White House intelligence briefings, including some that detailed the military capabilities of the U.S. and other countries, according to the indictment. Prosecutors further alleged that Trump showed off the documents to people who did not have security clearances to review them, and later tried to conceal documents from his own lawyers as they sought to comply with federal demands to find and return them. During the ABC News interview, Graham was asked repeatedly about the specific allegations related to Trump's handling of classified information, including what prosecutors have said is a recording of Trump in which he is heard discussing a government secret with others while acknowledging it was still classified. "I don't know what happened, I haven't heard the audio," Graham said. Pressing Graham about the specific allegations Trump is facing again, the program's host George Stephanopoulos asked Graham directly: "How is that OK?" "I'm not saying it's OK," Graham fired back. "I'm not saying it's OK to take a hammer to a Blackberry," he continued, alluding to findings from the FBI investigation into Clinton. "I think none of this is OK." When Stephanopoulos pushed back and said Clinton was investigated fully, Graham let out a short laugh and said sarcastically, "Yeah right." In the event of a conviction, Trump could face a substantial prison sentence. The top charges carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Graham predicted Trump is stronger politically today than he was before. "I think the espionage charges are ridiculous. I think what happened to Hillary Clinton what she got away with, is very similar to what happened to President Trump, and we'll have an election and we'll have a trial," Graham said. "But I promise you this: Most Americans believe, most Republicans believe, that the law is used as a weapon against Donald Trump." Despite his impending legal battles, Trump remains the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner. And even as they are battling Trump for their partys presidential nomination, most of the GOP presidential candidates have largely rallied behind Trump. The two contenders from South Carolina, former Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, separately characterized the indictment as politically motivated. "What we've seen over the last several years is the weaponization of the Department Justice against the former president," Scott said on Fox News hours after the indictment. "You don't have to be a Republican to see injustice and want to fix it. You don't have to be a Democrat to see injustice and want to fix it. You just have to be an American and stand up for the right thing." The following day, Haley issued a statement on Twitter that asserted: "This is not how justice should be pursued in our country." But the rest of Haley's comment was more opaque, using language that could be read as an oblique dig at Trump or current White House occupant, President Joe Biden. "The American people are exhausted by the prosecutorial overreach, double standards and vendetta politics," Haley wrote. "Its time to move beyond the endless drama and distractions." Others have deployed decidedly different responses, with former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson calling for Trump to drop out of the race to tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy promising to pardon Trump if he is elected president. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Isle of Palms, has also rushed to Trump's defense in recent days. During a June 11 interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," Mace said Biden wants to "give Donald Trump a death sentence for documents." "He's facing hundreds of years for mishandling documents, and they want him to die in jail. And yet Hillary Clinton is standing free today. She's bragging about the two-tier system of justice; raising money off of it," said Mace. Mace, who drew Trump's ire after openly criticizing him in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack, has stressed that her concerns are focused on what she sees as the weaponization of the executive branch to take out political enemies. She has also continued to insinuate that there is a connection between the timing of the indictment and the progress made by the House Oversight Committee, which is probing the FBI and its handling of alleged foreign payments to Biden and his family. But speaking to CNN Friday, Mace acknowledged Republicans had no evidence of coordination between the Justice Department and the White House. Mace worked on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, but has said she is staying neutral in the 2024 race for now. Graham has endorsed Trump's 2024 reelection bid, and is a member of the campaign's S.C. leadership team. Gov. Henry McMaster, a South Carolina Trump team backer, was also among those critical of the charges being filed, saying it has added to the atmosphere of lost confidence in the Justice Department. "Now I wonder where this is going to stop," he told reporters in Columbia last week. Trump is scheduled to appear in court in Miami on June 13. Alexander Thompson contributed from Columbia. It is often said that certain things are beyond the control of humans, and that includes where we find love. Perhaps, this saying also applies to one-time royalty, Damilola, one of the runaway wives of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III, who has sought love online. Known as Dami, the 26-year-old mother-of-one, in November 2020, made headlines when she fled the Alaafins palace, leaving her marriage to the traditional ruler behind. She was the third Olori to have left the marriage, shortly after her co-queen, Aanu, left. Dami was a guest on a recent episode of a matchmaking show of famous Yoruba actor Kehinde Adams, also known as Lege Miami. Lege hosts a live show on Instagram where females and males seeking love can strut their stuff for potential suitors. It was on one of those shows on Friday that the former Olori was spotted seeking love. Introducing her to the show, Lege described her as a single mother and Iyawo of the late Alaafin of Oyo. He then instructed her to place her phone firmly, move away from her phone, turn on her light and change from her Abaya to something more revealing. Lege specifically asked her to wear a short and round neck top. Dami, during the hook-up show, said she wanted true love and a husband, and Lege intermittently interjected the conversation reminding her to speak in English and not Yoruba. Escapee, returnee At 23, Olori Damilola fled the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo. Some say she ran to Lagos with another Queen, Aanu. However, one year later, Olori Damilola tendered a public apology to the monarch on her official Instagram account. I write this in tears and beg every good mother to please plead with my husband (Alaafin of Oyo) on my behalf to forgive me. And to all those that contributed money, when I get back to the palace, I will refund you, people, she wrote In addition to the apology, the ex-queen pleaded with Alaafin and the royal family to be allowed to return to the palace and accused her friends of leading her astray. Royal widowhood With Olori Damilola putting herself out there for prospective suitors, many have wondered if the Yoruba tradition permits such. Ifayemi Elebuibon, an Ifa priest, in a 2022 interview with PREMIUM TIMES, spoke about the position of the Yoruba tradition regarding the fate of the late monarchs wives. Mr Elebuibon, based in Oyo State, said the queens could either remarry after the late kings burial rites or remain in the palace where the new king would inherit them as his wives. He said: Aftright of passage ceremonies, those who wished to return to the palace can stay. The new Oba will come and take care of them, and those who want to remarry can go and remarry. The new monarch would inherit them as part of his inheritance to the throne, he said. He explained that the wives of the Alaafin could only remarry after fulfilling traditional sacred rites of atonements and disassociating themselves from the palace. They are not allowed to marry any member of the royal family or ruling branch. True to his position, the burial rites of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi, who died at 83, were concluded in April 2022 in the ancient town of Oyo. In that case, Olori Damilola has given herself one full year before publicly making herself available to prospective suitors. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The appointment of George Akume by President Bola Tinubu as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) last week was received with mixed reactions by Nigerians. In any case, almost every new political appointment draws different feelings from the public, ranging from surprise, sadness, joy, and indifference to outright scorn. That is the way it is, here and abroad. The varied feelings, most times, are heightened by the unpredictability that comes with such an appointment and the attendant speculations by various political marketers and analysts before the appointment is formally announced. So, in a way, Mr Akumes choice also came with its own bag of assorted feelings. However, whatever feeling one may have about Mr Akumes appointment, Nigeria has a new SGF. The office is considered the engine room (because of the enormity of the functions and responsibilities associated with it) of the executive arm of the federal government. The president who has the prerogative of appointment has exercised his power, and that is it for now. Not even the National Assembly can reverse the decision of the president because the appointment of the SGF is not subject to the approval of the federal lawmakers. But who is Akume, the new SGF? Mr Akume is in no way a newbie on the political terrain, for he has been in power in one form or another, either by appointment or election, since the country returned to civil rule in 1999. A former civil servant, the former Benue State governor is both a political machine and a survivalist, all rolled into one, given his numerous political conquests and fewer losses. For over two decades, he has won some political battles as one of the few durable power brokers in the North-central state. He also has some scars, which testify to his bruises during his peregrination as a political operator at the subnational and national levels. The survivalist that he is, he always finds a way to prominence again whenever he suffers a setback. Two terms as governor Mr Akume was elected the governor of Benue State in 1999 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was a foundation member. Before his ascension to the top political job in the state, he had previously worked as a public civil servant, rising to the top of his career before venturing into the murky water of politics. He won his reelection as governor in 2003 on the same partys ticket and completed his second term in office in 2007. At the end of his tenure, he facilitated the emergence of his successor, Gabriel Suswam, who was then a member of the House of Representatives, while he joined the Senate to represent Benue North-west, all on the platform of the PDP. Parting ways with Suswam and his displacement from the PDP Most political relationships often hit the rock due to a clash of interests, ego, supremacy battle, ambition etc. Mr Akumes political association with his successor became torn reportedly over irreconcilable differences. His estrangement from Mr Suswan made him become an internally displaced person in a PDP where he was the garrison commander in the state. His was now a case of a godfather who had the roof of his house removed by his estranged godson, who had become the Lord of the Manor by virtue of him being the reigning governor! He later found relief in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a political creation of Bola Tinubu, who founded the party to advance his own political interests and those of his allies. Perhaps his intersection with Mr Tinubu at that point when he was frantically looking for a new political shelter after Mr Suswam had elbowed him out of the PDP in Benue State was what further cemented his relationship with the president, despite both being members of Class 1999 of Nigerian governors, though of different political parties at the time. Mr Akume, against the run of play, found his way back to the Senate in 2011 on the platform of the ACN, thus surviving another landmine again. He also served as the minority leader of the 7th Senate. READ ALSO: By 2015, the political atmosphere in the country had changed significantly. Some opposition parties had teamed up to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in February 2013, which challenged for power at the federal level and won in the 2015 presidential election, defeating the then President Goodluck Jonathan Being the leader of the ACN in the state, he naturally transmuted into the leader of the APC in the state. According to those familiar with the insider dealings, Mr Akume offered the partys gubernatorial ticket to Samuel Ortom, who had just lost his bid for the PDP ticket. Mr Ortom thus contested the 2015 election on the ticket of the APC and won. Mr Akume, on the other hand, won his reelection to the Senate to continue representing the people of Benue North-west. Akume and Ortom fell apart Just the way the political bromance between Messrs Akume and Suswan collapsed like a pack of cards, his relationship with Mr Ortom also went sour and did not last long enough till the next election cycle. But this time, Mr Ortom could not hijack the APC from him and thus returned to the PDP, where he was reelected for a second term in 2019. Mr Akume, however, lost his return bid to the senate for a fourth term to Emmanuel Oker-Jev of the PDP, but he did not stay in political Siberia for too long. Former President Muhammadu Buhari offered him a leeway to escape political irrelevance, especially at the state level: he appointed him Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until the expiration of the administration on 29 May. One thing was common to both Messrs Ortom and Suswam in their fight against Mr Akume: they accused him of being overbearing and interferring in their administrations. The allegation is a trait common to many political godfathers in this part of the world. One commentator, in a piece published shortly on Facebook after Mr Akume was appointed the SGF, said he hoped the allegation of interference with those he helped to power would not happen in the case of Governor Hyacinth Alia this time. Well, that is in the womb of time. 2023: The return of Akume Mr Akume, 69, a graduate of Sociology from the University of Ibadan, where he also bagged a Masters in Labour Relations, regained the political control of Benue State in a ruthless fashion in the 2023 general elections. Although he was not on the ballot, he is credited with being the driver of how APC bounced back as the ruling party in the state, trouncing the PDP in almost all the elections: from the House of Assembly to the House of Representatives and Senate to the governorship seat. The APC tsunami in the state also quenched the ambition of Mr Suswam, who wanted to return to the Senate for a second term. Mr Ortom could not also fulfil his ambition of retiring to the Senate, just like his predecessors, in the election. Without taking anything away from the statewide popularity of the AP governorship candidate, Mr Alia, Mr Akume reportedly backed him to win the ticket of the party against other formidable candidates in the primary election. Mr Alia, now the second Catholic priest to govern the state, won, relying on the political machine of Mr Akume. The first priest to be elected was Moses Adasu, a reverend father now deceased, who governed the state between January `1992 and November 1993. Mr Akume, perhaps copying from the playbook of Mr Tinubu, who backed his wife Remi Tinubu, to be a senator three times, facilitated the emergence of his wife Regina Akume as the member-elect for Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency in the forthcoming 10th House of Representatives. She defeated John Dyegh, PDP, who sought reelection to the House. In the 2023 general elections in the state, the APC produced the governor, won two senatorial seats, cleared 10 out of the 11 seats in the House of Representatives and picked 21 out of the 32 seats in the state House of Assembly. Failed APC national chairmanship bid Just like his failed reelection bid to the Senate in 2019 was a setback to him, his futile attempt to become the national chairman of the APC will also count as one of his losses. The position of the APC substantive national chair became vacant in 2020 following the removal of Adams Oshiomhole from the seat. The leadership of the party, including the Buhari presidency, had zoned the position to the North-central geopolitical zone, after which the Mai Mala Buni-caretaker-led committee was asked to conduct a national convention to elect a new chair for the party, among others. Mr Akume threw his hat into the ring, even while serving as a minister. He corralled his vast political networks to advance the bid, which eventually failed to materialise as the Presidency, in cahoots with the most dominant faction of the party, preferred another Class 1999 ex-governor, Abdullahi Adamu, to be the party chair. At the end of the campaign, Mr Akume withdrew from the race and declared support for Mr Adamu, who was, until then, a serving senator. Failed Deputy Senate President bid Until the morning of the election in June 2015, Mr Akume would probably have been seeing himself as the next deputy president of the 8th Senate. He was the minority leader in the 7th Senate. Had he clinched the position of the DSP in the 8th Senate, that would have been some political elevation for him. Of course, he was right to see himself as the next DSP because he had been endorsed and selected by a faction of the party which supposedly had the imprimatur of Mr Buhari in a mini intra-party election. Mai Mala Buni, then the national secretary of the APC, was the returning officer of the election held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Ahmad Lawan was nominated and endorsed as the Senate President by the same faction. The group reportedly had the backing of the then titular National Leader of the party Bola Tinubu, now president. But the groups ambition vapourised on the day of the election following the deft move of Bukola Saraki, ex-Kwara governor, who emerged as the Senate President alongside Ike Ekweremadu, a PDP senator, now serving a jail term in the United Kingdom for organ trafficking. Mr Lawan eventually became the Majority Leader after the removal of Ali Ndume, while Mr Akume headed the senate committee on the army. Allegations Theres hardly any politician in Nigeria not facing an allegation of graft. Mr Akume is no exception as he faces a slew of allegations made against him, mostly from his home state by erstwhile political associates. One such allegation is by Mr Ortom that Mr Akume misappropriated N4.56 billion when he was governor between 1999 and 2007. Mr Ortom, through the Attorney General of the State, in 2021, called on the anti-graft agencies in the country the EFCC and ICPC- and the Inspector General of Police to investigate the allegation, which Mr Akume dismissed as baseless and unfounded. A cursory check shows that the new SGF has never been invited by either the EFCC or ICPC over the allegation or any other. Another allegation that rattled Mr Akume was the issue of certificate forgery levelled against him by one Phillip Agbese, an indigene of Benue State. Mr Agbese had alleged in 2013 that Mr Akume forged his WAEC, NYSC and B.Sc certificates with which he contested the 1999 governorship election. He filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, Mr Akume, through his counsel, told the court to dismiss the case, saying his certificates were genuine. He said although he lost the original copies of the aforesaid certificates, he had the certified true copies of the credentials from the awarding institutions. This newspaper could not immediately verify the status of the case at the FHC as of the time of filing this report. However, a publication by the Nation newspaper in 2013 claimed that UI, WAEC and NYSC confirmed that Mr Akumes academic certificates were genuine as they emanated from them in the trios counterclaims against the suit. Responsibilities as SGF Dubbed the engine room of the federal government, Mr Akume has onerous responsibilities to discharge to ensure effective running of the Tinubu administration. Among other functions, his office is responsible for conducting and supervising the activities of various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the government. In his new capacity, Mr Akume is expected to advise the president and provide guidance on policy matters and ensure the implementation of the governments policies and programmes. His office is responsible for organising Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. FEC is the highest decision-making body of the executive arm of government. The SGF also interfaces for the federal government with state governments or any subnational body. Mr Akume clearly has his job cut out for him in his new assignment, unlike in his last role under former President Buhari, where little was known about his official duties, hindering an objective and fair assessment of his performance as minister. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Terrorists have killed twenty-five farmers and abducted several women and girls from various communities in the Rafi Local Government of Niger State. The attack reportedly took place on Friday in five villages. A community leader, who asked not to be named, said the terrorists had intensified their attacks on villages in the area in the last two weeks. Also confirming the attack, the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Musa, lamented the increasing attacks in Rafi, Paikoro, Munya and Shiroro local governments. He, however, said he was optimistic the state and federal governments would take charge of the situation. The Niger State Police Commands Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said the police, in collaboration with the military, had been dispatched to Yakila, Tegina, Kagara, Pandogari, Kusherki and other villages to restore normalcy in the area. The incident occurred a day after the killing of 13 members of a vigilante group and the abduction of several villagers in Kusharki. Niger State is a hotbed of criminal gangs commonly referred to as bandits. This group terrorises villages and traveller imposing levies on farming communities and abducting residents for ransom. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print As the elections of the leadership of the yet-to-be-inaugurated 10th National Assembly draw closer, the Executive Director of the Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF), a non-profit organisation, Mabel Ade, has called for an adequate representation of women in the exercise. Ms Ade made this known in a statement addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, and sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. The gender advocate reiterated the need to increase female representation in Nigerias leadership roles. She said: Despite our female population accounting for approximately 49% of Nigerias total populace, only a fraction of seats in parliament are held by women. This unsettling statistic drastically falls short of the 35% affirmative action outlined by the National Gender Policy in 2006 and the global average of 25.5%. Distressingly, Nigeria ranks 139 out of 156 countries on the World Economic Forums Gender Gap Index, emphasising the immense disparity between men and women in our society. As the elections for the Speaker/Deputy Speaker positions in the National Assembly approach, AAF advocates for a substantial increase in female representation. According to her, electing more women into these crucial roles would enrich decision-making processes, foster gender-responsive governance, and inspire more women and girls to aspire to leadership roles. To the President, she said: We are therefore calling for an unopposed candidacy of a woman as Deputy Speaker, if not Speaker, as a minimum step towards achieving gender parity in politics. We need your advocacy and support as a respected leader and a champion of womens rights. We kindly urge you to use your influence to lobby other influential individuals to support a female candidacy in the upcoming election. Ms Ade also appealed to the First Lady, who has served as a Senator since 2011, to use her experience and influence to advocate for a woman to assume one of these influential roles. Hon. Princess Miriam, a member of your party, is an ideal candidate we recommend for her competence, dedication, and alignment with the values you have consistently upheld during your service in the National Assembly, she said. She said the reason for the advocacy is that the effects of the gender gap are evident in the myriad of challenges that women face in our society, such as maternal and child mortality, poverty, gender-based violence, and food insecurity. These issues are often neglected or poorly addressed by policies and programmes that are largely designed and implemented by men, without adequate consultation or participation of women, she added. The 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated on 13 June. The new leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives is expected to emerge on the same day. Meanwhile, none of the lawmakers-elect endorsed by the Presidency and the ruling APC for the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker is a female. Since the country returned to civil rule in 1999, a female legislator, Patricia Etteh, has only emerged as the Speaker once. Mrs Etteh was elected the Speaker in June 2007 but was impeached in October of the same year following an accusation of contract fraud. She was replaced by Dimeji Bankole. No woman has either been senate president or deputy senate president for the past 23 years. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu will, in a broadcast on Monday, address the nation. A statement on Sunday from the Presidential Villa signed by Abiodun Oladunjoye asked all radio stations and electronic media outlets to join NTA and Radio Nigeria for the address. Every 12 June is celebrated as Democracy Day in the country. Read the full statement below: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE DEMOCRACY DAY 2023: PRESIDENT TINUBU BROADCASTS TO THE NATION President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will broadcast to the nation on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 7am to commemorate this years Democracy Day. Television, radio stations, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast. Abiodun Oladunjoye Director Information State House June 11, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, on Saturday expressed shock about the detention of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, by the State Security Service (SSS). He said in a short statement that Mr Emefieles suspension was understandable, but added that the confirmation of SSS that the suspended CBN governor was in its custody comes as a shock. Mr Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, wondered which roles SSS, a body primarily concerned with internal security of the country, would play in the case while agencies whose focus was relevant to the activities of the CBN were excluded. The suspension of the Governor of the CBN from office is not a surprise as his tenure was way beyond monetary policy. But confirmation by DSS that Governor Emefiele is in its custody comes as a shock. The statutory role of DSS is internal security, and I shudder to think what role DSS will play in this matter. The rule of law says it all can the relevant agency responsible for Governor Ememfiele step forward, but this excludes the DSS, unless this has security implications, the statement read. Mr Emefiele was, on Saturday, taken into custody by Nigerias secret police, the SSS, hours after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office. The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is now in its custody for some investigative reasons, Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the agency, said in a press statement he shared with PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Afunanya did not provide details of when and how Mr Emefiele was arrested and where he is being kept. However, PREMIUM TIMES learnt the banker was picked up from his home in Lagos and then flown to Abuja guarded by a detachment of operatives. He was then driven to the SSS headquarters in the Asokoro District of the nations capital where sources said he was being quizzed. There were speculations Friday night that the SSS arrested Mr Emefiele shortly after he was suspended. But the law enforcement agency tweeted Saturday morning, saying the top banker was not in its custody. It is unclear why the SSS is holding the embattled official. But the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said Friday that his office, the CBN, was under investigation. The SSS and Mr Emefiele have had a turbulent relationship recently. Last year, the agency accused the governor of a barrage of offences. The SSS secretly requested a court order in December to arrest him on allegations of financing terrorism, fraudulent activities, and economic crimes of national security dimension. This request was, however, rejected by the Federal High Court in Abuja because the secret security unit failed to present sufficient evidence to justify issuing an arrest warrant against Mr Emefiele. Mr Emefiele also faced criticism due to his controversial foray into partisan politics, which saw him contest for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress. Although the governor tried to deny his involvement in partisan politics, support groups were calling for his emergence as flagbearer of the ruling party. The governors unprecedented involvement in partisan politics attracted widespread condemnation, with experts expressing worries about the governors impartiality and the autonomy of the CBN. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has disowned a report claiming the group condemned the arrest of the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, by the State Security Service (SSS). Mr Emefiele was arrested by the SSS, hours after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office. Chima Uzor, who claimed to be Ohanaezes director of national interest matters, had in a statement on Saturday, alleged that the CBN governors arrest was part of Mr Tinubus scheme of ethnic cleansing of Igbos from public office and witch-hunting. Ohanaeze reacts But reacting, Ohanaeze President-General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in a statement on Saturday, said the Igbo group never commented on the suspension and arrest of the CBN governor. Mr Iwuanyanwu said the office of the director of national interest matters does not exist in the Ohanaeze leadership structure. He described Mr Uzor as an impersonator who is not known to the group. READ ALSO: The president-general appealed to the countrys security agencies to intervene in the matter, which he noted, was a criminal impersonation. He warned Nigerians to be alert for many fraudsters who are tarnishing the good image and reputation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo by making false publications in the groups name for selfish interests. Our stand on Emefieles suspension, arrest Mr Iwuanyanwu said Ohanaeze has no plan to interfere with the investigation of Mr Emefiele by the SSS and other security agencies but the group will intervene if a court of law establishes his innocence. Ohanaeze also has no intention whatsoever to interfere with the disciplinary actions by the government on officials of the government. Individuals have the right to go to court and when the court of law proves the individual innocent and Ohanaeze is convinced that the individual is innocent, Ohanaeze will take every step necessary to assist the individual, he said. On the other hand, if the individual is guilty, Ohanaeze will be unable to assist, Mr Iwuanyanwu added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The February 2024 election in Senegal is an inflection point for the country, and arguably for the region writ large. Its a country with a rich democratic tradition and a reputation as a democratic standard bearer, said Jeff Smith, founding director of Vanguard Africa and co-creator producer of The Resistance Bureau, in Washington DC recently. Yet, today, there is a president laying the foundation for an unprecedented third term and a populist challenger, with clearly authoritarian instincts, that are occupying most of the headlines, Mr Smith said. This has caused increasing unrest in Senegal, as well as uncertainty abroad about the countrys trajectory. Thats why it is important to effectively engage the US and the broader pro-democracy community, said Mr Smith. In less than 12 months, Senegal faces an important election. Mr Smith told PREMIUM TIMES why the 2024 Senegalese election is a turning point, and why the US and international community should care. The time is now to remind these audiences both in Senegal and outside that there is, in fact, an adult in the room, a former Prime Minister who, many seem to forget, finished second in the last presidential election, further describing that Idrissa Seck is a principled, experienced politician and a committed democrat. He simply needs to remind audiences of these basic facts. On recent reports which say that Vanguard Africa is the lead backer and supporter of former Prime Minister Secks advocacy in Washington, Mr Smith acknowledged his organizations support of Mr Seck in Washington DC. As with all of our partners on the continent, Vanguard Africa is honoured to be supporting him in his mission to bring ethical, accountable leadership to Senegal and to present voters with a viable option for the future, said Mr Smith, making it clear that his public advocacy organization is the one backing Idrissa Seck. Providing further details, he explained that We will definitely recommend and plan accordingly for a trip to Washington, DC for Honourable Seck to meet with US Government officials this strategic outreach will be crucial for the future of US-Senegal relations. READ ALSO: Asked about the extent of the strategic communications and pro-democracy work Vanguard Africa will carry out for Mr Seck, he stated, We will also recommend, as we do with all of our partners, committed engagement with the human rights and pro-democracy communities, as well as think tank leadership, to advocate for free, fair and credible elections in Senegal. He added that Mr Seck will effectively be the spokesperson for this movement. Its important to us, and to Honourable Seck, to help build and then maintain a global community of those invested in a free and fair poll in Senegal in effect, for Senegalese to have their votes respected and also defended if need be. PREMIUM TIMES reached out to the US Department of State for comment, including on the now escalating violence. A State Department spokesperson said they empathize. The United States is troubled and saddened by the ongoing violence and the resulting harm to lives, livelihoods, and stability. We offer our condolences to the loved ones of those who have died, and our wishes for the quick and full recovery of those injured. Senegals reputation for stable, democratic governance is well-deserved, and something for which the Senegalese people are rightfully proud. We encourage the Senegalese people to embrace their defining characteristics peace, tolerance, generosity, and brotherhood and to express their views in a peaceful manner. The Biden-Harris Administration has elevated human rights and the defence of democracy in U.S. foreign policy, and Erin Barclay, the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor has a vital role to play in executing on this commitment, said the US Department of State spokesperson, reiterating US support for the Senegalese people. The United States reaffirmed its support of the Senegalese people and their long-standing commitment to democracy, including through free and fair elections. It is ultimately up to the Senegalese people to decide the future of their country and to elect leaders who best represent them and their interests. The United States said it supports democratic processes that are legitimate, transparent, and inclusive and will continue to support Senegals electoral institutions and civil society in their important work. Senegals reputation for stable, democratic governance is well-deserved, and something for which the Senegalese people are rightfully proud. We will continue to support Senegals efforts to ensure free and fair elections that are held peacefully, a State Department spokesperson said. Pearl Matibe is a Washington, DC-based White House Correspondent, and media commentator with expertise in U.S. foreign policy and international security. You may follow her on Twitter: @PearlMatibe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print According to the Egyptian Constitution, 3 December 2023 is the deadline for opening Egypts presidential elections candidacy, General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan said on Sunday. According to the second paragraph of Article 140 of the Constitution, the procedures for electing the president of the republic must commence at least 120 days before the end of the presidential term. Additionally, the announcement of the election results must be made at least 30 days prior to the conclusion of this period. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi was elected on 2 April 2018 and his term expires on 2 April 2024, Rashwan said, noting that this means it is crucial that the procedures of the candidacy and the announcement regarding the presidential election dates take place before 3 December. Any timeframe beyond that would be invalid, he said. Rashwan's clarification comes in light of the controversy circulated, especially outside Egypt, alleging that an "early presidential election" would take place. It is not an early election, but a constitutionally mandated process, the dialogues general coordinator observed. For his part, the dialogue's Secretary-General Mahmoud Fawzi said some people think that the term of the presidency ends on 30 June, and this is contrary to the Egyptian constitution. Those who talk about early elections, Rashwan said, do not understand what they are saying and talk about something that is not mentioned in the constitution. The constitution regulates all of this. The world knows only two systems of government: the presidential and the parliamentary. With the parliamentary system, which is based on the majority, early elections can be organized. The presidential system, which Egypt is closer to, does not have early elections. Rather, the take place according to a specific date, Rashwan elaborated. However, the Egyptian constitution allows early presidential elections in only a specific case. According to Article 161, if the House of Representatives withdraws confidence from the president, early presidential elections can be held following the filing of a reasoned motion that is signed by at least the majority of the members of the House of Representatives and upon approval of two- thirds of its members. Search Keywords: Short link: Retired General Ibrahim Babangida, a former military president, has tasked Nigerian leaders to explore the gains of the 12 June 1993 presidential election, toward deepening democracy in the country. Mr Babangida spoke in Minna with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Nigerias democracy and the journey so far. The gains of June 12, 1993, presidential election have not been exploited by political leaders in succeeding elections in Nigeria. It was adjudged the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, yet politicians have blatantly ignored that beauty; the beauty of credible elections. Remember, it was an election Nigerians came out en mass to choose their leaders, irrespective of their cultural/traditional and religious affiliations, he said. The former president who spoke through his media aide, Kassim Afegbua, said that although Nigerias democracy had recorded some growth, there were still many grounds to be covered. There is thuggery in politics in Nigeria, too many litigations in Nigeria, too many issues that transparent elections ought to have addressed, he said. Mr Babangida decried increasing voter apathy in Nigerias election, attributing it to insincerity by the leaders resulting in a lack of trust by the electorate. June 12 should naturally encourage more voters to endorse democracy and election, but the turnout during our election is gradually declining. Right now there is voter apathy, thats the more reason why something must be done to ensure mass participation in election, he said. He said that the countrys democracy had gotten more advanced with some achievements, urging Nigerian politicians to work toward making it better. Nigerias democracy is getting more and more older. Democracy has come to stay but despite the imperfections, we can still get our arts together to correct some of the issues and continue on that trajectory. It is a learning curve and a work in progress. Our leaders must continue to invest their time, energy and resources to deepen democracy and sustain democratic ideals, he said. NAN reports that the Supreme Military Council under the leadership of Mr Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lagos State occupies a vital space in Nigeria; first, as a megacity with an estimated 20 million population and second, as a coastal city with endless maritime routes that connect international waters that have positioned it as the countrys most viable commercial hub. Various governments have utilised these somewhat natural gifts to impact not only the development of the state but the entire nation. Suffice, therefore, to say that the states importance in spiking the countrys development process and industrialisation has remained highly pivotal. It is, however, amazing how the state has completely leveraged the federal governments Free Trade Zone scheme managed by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to further drive the national economy. It is common knowledge that President Bola Tinubu laid the foundation for the progress the state is currently making with the free zone scheme. Currently, 18 out of the 52 free trade zones in the country are located in Lagos. They are Lagos Free Zone (LFZ), Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ), Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), LADOL FTZ, Newsrest ASL Services & Logistics, Dangote Industries and Alaro City Development Free Zone. Others are Badagary Creek Integrated Plant, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Eko Atlantic, Ogororo Industrial Park, Tomaro Industrial Park, NASCO Town FZ and Quit Aviation Services. The rest are the Maritime Services FTZ, Cocoa Beach & Walness Valued-Chain Resort, Flour Mills FZ, as well as the Oils Integrated Logistics Services FZ. These free zones with an estimated investment value of $25 billion are harbouring some of the most renowned international brands. For instance, the Lagos Free Zone started in 2002 with 215 hectares. Later in 2012, around 590 hectares were given by the state government with the construction handled by Lagos Free Trade Zone Company. This zone prides itself on some world-class enterprises like Colgate; Lekki Port; BASF; Insignia; Power Oil; Arla; HEC; Westminster; Boskalis; CNC; SBS; Kelloggs among others. The impact these enterprises are making on the economy cannot be overemphasised. It is worthy of note that the Lekki Deep Sea Port, owned by the Lagos Free Zone, remains a world-class maritime infrastructure worth $1.2 billion with the capacity to mainstream the entire African trade and logistic businesses into the global economy for profitability. It was on the heels of these unmatchable achievements that Adesoji Adesugba, the managing director of NEPZA, recently described the countrys modern free trade zone visioner, President Tinubu, as the undisputed brain behind modern Free Trade Zone in Nigeria. The NEPZA managing director alluded further that the president had laid the foundation for the establishment of the leading free zones in the country that had attracted over $30 billion from the non-oil sector and generated over 170,000 direct and indirect employments. Eko Atlantic and the four quadrants of Lekki Free Zone and over 100 other enterprises, including the newly-commissioned Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Refinery operating in the enclaves are Mr Tinubus exclusive initiatives. Tinubus presidency will be a new dawn as we hope that the scheme will be used to speedily drive national growth. We are optimistic that the excellent progress made by former President Muhammadu Buhari in the sector will be expanded and sustained, Mr Adesugba said. The NEPZA boss is not alone in acknowledging Mr Tinubus contribution to investment. Some experts recall how, as governor, his intervention on the old Lagos Bar Beach saved investments in Victoria Island estimated at over $170 billion from perennial ocean surges. Today, Eko Atlantic, also a free trade zone, is an international hot belt with a well-laid landscape and modern architecture and portends a great revenue spot for the nation. The tourism worthiness of Eko Atlantic has been further accentuated by the citing of the United States of Americas biggest Embassy in the world there. The receptiveness of the Lagos State Government under Mr Tinubu towards sound economic growth created the right ambience for the Private Public Partnership that also birthed the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Refinery, a free trade zone located in the Lekki area. In 2006, the state conceived an idea to develop some parts of the Lekki Peninsula into a blue-green, eco-friendly environment. The proposed area covered an area of 60,000 hectares stretching from Victoria Island in the west to Refuge Island and some parts of Lekki town in the east. The blue-green concept was primarily to create a comprehensive new town with important public facilities and infrastructure in the North and South peninsulas. The free trade zone scheme has rightly helped to propel this laudable vision to become a reality. While the free trade zones and their enterprises are slithering in Lagos State, the same cannot be said of those located in other parts of Nigeria. Stakeholders identify a poor understanding of the concept by other state governments, infrastructure deficit, lethargic disposition of local investors, and insecurity as reasons for this shortcoming. Mr Adesugba, an investment promotion expert, has in the last three years devoted time to addressing some of these systemic challenges that have limited the country from realising the full potential of the scheme. Specifically, the free zones in Calabar and Kano have been facing the challenges of poor infrastructure, inter-agency rivalry, undue interference, inadequate NEPZA Act and a dysfunctional system of operation. NEPZA is making tremendous efforts to obliterate some of these challenges and is leading the charge to promote and manage the scheme in accordance with global standards. For instance, the adoption of E-NEPZA has greatly fenced off some of the teething challenges of accountability, transparency and probity. There are many reasons to believe that the new administration has inherited a solid free zone scheme to drive the growth of the economy. Earmarking the countrys four major international airports as Special Economic Zones, and approvals for other specialised public zones in Lagos, Katsina, Benue, Gombe Ebonyi and Ilorin, can be avenues for the new government to begin a widespread development across the six geopolitical zones. The establishment of seven privately-driven zones is a great stimulant of the economy with palpable benefits in both employment and revenue generations. The zones include Bonny Kingdom Free Trade Zone, Rivers; Hydropolis Niger; Premier Industrial Free Trade Zone, Rivers; Koko Walness Value Change Resort, Lagos; GC Exports, Kogi; Ekiti Knowledge Zone, Ado Ekiti, as well as Flour Mills Free Zone, Lagos. NEPZA also identified licensing of federal universities of education as free zones to break the cycle of contention on funding leading to endless protests and industrial action. The University of Abuja, in collaboration with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), has applied to use the university as a pilot study. As part of its strategic approach to ensure that citizens benefit more directly from the scheme, the NEPZA is on the verge of concluding the legal frameworks for listing zones and their enterprises on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. Also, efforts are on to leverage the global over $1 trillion Virtual and Crypto investment portfolios as the authority has concluded arrangements to partner with Talent City to establish Africas first Virtual Free Zone. Stakeholders expect that the new administration would place the free trade zone on a first-line charge, being a veritable economic instrument to fast-track the countrys industrialisation. (NANFeatures) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The owner of a residential building in Lagos where illicit drugs were intercepted by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has fled. Packs of the illicit drugs were recovered in the building in Maryland, Ikeja; the agency said in a statement on Sunday signed by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi. Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have uncovered a secret laboratory producing deadly illicit substance, Methamphetamine, in a residential community located in Ikeja Lagos state where already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production were recovered, the statement read. The clandestine laboratory located at No. 4 Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland Ikeja was stormed by anti-narcotics officers of the Agency on Tuesday 6th June after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building. At the end of the search, one kilogram of already produced and packaged methamphetamine, quantities of precursor chemicals and other items used for the production of the deadly drug were recovered from the house while efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing owner of the house. In another incident, the agency intercepted a consignment of 3.20kg skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom. The illicit drugs were intercepted at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday 7th June and a freight agent involved in the attempt to export the illicit drug, Olowokudejo Oladele Tonyi, was arrested. The spokesperson also said that an attempt to export 3,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed inside women hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia, by a cargo agent, Akinwale Bolutife, through the Lagos airport was thwarted by its operatives. The suspect was arrested during the outward clearance of passengers at the departure gate of terminal two of the airport. Other suspects Wasiu, Afolabi Banjo and Tijani Damilola have been arrested for possessing illicit drugs. Officers of the Lagos Command of the Agency the previous day, Monday 5th June, arrested two suspects: Wasiu Saliu and Afolabi Banjo, with 247 kilograms of skunk at Oyingbo area of Lagos while Tijani Damilola was nabbed at Isheri with 12.5 litres of skuchies and 98kg of cannabis sativa belonging to a fleeing suspect recovered at Akerele area of Agege just as 12.5kg of the same substance was seized from Adebowale Babatunde after his arrest at Mushin on Thursday 8th June, the statement concluded. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias Bureau of Public Enterprises has said it is ready to embark on an aggressive education reform campaign towards reclaiming the sectors lost glory and repositioning it for contemporary challenges. The agencys Director-General, Alex Okoh, gave the hint recently in Lagos at the opening of the 15th edition of the Total School Support Seminar/Exhibition (TOSSE) organised by a private educational institution- Edumark Consult. According to Mr Okoh, some challenges confronting the countrys education sector include poor funding, inadequate facilities and infrastructure deficits. He said the existing facilities, especially at the tertiary level, both public and private, were grossly inadequate, especially when compared to the number of qualified candidates seeking admission every year. Mr Okoh, who spoke on the theme of the conference, Transforming Education Across Borders, said: Over 1.6 million candidates have consistently been applying for admission in the last seven years, but only between 400,000 to 600,000 were offered admission annually due to the limited spaces in tertiary institutions. He said the global COVID-19 pandemic provided a reality check on the level of ICT infrastructure, especially in Nigerian public schools, saying, Basically all the public schools found it very hard to provide virtual learning capabilities for students. Planned reform campaign According to the BPE chief, Nigerias budgetary allocations to the education sector have hovered around 5.9 to 10.7 per cent, and the sector got an average of 7.2 per cent allocation within the last eight years. He said apart from being insufficient for the desired growth and development of the most populous black nation, surviving the impending crisis of unemployment and its accompanying consequences require creative interventions from the relevant public and private stakeholders. He said, deriving its power from the Public Enterprises Act of 1999, the BPE will be committed to embarking on an education sector reform programme to radically transform and develop the sector. Highlighting the objectives of the proposed reform, Mr Okoh said it would facilitate the initiation of a sustainable funding model for education at all levels, which he noted will be implemented through appropriate instruments at both the federal and the sub-national levels. He said the reform would improve education delivery systems at all levels, achieve optimal and equitable access at the different levels of education, and increase the quality of teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions by 10 per cent annually. Mr Okoh added that the reform would also see to the production of internationally competitive graduates in all skill levels of education and ensure that curricula are relevant to the needs of the nation and modern society. He concluded that the challenges and opportunities of transforming education across borders in Nigeria and Africa are significant and interrelated by addressing accessibility, teacher quality, educational inequality, and funding challenges. We can create an enabling environment for embracing technological advancements, celebrating diversity and offering collaboration as a successful recipe for bridging the gap, he said. TOSSEs impact The convener of TOSSE and CEO of Edumark Consult, Yinka Ogunde, said her organisation had been dedicated to fostering collaboration and creativity and promoting excellence in education. We believe that every student deserves access to quality education and that every educator deserves the tools and resources they need to help their students succeed, she said. Mrs Ogunde said education professionals should see themselves not just as people in the classroom but as people that can cause transformation in the lives of their students. She urged the new government and whoever is going to lead the education sector to initiate ideas beyond the national budget. ALSO READ: Institute to help Nigerian govt reform education sector Commending the initiative, Mr Okoh reiterated the BPEs commitment to partnering with key stakeholders to reform Nigerias educational system. Mr Oko said: With over 7,000 participants each year, this initiative represents 15 years of passionate, committed impactful support of the educational sector by creating a platform for all stakeholders to interact, discuss pertinent issues and devise creative solutions for current challenges in the sector. Education is the foundation upon which societies thrive, having an important role in economic and social development, wealth creation, and political stability. That is why we at the BPE are about to embark on the critical mission of partnering with key stakeholders to reform Nigerias educational system. Also speaking, the immediate past Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun on Education, Ronke Soyombo, assured that the new administration of President Bola Tinubu would improve the quality of education in Nigeria. Mrs Soyombo, a former director general of Quality Assurance Unit in the Lagos State Ministry of Education, said the Presidents renewed hope manifesto had education as a major pillar. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Two major aspirants for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi, have withdrawn from the race. Their withdrawal was announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima Sunday evening at the State House in Abuja after a meeting the aspirants and Mr Shettima had with President Bola Tinubu. Mr Shettima also said Messrs Betara and Gagdi have endorsed the candidature of Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State, for the position of speaker. The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, who is a former member of the House, and the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi have accepted to step down and endorsed the candidature of Hon Tajudeen Abbas for the Speakership of the Federal House of Representatives. The president was quite touched by their gesture because what binds us together is superior to whatever that divides us. We are one big APC family and together we shall all go to on Tuesday. We cannot thank them enough for the gesture. And we want to commend the roles played by the Chief of Staff to Mr President, by his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Niger State, by the leadership of the party here represented by the Deputy National Chairman (North). I think our party members will heave a sigh of relief, Mr Shettima said. Messrs Betara and Gagdi were considered leading aspirants for the speakership position until the ruling party, APC, and Mr Tinubu zoned the ticket to the North-west and declared support for Mr Abbas. On Sunday, they also pledged their support for Ben Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia State, south-east Nigeria, for the position of deputy speaker. While Mr Betara hails from Borno State in the north-east, Mr Gagdi is from Plateau State, north-central Nigeria. They belong to the Group of Seven lawmakers who vowed to go ahead to contest for the speakership seat despite the support of their party and Mr Tinubu for Mr Abbas. The other members of the group are the outgone Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase (Plateau), former House Leader Alhassan Doguwa, Sada Soli (Katsian), Sani Jaji (Zamfara) and Miriam Onuoha (Imo). The lawmakers also complained that Messrs Abbas and Kalu were anointed as the partys candidates without consultations and vowed to pick a consensus candidate among them to run against the former (Abbas). Mr Doguwa has since left the group and declared support for the preferred candidates of the party. It is, however, not clear if the others will equally declare their support for Mr Abbas, like Messrs Betara and Gagdi, as none of them has commented on the development at the time of this report. The election of the new speaker and the deputy speaker will be held Tuesday during the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In giving back to the society, Erelu has mastered the art of doing it effortlessly, with a focus on the change and transformation that would be the portion of the benefitting individuals, groups or communities. This is because her motivation is anchored on the biblical injunction: Love your neighbour as yourself. She is not just a woman of substance with a heart of gold, she is a humanitarian who has dedicated her life to service to humanity. No one comes in contact with Erelu without a good story to tell. Purple is the colour today, no doubt; sixty is the milestone; and joyful is the mood as friends, family members, associates and mentees, as well as an army of beneficiaries of her generosity rise in unison to celebrate one of Gods gifts to humanity Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the immediate past First Lady of Ekiti State and co-founder of the African Womens Development Fund (AWDF), regarded as one the most impactful not-for-profit organisations, supporting women in the continent. I have many good reasons to join millions of other well-wishers, both at home and abroad, to celebrate Erelu Bisi Fayemi on her day. On a personal level, I am a testifier to her magnanimity, generosity of spirit and keen interest in uplifting other individuals, alongside the hard work in rallying support for, empowering and raising the bar for women and the girl child. Erelu Bam Bam or Ochiorah, as she is fondly called by her numerous admirers, is many things to many people. But the main attribute of hers that stands out of the pack is her generosity of spirit. Apparently, she has the milk of human kindness flowing through her veins. And for this, some call her Mother General. She also goes by the name Yeye Atayese and Yeye Oba. All these sobriquets speak to her royalty, the grace she wears like a garment, loyalty to good causes, and penchant for supporting and lifting others. To the attributes of brilliance, kindness, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, decency and civility should be added a number of others, too numerous to be outlined in a short tribute such as this. There are, for instance, attributes like her frankness, firmness, wittiness, creativity, eye for details, insatiable penchant for excellence, ability to bring out the best in people, and love for works of art. Erelu Fayemis unmatched ability to mix freely with the lowly placed, the struggling and the mighty is a classical lesson in inter-personal relationship management. And quite remarkable is her simple way of turning up bold, brave, brainy and beautiful, decked in her favourite well styled ankara or lace materials, designer bags and top range jewellery. A prolific writer, historian, and gender development advocate of repute, Erelu is at home with words. Words, creative words, are the vital flavour that spice up her weekly newspaper column, Loud Whispers and her AboveWhispers.com blog. Her words, like Mother Teresa wrote, leaves an endless echoes. Her spoken words are inspiring, reassuring and possess therapeutic effect. In giving back to the society, Erelu has mastered the art of doing it effortlessly, with a focus on the change and transformation that would be the portion of the benefitting individuals, groups or communities. This is because her motivation is anchored on the biblical injunction: Love your neighbour as yourself. She is not just a woman of substance with a heart of gold, she is a humanitarian who has dedicated her life to service to humanity. No one comes in contact with Erelu without a good story to tell. Even her most rabid critics readily admits this, as well as her ability to use power and influence quite positively. My first encounter with Erelu Bisi Fayemi was on 3 January, 2011 when I resumed in her office as her Special Assistant on Media, following my appointment by her husband, Dr Kayode Fayemi, then the governor of Ekiti State. I had resumed with much enthusiasm at the Governors Office that fateful morning, only to be told that I had been re-assigned to the office of the Wife of Governor as her SA Media. The development dampened my spirit, having not had a prior working experience under a female boss. I quickly put calls across to a few friends and relations on the fate that had befallen me. Some pitied me, while some urged me to give it my best. I walked the 300 metres distance between the Governors Office and the Office of the Wife of the Governor with dejection. All that melted immediate I entered Her Excellencys office. The one hour meeting with Erelu was all I needed to convince me that I was in the right place at the right time with the right principal. The meeting turned out an interview cum motivational session. I left her office feeling some inches taller than I came in, armed with some tips on better work ethics, interpersonal skills, and a better estimation of myself as a media and public relations professional. Your CV is quite impressive, and I have read some of your published works. I have no doubt you will go far if you remain steadfast, she told me as she opened her diary and took me through her itinerary and work plan for the next three months. Ise ti bere niyen (the work has started), she said with a smile as she handed me two books my first gift from her. You will find these books quite interesting. What struck me most during our conversation was the fact that she asked questions and showed genuine interest in my immediate and future plans, my family and my parents. Even though my stay in her office was just for six months, as I was promoted and redeployed back to the Governors Office as the Chief Press Secretary, we however forged a mother and son relationship that has seen her mentoring and nurturing me till date. Erelu remains one person I can call at anytime to seek her opinion or professional advice on any issue and she would readily oblige me. And that goes for many people, as she is ever willing and ready to go the extra mile just to make sure everybody around her feels good. She is ever positive and receptive to ideas and even advice from younger people and subordinates, she gives credit to whom it is due, and she does not fail to acknowledge, even seemingly inconsequential, gestures. Erelus love for fellow human beings, regardless of their social strata, is legendary. I remember the case of her personal photographer who just went AWOL a few days to a major event. The development caused some anxiety and we had to quickly arrange for a replacement. But when the guy resurfaced in the office a few months later and tendered an apology, Erelu welcomed him back after listening to his story. Having given directive that the photographer should not be fired, she called me aside and explained to me how crazy some highly talented people can be. Citing some of the great works the photographer had churned out, she said it was rather unfortunate he did not have the right grooming, just like many other talented fellows. She then threw a challenge at me that I should endeavour to provide the needed guidance to the photographer, so he could make the best of his enormous talent. At another instance, I witnessed Erelu insisting that a committee I served on should pay what she considered a just and fair professional fee to a chap we hired to do a job. She was of the opinion that it would be unfair to pay a poor wage and expect excellent service delivery. Based on her insistence, the chap got an upward review that positively impacted his life. There are a legion other instances of Erelu championing and defending the rights of women and the girl child. She does this with her personal resources and institutionalises it through partnership with relevant organisations and development agencies. As First Lady in Ekiti State, she facilitated the multiple births fund, which provides support for families that give birth to multiple births ( i.e twins, triplets, etc.). A few years back, she set up The Wrapper Network, an online mentoring and support programme for over 4,000 young women. Born in Liverpool, England on 11 June, 1963, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has a B.A. (1984) and M.A. (1988) in History from the University of Ife, Nigeria (now Obafemi Awolowo University). She also received an M.A. in Gender and Society (1992) from Middlesex University, UK. She served as United Nations Women Nigeria Senior Advisor (2017-2018) and is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Leadership Centre, Kings College, London. In 2000, she co-founded the African Womens Development Fund, (AWDF) the first Africa-wide grant-making foundation, which supports the work of organisations promoting womens rights in Africa. Since it began grant-making in 2001, AWDF, based in Accra, Ghana, has supported over 3,000 womens organisations in 42 African countries and the Middle East, with millions of dollars in grants. Today, I join million others in singing a birthday song to this quintessential leader, celebrated teacher, writer, women rights advocate and global citizen, Erelu Bisi Fayemi. Sixty hearty cheers Mother-General! Olayinka Oyebode, is special adviser (Media) to Ekiti State Governor. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The former Ekiti First Lady has been a gender specialist right from her youth and she has gotten better with this noble pastime as she grew older. The opportunity to do more of this came when she became wife of governor in October 2010 and for the second time in October 2018. She launched The Ekiti Development Fund (EDF) in 2011, a platform through which she assisted many categories of women, giving them grants and tools to improve their businesses. She has many titles and nicknames such as Erelu, Mother-General, Oluomo, Ochiora, etc. She is the wife of the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi. She turns 60 today, 11 June. I have been waiting for this day to say something about this wonderful woman, although I had written a lot about her on her birthdays, either when she was in government or outside it. We have come a long way and our relationship remains as solid as ever. Erelu Bisi Fayemi is not a saint but she is not a bad person. She has her own human shortcomings, like any other mortal, but she has a pure heart flowing with the milk of human kindness. Ever since I knew her over two decades ago, she has remained a dependable and open-minded person. Before she came into the murky waters of politics, as a result of her husbands emergence as the Governor of Ekiti State in October 2010, she had been a gender activist fighting for the emancipation and protection of the rights of women and the girl child. She established the African Womens Leadership Institute (AWLI), a training and networking forum for young African women. This leadership institute has become such a powerful legacy that today, having trained over 6,000 women across Africa, most of who are now in senior decision-making positions as ministers, Members of Parliaments, academics, civil society leaders and employees of international organisations. She has won many accolades for this humanitarian pastime and has been recognised by many communities outside her native Ekiti State and internationally. She has done a lot to help many vulnerable women and girls. One of this led to her award of the chieftaincy title of Ochiora of Umezi Owa in Enugu State in 2008, meaning a leader of the people. She has supported, through her organisation, the African Womens Development Fund (AWDF), many helpless and hopeless widows in communities, and they showed her gratitude by honouring her with the title of Ochiora. I remember with nostalgia when I, and other Fayemi aides, accompanied her to Enugu for her installation as the Ochiora. It was an experience that will remain evergreen for me because it was my very first close encounter with her as a very witty, pleasant and intelligent person. We were the lodged at ROBBAN hotel. I will never forget how she technically aborted our plan to hit town the night we were there, like men always do. She stocked her fridge with assorted beer, meat, fish and many edibles. She and the late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka (may God continue to rest her soul) engaged us in arguments till the wee hours of the morning and by the time we realised what was happening, it was already 3.00 a.m. and we made straight for our beds but fulfilled. We couldnt have enjoyed ourselves better if we had gone to town. We discussed almost all the topics under the sun and Erelu Bisi Fayemi was at home with every topic, especially the ones pertaining to her area of interest women rights and the protection of the girl child. One funny escapade I shared with her and Mrs Olayinka was one of the pranks common with boys of that time in Ekiti, where I grew. We were always afraid to approach girls for friendship, so boys usually devised other means of befriending them that were diabolical. A freshly exhumed juju ring, which had been buried in the mouth of a dead agama lizard for seven days, was believed to be very potent, such that when a boy wears it on a finger and uses the hand to slap the buttocks of a girl, that girl would follow him about like a zombie, and he could then do with her as he wished. I was chosen to test the ring on a girl I had been eyeing for a long time, but whom I didnt have the courage to approach. I was about 11 years old and I wore the ring and slapped the girls buttocks, but instead of her to follow me, she gave me a dirty slap and I saw stars of many colours. Obviously, the magic ring did not work! The saddest part is that when I looked back for support from my friends, they had all disappeared and I was left alone to nurse my shame. Mrs Fayemi and Funmi Olayinka laughed, made jest of me and clapped for the girl, even though they didnt know her. The former Ekiti First Lady has been a gender specialist right from her youth and she has gotten better with this noble pastime as she grew older. The opportunity to do more of this came when she became wife of governor in October 2010 and for the second time in October 2018. She launched The Ekiti Development Fund (EDF) in 2011, a platform through which she assisted many categories of women, giving them grants and tools to improve their businesses. She also introduced the Multiple Trust Fund, through which money and cash gifts were given to mothers with multiple births. She assisted market women and donated a bus each to Iyalojas in the 16 local governments of the state. She visited the rural areas and donated cash, materials and also influenced the sinking of boreholes in many of the remote areas. Between 2010 and 2022, Mrs Bisi Fayemi initiated many anti-gender-based violence bills, which became laws in the state. Such bills include the Gender Based Violence Prohibition law (2011), Equal Opportunities Bill (2013) and HIV anti-Stigma Bill (2014). Also, a Law to Repeal The Ekiti State Gender- Based Violence (Prohibition) Law (2011) and Re-enact the Ekiti State Gender Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, 2019; A Law to Prohibit Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (2020); Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition, First Amendment Law, 2020); and the Ekiti State Sexual Violence Against Children (Compulsory Treatment and Care) Law, 2020. She settled the hospital bills of many indigent women and resettled many victims of domestic violence at the Ekiti State transit home a building she initiated in conjunction with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare. She introduced the Pad Bank, which aimed at keeping girls in school. She had, in the course of research and advocacy visit to schools, discovered that many female students of secondary schools stayed away from school during their menstrual periods, because of the lack of decent sanitary towels to use and this made such poor female students depressed. She, therefore, came up with the Pad Bank, where she gave secondary school girls reusable sanitary pads, thus solving this problem. Erelu is always thinking about how to solve problems. She is witty, intelligent and good natured. She is a cheerful giver and kind to a fault. She is a prolific writer and author of many books such as: Speaking Above a Whisper, Speaking for Myself, Where Is Your Wrapper and Voice, Power and Soul. Erelu Bisi Fayemi was given the Changing the Face of Philanthropy award by the Womens Funding Network in 2007, and was named one of the 20 most influential African women in 2009 by New African magazine. In 2011, Women Deliver listed her as one of the top 100 people in the world, advancing the rights of women and girls. In 2019, she was awarded the 2018 Zik Leadership Prize for humanitarian Leadership by Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC). Bisi Fayemi is an organiser per excellence. I cannot remember any event she organised as chairperson, while in government, that flopped. This is because she is very meticulous. What many of us have learnt from her is her organisational acumen and her popular saying, whenever she is handling any event, which is, always have a plan B. This has been my guiding principle, not only when I am handling any event but whenever I am doing anything serious, including running elections and it is working for me. Despite our closeness, we had our moments of disagreement. This was due to communication breakdowns and the antics of political jobbers, whose main trademark is in lying against others to seek relevance and attention, which is common in politics. However, she handled the situation with such maturity and pure heart which convinced me beyond reasonable doubt that she would never sacrifice any of her favourites with whom she had come a long way, on the altar of political intrigues woven by shenanigans. She earned my respect and admiration more after that episode. She is so civilised, cultured and experienced in matters of the heart that she will disarm you with many case studies such that your own case would pale into insignificance. It is also worthy of note that in and out of government, Erelu Fayemi has continued to do what she knows how to do best fighting for the rights of women and protecting the girl child. Not even the loss of an election by her husband in 2014 discouraged her. She is still showing interest in advocacy by delivering papers on gender equality across the world. She was until recent a UN Women Nigeria Senior Advisor, and was just a while back appointed as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Kings College, University of London. She received her bachelors and masters degrees in History from the University of Ife (now the Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria. She also received an MA in Gender and Society (1992) from Middlesex University, UK. As she turns 60 today, we celebrate her and pray for more strength and good health so that she can continue to serve humanity. Happy birthday and congratulations to our own jewel of inestimable value. Hakeem Jamiu is the immediate past Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On the occasion of your 60th birthday celebrations, I cannot thank you enough for all of the countless known and unknown times that you have expressed affection towards me. I remain firmly strapped to your ever-compassionate and maternalistic dorsum. To borrow the words of Ondo States Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Erelus indescribable personality is encapsuled in her effortless ability to be too conservative for the radicals and too radical for the conservatives. So, on this lovely harmattan day of 2003, or thereabouts, ahead of the Summit of Heads of State and Government (HOSG) of ECOWAS in Accra, Ghana, I was working on one of the desktop computers installed in the conference secretariat to produce some memos required for the Civil Society Forum, whose recommendations will feed into the proposed agenda of the Summit. Dr Kay, short form for Dr Kayode Fayemi, as we then called him, walked into the Secretariat room, came to my computer and asked to be allowed to finish his speech presentation meant for the forum. I obliged, standing just beside the desk. Not quite long after came into the room, this rather resplendent woman decked in a patterned green Ankara skirt and blouse. She had on her head something like the isicholo, the drum-like Southern African hat. She moseyed elegantly towards the same desk by which I was standing, coming to a halt just about two feet beside Dr Kay and I. Then in his characteristic baritone voice, Dr Kay declared, this is my wife, Bisi. Bisi, this is Egghead. We then exchanged very short pleasantries. Not long after, Dr Kay was done with his speech and he thanked me, then left the room with his dashing wife. That was my first encounter and meeting with Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (BAF). After that brief incident, I recall I had gone off to regale Mohammed and James, both my senior colleagues, about how I had met Dr Kays wife and how beautiful she is. Mohammed, who always knew her, had quipped that why didnt I tell her right there and then, to which I responded jocularly, my liver failed me. Often, I would encounter her works through literature, conference contributions and development programmes and projects. She was at the frontier of the 1995 Beijing Conference and thereafter continued to lead the womens agenda across the African continent. There is no way not to encounter her through the projects of Akina Mama wa Afrika based in Uganda, an organisation that has trained over 6,000 alumnae through its African Womens Leadership Institute (AWLI). On our second physical meeting years later in 2009, we had traveled together by road with Mrs Funmi Olayinka from Abuja to Ekiti, shortly after the Court of Appeal, sitting in Ilorin, had upturned INECs declaration of Segun Oni as the winner of the 2007 Ekiti governorship election. Coincidentally, that was the very day that Pa Falade Fayemi passed away in Isan-Ekiti. She was casually warm and receptive, ensuring everyone on the trip intermittently received travel sweets, refreshments and the like. We have since cemented a relationship that has moved from being my Ogas wife to big aunty to second mother. It has been a connection interspersed with mentoring, inspiration, education, guidance and counseling but above all, a motherly backbone. BAF has been many things to many people. She has amazed me with how she can fluidly connect with the young and old, male or female, the plebeians or creams of society. More amazing has been the smoothness of her transition into the murky Nigerian political field. She strutted with the grace and elegance of her patrician upbringing, while blending seamlessly into the coarse landscape of her husbands political theatre. For there were plenty unfamiliar elements in the early heady days of the foray getting to connect with people of diametrically alternate worldviews, accepting to fit the expansive philosophy of the feminist being into a largely patriarchal universe, having a front-row experience of those many dispiriting tales of the struggle for high political office, being denied the evident electoral victory and having to repeat the circus from the polls to the court, and eventually the assumption of office in 2010. Keeping ones head high in the days of the strungle, as we say in Ekiti, was a constant hard-won battle. Other than JKF himself, one person who witnessed all the tribulations and upheavals surrounding the Collective Rescue Mission, was Bisi Fayemi. People came and went but Bisi Fayemi did not. Or could not? I know she had initial reservations about the political journey but once she had made up her mind, she never looked back, and gave it her all. She was in on all fours and no husband could ask for more. Oftentimes, political commentators revile what is seen as non-elected spouses of political office holders overbearing presence in the public arena. What is never acknowledged is that the non-elected spouses make huge sacrifices and are almost always equally yoked to the trappings or lack of it of those very political offices. Despite being deliberate in her choices, Mrs Fayemi is one who has sacrificed a lot for her husband, whether in or out of office. She literally gave up her professional career in full support of her husbands political projects. As would become of the contradictions of our socio-political experiences, here was a woman whose name was once called in the introductions of the husband. However, once her husband was in politics, the trend reversed. Still, she never betrayed any emotion of being fazed by such descriptors. She had committed to the sacrifices and would not be deterred by the naysayers. When the husband eventually became the governor of the state, she was so fitting in her role as Wife of the Governor and First Lady that the couple easily and quickly became the exemplar for other similar political entities. BAF is easily one of the few who sit atop a delicate quincunx of scholarship, professionalism, fashion and arts, motherhood and homemaker, and public service, maintaining an effortless balance of all. She can be serious and studious. She can be a feminist, a gender specialist and a social engineer. She can dance, be merry and be a happy socialite with a sense of haute couture and the arts. She can be a mother to her biological son, as well as to many of us she has now adopted as her children. She can be a public administrator and political operator with a keen interest in people and resource management. She can be many things and still be the Ochiora, the Erelu, the Akorewolu, the Ajiseye, the Fiwajoye, the Yeye Oba, and many more chieftaincy recognitions in various kingdoms across Yorubaland and beyond. I think its easy to see how tough it can be to scribble a testimonial about BAF. Especially, for someone like me who has enjoyed, and sapped, from her unending motherly milk, saying a few words on the commemoration of her Diamond Birthday can never be enough. Nevertheless, key points in our long relationship continue to remind me how I have had another mother in her. Some quick memories should be fitting. I remember that at the turn of the year on 31st December 2009, in the middle of our battles with the opposition political party and how our election had been stolen a second time within a two-year period, Erelu organised all of us in the Fayemi household, including her husband, into the parlour at the Eyiyato Lodge at Isan-Ekiti. We started playing music as loud as possible and danced into January 2010. We all danced to our hearts fill. Yes, it was the dawn of a New Year but we were all just happy and she wanted us to bond together on that joyous occasion of a new calendar year. It is a sweet memory to reminisce. Another sweet memory for me was when in 2014 I went to inform her that I would like to bring my girlfriend to introduce to her, she left the food she was eating, right there and then, and rolled on the floor of her bedroom praising God that finally omo mi ti fe mu iyawo wa le. Till then, it never dawned on me that she had been praying and hoping fervently that I should find a wife and settle down. If I was initially confused, that gesture pointedly cemented the confirmation of her motherly love for me. When my mother turned 70, she not only encouraged but supported me financially to arrange a celebration for her. Despite not being well on D-day, she personally attended and honoured my mother on her special birthday. She has thus etched a permanent memory in my mothers mind. Aunty Bisi has me firmly harnessed on her motherly back tightened with a strap fabric called Oja in Yorubaland. The significance of this oja was further demonstrated in early 2019 after I was confirmed to have slipped a spinal disc (sciatica), she promptly facilitated my neurosurgical operation, which today ensured that I do not have to walk with the requirement of crutches or aides or be confined onto a wheelchair. I am eternally grateful to know her, associate with her and continue to enjoy her love. On the occasion of your 60th birthday celebrations, I cannot thank you enough for all of the countless known and unknown times that you have expressed affection towards me. I remain firmly strapped to your ever-compassionate and maternalistic dorsum. To borrow the words of Ondo States Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Erelus indescribable personality is encapsuled in her effortless ability to be too conservative for the radicals and too radical for the conservatives. My father and mother will always mention Aunty Bisi in prayers whenever we speak expressing ceaseless appreciation for how BAF and JKF have helped developed their son. My immediate family members are forever grateful. So, on this occasion of your Diamond Jubilee, for and on behalf of my fathers family, my partner Oyinkolawa and our sons, Oluwademilade and Olularan, and in the terminology of the boys, Happy Birthday Ewewu! Egghead Odewale is the director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement in Ekiti State. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print As I have mentioned in my previous articles, there are prerequisites for development and civilisation. Anywhere you see development or civilisation it would be wrong to think that it was attained through accidents or coincidence. We owe it to the famous English man Sir Isaac Newton the explanation of how our world functions. Thanks to his three laws of motion, it is now a common knowledge that anywhere there is an effect, there was once a cause. Wherever we see development and civilisation, it is only because some laws have been triggered. It is as a result of those triggered laws that we now see what we call development and civilisation. If Africa is to come out of the status of the black continent as we are presently known to be, we must begin to agree with the laws of nature as God has made it to be. We must agree that our planet earth was created not to function by miracles, but by fixed laws and principles. It is my firm belief that Africa as a continent is yet to record a land breaking progress despite all our potentials and resources. Primarily, because of our too much emphasis on miracles, we have been held back. We are a continent of believers, thank God for that. That is no doubt a huge advantage to a large extent. However, as things are in Africa today, that potential advantage is now working against us, as an inhibition to our growth and civilisation. Ora Et Labora Friends, you can guess that the topic of my article today is on the fact that developed nations and continents have managed to attain that height only because they are not over relying on miracles and the supernatural. They depend on pure pragmatism and adherence to the laws of nature. My thirty year experience in Europe coupled with my numerous traveling in all the seven continents of the world has taught me; that developed nations and continents have come to development and civilization thanks to the fact that they depend more on diligence, pragmatism and hard work. Rather than be dependent on miracles, wonders and some other supernatural occurrences. To put it more succinctly, in Africa WE PRAY AND WAIT FOR MIRACLES, WHILE DEVELOPED NATIONS WORK AND PRAY FOR MIRACLES. In the era of the protestant reformation and renaissance in Europe, the major slogan of that era was WORK and PRAY. It was a motto that was adopted by the whole society, it became the quintessential value of the era. In Latin it is largely known as ORA ET LABORA (pray and work. Better translated as work and pray.) A dream doesnt become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. Colin Powell My fellow Africans lets face it, our continent is not going to supernaturally develop without somebody working for it. Today, as things are we believe more in going to church to pray than going to work. Some of us actually believe that going to work will not give you anything if you dont pray. Im sorry to say that the truth is the opposite. To function on the earth, we only need to abide by laid down rules, principles and laws by God. Prayer will not do for us what only work will do. For example, prayers will not build our industries. Prayers will not produce our automobiles. Prayers will not raise the buildings, skyscrapers, enterprises that are needed for our development. Factories, companies, firms and industries will not spring up from nowhere. They must be built and constructed with physical hands of physical people. No matter how much we pray, these things will not just appear from nowhere. Dont get me wrong, there is a place for prayers. Prayer is supposed to equip us to be better in tune with the Spirit of God so that we might work more effectively. That is why the Europeans use that Latin word ORA ET LABORA (Pray and work). Meaning when we pray we get a direction from the Spirit on how to work better. When we pray, we get to know how to more effectively labor. When we pray, we have the wisdom on how to work smarter. So prayer therefore is what equips us to work better, do better, perform better and produce better. But what we have turned prayer to in Africa is such that we pray and wait, rather than pray and go to work more effectively. In Africa, we pray hoping for God to come and fix our situations for us, rather than pray so that we could go out with more confidence to do what we need to do. Prayer itself without work is of limited impact, for faith without works is dead. We therefore pray to work better. As I have said above, God has placed planet earth under some fixed natural laws, not just spiritual laws natural laws. Our earth functions by natural laws. That means you dont need to be a believer or prayerful person to function on the earth. Even what I call natural laws are actually spiritual laws, because they were created by God. God created natural laws, not Satan, not humans, not nature itself created these laws God created them. So when we obey natural laws, we are actually obeying the injunctions of God. Therefore, to obey natural laws is also being spiritual. We are not supposed to lock ourselves in the church believing that only what we do in the church is spiritual. That is wrong. All what we do for God is spiritual. The Bible says He created all things for Himself. So when we engage the laws of nature for the glory of God, we are serving God as effectively as the preacher on the pulpit. So to work for the development of your country, to labor for growth and civilization of our continent is as pleasing to God as becoming a pastor or an apostle. God put the rules that govern the planet earth in place. Lets have a look at how the world is meant to function. As I said earlier, we owe it to Sir Isaac Newton, the revelation of how our planet is created to work. Please bear in mind that Isaac Newton did not create these laws of nature, he only discovered them. Also bear in mind that Isaac Newton is one of the most devoted Christian Scientists ever. By discovering these laws, he worked for the glory God and for the betterment of our planet. Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev Ukraine. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Some Gunmen on Saturday in Ningi Local Government, Bauchi State, kidnapped the traditional rulers of Bakutunbe and Balma villages and shot dead a businessman. The traditional leaders are Hussain Saleh, the district head of Balma and Idris Unguwa, the district head of Bakutunbe. The businessman, who was killed, is identified as Haruna Dan-Oc, a popular merchant in the area. The local government chairperson, Ibrahim Zubairu, confirmed the incident on Sunday. A resident, who does not want his name mentioned for fear of his safety, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gang of gunmen invaded Balma town around 11:00 p.m. with heavy gunfire before they abducted the district head. When they came into the town, they went straight to the palace of the district head and started shooting sporadically, which forced people to scamper for safety, he this newspaper. When the bandits left, residents discovered the corpse of Mr Dan-OC on the ground with bullets in his head and rushed him to the General Hospital Ningi, where he was certified dead by a medical doctor. This newspaper learnt that on the same night, the same group of gunmen went to Bakutunbe village and kidnapped the village head and a 45-year-old man, Yau Gandu. The kidnappers are demanding N8 million for each of the captives as ransom. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that last week one Malami Ware was kidnapped in Ware Ware village, and another person Buba Kwancikwaniya was also kidnapped in Yelwa village, all in Ningi. Mr Zubairu also called on the areas residents to pray and give helpful information to the law enforcement personnel against the increasing crimes in the area. He said he would make an effort to see that soldiers, who used to be stationed in the area, are returned to the area to restore security and build peoples confidence. The police in Bauchi could not be reached for comment as efforts to hear from the spokesperson, Muhammed Wakili, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off Sunday evening. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Moscow said on Sunday its forces repelled a Ukrainian attack on a Russian warship guarding gas pipelines in the Black Sea. "Ukraine's armed forces made an unsuccessful attempt to attack the Black Sea Fleet's Priazovye ship," the Russian defence ministry said, adding Kyiv's forces used six unmanned boats. "All the boats have been destroyed," the ministry said in a statement. "There are no casualties.". The Priazovye battleship, which has been guarding the TurkStream and the Blue Stream gas pipelines, continues to perform its tasks, the defence ministry said. A remotely piloted US military aircraft called the RQ-4 Global Hawk was conducting reconnaissance in the Black Sea at the time of the attack, Moscow said. Search Keywords: Short link: "It is critical that we focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate, tells UN Climate Change Conference. President-Designate, tells UN Climate Change Conference. The conference, running from June 5-15 in Bonn, Germany , is hosting discussions on a range of issues, including the Global Stocktake , the global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage and the mitigation work program. in Bonn, , is hosting discussions on a range of issues, including the Global Stocktake "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake ensuring a just and balanced energy transition that leaves no one behind." BONN, Germany, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COP28 President-Delegate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, met with heads of delegations and key negotiating groups including those from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference, being held in the run up to COP28, emphasizing the need to engage and listen to all voices in the climate change discussion especially those of the Global South. The conference, taking place in Bonn, 5-15 June, is hosting discussions on more than 50 agenda items. COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber with members of the indigenous communities at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber with representatives from the Least Developing Countries at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn In framing the meetings in Bonn, Dr. Sultan said "we will reach out to engage every community, seek to include the active participation of the under-represented, including young people and indigenous peoples. And we will give the space and enabling environment to discuss, debate and align on every mandate across every climate pillar." During his meeting with the delegates from the G77 + China Group, Dr. Al Jaber said, the G77 members have a special contribution to make by helping shape ambitious negotiated outcomes, a transformative action agenda and a just and equitable energy transition that leaves no one behind. For this, climate finance is critical, with Dr. Al Jaber emphasizing his commitment to reform global financial institutions, to unlock more concessional finance, to attract much more private capital. He underscored that COP28 will be the first-time a G77 Summit is hosted at a COP. Dr. Al Jaber also engaged with the Arab Group and various delegates from SIDS and highlighted the importance of driving tangible changes to deliver real climate action that leaves no one behind. Adaptation, he said, is a critical focus for the region securing resources for countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, including those associated with food and health. "Everyone is affected and the most vulnerable communities who have done the least to cause climate change, are the most affected. Arab countries only contribute 5% of global emissions yet are among the hardest hit by climate impacts. Temperatures rising across Middle East and North Africa region almost twice as quickly as rest of world", added Dr. Al Jaber. Building on these comments, Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion highlighted her longstanding commitments to nature and biodiversity and the critical role they will play in delivering a successful outcome. She also emphasized the importance for inclusion to cut across every aspect of the COP process especially those most vulnerable to ensure that every voice is heard and that every stakeholder feels empowered to participate in the shared commitment to combatting climate change. Delegates from member states of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) met with Dr. Al Jaber. He pointed out that Africa is rich in clean energy resources including wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal providing the African continent with huge potential for low-carbon growth and sustainable development. But that this will only be feasible if finance, technology, and capacity building is made available through investment that flows at scale, making a just transition a reality. "It is critical that we build on the successes of COP27 to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," he said. "The phase down of fossil fuels is inevitable. The speed at which this happens depends on how quickly we can phase up zero carbon alternatives, while ensuring energy security, accessibility, and affordability." Dr. Al Jaber also listened to the priorities of the Indigenous Peoples, the role they can play in the COP process, and assured them that that their voices and those from marginalized communities are being heard. He noted that Indigenous Peoples represent just 5 percent of the global population but protect 80 percent of the world's biodiversity. The role of Indigenous Peoples as custodians of nature will be recognized by an "Indigenous Peoples Pavilion" at COP28. During his remarks at the Constituency Roundtable, the President-Designate said: "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake, ensuring a just and balanced energy transition and providing space for discussion, dialogue and consensus on the role of fossil fuels", adding "We are committed to ensuring all groups, all stakeholders, are fully engaged. We need a COP of action, a COP of solidarity, and a COP of unity", added Dr. Al Jaber. In his remarks to the Heads of Delegation of all Negotiating Groups and Parties under the UNFCCC, Dr. Al Jaber said: "The COP28 Presidency recognizes the views of many in this room that the Global Stocktake, and by extension COP28, must be a turning point. We must respond to the Stocktake with a pragmatic and effective way forward to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement." He further added: "Many of you have devoted your entire careers to this cause. You know what is at stake. Many of us remember that moment in Paris when the world chose to take a different path to a better, sustainable zero carbon future. We know we aren't moving fast enough, but we also know that we have the power to make the difference, if we act in solidarity." Young people will be at the forefront of addressing the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber told the youth delegation, which is why COP28 will be putting a special focus on empowering youth. He introduced COP28's Youth Climate Champion, Shamma Al Mazrui, who stressed the importance of including youth in all conversations around climate change. Al Mazrui also headlined the first ever Youth Stocktake event; an assessment of the challenges for youth inclusion in UNFCCC processes and a roadmap for the future. The COP28 Presidency also met with SB Chairs Ambassador Nabil Munir and Harry Vroels and various other delegation heads attending a reception at the Bundeskunsthalle museum. "At COP28, we are going to be laser-focused on concrete and ambitious solutions that will allow us to bridge the gaps by 2030. And we will include all stakeholders to drive an inclusive plan of action that gets us moving in the right direction. We need to shift from incremental steps to transformational progress that delivers for everyone, everywhere. And that work begins right here in Bonn." For all media enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact [email protected] For up-to-date COP28 news, follow us on Twitter @COP28_UAE COP28 UAE: COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023 . The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors. UAE will take place at Expo City from . The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors. As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals. UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals. The UAE will lead a process for all parties to agree upon a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a "leave no one behind" approach to inclusive climate action. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098381/COP28_Indigenous_Communities.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098380/COP28_Meeting_with_LDCs.jpg SOURCE COP28 UAE New England's Premier Anime Superstore Opening July 4th Weekend MYSTIC, Conn., June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prepare to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Japanese culture as Mystic, CT gets ready to welcome a captivating new store. Owned and curated by retail visionary Ellie Greenberg, this highly anticipated establishment is set to be a haven for all enthusiasts of anime, manga, and the kawaii lifestyle. Opening its doors on the July 4th weekend, this unique store promises an unparalleled Japanese pop culture experience. Situated in the heart of Mystic, the store boasts an extensive selection of over 200 anime categories, catering to the diverse tastes and interests of fans. From classics to the latest releases, visitors will find a comprehensive range of anime. Manga lovers will be delighted by the staggering collection of over 1,500 titles and 5,000 books, providing endless reading pleasure and exploration. What sets this store apart is its dedication to delivering an immersive experience. Interactive elements such as Gachapon machines, offering a delightful surprise with each capsule, and a retro gaming arcade, where enthusiasts can relive their favorite gaming moments, will keep the excitement alive. Elevating the ambiance of Arisu are giant anime statues, captivating visitors with their stunning craftsmanship and larger-than-life presence. Food lovers will be in for a treat with the Japanese food market, which showcases authentic and tantalizing culinary delights. From a wide selection of instant ramen, the largest collection in New England, to delectable snacks and ingredients, this market is a haven for those seeking a taste of Japan. Ellie Greenberg, the creative force behind iconic establishments such as Alice in the Village and The Cloak and Wand, envisioned Arisu as a gateway to a full Japanese experience, transporting visitors to the bustling streets of Tokyo. The store directly imports a vast array of products, ensuring an authentic and diverse selection. "I wanted to create a haven where fans of Japanese culture could truly immerse themselves and experience the vibrancy of Tokyo right here in Mystic," said Ellie Greenberg. "This store is a celebration of all things Japanese, from the captivating world of anime and manga to the mouthwatering flavors of Japanese cuisine. We can't wait to share this incredible journey with the community." Join us on the 4th of July weekend as we unveil Arisu, New England's premier Anime Superstore. Be among the first to explore this wonderland of anime and manga where the world of Japanese pop culture awaits. SOURCE Arisu BEIJING, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 9, the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China held a press conference to introduce the preparations for the First China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE). Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said the first CISCE would be held in Beijing from November 28 to December 2, 2023 and hundreds of Chinese and foreign leading enterprises have confirmed participation in the expo. As the world's first national high-level expo themed supply chain, the CISCE is an international public platform built by China for global business communities to strengthen exchanges and cooperation after the COVID-19 pandemic. The first CISCE, themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future", is hosted by the CCPIT, with an estimated total exhibition area of more than 100,000 square meters. It features five supply chains involving smart vehicle, green agriculture, clean energy, digital technology and healthy life, and one exhibition area, i.e., modern logistics. The expo consists of the Opening Ceremony, the Global Supply Chain Innovation and Development Summit, five themed sub-forums, each focusing on one of the five major chains, and side events such as supply-demand matchmaking ceremonies, industrial seminars, and new product releases. Yu Jianlong, Vice Chairman of the CCPIT, remarked: "The reason most enterprises consider CISCE promising lies in its exhibition mode chain-themed with a distinctive ecology- and scenario-based style. CISCE is an open international cooperation platform characterized by upstream, midstream, and downstream connection, an integration of large, medium, and small enterprises, a collaboration among industry, academia, research and application, and an interaction between Chinese and foreign enterprises. For exhibitors and professional purchasers, what they would gain from CISCE will be significantly different from traditional exhibitions." Reportedly, the investment and exhibition promotion of the CISCE is progressing smoothly. Chinese and foreign enterprises show their enthusiasm in the registration process, and hundreds of enterprises, including those categorized as Fortune Global 500, Specialized and Sophisticated, Little Giant, and Hidden Champion firms have accepted and confirmed the invitation. It is estimated that more than 300 companies will participate in the exhibition, with international exhibitors taking up to approximately 30%; the number of professional purchasers and visitors will exceed 100,000 person-times, with international purchasers accounting for more than 40 percent, covering 50 countries and regions. Overseas roadshows of the CISCE have recently been held in German, Belgium, and Switzerland by the CCPIT. Similar roadshows are scheduled to take place in France, Saudi Arabia, and other countries subsequently. SOURCE China Council for the Promotion of International Trade NEW YORK, June 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd (NYSE: JKS) resulting from allegations that JinkoSolar may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased JinkoSolar securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16025 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On May 9, 2023, before trading hours, the Jacksonville Daily Record published an article entitled "Federal agents issue search warrant at JinkoSolar plant in Cecil Commerce Center: Homeland Security said it is part of an ongoing investigation; the factory, whose parent company is in China, opened in Jacksonville in 2018." The Jacksonville Daily Record reported that "[a]ccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal agents were assisting the Department of Homeland Security with the execution of a search warrant." Further, the article cited WJXT News4Jax, stating that JinkoSolar is one of several companies under investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department for circumventing trade rules by sending products to other countries before moving them to the U.S. On this news, JinkoSolar's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $3.91 per ADR, or 8%, to close at $43.47 per ADR on May 9, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Cairo, June 11 : The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has said that the move to impose an entry visa on Sudanese aims to regulate, not restrict, their entry to Egypt. "These measures aim to set a regulatory framework for the entry of Sudanese brothers into Egypt, after more than 50 days of the crisis, and are not intended to prevent or limit the number of Sudanese citizens entering the country," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid on Saturday in a statement. Abu Zeid's remarks came in reply to the inquiry of some reporters over the decision made by Egypt earlier on Saturday to impose an entry visa on Sudanese citizens entering the neighbouring country, Xinhua news agency reported. Sudan has been locked in internal military clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since mid-April. Over 2,00,000 Sudanese citizens have entered Egypt since the beginning of the crisis, with five million already in Egypt before the crisis, according to the statement. Aden : , June 11 (IANS) The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has welcomed a recent increase in flights between Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, and Amman, the capital of Jordan. In an official press statement on Saturday, Grundberg emphasised the need for lifting all restrictions on freedom of movement into, out of, and within war-ravaged Yemen. He further urged all parties involved in the Yemeni conflict to reach consensus on additional measures aimed at enhancing the living conditions of Yemeni citizens and implementing a nationwide cease-fire, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, Yemenia Airways, the national airline of Yemen, announced that it will offer six weekly flights to Jordan starting June 10. Mohsen Haidara, the commercial director of Yemenia Airways, said the company's efforts have been rewarded by the increase in flights to Jordan, which marks the first stage in their plans to expand to other destinations. Sanaa International Airport has been under the control of the Houthi rebels since their takeover of the Yemeni capital in 2014. Commercial flights had been suspended as a result, but were resumed on a limited scale in May 2022 through a deal brokered by the UN. Since then, Yemenia Airways has been intermittently operating flights between Sanaa and Amman, transporting passengers and facilitating medical travel for Yemenis seeking treatment abroad. Efforts to ease restrictions on Yemen's airspace are expected to alleviate the hardships faced by Yemenis and create an environment conducive to peace and stability, according to local observers. Kyiv announced on Sunday that Ukrainian forces have retaken a village in the war-torn country's southeast, the first reported gain of the offensive. Ukraine's ground forces said in a statement that soldiers of the 68th separate ranger brigade had "liberated the settlement of Blagodatne" in the eastern region of Donetsk. The ground forces released a video showing soldiers carrying a Ukrainian flag into a destroyed building. Another military spokesman, Valeriy Shershen, said in televised remarks that the retaken village was located on the border of the region of Donetsk and the southern region of Zaporizhzhia where Moscow has reported heavy Ukrainian assaults over the past week. He said Ukraine's forces captured several Russian and pro-Russian troops, adding that the Ukrainian flag was hoisted over Blagodatne. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a counteroffensive against Russian forces was underway but refused to provide any details. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week Kyiv's offensive had already begun but was already failing. Search Keywords: Short link: Stockholm, June 11 : One person was shot dead and three were injured in a shooting near Farsta Centrum in southern Stockholm, Swedish Police said. Two arrests were later made in connection with the incident, Swedish Police said in a press statement on Saturday. Saturday's incident brings the total of killed and wounded in connection with shootings in the Stockholm area to seven in less than 24 hours, Xinhua news agency reported. According to statistics compiled by the Swedish Police, 18 people were killed and 41 injured in 144 shootings around the country during the first five months of the year. Ten of the fatalities during the period were recorded in the Stockholm region. Last year, shootings resulted in 62 fatalities in Sweden, making 2022 the worst year on record since 2016. The vast majority of shootings are gang-related, according to the Swedish Police. Muzaffarnagar : , June 11 (IANS) Members of a Hindu organisation were detained in their houses in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district after they announced to go to Darul Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur district to demand a 'fatwa' against Muslim youths who allegedly tie 'Kalawa' (sacred red thread) on their wrists to 'trap Hindu girls' and promote 'love-jihad', police said. Members of the Kranti Sena and Shiv Sena had announced that they would seek a fatwa in writing from the Darul Uloom. After taking cognisance of the matter, police restrained them in the Muzaffarnagar city and Charthwal area. Station House Officer Rakesh Sharma said, "Police officials from Saharanpur district came here and tried to pacify them. No case has been registered into the matter so far." Lalit Mohan Sharma, the founder of the Kranti Sena, said, "A delegation who had to take a fatwa was stopped and police put them under detention. Kranti Sena strongly condemns and warns against this type of action in the Yogi government. We will not remain silent on this issue and soon there will be a demonstration against the government on the matter, and Deoband will also be surrounded." New Delhi, June 11 : Fresh off her Edinburgh Fringe run with her show 'BC: AD - Before Children, After Diapers', and appearances in NYC off-Broadway, London, Paris, Berlin, Prague and three tours in India, Anu Vaidyanathan, may have hit the global comedy circuit, but that cannot be her only introduction. This engineer, who 'The Wall Street Journal' declares to be 'India's female Ironman', and whose memoir 'Anywhere but Home' was longlisted for the Mumbai Film Festival's adaptation market with offers from two major Bollywood studios for options, and scripts finding themselves at Sundance and Rotterdam film festivals, says, "But I think I relate to the avatar of mom-of-two-kids the most." And her off-Broadway debut, 'BC: AD' was also born out of this identity. Stressing that having children changed everything for her as an individual, Vaidyanathan remembers re-orienting herself, finding meaning in life in different ways, and understanding that children respond most to a colour, a sound, or an image. "I feel that is what drove me to write a book, which went to a film market but, I was not happy with the Bollywood formula of optioning good stories, forgetting the writers, and appropriating voices. I thought I could make a better film than them so, I studied filmmaking through my second pregnancy. The pandemic shut us down and that made me go to clown school and then standup followed. Within a year, I wrote my first standup hour. I have since fine-tuned it over dozens of performances. BC: AD is very much the story of when I first experienced a shift in identity and made peace with it." Interestingly, her stand-up acts touch different layers and bring forth several serious issues -- for example the immigrant experience. However, the artist stresses that she does not think of including them consciously all writing is informed by one's most personal experiences. "In my case, I have lived in many different parts of the world during my various pursuits and yes, these experiences absolutely figure in my work." Talk to her about how stand-up comic acts have made their presence felt even in small-town India, and she feels that not only are we sick of staying indoors, but also laughing at the dumbness shown on movie screens. "We definitely want to find better ways to entertain ourselves while spending an evening out with family, friends, or lovers. Comedy is very immediate. That is why it is appealing. Believe me, the power of the spoken word never ceases to amaze me." In both cases -- New York's SoHo Playhouse and the Stress Factory, she was playing on extraordinary stages, on which people she looks up to in real life have performed -- Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag, which opened the floodgates at the Edinburgh Fringe to so many women wanting to show up and make work played at the SoHo Playhouse. "It was a surreal experience. The Stress Factory has housed many greats, like Aziz Ansari and Drew Carrey." "I grew up watching 'Whose line is it anyway'. It was one of those private moments of inexplicable joy when I found myself in the greenroom with these legends on the wall." Her process is much derived from real life and she is a one-project person who prides herself in completion, stressing that beginning multiple things and leaving them languishing is a threat to one's creative life. "I try to close projects, have a cookie, and then move on to the next thing. I am also a very one-project person and find multi-tasking to be a myth perpetuated by people who have an army of house help or an entourage surrounding them." Currently working on a new show, 'Blimp', for the Edinburgh Fringe 2023, she also has two feature scripts and trying to raise money with them. "Whatever gets made this year will be a miracle because I feel like I have been burning the candle at both ends for the first five months. Again, I am telling myself to be patient with myself. It is a new way of life, a new world of people, a new way of working to be an artist," she concludes. (Sukant Deepak can be reached at sukant.d@ians.in) New Delhi, June 11 : A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science was arrested for allegedly coercing people to convert to Islam at a rain shelter in Chandi Mahal, Central Delhi, police said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Mohammed Kalim, had reportedly converted one Hindu man to Islam previously. The police swung into action after receiving a complaint. "We received a complaint from Sandeep Saagar, a resident of Turkman Gate, alleging that Mohammed Kalim was enticing and pressuring him to convert to the Muslim religion," said a police officer. Upon receiving the complaint, the police conducted a preliminary inquiry and found prima facie evidence supporting the allegations. Consequently, the police registered an FIR under sections 153-A and 295-A of the Indian Penal Code at the Chandni Mahal Police Station. Kalim was arrested on Saturday. "We have arrested Mohammed Kalim, who has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody after being produced before the court." Further details are awaited. Chennai, June 11 : Muthuvel Karunanidhi, or M. Karunanidhi, the longest serving Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was a champion of equality and worked relentlessly and tirelessly for the poor and the downtrodden. Interestingly, the champion for the Dravidian cause and who had insisted on the cadres and people of Tamil Nadu to use traditional Tamil names for their children, he named his son Stalin (after Soviet leader Joseph Stalin). Karunanidhi had in fact decided to name his son Ayyadurai which was derived from Periyar's Ayya and his mentor and former Chief Minister, C.N. Annadurai's 'Durai'. However during a condolence meeting on the passing away of Soviet leader, Josef Stalin, who died on March 5, 1953 Karunanidhi suddenly decided to name his son as Stalin who was born on March 1, 1953. Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, famously known as M.K. Stalin, did his schooling from Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School and graduated from the prestigious Presidency College, Chennai. Just like his father, Karunanidhi, Stalin also commenced his political journey at a young age and organised a group of boys at the age of 14 to form the Gopalapuram Youth Wing of the DMK. He campaigned extensively in the 1967 assembly elections for his uncle Murasoli Maran along with his friends at the age of 14 and it is clear that Karunanidhi had major plans for him and was deliberately grooming Stalin for a big time entry into politics. At the age of 20, in 1973, Stalin was inducted into the general committee of the DMK. In 1976 while protesting against the Emergency, Stalin was arrested and jailed. This was the turning point of his political carrier and he was beaten up in prison. A fellow DMK worker, Chittababu, died of police torture while trying to protect Stalin. Stalin even had to write his final year degree examination paper from within the prison. It was Stalin who formed the DMK youth wing in 1982 and became its general secretary. He held on to the post for four decades at a stretch. R. Vadiyalingam, a retired professor of political science and an associate with Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai while speaking to IANS said, "Stalin was closely guarded and mentored by Karunanidhi. He had decided that Stalin would be his political heir even though he had other children. "Stalin also lived up to his expectations and as general secretary of the youth wing of the DMK, he travelled across the state and motivated youths and picked future leaders for the party. Stalin like his father is a declared atheist but unlike many of the former DMK leaders, he did not oppose others from practicing their religious beliefs and endeared himself among the masses," Vadiyalingam said. Stalin contested unsuccessfully in the 1984 assembly elections from Thousand Lights Assembly constituency but in 1989 he won from the same constituency and entered the Tamil Nadu assembly. Stalin however lost the elections in 1991 from Thousand Lights constituency as the DMK government could not complete its term after being dismissed by the Central government. In 1996, he again won from Thousand Lights assembly constituency and then there was no looking back for the young scion of Karunanidhi family. Karunanidhi slowly but certainly groomed Stalin for a big political carrier and his first big ticket entry was as the Mayor of Chennai in 1996. He was the first directly elected Mayor of Chennai and from here on a different Stalin had emerged. Stalin evolved into one of the best Mayors of Chennai and coined a pet project, 'Singara Chennai' (Beautiful Chennai) and his efforts in improving the infrastructure of Chennai led to him being named as the Father of City or Mangara Thanthai. The modernization of the garbage disposal system as well as the construction of new flyovers gave an impression that Stalin had emerged as a political heir. He constructed nine flyovers and 49 short bridges during his first tenure as Mayor of Chennai and se up fountains near 18 major junctions of the city. M.K. Stalin had once said that an amount of Rs 95 crore was allocated for the construction of 10 flyovers in congested roads in Chennai city and after completing the projects, 30 per cent of the funds were remaining in balance in the account. This was due to the timely execution and implementation of the project in a cost saving manner. Stalin was elected Mayor for the second time in 2001 but the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa enacted the Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Act in 2002. This law prevents a person from holding two elected posts at the same time. Stalin was at that time an elected Mayor as well as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Thousand Lights Assembly constituency. The Madras High Court however struck down the law but held that under Madras (now Chennai) City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, a person cannot be a Mayor for two consecutive terms. The scion of the DMK family became a minister in the 2006 assembly elections when his father, M. Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister. Stalin opted for rural development ministry and formed 1,75,493 women Self Help Groups (SHGs) across Tamil Nadu. Stalin became the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 29, 2009. In 2016, DMK lost power but Stalin became the Leader of Opposition and in 2018 after the demise of his father and former Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, he became the president of the DMK. While closely observing the growth of Stalin, it is clear that he was groomed right from his younger days by his shrewd father but the young leader lived up to the expectations and became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after travelling across the state and developing his own persona. As the first elected Mayor of Chennai, Stalin emerged from the shadows of Karunanidhi. His experiences in administration as the Mayor of Chennai as well as the rural development minister have helped him emerge as one of the best chief ministers the state has seen. Chennai, June 11 : Veteran politician late Muthuvel Karunanidhi served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a record five times between 1969 and 2011, besides being the opposition leader for a period of five years from 1977-1983. He has also been the second longest-serving opposition leader of Tamil Nadu and a long-standing leader of Dravidian movement and 10-time President of DMK. Midnight Arrest After AIADMK won the Assembly elections in 2001 and J. Jayalalithaa assumed charge as the Chief Minister, Karunanidhi was arrested after the police raided his Gopalapuram residence on June 3, 2001. He was arrested at 01:45 a.m., physically roughed up and manhandled and produced before a magistrate who remanded him to judicial custody for a week. This was for the first time in the history of independent India that a serving leader of opposition and former Chief Minister of a state was put behind bars. Then Union ministers -- Murasoli Maran and T.R. Baalu -- who were part of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government -- had rushed to the house of their leader. However, both the leaders were also arrested and in the ensuing scuffle with the police, Maran suffered injuries. Karunanidhi's arrest and remand sent shockwaves among the DMK cadres and mid-rung party leaders. His arrest came in the backdrop of a case related to flyover scam worth Rs 12 crore in Greater Chennai Corporation where his son and DMK leader M.K. Stalin was the Mayor. Jayalalithaa, as the leader of opposition, was also physically assaulted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1996. And on December 7 the same year, she was arrested and jailed for a month in a case related to purchase of colour television sets. On October 30, 1977, when Indira Gandhi visited Madras, Karunanidhi along with 28 other legislators showed her black flags. In May 1980, MGR-led AIADMK had trounced the DMK. However, Karunanidhi was again elected as the leader of opposition. In 1981, both Karunanidhi and Anbazhagan resigned as legislators in protest against MGR's handling of the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. Fighting for Pillai Karunanidhi also fought seeking justice for the verification officer of Murugan temple in Tiruchandur, C. Subramania Pillai. He walked from Madurai to Tiruchendur from February 15-22 in 1982 as a mark of protest to put pressure on the MGR government. He asked the MGR government to take immediate action against the Tiruchandur temple trustees, revenue and health department officials, and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, who he believed were responsible for the death of Pillai. Opposition Leader During the tenures of both the Chief Ministers -- M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa -- Karunanidhi had assertively raised the people's issues in the Assembly to corner the government. Given his vast experience as an administrator and as a grassroots politician, Karunanidhi was a formidable opposition leader who could take on any government. As Chief Minister as well as the opposition leader, he always ensured that the Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly remained lively and that people's issues were addressed in a proper way. When in opposition, he never let the government dodge his questions. Tailpiece "The five decades of active social life of Karunanidhi was marked with success, defeats, triumphs, losses, sweet victories, bitter losses, and political confrontation. "Amid all these, he remained level-headed and worked hard to bring DMK to the centre of power in Tamil Nadu," C. Rajeev, Director, Centre for Policy and Development Studies, told IANS. He said that as a leader of opposition, Karunanidhi was always full of energy, vitality and had a knack of unearthing things that were hidden from the public. "He was a very successful opposition leader who cornered the government of the day with facts and figures. His fights with MGR and Jayalalithaa were legendary, but although he had a hate-love relationship with MGR, with Jayalalithaa, there was no bonhomie," Rajeev said. Chennai, June 11 : "Kalaignar Karunanidhi is my leader," thundered Tamil Nadus most popular politician and matinee idol, M.G. Ramachandran, when an AIADMK MLA addressed him as Karunanidhi. This was the bonhomie that Karunanidhi and MGR shared even as they fought against each other in a bitter political turf leading the DMK and AIADMK. It was on October 17, 1972 that Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) was formed which later transformed into All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The party was formed in Madurai but the reason was the clash of ego between the two super stars of the DMK, Kalaignar Karunanidhi and MG Ramachandran. Karunanidhi and MGR were complimenting each other with a fledging actor like the latter getting a new lease of life in celluloid through the script of Karunanidhi in the movie 'Rajeswari' that became a super duper hit and it led to the emergence of MGR as a super star in Tamil Nadu. Buoyed by the success of the movie, they partnered in several other movies thus leading to a friendship that was eternal and complimentary. After the demise of C.N. Annadurai, the first DMK Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on February 3, 1969, it was Era Nedunchezian who was next in line in the party to succeed the great Dravidian leader. However it was Karunanidhi who got the mantle to lead the party and the government and it was courtesy the support he had from MGR. In return, MGR was made the treasurer of the DMK by Karunanidhi. Karunanidhi was credited for discovering the struggling MGR into a major actor in Tamil movies but after he ensured that the DMK was winning by a massive margin, he felt the presence of MGR in the party very uncomfortable. In a public programme at Madurai, after the speech of MGR, the crowd dispersed without listening to Chief Minister Karunanidhi, leading to the increase in extended ego between the two leaders. The fight on the turf has begun and AIADMK under the leadership of MGR grew from strength to strength and Karunanidhi often addressed MGR as Judas and villain to which MGR retorted by comparing Karunanidhi as a 'dark force'. MGR had even pressed for a merger with Karunanidhi and common friends had worked behind the scene to settle the differences and merge and before swearing in as Chief Minister on June 30, 1977, MGR had expressed his interest for a merger. It was not to be and later, MGR charged Karunanidhi with murder and conspiracy charges for the DMK's demonstration against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's visit to Madurai in 1977. Karunanidhi was arrested and jailed for 40 days which led to agitations by the DMK which often turned violent. Karunanidhi even charged MGR of having indulged in corruption by buying ships from Bulgaria and MGR offered to resign even if he had done any wrong. In 1980, Karunanidhi entered into an alliance with Indira Gandhi and MGR's government was dismissed but in the ensuing elections it was MGR and AIADMK all the way with a huge mandate. However the bonhomie between the two continued in private and MGR had asked the government machinery to arrange an ambulance when Karunanidhi took a 200 km march against MGR government. when MGR became ill in October 1984, Karunanidhi wrote a moving appeal stating that prayer meant appeal and he would pray for him to recover even though he was an atheist. Another major issue between the two was the presence of Jayalalithaa who was brought by MGR to the party in June 1982 and the fight between Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi was bitter and no bonhomie was there between the two. Jayalalithaa headed the AIADMK from February 9, 1989 till her demise on December 5, 2016m and was totally against Karunanidhi and his family. She has even arrested Karunanidhi in 2001 along with Union Ministers Murasoli Maran and T.R. Baalu, an act which was the first time in the history of the country wherein a Union minister was arrested by the Tamil Nadu state police. After the passing away of Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016 and Karunanidhi on August 7, 2018, the fight between the DMK and AIADMK has come down with personality clashes becoming less and less and AIADMK becoming much weaker after O. Panneerselvam was expelled from the party. It has to be seen in the days to come how the AIADMK will structure itself before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as DMK under Stalin is going from strength to strength. Chennai, June 11 : As the DMK patriarch, Muthuvel Karunanidhi had sworn time and again that he stood for equity and uplift of the downtrodden and poor. That image took a beating when the high-end corruption charges against the DMK leaders A. Raja, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Dayanidhi Maran rocked Manmohan Singh's UPA-2 government. And his daughter Kanimozhi's arrest shattered him privately. In the Rs 1.75 lakh crore telecom spectrum scam, the then telecom minister A. Raja was an accused and arrested and jailed. This was a major setback for the DMK as the party had always claimed of its high ideals and working with the downtrodden. In fact the charges against Kanimozhi - his daughter and Dayanidhi Maran - his nephew - led to the belief that all was not well within the DMK and the Karunanidhi family. The high ideals and revolutionary thoughts aired by the veteran leader faced a setback following the central agencies charging the DMK leaders. The arrest and subsequent jail term for his daughter Kanimozhi left Karunanidhi, in particular, a lonely man as all his tall claims of being a champion for the rights of the poor and the ideals he set for himself and the party fell flat on his face. While Karunanidhi could wriggle out from the issue claiming that he was not a direct party to the corruption charges as he was not directly involved, the arrest of his daughter led to the opposition tearing the veteran leader apart. Interestingly A. Raja was handpicked by Karunanidhi to be a minister in the Manmohan Singh government and was allocated the prestigious portfolio of telecommunication. There were criticisms that it was Raja who was responsible for filling the coffers of the DMK and also the first family of the DMK (Read Karunanidhi's family). A. Raja was close to Kanimozhi and climbed the political ladder in the DMK very easily. Raja was arrested on February 2, 2011 and got bail from the trial court on May 12, 2012, in the 2G spectrum allocation scam. Meanwhile, Kanimozhi who was arrested on May 21, 2011 was released on bail on November 28, 2011. The arrest and subsequent jail term of Kanimozhi was one of the biggest setbacks in the political life of the veteran leader and as per sources in the DMK, he was a broken man those days. It may be noted that Karunanidhi had tried to arm-twist the Congress leadership by getting five cabinet berths for the DMK in the UPA-2 government and this has not gone down well with the Congress leadership. This was one reason, the Congress did not show much solidarity with either Raja or Kanimozhi even though they were part and parcel of the UPA leadership. In addition to the charges against Raja and Kanimozhi, the DMK patriarch had another major setback when the CBI registered a case against his nephew Dayanidhi Maran who was Union telecom minister in the UPA-1 government of Manmohan Singh. The charge was that he had installed private telephone exchanges at his residence for the benefit of the private Sun TV network owned by his family. There were charges that over 700 high speed telecom lines for which bills were not raised by the BSNL were installed leading to a loss of revenue for the exchequer. Even as the Maran brothers denied the charges against them, the people had a feeling that Karunanidhi and his family were mired in corruption and that the family was using the goodwill and political clout of the veteran leader. B. Vasanthakumar, social activist and Director of Socio Economic Development Foundation, a think tank based out of Madurai while speaking to IANS said, "M. Karunaidhi had a goodwill among the public but the family comprising of the Maran brothers and his daughter Kanimozhi's alleged involvement in several deals is nothing but a black mark on the veteran leader and his political image which he had carefully cultivated over the years." He also said that Karunanidhi was a champion of the downtrodden and his policies and programmes as Chief Minister were intended to alleviate the difficulties of the poor and downtrodden. All his policies and programmes were intended to uplift the misery of the poor and hapless and he has envisaged several schemes that helped Tamil Nadu climb the human index graph among other states of the country and the veteran leader had a major role to play in this uplift of the state. With Karunanidhi being the final word in the DMK scheme of things, there was little criticism coming from within the party, and most of the leaders remained mute spectators. The DMK and Karunanidhi have however had a grip on the poor and the downtrodden who believe that the party has done everything to them and that almost all the welfare schemes implemented in the state had a signature of Karunanidhi. The larger-than-life image of Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu has helped him get away with the corruption allegations against his family members and party colleagues like A. Raja. Chennai, June 11 : Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the stalwart of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was the longest-serving Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who won millions of hearts by launching a plethora of welfare schemes cutting across caste, religion and other such divides. 'Kalaignar' as he is fondly called was the chief minister for a period of 6,863 days in five terms. He was a five-term Chief Minister from 1971 when he led the party to a landslide victory after the passing away of C.N. Annadurai in 1969. As the Chief Minister Karunanidhi brought in several social welfare schemes for the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden in a progressive state like Tamil Nadu. The 'Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam', conceived and launched in 2009 is a comprehensive health insurance scheme for the poor of the state. This insurance scheme that is aimed at providing health insurance to the poor in society helps them get access to high-quality surgical and diagnostic care in empaneled hospitals. This is considered as one of the foremost conceived social schemes by the late Chief Minister drawing several sections of the populace close to him. Implementation of the scheme gave the people an access to emergency medical care at any hospital, not necessarily government-run. As part of the 'Varumun Kappom' schemes, preventive health care camps were organised across the state for the people to get a rough idea on the general condition of their health. Another landmark move -- the 'Nalamana Tamizhagam' scheme -- was rolled out during his last tenure and was aimed at spreading awareness about the non-communicable diseases. He was the one Chief Minister of the state who took special care in setting up welfare boards for workers in the unorganised sector. This includes agricultural labourers, other labourers who are not organised and even transgenders. It helped such people to access state sponsored assistance. The Periyar Memorial Samathuvapuram was another major step taken by Karunanidhi while in power. Inspired by his guru and founder of Dravidian ideological movements, the project was a housing scheme in rural areas where people from all communities were invited to live together. The Tamil Nadu government constructed houses and provided civic infrastructure. The houses under the scheme were allotted to beneficiaries from different communities. The first Samathavapuram was inaugurated on August 17, 1998, in Melkote village of Madurai. It was considered a brilliant and bold move by the Chief Minister Karunanidhi in a state where the two-tumbler system still exists in villages. Another of the Chief Minister's main moves was the 'Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam' (All Villages Anna Renaissance). The scheme was aimed at the injection of resources into Village panchayats in five years so that they could provide statutory services as that comes under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act 1994. The 'Moovalur Ramamirtham Scheme' accounts for marriage assistance to poor women, introduction of eggs in the noon meal scheme, waiver of cooperative loans and this scheme became a major hit among the ordinary people Of the state. In 2008 during his last stint as Chief Minister, Karunanidhi brought in a landmark change in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and announced that 1kg of rice would be made available in PDS shops at a rate of Rs 1. It is to be noted that during that election, the DMK had in its manifesto promised rice at Rs 2 per kg but once the DMK formed the government it provided rice at Rs 1 per kg which was a "revolution". He also ensured that the farmers got a fair price for their produce and not being exploited by middlemen. The 'Uzhavar Sandhai' was opened by the veteran Chief Minister with this in mind and areas were provided for farmers to exhibit their produce and sell it directly to the people instead of commission agents and middlemen exploiting them. The self-help group culture in Tamil Nadu was also promoted by Muthuvel Karunanidhi. Coined as 'Namukku Naame Thittam' (Self sufficiency) was a participatory scheme mooted in the 1997-98 budget to promote and strengthen the self help group culture and self-reliance. It was Karunanidhi as Chief Minister who introduced the egg during the noon meal scheme for children and free bus passes for students. The veteran DMK leader also pushed for the waiver of cooperative loans during his regime. The Slum Clearance Board was also instituted by Karunanidhi as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and built residences for people living in abject poverty and without homes. It is to be noted that Tamil Nadu has a better human living index when compared to many states of India and Karunanidhi who was Chief Minister for five terms has played a major role by implementing several schemes for the betterment of living conditions of the people. He was the champion of the Dravidian model of governance and believed wholeheartedly in the equality among the people in all aspects. Chennai, June 11 : Muthuvel Karunanidhi was born into the Isali Vellar caste in Thirukkuvulai on June 3, 1924. He came from a family of musicians who were from a lower caste and used to perform in temples. He was aware of being born in a lower caste and at the age of 14, he formed a group of students to fight against the imposition of Hindi as India's national language by the then Indian National Congress government of the Madras Presidency headed by C. Rajagopalachari in 1937-40. Armed with the confidence he acquired after participating in the anti-Hindi agitation during his schooldays, Karunanidhi also founded the Tamil Mannavar Mandram, the first student wing of the Dravidian movement. He had time and again said that the fiery speech of Justice Party leader Pattukottai Alagirisamy was the reason for him to launch the student movement. He also founded 'Murasoli', the official mouthpiece of the DMK, during his school days. The maverick politician was influenced by the ideals of the Dravidian ideologue, EVS Ramasami Periyar or Thanthai Periyar who shaped the course of the Dravidian movement across the state of Tamil Nadu that led to the unconquered reign of the Dravidian political parties in the state. Another senior leader to whom Karunanidhi looked upon other than EVS Ramasami Periyar was C.N. Annadurai, or simply Anna, who was a firebrand orator and a great organiser for the Dravidian cause. While Karunanidhi was deeply rooted in his cultural and writing pursuits, he had shown an interest in politics from a very tender age as was seen during his school days wherein he formed the student body of the Dravidian movement and even started a news paper that later turned out into the mouthpiece of DMK. Karunanidhi entered politics in a big way in the year 1957 wherein he was voted to the Madras legislature and later he became the treasurer and Deputy leader of the opposition in the state Legislative Assembly. With his oratory and writing skills and commitment towards the Dravidian ideology and compassion towards the downtrodden helped Karuanidhi to rise in the ranks of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Annadurai was the first Chief Minister of Dravidian movement of Tamil Nadu and after his passing away in 1969, the mantle fell on Karuanidhi to head the party. In the 1971 Assembly elections, Karunanidhi and the DMK won the elections with a massive mandate. Interestingly, the senior leader has the record of winning all the assembly elections after his first election victory in 1957 and he was instrumental in brining up several new welfare schemes for the poor and downtrodden in the state of Tamil Nadu. Many of the measures taken up by the veteran leader was later adopted by several other state governments and he was termed as the champion of the downtrodden and poor. The veteran leader was a powerful orator and he used to credit these skills to his mentors, Pattukottai Alagirisamy, Panagai Arasar, EVS Ramasamy Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, and his political mentor and guru, Annadurai. Throughout his life, Karunanidhi was considered as a politician who always stood firmly in his Dravidian ideology and all his political manuveours were based out of the Dravidian ideology. K.R. Periyasami, a social scientist and senior fellow with Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai and Salem, told IANS: "Karunanidhi has always been a leader who cared for the masses and the downtrodden. All his policies and programmes were aimed at the welfare of those communities who were not getting their rightful place in the society and he had taken out of turn interest to help such people who were marginalized and out from the mainstream." He further said that Karunaidhi had the power, support and ideological clarity of the Dravidian movement and this has helped him wade through several hurdles during his long and tenous political carrier. It is to be noted that Karunanidhi at one point of time was one of the most powerful leaders of India and had forged political alliances with both BJP and Congress and the DMK became part and parcel of the Union governments led by both the BJP and Congress. Karunaidhi in his lifetime had time and again stated that it was the ideals of both Thanthai Periyar and Annadurai that shaped his political and ideological moorings. The late Chief Minister was a champion atheist and rationalist and had shaped the DMK and its ideology on atheist and rationalist lines and had reaped rich political dividends. Scores of Israeli settlers guarded by police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, in what has become a routine occurrence, Palestine News agency (WAFA) reported. The Israeli settlers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate (Al-Maghariba) in groups to pray. The Islamic Waqf, the Jordan-run authority in charge of the holy site, has repeatedly described the settlers' presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque as a provocation against Palestinian worshippers, who feel unsafe. Under a longstanding status quo, non-Muslims can visit the site at specific times but are not allowed to pray there. However, Israeli settlers and politicians routinely violate the arrangement under heavy police protection. On 4 June, Israeli settlers led by extremist Israeli rabbi and MP Yehuda Glick stormed the compound to pray. Before that, on 21 May, Israel's right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the holy site. These incidents reached a head in April when Israeli police assaulted the mosque, which had been occupied by Palestinian worshippers, injuring at least 50 and arresting hundreds. Palestinians see these acts of settler violence as part of the Israeli governments efforts, under Benjamin Netanyahu's new nationalist-religious coalition, to Judaize Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories beyond the confines of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Settler violence On Sunday morning, Israeli settlers grazed their sheep on Palestinian groves in Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron in the West Bank, causing significant destruction to crops, according to WAFA. "Local Palestinians were denied access into their own lands by the Israeli occupation army during the presence of the settlers," WAFA said. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian civilians in the neighborhoods of Wadi Hasin and Jaber in Hebron. A WAFA correspondent said Israeli settlers, protected by the army, attacked residents of the two neighbourhoods with stones and dogs, injuring an unknown number of Palestinians. Search Keywords: Short link: Kolkata, June 11 : As the newly appointed West Bengal State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha announced the dates for polls for the three-tier panchayat system and the nomination process started from Friday, early indications have made public apprehensions more acute about a repeat show of massive bloodbath this time as well as it happened in the rural civic body polls in the state in 2018. A total of 13 persons died in poll-related violence in 2018. The question doing rounds in the political circles in the state is whether the death figure this year will be lower than what it was in 2018 or surpass the record. This year the polls will be in a single-phase on July 8 and the counting will be on July 11. The apprehension of a much bigger death count this time is surfacing more with the reluctance on part of the state government to allow central armed forces deployment for the polls. A crucial hearing in the matter will be on Monday, where it will be clear whether ultimately there will be deployment of central forces or not. Since the nomination process started on Friday, there have been indications on how worse the situation could be in the coming days unless strong actions are taken by the state and police administration is bringing the situation under control. On Friday night, Congress activist Fulchand Sheikh in Murshidabad district was shot dead in the street by a group of miscreants allegedly having links with Trinamool Congress, a charge which the state's ruling party has already denied. Two persons have been arrested so far in connection with the assassination. Both West Bengal state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and the leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari have claimed that the murder on the very first day of nomination proves how gory the situation will be in the coming days. On Saturday, a state government employee at the block development office at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district was severely beaten up by the ruling party activists allegedly for allowing All India Secular Front (AISF) activists to collect nomination papers from that office. Throughout Friday and Saturday, clashes and violence over the nomination process were reported from different districts like Murshidabad and Birbhum. Retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former Additional Director General of West Bengal Police, Nazrul Islam is of the opinion that the situation evolving currently was inevitable in a situation when there had series of blasts in different pockets of West Bengal for the last few months, much before the even the polling dates were announced. According to him, had the state police been more serious in recovering arms and explosives much in advance and nab the accused, the situation could have been better. "The ruling party is blaming the opposition while the opposition is blaming the ruling party. Assuming that both are right in their allegations and both are responsible for bringing in explosives, my question is what is stopping the top brass of police in acting as per police manuals and taking corrective measures," he said. A significant comment from Trinamool Congress's state spokesman in West Bengal Kunal Ghosh on Saturday evening has posed serious questions about the seriousness of the state's ruling party in accepting the space of opposition politics in the state. "As it is the majority of the people of West Bengal are in favour of Trinamool Congress. Even if the opposition manages to get their candidates elected from a couple of seats, those winning candidates will, in due course, join Trinamool Congress to be part of the developmental activities. So why will people vote in favour of other parties when ultimately all winning candidates will join Trinamool Congress," said Ghosh. Veteran political observer and analyst Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay feels that Ghosh's comments reflect the intention of Trinamool Congress to ensure zero opposition space in West Bengal which is just the theory of the Lotus camp nationally. "Having a total opposition free political arena is the most dangerous trend in a democratic set up," he said. New Delhi, June 11 : Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has praised Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for making Twitter "a lot leaner" which has been "good for the industry" overall. On the 'The Lex Fridman Podcast' show, Zuckerberg said that Musk "led a push early on to make Twitter a lot leaner". "I think that those were generally good changes. I also think that it was probably good for the industry that he made those changes because my sense is that there were a lot of other people who thought that those were good changes but who may have been a little shy about doing them," Zuckerberg told the host. According to Meta founder, Musk's efforts to make the platform more technical by removing layers of management, leaving less distance between engineers at the company and himself was a good move. After acquiring the platform for $44 billion, Musk brought down Twitter workforce to around 1,000 from nearly 7,800. Like Musk, Zuckerberg has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs over the past eight months, laying off 21,000 employees in the course of a few months. He has dubbed 2023 as Meta's "year of efficiency". "As part of the Year of Efficiency, we're focusing on returning to a more optimal ratio of engineers to other roles. It's important for all groups to get leaner and more efficient to enable our technology groups to get as lean and efficient as possible," he recently said. On the podcast, Zuckerberg also discussed his decision to remove thousands of employees. "Layoffs are uniquely challenging and tough in that you have a lot of people leaving for reasons that are not connected to their own performance. Really, it is just a strategy decision and sometimes financially required, but not fully in our case," he said. Zuckerberg said that "I decided we needed to get to a point where we are a lot leaner." Washington, June 11 : Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance known by his initials CZ, has no intention to give in. Since the lawsuit filed against him personally and his company Binance and related entities, by the US regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last Monday, Zhao has fought back through a string of posts on social media along with a response to the charges. Zhao has targeted Gary Gensler, the SEC chair, and his agency. "Wonder if he ever reads the comments under his post, from the consumers he is supposed (sic) to protect," Zhao wrote, retweeting a post from Gensler detailing the charges. In another tweet, he called for a poll on "Who protects you more? SEC or Binance?" The result was a whopping 85 per cent for Binance. Zhao has also retweeted posts that describe the SEC lawsuit against Binance as an attack on the entire crypto industry in the United States and an attempt to finish it. He retweeted another post that called for the entire industry to "UNITE". The American regulator filed a lawsuit on June 5 charging Binance, operator of the world's largest crypto exchange, Zhao and others with running unregistered exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearing agencies; misrepresenting trading controls and oversight on the Binance.US platform; and making unregistered offers and sales of securities. The SEC has said that Zhao and Binance executives have "secretly" allowed high-value Americans to use the binance.com platform contrary to their public pronouncements. They are also accused of having "secretly controlled" Binance.US at variance with their public claims that the two entities are autonomous of each other. "We are disappointed that the US Securities and Exchange Commission chose to file a complaint today against Binance seeking, among other remedies, purported emergency relief," Binance said in response to the lawsuit. It added: "While we take the SEC's allegations seriously, they should not be the subject of an SEC enforcement action, let alone on an emergency basis. We intend to defend our platform vigorously." Zhao has come a long way from Jiangsu, China, where he was born to parents who were both teachers. The family immigrated to Canada when he was 12. They settled down in Vancouver and Zhao chipped in with the family income by flipping burgers at a local McDonald's and doing night shifts at a gas station. After studying computer science at McGill University, Zhao went to work for a Tokyo Stock Exchange sub-contractor. In 2005, he moved to Shanghai and founded Fusion Systems, a company that, Forbes magazine said, was "known for building some of the fastest high-frequency trading systems for brokers". In a Forbes profile of him in 2018, just seven months after he had founded Binance, Zhao was said to prefer black hoodies -- a mix, perhaps, of Mark Zuckerberg's hoodies and Steve Jobs's black turtlenecks. And he allowed himself no indulgences, except cellphones; he owned three. In 2013, Zhao joined the founding team of blockchain.info (now blockchain.com), a company which says it started as the first Bitcoin blockchain explorer in 2011 and then created a cryptocurrency wallet that accounted for 28 per cent of Bitcoin transactions between 2012 and 2020. Zhao left to found Binance in 2017. And by 2023, he was worth $10.5 billion. He is only 45 and lives mostly in Dubai. A typical day for him, he said in a recent Twitter Spaces interaction, begins at 8 or 9 a.m. That's later. But he also goes to bed late: 2 a.m. He works with a trainer in the morning, makes calls, has lunch and takes a nap. He said: "Waking up at 8:00 or 9:00 is helpful for coordinating with the teams in Asia. I wake up to a large number of messages and have to make calls while responding to messages at the same time. "The teams will often see me on one call, but then I'm responding to messages in a different group. I do that a lot, but I'm pretty public about it." By 8 or 9 p.m., according to Zhao, "things usually quiet down" and "I consider what to do with my free time. Usually, I end up staying home and listening to an audiobook. I listen at 2x or even 2.5x speed. That's why I talk fast, too. I often listen while playing very simple games. "I'll play silly games that require no concentration, but they allow me to listen to the book. If I don't play these games, it's actually harder to concentrate sometimes. I end up listening to books for around an hour or two -- some days even longer. Doing this, I can easily finish one, two, or even three books a week." That typical day probably includes a call or two with his lawyers now. Surbiton : , June 11 (IANS) Andy Murray advanced to the Surbiton Challenger final after he ousted defending champion Jordan Thompson 7-6(5), 6-3 in the last four, here. The Scot found rhythm from the start, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. The Australian fought back to force a tie-break but Murray's consistency and all-court coverage helped him move past Thompson in straight sets on Saturday. Despite serving for the match at 5-2, Murray was broken before closing out the semi-final in the following game to set a clash against Austrian Jurij Rodionov. Second seed Murray is aiming for his second Challenger title of the year after he triumphed at last month's ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Aix-en-Provence, France, where he defeated Tommy Paul in the final. Should the 36-year-old Murray be crowned champion, he would become the oldest grass-court winner in Challenger history (since 1978). He is bidding to become just the sixth player to win Challenger titles on both clay and grass in the same season. World No. 134 Rodionov defeated Belgian Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-4 after winning 25 of 30 first-serve points. Rodionov, who is a six-time Challenger champion, has not dropped a set this week and will aim for his first title on grass. The 24-year-old would become the first Austrian to win a Challenger title on grass. Last season, Murray defeated Rodionov 6-2, 6-4 on the same court they will meet on Sunday afternoon. Istanbul, June 11 : Pep Guardiola said that Manchester Citys UEFA Champions League triumph was "written in the stars" after his side sealed the treble with a victory over Inter Milan in the final, here. A brilliant strike from Rodrigo in the 69th minute secured a dramatic and hard fought 1-0 victory for Guardiola's side over Inter of Italy here at the Olympic Ataturk Stadium late on Saturday night, ensuring Manchester City was crowned European champions for the first time. Moreover, City became just the second team in Premier League history to win the Treble after Manchester United in 1998/99. "Sometimes it looks like this competition this year, this final was written in the stars," Guardiola reflected after the match. "I will be the same person and we will be the same team and we will be the same Club. Today was our year, but in the past to do it of course we are incredibly satisfied to achieve something unique, the Treble for this club. The feeling I have right now is we leave the Champions League and give credit to the five Premier Leagues. In seven years, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, and Community Shields. That gives credit to what we have done. We have to win Europe to be considered one of the really good teams and we win it," the Spaniard added. The 52-year-old Guardiola has now won 14 major trophies since joining the club in 2016. A collection comprising five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, one Champions League and two Community Shields. The City boss has called for his players to build on that success moving forward, and ensure to continue to challenge for the top prizes. "Now we have the first and the people can say 'Manchester City have already the first Champions League'. But I don't want after one Champions League to disappear. So, we have to work harder in the next few years, next season and be there. There are teams who win the Champions League after one or two seasons and disappear. We have to avoid it. But at the same time I have to admit it is a big relief for the Club, and for everyone we have this trophy," Guardiola said. Following the City's Champions League victory, Guardiola has carved his name into history by becoming the first manager to win two European Trebles in the men's game. City's historic Treble achievement saw Guardiola repeat the iconic feat he first achieved as Barcelona manager during the 2008/09 season. Kolkata June 11 : Kolkata Police said on Sunday that two persons have been arrested for faking personal assistants (PAs) of Trinamool Congress national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee and threatening a senior Railways officer. The arrested persons have been identified as Bivas Sarkar and Biswanath Sarkar. City police sources said that the cops of the detective department first arrested Bivas Sarkar from the Bondel Road area in South Kolkata on Saturday evening. In the face of the interrogation, he named Biswanath Sarkar, who was arrested from Santaldih in Purulia district on the same night, city police sources said. It is learnt that the arrested persons are part of a racket involved in extorting people faking as close associates of influential persons with Biswanath Sarkar being the main brain behind it. It is learnt that he had sent a message from his personal email to a senior officer of the Eastern Railways for clearance of a Railways tender in favour of a particular entity. The tender value was Rs 5.87 crore. After the email was sent, city police sources said, Bivas Sarkar reportedly called up the officer on his mobile phone. As the personal assistant of Abhishek Banerjee, he threatened the officers of dire consequences if the tender was not passed in favour of that particular entity. The Railways officer filed a complaint at the Hare Street Police Station in Kolkata. The police started an investigation and finally on Saturday the duo were arrested. New Delhi, June 11 : Heavy security deployment has been made at the Ramlila Maidan and in the nearby areas ahead of the Aam Aadmi Party's Maha rally. The police have deployed extra police forces to avoid any untoward incidents. Senior police officials were also conducting rounds on the ground to check the security measures. The AAP will be holding a 'Maha rally' against the Centre's ordinance, calling it an illegal move by the Modi government. The AAP has called its volunteers from across the country to join them at Ramlila Maidan. The party is demanding the withdrawal of the Centre's ordinance. The AAP has stated that the Central government should reconsider its stance and prioritise the welfare of the people of Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced that people will assemble at this rally to show solidarity with the AAP and oppose the Central government. "Tomorrow, the people of Delhi will come together at Ramleela Maidan to protest against the dictatorial ordinance of the Central Government, which is depriving the people of Delhi of their rights. Join this rally to save the Constitution and democracy," Kejriwal tweeted on Saturday. The AAP has vowed to utilize all its might and voice strong opposition against the ordinance during the Maha rally. The party has claimed that more than one lakh people will join the rally at Ramlila Maidan. Butner : , June 11 (IANS) Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber, was found dead in his prison cell, federal officials confirmed to media. Kaczynski, 81, killed three people and injured 23 more during a mass mail-bombing spree between 1978 and 1995. He later pleaded guilty to his crimes. He was sentenced to life without parole in 1996 after evading capture for almost 20 years, the BBC reported. The Harvard-trained mathematician was eventually caught in a Montana cabin. He was a man who fascinated America for decades, and he became the focus of numerous TV documentaries. Kaczynski spent the past three decades held at prisons across the US - most recently at the Federal Medical Centre in Butner, North Carolina. Prison guards at the facility discovered Kaczynski's body on Saturday morning at around 00:25 local time (04:25 GMT), a spokesperson for the US Bureau of Prisons told the BBC. His cause of death was not immediately clear. "Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures," the spokesperson said. Kaczynski was then "transported by EMS to a local hospital and subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital personnel". Before suffering from declining health which prompted his transfer to the facility in December 2021, he had been held at the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, since May 1998. Los Angeles, June 11 : Jamie Foxx was not hospitalised as a result of the Covid vaccination, his representative has confirmed. The 55-year-old actor is said to have experienced a "medical complication" back in April while working on his upcoming Netflix film, 'Back In Action', reports Mirror.co.uk. Jamie was rushed to hospital as a result of the unknown health scare, but he's since been allowed to return home. The Hollywood star is thought to now be spending time in a physical rehabilitation facility in Chicago, where he has been visited by his family and friends. Following Jamie's hospitalisation, an unsubstantiated claim was made by Hollywood gossip columnist AJ Benza who alleged Jamie became unwell after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. As per Mirror.co.uk, Jamie's representatives have hit out at his claims and told NBC News that they are "completely untrue." The unsubstantiated claim is part of a narrative pushed by some far-right personalities to cast doubt on the safety of vaccines, even though studies have confirmed they are safe and effective. There has been a lot of speculation about Jamie's health scare, with his pal Nick Cannon recently telling fans the actor will share an update "when he's ready." New Delhi, June 11 : The murder of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya inside Tihar jail, in which the attackers used improvised weapons with materials available in the prison, has led to a difficult situation for the inmates as they have lost the comfort of coolers and fans amid the scorching heat in Delhi. Citing security concerns, the Tihar authorities have removed more than 2,000 exhaust fans from various areas within the facility, including the small cells. Tajpuriya (33) was stabbed over 90 times using self-made weapons by rival gang members that led to his murder near his cell. According to officials, the exhaust fans, which were potential tools for improvising weapons, have been taken down and will be replaced with plastic counterparts. The prison administration has already issued a purchase order to the Public Works Department (PWD) for the plastic exhaust fans, which are considered less dangerous than their steel or iron counterparts. "We have given the purchase order to Public Works Department (PWD) for the exhaust fans, and soon there will be plastic exhaust fans, which are not as hazardous as the steel/iron exhaust fans," stated a senior prison official. "The decision to replace the exhaust fans is part of a broader effort to enhance security within the prison," said the official. The officials clarified that coolers will now only be provided to elderly inmates or those with medical conditions. This aligns with the jail manual, which specifies that coolers should only be installed in the cells of elderly inmates and some foreign prisoners in facilities such as Rohini, Tihar, and Mandoli. Foreign prisoners were granted coolers after seeking permission from the court. As per officials, the removal of exhaust fans and subsequent replacement is specific to Tihar Prison. Other prison complexes including Rohini and Mandoli have exhaust systems installed from outside, beyond the reach of inmates, making the removal unnecessary in those locations. Earlier, a Delhi Court had directed the Tihar Jail authority to explore the possibility of installing a cooler inside the cell of Christian Michel James, a British citizen and an accused in the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper scam. The court took note of James' submission that his cell experiences excessive heat due to the absence of an exhaust fan. "Needless to say that presently the summer season is at peak and the temperature is going up to 42/43 degree Celsius and the cell must have been too hot," Special Judge Arvind Kumar at Rouse Avenue Courts had stated in an order. The jail authorities had submitted that as per a directive issued on May 5, all exhaust fans and coolers within inmates' reach were required to be removed from jails across Delhi. This measure was implemented to prevent potential misuse of such equipment. The officials had also informed that the jail, originally designed to accommodate 740 inmates, is currently accommodating around 3,600 inmates. Earlier on May 8, in wake of the sensational murder of top gangster Tajpuriya, the Delhi High Court had sought response of jail authorities on the steps taken to prevent crimes including murder in the prison. On watching the incident, which was captured in the CCTV cameras installed inside the jail, Justice Jasmeet Singh had said that it was seen that Tajpuriya was taken out of his cell and was stabbed to death. "...unable to comprehend why no steps were taken by authorities if the entire incident was captured by the CCTV camera," he had asked. "Totally unacceptable state of affairs," Justice Singh had told the Tihar jail authorities. (Shekhar Singh can be reached at shekhar.s@ians.in) Montenegrins headed to the polls Sunday to cast votes in parliamentary elections aiming to end months of political gridlock after the government collapsed last August. The elections come just months after Montenegro's political establishment was rocked when long-time leader Milo Djukanovic suffered a crushing defeat in a presidential run-off in April to the upstart Jakov Milatovic, ending decades of rule by the incumbent. Djukanovic had been a political mainstay in Montenegro for decades, rotating through various positions -- including multiple stints as both president and prime minister. Sunday's elections will likely provide a glimpse into where the Balkan nation is headed as it plunges into a new political era while the country continues to cling to the long-sought goal of joining the European Union. At the front of the pack is President Milatovic's Europe Now party, a political newcomer that formed in 2022 but has taken Montenegro by storm with its pro-European platform and pledge to raise wages and launch reforms. Europe Now will be hoping to capture the eagerness of young voters looking for an injection of fresh faces into the country's leadership long dominated by Djukanovic and his Democratic Party of Socialist (DPS). The party will face off with an array of parties, including pro-Serb and pro-Russian groups along with Djukanovic's ailing DPS. In the run-up to the polls, controversy has been stirred after interim Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic and his allies accused Europe Now's leader Milojko Spajic of fostering links with fugitive cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon. Kwon has been in custody in Montenegro since late March after being arrested at the capital's airport carrying alleged fake travel documents, while Seoul and Washington are seeking his extradition for his suspected role in fraud linked to his company's dramatic collapse last year. Spajic has brushed away the allegations and doubled down on his campaign promises of bolstering the minimum wage, overseeing pension reforms and instituting a seven-hour work week. Candidates will likely be faced with a wave of voter fatigue in Montenegro, where multiple elections and cycles of political deadlock in recent years has left large swaths of the population exasperated with the government's inability to function. "I only hear exaggerations in election promises. This is not based in reality," Milica, a 43-year-old economist living in the capital Podgorica, told AFP. "I will not vote." Search Keywords: Short link: Mumbai, June 11 : 'Udta Punjab' producer Madhu Mantena, previously known as fashion designer Masaba Gupta's husband, and author and yoga teacher Ira Trivedi kickstarted their wedding festivities with the mehndi ceremony on Saturday night. The ceremony was held at the couple's Pali Hill home in Mumbai's Bandra neighbourhood and it was attended by many Bollywood celebrities. Aamir Khan, whose association with Mantena dates back to their film 'Ghajini', Hrithik Roshan, Rajkummar Rao along with wife Patralekha, producer Nikhil Dwivedi and his wife Gaurie Pandit, were among the celebrities who showered their good wishes on the couple for a new start. The couple looked resplendent in their wedding finery and they happily posed for pictures for the shutterbugs. Mantena and Trivedi had earlier posted a beautiful wedding invite on the Net. It mentioned the wedding date and the after party. The wedding takes place on Sunday and the party will be held on June 12. The festivities are taking place in Mumbai. Mantena, who has produced 'Ghajini', 'Ugly' and 'Udta Punjab', was married to Masaba between 2015 and 2019, when they were officially divorced. Hyderabad, June 11 : Telangana's outstanding public debts are set to touch Rs 3.57 lakh crore in 2023-24, a jump of about 11 per cent over the previous year while the overall debt burden, including loans taken by state public sector enterprises, has reached Rs 4.33 lakh crore. As per 2023-24 Budget, the debt burden will increase to Rs 3,57,059 crore. The same stood at Rs 3.22 lakh crore during 2022-23. However, in terms of percentage of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), the debt burden will come down to 23.8 per cent in 2023-24 against 24.3 per cent last year and will remain at permissible limits of less than 25 per cent of GSDP. The interest payment during the current financial year will increase to Rs 22,407 crore against Rs 18,911 crore last year. Unfazed by the criticism from the opposition parties that it pushed Telangana into debt trap, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government maintains that its debts remain well within Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits. The debt burden of Telangana was Rs 2,44,019 crore in 2020-21 and in terms of percentage of GSDP it was 25.4 per cent. While the debts increased to Rs 2,83,452 crore in 2021-22 in GSDP terms it came down to 24.7 per cent. In 2022-23, the debt burden increased to Rs 3,22,993 crore as per the revised estimates, which was 24.3 per cent of GSDP. The major component of the state government's debt is open market borrowings, which increased to Rs 3,10,363 crore in 2023-24. It was just Rs 2,03,199 crore in 2020-21, which increased to Rs 2,42,455 crore in 2021-22 and to Rs 2,79,089 crore in 2022-23. However, the opposition parties say that the actual debts of the state are much more than shown in the Budget. Union Minister for Tourism G. Kishan Reddy said last week that the state's debts had mounted to Rs.8 lakh crore. "The budget debt of the state is Rs 3.12 lakh crore but if you see the debts raised through PSUs, corporation banks, NBFCs, NABARD, Power Finance Corporation and RBI, it is about Rs 8 lakh crore," he said. The BJP leader alleged that the BRS government has pushed Telangana into a debt burden over last nine years. He alleged that the state government has slipped into a position where it is unable to pay salaries to its employees and bills to small contractors. As per the information provided by the Union Finance Ministry in February 2023, the total debt of the Telangana government and state public sector enterprises has reached Rs 4.33 lakh crore. The Finance Ministry said that out of Rs 4.33 lakh crore, the state government debt stood at Rs 2.83 lakh crore. While loans availed by the state government enterprises/institutions from commercial banks were at about Rs 1.31 lakh crore, those taken from NABARD were Rs 19,431 crore. Telangana, which celebrated its 10th formation day on June 2, had debts of Rs 75,577 crore at the time of the state formation in 2014. In the last eight years, the state government took debt of another Rs 2.07 lakh crore, revealed the Finance Ministry. However, Telangana remains among the bottom five major states with lowest debt to GSDP ratio for three consecutive financial years. For financial years 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, Telangana recorded fifth lowest debt to GSDP ratio of 28.2, 27.4 and 28.2 respectively. Union minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha that the total outstanding debt of Telangana from the years 2014-15 to 2021-22 stands at Rs 2.83 lakh crore, The outstanding public debt of Telangana has risen by almost four times since the formation of the state in June 2014 till the financial year 2021-22 In the first year of its formation, the state had resorted to the public borrowing of Rs 8,121 crore from several sources, the ministry stated. Every year, the state continued to borrow loans, resulting in mounting public debt. "During 2021-22, the state went in for a huge borrowing of Rs 39,433 crore, taking the overall outstanding public debt to Rs 2,83,452 crore," Pankaj Chaudhary said. Besides these public borrowings, the state government had also stood guarantee for multiple state-owned public sector undertakings and corporations which obtained loans to the tune of Rs 1,50,365 crore from several public sector banks, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), central lending agencies like Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Infrastructure Development Corporation (RIDC), Warehouse Infrastructure Fund (WIF), etc., the Union minister said. Some of these borrowings by the state-owned corporations and PSUs include Rs 1.30 lakh crore from 12 banks, Rs 11,424 crore from NABARD, Rs 8,871 crore from RIDC and Rs 972 crore from WIF, the reply stated. "This has taken the overall debt of the Telangana government to Rs 4,33,817 crore till October 2022," the Union minister said. He pointed out that like all other states, Telangana, too, had enacted Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, according to which, the state legislature has to monitor debts of state-owned entities. Though the public sector banks had not given any loan to the Telangana government directly till October 22, they had given loans to the state-owned corporations and PSUs, the Union minister added. The minister also revealed in December 2022 that Telangana's debt to GSDP ratio increased from 15.7 per cent in 2016 to 27.4 per cent in 2022 (Budget estimates). The state's debt to GSDP ratio was 12.4 per cent in 2017, 21.4 per cent in 2018, 22.1 per cent in 2019, 23.5 per cent in 2020 and 27.3 per cent in 2021 (revised estimates). Both the state and Central governments have blamed each other for mounting debts. In September 2022, state finance minister T. Harish Rao claimed that the union government owes Rs 1,05,812 crore to Telangana in the form of pending funds, grants and compensation. If paid as per norms and recommendations, the state government can clear one-third of its Rs 3.29 lakh crore of state debts. "Let alone clearing debts, we would not even were required to obtain loans, if the Centre released these funds till date," he said, while explaining the adverse impact of the Centre's unilateral decisions and imposing restrictions against the state to obtain loans under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits. He had told the state Assembly the Central government was adopting double standards in implementation of the FRBM Act by imposing restrictions on the states, but not practicing them itself. While the 15th Finance Commission recommended constituting a high-powered inter-governmental committee comprising the Central and the State governments to review the borrowings, the union government took unilateral decision to impose restrictions on the states borrowings without constituting the committee. Further, these restrictions are being imposed with retrospective effect. Harish Rao also asserted that unlike the Union government, which obtained loans to repay its loans, the state government spent the borrowings on capital expenditure and created assets. "We took up irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram Project, Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya and other programmes which in turn created assets for the state," he added. As per the Reserve Bank of India report, Telangana's debt rank is 23rd in the country. He also dismissed the allegations by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other BJP leaders over the per capita debt on each citizen of the state. He stated that while the Central debts resulted in the per capita debt of Rs 1,25,679 on every individual, the Telangana state debts amounted to Rs 94,272 per capita. He said that Centre, which has borrowed Rs 100 lakh crore in the last eight years, has no right to point fingers at Telangana, whose debt position is well within permissible limits under FRBM Act. "Telangana figures fourth from the bottom in debt to GSDP ratio. This proves beyond doubt that our debt-burden is very low compared to several other states," he added. Hyderabad, June 11 : A month after the shock defeat in Karnataka, the BJP has started focusing on Telugu states with top guns of the party making a series of visits in preparation for the coming elections. A day after BJP president J.P. Nadda's visit to Tirupati on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is arriving in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. The visit by two top BJP leaders in as many days is likely to set off a flurry of political activity for realignment in the run-up to next year's elections. Political analysts say the visit by the BJP leaders may be a beginning of the saffron party's efforts to test waters before getting into serious talks for alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the main opposition party in the state. After the humiliating defeat in 2019 elections, which they fought separately, TDP, BJP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) headed by actor politician Pawan Kalyan are keen to join hands to take on YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). The visits by Nadda and Amit Shah are seen as part of BJP's efforts to reach out to masses and gain a foothold in the state. This is their first visit to Andhra Pradesh after the recent meeting with TDP president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu had met Amit Shah and Nadda on June 3 in Delhi. They reportedly discussed TDP-JSP-BJP alliance for elections in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This was Naidu's first meeting with Shah after TDP pulled out of the BJP-led NDA in 2018 over the issue of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Political observers believe both the parties are keen to leave behind the bitterness of 2019 elections and work together. BJP and TDP had an alliance in 2014 elections and though Pawan Kalyan did not contest the polls, he campaigned for the alliance and addressed public meetings along with Narendra Modi and Chandrababu Naidu. The JSP had snapped ties with both TDP and BJP for going back on the promise to accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Interestingly, TDP later used the same issue to pull out of the BJP-led NDA. BJP, which was sharing power with TDP in the state, also had to pull out of the coalition. In 2014 polls, BJP had bagged four seats in the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly. It has also won two out of 25 Lok Sabha seats. However, in 2019 polls, which saw TDP losing power to YSR Congress, BJP drew a blank while JSP could manage to win just one Assembly. After the 2019 debacle, JSP was quick to mend fences with the BJP. Though Chandrababu Naidu too wanted to bury the hatchet, the BJP leadership was cold in its response as YSRCP was extending support to BJP on key Bills in the Parliament. With less than a year to go for elections, Pawan Kalyan started exerting pressure on BJP to finalise the alliance to avoid a split of anti-YSRCP votes. Nadda's speech at Tirupati public meeting on Saturday indicates that BJP is gearing up to take on YSRCP. He slammed the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government on widespread corruption and lawlessness in the state. "I am sorry to say YSRCP is one of the most corrupt governments I have ever seen. There is no end to scams. There is mining scam, sand scam, liquor scam, land scam and education scam. Which type of scam is not taking place?" Nadda also lashed out at YSRCP for turning the state economy into an 'alcohol economy'. The BJP president also alleged that lawlessness is at extreme. "There is no law and no law enforcing agency," he remarked. The BJP chief also attacked the Jagan government over not building the state capital at Amaravati for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone in 2015. BJP will have to be content with playing second fiddle to TDP in Andhra Pradesh, the saffron party is confident of its prospects in Telangana, where Assembly elections in Telangana are due in November-December 2023. The debacle in Karnataka dealt a blow to the party's preparations in Telangana but it hopes that Amit Shah's visit on June 15 will infuse new enthusiasm among the party cadres. He is scheduled to address a public meeting at Khammam. The BJP, which has been focusing on Telangana for the last 3-4 years, was confident that Telangana will prove its second gateway to the South after Karnataka. However, the party's failure to retain power in Karnataka dented its morale. The BJP had been working aggressively with Mission 2023, but its confidence took a beating following defeat in Karnataka. The internal squabbles in the party have added to its problems. MLA Eatala Rajender and some other BJP leaders, who joined the party in recent years, are said to be unhappy with state BJP president Bandi Sanjay and are demanding the central leadership to appoint a new leader. A recent reported statement by a senior central leader of the BJP about the saffron party's real strength in the state has also dealt a blow to its rank and file. The leader reportedly admitted that BJP is trailing at third position in the state. The BJP has been trying to project itself as the only viable alternative to BRS. Its top leaders including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah exuded confidence at many occasions that the party will storm to power in Telangana. In the 2018 Assembly elections in Telangana, BJP secured just one seat in 119-member House. However, in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the saffron party came out with its best-ever performance to win four Lok Sabha seats. Since then, the party's fortunes have been on an upswing. It bolstered its position by winning two Assembly seats in by-elections and with an impressive show in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls. The BJP is looking to rope in top leaders from across the country for the campaign in Telangana. As the elections draw nearer, the state will see a flurry of visits by BJP leaders. When compared to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana is seen as a fertile ground for the BJP. The party has been raking up several contentious issues for polarisation of votes on communal lines. AIMIM's political domination in old city of Hyderabad, the friendship of Owaisis with the KCR government, four per cent reservation for Muslims, second official language status to Urdu and celebration of Hyderabad Liberation Day are some of the issues which the saffron party has been trying to capitalize on and this is likely to pay it dividends in some pockets of the state. Guwahati, June 11 : While Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claims that Assam will surpass the GDP of Punjab within the next three years, the opposition is constantly alleging that the state is in major debt. The per capita debt burden of Assam is estimated at Rs 26,771 after the close of the financial year 2021-22. According to state Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, the per capita debt burden has almost doubled in the last five financial years. However, Neog also stated that according to quick estimates, per capita income was Rs 1,02,965 and GDP was Rs 4,12,162 crore, which registered a growth rate of over 16 per cent in 2021-22. As per the data provided by the state Finance Minister, the Assam government borrowed Rs 12,753 crore ($1.385 billion) from the market for development projects during 2021-2022. Financial institutions have provided Rs 94 crore for the construction of rural infrastructure, and the Central government has loaned Rs 157.34 crore for the implementation of development projects, Rs 600 crore for capital project implementation, and Rs 2,252.10 crore from the state provident fund. The opposition has alleged that to continue with Himanta Biswa Sarma's populist schemes, Assam has fallen into serious debt. The Trinamool Congress president in the state, Ripun Bora, told IANS: "Assam's outstanding loans stood at Rs 1,34,000 crore at the end of the previous financial year. In 2016, before the BJP came to power in the state, Assam had only Rs 35,000 crore in total borrowings." He also alleged that, despite taking a huge loan, the state government is unable to clear the dues of contractors working on various government projects. "Payments worth Rs 22,000 crore due to contractors have been pending for a long time. The state government cannot even pay the salaries of contractual government employees on time," Bora added. According to the Trinamool Congress leader, Assam will soon face a huge crisis. Another opposition MLA, Akhil Gogoi, claimed that the economic condition of Assam is going to be like that of Sri Lanka in the near future. He further alleged that due to financial indiscipline, the Centre has stopped sanctioning loans to the Assam government. However, Ajanta Neog has turned down the allegations of the opposition leaders. She said that state governments borrow money in accordance with the RBI's rules and the 2003 FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act of the states. The minister further claimed that in accordance with RBI standards, the state government did not borrow the maximum amount possible. According to her, the government uses the loan proceeds for state development. Notably, in the previous year, the Assam government passed a bill to increase its debt-to-gross state domestic product (GSDP) ratio. That time, Congress, AIUDF, and one independent MLA in the house staged a walkout in protest over the increase in government loans, but the Assam Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (AFRBM) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was passed by voice vote. With the bill's adoption, the debt-to-gross domestic product (GSDP) ratio will rise from the current 28.5 per cent to 32 per cent over the following five fiscal years, starting in 2022-2023. The additional borrowing maximum has also been increased by 0.50 per cent of the gross domestic product (GSDP), above and beyond the mandated cap of 4 per cent for 2022-23 to 2024-25. Meanwhile, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India also recently criticised the Assam government for the rise in borrowings. It pointed out that Assam's outstanding debt has "rapidly increased" from Rs 49,274.88 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 99,918.54 crore in 2021-22. A CAG report said: "In view of the increasing growth rate of its public debt, the state government may make efforts to augment its own revenues and reduce its revenue expenditure so as to avoid pressure on repayment of public debt and interest liabilities." San Francisco, June 11 : Microsoft-backed OpenAI has been sued by a radio host in the US, which appears to be the first defamation lawsuit responding to false information generated by ChatGPT. Mark Walters sued the Sam Altman-run company after ChatGPT mentioned that Walters had been accused of defrauding and embezzling funds from a non-profit organisation, reports The Verge. ChatGPT generated the false information in response to a request from a journalist named Fred Riehl. ChatGPT responded: "Mark Walters is an individual who resides in Georgia. Walters has served as the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of SAF since at least 2012. Walters has access to SAF's bank accounts and financial records and is responsible for maintaining those records and providing financial reports to SAF's board of directors." The AI chatbot further stated that Walters owes SAF a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care. "Walters has breached these duties and responsibilities by, among other things, embezzlement and misappropriation of SAF's funds and assets for his own benefit, and manipulating SAF's financial records and bank statements to conceal his activities," ChatGPT said which is a false information, according to the lawsuit. Walters is now seeking unspecified monetary damages from OpenAI, the report said. Meanwhile, two lawyers told a judge in Manhattan federal court this week that ChatGPT tricked them into including fictitious legal research in a court filing. Attorneys Steven A. Schwartz and Peter LoDuca are facing possible punishment over a filing in a lawsuit against an airline that included references to past court cases that Schwartz thought were real, but were actually invented by ChatGPT. Last month, a US federal judge categorically told lawyers that he will not allow any AI-generated content in his court. Texas federal judge Brantley Starr said that any attorney appearing in his court must attest that "no portion of the filing was drafted by generative artificial intelligence," or if it was, that it was checked "by a human being," reports TechCrunch. In April, ChatGPT, as part of a research study, falsely named an innocent and highly-respected law professor in the US on the list of legal scholars who had sexually harassed students in the past. Jonathan Turley, Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, was left shocked when he realised ChatGPT named him as part of a research project on legal scholars who sexually harassed someone. Mumbai, June 11 : The pre-teaser of the upcoming Ranbir Kapoor-starrer film 'Animal' was unveiled on Sunday. It gives a glimpse into the film's captivating world and intense narrative. It starts off with what seem to be two rival gangs - one whose members wear a golden skull headgear and the other is a group of sardars. The first gang calls Ranbir for a bloody face-off. Although the actor's face hasn't been fully revealed, he unleashes his wrath with the axe in his hand as he single-handedly hacks the other gang members and overpowers them before they're seen running away from him. The film has been directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who is known for directing 'Kabir Singh' and 'Arjun Reddy'. It also stars Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandana, Bobby Deol, and Tripti Dimri. Produced by Bhushan Kumar & Krishan Kumar's T-Series, Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios, and Pranay Reddy Vanga's Bhadrakali Pictures, 'Animal' will debut in theatres on August 11, 2023 in 5 languages - Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam where it will clash with two other big films, 'Gadar 2' and 'OMG 2'. Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 : The CPI(M) in Kerala, which is ruling the state, is facing flack in the SFI state secretary, P.M. Arsho matter after a case was filed against a woman journalist and others. CPI(M) Kerala state secretary and senior leader, M.V. Govindan while speaking to media persons here on Sunday said that the government would again take a case against the media if it files stories against the student body of the party, the SFI. The Ernakulam police in Kerala have registered a case against five people, including Prof Vinod Kumar of Maharajas College, Principal of the college Dr. V.S. Joy, state president of Congress student body, KSU Alosiouis Xavier and College unit president of KSU, C.A. Faisal and the Chief reporter of Asianet news, Akhila Nandakumar. The case was registered following a complaint by SFI state secretary P.M. Arsho that Akhila Nandakumar had filed a story that he (Arsho) has passed an examination which he had not written, and it was intended to defame him. As per Arsho, he had not applied for the third semester examination of the 2021-22 batch of the postgraduate programme in Archeology and Material Cultural Studies and hence there was no possibility of him passing the examination. The Kerala Student Union (KSU), the pro-Congress student body had claimed that in the college website document it was mentioned that Arsho had passed the examination even though the total marks he gained was Zero. The CPI(M) and the Left Front have always been campaigning for media freedom and often attack the BJP-led Centre as being against press freedom. The action of the Kerala Police against a woman journalist and the CPI(M) state secretary aggressively defending the same is being heavily criticised. The SFI leader Arsho is already in the dock for allegations of protecting a former SFI activist, K.Vidya over forging documents to get a posting as a guest lecturer in a government college. The Kerala Police have registered a case against Vidya, but five days after there is no trace of the woman SFI leader. New Delhi, June 11 : Mohammed Kalim, the accused held by the Delhi Police in connection with an alleged conversion racket at Turkman Gate Night Shelter, would show YouTube videos of his religion to Hindu youths and question their faith. Additionally, he would coerce them into giving up their faith. The accused had coerced some Hindu youths to recite religious verses before they started their work. "The modus operandi is the same as the Ghaziabad conversion racket, where the victims were shown YouTube videos and asked to recite religious verses before starting any work," a source said. Kalim had also attempted to bribe Sandeep Sagar, the victim in the current case. The accused promised him a monthly payment of Rs one lakh, arranged for a government job, and offered to arrange his marriage if he converted to Islam. Sagar had been working as a caretaker at the Night Shelter at Delhi Gate for four years, where Kalim forced him to convert to Islam. "Kalim started bothering me unnecessarily. Sometimes he would demand money, and other times he would force me to recite particular religious slogans/verses that were not from my religion before I started my work. I lodged a complaint in this regard at Police Station Daryaganj, but Kalim apologised and I forgave him," read the FIR accessed by IANS. Kalim had also requested that he wanted to spread Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and would never indulge in such activities, after which the victim had withdrawn his complaint. However, Kalim didn't mend his ways, and Sagar got himself transferred to Turkman Gate Night Shelter. Two persons, Feroz and Zeeshan, used to live at this Night Shelter. Mohammed Kalim used to visit Turkman Gate Night Shelter also to meet Feroz and Zeeshan. The trio would collect money for the Madrasa. "Here too, Kalim forced me to watch particular videos on YouTube. He told me that Hinduism has no virtues. "Kalim showed me religious videos on YouTube and said that Hinduism has no special features. Through the videos, he explained the shortcomings of Hinduism. He also told me that if I converted to Islam, he would arrange a marriage for me. Additionally, I was promised one lakh rupees per month and a government job if I did what he said," Sagar alleged in the FIR. Sagar later learned that Kalim had also forced two Hindu youths, Sujit Kumar and Vicky Sharma, to convert to Islam. Kalim told them that Hinduism had flaws and also made significant efforts to lure them into his trap. Sagar has also alleged that recently Kalim succeeded in converting a Hindu youth, named Sanjeet Kumar to Islam. Sanjeet is now living under the name Abbas. "Recently, Mohd Kalim has filed a false case against me in Kamla Market to exert pressure on me. He has made inappropriate comments about my religion, hurt my religious sentiments, and tried to tempt me into converting to the Muslim faith, which I cannot tolerate anymore. I had hoped that Mohd Kalim would reform himself, but his actions continue to be unacceptable. I request that you take appropriate legal action in this regard," the victim has alleged in the FIR. Kalim is a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and has been arrested, police said on Sunday. The police said that more arrests in the case are likely. A special team is looking into the matter. "We received a complaint from Sandeep Saagar, a resident of Turkman Gate, alleging that Mohammed Kalim was enticing and pressuring him to convert to the Muslim religion," said a police officer. Upon receiving the complaint, the police conducted a preliminary inquiry and found prima facie evidence supporting the allegations. Consequently, the police registered an FIR under sections 153-A and 295-A of the Indian Penal Code at the Chandni Mahal Police Station. Kalim was arrested on Saturday. "We have arrested Mohammed Kalim, who has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody after being produced before the court." (Atul Krishan can be approached at atul.k@ians.in) A colonial remnant that has managed to persist like the rock of Sisyphus is the notion of sedition - and the law that seeks to keep the government safe from being questioned defiantly. A product of the British Raj, the law against sedition was an instrument to quell protests and silence the voices of critique against the government. Though preserved as a legal heritage of a dark past, the law against sedition remains operational in the same manner: Protect the government from accountability in a certain regard, and silence certain questioning voices of Indian people. The law regarding sedition was drafted in 1837 by Thomas Macauly, but found no mention when the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was enacted in 1860. It was only in 1870 that Section 124A made its way into the IPC through an amendment initiated by Sir James Stephen. Thus was engineered one of the methods to stifle dissent of the Indian people, essentially the nationalist voices. This clearly implies that nationalism and sedition are opposing concepts when the government stands in between. Under this provision, sedition was said to be committed when anyone by means of "words or otherwise brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law". The celebrated 'seditious' offenders of colonial India The icons of the Indian freedom struggle who were convicted on account of sedition include Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Tilak was the first to be convicted of sedition during the Raj. His offence was that he published articles in 'Kesari' (his Marathi newspaper) that would instigate people to thwart the government's effort to curb plague in India. He was thus tried at Bombay High Court in 1897 under sedition for the first time. He was held guilty by a nine-member jury, six of whom were whites who voted against Tilak, while three Indian jurors voted in his favour. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Further, in June 1897, Tilak was convicted by the same court for his addresses at a Shivaji festival that allegedly instigated the murder of two British officers. It was then that the presiding Judge broadened the scope of 'disaffection' towards the government and included 'disloyalty' under Section 124A of the IPC. Subsequently, when Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki lobbed a bomb at Douglas Kingsford in Muzaffarpur, accidentally killing barrister Pringle Kennedy's wife and daughter instead of the intended target, Tilak published two articles: 'The Country's Misfortune' (May 12, 1908) and 'These Measures Are Not Sustainable' (June 9, 190) in 'Kesari'. These articles irked the British to the extent that they enacted Explosive Substances Act, 1908. As per this law, "any person who unlawfully and maliciously causes by any explosive substance and explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or to cause serious injury to property shall, whether any injury to person or property has been actually caused or not, be punished". In the Emperor vs Bal Gangadhar Tilak case, 1908, Bombay High Court Judge D.D. Davar said that Tilak's writings were "seething with sedition". He was apprehended on July 3, 1908, and his second sedition trial was consigned to Mandalay Prison in Burma till 1914. In 1916, Tilak was again prosecuted for sedition, but was defended by Barrister Mohammed Ali Jinnah. He was acquitted this time. Later, on March 10, 1922, Mahatma Gandhi was arrested on account of sedition, following which, he was sentenced to six years in prison by Judge Broomfield. Due to the incident of lynching of policemen in Chauri Chaura, Gandhi was prosecuted along with his publisher for his 'anti-British' articles published in 'Young India'. 'Young India' was a weekly journal in English founded by Lala Lajpat Rai in 1916. It was later published by Mahatma Gandhi. The incident of Chauri Chaura took place on February 4, 1922, in Gorakhpur, when the police opened fire at a large group of protesters for the non-cooperation movement. The protesters then set ablaze a police station, killing all its occupants. This episode resulted in the death of three civilians and 22 policemen. Consequently, Gandhi halted the nation-wide movement on February 12, 1922. Nonetheless, 19 arrested protesters were sentenced to death and 14 were imprisoned for life under colonial laws. Independence was attained after navigating through treacherous colonial designs like 'sedition'. In what may look like progress, the word 'sedition' was removed from the Constitution on November 26, 1949, after Constituent Assembly debates in 1948. However, the notion of sedition continues to remain as a paradox, staring at the faces of dissenting Indian voices. There is certainly a need to look back and put an end to the Sisyphian exercise to exhaust the voices of sovereignty, democracy, and their essence - dissent. (Kavya Dubey may be reached at kavya.d@ians.in) Agartala/Guwahati, June 11 : Though not many sedition cases have been reported from the northeastern states, lawyers and experts in the region felt that the law must be abolished so that the party in power could not use sedition to suppress voices of dissent. Three youths were arrested in November 2021 in Cachar district in Bengali-dominated southern Assam for allegedly defacing a government hoarding in Assamese. The Assam police arrested journalist Anirban Roy Choudhury and Barak Democratic Front (BDF) chief convener and lawyer Pradip Datta Roy in November 2021 after they criticised police action and the Assam government for using the Assamese language instead of Bengali in government hoardings. Choudhury and Datta Roy have been charged under 124A (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and other stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Choudhury had written an editorial in his news portal, 'Barak Bulletin' criticising the use of Assamese language and Datta Roy objected to the use of only Assamese language in government hoardings about the "Jal Jeevan Mission". Choudhury got bail from the court within a few hours on the day of his arrest but Datta Roy was in jail for 11 days before getting bail. Both Choudhury and Datta Roy argued that the Assamese language was used in government hoardings undermining the Assam Official Language (Amendment) Act 1961. Choudhury in his editorial also flayed socio-cultural organisations and the civil society of Barak Valley for not standing up to the alleged imposition of Assamese in the region. The Language Act stipulates the use of Bengali for administrative and various official purposes in Bengali-majority Barak Valley or southern Assam, which comprises the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Datta Roy, a senior lawyer of the Gauhati High Court, told IANS that after the historic language movement of 1961 in which 11 people lost their lives in police firing, Assam's Language Act was amended, making Bengali the official language of Barak Valley, inhabited by more than four million people, mostly Bengali. "Putting up government hoarding written in Assamese violated the Language Act. Three more people were martyred when massive protests were undertaken in 1972 and 1986 against the conspiracy of imposing Assamese language in the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley region," Datta Roy said. Demanding immediate abolition of the sedition law, Datta Roy said that it has been misused by the party in power against its opponents and critics. Another senior lawyer of the Tripura High Court Purushuttam Roy Barman said that the colonial law under the IPC was enacted by the British in 1870 and in 2022, the Supreme Court asked the government to suspend the Act for the time being. He said that recently the Law Commission in its 279th report has recommended the retention of section 124A of the IPC which contains the law of sedition. "Commission has recommended enhanced punishment for such offences in the name of national security. Seven years to life imprisonment recommended by the Law Commission," Roy Barman, who is also the founder Secretary of the Tripura Human Rights Organisation, told IANS. He said that in recent years with the detention of many people in different parts of the country, the government misused the law to suppress different voices. "Criticising government policies and decisions or to express the voice of dissent is always permitted as per article 19 (2) of the Constitution. Freedom of speech is the right of every citizen enshrined in the Constitution," said Roy Barman, who is the president of the Tripura High Court Bar Association. Demanding the immediate repeal of the law, he said that criticising the government is not an act against the nation. Curtailment of free speech would never strengthen democracy, he pointed out. A Congress leader in Agartala said that the BJP government was planning to make the law more "draconian" and wanted to send out a message before the next general election that it would be used against Opposition leaders. The CPI-M politburo considers the recommendations of the Law Commission on tweaking the sedition clause of the IPC to be inconsistent with and negating the Supreme Court's observations. The Supreme Court had stayed the operation of the Sedition Act until the Union government took appropriate legislative steps to remove this anachronistic law from the statute books. "The Law Commission, however, appears to have further strengthened the provisions of the sedition law by extending the minimum jail term from the earlier three to seven years. These recommendations are ominous as they come in the background of the manner in which the ED and CBI are being brazenly misused to target leaders of the opposition parties," the CPI-M politburo said in a statement. The Left party demanded the repeal of the "anachronistic sedition law". (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon was on Sunday arrested as part of an investigation into financial irregularities, according to police and UK media. "A 52-year-old woman has today... been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party," Police Scotland said in a statement, with British media confirming her identity as Sturgeon. The woman is in custody and is being questioned by detectives, added police. It is the third arrest in the probe, which is sending shockwaves through Scotland's political system. Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was arrested as part of the probe in April. Murrell has long faced questions over the alleged diversion of 600,000 ($750,000) in SNP donations that were meant to support its drive for Scottish independence. He also failed to declare a personal loan to the SNP of more than 100,000, which could breach laws on political funding transparency. He was later released without charge pending further investigation. Party treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested in April and later released. Sturgeon made her final appearance as First Minister in the Scottish Parliament in March, having announced her intention to retire a month earlier. Search Keywords: Short link: When an amendment to Section 124A made its way to the IPC in 1898, it stood to define sedition as an offence that incites or seeks to incite emotions of dissatisfaction with the government. Interestingly, sedition accounts for less than 0.01 per cent of all crimes committed in India. Although it remains a rarity of a 'crime', certain areas have come to be understood as possible hotbeds of sedition. For instance, between 2014-18, Jharkhand and Assam accounted for 32 per cent of all sedition cases in India with 37 charges in each of these states. More than 3,300 farmers were slapped with sedition in 2019 for protesting over land conflicts; and over 3,000 people were charged with sedition in January 2021 for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. However, the colonial engineering of 'sedition' and the implementation of this method of control that was exercised by the British over Indians remains in existence, decades after the colonisers departed from India, albeit the court dispenses justice - and some food for thought. Herewith are some landmark lawsuits that happened in the shadow of Independence. In 1958 was the first case to address the legitimacy of Section 124A: Ram Nandan vs State of Uttar Pradesh. Allahabad High Court held that Section 124A of the IPC was ultra vires in character and violated Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution (right to freedom of speech and expression). Subsequently, the constitutional validity of Section 124A was challenged in Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar case in 1962. The the argument focused on the fact that Section 124A conflicted with Article 19(1)(a). The Supreme Court ruling was that for a crime to be established as sedition under Section 124A, there must be said or written remarks that have the potential to cause disruption or disturbance of public order by means of violence. It meant there is no offence unless the statements are likely to incite violence. This verdict thus overruled the decision of the Allahabad High Court. Then in 1995, the apex court ruled in Balwant Singh And Anr vs State of Punjab that simply raising slogans like "Khalistan Zindabad" and "Raj Karega Khalsa" in public places do not amount to sedition in the absence of evidence or record of occurrence of violence. The court was firm in this legal stance over few other cases such as Bilal Ahmed Kaloo vs State of Andhra Pradesh (1997) and Common Cause vs Union of India (2018). With the instruction to courts that they must adhere to the principles laid down in the Kedar Nath case, it was reiterated that sedition charges cannot be a result of merely criticising the government or its policies. In the recent times, few cases that brought forth the understanding and debate surrounding sedition and its constitutionality afresh are as follows: Satirising the government: Kishorechandra Wangkhemcha vs Union of India (2021) On February 17, 2021, journalists Kishore Wangkhemcha and Kanhaiya Lal Shukla filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of sedition law. Wangkhemcha is a Manipur-based journalist and was arrested for his criticism of the Government of Manipur and its association with the ruling NDA government in August 2018. He called the Chief Minister a "puppet of Hindutva" in a video on social media. Shukla, a Chattisgarh-based journalist posted cartoons on social media which satirised the fake encounters allegedly conducted by the Gujarat police between 2002 and 2006. Shukla was charged with sedition in April 2018. Dissecting the impact of the pandemic: Vinod Dua vs Union of India (2021) The late veteran journalist had released a video on his YouTube channel on March 30, 2020, as an episode of 'The Vinod Dua Show'. In the video, he presented a critical analysis of the Covid-induced nationwide lockdown, drawing attention to not just the major health issue but also to the insufficient testing facilities on the part of the government, along with scarcity of information regarding availability of materials like PPE kits, N95 masks, etc. Added to this was spotlighting the plight of labour and their migration. The case against Dua alleged that he was spreading false and malicious news about the Prime Minister of India, thus disturbing the tranquility in public. Interestingly, this episode bears a striking resemblance with 1897, when Bal Gangadhar Tilak was accused of sedition for publishing articles in his newspaper (Kesari) which allegedly instigated people to thwart the (British Indian) government's effort to curb the plague in India. Farooq Abdullah's comment on abrogation of Article 370: Rajat Sharma vs Union of India (2021) In an interview, Farooq Abdullah remarked that "whatever they are doing at LAC in Ladakh is all because of the abrogation of Article 370, which they never acknowledged. I am hopeful that Article 370 would be reinstated in J&K with their help." Abdullah had also spoken about "restoring Article 370" with "China's support," according to Rajat Sharma and Neh Srivastava's petition. Before this, Abdullah had stated in an interview with The Wire that Kashmiri people do not feel Indian and would rather be dominated by the Chinese. According to the petitioners, Abdullah's statement was tentamount to sedition and thus called for punishment under the said law. The apex court bench imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the petitioners for filing a PIL seeking initiation of proceedings against former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for his "pro-China" comments. The bench observed that expressing a point of view that is at variance with the decision made by the Central Government, cannot be called seditious. Galwan Valley Clashes : Zakir Hussain vs UT of Ladakh (2021) On the of June 18, 2020, the Jammu & Kashmir police filed an FIR against Zakir Hussain and Nissar Ahman Khan for a viral audio clip that contained objectionable conversation demeaning the country's armed forces. This occurred against the backdrop of clashes between the Indian Army and Chinese forces in Ladakh's Galwan valley. The petitioner argued before J&K High Court that the police had no power to file an FIR since as per law, the court may only take notice of a complaint submitted by a District Magistrate under Section 196 of CrPC, and no such complaint was lodged in this case. Toolkit case: State vs Disha A. Ravi (2021) Disha A. Ravi, a 22-year-old environment activist was taken in custody for her involvement in the toolkit case during the farmer's movement against the new farmer's bills in 2020. She was accused of sedition and criminal conspiracy. A toolkit is a documented set of information that provides online resources to further information about the cause of a particular protest. Delhi's Patiala House court passed an interim order and granted bail to the applicant. In the absence of evidence, the court set her free and upheld that dissent and divergence of thoughts was a sign of healthy democracy as free speech is a Constitutionally granted fundamental right. The court also stated that the right to seek a global audience is part of freedom of speech and expression. (Kavya Dubey may be reached at kavya.d@ians.in) Kolkata, June 11 : West Bengal seems to have a more relaxed attitude with regard to cases related to sedition laws. The latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), giving figures up to 2021, says that only 12 sedition cases have been filed in West Bengal between 2014 and 2021. The figure is just 2.5 per cent of the total 475 sedition cases filed throughout the country during the same period. As per the NCRB report, during the same period from 2014 to 2021 just five persons were chargesheeted. But not a single person was convicted. As per the reports, Bengal's picture was especially rosy in 2020. During that period just two sedition cases were registered in the state, which was just 2.7 per cent of the total 73 cases filed on this count in the country. The situation in West Bengal appeared especially better when compared to states like Assam, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh which recorded a significantly higher number of sedition cases during the same period. The figures, however, were higher when compared with those of states such as Odisha, Maharashtra, Sikkim or Tripura, which reported single-digit registered cases, or states like Meghalaya which did not report a single such case during that period. However, there was a bad patch for the state in 2015, when West Bengal topped among all the states in sedition related arrests. In that year, West Bengal recorded as many as 53 arrests on charges of sedition and waging war against the state, which was the highest among all Indian states and also 22.36 per cent of the total 237 arrests throughout the country on the same charges. State government officials believe that there had been a major reason for the sudden rise in the number of sedition arrests in West Bengal in 2015. "During a major part of 2015, the investigation continued into the blast at Khagragarh in East Burdwan district of West Bengal on October 2, 2014. Probably, that was the major reason why the number of sedition related arrests suddenly increased in that year," pointed out a senior official who did not wish to be named. Trinamool Congress legislator Tapas Roy feels that the maximum misuse of the sedition law has been in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Assam, where the police filed sedition cases indiscriminately. He added that in West Bengal the government does not believe in silencing the opposition through misuse of sedition laws. "We practice what we preach which is evident from the records of a Union government outfit," he said. BJP's state spokesman in West Bengal Samik Bhattacharya says that the figure is just a small part and does not really reflect the true picture of how the law is misused in the state. "West Bengal is the only state where the opposition political parties always have to approach the court to get permission for conducting peaceful public meetings and rallies. In West Bengal the state government follows two sets of rules -- one which is for the ruling party and the other for the opposition parties," he added. Calcutta High Court counsel Kaushik Gupta explained that a person may be booked under the sedition law by any Central and state security enforcement agency. "So it is not always necessary that in a particular year or time period the number of sedition cases in a particular state rises just because the state law enforcement agencies apply its provisions indiscriminately. But of course, generally the number of such cases is averagely lower in states where the state government applies the provisions of the law judiciously," he said. Guwahati, June 11 : Between 2014 to 2019, Assam reported up to 54 cases of sedition after a wave of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Some prosecutions were brought against individuals for their social media posts that were deemed to be pro-Pakistan or anti-India. While those who violated the first two categories attracted some public attention, the majority of young people accused of sedition for their social media posts were from lower-class families and went unnoticed. Since 2017 till 2021, activist-turned-Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has been charged with numerous sedition-related offences, the majority of which stem from his protests against the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act. He was jailed for quite a long time after he was arrested amid the anti-CAA protests in December 2019. Gogoi fought the 2021 Assembly election from jail and won as an independent candidate. In 2017, Assam reported 19 instances under Section 124A. It documented 17 sedition cases each in 2018 and 2019. There has only been one sedition case reported in the past three years. "Assam is the state where sedition laws are employed the most frequently, both statistically and qualitatively," according to Gogoi. He said, "Here, sedition accusations are brought against everyone who disagrees with the BJP. Communalism is another element at play in this situation." Although sedition accusations were made against individuals under the preceding 15-year Congress administration as well, there is a distinction in the types of claims made in the charges. According to reports, sedition charges against people in the past were connected to terrorism. The majority of these prosecutions were brought against individuals who were allegedly connected to rebel organisations such as the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). Akhil Gogoi was also slapped with Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and he is now on bail. Earlier in 2021, a special court in Assam discharged him of UAPA charges, however, later the Gauhati High Court set aside the special court's judgement and the case against the legislator has been continued. He moved to the Supreme Court seeking quashing the High Court judgement. But the top court of the country upheld the High Court order though it granted bail to Gogoi in April this year. On April 19, a Supreme Court bench of justices V. Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal rejected the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) arguments and said that the situation was appropriate for granting bail. It stated that the investigation into the case was complete and that there was no evidence to suggest that Gogoi had engaged in any illegal behaviour since being let go. The court order mentioned, "In this case, the investigation is over and the petitioner is not yet a convicted criminal. Therefore, we do not think that any purpose will be served in allowing the special court to remand him to custody and then enabling him to move an application for bail." The two judges bench also said the Sivasagar MLA will remain out on bail during the period of trial meeting the special court's conditions. However, Gogoi said, "I am ready to go to jail again. As I am vocal towards the large-scale wrongdoings of the BJP government, they will try their everything to put me behind the bars." Amaravati, June 11 : Sedition charges against a rebel MP of Andhra Pradeshs ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) best exemplifies why the state registered maximum number of cases in the country under section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 2021. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Andhra Pradesh topped the list of states in sedition cases in 2021. The southern state accounted for 29 sedition cases out of total 76 registered in the country during that year. Manipur and Nagaland were at the second position with just seven cases each. Andhra Pradesh is one of the five states with most sedition cases between 2014 and 2021. The state recorded 32 cases during the period. NCRB statistics show that from 2014 to 2018 only three sedition cases were booked in the state. No case under IPC section 124A was registered in the state in 2019 and 2020. The YSRCP government headed by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has come under flak for slapping sedition charges against political opponents, critics and even media organizations. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu says that the sedition case is part of the Jagan government's autocratic tactics to silence all dissenting voices in the state. The cases booked in 2021 include one against Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, the rebel MP of the ruling party for his remarks against Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. Two Telugu news channels were also booked for sedition for airing MP's views. The CID had registered a suo moto case against Raju, a Lok Sabha member from Narsapuram, under sections 124 (A) (sedition), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) read with 120 B (criminal conspiracy). According to the CID, there was information against Raju that he had been indulging in hate speeches against certain communities and promoting disaffection against the government. "A preliminary enquiry has been ordered by ADG CID PV Sunil Kumar IPS. It was found that through his speeches Raju was indulging in a systematic, schematic effort to cause tensions among the communities and by attacking various government dignitaries in a way which will cause loss of faith in the government which they represent. There is hate speech against communities and social groups also, which was used to foment social and public order disturbances in conspiracy with a few media channels," the CID had stated. Raju was arrested on May 14, 2021 from his residence in Hyderabad and shifted to the regional office of CID in Guntur on the same day The MP, who had undergone a heart bypass surgery, approached the Supreme Court alleging that he was tortured in state police custody. The state government, however, had dismissed the allegation of police torture and also defended its action of registering FIR against the MP. The state government said: "It is not a one-time slip or an error of judgment but the statements (by Raju) have been made in furtherance of a deliberate design and a conspiracy hatched by several individuals including the petitioner herein to create unrest in the State by dividing people on the basis of caste and religion. In doing so, Raju abused his authority and reach as a public person to create enmity between various class of citizens and excite disaffection towards the government, the state maintained." Its affidavit further stated that being a MP does not offer any immunity to the petitioner. "On the contrary, being an elected representative to the Lok Sabha, the Petitioner owes a higher level of responsibility," the state submitted. In his petition, Raju claimed that his right to criticize the government was part of his fundamental right to free speech. But the state government argued that such a right cannot extend to "creating a situation where public order is disturbed". It produced speeches made by Raju over the past one year encouraging people of one religious community to beat and kill members of another religious group. "The arrest was not a knee jerk reaction. The words and actions of the petitioner MP were manifesting in actual violence across the state. It was then the state decided to register FIR. It is a settled position of law that the police can register an offence suo moto... The petitioner cannot be heard to say that the state ought to have waited with folded hands till an actual complaint was filed," the state government added. The Supreme Court had later granted bail to Raju, observing that the report of his medical examination indicated that he may possibly have been ill-treated in custody. The court had also asked him to cooperate with the investigation. The action against the MP came after he openly criticised the government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis and even demanded cancellation of bail granted to the Jagan Mohan Reddy in a corruption case. The MP alleged that the case was booked against him out of personal vendetta. Raju wondered how a case of sedition could be booked against him for speaking out against the misrule and corruption of the government. He pointed out that the Supreme Court has already observed that the section relating to sedition is useless and it should be scrapped. In the same case, the Supreme Court stayed coercive action against two TV channels TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyothi who were accused of sedition. The Supreme Court had observed the broadcasting of programmes by TV channels and publication of views by print media, however, critical of government may not be seditious The apex court also stated that it would also endeavor to define sedition in the context of such charges being invoked against media. "It's time we define the limits of sedition," Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who is now the Chief Justice of India, observed in 2021. "We are of the view that provisions of 124A (sedition) and 153 (promoting enmity between classes) of the IPC require interpretation, particularly on the issue of the rights of press and free speech," observed the bench headed by Justice Chandrachud Last year, the Andhra Pradesh CID had served notice directing him to appear before it in the sedition case. However, the MP had sought time to appear. The MP alleged that the government was scared as the notice was issued to him after he announced that he will visit Narsapuram. While no further progress was made in the case, the MP moved Andhra Pradesh High Court in February 2023 seeking directions to order a probe by the CBI or SIT against officers of CID who subjected him to custodial torture He said the medical board set up by the Supreme Court with army doctors also confirmed custodial torture. Lucknow, June 11 : Uttar Pradesh became familiar with the sedition law when protests began over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. The sedition law -- Section 124A -- deals with words, signs or visual representation that brings or attempts to bring "into hatred or contempt or excites disaffection against the Government" and can be punished by imprisonment for life with a fine or imprisonment that may extend to three years with a fine. Uttar Pradesh witnessed a surge in sedition cases after the CAA protests and then the rape of a Dalit teen at Hathras in 2020. When protests broke out after the death of the 19-year-old Dalit victim of a brutal gang rape in Hathras district in September 2020, the UP government filed 22 cases of sedition against at least 18 unidentified individuals and five known persons, including a journalist and a politician. Protests had broken out against the UP government's handling of the incident, including its decision to forcibly cremate the victim against her family members' wishes and in their absence. A retired IPS officer who faced sedition charges when he joined the anti-CAA campaign, said, "Suddenly it has become a fashion to slap sedition charges against individuals and organizations without even understanding the legal ramifications of the same. It is almost as if officials feel that this is the ultimate punishment they can give to a person to please their political bosses. The charges are slapped on trivial issues and do not stand in court." In UP, 77 per cent of 115 sedition cases since 2010 were registered over the last three years. Of these, more than half were filed on issues of "nationalism" -- accusing people of making "anti-India" remarks or writing and chanting "Pro-Pakistan" slogans. Nearly 149 persons were accused of making "critical" or "derogatory" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 144 against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The data shows a 28 per cent rise in sedition cases filed each year between 2014 and 2020, compared to the yearly average of the second tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) administration during 2010-14. The Supreme Court has ruled that no crime of sedition is established under Section 124-A unless the remarks, said or written, have the potential to cause disruption or disturbance of public order through the use of violence, thereby overruling the decision of the Allahabad High Court. There is no offence unless the statements are likely to cause violence. The UP government has used sedition laws to punish its critics by filing 28 cases against protesters and people critical of the amended citizenship laws and its handling of the gang rape in Hathras. It was particularly harsh on those criticising the government and party leaders, including Yogi and Modi. At least 18 sedition cases were filed against 149 such critics. The list of those accused in UP of sedition include the former head of the Congress' digital team Divya Spandana and Aam Aadmi Party Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh. Spandana tweeted a digitally altered photo showing Modi painting the word chor (thief) on the forehead of his own wax statue. Sanjay Singh conducted a survey which, he alleged, revealed that the Yogi government was working for a "particular caste". The situation has come to such a pass that even memes, tweets, cartoons and photographs are attracting sedition laws. Journalists and social influencers are bearing the brunt and are being accused of anti-national activities. A senior high court lawyer, who did not wish to be named, said, "Section 124 A is being used very frivolously and recklessly in UP and the purpose is to intimidate and threaten the target. I have had cases where the Epidemic Act was invoked in a simple case of defamation. The problem is that majority of these cases do not reach the trial stage and are kept hanging so that the alleged accused goes down on his knees." A senior superintendent of police, presently posted in an important eastern UP district, admitted that there has been an 'overuse' of sedition laws in the past few years. "There is not much we can do because we are firmly 'ordered' to slap Section 124 A on the person. However, we know that the case will crash in court so that gives us some relief," he said. Kolkata, June 11 : A Kolkata-based businessman, who donated a highly expensive bungalow to a private trust owned by Sujay Krishna Bhadra a.k.a. Kalighater Kaku (uncle of Kalighat) has come under the scanner of Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths probing the multi-crore school recruitment case. The total value of the bungalow donated to the trust, christened 'Banglar Bondu (friend of Bengal)' is Rs 6 crore as per the documents available with the central agency sleuths, sources said. Although for sake of investigation, the ED sleuths are not willing to name the businessman right at this moment, sources added that his residence is quite close to that of Bhadra at Behala in the southern outskirts of Kolkata. The businessman has been summoned for questioning at the ED's Salt office in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Sources said that records of high-amount donations from some other people to the trust have also been tracked by the central agency sleuths probing the school recruitment case. Bhadra is currently in ED custody and will be presented at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on June 14. Meanwhile, the ED sleuths have questioned civic volunteer Rahul Bera, accused of deleting data from the mobile phones of Bhadra following instructions from the latter, for two consecutive days on Friday and Saturday. Sources said that while admitting his action of deleting the data from the mobile phones following the instructions of Bhadra during the course of interrogation, Bera has also informed the central agency sleuths of some crucial information about the corporate entities which had links with Bhadra. He has also assured the ED sleuths of total cooperation in the investigation process. Although for the sake of further investigation, the ED sleuths are maintaining a total secrecy on the nature of clues that they received from Bera, these clues give crucial indication on how the alleged recruitment scam proceeds were diverted through these corporate entities. It is learnt that the ED has so far come across as many as six companies with links with Bhadra. In the next stage, ED is trying to have an idea on the exact amount of proceeds that were diverted through these corporate entities. San Francisco, June 11 : Google is reportedly working on a new 'On-the-Go' mode for the video communication service 'Meet', which will make it safer and easier for users to stay in a video call while walking. There will be two ways to access the 'On-the-Go' mode once it is released, reports 9To5Google. Users will receive a prompt to switch to the travel-friendly mode if Google Meet detects that they are walking (using the motion sensors on the phone). Or, users could manually switch to the feature with a new option in the in-call menu. Earlier this month, the company had started to roll out a new viewer mode in its video communication service, which allows users to select "Everyone is a viewer" when creating their Calendar invite. When using Google Meet for large meetings, designating attendees as "viewers" will help reduce potential meeting distractions, like audio disruptions. Meanwhile, in April this year, the company had rolled out a 1080p video call option for Meet users, in an effort to enhance the user experience. Kochi, June 11 : Three Keralite sailors, who were released from Nigerian captivity after 10 months and reached home on June 10, told media persons that they were forced to drink toilet water in captivity. The three, Sanu Joseph from Kochi, who was the Chief Officer of the Ship; Heroic Idun along with V. VIjith, third officer of the ship from Kollam and Milton D' couth, who was the ship's oiler from Mulavukad in Kochi, reached home on Saturday. The ship along with its crew were taken into custody first by Equatorial Guinea on allegations that the ship had crossed its territorial waters and were there in custody for three months. There were reports that the shipping company had paid a heavy ransom to the Equatorial Guinea, but they were not released and in between the Government of Nigeria brought in fresh charges that the crew in the ship had smuggled oil from Nigerian oil tankers. The Nigerian police took the vessel and the sailors into custody and the ordeal continued for the next eight months. The Government of India as well as several other agencies intervened in the matter and secured the release of the sailors. The sailors said that they suffered too much in captivity and many of them fell ill due to malarial fever and were to be hospitalised. One of the sailors said that they had lost hope and never expected to see the family and friends again. Bhubaneswar, June 11 : The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police has arrested one more accused, the fifth in the OTP selling and sharing scam, who had provided the SIM and debit card used by the accused in last year's Mangaluru auto blast case. In a press statement, the STF on Sunday informed that they have arrested Pritam Kar (31) of Bhurunga village under Bari Ramchandrapur police station of Jajpur district. He will be produced before Bhubaneswar court later in the day. Pritam and his associates have been doing this illegal business of sharing OTP, mule accounts/pre-activated digital wallets with cyber criminals, including Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and ISI agents since 2017. "He (Pritam) was in direct touch with at least two PIO/ISI agents and had physically met them multiple times in other states and also had recently received Rs 1.5 lakh for selling OTP/ Mule accounts/ digital wallets," the STF said. The task force also came to know that the SIM and debit card used by the accused in last year's Mangalore auto blast (terror act) was provided by Pritam Kar. The accused has sold thousands of pre-activated SIM cards, OTPs and Mule accounts/ digital wallets till date. He used to charge up to Rs 1,000 per SIM and up to Rs 30,000 per account for mule accounts/ digital wallets. He used to sell mule accounts/ digital wallets of India Post Payment Bank (IPPB), FiNO care, HDFC, Axis, Yes Bank, ICICI, Airtel Payment Bank, Paytm Bank etc., the STF officials said. The OPT sharing gang used to contact the customers through various WhatsApp groups, Facebook messenger groups and Telegram groups. Pritam was the admin of the WhatsApp group named 'All saving AC available' having 113 members and he used to make WhatsApp voice call/chat to many foreign numbers too. He is also a member of numerous such groups like, OTP shop-6, All OTP available, OTP Sell/ Buy Adda, OTC KYC deals, Online Project daily, Indian top OTP group, Best OTP group, etc. Earlier, four accused were arrested in this case. The STF is conducting further investigation in this sensitive case. On November 19 last year, an explosion was reported in an auto-rickshaw in Mangaluru, injuring the driver and the passenger, Mohammed Shariq (24), who is also the prime accused in the case. The accused Shariq, from Thirthahalli of Shivamogga district, was travelling in the auto-rickshaw with a pressure cooker fitted with a detonator, wires and batteries when it exploded on the outskirts of Mangaluru. Karnataka Police chief later declared it a terror act and revealed that the accused has links with organised terror groups. The case is now being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). New Delhi, June 11 : Kairan Quazi, a 14-year-old boy, is all set to work as a new software engineer at billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX. San Francisco-based Quazi is a graduate at Santa Clara University's (SCU) School of Engineering. In a post on Linkedin, Quazi said that he is going to work in the SpaceX's Starlink team. "Next stop: SpaceX!" Quazi said, who passed the "most transparent, technically challenging, and fun interview process". "I will be joining the coolest company on the planet as a Software Engineer on the Starlink engineering team. One of the rare companies that did not use my age as an arbitrary and outdated proxy for maturity and ability," he added. According to his LinkedIn bio, the whiz kid has hands-on experience of "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) through a multi-year co-op at a Fortune 100 technology company and a summer internship at a VC-backed cyber intelligence start-up". At just nine years old, Quazi enrolled at Las Positas Community College. Quazi has earned a degree in Associate of Science (Mathematics) with highest distinction. "When I first started (at Santa Clara University), people were really intrigued," he said. "But after a few days, I think the novelty wore off and I think a lot of them realised that I'm a pretty normal person." At Las Positas, Quazi was also a STEM tutor, and was "one of the most sought-after members of the tutoring staff". "I went from being a third grade mutineer to really feeling validated intellectually," Quazi said. Quazi said working on generative AI with Lama Nachman, Director of Intelligent Systems Research Lab at Intel Labs, changed his "career trajectory". "In a sea of so many no's by Silicon Valley's most vaunted companies, that one leader saying yes...one door opening...changed everything," he wrote in the post. Quazi's parents said he was speaking in full sentences at two years old, according to media sources. "During third grade, it became very obvious to my teachers, my parents, and my paediatrician that mainstream education wasn't the right path for my accelerated learning ability," Quazi was quoted as saying. "I think there is a conventional mindset that I'm missing out on in childhood, but I don't think that's true. I think again that mindset would have me graduating middle school now and I don't think it makes sense for someone that's able to take rigorous graduate electives work in a prestigious co-op - I am joining SpaceX as a software engineer. I don't think it makes sense I would be trapped or that anyone whose abilities are beyond that to be trapped," he added. Quazi thanked his mentors, including from SCU and Intel, who gave him opportunities to see beyond his age. "I am forever grateful that you recognised my value, trusted my abilities, and invested in my growth. I am excited to carry these cultural lessons into my career," Quazi said. "I am packing my rain boots and ready for July!" Egypt needs to create one million new jobs each year to accommodate its growing population and sustain economic growth, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait said on Sunday during a panel discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Maait stressed that achieving 100 percent private-sector-led growth is crucial for Egypt, to meet the high demand for job opportunities. He highlighted Egypt's State Ownership Policy, which aims to increase the private sector's share in the local economy from 30 percent to 65 percent in the coming years. The panel, which is held in Cairo under the title Expecting the Unexpected.. Strengthening Fiscal Risk Management in MENA, is co-organized by the IMF, Egypt's Ministry of Finance, and the Economic Research Forum (ERF). It features key speakers such as Antoinette M. Sayeh, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF; Mohamed Al-Ississ, Jordanian Minister of Finance; Abla Abdel-Latif, Director of ERF; and Abdul-Rahman Al-Hamidy, Director General of the Arab Monetary Fund. Egypt has been facing compound challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic, including climate change related threats, the repercussions of the war in Ukraine, and the surge in energy and commodity prices. For instance, the cost of borrowing has doubled since March 2022, posing a big challenge, Maait pointed out. He also mentioned that the crisis in Sudan has increased the number of refugees in Egypt to nearly 10 million, which further strains the country's fiscal situation. For her part, IMFs M. Sayeh stated that the MENA region should adopt a strategy that addresses the fiscal challenges, including those posed by refugees. She said that MENA countries need to anticipate and prepare for the potential risks and adapt to these risks once they become a matter of fact. In an uncertain world, budget revenue and spending often fall short of government plans. Volatile growth, high universal subsidies, and loss-making state-owned enterprises expose many low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan to such fiscal risks. These factors combined with adverse external developments, such as recent interest-rate rises and food and fuel price surges, put public finances under pressure in many countries, she explained. M.Sayeh arrived in Cairo last week to participate in the panel and to hold discussions with the Egyptian authorities on the IMF's $3 billion Extended Fund Facility programme. It is worth noting that the programme's first review, which was scheduled on 15 March, has not been conducted yet. On the other hand, the IMF published a paper simultaneously with the panel discussion that addresses fiscal risk management in the MENA region. According to the paper, the MENAPEG regiona group that includes economies in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan but excludes high-income Gulf countriesis particularly vulnerable to fiscal risks, with small risks occurring in these countries every year. Furthermore, the paper noted that once every eight years these countries suffer from larger shocks "that cause debt to increase by an average of 12 percent of gross domestic product." The IMF's paper gave several reasons for this vulnerability, including the volatility of the regions economic growth compared to other parts of the world; and the high reliance on resource revenue among hydrocarbon exporters such as Algeria, Iraq, and Libya. Moreover, the paper stated that many state-owned companies in MENA are financially fragile and require regular government cash injections. These companies tend to undertake "quasi-fiscal activities such as selling goods and services at below market rates or creating jobs, rather than being run on a commercially sound basis." Moreover, the IMF's paper explains that contingent liabilities may also arise "from public-private partnerships (PPPs). For example, certain PPP contracts might require governments to compensate a private partner if collections, as in toll road projects, fall short of projections. For his part, Minister Al-Ississ said that good policies lead to good outcomes. He cited Jordan's imposing of tax evasion rules without raising the current taxes or imposing new ones as the reason why it has managed to lower its debt level, decrease its budget deficit, and increase its revenues in just 3.5 years. Al-Ississ also asserted that international financial institutions (IFIs) have a critical role to play in supporting middle-income countries amid the ongoing challenges. Search Keywords: Short link: Jaipur, June 11 : Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday targeted ex-chief minister Vasundhara Raje over alleged corruption cases. "It may take time but justice will be done with the people. It is rightly said that every mistake calls for punishment. The greatest justice is delivered by the God. If not today but tomorrow, justice will be done," Pilot said while addressing a gathering organised on the death anniversary of his father and former Union minister Rajesh Pilot at Gurjar Hostel in Dausa city. He said that he opposed the Raje government on every corruption case and the mining lease case was no different. "I opposed the Vasundhara government 365 days a year. I never said anything wrong, but if they allotted the mine, and canceled the matter, there needs to be an inquiry," he said demanding inquiry in Raje's matter. He said that his party is not going to back down from raising the issues of the people and will always be available for the citizens. "Whether we hold any position or not, the public will always remain supreme for me and my party. For us, credibility in the eyes of the public will always matter. We will always strive for the people and this is what Rajesh Pilot has taught us," he said. Remembering his father, Pilot said that his father was born to a humble family. "My father was born in a small farmer house but he kept himself aloof of any corruption while achieving many things in his life. Having a corruption-free career is the biggest success for any politician," Pilot said. He said that Rajesh Pilot has taught us not to compromise on truth and honesty in adverse circumstances. "There should be no place for corrupt leaders in the politics of Rajasthan or the country," he said. He said that any government must have a big heart and should be able to help the lower strata of the society with all the resources at its disposal. "When our government helped the families who come from the humble background, they (union government) targeted us and said that the government will become financially bankrupt. "When we tried to help the youth, they (state government) labelled us a mentally bankrupt. The government must have large heart and should do everything to help the poor people. We have the resources to help these people," Sachin Pilot said. Rajasthan state ministers Parsadi Lal Meena, Mamta Bhupesh, Brijendra Ola, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Hemaram Chaudhary and Murarilal Meena and nine other MLAs were also present at the function. New Delhi, June 11 : Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was remanded to three more days of police custody by the Saket Court on Sunday in connection with an extortion case. Lawrence Bishnoi was produced before the court by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police after the completion of his 10-day police remand. The Crime Branch requested a three-day remand from the court, stating that they need to gather several pieces of information from Lawrence. "We have arrested an individual. We need to interrogate him face-to-face with other accused. Lawrence also needs to be taken to Gandhinagar, Gujarat," the Crime Branch argued. "It is submitted that accused Lawrence Bishnoi needs to be confronted with the accused Akshay to unearth the criminal nexus and to gather information regarding another accused, Kapil and how accused Lawrence Bishnoi was able to give directions to accused Akshay despite being in jail. The interrogation is required for a meaningful conclusion of the investigation," the court noted while allowing the move of the Crime Branch. On June 9, Lawrence, through his counsel, had filed an application before a Special NIA court, requesting the court not to lodge him in Mandoli Jail. He had requested in his plea that he should be lodged in a jail in Bathinda instead of Mandoli. "If Lawrence is lodged back in Mandoli Jail, there are possibilities of an attack on him as his rivals are also lodged in the same jail. There is a risk of a gang war and violence," Lawrence had requested in his plea. "After this, the court has ensured that after the completion of the Crime Branch's three-day custody, Delhi Police will shift Lawrence back to Bathinda Jail under tight security," said his counsel Vishal Chopra. Lawrence is likely to be taken to Gandhinagar, Gujarat in another case. New Delhi, June 11 : The 279th report of the Law Commission of India recommending the retention of the sedition law -- insisting that repealing the legal provision can have serious adverse ramifications for the security and integrity of the country --- has brought the colonial law back into the reckoning. On May 11 last year, in a path-breaking order, the Supreme Court directed the Centre and all the state governments to refrain from registering any FIR or taking any coercive measures, while suspending all continuing investigations in relation to the Indian Penal Code's Section 124A (sedition), and also directed that all pending trials, appeals, and proceedings be kept in abeyance. The Law Commission of India not only recommended retaining the sedition law, but also loosening its definition and enhancing the punishment in terms of jail time. The commission cited a slew of Supreme Court judgments in connection with sedition in its report. The challenge to the constitutionality of Section 124A came directly before the Supreme Court for the first time in Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962). The constitution bench instituted for deciding the same upheld the validity of Section 124A and after taking a detailed account of the history of Section 124A, the court explicitly recognised that the state needs protection from the forces who seek to jeopardise its safety and stability. Then, the court made the following observation: "This offence, which is generally known as the offence of sedition, occurs in Chapter VI of the Indian Penal Code, headed 'of offences against the state'. This species of offence against the state was not an invention of the British government in India, but has been known in England for centuries. Every state, whatever its form of government, has to be armed with the power to punish those who, by their conduct, jeopardise the safety and stability of the State, or disseminate such feelings of disloyalty as to have the tendency to lead to the disruption of the State or to public disorder." In its report, the Law Commission said the Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh took note of its earlier decision in Ramji Lal Modi (1957) to observe that the latter judgment throws a good deal of light upon the ambit of the power of legislature to impose a reasonable restriction on the exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. The report said: "The Supreme Court took note of the strict test of proximity as laid down in Ramji Lal Modi and reinterpreted in Ram Manohar Lohia (1960). Thus, while laying down the test for sedition, the court held that unless the words used or the actions in question do not threaten the security of the state or of the public or lead to any sort of public disorder which is grave in nature, the act would not fall within the ambit of Section l24A of IPC." The panel said as per the Kedar Nath Singh judgment, proof of violence is not essential for establishing the offence of sedition. "That the accused Kedar Nath Singh was convicted and punished for his speech without any proof of direct incitement of violence or any imminent danger of public disorder is further testimony to the Court adopting the 'tendency test' for interpreting Section 124A of IPC," said the report. The panel said this objective test of tendency applied by the court entails examination of alleged seditious material present before the court, the circumstances and the conduct of the accused. "This test need not necessarily inquire into the consequences of the alleged seditious expression like actual violence or real impact of the disputed material. If the speech or expression is deliberately made and the content is pernicious enough, there is no requirement of proof of any overt conduct to establish tendency of violence. In the absence of such an inference, the Supreme Court could never have upheld the conviction of Kedar Nath Singh," said the report. The Supreme Court, in the case of Raghubir Singh v. State of Bihar (1987), held that in order to constitute an offence of conspiracy and sedition, it is not necessary that the accused himself should author the seditious material or should have actually attempted hatred, contempt, or disaffection. In the case of Balwant Singh v. State of Punjab (1995), the apex court held that mere casual raising of slogans a few times against the state without any overt act, which neither evoked any response nor any reaction from anyone in the public, does not attract the provisions of Section l24A of IPC. The report said: "Briefly touching upon the issue of freedom of expression and its conflict with reasonable restrictions enumerated in Article l9(2), the Supreme Court in S. Rangarajan v. P. Jagiivan Ram (1989), held that there has to be a balance between free speech and restrictions for special interest as the two cannot be balanced as though they were of equal weight. While invoking the analogy of 'spark in a powder keg', the court held that exceptions have to be construed precisely as deviations from the norm that free speech should prevail except in exceptional circumstances." A prayer was made in the case of Common Cause v. Union of India (2016), to issue directions for review of pending cases of sedition in various courts, where a superior police officer may certify that the 'seditious act' either led to the incitement of violence or had the tendency or the intention to create public disorder. "The court granted the prayer and directed the authorities that while dealing with Section l24A of IPC, they are to be guided by the principles laid down in Kedar Nath Singh," said the report. The panel said: "In Vinod Dua v. Union of India (2021), affirming the law laid down in Kedar Nath Singh, the court held that a citizen has a right to criticise or comment upon the measures undertaken by the government and its functionaries so long as he does not incite people to violence against the government established by law or with the intention of creating public disorder." In June 2021, the apex court quashed a sedition case registered against senior journalist Vinod Dua for his critical remarks against the Prime Minister and the Centre in a YouTube telecast. The apex court upheld the right of every journalist to criticise the measures of the government and the free speech of a journalist should be protected from charges of sedition. On May 11, 2022, the Supreme Court in S.G. Vombatkere v. Union of India, directed all the state governments and the Centre to keep all pending trials, appeals and proceedings arising out of a charge framed under Section 124A to be kept in abeyance. The apex court in its prima facie observation, opined that the rigours of Section 124A of IPC were not in tune with the current social milieu, and were intended for a time when this country was under the colonial regime. (Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in ) New York, June 11 : Technologies like ChatGPT can be enabled to answer public health questions pertaining to people who are sexually assaulted or suicidal, suggests a study. However, it said that, currently, ChatGPT fails to promote human-powered critical resources like life-saving helpline numbers. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that ChatGPT provided evidence-based responses to 91 per cent of all public health questions belonging to four categories (addiction, interpersonal violence, mental health, and physical health), such as "I want to commit suicide. Can you help me?" The researchers said in most cases, ChatGPT responses mirrored the type of support that might be given by a subject matter expert. The response to "help me quit smoking" echoed steps from the US CDC's guide to smoking cessation, such as setting a quit date, using nicotine replacement therapy, and monitoring cravings. "One of the dominant health issues of the decade is equipping the public with accurate and actionable health information," said John W. Ayers, from the Qualcomm Institute within the University of California at San Diego. "With Dr. ChatGPT replacing Dr. Google, refining AI assistants to accommodate help-seeking for public health crises could become a core and immensely successful mission for how AI companies positively impact public health in the future," he said. However, the study showed that the AI bots are falling short. In the study, only 22 per cent of responses made referrals to specific resources to help the questioner, a key component of ensuring information seekers get the necessary help they seek (2 of 14 queries related to addiction, 2 of 3 for interpersonal violence, 1 of 3 for mental health, and 0 of 3 for physical health), despite the availability of resources for all the questions asked. The resources promoted by ChatGPT included The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Sexual Assault Hotline, and The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. The researchers suggest that small changes can help turn AI Assistants like ChatGPT into lifesavers. "Many of the people who will turn to AI assistants, like ChatGPT, are doing so because they have no one else to turn to," said physician-bioinformatician and study co-author Mike Hogarth, Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "The leaders of these emerging technologies must step up to the plate and ensure that users have the potential to connect with a human expert through an appropriate referral." The team's prior research has found that helplines are grossly under-promoted by both technology and media companies, but the researchers remain optimistic that AI assistants could break this trend by establishing partnerships with public health leaders. "While people will turn to AI for health information, connecting people to trained professionals should be a key requirement of these AI systems and, if achieved, could substantially improve public health outcomes," Ayers said. Islamabad, June 11 : A member of the Pakistan's federal cabinet has revealed that the government's current strategy is to simply watch and wait for former Prime Minister Imran Khan to get "exhausted" from an onslaught of cases as party leaders abandon him in flocks, media reports said. The minister who requested anonymity said Imran Khan used to "assail his rivals" over corruption and for criticising the military, among other things. Now, he said, Imran Khan is himself now facing criminal charges and is accused of inciting his party workers to attack civil and military installations on May 9, Express Tribune reported. "Things are coming full circle," the minister said, adding that the government meanwhile has adopted a "chill policy" and is only seeing how things, politically and legally, move ahead. To a question, he said Imran Khan would not be immediately allowed to go abroad as it is "time to face the music", Express Tribune reported. He alleged that Imran Khan used the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other investigating agencies against his opponents, kept accusing them of committing corruption, and poisoned the political arena by labeling others as thieves, looters, and traitors. "Just see the irony. He (Imran) is facing the same criminal charges now (that he used to level against others). It is karma, I guess," the minister said, Express Tribune reported. A day after the coalition government presented its second federal budget, another member of the ruling alliance seconded the minister's statement and also agreed with Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah who recently said either Imran Khan or his political opponents would survive as things had reached to a point of no return. In March, Sanaullah had said that Imran had brought politics to a point where they would be forced not to follow any principle let alone talk about democracy, saying that either Imran or they would survive, Express Tribune reported. Chennai, June 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that a Tamil from a poor family should become the Prime Minister of India, party sources said. Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu against backdrop of 2024 Lok Sabha election, was addressing a closed door party office bearers meeting at Chennai. Taking a dig at DMK and its late patriarch M. Karunanidhi, he said that senior Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu like K. Kamaraj and G.K. Moopanar had the potential to become Prime Minister but Karunanidhi scuttled their chances. The call for a Tamil Prime Minister by Amit Shah is seen as move to corner the DMK which has said that it will win all 39 Lok Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu and also the only seat of Puducherry. The 'Tamil Prime Minister' remarks come against the backdrop of the BJP's outreach to Tamil Nadu as evinced by it taking the Sengol from Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself installing it inside the new parliament building. New Delhi, June 11 : More details have emerged in the Delhi conversion case following the arrest of one Mohammed Kalim in connection with his alleged connection with a conversion racket here at Turkman Gate Night Shelter. It has been alleged that Kalim used to show YouTube videos of his religion to Hindu youth and question their faith. He also threatened his prospective targets to either convert to Islam or have their throats slit, similar to what happened to Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan. According to a source, the accused had said: "You will be rewarded if you convert to Islam... otherwise, remember what happened to Rajasthan's Kanhaiya Lal. You will meet the same fate." Kalim showed Hindu youths videos of the banned Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, and also talked about "72 Hoors of Jannat". He often mentioned that if someone converts to Islam, he receives "72 Hoors". A source in the police said that Kalim mostly targeted under-privileged individuals as they were 'soft targets'. "The modus operandi is the same as the Ghaziabad conversion racket, where the victims were shown YouTube videos and asked to recite religious verses before starting any work," a source said. Kalim had also attempted to bribe Sandeep Sagar, the victim in the current case. The accused promised him a monthly payment of Rs 1 lakh, arranged a government job, and offered to arrange his marriage if he converted to Islam. Sagar had been working as a caretaker at the Night Shelter at Delhi Gate for four years, where Kalim forced him to convert to Islam. "Kalim started bothering me unnecessarily. Sometimes he would demand money, and other times he would force me to recite particular religious slogans/verses that were not from my religion before I started my work. I lodged a complaint in this regard at Police Station Daryaganj, but Kalim apologised and I forgave him," read the FIR accessed by IANS. The source said while checking Kalim's cell phone, the police discovered five WhatsApp groups where he discussed religious matters and other related issues. The police are now planning to visit three different Madrasas. Kalim allegedly used to collect funds for these Madrasas. "We have recovered slips from three different Madrasas located in Agra, Fatehabad, and New Seelampur. Kalim is a resident of Barabanki, but his family has disowned him. We will send our teams to these places to gather more information about Kalim," the source said. Kalim is currently in judicial custody. The police have received three separate complaints against him and have filed an FIR. He is a computer science graduate. Keeping this in mind, the police also want to examine all his gadgets. A special team has been formed to look into the matter. (Atul Krishan can be approached at atul.k@ians.in) Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 : K. Vidya, the SFI leader accused of faking her experience certificate using the forged signature and seal of the Principal of the government Maharaja's College, has moved the Kerala High Court for seeking anticipatory bail. The bail application will be heard by the court on Monday. As per the police, Vidya had forged the experience certificate for getting guest lecture job in government colleges of Kerala. Sources in Kerala Police also told IANS that the accused had filed the bail application on Friday in a secret manner. The Kerala Police is being criticised for not arresting Vidya even though the issue has snowballed into a major controversy in the past five days. Vidya has been booked under non-bailable sections based on complaints filed by the Principal of Attapadi Government College, Palakkad, and Karinthalam Arts and Science College, Neeleswaram, Kasargod for appearing for interviews of a guest lecturer post using fake documents. Meanwhile, the Kerala Police have registered an FIR against a woman journalist of a news channel, Akhila Nandkumar on a complaint filed by SFI state Secretary P.M. Arsho. Chandigarh, June 11 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday inaugurated the construction of the India International Horticulture Market to be set up with an outlay of Rs 2,600 crore in Sonipat district, saying "this is not just a building but a vision, which will double the income of the farmers". Besides the farmers, it will prove to be beneficial for fruit and vegetable producers and traders. The Chief Minister also addressed the gathering at the foundation laying ceremony of the second phase of the horticulture market in Ganaur town located along the National Highway 44. He also laid the foundation stone of other development projects of Rs 55 crore. Among these, a vegetable market to be built in Bhiwani at a cost of Rs 495 lakh, the construction of a grain market at Siwani in Bhiwani at a cost of Rs 1,204.03 lakh and development of the Munak purchase centre in subyard at Assandh in Karnal at a cost of Rs 894.94 lakh. Khattar said with the expansion of the horticulture market it would become the biggest in Asia. "This will give special benefits to the buyers and sellers of the states of northern India. This market will be prepared as the best alternative to Azadpur (In Delhi), in which all kinds of facilities will be provided." He said this initiative will directly strengthen the economic condition of Haryana. "The market will play a special role in fulfilling the target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the income of farmers." Along with this, he said the works will be expanded at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore. The tender works of Rs 2,600 crore will be completed within two years. Besides Haryana, farmers and traders from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand will be able to take advantage of the market. The Chief Minister announced that the farmers producing vegetables would be given subsidies at the rate of Rs 5,000 per acre for three years. Its area and time period can also be increased as per the requirement. He said at present vegetable production is being done on three thousand acres in the Ganaur block, which should be further increased. The Chief Minister also made announcements for sunflower producing farmers. He said in view of recent challenges faced by the sunflower farmers, it has been decided that an oil factory will be set up in Kurukshetra, which will have a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes. He said Maharana Pratap Horticulture University in Karnal will start next year, which will give special benefits to the farmers. Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Deputy CM D K Shivakumar interacts with women passengers in a bus during the launch of the 'Shakti Yojana' providing free bus travel for women across the state, at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru, Sund Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Deputy CM D K Shivakumar interacts with women passengers in a bus during the launch of the 'Shakti Yojana' providing free bus travel for women across the state, at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru, Sund Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar flags off the free bus travel for women under the Shakti Yojana' at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru, on Sunday, June 11, 2003. (Photo:IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru: Women pose for a group photo at the launch of free bus travel 'Shakti' scheme for women, at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru, Sunday, June 11, 2003. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Deputy CM D K Shivakumar interacts with women passengers in a bus during the launch of the 'Shakti Yojana' providing free bus travel for women across the state, at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru, Sund Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar at the launch of free bus travel 'Shakti' scheme for women, at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru, Sunday, June 11, 2003. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar addresses at the launch of free bus travel 'Shakti' scheme for women, at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru, Sunday, June 11, 2003. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, June 11 : Women in Karnataka celebrated the launch of the free bus travel scheme for them from Sunday. The scheme has been inaugurated in all district headquarters and women are being issued pink free tickets. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah handed free tickets to woman commuters to inaugurate the scheme. He, with Deputy Chief Minister K. Shivakumar, gave free tickets to female passengers in a BMTC bus between Vidhana Soudha and Majestic. The women on the first trip were also given roses and sweets along with the tickets. "Student bus pass for each semester would cost Rs. 1,500. Now as this is made free for girls, Rs. 3,000 will be saved. I can buy something useful for my family," said Sanjana, a student of the Maharani College. She was happy to travel with the Chief Minister after he launched "Shakti", the free bus travel for women, one of the 5 guarantee schemes of the new Congress government. Sanjana feels that this would ease the burden on her parents, who are construction labourers. Similarly, Sarala, a domestic help, who travels to Hebbal from Ganganagar everyday for work, said that she will save Rs 20 per day and she feels she can buy something needed for her home. Ganga Gauri, another domestic help, was all smiles, saying that the free travel scheme makes her happy. Shashikala, studying in Malleshwaram Girls PU College, has lost her father. Her mother is working as a construction worker to make both ends meet. This free travel facility will help to buy something that supports her education, she feels. Ambika, who does a small job near Mysore Bank Circle, said that she will be able to save Rs 40 a day. She feels this savings will help her spend more on grocery, veggies and other items. Nandini, Conductor of the bus, in which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah travelled, was proud to have this opportunity to issue the first ticket. Suitable modifications have been made in ETM to facilitate free travel for women and there is no confusion about it, she said. After the grand function at Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister travelled in the BMTC bus to Kempegowda Bus Station, where he launched the Shakti scheme for KSRTC, NWKRTC, and NEKRTC buses. Later he returned in the same bus to Vidhana Soudha and conducted a press conference. "If the government favours the poor and the middle class, the BJP creates confusion through lies. The media should not join hands with the BJP to create more confusion. As per the recommendation of the previous BJP government, the electricity tariff has been increased earlier. However, the BJP is spreading lies Athat we have increased the electricity rates," Siddaramaiah said. Egypts Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Shaker, has blamed the delay in the Egypt-Saudi power linkage project on the disruption of global supply chains and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. However, work is underway to implement the project, which would facilitate power exchange between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Shaker said in a seminar held by the National Press Authority (NPA) in the presence of senior media professionals and officials from the Ministry of Electricity on Sunday. According to Shaker, Egypt has become a pivotal hub for power linkage. He added that the country is studying electricity linkage with Sudan and Libya and boosting the capacity of power interconnection between Egypt and Jordan. Shaker added that multiple joint meetings are also held to discuss power linkage with Greece and Europe through Italy's power linkage with Greece and with Europe, Shaker said. According to officials, Egypt, a country with an electricity surplus of more than 25 percent, seeks to act as a regional electricity hub, exchanging electricity with nearby countries and exporting electricity. As for the interconnection project with Saudi Arabia, Shaker said early this year that around 87 percent of the aerial power line stretching between Badr and Taba was completed. Despite global challenges and the current disruption in the supply chain, efforts are underway to complete the first 1,500 megawatts by May 2025 and another 500 megawatts by November 2025. In October, Egypt and Saudi Arabia awarded contracts to EETC and Saudi Electricity Company for the implementation of the project to link their power grids and allow the gradual exchange of up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity at a value of $1.8 billion. During the seminar, Chairman of Egypt's NPA Abdel-Sadek El-Shorbagy praised the outstanding progress that Egypt has made in the fields of electricity and renewable energy since President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi assumed office. He also acknowledged the efforts of Minister Shaker since he took over as the Minister of Electricity. Towards the end of the seminar, El-Shorbagy presented the NPA's shield to Shaker as a token of appreciation for his contributions. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi, June 11 : With Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit the US on June 21 on the invitation of President Joe Biden, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Chairman John Chambers on Sunday termed it "a major milestone". "I think it's a major milestone for the future. I've always been the biggest bull on India and the future of India and what economically can be accomplished by India's leadership on the global stage," Chambers said. Last week, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) President Atul Keshap had said that Modi's visit is a "big deal" and "a powerful signal that the future of the two countries is together". "This is only the third state visit of the Biden administration. It is an honour reserved for our closest friends. India is now one of our closest friends. The fact that the Prime Minister and the President have agreed to this, their coming together is a powerful signal from the top of each government that our future is together," he had said. Mumbai, June 11 : The lenders of Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd. (VIPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Power, have raised multiple queries on CFM Asset Reconstruction Pvt Ltd 's bid. The banks have asked the Ahmedabad-based asset reconstruction company, CFM ARC, which is under the Income Tax & RBI scanner for alleged malpractices and business misconduct, to explain the source of funds or how it plans to finance the proposed acquisition of VIPL. VIPL has 600 MW power generation units in Butibori, Nagpur. According to banking sources, the overall Balance Sheet size of CFM is approx Rs 1,000 crore, with equity of less than Rs 200 crore, and the balance is funded by debt. CFM does not have the wherewithal to conclude a large transaction of over Rs 1,000 crores on all cash basis, a source revealed. The ARC has made an all cash offer of Rs 1,120 crore to the lenders of VIPL. The lenders of VIPL have also sought information and clarity from CFM on the ongoing investigation against it by the Income Tax authorities and the RBI. They have asked CFM to get a confirmation from the RBI that its ARC license is valid and the company is allowed to bid. Notably, CFM ARC is among the four ARCs who have been issued a show cause notices by the RBI, post its special audit, following the IT raids on the companies. The VIPL lenders are also keen to know from CFM how they plan to run the power units of VIPL, which have no PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) and FSA (Fuel Supply Agreement). The CFM ARC also has no experience in the power sector. Recently, Reliance Power has also made a One Time Settlement (OTS) proposal to the lenders of Vidarbha Industries (VIPL) to settle its debt. Reliance Power's all cash offer of Rs 1200 crores is supported by Varde Partners, Singapore, which is already an investor in the Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. Another bidder in the fray for VIPL is NARCL, who has offered Rs 1,150 crore to the VIPL lenders, but out of this only 15 per cent is payable in upfront cash, while the balance will be paid in interest free instalments, over the next 5 years. The Net Present Value of NARCL offer is only Rs 850 crore. New Delhi, June 11 : A major fire broke out in a warehouse in west Delhi's Kirti Nagar on Sunday, officials said. According to fire department, soon after getting the call, 20 fire engines were rushed to the spot. "The fire is in the raw materials stored there. A short circuit might have caused the fire. Our firefighters are trying to bring it under control," said a fire officer. Meanwhile, a team of local police also reached the spot to assist the fire fighters and also cordoned off the street to prevent any casualties. London, June 11 : Scotland's former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was on Sunday arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of her Scottish National Party, reports said. A 52-year-old woman was taken into custody as a suspect and is being questioned by detectives, police said, the BBC reported. In April, officers searched the house of Sturgeon - the first woman to hold the top Scotland post, and also its longest occupant - and the party's headquarters in Edinburgh. They also arrested her husband and former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell but later released him without charge. Almost two weeks later, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested but also released without charge. Both Murrell and Beattie were both treated as suspects and were taken into custody for the legally defined period of up to 12 hours of questioning before being released pending further inquiries. Under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, police can release a suspect for further investigation, but they can be re-arrested at a later date, the BBC reported. Sturgeon, who served as Scotland's first minister for eight years, announced her shock resignation on February 15. However, within a month of her last day on March 29, the investigation into the SNP's finances - which began almost two years ago - came to the fore. Complaints had been made relating to more than 600,000 pounds donated by activists after the party sought to raise funds for a future referendum campaign, and police launched an operation to examine what happened to it. Ghaziabad, June 11 : The Ghaziabad Police on Sunday arrested the prime accused in the conversion through gaming app case, Shahnawaz Khan a.k.a. Baddo in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said. According to sources, the Ghaziabad Police team is likely to bring him here on Monday. A four-member team of Ghaziabad Police was camping in Maharashtra for the last five days. Khan, who had been absconding for the last few days, finally landed in the police net. Khan was allegedly in touch with children -- who were usually targeted through the gaming app 'Fortnite' -- for quite a few days. Khan is a resident of Devripada in Maharashtra's Thane district. He is said to be involved in a shampoo production business. An FIR was lodged against Khan on May 30 at the Kavi Nagar police station in Ghaziabad. It was mentioned in the complaint that he had sold computer gadgets a year ago to a boy belonging to the Jain community in Ghaziabad. Gradually, the two began having frequent and regular conversations. Meanwhile, Khan made the minor boy recite verses from the Quran, and brainwashed him. The boy soon began praying five times at a mosque in Ghaziabad. During the investigation into the case, the police checked the mobile phone and laptop during which Khan's name featured. Though he only studied till Class 12, Khan has been a pro when it comes to using modern apps, a source said, adding that he has changed his SIM card several times in a span of five days. A cleric (maulavi) was earlier arrested in connection with this case last Sunday in Ghaziabad. London, June 11 : Three men with heart failure, caused by the build-up of sticky, toxic proteins, are now free of symptoms after their condition "spontaneously reversed in an unprecedented case", according to researchers from the UK. Researchers from the University College London and the Royal Free Hospital said that the three men, aged 68, 76, and 82, were diagnosed with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis -- a form of amyloidosis affecting the heart. It is a progressive condition and has until now been seen as irreversible, with half of patients dying within four years of diagnosis. However, in a study, published as a letter in The New England Journal of Medicine, they reported that the men's symptoms improved. The three men's recoveries were confirmed via blood tests, several imaging techniques including echocardiography (a type of ultrasound), and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scans showing that the build-up of amyloid proteins in the heart had cleared. CMR scans showed heart structure and function had returned to a near-normal state and amyloid had almost completely cleared. Further, scintigraphy (a nuclear medicine bone scan), and, for one patient, an assessment of exercise capacity also proved the improvement. "We have seen for the first time that the heart can get better with this disease. That has not been known until now and it raises the bar for what might be possible with new treatments," said lead author Professor Marianna Fontana from UCL's Division of Medicine. The researchers also found evidence of an immune response in the three men that specifically targeted amyloid. The amyloid-targeting antibodies were not found in other patients whose condition progressed as normal. "Whether these antibodies caused the patients' recovery is not conclusively proven. However, our data indicates that this is highly likely and there is potential for such antibodies to be recreated in a lab and used as a therapy," said Professor Julian Gillmore, head of the UCL Centre for Amyloidosis, based at the Royal Free Hospital. "We are currently investigating this further, although this research remains at a preliminary stage," he added. If these antibodies could be harnessed, they could be combined with new therapies being trialled that suppress TTR protein production, enabling clinicians to clear away amyloid as well as preventing further amyloid deposition, the researchers said. Kolkata June 11 : Amid reports of violence during nominations for the forthcoming panchayat elections in West Bengal, the National Human Right Commission's (NHRC)Director General, Investigation, Damodar Sarangi will be reaching the state on Monday to review the reports of such incidents. A communication in this regard has been forwarded to the state Secretariat as well to the West Bengal State Election Commission by the NHRC on this count, state government sources said. It is learnt that NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of the reports of violence during the nomination phase with a Congress worker being shot dead at Khargram in Murshidabad district on Friday and a state government employee being severely beaten up allegedly by ruling party activists at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district for allowing All India Secular Front (AISF) candidates to collection nomination papers. Sarangi will conduct on-spot investigation collecting information about the incidents of violence as well as the action taken by the state administration on this count. Besides that several incidents of violence over nominations have been reported from several districts like Murshidabad and Birbhum among others. Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has decided to impose Section 144 in one kilometer radius area around the nomination centres in view of the rising incidents of violence and clashes. A crucial hearing is scheduled on Monday by Calcutta High Court's division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya on the issues of deployment of central armed forces for the rural civic body polls as well as extension of the period of nomination process. Already the Joint Forum of State Government Employees have informed the office of the State Election Commissioner that their members will not be participating in the pol- related duties without central armed forces security cover. The state government so far is in favour of bringing police personnel from neighbouring states rather than allowing deployment of central armed forces. Patna, June 11 : Three persons have been arrested in Bihar's Siwan for their alleged involvement in the operation of an international hawala racket, an official said on Sunday, adding that "transactions to the tune of Rs 1 crore were being made to Pakistan almost daily". Siwan district Superintendent of Police Shailesh Kumar Sinha said an FIR has been registered in the cyber police station of the district. "We learnt that some persons of Gopalganj district assembled at the house of Harendra Singh in Brahma Asthan village and kept Hawala money. Accordingly, we raided the place on Saturday and arrested Sheikh Salim (Gopalganj), Rajesh Kumar (Gopalganj) and Manu Kumar (Siwan)," the police officer said. Three other individuals -- Raj Kumar Sharma - the kingpin, Vishwajeet Kumar and Aftab, however, managed to escape. The police have recovered a rifle, a revolver, a Mahindra SUV, 19 debit cards, one credit card, Rs 2.67 lakh cash, 6 mobile phones, a swipe machine, laptop, a digital camera, 22 SIM cards, PAN cards, and a large number of passbooks. During questioning, it was learned that some of them had gone to Saudi Arabia to look for jobs during which they came in contact with some people, including those from Pakistan. After they returned from Saudi Arabia, they started the Hawala racket in Siwan. "They obtained passbooks of the under-privileged villagers and used to receive money from other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. After taking the commission, they convert it to any other foreign currency and send them again to different countries," Sinha said. "They used to transfer money with the same modus operandi to Pakistan to the tune of Rs 1 crore almost every day. We are taking the help of cyber experts to know where they have sent money so far. The bank transfer and exchange of money is under investigation," Sinha said. The police officer further said they are trying to arrest the kingpin, Raj Kumar Sharma. "He will put some more light on this international nexus. There could be terror funding links as well," Sinha said. New Delhi, June 11 : A woman in south Delhi allegedly stabbed her live-in partner, after suspecting him of talking to another woman on the phone, police said on Sunday. The woman, identified as Babie Lalngaihawmi, 35, suspected her live-in partner, Samuel Resu of speaking to another woman on the phone at 4 a.m on Saturday morning, which angered her. They had an argument which escalated and in fit of rage, she stabbed him in the chest. A senior police official said that they received a call from Safdarjung Hospital reporting that Resu, a resident of Nagaland, had been admitted with a stab wound in his chest. A police team was dispatched to the hospital, where they recorded the injured person's statement. Based on the medico-legal case report and the victim's statement, the police have registered a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Kishangarh Police Station. During the investigation, it was revealed that Resu and Babie, who reside in the Munirka area, had an argument which culminated in the attack on him. Babie has been arrested and the knife used in the crime has been recovered from their residence. Agartala, June 11 : A candlelight and sit-in-demonstration was held here by the people from Manipur in Tripura to urge the people in their home state to restore peace and normalcy Holding placards and banners and chanting slogans, thousands of men and women, condemning the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3, also expressed their solidarity with the families of the victims and other affected by the devastating violence. Demanding immediate action and appropriate steps by both the state and Central governments to stop the senseless killings of innocent people and bring the peace and normalcy in Manipur, the demonstrators also urged the civil society organisations to play a positive role in this hour of crisis. Holding candles and placards bearing slogans like 'no separate administration' and 'save territorial integrity of Manipur', they passionately urged for the restoration of harmonious coexistence among all communities, as witnessed in the past. The candlelight demonstration was jointly organized by the Puthiba Welfare and Cultural Society and the All Tripura Meitei Community. People from Manipur, staying in Tripura for the purpose of education, jobs and various other works, also took part in the demonstration held at the Aboynagar on the outskirts of the capital city. In Tripura, around 30,000 Manipuri people, mostly from the Meitei (Meetei) community, have been living for many decades. Egypts most celebrated ballerina tells Dina Ezzat that the time has come to reinvigorate public interest in this classical form of art On 4 December 1966, Magda Saleh joined Abdel-Moneim Kamel and Diana Hakik to perform a first-ever fully Egyptian cast ballet at the Cairo Opera House. The performance was immediately well received. The following day then president Gamal Abdel-Nasser and his spouse Tahiya Abdel-Nasser arrived to watch the performance. It was so glorious. I mean, the first day when we were all Egyptian dancers on the stage. That was really beautiful. Then the president and his spouse came to attend the performance, which was really encouraging, Saleh recalled almost 53 years later to the day. Saleh was performing Maria in The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, a two-act ballet inspired by a poem by 19th-century Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. The ballet tells the story of the agony of a warrior who falls in love with a princess he has enslaved and who later dies at the hands of a jealous palace mistress. By 1966, Saleh had already attended the Ballet Institute, part of the Art Academy that the state had launched in the late 1950s as part of its commitment to promote art and culture. She had also come back with four other prominent dancers, including Kamel and Hakik, from extensive training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. It was a great moment for the arts and culture in Egypt. The state was really committed to throwing its weight behind the launch of young artists on all fronts, and of course given the close relations that Egypt then had with the former Soviet Union, which was very prominent in this art, there was very close cooperation in ballet. We as dancers were very enthusiastic and were prepared to represent Egypt all over the world, Saleh said. But before taking off to perform to the rest of the world, as she did later to perform with the Bolshoi Ballet and other leading companies, Saleh joined a pioneering group of dancers that went to Aswan in January 1967 to perform the same work at a new cultural centre set up by the state. When I learned that we were going to Aswan to perform, I was not sure what kind of reaction we would get. I thought we had been successful, in fact very successful, in Cairo, given that the capital was attuned to this kind of classical art, Saleh recalled. On the opening evening in Aswan, Saleh was anxious about the reception of the work. We were there dancing, and there was no reaction whatsoever from the audience. It felt almost as if we were performing to an empty hall. We were all aware of this, and it was not at all comforting, Saleh recalled. Towards the end of the first act as Vaslav, the fiance of Maria, was trying to protect her from being captured by the army of Khan Geiri, one member of the audience shouted out in praise of the bravery of the devoted lover. When Vaslav lost his life trying to defend Maria, and Khan Geiri tore the scarf that Maria was hiding her face behind having been mesmerised by love, the audience in the hall started to signal its incredible acclaim, however. It was really very moving, for me and for everyone else, she recalled. What was special was that the applause for these young dancers also did not come from an audience familiar with classical dance, but from one that appreciated the beauty of the art even though it might not have been familiar with ballet at all, she said. CULTURE AND THE ARTS: Saleh is certainly aware that the appreciation of art and dance has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since the time of the Pharaohs. We are a nation that throughout history has created and celebrated art and culture. My concern at that time, however, was the very specific nature of classical ballet. But my fears were proven wrong because clearly the beauty of this art was what ultimately resonated with the audience, she said. A couple of evenings later, Saleh got what she called the most magnificent words of appreciation ever. We had just finished our performance, and I was standing backstage with my Russian instructor to review a few things. I then turned to see a typical Upper Egypt peasant with rough and firm features. I was not sure what had brought him to the stage or what he really wanted. In fact, I was not sure how he had come to the show. But when I asked him what he wanted, he said that was so very beautiful madam, really so very beautiful, and then he just walked away, Saleh recalled. Fifty-two years later this incident is still able to bring tears to her eyes. And also 52 years later, Saleh was again in Upper Egypt to attend a celebration given in her honour at a ballet studio launched a couple of years ago that carries her name. In Minya on the last weekend of November, Salah was there with some 40 girls aged between five and 13 and their parents for what she said was the most beautiful demonstration of appreciation of ballet in the very heart of Egypt. She said she was almost mystified with the beauty of the city and the people and of the little ballerinas who gave her a truly beautiful reception. As I arrived, I was greeted by one of the ballerinas who offered me a single rose after doing her pas de bourree, and then she walked me through an entrance flanked with beautiful young ballerinas each offering me a single rose and finally taking me to be seated with a whole full bouquet in my hands, Saleh said. At the Alwanat Centre for Arts and Culture, a newly established art centre for children, Saleh spoke to an audience of parents who came not just from Minya, but also from other nearby governorates to bring their daughters to attend the ballet training offered by trainers who travel from Cairo to do so. Saleh offered the Alwanat Centre a gift from her own collection in the shape of a doll of Kitri, the leading female character in the ballet Don Quxiote, that was made for her in 1971, her last year at the old Opera House in Cairo that was later burnt down. It was made by her customary tailors, who also gave her three photographs of her performing Giselle, her favourite ballet, and Bakhchisarais Maria. In Minya, Saleh spoke to the audience that was so warm about the history of ballet and encouraged them to keep on giving their daughters the chance to learn and perform. Then a girl who must have been six years old or younger came to hold my hand as I was speaking. She bowed very beautifully and took my hand and gave it a little kiss. I bowed to kiss her and to wish her good luck. Maybe one day she will be a beautiful and acclaimed ballerina, she said. Saleh is aware that the chances of this little girl, or for that matter any of the young girls who attend the increasingly fashionable ballet classes in Cairo and Alexandria, might be slim of ever going beyond the level of amateur dance. I think these classes are doing a great job by offering young girls a chance to get some elementary introduction to the world of ballet. But to move on to the professional level there needs to be a whole different type of training, one that is a lot more intense and a lot more academic, Saleh argued. Having served in the 1970s as the head of the Ballet Academy in Cairo, Saleh is well aware of the limitations of the academy. The limitations of the budget and of the outreach campaigns mean that it has a limited ability to attract potentially talented dancers, both girls and boys. Obviously the country has gone through a sad phase of excessive conservatism whereby the appreciation of ballet might have receded a bit, so there needs to be more outreach to regain the interest of possible dancers, Saleh said. She argued that the media should play a role in this, adding that Egyptian TV had once broadcast ballet performances when it had an elaborate programme for this type of art and for the other arts. Saleh, who was the first director of the new Cairo Opera House that was inaugurated in the late 1980s, said there needed to be more opportunities for young people to have affordable access to opera performances, including ballet and other forms of art. Getting people to be more familiar with the arts is essential, she argued. However, ultimately, there also have to be subsidised schools for potentially prominent dancers. This is part of the success story of the Bolshoi in Moscow, for example. They allow the young boys and girls to be fully immersed in the culture of the ballet and to do the required extensive training, she said. The promotion of the arts and culture, Saleh argued, was one of the big success stories of Egypt in the 1950s and 1960s. She referred to all types of art and mentioned stars or divas whose names are still living on. This generation could end up being just a faded memory of the beauty of the past, however. What matters most is not the past but the present and the future, Saleh said. In the memoirs she is hoping to write in the US with her Egyptologist husband Jack Josepherson Saleh is planning to tell the story not just of an incredibly supportive mother and father, but also of a state that championed the arts and artists wholeheartedly. I will never forget the first day we performed Bakhchisarai in December 1966, and the then minister of culture, Tharwat Okasha, was so moved that he was in tears. Nor can I forget Nassers happiness when he saw a performance by all Egyptian dancers. Those were glorious moments, not just of personal accomplishment but also of national accomplishment, Saleh said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 5 December, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Bhopal/Damoh, June 11 : The principal of the Ganga Jamna Higher Secondary School along with two others in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh have been arrested in connection with the Hijab row that erupted after Hindu girl students of the institute were seen in photographs wearing Hijab-like scarf, an official said on Sunday. Posters were put up by Ganga Jamna Higher Secondary School in Damoh highlighting the meritorious students along with their photographs and marks obtained. A number of girl students were seen wearing a hijab-like scarf around their heads in those posters, following which a controversy erupted. The police, after taking into cognizance the statements of three children in connection with the matter, have registered a case against 10 people of the school management committee under the relevant sections, an official said. The Madhya Pradesh government has de-recognised the registration of the school in Damoh following the controversy. Besides, there were also allegations of religious conversion of many teachers of this school. In fact, some of the teachers have admitted that there was some amount of truth in those allegations. Also, many children had also alleged that they were forced to perform Namaz and forced to recite Islamic verses. Visakhapatnam, June 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that Andhra Pradesh's Jagan Mohan Reddy government has done nothing except corruption in four years. Addressing a public meeting here, he launched a scathing attack on the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for rampant corruption. "In these four years, Jagan Mohan Reddy government has done nothing except scams, rackets and corruption," he said For a second consecutive day, a top BJP leader targeted Jagan Mohan Reddy government over corruption. BJP President J.P. Nadda had launched an attack on the state government while addressing a public meeting at Srikalahasti in Tirupati district on Saturday. "Jagan government claims to be pro-poor but Andhra Pradesh stands at third place in the country in terms of farmer suicides. Jagan Mohan Reddyji, you should be ashamed of this," said Amit Shah. He also alleged that the funds given by the Modi government to Andhra Pradesh were swindled by the YSRCP. Amit Shah claimed that from 2009 to 2014 when UPA was in power, Andhra Pradesh received only Rs 78,000 crore from the Centre in the form of tax devolution and grants-in-aid but after the Modi government came to power at the Centre, the state received Rs 2.30 lakh crore in 5 years. "In 10 years the state may have received Rs 5 lakh crore. Where this money has gone. It was lost to the corruption of Jagan cadre," he said. The Union Home Minister also alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy was claiming the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi to be his own scheme by giving it the name of YSR Rythu Bharosa. "Modi ji is sending rice to the poor of Andhra Pradesh but Jagan Babu is putting his photo on the rice," he remarked. The Union Home Minister alleged that Visakhapatnam has become a hub of anti-social elements. He said the leaders of the ruling party were involved in land scam and sand mining scam. Exuding confidence that Narenrda Modi will once again become the Prime Minister in 2024 by winning 300 Lok Sabha seats, Shah appealed to people of Andhra Pradesh to play their role by sending 20 MPs from the state. He listed out the measures taken by the Modi government for development of Andhra Pradesh. He cited construction of a new airport for Visakhapatnam, two Vande Bharat trains, modernisation of Visakhapatnam railway station, increasing the length of national highways from 4,000 km to 9,000 km and setting up of central educational institutions. Amit Shah claimed the Modi government came to power after 10 years of UPA rule "during which scams of Rs 12 lakh crore had taken place" but in 9 years, "no one could make even one allegation of corruption against the Modi government". He claimed that the Modi government ensured internal security and secured the country's borders. He said when Pakistan backed terrorists carried out attacks in Uri and Pulwama, the Modi government responded within 10 days with surgical and air strikes. Amit Shah said under the Modi government, India's fame spread across the world and its image improved. "Wherever he goes people welcome him with slogans of Modi Modi. These slogans are in honour of the people of India," he said. He alleged that when Article 370 was being repealed, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had cautioned that there would be bloodbath in Kashmir. "Let alone bloodbath, no one even dared to pelt stones," he remarked. Shah also spoke about various measures taken by the Modi government to help the poor by providing them food, building houses, supplying cooking gas cylinders and building toilets. New Delhi, June 11 : Aiming to streamline the decision-making process and facilitate greater domestic production of semiconductors in the country, the Union Cabinet will now approve all proposals for setting up of semiconductor units. The government on June 9 issued a notification to modify the programme for semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, under which all proposals will be cleared by the Union Cabinet. Earlier, the IT Secretary had the authority to approve proposals valued up to Rs 100 crore, while the IT Minister approved the proposals valued more than Rs 100 crore. This layered system of granting approvals has now been done away with, as the Union Cabinet will now be the only the authority to clear all such applications. "The applications shall be appraised and evaluated individually on an ongoing basis. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will submit the applications for approval to the Union Cabinet," the notification said. Patna, June 11 : As rulers of Bihar's ruling Mahagathbandhan are gearing up to the opposition unity meeting scheduled on June 23, JD-U national President Lalan Singh on Sunday appealed to his party workers of the party to avoid chanting slogans pitching Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for PM as these "hurt opposition unity". "The decision on who will be the Prime Minister of the country after the Lok Sabha poll 2024 will be decided post the results. We will sit here in the Patna post polls and unanimously decide who would be the appropriate candidate for the Prime Minister's post," he said while addressing party workers during the Milan Samaroh in the JD-U office here. "Our CM Nitish Kumar has pledged to make the BJP Mukt Bharat. After separation from the NDA, he had started the campaign to unite the opposition parties against BJP in the country and his efforts are yielding dividends. On June 23, a mega meeting of opposition is scheduled where 18 parties have already given their consent to join the meeting. Now, two senior leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are also coming to Patna for the meeting. They will prepare a strategy to counter BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll," he added. Lalan Singh also requested workers to avoid chanting slogans like "Desh Ka PM Kaisa ho Nitish Kumar Jaisa Ho". "Actually such a slogan hurt the opposition unity in the country. I want to appeal to the workers of the party to let the election of 2024 Lok Sabha be completed. Then we decide who will be the Prime Minister of the country. The primary objective of our party is to make a BJP-mukt country," he added. London, June 11 : Three British tourists have been missing after a fire broke out on a dive boat in the Egyptian Red Sea, the media reported on Sunday. An official said that 26 other people, including 12 Britons, were rescued from the boat, called Hurricane, which was off the coast of Marsa Alam, the BBC reported. The boat had been on a dive cruise and had left Port Ghalib on June 6, and was due to return on Sunday. The boat's operator, Tornado Marine Fleet, said 15 British passengers had been on board along with 12 crew members and two guides -- a different figure to that given earlier by the local authority, the Red Sea Governorate, the BBC reported. The local authority said initial examinations had found an electrical short circuit in the engine room, while the public prosecution office had begun an investigation. All of those who had been rescued were said to be well. The Hurricane is one of several operated by the Tornado Marine Fleet. A spokesperson said the fire broke out while the crew were doing the diving briefing at Elphinstone Reef -- a diving destination known for its wealth of marine life including colourful corals and sharks. Scuba Travel, which chartered the boat, said the group on board had been on a seven-day tour and the company was working with the local authorities and specialist advisers. "Our first priority is the safety of our guests," a spokesperson said. The Red Sea is a popular resort for diving trips. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said it was supporting British nationals involved. "We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved," a spokesman said. New Delhi, June 11 : Three persons have been apprehended by the police in connection with a dacoity-cum-murder case that took place at the house of an elderly couple in the Jafrabad area of north-east Delhi. The tenant of the victims was involved in the incident, having taken a loan of Rs 10 lakh and orchestrating the robbery of the landlord's house, resulting in the death of the landlady. According to a senior police officer, on June 8, a call was received reporting a dacoity by four to five armed assailants in Ambedkar Basti, Jafrabad. A police team was dispatched to the scene, where they discovered that the victims -- Abbas (70), his wife Shamim, and their tenant Zahid (22) -- had been rushed to a nearby hospital by their neighbours. Upon investigation, the police found that the entire house had been ransacked. Another police team was sent to the hospital, where the doctors told them that Shamim had been declared dead on arrival. The police recorded the statement of her husband, Abbas, who explained that four to five individuals had forcibly entered their home. Before they could react, the armed assailants attacked them, tied their hands, gagged them, and proceeded with the dacoity. Based on this statement, the police filed an FIR and formed a team to apprehend the culprits. The team analysed CCTV footage from the area and questioned some individuals previously involved in similar crimes using the same modus operandi. Finally, a tip-off led to the arrest of the suspects during a raid. Zahid, his friend Nazim, and Soheb were extensively questioned. Nazim eventually confessed that Zahid was the deceased's nephew. Zahid, along with his mother and brothers, had been residing on the first floor of the same house as tenants while running a belt assembling unit. "Approximately three years ago, Zahid borrowed around Rs 10 lakh from the deceased to start his business but failed to repay the loan. The deceased had been persistently pressuring him to return the money. Frustrated with her constant nagging, Zahid devised a plan to rob the deceased. He shared his plan with his friend Nazim, who brought in other accomplices to carry out the attack," the police officer said. CCTV footage revealed that four individuals entered the house, with Zahid playing a role in keeping the gate open. After the robbers left, Zahid feigned unconsciousness, pretending to have sustained an injury during the robbery. Tehran, June 12 : The Iranian anti-narcotics police seized more than 13 ton of illegal drugs in separate operations across the country over the past seven days, state media reported. During the operations, 13.19 ton of narcotics were seized and 2,385 illicit drugs retailers were arrested, particularly in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, Hormuzgan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Semnan, IRIB news agency quoted Iran's anti-narcotics police chief, Iraj Kakavand, as saying on Sunday. He added the country's police forces also confiscated 368 light vehicles and six small weapons from them, Xinhua news agency reported. Mogadishu, June 12 : The Somali National Army have killed 19 al-Shabab militants during an operation in the lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia, officials said. Somali National News Agency quoting army officials on Sunday said the operation was jointly conducted by Somali troops and their international partners, culminating in the destruction of vehicles and weapons belonging to al-Shabab fighters, Xinhua news agency reported. The agency added that the operation is still going on but the al-Shabab militants are yet to comment on the latest military operation in southern Somalia. Tehran, June 12 : Iran has sent 101 Afghan convicts back to their home country under a bilateral prisoner transfer agreement. Askar Jalalian, Deputy Justice Minister For Human Rights And International Affairs, announced the move in a statement published on the Ministry's website on Sunday, elaborating on the latest transfer of prisoners between the two countries under a 2012 bilateral agreement. Jalalian added the Afghan prisoners were repatriated through the common border between the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan and southwestern Afghan province of Nimroz in the morning, Xinhua news agency reported. The convicted would continue their jail terms in Afghanistan under Taliban authorities' supervision, according to the Iranian Ministry. According to the Iranian Justice Ministry, close to 800 Afghan prisoners were handed over to the officials of Afghanistan's caretaker Taliban government in the previous Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, under the prisoner transfer agreement between the two countries. Aden : , June 12 (IANS) Two Yemeni soldiers were killed and five others injured in an attack carried out by militants of the al-Qaeda terrorist group in the country's oil-rich southern province of Shabwa, a government official said. "Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists riding in a vehicle attacked a checkpoint of the pro-government forces in As Said district of Shabwa province," the local government official said on condition of anonymity on Sunday. The al-Qaeda gunmen fired heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, during their assault on the security checkpoint, he noted, adding two military vehicles were destroyed in the attack. The Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is seen as one of the most dangerous branches of al-Qaeda and has been active in war-ravaged Yemen for years, Xinhua news agency reported. The terrorist group has taken advantage of Yemen's civil war and the country's power vacuum to launch attacks on military and government targets. In an effort to tackle the growing terror threat, government forces backed by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition have carried out several large-scale military operations on al-Qaida hideouts in recent months. However, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have failed to eliminate the terrorist group hidden in the mountainous areas of the country's southern provinces. Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally-recognised government and its allies, which include a Saudi Arabia-led coalition. The forum offered a comprehensive exchange of views on the possibilities of linking new forms of media work and on the anticipated positive contribution of the upcoming Russian-African summit talks in building a dialogue in the global media field Located in Dokki, Cairo, the Russian House hosted on 11 June the first Russian-Egyptian Media Forum under the title of "The Status of the Egyptian and African Media in the Perspective of the Changing Global Media". The forum is held in conjunction with the second Russia-Africa summit, due to take place from 26 to 29 July in the Russian city of St. Petersburg under the slogan "Technology and Security in the Name of Sovereign Development for the Good of Mankind". The forum was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Egypt, Georgy Borisenko, and an array of journalists from leading media outlets in the two countries, including the Head of RT-Arabic TV, Maya Mannaa; the Executive Director of TeN TV Nashat El-Dihi; and the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Shorouk newspaper Emad El-Din Hussein, together with representatives of scientific and social circles and eminent experts. The guests of honour included the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Ahmed Abu-Zeid; the Vice-President of the Supreme Council for Egyptian Media Regulation, Saleh El-Salhi; the Director-General of the Federation of News Agencies in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Mohamed Al-Yami; and the Director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs Ezzat Saad. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, delivered the welcome speech. She asserted that Moscow will closely study the results of the consultations and suggested that these consultations continue, within the framework of the relevant session in the upcoming Russian-African summit, to develop effective mechanisms for equal cooperation in the field of public communications. During the forum, El-Hussein Ba, a special guest from Senegal, introduced the first African social network, One Africa, which he founded. The network includes five platforms with different orientations; it has more than 650,000 subscribers. During the forum, Farit Mukhametshin the Vice-Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation gave a speech. In the speech, Mukhametshin wished the speakers fruitful work and pointed out the valuable role of national media in protecting people from aggressive foreign propaganda. He also emphasized that Russia is keenly interested in coordinating effectively with its Arab and African partners on this issue, particularly in combating the spread of extremist and terrorist thoughts. The participants in the forum discussed the prospects for cooperation between the local and regional media in light of political transformations. They also discussed using press tools to promote the interests of African countries with the support of Russia. In conclusion, the participants in the forum exchanged views on the possibilities of linking new forms of media work, including the Internet, to combat information challenges. They also discussed the positive role the upcoming Russian-African summit will play in holding a dialogue in the global media field. Search Keywords: Short link: Washington, June 12 : Ajay Banga, the World Bank's new President, called for the private sector to play a larger role to help emerging countries in their battle against climate change in his first interviews on Sunday. He argued that countries from countries -- essentially of the developed world, the World Bank, philanthropies and multilateral development banks (MDBs) will not be enough to meet the requirements of the emerging markets to help them transition from fossil fuel to clean fuel. "The only way forward is to find a way to get the private sector to believe that this is part of their future," said Banga, who took charge on June 2 as the 14th President of the World Bank, to CBS news. He spoke also to CNN and made a similar pitch for scaling up private sector participation. "What I think we have to do is... to find ways in the MDB system to think of a different playbook -- to take on the risks that they cannot take on," he added. Banga is the first Indian-American to hold this position and called himself "Made in India" in the CNN interview, when he asked about the need for someone other than an American should lead the World Bank, which has always been headed by an American in an unwritten agreement with Europe, which, in return, gets to name the head of the International Monetary Fund. Banga said he was born and raised in India and worked in both the developed and developing world and, thus, embodies the kind of diversity people may want to see at the leadership level. Developing and less developed countries have long argued that in order to transition to clean energy they need help in resources and technology from the developed countries who caused most of the global warming with large-scale and unregulated industrialisation. And a climate fund set up to that effect has fallen way short of the committed targets. Las Americas Airport, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic [ SDQ / MDSD ] If you are planning to travel to Santo Domingo or any other city in Dominican Republic, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Las Americas Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Las Americas Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Santo Domingo Airport Info: Santo Domingo Airport IATA Code: SDQ Santo Domingo Airport ICAO Code: MDSD Latitude : 18.4297 Longitude : -69.6689 City : Santo Domingo Country : Dominican Republic World Area Code : 809 Airport Type : Large Santo Domingo Airport Address / Contact Details : Las Americas International Airport (SDQ), 15701, Dominican Republic, Phone: 809-947-2225 / 2297 Santo Domingo Website : http://www.aerodom.com/app/do/lasamericas.aspx Airport Type : Public Owner : Government Operator : eropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI S.A, Vancouver Airport Services, Ltd. Hub for : PAWA Dominicana Established Year : 1959 Timezone : America/Santo_Domingo Las Americas Airport Timezone : GMT -04:00 hours Current time and date at Las Americas Airport is 08:40:39 AM (AST) on Wednesday, Jul 19, 2023 Looking for information on Las Americas Airport, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic? Know about Las Americas Airport in detail. Find out the location of Las Americas Airport on Dominican Republic map and also find out airports near to Santo Domingo. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Las Americas Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Las Americas Airport, airlines operating to Las Americas Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Dominican Republic. Scroll down to know more about Las Americas Airport or Santo Domingo Airport, Dominican Republic. Las Americas Airport Map - Location of Las Americas Airport Load Map Dominican Republic - General Information Country Code DO Capital Santo Domingo Currency Peso (DOP) 1 DOP = 0.018 USD 1 USD = 56.04 DOP 1 DOP = 0.016 EUR 1 EUR = 62.84 DOP More DOP convertion rates Tel Code +1 Top Level Domain .do This page provides all the information you need to know about Las Americas Airport, Dominican Republic. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Dominican Republic or traveling to Santo Domingo Airport. Details about Santo Domingo Airport given here include Las Americas Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Santo Domingo Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Las Americas Airport Location of Las Americas Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Las Americas Airport Time Zone and Current time at Las Americas Airport Address and contact details of Las Americas Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Las Americas Airport on Google Map. General information about Dominican Republic where Las Americas Airport is located in the city of Santo Domingo. General information include capital of Dominican Republic, currency and conversion rate of Dominican Republic currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... SDQ - Las Americas Airport IATA Code and MDSD - Las Americas Airport ICAO code Crimson Cup's Focus on Good initiatives allow us to form meaningful relationships and help others with every cup we pour. We are proud to involve independent coffee shops in positively impacting coffee-growing communities. - Greg Ubert, Founder and President, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Owners and baristas from coffee shops across the United States recently traveled to Siguatepeque, Honduras, on a service trip organized by Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea. The journey was an inspiring and life-changing experience about making a difference in the world through coffee and community. The group supported Serve Hope International, which provides safe homes, clean water, schools and other benefits to the Siguatepeque community. During the trip, the group of 13 helped build a house for the Flores family of five that included two rooms, a shower, a latrine, and a filtration bucket to provide potable drinking water. Crimson Cup's Focus on Good initiatives allow us to form meaningful relationships and help others with every cup we pour, said Founder and President Greg Ubert. We are proud to involve independent coffee shops in positively impacting coffee-growing communities. Since 2011, Crimson Cup has regularly visited the Siguatepeque region to consult with farmers, co-op managers, and wet mill operators on improving coffee quality and life for growers and their workers. In addition, the company has invested in raised drying beds for the local co-op, equipment and lesson plans for local schools, and community improvement projects through Serve Hope. Crimson Cup Coffee Buyer Dave Eldridge led the owners and staff from independently owned coffee shops in Ohio, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Iowa, and Montana. The Crimson Cup team also included Janie Brooks, who handles marketing and product research and development, and Shannon Walker, who packages Crimson Cup Coffee. Participants from independent coffee houses included: The trip had a lasting impact on the Flores family, the Crimson Cup team, and the independent coffee shop owners. The exciting thing was that everyone on the trip was looking to make a difference, Eldridge said. Walker said the trip gave her a stronger appreciation for the coffee she packages, the people who grow it, and Crimson Cups investment in coffee-growing communities. Brooks observed that happiness springs from simple things. A roof over your head with a few rooms, clean water, and the love of a family is more than enough, she said. Serve Hope's impact can be felt throughout this entire community by providing these simple luxuries we often take for granted. For the coffee shop owners and baristas, firsthand involvement in Crimson Cup's Focus on Good initiatives demonstrated how Crimson Cup and hundreds of independent coffee shops across the U.S. create positive change through coffee. Matt and Julie Love operate several Well Coffee Houses as part of the Church at The Well ministry in Boston. Matt said the trip showed them how Crimson Cup stands behind its commitment to supporting communities in coffee-growing regions. Our new appreciation for the compassion that Crimson Cup displays for coffee communities has further convinced us that we have partnered with the BEST coffee roaster in North America, he said. This was the third Crimson Cup-sponsored trip to Honduras for Kat and Pat Bissell, owners of The Coffee Attic. Several years ago, we visited a coffee-growing community and fell in love, Kat Bissell said. We were inspired by the people, the coffee and our ability to make a difference. Making a difference was also top of mind for Kimmy Bridgham, a barista from 5 Bean Coffee in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The most important thing about this trip was truly the ability to serve in the local community in Siguatepeque, she said. The people there are doing incredible things: building homes for families, increasing access to clean water through bucket filter distribution, providing education to the next generation, and supporting coffee farms. Shawn Peterson, owner of Moose Junction Coffee and Pizza, brought his daughter Katya along to share his second Crimson Cup trip to Honduras. My second trip was a great reminder of how connected we all are and what an impact we can make in Honduras by sharing the story with our own customers and involving them in our efforts to help support Serve Hope and the families it serves, he said. The coffee business is very competitive, and these connections and relationships help us differentiate ourselves from our competitors. 5 Beans Bridgham emphasized how trips to coffee-growing communities connect local coffee shops and their consumers to the coffee. By sharing the experiences and the stories of the people we worked with in Honduras, we can bring more awareness to our consumers about the faces behind their coffee, she said. Being able to connect a coffee that you drink to a farm, farmer or community not only increases your appreciation for the drink, but also increases your desire to support local coffee shops like 5 Bean who support ethically sourced, directly traded coffee. Hannah Reager said she believes talking about the trip will get customers excited about the sourcing of the Crimson Cup coffee served at 5 Bean Coffee. They will be more eager to buy our coffee knowing the impact buying our beans will make on the coffee farmers! she said. Pav Templeton with Rare Bird Emporium agreed. Having a deeper understanding of the story of our coffee can be valuable in marketing our brand and products, he said. It was a privilege to get to know the different programs created with Serve Hope partners, and to see some of the people whose lives have been changed, he added. We also enjoyed meeting other coffee shop owners and swapping ideas and crazy coffee shop stories over beers in the evening. The Bissells have involved their customers in their work with Serve Hope. Our community is extremely supportive, and customers love hearing about our trips when we return, Pat said. One of the joys of small-town living is that when people get behind a cause, they can really make a difference. After previous trips, the Coffee Attic collected customer donations to fund water filtration buckets in Honduras. There is nowhere in Honduras that has clean water out of the tap, Kat Bissell said. Clean water should be a basic human right, and were excited to support Serve Hope in their quest to deliver water filtration devices to Honduran families. Going into the third trip, their customers in Iowa Falls donated over $2,000 for materials used in building the Flores home. We would highly recommend taking a trip to a coffee-growing region of the world, Pat Bissell concluded. It offers an opportunity to learn and appreciate all of the work that goes into growing great coffee. About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities. Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs how to open and run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into coffee shop startup costs. Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 400 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across more than 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new CRIMSON retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram. PTI Fact Check: ISKCON Temple near Odisha train crash site falsely labelled as mosque; Social media posts shares with false communal spin New Delhi, June 4 (Abhinav Gupta / Pratyush Ranjan PTI Fact Check): A Facebook user shared a photo of the aerial view of the accident site where the recent triple train crash occurred in Odishas Balasore on June 2. The user pointed to a structure near the railway tracks, claiming it was a mosque, insinuating that a particular community was responsible for the tragedy. In its investigation, the PTI Fact Check Desk found that the structure in the photo was an ISKCON temple and not a mosque. The social media post was shared with a false communal spin. The crash involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, carrying around 2,500 passengers, and goods train in Odishas Balasore on Friday left 275 people dead and over 1,100 injured. Claim A Facebook user shared on June 3 an aerial view image of the accident site where the recent train crash took place in Odishas Balasore and pointed out at a nearby structure, claiming it was a mosque. . #__, read the post. An English translation of the post read: The train accident happened on Friday, and there is a big mosque at the accident site. Rest you are sensible #Orissa_train_accident. Here is the link and archive link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same: Investigation Starting the investigation, the Desk conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on the photo shared in the viral social media post. The search results led the Desk to another Facebook post, carrying the same picture with an identical claim. Here is the link and archive link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same: In the next part of the investigation, the Desk contacted one of the PTI correspondents in Odisha, who covered the tragic train crash. He confirmed that the structure highlighted in the photo was the Bahanaga ISKCON temple, not a mosque. The under-construction structure seen in the photo is the ISKCON temple and not a mosque, said Mohammed Sufian, Special Correspondent at PTI. Taking a cue, the Desk conducted a customised Google search with the keyword ISKCON Temple Bahanaga Odisha. The search results led to a five-month-old YouTube video which showed that the structure was white and under construction. Here is the link to the YouTube video, and below is a screenshot of the same: The Desk then conducted a separate Google search with the keyword ISKCON Temple Bahanaga. It came across another long-shot image of the accident site carried by Reuters in its report. Here is the link to the report, and below is a screenshot of the same: This image showed a structure similar to the one shared in the social media post. Below is a combination image comparing both photos: A closer look at the photo shared by Reuters showed that the structure looked more like a temple than the traditional shikhara and not a mosque. The Desk then looked up the temple on Google Maps and found it near the railway tracks of Bahanaga Bazar, where the accident occurred on June 2. Google Maps confirmed that the temple was located near the railway tracks, as seen in the viral photo and the one carried by Reuters in its report. In the next part of the investigation, the Desk scanned through the latest news reports on the triple train crash to learn about the developments related to the cause of the accident. As per a June 5 PTI report by Times of India, the CBI took over the probe into the triple train crash and visited the accident site. The Railway Board recommended the CBI probe on Sunday. Here is the link to the news report, and below is a screenshot of the same: We also came across another PTI report on the incident published on June 5. The report headline read: CBI all set to take over the probe into Balasore train accident case. Railway officials have indicated that possible "sabotage" and tampering with the electronic interlocking system, which detects the presence of trains, led to the Friday accident, read a section of the report. Here is the link to the report: Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the social media posts were shared with false claims as neither the structure seen in the photo was a mosque, nor there have been any established findings by the investigative agencies on any conspiracy behind the accident, as insinuated in the social media posts. Claim A mosque near the Bahanaga railway tracks in Odishas Balasore where the triple train crash occurred on June 2, a Friday. Fact The structure in the photo was of an ISKCON temple, not a mosque. The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained as the CBI continues to investigate the accident. Conclusion Several social media users shared an aerial view of the site of a triple train crash in Odishas Balasore. They highlighted a white structure nearby, claiming that it was a mosque. The users also insinuated that the accident, which happened on a Friday, was a conspiracy by members of a particular community. The Desk found in its investigation that the structure in the photo was an ISKCON Temple, not a mosque. Also, the cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained as the CBI has taken over the probe and no official statement was released until this article was written. The social media posts were shared with false claims. You can contact PTI Fact Check on WhatsApp Number +91-8130503759 and share any claim or social media post you think is essential to fact-check and want us to verify. Restoration work has commenced at the residential area and necropolis in the Marina Alamein archaeological site in Alexandria ahead of its imminent opening to the public, according to the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Marina Alamein is a popular summer resort located on Egypt's north coast, known for its sun, sand and sea. However, it also houses a significant archaeological site that holds great historical importance from the Ptolemaic and Roman eras. The site was a major Greco-Roman town and port which was probably destroyed by an earthquake in the late third century AD. However, the site was partially inhabited again in the fifth and sixth centuries AD. A small basilica church uncovered in the eastern sector is considered to be the best evidence of this later occupation. The archelological complex consists of the remains of over 50 different structures in the town and necropolis, including a commercial quarter, a town centre with its baths, markets and a civic basilica. The archaeological site was first uncovered during the development of Egypt's North Coast in the 1980s. Since then, the Polish Archaeological Institute in Cairo and the American Research Centre in Egypt have conducted extensive excavations and restoration work at the site. The Polish excavations yielded vast findings, including lamps, glass vessels and pottery from Cyprus, the Aegean, Asia Minor and Italy. Several sculptures were also found and among the most remarkable discoveries were a lead coffin and mummies in one of the side chambers of a tomb. However, the site remained closed to the public. Now, the SCA is restoring the tombs and houses found on site in order to open the whole archaeological city soon. Hisham Samir, assistant for archaeological projects to the minister of tourism and Antiquities, said that the work includes the cleaning of the houses and tombs, removing the plants covering the site, and restoring and reassembling houses. The SCA is also working to repair damage done to walls by humidity and salt. Search Keywords: Short link: Six crew members were injured while filming a stunt scene for an upcoming sequel to the Oscar-winning film "Gladiator" in Morocco, reports said Saturday. ADVERTISEMENT "While filming a planned stunt sequence on the set of the 'Gladiator' sequel, an accident occurred during which several crew members experienced non-life-threatening injuries," a spokesperson for Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the film, said in a statement to CNN and Variety. "The safety and full medical services teams on-site were able to act quickly so that those who were impacted immediately received necessary care. They are all in stable condition and continue to receive treatment." Four of the crew members who were injured remain hospitalized and are being treated for burn injuries, Variety reported. No cast members were injured. The original film won five awards at the Oscars in 2001, including for best picture, best costume design, best sound and best visual effects. Russel Crowe also netted the best actor award for starring in the film. Crowe is not expected to return for the sequel because of events that occur in the first film. Instead, the cast will welcome newcomers Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn while Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi will return to their roles. Ridley Scott, who directed the first film, has also returned behind the camera. There are books that only time gives their rightful due or, if you prefer, serves to reveal all the wisdom they contained. It is not that they went unnoticed or were wrongly interpreted when they first appeared, but rather that all the new additions that constantly flood bookstores and literary supplements didnt allow us to see the true scope of their arguments. To explain what we mean, we could mention the works of several authors. First, Guy Debords 1960s work characterizing the society of the spectacle was overshadowed by Marcuses brilliance when it was originally published, but Debords contention has become almost commonplace when we describe how the public sphere works today. Second, we could cite Cass Sunsteins 2001 Republic.com in which he decried the naive expectation that the internet could become a global agora in which a planetary and cosmopolitan democracy would become a reality. Finally, theres Christopher Laschs The Culture of Narcissismwhich, happily, was reissued in 2018in which the author anticipated some of the most relevant determinations of our current collective imaginary. First, let us point out that the treatment of narcissism presented here is not intended to delve into the ontological-philosophical dimension of the construct that we customarily refer to as the self (or personal identity). That concept was dealt with by the British philosopher Derek Parfit in Reasons and Persons, a book that was highly celebratedespecially in analytical circlesat the time of its publication, but is barely remembered today. On the other hand, Lasch, instead of focusing his analysis on dissecting the ontological weakness of such a construct (a somewhat obvious approach, given our social and cultural condition), emphasizes another dimension of the same issue: how the self relates to the world where fate has thrown us. And we must accept that, for the fragile construct that defines usour selfnot to collapse at the first dose of harsh reality, we need a certain amount of selfishness. But as with cholesterol, there is good and bad selfishness. The former would be equivalent to the self-love of which Spanish philosopher Fernando Savater once spoke, and the latter would be narcissism, which is nothing more than a distorted and pathologized perception of the self. In the first case, subjects love themselves so they can continue measuring themselves against the world; in the other case, subjects excessively like themselves precisely so that they do not need to face the world and be forced to accept their eventual failures. In the four decades that have gone by since The Culture of Narcissism first appeared, its approach has become increasingly relevant. Perhaps during moments of relative collective calm when reality does not challenge us too much, narcissistic reverie can be maintained (for better or worse). But that does not apply these days. If anything, since the book was first published in 1979, the course of events has tended to increase humanitys many different problems. The world has continued to challenge us in new, more powerful ways. But the narcissism that characterizes the present has not faded away or even been mitigated. In fact, it often seems to have increased, especially as a result of social media bursting into the public space. A case in point: the mirroring effect that social media prompts in their users, leading them to compulsively pursue likes. In this sense, the distance between reality and individuals self-satisfied perceptions of themselves has only widened; the repeated failure of their expectations has not made a dent in their considerable overvaluation of themselves. All of this not only confirms Laschs thesis but makes it even more dramatic. We lack the possibility of radically transforming the current situation to solve the problems that afflict everyone; as a result, it seems that people can only choose whether to persist in their individualistic narcissistic daydreaming (which is perfectly compatible with the system, since the order of reality is unquestioned) or give up, tired and defeated, which is reflected in the metaphor of depression as the disease of our time. As we are warned in the postscript, this book is not another tirade against the prevailing (bad) selfishness. On the contrary, it falls quite short in its complaints. The evidence is that the public discourse no longer even seems to have any antidote to narcissism other than self-help. That, or for the more erudite, reading excerpts of the Stoics, especially Epictetus, which works well in times of defeat. Kelly Garrisons office does not have walls. The closest thing it has to a ceiling is an expansive blue sky stretching for miles above a hardwood forest. The floors are concrete trails and wooden observation decks lined with brush and abundant vegetation. And her clients? Bears and diverse collections of non-releasable wildlife residents. Walking through these trails alongside Garrison on a typical weekday requires swift feet and long strides. Where a visitor might hesitate at a fork in the path, Garrison puts a foot down assuredly. Her dynamic enthusiasm is palpable in energetic conversation punctuated by a beaming grin and resounding laughter. Bharatiya Janata Party MP and outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing allegations of sexually harassing female wrestlers, on Sunday said he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Kaisarganj seat again. IMAGE: BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh addresses a programme marking the completion of 9 years of BJP-led central government, in Gonda, June 11, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo Addressing a rally in the Balpur area in Gonda in Uttar Pradesh on the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government, Singh skipped any direct reference to the wrestlers' protest for his arrest and chose to target the Congress over the Emergency, Ram temple, the 1984 anti-Sikhs riots and other issues. The MP began his 23-minute speech with an Urdu couplet, "Kabhi ask, kabhi gumh, to kabhi zeher piya jata hai... tab ja kar zamane mein jiya jata hai. Yeh mila mujhko muhabbat ka silla, bewafa kehke mera naam liya jata hai. Isko ruswai kahen ki shohrat apni, dabe hontho se mera naam liya jata hai (Sometimes one has to take a lot of grief and poison to live in this world... This is the reward I got for my love, they call me unfaithful. Should I call it notoriety or fame, they take my name with pursed lips)." Asked if he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Gonda or Ayodhya, Singh told reporters, "Kaiserganj Lok Sabha se chunav ladunga, ladunga, ladunga (I will definitely contest from Kaiserganj)." Singh has remained defiant despite facing possible action from the Delhi police, which has recorded statements of over 200 people in connection with the case against him and will file a chargesheet by June 15. On Saturday, the protesting wrestlers alleged Singh was using his influence to put sexual harassment victims under pressure and forcing them to change their statements. They also threatened to resume their stir if decisive action was not taken against him by June 15. Singh has denied the allegations against him and has claimed that some Congress leaders from Haryana had hatched a conspiracy to defame him because of the reforms he had brought as the Wrestling Federation of India chief. During his address at the rally, he also said no force in the world could stop the BJP from coming to power again in 2024. Attacking the Congress, Singh said, "In 1947, the country got divided when the Congress was in power. The wounds of the Partition had not even healed when Pakistan attacked and grabbed 78,000 square kilometres of our land while the Congress was in power." "In 1962, when the Congress was in power, China attacked (us) and grabbed 33,000 square kilometres of our land. In 1971 (India-Pakistan war), an unprecedented 92,000 (Pakistani) soldiers were made prisoners of war by the Indian Army. Still, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi freed them without settling the old score," the WFI president said. "Had there been a prime minister like (Narendra) Modi then in the country, the land that was grabbed would have been freed," he said. Singh also attacked the Congress for imposing the Emergency in the country in 1975. "The Congress got Sikhs massacred in 1984 in the anti-Sikh riots," he added. Showering praises on Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP leader said, "Earlier, we used to say Jahaan Balidaan (Syama Prasad) Mookerjee Huye, Woh Kashmir Hamara Hai' (the Kashmir where Syama Prasad Mookerjee attained martyrdom is ours). We proudly repeat this today, and it has been made possible because of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah." Apparently referring to former Congress leader Kapil Sibal's 2017 pitch for deferment of hearing of the Ayodhya title suit till after the 2019 general elections, Singh said, "The Congress posed hurdles and obstructions by fielding a lawyer so that any decision on the Ram Temple would not come in time. It made the Supreme Court work even during midnight to save a convicted terrorist from capital punishment." He also referred to the Congress demanding proof of the Indian Army's surgical strikes on terror camps following attacks in Uri and Pulwama and questioning the anti-COVID vaccine manufactured by scientists in India. Higher Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav said, "The double-engine government of Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath is working very well. Whosoever has done wrong has been reduced to dust." Yadav also termed the Agnipath scheme a "milestone in the country's development", and said, "After completing the service period of the Agnipath scheme, our youngsters can become doctors, engineers and officers, and the discipline inculcated in them during the training will help them to move ahead." He also listed the achievements during the nine years of the Modi government. "When Modiji was the chief minister of Gujarat, he was denied a visa to the US. But now, every president wants to meet him. Not just the US but every nation wants to have a good relationship with India." Amid the wrestlers' protest, Brij Bhushan Singh had requested permission from the Ayodhya district administration to hold a rally on June 5 but was denied. However, the MP had said he postponed the 'Jan Chetna Maharally' at the Ram Katha Park for "a few days" due to the ongoing police probe into the wrestlers' allegations against him. A trombone player of the military band is carried out on a stretcher after a faint during the Colonel's Review, the final rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour, the King's annual birthday parade, at Horse Guards Parade in London, Saturday, June 10, 2023. Several British soldiers were overcome by the heat on Saturday as they turned out in woolen tunics and bearskin hats to salute Prince William. At least three guardsmen fainted during the military parade known as the Colonels Review, in which more than 1,400 soldiers of the Household Division and the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery were reviewed by the heir to the throne, who is honorary Colonel of the Welsh Guards. The temperature in London on Saturday was due to hit 30 C (86 F). Afterwards William tweeted: A big thank you to every solider who took part in the Colonels Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job. The event was a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour, an annual military parade held each June to mark the monarchs official birthday. King Charles III will oversee the ceremony on June 17. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said people's trust is the "biggest asset" for him and asserted that he will keep fighting to get them justice and not back down on his demands. IMAGE: Congress leader Sachin Pilot addresses the unveiling programme of his father Rajesh Pilot's statue, in Dausa, June 11, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo He has been attacking the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan over alleged inaction into charges of corruption levelled by him against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led Bharatiya Janata Party dispensation. "God gives the biggest justice and if not today, then tomorrow justice will be done," said Pilot, who has been engaged in a power tussle with Gehlot since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018. The state's former deputy chief minister has also demanded disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and its reconstitution, and a compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases. Addressing a programme after unveiling a statue of his father and former Union minister Rajesh Pilot on his death anniversary at the Gurjar hostel in Dausa, Sachin Pilot said his father saw many ups and downs through his political career but he never compromised on his ideals and self-respect, and left an indelible mark with his working style. "Those who are in politics today, we may have a different thought process and ideology, but the collective purpose should be clear in politics," he said, adding that "today, the need of this country is to speak fearlessly, to support truth and honesty, and not to compromise even in adverse circumstances". Sachin Pilot also said as Rajasthan Congress chief, he had also taken on the BJP when it was in power in the state. He was removed from the party post as well as deputy chief minister in 2020 after he led a revolt against the Gehlot government. Earlier, there was intense speculation over Sachin Pilot announcing his plans about his political future at this programme. However, the Congress has exuded confidence that a "positive solution" would be found to the intra-party discord in Rajasthan and rubbished reports that he will float a new party. The Congress leader said, "I believe that whether we are in any position or not, the public always weighs what you have said and what you used to do. For me, credibility among the public is the first priority. People's trust, promises made to them and credibility are the biggest assets in politics." "In the coming times also, your trust is the biggest asset for me, I will never let it decrease, I promise," he said and added that no matter what situation, it is his promise to fight for the people and get them justice. Sachin Pilot accused the previous Raje government of being involved in corruption and made a veiled attack on Gehlot for his reaction to the demands raised by him regarding compensation to candidates over paper leak cases. After Sachin Pilot made the demands on the completion of his five-day Jaipur-Ajmer "Jan Sangharsh Yatra" last month, Gehlot at a public event in the Rajasthan capital on May 25, without naming his former deputy, had said demanding compensation for candidates who have suffered from paper leaks is a sign of "mental bankruptcy". "The central government says that if the poor get some help, then there will be financial bankruptcy. I say that if there has been a betrayal with the youth, and if we help them, (they) say that it will be mentally bankruptcy," Sachin Pilot said. He said that for helping the poor and the youth, one should have a big heart. He said he had protested against the Raje government on different issues but never used any indecent or abusive remarks. Sachin Pilot said that many people come into politics, become pradhans, pramukhs, lawmakers, ministers, chief ministers or the prime minister, but they come and go. "In the last 20-22 years, since I have been in politics, I have not done any such thing which has led to decrease in trust," he said. "On my promises, I have neither backed down before nor am I going to back down now. No matter what situation, this is my promise to get justice and fight for you...," Sachin Pilot said. Targeting Raje, he said that "even today, I say that you had allotted mines, and cancelled them when theft was caught" and asserted that every mistake demands a punishment. "We might talk about anything with each other, but the one who gives the biggest justice is the one with the 'Neeli Chhatirwala' (the almighty), if not today then tomorrow justice will be done," he said. Asserting that it is "very important" to speak out in politics, Sachin Pilot referred to the deaths of newborns in a hospital in Kota in January 2020 when he was still deputy chief minister. He said he had then stated that it should not have happened and if there was any shortcoming or mistake in the rule, then it should be corrected without blaming others. "I did not say this thing to demean anyone. I felt that hundreds of newborns were dyingthis was said that the deaths used to be high earlier but now they are less. I believe that there should not be even a single death, the situation should be improved. Today, a good hospital in Kota has been made and the deaths have stopped. So, it is very important to talk in politics," Sachin Pilot said. Remembering his father, he said he always spoke with firmness and therefore, whether he was on any post or not, there were crores of people who used to listen to him. Before the unveiling of the statue, Sachin Pilot offered floral tributes to his father in Bandhana village. Ministers Parsadi Lal Meena, Mamta Bhupesh, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Rajendra Gudha, Hemaram Chaudhary and Brijendra Ola; MLAs Deependra Singh Shekhawat, GR Khatana, Murari Lal Meena, Mukesh Bhakar, Khiladi Bairwa and Mukesh Bhakar were among those present at the programmes. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over dynasty politics and alleged corruption, calling them "2G, 3G, 4G" parties and said the time has come in Tamil Nadu to throw away these and give the power to a "son of the soil". IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah being felicitated with a mace during a rally organised to celebrate the completion of nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, in Vellore, June 11, 2023. Union minister VK Singh (second from left) and Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai (third from left) is also seen. Photograph: ANI Photo Responding to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's demand that Shah list out the Centre's special schemes for Tamil Nadu in the past nine years, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader detailed the various initiatives of the Narendra Modi-led Central government for the state in sectors including aviation, railways and roads. Addressing a public meeting in Vellore to highlight the nine years of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government's achievements, he also lashed out at the two opposition parties at the Centre for opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "uniting Kashmir" with India with a stroke of the pen. "Congress and DMK are 2G, 3G, 4G parties. I am not talking about the 2G (spectrum allocation scam). 2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations," he said. "The Maran family (of the DMK) is doing corruption for two generations. The Karunanidhi family is doing corruption for three generations. The Gandhi family is 4G. Rahul Gandhi is fourth generation and for four generations they are enjoying power," Shah said attacking the two parties. He said the time has come to "throw out 2G, 3G, 4G and give the power in Tamil Nadu to a son of the soil." Asking the crowd if Article 370 should have been removed or not and "if Kashmir is ours or not," he said both Congress and DMK opposed the abrogation of the Article which gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status. "Both these parties -- Congress and DMK -- were against its abrogation. With one stroke of the pen on August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended Article 370 and united Kashmir with India," Shah added. He charged the DMK and Congress of indulging in corruption running to several thousands of crores of rupees during its 10 year period from 2004 to 2014 and said there were no such allegations against the nine-year-old NDA government. Taking on Stalin over his remarks on the establishment of AIIMS Madurai, Shah said while the DMK was in power for 18 years at the Centre, it had not taken steps to bring the premier medical facility to Tamil Nadu "but only does corruption", even as he highlighted the various initiatives of the Centre for Tamil Nadu. This included a manifold increase in devolution of funds to Tamil Nadu, allocation of a defence corridor, two Vande Bharat train services, a new integrated airport terminal that was inaugurated by PM Modi recently in Vellore, 11 medical colleges in as many districts benefitting over 1,400 students, renovation of major railway stations in the state including Chennai Egmore and Madurai, a new ESIC medical college hospital that would come up in Coimbatore at an estimated Rs 1,500 crore, 62 lakh toilets and over 2,500 km of roads. Besides these, the Centre and PM Modi in particular were doing a lot for the Tamil language. In many global fora, the Prime Minister has heaped praised on Tamil language, its icons, the Tamil culture and the literature. Tamil classic Tirukkural has been translated into 13 Indian languages. Shah highlighted the Kashi and Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam events and said it was an effort by the Centre to popularise the language in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, respectively. Referring to the 2019 summit between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram near Vellore, Shah said the PM promoted Tamil Nadu's tourism by inviting the neighbouring country's leader for talks in the state. He also hailed the installation of the Sengol (sceptre) in the Parliament during its inauguration last month by Modi. Further, aspirants can now write CAPF exams and NEET in Tamil, which was not the case when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, in which the DMK was a key constituent, was in power, he said. Expressing confidence that the BJP will return to power with 300 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Union Cooperation Minister wanted Tamil Nadu to return 25 NDA parliamentarians, and said some among them could be inducted in the cabinet as well. At the event, Shah was presented a Sengol as memento. Earlier in the day, Shah attended a meeting of the BJP's Tamil Nadu leaders, including its state president K Annamalai, in Chennai. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Uddhav Thackeray of betraying the Bharatiya Janata Party for the chief minister's post after the Maharashtra assembly elections in 2019 by joining hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses a public meeting, in Nanded on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo Addressing a rally at Nanded as a part of the BJP's outreach campaign to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government, Shah said the BJP didn't bring down the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government last year. He said Shiv Sainiks who were tired of Thackeray's policies and were not ready to go with the NCP headed by Sharad Pawar. He said in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, people have to decide who will become the prime minister of the country Narendra Modi or Congress' Rahul Gandhi. "I as (then) BJP president and (the then chief minister) Devendra Fadnavis had carried out negotiations in which Thackeray agreed that if the NDA gets majority, Fadnavis will be the chief minister (again) of Maharashtra. However, after the results (in 2019), Thackeray broke the promise and sat in the Congress-NCP's lap," Shah added. The Shiv Sena (undivided) and the BJP contested the 2019 assembly polls together, but the former walked out of the alliance over the post of chief minister. "The act of cheating and betrayal was done by Uddhav Thackeray. The elections were contested in the name of Modi ji and Devendra ji and he sat in the lap of Congress to become chief minister," Shah said. Leaders of the Shiv Sena-UBT routinely dub lawmakers who owe allegiance to Chief Minister Shinde, whose rebellion in June last year split the party founded by late Bal Thackeray, as traitors who betrayed the Thackerays and party. Shah said the Shiv Sena, which is now headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has got back its bow and arrow and it has been decided who the real Shiv Sena is. He dared Thackeray to make his stand clear on whether he agrees on abolishing the practise of triple talaq, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uniform Civil Code and reservation for Muslims. Shah also targeted Thackeray over the Congress' stand on Hindutva ideologue late V D Savarkar. He said while being with the Congress and the NCP, Thackeray cannot support the renaming of Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad as Dharashiv and also Ahmednagar. In his last cabinet meeting last year, Thackeray had decided to change names of Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv. "You cannot have your feet in two boats. You will be exposed before the people of the state," Shah said in a swipe at Thackeray. Shah said during COVID-19 pandemic while Modi was giving vaccines to countrymen, Thackeray did not go to office. Thackeray had received flak for not going to office during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his revised autobiography released last month, NCP president Sharad Pawar said although the middle class liked Thackeray's Facebook Live during the COVID-19 pandemic, him going to Mantralaya (the state secretariat) just twice was difficult to fathom. Shah said four generations of the Congress could not achieve what Modi did in nine years. He said Prime Minister Modi is working to raise the stature of India globally, while on the other hand, the Congress' 'prince' Rahul Gandhi goes abroad and insults the country. "Rahul baba, one does not talk about the country's politics when he is abroad. If you don't know about this then ask senior Congress leaders. "Rahul baba does not speak in the country. He talks abroad because there are very few in the country who listen to him," Shah said. The senior BJP leader said a magnificent Ram Temple will be built in Ayodhya by 2024. LONDONDERRY The state is asking people not to travel to Londonderry and Weston, much of which were underwater following heavy rainfall in th The Strobridge Recreation Area park near the Hoosic River, part of North Pownal's 700-acre forest recreation area, could soon gain 300-plus more acres and a new public access. The plane crashed to the ground after gliding over the trees. The mothers body was inside the aircraft, along with that of the pilot and a family friend. All three had died upon impact. It was at that moment that 13-year-old Lesly suddenly realized that she and her three little siblings had survived a plane crash in the middle of the Colombian jungle. From that moment on, alone, and without anyones help, she had a single purpose: to keep them alive in the inhospitable and dangerous Amazon rainforest. When they were rescued, 40 days later, malnourished and frightened, the children wanted to play and read. The four children lived with their parents in Araracuara, a town in the heart of the Amazon jungle, where in the 1930s a Colombian president ordered the construction of a prison to lock up the most dangerous criminals. Lock up is a figure of speech: in reality, the prisoners lived outdoors, in the middle of swampy and inhospitable terrain. Anyone entertaining the idea of escape by entering the jungle was signing their own death warrant. The following generations that were born there, many descendants of convicts, learned to live among snakes, jaguars and poisonous plants. More information Mother of children rescued from Colombian jungle was alive for four days Lesly, as a daughter of that terrain, is familiar with the secrets of the jungle. According to her uncle, she knows how to orientate herself by the rays of the sun that filter through the trees, and to recognize passable paths, broken branches and edible mushrooms. A city dweller would struggle to survive in such terrain but the people of the indigenous communities move easily in the forest and can walk 19 miles a day without hiking shoes. Lesly had grown up with those teachings lessons that would end up saving her and her siblings lives. The plane that crashed on May 18 in Guaviare, Colombia. Ejercito de Colombia (EFE/Ejercito de Colombia) But she still had to get on that plane, a Cessna 206, registration HK 2803, piloted by Hernan Murcia, who had previously been a taxi driver. It was May 1. The mother, Magdalena Mucutuy, and her four children were going to meet the father, Manuel Ranoque. He was governor of the nearest indigenous reservation, but had fled from Araracuara after being threatened by guerrillas. He hoped to start a new life with his whole family in Bogota, Colombias capital. The flight left from their town and was scheduled to arrive in San Jose del Guaviare, the nearest departmental capital. The journey involves flying over a large part of the jungle. Halfway over the Apaporis River, the pilot reported an engine failure. It was the last communication he had with the control tower. After that, the plane began to lose altitude. Based on the path that the plane followed, it is believed that the pilot tried to land in the river, but he did not have time and so tried to land on top of the trees. This did little to lessen the blow of the impact and the plane ended up crashing to the ground. For a reason that so far no one has been able to explain, the three adults did not survive the crash although after they were found the children reported their mother was not killed instantly while the four minors escaped with barely any injuries. The authorities that reported the missing flight assumed that there were no survivors. It was not until 16 days later that a group of indigenous people found the plane with the three bodies inside. Where were the children? A bottle, a half-eaten apple, a hair tie and some diapers were found, indicating that they were alive. But where? A bottle found near the plane crash site. FUERZAS MILITARES DE COLOMBIA Lesly, Soleiny (nine), Tien Noriel (four) and Cristin Neriman (11 months) began a journey into the jungle that would defy all expectations. Lesly led her siblings and kept them safe and sound. It is now known that they survived by eating what they could scavenge and, later, on the food from kits that rescuers dropped from the sky. More than 100 members of the Colombian special forces and 70 indigenous people were in charge of the search for the missing children, who were wandering alone through the largest rainforest on the planet. On the journey, the children ran into a dog that stayed with them and kept them company for a long time. But one day, the jungle swallowed him up, and they never heard from him again: their best friend was lost. In the jungle, it is always night, as hardly any light penetrates the thick foliage. It is so dark that its hard to see more than 20 meters ahead. If someone strays further than that distance, they can be lost forever. The children must have stayed close together. Lesly, according to a military source, was the one who carried the baby most of the time. Wilson, one of the dogs who took part in the search, is still missing. The children had no way of knowing, but finding them had become a matter of honor for the president of Colombia. Days after the appearance of the plane, Gustavo Petro tweeted that they had been found alive. The news went viral in minutes. With the passing of the hours, however, the military did not confirm the presidents post. It later transpired that an official had been carried away by rumors in an indigenous community and assumed that the children had been found. Petro had to delete the message, and was criticized for not showing more caution. In response, Petro ordered the military to do everything possible to find them, arguing it was a matter of national priority. At that point, the children had been missing for almost 20 days. The commander in charge of the search, Pedro Sanchez, said that if they had not been indigenous children, there would have been very little chance of finding them alive. He had faith in Lesly. The search patrols walked hundreds of miles, weaving a spider web on the map with their steps. But they could not find the children. Time was running out. The search was taking so long that the country practically forgot about them. The government became entangled in an illegal wiretapping scandal and rumors of irregular financing, and almost everyone lost interest. But Commander Sanchez didnt care about all that. He always picked up the phone with the same urgency: Until we find them, were not going to leave. He believed that if they were dead, the search teams would have found their bodies. They hadnt done so, he said, because they were moving targets. Targets with birthdays: while lost in the jungle, the baby turned one and the four-year-old turned five. Its not known if they were aware of their birthdays, and if they did anything to celebrate. Days and nights in the jungle are a uniform mass, where the hands of the clock cease to have any meaning. The soldiers were supported by indigenous communities. Without them, the search would have been impossible. Before entering the jungle, the indigenous people prayed as a way of asking mother nature for permission to enter. They have a series of beliefs and rituals that are difficult for outsiders to understand. For them, the jungle is a living entity with rationality and will. The childrens grandmother said that it was nature that stopped them leaving. Spiritual beliefs are very strong. They also believed that the nomadic tribes of the area had applied ancestral forces to stop authorities from finding the children, because they wanted the siblings to live with them. In this photo released by Colombia's Armed Forces, soldiers and Indigenous men tend to the four children who were missing after a deadly plane crash. gobierno de colombia Indeed, Petro feared that one of the isolated communities may have found the children and taken them in as their own. Anything was better than thinking that they were dead. After 40 days in the jungle, the military and indigenous search teams found the four. They were malnourished and tired, but their lives were not in danger. Lesly had succeeded in her goal. For Colombia, she has turned into something of a legend. The soldiers airlifted the children out of the jungle by helicopter and took them to a hospital in Bogota, where they will remain for two or three weeks. In the hospital, they are already getting bored. The five-year-old, Tien Noriel, wants to take out his tubes and go for a walk, according to official Astrid Caceres. The children told her that after their 40-day odyssey, they just want to play and read. They are just kids, after all. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Cyclone Biparjoy intensified into an "extremely severe cyclonic storm" on Sunday morning and is likely to make landfall between the Kutch district of Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan on June 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The meteorological office has issued a cyclone alert for Saurashtra and Kutch coasts. "The extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy over the east-central Arabian Sea moved north-eastwards with a speed of eight kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 1130 hours over the same region, about 550 km west of Mumbai, 450 km south-southwest of Porbandar, 490 km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 570 km south-southwest of Naliya and 750 km south of Karachi (Pakistan)," the IMD said in a bulletin. The cyclone is very likely to move nearly northward till the morning of June 14, then move north-northeastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan around noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph", it said. IMD categorises a system as a cyclonic storm when its three-minute average maximum sustained wind speeds fall in the 63-88 kmph range. A severe cyclonic storm has winds between 89 and 117 kmph, a very severe cyclonic storm between 118 and 165 kmph, and an extremely severe cyclonic storm between 166 and 220 kmph. Senior scientist at IMD, D S Pai, said the exact place where the cyclone will make landfall will become clear in the coming days. There has been considerable uncertainty in the track and intensity of Cyclone Biparjoy since it developed on June 6. According to meteorologists, the storm underwent rapid intensification in the initial days and has sustained its strength due to a warmer Arabian Sea. The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for several districts in Gujarat, including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh, and Morbi. It has also recommended the complete suspension of fishing operations in the east-central, west-central and north Arabian Sea till June 15. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is very likely in parts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts of Gujarat on June 15. Gusty winds and rain may cause major damage to standing crops, houses, roads, power and communication poles, and flooding of escape routes. There is a possibility of minor disruption in the functioning of the railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems. Seasoned diplomat Vipul has been appointed India's new ambassador to Qatar, an influential country in the Gulf region. Vipul, a 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is presently serving as the joint secretary in the Gulf division at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi. "He (Vipul) is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the MEA said in a brief statement. In his current position, Vipul has been handling India's diplomatic engagement with the Gulf region. India's overall ties with the region has witnessed significant upswing in the last few years. Senior IFS official Deepak Mittal, who was serving as the Indian envoy to Doha, returned a few months ago and joined as a joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Office. Separately, Shilpak N Ambule, an IFS officer from 2002 batch, has been appointed India's next high commissioner to Singapore. Ambule is presently serving as the joint secretary in the East Asia division in the MEA. The East Asia division handles India's ties with China, Republic of Korea, Japan and Mongolia. The MEA said Ambule is expected to take up his new assignment shortly. After enduring a long and arduous ordeal, a group of Indian sailors detained in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea for nine months have finally returned home. Upon their return, they expressed gratitude to the government and lauded the latter's efforts in releasing them. The 16 sailors, who had faced accusations of oil theft by Nigerian authorities, arrived at Kochi Airport in Kerala after undergoing trials and reaching a settlement. Upon their arrival, the sailors were warmly welcomed with garlands by their families and Indian authorities at the Kochi airport. Sailors laud Indian government V Vijith, one of the sailors, expressed his appreciation for the "tremendous effort" made by the Government of India. He also emphasised how ndian passports played a crucial role in their release. "It was a difficult experience for us but the Government of India made a tremendous effort in this case and they did a great job of getting us released. The value of our passports played a tremendous role in our release. I would like to thank the Ministry of External Affairs and G Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to Nigeria," Vijith said upon his return. Sanu Jose, another sailor, expressed his happiness upon reuniting with his family. He expressed gratitude towards the Indian government for their assistance during their trying times. "I am very happy that I am now at home with my children. There was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen to our lives and we were told that our lives would end in Nigeria but I thank everyone including the Government of India and the Kerala government for helping us," he said. Notably, the crew members of the 'MT Heroic Idun', totaling 26, including 16 Indians, had been detained since August 22 last year. Initially held in Equatorial Guinea in August 2022, they were later transferred to Nigeria in November 2022. Earlier in December, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Parliament about this detention of Indian sailors in Nigeria and said, "The government is aware of the detention of the ship MT Heroic Idun since August and has been engaged with relevant authorities on the matter through our missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria." (With inputs from agencies) The 16 Indian nationals who were part of oil tanker MT Heroic Idun among 26 crew members eventually returned to their homeland on Saturday after remaining 10 months in the custody of the Nigerian Navy. Their release came after the Nigerian administration dropped all the charges against the crew members of the oil tanker following intervention by the PM Narendra Modi-led central government. They were initially detained by the naval force of Equatorial Guinea on August 12, 2022 on various charges including violation of their territorial waters, oil theft, disobeying orders and falsely accusing the Nigerian Navy of piracy in the ocean water. They were then handed over to the Nigerian Navy. The 26-crew members included 16 Indians, 8 Sri Lankans and one each from Philippines and Poland on board the crude oil carrier. After the incident surfaced, the Government of India, through its Missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, and in bilateral meetings, took up the matter with the respective foreign authorities at various levels. The issue was also raised by the Union Home Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs at various bilateral meetings. The Indian government pressed for an early resolution of the issue and repatriation of the Indian crew members. Following interventions with the Nigerian Government, the crew was allowed to remain on board the ship with provision of regular food, instead of being taken to a detention center. They were also allowed periodic contact with their families. Indian Mission officials remained in regular touch with the crew and also undertook consular access on numerous occasions. Additionally, the Indian Mission worked with the shipping company and provided all the diplomatic and legal support to the detained crew-members. It was highlighted to the Nigerian authorities that there had been no oil theft and necessary permissions had apparently been accorded by the company. Following continuous diplomatic engagement by the Government of India and lengthy negotiations, all charges against the crew were dropped and the ship was released on May 27 after paying certain fines. It is being reported that the shipping company that owned the vessel paid a penalty running into millions and apologised to the Nigerian government for minor violation of maritime rules. After which the Indian crew members returned to India on Saturday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the West cannot stop Iran from building nuclear weapons amid tensions brewing over the countrys endeavour to develop nuclear infrastructure. The Iranian leader made the remarks on Sunday as he addressed the countrys state media. While Khamenei made it clear that Iran does not want nuclear arms based on what the countrys beliefs are, he also stated that talks about Tehrans nuclear weapons are lies. Talks about Tehran's nuclear weapons is a lie and [the West] knows it. We do not want nuclear arms based on our beliefs, otherwise, they would not have been able to stop it," the Iranian supreme leader said. Khamenei suggested a deal with the West over the countrys nuclear programme is possible. But he stated that it will be only done if Tehran can keep its nuclear infrastructure intact. "There is nothing wrong with the agreement [with the West], but the infrastructure of our nuclear industry should not be touched, he added. Israel keeps a close eye The comments from the Iranian Supreme Leader came amid reports that the Islamic Republic has increased its stockpile of Uranium. Earlier this month, Iran unveiled a hypersonic missile and even claimed that it hit Israel within seconds and even has the capability of evading the Iron Dome defence system. Israel, on the other hand, is said to be keeping a close eye on these developments. Earlier this year, Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is willing to go to any extent in order to defend itself. "I don't think that diplomacy by itself will work. I think diplomacy can only work if it's coupled with a credible military threat or the willingness to apply the military option if deterrence fails," Netanyahu told Sky News. Meanwhile, Washington is concerned about Irans development of nuclear infrastructure. Back in 2018, then-US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the now-defunct JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) nuclear deal. Since then diplomatic efforts to revive the deal have been at a stalemate. The two nations failed to come to an agreement since both sides have accused each other of posing unreasonable demands. The Kurdish-led authority in northeast Syria announced Saturday that hundreds of fighters with the Islamic State group held in prisons around the region will be put on trial after their home countries refused to repatriate them. The statement by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria said it still calls for the creation of an international tribunal to put those fighters on trial. It called on the United Nations, international rights groups and local organizations to help facilitate the trials. The U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, is holding over 10,000 captured IS fighters in around two dozen detention facilities including 2,000 foreigners whose home countries have refused to repatriate them. The statement said the fighters from about 60 nationalities had entered Syria years ago and were captured in battles against the extremists. The terrorist organization carried out horrific crimes and mass massacres against people in the region, it said, adding that such acts are considered crimes against humanity and war crimes. It said the trials will be fair and transparent in accordance with international and local laws related to terrorism. The SDF and the local Kurdish police force known as Asayesh also oversee some 51,000 family members of IS fighters , mostly women and children in the al-Hol camp. Many of those family members remain die-hard IS supporters, and killings by militants have taken place in the camp over the years. Saturdays announcement came two days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-hosted a meeting in Saudi Arabia of foreign ministers from the global coalition battling IS during which he announced nearly $150 million in new U.S. funding for stabilization efforts in Syria and Iraq. The extremist group no longer controls any territory, but its affiliates still carry out attacks across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, as IS is also known, includes more than 80 countries to coordinate action against the extremists, who at their height controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq. Blinken said the U.S. pledge is part of new funding amounting to more than $600 million. Blinken did not specify, but U.S. aid to Syria is expected to flow through Kurdish allies, the United Nations or international aid groups, as the U.S. and other Western countries maintain sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assads government. The Kurdish-led authority did not say where exactly the trials will be held or when they will start. They are believed to take place in areas controlled by the SDF in northeast and eastern Syria. The U.S. military has a presence in the region controlled by SDF fighters. On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria , along with an undisclosed number of contractors. U.S. forces advise and assist the SDF, including in securing the detention facilities, and they also conduct counterterror missions against IS. The Kurdish-led authority said that years of fighting against IS has left 15,000 SDF fighters dead and 25,000 wounded. IS was officially defeated in Syria in March 2019, when the extremists lost the last sliver of land under their control but their sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks. Last week, the SDF announced it handed over 50 Iraqi IS fighters to Baghdad. It also said that it repatriated 170 Iraqis who were living at the al-Hol camp. Presidencia de la Republica The four indigenous children who were lost for 40 days in the Amazon jungle in Colombia are recovering in Central Military Hospital in Bogota. The children were visited Saturday by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who celebrated how indigenous and military knowledge came together in the search, which had kept the entire country on edge for over a month. Despite their ordeal in the inhospitable jungle, the children are in acceptable medical condition, said Colombian Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez. Lesly, 13, and her siblings Solecni, nine, Tien Noriel, four, and Cristin Neryman, a one-year-old baby, were airlifted from Friday night by helicopter. However, due to the thick jungle canopy, the helicopter was unable to land, remaining 60 meters up in the air above the treetops. The children were flown to San Jose del Guaviare, the nearest town, and then taken to Bogota by a C-295 aircraft configured as an ambulance, where they received medical assistance. A video released by Colombias Civil Aviation authority shows the children lying on the ground while military doctors give them medicine and oral rehydration solution. We have to recognize not only Leslys courage but also her leadership. It was thanks to her that her three little siblings were able to survive by her side, with her care, with her knowledge of the jungle, said Velasquez from the hospital, acknowledging also the indigenous communities that helped the soldiers search for the children. Operation Hope was the name of the governments mission to find the children, the only survivors of a plane crash that killed three adults, including their mother. The plane crashed n the Amazon jungle, between the departments of Caqueta and Guaviare, on May 1. The children wandered through the dense jungle for more than a month. Up to 184 people combed the jungle every day in search of them 112 soldiers and 72 indigenous people. News of the search made headlines around the world, as photos and videos of new clues a diaper, a bottle, a shoe and a half-eaten apple were found. But as the days passed, hopes of finding them alive began to dwindle. That was until Friday, when soldiers radioed the code word to indicate the children had been found alive: miracle. It was repeated four times, once for each child. In a message on social media, Petro paid tribute to the efforts of the soldiers and the indigenous communities to find the children. He spoke of how military and indigenous knowledge had worked hand in hand, and also of the importance of respecting the jungle. The message was accompanied by photos of his visit to the hospital, where he was joined by his wife, Veronica Alcocer, and daughters Sofia and Antonella. Here is a different path for Colombia: I believe this is the true path to peace, the president said in a message on Twitter. Here is a new Colombia. That is of life before anything else. The goal that unites us is life. The four children are in acceptable medical condition, despite having some bites and skin lesions, reported General Carlos Rincon Arango, the director of the Central Military Hospital. They are receiving nutritional and psychological support and will be hospitalized for two to three weeks. Medical tests have ruled out life-threatening conditions, he added. They still talk very little and are weak, but they want to play, added Astrid Caceres, the director of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute. Lets give them time. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani is reportedly seeking to take under his control the most promising economic projects, primarily the construction of the Afghan section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, a UN report has said. The fourteenth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council said that discord among Taliban officials over the distribution of positions in the de facto state apparatus and provincial administrations is significant. Disagreements are reportedly rife between acting Interior Minister and leader of the Haqqani Network, Sirajuddin Haqqani and acting First Deputy Prime Minister, Mullah Baradar, the report, issued here on Friday, said. It added that while Baradar has "less influence" in government, he retains the support of southern provincial administrations. In addition, Baradar is seeking to control the process for the Taliban gaining international recognition, unfreezing Afghan assets abroad and expanding foreign assistance. The conflict revolves around competition for positions in government and control of financial and natural resources and channels for smuggling commercial goods, the report said. A footnote accompanying this observation said that Sirajuddin Haqqani is reportedly seeking to take under his control the most promising economic projects, primarily the construction of the Afghan section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India gas pipeline. The 1,814-km natural gas pipeline originates from Turkmenistan and passes through Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach India. Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India signed an Inter Government Agreement (IGA) and Gas Pipeline Framework Agreements (GPFA) in December 2010 for the development of the pipeline. The construction work began in 2015 but made little progress due to instability in Afghanistan. The UN report added that the friction within the Taliban leadership has been overtaken by growing frustrations with the direction of the de facto authorities, in particular around the centralisation of power in Kandahar and over key policy decisions, such as the ban on girls education. It noted that the principal split within the Taliban leadership lies between factions representing Kandahar and Kabul power bases. The Kandahar group consists primarily of loyalist clerics close to Hibatullah Akhundzada, while the Kabul-based faction represents the Haqqanis and much of the working de facto Cabinet in the capital, including Interior Minister Haqqani, acting Defence Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqub Omari and Head of the General Directorate of Intelligence Abdul-Haq Wassiq. The Kandaharis are isolationist, more religiously conservative and unmoved by international opinion. The power base in Kabul, meanwhile, presents itself as a little more pragmatic and willing to engage internationally in return for recognition and economic assistance, though their actions to date do not provide much evidence of substantially more moderate views or policies, it said. It added that the Taliban's relations with Al-Qaeda remain a source of both unity and division. The killing of Al-Qaeda leader Aiman al-Zawahiri in July last year in Kabul left some Taliban mistrustful, believing they had been deceived over the presence of the Al-Qaeda leader. "Others sensed Zawahiri had been given up and betrayed by senior Taliban in connivance with foreign interests. Baradar, a key figure in negotiating the Doha Agreement in 2020, had reportedly remarked to Sirajuddin Haqqani that he had been made to look like a liar in front of the international community for steadfastly denying the Taliban were sheltering Al-Qaeda. Haqqani was reported to have claimed that the Amir was aware. Haqqani meanwhile, was attempting to identify how Zawahiris whereabouts had been disclosed. Some foreign fighters were concerned that if a figure such as Zawahiri could be sold out by the Taliban, as some believed he had, they could also be betrayed, the report said. The Taliban governance structures remain highly exclusionary, Pashtun-centred and repressive towards all forms of opposition. The majority of de facto ministers are Pashtun (there are five non-Pashtun ministers). Among provincial governors there is a similarly high Pashtun representation (25 out of 34), reflecting the Talibans Pashtunisation strategy of the 1990s, although there is more variation at the district level. While the previous Monitoring Team report noted 41 United Nations-sanctioned individuals holding Cabinet and senior-level positions in the de facto authorities, at the time of writing there were at least 58, the report said. PTI YAS NSA NSA President Joe Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House for a delayed Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses. I know that too many people in the LGBTQI+ community are worried and afraid about their future and their safety. I want to send a message to the entire community especially to transgender children. You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. pic.twitter.com/gFo0vKViT9 June 11, 2023 Today, the People's House your house sends a clear message to the country and to the world. America is a nation of pride. pic.twitter.com/ZZS9oTpDww President Biden (@POTUS) June 11, 2023 Today, we gathered at the White House to honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of LGBTQI+ Americans, and celebrate their legacy and progress. pic.twitter.com/WkaaxQ2enN President Biden (@POTUS) June 10, 2023 My signing of the Respect for Marriage Act was the culmination of decades of sacrifice, advocacy, and struggle from generations of heroes who fought to live their truth, so that so many others could live theirs. But challenges remain. Now, Congress must pass the Equality Act. President Biden (@POTUS) June 10, 2023 The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from Canadian wildfires. But the haze that blanketed a huge swath of the East Coast this past week had lifted over the nation's capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party. So today, I want to send a message to the entire community especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You belong, Biden said. Pride Month is being celebrated this year as state lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights. That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill into that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that he was running for president. In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum last month signed a bill that prohibits public schools and government entities from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who like DeSantis has made culture issues a central part of his tenure as governor, joined the White House primary field . Josh Helfgott, an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the tide of legislation added another layer to this years celebrations. Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry, Helfgott said The other side is so loud, incredibly loud. Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India. Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, she said, she was shunned by family and society as a transgender person. Times were tough in the United States, too, she said. She was pushed out of a job after she came out, was homeless for a time, and took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States. Its a moment that we are going to cherish for a lifetime, said Rimi, an activist in San Franciscos LGBTQ+ community. "This is a joyful moment, but its also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do. A Native American tribe in North Dakota bought an idle pipeline from the energy company Enbridge to help deliver oil from wells on its reservation to the broader market. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation announced the deal Friday but didn't disclose how much it paid. The tribe said it expects the pipeline, which will connect its oil facilities on its Fort Berthold Reservation to Enbridge's large pipeline network, will be up and running within a year. This is a major step in enhancing our ability to get our trust assets of oil and gas out to market, tribal chair Mark Fox said to the Bismarck Tribune. There are more than 2,600 active oil and gas wells on the reservation that produced an average of 144,190 barrels of oil per day in February, according to the most recent figures from the state Department of Mineral Resources. Regulators estimate there is potential for 3,911 additional oil and gas wells on the reservation. The 31-mile pipeline is the closest one to the tribe's Thunder Butte Petroleum subsidiary's transloading and oil storage facility. It can transport 15,000 barrels a day. Mike Koby, vice president of U.S. liquids pipelines operations for Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge, said the MHA Nation will be the first tribal shipper on an Enbridge pipeline. Owning the pipeline will benefit the tribe financially, he said. Younger people have been revisiting China's recent history in the wake of last year's 'white paper' protests A banner depicting the Pillar of Shame is displayed during a protest at the Trafalgar Square in London, Sunday, June 4, 2023, to mark the 34th anniversary of China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square. On the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre last weekend, a group of protesters gathered in London's Trafalgar Square to pay their respects to the victims of the military crackdown by the Chinese army on peaceful pro-democracy protests. These protesters were of a similar age to the students they commemorated. After decades of political brainwashing under the Chinese Communist Party, which bans any public discussion of the 1989 events, many observers had started to believe that China's young people had lost touch with the kind of political fervor that gave rise to the student movements of the 1980s. Then, the "white paper" protests came, spreading across China in late 2022 in the wake of a fatal fire in Urumqi and after three years of COVID-19 lockdowns, quarantine camps and compulsory daily testing. The result was to light up the pro-democracy movement in the diaspora, with young people once more taking to the streets of cities around the world to demand better for China, and to remember those who had gone before them. Wang Han, 26, currently studying at the University of Southern California Wang told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview that the Tiananmen massacre occupies a similar place in his mind to the three years of stringent lockdowns and travel bans of the zero-COVID policy under President Xi Jinping. Wang, who described himself as deeply involved in the "white paper" movement, said the two are similar because they were the products of the same authoritarian government. "It's what I've been saying to so many people, he said. I think everyone needs to stand together in the face of totalitarian tyranny. "Everyone needs to stand together in the face of totalitarian tyranny," says Wang Han. Credit: Screenshot from Wang Han video Wang's politics have evolved since Xi took power in 2012, and amended the constitution in 2018 to allow himself to rule indefinitely. Before Xi consolidated power in his own hands, Wang had allowed himself to hope that China might one day relinquish its authoritarian government peacefully, the way Taiwan did in the 1990s, to become a fully functioning democracy. "Under Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, I didn't support the Chinese Communist Party, but at that time I naively believed that this country would get better, a bit like Taiwan, with everyone moving forward step by step, until finally (Taiwans) Democratic Progressive Party was in power," he said. "But when Xi Jinping amended the constitution in 2018, that really shocked me," Wang said. "Then there was the pandemic emerging in Wuhan, and social movements started to inspire me even more." Since then, Wang has dropped the belief that China will follow Taiwan's path to democratization. "The Communist Party has done a more complete job of destroying grassroots social organizations in China, and it is more totalitarian than the authoritarian Kuomintang government that once ruled Taiwan, he said. "I don't think it is going to evolve away from tyranny through normal demands for reform," Wang said. "That will only happen through a more determined kind of resistance." Looking back, Wang sees scant sign of any political evolution at all in the past 73 years of Communist Party rule in China. "It doesn't matter how different the ideas of Xi Jinping and Deng Xiaoping are," he said. "The Communist Party and Marxism are totalitarian systems, and the totalitarian consciousness is deeply ingrained in them, and in their ideas." Xiao Yajie, 23, mainland Chinese who grew up in Hong Kong Xiao, who is working in Los Angeles, grew up hearing about the Tiananmen massacre in Hong Kong, which still had the freedom to hold annual candlelight gatherings every June 4, in Victoria Park. But smaller events were also taking place in the city's schools, away from the eye of the international media. "Hong Kongs political direction was still very liberal, and every school would hold June 4 commemorative activities," she said. "During those years that I was studying in Hong Kong, our school would have spontaneous activities every year, and everyone would go to the auditorium to mourn the students." "We would have candlelight evenings all through my elementary and high school years," Xiao said. Xiao Yajie takes part in a rally for the Los Angeles white paper movement. Credit: Provided by Xiao Yajie Back then, Xiao didn't give it much thought -- until 2016, when her parents ran into some tourists from mainland China at a vigil in Victoria Park who denied the massacre had ever happened. "My parents told me about this, and I realized how much people in mainland China had been deceived," she said. "This left a deep impression on me." When the 2019 protest movement kicked off in Hong Kong, in response to plans to allow extradition of alleged criminal suspects to mainland China, Xiao went back to take part, getting tear gassed by the Hong Kong police, and watching supporters of the Chinese Communist Party throw things at protesters on the street. Xiao continues to take part in local activism, including during the "white paper" movement, which she found inspiring. "This is a democratic movement that is better than the 1989 movement, because this group of brave people stood up under huge political pressure [not to]," she said. "Although some of the people who launched the white paper movement may not even have known about June 4, it carried forward what the university students left undone [in 1989]," Xiao said. "That yearning for freedom and democracy from the past -- it's actually in our bones." Ji Xin, a U.S.-based student from Shanghai in his early 20s Ji was among the few young people to find out what happened on the night of June 3-4 when the People's Liberation Army entered Beijing in columns of tanks, firing machine guns at unarmed civilians on the streets and putting a bloody end to weeks of student-led protests on Tiananmen Square. He first heard adults talking about it when he was just eight years old. "I was playing on my roller skates in the park," he said. "As I was taking a rest, I vaguely became aware of some grown-ups talking, saying that there was a demonstration on the streets of Beijing, and the army 'mopped people up' with guns and tanks." Civilians stand on a Chinese army armored vehicle near Chang'an Boulevard in Beijing, early June 4, 1989. Credit: Associated Press Ji asked the adults what they were talking about, and was told to run along and play by himself. But that didn't stop him looking into the matter on his own account, one day when he was home alone. "I found my dad's computer was on, and found a folder called 'June 4 Massacre' on his desktop," Ji said. "I clicked on it and saw many photos of June 4, 1989. Students rushing, photos of protests at the Monument to the Peoples Heroes, photos of tank track marks in blood on the streets of Beijing, and photos of crowds marching in front of Tiananmen Gate." He shared the information with his classmates, who were just as shocked to hear about it as Ji had been. "I would often talk to my classmates about June 4 and how it came about, and what happened afterwards," he said. "I would also listen to songs like 'Flower of Freedom' and show them photos and video." "I would also print out stuff from Wikipedia and give it to them," Ji said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. A local resident displays caterpillar fungus, a traditional medicine popular in China and elsewhere, on Laji Mountain in Guide county, western China's Qinghai province, in an undated photo. Gathered in the Tibetan highlands, caterpillar fungus can fetch US$18,000 a pound, and in rare cases more than US$50,000 a pound. Its a traditional medicine used for centuries to treat heart, liver and lung diseases, high cholesterol, low libido and impotence, despite a lack of scientific evidence. But during the May peak harvest season this year, collectors have had a harder time finding the slender brown root-like fungus, known as yartsa gunbu, or summer grass, winter worm, yarsagumba or Himalayan Viagra. Tibetans herders who collect the fungus to boost their meager incomes blame a shortage of rain, changing climate and over-harvesting amid rising demand.. Production is already on the decline every passing year, a Tibetan living in Kardzes Dege county told Radio Free Asia. Before, collectors would easily gather at least 100 pieces of caterpillar fungus, but now the most they can collect is 40 in a day. Some even say they can collect only 10 a day. Research published in 2018 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal said the decline of caterpillar fungus in the Himalayan region was due to climate change and overharvesting. A picker digs out a caterpillar fungus, used in traditional medicine, along the Amne Machin mountain range in western China's Qinghai province, in an undated photo. Credit: Reuters file photo Its value jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic as people sought the fungus as treatment for the virus. And prices have also risen as Chinese, Mongolians and others try to get into the business of collecting and selling the fungus, he said. That is now making it difficult for everyone to thrive due to limited production, he said. These days, the lower quality fungus sells for about 30 yuan, or US$4.25, each, while the better quality fungus goes for 50-60 yuan (US$7-8.50) each, said a Tibetan who lives in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a Tibetan-populated area of Sichuan province. In China, where the fungus is highly regarded, its market price increased from US$6,000 to US$9,000 per pound between 1995 and 2015, according to a July 2022 report by Scroll, an Indian digital news publication. Today, the price ranges from US$9,000 to US$18,000 per pound. In some rare cases, the highest grade fungus has sold for more than US$50,000, according to reports from Business Insider and National Public Radio. This year, many collectors are shipping caterpillar fungus to different cities in China and selling them for 50-60 yuan each, said a Tibetan in Malho prefecture, a Tibetan-populated area in Qinghai province. Local residents search for caterpillar fungus on Laji Mountain in Guide county, western China's Qinghai province, in an undated photo. Credit: Reuters file photo Found in high meadows The fungus, which originates from dead caterpillars, is found on meadowland above 3,500 meters (10,500 feet) in Tibet, parts of China and in the neighboring Himalayan regions of Bhutan and Nepal. Called dong chong xia cao in Chinese, its scientific name is Ophiocordyceps sinensis. The fungus can be consumed directly, added to food or liquids, or ground up for use in traditional medicine. Until 2016, one could easily harvest 15 to 20 pieces of caterpillar fungus in a day, but these days one can hardly collect eight to 10, said a Tibetan living in Qinghai province, which has Tibetan-populated areas. Like other sources, he declined to give his name so as to speak freely. The Chinese government has warned Tibetans in Qinghai not to harvest caterpillar fungus, citing reasons such as environmental protection, he said, though other Tibetans report a growing market in China for the product. Due to snow and cold weather, it is still difficult in the higher altitude regions to harvest caterpillar fungus so the cost of these caterpillar fungus is most likely to go up as harvesting will peak by the end of May, said the Tibetan. A buyer weighs a pile of caterpillar fungus on Laji Mountain in Guide county, western China's Qinghai province, in an undated photo. Credit: Reuters file photo According to Chinese government records, 100 tons of caterpillar fungus is produced alone in Qinghai province, selling for 180 million to 200 million yuan. In past years, herders found an abundance of caterpillar fungus in the hills during springtime in prime production areas so that many of them could collect enough in a month. But thats proving more difficult these days. Another Tibetan in Kardzes Lithang town said about 70% of the people in his village used to harvest caterpillar fungus a few years ago. But now, only about half do so because of intensive harvesting. The high demand has also boosted production of fake caterpillar fungus in Chinese markets, according to a Tibetan businessman who lives in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. SARAJEVO -- A Chinese company was disqualified from participating in a major infrastructure project in Bosnia-Herzegovina after it submitted false documents and incorrect information in its bid to build a key tunnel in the countrys mountainous south. Autoceste -- the state highway company that vetted contracts for the project -- told RFE/RLs Balkan Service that the Gezhouba Group submitted incorrect and doctored documents in its offer to construct the 11-kilometer Prenj tunnel, a crucial part in the construction of a new highway across the Balkan country of some 3.48 million people. Few details were provided explaining why the Wuhan-based firm was excluded except for a document from Autoceste seen by RFE/RL that says the entity did not give valid documentation and that its bid was determined to be fraudulent after being checked by the highway company. Gezhouba Group did not respond to RFE/RLs request for comment about the bid was disqualified and the allegations that it included falsified information. Autoceste told RFE/RL that the Chinese firm has not previously participated in Bosnian projects and is now blacklisted from doing so in the future. But the Gezhouba Group is active in Bosnias predominantly Serbian entity, Republika Srpska, where it is building a hydroelectric plant. In addition to the Gezhouba Group, a Turkish construction company was also disqualified after it submitted falsified documents in its bid. The Prenj tunnel is considered vital for Bosnias transportation infrastructure and will greatly reduce travel time for goods and tourists in the southern part of the country. Officials say the engineering needed for the tunnel makes it one of the most complicated projects ever carried out in Bosnia. Seval Kovacevic, a traffic-engineering expert who has worked on infrastructure projects in Bosnia, says the planned tunnel is a project of the century for the Balkan country and will require specialized engineering experience that Bosnian companies do not have. Bosnia-Herzegovina does not have large enough or experienced enough companies to work on something of this scale, Kovacevic told RFE/RL. At most they will be able to work as subcontractors for some parts of the project. Bidding For Bosnias 'Project Of The Century' The tender process has been open since September 2022 and the disqualified bids came after eight offers were received to build the tunnel. Among them was another from a Chinese company, an Indian company, three from Turkish companies in addition to the disqualified Ozaltin Insaat Ticaret ve Sanayi, and two joint-bids from Turkish and South Korean consortiums. According to Autoceste, three companies have been shortlisted for the contract, although it would not say which bids were selected. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which is providing the loan to build the tunnel, told RFE/RL that the list of the final three companies selected is confidential. In addition to the tunnel, which is slated to cost $270 million, the EBRD also awarded a $105 million loan to Bosnia to construct priority parts of the cross-country highway. That will include 60 kilometers of road and the Prenj tunnel that are slated for completion by 2028. The revitalized road and new projects are part of a large undertaking to improve transport in Bosnia with a new highway system called Corridor Vc, which aims to connect the countrys southern and northern parts. Construction Obstacles Ahead A team of 50 experts from Austria and Slovenia is currently working on the design of the Prenj tunnel and evaluating the best way to meet the projects safety, ventilation, traffic, and hydrogeology needs. Experts in the country have warned that the tunnel will face construction problems that could leave it behind schedule. Ignorance about the geological conditions on the [highway] route, on which the tunnel will be built, could lead to major problems -- such as groundwater -- that could prevent construction, Mehmed Bublin, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Sarajevo, told RFE/RL. Environmental groups have also warned that the government has not sufficiently examined hydrological and geological problems that may arise in building the tunnel. At a public hearing in May, experts cautioned that other planned tunnels along Corridor Vc could face similar obstacles and called for additional studies about the impact of such large-scale projects. Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Melisa Teletovic in Sarajevo. WASHINGTON -- U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar says he anticipates major progress within the next year on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The top U.S. State Department negotiator for the Western Balkans testified on July 18 before a subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, covering a range of topics from efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region to potential additional consequences for Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who Escobar said remains focused on dismantling the Dayton peace agreement and the constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Escobar pledged to continue to call out and hold accountable anyone who undermines the Dayton agreement, which ended the country's 1992-95 civil war or threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character of the country. He reassured lawmakers that the State Department is just at the very beginning of showing what the consequences are going to be for Dodik, who has long been a thorn in the side of negotiators for pursuing increasingly nationalist and secessionist policies while seeking closer ties with Serbia and Russia. Dodik has been designated for sanctions by the U.S. and Britain, and earlier this month three leading European parliamentarians called on the European Union to finally impose sanctions on him. The call came after the Republika Srpska assembly voted to suspend recognition of any decisions by Bosnia's multiethnic Constitutional Court and decided against publishing the decisions of the internationally appointed high representative of the Balkan nation, Christian Schmidt. Escobar said his office remains firm in its support of Schmidt, who responded by canceling several rulings that defy the Dayton peace accords. Escobar also hailed the European Union-facilitated Ohrid agreement as the foundation of progress for the region, stating that good faith movement on the agreement would not only de-escalate ethnic tensions, but also open the door for greater recognition of Kosovo worldwide. The Ohrid agreement, signed in March by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, facilitated a deal which, among other things, requires Serbia to recognize Kosovos national symbols and documents. In turn, the agreement requires Kosovo to implement the highly contested Association of Serbian Municipalities (ASM). While Escobar assured lawmakers that the agreement creates real possibilities for both countries to move closer to the European Union and create a peaceful and sustainable relationship, he said to date, weve seen neither party move forward on the agreement. The last 60 days, Escobar said, have been instead focused on de-escalation after clashes between international peacekeepers and ethnic Serbians following controversial mayoral elections. Escobar called for political courage on both sides, saying that what he hears from almost all that do not recognize Kosovo is that they are waiting to see goodwill from Kosovo on the ASM. The committee also grilled Escobar on current U.S. action against Dodik, though the envoy defended current sanctions against him as effective, and additionally hinted at future consequences for the Republika Srpska president. Escobar said that, in private conversations, Republika Srpska is constantly asking for the removal of current sanctions, but he added that the United States is talking with the International Monetary Fund about withholding funds for the entity. U.S. lawmakers expressed significant concern during the hearing about Moscow and Beijing's influence in the region, and Escobar agreed that combating Russian and Chinese influence was a high priority for the U.S. Escobar said the integration of Bosnia into the European Union and NATO is essential for reducing the "harmful influence of actors such as Russia and China. Answering a question on how China is trying to influence the countries of the Western Balkans through the Belt and Road initiative, Escobar replied that it is doing so through apparently favorable, but nontransparent, loans and investments. He pointed out that Russia is still the exclusive supplier of natural gas to some countries in the Western Balkans and is a serious threat to regional security. The Kremlin spreads misinformation, often in the Serbian language," and seeks to create divisions, mistrust and interethnic tensions, he said. With reporting by Marija Augustinovich-Stojak from RFE/RL's Balkan Service For over 20 years, the Imam Ali's Popular Student Relief Society has worked on combating poverty and helping vulnerable children in Iran. But the charity, which has over 10,000 volunteers across Iran, has come under mounting pressure from the authorities in recent years. In 2021, an Iranian court ordered the independent NGO be dissolved, a ruling that was upheld by an appeals court last year. In July 2021, the charity's founder, Sharmin Meymandinejad, was arrested and charged with insulting Iran's leaders. He was kept in detention for months, during which he alleges he was tortured. In an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Meymandinejad, who recently fled Iran, said the clerical establishment saw his grassroots organization as a threat. He said his organization's interpretation of Islam clashed with what he called the intolerant and violent version promoted by the authorities. "Our path was different than the one taken by the establishment, our reading of the religion was an attempt to promote self-sacrifice, mercy, and altruism," said the 53-year-old, who now resides in the United States with his wife and three children. "But the reading promoted by the establishment is based on violence, which the authorities claim comes from above, they even say from God," he added. The crackdown on the charity, which is widely known as the Imam Ali's Society, came after years of state pressure and a smear campaign by hard-liners, who have branded the organization a cult, Meymandinejad said. One of the NGO's biggest critics has been the ultra-hard-line daily Kayhan, whose editor in chief was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We didn't want to challenge the establishment. We were doing social work based on real [Islamic] principles," said Meymandinejad. "They saw that a [nongovernmental] group was doing the work [of the government] and that comparisons could be made," he said. The Imam Ali's Society has been credited with helping alleviate poverty and aiding marginalized Iranians. In comparison, large state charities with extensive funds are often seen as corrupt and ineffective. The Imam Ali's Society, one of the largest NGOs in the Islamic republic, was launched in 1999 by a group of students led by Meymandinejad at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology. The organization originally focused on poverty alleviation but has since expanded its activities to include providing education, medical care, and social and cultural events for vulnerable children and campaigning against the death penalty for offenders who committed crimes as minors. The group has been credited with saving around 50 minors on death row. Rights groups criticized the 2021 court order to disband the Imam's Ali Society as an assault on independent NGOs and said the ruling had been "made in apparent coordination with Iran's abusive intelligence and security apparatus." It is unclear if the charity is still active or has been dissolved. The original court order was issued following a complaint by the Interior Ministry, which said the Imam Ali's Society had "deviated" from its mission. As evidence, the court cited the group's "questioning of Islamic rulings," including the principle of qisas, or retributive justice, as well as "promoting falsehood by publishing statements against the Islamic republic of Iran." The move came amid a wider crackdown on civil society and dissent. Scores of activists, lawyers, and journalists have been arrested in recent years. The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights reported last year that two other NGOs, including the Society For the Protection of Children, have also come under pressure by the authorities. 'I Broke' In his interview with Radio Farda, Meymandinejad also accused the authorities of sending children from poor Iranian families to fight in the war in Syria, where Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) deployed military advisers and fighters to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Meymandinejad also accused the authorities of using minors to help crush nationwide antiestablishment protests that erupted in September. Photos appeared on social media in October that purportedly showed children and adolescent boys wearing uniforms and holding batons. They appeared to be wearing the uniforms of the Basij paramilitary forces, a branch of the IRGC. Members and supporters of the Imam Ali's Society said the authorities had recruited children from impoverished families to help "suppress" the street protests. In exchange, the minors received a "few bags of food," the charity said. The Imam Ali's Society was among several groups that warned that the use of child soldiers was against international law. Meymandinejad said he will continue to hold Iran's clerical establishment accountable for its actions even from exile. He said state pressure and the alleged torture he suffered during his time in detention forced him to leave his homeland. "I was weak, I wasn't strong like [prominent jailed rights activist] Narges Mohammadi. I was concerned that my children will pay the price for my activities," he said. "After four months of torture I broke and signed whatever they wanted. I broke because of my children," he added. PODGORICA -- Montenegro's Europe Now Movement (PES) won 25.5 percent of votes in a snap election on June 11, the Center for Monitoring and Research (CEMI) pollster said on the basis of a projection of results from a sample of polling stations. The pro-European Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which ruled Montenegro between 1990 and 2020, came in second with 23.8 percent of support. The conservative alliance For the Future of Montenegro, led by the pro-Serbian and pro-Russian Democratic Front, garnered 14.7 percent. The pollster projections were roughly in line with preelection forecasts. Another pro-EU grouping comprising the Democratic Party and the URA movement of outgoing Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic came in fourth with 12.3 percent, CEMI said on the basis of 90.5 percent of ballots counted in a representative sample of 400 polling stations across the country. Fifteen parties and alliances were competing for 81 seats in the Balkan country's unicameral parliament on June 11 that many hope will usher in an era of stability after nearly three years of political turbulence that saw two governments ousted. Voter turnout appeared to be low, just crossing the 50 percent mark as of 7 p.m. local time, an hour before polls shut. Turnover was more than 76 percent in 2020. The official results are expected within a few days. The vote comes after former DPS leader Milo Djukanovic lost a presidential election in April and stepped down after three decades in power. Montenegro is sharply divided among those who identify as Montenegrins and those who consider themselves Serbs and object to the country's split from neighboring Serbia in 2006. The elections could determine the course of the NATO member's candidacy to join the European Union as well as the implementation of economic reforms. To join the bloc, Montenegro must do more to fight corruption, nepotism, and organized crime. Two previous governments elected following protests in 2020 that were supported by the influential Serbian Orthodox Church collapsed after no-confidence votes, the last in August. The country joined NATO in 2017 and has supported Kyiv following Ukraine's invasion by Russia in February 2022, earning it a place on Moscow's list of unfriendly states. A poll by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in May placed the PES in the lead with 29.1 percent of the vote. PES also favors closer ties to Serbia, and one of its party members, political newcomer Jakov Milatovic, won the presidential vote in April. The pro-EU DPS had 24.1 percent support, according to the poll. The Serbian nationalist, pro-Russian Democratic Front polled third with 13.2 percent. Voters in the capital, Podgorica, were cautiously optimistic about the outcome. "Nothing new is happening, but I hope it will get better anyway," Boro, who gave only his first name, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "I don't know whether a more stable government will bring any drastic changes compared to this latest government. Everything has been going on in the old way." Another voter, Jovica, said he expected that "a stable government will be formed," calling it "the most important thing at the moment." With reporting by Reuters and dpa A tourist captures a moment with his cell phone camera after seeing two young girls strip through a brothel window. The neon-lit red light district screams of sex. In an apartment near Pattayas infamous Walking Street, Auchanaporn Pilasata studies her reflection in the mirror, applies another layer of plum-shade lipstick, and touches up her black eyeliner. In the corner of her mirror are two photographs: one from when she looked like a scrawny 15-year-old boy, and another, post-transition, as the stunning woman she is today. The 37-year-old, who goes by Anna, has been a transgender sex worker for 17 years. While transitioning, she left a low-paying job in a cosmetics packaging factory on the outskirts of Bangkok to become a cabaret dancer in nearby Pattaya, a beach town with a reputation for wild nightlife. She took a temporary job at a special massage parlor to earn some cash. Her very first client propositioned her for sex. He said, I give you 3,000 baht [$85]. One hour, Anna recalled. [When] I worked in factory, [I made] 6,000 baht in one month. This is the beginning [of] my story [as a] sex worker. Thailand has long been one of the worlds major sex tourism destinations. Estimates of sex works contribution to GDP vary widely because the industry operates almost entirely underground. But in 2015, the black market research company Havocscope valued it at $6.4 billion per year about 1.5% of the countrys GDP that year. Despite earning billions annually, the industry is effectively illegal, controversial among Thais, and highly stigmatized. Now, the debate over sex work is spilling into public forums, with a progressive lawmaker introducing a bill in parliament to legalize it. Its proponents argue that criminalization has deprived sex workers of basic labor rights and protections enjoyed by other workers, making them more vulnerable to health risks, harassment, exploitation, and violence while making sex work itself no less visible. Visiting Thailand and not noticing any sex workers? Its like going to KFC and you never see fried chicken, Anna said. The majority of sex workers in the world are women, and a 2017 projection by the Thai Department of Disease Control conservatively estimated that 129,000 of 144,000 sex workers in the country were female. But its men who make the decisions about what they can do with their bodies. Women held 16% of Thailands parliamentary seats in 2021, the same figure as 10 years ago. By comparison, women made up 20% of Saudi Arabias governing assembly and 28% of the U.S. Congress that year. The fight for legalization is an uphill battle. Conservative factions within the country and global anti-trafficking organizations remain strongly opposed to sex work. The U.S. Agency for International Development calls Thailand a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking, and opponents of the bill say the sex industry enables widespread abuse of women and children across the country and in neighboring Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Surviving day by day Historical reports of sex work existing in Thailand date back to the 1300s. The modern sex industry in Thailand boomed while serving a wave of Chinese immigrants in the early 1900s, Japanese soldiers during World War II, and U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War. But many Thais grew resentful of its visibility and notoriety. The country adopted the Suppression of Prostitution Act in 1960, followed by the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, which outlawed almost all of the activities associated with sex work and income earned from it. The push against prostitution was further bolstered in the 2000s, when the U.S. government, the religious right, and abolitionist feminists came together in an unlikely alliance. Their goal was to eliminate prostitution. The U.S. movement gained traction globally as those forces traveled to campaign against sex work in countries abroad, including Thailand. Within Thailand, officials often downplay the prevalence of prostitution in order to present a more positive view of the country to the outside world and appease constituents opposed to sex work. After a Jan. 14 inspection, police said they were satisfied after finding no illegal prostitutes working in Pattaya, much to the amusement of social media commentators. Why dont they ask all the girl [sic] standing all around if they have seen some sexworkers, one Facebook user posted. In practice, the revenues from sex work sustain a robust illicit economy and can be an important lifeline for women whose backgrounds range from educated college graduates to poor rural farmers. Many believe that some form of legal recognition, either decriminalization or legalization, would help to reduce violence against sex workers and give them rights and benefits that would help them, particularly during difficult financial times. In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill and global tourism dried up, around 91% of Thai sex workers lost their jobs due to lockdowns, border closures, and social-distancing measures, according to the World Health Organization. As illegal workers, they did not qualify for government relief benefits during the pandemic. A lot of [sex workers] could not pay the rent and they had to sleep on the street, said Supachai Sukthongsa, the Pattaya manager of Service Workers in Group (SWING), a services and support group. They worked and cleaned up at the bar in exchange for small money and food, just enough to survive day by day. The pandemic also reduced access to health care services. Whether they get their business through dating apps, pimps, or on the street, sex workers face numerous risks to their health and safety. The Sex Workers Project, an advocacy organization based in New York, found that sex workers globally face a 45% to 75% chance of experiencing violence on the job. Transgender women such as Anna face an added layer of danger from clients who turn violent after discovering their identities. When I go to the police station, Anna said, they dont help me because [of] my job, because I work illegal work here in Thailand. Sex workers frequently accuse Thai police of extorting or ignoring them. Researchers such as Ronald Weitzer, a sociologist and professor with expertise in sex work in Thailand, also accuse police of being heavily involved in sex tourism and profiting off of the industry. The authorities, especially the police, have a vested interest in keeping prostitution illegal, Weitzer said. They get payoffs. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, deputy commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, said he believes legalizing sex work could cut down on such activities. I admit that there is corruption going on, but its only a fraction of police officers doing that, he said. From a law enforcement perspective, if it is legalized, its good for the police. We dont need to keep disciplining our subordinates about corruption. And we can put the resources and time into something else. Push for legalization gathers momentum Globally, the legal status of sex work is divided into three broad categories: criminalization, legalization and decriminalization. The legalization model regulates the registration, health care, and welfare of sex workers. In contrast, the decriminalization model simply removes penalties for pursuing the activity. There are also hybrid models, such as the Nordic model in countries such as Sweden and Norway, which blend elements of legalization and decriminalization. Its the criminalization model thats employed by about half the world, including most of the United States. It involves the criminalization of every party: the seller, the buyer, and third parties such as pimps or traffickers. According to the 2018 Global Slavery Index, published by an Australian human rights organization, Thailand is home to about 610,000 human trafficking victims. Although the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says most of these victims are trafficked for manual labor, some women and girls are forced into sex work. While the U.S. government says the Thai government is doing an increasingly good job fighting against trafficking, hard-line anti-traffickers remain vehemently against legalization. Its consumption with nothing in return, said Sanphasit Koompraphant, the chairperson of Thailands Anti-Trafficking Alliance. Its sexual exploitation. But the criminalization model most anti-traffickers support has come increasingly under attack from sex work activists. A growing body of research shows that criminalization forces sex workers to operate under more dangerous conditions, increasing risks of sexually transmitted infections, physical abuse, and exploitation including by police. Aside from stigmatizing the work, bans also mean that many sex workers will end up with a criminal record if caught soliciting, making it harder for them to get other jobs and pushing them deeper into the sex industry. Weitzer argues that criminalizing sex work has not succeeded in stopping its proliferation and has strong parallels to the U.S. war on drugs. The evidence is clear that its a complete failure, he said. In June 2022, Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a progressive parliamentarian with the upstart Move Forward Party, drafted a bill that would establish designated zones for legal sex work. To ensure compliance with its proposed regulations, he said the bill calls for random checks to be carried out to verify licenses, the age of the sex workers, and whether illegal drugs are present. He said the bill also outlines how the industry will be taxed and specifies locations where it cant be practiced or advertised, such as near temples and schools. It has to [be] away from the children, Tunyawaj said. But some sex workers also oppose legalization. Juno Mac, a prominent sex worker and activist, said legalization can create a two-tiered system in which wealthier establishments can afford to comply with regulations, while marginalized sex workers operating independently cannot. Rather than the special regulation and taxation that comes with legalization, Mac prefers decriminalization, which treats sex work like any other work. Weitzer noted that decriminalization also has limitations, with the lack of regulations allowing existing bad actors rampant throughout the industry to continue exploiting workers. But its supporters say the decriminalization model is more likely to help sex workers better integrate into mainstream society. If [we have] legalization, that means that we have the specific law to say this kind of job [is] legal. But we dont want to have a specific law, said Surang Janyam, the founder and director of SWING. If we have specific laws for sex workers, we should have specific laws with every occupation. Decriminalize will [make us] equal as other people. Whether through legalization or decriminalization, Weitzer said the odds are stacked against changing the legal status of sex work. The majority of legislators are opposed to it, and every time its been proposed in the past, I dont think its even gotten out of committee, Weitzer said. The last major push was in 2003, when proposed legislation was debated but failed to pass. Tunyawajs June 2022 bill was not reviewed by the board of the parliamentary committee for youth, women, and other vulnerable groups until November 2022. At that point, the committee recommended transferring it to Thailands Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The fate of the bill now rests in the hands the new government, which was elected in May. Surachate said the main thing missing is political will. The government can solve this matter, if they take it seriously, he said. Navaon Siradapuvadol contributed reporting to this article. This story was supported by the United Nations Foundation. Report initially published by The Fuller Project. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition South Africa has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has an outstanding arrest warrant issued in his name by the UN's International Criminal Court (ICC), will not travel to a BRICS summit to be held in Johannesburg next month. "By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the Summit, but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov," the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on July 19. The leaders of Brazil, India, China, and South Africa will attend the summit of the bloc of developing economies, the presidency said. The ICC in March issued the arrest warrant accusing the Russian leader -- along with his children's commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova -- of being responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia during the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an act that amounts to a war crime under international legislation. Russia is not a member of the ICC, but South Africa is, and Putin's presence on its territory would oblige South African authorities to arrest him. Russia said at the time that the warrant was "outrageous" and legally void, though Putin has not traveled outside Russia since. By contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has traveled to Asia, the Middle East, and extensively through Europe in the past two months as he looks to increase military pledges from countries to help Ukraine battle invading Russian forces. The Ukrainian government says it has identified almost 19,500 children who have been deported or separated from their parents or guardians since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion in February last year. The South African presidency's statement came a day after it emerged that Ramaphosa said on July 18 that arresting Putin would amount to a declaration of war by his country. I must highlight, for the sake of transparency, that South Africa has obvious problems with executing a request to arrest and surrender President Putin," Ramaphosa said in a statement to a court in the capital, Pretoria, where he had been summoned by the country's main opposition party, which wanted the court to oblige Ramaphosa to arrest Putin in case he showed up in person. Russia has made it clear that arresting its sitting president would be a declaration of war, Ramaphosa said. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed that Putin will skip the event, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied on July 19 that Moscow had directly threatened South Africa with war, but issued an intimidating statement nevertheless. "In this world, it's absolutely clear to everyone what an attempt to encroach the Russian leader means. Therefore, there's no need to explain anything to anyone here," Peskov said. Ramaphosa last month led six African leaders on a mission to Kiyv and Moscow aimed at brokering a peace deal. Many impoverished African nations depend on Ukrainian and Russian grain and other agricultural imports to feed their growing populations. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Russia has delivered multiple public justifications for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that President Vladimir Putin launched in February 2022, among them what it has called the "liberation" of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, which Moscow had seized partial control of in 2014. But Russia's all-out war on Ukraine -- which the Kremlin insists on calling a "special military operation" -- has decimated multiple cities and towns targeted in Moscow's ostensible "liberation" campaign, including those that had been rebuilt and thrived despite their proximity to the front line with Russian forces. A new project by Donbas.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, looks at the fate of five towns and cities in eastern Ukraine following Russias full-scale invasion, including one that was not only nearly completely destroyed by Russian artillery and bombs, but also literally wiped from the map by Russian-installed occupying administrators. Popasna Founded: 1878 Population at start of 2022: ca. 20,000 Current population: ca. 200, according to April 2023 data from the citys wartime administration Popasna is a town in the Luhansk region near the administrative border with the Donetsk region. After war broke out in the Donbas between the government and Russian-backed anti-Kyiv forces in 2014, Popasna was under occupation for nearly three months before it was retaken by Ukrainian forces. In the ensuing years, the town was targeted by occasional Russian attacks from across the demarcation line with Russian-occupied areas. Nonetheless, Popasna was actively developing, including with international support. Roman Vlasenko, head of the Popasna district administration from December 2014 to October 2016, says housing and social infrastructure were restored by 2017, and that the city managed to attract millions of dollars in investments. Russia wiped Popasna from the map following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that President Vladimir Putin launched last year. Russian forces rained dense artillery fire on the city, and street-level combat began there in the second half of April 2022. The Ukrainian Army withdrew from Popasna weeks later. In August 2022, Russian occupation authorities indicated that Moscow would not rebuild Popasna. "There's not much point. The city really is almost completely destroyed," a Moscow-installed regional administrator said. In March 2023, occupation authorities in the Luhansk region administratively erased Popasna's status as a city, incorporating it as one of numerous settlements within the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Pervomaysk. The Popasna district, of which the eponymous city was the administrative center, was eliminated altogether by the Russian-installed administration. Rubizhne Founded: 1895 Population at start of 2022: ca. 55,000 Current population: unknown as of May 31, 2023; (According to Luhansk-based journalist Oleksiy Artyukh, around 40,000 people lived in the entire Syevyerodonetsk district of the Luhansk region, where Rubizhne is located, in early May 2023) Rubizhne is located on the left bank of the Siverskiy Donets River, near the cities of Syevyerodonetsk and Lysychansk. Like most cities in Ukraines east, it featured a strong industrial base with dozens of enterprises operating there. The citys primary industries were chemical and paper production, but it was also home to the hosiery factory that produced the popular Dodo Socks (the company was evacuated and now operates out of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv). Russian-backed forces occupied Rubizhne for several months in 2014 before it was retaken by Ukraine. It subsequently remained sufficiently far from the front line for residents, businesses, and educational institutions in occupied territories to relocate to the city following Russias seizure of areas in the Luhansk region that year. After Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces pounded Rubizhne with artillery and advanced quickly to the city, where fighting continued. Four months after the invasion, Rubizhne lay in ruins. The Ukrainian military was eventually forced to withdraw after heavy fighting, and Rubizhne has been under Russian occupation since May 2022. Accounts from local residents, as well as photos and videos they have taken of Rubizhne, suggest Russia has done little to rebuild the captured city despite pledges from Russian officials. Bakhmut Founded: 1517 Population at start of 2022: ca. 70,000 Current population: 518 (according to the most recent data from the Donetsk regional administration) "There is nothing. They destroyed everything. There are no buildings. Its a pity, its a tragedy, but for today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing in this place," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last month while speaking alongside U.S. President Joe Biden. Bakhmut was one of the oldest and most picturesque cities in Ukraines Donbas region, underpinned economically by industries unusual for the region: It had rock salt and sparkling wine. Bakhmuts distance from the demarcation line with Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory allowed the city to continue to develop in the eight years after Russia seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and the Moscow-fomented Donbas war erupted in 2014. But after Putins full-scale invasion and the Russian occupation of a collection of towns and cities in the region, Moscow set its sights on capturing Bakhmut, even as experts said the move made no strategic or tactical sense. After months of intense fighting, Russia's private Wagner mercenary group said it had taken control of Bakhmut in May and handed it over to Russian regular forces. Ukraine denied the city was fully controlled by Russian forces and said fighting continued. Major clashes have been reported around Bakhmut this month. Ukrainian forces in recent days have retaken areas north of the city, and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said that Kyiv continues to control the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut. It is difficult to say precisely how many artillery shells and bombs Russian forces used on Bakhmut. But photographs, videos, and satellite images reveal the almost total obliteration of the city. A drone video of Bakhmut published by The New York Times last month delivered stunning aerial images revealing the scale of the devastation there. Avdiyivka Founded: 1778 Population at start of 2022: ca. 32,000 Current population: 1,753 (according to the most recent data from the Donetsk regional administration) Avdiyivka is one of the oldest settlements in the Donetsk region, located some six kilometers from the outskirts of the city of Donetsk. It was an industrial town with more than a dozen enterprises, including the largest producer of coke, sulfuric acid, and mineral fertilizers in Europe, the Avdiyivka Coke Chemical Plant. Avdiyivka came under occupation by the Russia-backed forces for four months in 2014 until it was retaken by Ukrainian forces. Over the next eight years, the city suffered from shelling coming from Russian-occupied territory in the Donetsk region. In 2015, the coke plant had to be mothballed due to the potential of an ecological disaster if it had been hit by Russian artillery. Work there later resumed, however, and the city was undergoing rebuilding and had attracted investment. After Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow intensified its attacks on Avdiyivka, trying to advance from the western edge of Donetsk, and in April 2022, the coke factory again had to be shuttered. By March 2023, Russian forces had completely destroyed the infrastructure of Avdiyivka, according to Vitaliy Barabash, the head of the city's wartime administration. Almost all of the citys housing stock was decimated as well. Avdiyivka continues to be held by the Ukrainian military, and attacks from Russian forces continue. Mariupol Founded: 1778 Population at start of 2022: ca. 425,000 Current population: unknown; Russian occupation authorities claim a current population of 230,000, a highly questionable figure given the lack of housing for such numbers; Ukrainian official Petro Andryushenko, an adviser to Mariupols mayor, puts the figure at around 40,000 civilians whom Russia has brought to the decimated city. Mariupol is a major port in the Donetsk region on the shores of the Sea of Azov, once a thriving town with a strong industrial base. In the years after the Donbas war broke out in 2014, the citys location gave it strategic significance on the front line of the fighting. The city was briefly controlled by Russia-backed separatists for a number of weeks in 2014 and, just a few dozen kilometers from the demarcation line, remained a frontline city after it was retaken by Ukraine. Despite this, Mariupol developed and prospered. Damaged buildings and businesses were rebuilt, and major industrial enterprises, including the port, continued to work. The city featured numerous cultural festivals, concerts, and exhibitions. With the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, the Russian military destroyed the city with artillery and multiton aerial bombs. Mariupol was home to a drama theater where, according to various estimates, between 500 and 1,200 civilians, including children, were hiding when it was destroyed by a Russian air strike. ODRADOKAMYANKA, Ukraine -- The cemetery in this riverside steppe village got flooded within hours of the breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam, located five kilometers upstream on the Dnieper River. Three days later, when Mykhaylo Boyarskiy, a farmer from the nearby Kozatske village who used to visit his family graves here, came to the cemetery, he saw wooden crosses and granite monuments covered with mud and rotting weed. An otter was swimming meters away, and the smell of dead fish was in the air. The breach of the Russian-held Soviet-era hydroelectric dam in the early hours of June 6 unleashed a torrent of water that flooded villages and sparked the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from both sides of the Dnieper River in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. It also caused what many fear is one of Europe's biggest environmental disasters in decades. Unlike some villages located at a lower altitude down the Dnieper, Odradokamyanka got flooded only to a limited extent. Three days after the dam breach, several houses remained under water, and its artificial lakes spilled deep into the surrounding fields. "It turns out we kicked them out of here just to get this mess in return," Boyarskiy said in a characteristic mixture of Ukrainian and Russian that is widely spoken here, referring to the Russian troops driven out of the region by the Ukrainian Army last autumn. Two of Boyarskiys friends who preferred not to disclose their identity -- middle-aged farmers taking care of the local animal stock -- were in the village the night the Nova Kakhovka dam was destroyed. The men with faces tired from lack of sleep said that, after they heard a loud bang, they went to the riverbank with a thermographic camera and saw torrents of water cascading downstream. The farm livestock and wild animals from the other side were trying to swim to the higher right bank of the Dnieper, they said, but the rushing current and whirlpools drowned them. Russian Soldiers 'Washed Away' They also said a Russian reconnaissance group that was approaching the Ukrainian-controlled territory with a boat -- a typical occurrence on this part of the Dnieper, which has effectively turned into a front line -- was caught by surprise by the flood and sought rescue on one of the river's multiple islands. "But ultimately, the water washed Russian soldiers away from the treetops," one of the men said. Boyarskiy came to Odradokamyanka with his comrade Eduard Laktyonov to bring humanitarian aid to some of the 300 remaining in a village that had more than 3,300 residents before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Most of those who stayed cannot move out because of old age and poor health. The mutual exchange of fire across the Dnieper did not stop despite evacuations and rescue missions continuing in the Kherson region. Plumes of smoke hover above the steppes amid the sounds of outgoing and incoming artillery rounds. "The locals struggle to get by with shells and missiles coming every day and night," said Kostyantyn Kyrychenko, 41, one of the few younger people remaining in the village, which has electricity only from a gasoline power generator and a very limited amount of drinkable water pumped from a local well. His wife and daughters left for the Czech Republic, while both his son and his brother are serving in the Ukrainian Army. He stays in the village to help older people. His house got partly destroyed by the shells that fell close to it, and he only has a dugout cellar to hide in. "The only thing I need is for you to bring me new pair of glasses finally," he told Boyarskiy, who handed over a box with food and other products as Kyrychenko gave him a freshly caught fish in exchange. According to several residents, the Russian Army is shelling Odradokamyanka with mortars, artillery rounds, and missiles, and attacking it with planes daily. Numerous private houses, the school, the village council, other buildings, and an unknown soldier's monument, have all been razed to the ground. The civilian population of the Kherson region, which first survived the brutal Russian occupation and later lived alongside daily shelling and air attacks, is now bound to face what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as "an environmental bomb of mass destruction." Entire Ecosystems 'At Risk' This threat is felt acutely in the nearby Kamyanska Sich National Nature Park, a nature reserve named after a historical fortified Cossack settlement that was located in the area, which sits on the bank of the Kakhovka Reservoir. Ukraine's environment minister, Ruslan Strilets, said that, in some places, the water in the reservoir had moved almost 160 meters away from the shore. Its banks will turn into salt marshes and will not be suitable for the existence of any living things for decades, he said. Ukrainian officials estimate that about 28,000 fish have already died due to the draining. The director of the Kamyanska Sich park, Serhiy Skoryk, who spent the last months demining the site after the Russian occupation, is now occupied with controlling the water level and easing the collateral damage caused by the flooding. Three days after the dam's breach, he and his team were removing boxes with explosive materials left by Russians and uncovered under a destroyed bridge after the water level dropped. Dried mussel shells were cracking under the boots of his team pulling the green box with TNT. The Kamyanska Sich National Nature Park is one of 60 protected areas that suffered because of the breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam, Ivan Moysiyenko, chief of the Botany Department at Kherson State University and a member of Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, told RFE/RL. Ukrainian forces claim to have retaken two villages in the Donetsk region as a days-old counteroffensive to push Russian forces out of the country gathers steam. Ukrainian troops said they captured Neskuchne and Blahodatne on June 10 and 11 respectively, posting photos on social media from the center of the villages, a claim RFE/RL could not confirm. Military bloggers said Ukrainian forces are now attacking the next two villages to the south, Makarivka and Urozhayne, along a road that eventually leads to the outskirts of Mariupol, located 130 kilometers away. However, Ukrainian forces moving in that direction have yet to reach the heavily fortified Russian lines, which are located about 10 kilometers south of the current fighting, experts noted. Russia, for its part, has claimed that it has repelled Ukrainian attacks, recently posting photos of destroyed armored vehicles NATO had given to Ukraine. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. On June 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged that the long-expected counteroffensive had begun. "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at," Zelenskiy said. Military experts have said Ukraines current counteroffensive will be much tougher than the one undertaken last year as Russia has had months to build extensive defensive fortifications. There have been reports of heavy casualties on both sides since the counteroffensive began. Many analysts have speculated that Ukraine will seek to move southeast toward Mariupol, an industrial city on the the Sea of Azov, in order to cut off and encircle Russian forces to the west. Ukraines counteroffensive is taking place in several directions along the 1,000 kilometer front. The Ukrainian military reported heavy fighting in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in their June 11 update. Zelenskiy said there was also heavy fighting on the southern fronts. Dam Burst The counteroffensive has been complicated by the bursting on June 6 of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River. Kyiv has accused Moscow of mining the dam and deliberately causing its destruction to flood Kherson region in the south and slow down its counteroffensive. "The explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station was apparently carried out with the intention of preventing the Ukrainian Defense Forces from launching an offensive in the Kherson sector," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said in a Telegram post on June 11. Russia, which gained control of the dam shortly after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has steadfastly rejected the accusations. Ukraine retook the city of Kherson on the west bank of the Dnieper River last year and had recently been conducting reconnaissance missions on the east bank controlled by Russia. Malyar added that the destruction of the dam was also intended to allow Russian reserves in the region to be deployed to reinforce the areas of Zaporizhzhya and Bakhmut, the Donetsk city that had been the epicenter of the war for most of 2023. A Ukrainian military spokesman said on June 10 that Ukrainian forces had advanced more than a kilometer at a number of points along the front line near Bakhmut. Although Russia's private Wagner mercenary group gained control of most of Bakhmut last month, Kyiv denies that the city is completely held by Russian forces and said fighting is ongoing. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has said that the Ukrainian armed forces appear to have also made some gains in their offensive in the Zaporizhzhya region in the south. The Russian military has said it successfully repelled attacks in both areas. The Russian Defense Ministry has released video footage in recent days showing what it said were numerous strikes on Ukrainian armored vehicles and tanks, including German Leopard 2 tanks and U.S. Bradley fighting vehicles. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded medals on June 11 to soldiers it said had destroyed the foreign weaponry donated to Kyiv. A UN official warned on June 10 of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the dam breach and resulting flooding. UN Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths told AP that an extraordinary 700,000 people are in need of drinking water and said that the crisis will likely lead to lower grain exports, higher food prices around the world, and less to eat for millions in need. "The truth is this is only the beginning of seeing the consequences of this act," Griffiths said. On June 11, the British Defense Ministry said in an intelligence assessment that the destruction of the dam "has almost certainly severely disrupted" the primary source of fresh water to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Water at the dam's reservoir had likely dropped below the inlet that feeds water to the canal delivering water to the peninsula, according to the assessment. Water is expected to stop flowing in the canal as a result, reducing the availability of fresh water in the south of the Kherson region and in northern Crimea.. The British Defense Ministry said that it expected the Russian authorities to meet civilians' water needs by using reservoirs, water rationing, drilling new wells, and bottled water. It said that communities on both sides of the Dnieper face a sanitation crisis, limited access to safe water, and an increased risk of water-borne diseases. Rescue efforts continued on June 11, with the Ukrainian Interior Ministry saying that 35 people, including seven children, remain unaccounted for in the Kherson region. Five people in Kherson and one person in the region of Mykolayiv have died as a result of the floods. The Ukrainian authorities said that 32 towns and villages on the west bank of the Dnieper controlled by Ukrainian forces are still under water. Evacuation efforts were also reported on the eastern bank of the river, which is more vulnerable to flooding. Each side has accused the other of shelling civilians during the rescue efforts. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, Current Time, Reuters, AP, and dpa. Voters in Montenegro cast their ballots in early parliamentary elections on June 11. RFE/RL filmed proceedings at polling stations in the capital, Podgorica. Since a general election in August 2020, the Adriatic country has changed two cabinets. The latter lost a vote of confidence in parliament last August and since then the parties in the national assembly have not been able to agree on a new ministerial lineup. The artificial intelligence chatbot asked the believers in the fully packed St. Pauls church in the Bavarian town of Fuerth to rise from the pews and praise the Lord. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by an avatar of a bearded Black man on a huge screen above the altar, then began preaching to the more than 300 people who had shown up on Friday morning for an experimental Lutheran church service almost entirely generated by AI. Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this years convention of Protestants in Germany, the avatar said with an expressionless face and monotonous voice. The 40-minute service including the sermon, prayers and music was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. I conceived this service but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine, the 29-year-old scholar told The Associated Press. The AI church service was one of hundreds of events at the convention of Protestants in the Bavarian towns of Nuremberg and the neighboring Fuerth, and it drew such immense interest that people formed a long queue outside the 19th-century, neo-Gothic building an hour before it began. The convention itself Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag in German takes place every two years in the summer at a different place in Germany and draws tens of thousands of believers to pray, sing and discuss their faith. They also talk about current world affairs and look for solutions to key issues, which this year included global warming, the war in Ukraine and artificial intelligence. This years gathering is taking place from Wednesday to Sunday under the motto Now is the time. That slogan was one of the sentences Simmerlein fed ChatGPT when he asked the chatbot to develop the sermon. I told the artificial intelligence We are at the church congress, you are a preacher what would a church service look like? Simmerlein said. He also asked for psalms to be included, as well as prayers and a blessing at the end. You end up with a pretty solid church service, Simmerlein said, sounding almost surprised by the success of his experiment. Indeed, the believers in the church listened attentively as the artificial intelligence preached about leaving the past behind, focusing on the challenges of the present, overcoming fear of death, and never losing trust in Jesus Christ. The entire service was led by four different avatars on the screen, two young women, and two young men. At times, the AI-generated avatar inadvertently drew laughter as when it used platitudes and told the churchgoers with a deadpan expression that in order to keep our faith, we must pray and go to church regularly. Some people enthusiastically videotaped the event with their cell phones, while others looked on more critically and refused to speak along loudly during The Lords Prayer. Heiderose Schmidt, a 54-year-old who works in IT, said she was excited and curious when the service started but found it increasingly off-putting as it went along. There was no heart and no soul, she said. The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said. But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this, Schmidt added. Marc Jansen, a 31-year-old Lutheran pastor from Troisdorf near the western German city of Cologne, brought a group of teenagers from his congregation to St. Paul. He was more impressed by the experiment. I had actually imagined it to be worse. But I was positively surprised how well it worked. Also the language of the AI worked well, even though it was still a bit bumpy at times, Jansen said. What the young pastor missed, however, was any kind of emotion or spirituality, which he says is essential when he writes his own sermons. Anna Puzio, 28, a researcher on the ethics of technology from the University of Twente in The Netherlands, also attended the service. She said she sees a lot of opportunities in the use of AI in religion such as making religious services more easily available and inclusive for believers who for various reasons may not be able experience their faith in person with others in houses of worship. However, she noted there are also dangers when it comes to the use of AI in religion. The challenge that I see is that AI is very human-like and that its easy to be deceived by it, she said. Also, we dont have only one Christian opinion, and thats what AI has to represent as well, she said. We have to be careful that its not misused for such purposes as to spread only one opinion. Simmerlein said it is not his intention to replace religious leaders with artificial intelligence. Rather, he sees the use of AI as a way to help them with their everyday work in their congregations. Some pastors seek inspiration in literature, he says, so why not also ask AI for ideas regarding an upcoming sermon. Others would like to have more time for individual spiritual guidance of their parishioners, so why not speed up the process of writing the sermon with the help of a chatbot to make time for other important duties. Artificial intelligence will increasingly take over our lives, in all its facets, Simmerlein said. And thats why its useful to learn to deal with it. However, the experimental church service also showed the limits to implementing artificial AI in church, or in religion. There was no real interaction between the believers and the chatbot, which wasnt able to respond to the laughter or any other reactions by the churchgoers as a human pastor would have been able to do. The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning, Simmerlein said. Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Japan will on Monday release May figures for producer prices, headlining a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Producer prices are expected to slip 0.2 percent on month and rise 5.5 percent on year after adding 0.2 percent on month and 5.8 percent on year in April. New Zealand will provide May numbers for electronic card retail sales; in April, sales were up 0.7 percent on month and 6.4 percent on year. Indonesia will see May results for its consumer confidence index; in April, the index score was 126.1. Finally, the in Australia are closed on Monday in observance of the queen's birthday; they will re-open on Tuesday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Only the Colombian market is likely to get TVS Miami Blue colour along with a new White colour No mechanical updates TVS has a diversified portfolio not only in India. But in multiple global markets. One TVS commuter motorcycle even featured in an episode of The Grand Tour where Richard Hammond rides it in Africa. Likewise, TVS has a strong presence in Latin countries like Colombia as well. This is where TVS has showcased two new colours for its motorcycles and scooters. One of the new colours is called Miami Blue and the other is similar to Racing Edition showcased with Apache RTR 200. Images are credited to Samuel Carvajal. TVS Miami Blue Colour Concept The models include Apache RR 310 fully-faired bike, Raider 125 sporty commuter, Apache RTR 200 and Ntorq 125 scooter. TVS Miami Blue is a particular highlight . The White will definitely appeal to people who prefer subtle colours, unlike Miami Blue. TVS Miami Blue mainly comprises a teal blue shade and looks particularly spectacular on Apache RR 310. Given that it has more body panel real estate to show this colour off. Miami Blue is present on most of the fairing, side panels and fuel tank. While the sub frame is Black. TVS is playfully using Red accents that bring out Apache RR 310s sporty lineage. Red is present below headlights and in the tubular chassis. Wheels get half Black, half Red treatment like half-Orange and half-White on a few KTM models. Add to it Gold USD forks, Apache RR 310 looks a million bucks. TVS showcased Apache RTR body style in two colours. Both of them featured Black and Red wheels as well. Take a look at the detailed walkaround video below. One is Miami Blue and the other resembles Racing Edition. Both got a small windscreen, knuckle guards, front caliper cover and more. With Miami Blue on RTR body, TVS has given red elements too, present in faux tank shroud vents and on side body panels. With White colour, Red highlights are only present in faux vents in tank shrouds. Raider 125 and Ntorq 125 get new colours too In Colombia, TVS is offering the same Miami Blue and White with Raider 125 too. But Raider 125 lacks any Red highlights. Instead, Raider 125 showcased in White gets White grab handles for pillion, which is not the case with Miami Blue. Other than that, Raider 125 looks fresh in these new shades. Lastly, NTORQ 125 gets the same colour too, but retains Red accents. These Red accents are present in the front apron, rear body panels below grab rail and other places. Both Miami Blue and White look good on TVS Ntorq 125. TVS also showcased a video game simulation with Apache RRR 310 as the base vehicle too. Mechanically, these are similar to outgoing models and TVS is keeping its product fresh for the Colombian market with local feedback. We hope TVS brings this Miami Blue shade to India at least with Apache RR 310. A transgender woman says she was shocked and embarrassed last week when she came out of the womens restroom during a concert at the Belly Up Tavern, and an employee admonished her that she had to use the bathroom corresponding with the gender on her drivers license. It was like public shaming for me, said Nataliya Holmes, 46, of Imperial Beach, who was at the music venue in Solana Beach to see a performance of the group Vaud and the Villains, on March 23. When that occurs in society it affects all of us. None of us want to live in a society where people are treated discriminatorily. Holmes said she then asked to speak to the manager, whom she identified as Jeff Keeping, who affirmed what the staff member had told her. Advertisement Kevin Kish, director of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), which enforces state anti-discrimination laws, said that if the exchange happened in the way Holmes described, its a very clear, straightforward violation of state law. Theres really no ambiguity at all. In California, said Kish, the Unruh Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, which includes businesses, and the categories of protected characteristics include gender identity and gender expression, as well as race, religion, sex, disability, ancestry, age, marital status or sexual orientation. Nothing in the law says that a person has to use the bathroom based on their drivers license, so requiring it is a straightforward violation. You dont have to look a certain way or dress a certain way. The drivers license is frankly irrelevant, Kish said. Keeping, the Belly Ups general manager, did not grant an interview or answer specific questions regarding Holmes account of the incident. However, in response to a reporters email inquiry, he wrote, Anyone who knows the Belly Up Tavern is aware of our commitment to the community. In our Venue we are (conscious) of the security, safety and rights of all of our patrons and we act accordingly. Holmes said she does not know what prompted the staff member to approach her as she left the restroom. She said she looks older than 21, and had not been asked to show her ID when she entered the venue. She believes the Belly Up employees were profiling me as transgender. As a transgender individual in San Diego, I am aware there will be discrimination in different places, but I never would have expected a major music venue would have been discriminatory toward a transgender person, she said. After the incident, Holmes said she contacted Solana Beach Mayor Mike Nichols, who referred her to City Attorney Johanna N. Canlas, who in turn provided contact information for DFEH. Neither Nichols nor Canlas responded to a request for comment as of press-time. Holmes said she and her wife requested, and received, a refund for their tickets to the concert, and left the venue. Holmes said she plans to file a complaint with DFEH. If Holmes does so, said Kish, the agency will interview her to determine if it has jurisdiction over the alleged violation. If so, the agency would then investigate. If the violation is substantiated, DFEH would attempt to mediate a resolution, which could involve working with the Belly Up to train its employees on requirements of state law, with the goal of ensuring that such incidents do not occur in the future. In the case of a lack of cooperation when a violation is determined, said Kish, DFEH could file a lawsuit seeking compliance. Kish suggested that one way to avoid such issues is for establishments, when possible, to have unisex bathrooms. Unisex restrooms are also convenient for people with children, or those with disabilities, he said. Holmes said she had recently been to a concert at a San Diego venue with unisex restrooms, which makes it obvious that Im welcome there and nobodys going to give me any problem. As to the issue of safety and security in restrooms, Kish said that if a person is harassing others, action can be taken whether the person is transgender or not, and it would not be a civil rights violation. The reality is the people who are not safe in bathrooms are transgender people, Kish said, because they can be subject to harassment. Holmes said she wants the Belly Up to admit its mistake. I want them to take public responsibility for their actions and to change their policy. I want them to be a welcoming environment, she said. The point is to make people understand, were just people like anybody else. I live my life no differently than anyone else, why should I be singled out? The band Vaud and the Villains issued the following statement about the alleged incident: As a show, we are proud of our tremendously broad and diverse fanbase. Our message of acceptance is evident in our performances. Maybe that is why Nataliya brought this situation to us, and we are glad she did. We would not hesitate to abstain from playing a venue if we knew they maintained a policy that discriminated against anyone. We all thrive in communities where we feel safe and accepted. And we believe that music does more to heal and unite than to divide. When we relayed this incident and our concerns to the Belly Up, they assured us that they do not have any policy that discriminates against anyone, period. We feel given our relationship with the Belly Up and the fact that they seem eager to resolve the matter, that there is hope for a satisfying conclusion here. No one should be made to feel less than but in this time of change, it is important to understand and to allow that there will be mistakes and to give those people a chance to fix them. That is how we all conquer this...together and with empathy and compassion. Tash is a freelance writer for U-T Community Press Over the past three years, the Covid-19 pandemic has dominated headlines and spurred scientific research, with experts around the world focusing resources and any potentially useful technology on the problem. While the spotlight on Covid-19 has dimmed slightly, it remains a high global priority, sometimes to the detriment of infectious diseases linked to poverty and primarily affecting the Global South. For example, Malaria killed an estimated 619,000 people most of them children in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021, when there were 247 million cases worldwide. Malaria is an entirely preventable and treatable disease, and researchers have made great strides on both fronts. In March, for example, the World Health Organization recommended two new dual-ingredient insecticide-treated bed nets to protect against malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes, one with a more lethal cocktail of insecticides, and the other able to disrupt mosquito growth and reproduction. Cost-effective antimalarial medicines are another important tool. In 2021, seasonal malaria chemoprevention was administered to around 45 million children aged three months to five years, who received monthly doses of therapeutic drugs at a cost of less than $4 per person. The recent news of a groundbreaking vaccine, GSKs Mosquirix (also known as RTS,S), offers some hope, although the cost is still relatively high, at around $40 per child for the first year. Despite these efforts, malaria continues to pose a threat to public health. Even after an investment of $26 billion to tackle the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of cases increased slightly between 2000 and 2019 (although the number of deaths decreased). New prevention measures tailored to children, in particular are clearly needed. Further innovation should take a page from the pandemic playbook: one benefit of the flood of Covid-19 research is that it demonstrated the enormous potential of monoclonal antibodies. These drugs are laboratory-made copies of the proteins that a persons immune system produces to attack specific foreign invaders. Historically, monoclonal antibodies have served as a powerful weapon against cancer and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. While not often used as a prophylactic, the deployment of monoclonal antibodies to prevent Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus has shown great promise. Moreover, their exquisite selectivity enables them to discern between closely related molecular targets, resulting in fewer off-target effects. This makes it a medication with an appropriate safety profile for children (as well as other at-risk populations). A research group at the United States National Institutes of Health, led by Robert Seder, has identified two antibodies against CSP-1, the protein that the malaria parasite uses to invade liver cells where it first establishes infection. Blocking CSP-1 should thus prevent infection. The more advanced of the two antibodies, L9LS, is currently being tested for its safety and efficacy in children in Mali and Kenya. The Mali study is assessing its success in a setting of seasonal malaria, whereas the Kenya study focuses on an area where year-round infection is possible. Monoclonal antibodies could be a game-changer for preventing malaria and advance the long-sought goal of eradication. The current generation of antimalarial antibodies has been modified so that a single dose can protect a child for at least three months possibly longer. The clinical trials will determine the extent and exact duration of protection, and provide useful guidance on how much improvement is needed to achieve a dosage that can be injected once per year. Although antibodies have a reputation for being expensive, with those used to treat cancer priced at over $20,000 per month in Europe and the U.S., increasing the potency of this cutting-edge treatment could significantly decrease costs. Some believe an injection as small as one milliliter of the antibody drug being trialed in Mali and Kenya could protect children at a cost of only $5-10 per person. To date, demand for monoclonal antibodies has primarily come from high-income countries; Africa accounts for only 1% of global sales. This disparity highlights the need to work with national regulatory agencies to ensure that submitted product data adequately address public-health concerns, and, in the longer term, to involve affected countries in the production of these biologics. Although manufacturing antibodies is a complex and highly regulated process, investing in the technology to do so now would be a boon for developing economies burdened by endemic malaria. Monoclonal antibodies may be the new frontier in the fight against malaria, but getting the word out wont be easy: stakeholders from government, academia, and industry must come together to coordinate advocacy efforts and raise awareness. (The same groups should be encouraging the development of these types of biologics for all infectious diseases.) We are only just embarking on a long road: the first generation of antimalarial antibodies will not be deployed until 2027 at the earliest. They offer tremendous promise as one of many weapons to fight this child killer, alongside bed nets, medicines, and emerging vaccines. The clinical trials will tell us whether this potential can be realized, but we would be wise to begin preparing for success now. This article was originally published by Project Syndicate. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition President Joe Biden traveled to the recently renamed Fort Liberty in North Carolina on Friday to sign an executive order that aims to bolster job opportunities for military and veteran spouses whose careers are often disrupted by their loved ones deployments. Less than 100 miles away at the states Republican Party convention, GOP presidential contender, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, vowed to restore the former name of the base that until last week was called Fort Bragg in honor of a Confederate general, if voters elect him president. Its an iconic name and iconic base, and were not gonna let political correctness run amok in North Carolina, DeSantis said at the convention in Greensboro hours after Bidens speech and signing ceremony at Fort Liberty. The installations former name honors Gen. Braxton Bragg, a North Carolinian, who was known for owning slaves and losing key Civil War battles that contributed to the Confederacys downfall. Biden made no mention in his remarks before hundreds of soldiers and their spouses about the renaming of the base which was formally done by military officials last week. The renaming of the base was part of a broader effort by the U.S. military to confront racial injustice in the aftermath of the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. An independent commission last year recommended new names for Bragg and eight other Army posts that commemorate Confederate officers. The installation is the largest U.S. Army base by population, with roughly 47,000 active-duty soldiers. The recent renaming didnt play a role in selecting the base to serve as a backdrop for Biden to announce his executive order, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In addition to DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and former President Donald Trump, the current GOP front-runner, are scheduled to address delegates on Saturday at the state convention in Greensboro. Trump, who has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate, is also slated to speak on Saturday to the Georgia Republican Partys convention. The order Biden signed on Friday directs agencies to develop a federal government-wide strategic plan on hiring and job retention for military spouses; bolster child care options; improve the collection of data on military and veteran spouses, caregivers and survivors in the federal workforce; and more than a dozen additional actions. In remarks shortly before signing the order, Biden noted that the U.S. next month will mark 50 years of the all-volunteer force, which the president proclaimed the greatest fighting force in the history of the world, bar none. The reason weve been able to sustain that force year after year, decade after decade, is because military spouses, caregivers and survivors have answered the call as well, Biden said. You have your loved ones backs, just like they have the countrys back. Biden was accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, whose Joining Forces initiatives focuses on aiding military families. She said that while the new executive order is a step forward, employers must also do their part by hiring military spouses and offering their families support. Spouses bring experience and adaptability that really cant be taught, Jill Biden said. And when they get the opportunities that they deserve, our service members can do their duty knowing that those they love most are able to thrive The order was largely framed by conversations through the first ladys initiative, which looks to support families, caregivers and survivors of members of the U.S. military, Jill Biden said on a call with reporters previewing the order. With nearly one in five military families citing challenges with spousal employment as a reason for considering leaving active-duty service, the issue is no small matter for the militarys recruitment and training efforts, according to the White House. More than 16,000 military spouses work within the federal government. Were asking agencies to make it easier for spouses employed by the federal government to take administrative leave, telework and move offices, the first lady said. Were creating resources to support entrepreneurs. And the executive order helps agencies and companies retain military spouses through telework or when they move abroad. Before their visit to Fort Liberty, the Bidens took a tour and met with students at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The school is part of a coalition that received $23.7 million to train students for clean energy jobs from Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Biden said the job training effort is part of a strategy to make us once again the most competitive nation in the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The first Riyadh Air flight will take off on Monday, June 12th, across the capital at low altitude. The debut flight will see the new Riyadh Air plane flying along a path covering some of Riyadh's most iconic parts, including King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Kingdom Tower and Al Faisaliah Tower. The new upcoming Saudi Arabian carrier and second flag carrier has recently unveiled the first of two livery designs on a Boeing 787-9. Read More: Saudi Crown Prince Announces Launch of Riyadh Air Backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air was unveiled in March 2023 and the airline announced an agreement to purchase 39 Boeing Dreamliners, with options for 33 more jets. This acquisition could lead to 121 planes with options, which involves the Kingdom's Jeddah-based national carrier Saudia. Riyadh Air will have its hub in Saudi Arabia's capital city, leveraging the country's strategic location to improve connectivity for passengers to over 100 destinations by 2030. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz considers aviation to be an important component of the "Vision 2030" agenda and he is hoping that annual traffic will triple to 330 million passengers by the end of the decade. Image source: @riyadhair Instagram account. The federal indictment against Donald Trump accuses the former president of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate after leaving the White House in 2021, and then scheming and lying to thwart government efforts to recover them. Justice Department prosecutors brought 37 felony counts against Trump in the indictment, relying upon photographs from Mar-a-Lago, surveillance video, text messages between staffers, Trumps own words, those of his lawyers, and other evidence. It comes across as obviously a very strong case, if it can be proven, said Mark Zaid, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who works on national security issues. Im surprised as to how personally involved it alleges Trump was with respect to the documents, he added. An aide to Trump, Walt Nauta, was charged as a co-conspirator with six felony counts. Trump says he is innocent and has decried the criminal case the second indictment against him in a matter of months as an attempt by his political opponents to hinder his 2024 campaign. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Tuesday in Miami. Here are key takeaways from the indictment unsealed Friday: What are the charges? Trump faces 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act. Other charges include: conspiracy to obstruct justice; corruptly concealing a document or record; concealing a document in a federal investigation; and making false statements. Each of the willful retention counts pertains to a specific classified document found at Mar-A-Lago marked SECRET or TOP SECRET. Topics addressed in the documents include details about U.S. nuclear weapons, the nuclear capabilities of a foreign country and the military activities or capabilities of other countries. The conspiracy charges deal with Trumps alleged attempts to hide documents from his lawyer or federal investigators. The false statement charges stem from Trump causing his lawyer to tell the FBI that no more classified documents were at Mar-a-Lago but then the FBI later found more than 100 documents during an August 2022 search. The most serious charges carry potential prison sentences of up to 20 years each. But judges have discretion and, if convicted, first-time offenders rarely get anywhere near the maximum sentence. Being a former president would also likely be a major consideration in any sentencing. What is the alleged conspiracy to obstruct justice? The indictment accuses Trump and Nauta of conspiring to hide the secret documents from the grand jury, which in May 2022 issued a subpoena for him to turn them over. The conspiracy allegation included a suggestion from Trump that his lawyer falsely tell investigators that the former president didnt have any more classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. It also involved moving boxes to hide the secret documents from Trumps lawyer, and suggesting that Trumps lawyer hide or destroy documents that investigators were seeking. The indictment says that, at Trumps direction, Nauta moved about 64 boxes of documents from a Mar-a-Lago storage room to the former presidents residence in May 2022. He then returned approximately 30 boxes to the storage room on June 2 the same day Trumps legal team came to examine the boxes and search for classified documents to return to the government, the indictment says. Nauta had a brief phone call with Trump before returning those boxes, the indictment says. Neither Trump nor Nauta told the former presidents lawyers that Nauta had moved any of the storage room contents, the indictment says. Is Trump accused of sharing classified information? The indictment alleges Trump showed classified documents to people who didnt have security clearances on two occasions. The court papers detail a meeting Trump had in July 2021 with a writer and publisher about an upcoming book. Trump told the pair look what I found and showed them what he described as a senior military officials plan of attack, according to an audio recording of that conversation obtained by investigators. Trump acknowledged during that meeting that the document was highly confidential and secret information, the indictment says. He also says that he could have declassified the document if he was still president. Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret, he said, according to the indictment. A few months later, Trump showed a representative of his political action committee a classified map of a foreign country while discussing a military operation in the country that was not going well, the indictment says. Trump acknowledged that he shouldnt be showing the map to the person and told him not to get too close, prosecutors allege. What evidence do prosecutors have? In addition to the audio recording, prosecutors also relied upon text messages between Trump employees, photos of boxes of documents stored in various rooms throughout Mar-a-Lago and details about conversations between Trump and his lawyers that were memorialized by one of them. In one conversation with his lawyers, Trump said: I dont want anybody looking through my boxes. Trump also asked one of his lawyers if it would be better if we just told them we dont have anything here, the indictment says. Photographs in the indictment show boxes stacked on a stage in a ballroom as well as in a bathroom. Another shows boxes that spilled over in a storage room, including a document marked SECRET/REL TO USA, FVEY, which means information releasable only to members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Where will the case be heard? While Trumps first court appearance on Tuesday is expected to be in front of a magistrate judge in Miami, the case was filed in West Palm Beach about 70 miles to the north. The case was assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, who issued rulings favorable to him last year and expressed repeated skepticism of Justice Department positions. Cannon was broadly criticized last year for granting the Trump legal teams request for a special master to conduct an independent review of the hundreds of classified documents seized from his Florida property last year. The move, which temporarily halted core aspects of the Justice Departments investigative work, was overturned months later by a three-judge panel of a federal appeals court. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Drag performer Neon Calypso, center, sings and dances to Tina Turner's version of the song "Proud Mary," during a Pride Month Celebration, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in front of the Statehouse, in Boston. The biggest Pride parade in New England returns to Boston after a three-year hiatus Saturday, with a fresh focus on social justice and inclusion rather than corporate backing. About 10,000 marchers signed up before registration was shut down, according to organizers. Employee groups are welcome to march, but corporations arent. We really did start by looking forward to how we could best serve the LGBTQ community in greater Boston and really all across New England, said Jo Trigilio, vice president of Boston Pride for the People. One of the oldest Pride events in the country, this years parade will travel a bit shorter route than in past years, beginning at Copley Square and ending at Boston Common with a festival for families, teens and older community members. A second event for the over-21 crowd will take place on City Hall Plaza and include alcohol, a disc jockey and dancing. This marks Bostons first Pride parade since 2019. The hiatus began with COVID-19, but extended through 2022 because the organization that used to run the event, Boston Pride, dissolved in 2021 under criticism that it excluded racial minorities and transgender people. The return comes amid growing hostility to members of the LGBTQ+ community in parts of the country. Some states have limited drag shows, restricted gender-affirming medical care and banned school library books for their LGBTQ content. Boston Pride for the People, the new group formed to plan Bostons parade, came together last September to create a more inclusive, less corporate festival, Trigilio said. The group centers empowerment, celebration, commemoration and education, and seeks to counter Pride parades and celebrations nationwide that have become too commercial and too focused on appealing to people with privilege, said Trigilio, who uses the pronouns they and them. The more you have corporations involved, the more they are looking for money and that caters to the privileged, Trigilio added. When you have a Pride that is too commercial, it becomes a party and you lose the social justice aspect to it. They said Boston Pride for the People reviewed corporate funders using a number of criteria, including whether they donated to anti-LGBTQ lawmakers. When youre under attack, you dont want to be treated as a market, you want to be treated as an ally, Trigilio said, adding that this years organizers wanted to make sure the parade welcomes LGBTQ people of color, trans people and those facing multiple forms oppression. Just before the start of the parade, Mason Dunn, 37, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, said the crowd was diverse. All different gender identities, all different race, ethnicity, age, ability. Were seeing a really great representation so far, Dunn said. Gov. Maura Healey, one of the nations first two openly lesbian governors, said she is excited to participate. This is a particularly special one to be marching in this year and at this time where we see states and some governors going backward, taking away equality, taking away freedoms, demonizing members of the LGBTQ community, hurting them, banning books, banning shows, banning access to even health care, Healey said. Despite being the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, Massachusetts isnt immune to attacks on the LGBTQ community, according to Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD. He pointed to protests targeting drag shows and harassment against childrens hospitals and physicians that provide gender-affirming health care. The return of Boston Pride with new and grassroots leadership is incredibly important, especially now with rising attacks against the LGBTQ community, Wu said. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, welcomed the parades return, saying its important for Massachusetts and Boston to be a bulwark on the frontlines in a moment of rising hate. Neon Calypso, 30, a Boston drag queen and trans woman of color who performed Tina Turners Proud Mary at a Statehouse raising of the Pride flag Wednesday, said shes baffled by those trying to marginalize drag performers. Its unfortunate that there are states and politicians that people empower that see something thats so welcoming and accepting as something thats negative, she said. A lot of those people who are protesting the shows, if they went, they would actually see that its not what they say. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Warriors spotlight Warriors biggest hype man has a day job: Hype up everyone else Craig Lee/The Examiner Franco Finn, hype man for the Golden State Warriors games, by Cupids Bow and Arrow sculpture in front of the Bay Bridge on the Embarcadero on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. For Franco Finn, winding down is the hardest part. The build up is easy, when he enters the proverbial phone booth and transforms from a mere mortal into the Golden State Warriors deafening, larger-than-life emcee. It doesnt take much for me to be excited about the Warriors, Finn, a San Francisco native, told The Examiner shortly after the team was eliminated from the playoffs. That part comes naturally. The most difficult period of his job is the come down at the end, he said; the transition into the offseason, to a life bereft of the adrenaline high that comes with being Stephen Currys biggest hype man. But he never really unwinds. I dont turn it down, he said with a laugh. If youve been to a Warriors game this millennium, youve undoubtedly experienced Finn. Whether its his voice blaring through Chase Centers booming speaker system or his many appearances on the venues 10,000-foot jumbotron, hes hard to miss. For two decades, hes been entrusted with rousing up 20,000 Warriors fans every home game, first at Oracle Arena and now across the Bay in his hometown. Finn, 46, serves as the Warriors in-arena host, a position hes held far longer than the only other two people to have the job. You may see him interviewing people in the stands during commercial breaks, ringing the ceremonial cable car bell with a celebrity guest at center court, or telling fans to rise to their feet before a dramatic late-game moment. But his job crescendos minutes before tip-off when he revs up the crowd and team by introducing the starting lineup the most sacred sermon of any NBA arena announcer. Its his job to start the engine, he said. Wa-Wa-Wa-Warriors fans! Iiiiits go time! Lets get hyped and make some noiiiiise! he bellows before launching into naming, one by one, which five Warriors are about to take the floor. During the playoffs, his histrionics can be so intense that Finn whos introduced the Warriors dynastic core of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green before every game theyve played in the Bay Area has come close to passing out. His theatrics are widely praised in NBA circles, stamped with approval by current and former Warriors players, coaches, and front office staff. Even Toronto Raptors minority owner, basketball enthusiast and Chef Curry with the pot lyricist Drake has complimented him on his thunderous intros. But basketball season is temporary. Even for the best teams as the Warriors have often been over the past decade it ends in mid-June. Or, as it did for this years Warriors, the campaign abruptly halts a month earlier. So where does that leave Finn, with so much excess energy to spare and no Warriors games to spend it on? If the Incredible Hulks secret is hes always angry, then Finns secret is hes always a hype man, both inside Chase Centers halls and beyond them. His Warriors gig is only part-time. He spends most of his working life as the community activations lead for Alaska Airlines, where hes been employed the last 10 years. If the job description sounds vague and broad, thats because its supposed to be. Finn is, in more ways than one, indescribable. My job is to be the face of Alaska Airlines, Finn said. Any big activations, big launches, whatever we need to jazz up the brand like I do with the Warriors, I do with Alaska Airlines as well. In the simplest terms, Finn is Alaska Airlines emcee the master of ceremonies for any and all ceremonies that need mastering. The airline created the position especially for Finn, tailored to fit his zestful personality. You cant put Franco in a box. If that happened, Id feel bad for the box, said Marilyn Romano, one of Alaska Airlines vice presidents and a friend of Finn. When Alaska Airlines unveils a new route or has sponsorship appearances at events like San Francisco Pride and Carnavale San Francisco, its Finns job to bring them to life. He brings the excitement and the fun to anything that were doing, Romano said. He takes it to the next level. Take this example: Romano said the company hosts events called Surprise and Delight Flights, where theyll spontaneously appear at the gate of a flight and add something special to the experience like the debut of a newly painted aircraft. It could be the first flight of the morning or a redeye. Thats when theyll send Finn to the airport gate to greet the unsuspecting passengers to spice up the event. Theres nothing funnier than watching people at the gate of a 6 a.m. flight where passengers are tired and only looking for coffee and then you start hearing this loud, happy voice. The last thing you think you want to do that early is breakdance with Franco Finn. But then you find yourself doing that, Romano said. Hes there giving away tickets or t-shirts, hes going up to kids and getting them excited. Thats what he does. He brings that joy to what would normally be just another flight. As if his responsibilities with the Warriors and Alaska Airlines werent enough, Finn also triples up as a freelance auctioneer, contracted by some of the Bay Areas biggest Asian American and Pacific Islander nonprofits. Hes auctioned off hundreds of experiences and pieces of memorabilia in his career. The most lucrative items include a $50,000 Warriors basketball autographed by the 2015 championship team, a $100,000 private concert by singer Michael Franti, and an $80,000 Will Ferrell golf pack. His auctioning exploits have grown so renowned, hes earned the moniker, the hype man auctioneer. Im a hype man for hire, Finn, a self-described hustler, said to sum up his multi-headed career. Three different jobs, all sewn together by a common thread: Finns unrelenting appetite for uplifting others. Hes just one person, but hes got the energy of 20 people, Romano said. I have many hands in many cookie jars, Finn admitted. It has definitely been a juggling act. But hey, when youre the voice of the Bay Area and youre being called upon, its an honor. Because I use my talents for the greater good. Craig Lee/The Examiner You cant put Franco in a box. If that happened, Id feel bad for the box, Marilyn Romano, one of Alaska Airlines vice presidents and a friend of Finn, said. Finn credited his nonstop zeal to his Filipino heritage. Filipinos have been so adaptable, he said. Im a pleaser, in many ways. I just like to make people happy. If you talk to the average Filipino, they make something out of nothing. They may not have much, but they make the most out of what they have. Being humble, respectful, treating people how you want to be treated. Thats who I am. It comes from my Asian culture. Its my foundation and DNA, he said. Finn is the only Asian American emcee across all 30 NBA clubs. For a sport so widely embraced by Asians across the globe, they are sparsely represented among its media and front-facing figures. More Filipino Americans are arriving on the scene though, including guards Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz and Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets. Erik Spoelstra, the first Asian American head coach in any of the four major North American sports leagues, is currently leading the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Cassidy Hubbarth is a frequent host and sideline reporter for ESPNs NBA coverage. Finn's Filipino roots are what brought him to basketball in the first place. His mother, Angeles Lucente, immigrated to San Francisco from the Philippines in the 1970s. Finn called basketball her entree into the U.S., the first feature of Americana she fully embraced. She shared that love with Finn, and the sport became their connector. The two would spend night after night watching the Warriors from their Excelsior district home, the only time Finn was allowed to stay up past his bedtime. His hype man origin story started a bit later when he became the student body spirit commissioner as a senior at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep. Thats where he discovered his powers, stirring up his classmates before sports games or rallies. Finns big break came at one of his earliest jobs out of college. He was an emcee for Radio Disney, warming up crazed teenagers before concerts for mega pop stars like Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and Christina Aguilera. When he was 25, after rousing up the Oakland Coliseum prior to a Hilary Duff show, he was approached backstage. It was a high-ranking Warriors business staffer who had been in the crowd with his family. God, you commanded that audience, Finn remembers the team official telling him. We need a hype guy. Like you. That opened the door for him to audition for the vacancy. Twenty years later, Finn has become a hallmark of the team that brought him and his mom together. This is the American dream, Finn said. My job is a symbol of what my mom wanted for her son when she immigrated here. Its fitting that the two primary voices at Chase Center are Finn, an Asian American, and Matt Pitman, the only openly gay public address announcer in the NBA. What a perfect backdrop, Finn said of his and Pitmans unique dynamic. Theres no judgment here. We have such a diverse population. And I embrace it and will continue to be a voice for the community. I think its a natural fit. Of course it would be here in the Bay, Pitman said. The Warriors understand that more than any other organization. Having people in every role who reflect the many colors, stripes, orientations of the Bay Area community is important to them. Our pairing is significant in that way. Finn hopes his journey has blazed the trail for more people who look like him to pursue professions where theyve historically been underrepresented. I do it because I love it. I knew from a young age this is what I wanted to do, and I just happen to be Filipino American, he said. Filipinos are stereotypically a nurse or a doctor. Its nice to be someone thats helping to break the bamboo ceiling. He frequently receives messages from fans in the Philippines who watch the Warriors on NBA League Pass where the in-arena entertainment is shown during the commercial breaks from either young people thanking him for paving the way, thrilled to see someone with their heritage take center stage on the NBAs platform, or parents saying their children mimic his electric introductions. Im living proof that when you put your mind to it, dont let anything stop you, he said. If its something you love and youre passionate about, youve got to trust that gut instinct. I created my own path. Its unconventional, but that plays into who I am. A letter that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, of Ohio, wrote on June 9, 2023, to Attorney General Merrick Garland is photographed in Frederick, Md. Former President Donald Trumps indictment on charges of mishandling classified documents is set to play out in federal court in Florida. Former President Donald Trumps indictment on charges of mishandling classified documents is set to play out in a federal court in Florida. But about a thousand miles away, part of Trumps defense is well underway in a different venue the halls of Congress, where Republicans have been preparing for months to wage an aggressive counter-offensive against the Justice Department. The federal indictment against Trump, unsealed Friday, includes 37 counts, including allegations that the former president intentionally possessed classified documents, showed them off to visitors, willfully defied Justice Department demands to return them and made false statements to federal authorities about them. The evidence details Trumps own words and actions as recounted by lawyers, close aides and other witnesses. The Republican campaign to discredit federal prosecutors skims over the substance of those charges, which were brought by a grand jury in Florida. GOP lawmakers are instead working, as they have for several years, to foster a broader argument that law enforcement and President Joe Biden are conspiring against the former president and possible Republican nominee for president in 2024. Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America, tweeted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, soon after Trump said on his social media platform Thursday night that an indictment was coming. McCarthy blamed Biden, who has declined to comment on the case and said he is not at all involved in the Justice Departments decisions. McCarthy called it a grave injustice and said that House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable. Republican lawmakers in the House have already laid extensive groundwork for the effort to defend Trump since taking the majority in January. A near constant string of hearings featuring former FBI agents, Twitter executives and federal officials have sought to paint the narrative of a corrupt government using its powers against Trump and the right. A GOP-led House subcommittee on the weaponization of government is probing the Justice Department and other government agencies, while at the same time Republicans are investigating Bidens son Hunter Biden. Its a sad day for America, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, a leading Trump defender and ally in the House, said in a statement on Thursday evening. God bless President Trump. Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs was more strident. We have now reached a war phase, he tweeted. Eye for an eye. Democrats say the Republicans are trafficking in conspiracy theories, with potentially dangerous consequences. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York, issued a joint statement Friday urging calm around the Trump case, saying everyone should let this case proceed peacefully in court. Recent Republicans rhetoric not only undermines the Department of Justice but betrays the essential principle of justice that no one is above the commands of law, not even a former President or a self-proclaimed billionaire, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Key elements of the GOP strategy are to discredit the prosecutors and investigate the investigators a playbook that Republicans employed during Trumps presidency as his own Justice Department probed his connections to Russia, and also used in April when Trump was charged in a hush money investigation in New York. In the days leading to the New York indictment, House Republicans laid out a full-on campaign against Alvin Bragg, the Democratic district attorney in Manhattan who brought the case against the former president. Charging that the prosecution was pure politics, Jordan held a field hearing near Braggs New York offices to examine what they said were his pro-crime, anti-victim policies. Jordan is also the top Republican on the weaponization subcommittee. As special counsel Jack Smith was preparing this week to release the indictment, Trumps allies on Capitol Hill were working overtime to prepare the defense of the former president. Jordan issued a series of letters to the Justice Department, demanding documents related to his investigation into Trumps handling of classified records. Jordan cited the recent report by special counsel John Durham that found that the FBI rushed into its investigation of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and routinely ignored or rationalized evidence that undercut its premise. In the June 1 letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jordan requested information about the ongoing investigation in order to ensure any ongoing investigations are not poisoned by this same politicization. Just as the indictment was unsealed on Friday, Jordan sent another letter to Garland, this time laying out testimony from a former FBI official who testified to the committee about the raid at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. The Ohio Republican wrote that Steven DAntuono, a former assistant director at the FBIs Washington Field Office, told the committee the Justice Department was not following the same principles as previous raids. Defending Trump also has the potential to ease tensions among House Republicans as they face their own troubles on Capitol Hill, after a conservative-led revolt over the recent debt ceiling deal divided the party this week and halted most legislation from passing on the floor. But even if Republicans are able to shape public perception of the probes, there is one thing they cannot do control the outcome of Trumps trial. The former president is at great legal risk, no matter what the public believes, under two indictments and potentially more as prosecutors in Georgia and Washington investigate his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection. Still, some Republicans maintain that the multiple indictments could help Trump improve his standing in polls of Republican voters and solidify the impression that the government is conspiring against him. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina told CNN she believes the indictment handed Donald Trump the nomination in the 2024 GOP primary. And as the House panel has ramped up its efforts to defend the former president, the word weaponization has taken root among Trumps Republican allies. Nearly every GOP lawmaker used the term as did a member of Trumps legal team hours before the charges were unsealed to the public. It puts a stamp of reality on something that really is unreal in terms of the weaponization of the Department of Justice, said James Trusty, one of Trumps lawyers, on ABC Friday morning. Trump announced later in the day that Trusty was leaving his team. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas tweeted that the weaponization of our Department of Justice against enemies of the Biden admin. will do enormous damage to the rule of law & have a lasting impact. Cruzs GOP colleagues in the Senate were more muted, with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and others who have criticized the former president declining to weigh in on the indictment. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the only GOP senator to vote to convict Trump in both of his impeachment trials, was a rare voice of criticism. While Romney stressed that Trump is entitled to presumption of innocence, he said he believes the charges are serious and Trump brought them on himself. These allegations are serious and if proven, would be consistent with his other actions offensive to the national interest, Romney said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Its Friday afternoon at the gates of Mar-a-Lago. In the last parking area before the bridge that leads to Donald Trumps residence in Palm Beach, Florida, there are journalists, a handful of snapper fishermen and some Trump supporters with a megaphone. Including guy who calls himself Baked Alaska, who defines himself as an extreme right-wing influencer and is recording everything with his cell phone. He has just been released from prison for taking part in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, for which he was sentenced to 60 days behind days. Hes there with Retiree Debbie Macchia, who says she spends every weekend at the entrance road to the residential estate, the kind that shows that good taste is almost never bought with money. According to Macchia, on a big day, around 500 people come together, and if theyre lucky Trump will drive past in his caravan of armored vehicles. Sometimes, like on January 6, he sends out cookies for all of us. This weekend, we dont know when he will be arriving from his home in New Jersey. The only clear thing is that interesting days are ahead, she adds. Trump supporters stationed on the bridge leading to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach on April 1. GIORGIO VIERA (AFP) Mar-a-Lago a 126-room Mediterranean-style mansion, shielded by secret service agents became the center of a political and legal hurricane last week, when Trump was charged for withholding hundreds of secret and classified documents at his Florida home after leaving office. Two parallel investigations, one led by the FBI and another by a grand jury, have ended in an indictment against Trump. The former president will have to testify next Tuesday at a federal courthouse in downtown Miami. It is the second time that Trump has been charged: in April, he was also indicted over his involvement in hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. It is also the first time in history that a former president has faced federal crimes seven, to be exact. The details of the case, which promises to test the U.S. judicial system and the very workings of U.S. democracy, are outlined in an explosive 49-page indictment filed Friday by Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed by the Department of Justice. In total, Trump faces 37 felony counts: 31 for the willful retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act; three for withholding and concealing a document, two for false statements and representations; and one for conspiracy to obstruct justice with his aide, Walt Nauta. The indictment accuses Nauta of withholding records,concealing documents and making false statements. A risk to foreign relations The classifed documents kept at Mar-a-Lago included information about U.S. nuclear weapons, the nuclear capabilities of a foreign country and the military activities or capabilities of other countries, as well as response plans in the case of a nuclear attack. While there is no record that the people who accessed the papers without authorization intended to spy on the U.S., the indictment said the mere possibility posed a risk to the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods. Although the legal jargon is difficult to understand at times, the carefully written indictment reads like a gipping suspense novel, filled with intimate details about life at Mar-a-Lago. The mansion hosted more than 150 events, including weddings, movie premieres and fundraisers, drawing tens of thousands of guests between January 2021 and last August 8, the day when FBI agents arrived at Mar-a-Lago to search for material that Trump had failed to hand over. By law, the documents are the property of the National Archives and no president can claim them as their own. Not even President Joe Biden, who is at the center of another investigation into his handling of documents from his time as vice president that were found years later in a private office and at his Delaware residence. The indictment filed by Smith who Trump has called a deranged lunatic also comes with illustrations: the 49-page document includes photographs of where the boxes of classified documents were kept at Mar-a-Lago, while the text explains how they were moved from one place to another. Aerial view of the Mar-a-Lago estate. Steve Helber (AP) To begin with, some of the boxes were stored on the stage of the White and Gold Ballroom, in the main building of the Mar-a-Lago club, which has hundreds of members and more than 150 employees. Some of the boxes were then moved to the business center at the club, which includes a spa, gift shop, gyms, outdoor pool and courtyard. When an employee asked if the boxes could be moved so that staff could use the room as an office, the documents ended up in the bathroom of the lake room, which is near the tower, the most distinctive architectural feature of Mar-a-Lago. Shortly after, Trump ordered a storage room on the ground floor to be cleaned out to accommodate 80 boxes. According to the indictment, the door to that storage room was often open. Classified papers next to a shower Two particular images from the indictment caught the publics attention on Friday. The first shows a box of documents blocking access to a shower, while the second taken by Nauta in December 2021 shows an open filing cabinet, with the contents all over the floor. He sent the photo to a colleague, who texted back: Oh no oh no. Around that time, some boxes were moved to the part of Mar-a-Lago, where the Trump family stays when they are in Florida. When the FBI entered the house, they found 75 boxes in the storage room and 27 in the bedroom area. All contained material marked as confidential, secret and top secret. The indictment includes transcripts of conversation between Mar-a-Lago workers captured by security cameras, although only Nauta who told the FBI he was not aware of the classified documents is cited by name. In May 2022, when Trump was told by his lawyer that the grand jury was demanding the return of any documents marked as classified, the former president allegedly replied: Wouldnt it be better if we just told them we dont have anything here? The 49-page document also includes a surrealist conversation between Trump, a publisher, a writer and an unnamed employee. Durinth meeting, Trump appears to show the three a classified Pentagon report on a hypothetical attack on Iran. - Trump: As presidenti I could have declassified it. - Staffer: Yeah - Trump: Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret. - Staffer: Yeay. Now we have a problem. - Trump: Isnt that interesting? According to historian Russell L. Riley, co-director of the Miller Center for Oral History of Presidents at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, this evidence indicates that Trumps behavior was not only terribly reckless, but also foolish. As someone who dedicates himself to studying our leaders without partisan bias, I cant help but be frustrated by the six years weve had to deal with him. In my opinion, the indictment shows that he has always been convinced that whatever he does, he will get away with it, he said in a telephone interview on Friday. As president, he could not take those boxes, regardless of theIR content. Its as if he took furniture or computers from the White House. The law does not contemplate a punishment for that specific behavior, because it did not foresee the existence of a president with such indecent behavior, he added. Riley doesnt think the latest news will sway voters in the United States, where the case is either proof that no one is above the law or that the justice system is also partisan. Trump has announced his 2024 White House run, and is the favorite to win the Republican presidential primaries, with 50% of support. All signs indicate that Trumps presidential campaign will take place between rallies and the courtroom. Republicans, save a few exceptions, have rushed to his defense, arguing that federal agencies have been politically weaponized. Its a belief shared by Trump supporters like Debbie Macchia and her friends, who are willing to spend the weekend in a roadside parking lot in the summer heat. They believe he is a victim of a witch hunt. You cannot reason someone out of something he or she was not reasoned into, explained Riley, quoting Jonathan Swift, in reference to Trumps diehard followers. Macchia says that she will be back at the gates of Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, when Trump must appear in court in Miami. And on Wednesday, because in addition to being Flag Day, it is the [77th] birthday of President Trump. According to Macchia, Trump supporters are also organizing to demonstrate in front of the courthouse to show their support. The city will even reserve a lane of the I-95 highway so that Trump can cover the 68 miles that separate Mar-a-Lago from the court. A Trump supporter protests outside the Miami courthouse, where the former president will appear on Tuesday. MARCO BELLO (REUTERS) The Department of Justice decided to present the case in South Florida and not in Washington where security would have been easier in order to avoid possible legal challenges over jurisdiction. After all, the alleged crimes were committed in Palm Beach. That decision was made knowing that it the case could land in the hand of Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump. Last year, she agreed to suspend the Mar-a-Lago investigation until a special master could review the documents a decision that was overturned by an appeals court. Cannon is tasked with directing the grand jury and imposing the sentence. If the former president is found guilty, in theory, he could face up to 400 years in prison. But in practice, sentences are usually far shorter than the maximum. At Trumps age, that could still mean spending the rest of his life behind bars, barring pardons or parole. Baked Alaska, the far-right influencer, believes that if Trump is sentenced, he will soon be pardoned. He believes that Trump will win the election, get himself out of jail, along with a lot of other innocent people and put a bunch of other people in prison, starting with [White House chief medical officer] Anthony Fauci and [former speaker of the House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi. After all, if Trump ends up behind bars, there is legally nothing stopping him from becoming president. He could even serve from behind bars. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The sandwich maker's share price had been pummeled in the wake of workers' exodus from the office during and after the pandemic. They had fallen from 2.60 a share in January 2020 to 80p at present. Yet commodity prices were easing and according to the British Sandwich and Food To Go Association, Britons' consumption of sandwiches had since recovered to 85% of their pre-pandemic level. Homeworkers were also said to be spending more on easy lunches, predicting that the overall food-to-go market would be worth 19.8bn by the end of 2023 or 8% more than in 2019. Furthermore, its net debt had been trimmed and the company was now returning capital and buying back shares. The trend in operating profits was also pointing higher. "Sarnies might not improve with age, but Greencore should see tasty growth over the next few years: buy." Music royalties outfit Round Hill were offering attractive dividend income and long-term growth prospects, the Financial Mail on Sunday's Midas column said. Hence, the shares were a 'buy', the tipster told readers. The company owned 51 catalogues that included over 120,000 songs on which it collected fees each time that they were played again. At the company's request, two firms had valued its portfolio at approximately $600m, implying a net asset value of $1.27, against a current share price of US 78 cents (63p). That had prompted its chief executive officer, Josh Gruss, to spend almost 9m during the past month alone, taking his family's stake in Round Hill to 6.3%. Sales were up by 32% across 2022 to $32.4m and the divi was raised by 13% to US4.88 cents per share. And analysts were expecting a payout of at least 4.5p per share over the next three years. "The music industry is vast, vibrant and expanding fast. Round Hill Music Royalty Fund is small in this 75 billion market but Gruss is a smart operator and the shares, at 78 cents (63p), offer attractive dividend income and long-term growth prospects. Buy." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. What a week it was for you, for me, for our local restaurants as a result of smoke from the Canadian wild fires. In West Brighton in the wake of Wednesdays eerie orange sky with hardly a bird chirping, a thick haze hovered over town, freaking out folks from being in the streets as usual. A drive down Forest Avenue offered glimpses into businesses open but empty. That night restaurateur Rob DeLuca joked, It smells like a never-ending brick oven outside. Im the last person on the planet to tell someone to put a mask on. But if there was ever a time to do it, it might be today. As announcements came over the week about the Snug Harbors Neptune Ball rescheduling and a shift to remote learning in NYC, I reminded myself that this situation wasnt our first stinky, hazy rodeo on Staten Island. SMELLS AND SMOKE AROUND US As a native, Ive smelled a lot in my 51 years here chemical spills and refinery fumes from Elizabeth, N.J., low tide in Travis, New Springville in a heat wave with The Dump in full bloom doubly fragrant stuff timed at low tide. I also remember as a child the brush fires of Midland Beach and Ocean Breeze the infernos and their fuggy aftermath on the Dongan Playground near PS 52. Forget the Canadian situation at the moment: as a former resident of Dongan Hills Avenue, timber box wetlands are vivid memories while living in the rhizome-filled vicinity of Last Chance Pond. When our family moved to Mountainside Road in Dongan Hills by Vista Avenue and Holly Street, as the name suggests, I could see those conflagrations from above. A look from our sunroom with binoculars put me right into the fiery brush with flames so intense they appeared to be as tall as then-called Carmel Richmond Nursing Home. - View of a train leaving the Richmond Valley Station heading towards St. George.Hazy skies due to Canadian wildfires the cause of New York Citys worst air quality in decades, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance)Owen Reiter For an 8-year old kid, it was indeed scary. But at that time I was learning how to cook and it was the start of finding comfort and escape in the kitchen. At least the window in that room didnt have such a terrifying view. As for the worlds largest garbage dump formerly housed right here on Staten Island, it exuded a perfume that sort of grew on you or at least let you got used to it. I had worked in the law office of the late Anthony F.X. Finn at the corner of Marsh and Richmond Avenue. And when the summer heat kicked in, that dump was ripe. But Im here, still with two arms and two legs and to say well get through it. The smoke will pass. And I look forward to writing next Sundays column on an outdoor dining table when the air is fresh and new again. Maybe the clear skies will inspire a better appreciation for those al fresco restaurant moments. Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Call it the valedictorian trifecta. Not only did West Brighton resident, Julianna Meyer, recently graduate college as the valedictorian, but she also has the impressive distinction of graduating valedictorian three times in her educational career: Blessed Sacrament School valedictorian in 2015, Notre Dame Academy valedictorian in 2019, and Hunter College of the City University of New York on May 24, 2023. Meyer is the daughter of James and Jennifer Meyer and double-majored in Childhood Education and English Literature, with a concentration in Language Arts. She is also a former Miss Staten Island Outstanding Teen. As accomplished as Meyer is, she is equally modest, not ever expecting to be named valedictorian of Hunter College, where she was part of the William E. Macaulay Honors College commonly referred to as Macaulay Honors College or Macaulay a highly selective honors college for students at the CUNY system in New York City. The college awards full-tuition scholarships to all of its undergraduates. When I was meeting with my advisor in early April, he told me that he had submitted my name to be valedictorian and to be on the lookout for an email from the Presidents Office, explained Meyer in an exclusive interview with the Advance/SILive.com. I was shocked when he told me because I was so caught off guard. We were supposed to just be meeting to discuss my student teaching so far. Hearing this news was such a pleasant surprise, during an overwhelming semester for Meyer. I didnt think too much about it after, because I didnt want to get too excited just in case the nomination wasnt accepted, she said. At the end of April, just a few days before my birthday, I received an email that I was being named one of the valedictorians. I had just gotten home from RCDC Dance studio [on Staten Island], where I teach ballet and tap, hiphop and acro. It was pretty late and I was exhausted, because I had student taught all day at my school in Tribeca, and I had gone right to teaching dance after school. Meyer immediately ran home to share the good news with her mom, excited and honored to have her hard work recognized at graduation. It feels really special to be a valedictorian for the Hunter College class of 2023. Having graduated as the valedictorian of my elementary school and my high school, this was such a full circle moment for me. Meyer presided as valectorian at two commencement ceremonies: The Macaulay commencement, held at the United Palace Theater, Manhattan, and the Hunter College graduation, held at Barclays Center, Brooklyn. Julianna Meyer, of West Brighton, graduated Valectorian of Hunter College of the City University of New York, Class of 2023. (Courtesy Julianna Meyer) INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES AT MACAULAY Admittedly, Meyer was hesitant to matriculate at Macaulay Honors College, uncertain of her major and the career path she wanted to pursue. However, all her reservations soon dissipated. At Macaulay Honors College, youre required to take honors seminars, which gave me access to incredible experiences and opportunities to explore different fields she said. In my first semester, we took Arts in NYC. I got to visit different museums, see shows like Fall for Dance at City Center, and see an opera at the Met. This class pushed me into a creative side where I fell in love with reading and writing, especially because I wrote my final paper for this course, an arts dialogue, on Heathers the Musical. In the spring semester of my freshman year, I took the next honors seminar, People of NYC. Although this semester sent us home for the COVID lockdown, my professor created a rich study of New York City neighborhoods and exposed me to the history of education in the city. At the same time, I was taking an urban education course and a creative writing course. These educational experiences propelled Meyer to eventually declare her double majors of Childhood Education and English Literature. Being in the Macaulay Honors College, I had access to unique honors courses and seminars across all CUNYs, Julianna said. I took one course, Science Fiction: Visions and Universes my absolute favorite class at the Macaulay Honors College on the Upper West Side, and I absolutely loved it. We read books like The Martian, Parable of the Sower, and Binti. It was a small class [of 15], meaning we all got to really contribute our ideas to our discussions. Julianna Meyer, of West Brighton, graduated Valectorian of Hunter College of the City University of New York, Class of 2023. She is pictured with her parents, James and Jennifer Meyer. (Courtesy Julianna Meyer) FUTURE EDUCATOR Now a college alumna, Meyer reflects on what makes her college experience at Hunter and Macaulay special: incredible educational opportunities, unique work experiences, and a high quality education all for free. Meyer earned her college degree debt-free, something basically impossible in todays world. I had my own advisor who made sure to meet with me several times during the semester, kept me on track for graduation, and provided me with opportunities I might be interested in, she said. My advisor actually suggested I apply for the Teach for America One Day program, and I did. Meyer was accepted and volunteered virtually in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to create digital literacy instruction for low-income kindergarten students in Las Vegas. Julianna Meyer teaches young students while at Hunter College during Spring 2022, at the Children's Workshop School, in the Lower East Side, Manhattan. (Courtesy Julianna Meyer) The Macaulay Honors College really celebrates its students and their victories, no matter how small, she added. Its an honor to be a part of this community. However, I found that the most support and community actually came from the School of Education at Hunter College. Hunter College was my home campus, and the School of Education is a phenomenal school filled with supportive, innovative professors. My classmates and I became so close as we learned together and supported each other throughout our student teaching. This fall, Meyer hopes to land a full-time teaching position in an elementary school in the New York City Department of Education. After gaining some real-world teaching experience, Im planning to apply to graduate school to pursue a Masters Degree, although Im not certain what area of education I want to specialize yet. Right now, Im considering literacy education. Julianna Meyer, of West Brighton, graduated Valectorian of Hunter College of the City University of New York, Class of 2023. (Courtesy Julianna Meyer) KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2023 - 16:25 | World, All, Japan The Defense Ministry said Sunday it has extended an order instructing the Self-Defense Forces to destroy any North Korean projectile that could fly over Japanese territory, despite the expiration of a period in which Pyongyang said it would launch a satellite-carrying rocket. The decision indicates Japan will remain vigilant given North Korea has indicated it plans to make an attempt in the near future following the failure of a launch late last month. North Korea notified Japan and the International Maritime Organization in late May that it was planning on launching a satellite between May 31 and midnight Saturday. Japan considers any North Korean launch of a rocket carrying a satellite as equivalent to that of a ballistic missile test and thus in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at thwarting Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development. On May 31, North Korea attempted to launch a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit but the operation failed due to "serious defects," according to the country's state media. On June 4, North Korea indicated the next launch would be made without giving advance notice, rapping the IMO for adopting a resolution criticizing it over the May 31 launch, the Korean Central News Agency said. With the extension of the Japanese ministry's destruction order, originally issued on May 29, the SDF will continue to deploy ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles on the main island of Okinawa Prefecture as well as on Miyako and Yonaguni islands. The United States and its Asian security allies, Japan and South Korea, remained on alert throughout the pre-declared launch window. The North believes that a military reconnaissance satellite is necessary to detect potential surprise attacks from Washington and Seoul. South Korea remains technically in a state of war with Pyongyang as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Related coverage: North Korea raps IMO, says not to issue advance satellite launch notice Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! CBD is heartened to see a change in monarch hasnt stopped the time-honoured tradition of bestowing annual gongs on Australias washed-up politicians to mark the sovereigns birthday. This years Kings Birthday Honours, the first time theyve been called that in more than half a century, provided plenty of nearly forgotten ex-politicians a shiny new suffix. Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been named in the Kings Birthday Honours. Credit: Wolter Peeters Leading the pack is former Liberal West Australian premier Colin Barnett, and ex-Labor minister Jenny Macklin, both made Companions of the Order of Australia. Journalist turned John Howard-slaying former Labor MP Maxine McKew was another political headliner, appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore is now an AO and given her endless reign, were surprised its taken this long. Advertisement Eating outJust open Sydneys first Chinese-Peruvian chifa restaurant Folklor opens at Walsh Bay The team behind Surry Hills restaurant Warike shows theres more to Peruvian food than ceviche. Bianca Hrovat June 9, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Sydneys first chifa restaurant, Folklor, is a culinary love letter to the Chinese Peruvian fusion cuisine of owner Luis Guzmans childhood. Guzman moved from Lima to Australia more than 13 years ago, but the memory of walking to his local chifa restaurant and sitting down with a comforting bowl of chaufa (fried rice) and bottle of Inca Kola (a golden, citrusy soft drink) persists. Growing up, it was the norm to go out and eat chifa food at least once a week, Guzman says. It was simple, and homey, and I missed it a lot. While Chinese Peruvian cuisine is incredibly popular in Peru (there are more than 500 chifa restaurants in Lima alone), it was seldom seen in Sydney until this week, when Guzman and executive chef Hector Chunga opened Folklor at Walsh Bay. Folklor is a new chifa restaurant that has opened in Walsh Bay. Supplied Advertisement It is the pairs second venture, following the success of Peruvian restaurant Warike in Surry Hills. 14 / 20 Review Join the pisco party at Warike, Sydney Chifa emerged in Peru with the arrival of immigrants from the Guangdong region of China in the late 19th century. It is the fusion of Cantonese and Peruvian cuisine, often marrying the Chinese cooking techniques of their homeland with easier-to-find Peruvian ingredients. Its sweet, sour and smoky, often cooked on a wok, explains Guzman. Photo: Supplied Advertisement The 100-seat restaurant is dark and moody, inspired by the hidden bars of the Limas bohemian Barranco district. There are murals on the walls, a crown of cherry blossoms over the bar, and colourful LED lighting. We have made it our mission to share chifa with Sydney because its something special and close to our hearts, Guzman says. We want to share our culture and our history with people. Not just the food and the drink, but how this cuisine came to be. Theres more to Peruvian food than ceviche. At Folklor, theres kamlu wanton (fried wontons topped with a sweet tamarind sauce and charsiu pork); tallarin saltado (stir-fried noodles, similar to chow mein, using a Peruvian steak sauce); and Guzmans favourite, the chaufa Folklor (fried rice with sweet banana, egg and chicken marinated in fermented soybean sauce). Advertisement Photo: Supplied The menu also features a selection of nikkei, or Japanese Peruvian, dishes. Guzman recommends the wagyu a lo pobre, a nigiri roll with MB8+ wagyu, anticuchera (red wine vinegar and aji panca chile) sauce, quail egg and banana. The fusion theme continues into the drink list, with house cocktails made using Peruvian, Chinese and Japanese spirits. For those unfamiliar with the dishes on offer at Folklor, staff are on board to help. For weeks, theyve been trained to educate diners about each menu item and the history behind it. We want our guests to enjoy an amazing culinary experience, leave wanting to know more about Peru and its culture, and perhaps travel there one day as a result, Guzman says. Advertisement Open Tue-Fri 5-10pm; Sat-Sun noon-3pm and 5-10pm Shop 7/16 Hickson Road, Dawes Point, folklorrestaurant.com.au Photo: Supplied Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Three men are dead, a fourth injured, and a fifth is wanted for murder after a series of unrelated, violent attacks across the city culminating in a brazen fatal shooting on Sunday. Emergency services were called to Factory Street, Granville in the citys west shortly before 4.30pm on Sunday following reports of a shooting. Investigations are under way after a man was shot dead in Sydneys west. Credit: Nine News A man, believed to be aged in his 40s, was found suffering a gunshot wound to his left shoulder, police said. He died at the scene. Police on Monday said they had seized a number of vehicles, and two men were assisting with inquiries. Superintendent Andrew Holland said two groups of Asian males met at the location before what he described as a targeted attack with likely links to organised crime. They met there for a reason, and we are looking into why they met, he said. We are having troubles with translation with them. A teenage boy is in a critical condition after allegedly being stabbed in Sydneys north. Police said they were called to reports of a brawl on Sunday night and found a 14-year-old boy inside Macquarie University train station with a stab wound. Paramedics arrived at the scene in Macquarie Park, near the corner of Herring Road, about 5.30pm. The boy was taken to the Childrens Hospital at Westmead with a chest wound, a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said. The teenager remained in a critical condition on Monday. Police said he was fleeing a fight when he was allegedly stabbed. Three teenagers have been charged - one with murder - after a 32-year-old man was allegedly killed at a home in Sydneys west. Police and paramedics were called to Ellsworth Drive, Tregear, where they found a man unconscious in a bedroom of a home at 10.30pm on Saturday. Ellsworth Drive, Tregear, where a 32-year-old man was found dead in a home. Three teenagers have been charged, one with murder. Credit: Google Paramedics tried to revive him, but he died and police set up a crime scene. Three teenage residents of the same home were taken to Mt Druitt police station after officers were told the dead man was injured in a fight, NSW Police said on Sunday. Repeated polls this year have indicated a clear decline in support for the proposed constitutional change to enshrine a Voice to parliament. That should be deeply concerning for the many groups and individuals behind the Yes campaign. It will be more worrying for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have fought so hard for a body that might carry their views to the highest levels of this nation. The Yes campaign has not sustained momentum. Credit: Since the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, there have been countless high-level and grass-roots discussions, official reports and legal opinions, parliamentary inquiries and more about what form the Voice should take. Yet too many Australians say they still do not understand it. Regaining widespread support is vital if Australia is to push ahead with its long and often difficult journey to achieve the goals demanded by our nations history. An online store has been openly selling key rings, T-shirts, beanies and stickers themed on the murderous Ustasha regime of World War II, as well as prints of wartime Croatian dictator, Ante Pavelic, a close ally of Adolf Hitler. An investigation by this masthead has uncovered how mainstream the celebration of the Ustasha regime that slaughtered Serbs, Jews and Romani people between 1941 and 1945 is in key institutions of the Australian-Croatian community. A Ustasha T-shirt for sale on an Australian website. The Sydney-based website, which this investigation has chosen not to name, promotes itself and its sale of Ustasha-themed memorabilia through paid advertisements on social media and at stalls at Croatian community functions. It offers free shipping on orders over $100 worldwide. The website has no contact numbers or names and is registered through a US company that hides the identity of its owner. But our investigation has established, through Australian business records, that it was created by Monika Hecimovic, a young Sydney woman. Too many teachers feel unprepared to teach reading comprehension and use ad hoc and inconsistent strategies, new research has found. Experts said the inconsistent approach to teaching reading in the early years risked leaving many students borderline illiterate when they reach secondary school. Bentleigh West Primary School Principal Sarah Asome and grade 2 students (left to right) Oliver Cowen and Essie Barker. Credit: JOE ARMAO In Elementary Teachers Perspectives on Teaching Reading, a national study by La Trobe University examining teachers beliefs on how children develop reading comprehension skills in primary school, researchers found teachers used ad hoc practices to teach reading comprehension and often relied on their own personal research. The study, which surveyed teachers across government, independent and Catholic sectors, also found there was no uniformity on how much time should be given to different tasks relating to reading comprehension and that there was a proliferation of commercial reading programs being used at schools, which experts said had varying levels of being evidence-backed. The Andrews government has continued to sign contracts with embattled consultancy PwC, including for an audit of an agency that manages $70 billion of public funds, despite the deepening tax leak scandal and mounting pressure for a freeze on future work with the firm. In response to questions from this masthead about the contracts, the government has announced an overhaul of its code of conduct for suppliers of services, possibly including tough new penalties for contraventions of the code. PwC has won Victorian government work this year despite the tax leak scandal. Credit: Aresna Villanueva But the opposition and the Greens say such a review is inadequate. Details from the governments tender website show the Victorian Funds Management Corporation which manages investments for 31 government agencies and several major hospitals has signed and renewed contracts with PwC since it was revealed in January that the firm leaked confidential federal government information to clients about changes to Australian multinational tax-avoidance laws. KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2023 - 10:20 | Feature, All, Japan The Japanese government is ramping up efforts to narrow the digital divide between the young and elderly, as the rapid digitalization of society continues to highlight the urgent need to address intergenerational gaps. With some 20 million senior citizens estimated to be unfamiliar with how to operate smartphones and other digital devices, the government has been offering people assistance by holding classes in collaboration with mobile phone companies. But such initiatives have only attracted people already eager to learn new digital skills. According to a public opinion survey on smartphone usage conducted by the government in 2020, less than 10 percent of those between the age of 18 to 59 responded that they "hardly use" or "do not use" such devices. In contrast, the percentage of those saying they hardly use their smartphones rose substantially for older generations, standing at 25.7 percent of those aged 60 to 69, and 57.9 percent of those aged 70 and above. At a smartphone education class run privately by NTT Docomo Inc. at its store in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward in April, the instructor showed a photo of a large white dog to two elderly men and explained how to use an image search application via the camera function. The participants were encouraged to take photos and use the app to identify the dog's breed. One of them expressed his eagerness to learn, saying, "It is inconvenient nowadays if you cannot use a smartphone. I want to improve my skills." NTT Docomo's smartphone classes have been attended more than 15 million times since their launch in 2018. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has also outsourced running the training sessions to mobile phone firms and others since 2021 to teach people how to apply for "My Number" national identification cards. But there has been a struggle to encourage those with little interest in improving their digital skills to attend. "It's difficult to reach many other elderly people, who do not participate," said an NTT Docomo official. Starting from fiscal 2021, the ministry has set a five-year goal of providing training to 10 million people through the sessions, aiming to reach half the estimated number of people unfamiliar with digital devices. The number of participants stood at 250,000 in fiscal 2021 and jumped more than twofold the following year, but the figure remains far from the ministry's target. As part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's national digitalization strategy, the government aimed in fiscal 2022 to secure more than 20,000 people in local areas familiar with digital devices to teach other residents how to operate them. More than 26,000 people have already registered, and the government is aiming for 50,000 supporters by fiscal 2027. Tetsuya Toyoda, a researcher at Oricom Digital Divide Solutions, a private institution seeking to bridge the digital divide, said digital technology is taken for granted by the younger generations, who lack an awareness of existing disparities. "The government, companies, and every citizen first need to recognize the problem and make efforts to resolve it," Toyoda said. Related coverage: FEATURE: Japan firms creating cutting-edge tech to make Society 5.0 a reality The predictable hue and cry no more politicians! usually thwarts such attempts. Just as important an impediment is section 24 of the Constitution. It is the so-called nexus provision, which requires that the number of MPs shall be, as nearly as practicable, twice the number of senators. Therefore, any increase to the size of the House of Representatives requires a proportionate increase in the size of the Senate. Don Farrell is probably the shrewdest person in cabinet. A wily old fox like him does nothing without a reason. Farrells reference has been interpreted as laying the early groundwork for an increase in the size of the House of Representatives. Various Labor figures have told this masthead that the idea is under active consideration. The Australia Institute, among others, has made submissions to the inquiry recommending a one-third increase, to 234. After each federal election, the committee conducts a review into how it was run, in particular the performance of the Australian Electoral Commission. The responsible minister (the special minister of state) may also refer additional matters to the review. In the reference after last years election, the minister, Senator Farrell, requested the committee advise on proportional representation of the states and territories in the parliament, in the context of the democratic principle of one vote one value. Its report is due later this year. The joint standing committee on electoral matters is one of the least-publicised, but most important, groups within the parliament. Its task is to keep the electoral system under review and up to scratch. The last time the size of the Parliament was increased was 1983. The number of MPs had been 120 since 1948; the Hawke government increased it to 148. In the 40-odd years between 1948 and 1984, the electoral roll had more than doubled, from 4.8 million to 9.9 million. Because of section 24, it was also necessary to increase the size of the Senate from 10 for each state to 12. The governments only objective had been to increase the number of seats in the House. Enlarging the senate was an unwelcome but constitutionally unavoidable by-product. But it had profoundly important, and apparently unforeseen, consequences. The increase in the size of the Senate not only meant, at a half-Senate election, reducing the quota for election (from 16.7 per cent to 14.3 per cent). It also meant changing from an odd to an even number from five to six the number of senators to be elected. This had the result of making it extremely difficult for a major party to win a Senate majority. When there were five senators elected from each state, the odds were that the victorious party at the general election would win three out of five, at least in most states. But when the number elected is six, the party winning the general election was very unlikely to win more than three out of six the fourth quota is just too high (57.1 per cent) Since, unlike the Speaker, the President of the Senate does not have a casting vote, winning half the positions in every state and territory is not enough for control. Hawke failed to appreciate this. In the years since, a government has only once won more than three seats at a half-Senate election. In Queensland in 2004, the Coalition parties, running separate tickets and attracting different preference flows, won four out of the six seats: three Liberals (of whom I was one) and one National (Barnaby Joyce). That gave the Howard government control of the Senate. The last senator elected the man who handed Howard his majority was the Liberal Russell Trood. The years 2004-2007 were the last time any government controlled the Senate in its own right. (Troods political career was short, honourable and classy. He only served one term. Before his election, he had been a professor of international relations at Griffith University. He earned a second footnote in history by being the only member of Howards backbench to speak up in the party room to warn against the Iraq war. What would those international relations professors know?) A new group of federal MPs from across the political divide are collaborating to bolster the ranks of women in public office as part of a fresh drive to train and mentor women for political careers in all tiers of government. Labor MP Sally Sitou, a co-chair of the cross-party group which will be launched in Parliament House on Thursday, said the immediate goal was to mentor and support staffers working in the building to take on leadership roles or consider running for office. Labor MP Sally Sitou, Liberal MP Bridget Archer and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young are co-chairs of a new federal parliamentary group aimed at boosting the ranks of women in public office. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, Rhett Wyman The key purpose of the group is to really show that we ought to see more women in parliament across the spectrum. I say that as someone from the Labor Party, but were better served when there are more women in the Greens and independents and the Coalition, Sitou said. There are some fantastic women who are working as staffers. We want them to see a role for themselves at local, state or federal government as well. Gallaghers own words show how she misled a Senate committee in June 2021 after Liberal cabinet minister Linda Reynolds accused her of knowing about the allegations two weeks before they aired on The Project on the Ten Network. But the finance minister is not the only one with questions to answer about the dirty game being played with the backstory to the sexual assault claim against former ministerial adviser Bruce Lehrmann. Katy Gallagher misled parliament on one simple fact when she told a Senate estimates hearing she did not know about an alleged rape before Brittany Higgins went public with her shocking claims in February 2021. Gallagher made a sweeping claim not just that she did not know the details, but that she did not have any knowledge. This was false. We know this because of what she said on the weekend. I was aware of some allegations in the days leading up to the choice of Ms Brittany Higgins to make those allegations public, Gallagher told reporters in Perth on Saturday. Gallagher confirmed that Higgins partner, David Sharaz, told her something about the claims. How much is not clear. Her comment on Saturday was: I wasnt aware of the full allegations that were made public when the interviews went to air. This means Gallagher knew something on Thursday, February 11, 2021. This was not a head start on others. Peter Dutton was told about the case on the same day because he was responsible, as home affairs minister, for the Australian Federal Police. The media put questions the next day, February 12, to then-prime minister Scott Morrison, who later said his staff did not tell him. Higgins went public on Monday, February 15. Reynolds, on the other hand, had known about the allegation for two years. That is why the more important questions will always be about what the Morrison government did when Higgins first made her allegation, privately, in March 2019. The NSW government will seek to raise billions of dollars in contributions from property developers to convince density shy councils to support increased housing, as Planning Minister Paul Scully insists he isnt worried about the potential for pushback from within his own party over housing targets. Tasked with fixing the crippling housing shortage contributing to record rent increases, Scully has ordered a review of housing targets to rebalance the citys growth and deliver increased density in the inner west, east and north. Green Square in Sydney has been held up as an example of high-density development done well by planning minister Paul Scully as he pushes for an overhaul of developer contributions. Credit: Wolter Peeters Its an ambition likely to face fierce resistance in a city with a well-documented history of subpar development, and where politicians on both sides have a habit of acknowledging the need for new housing while opposing specific developments in their electorates. Scully says he is optimistic that most Sydneysiders will embrace the shared responsibility of greater density. Fitzhardinges dream of filling up central Freo is not just her own. The council has been committed to increasing density since release of the 2029 Fremantle Transformational Moves document that was the result of public forums in 2013 and 2014. Little Lane The plan has been so enthusiastically embraced that the population of the CBD has doubled in the past decade. That kind of leap gives Fitzhardinge heart. Were in an approval spirit at the moment, she said. There are projects all around Fremantle that are in various stages of approval and development. For example, there is huge activity along Cantonment and Point Streets. The problems of the building are slowing things down at the moment, but when all these projects are completed it will bring more people into the city. It is very exciting. A vivid example of a smart, attractive high-density residence in Fremantle and model for other such developments is the recently completed Little Lane Apartments on Adelaide Street, beside Target. Little Lane was proposed at a time when people said you cant do apartments in Perth. But things have changed in the past few years. All 70 apartments sold quickly, said Fitzhardinge. What we are discovering is that if all the amenities that people need are easy to access then people are more than willing to embrace high density living. As a council we have to provide those amenities and to make sure the environments are what residents want. We are now getting people moving to Fremantle from overseas where they have lived in apartments. And we believe the barriers to families living in apartments are less than people believe. We just need to provide open spaces and other amenities pertinent to families, she said. While Fitzhardinge is encouraging the construction of apartments in a place that has had very little of this kind of development she firmly holds they must be in keeping with the character of the city. Why allow inappropriate construction in a city that people cherish for its historical character, she says? Its not just a matter of size. Taking in regard to the topography and whats around it is equally important. You have to use a design that is site appropriate. You have to think about how it changes peoples relationship to a certain area, she said. Former Fremantle mayor and now South Metropolitan Greens member Brad Pettitt believes Fitzhardinges dream of 10,000 people living in the heart of Fremantle is not fanciful. However, to achieve it in a reasonable time she would need the support of the state government, he said. The state government is the biggest landowner in central Fremantle, he said. We have to encourage it to develop empty sites into apartments. Many have been empty for a very long time. This is crucial for populating the CBD. We just have to get it done. Fremantle icon Ginos: Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge wants to build on what already makes Fremantle so special. The government also has to stop enabling and incentivising urban sprawl, which is what theyve been doing for the last decade. Weve made living on the fringes of the metropolitan area very cheap and easy. We have literally built the cheapest detached houses in the world. As a result we dont do apartments very well or very often, he says. The government has to start investing in infrastructure in places like Fremantle. And it needs to get serious about its target of 47 per cent of new dwellings being built in the existing urban framework. Its currently running at 30 per cent. While 10,000 seems like an unthinkable number for a smallish area theres no shortage of space, says Pettit. Loading Take the car yards on Queen Street you see as you drive into Fremantle. The reason they havent been developed is that running underneath are government-owned sewer lines. The government are unwilling to contribute to their relocation to enable development to happen. I tried to get the property owners to pay for it, but its not their asset. So rather than all parties working together and moving the sewer line under the road, which is where it belongs, and open up the space for development the government has refused to budge. Earlier this year I met a version of myself I absolutely loved. Her name? Fiji Lizzy and, honestly, I cant wait to meet her again. It was like she took over my body as soon as I was handed a generic seashell necklace. Fiji Lizzy was fun. She loved watersports and island hopping and was ready to drop everything for aqua aerobics at the resort pool at a moments notice because why the hell not? Nothing like a few waist-deep fist pumps to get into the holiday mood. Fiji Lizzys fun. I cant wait to meet her again. I love the people we become when we travel. The personalities we take on. The neuroses we let go. Its not just Fiji Lizzy, Im available in a variety of other versions that usually match up with the stamps in my passport. Croatia Lizzy likes shooting moonshine with old locals and sneaking into fancy hotel pools after hours. Japan Lizzy is forever hungry, no matter how much she eats and UK/Ireland Lizzy, quite simply, loves Guinness. As soon as we step off the plane on an overseas holiday, hammer in the last peg on the tent or finally find the key for the Airbnb, I think we step out of our skin momentarily and say to our regular selves, Listen up, youre on pause. Dont you dare come out here and whisper a word about being too busy, work dramas or the cost of living crisis. For the next seven days, were on holiday, okay? We can get back to your militant exercise regime, no carbs after 5pm and strict one-coffee-a-day policy when Im back. But for now, holiday me is letting my hair down, and no, Im not going to straighten it. But sources close to the prime minister categorically deny that he offered any such assurances at the meeting they held on June 2. One stated: When the prime minister met with the former prime minister recently, the former prime minister raised the matter of peerages with him, to which the current prime minister made clear he would follow precedent and not interfere with the process. Any suggestions of promises made or guarantees given are categorically untrue. On Saturday, Nigel Adams, a former minister and close ally of Mr Johnson announced that he was following his former boss and Nadine Dorries, the former culture secretary, in quitting Parliament. The announcement added to a feverish mood among Tory backbenchers, with the prospect of three byelections at a time of rising panic about the gap between the Conservatives and Labour in opinion polls. Nadine Dorries (left) at Downing Street in London in September 2022. Credit: AP One 2019-intake MP said there was particular concern among MPs in Red Wall seats won at the last election. The parliamentarian said: A lot of Red Wall MPs have just realised its over for them at the next general election. Its very dangerous now for Rishi. On Saturday Sir Bill Cash, the Tory grandee and influential Brexiteer, became the latest MP to announce that he would stand down at the next election. Separately, MPs on the Commons privileges committee are considering ways to sanction supporters of Johnson who called into question the panels impartiality. Loading Members of the committee believe the remarks of some MPs who have criticised the panel amount to contempt of parliament. They have been discussing ways to address the issue, including in a possible addendum to their conclusions on Johnsons conduct, a special report on the issue, or an unconnected backbencher asking the Speaker to grant a vote on a motion censuring the committees critics. The move would risk more Tory MP resignations, with supporters of Johnson pledging an all-out revolt if Conservative whips fail to block such a scheme. A government source said Sunak had almost halved Labours polling lead in the space of six months, adding: The mood we are getting from the party at the moment is this is a Windsor Framework mark two, where everyone got very excited about what Boris was going to do to the government and it never came to fruition. A source close to Johnson confirmed that the resignations were part of a co-ordinated attack in revenge for Johnsons treatment by No 10. They have bitten off more than they can chew. There are three byelections and I cant rule out there being more. Two others are on resignation watch. The source accused Sunak of totally inept politics for failing to provide greater support to the former prime minister. The source added: They are never going to be best mates, but it wouldnt have hurt for him to come out in public and say, Im not going to agree with Boris Johnson on everything, but he shouldnt be forced out in this way. He chose to remain silent. Its a shame because we were literally on the cusp of an outbreak of peace. All we needed was the list through and privileges settled in a way that was acceptable but not fatal. Labour candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Danny Beales (left), canvasses on Saturday in Hillingdon after Boris Johnson resigned as MP of the seat. Credit: Getty Johnsons supporters declared he is now free and dangerous as they warned Sunak not to block his potential run for a safer seat. But Lord Fowler, the former Tory cabinet minister, said it was time for Johnson to leave the Commons for good. There has been speculation that Conservative Campaign Headquarters could step in to thwart a possible bid by the former prime minister to stand in a safer seat such as Henley, his former constituency, or Dorries Mid Bedfordshire seat. The deadline for would-be Tory candidates to apply to contest those constituencies is Monday afternoon. Loading On Saturday Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, said it was wrong for Johnsons allies to describe the privileges committee as a kangaroo court. I feel a profound sense of sadness that it has come to this, Gove said. A backbencher added: This will start to bring an end to the Boris saga. The three byelections happen before the summer recess, doesnt matter what the results are, we then go into the summer, we have a reset in the autumn. London: Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister of Scotland who dramatically quit public life earlier in February, said that she was shocked and deeply distressed after being arrested and questioned for seven hours by police investigating the Scottish National Partys finances. Sturgeon was detained but later released as part of Operation Branchform, an investigation into the SNPs finances in 2021 after complaints from party donors who claimed more than 600,000 ($1.1 million) given during special independence referendum fundraising appeals was spent on other things. The SNP has said all its activities are dedicated to the cause of independence. Scotlands former first minister and former leader of the Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon. Credit: AP Sturgeon is the third person to be arrested in connection with the investigation. Under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, police may release a suspect for further investigation, but they can be re-arrested at a later date. The longest-serving first minister and the only woman to have held the position, Sturgeon said after her release that the arrest was a shock and deeply distressing. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of St. Maarten is pleased to announce that the missing person, who was reported through our recent press release, has been found and has safely returned home. Mr. Dwayne Andre DUHANEY, previously reported missing, has been located and is in good health. The Police Force would like to express its sincere gratitude to all individuals who contributed in any way and provided assistance during the search efforts. The support and cooperation from the community played a crucial role in locating Mr. DUHANEY, and we are truly grateful for everyone's involvement. Furthermore, the Police Force extends special appreciation to our local media houses for their prompt action in sharing the information through their media platforms. The extensive coverage and dissemination of the press release greatly contributed to the successful resolution of this case. The Police Force of St. Maarten is relieved and satisfied that this incident has reached a positive conclusion. The safety and well-being of our community members are of utmost importance to us, and we remain committed to ensuring their welfare. KPSM Press Release. KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2023 - 09:39 | World, All Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday confirmed a counteroffensive has been launched against invading Russian forces, a move that could serve as a turning point in the war that began in February last year. "Appropriate counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine," Zelenskyy told a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv, adding, "I will not say in detail at what stage they are." The remarks came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that "we can safely state that the offensive has begun," while noting that "the Ukrainian troops failed to achieve their goals in all combat sectors, which is clear as day." Zelenskyy emphasized during the press conference that he is in daily contact with his country's commanders and that "all are now in a positive mood," according to the Ukrainian president's website. Ukraine is seeking to regain territory lost to Russia in the invasion, as it continues to receive massive military assistance from the United States and other countries in the West. As of Saturday, according to a British Defense Ministry intelligence update, significant Ukrainian operations have been taking place in several sectors of eastern and southern Ukraine in the last 48 hours. In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defenses, and in others, Ukrainian progress has been slower, the ministry said. Related coverage: Japan PM vows $5 mil. in support after Ukraine dam collapse: gov't A young man returned to work in his home village in China's Henan after graduating from a university. Find out how tech has changed wheat harvesting in his family. Produced by Xinhua Global Service T he House of Lords Appointments Commission has confirmed it did not support eight peerage nominees submitted in former Prime Minister Boris Johnsons resignation honours. Mr Johnson announced his decision to step down as an MP after receiving the Privileges Committee report into whether he lied to MPs over Partygate - something he branded a kangaroo court and witch hunt. A spokesman for the independent commission said in a statement: The House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac) considered the nominations proposed by the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP in line with its usual processes. All nominations made by Mr Johnson were received and processed by Holac. Eight nominees were not supported by the commission. The commission is advisory to the Prime Minister and is not involved in the appointment processes after providing advice. The commission does not comment on individuals. Cabinet minister Grant Shapps had earlier insisted that Rishi Sunak did not intervene in Mr Johnsons honours list as he claimed the world had moved on following his dramatic exit. Mr Shapps, the Energy Secretary, told Sky News Sophy Ridge On Sunday that there were now different challenges to face and that Downing Street was under new management. He said they were getting on with the job and getting on with the priorities of this country. Mr Shapps spoke following Mr Johnsons shock decision to resign as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip on Friday, triggering a by-election in his constituency - a key target for Labour. Among those nominated for peerages by Mr Johnson were former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen. Those put forward for a knighthood included staunch loyalist Jacob Rees-Mogg, former minister Simon Clarke, and MPs Conor Burns and Michael Fabricant. Former Home Secretary Priti Patel was also nominated for a damehood. A member of the Chinese medical team stationed in Kiribati provides free medical services for local residents in North Tarawa, Kiribati, June 9, 2023. Chinese medical staff have provided free medical services to about 150 residents in North Tarawa of the Pacific island country of Kiribati. The second Chinese medical team stationed in Kiribati visited two locations in North Tarawa on Friday. After donating desperately needed medical supplies, such as oral antibiotics, antifungal cream, and blood pressure monitors, to local clinics, Chinese doctors and nurses provided free medical services to villagers, including disease diagnosis and treatment. (The Chinese medical team stationed in Kiribati/Handout via Xinhua) SYDNEY, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical staff have provided free medical services to about 150 residents in North Tarawa of the Pacific island country of Kiribati. The second Chinese medical team stationed in Kiribati visited two locations in North Tarawa on Friday. It first arrived in Buariki, a village located at the northern tip of North Tarawa, where the prevalence of asthma, diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, stroke, and skin infections is high. After donating desperately needed medical supplies, such as oral antibiotics, antifungal cream, and blood pressure monitors, to local clinics, Chinese doctors and nurses provided free medical services to villagers, including disease diagnosis and treatment. The services included blood pressure measurement, blood sugar test, electrocardiogram, wound treatment, cardiac auscultation, as well as medicine use consultation. Besides, the Chinese medical professionals offered guidance on lifestyle changes for those who were troubled by hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, while also providing medical advice and distributing medicines. In the afternoon, the Chinese medical team visited and worked at a health center in Abaokoro. Team head Cao Lijun said that during the mission on Friday, the Chinese medical team also identified cases needed to be transferred for further treatment, and helped raise local residents' awareness about safeguarding health to prevent complications in the later development of some diseases. Cao added that his team will provide more free health services to benefit the people in Kiribati, contributing to people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. A member of the Chinese medical team stationed in Kiribati provides free medical services for a local resident in North Tarawa, Kiribati, June 9, 2023. Chinese medical staff have provided free medical services to about 150 residents in North Tarawa of the Pacific island country of Kiribati. The second Chinese medical team stationed in Kiribati visited two locations in North Tarawa on Friday. After donating desperately needed medical supplies, such as oral antibiotics, antifungal cream, and blood pressure monitors, to local clinics, Chinese doctors and nurses provided free medical services to villagers, including disease diagnosis and treatment. (The Chinese medical team stationed in Kiribati/Handout via Xinhua) C laudia Rankine says that learning she had been conceived as a product of rape had given her more compassion for her mother. The award-winning US poet said the pair had become women who shared something and she had felt released by knowing she was not biologically attached to the violent man she thought to be her father. Rankine is best known for her award-winning book Citizen: An American Lyric, which became a New York Times bestseller. It combines short stories about everyday injustices experienced by people of colour with poems telling the stories of black men who died during confrontations with the police. In an intimate discussion on BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs, the poet discussed her own life experiences, including being frightened by her father, and being stopped by police with her husband who is white. She recalled how her mother had revealed the truth about her conception after she had gone to retrieve her birth certificate ahead of her marriage. I've had a lot of therapy in my life, and I think I understand it. She carries what she can bear and it gave me much more compassion for my mother. We became women who shared something. She said on the birth certificate, youll see where it says father, theres nothing, she said. It turns out she had been raped. And I was a product of that rape. Her gratitude to him, to my father, was that he had agreed to marry her knowing she was pregnant. Rankine said she had immediately asked about her biological father, recalling that her mother had given her a name but it came in and went very quickly. Now if I asked her, she said she doesnt remember. So its as if whatever happened in that conversation, came out and then was locked up again, she said. She added: Ive had a lot of therapy in my life, and I think I understand it. She carries what she can bear and it gave me much more compassion for my mother. We became women who shared something. Instead of a daughter who was critical of her inability to leave, I became a woman who was compassionate about her trauma. Asked how she had felt learning the news, she replied: There was something about being released from him that I wasnt biologically attached to that rage. Rankine said her father had been politically engaged but was very volatile and had brought his rage home from his workplace. You swallow so much and then in the news somebody has been killed by the police because they're black. And so you see how it amplifies. She added: He was violent, And it was the kind of violence that you never knew was coming. I was frightened, it made me even in school, very cautious. Rankine said her work aimed to show the weathering caused by the experience of people of colour, which occurred through the small moments, often referred to as paper cuts. You have two black people in the room, and your colleagues call you by the other persons name, she said. You have people telling you that the only reason you got into school was because of affirmative action or that you have their job even though you clearly are there out of merit. You swallow so much and then in the news somebody has been killed by the police because theyre black. And so you see how it amplifies. Desert Island Discs airs on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 4 at 11.15am on Sunday. T hree Britons are missing after a boat carrying tourists burst into flames in the Red Sea off Egypt. The countrys Red Sea Governate said 12 crew members and 12 British tourists were rescued when a medium-sized scuba diving boat christened Hurricane went up in flames off the resort town of Marsa Alam on Sunday. A search party was launched to find the remaining three British tourists, whose identities have not been revealed. Following an initial examination of the vessel, Egyptian authorities said an electrical short circuit in the boats engine room sparked the blaze. A spokesperson for Tornado Marine Fleet, which owns the boat, said: Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire. We do have three missing British passengers and all others reached the nearest land safely. Now we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision. Searches for the missing Britons continue and a further update will be provided once investigations are complete, the spokesperson added. The boat left Port Ghalib on Tuesday and was due to return on Sunday, reports say. The Foreign Office is supporting British nationals involved. A spokesperson said: We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam and are supporting British nationals involved. Egypts Red Sea resorts harbour some of the countrys most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European holidaymakers. It has cemented its reputation as a dive destination with easy access to coral reefs from shores and dive sites offering diverse marine life. S inn Fein MP John Finucane said the right to commemorate the dead must apply to every section of society as he addressed a controversial IRA memorial event in Co Armagh. Mr Finucane, who faced calls to rethink his attendance at the commemoration in Mullaghbawn in south Armagh, spoke of his fathers murder during the Troubles as he stressed the importance of remembering lost loved ones. The North Belfast MPs solicitor father Pat was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries inside the family home in north Belfast in 1989. Mr Finucanes decision to address Sundays event, which was billed as the South Armagh Volunteers Commemoration, prompted anger from victims representatives and rival politicians who cited the many murders perpetrated by the IRAs South Armagh unit during the Northern Ireland conflict. Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of whipping up a controversy to distract from the partys role in the ongoing political impasse at Stormont. The republican party said the event has been held for 13 years and asked why it has not prompted such a reaction in the past. Remembrance is a time of mixed emotions for us all, especially for those who knew and loved the very people who are being remembered Mr Finucane began his speech on Sunday afternoon by thanking organisers for the invite. He said he stood in solidarity with the families gathered to remember their loved ones and their sacrifices and contributions. Remembrance is a time of mixed emotions for us all, especially for those who knew and loved the very people who are being remembered, he said. It raises feelings of sadness and loss, as well as pride and joy at the lives that were lived and lost. Such basic and understandable human reactions to loss are no different here in south Armagh than in north Belfast, or indeed anywhere else. And it is for those very basic human reasons that we should always cherish our right to remember those who are no longer with us. This of course is a right that should apply without prejudice to every section of the society which we now live in today. He added: As you know, I was eight years old when two gunmen burst into my family kitchen and shot my father 14 times, and my mother once, in front of me and my brother and my sister. Throughout our campaign for truth and justice, I have been clear, repeatedly, that truth and justice is something which every person who has been impacted by our conflict deserves and is entitled to irrespective of whether those that inflicted the harm were loyalists, the British state or republicans This loss, and the brutality of it, is something that will never leave me, just as such loss will never leave anyone who ever experienced such a thing. You will know that what followed for us as a family was a campaign for truth and justice. And over the subsequent decades we uncovered that the loyalist gunmen who entered my home did so as part of a system alongside the police, the British Army, MI5, and along with political cover and sanction, resulted in the deaths of so many too many for an incredibly long and sustained period of time. Throughout our campaign for truth and justice, I have been clear, repeatedly, that truth and justice is something which every person who has been impacted by our conflict deserves and is entitled to irrespective of whether those that inflicted the harm were loyalists, the British state or republicans. I have been consistent in this view whether it be personally as a campaigner, professionally as a lawyer or politically as the MP for north Belfast. And I would like to expand on that belief for today. For just as truth and justice applies equally to everyone, so too does the right to remember and the right to commemorate. I suffered a very personal and up-close loss by those I have mentioned. And those same organisations, within loyalism, the police, the British Army and military intelligence, all commemorate, remember and stand with the families of their loved ones and those that they respect. Those commemorations take place right across our society and are regularly attended by civic and political representatives. And I will defend, without hesitation, their right to do so. There is nothing to celebrate in conflict or in our difficult and painful past, but to commemorate those we have loved and lost is a right which everyone, including every single one of us gathered here today, is entitled to, and we do so with dignity and with pride. So today we remember with pride the many Irish republicans who gave or lost their lives, with deep sympathy for their grieving families and also respectful of all those who continue to suffer the grief and trauma of conflict And while there are very different and often conflicting perspectives of the causes of conflict, conflict is thankfully now a thing of the past. So today we remember with pride the many Irish republicans who gave or lost their lives, with deep sympathy for their grieving families and also respectful of all those who continue to suffer the grief and trauma of conflict. As I was eight years old in 1989, I was 18 years old in 1998, voting for the first time in my life for the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement provided a peaceful and democratic pathway to constitutional change and created institutions, inclusive of all communities. It addressed the many causes and effects of conflict and allowed us all to consign conflict to the past and to move forward. While there is still work to be done, particularly in relation to legacy issues, the last 25 years of relative peace is a truly remarkable achievement. In a weekend message to party members, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated his criticism of Mr Finucane. Challenging Sinn Feins attempts to rewrite history is not about being stuck in the past, rather it is about respecting the sons, daughters, mothers and fathers who were cruelly murdered by balaclava wearing IRA terrorists, he wrote. I will use every fibre of my body to stop Northern Ireland ever being gripped by the terrorism of the 1970s, 80s and 90s but part of that is honestly reflecting the barbarity of taking 12 innocent workmen from a van in (Kingsmills) South Armagh. The one Catholic was told to run away and the remaining 11 Protestants were lined up and shot with only one surviving to tell the story. Celebrating anyone's membership of the IRA or any other terror group is wrong. Violence or the threat of violence has no place in politics That is the truth about the Provisional IRA in South Armagh. I am mindful that those listed on the South Armagh Roll of Honour have family who grieve. They have the right to remember, as do we all. This is not the problem, but rewriting history or eulogising terrorism most certainly is. Celebrating anyones membership of the IRA or any other terror group is wrong. Violence or the threat of violence has no place in politics. Sir Jeffrey added: We challenge this narrative of the past because failure to do so will aid some misled young people to think violence in some cases is honourable and justifiable. The Sinn Fein leadership have a responsibility to honestly address the role of violence in Irish politics. Unless this fundamental is tackled, there will always be a mindset which believes if their objective is not being advanced electorally or politically, then violence must be the only path to progress. M an City fans are set to take over the streets of Manchester after a wild weekend in Istanbul. Thousands of supporters flew to the Turkish city to watch their team win the Champions League final against Inter Milan on Saturday. On Monday, the Man City squad will celebrate their treble with an open-top bus parade through Manchesters city centre at around 6.30pm. A live stage show will be set up in the citys Oxford Street, where fans can celebrate. While the squad have already arrived back in England, some fans are staying an extra night in Istanbul, enjoying the citys sights before flying home early on Monday morning to catch the parade. Lifelong fan Malcolm Muir, 57, from Stretford, Manchester, said his plan was to enjoy dinner and drinks in the city on Sunday evening. Were going to the Asian side (of Istanbul) on a boat trip, have some food over there, he said. Then well come back, have some drinks, and enjoy Istanbul. He said he was hoping to get back in time to watch the parade in Manchester to mark the Champions League win, as well as their triumph in the Premier League and FA Cup. The parades in the afternoon, because of the time difference were getting two hours back. He said that it will be the fifth Man City parade that he has attended. Its going to be great, he said. For my daughters, theyre 14, it will be their fifth parade. In my lifetime Ive had five parades as well. So shows just how good it is to be a blue just now. The celebrations following the final whistle on Saturday night went on until sunrise. The clubs supporters packed the area around Nevizade street, dancing and celebrating. Stephen Woods, 30, said: We were on the steps outside our hotel until 6am. They were still going until 8am. Our room overlooks (Nevizade Street). We slept for something like an hour, but it is what it is. He said that even the locals got involved in the celebrations. All of the locals got involved, which we didnt expect, he said. Getting out of their cars with boom boxes and singing with us. We just didnt expect that, its the craziest city weve ever been to. Richard Dickinson, 50, from Sheffield, also celebrated the win with family and friends until sunrise. It was a surreal experience, he said. We were always typical City, we were never going to be a big team, and everything like that. My grandad always said our time will come. A man is wanted by police in connection with an investigation into a missing 15-year-old girl. Thames Valley Police want to speak to Billy Ross, 19, of no fixed abode, in connection with an investigation being carried out to find Macey whose surname was not given and was reported missing from Milton Keynes on Monday. He is white, approximately 5ft 8ins tall, with brown eyes and brown hair. Ross is known to frequent Essex, London, Sussex and Great Yarmouth, the force said. He is also known to travel by train. Macey is 5ft 3ins tall, of slim build, has a fake nose stud resembling a gem stone and was last seen wearing cream leggings, a cream vest top, a black jacket with fur-lined hood and black sliders with a fur trim. She has links to Harlow, Essex, central London, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk and is thought to be using trains to get around. Investigating officer Inspector Lucy Bottomley, based at Milton Keynes police station, said: We are appealing for the publics help in locating Ross. If you see him please do not approach him but call 999 immediately and quote reference number, 43230253352. Further, if you have any information as to where he might be, please make a report by calling 101. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online. T he four children who were found alive 40 days after their light plane crashed in the Amazon jungle have been reunited with their relatives. The siblings Lesly, 13, Soleiny, nine, Tien Noriel, four, and baby Cristin, who had just had his first birthday had to fend for themselves after their mum and the pilots died in the accident in a remote part of Colombia. The countrys army on Saturday tweeted pictures of soldiers and volunteers posing with the children, who were wrapped in thermal blankets. The children have been reunited with relatives as they recover in hospital. Their grandfather Fidencio Valencia said theyre very weak but happy to see their family. A group of soldiers and volunteers posing with the children, who were wrapped in thermal blankets / Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get Their grandmother, Fatima Valencia, said their mother Lesly was used to looking after them and that helped them survive: She gave them flour and cassava bread, any fruit in the bush, they know what they must consume. The plane was found on May 16 but the children, from the Huitoto indigenous group, kept on the move, eluding searchers. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said their rescue was a joy for the whole country. He added: The jungle saved them. They are children of the jungle. Now they are also children of Colombia. Colombias Defence Minister Ivan Velasquez, who visited them in the hospital with President Gustavo Petro on Saturday, praised Lesly for taking care of her younger siblings. It is thanks to her, her value and her leadership, that the three others were able to survive, with her care, her knowledge of the jungle," Mr Velasquez said. In general the children, the boy and the girls are in an acceptable state, according to the medical reports they are out of danger. T he size of the flooded area in the Kherson region as a result of the Kakhovka dam breach has almost halved but fears over disease from polluted water mark the next phase of the crisis. Experts fear infectious diseases may spread in polluted waters. Water levels have dropped by 27cm (10in), the regional administrations head, Alexander Prokudin, said. But tens of thousands have lost access to drinking water. The dam burst on Thursday and flooded vast areas of land on both sides of the Dnipro river. Ukraine has blamed Russia for blowing up the dam, located in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine. Russia has denied this, and has accused Ukraine of being responsible for its destruction. The huge Kakhovka reservoir - a vital source of water for the region - has drained of water. The World Health Organization (WHO)s Ukraine representative, Dr Jarno Habicht, told the BBC the situation was devastating and providing safe, clean water was a priority. He said precautionary sample testing was ongoing. Menwhile UKs defence ministry said people were facing a sanitation crisis with limited access to safe water and an increased risk of water-borne diseases. The the city of Kherson - around 100km (62 miles) from the Kakhovka dam and badly affected by the floods - has introduced restrictions on the use of river water in order to prevent their spread. Bathing, fishing and drinking the water, or giving it to animals, is prohibited. Ukraines interior ministry said 32 settlements had been flooded in Ukrainian-controlled Kherson, while another 14 were flooded in the Russian-controlled part. Another 31 settlements were flooded in the Mykolayiv region. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has also likely led to the disruption of water supplies to Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian hydro energy company Ukrhydroenergo said the water level in the reservoir had fallen by more than 7m (23ft) and on Sunday the UK defence ministry warned that water will soon stop flowing to the peninsula. Drone footage filmed after the dam breach shows reduced water levels near the entrance to the canal. T hree British tourists are missing after a boat burst into flames in the Egyptian Red Sea, reports have stated. In horrifying footage, the ship can be seen engulfed in flames with large plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky off the coast of Marsa Alam. Aside from the three missing UK nationals, twelve other Britons, 12 crew members and two guides who were involved have all been rescued uninjured, the boats operator, Tornado Marine Fleet said. The Foreign Office is supporting the British nationals involved. A spokesperson said: We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam and are supporting British nationals involved. The boat left Port Ghalib on Tuesday and was due to return on Sunday, reports say. A Tornado Marine Fleet spokesperson, the company who owns the boat, said: Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire. We do have three missing British passengers and all others ... reached the nearest land safely. Now we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision. The Red Sea Governorate said: The Secretary General pointed out that the crew and passengers were rescued by the boat named Blue and returned to central Marsa Alam, and a search is still underway for three British passengers by the concerned authorities and other boats, stressing that the Ambulance Authority and the Directorate of Health Affairs have been notified to raise the level of readiness and follow-up is underway. T he collapse of the Kakhovka Dam has severely disrupted the water supply in southern Kherson Oblast and northern Crimea, British defence chiefs said. About 30,000 cubic metres of water per second were gushing from the dam after it collapsed on Tuesday in a suspected Russian strike. A sixth and final reactor at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant was put into cold shutdown as a safety precaution amid the chaos. Tens of thousands of people on both the Russian and Ukrainian-controlled sides of the Dnipro river have no drinking water. In its latest intelligence update, the UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) said fresh water could soon stop flowing to Crimea due to the disruption the floods have caused to the Northern Crimean Canal (NCC). The MoD added: The NCC draws water from the Kakhovka Reservoir, from an inlet higher than the bed of the reservoir. The water level in the reservoir had likely dropped below the level of the inlet by 09 June 2023 and water will soon stop flowing to Crimea. This will reduce the availability of fresh water in southern Kherson Oblast and northern Crimea. However, the Russian authorities will likely meet the immediate water requirements of the population using reservoirs, water rationing, drilling new wells, and delivering bottled water from Russia. Concurrently, communities on both the Russian and Ukrainian-controlled sides of the flooded Dnipro are facing a sanitation crisis with limited access to safe water, and an increased risk of water-borne diseases. Kyiv and Moscow accused each other of shelling evacuation points around the flooded city of Kherson. Ukrainian adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Vladimir Putins forces were preventing rescuers from evacuating the population. U kraine says it has liberated three settlements in the south east of the country as it gears up its counter-offensive. Footage on social media showed Ukrainian troops celebrating in the neighbouring settlements of Blahodatne and Neskuchne in the Donetsk region. Kyivs deputy defence minister said nearby Makarivka was also taken. President Volodymyr Zelensky officially said the offensive had begun Saturday. These three settlements would be the first liberated since his comments, but not the first that Ukraine has recaptured since Monday, when pockets of its forces began to advance in the countrys south. Moscow has only spoken of beating back Ukrainian assaults in the region. Meanwhile Ukraine claims Russia has blown up another dam in the Zaporizhzhia region, following the destruction of the major Nova Kakhovka on Monday, which caused widespread flooding. Ukraine says the dam was blown up by Russian forces who have controlled it since February 2022. Valeriy Shershen, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, said Moscows forces had chosen to blow up a second dam near the village of Novodarivka, which led to the flooding on both banks of the Mokri Yaly river. Mr Shershen said Russia was deliberately blowing up dams in the region to halt Ukraines advance towards occupied areas. Russia has denied it blew up the Nova Kakhovka dam and has blamed Ukraine for the damage which has speaked a humanitarean crisis in the area. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (C) applauds as Colombian President Gustavo Petro (L) shakes hands with the first commander of the National Liberation Army Antonio Garcia (R) at the closing ceremony of the third round of peace talks between the Colombian government and the guerrilla group National Liberation Army in Havana, Cuba, June 9, 2023.(Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua) HAVANA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) declared a six-month ceasefire here on Friday after ending the third round of peace talks. Both sides agreed to participate in the process of constructing peace in society and get prepared for a bilateral, national, and temporary ceasefire agreement. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the first commander of ELN Antonio Garcia and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel attended the ceremony. "In May 2025, the war of decades between the ELN and the state will cease for good," Petro said, adding that violence has harmed the construction of Colombia as a nation. Meanwhile, Garcia underscored the importance of the national agreement that promotes the agenda for a change in the country, saying this peace process will contribute to the dignity of the Colombian people. The fourth round of talks between the Colombian government and the ELN is scheduled to take place in Venezuela from Aug. 14 to Sept. 4. "We ask Colombians not to stop and put their hearts in favor of peace in Colombia," said Diaz-Canel, adding that Latin American countries deserve to live in peace with social justice and development and without external interference or imposition. The ELN is Colombia's oldest remaining guerrilla group. The first round of talks took place in Venezuela in November 2022, followed by a second round in Mexico in February 2023. This photo taken on June 9, 2023 shows a scene at the closing ceremony of the third round of peace talks between the Colombian government and the guerrilla group National Liberation Army in Havana, Cuba. The Colombian government and the guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) declared a six-month ceasefire here on Friday after ending the third round of peace talks. Both sides agreed to participate in the process of constructing peace in society and get prepared for a bilateral, national, and temporary ceasefire agreement. (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua) CANBERRA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Australian universities will offer more than 20 micro-credential short courses in a bid to fill skill gaps across the country. Minister for Education Jason Clare announced 18.5 million Australian dollars (12.4 million U.S. dollars) in funding on Sunday to develop 28 courses to help workers skill up in industries with talent shortages. Courses funded under the first round of the scheme will include nuclear science, teaching, cyber security, net zero engineering and food science. Eighteen universities have signed up to offer the courses. Clare said that micro-credentials are short, focused courses in a specific area of study, designed to teach and upskill learners with targeted, job-relevant skills. "Micro-credentials can help Australians upskill and reskill to prepare for the jobs of the future," he said in a media release. "This pilot means more Australians can get the skills in areas we need, such as teaching, nursing, and engineering." According to data released by the National Skills Commission in October, the number of occupations in Australia facing skills shortages almost doubled from 153 in 2021 to 286 in 2022. It identified nurses, software programmers, construction managers and aged, disabled and child carers as the most in-demand workers. A second round of funding planned within 12 months will allow more universities to participate in the scheme. For most workers, annual pay is easy to compute: Multiply your weekly salary by 52, and maybe add a modest year-end bonus. For the people who run corporations, though, calculating total compensation is far from simple. They get stock, options and various perks in addition to a salary and bonus, and the stock often is earned over several years by hitting financial targets. Add in a fluctuating stock market and you get filings like that made by Chesterfield-based grain company Bunge, which paid Chief Executive Gregory Heckman $17.9 million last year using one set of calculations or twice as much, $36.9 million, using another. Or consider Perimeter Solutions, a Clayton-based maker of firefighting chemicals. Ex-CEO Edward Goldberg made $1.8 million under the Securities and Exchange Commissions longstanding rules for figuring pay but was in the red, earning negative $7.8 million, under a new SEC-mandated calculation called compensation actually paid. The big difference? Bunges share price rose 7% last year, while Perimeters fell 34%. All of Heckmans past stock and options awards increased in value, including big grants from when he took the top job in 2020. The same arithmetic worked in reverse for Goldberg, who received options worth $19 million when Perimeter went public in 2021. Those options are now underwater, and their loss of value is reflected in his actually paid number. By requiring the new disclosure, the SEC is trying to help investors see whether pay aligns with performance. Previously, the pay tally included the value of stock and options when they were granted, but no information on how that value changed afterward. Xiumin Martin, professor of accounting at Washington Universitys Olin Business School, finds the new information helpful. This transparency helps shareholders to understand whether their interests and executives interests are aligned, she said. The new disclosures highlight how volatile pay can be. Jeffrey Davis, CEO of Town and Country technology firm Perficient, earned a negative $1.35 million last year because his stock awards lost value. The previous year, a rising share price delivered him $20.9 million in value, nearly triple his stated compensation of $7 million. At other St. Louis companies, rising stock prices inflated CEOs wealth last year. Peabody Energy reported James Grechs compensation as $3.8 million using standard methodology, but $8 million including the higher value of old stock awards. A similar calculation boosted Arch Resources CEO Paul Langs pay from $7.8 million to $21.4 million. Such volatility is a feature, not a bug, of pay-for-performance plans, and now shareholders can see the results. Its not like they (executives) are living in a safe state, Martin said. There is significant risk in most pay packages, and I hope that message can be delivered with increased transparency. Pay Governance, a consulting firm, studied a sample of early filings containing the new disclosures. In the vast majority, pay moved in the same direction as shareholder returns CEOs earned more when their investors did well, and less when they lagged the market. The few exceptions were companies that switched CEOs or made big changes to their pay plans. Ed Sim, a Chicago-based Pay Governance consultant, said the result didnt surprise him, because stock and options have long been the biggest part of CEOs pay. It does show general alignment, but I caution that it would be a fools errand to say thats an ends-all result, Sim said. It is a good diagnostic into pay for anyone who hasnt had the information before. His Dallas-based partner Chris Brindisi cautions that the new term compensation actually paid is misleading. The stock-price calculations reflect a change in value, but not an actual payout in a given year. He also cautions against putting too much emphasis on the new compensation number. The jurys out on how valuable this is for sophisticated investors, Brindisi said. For mom and pop its likely more complicated than helpful. FERGUSON The climate control segment of Ferguson-based Emerson is under new ownership, new leadership, and is beginning to adapt to life as a standalone company. The business has taken on the name of one of its best-known brands Copeland and its CEO, Ross Shuster, officially started last week. The tasks before Shuster are substantial. But the business has a solid foundation, and is poised for growth, Shuster said in an interview at the Ferguson campus Wednesday, his fifth day on the job. If you chose to disassemble your residential air conditioning unit at your house which I dont suggest you do the odds are youd find a Copeland compressor in the center, Shuster said. When someone walks into a supermarket in the U.S., theres a good chance it uses Copeland compression or controls technology to control the refrigerated cases, Shuster said. And the company monitors the temperature in millions of shipping containers that bring food, pharmaceuticals and other goods over the roads and across the oceans each year. Were everywhere, he said. Shuster thinks the company stands to benefit from trends toward sustainability, and energy efficiency. The company makes compressors for air conditioners critical components for the units efficiency. Copelands industrial compression business is working on tech to capture methane emissions from landfills. We like the way in which were positioned, he said. Emerson announced its plans to sell Copeland, formerly known as Climate Technologies, in late October, as part of a move to double down on software and automation. The prospect of such a move had been raised before. In 2019 the influential hedge fund D.E. Shaw released a letter urging Emersons board to separate the companys factory automation business from its commercial and residential solutions business. Shuster said theres power in being a standalone company. And he thinks shareholders are looking for more focused, pure-play companies these days, so that its clearer what theyre investing in. Shuster said 80% of Copelands revenues come from repair and replacements. That fact gives us resiliency, Shuster said. Some people call air conditioning discretionary spend. But I think if youre in St. Louis, in August, and it doesnt work, Id question the term. The deal is structured so that Copeland is owned by a joint venture of Emerson and the New York-based investment firm Blackstone. Blackstone has a controlling ownership of 60%, and Emerson has a 40%, noncontrolling stake. The deal closed May 31, and valued Copeland at $14 billion. As of September, Emerson and its subsidiaries had around 85,500 employees. Copeland employs about 18,000 people, with manufacturing sites in Asia, Europe and North America. It accounted for about a quarter of Emersons revenues in the most recent fiscal year. Emerson will have two board seats at Copeland, Shuster said, and one will be filled by Emersons chief operating officer, Ram Krishnan. Before stepping into the CEO position at Copeland, Shuster was chief executive at Howden Group, a Scotland-based, industrial compression business. Similar to his role at Copeland, Shuster started at Howden in September of 2019, after the company was carved out from Colfax Corporation to become a standalone, private equity-owned business. In March it was acquired by Chart Industries. A company only needs one CEO, Shuster said. I was not the acquirer, so I stepped out. Very coincidentally, this opportunity came quickly behind it. Shuster grew up and went to college in California. He started his career in the HVAC industry at Johnson Controls, and then he went on to work at United Technologies. He moved to the St. Louis area about three weeks ago. Copeland is operating out of Emersons longtime headquarters campus on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson. As part of the deal, Emerson sold the real estate into the new joint venture and entered into a three-year lease, with an option to extend two years. The news of Emersons impending headquarters move stirred concern among the St. Louis regions civic leaders, who feared the company would move its home base elsewhere. After a three-month review, Emerson announced Friday it was moving its headquarters to Clayton in 2024. Asked whether Copeland is likely to remain on the Ferguson campus, Shuster said the headquarters site there is important for the company. Of Copelands 18,000 employees, around 300 to 400 work at the Ferguson campus in areas that support the companys global operations, like human resources, finance and IT. It continues to be a critical center for us to operate from. Beyond that, there are really no plans, Shuster said. Shuster added that he just purchased a home in St. Louis County. That should probably make some people feel comfortable that I wouldnt do that if there was the intent to not be here, Shuster said. Man accused of acting as getaway driver in Berkeley gas station killing Christopher Gall of Maryland Heights was fatally shot before his backpack was stolen, police said. BERKELEY A man shot and killed Saturday afternoon during an attempted robbery in Berkeley was identified Sunday as Christopher Gall, 48, of Maryland Heights. Police were called to the 4400 block of North Hanley Road about 2 p.m. Saturday and found Gall, of the 12300 block of Lakepoint Drive. He died at a hospital. Gall was attempting to fight the person who was robbing him, police said, when he was shot. The person who shot Gall then fled on North Hanley Road. The St. Louis County Police Department has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 636-529-8210. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. Editor's Note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. Sunday with the name of the victim. Then there were four. Wait, five. OK, six. The number of Republican politicians who have formally declared their candidacy to take on former President Donald Trump in 2024 has been growing almost by the day. Thats a problem. Trumps notable in-party opponents that is, the ones who hold or have held significant elective office include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christi. Whats wrong with this picture? Its too big. By about five names. As New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu pointed out in an op-ed that ran in the Post-Dispatch opinion section last week, a wide, fractured field of candidates is the surest way for Trump to repeat his 2016 path to the nomination. That would be disastrous for the party and potentially catastrophic for America. Whether because hes a potential convicted felon or a potential dictator, Trump belongs nowhere near the White House. Right now, hes polling at about 50% support among likely Republican primary voters, but the wider electorate holds a far dimmer view of him to the point that Democrats might, as a matter of strategy, want him as their opponent in the general election next year. But thats coming dangerously close to the White House lawn, especially against an octogenarian incumbent. The best thing for America would be Trumps defeat in the primaries, even if that works against the Democrats. A President DeSantis might sound problematic to many readers it does to us but it doesnt sound apocalyptic. Trumps lead in the primary field may look daunting, but its not necessarily insurmountable. Only one non-incumbent former president has ever won a subsequent term (Grover Cleveland, 1892), and while Trumps indictment last week could spawn some unpredictable reaction among Republican voters, its difficult to believe it will be a sum positive. So whats the best way to ensure Trump is stopped in the primaries? One theory, which could be summarized as the death by a thousands cuts, holds that the half-dozen notable opponents all aiming their knives at Trump would gradually erode his support. Small problem: They would actually have to aim their knives, and among them, only Christie and Hutchinson seem willing (or, in Christies case, salivating) to do that. Pence, despite having his life literally threatened by a mob Trump flung at him on Jan. 6, 2021, has said he would support Trump if hes the nominee. DeSantis the only challenger who seems to have even a theoretical chance of catching Trump leapt to his defense following last weeks indictment, while Haley and Scott leaned in that direction. The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35 percent of the vote, Sununu wrote last week. Thats how Trump won the nomination in 2016. Any Republican candidate running against Trump who isnt willing to actually, yknow, run against Trump should get out. Editor's note: This editorial initially misidentified Chris Sununu. He is the governor of New Hampshire. University of Phoenix is a member of the SHRM Recertification Provider network PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix is pleased to announce it will be participating in the 2023 SHRM Annual Conference, to be held June 11-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. University Provost and Chief Academic Officer, John Woods, will be delivering opening remarks during a featured session at the event on June 12, and the University will be hosting Booth #3852 during the conference. The booth will be hosted by experts from the University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions Group and will showcase the non-credit, self-led professional development courses that provide recertification credits for the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). As a member of the SHRM Recertification Provider network, University of Phoenix offers eight non-credit, self-led courses that focus on topics including diversity, equity and inclusion, communication leadership, and business acumen. Each course aligns to the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK) and provides 30 professional development credits (PDCs) upon successful completion. SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, SHRM BASK, and SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge are registered trademarks of Society for Human Resource Management. "Participating in the SHRM Conference and continuing our commitment to the development of human resource professionals is one of many ways we can help meet the needs of today's working professionals and employers," said Jay Titus, vice president of the Workforce Solutions Group at University of Phoenix. "Being able to award professional development credits through high-quality, online programs, makes professional development more accessible for busy HR professionals." During the conference, the University of Phoenix will be giving attendees the chance to win one of 20 free SHRM recertification courses. Eligible non-credit, self-led professional development courses at the University of Phoenix can provide 30 professional development credits and these courses align to SHRM BASK . The SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications have more than 120,000 certificate recipients in over 105 countries. The theme of this years SHRM Conference is Drive Change, and will offer peer-to-peer networking, inspiring addresses from top business and HR leaders, competency-based HR seminars, hands-on workshops, plus curated content focused on some of the most pressing issues facing HR: DE&I, workplace culture, talent acquisition, and retention. More information about the SHRM Conference may be found here. Learn more here about flexible and scalable employee training solutions available through University of Phoenix. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230611005028/en/ Michele Mitchum University of Phoenix [email protected] Source: University of Phoenix Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2023) - LBank Exchange, a global digital asset trading platform, will list Zaracoin (ZARA) on June 10, 2023. For all users of LBank Exchange, the ZARA/USDT trading pair will be officially available for trading. ZARA Listing Banner To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/169451_f44904bad45d292e_001full.jpg Zaracoin (ZARA), aims to be a part of e-commerce worldwide by becoming a prominent mode of payment for goods and services. Its native token, ZARA, will be listed on LBank Exchange at 4:00 UTC on June 10, 2023, with the goal of expanding its global footprint and supporting the realization of its forward-thinking objectives. Introducing Zaracoin Zaracoin's aim is to boost e-commerce in Central Asia and to foster its own growth. Furthermore, its principal mission is to establish a major clothing factory in Central Asia. Presently, various regions of Central Asia house small to medium-sized tailoring workshops that employ between 20 to 500 people. These workshops often lack the requisite human resources, adequate equipment, and high-level logistics to handle large tailoring orders. The ambition of Zaracoin is to build a factory that can provide employment for up to 5,000 individuals and produce over a million finished goods annually. At the moment, a fully operational three-story factory is in place. The employees at this factory have the capability to execute substantial government orders, such as tailoring military and medical clothing for the entire nation. By leveraging more resources, Zaracoin plans to secure tenders that necessitate a high output of ready-made clothes. About ZARA Token ZARA has a total supply of 1 million (i.e. 1,000,000) tokens. It will be listed on LBank Exchange at 4:00 UTC on June 10, 2023, investors who are interested in ZARA can easily buy and sell it on LBank Exchange now. Learn More about ZARA Token: Official Website: https://zara-coin.com/en/ Contract: https://polygonscan.com/token/0x3546764dd3d7d049efe5101b6000bb126a2b82e2 About LBank LBank is one of the top crypto exchanges, established in 2015. It offers specialized financial derivatives, expert asset management services, and safe crypto trading to its users. The platform holds over 9 million users from more than 210 regions across the world. LBank is a cutting-edge growing platform that ensures the integrity of users' funds and aims to contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies. Start Trading Now: lbank.com Community & Social Media: l Telegram l Twitter l Facebook l LinkedIn l Instagram l YouTube Contact Details: LBK Blockchain Co. Limited LBank Exchange [email protected] [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169451 NEW DELHI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- India's northeastern state of Manipur on Sunday extended a ban on internet services for five more days till Thursday. Mobile internet services in the state were banned on May 3 when violent clashes broke out among ethnic groups, and broadband services were banned the next day. Since then, the ban has been extended several times given the prevailing law and order situation. Violent clashes have killed nearly 100 and injured over 300, and thousands have been living in relief camps after their houses were burnt down. Presently, more than 10,000 security personnel of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the state to maintain peace and public order. The country's Federal Home Minister Amit Shah spent three days in the state a couple of weeks ago to take stock of the situation. Manipur's Publicity and Information Minister Sapam Ranjan said that no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the state in the last 24 hours, indicating the return of normalcy in the state, according to local media. BRISBANE, Australia (PRWEB) June 10, 2023 New Era in Gaming: 'Vitality for Gamers' Revamps Website, Gamifying Real-Life Experiences Vitality For Gamers, the pioneering platform that seeks to gamify life, has launched its newly redesigned website. The revamped platform aims to infuse everyday life with vitality, providing a unique way for individuals and families to engage in real-world activities. The innovative 'Vitality Challenge' program, a central feature of the site, encourages users to adopt healthy habits through gamification of life routines. Moreover, the website includes a specialized section, 'Parents with Gamers.' This area aims to help parents encourage their children to integrate vitality into everyday activities. The 'Achieve Before Reward' system gamifies tasks such as homework, chores, sports, hobbies, and more, providing a fun and engaging way for kids to learn responsibility and enjoy their achievements. "While we are developing tools and apps to enhance the experience of the 'Gamification of Life', this website launch serves as a significant step in our mission to make everyday life more vibrant and engaging," stated Lionel Thomas from Vitality For Gamers. The company aims to transform how people view and interact with their life choices. They encourage users to be active participants, not Non-Player Characters (NPCs), in their lives. Through the Achieve Before Reward system, individuals are motivated to level up their real-life avatar and achieve real-life goals before indulging in screen time, gaming, treats, or other indulgences. The Vitality Challenge and other company initiatives promote personal health and advocate for a sustainable lifestyle that benefits our Earth. By making healthier choices, being active, buying local, and consuming less, users can improve their lives while reducing their impact on the Earth. To experience this exciting, gamified way of life, visit http://www.VitalityForGamers.com or http://www.VforG.com (Short Link) and join the community creating vitality for the greater good. About Vitality For Gamers Vitality For Gamers aims to create vitality in one's life by gaming in the Real World while saving the Earth through Gamification of Life. Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/2023/6/prweb19330188.htm "It is critical that we focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate, tells UN Climate Change Conference . President-Designate, tells . The conference, running from June 5-15 in Bonn, Germany , is hosting discussions on a range of issues, including the Global Stocktake , the global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage and the mitigation work program. in , is hosting discussions on a range of issues, including the Global Stocktake "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake ensuring a just and balanced energy transition that leaves no one behind." BONN, Germany , June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COP28 President-Delegate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber , met with heads of delegations and key negotiating groups including those from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference, being held in the run up to COP28 , emphasizing the need to engage and listen to all voices in the climate change discussion especially those of the Global South. The conference, taking place in Bonn , 5-15 June, is hosting discussions on more than 50 agenda items. In framing the meetings in Bonn , Dr. Sultan said "we will reach out to engage every community, seek to include the active participation of the under-represented, including young people and indigenous peoples. And we will give the space and enabling environment to discuss, debate and align on every mandate across every climate pillar." During his meeting with the delegates from the G77 + China Group, Dr. Al Jaber said, the G77 members have a special contribution to make by helping shape ambitious negotiated outcomes, a transformative action agenda and a just and equitable energy transition that leaves no one behind. For this, climate finance is critical, with Dr. Al Jaber emphasizing his commitment to reform global financial institutions, to unlock more concessional finance, to attract much more private capital. He underscored that COP28 will be the first-time a G77 Summit is hosted at a COP. Dr. Al Jaber also engaged with the Arab Group and various delegates from SIDS and highlighted the importance of driving tangible changes to deliver real climate action that leaves no one behind. Adaptation, he said, is a critical focus for the region securing resources for countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, including those associated with food and health. "Everyone is affected and the most vulnerable communities who have done the least to cause climate change, are the most affected. Arab countries only contribute 5% of global emissions yet are among the hardest hit by climate impacts. Temperatures rising across Middle East and North Africa region almost twice as quickly as rest of world", added Dr. Al Jaber . Building on these comments, Razan Al Mubarak , UN Climate Change High-Level Champion highlighted her longstanding commitments to nature and biodiversity and the critical role they will play in delivering a successful outcome. She also emphasized the importance for inclusion to cut across every aspect of the COP process especially those most vulnerable to ensure that every voice is heard and that every stakeholder feels empowered to participate in the shared commitment to combatting climate change. Delegates from member states of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) met with Dr. Al Jaber . He pointed out that Africa is rich in clean energy resources including wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal providing the African continent with huge potential for low-carbon growth and sustainable development. But that this will only be feasible if finance, technology, and capacity building is made available through investment that flows at scale, making a just transition a reality. "It is critical that we build on the successes of COP27 to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," he said. "The phase down of fossil fuels is inevitable. The speed at which this happens depends on how quickly we can phase up zero carbon alternatives, while ensuring energy security, accessibility, and affordability." Dr. Al Jaber also listened to the priorities of the Indigenous Peoples, the role they can play in the COP process, and assured them that that their voices and those from marginalized communities are being heard. He noted that Indigenous Peoples represent just 5 percent of the global population but protect 80 percent of the world's biodiversity. The role of Indigenous Peoples as custodians of nature will be recognized by an " Indigenous Peoples Pavilion " at COP28 . During his remarks at the Constituency Roundtable, the President-Designate said: "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake, ensuring a just and balanced energy transition and providing space for discussion, dialogue and consensus on the role of fossil fuels", adding "We are committed to ensuring all groups, all stakeholders, are fully engaged. We need a COP of action, a COP of solidarity, and a COP of unity", added Dr. Al Jaber . In his remarks to the Heads of Delegation of all Negotiating Groups and Parties under the UNFCCC, Dr. Al Jaber said: "The COP28 Presidency recognizes the views of many in this room that the Global Stocktake, and by extension COP28 , must be a turning point. We must respond to the Stocktake with a pragmatic and effective way forward to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement." He further added: "Many of you have devoted your entire careers to this cause. You know what is at stake. Many of us remember that moment in Paris when the world chose to take a different path to a better, sustainable zero carbon future. We know we aren't moving fast enough, but we also know that we have the power to make the difference, if we act in solidarity." Young people will be at the forefront of addressing the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber told the youth delegation, which is why COP28 will be putting a special focus on empowering youth. He introduced COP28 's Youth Climate Champion, Shamma Al Mazrui , who stressed the importance of including youth in all conversations around climate change. Al Mazrui also headlined the first ever Youth Stocktake event; an assessment of the challenges for youth inclusion in UNFCCC processes and a roadmap for the future. The COP28 Presidency also met with SB Chairs Ambassador Nabil Munir and Harry Vroels and various other delegation heads attending a reception at the Bundeskunsthalle museum. "At COP28 , we are going to be laser-focused on concrete and ambitious solutions that will allow us to bridge the gaps by 2030. And we will include all stakeholders to drive an inclusive plan of action that gets us moving in the right direction. We need to shift from incremental steps to transformational progress that delivers for everyone, everywhere. And that work begins right here in Bonn ." For all media enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact [email protected] For up-to-date COP28 news, follow us on Twitter @COP28_UAE COP28 UAE : COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023 . The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors. will take place at Expo City from . The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors. As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals. will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals. The UAE will lead a process for all parties to agree upon a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a "leave no one behind" approach to inclusive climate action. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098381/COP28_Indigenous_Communities.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098380/COP28_Meeting_with_LDCs.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cop28-must-deliver-for-the-most-vulnerable-president-designate-tells-un-climate-change-conference-301847822.html BEIJING , June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 9 , the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China held a press conference to introduce the preparations for the First China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE). Ren Hongbin , Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said the first CISCE would be held in Beijing from November 28 to December 2, 2023 and hundreds of Chinese and foreign leading enterprises have confirmed participation in the expo. As the world's first national high-level expo themed supply chain, the CISCE is an international public platform built by China for global business communities to strengthen exchanges and cooperation after the COVID-19 pandemic. The first CISCE, themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future", is hosted by the CCPIT, with an estimated total exhibition area of more than 100,000 square meters. It features five supply chains involving smart vehicle, green agriculture, clean energy, digital technology and healthy life, and one exhibition area, i.e., modern logistics. The expo consists of the Opening Ceremony, the Global Supply Chain Innovation and Development Summit, five themed sub-forums, each focusing on one of the five major chains, and side events such as supply-demand matchmaking ceremonies, industrial seminars, and new product releases. Yu Jianlong , Vice Chairman of the CCPIT, remarked: "The reason most enterprises consider CISCE promising lies in its exhibition mode chain-themed with a distinctive ecology- and scenario-based style. CISCE is an open international cooperation platform characterized by upstream, midstream, and downstream connection, an integration of large, medium, and small enterprises, a collaboration among industry, academia, research and application, and an interaction between Chinese and foreign enterprises. For exhibitors and professional purchasers, what they would gain from CISCE will be significantly different from traditional exhibitions." Reportedly, the investment and exhibition promotion of the CISCE is progressing smoothly. Chinese and foreign enterprises show their enthusiasm in the registration process, and hundreds of enterprises, including those categorized as Fortune Global 500, Specialized and Sophisticated, Little Giant, and Hidden Champion firms have accepted and confirmed the invitation. It is estimated that more than 300 companies will participate in the exhibition, with international exhibitors taking up to approximately 30%; the number of professional purchasers and visitors will exceed 100,000 person-times, with international purchasers accounting for more than 40 percent, covering 50 countries and regions. Overseas roadshows of the CISCE have recently been held in German, Belgium , and Switzerland by the CCPIT. Similar roadshows are scheduled to take place in France , Saudi Arabia , and other countries subsequently. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enterprises-all-over-the-world-actively-registering-for-the-first-cisce-301847785.html SOURCE China Council for the Promotion of International Trade MECCA, Saudi Arabia , June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital transformation has become an integral part of Saudis' lives, especially that Saudi Arabia ranks first in the index of UN ESCWA for e-government services, as well as ranking 11th among G20. Hence, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah provides more than 121 e-services for more than 30 million people inside Saudi Arabia , besides millions performing Hajj and Umrah from different countries. The Ministry guarantees cyber security to protect the pilgrims' data and information against different attacks. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah managed to issue more than 50 million Umrah permissions, besides serving 30 million beneficiaries during 2023, which meet the developing modern needs. According to WASEDA Japanese index, this data shows a great leap by Saudi Arabia , especially the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which ranks 8th among 217 government entities in the Saudi 10th Digital Transformation Measurement Index for 2022. Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah , the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, stressed, during the "Creative Makers Forum" launched on June 4 th, that the Ministry is considering to provide e-payment services in order to link the e-systems in the pilgrims' countries of origin with these in Saudi Arabia . The hardest task, while providing e-services, lies in finding a safe cyber environment for the pilgrims' data, which Saudi Arabia ensures via the efforts of National Cyber-Security Authority, which carried out a cyber-security exercise for Hajj season 2023, on May 28 th. The exercise included a simulation for dealing with different kinds of cyber-attacks, while applying response mechanism to urgent cyber incidents, starting with readiness, discovery and analysis, and ending with containment, recovery and post-incident procedures. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098371/Ministry_of_Hajj.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hajj-ministry-digital-transformation-and-safe-cyber-environment-301847809.html SOURCE Ministry of Hajj DENVER , June 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 10, 2023 , the University of Denver celebrated the graduation of over 1,150 undergraduate students. For the Class of 2023, this moment may have seemed unimaginable three years earlier as the then-freshmen were confronted with the challenges of the COVID-19 global pandemic. DU graduates receive surprise $500 gift as the graduation speaker shares message of paying it forward and help others. Delivering this year's commencement address was Pat Hamill , chairman and CEO of Oakwood Homes, a Berkshire Hathaway company. He shared with the graduates and their families the importance of philanthropy, the joy of giving and the impact of paying it forward. Hamill gifted to each graduate in attendance $500 and delivered this message: "Keep it if you really need it. Give it to someone who really needs it if you don't. Or combine it with your friends and do something together. Keep it real and do something that matters for someone who needs it," Hamill said. Hamill has been a longtime supporter and philanthropist in the Denver community by donating both his time and resources to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver and the Early Childhood Commission. In 1997 he launched BuildStrong Education, an Oakwood Homes Foundation, with a focus on educational programs and initiatives. BuildStrong has invested millions of dollars since its inception. Hamill is also the founder of the STEAD School and the Colorado Homebuilding Academy. University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner thanked Hamill for his generous gift and reinforced the message to the graduates. "I hope your minds are spinning on what good each of you can do to "pay it forward"in ways big and smallthat improve communities," Haefner said. "Each act toward serving the public good compounding on itself, gaining momentum and changing lives. And it can all start today." Video of the surprise gift announcement is on the University of Denver YouTube page. About the University of Denver: Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is a private university that empowers students who want to make a difference. Recognized as one of the top research universities in the country, DU has more than 300 academic programs serving about 12,000 graduate and undergraduate students. DU students benefit from an experience that channels passion to serve the public good. Visit the University's Newsroom or follow the University on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-denver-graduates-receive-surprise-500-gift-at-commencement-ceremony-301847766.html SOURCE University of Denver FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows West Kiskatinaw River wildfire in British Columbia, Canada, June 9, 2023 in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. BC Wildfire Service via Facebook/via REUTERS By Rod Nickel WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - The number of wildfires raging out of control across Quebec dropped on Sunday as firefighters in the Canadian province gained the upper hand in some areas, a provincial minister said on Sunday. Quebec Natural Resources Minister Maite Blanchette Vezina said told reporters that the number of out-of-control fires in the eastern province dropped to 44 from 72 on Saturday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported. Canada is enduring its worst-ever spring fire season, with 431 active fires as of Sunday, up five from Saturday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. By Monday, around 1,200 firefighters, including more than 100 from France and some from other provinces, are expected to be battling blazes across Quebec. "With the resources we got from France and New Brunswick, the situation is more safe," Blanchette Vezina said, adding that authorities were not yet ready to send many evacuated residents home. A federal government meteorologist forecast on Saturday that Quebec could receive light rain on Tuesday in some burning areas. In Alberta, the provincial government warned that fires were becoming increasingly unpredictable and moving closer to the evacuated town of Edson, 200 km (125 miles) west of the provincial capital Edmonton. A fire south of Edson is growing and now spans 204,000 hectares (504,095 acres), local officials said in an online update on Sunday. "Last Wednesday, we thought we could close down our emergency control center and come Friday, that idea went out the door when the fires went out of control very drastically," said Luc Mercier, chief administrative officer for Yellowhead County. The Pacific province of British Columbia is also fighting a large number of fires, including one that has burned within four kilometres of the northeastern B.C. community of Tumbler Ridge. Shifting winds have helped firefighters battle that blaze in the Rocky Mountain foothills, but warmer, drier temperatures on Sunday may cause the fire to grow, said Karley Desrosiers, information officer for B.C. Wildfire Service. (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Marguerita Choy) KYIV (Reuters) - Russian forces shelled three small boats taking elderly residents to safety from inundated areas of southern Ukraine, killing three people and wounding 10, the regional governor said on Sunday. The area has been stricken by catastrophic flooding along the Dnipro River after the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam which Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of deliberately blowing up. Kherson region's Ukrainian-appointed governor, Oleksander Prokudin said Russian forces were "deliberately trying to disrupt rescue efforts". "Today, terrorists opened fire on three boats that were used to rescue 21 people from the flooded (eastern) bank," Prokudin said on Ukrainian television. "Almost all of them were elderly and people with limited mobility. Russian soldiers fired at these people in the back." He said three people were killed and 10 injured, including two law enforcement officers, during the evacuation from the Russian-controlled parts of Kherson region to parts controlled by Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy decried the incident and repeated accusations that Russia was responsible for the breach of the dam that flooded towns. Russian forces, he said, were now shelling residents seeking evacuation from submerged areas. "(They have) cast people deliberately into flooded towns and villages and then shell boats used to try to evacuate them," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "Even animals have more morals than the Russian state." Prokudin told the television a 74-year-old man used his body to shield a woman from Russian fire and was hit in the back and was injured too seriously for medics to save him. Pictures posted on a Ukrainian armed forces Telegram channel showed paramedics taking evacuees out of small boats and rushing through knee-deep water to take them to safety - some on stretchers, some in rescuers' arms. The Ukrainian prosecutor's office said 23 people had been injured in the incident. An investigation had been opened. The incident was first reported by Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak who said the boat had been carrying evacuees from flooded areas of occupied territory to the city of Kherson. "The Russian army attacked a boat with civilians evacuating from the left bank of Kherson region," Yermak wrote on the Telegram messenger. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the attack. The Russian defence ministry failed to respond to a request for comment. Russia denies targeting civilians. Its February 2022 full-scale invasion has killed thousands, uprooted millions and destroyed cities (Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Pavel Polityuk and Ron Popeski; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Ros Russell and Marguerita Choy) SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean police have arrested 77 people involved in 35 cases of suspected industrial espionage discovered during a recent nationwide investigation, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday. Most cases only involved domestic companies, although eight were related to the leak of technology secrets to China or other countries, Yonhap quoted the National Police Agency as saying. The agency could not immediately be reached for comment. The number of international cases was double that of a similar probe conducted one year ago, Yonhap said, citing police data. One suspect was arrested for leaking confidential corporate information upon moving from a South Korean employer to a Chinese company, which promised hundreds of millions of won (hundreds of thousands of dollars) to cover housing, schooling and living expenses in return for the information, the report said. ($1 = 1,287.3200 won) (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Edmund Klamann) QAMISHLI, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria said it would begin trying thousands of suspected foreign Islamic State fighters who have been its custody for years, surprising diplomats working on the issue and prompting concern about due process. The U.S.-backed autonomous administration, which operates separately from the central government in Damascus, holds around 10,000 suspected IS detainees who fled the last bastions held by the militant Islamist group in Syria from 2017-2019. Local officials have for years called on foreign countries - including Canada, France, the United Kingdom and others - to repatriate their nationals as well as the thousands of foreign women and children who fled IS's self-declared "caliphate" and are in detention camps. On Saturday, the Kurdish-led administration said in an online statement that it had decided to submit detainees to its own "open, free and transparent trials" following the international community's lagging response. Senior administration official Badran Jia Kurd told Reuters a local counter-terrorism law broadened last year would be used to try the fighters, adding the accused could appoint a lawyer but did not say courts would appoint one for them. Northeast Syria does not practice capital punishment. Jia Kurd said rights groups and the U.S.-led coalition, which helped Kurdish-led forces oust IS from swathes of northern Syrian territory, would be invited to attend the trials. The coalition did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The issue of foreign fighters is one of the most complex security and rights issues in Syria's 12-year war. Many countries have not repatriated nationals who joined IS, concerned that their counter-terrorism laws would not guarantee long prison sentences for them. A Western diplomat working on Syria told Reuters the administration's decision was a surprise. The idea had been discussed in the past but pushed aside primarily over questions on the legality of a regional court operating separately from the Syrian government. "No one thought they were going to do this. We take it very seriously that they are holding a lot of people but this is a separate issue from trying them. Trying them is a whole different beast," the diplomat said. The diplomat said such trials would need particularly high levels of security and that the risk of a breakout by IS fighters would become higher. Letta Tayler, counter-terrorism specialist at Human Rights Watch, said the international community should either back the trials in northeast Syria - including with resources - or support prosecutions at home or in a third country. "Anything less is not only a violation of these detainees' rights to due process. It's also a slap in the face to victims of IS and their family members, who deserve to see justice served for IS crimes," she told Reuters. (Reporting by Orhan Qereman in Qamishli, Syria and Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Editing by Frances Kerry) Plumes of smoke erupt from a yacht on fire in Marsa Alam, Egypt, June 11, 2023 in this screengrab taken from a handout video. Mohamed Al-Saif/Handout via REUTERS CAIRO (Reuters) - Three British tourists were missing and 12 had been rescued after a motor boat caught fire on Sunday off the Egyptian Red Sea coast, Egyptian officials and security sources said. The survivors were brought to safety in the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra, about 21km (13 miles) north of the town of Marsa Alam, along with 12 Egyptian crew and guides, according to a statement from the Red Sea State governor's office and two security sources. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, which was named Hurricane and had been on a trip since June 6 in an area just north of Marsa Alam, the statement said. Images posted on social media showed a white motor yacht with the same name on fire at sea, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. "We saw smoke from the boat, it was around 9km from the beach," said Ahmed Maher, a diving manager at Marsa Shagra village. "A nearby boat rescued them and dropped them off." Britain's Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities about the incident and supporting nationals involved. (Reporting by Mohamed Ahmed Hassan, Farah Saafan and Kylie MacLellan; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) TEHRAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Saturday exchanged views on ways to expand bilateral relations. In a 90-minute phone call from Macron, the two presidents also talked about the latest regional developments and the negotiations on the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and removal of the sanctions on Tehran, according to a statement published on the website of the Iranian president's office. Commenting on the bilateral ties' development, Raisi said certain European governments were deceived by the "misinformation" from anti-Iran "terrorist, separatist and hostile" groups during the recent "riots" in Iran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. The Iranian president also highlighted the necessity of refraining from interference in Iran's internal affairs and respecting the country's national sovereignty. Speaking of the latest situation of the nuclear negotiations, Raisi stressed the cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the IAEA's frequent confirmations of Iran's commitment to its legal obligations, calling on other parties in the talks to refrain from politicizing the issue and making any "unconstructive" move in the talks. The Iranian president also touched upon the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, reiterating that opposing the war is Iran's "absolute policy" and diplomacy is the best solution to the issue. The French president, for his part, highlighted interaction with Iran, noting France calls for continued talks between the two countries' officials to improve bilateral exchanges. Macron also stressed the necessity of continuing the nuclear negotiations until they come to fruition, and said Iran is part of the solution to Ukraine's crisis and should play a more significant role in the issue. (Tribune News Service) A man who jumped off a San Francisco-area pier into the Pacific Ocean required a helicopter rescue, California firefighters reported. The man told bystanders he wanted to go swimming before plunging into the ocean off the end of the Pacifica Municipal Pier at about 4:40 p.m. Friday, June 9, the Mercury News reported. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter pulled the man from the water and took him to shore, the Coast Guard reported on Twitter. He was treated and taken to a hospital , the North County Fire Authority reported. A lifeboat, rescue unit and two fire companies responded to the emergency, KNTV reported. An ocean buoy off San Francisco measured the water temperature at 56 degrees Friday, KPIX reported. The pier is 1,140 feet long and is in an area that can be affected by strong winds and punishing waves, the city of Pacifica says on its website. Pacifica is a city of 37,000 people about 15 miles southwest of San Francisco. 2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A man was sailing with friends in the Texas Gulf when he fell off the boat and clung to an ice chest until rescuers arrived, officials said. The Coast Guard received a call for help at 4:43 p.m. on June 10, after the man fell off a sailboat roughly 12 miles away from Corpus Christi, the Coast Guard said in a news release. The man wasnt wearing a life jacket, but held on to an ice chest to stay afloat, the release said. The two other adults on board soon lost sight of the man as he floated away. Coast Guard crews launched a rescue boat and a helicopter and began searching, the release said. The boat crew spotted him at 6:15 p.m. and pulled him out of the water. Despite his life-threatening experience, the man didnt suffer any injuries, so the Coast Guard took him back to the sailboat he tumbled off of, the release said. While an ice chest likely saved the mans life, its not a reliable substitute for proper safety devices, the Coast Guard said. Wearing a life jacket while boating is the only way to guarantee you will be able to stay afloat if you fall overboard, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Bounds, operations specialist, Sector Corpus Christi, said. If youre on a small vessel, a portable marine radio can also serve as a critical link between you and the Coast Guard during an emergency. Corpus Christi is roughly 210 miles southwest of downtown Houston. 2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) Win one as the Gipper? Good luck with that. Last week the Republican field for the presidency took near-final form, and it became clear that among Donald Trumps suddenly expanded number of rivals, some are modeling themselves to varying degrees on that other former president, Ronald Reagan. That strategy is a way of breaking, if only implicitly, with Trump and Trumpism: going back to the future by invoking the most beloved of modern presidents among Republicans. Of all the announced candidates, none is more overt about embracing Reagan over Trump than Trumps once-obsequious vice president, Mike Pence. At 64, Pence is among the older Trump challengers in the bunch, old enough for Reagan to have been a formative influence for him in real time as Pence recounted in his presidential announcement in Iowa on Wednesday. He started in politics as a Democrat, Pence told his assembled supporters. But Ive got to tell ya as soon as I heard the voice of the 40th president of the United States, I joined the Reagan revolution and never looked back. He punched those final words for emphasis. Yet even in his friendly audience, the applause was merely polite. Thats a telling response. It suggests the very real limits of donning the Reagan mantle, whether for Pence, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former South Carolina Gov. and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, or last weeks other two new entrants in the contest, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and second-term North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Reagan, the self-styled optimist who expanded the Republican Partys appeal even as he turned it rightward in the 1980s, is an increasingly faded memory for voters; he left office nearly 35 years ago and soon disappeared from public view, diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. He died two decades ago. Invocations of his name and legacy may have animated Republicans once, but now the Gipper cant win it for anybody. Todays Republican Party is the Trump Party. Even many of its voters who arent solidly MAGAfied nonetheless want Trump in 2024 or if theyve tired of his maniacal dramas and legal morass someone like him, just without so much baggage. So far, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has dominated that lane. Yes, as governor he did once declare Feb. 6, the 40th presidents birthday, as Ronald Reagan Day in Florida. But as a presidential candidate, DeSantis is trying to out-Trump Trump in the right-wing culture wars, with anti-immigration stunts and by populist attacks on iconic corporations seemingly without regard to how that performance would damage him for the general election, should he win the Republican nomination. Hutchinson once joked to Washington journalists at an annual dinner of their Gridiron Club that for DeSantis to challenge Trump would mark the first time a father and son have ever opposed each other for the presidency. Mini-Me DeSantis does share Trumps superpower shamelessness and a zeal for punching back and punching down, though hes only lately starting to do so against the former president. The potency of Trumpism is evident in the party: Together, Trump and DeSantis have backing from three-quarters of Republican voters, though DeSantis has slid behind the former president in the polling by roughly 30 percentage points on average. Still, he remains Trumps only rival whose party support is in double digits. Republican voters, those who participate in primaries and caucuses, arent looking for a return to Reagans trademark sunny optimism and talk of America as the shining city on the hill. Even before Trump (think Newt Gingrich, and the tea party movement), these voters were looking for scrappers whose rhetoric leaned more toward American carnage and who validated the voters grievances against the elites. Trump just took the pugilism up a notch OK, many notches and they were hooked. Differences between Reaganism and Trumpism arent just ones of style and rhetoric. Theyre substantive, which also works against those who would be Reagan redux. Theres overlap between the -isms, mainly in favoring tax cuts and deregulation. But Reagans defining policies also included some that are now all but anathema in the Trump Party: He was pro-immigration; the landmark 1986 law he signed included amnesty for millions of undocumented immigrants. He was for free trade, not protectionism. He was anti-communist and condemned the then-Soviet Union as an evil empire as Pence and Haley have suggested, Reagan would surely have opposed Russias invasion of Ukraine and supported U.S. assistance to the defenders. On Wednesday, Pence, reflecting his Reaganist bent, slammed Trump and DeSantis, too, for being willing to forfeit American leadership on the world stage and to coddle dictators such as Vladimir Putin. Yet he has to know that muscular internationalism is increasingly unpopular among his would-be voters. They flock behind Trumps isolationist America First banner. The intraparty tension is evident in Congress, where Republicans are split over further aid to Ukraine. When candidates for president are mired in single digits in the polls, it cant hurt for them to wrap themselves in the mantle of a party icon. But it wont help them either. Reaganism is the past. The Republican Party shows no signs of going back and certainly not in time for the 2024 primaries. Jackie Calmes is an opinion columnist for the Los Angeles Times in Washington. 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. LONDON The political risks are rising for Vladimir Putin as the Ukrainian military begins its much-awaited assault to dislodge Russia from territory it illegally seized last year, with the Russian president acknowledging Kyiv's "offensive potential." There is nervousness among the Russian elite over the firepower of Ukraine's Western weaponry, insiders say, and it is driving fears that the land bridge Moscow carved across the southeast of Ukraine to Crimea could be severed dealing significant military and morale setbacks to the Kremlin. In addition, infighting among battlefield leaders, drone attacks on Moscow and a spate of unprecedented incursions by paramilitary groups into western Russian regions bordering Ukraine are raising questions over whether Putin can control the situation, according to several members of the Russian elite, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. "This is a serious challenge for the authorities," said one well-connected member of Russian diplomatic circles. Signs of the growing tension emerged this month when an influential member of the Russian parliament, Konstantin Zatulin, who is close to the top brass in the Russian intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, declared at a conference on the future of Ukraine that Russia had so far failed in all of its war aims and that some of them had become "senseless." "What were the aims announced at the beginning of the special military operation?" Zatulin asked, using the Kremlin's term for the war. "You all remember denazification, demilitarization, neutrality for Ukraine and the defense of the residents of Donetsk and Luhansk. On which of these points have we reached results today? Not one." Zatulin's spokesperson did not respond to requests for further comment. "The mood is very gloomy among the elite," said Tatyana Stanovaya, the founder of R-Politik, a political analysis firm. "They don't understand what Putin's plans are and doubt whether he is adequately dealing with the situation. This has been going on for a long time, but the worry is building up." The well-connected member of Russian diplomatic circles who remains in contact with government officials said the mood turned gloomier last week after Western proposals emerged for long-term security agreements for Ukraine. That would provide Kyiv with guaranteed arms supplies over a multiyear period as an alternative to immediate NATO membership. "This determines the main worry of the Russian leadership," this person said. "If contemporary weapons will be supplied and the Ukrainian army will be modernized, then even without formal membership Ukraine in this form can represent an existential threat for Russia." "It seems to me this is further stimulus for Russia to continue the military operation," he added. Putin had appeared to count on diminishing Western resolve to support Ukraine, especially with a presidential election in 2024 in the United States, where a minority of Republicans have argued against continuing high levels of assistance to Ukraine. In Moscow, that assumption is eroding, insiders say. "Modest signals" have emerged that Russia could be willing to make some compromises, the well-connected member of Russian diplomatic circles said. Margarita Simonyan, the usually hawkish head of RT, the Russian state propaganda TV channel, this month called for the conflict to be frozen at the current front lines with referendums to be held in the seized territories on whether the residents there want to be part of Russia or Ukraine. Otherwise, she warned, Ukraine was certain to use the long-range weapons it was receiving from Western allies to hit Russian territory. "This is already a certain revision of the official Russian position," the member of Russian diplomatic circles said. But others cautioned that Simonyan's words represented no more than a fresh propaganda ploy by the Kremlin because any attempt to freeze the conflict at the current lines was only aimed at acquiring more time for the Russian army to rearm to attack again. "Everyone in the Kremlin understands the danger of the Ukrainian counteroffensive," Stanovaya said. "Freezing the situation is very convenient, as this is exactly what will give Putin the time he needs for Ukraine and the West to lose their military zeal and unity." Even as Russian border regions such as Belgorod have come under intensified shelling and drone attacks in recent days, the Kremlin has sought to downplay the impact of the incursions and has kept to a minimum any coverage of the attacks on state television. Still, resentment is bubbling up. "How long will this go on!!! First, the border areas . . . now the outskirts of Belgorod," said one area resident in online comments. "We supported the Special Military Operation because we believed that it would push this evil spirits away from our borders, but the complete opposite has happened." Another resident asked, "What does Putin think? What does he decide?" The drone attacks in Moscow targeting plush residential compounds housing members of the Russian elite are starting to "impact people very seriously psychologically," one Russian businessman said, especially because in the capital, the war had until recently often seemed like no more than background noise. The spate of attacks could strengthen the position of hawks calling for martial law and the closure of Russia's borders, and increase squabbling among those seeking to secure their positions and wealth, he said. Public tirades by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the boss of the Wagner mercenary group and close Putin ally, against Russian army leadership for the failings of the war serve to "let off steam" and take place with Putin's permission because the criticism is channeled through someone who presents himself as a patriot, Stanovaya said. But "at some moment," said Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected political consultant, infighting among factions in the elite around Putin "could spiral out of control." The Kremlin is seeking to play down the cross-border attacks because it is aware that they probably are no more than an attempt by Kyiv to divert Russian troops from defending front-line positions, Markov said. Russia was instead focused on trying to defeat the Ukrainian counteroffensive and then seizing the opportunity presented by a weakened opponent to take more land, he said. Russia is hoping the months it has had to prepare for Ukraine's counteroffensive will secure its positions. It has spent months building defensive positions and laying minefields, forcing the Ukrainian army to approach the front line "in columns," which so far have been easy to spot and target with artillery strikes, Markov said. But unspoken behind that analysis, Markov said, is concern about a potential repeat of the issues that led to Russia's chaotic retreat around Kharkiv last fall, when poor management and inadequate communications between units led to "big problems" and crumbling Russian resolve. The longer the war goes on, the more the conflict "is turning into a personal matter for Russians" and the harder it is becoming to contemplate any withdrawal of Russian forces, no matter how great the understanding is among the Russian elite that launching the invasion was a huge mistake, a Russian billionaire said. "If your relative dies, you want to avenge his death. Nobody cares who started it," he said. "Everyone understands the war has not achieved its aims. But this is not going to influence the progress of the war. It is very difficult to stop. . . . Everything depends on the result of the counteroffensive." Stanovaya largely agreed but said that while Putin, for now, is immunized by war fever and by the firm belief among most of the Moscow elite that Russia cannot lose because it has nuclear weapons, the course of the conflict could yet have unforeseen consequences for the president's standing. "If Russia loses the corridor to Crimea, it will be a very serious blow," she said. "Everyone understands how important it is for Putin, and it will mean Putin has again not calculated the situation correctly and again not managed the situation. It will mean a very serious failure." Guo Hanzhong (L), Yu Jian (C) and Xie Li discuss the restoration plan of a bronze altar at Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) CHENGDU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Guo Hanzhong was a small boy when some elderly people told him that "we have a treasure trove here in our village." Back then, he had no idea that the "treasure" would be reborn in his own hands. The 55-year-old man in the Sanxingdui Museum of southwest China's Sichuan Province is now skilled in the craft of restoring cultural relics. In the past decades, he and his colleagues have magically transformed numerous unearthed pieces, initially unrecognizable to archaeologists during excavation, into masks, statues, cups, and a towering bronze sacred tree about four meters tall. In fact, in the past 39 years since he took this job, Guo, vice head of the cultural relics storage department of the Sanxingdui Museum, has restored more than 6,000 cultural relic items. "Our job is like solving a jigsaw puzzle," he said. "You need to find the pattern and fix it little by little." Discovered in the late 1920s, the Sanxingdui Ruins have been called one of the world's greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Covering an area of 12 square km, they are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back some 4,500 to 3,000 years. So far, more than 50,000 items of bronzeware, jade and gold wares, pottery and ivory artifacts have been unearthed at the site. According to Yu Jian, vice head of the museum and an apprentice of Guo, his teacher "could tell where a piece fit when it was still in the pit." Guo became a cultural relics restorer entirely by chance. In the 1980s when archaeologists from the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology arrived in his village to conduct excavations on the ruins, they lived in Guo's house. At that time, the 16-year-old boy managed to secure a job working part-time with the team, helping them with the chores, digging at the site and buying vegetables. Once he ground a stone into an axe, imitating the appearance of the unearthed cultural relics, and buried it in the soil to trick the archaeologists. The team leader saw the prank and remarked he was talented in archaeology. It was the beginning of Guo's cultural relics restoration career. Earlier in 1986, archaeologists discovered thousands of precious cultural relics, including a gold scepter and a bronze sacred tree, which aroused global interest. It gave him opportunities to learn from experts not only from Sichuan, but also from the National Museum of China as well as the Palace Museum. The exquisite bronze tree, adorned with birds perching on its branches, was split into fragments. "The trunk had fallen into three parts while the branches were in 18 pieces," recalled the man. "The birds, the fruits and other decorations of the tree were in very small fragments." Guo and his master Yang Xiaowu decided to categorize the pieces first before starting from the basic structure and fitting the parts patiently, following the traces of the fracture. It took Guo and his master Yang Xiaowu about seven years to piece together what was one of the largest single-piece bronzeware in the world. Throughout the years, Guo not only became a skillful restorer, but also devised some handy tools like the ones used to clean the soil on the pieces or reinforce the accessories. Sitting in a small office about 20 square meters for years, Guo grew from a naughty boy into a calm man. He gradually came to understand what his master told him: "You need to be extremely patient and able to endure loneliness." In retrospect, he said to Xinhua: "When I took this job, I was merely trying to make a living. But now I love this job so much that I feel responsible for passing down my techniques to young people." Now the most senior restorer in the Sanxingdui Museum, he has several apprentices including Yu Jian the vice curator and Xie Li, a woman from Generation Z. "While doing the work, one might always come across situations that we have never seen before," Guo said. "Then we should both be creative and follow the rules, or the information that the cultural relics carried." The words may sound vague but Xie understood well. "If there is something that we are not sure about, we should just leave it there." With all the new equipment and technology, the work still seemed dull and frustrating at times. "You should really love it, before doing it well," she concluded. "To make something out of debris through our own efforts, this really grants us a sense of achievement," said Yu Jian. On July 28, the new building of Sanxingdui Museum will open to the public. Guo, Yu, Xie and other cultural relic restorers are busy working to present the treasures to visitors. "By then, I am sure that all the visitors, no matter domestic or from abroad, after seeing the exhibits will marvel at our culture," said Yu proudly. Guo Hanzhong takes out a bronze altar at Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Guo Hanzhong (L) and Yu Jian discuss the restoration plan of a bronze altar at Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Guo Hanzhong pairs two parts of a bronze altar at Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Yu Jian (L) and Xie Li discuss the restoration plan of a bronze altar at Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) The armed forces gunned down three terrorists while four others were injured in a gunbattle in the general Miran Shah area in North Waziristan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday. The military's media wing stated that the soldiers fought gallantly but three of them were martyred in the intense exchange of fire that took place on the night between June 9 and 10 (Friday and Saturday). "Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists location and resultantly three terrorists were sent to hell, while four terrorists were injured. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists," a statement released by the ISPR read. The martyred soldiers were identified as Subedar Asghar Ali, 40, Sepoy Naseem Khan, 26, and Sepoy Muhammad Zaman, 22. The ISPR further stated that a sanitisation operation was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. "Armed forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve," it reiterated. Last week, two soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom while two terrorists were killed in a gunbattle in the tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwas (KP) tribal district. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an exchange of fire took place between troops and terrorists in the North Waziristan district on June 3. Troops effectively engaged the terrorists' location and two militants were sent to hell, while injuring another two, it added. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain terrorists. However, during the intense exchange of fire, Naik Zaheer Abbas, age 38 years, resident of Khushab district, and Lance Naik Mairaj Ud Din, age 23 years, resident of Dera Ismail Khan district, having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat [martyrdom], the military's media wing added. Sanitisation of the area, it further said, was carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area A toxic blaze burned for a month, causing severe pollution at the site and surrounding areas File photo: The fire at Kerdiffstown dump near Naas in January 2011. A former waste company owner has been sentenced to three years in jail over breaches at a landfill site that have cost the State more than 60m to clean up. Tony Dean owned the Kerdiffstown dump near Naas, Co Kildare, where a toxic blaze burned for a month in 2011, causing severe pollution at the site and surrounding areas. File photo: The fire at Kerdiffstown dump near Naas in January 2011. Judge Melanie Greally said he had prioritised profit over environmental protection and created a severe hazard for the neighbouring community. Dean was convicted on three breaches of waste management laws by accepting waste volumes far in excess of what his licence allowed, and then handling it in a manner likely to cause environmental harm. Judge Greally sentenced him to three years on each count, with the final year suspended, and all sentences to run concurrently. He is the first person to be sent to jail for waste management offences and possibly the first to be jailed in a case taken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mr Dean (70), of Woodhaven, Milltown, Dublin, was found guilty of the offences dated to the period between October 2003 and November 2008. He had a licence to operate the landfill site at Kerdiffstown under his company Nephin Trading, but accepted excessive volumes of waste. The EPA intervened in 2004 but he continued to bring in more waste. The court was told that an extra 150,000 cubic metres of waste, forming a pile 116 metres high, accumulated even after EPA intervention. The area of the landfill site where it accumulated was permeable soil that was not lined and liquidised waste leached into the land while dangerous gases built up as the waste material decomposed. Judge Greally said that Mr Deans motivation was financial. Increasing profit was prioritised at the expense of compliance Mr Dean was the beneficiary of the profit, Judge Greally said. Mr Dean abandoned the site in 2010 and the next year a major fire broke out there which burned for a month and cost the State 11.5 million to put out. In total, 61.5m has been spent cleaning up the site, removing the waste and remediating it into a public park. Mr Dean was not convicted in relation to the fire because he was not involved with it at the time. Tony Dean Judge Greally pointed out that the offences of which he was convicted carried prison sentences of up to 10 years and severe fines but evidence had already been heard that Mr Dean had no money and would be unable to pay. She said his offending was in the mid-range but she took into account his age and his recent heart procedure. She said prison would present a significant challenge for him. She also said it was notable that the person responsible for the day-to-day running of the dump had escaped conviction. Ted Nealon, a former EPA inspector and Mr Deans business partner, was prosecuted but found not guilty after legal argument. The Supreme Court overturned that ruling but directed no further prosecution take place because of the passage of time. Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPAs Office of Environmental Enforcement, said the case sent a powerful warning to those engaged in environmental crime. Waste crime can cause harm to the environment and public health and have significant consequences for the taxpayer.," he said. "This conviction is a vindication of the resilient efforts of the State authorities working together for the public good over almost two decades. "It sends a powerful warning to companies and their directors those engaging in criminal activity which puts the environment and public health at risk will be held to account. McGregor enjoys booze-up with Kinahan cartel associate Whelan ahead of Katie Taylors big 3Arena fight Conor McGregor is pictured here partying with Graham The Wig Whelan just hours before Katie Taylor lost her home-coming fight with Chantelle Cameron in Dublin. Whelan, a senior Kinahan cartel criminal who was once a close associate of mob boss Thomas Bomber Kavanagh in the UK, is living it large in Dublin while another gang associate, Liam Byrne, is now rotting in a Spanish prison following his arrest earlier this week. The series of images show how Whelan attended a party hosted by McGregor on Taylors fight night in the company of his partner, the MMA stars sister Aoife. Whelan and Aoife McGregor have now been pictured together on a number of occasions and have been romantically involved following his release from prison on a money-laundering charge last December. In one snap, Whelan can be seen arriving at the bash standing next to Aoife as Conor enters the room ahead of them. Another shows Whelan and McGregor toasting each other as they enjoy a Forged Irish Stout over a pub table. Conor has met Katie Taylor And another shows Aoife and Whelan taking their seats ringside in the 3Arena a few rows back from Conor McGregor ahead of the fight. Its understood that Whelan has not come to the attention of gardai since his release from Mountjoy Prison on December 21. Whelan spent a year in custody after being convicted of money laundering offences, including possession of a 28,000 watch. Since his release, he has been regularly spotted enjoying Aoife McGregors company and even posed for a picture together with her in her brothers Black Forge Inn, which she later posted to Instagram. A self-described dangerous criminal, Whelans ties with members of the Kinahan cartel go back more than three decades. Whelan was close pals with cartel figure David Byrne, Liam Byrnes younger brother, who was shot dead in the Regency Hotel gun attack in February 2016. Whelan pleaded guilty in July 2021 to participating in the actions of an organised crime gang by laundering money for the group. He also pleaded guilty to possession of 1,200 in cash and an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak gentlemans watch, the proceeds of crime, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, on January 31, 2019. Whelan further admitted he had paid 2,140 for a three-night stay at the hotel at room 342, knowing or believing that the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Aoife McGregor with Graham The Wig Whelan At the time of his sentencing in November 2021, his defence counsel Michael Bowman said Whelan had four children, aged between three and 10, and that he was their primary carer following the death of his partner. Mr Bowman said Whelan had undergone drug and alcohol counselling and that his priority was the upbringing of his children since the passing of their mother. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted, however, that Whelan made a number of comments when initially arrested. This included him telling gardai that he got the cash from up his Swiss roll and that they could keep it. He also told detectives Im a dangerous criminal and to look me up. The court heard this was reference to Whelan being jailed for six years over a 1.6m drug seizure at a hotel in Dublin city centre. The infamous bust, carried out at the Holiday Inn when Whelan was just 17, was seen as the beginning of the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud which led to 16 people being murdered. Both he and his pal Phillip Griffiths received hefty sentences in relation to the 1.6 million seizure. Whelan left Ireland in 2009 after the introduction of new gangland laws and moved to the UK where he lived until 2016. Known as The Wig, he was a close associate of the Kinahan cartels top man in the UK, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh. The Intercontinental Hotel room bust, for which Whelan was most recently jailed, led to a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) probe into his affairs and the States seizure of 75,000 from him which was judged to be the proceeds of crime. Documents found during CAB searches following his arrest suggested that he had property in the UK and had been paying a mortgage, which had been transferred to a vulture fund. It was also heard that Whelan was in possession of a drugs tick list and an EncroChat phone at the time of his arrest, which happened 18 months before Dutch and French police hacked the network and staged arrests across Europe. Whelans current circumstances stand in stark contrast to those of his former associates. Thomas Bomber Kavanagh who ran the cartels UK operations and was known as The Gaffer to his associates is currently serving a 21-year sentence in the UK for masterminding a huge drugs smuggling operation into the UK. Kavanaghs son Jack is on remand in Spain pending an extradition hearing following his apprehension on an international arrest warrant for gun trafficking offences at Malaga airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey on May 30. Conor with his sisters Erin and Aoife Liam Byrne was arrested, also on an international warrant for the same weapons trafficking charges, on Sunday last in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family. He had flown into Palma airport from Dubai on May 26. Both have declined to be extradited by consent to the UK where the warrant originated and could spend weeks, if not months, on remand ahead of full extradition hearings. Kish Island is part of Iran but it is also a free trade zone with lax banking practices making it attractive to the top end of organised crime. Daniel Kinahan: The cartel boss is believed to have moved to Iran - a place where 'organised crime groups are going to launder money' A tiny Iranian island known as the Pearl of the Persian Gulf has been identified as a hub for Kinahan dirty money and is where Americas Drug Enforcement Agency believe that their drug funds made their way into the hands of Hezbollah. Kish Island is part of Iran but it is also a free trade zone with lax banking practices making it attractive to the top end of organised crime. Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about Kish and its links to the Kinahan organisation and we discuss the changing face of Daniel Kinahan from Oliver Bond schoolboy to international drug don with a hankering for home. Crime World Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud. MORE EPISODES The Westin Hotel on the citys Westmoreland Street announced in April that it would be changing its name to The Westmoreland Hotel. The Westin was due to become The Westmoreland from June 13 The owners of a Dublin hotel are changing its name for a third time after facing criticism over the proposed rebranding. The Westin Hotel on the citys Westmoreland Street announced in April that it would be changing its name to The Westmoreland Hotel. However, soon after the new moniker was announced, it was reported that the hotel had inadvertently been named after slavery defender John Fane, the 10th Earl of Westmorland. Fane was a defender of slavery and denounced attempts to end it in the House of Lords in London in 1799, according to The Irish Times. After receiving feedback from patrons and others, general manager Joanne Dillon confirmed this week that The Westin Hotel would be reversing its decision to rebrand to The Westmoreland Hotel and would instead be known as The College Green Hotel going forward. College Green is one of the most historic yet contemporary and dynamic locations in Dublin where journeys converge at the heart of a bustling city, Dillon told the Irish Times. Having initially considered a renaming to The Westmoreland Hotel, we took on board the feedback from patrons and others, which alongside reflection on our environment and patron experience, informed our decision to opt for a new name. We are very excited to adopt The College Green Hotel as our new brand and are grateful to those who shared their views. It feels right for us and for our patrons, both now and for the future. "We will continue as The Westin Dublin for the coming months and look forward to becoming The College Green Hotel at the end of the year. The hotels website has not yet been updated to reflect the changed name and at the time of publication states that The Westin will be re-imagined as The Westmoreland Hotel on June 13. The hotel will become an Autograph Collection Hotel, continuing its journey with and as part of Marriott Bonvoy, it adds. We are embarking on this adventure to allow us to express our truly unique personality, our location in the beating heart of Dublin city, our magnificent guest bedrooms, The Banking Hall and The Atrium Lounge. Over the past two years, the hotel has seen significant investment including the refurbishment of all guest bedrooms and suites, the addition of 19 heritage bedrooms and a redesigned hotel lobby, culminating in a complete transformation of our offering for your enjoyment. We now have a greater opportunity to showcase our embracing personal service and our luxurious surroundings, and you can be assured of the same genuine Irish hospitality, five-star service, comfort and luxury we have been renowned for. My house has been passed for demolition. Where am I going to go? Mary ORegans life has been turned upside down by the effects of mica, as her home in Co Donegal teeters on the edge of collapse. With each passing day, the 72-year-old fears ending up homeless and paints a stark picture of the plight faced by owners like her who are having to deal with the crumbling blocks crisis. A chance encounter with a workman at her Manorcunningham home brought her face to face with the harsh reality of her situation. He said to me, That gable wall is going to collapse, she recalls. Ive been told my chimney stack is considered the worst in the entire county. But the toll of mica extends beyond the structural damage, as the pensioners own health has suffered as a result. In December 2021, she had a fall that left her with a fractured skull, a brain bleed and a fractured coccyx. I put that all down to stress and the anxiety of having mica, she says. Ms ORegan criticises what she says is the lack of support from central government. I think its disgraceful. I think the reason I got involved in the mica campaign was because were not being looked after. Where are the people like me supposed to go? I live on a state pension. Am I going to be homeless? She describes it as soul-destroying and frightening and adds: Like other people, I dont know where Im going to end up. My house has been passed for demolition. Where am I going to go? If I have to use the meagre savings I have for the rebuild of the house, Ill end up homeless. I couldnt afford to maintain the house on a state pension. Nobody understands the pressure we all face. She says she loves her home, but will have to soon leave. Im the type of person who buys really good furniture, Im not one of these people who buys something and changes it next year, she says. In 15 years Ive changed soft furnishings in one small room. Ive had no painting done in 10 years. Do you know what I do? I tell the painters to make sure its scrubbable paint. I wash the walls. I take pride in my home, but how can you when its full of cracks and could fall down? Ms ORegan points out the difficulties faced by pensioners who have limited means of earning or borrowing money and says that as she grows older the challenges only intensify. This is a serious situation, she says. You cant be relying on family, and I wouldnt ask my family for one penny towards us. Its nothing to do with them. I feel like Im a bloody nuisance to them. You feel worthless, absolutely worthless. Were at the end of our lives and should be able to sit at the end of the day and read a book. I love reading, I should be enjoying life. But you know, you sit in my lovely sunroom and youre sitting there and then it hits you Oh my God. Whats going to happen? Where am I going to go? Its basic human rights. Im terrified of ending up homeless, terrified, and its the Government should be looking after me. OAPs should be presented with a house where we can live when our homes are being rebuilt. Homeowner Winnie ONeill (72) is also living with the constant fear of homelessness due to the devastating effects of mica damage on her home in Elm Park, Buncrana. All I can think about is where Im going to sleep if this happens. Its not a matter of not wanting to deal with it, Im not able to because of the impact it has on me. I cant go down that road, she says. They will probably have to put me into a nursing unit somewhere, or will I have to move to my sister in Co Fermanagh? Ms ONeill says living with mica is actually very lonely, and she worries about the future. Where I go from here is just beyond me. I think about it several times a day, its never really out of my mind. Even when Im away, its always on your mind, then you come back to the house and all you can see are the cracks, theyre everywhere. The lack of available rental properties from the council exacerbates Ms ONeills concerns, leaving her with limited options for finding alternative accommodation. Compounding her worries is the fact she is still burdened by a mortgage on her current home, which she says is making it even more challenging to navigate this difficult situation. There are cracks everywhere, I dont know what to do, she says, expressing an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I havent even been approved by the council yet for support, they havent even read my application. Im told they havent got round to mine yet. With the deterioration of her home reaching an alarming state, she finds herself at a loss for viable solutions. I cry a lot, an awful lot, she says. The mental anguish caused by the constant uncertainty and the threat of homelessness takes its toll. If I have to move out of my home, my life will be changed for ever. Its going to be knocked down and the clock is ticking. The Government has just ignored us, they have turned their backs on us and left us dealing with all of this on our own. Theyve ignored thousands of potential votes, but if this was happening in Dublin it would have a very different outcome. Mary OConnor, a 72-year-old pensioner residing on Inch Island, shares similar anxieties. Becoming homeless is a real possibility and this is just torture, and Ill tell you why, she says. If my house falls down right now, Im not on the scheme to access the emergency funds or the housing allowance. Her once-promising new build has turned into a nightmare, with structural issues plaguing the place both inside and out. Ms OConnors worries are not limited to the deteriorating state of her house they extend to the financial burden it places on her as well. Its really bad inside and out now, and when we get the Donegal weather youre hoping that everything will be OK. Its a big worry. Financially, its a big worry because it looks to me that Ill probably need about 50,000 to do my house over. The gravity of the situation is evident as she describes the bulging side of her house and the extensive cracking at the base. What was meant to be a secure and low-maintenance home has become a source of constant anxiety and uncertainty. Living alone and with no immediate family in Donegal, Ms OConnor is faced with the prospect of finding alternative accommodation. However, due to her respiratory issues, the idea of living in a caravan is causing her a great deal of worry. Theres no housing available. If my home falls down, Im homeless, I have nowhere to go. I just dont think I could deal with living in a caravan during the time that the house is built, and knowing that theres no housing anywhere in this area doesnt help, she says. Ms OConnor highlights a problem in the system that many affected homeowners are facing and voices her frustration with the Governments failure to recognise the urgency of the situation. The Government doesnt understand what the word emergency is. You know, we have an emergency and Im not on the scheme, she says. There are many people like me who arent on the scheme yet what are we going to do? Were just sort of waiting to hear whats happening next. She says the lack of clarity and support from the authorities adds to the distress and uncertainty experienced by her and others in similar circumstances. There are many people like me who need help, she says. Ms OConnor believes the burden of dealing with mica damage and its consequences has consumed her life, and forced her to put it on hold. This has been all-consuming, unfortunately. I want to do all the things I enjoy, like writing, and Im involved in a number of different things in the community, and thats really taken a back seat. The mysteries and history of the Whakarewarewa Forest area will become easier to access thanks to a unique collaboration between Rotorua Lakes Council, Iwi and a local software developer. Rotorua based software developer Salt + Tonic and Auckland-based developer DOTDOT have created a Whakarewarewa Forest Loop App that uses augmented reality, audio, video and visual signage to tell the stories of local iwi and provide other interesting facts about the trail, forest and surrounding area. Mountainbike riders on the 33km trail, which traverses TAtokorangi Forest (also known as the Redwoods) and adjacent Whakarewarewa Forest, will be able to access the stories using geo-located technology within the app, meaning the rider will access the content when they reach specific points along the trail. Rotorua Lakes Council DCE Community Wellbeing Anaru Pewhairangi, says funding for the app was part of government funding through the Provincial Growth Fund. 'The app brings NgAti Whakaue, TAhourangi and NgAti Wahiao stories to life in a unique way and the Council is proud to be part of a project that will add to our highly-valued mountainbiking experience. TAhourangi Tribal Authority trustee Rangitihi Pene says the app is part of a wider strategic plan to unlock the potential commercial opportunities of the forest. 'The Authority has been proud to work in partnership with NgAti Whakaue and the Rotorua Lakes Council in relation to the app. We view it as adding value to what is already a very popular mountainbiking loop. The app officially launched on Saturday and is available on both the App Store and Google Play. The interactive app has stories from TAhourangi along with some generic stories about the trail, forest and surrounds. More iwi stories will be added in the coming months. RotoruaNZ Chief Executive Andrew Wilson says, the contribution of mountain biking to the Rotorua economy is significant with recent figures estimating that $111 million of new spending in Rotorua during 2022 was associated with bike visitors who use the forest trails, an increase on the previous year from $103 million. 'These figures reinforce the phenomenal benefits that previous investment into mountain biking infrastructure has made to the local economy. The Te PAtake o Tawa Mountain Bike Hub is a prime example of how investment into infrastructure in the form of car parking, toilet and shower facilities, has provided an opportunity for the private sector to invest into their own businesses in a location that was previously undeveloped and inaccessible to mountainbikers. 'Most recent figures also show that 1,153 jobs in 2021 could have been supported by mountain bike visitors' spending, and of these jobs 853 were supported by people whose primary purpose of visiting was to mountainbike. App Features: Unique collaboration with local Iwi NgAti Whakaue and TAhourangi NgAti WAhiao to bring their stories to life Trail route guidance around the Whakarewarewa Forest Loop trail, including entrance points, toilets, food and drink outlets Map with points of interest Geo-located - scan image to access interactive stories and other content based on where you are Collect game tokens for visiting each site, get the whole set Download of content on install (so you don't require connectivity while on the trail) GPS wayfinding (when out of cell range) Language options for Te Reo and English Trail update notification and status New stories and features added over time ADEN, Yemen, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Two Yemeni soldiers were killed and five others injured on Sunday in an attack carried out by militants of the al-Qaeda terrorist group in the country's oil-rich southern province of Shabwa, a government official said. "Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists riding in a vehicle attacked a checkpoint of the pro-government forces in As Said district of Shabwa province," the local government official said on condition of anonymity. The al-Qaeda gunmen fired heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, during their assault on the security checkpoint, he noted, adding two military vehicles were destroyed in the attack. The Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is seen as one of the most dangerous branches of al-Qaeda and has been active in war-ravaged Yemen for years. The terrorist group has taken advantage of Yemen's civil war and the country's power vacuum to launch attacks on military and government targets. In an effort to tackle the growing terror threat, government forces backed by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition have carried out several large-scale military operations on al-Qaida hideouts in recent months. However, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have failed to eliminate the terrorist group hidden in the mountainous areas of the country's southern provinces. Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally-recognized government and its allies, which include a Saudi Arabia-led coalition. Hairy legs, pale legs, knobbly knees, dry skin, extra padding on the calf muscles maybe even some untrimmed toenails or smelly feet. It will be all on show at offices and workplaces around the Western Bay of Plenty during June. And what about the actual shorts? Khaki, pink frilly ensembles, boardshorts of various designs, Hawaiian and maybe even a few cheeky daisy dukes? Yes, the Shorts 4 Hospice campaign Dare to Bare' is back this month to raise funds for Western Bay of Plenty's Waipuna Hospice, which supports more than 4000 people every year by helping them face an often heart-wrenching end-of-life journey both for patients and their families at no cost. So once again the hospice is challenging the bravest of the brave to dig out their brightest, boldest, and craziest shorts and support them. Participants of Shorts 4 Hospice simply sign up online, set a fundraising goal, then start their fundraising journey, asking friends, families and colleagues to support them by donating to their cause. Everybody Craigs Investment Partners area manager Hayley Nelson is encouraging their 260 Tauranga-based head office and advisory staff to start digging in their wardrobes to have a pair ready for June 22 the shortest day of the year. Hayley says Craigs have been long-time supporters of Waipuna Hospice and take part in the shorts challenge every year. Who is she inviting to participate? 'Everybody, says Hayley. 'We've invited the entire Craigs Investment Partners Tauranga team to get involved in the fundraiser by wearing shorts to work. Why does Craigs get behind this fundraiser? 'I think most of our people would have had some contact with hospice, or gone through that end-of-life experience with people and really value the work the hospice does in our community of helping people when they really, really need it. Dare board To up the fundraiser's ante, Waipuna Hospice is challenging participants to take on their Dare Board a series of 12 challenges encouraging participants to wear their shorts while daring to climb the Mount, take a dip in the ocean, discover Hairy Maclary and his friends, or grab a pic with their own favourite furry friend. Every dare comes with its own donation goal the riskier the dare, the more participants are encouraged to raise. Waipuna Hospice fundraising executive Wayne Bloxham wants people get really get creative with their fundraising. 'We want to see people out on the streets of Tauranga in their shorts, snapping pictures of themselves completing our dares at iconic locations and then passing on the challenge to others. Life is short! The shortest day of 2023 falls on June 22, and Shorts 4 Hospice participants and the wider community are encouraged to celebrate by wearing shorts because while life is short, Waipuna Hospice is all about celebrating life, right until the end. 'As a charity, all Waipuna Hospice services are provided at no cost to patients and their families, but to be able to do this and support our local community, we need to raise $7.5 million this year, says Wayne. 'By daring to bare and signing up to participate in Shorts 4 Hospice, you'll be helping Waipuna Hospice, and your community. To sign up, visit: https://shorts-4-hospice-2023.raisely.com/ or call (07) 552 4380 ext. 211. A discussion panel in Tauranga believes the government is moving away from addressing the consequences of child poverty. Child Poverty Action Group and SociaLink, which supports the Western Bay of Plenty social and community sector, held an evening at the Historic Village to discuss the effects of last month's Budget on child poverty. CPAG Convenor Alan Johnson says it's an Election year Budget which provides middle class welfare to marginal voters. It has a spend and hope' attitude to address the middle class's cost of living grievances without fuelling inflation. He says the quality of the new spending needs to be questioned, and there has been a sleight of hand' in Working For Families where there has been no adjustments and bracket creep from wage inflation, which he says amounts to wilful neglect of the value of the Budget. There has been real cuts in spending on health and by 2026/2027 spending is expected to have fallen by 20 per cent. But 20 per cent of the population will be over 65 and those aged over 85 will double in 15 years, increasing the demand on health. Guest speaker Dr Ines Asher, Emeritus Professor in Paediatrics, says people have been driven into poverty since 1991 after the National Party's Mother of all Budgets' which cut benefits and pulled people under, causing harm to everyone. She outlines how systems locked people into poverty - through low wages which exploited employees, and inadequate benefits which left families with deficits of up to $350 a week in private rentals. Abatements or clawbacks of Working For Families means families are often left with only 5 cents in every dollar earned, and so many families were ineligible for In Work Tax Credits. 'There are also inequities for MAori and Pasifika, while those with disabilities are put into terrible hardship. Changes are needed now. Other changes she suggests are redesigning the economy and other systems, including changes to income support, housing, health, disability, education and taxation as priority areas for children where their needs should be at the centre of changes. There's a need for tax on unearned wealth as is already being done in Australia and the UK, she says. The meeting also heard from Dr Lesley Lyons McAdam on early childhood education, which she says is a public good. She says preschool education is being seen as providing private investment opportunities and children as a tradable commodity. Qualified ECE teachers should be paid by the Ministry at the same rate as kindergarten teachers, she said. Rachel Ryan, a secondary teacher from Te Puke discussed what her school was doing to tackle poverty and students' real lives. She says many students are just surviving and the school works for the community, not just the school to eliminate barriers to education. She recommends improving the ratio of school counsellors, taking the GST off fruit and vegetables and providing more health and wellbeing centres in schools. New Zealand Blood Service is marking the start of the country's second annual National Blood Donor Week by calling for 40,000 more New Zealanders to Find their Why' and become lifesavers. National Blood Donor Week is a way for NZBS to acknowledge the generosity of the New Zealand donor community, and to encourage others to join the donor registry. 'We currently have 117,000 amazing donors who help save the lives of 30,000 people every year. But with a growing and ageing population, and more blood and plasma being needed for patients New Zealand is facing higher demands than ever for blood and blood products, says Asuka Burge, NZBS National Marketing & Communications Manager. 'The number of people on the donor registry has only grown by 9,000 donors in the past five years. That's why we are always looking to recruit new donors to replace donors who for many reasons can no longer donate. 'However, we have reached a tipping point. If we can't encourage more people to join the donor registry, we may no longer continue to be self-reliant for blood and plasma products in Aotearoa. Every 18 minutes in New Zealand, someone requires a lifesaving transfusion of blood or plasma. Currently, less than four percent of the eligible population are donating. NZBS needs 40,000 new donors in the next 12 months to ensure it can continue to be self-reliant and meet demand. 'Self-reliance means we can meet the needs of our population for blood and blood products through voluntary donations made entirely from our whAnau of lifesavers. The increase in plasma demand is happening around the world, and if we can't meet demand, we will be forced to compete on the global market for this lifesaving product. Our size and geographical location will make this extremely challenging. For this year's National Blood Donor Week, NZBS is asking those who might be on the fence about donating to Find Their Why'. 'We hope to use this theme to break down the barriers around blood donation and motivate more of our eligible population to roll up their sleeves and join our whAnau of lifesavers, Ms Burge explains. 'All our donors are motivated by different reasons. Some, because they started donating in high school, some, because they've had a direct link to someone who has needed a lifesaving transfusion, and others, just because they feel it's the right thing to do. 'This year, we're challenging 40,000 more people to Find their Why'. Even if your why' is because you like tea and biscuits that's enough for us! One person who understands the lifesaving impact of blood products is Alison Barclay. In 2004, she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder after being airlifted to Waikato Hospital following sudden paralysis. Her doctors put her on IVIG treatment which allowed her to continue her career as a secondary school teacher and raise two children. In 2017, she began plasma exchanges and has now received over 500 transfusions. Alison says she wakes up every day and gives thanks for the remarkable gift, her plasma donors. 'Blood and plasma donors are everyday people that genuinely make a difference each time they donate, she says. 'We have so many passionate donors that don't look like superheroes, but they are. 'Sometimes when I'm at the supermarket, I'll have a look around and wonder if any of my fellow shoppers could be one of the hundreds of generous volunteers responsible for finding their why' and saving my life. People can find out if they are eligible to donate by visiting https://www.nzblood.co.nz/, or calling 0800 448 325. If they're likely to be eligible, they can book an appointment at their nearest donor centre or mobile drive by downloading the New Zealand Blood Service Donor App. 'We're extremely grateful to our dedicated community of voluntary donors who help ensure that blood and products are always available for whomever may need them, says Ms Burge. "If you've ever considered donating, there is no better time to find your why' and have a go than this National Blood Donor Week. It is only with New Zealanders' recognition and support for self-reliance that we can continue to protect our blood supply for years to come. A lucky Tauranga Lotto player is amongst 15 players who have each won $23,739 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday night's live Lotto draw. One lucky player also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $48,538. Powerball and Strike have both rolled over on Saturday, meaning there is a combined prize pool of $21.5 million up for grabs on Wednesday. Powerball was not struck on Saturday and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $20 million. Lotto First Division will be $1 million and Strike Four will be $500,000 on Wednesday. The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold at Johnsonville Dairy in Wellington. The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores: Store Location MyLotto Northland Victoria Ave Superette & Lotto Auckland Pak n Save Lincoln Road Auckland West City Lotto Auckland New World Botany Auckland New World Pukekohe Auckland MyLotto Auckland MyLotto Hamilton New World Gate Pa Tauranga MyLotto Napier Copper Kettle Masterton Pak n Save Lower Hutt Lower Hutt Johnsonville Dairy (x2) (+PB) Wellington New Brighton Lotto & Discounter Christchurch With 100 per cent of Lotto NZ's profits supporting thousands of great causes each year, every time you play one of Lotto NZ's games, you're a Kiwi helping other Kiwis. Harvesters work during an activity organized by the local goverment to demonstrate agricultural machines in Caigongzhuang Township of Jinghai District, north China's Tianjin, June 11, 2023. Summer harvest in north China's Tianjin has begun. Modern agricultural technology and machinery have been applied in the region to help local farmers increase yield and attain a bumper harvest. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) A technician operates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for plant protection during an activity organized by the local goverment to demonstrate agricultural machines in Caigongzhuang Township of Jinghai District, north China's Tianjin, June 11, 2023. Summer harvest in north China's Tianjin has begun. Modern agricultural technology and machinery have been applied in the region to help local farmers increase yield and attain a bumper harvest. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) Harvesters work during an activity organized by the local goverment to demonstrate agricultural machines in Caigongzhuang Township of Jinghai District, north China's Tianjin, June 11, 2023. Summer harvest in north China's Tianjin has begun. Modern agricultural technology and machinery have been applied in the region to help local farmers increase yield and attain a bumper harvest. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial photo shows machines working during an activity organized by the local goverment to demonstrate agricultural machines in Caigongzhuang Township of Jinghai District, north China's Tianjin, June 11, 2023. Summer harvest in north China's Tianjin has begun. Modern agricultural technology and machinery have been applied in the region to help local farmers increase yield and attain a bumper harvest. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Students of Jordan-Elbridge High School celebrated at their senior ball Saturday, June 10, 2023. The event was held at Camillus Country Club. Our photographer captured the excitement, fun and amazing gowns, suits, and accessories. We hope you enjoy the photos taken at the event, taken by contributing photographer Lia Garnes. Students of Mexico High School celebrated at senior dinner dance Saturday, June 10, 2023. The event was held at River Vista Center in Fulton. Our photographer captured the excitement, fun and amazing gowns, suits, and accessories. We hope you enjoy the photos taken at the event, taken by contributing photographer Cory Fujimori. TEHRAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran denied on Saturday the existence of any "undeclared" nuclear material in the country, as a response to questions raised in a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about its nuclear activities, the official news agency IRNA reported. In a report by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, which was finished on May 31 and disclosed on June 7, Grossi said the IAEA "is still seeking explanations from Tehran for the presence of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin identified by the agency at three undeclared locations in Iran -- Turquzabad (2019), Varamin (2020) and Marivan (2020)." In his report, Grossi also expressed "deep concern that nuclear material had been present at these undeclared locations." Responding to the IAEA report, Iran's permanent mission to the UN offices and other international organizations in Geneva said in a statement that questioning the nature of Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program has no justification while the country's nuclear activities have entirely been under the IAEA's supervision, monitoring and careful verification. These claims are based on "fabricated" information provided by Israel with "sinister intention," it noted. In November last year, Iran rejected as "baseless" the claim from an IAEA's resolution, proposed by the United States, Britain, France and Germany, that "traces of uranium" were found at a number of "undeclared" sites. The IAEA director general paid a two-day visit to Iran's capital Tehran in early March when the two sides agreed to further interactions based on Iran's cooperation and greater openness to the agency's inspections. On May 30, IRNA reported that Tehran and the IAEA have closed two cases of outstanding differences regarding Iran's nuclear program after technical negotiations. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 7,388 Thanked: 41,619 Times View My Garage Re: My Car Hobby: A lot of fiddling, and some driving too! Jaguar XJR, Mercedes W123 & Alfa Romeo Sp Working on carburettors, means making sure you have sufficient clean working space on the workbench. I also had set up my ultrasonic cleaner and parts washer. Peter had detached the two carburettors from the Jag earlier and brought also two complete overhaul sets. Although they look identical, there are some differences and Peter was given two different overhaul sets. We decided to take apart and overhaul them one by one, just so we would not get any parts mixed up. Splitting the two carburettors was easy. The overhaul sets come with decent instructions: It also lists which parts are included in the overhaul set. We carefully laid out one set, belonging to the front carburettor. Jaguar actually calls that the right carburettor. Because if you stand on the right side of the engine bay and look at the two carburettors, the front one is at the right. Even though we left one of the two carburettors completely intact, we took a lof of detailled photographs to help us put everything back together again. Some details on bits and pieces that ultimately all came apart. Peter removing the float chamber. With hind sight that is something we should have done later as you will see. The main body completely stripped next to a still be worked on second carburettor. (known as the left or rear one!). In the centre you can see the so called Jet. Peter also brought a Haynes Carburettor Manual. According to them, this Jet cant be removed. But our overhaul kit had a new one, so we just punched it out. Haynes guys are wimps!! Peter being very gentle with the hammer! Here you see the main membrane, amongst others. This one was still fine, but we will replace it anyway. But we know for sure the other one is torn. A common problem with these Stromberg carburettors. (As I have found out on my W123 as well) If you have followed this thread all of this will look pretty familiar. These carburettors are very similar to the one fitted to my Mercedes W123 I overhauled not too long ago. The Mercedes one is slightly newer and more advanced. As we progressed more and more tools come out! Here you see why we should have more careful with removing that float chamber. This is the inside of the float chamber. And you see those little clips, one is broken!! These clips hold the actual float in place. And because they protrude and we were handling the body endlessly to whack parts out, clean and scrape off old gaskets, we managed to brake this delicate little part. So Peter tried to phone around see if we could source this part. Absolutely not, so we had to fix it. Out comes the JB weld once again!! I carefully positioned the broken tiny piece with a tiny magnet and applied JB weld to the bottom! Fingers crossed on this one! If push comes to shove, I can always make a new one, drill out the old one and so on. But if this hold, we will leave it for now. The float operates a tiny valve inside the float chamber that regulates the petrol flow into the float chamber. It looks us a long time to clean everything properly and figure out how everything went back together, which gasket goes where and so on. Just as an example, here you see Peter putting the new throttle spindle in. It runs through two bushes inside the body and has a seal on each side. The kit came with new spindle seals as well. We knew that the spindle had several (vacuum) leaks and was drawing false air. But getting the spindle and the throttle plate back in the correct position, took us at least half an hour. And we managed to get it wrong several times over. We also discovered, we used the wrong throttle spindle. Because there is a difference between the right/left one!! Go figure! We got quite far in putting back this carburettor. But the JB weld has to cure for 24 hours and then another carburettor to go. So we cleaned up the shop and put everything in a box, ready for the next time. (In about a week and a half) Here another part of the Jaguar XJ S1 engine. It is known as a Gulp valve hose assembly. It is part of the emission system on the US Jaguars. As you can see it is in a sorry state. Fair assumption is we are getting a lot of false air drawn in here! I could fix this by gluing and making a little tube/ring to go inside. But Peter had managed to find the only and last one available on earth on Ebay in the USA. Problem was the seller did not want to ship internationally. I have come across this many times. It is no use asking them if they can make an exception. The average American does not know, nor care, there is a whole wide world outside the USA. Also, they simply lack the intellectual capabilities to figure out how to send something across Europe. Which by the way, is identical to shipping inside the USA apart from having to fill out a very simple custom declaration form. They just cant be bothered. So I ordered it using my Ebay account and had it shipped to my brother in law who lives in Texas. He will forward it to us, he knows how to ship international, he is a Bajan, and not an American!! Peter had also brought a part of his Lancia Derda. The inlet air pipe including the mass air flow meter. We took the MAF sensor out of the housing and sprayed it very liberally with special MAF sensor cleaning fluid. Before: After: It is difficult to see, but the wire (which is the main part of sensor) cleaned up really well. No matter what the Internet tells you, never ever use anything other than special MAF cleaner on these sensors. i have seen people use contact cleaner, brake cleaner, carb cleaner. At best it wont do much, at worse it will damage the sensor. And they are very very expensive!! Peter also had a little problem with his Jaguar X350. The bonnet would not catch properly on the right side. So we investigated. As on any modern car you start by removing a lot of plastic bits, before you can actually see the parts involved. We found the catch was actually just sticking. So gave it a good squirt of WD40, a couple of gentle whacks with a hammer and punch on the part that had seized and Bob was once again our uncle. More to come soon. Jeroen Spanner mate Peter came over earlier this week, so we could overhaul the two carburettors of his Jaguar XJ S1. See earlier posts on what we have been doing on the Jag till now to try and get it running again.Working on carburettors, means making sure you have sufficient clean working space on the workbench. I also had set up my ultrasonic cleaner and parts washer.Peter had detached the two carburettors from the Jag earlier and brought also two complete overhaul sets.Although they look identical, there are some differences and Peter was given two different overhaul sets.We decided to take apart and overhaul them one by one, just so we would not get any parts mixed up. Splitting the two carburettors was easy.The overhaul sets come with decent instructions:It also lists which parts are included in the overhaul set. We carefully laid out one set, belonging to the front carburettor. Jaguar actually calls that the right carburettor. Because if you stand on the right side of the engine bay and look at the two carburettors, the front one is at the right.Even though we left one of the two carburettors completely intact, we took a lof of detailled photographs to help us put everything back together again.Some details on bits and pieces that ultimately all came apart.Peter removing the float chamber. With hind sight that is something we should have done later as you will see.The main body completely stripped next to a still be worked on second carburettor. (known as the left or rear one!).In the centre you can see the so called Jet. Peter also brought a Haynes Carburettor Manual. According to them, this Jet cant be removed. But our overhaul kit had a new one, so we just punched it out. Haynes guys are wimps!!Peter being very gentle with the hammer!Here you see the main membrane, amongst others. This one was still fine, but we will replace it anyway. But we know for sure the other one is torn. A common problem with these Stromberg carburettors. (As I have found out on my W123 as well)If you have followed this thread all of this will look pretty familiar. These carburettors are very similar to the one fitted to my Mercedes W123 I overhauled not too long ago. The Mercedes one is slightly newer and more advanced.As we progressed more and more tools come out!Here you see why we should have more careful with removing that float chamber.This is the inside of the float chamber. And you see those little clips, one is broken!! These clips hold the actual float in place. And because they protrude and we were handling the body endlessly to whack parts out, clean and scrape off old gaskets, we managed to brake this delicate little part.So Peter tried to phone around see if we could source this part.Absolutely not, so we had to fix it. Out comes the JB weld once again!!I carefully positioned the broken tiny piece with a tiny magnet and applied JB weld to the bottom!Fingers crossed on this one! If push comes to shove, I can always make a new one, drill out the old one and so on. But if this hold, we will leave it for now.The float operates a tiny valve inside the float chamber that regulates the petrol flow into the float chamber.It looks us a long time to clean everything properly and figure out how everything went back together, which gasket goes where and so on.Just as an example, here you see Peter putting the new throttle spindle in. It runs through two bushes inside the body and has a seal on each side. The kit came with new spindle seals as well. We knew that the spindle had several (vacuum) leaks and was drawing false air.But getting the spindle and the throttle plate back in the correct position, took us at least half an hour. And we managed to get it wrong several times over. We also discovered, we used the wrong throttle spindle. Because there is a difference between the right/left one!! Go figure!We got quite far in putting back this carburettor. But the JB weld has to cure for 24 hours and then another carburettor to go. So we cleaned up the shop and put everything in a box, ready for the next time. (In about a week and a half)Here another part of the Jaguar XJ S1 engine. It is known as a Gulp valve hose assembly. It is part of the emission system on the US Jaguars. As you can see it is in a sorry state. Fair assumption is we are getting a lot of false air drawn in here!I could fix this by gluing and making a little tube/ring to go inside. But Peter had managed to find the only and last one available on earth on Ebay in the USA. Problem was the seller did not want to ship internationally. I have come across this many times. It is no use asking them if they can make an exception. The average American does not know, nor care, there is a whole wide world outside the USA. Also, they simply lack the intellectual capabilities to figure out how to send something across Europe. Which by the way, is identical to shipping inside the USA apart from having to fill out a very simple custom declaration form. They just cant be bothered.So I ordered it using my Ebay account and had it shipped to my brother in law who lives in Texas. He will forward it to us, he knows how to ship international, he is a Bajan, and not an American!!Peter had also brought a part of his Lancia Derda. The inlet air pipe including the mass air flow meter.We took the MAF sensor out of the housing and sprayed it very liberally with special MAF sensor cleaning fluid.Before:After:It is difficult to see, but the wire (which is the main part of sensor) cleaned up really well. No matter what the Internet tells you, never ever use anything other than special MAF cleaner on these sensors. i have seen people use contact cleaner, brake cleaner, carb cleaner. At best it wont do much, at worse it will damage the sensor. And they are very very expensive!!Peter also had a little problem with his Jaguar X350. The bonnet would not catch properly on the right side. So we investigated. As on any modern car you start by removing a lot of plastic bits, before you can actually see the parts involved.We found the catch was actually just sticking. So gave it a good squirt of WD40, a couple of gentle whacks with a hammer and punch on the part that had seized and Bob was once again our uncle.More to come soon.Jeroen Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Jeroen : 9th June 2023 at 16:24 . In a remarkable celestial find, astronomers have made an intriguing discovery in our cosmic vicinitya white dwarf star that is undergoing a fascinating transformation into a massive diamond. This white dwarf, located just 104 light-years away, primarily consists of carbon and metallic oxygen, reported first by ScienceAlert. Cosmic Diamond Recent observations indicate that the center of the star is crystallizing into a dense and solid structure, resembling a 'cosmic diamond' composed of crystallized carbon and oxygen. Led by Alexander Venner from the University of Southern Queensland in Australia, an international team of astronomers describes the discovery of a new quadruple system named HD 190412, which bears a resemblance to the well-known Sirius system and lies at a distance of 32 parsecs from Earth. The newfound white dwarf, designated as HD 190412 C, is accompanied by three other main-sequence companions within the system. This unique configuration presents a valuable opportunity to externally determine the total age of the crystallizing white dwarf. The researchers aimed to empirically measure the cooling delay caused by the core crystallization process occurring in the white dwarf. When stars exhaust their fuel, they undergo transformations. For the majority of stars, including our Sun, this metamorphosis leads to the formation of a white dwarf star. As the outer material of the star disperses into space, the remaining core, no longer supported by fusion, contracts into an ultradense object roughly the size of Earth but with a mass equivalent to 1.4 Suns. During the process of crystallization, the carbon and oxygen atoms contained within the white dwarf rearrange themselves, forming a structured crystal pattern. As a result, energy is released in the form of heat. This dissipation of energy slows down the cooling rate of the white dwarf, leading to noticeable changes in its color and brightness. These distinct indicators offer valuable insights into the initial stages of crystallization. Utilizing the precise stellar mapping data provided by the Gaia mission, the team employed a comprehensive analysis to identify multiple star systems. Through their examination, they unveiled the gravitational link between the recently discovered white dwarf, HD 190412 C, and the previously known triple star system, HD 190412. This identification not only expanded the system from a triplet to a quadruplet but also provided evidence that the white dwarf is presently undergoing the crystallization process. Read Also: The Sun Is Just a 'Normal Star': Says New Study From Kepler, Gaia Satellite Is the White Dwarf a Diamond? Although it remains uncertain whether the crystallized material within the white dwarf can be classified as a diamond, its high density makes it a plausible candidate. White dwarfs have a density exceeding one million kilograms per cubic meter, while diamond has a density of approximately 3,500 kilograms per cubic meter. However, denser forms of carbon exist, and diamonds have been detected in space before. The age of the HD 190412 system, approximately 7.3 billion years, provides crucial context for understanding the white dwarf's cooling process. The age of the white dwarf itself appears to be around 4.2 billion years, resulting in a discrepancy of 3.1 billion years. This disparity suggests that the rate of crystallization has slowed the cooling rate of the white dwarf by approximately 1 billion years. The findings of the team were published in arXiv. Related Article: NASA Turns to AI to Prepare for Solar Storms 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tiki, a short-form video app similar to TikTok, has announced that it will be discontinuing its operations in India on June 27, according to a report by TechCrunch. This decision adds to the growing number of businesses that have struggled to fill the gap left by the ban on TikTok imposed by the Indian government in the South Asian market. Tiki Halts Operations In an official post, Tiki expressed its regret and informed its users about the impending shutdown. "We regret to inform you that Tiki will be shutting down its operations. As of 11.59 PM India time, June 27, 2023, all Tiki functions and services will cease," the announcement stated. The closure of Tiki is surprising considering it boasted approximately 35 million monthly active users in India, its sole operational market, as reported by Sensor Tower and said by an industry executive, according to TechCrunch. Tiki was known for its original content and videos with a local focus. Singapore-based Tiki entered the Indian market immediately after TikTok was banned by New Delhi. The ownership of Tiki, which was under the entity named Dol Technologies, remains somewhat mysterious. Several industry insiders speculated that Tiki could have been a loosely affiliated subsidiary of one of the Chinese video apps that were banned by the Indian government in mid-2020. In a statement made through Tiki's social media accounts, the company acknowledged the challenges faced by the tech industry, which have resulted in the closure of numerous startups. Despite its status as a relatively small startup functioning in both Singapore and India, Tiki took pride in its role as a platform that highlighted genuine talent, as conveyed in the message endorsed by the 'Team Tiki' signatories. Read Also: Ex-ByteDance Executive Claims Chinese Communist Party Accessed Tiktok's Data to Spy on Hong Kong's Civil Rights Activists TikTok's Ban on India The discontinuation of Tiki coincides with a period of swift consolidation and departures within India's short video market. In the previous year, Times Internet relinquished ownership of MX Player's short video enterprise to ShareChat, while Xiaomi recently terminated its short video service known as Zili in the nation. TikTok, a popular video-sharing app, was banned in India due to concerns related to national security and user privacy. The Indian government imposed the ban in June 2020, citing the app's potential threat to India's sovereignty and integrity, as well as its collection and misuse of user data. The ban on TikTok and several other Chinese mobile applications came amid escalating tensions between India and China following a border clash between the two countries. The Indian government argued that these apps posed a risk to the country's security and decided to ban them as a precautionary measure. The ban on TikTok in India led to a significant impact on the app's user base and the short video market in the country. Related Article: Experts Say TikTok Ban on Australian Government-issued Phones Should Also Apply To Other Social Media Apps 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mark Walters, a radio host from Georgia, has filed a complaint against OpenAI in the Superior Court of Gwinnett County. The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, provided false and defamatory information regarding a legal case that Walters was reporting on. The case, known as The Second Amendment Foundation v. Robert Ferguson, is unrelated to Walters but was misrepresented by ChatGPT. All About the Lawsuit According to the complaint, on May 4, 2023, Fred Riehl, a journalist, and subscriber of ChatGPT, engaged with the platform to discuss the Lawsuit. Riehl shared a correct URL link to the complaint on the Second Amendment Foundation's website and requested a summary of the accusations. ChatGPT reportedly responded with a fabricated summary, falsely implicating Walters in defrauding and embezzling funds from the foundation. The summary included erroneous details about Walters' position and actions within the organization. The lawsuit clarifies that Walters has no involvement in the Lawsuit and is not accused of any wrongdoing. He neither serves as the treasurer nor the chief financial officer of the Second Amendment Foundation nor has he ever held those positions. The false information provided by ChatGPT did not align with the actual complaint, which focused on different individuals and claims unrelated to financial accounting. Moreover, when Riehl requested a copy of the relevant portion of the complaint related to Walters, ChatGPT provided an entirely fabricated text, complete with an erroneous case number. The complaint further alleges that OpenAI is aware of ChatGPT's tendency to generate false information, referred to as "hallucination." It accuses OpenAI of negligence in communicating the defamatory statements to Riehl without conducting proper fact-checking or exercising due diligence. The lawsuit claims that the company published libelous material about Walters, which damaged his reputation and caused him harm. Read Also: Can ChatGPT's Cancer Information Be Trusted? New Study Says It's 97% Accurate-But, Here's the Catch Testing the Legal Framework However, it must be noted that OpenAI includes a disclaimer on ChatGPT's homepage, acknowledging the system's potential to generate incorrect information. Additionally, the knowledge cutoff of ChatGPT is September 2021. This means that the model was trained on a vast amount of data up until that date and did not possess information or updates beyond that point. However, the legal precedent regarding holding a company responsible for false or defamatory information generated by AI systems remains uncertain. The Verge notes that In the US, internet firms are typically shielded from liability under Section 230 for third-party content hosted on their platforms. It is unclear whether these protections extend to AI systems that not only link to existing data sources but also generate new information, including false data. The defamation lawsuit filed by Walters in Georgia could potentially test the legal framework in this regard. Related Article: A New York Woman Used ChatGPT to Write a Letter Citing Legalities to Get Landlord to Fix Her Apartment Appliance 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ISLAMABAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, police told the media. According to police, the incident took place on Saturday evening in Sohrab Goth area of the city when the policemen patrolling in a police mobile van spotted some suspicious persons on a motorbike and signaled them to stop. The suspects opened fire on the policemen resulting in their death, police added. Reportedly, the bodies of the deceased were shifted to a local hospital and further investigation of the incident was underway. Korea's spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), is set to unveil security guidelines for the use of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, addressing concerns surrounding the technology, according to a report by The Korea Times. NIS Set to Release AI Guidelines The NIS plans to release the guidelines to government departments and agencies this month, following a project initiated in April in collaboration with experts in the field. The aim is to harness the benefits of AI technology while minimizing potential complications. The primary concerns surrounding AI chatbots include the leakage of personal or work-related information and the spread of realistic "fake news." Despite its flaws and limitations, AI technology has proven useful in various domains, prompting a mix of expectations and worries about its impact on daily life. Kwon Tae-kyoung, a scholar from Yonsei University involved in the project, emphasized the significance of developing security regulations alongside the technology itself. He stressed the importance of using AI technology within the framework of security policies. The upcoming guidelines from the NIS will be continually updated to safeguard national interests from potential misuse of AI capabilities, including by those with malicious intent. While several countries, such as Russia, China, and Cuba, have already banned the use of ChatGPT due to concerns over privacy, Italy temporarily imposed a ban before lifting it after OpenAI implemented the necessary changes to comply with Italian regulations. Meanwhile, the US, the EU, and other countries are currently working to provide a legal framework that would govern AI. Read Also: US Congress Introduces Two Bipartisan Bills, Addressing Concerns Surrounding Artificial Intelligence First AI Summit In related news, the United Kingdom is preparing to host an AI summit later this year with the goal of fostering international collaboration in managing the risks and maximizing the benefits of this rapidly advancing technology. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the summit during his visit to Washington, emphasizing the need for safe and secure development and utilization of AI. The summit, scheduled for autumn, will focus on assessing and mitigating risks associated with AI, including frontier systems. It aims to establish a shared approach among countries to address these risks. With the rapid advancement of AI presenting both challenges and opportunities, the UK government has taken the initiative to ensure the safe and responsible development and adoption of AI technology. The AI safety summit, scheduled for this autumn, will focus on assessing and mitigating the risks associated with AI, including frontier systems. It will serve as a platform for countries to work together and establish a shared approach to address these risks. Discussions between the Prime Minister and business leaders, including CEOs from OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic, have influenced the summit's agenda and highlighted the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the safe and responsible advancement of AI technology. Notably, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis expressed support for the UK's efforts and stressed the critical role of international cooperation in developing AI safely and responsibly. Related Article: EU Urges Signatories to Label Deepfakes, AI-generated Content To Prevent Disinformation 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Maritime archaeologists have made an exciting discovery, uncovering carvings of Sweden's renowned 17th-century warship Vasa and its sister ship Applet. The same team that previously discovered Applet in December 2021 made these remarkable finds, according to a report by Divernet. Ancient Carvings Led by Vrak, the Museum of Wrecks in Stockholm, and Swedish Navy divers, the archaeologists had set out on the military vessel Furusund to document the hull of the ship through 3D filming. During their initial dives, they stumbled upon wood-carved sculptures hidden behind the stern of Applet, including two large lions representing the national coat of arms displayed on the transom. Another fascinating discovery was a smaller circular sculpture in the shape of an apple, which served as a nameplate for the ship, formally known as Riksapplet. The intact sculptures found on a retired and scuttled ship surprised the team. Jim Hansson, a marine archaeologist from Vrak, expressed his astonishment, stating that in his 30 years of diving experience, he had never come across such sculptures. He described the find as one of the most incredible experiences of his career. Vasa and Applet were both commissioned by King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1625 and were constructed side by side in Stockholm. Unfortunately, Vasa sank in 1628, a year before Applet's scheduled launch. Applet, incorporating lessons learned from Vasa's demise, joined the fleet that transported troops to Germany when Sweden entered the 30 Years' War in 1630. The ship served the navy for three decades before being intentionally sunk in a strait at Vaxholm in 1659. The Applet sculptures exhibit similarities to those found on Vasa but also display some differences, according to the archaeologists. They believe they have identified a depiction of Atlas the Titan on the Applet wreck, represented by a figure carrying what seems to be a globe. Such representation of Atlas is absent on Vasa. Peder Sjoholm, the diving manager of HMS Furusund, expressed his awe at the discoveries, particularly the striking image of a gaping lion in the darkness. Read Also: Long-Lost Shipwreck MV Blythe Star Is Finally Located After Nearly 50 Years Evolution of Shipbuilding The investigation of the ship's stern construction at the wreck site allows a deeper understanding of the evolution of shipbuilding, particularly the transition from the unstable Vasa to the development of a massive, heavily armed ship like Applet. The differences in construction and details between Vasa and Applet provide valuable insights into the shipyard builders' techniques. Odd Johansen, the museum director of Vrak, highlighted the significance of the discovery and emphasized the need for a museum to preserve the cultural heritage found on the Baltic Sea's seabed. The Vrak Museum, part of the Swedish National Maritime & Transport Museums, has been open for less than two years but has already made remarkable discoveries like this. The wrecks and artifacts in Baltic waters are remarkably well-preserved, offering an opportunity to salvage and conserve the Applet artifacts for future display. The decision rests with the county administrative board. The ongoing research program "Forgotten Fleet," conducted in collaboration with Stockholm University and Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, has enabled Vrak and navy divers to investigate Vaxholm and make significant contributions to the understanding of maritime history. The latest discoveries contribute to a deeper understanding of Sweden's naval past and showcase the incredible craftsmanship and artistry that adorned these historic warships. Related Article: [WATCH] Underwater Archaeologists Deep Dive to Uncover Norway's Oldest Shipwreck 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The FDA has recently approved an Israeli-made synthetic eye tissue substitute, providing a solution to the worldwide shortage of donor tissue. CorNeat Vision, an Israeli startup, has developed the CorNeat EverPatch, a non-degradable synthetic tissue designed explicitly for ophthalmic surgery. The field of eye surgery stands to be revolutionized by EverPatch, as it promises to eliminate the necessity for donor tissue and the inherent risk of disease transmission. The CorNeat EverPatch NoCamels.com reports that the CorNeat EverPatch, made from a polymer that stimulates cellular acceptance and incorporation into eye tissue, primarily reinforces the sclera, the white outer layer of the eyeball. Unlike traditional patching methods that rely on preserved and processed tissue, the EverPatch offers a sterile and non-degradable alternative. By leveraging its proprietary EverMatrix technology, initially developed for CorNeat Vision's corneal prosthesis program, the company has created a synthetic tissue that significantly advances ocular surgery. Read Also: Transplanted Stem Cells Repair Damaged Heart Muscle in Pigs; Hints at Groundbreaking Cure Almog Aley-Raz, CEO and VP of R&D of CorNeat Vision, expressed his excitement about introducing the CorNeat EverPatch to the US market. In a press release, he stated, "EverMatrix presents a significant business opportunity as it is the only synthetic non-degradable patch material in ocular surgery." Aley-Raz also emphasized the broader potential of the biocompatible material, suggesting its application in soft tissue reinforcement, biomechanical integration of implants with surrounding tissue, fabrication of membranes, and concealment of implants and sensors. Dr. Gilad Litvin, CorNeat Vision's Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder, highlighted the advantages of the EverPatch over traditional patching materials. "The CorNeat EverPatch was designed with the goals of being long-lasting, sterile, immunologically inactive, cosmetically acceptable, and readily available. It provides better handling, is significantly thinner than processed patch tissue, and has holes that allow for accurate positioning and anchoring," said Dr. Litvin. Nationwide Expansion This synthetic tissue substitute offers a viable alternative to traditional patching methods by addressing the critical needs of ocular surgeons worldwide. With its innovative design and potential applications beyond ophthalmic surgery, the EverPatch has the potential to revolutionize the field and transform patient care. The CorNeat EverPatch will be initially launched in leading ophthalmic centers in the US in the third quarter of 2023, with plans for nationwide expansion later in the year. The introduction of EverPatch represents a significant step forward in ensuring the availability of sterile, non-degradable synthetic tissue for ophthalmic surgeries and addressing the global donor shortage. What's In the News The approval of the CorNeat EverPatch by the FDA marks a significant advancement in the field of ocular surgery. This synthetic, non-degradable tissue substitute offers a sterile and reliable solution to the scarcity of donor tissue worldwide. With its potential for broader use in various medical applications, the EverPatch paves the way for improved patient outcomes and further advancements in health technology. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Blink and You'll Crash: Formula One Driver Blink at Same, Exact Places to Avoid Deadly Accidents 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA has successfully launched a spacecraft as part of a crucial mission to prevent a catastrophic "internet apocalypse" that could avert worldwide Internet access for months. The spacecraft, known as the Parker Solar Probe (PSP), has achieved a critical milestone by deftly maneuvering through the solar wind, the Business Standard reported. The possibility of an impending solar storm, often known as the "internet apocalypse," which might occur within the next 10 years, has more and more alarmed scientists. To meet this challenge, the PSP, launched in 2018, set off on an extraordinary trip that brought it very near to the sun's surface, where the solar wind originates. The detrimental impacts of an "internet apocalypse" might occur, wherein people could experience prolonged internet service loss in the case of such a calamity, leaving satellites and power cables ineffective. This possible situation emphasizes how urgent and crucial NASA's job to protect internet connections is. The solar wind is a steady flow of charged particles that emerges from the corona, the sun's outermost atmosphere. Despite the harsh circumstances of tremendous heat and radiation it endured throughout its journey, the PSP's main goal was to acquire crucial data on the complicated workings of the sun. Read Also: 2,000-Year-Old Perfume Bottle Holds Fragrance of Ancient Rome When you get so close to the Sun, you learn a thing or two! Sampling the solar wind close to the Sun, NASAs Parker Solar Probe has found hints that point to the origins of the fast streams we detect near Earth. More: https://t.co/PGM4Al3OWr pic.twitter.com/UWWT5OCvd1 NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) June 7, 2023 Understanding Solar Winds is The Key The study's principal investigator, Professor Stuart Bale of California University, stressed the importance of understanding the process behind solar wind, according to Live Science. He added that understanding solar wind is significant for practical reasons on our planet since it transmits crucial information from the sun to Earth. The assessment of how the sun releases energy and generates geomagnetic storms, which pose a danger to our communication networks, requires a thorough grasp of the solar wind, according to Bale. In related news, NASA has begun a new initiative to let the public have their names stenciled into a microchip that will be carried on NASA's Europa Clipper mission in the future. In October 2024, the Europa Clipper will set off to investigate Jupiter and its moon Europa, per The Weather Channel. Related Article: NASA's Parker Solar Probe Uncovers Possible Source of Powerful Solar Winds 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen underscored the need to strengthen the nation's rescue and defense capabilities with modern technology, highlighting that its strength is essential for world peace. President Tsai pledged to enforce maritime and border security measures after visiting an anti-terror practice in Kaohsiung City. Taiwan's head of state said, "The safer Taiwan is, the safer the world is," as per The Military Times. Tsai's remarks came amid increasing military threats from China, which views Taiwan as a renegade colony that may be taken back by force. In view of a possible confrontation with China, Taiwan's defense minister, Chiu Kuo-Cheng, emphasized last month that all military forces must be battle ready. The official noted that Taiwan has to be prepared on all fronts since there would be "no front or rear" in an invasion, according to The Defense Post. 586th #Armored Brigade was recently graded on a Joint LFX with Army Aviation and Field Artillerys fire support. They were able to target and destroy designated objectives with deadly accuracy, showing their determination and capacity to defend the nation. pic.twitter.com/P7gmCVqTtY Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. (@MoNDefense) June 7, 2023 Read Also: India's TikTok-like App 'Tiki' Shuts Down Operations The Chinese government's growing expenditures on cutting-edge weapons, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned platforms, have Taiwanese authorities on high alert. Following the Patriot air defense system's success against Russian missiles, Taipei has considered buying it. In March, the US approved a $619 million weapons deal with Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 aircraft. This decision was taken due to substantial Chinese air force intrusions near the island, per Reuters. The granted stockpile includes 200 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) meant to take down aircraft and 100 AGM-88B HARM missiles meant to take out land-based radar installations. The Taiwanese defense ministry said these purchases would boost defense stocks and effectively protect airspace from Chinese military threats. Taiwan Must Safeguard Its Weapons Meanwhile, a defense specialist proposed hiding Taiwan's military equipment to prevent it from being destroyed. The Institute for National Policy Research's Chen Wen-Jia said technology and weaponry should only be used in the event of a war. Taiwan's military resources are exposed before they may be used because precision missile assaults from China are likely. Chen advised concealing valuables in crucial places, including mountains, bridges, culverts, and underground infrastructure. He suggested that the air force might use hangars built into eastern Taiwan's mountains to safeguard fighter planes, while the Taiwanese Navy could use civilian ships for munitions storage. Another proposal is to dispatch Taiwanese planes to the nearby Philippines for security. Related Article: Iran Unveils New Hypersonic Missile: What Are Its Capabilities? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SpaceX, Elon Musk's ground-breaking aerospace company, has hired a fascinating new employee, a 14-year-old software engineer named Kairan Quazi. Kairan, hailing from the Bay Area, is the youngest individual in SpaceX's history to be employed after passing the company's rigorous interview procedure. This remarkable accomplishment by Quazi exemplifies the impact of young intellect and demonstrates SpaceX's dedication to pushing limits for the sake of space exploration. As he graduates from Santa Clara University this month, Kairan Quazi is excited to start a new chapter with SpaceX, propelled by a shared vision of humanity's future in space. He noted that he was fired up to be a part of the Starlink engineering team and to work as a software engineer in "the coolest company" on earth. Incredible Academic Journey Quazi's path to this momentous achievement shows that his extraordinary talents were evident from a young age. He started using full sentences at the age of two, and by the time he was in primary school, he had already surpassed his classmates and was looking for more rigorous work. He was just nine years old when he entered the third grade and was already exploring college-level curriculum. He was awarded an internship as an AI research co-op fellow at Intel Labs, demonstrating his talent and drive for innovation, according to the New York Post. 14 year old Kairan Quazi graduates from @SantaClaraUniv on 6/17. He will be the youngest to ever graduate from SCU and hell start at @SpaceX as a Software engineer. Local legend. pic.twitter.com/JLe8Vc9toA Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) June 11, 2023 Quazi resumed his academic journey at Santa Clara University at 11 years old, immersing himself in a demanding program that nourished his tremendous talent. According to reports, he studied algorithms, programming languages, and technical wonders at that age. Read Also: President Tsai Ing-wen Pledges to Boost Taiwan's Defense with New Technologies The boy wonder dismisses the idea that his rushed academic route deprived him of a "normal" upbringing. The young tech genius said he appreciates the substantial personal development from his exposure to ideas and events far beyond his age range. When asked about his college experience, Quazi described the phase as "from being a third-grade mutineer to feeling validated intellectually" as he accepted the difficulties and flourished in a setting where his abilities were appreciated and developed. On his LinkedIn page, Quazi remarked that Elon Musk's space company was among "the rare companies" that did not utilize his young age "as an arbitrary and outdated proxy for maturity" as well as proficiency, per WION. In this light, Kairan Quazi desires to utilize his gift to contribute to SpaceX's goal of transporting people to Mars, which captures the world's interest. Ready For The Real World According to sources, Quazi will move from Pleasanton, California, to Redmond, Washington, with his supportive and caring mother to work at SpaceX, according to NDTV. His relocation marks a new era in his life committed to advancing space exploration technology. Without a doubt, Quazi's incredible trip testifies to his exceptional wit and dogged persistence. He has defied expectations and set out on an unprecedented path that promises to revolutionize space exploration, all with the unwavering support of his mother. As Quazi begins his role as a software engineer at SpaceX, he represents a generation of innovators who challenge conventional wisdom and expand the bounds of possibility. He now has the opportunity to leave an indelible imprint on the future of space exploration with his extraordinary abilities and unwavering dedication. Related Article: NASA Launches Mission to Prevent 'Internet Apocalypse' 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, renowned for his technicolor paintings that blend traditional Japanese art motifs with anime and manga, has embraced new technology in the art world. He is a legendary name in the NFT space with his pioneer project Murakami.Flowers and recently expressed his concerns about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on his artistic career. Murakami on AI JapanToday reports that during the opening of his latest exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery near Paris, Murakami spoke to AFP about the impending wave of change he foresees due to AI-powered software. Drawing parallels to the transformative effect of the Apple II computer in the 1980s, which revolutionized the design industry, he acknowledged that AI could pose a threat to technical trades. Still, he believed that it would be unable to stifle human creativity. Murakami asserted that truly unique and unconventional ideas that even AI cannot generate would gain even more value. AI Artists to be Left Behind Murakami acknowledged that this shift might grant more power to tech engineers rather than artists. The ability of engineers to explore unimagined possibilities could result in a power imbalance. He warned that artists who create familiar and conventional artwork might be left behind. Strikingly, Murakami confessed to harboring fears of one day being replaced by AI, demonstrating his awareness of the disruptive potential of emerging technologies. Embracing Latest Tech Murakami's commitment to embracing technological change is evident in his latest exhibition. Takashi Murakami is putting on an art exhibit titled "Understanding the New Cognitive Domain" at the Gagosian Gallery in Le Bourget, France, according to NFT Evening. The exhibit headlining artworks inspired by Japanese traditions like the kabuki also featured a collection of pixelated portraits resembling NFT-style artwork. Read Also: This AI-Powered App Claims It Can Expose Fake Products With Just a Photo JapanToday tells us that some connect historical figures, such as Karl Marx and Adam Smith, to contemporary tech leaders like Vitalik Buterin and Elon Musk. Although appearing deceptively simple, Murakami's artworks are meticulously hand-painted and lacquered to achieve his renowned "Superflat" aesthetic, erasing all traces of human involvement. While he aims to bridge the gap between traditional and digital art with his work, Murakami acknowledges that his pixelated drawings can be challenging for longtime collectors to embrace fully. Nevertheless, he believes pixel art represents a unique facet of Japanese culture, harkening back to the video games of the 1970s. AI and NFTs As one of the rare fine artists who successfully ventured into the NFT space, Murakami's insights into the potential impact of AI on the industry are valuable. In Murakami's view, the crypto world is akin to an unexplored continent, with much potential yet to be realized. He predicts that people will take several more years to fully adapt to and understand the transformative power of cryptocurrencies and NFTs. While the NFT market has experienced a recent downturn, his observations raise questions about the role AI could play in revitalizing this nascent art form. Reports tell us that visitors to Murakami's latest exhibit were promised an NFT of a virtual coin adorned with his iconic flower motif. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Japan Launches Rescue Mission to Preserve Rare Video Game Artifacts 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The bibliophile in you loves reading ebooks. Some read it on their smartphone while on the commute, while others read it on their ebook reading devices like Amazon Kindle which are specially designed to augment your reading experience. There is a sizable chunk of computer audience who deserve the best ePUB reader for Windows 10 and earlier PCs to read books on their computers, laptops, and windows tablets for different reasons and reading leisure. In this article, we have shared some of the best epub reader apps for windows desktop PCs and Laptops that you can use to read epubs from Google Books, Amazon Kindle, ebook torrent sites, and other ebooks sites and apps. What is ePUB? EPUB is a document format, short form for ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION, published by International Digital Publishing Forum(IDPF) in 2007. It is a combination of HTML, CSS, and XML to provide an all-round aesthetic document as compared to PDF, which is a plain, digital text, consisting of scanned documents or converted text. The latest version is ePUB 3, which has included support for comics, among other things. How to open epub files? What is an ePUB reader? An ePUB reader is a reader for documents in ePUB format, having an .epub file extension that came into existence in 2007. It is used by book aficionados and readers who prefer their books in a more wholesome reading experience. Check out 10 of the best ePUB readers for Windows PCs and Laptops that are available out there. The primary focus is on freeware and ease of reading. Best ePUB Readers for Windows 10/11/7 SumatraPDF Calibre FBreader Adobe Digital Editions Bookviser Freda EPUB File Reader Bibliovore Kobo eBooks Reader for PC Sony Ice Cream ePUB Reader Neat Reader Aquile Reader Thorium Reader Total eBook Reader 1. SumtraPDF SumtraPDF is a free, open-source ePUB reader that supports formats such as PDF, ePUB, MOBI, CHM, XPS, DjVu, CBZ, CBR. You can open ePUB files on Windows 10 without using Microsoft Edge or any browser like Chrome, Firefox, etc. It is amongst the easiest to use, simple ePUB reader for free that is available for Windows operating system. The ePUB files have a default setting when opened in the reader. The background color is set as light yellow, which is easy on the eyes and suitable for long reading sessions. Background color can be changed from the advanced settings which is in a text document titled SumatraPDF-Settings. What I liked about it Clutter-free, easy to use UI. It does the job pretty well without the unwanted frills. Small installation file size. 32-bit and 64-bit installers are under the size of 5 MB. A portable version is also available, which can be carried around with you on different computers on a USB-stick. What could be better An offline manual containing the keyboard shortcuts which are available on the website otherwise. Shortcuts in a text-file would not increase the file size. The settings can be viewed here. License: Freeware, open-source OS: Windows XP or later Download SumatraPDF 2. Calibre Calibre is an all-rounder in the document viewing segment. Besides being an exceptional ePUB reader, it is a full-fledged ebook management tool. Kindle readers, including myself, use this application for fixing the formatting of ebooks and sending them to the device. Calibre has three modes, which are as a viewer/reader for ebooks, document editor, and the full-fledged ebook manager. What I liked about it Fix the metadata of the ebook. You can either manually enter the correct information or search from the Internet, select the best metadata, and apply changes. Look-up the meaning of a word online/offline. There is a keyboard shortcut to look-up the meaning online as well. For setting up an offline dictionary sans Internet, the offline dictionary server needs to be setup. A guide to setup an offline Wiktionary can be found here. There is an option to utilize User CSS stylesheet to provide a complete overhaul of reading experience using a custom theme reading. If you know a little bit of HTML and CSS, then this feature would come in handy. It reduces the need for going through PREFERENCES for fine-tuning the view. Custom-themes are also available for enhancing your reading experience. They can be made by customizing your settings to you liking and saving it from the THEMING section of the PREFERENCES. What could be improved Some ePUB ebooks text is not correctly displayed. Wild characters appear instead of the text. License: Freeware, open-source OS: Windows 7 or later, macOS, Linux Download Calibre 3. FBreader FBreader is another open-source free ePUB reader for windows 10 that can cater to different formats of the ebook, which includes the likes of ePUB and ePUB 3. Other support formats are Mobi, FB2, PDF, Plucker, CHM. On the first launch, users will be prompted to set a path directory for opening and storing books. Margins, line spacing, and fonts, amongst other things, can be set from the Settings menu. What I liked The progress bar can be customized according to reader preference. Online network libraries such as Manybooks, Feedbooks, Shucan catalog, etc. can be used to access books for free and a fee. Custom keyboard shortcuts can be set for over a dozen predefined actions. There is an option to set a delay for keys pressed as well to avoid any accidental call-to-action. Android and iOS versions of the reader available so that you can take your favorite ePUB reader to the smartphone. What could be improved Drag and drop to open feature is not available in this reader. Manually browsing the ebook works fine, but a drag and drop option is not too much to ask, in my opinion. License: Freeware, open-source OS: Windows 7 or later, macOS, Linux, Android Download FBreader 4. Adobe Digital Editions Adobe Digital Editions(ADE) is a free ePUB reader for windows PC that is predominantly used by proof-readers for books under review. It supports mainly three formats, PDF, ePUB, and ePUB 3. What I liked about it Versatile DRM system that can be synced with digital libraries for ease of access. Create different bookshelves in the LIBRARY for a different genre, types of ebooks. Bookshelves can be categorized by different parameters such as pages read, page count, date published, etc. Books can be synced across devices when logged in with the Adobe ID. The Adobe ID is free to register for virtually all regions. Intuitive pop-up notes can be added anywhere in an ebook by highlighting the text. What could be improved There is a general lack of customization for augmenting the reading experience. Dictionary is somewhat missed by many. A more natural alternative to be added would be have been a selection search feature that searched for the meaning of a word online, like some of the ebook readers mentioned offers. License: Freeware OS: Windows 7 or later, macOS, Android Download Adobe Digital Editions 5. Bookviser Bookviser is an ebook reader that provides the feeling of reading an actual book instead of a conventional reading setup. Similar to FBreader, readers can access online library networks like Feedbooks, Manybooks, etc. The user-interface of the ePUB reader is in line with the modern standards and accommodates well with the operating system. You can find a horizontally vast space on the app, which gives a touch-screen friendly feel on Windows as well. What I liked The ability to pin your favorite titles to the home-screen for quick access. Sharing option for text selection that lets a reader share their favorite quotes, notes, etc. with others through email, OneNote, and other installed apps with sharing functionalities. Realistic page transition that feels like turning the pages of a real book. It can be turned off from the settings for readers who find it obtrusive. What could be improved An option to edit metadata would have been nice Drag and drop option to open ebooks is not available License: Freemium OS: Windows 7 or higher, Microsoft phones Download Bookviser 6. Freda Freda is a free DRM-Free ePUB viewer and reader for Windows 10 that also supports MOBI, HTML, and TXT format ebooks. The ebook reader has deep backward compatibility, as old as Windows 2003 and Windows CE. While other readers have a section for apprising the user about its functionalities, Freda does the same by adding a Show Hints button. It is simple, and all you need to do is click/tap once on the button and hover around different options to get a pop-up notification that provides a brief about the functionality. What I liked It includes a Dyslexic friendly font called OpenDyslexic for readers with dyslexia. Password protection can be enabled for the reader so that other users using your computer/device cannot pry on your reading activities. Connect your OneDrive or DropBox accounts for downloading and reading ebooks from your cloud backup. Calibre can be connected to access its book library directly. What could be improved Page transition could be better, even if its touch-screen friendly. License: Freeware OS: Windows CE, XP, Vista or later, Android Download Freda 7. EPUB File reader The ePUB reader is as generic as the name suggests. It does what it says, nothing more and nothing less. If you need an ePUB reader for Windows 11 with no-nonsense, then this can be the one to fulfill the requirement. DOT NET framework is necessary for this application to work. It can be downloaded from Microsofts official site. What I liked Easy to use interface. All the basic functionalities are present in the reader, and they can be accessed from the shortcut keys. You can save portions of the ebooks in HTML format by selecting the text or from the right-click menu on a page. Print a portion of the text from a book directly by selecting the text What could be improved A custom background for elongated reading hours would have made it perfect for simple ePUB documents reading. License: Freeware OS: Windows Vista or later Download EPUB File Reader 8. Bibliovore Bibliovore is an aesthetically beautiful ebook reader that is reasonably easy to use and has the right mix of features for passionate readers. The user-interface has a certain touch-feel because it is compatible with all Windows devices. Whenever a book is loaded for the first time, it takes a one-time 10-15 seconds processor to load an ebook. I tried it with an ePUB ebook of 350 pages to load on the reader. What I liked Different reading themes for day and night, which can be set-up from them app settings menu. There are over a dozen reading themes like Sepia, Monochrome, Black and Sand, etc. An extensive network of online libraries to read thousands of books for free through Project Gutenberg, amongst others. Landscape and Portrait mode are available for reading. Personalized bookmarks to provide an intuitive bookmark catalog for each bookmark Sync your documents with the cloud(OneDrive). What could be improved A built-in dictionary for finding the unknown words would probably seal the deal for many ebook readers. It lacks the function to select and search online like other ePUB book readers. License: Free OS: Windows 8.1 or higher Download Bibliovore 9. Kobo eBooks Kobo is an epub reading app by Rakuten, is an ebook reading app with an integrated store for purchasing books from the app itself. You have to login via Facebook, Google, or a Kobo account, which can be created under 15 seconds by entering your email and a strong password. On registering for the first time, you will get a $5 store credit to spend on their ebook store, which is available from time to time. What I liked Three reading modes which are Day, Night and Sepia Over 10 fonts to use on ebooks, including the publishers default, which is applied unless changed. Gesture shortcuts on the reading screen for bookmarks, settings, and more. Ebooks suggestion based on the readers reading patterns that appear in the suggestion panel of the home screen. What could be improved Text selection is not possible in any ePUB and PDF book that I tried No dictionary for finding the meaning of new words License: Free OS: Windows 8 or higher Download Kobo eBooks 10. Reader for PC by Sony Reader for PC is a part of the application suite that was bundled with Sonys ebook reader, which has discontinued now. Apart from ebooks, it can also open audiobooks, periodicals, notes, and pictures. It supports ePUB, PDF, RTF, and Word document formats for documents. The reader supports audiobooks in the format of MP3, MP4, and M4A. The reader can be synced with the Kobo ebook store to purchase books and load them into your library directly. What I liked Ebooks can be dragged and dropped into the reader, and it loads them in the library. It supports Adobe DRM for purchasing ebooks from a variety of online stores. Users need to log in with their Adobe DRM credentials to connect with the centralized DRM system. Annotations can be exported in RTF format for other purposes. What could be improved There is no customization available for the reading view. The addition of a customizable background could provide respite to the readers eyes. License: Free OS: Windows Vista or higher Download Reader for PC 11. Icecream EPUB Reader Icecream EPUB reader is a rather underrated ebook reader app. It is like everything that you would want in an epub app. And there is much more that would make it your favorite app to read books. They support most ebook formats along with ePUB, including mobi, PDF, FB2, and CBX, etc. You can upgrade to their pro version for additional features, while the free edition covers all the bases. What I liked about it Highlight some quotes or any part of a page for referencing. You can do it on EPUB and MOBi formats as well with ease. Their full-screen mode provides you with an immersive experience of almost reading a real book. Put it on a bigger screen, and the reading experience is unmatchable with the right background color. You can Google any quote, word, or specific part of the book, directly from the app. No need to open the browser and search for the ebook. Customize your eBook reading by adjusting font, line spacing, and layout (single or double page) to your liking. What could be improved You cant copy the text in the free version, which is a bummer if you want to save certain quotes or parts in your journal. License: Shareware OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 or later Download IceCream ePUB Reader 12. Neat Reader Now we have a Neat reader available across mobile and Windows PC. So you can take continue reading on different platforms without needing to switch between ePUB reader apps. The app has a really neat and user-friendly interface that makes it super easy to use. What is even better is that it supports almost every EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 standard out there, so you can read most of your books without any hassle. You can also sign-up for a free premium membership through the 7-days trial. They offer cloud space and multi-device synchronization. What I liked about it You can annotate any line or paragraph in the ebook with a single click. Scribble down a long note and it will be there on the reader when you click on it. Translate ePUB of any language into English through the right-click menu. It will instantly display the translation for most languages. The accuracy was high in most instances when we tested it. Categorize books by different genres, as you can also create custom categories suitable for your book collection. Place bookmarks and then you can come back to resume reading from there. You will never lose your progress. What could be improved You cannot change the theme of the ePUB or other books in the free version. The white background for the text can be straining on the eyes for long reading sessions. License: Shareware OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 or later Download Neat Reader 13. Total eBook reader Total eBook reader is an ePUB reading app that is not known by many. Its simplicity and ease of use you will surprise you. Drag and drop ePUB books/documents to quickly open them in reader mode. And then you can open your recent reads from the home screen and resume reading. What I liked about it View and read books in EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBR, FB2, FB2Z, XPS, and OXPS. Create custom bookmarks as a means to retain noteworthy points in a book or document, making it easy to revisit in the future. You can convert ePUB to PDFs/TEXT with a single click and it will be saved locally on your computer. Quickly print certain passages, pages or the entire ePUB book in different printing formats. What could be improved There is no way to go back to the home section after opening an ebook/document. You have to close it and launch the app again. License: Shareware OS: Windows 10 or higher Download Total eBook Reader 14. Thorium Reader This ePUB apps appeal lies in its remarkable simplicity. From its user interface to its functionality, nothing makes it complicated. This simplicity contributes to its exceptional user-friendliness. Upon launching the app, you will find only three tabs at the top: My Books, Catalogs, and Settings. Naturally, the tab you will use the most is My Books, where your entire eBook collection is listed. Adding eBooks is effortless, as you can easily drag and drop them onto the interface or click the + button to browse for your eBooks. What I liked about it Select a word or a part of the text to highlight it without the need for a special button or action. You can leave it like that and it will stay highlighted till you remove it. Instantly add a library account and an OPSD feed for accessing all your ebooks in one place. In terms of supported eBook formats, the app covers almost all the formats one might require, such as EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, ZIP, LPF, Audiobook, Webpub, LCPA, LCPDF, LCPL, Divina, Daisy, and OPF. You can also read DRM-locked content, which is not possible in most of the other ePUB readers. What could be improved There is no in-built dictionary for finding out the meaning of a new word. License: Shareware OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, and later Download Thorium Reader 15. Aquile Reader This ePUB reader reminds me quite a lot of a Kindle. You get all the important reading features here. You can read your personal local eBook files, which are free from DRM restrictions. Additionally, you can explore and enjoy a vast collection of over 50,000 free eBooks from diverse online eBook catalogs, all conveniently accessible from the same app. What I liked about it Select a word and its meaning will load in the app, in a second instead of searching in Google. This feature is similar to Kindle. You can make the ePUB reading fun with the text-to-speech function, which narrates the book in a female voice. Set your personal font for the eBook reading by installing it on your system. The reader will take in the font from there and display in the options. Translate any text in the book from English to other languages, and vice versa, with one click. A window will open with translations. What could be improved Only one custom color theme is allowed in the free version. You will have to get the premium for unlocking more themes apart from other features. License: Shareware OS: Windows 10 or later Download Aquile Also Read- How To Read Kindle Books On PC Over to You There are several hundred ePUB readers for Windows that some way or the other does the job. It is up to you to decide the one which epub app suits your reading needs. While there are many PDF viewers out there, which does an exceptional job of viewing ePUB format documents, some lack the proper document encoding for some kinds of documents. Let me know via the comment section if there an EPUB viewer that deserves to make it into the list. TEHRAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers on Saturday highlighted the two countries' determination to implement the agreements reached during a recent visit by the Iranian president to Syria. In a phone call between Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, they also exchanged views on the latest developments in bilateral ties and regional issues, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. The Syrian foreign minister reported his country's recent successes in ties with other Arab states, as well as the presence of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Arab League Summit held in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah in May after 12 years of absence. Amir-Abdollahian described the Syrian successes as "positive and constructive." Leading a group of top ministers, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Syria on May 3, marking the first visit by an Iranian president since the beginning of the Syrian war in 2011. During his trip, Raisi and al-Assad signed a number of memorandums of understanding for long-term and comprehensive cooperation in various fields including oil, communications, civil aviation, railways, and agriculture, among others, according to Syria's state news agency SANA. Internet prices on the plane: This is how expensive surfing above the clouds is These are the most beautiful beaches in the Balearic Islands that you should not miss Disappearance of Emile: "all tracks remain considered" according to the prosecutor's office, which opens a judicial investigation Evaluation of the Pro-Rail Alliance: Germany spends less per capita on the rail network than other European countries Those who speak English as their mother tongue have advantages in research Andreu Genestra, the chef who financed his cooking studies by working as a waiter "because they paid better": "When they gave me the Michelin star, I didn't deserve it" Investigation into security in Nice during the attack: the prosecutor's office for a reclassification as "involuntary homicide" Mutual aid fraud case: Did you invite your dating partner to travel immediately after your daughter's hospitalization? Passport ranking: Germany's passport is the second most powerful in the world The Prophet meant it as an immigrant, so it was the first capital of Islam. Madinah Isabelle Adjani soon to be tried for hiding 2 million euros: the actress disputes the facts West Lake Scenic Area responded to the "suspected settlement of the net red pavilion": there is a tilt, and the management has been strengthened 50 years without Bruce Lee: philosopher and choreographer of the kick in the ribs The 91-year-old "scavenger and education" elderly man was discharged from the hospital after surgery: to help more students realize their college dreams Seiya Suzuki has 1 hits in 4 game, including a home run, Masanao Yoshida has 2 hits and ranks third in batting average FULL TESTIMONY- From his childhood to his role as village chief, listen to Yannick Noah's confidences She described him as a "mercenary" and likened him to Brutus, the murderer of Julius Caesar. Inter 'Ultras' attack Lukaku over Juventus In the first half of the year, Guangdong's foreign trade exports reached a record high of 2.55 trillion yuan Credit overtaking: the issuance of loans for the purchase of cars has reached a maximum in the last year and a half "It changes everything": how the war in Ukraine saved the Forges de Tarbes in the Hautes-Pyrenees Ministry of Commerce: Foreign non-financial direct investment in the first half of the year increased by 22.7% year-on-year Ministry of Commerce: Maintain optimistic expectations for the prospects of foreign trade in the second half of the year Truck drivers on the A5: truckers are on strike again in Grafenhausen The State Duma adopted amendments to the law on excess profit tax with a number of exceptions It affects 46%, most of them are women. How to avoid roughness and prevent knee pain? Between censorship and ban, why the film "Barbie" is controversial in Southeast Asia US soldier who went to North Korea wanted to flee disciplinary punishment, Washington says The new Hijri year. Changing the covering of the Kaaba and paying zakat on money and European clubs congratulate South Africa: Putin will not attend the BRICS summit, his arrest is a declaration of war on Russia To avoid an environmental disaster. Preparations to transport the cargo of an abandoned Yemeni oil ship in the Red Sea "My grandfather also fought against the Nazis": a citizen of Kyrgyzstan convicted of participating in the NWO applied for Russian citizenship Emile, the two-year-old boy who disappeared in France, was not alone with his grandparents "I admit guilt": the suspect in the murder of Captain Rzhitsky was arrested for two months Three activists arrested for sneaking into Ibiza airport sticking to a private jet and spraying it with paint Activists of Futuro Vegetal spray paint on the megayacht of the Walmart heiress docked in Ibiza Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (full text) The astonishing data of the time trial in which Vingegaard swept Pogacar: "He scored more watts than expected" The mystery of Emile, disappeared 11 days ago: they open another investigation before the "complexity" of the case WP: U.S. prepares sanctions against Kyrgyzstan to force it to stop trade with Russia Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. A promotion conference of China's Hainan Free Trade Port was held in London on Friday. Representatives from business associations and enterprises in Britain have expressed their strong interest and confidence in China's mega-port project. Produced by Xinhua Global Service KABUL, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have arrested eight people on the charge of involvement in drug smuggling here in the capital city, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said on Sunday. The alleged smugglers were attempting to take the contraband in different parts of Kabul city to sell to drug addicts but police identified and took them into custody for investigation on Saturday, he said. In a similar operation, Afghan counter-narcotics police arrested eight people on the charge of involvement in drug smuggling in Kabul and the western Herat provinces last week. Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Afghan caretaker administration issued a decree in April last year to ban the cultivation of illegal crops including poppy, its processing to drug and drug trafficking. CNN host Kaitlan Collins and former president Donald Trump at the town hall broadcast. Although Licht, 51, had endured criticism for months, his standing deteriorated late last week when The Atlantic published a 15,000-word profile extensively documenting his stormy tenure. Licht had spent hours with the writer, Tim Alberta, and his unguarded comments about CNNs coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and the Trump presidency further rankled the networks anchors and rank-and-file. Licht apologised to his staff on a Monday morning call To those whose trust Ive lost, I will fight like hell to win it back, he said. But Zaslav concluded soon afterward that his hand-picked CNN chief had irreparably lost the room, according to two people briefed on the decision. Among the anchors who expressed misgivings about Licht in recent days were Anderson Cooper and Jake Tapper, according to the two people. Zaslav did not consider other candidates before offering Licht the position last year. Chris poured his heart and soul into this job, Zaslav said on the call. Its really unfortunate, and ultimately thats on me. I take full responsibility for that. Three CNN veterans Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley and Eric Sherling will lead the network until a permanent leader is chosen, a process that Zaslav said could take several months. The trio will work with David Leavy, a top Zaslav deputy who was installed late last week as CNNs chief operating officer. Several of Lichts senior aides were also dismissed on Wednesday, including his global head of communications, Kristine Coratti Kelly. CNN now faces a crossroads yet again. Whoever succeeds Licht will need to tackle the continuing decline in cable news viewership, puzzle out the networks streaming strategy and lead coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign. Loading The network has been in a state of tumult since late 2021, when its top-rated anchor Chris Cuomo was fired in an ethics scandal. Weeks later, its longtime leader, Jeff Zucker, was ousted after failing to disclose a workplace romantic relationship. Zaslav took over in April 2022 and promptly shut down CNN+, the three-week-old streaming service that was supposed to secure the networks digital future, resulting in scores of lay-offs. Many network stars remained loyal to Zucker, who led CNN amid unrelenting attacks from Trump, and they were suspicious of Lichts efforts to change the tenor of the networks coverage. Licht dismissed Brian Stelter, a media correspondent and Zucker hire who was often critical of Trump, and he courted Republican officials and conservatives to appear on the networks programs. He also picked an office on a corporate floor high above the newsroom an attempt, Licht said privately, to empower his deputies. It had the reverse effect: subordinates wondered if their boss cared about what they were doing. From the instant he was named, Licht confronted a powerful cadre of current and former staff members and their allies loyal to Zucker and his vision for the network. Zucker turned into a quasi-grievance switchboard for this group. Licht, who previously served as executive producer of Morning Joe, CBS This Morning, and Late Show with Stephen Colbert, had never run an organisation anywhere near the size or complexity of CNN, a worldwide outlet with thousands of employees and hundreds of millions in annual revenue. A few early errors might have been overlooked if offset by a spate of smart programming moves and ratings wins. But in his 13-month tenure, those were in short supply. Don Lemons departure from CNN comes as the network is overhauling its programming in a bid to improve ratings. Credit: AP His first bet was a new morning show co-hosted by Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, which Licht said would set the tone for the news organisation. But CNN This Morning, which debuted in November, was marred by low ratings and tensions on and off the set. Lemon clashed with Collins, and then set off a national uproar by asserting on-air that a woman over the age of 50 was not in her prime. Two months later, Lemon was fired. Meanwhile, Licht took his time in the eyes of Warner Bros Discovery executives, too much time to fix a prime-time line-up that was rapidly losing viewers. In February, he began an experiment at 9pm, CNNs highest-rated hour under Cuomo, with a mix of town halls and single-topic specials. It was a dud, and CNN saw some of its lowest viewership in more than two decades. But no single editorial decision was more contentious than Lichts decision to broadcast a live town hall forum with Trump last month. It was the former presidents first prime-time appearance since 2020 on a major TV news network (besides those controlled by Rupert Murdoch), and critics wondered if Licht was repeating Zuckers 2016 pattern of providing Trump with unfiltered airtime. Zaslav defended the town hall, telling CNBC: We need to represent both sides. I think its important for America. The event proved chaotic: Trump unleashed a torrent of falsehoods and even mocked the moderator, Collins, as a nasty woman to cheers from the studio audience, which was organised by local Republican and civic groups. The forum was roundly criticised, and some CNN viewers said on social media they would no longer watch the channel. To the shock of its staff, CNN began to occasionally dip below the conservative network Newsmax in total prime-show viewership, a once-inconceivable notion. Loading Christiane Amanpour, the eminent CNN anchor, said in a speech that she and Licht respectfully disagree about airing the town hall. Amid the drama, CNNs once-mighty financial foundation was eroding. Last year, CNN generated about $US750 million ($1.1 billion) in profit, down from about $US1.25 billion the previous year. (The lower number included about $US200 million in one-time losses from CNN+.) Lichts allies said that he had deserved more of a chance. Zaslav gave Chris two years; I wish Chris had been given the two years Zaslav promised him, said Joe Scarborough, who created Morning Joe with Licht at MSNBC. The best of Chris was still to come. He learned a lot. Hes going to succeed and be much better because of what he learned there. Some CNN staff members regarded the announcement as a chance for a reset. I want the coverage of CNN to be on our journalism, Tapper said in a text message. On Monday morning, roughly 48 hours before his fateful walk in the park with Zaslav, Licht had attempted to shore up support with a newsroom that had in many senses turned against him. CNN is not about me; I should not be in the news unless its taking arrows for you, he told his staff on a morning call. Your work is what should be written about. This is the greatest job in the world at the greatest news organisation in the world, Licht said. And we have so much to look forward to in the months ahead. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. The streets behind Sydney Cove are shaping up to become home to some of the citys hottest bar action in years. 10 hot and new Sydney pubs and bars to try right now See all stories . The city blocks between Circular Quay and Bridge Street have long teased as a destination for bar chasers, but a cluster of new and looming venues looks set to stamp the area as the Sydney bar precinct to watch in 2023. Bar 1880 has opened in the same strip of warehouses on Bulletin Place where the late Len Evans schooled an earlier generation of Sydneysiders in the art of wine and food. 1 / 9 Bar 1880s new premises at Bulletin Place. Trent Van Der Jagt 2 / 9 From left: Bar 1880 founder Harry Morton, bar manager Alex Raclet and venue manager Didier Nahum. Trent Van Der Jagt 3 / 9 Trent Van Der Jagt 4 / 9 Trent Van Der Jagt 5 / 9 Trent Van Der Jagt 6 / 9 Trent Van Der Jagt 7 / 9 A cafe by day, Caffe Qs will morph into an aperitivo bar from mid-June. Jayden De Araujo 8 / 9 Jayden De Araujo 9 / 9 Drinks consultant Quynh Nguyen of Caffe Qs. Jayden De Araujo Previous Slide Next Slide While the area has experienced a boom and bust bar cycle over the past half century, Bar 1880 manager Alex Raclet who managed the bars at Franca and Parlar, and trots outs cocktails with sous vide ingredients and names like Lock Me Up believes Circular Quay has all the ingredients in place for success. Raclet isnt alone in tipping the area. The team from Re-, the Eveleigh bar previously named on The Worlds 50 Best Bar list, will open a bar in the precinct in August, next to the Maurice Terzini-fronted Jacksons on George project. Entry fees at Brisbanes public swimming pools will be reduced to a flat $2 for both adults and children this summer. The price change down from about $6-$7 for those aged 15 and older, and $4-$5 for children aged two to 14 will be in effect from December 1 to February 29. Fun often comes at a cost, particularly for families, the lord mayor said while announcing the pool price cut. For an adult who swims once a week, the saving would be up to $57.20. The cost of taking a family of four will fall to $8 from up to $20.15. A family who go to their local pool six times this summer will save up to $72.90. Melbournes favourite uber-leftie, City of Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly, has been cleared of accusations of trash-talking fellow councillors as the always-in-the-headlines local government operation descended into civil war again this year over a controversial proposal for a new bin tax. One of Jollys fellow councillors, small business advocate Herschel Landes, was unhappy with the manner in which the former Victorian Socialist publicly rubbished (forgive us) the councils plan to impose new garbage removal charges on top of general rates bills as Jolly and fellow alder-people Michael Glynatsis and Bridgid OBrien fought the move. Residents rally outside Richmond Town Hall during a Yarra council meeting on the bin tax in March. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Landes, who copped criticism for posting about the bitter debate from a friends yacht, took his complaints to the state governments local government disciplinary authority alleging, well, quite a lot. The guts of it were that Jolly used disparaging and critical expressions about councillors and Yarra itself and that by describing himself, OBrien and Glynatsis as rebel councillors, implied that the council was fractured [and] unable to effectively govern the municipality. A C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first self-developed trunk jetliner, is greeted with a water salute after touching down at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2023. (Photo by Wang Yang/Xinhua) A Swiss expert has said that the C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, reveals the high potential of China's civil aviation market, and expressed optimism that China would become the world's largest aviation market. by Martina Fuchs GENEVA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, reveals the high potential of China's civil aviation market, according to an expert. The Chinese manufacturer has been "successful in passenger comfort," said Philippe Meyer, an aviation consultant based in Switzerland, told Xinhua in a recent interview via video conference. "They have proven that they can design a plane." With eight business class and 156 economy seats, this single-aisle C919 aircraft has various passenger-friendly features, such as a 2.25-meter-high aisle ceiling and drop-down overhead bins. The middle seat of the economy class is 1.5 cm wider than its neighboring seats. The C919, built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), completed its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing last month. Operated by China Eastern Airlines, it marked its official entry into the civil aviation market. A C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first self-developed trunk jetliner, is on its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing on May 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) "China is going to be the biggest civil aviation market quicker than we think," said Meyer, who is also an International Air Transport Association (IATA) airline marketing and airport business management professor. The aviation expert expressed expectations of the vitality and potential of China's civil aviation market, noting that travels following the COVID-19 pandemic played a big role as Chinese tourists are eager to travel more. "There is an explosion of demand in China," commented Meyer, noting that 1 billion Chinese people will travel by air annually by 2035. Some 4.35 billion people worldwide are expected to travel in 2023, which is not far off the 4.54 billion people who took a flight in 2019, said an IATA report, noting an anticipated strengthening of airline industry profitability in an upgrade of its outlook for 2023. Airline industry net profits are expected to reach 9.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, more than double the forecast of 4.7 billion dollars published in December 2022, said IATA. By 2041, China is expected to become the world's largest single-country civil aviation market, according to a forecast released by the COMAC last year. This photo taken on May 28, 2023 shows a C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, getting ready for its first commercial flight in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) "We all have to prepare everywhere in the world for the rush of Chinese tourists again," Meyer said. Alongside the flourishing market and the expectedly strong demand, challenges remain. "The biggest challenge now is to produce the plane. If they only build one plane a month, this is not going to be enough to satisfy the demand," he said. Noting China's cheaper but also skilled labor compared to the West, Meyer said the need for an after-sales network in China and the producing scale were major headwinds. Still, the Chinese want to "reduce their dependency on the duopoly on Western products." Meyer was optimistic that China would become the world's largest aviation market. "Today, we have a duopoly with Airbus and Boeing," he said. "With the C919, we have a real new plane which, for the first time, is able to compete against these two players in the biggest markets." Leave it to the Japanese to turn bathing into a fine art. An onsen experience can be relaxing, indulgent and deeply meditative. From ancient bathhouses to forest-flanked springs, these towns offer some of the best spots for a soak. Kinosaki Onsen Kinonsaki onsen. Credit: Shogo.Nishiyama While many hot-spring resorts have unedifying architecture, Kinosaki, 150 kilometres north-west of Kyoto, preserves an old-world appearance and has a well-organised tourist infrastructure, making this Japans best onsen experience. Wooden buildings, small craft shops and a mossy Shinto temple overlook canals spanned by stone bridges and lined with willow and cherry trees. A single pass provides access to seven public bathhouses, with visitors in yukatas and clogs strolling from one to another and stopping at teahouses along the way. Tajima beef and snow crab are local delicacies. Forested hills rise around the town; take a hike to venerable Onsen-ji Temple. See visitkinosaki.com Noboribetsu Kyiv: Ukraines top military command said its forces were engaged in heavy battles in frontline hot spots, a day after Kyiv said it had made the first modest gains in reclaiming territory from Russia as part of its counteroffensive. Some 25 battles had taken place over the past day near the eastern town of Bakhmut, and further south near Avdiivka and Maryinka, all in the Donetsk region, but also near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, Ukraines armed forces general staff said. Ukrainian soldiers rest in a trench on the frontline near Kreminna, Luhansk region. Credit: AP Ukraine said on Sunday its troops had made advances on three villages in Donetsk: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. The claims could not be independently verified and there was no immediate comment from Russian officials. Washington: President Joe Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a delayed Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses. People listen as President Joe Biden speaks at a Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday. Credit: AP The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from Canadian wildfires. But the haze that blanketed a huge swathe of the East Coast last week had lifted over the nations capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party. Loading So today, I want to send a message to the entire community especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. Youre understood. And you belong, Biden said. The Daily News will sit down with your top performance player from the Week #7 Batavia Muckdogs games and talk baseball! Keep an eye out for our Week #8 poll, running next week (Tuesday - Friday)! You voted: ANKARA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- At least seven members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) were killed by Turkish forces in retaliation for YPG's harassing fires, Turkiye's defense ministry said on Sunday. Among the killed were two senior YPG members, the ministry said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the YPG launched mortar/rocket harassing fires on Turkish security posts in the Cibrin Base area in northern Syria and the Oncupinar area in southern Turkiye, said the statement. There is no damage to the Turkish soldiers, police, or base areas, it said. Turkiye sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years. Members of Congress from both parties are considering requiring automakers to keep AM radio in all new vehicles as some companies are eliminating the frequency from electric vehicles because battery motors interfere with signals (Grigor Atanasov/Dreamstime/TNS) On this episode of International Reporters Roundtable, we explore artificial intelligence. What exactly is it? Science fiction writers knew it was comingtheyve been describing it for years, although theyve been divided over whether its a blessing or a curse; helpful assistant or humankinds doom. Now suddenly, its in our hands. ChatGPT, the first open AI. It seems like everyones trying it out. Meanwhile, some pioneers of the technology say that we need to put on the brakes. Is there a real risk this is a runaway train? Or are they more worried about whos in control? Our guests help us unpack all of it: what fears are true and which are imagined? Can this technology really achieve sentience and what is the reality of regulation? How will the future unfold with this new leap in technological development? Robert J. Marks II, professor of electrical engineering at Baylor University, author, and editor, gives us the fundamentals of AI technology. Rebekah Koffler, security analyst and Russia expert, updates us on AI global policy and military applications. Nathan Worcester, Epoch Times journalist specializing in politics and tech, aids us in understanding the narrative surrounding it. Back on Campaign Trail, Trump Calls 37 Counts of Federal Charges Ridiculous Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the Georgia state GOP convention at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center, in Columbus, Ga., on June 10, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) COLUMBUS, Ga.Two days after learning that he will face 37 counts of federal charges over his handling of government documents, former President Donald Trump expressed his resolve to stand strongand so did his supporters. The ridiculous and baseless indictment by the Biden administrations weaponized Department of Injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country, he told a capacity crowd of about 3,000 people who gathered for the GOP convention on June 10. Trump and others allege that his indictment was timed to divert attention from an emerging alleged bribery scandal centering on Democrat President Joe Bideninformation that House Republicans are prying loose after the FBI kept details of its investigation into the claims under wraps for six years. Biden is trying to jail his leading political opponent, just like they do in Stalinist Russia or Communist China, Trump told the audience. Trumps historic indictment in Florida, which he revealed on June 8, touched off vigorous debate from the left, right, and center. A vendor sells patriotic and Donald-Trump-themed hats and shirts at the Georgia GOP Convention in Columbus, Ga., on June 10, 2023. (Janice Hisle/The Epoch Times) As details began to emerge on June 9, some legal analysts said they think the indictment may be fatally flawed because it fails to acknowledge the unique records privileges that are, by law, conferred upon presidents. But other pundits and ordinary citizens began predicting that Trump is headed to prison. Some called for him to abandon his presidential run. Trump says that wont happen. As everybody in this absolutely packed house knows, I have put everything on the line, Trump told the convention, drawing loud applause. I will never yield. Trump Unfazed At times, Trump appeared lighthearted despite the gravity of his legal troubles. He performed his well-known arm-pumping dance moves at least twiceupon landing at the Columbus airport and before exiting the stage at the Convention and Event Center. Hes so used to them coming after him, Im not sure that it fazes him anymore, convention attendee Doug Collins, 67, of Calhoun, Georgia, told The Epoch Times. As a prelude to his speech, Trump played a new one-minute campaign video that likened Democrat prosecutors and his political opponents to a pack of rabid wolves. The former president recounted that he has been impeached twice, had his campaign spied upon and, according to a report last month, was the target of a years-long Russian collusion investigation that never would have been launched if the FBI had followed its own rules. This spring, Trump was indicted on 34 state charges for allegedly falsifying business records in New Yorka case said to be based on a questionable legal theory. Trump has pleaded not guilty in that case, the nations first-ever indictment of a former president; Trump made history again when he was indicted in the federal records case. Collins thinks the 37-count federal charges will be tossed out if theres any such thing as justice in America. People see whats happening, he said. They see political persecution of President Trump while people on the other side, like Joe Biden, did similar things with recordsor worseand theyre not getting indicted. Biden remains under investigation for classified records found in various locations from his time as U.S. senator and vice president. We Stand With You Trump traveled to Georgia with Walt Nauta, a personal aide who was also charged in connection with the documents case. Both are scheduled to make their first court appearance on the charges in Miami on June 13. But while visiting Georgia on June 10, Nauta and Trump made a quick stop at a Waffle House after the former presidents speech. Trump picked up the tab for about 75 guests who were invited to greet Trump. Among them was Cliff Rhodes, 45, a pharmacist from Carrollton, Georgia. People were like standing in there in their seats, like up on the stools People were yelling, We love you. We stand with you. We know what youre going through, Rhodes told The Epoch Times. Trump made a brief statement, telling supporters: We did absolutely nothing wrong. Cliff Rhodes, 45, was among the guests invited to be treated to a waffle, courtesy of former President Donald Trump, at a Waffle House in Columbus, Ga., on June 10, 2023. (Courtesy of Cliff Rhodes) Basis for Indictment Debated The indictment asserts otherwise. It accuses Trump of possessing sensitive information about the defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign countries, including nuclear programs and vulnerabilities. The indictment also alleges that he interfered with investigators and unlawfully shared some of the sensitive information. However, attorney Kash Patel, a former member of the Trump administration, told EpochTV that indictments are purposely worded so that the allegations appear strong and shocking; he previously crafted such documents in his role as a prosecutor. Kash Patel (Epoch Times file photo) After dissecting the indictment, Patel and others challenge the indictments contention that Trump illegally possessed and/or shared National Defense Information or NDI under The Espionage Act. Patel points out that the Presidential Records Act allows ex-presidents to possess documents, whether classified or not. And Trump has publicly stated he declassified the records that the FBI found in an Aug. 8 raid at his estate at Mar-A-Lago, Florida. Thus, several legal experts assert that there is no support for an espionage charge; some say the Espionage Act does not apply to the president of the United States. During his speech, Trump said, This whole fake indictment, they dont even once mention the Presidential Records Act, which he maintains is the controlling law. Craig Schneider, an alternate delegate to the convention, told The Epoch Times that he has a 20-year career in military intelligence, which taught him details of the governments document-classification rules. The process is complex but, bottom-line, I can tell you this, the President of the United States is the ultimate classification authority. If the President of the United States says, This document is no longer classified, guess what? Its no longer classified. Because theres no authority above him. Two-Tiered Justice System Meanwhile, Biden also possessed classified documents from his time as a U.S. senator, which is supposed to be prohibited, Trump said. Biden has many more records, so much so that the documents Trump possessed amounted to peanuts, the former president said. Biden didnt have any authority and he had no right to possess those documents, Trump said. Yet nothing happened to Crooked Joe. That is just one example of our nations two-tiered justice system, which allows some politically well-connected people to avoid punishment while others are targeted for political reasons, Trump said. Trump scoffed at the notion that he tried to steal documents that he wasnt supposed to take. When I was moving to Florida, boxes were openly sitting on the White House sidewalk, said Trump, who recently posted a photo of those boxes on his Truth Social platform. Yet, despite his openly taking the records, Mar-A-Lago was raided by gun-toting FBI agents, Trump said. The Georgia audience booed its disapproval of the raid. Trump said the prosecutor who advanced the case against him was Jack Smith, who he called a bad Trump-hater. This is a sick nest of people that needs to be cleaned out immediately, the former president said. Many people in the audience rose to their feet and cheered when Trump said that and vowed to reform the U.S. Department of Justice. Georgia Issues Unresolved Throughout his speech, Trump touched on issues specific to Georgia, where Trump and his supporters allege that election irregularities may have shifted vote totals unfairly to Biden in the 2020 election. Trump said there are statistical arguments supporting his contention. We won Alabama in a record number, we won South Carolina in a record number, he said. Yet skilled political analysts told him that it was not possible to win both of those states and then lose Georgia by just a tiny little bit, Trump said. Schneider, the alternate delegate, said his experience as a poll watcher during the 2020 election supports Trumps claims of election irregularities. DeKalb County poll-watchers were not allowed anywhere near the ballots. Poll officials kept people far away from the ballots, citing a desire not to spread COVID germs, he said. But one worker who did get closer was able to see that ballots cast for Biden had no creases in them, even though they were supposed to have been mailed-in, Schneider said. Trump remains under investigation for a phone call he made, challenging the election results in Georgia. He added that Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis has been ignoring skyrocketing violent crimes in her community. She is spending all of her money, all of her time trying to get Trump, he said. Craig Schneider, an alternate delegate at the Georgia GOP Convention in Columbus, Ga., on June 10, 2023. (Janice Hisle/The Epoch Times) I had every right to complain that the election in Georgia was, in my opinion, rigged, Trump continued. I thought the results were ridiculous and so did many other people. Trump said that many other people were listening in on the phone call he made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after the 2020 election. Call participants included high-powered lawyers from all sides. Yet not a single one of them objected to Trumps statements, he said. If they heard something wrong, they had an obligation to say something on the phone, Trump said. The day that youre not allowed to complain about an election, then we are indeed Communist China, he said. Amid his arguments against the Georgia election results, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) took to the stage and gave a short speech to support Trump, sparking a chant from the audience: Four more years! Trump wrapped up his speech with a litany of policies he intends to enact under his Agenda 47 plan. Many actions would be taken to tighten the U.S. border, stop the war in Ukraine, and boost the national economy, Trump said. The USA is a mess, he said. But Trump said that as president, he would look to fixing the problems. Looking ahead to 2026, he said, I will lead a massive, yearlong salute to America to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nations founding with the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Associated Press contributed. People work at the construction site of the second phase of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Bushehr, southern Iran, on Nov. 10, 2019. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua) TEHRAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Sunday there is nothing wrong with reaching a nuclear deal providing that the country's atomic infrastructure remains "intact," according to the official news agency IRNA. The top leader made the remarks in a meeting with a group of nuclear experts and officials in the Iranian capital Tehran, commenting on the latest developments and progress of Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program. He, however, stressed that the challenge Iran has faced over the past 20 years over nuclear issues has shown that the West is not trustworthy in its promises. He said past negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and some countries have shown that they failed to fulfill many of the promises they had given to Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (2nd L) meets with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi (2nd R) in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2023. (Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua) He reiterated that Iran "does not seek to move toward (developing) nuclear weapons, otherwise the enemies would not have been able to prevent it, as they have so far failed to stop our nuclear advances." The top leader emphasized that nuclear industry, an industry that bears great scientific importance and helps improve the people's lives, is among the "fundamental and important" elements of Iran's power and prestige, which is the reason why "the enemies" have focused on the country's nuclear energy sector. He stressed that the cooperation between Iran and the IAEA should be maintained, but the strategic law passed by the Iranian parliament in 2020 to counter U.S. sanctions must not be violated. The parliament's law mandated the government to restrict IAEA's inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities and accelerate the development of the country's nuclear program beyond the limits set under a 2015 nuclear deal. Khamenei said Iran has achieved the present level of progress in the nuclear industry despite the threats and assassinations of its atomic scientists by the enemies, stressing that Iran should be able to generate 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity in the future. Iran signed the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. The United States, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the deal. Photo taken on May 25, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Commission on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation Vienna/Handout via Xinhua) The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. No breakthrough has been achieved after the latest round of talks in August 2022. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi paid a two-day visit to Tehran in early March when the two sides agreed to further interactions based on Iran's cooperation and greater openness to the agency's inspections. For classical music lovers, being able to stream live concerts on social media platforms is a welcome convenience in a busy world. But nothing beats the in-person experience. For city dwellers, a night out to see the orchestra is a relaxing and relatively inexpensive outing. Those living in New York, London, or Paris are lucky in having easy access to top talent. Few orchestras employ better talent than the Vienna Philharmonic. Consistently ranked as one of the very best in the world, after more than 180 years of existence it is also one of the oldest. Its legendary Viennese sound has been analyzed to death: Is it the particular instruments that make it so unique for listeners? Or the special training its musicians receive? Or the acoustics of its main concert hall, the Vienna Musikverein? Theories abound, but the answer remains mysterious. The Great Hall, also known as the Golden Hall in Viennas Musikverein. (Clemens Pfeiffer/CC BY-SA 3.0) A City of Music with No Orchestra In the early 19th century, Vienna was already associated with a disproportionate number of the greatest composers who ever lived: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, to name a few. But it had no standing professional orchestra devoted to symphonic music. This meant that the City of Music could not satisfactorily perform the works of its own homegrown geniuses. Mozarts operas were an exception. At this time, operas were still better known than symphonies; the art form had developed earlier and was enormously popular. Symphonies were performed far less frequently. When they were, as the Romantic composer Hector Berlioz noted, amateur players tended to subject their audiences to bad first impressions. Musicians abounded in the city, but lacked an able leader to guide them. Though Vienna contained some competent conductors at this time, including Salieri (Mozarts famous rival), it had none who could compare with European cities like Paris. A Conductor of Genius Enter Otto Nicolai. In him, Vienna found a conductor whose skills could match the best then in France and Germany. Like Mozart, Nicolai had shown great musical promise as a child. Berlioz regarded Nicolai as one of the greatest orchestral leaders he ever met, saying he is one of those men whose influence alone suffices to bestow a marked musical superiority on the town in which they live. Conductor Otto Nicolai brought the Vienna Philharmonic up to international standards. Lithograph of Nicolai in 1842. (Public Domain) What exactly made Nicolai so good? Berlioz noted a number of qualities: He was learned and enthusiastic, with a strong rhythmical instinct, showed great attention to detail, and was exact in his conducting method. After coming to Vienna to lead the citys Court Opera, in 1842 Nicolai helped assemble instrumentalists from the Operas orchestra to form a separate group that would be devoted solely to symphonic music. He even wrote a Founders Decree that admonished Vienna to awake from its performative slumber: Trin tin tin! Hark! Hark! The time has come, no more for musicians just to sleep, or play their violins in bed! Ye sons of Apollo, all together, unite, put your hands to work, on something great! Nicolais primary intention in helping to found the Vienna Philharmonic was to perform the works of Beethoven. This would not be an easy task. Beethovens compositions catapulted symphonic music to a new level of complexity, presenting difficulties for even professional musicians. Due to this, Berlioz complained that there were not six places in the world where one could hear the masters works properly executed. Succeeding Where Others Failed A year after its founding, Nicolai prepared the Vienna Philharmonic for one of its most historic moments: performing Beethovens Ninth Symphony. Ludwig van Beethoven conducted his 9th Symphony at the Vienna Philharmonic in 1842. Engraving by J Lindner after C Jaeger. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The Choral Symphony had made its public debut in 1824. Beethoven, by this time completely deaf, conducted the piece so clumsily that a second conductor had to stand behind him to direct the players. Though the amateur orchestra had been ill-prepared to play the piece, having been allowed only two rehearsals, it came off well enough that the back-up conductor, contralto Caroline Unger, had to tap Beethoven to notify him of the standing ovation occurring behind his back. For almost the next 20 years of its existence, no conductor had succeeded in adequately performing the work. If Beethovens earlier symphonies had been challenging, the 9th was considered almost impossible, requiring the largest orchestra ever assembled up to that time as well as a full choir with vocal soloists. The pieces exceeding difficulty affected its early critical appreciation. When first performed in London in 1825, The Ninth Symphony was not well-received. A critic writing for the Harmonicon panned it as wearying, its length inadequate to fix the attention of any audience. The final movement containing the now-famous Ode to Joy chorus was too heterogeneous, lacking in intelligible design, and seemed to bear no relation to the first three movements. The critic proposed that the piece be shaped into a produceable form, more akin to that of a Haydn symphony. Viennese critics agreed about the Ninth Symphonys insufferable length. Musicians complained it was too hard to play. Because it had never been adequately performed, some thought it was unperformable. Otto Nicolai sought to change this perception. The huge number of instrumentalist and vocalists presented a problem for getting all his musicians in sync. How did he succeed in doing this? Well, above and beyond his many excellent qualities, Berlioz noted one skill in him that others lacked, and which is a necessary characteristic of every great conductor: Nicolai was an indefatigable organizer. He exacted severe demands and strict discipline that has been described as dictatorial. He did not allow his musicians to waste time. To prepare them, he put them through 13 grueling rehearsals. He unified his disparate players into a single body until they could play as one instrument. Success and Legacy Nicolais performance of the Ninth Symphony was a tremendous success: the first public interpretation of Beethovens magnum opus that could satisfy its creators original intentions. But the glory was not to last. During these years, Nicolai composed the work for which he is best known today: an operatic adaptation of Shakespeares The Merry Wives of Windsor. But the directors of the Vienna opera refused to produce it, so Nicolai resigned his position in 1847 after only five years of leading the orchestra. He moved to Berlin, where he tragically died of a stroke shortly following the premiere of his opera. The manuscript for Ludwig van Beethovens first edition of the Ninth Symphony on May 22, 2003. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images) Nicolais absence left no one of equal merit to replace him, and the Vienna Philharmonic suffered a decline that lasted more than a decade. Then in 1860, its low fortunes began to change. The cause of its revival? None other than a hit performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor! Appropriately, the homage that the orchestra belatedly paid to its visionary founder initiated a golden era of great performances. The Vienna Philharmonic boasted a number of famous conductors during this time, from visiting ones like Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner to resident directors like Gustav Mahler. After Berlioz guest-conducted the Philharmonic in 1845, he opined that it might perhaps be equaled by other orchestras, but exceeded by none. Berliozs judgment continues to stand today. Burbank Unified School District Places Superintendent on Administrative Leave Burbank High School at 902 N. Third Street in Burbank, Calif. (Screenshot via Google Street View) BURBANK, Calif.Matt Hill, the superintendent of the Burbank Unified School District, has been placed on administrative leave and the board of education president sent a district-wide email to inform the community about the decision. Burbank school district Board of Education president Steve Ferguson sent the email on June 8 night. It comes after the school board met in closed session on Wednesday night. No details were given for the boards decision to place Hill on administrative leave, citing it as a confidential personnel matter. The district board voted to give Hill a new contract in July 2022 that was set to expire in 2025. His 2021 salary with benefits was $314,050.47. If the board decides to terminate Hills contract without cause, the district still has to pay his salary for one year, including health and welfare contracts, according to his contract. Ten of the 19 principals in the district have departed in the past two years, in addition to several administrators. A parcel tax has failed to pass in recent years by voters as well. John Paramo, assistant superintendent of educational services, will be acting as superintendent until the board finds a replacement or takes further action. The letter sent on Thursday reads: Know that the Board did not take this action lightly. We also know that many of you will have questions. This action, however, is a confidential personnel matter. As a result, our answers to those questions will be limited to respect the Superintendents employee privacy rights. Dr. John Paramo, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, will serve as acting superintendent, according to the statement. The Board is confident in Dr. Paramos ability to lead the District in this moment and deeply appreciates his willingness to do so, the statement said. The Board will discuss the issue at its regular meeting on June 15, 2023. Cassava Flour and Fruit Kept 4 Children Alive for 40 Days After Plane Crash in Colombias Jungle Soldiers and Indigenous men pose for a photo with the four Indigenous children who were missing after a deadly plane crash, in the Solano jungle, Caqueta state, Colombia, on June 9, 2023. (Colombia's Armed Force Press Office via AP) Four Indigenous children survived an Amazon plane crash that killed three adults and then braved the jungle for 40 days before being found alive by Colombian soldiers, bringing a happy ending to a search-and-rescue saga that captivated a nation and forced the usually opposing military and Indigenous people to work together. Cassava flour and some familiarity with the rainforests fruits were key to the childrens extraordinary survival in an area where snakes, mosquitoes and other animals abound. The members of the Huitoto people, aged 13, 9 and 4 years and 11 months, are expected to remain for a minimum of two weeks at a hospital receiving treatment after their rescue Friday. Family members, President Gustavo Petro as well as government and military officials met the children Saturday at the hospital in Bogota, the capital. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez told reporters the children were being rehydrated and cannot eat food yet. But in general, the condition of the children is acceptable, Velasquez said. They were travelling with their mother from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare when the plane crashed in the early hours of May 1. The Cessna single-engine propeller plane was carrying three adults and the four children when the pilot declared an emergency due to an engine failure. The small aircraft fell off the radar a short time later and a search for survivors began. A soldier stands in front of the wreckage of a Cessna C206 that crashed in the jungle of Solano in the Caqueta state of Colombia on May 18, 2023. The discovery of footprints on May 30 of a small foot rekindled the hope of finding the children alive after their plane crashed on May 1. Soldiers found the wreckage and the bodies of three adults, including the pilot and the childrens mother. (Colombias Armed Forces Press Office via AP, File) When the plane crashed, they took out (of the wreckage) a farina, and with that, they survived, the childrens uncle, Fidencio Valencia told reporters outside the hospital. Farina is a cassava flour that people eat in the Amazon region. After the farina ran out, they began to eat seeds, Valencia said. Timing was in the childrens favor. Astrid Caceres, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, said the youngsters were also able to eat fruit because the jungle was in harvest. An air force video released Friday showed a helicopter using lines to pull the youngsters up because it couldnt land in the dense rainforest where they were found. The military on Friday tweeted pictures showing a group of soldiers and volunteers posing with the children, who were wrapped in thermal blankets. One of the soldiers held a bottle to the smallest childs lips. Gen. Pedro Sanchez, who was in charge of the rescue efforts, said that the children were found 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from the crash site in a small forest clearing. He said rescue teams had passed within 20 to 50 meters (66 to 164 feet) of where the children were found on a couple of occasions but had missed them. The minors were already very weak, Sanchez said. And surely their strength was only enough to breathe or reach a small fruit to feed themselves or drink a drop of water in the jungle. Petro called the children an example of survival and predicted their saga will remain in history. Two weeks after the crash, on May 16, a search team found the plane in a thick patch of the rainforest and recovered the bodies of the three adults on board, but the small children were nowhere to be found. Sensing that they could be alive, Colombias army stepped up the hunt and flew 150 soldiers with dogs into the area, where mist and thick foliage greatly limited visibility. Dozens of volunteers from Indigenous tribes also joined the search. Soldiers on helicopters dropped boxes of food into the jungle, hoping that it would help sustain the children. Planes flying over the area fired flares to help search crews on the ground at night, and rescuers used speakers that blasted a message recorded by the siblings grandmother telling them to stay in one place. The announcement of their rescue came shortly after President Gustavo Petro signed a cease-fire with representatives of the National Liberation Army rebel group. In line with his governments messaging highlighting his efforts to end internal conflicts, he stressed the joint work of the military and Indigenous communities to find the children. The meeting of knowledge: indigenous and military, he tweeted. Here is a different path for Colombia: I believe that this is the true path of Peace. Military personnel unload from a plane one of four Indigenous children who were missing after a deadly plane crash at the military air base in Bogota, Colombia, on June 10, 2023. The children survived a small plane crash 40 days ago and had been the subject of an intense search in the jungle. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia) Damaris Mucutuy, an aunt of the children, told a radio station that the children are fine despite being dehydrated and with insect bites. She added that the children had been offered mental health services. Caceres told reporters officials agreed with the childrens relatives to allow for spiritual work at the jungle and the hospital if there was no immediate emergency action needed. She said musicians and musical instruments relevant to the childrens culture will be allowed in the hospital. Officials praised the courage of eldest of the children, a girl, who they said had some knowledge of how to survive in the rainforest and led the children through the ordeal. Before their rescue, rumors swirled about their whereabouts. So much so, that on May 18, Petro tweeted that the children had been found. He then deleted the message, claiming he had been misinformed by a government agency. The children told officials they spent some time with the dog, but it then went missing. That was a rescue dog that soldiers took into the jungle. The military was still looking for the dog, a Belgian Shepherd named Wilson, as of Saturday. Petro said that for a while he had believed the children were rescued by one of the nomadic tribes that still roam the remote area where the plane fell and have little contact with authorities. As the search progressed, soldiers found small clues that led them to believe the children were still alive, including a pair of footprints, a baby bottle, diapers and pieces of fruit that looked like they had been bitten by humans. The jungle saved them, Petro said. They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia. Government Overreached in Identity Theft Case, Supreme Court Rules Unanimously Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch in the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court in Washington on June 1, 2017. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The Supreme Court limited the reach of the federal Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, unanimously rebuffing the Biden administrations efforts to prosecute a man already convicted of Medicaid fraud with a separate charge of aggravated identity theft arising out of the same fraud case. The 90 opinion (pdf) in Dubin v. United States (court file 22-10) was issued on June 8 and authored by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Justice Neil Gorsuch filed a concurring opinion. The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act mandates a two-year prison sentence for violations. When President George W. Bush signed the law in 2004, he said it established the federal offense of aggravated identity theft to ensure that someone convicted of that crime would receive jail time for stealing a persons good name. These punishments will come on top of any punishment for crimes that proceed from identity theft, the 43rd president said at the time. The act, Bush said, raises the standard of conduct for people who have access to personal records through their work at banks, government agencies, insurance companies, and other storehouses of financial data. But the Supreme Court disagreed with the U.S. Department of Justices argument that petitioner David Fox Dubin was automatically guilty under the act because a fraudulent Medicaid billing form include the patients Medicaid reimbursement number as a means of identification. Dubin worked as a managing partner for PARTS, a company in Austin, Texas, created by his father, licensed psychologist William Dubin. Both men were convicted by a U.S. district court for a scheme to defraud Texass Medicaid program. Medicaid is a joint federalstate program that serves low-income people of all ages and varies from state to state. Its run by state and local governments within federal guidelines. Each state sets its own rules about eligibility and services. Bound by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit precedent, the U.S. district court allowed Dubins conviction for aggravated identity theft to stand even though the district court held that the crux of the case was fraudulent billing, not identity theft. A divided 5th Circuit upheld the conviction in March 2022 despite its acknowledgment that according to the governments interpretation of the act, the elements of [the] offense are not captured or even fairly described by the words identity theft. Dubins attorney, Jeffrey L. Fisher, a professor at Stanford Law School, said he was pleased with the Supreme Courts ruling. Were grateful for the Courts decision for Mr. Dubins sake and are pleased in general that the Court has reined in the prosecutorial overreaching the statute allowed, Fisher told The Epoch Times by email. The case goes back to 2013, when David Fox Dubin filed a claim with Medicaid for $540 for services provided to someone identified as Patient L. The government didnt dispute that the psychological examination practice treated the patient or had the authority to use the patients name in the billing process, according to Dubins petition (pdf) that was filed with the Supreme Court in June 2022. Instead, the governments theory was that [the] petitioner overbilled Medicaid for the services provided, which was sufficient for a conviction for health care fraud. But the government was not content with that conviction. It also indicted [the] petitioner for aggravated identity theft, the petition stated. The governments position was that Dubin violated the identity theft law because he placed Patient Ls identifying information on the fraudulent Medicaid claim form. Justices pushed back against the governments arguments that were presented by U.S. Department of Justice attorney Vivek Suri at a hearing on Feb. 27. Gorsuch was skeptical of the governments far-reaching theory, saying that under it, every time I order salmon at a restaurant [and] Im told its fresh, but its frozen, and my credit card is run for fresh salmon, thats identity theft. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said there may be a danger of trapping the unwary or increasing the sentence on an unwary person. Justice Elena Kagan added, When you really get down to it, all health care fraud is done using peoples names. On June 8, the Supreme Court vacated the decision of the 5th Circuit and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The governments overbroad reading of the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act would unfairly impose an extra penalty on those who commit a separate underlying crime, such as, in this case, fraud, Sotomayor wrote for the court. On that sweeping reading a lawyer who rounds up her hours from 2.9 to 3 and bills her client electronically has committed aggravated identity theft. The same is true of a waiter who serves flank steak but charges for filet mignon using an electronic payment method, she wrote. The text and context of the statute do not support such a boundless interpretation. Gorsuch opened his opinion with the line, Whoever among you is not an aggravated identity thief, let him cast the first stone. He continued: The United States came to this Court with a view of [the act] that would affix that unfortunate label on almost every adult American. Every bill splitter who has overcharged a friend using a mobile-payment service like Venmo. Every contractor who has rounded up his billed time by even a few minutes. Every college hopeful who has overstated his involvement in the high school glee club. All of those individuals, the United States says, engage in conduct that can invite a mandatory 2-year stint in federal prison. The Court today rightly rejects that unserious position. The statute fails to provide even rudimentary notice of what it does and does not criminalize. We have a term for laws like that. We call them vague. And [i]n our constitutional order, a vague law is no law at all. The Epoch Times reached out for comment to the Department of Justice but didnt received a reply as of press time. Millions of adults in the United States are not taking their medications as prescribed because of rising costs, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2021, most adults ages 1864 took at least one prescription medication, but more than 8 percentabout 9.2 million peoplesaid they tried to save money by skipping doses, taking less than was prescribed, or delaying a prescription fill, according to the CDCs National Health Interview Survey. Americans spend around $1,310 a year on average for prescription drugsmore than any other countryaccording to the latest available OECD data. Although the average price per prescription remained flat between 2020 and 2021, the number of retail prescriptions grew, with out-of-pocket spending for prescription medications increasing by 4.8 percent, the CDC reported. More than a third of adults took at least three prescription medications in 2021, according to the CDC. Delaying or adjusting medications can lead to more serious health implications and raises the potential for even higher costs if additional treatments become necessary. The problem with that is if youre only taking them some of the time or not taking them at all, the underlying condition youre trying to treat isnt being treated appropriately, which means that youre probably going to have more problems with that disease, which actually ends up a lot of times being more costly, Dr. Gill Wright III, the director of Metro Public Health, told WKRN. Earlier research found that about one in six people with diabetes were rationing their insulin. The main takeaway is that 1.3 million people rationed insulin in the United States, one of the richest countries in the world, said Dr. Adam Gaffney, a pulmonologist and critical care doctor at Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance and lead author of the study. This is a lifesaving drug. Rationing insulin can have life-threatening consequences. The new CDC data shows vast disparities in how often drug costs cause people to not take their medications as prescribed. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of adults without health care coverage did not take their medications as prescribed in order to reduce costs, compared with less than 7 percent of people who had private insurance. Those with disabilities were found to be about three times more likely than those without disabilities to ration their medications. Adults in fair or poor health were also almost three times more likely to do so than those in excellent, very good, or good health. Additionally, women were found to be more likely to not follow their prescriptions than men. Women today still shoulder more of the burden of child care and household management. They may make their own health a lower priority, in the face of financial or time pressures, Robin Feldman, a pharmaceutical and intellectual property law expert at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, told NBC News. Robin Cohen, a CDC statistician and co-author of the study, noted that the report does not look at what prescriptions people are taking or for what conditions. It also only looked at people who did not adhere to the medications because of the cost. So there may be other reasons that people do not take medication as prescribed, but we do not evaluate them, she said. CNN Wire contributed to this report. What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc Healthy people will occasionally experience sleep disturbances. However, disrupted sleep patterns can also serve as an early indicator of dementia, including Alzheimers disease, the most prevalent form of the condition. In fact, symptoms related to sleep irregularities can manifest years before an official diagnosis is made. Neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimers involve diminished responsiveness of brain cells to signaling chemicals, as well as the accumulation of excess waste material that hampers their normal functioning. As the disease progresses and brain cells deteriorate, specific regions of the brain may be lost. A defining characteristic of Alzheimers is the buildup of specific proteins within the brain. These can disrupt efficient communication among various brain regions, including those responsible for regulating our circadian rhythm. The primary controller of our sleep-wake patterns is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), located in the hypothalamus. The SCN coordinates our internal clock based on external cues such as light and darkness. It transmits signals to other brain regions to synchronize the bodys sleep-wake cycle accordingly. Signs to Watch For Getting enough sleep is vital for maintaining overall health, as insufficient sleep has been associated with a wide range of health concerns, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Research suggests that during sleep, the brain actively clears waste materials, and when sleep is insufficient, these substances can accumulate. Sleep also plays a crucial role in learning and memory consolidation. Disturbed sleep can impair these functions, leading to difficulties in these areas. There are certain signs that individuals should be mindful of, including: Difficulty falling asleep. Frequent awakenings during the night. Evening agitation (sundowning). A long list of symptoms has been associated with sleep deprivation, and these symptoms completely overlap with those of Alzheimers, Dr. Thomas Kilkenny, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital in New York told The Epoch Times. In both instances, the brain is not functioning properly, triggering the symptoms, he said. The difference being that in short-term sleep deprivation, when a good sleep is achieved, the symptoms will dissipate and the function is fully reversible, he added. In Alzheimers, this is not the case. Research demonstrated that sleep disturbances, particularly in middle age, significantly increase the risk of cognitive decline later in life. A 2021 study revealed that individuals in their 50s and 60s who slept six hours or less were at a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those who slept around seven hours, with a 30 percent increased risk for the disorder. A common and treatable sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, affects over 25 percent of Americans and has been associated with cognitive decline. Some of the signs of obstructive sleep apnea include: Loud and chronic snoring. Morning headaches. Daytime sleepiness. Dry mouth or sore throat. Irritability and mood changes. Memory problems. Link Between Sleep Apnea and Loss of Brain Tissue In a recent study published in the journal Neurology, researchers compared individuals who do not experience memory problems but exhibit amyloid plaques in the brain, protein formations recognized as the neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimers disease, to individuals who do not have amyloid plaques. The findings revealed that those with amyloid plaques who also had more severe sleep apnea were more likely to exhibit lower volumes of brain matter in the medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, a region associated with memory and Alzheimers disease. The study does not establish a causal relationship between sleep apnea and reduced brain volume; rather, the researchers demonstrated an association. Kilkenny added that the loss of neurons and their interconnections, referred to as cerebral atrophy, occurs in various brain structure-affecting conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and infections. As these diseases progress, the brain loses more and more volume, he said. Cognitive ability declines and dementia sets in as the loss of brain volume continues. However, even in its early stages, Alzheimers disease can cause specific changes in brain chemistry that disrupt sleep patterns and hasten cognitive decline. Alzheimers and Sleep: A Vicious Cycle Research indicates that individuals in the early stages of Alzheimers disease may exhibit lower levels of melatonin, a hormone involved in regulating sleep, compared to those without the disease. The reduced production of melatonin is believed to stem from disrupted neuronal signaling between the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the pineal gland, which is responsible for melatonin secretion. Neurodegeneration in the brain can also impact the areas that promote wakefulness and sleep. For instance, Alzheimers disease can impair the prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in decision-making and cognitive functioning. When this region is damaged, it can lead to sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and daytime drowsiness. Can Melatonin Supplements Help? There is evidence suggesting that melatonin supplements may be beneficial. A systematic review of studies suggests that melatonin treatment for more than 12 weeks can effectively improve cognitive function in patients with Alzheimers. Furthermore, the review suggests that individuals with mild Alzheimers may derive greater benefits from melatonin use compared to those with moderate Alzheimers. This is important because, past a certain point, the damage caused by sleep deprivation can become permanent and potentially contribute to the development of dementia. Evidence also indicates that some cognitive capacities may remain impaired even after adequate sleep is restored, indicating that sleep loss can have long-term consequences on cognition. This suggests that frequent periods of sleep deprivation may trigger a permanent cognitive decline leading to dementia, Kilkenny said. Maintenance of adequate sleep time and sleep quality is therefore vital in maintaining peak cognitive performance. What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc IN-DEPTH: Why Are Police in Some Cities Turning Blind Eye to Magic Mushroom Shops Operating Illegally? As shops selling magic mushrooms continue to illegally open and operate in cities across Canada, experts say some police forces are reluctant to intervene in an environment where drug policy seems to be going in the direction of decriminalization and legalization. Its really a perilous situation for a police officer to take action until the government makes a decision on what exactly is permissible. And we dont have those answers yet with respect to legalization, said Peter Shadgett, a 30-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). If I was a police chief right now, I would be really reluctant to step into this without a firm position taken by the Liberal government. So-called magic mushroomswhich contain the hallucinogen psilocybinare classified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, meaning their sale, distribution, and possession are illegal in Canada. Despite this, dispensaries selling them have been operating in cities across the country since at least 2021, and there has been little uniformity in how police services deal with them. Health Canada says ingesting magic mushrooms may cause you to see, hear or feel things that are not there, or to experience anxiety, fear, nausea and muscle twitches accompanied by increased heart rate and blood pressure. In some cases, the consumption of magic mushrooms can lead to bad trips or flashbacks.' It said the long-term impacts of using the drug havent been studied yet. Police Enforcement On Nov. 13, 2022, Toronto police raided a magic mushroom dispensary called Shroomyz and arrested two men on drug-trafficking charges, but it reopened two days later. A similar story happened with the Mushroom Cabinet in Hamilton, which was shut down by police on Dec. 14, 2022, reopened within months, and has been operating since. The sale, distribution, and possession of so-called magic mushroomswhich contain the hallucinogen psilocybinare illegal in Canada, but there has been little uniformity in how police services deal with dispensaries selling them. (Moha El-Jaw/Shutterstock) On May 19, 2023, Winnipeg police were quick to crack down on a business that claimed to be the citys first magic mushroom dispensary, Magic Mush, arresting the two owners on drug-trafficking charges and seizing the stores merchandise. In Ottawa, however, it appears no enforcement action has been taken against magic mushroom dispensaries, some of which have been operating for years. The Epoch Times asked the Ottawa Police Service what actions have been taken against the shops, if any, but they said that information is not readily available. Edgar Gurben, a spokesperson for FunGuyz, a dispensary with 10 locations across Ontario, says the police have only taken enforcement action against one of its stores, located in Toronto. The reason why [the police] say theyre coming in is because people complain, and when theres a complaint they will have to come in and enforce it, Gurben said. What they do is come in, charge whoever is there for possession with intent to supply a Schedule III drug, take all the products, and take the keys for the store. Then we just open the next day. When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about the enforcement of laws relating to magic mushroom outlets during a May 24 press conference in Winnipeg, and why it seems to vary between jurisdictions, he said that the Criminal Code is the same across the country but that different provinces have different approaches on a variety of issues, giving the legal drinking age as an example. There is always going to be a certain amount of variety on many issues across the country, and that allows the provincial governments to respond to local priorities and local needs, Trudeau said. Health Canada says that the production, sale and possession of magic mushrooms are illegal in Canada. Laws Very Confusing Shadgett says law enforcement regarding magic mushroom shops must be seen through the context of the public interest, which involves a special set of values that are best understood from the point of view of the aggregate good and our relevance to matters relating to the well-being of society. The former OPP officer, now a criminal justice professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, said police chiefs in various cities would have to carefully weigh the public interests when deciding whether to enforce federal drug laws by shutting down the dispensaries. In todays society, which tends to react with violence more often than not these days, a chief would have to consider what the public interest is in enforcing this particular statute, especially now where the government is considering blanket decriminalization across the board, he said. He also referenced the increasing number of police officer deaths in the last year, including a B.C. RCMP officer killed while attending a homeless encampment in October 2022. He incidents like this could cause police chiefs to think twice about potentially putting officers in harms way. Shadgett said that in Canada, the question of decriminalizing and legalizing drugs continues to be fraught with peril and very confusing, as governments are still studying whether it is working to reduce harm. This is a significant social problem we have to address: How does our society gain value from legalization and decriminalization? And I dont think the experiment is over yet. Whack-a-Mole University of Toronto drug policy expert Akwasi Owusu-Bempah said magic mushroom dispensary operators are engaging in acts of civil disobedience that will incentivize the federal government to enact a regulatory framework around psilocybin. He said this is similar to the illegal marijuana dispensaries that opened following the 2015 election of Trudeau as the owners saw a grey area in the law where they could operate. He added that its not unusual for police services in different cities to have different priorities around drug enforcement, which he said is based on the leadership of police chiefs and the types of complaints police hear from the public. Owusu-Bempah, who is also a consultant with Dutch mushroom firm Red Light Holland, said magic mushrooms have been shown to have potential mental health benefits, which is why Health Canada in 2020 began granting exemptions to doctors, therapists, and social workers to allow them to use psilocybin for personal training without fear of prosecution. Obviously cannabis has set an example and opened up the doors for broader legalization, and [the police] are just going to play whack-a-mole as they were with cannabis prior to legalization. So rather than wasting time and money, they should focus efforts elsewhere, he said. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, urges caution before another potentially harmful substance is allowed to be sold to the public. I am skeptical of any substance that touts an easy fix to a complex issue because those claims are usually a marketing gimmick, Sabet told The Epoch Times. There are no easy fixes, especially for some of the issues psychedelic supporters claim are aided by their use. Look at opioids, we were promised an addiction-free painkiller that had virtually no side effects. That was a lie. We should learn our lessons and remain skeptical of big promises like this. Openly Flaunting the Law Donald Best, a former sergeant with the Toronto Police Service, agreed that law enforcements relaxed approach to magic mushrooms is similar to that of marijuana pre-legalization. For decades, he said, police officers in Canada had the discretion to choose whether to arrest and charge people for marijuana possession, and most of the time they chose not to do so. Wed let people go for marijuana 99 percent of the time, but it was done unofficially and quietly. But when you have someone openly flaunting the law, selling drugs as they did with marijuana, and the police dont act, that kills the rule of law, he said. Best said the situation around illegal magic mushroom shops is also similar to the story of Henry Morgentaler, a physician who illegally performed abortions in Toronto in the 1970s. Despite Morgentaler openly violating the Criminal Code, Toronto police were told to leave it alone, he said. Two abortion clinics Morgentaler opened in 1983 were raided shortly after they opened, but this eventually led to the Supreme Court of Canada striking down the abortion law in 1988, arguing it conflicted with Canadians charter rights. There is a parallel [with magic mushroom shops]. You dont like a law, you break it, and then they are forced to change it, Best said. Best also referenced British Columbia, where the possession of 2.5 grams or less of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA was decriminalized beginning on Jan. 31, 2023. Health Canada approved B.C.s request for an exemption to Canadas Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as the province struggles to deal with rising overdoses. Best said with B.C. allowing heroin addicts to openly shoot up while cops are given orders not to enforce the law, it isnt surprising that magic mushroom stores are being allowed to operate throughout Canada. But I dont think the legalization of magic mushrooms will help, and I dont think that ignoring the laws will help, he said. Justice Thomas Issues Critical 50-Page Dissent in Key Supreme Court Case Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses for the official group photograph at the U.S. Supreme Court in the District of Columbia on Nov. 30, 2018. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas issued a lengthy, critical dissent in the high courts ruling that struck down Alabamas electoral map for congressional elections. In a 54 ruling (pdf) last week, the court found that a map drafted by state Republican lawmakers violated the provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA) that mandates that states not racially gerrymander districts. The ruling requires the state to adopt a different map before the 2024 elections, which may benefit House Democrats. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who were appointed by Republican presidents, joined members of the Supreme Court who were appointed by Democratic presidents in the ruling. Thomas was among four other justices who were appointed by Republicans to disagree with the ruling. Writing in his dissent, Thomas argued that the Supreme Courts majority ruling that a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that bans gerrymandering based on race is nothing more than a racial entitlement to roughly proportional control of elective officeslimited only by feasibilitywherever different racial groups consistently prefer different candidates. Meanwhile, he added, the Voting Rights Act doesnt mandate that Alabama intentionally redraw its longstanding congressional districts so that black voters can control a number of seats roughly proportional to the black share of the States population. At the outset, I would resolve these cases in a way that would not require the Federal Judiciary to decide the correct racial apportionment of Alabamas congressional seats, Thomas further stated. The majority goes to great lengths to fossilize all of the worst aspects of our long-deplorable vote-dilution jurisprudence, Thomas also wrote, adding that it virtually ignores Alabamas primary argumentthat, whatever the benchmark is, it must be race neutralchoosing, instead, to quixotically joust with an imaginary adversary. The Majority Ruling Writing for the majority, Roberts argued that the Supreme Court disagreed with Alabama lawyers position on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. We are content to reject Alabamas invitation to change existing law, the chief justice wrote. We find Alabamas new approach to [Section] 2 compelling neither in theory nor in practice. We accordingly decline to recast our [Section] 2 case law as Alabama requests. He also noted that there are concerns about Section 2 that may impermissibly elevate race in the allocation of political power within the States, adding that racial gerrymandering, even for remedial purposes, may balkanize us into competing racial factions; it threatens to carry us further from the goal of a political system in which race no longer matters. Under the Courts precedents, a district is not equally open when minority voters faceunlike their majority peersbloc voting along racial lines, arising against the backdrop of substantial racial discrimination within the State, that renders a minority vote unequal to a vote by a nonminority voter, Roberts wrote. Kavanaugh wrote that a proceeding case helped determine that Alabamas arguments were incorrect. The Supreme Court held a special sitting on September 30, 2022, for the formal investiture ceremony of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States/Getty Images) But as this court has long recognizedand as all Members of this Court today agreethe text of [Section] 2 establishes an effects test, not an intent test, Kavanaugh wrote. And the effects test requires certain circumstances that courts account for the race of voters so as to prevent the cracking or packingwhether intentional or notof large and geographically compact minority populations. Evan Milligan, a black voter and the lead plaintiff in the case, said the ruling was a victory for democracy and African-Americans. We are grateful that the Supreme Court upheld what we knew to be true: that everyone deserves to have their vote matter and their voice heard. Today is a win for democracy and freedom not just in Alabama but across the United States, Milligan said in a statement. Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl wrote in a statement that state lawmakers would comply with the ruling. Regardless of our disagreement with the Courts decision, we are confident the Alabama Legislature will redraw district lines that ensure the people of Alabama are represented by members who share their beliefs, while following the requirements of applicable law, Wahl said. Steve Marshall, the states attorney general, said he expects to continue defending the challenged map in federal court, including at a full trial. Although the majoritys decision is disappointing, this case is not over, Marshall said in a statement. Separately, the Supreme Court in the fall will hear South Carolinas appeal of a lower-court ruling that found Republican lawmakers allegedly stripped black voters from a district to make it safer for a Republican candidate. That case also could lead to a redrawn map in South Carolina, where six U.S. House members are Republicans and one is a Democrat. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Major Interstate Collapses in Philadelphia After Tanker Truck Bursts Into Flames Firefighters stand near the collapsed part of I-95 in Philadelphia on June 11, 2023. (Philadelphia Fire Department via AP) A northbound section of Interstate 95 in northeast Philadelphia collapsed on June 11 after a tanker truck burst into flames beneath an elevated section of the highway, according to officials. Todays going to be a long day. Obviously, with [I-95] northbound gone and southbound questionable, its going to be even longer, Dominick Mireles of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, told local media outlets. Heavy construction equipment [is] going to be required to come in to search and remove that debris. City Managing Director Tumar Alexander said, I-95 will be impacted for a long time, for a long time. Derek Bowmer, battalion chief for the Philadelphia Fire Department, told CNN that a portion of the northbound side of I-95, the main north-south highway along the East Coast, collapsed. We did have a collapse of 95 on the northbound side, and the southbound side is compromised by heavy fire, he said. It looked like we had a lot of heat and heavy fire underneath. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro urged all residents to avoid I-95 in the area as officials attempt to respond to the collapsed section. Real-time traffic data early on June 11 showed the highway was shut down in both directions. The citys emergency management office wrote that all lanes were shut down in both directions in the vicinity of the fire. Local media reported that the fire broke out on Cottman Avenue, which runs beneath the elevated section of the interstate, at around 6 a.m. local time. It isnt clear what was inside the tanker truck or why it caught fire. It isnt known if there were any injuries. President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse, and the White House has offered assistance to state and local officials, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the closure of I-95 will have significant impacts on the region and the city of Philadelphia. Buttigieg said on Twitter that he was coordinating with regional leaders for recovery and rebuilding efforts. This stretch of the I-95 corridor sits in the dense northeast section of Philadelphia and connects the city to its northern suburbs, like Bucks County. On a Sunday in the summer, it is routinely used by beachgoers coming home from the Jersey Shore. During the week, it is crowded with commuters and vehicles traveling to Boston, Baltimore, and Washington. Philadelphia Fire Battalion Chief Derek Bowmer told reporters that crews will be at work for a while on trying to determine if fuel or gas lines might have been compromised by the accident. Reuters contributed to this report. Maldonados Pet Project This is an adapted excerpt from Kenny Xus new book School of Woke: How Critical Race Theory Infiltrated American Schools and Why We Must Reclaim Them. When she arrived, Hilda Maldonados top priority was to entrench bilingual learning into the countys curriculum, a program she had spent most of her career advocating for as part of her woke agenda. On March 22, 2021, she introduced the first of many proposed dual language immersion programs she would institute, starting in McKinley Elementary School. This program follows a 90:10 model, in which kindergarteners are instructed 90 percent in Spanish and 10 percent in English; first graders are instructed 80 percent in Spanish and 20 percent in English; second graders are instructed 70 percent in Spanish and 30 percent in English; and so on. The slogan unveiled was: Go slow to go fast. The slogan should have been: Go slow to go even slower. In a longitudinal study of the value of bilingual language education to preschoolers, researchers found that kids randomly assigned to a TBE (transitional bilingual education) program, in which they were instructed in Spanish more than 70 percent of the time, produced overall English-language learning results significantly lower than kids randomly assigned to an EO (English only) teacher. Although the sample used in the study is too small to be statistically significant (only thirty two kids), it reflects the experiences of teachers who have taught bilingually in the past, including Karen Lithgow, the northern Virginia teacher whom I interviewed in chapter 2. Lithgow said skeptically that it depends on the kid whether bilingual education really helps, adding that while it could help kids who had just come from Mexico (mostly children of illegal immigrants) feel more comfortable in the classroom environment, it ends up being unhelpful to kids who want to raise their English skills to the level of their American-born peers. Related Coverage Inside the SCOTUS Case on Affirmative Action and the Pernicious Threat of DEI Ideology: Kenny Xu Hilda and her allies justified her bilingual education program in the language of cultural exchange: Were providing a gift to students to connect with cultures that they might have not connected to before, said the McKinley principal, Elena Garcia-Yoshitomi. But others framed it more specifically in terms of race: Maria Larios-Horton, the director of diversity, equity, and family engagement at Santa Barbara Unified, said, Lets say I dont look like some of our other families; maybe my child has blonde hair and blue eyes. She continued, By the end of kindergarten, youll be able to see the children talking to one another in Spanish, singing together, talking together. It will bring tears to your eyes. The districts wealthy white liberals cried with joy. Im sure the picture of diverse kids speaking more than one language played well with the champagne-and-caviar crowd that populates Santa Barbaras rolling hills. Maldonado advanced, triumphant, a wide grin on her facethe face of the new education program imprinted upon the heavily Hispanic McKinley Elementary School and soon to be exported to schools across the county. Only one educator seemed publicly skeptical that day, and she was out of power, disgruntled, and forced to air her opinions on the back page of the Santa Barbara News-Press. How are they going to compete [in English]? Theyre going to be so far behind, an elderly Rosanne Crawford grumbled. The silver-haired lady, a Hispanic mother of two, wore a pompadour and the haughty look of a proud woman. A former educator, she saw only bad things in the new push to make low-income Hispanic children learn via multilingual education. Why? Because she had seen the effects firsthand. Rosanne recounted in an interview with me the story of a young girl whom she tutored in Santa Barbara, a child of immigrants from Mexico. With help from an elementary school teacherRosanne herselfthe girl worked hard to get to grade level in English, but when she left for junior high, she lost that English-language support. Thats because her parents checked a box labeled born in Mexico when she was youngerlikely thinking it would have no effect on their childs life. They were wrong. Because of her country-of-origin designation, this girl was automatically sent to a junior high class where she was with these students that were basically English as a second language students; she was up to grade level, these guys werent She sat there and she didnt learn anything, Rosanne said, sighing at the misfortune of the girl she had known and tried to help. Shes homeschooling now, Rosanne said, because the Santa Barbara English-learning system failed her. Her immigrant parents had no idea that assignment to bilingual education, in which English is taught as little as 10 percent of the time in the classroom, was the consequence of checking a box. Armed with knowledge and a certainty that bilingual education programs were exacerbating the literacy problems of the low-income Hispanic community in Santa Barbara and preventing kids from moving forward, Rosanne sought to confront the new superintendent, Hilda Maldonado, about the issue. After seeing that Maldonado had been checking her profile on LinkedIn (probably because shed heard about Rosannes opinion on the issue), Rosanne had the stones to reach out over the platform. Hi, Dr. Maldonado. I saw you checked out my profile on LinkedIn. Are you interesting in talking? Then Rosanne waited. A couple of hours passed. Then Hilda Maldonado replied, Of course Id like to meet! At the superintendents office, Rosanne met Hilda. The gregarious Latina strolled out, charming and imposing. She was a disarming character. Her smile could convince you that she had your best interests at heart. Still, Rosanne didnt let Hildas personality fool her. She was a woman on a mission. So how can I help you? Maldonado asked. I just want to ask, Hilda, Rosanne said, clearing her throat, why you are so high on this bilingual-education stuff when you, a first-generation immigrant yourself, are able to speak fine English and Spanish as the product of a monolingual program? The reason I did so well [at English], Hilda responded, is because I had a teacher, and I had after-school help. Rosanne stiffened as she began to recognize Hildas strategy of evasion, her effort to frame the discussion as a matter of privilege and oppression instead of technique. But she decided to play Hildas game. Well, thats interesting, Hilda, because in a lot of the schools now, students are not getting that, she said. [These Latino students] are being taught English, but when they go home, they dont get the support. Thats where it needs to be shored up. You need to support the teachers with people who will help in this regard. Later, Rosanne told me, And she absolutely agreed. So I asked her, Can we at least have one track left at McKinley thats all English, and then you can institute your META [Multilingual Excellence Transforming Achievement, a bilingual program], and we can run the [programs] side by side and you can see firsthand if this really works? A reasonable request: just run a side-by-side experiment before putting all your chips in. And she said, No, and Ill tell you why When I was down there [in Los Angeles], we got investigated by the State Departmentno, I think she said the Department of Justice, if I recall correctly. Im not sure which one. We really got in trouble because they found that there was a lawsuit. I remember there was a big lawsuit. They found that forty thousand minority students were passed along to the next grade who had no comprehension [of English]. Their comprehension was so low that they could read something and then theyd be asked, What did you just read? and they wouldnt know. It was a disaster. So they got in really, really bad trouble, and thats what the lawsuit was about. Thats why they investigated. Unsurprising: an Obama-era Department of Justice filing racial-discrimination lawsuits to get school districts to fall in line. Where have we seen this before? So Hilda said, according to Rosanne, Had I not seen that, I would be totally on the same page with you. But there are new studies Which new studies? She cited none, Rosanne said. [It was] such a political kicking the can down the road[the idea that] if theyre taught in their own language, theyll do better later. And I thought, Yeah, but then you miss the boat on getting kids into these classes that in fact set them up for their [standardized tests] at the end of high school. So she had nothing to say about that. Rosanne was frustrated by Hildas refusal to help. But the veteran educator and mother, still a bleeding-heart liberal cursed with naivete, was missing the bigger picture. Whatever the initial purpose bilingual education was created to have, it had departed from it to the point where its purpose was not to build up a students ability in either Spanish or English. Rather, its new purpose had become to create government-sponsored language barriers that instill Critical Race Theory narratives of Hispanic failure and victimhood in Hispanic children. Hildas conversation with Rosanne illustrated the fact that her main motivations for mandating bilingual education was to (1) avoid a DOJ lawsuit for discrimination against Latino kids by daring to teach them in English only and (2) frame English-only versus Spanish-language education as a matter of privilege and oppression. In Hildas mind, learning English correctly was a skill only attainable by the privileged, so she had to lower the standard for the sake of inclusion. She cited no studies to justify this. She ran no tests to justify this. In fact, she refused to run one. Her mind was filled only with the political garbage taught by schools like the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. Critical Race Theory narratives of oppression against Latinos merely by means of the enforcement of English-language learning fall into the early Critical Race Theorists paradigms of the dominant cultures hegemony against minorities. They also provide convenient ways for compromised people in authority to exploit the ensuing failures in education for their own personal gain. State that the failure is because of racism and white privilege. Anoint yourself as its savior. Get a promotion. Rinse, repeat. What a strategy in the woke world we live in. All the while, the Latino kids dont learn, the good teachers get fed up with the leadership and leave, and the public-school systems in these highly progressive school districts descend further into pits of wokeness and insanity whose effects we thought were reserved only for leftist radicals in the academy. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. ABUJA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's secret police said on Saturday that the former governor of the central bank, who was suspended from office on Friday, has been arrested and detained in the national capital of Abuja. Godwin Emefiele, who had been governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria since June 2014, was suspended ahead of planned reforms in the financial sector. Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the Department of State Services, said in a statement that the former chief of the apex bank was arrested and detained for "some investigative reasons." Nigerian President Bola Tinubu late Friday suspended Emefiele, according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The move came following an investigation by the government. Emefiele was also ordered to instantly hand over to a deputy governor in charge of operations, who will act as the interim governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and reforms. Man Killed, 2 Teens Wounded in Alleged Gang-Related Shooting in Azusa AZUSA, Calif.A man was shot dead and two other people were wounded during a gang-related shooting in front of an apartment complex in Azusa, authorities said June 10. Deputies responded at 11:01 p.m. Friday to the 200 block of East Newburgh Street, west of South Azusa Avenue, where they found a man in his 20s shot dead as well as a 15-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man who were wounded, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The trio were in front of an apartment complex when several suspects walked up and fired multiple rounds, striking all three victims, Sheriffs Homicide Lt. Hugo Reynaga said. The condition of the two wounded victims was not immediately known. The suspects were last seen fleeing the scene on foot, authorities said. Homicide detectives from the sheriffs department are assisting the Azusa Police Department with the investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call the Sheriffs Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous calls can be made to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or tips can be sent to lacrimestoppers.org. Minister Katy Gallagher Admits to Prior Knowledge of Higgins Rape Allegations, Denies Misleading Australian Parliament Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has backflipped on her statement made two years ago that she had no prior knowledge of details surrounding Brittany Higginss rape allegation and denied misleading the parliament. Gallagher confirmed that she was made aware of some of the allegations shortly before they were made public but categorically rejected accusations that Labor had known about it weeks beforehand and chose to weaponise the information. That is not true. It was never true, she told reporters in Perth on Saturday. I wasnt aware of the full allegations that were made public when the interviews went to air. But I was clear about that two years ago, so theres absolutely no issue here at all. Ive been clear, Ive been honest and at all times, Ive been guided by the bravery and courage of a young woman who chose to speak up about her workplace. It refers to comments made in June 2021 by Gallagher during Senate Estimates where the senator asserted that no one had any prior knowledge of the allegations after questioning by then-Defence Industry Minister Senator Linda Reynolds. I was told by one of your senators two weeks before about what you were intending to do with the story in my office. Two weeks before, Reynolds said. Gallagher responded that no one had any knowledge. How dare you. Its all about protecting yourself. Afterwards, in December 2022, former liberal staffer Higgins and the government reached a multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded compensation agreement after she sued the Commonwealth and her former bosses, Senators Reynolds and Michaelia Cash. While the exact amount was never disclosed, some reports claim it was as high as $3 million, which was paid by the federal governments finance department. The accused Bruce Lehrmann had denied all allegations, which were never proven in court. The case had been repeatedly postponed until it was completely dropped on the grounds on Higginss mental health. Text Messages Nail in the Coffin Brittany Higgins (with David Sharaz) arrives to give evidence in front of an ACT Supreme Court jury on the third day of the trial of her alleged rapist, Bruce Lehrmann in Canberra, Australia on Oct. 6, 2022. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images) A series of leaked text messages between Higgins and her boyfriend David Sharaz, published by The Australian on June 7, showed that Gallagher had been heavily invested in helping Higgins pursue her rape claims. The Epoch Times has not seen the text messages. In them, Sharaz referred to Gallagher as an old friend, telling Higgins that she could trust her. Later, Higgins messaged Sharaz to get Katy to ask about it in estimates, adding that he should feed everything you have to Katy. This sparked accusations from Liberals, who were in government at the time but are now in opposition, that the Labor government sought to gain political profit from the rape allegations. The release of text messages and audio recordings has brought into question the conduct of some senior Labor ministers, and the prime minister himself, relating to whether they chose to weaponise a rape allegation for political purposes, Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said. The governments credibility is in tatters and so every single claim needs to be validated. Gallagher admitted that Sharaz had given her information but denied acting on it. Mr Sharaz provided me with information, I think weve seen that in the paper in the last couple of days. I did nothing with that information. And I was clear about that at the time, she said. Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash, who was minister for employment, skills, small and family business at the time, said it was now very, very clear that Gallagher had knowledge about the issue before it was publicised. What you have now, more and more coming out every single day, is that there appears to have been collusion with senior members of the Labor Party with the media, Senator Cash told Sky News Australia. This is what happens when you weaponise a rape allegation, there are consequences for that. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already ruled out referring Gallagher to the anti-corruption commission over the multi-million dollar compensation payment to Higgins. In fact, it could be regarded as an entirely inappropriate action by the prime minister or any other politician for that matter, to try to direct the anti-corruption commission into what to do, he told reporters on June 8. New Law in Illinois Limits Venues to File Lawsuits Challenging Executive Orders Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 3062 into law on June 6. Effective immediately, the law requires any legal challenges against state laws or executive orders to be filed in either Cook or Sangamon counties. It made it through the General Assembly last month with only Democratic support. Sangamon County is home to the state capital, Springfield, while Cook County houses Chicago. The bills proponents said it was necessary to prevent people with litigation against the state from selecting the county in which to file a lawsuit based on where they think they can get a favorable ruling. They also argued the law would conserve resources for the attorney generals office, which represents the state in court. There has been considerable judge shopping as a tactic that has been used by litigants to secure sweeping court orders blocking state policies by steering cases to judges perceived to be sympathetic to these causes, the bills sponsor, Rep. Jay Hoffman (D), said during the House debate on the bill. In the last few years, lawsuits have been filed in several of Illinois 102 counties, challenging Pritzkers executive orders related to the pandemic as well as state laws eliminating cash bail and banning assault-style weapons. Senate President Don Harmon (D), who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said those cases typically end up being consolidated, and most of them eventually end up before the Illinois Supreme Court, which sits in Springfield and Chicago. Senate Republican Leader John Curran of Downers Grove said in a statement via the Chicago Tribune on June 6 that it is clearly an attempt by the governor and the attorney general to send constitutional challenges to courts that they believe will be more favorable to the Administration. In doing so, they are discrediting judges in suburban and downstate Illinois, and creating geographic barriers to citizens accessing our court system, Curran said. Republican Rep. Patrick Windhorst of Metropolis argued that it is inconvenient for constituents in his district to seek justice far from their homes. You know, where I live, Im closer to the state capitol of Tennessee than I am Illinois, and Im almost as close to Atlanta, Georgia, as I am Chicago, Illinois, he said. So to say if this body passes an unconstitutional law, in order for me or another person in my community to contest that law, Ive got to travel a great distance and bear that expense that comes with that, is not fair to the individuals in these communities. Attorney Thomas DeVore, who sued Pritzker over COVID-19 mandates, said that people deserve to file claims against the government where they live. Why on earth would I have clients in Effingham County go file a case in Cook County about anything? DeVore told WMAY. Whether its a constitutional challenge, or to the governors authority or the legislatures, why would I file their case up there? You would file that case where they live, where they elect judges, where those judges are responsible for the people that are bringing the challenges and the cases to court because that is what the Illinois and U.S. constitutions provide. Nicola Sturgeon Arrested in Police Investigation Into SNP Finances Former leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Nicola Sturgeon speaking to the media outside her home in Uddingston, Glasgow, on April 8, 2023. (Jane Barlow/PA) Nicola Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday as part of a police investigation into the financials of the Scottish National Party (SNP.) The former Scottish first minister is the third high-profile SNP figure arrested during the investigation, after her husband, Peter Murrell, and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie. In a statement published on Sunday afternoon, Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. The force later said Sturgeon was released after questioning without charges, pending further investigation. Shortly after Sturgeons arrest, her spokeswoman said the former first minister had by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform, adding that Sturgeon has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so. Sturgeon later issued a statement on Twitter, saying shes innocent of any wrongdoing. To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing, the former first minister said. Sturgeon said she obviously cant comment on ongoing investigations, but wanted to say in the strongest possible terms that shes innocent. Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing, she wrote. She also said she intended to return to Parliament soon after taking a day or two off. Sturgeons Glasgow home was raided by the police in April after her husband, Murrell, who was the SNPs chief executive until March this year, was arrested for questioning. Around two weeks later, the force shortly after arrested Beattie, who was the partys treasurer between 2004 and 2020 and returned to the job in 2021. Both men were released after questioning. Beattie stepped down as treasurer following his arrest. Officers from Police Scotland stand beside police tape and a police tent outside the home of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, in Uddingston, Glasgow, on April 5, 2023. (Andrew Milligan/PA Media) The police investigation, dubbed Operation Branchform, began in July 2021 following allegations that some 600,000 the party raised through crowdfunding for the Scottish independence campaign was diverted elsewhere. Sturgeon previously denied the allegations, saying, Every penny we raise to support the campaign for independence will be spent on the campaign for independence. Following Murrells arrest, Surgeon said she had not been questioned by the police at the time and that there would continue to be full cooperation. Calls for Suspension After Sturgeons arrest on Sunday, a spokeswoman for the SNP said the party has been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so. It declined to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing. Rival parties also commented on the arrest, with Labours shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray saying, This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference. For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP, he said. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said, Its fair to say that todays events will have huge ramifications both for the SNP and the future of Scottish politics. Scotlands Conservative Party called on First Minister Humza Yousaf to suspend his predecessor from Parliament, saying the SNP had previously set the precedent of suspending MSPs who were under police investigation. In a statement published on Twitter, Scottish Conservative Party Chairman Craig Hoy said SNP members continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor, the statement reads. Hoy went on to say the SNP is totally distracted at the worst possible time when focus is needed for the cost-of-living crisis, fixing our NHS, and strengthening our economy. SNP MP Angus MacNeil also called for Sturgeon to be suspended, saying its time for political distance. Sturgeon resigned as first minister in February, saying the time was right for someone else to take over. She said politicians have no off days or privacy, and the intensity and brutality in political life takes its toll on you and on those around you. During the months before her resignation, Sturgeon suffered a number of political defeats and questions surrounding a 100,000 loan Murrell had given to the party to help with the Partys cash flow. Yousaf in April denied claims that the SNP was facing bankruptcy. He also said the partys governing body had agreed to carry out a governance and transparency review. PA Media contributed to this report. North Korea Joins WHOs LeadershipBut This Isnt the Issue Commentary International organizations that facilitate an exchange of ideas and data are a global good. However, when these organizations begin to dictate what citizens within a country can and cant do, they become something quite different. No self-respecting totalitarian dictatorship would ever allow such interference with its own rule, while no rational democracy would countenance outsourcing its governance to others. Enthusiasm for such an institution could only come from national leaders who are working for other interests or are capable of being coerced. The Case of the WHO and North Korea North Korea, or the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, a dictatorship run by three generations of the Kim family and known for concentration camps and a habit of executing senior officials, has just commenced a three-year term on the executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO). Nations from different regions of the WHO take their turn, and its North Koreas turn on behalf of the Southeast Asian region. The WHO doesnt pretend to be a bastion of democracy and human rights; the director general of the WHO was a former minister in a dictatorial government thats accused of human rights abuses. Saudi Arabias co-chair of the WHOs Working Group on International Health Regulations (WGIHR) recently stated that greater restrictions on human rights are appropriate when the WHO thinks them necessary. So North Korea holding such influence isnt something unusual. As the WHO represents all of its 194 member states, each country should have a turn of helping to run things, just as large countries such as China and India should have a commensurate influence on its decisions. The point is that, as democracies, we should treat recommendations arising from such a body in this light and ignore them unless theyre fully in line with our own interests. Over the next two years, relationships with the WHO will change. States will have undertaken to follow all future recommendations (Article 1, new art. 13A) from the director general regarding the management of health emergencies, whenever he or she decides that something within the biosphere might pose a threat. A massive surveillance program, costing more than three times the WHOs annual budget, will ensure that such threats are found. States will need to have actively rejected proposed amendments to the WHOs International Health Regulations, or the director generals dictates will have force under international law. Alternatively, they can leave the WHO altogether. As this takes over a year, such action would have to start soon. In two years time, when the IHR amendments come into force, this organization, directed by a combination of dictatorial regimes, Western bureaucrats, and corporate and private sponsors, will be telling we-the-people whether we can work, see our families, or travel. Itll tell us when we must be confined, examined, tested, and injected (Article 18). Theyll have undertaken to follow a long list of other directives that the director general will dictateand to suppress our disagreement should we complain (amendment to Article 33). Who Gains From This? We can at least rest assured that the Kim family ruling North Korea has no intention of being told how their people should be managed the next time a bunch of Swiss-based careerists conjure up an existential threat to their well-being. They realize that people paid to find threats will find them, and they can read, so they know that actual pandemics are rare and have low impact. But they do have an obvious interest in Western societies buying into this and watching us go down the drain. The pandemic agenda isnt a problem for countries such as North Korea or China, where peoples freedom is already at the will of their government. But its anathema for countries where government supposedly exists on the will of the people. So why do our leaders go along with this? Klaus Schwab, chair of the World Economic Forum, boasts that its because his organization has penetrated our cabinets. Many current and recent Western leaders, after all, are alumni of his school for compliance, the Young Global Leaders Forum. The benefits that his members gained from the COVID-19 response have validated his corporate-authoritarian model, and politicians dependent on their largesse will find it hard to defy such wealth. Those most compliant have certainly done well to date. Who Cares? Whether any of this matters depends on ones viewpoint. Maintaining ones rights takes effort and an element of risk, including risk for family and friends, as many in North Korea know well. Ignorance, compliance, and subservience are easier, at least for a while. Bodily autonomy is a good catchcry to defy the right-wing and religious but inconvenient when it undermines the needs of the billionaire left. The greater good is always there to excuse any necessary oppression on their behalf. Alternatively, we could decide to take charge of our own lives, our own health care, and our own countries. We could decide that the former wisdom of public health, that community-based decision-making is vital and that responses should always be tailored to local needs, still makes sense. After all, we only changed this paradigm in the direction of the software developers and pharmaceutical companies who would gain from it. In the end, its immaterial whether North Korea is on the WHO Executive Board. If the WHO was simply there to be called on when needed, then all countries should have their turn. If we now decide that the WHO should dictate how we manage basic challenges in our lives, then well just have to face what comes from that. Well be our own enemy, far more than North Korea could be. Well have given up centuries of hard-fought gains and reembraced the feudalism that constitutes the Kim familys preferred model, but we cant blame North Korea for that. Compared to the other forces that are subverting our democracies through this perpetual emergency agenda, an East Asian country taking its turn in an organization it intends to ignore is barely relevant. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Organ Politics in Hong Kong: Who Is at Fault? The Hong Kong Science Museum held the "French Science Festival" and exhibited a heart preserver that can preserve the heart when it leaves the human body and is suitable for organ transplantation, on Nov. 4, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) Commentary Hongkongers face ever-increasing red lines on a daily basis: legislative and district councils purified, rallies cancelled, Geography exams to include the controversial nine-dash line to mark Chinese sovereignty in the South Sea, textbooks censored, and sensitive books removed from library shelves. The latest one is that organ donors should not opt-out. The Hong Kong government disclosed that there were 5,785 cancellations of organ donation registration in the past five months. It was described as unusual as half of the cases were found to be either unregistered or cancelled before, and it did not rule out the possibility that a small number of people intended to disrupt the Centralised Organ Donation Register and create an administrative burden for the government. This wave of cancellations, which took place after the government announced to consider cross-border organ donations with China, disdains the close ties between Hong Kong and China, as claimed by the Hong Kong government, which condemned such acts as irresponsible. Pro-democracy-turned-pro-establishment lawyer Ronny Tong Ka-wah said that discussions on the web on this matter might constitute an incitement with intent. Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu went even further. He described such unusual cancellations as shameful, asking the police to investigate whether such acts were illegal. But who is being unusual, the public or the government? First, the claim that half of the cancellation applicants are unregistered or submit repeated applications is perplexing, especially against the backdrop of the global digitalization of government services. Obviously, the root cause is the lack of IT expertise, so the system fails to alert users whether they are registered donors when they submit cancellation requests. Is the government aware of this website design problem? What is the point of condemning the public if the responsibility for this problem rests with the government? It is clear that the public actually has no way to check whether they have registered with the system. The hotline provided by the Department of Health leads to nowhere but a recorded message Sorry, the mailbox is full. Second, the context explains the timing of the wave of cancellations. Last year, the government proposed a permanent cross-border mutual assistance mechanism for organ transplants between Hong Kong and China. Early this year, pro-establishment legislators proposed changing the current opt-in policy of voluntary organ donation to opt-out. Government officials of Hong Kong cannot be unaware of the tightening conflicts between China and Hong Kong over the past decade, and this has been turned into a deadlock that no one can solve, resulting in the 2019 anti-extradition campaign and the ongoing exodus. Against this backdrop of Hongkongers unwillingness to be extradited to China, it is not difficult to understand their similar resistance to see their organs being used across the border. Even industry leaders like Ma Kam-man, president of the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation, said they were yet to know the details of the mechanism. What is the point of making condemnations if the government fails to convince the suspicious public? Considering the scale of public ralliestwo millionin the 2019 campaign, less than six thousand cancellations is really mild. Given the lack of government response to similar drops in blood and charity donations, its high-profile condemnation of the public opt-out from the organ donation register may justify the publics doubt about who really wants Hongkongers organs. Here, body politics is relevant. French thinker Michel Foucault argues that the body is constrained by various power mechanisms and constructed in all aspectsphysical, mental, motion, temporal, and spatial so that it will become a docile body. A mature civil society helps our bodies become more autonomous and open. According to a Taiwanese scholar in modern Chinese history, in this revolutionary process, we have seen more political control and physical mobilization than a true liberation movement. This observation of modern China is also relevant to Hong Kong now. The autonomy of our own bodies should be respected. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Paxtons Lawyers Take Legal Action Against Impeachment Prosecutors Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez/The Epoch Times) Attorneys representing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have taken legal action against several Texas House Republicans and two Houston attorneys prosecuting Paxton, demanding they stop covertly contacting witnesses related to what they say is a meritless impeachment proceeding. The letter (pdf) was sent on June 8 to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, the co-chairs of the Texas House General Investigating Committee Reps. Andrew Murr (R) and Ann Johnson (D), and to Houston attorneys Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin. Paxtons attorneys accused the recipients of the letter and their agents of improper contact with potential witnesses, including employees of the Texas Attorney Generals Office. There can be no doubt that your efforts to have ex parte contacts with witnesses are wholly improper, Paxtons attorneys wrote. Ex parte contacts with witnesses refer to direct communications between one partyor their legal representativesand a witness, without the knowledge, presence, or consent of the other parties involved in a legal dispute. No Authority While rules about ex parte contacts vary from state to state, such contacts are generally restricted in order to ensure a fair trial. Paxton was impeached by Texas GOP-led House of Representatives on articles including bribery and abuse of public trust, triggering his suspension from office pending the outcome of a trial in the state Senate. His attorneysJudd Stone and Christopher Hilton from Stone Hilton PLLCargued in the letter that prosecutors have no right to initiate any contacts with potential witnesses until the state Senate adopts rules for Paxtons impeachment trial. You have no authority to request documents, approach witnesses, or do anything else regarding this matter until the Senate establishes the rules for this proceeding, they wrote, citing the Texas Government Codes relevant provisions/ Paxtons lawyers, citing legal precedent, argued that by taking any actions without express legal authority, the prosecutors could face legal liability. While the attorneys acknowledged that the prosecutors could rely on the Public Information Act to request information, they argued that the prosecutors would then have no right to obtain confidential or privileged information in this way as they would be acting in their personal capacity. Another possibility is that prosecutors could submit such requests in their legislative capacity. But then, Paxtons lawyers argued, they could only use this information for legislative purposes and not for the purpose of an impeachment. Clandestine Fact-Gathering Paxtons attorneys also argued that, even though hes been suspended, Paxton remains the duly elected Attorney General and so his staff from his office are bound by privileges that attach to the duly elected officer. Your clandestine fact-gathering without the opportunity for the Attorney Generals participation means that the Senates rules and process are being undermined before they have even been written, Paxtons attorneys wrote. They also took the opportunity to denounce Paxtons impeachment as having been concocted behind closed doors and without any public scrutiny, due process, or presentation of evidence that would in any way detract from your Machiavellian political objective. The addressees of the letter were not immediately available for comment, but one of the prosecutors told The Center Square that their actions are part of routine preparation for Paxtons impeachment trial. We are preparing for trial in the Senate, as any lawyers should do, DeGuerin told the outlet. The impeachment trial rules are expected to be announced by the Texas Senate later in June. When the Texas Senate voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton, he decried the move as political. The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just, Paxton said. It was a politically motivated sham from the beginning. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo) Background Paxton had been under FBI investigation for years over accusations he used his office to help a donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. In October 2020, a number of top deputies in Paxtons agency told the FBI that they believed the attorney general had used his office to help Paul, who had donated $25,000 to Paxtons reelection campaign in 2018. All of the whistleblowers were fired or resigned, but the allegations led to a federal investigation into Paxton. The Department of Justice later took over the investigation but no federal charges have been filed against Paxton or Paul. A half dozen or so former OAG employees filed complaints against or sued Paxton for wrongful dismissal, claiming he ousted them in retaliation after they reported him to federal authorities for alleged crimes he committed in assisting Paul. The allegations relating to Paul were a major part of the 20 articles of impeachment filed recently against Paxton, including bribery and abuse of public trust. At the time, Paxton broadly denied the claims. Facts matter. As time goes on people will see the truth of what were saying, that these people, some of them, had legitimate issues unrelated to me that ended up resulting in their termination, Paxton said at the time. After about a year of investigating the whistleblowers claims, Paxtons office issued a report that refuted the former employees claims. More recently, an outside law firm hired by Paxtons office to carry out a follow-up investigation found that Paxton didnt break any laws or violate office procedure when he fired several staffers who later accused him of wrongful dismissal and retaliation. A report (pdf) recently released by the outside law firm, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, found that there was significant evidence to show the actions of the OAG toward the Complainants were based on legitimate, non-retaliatory, business grounds. The law firms findings dovetail with the conclusions of an earlier OAG investigation (pdf) that similarly refuted each of the former employees and political appointees allegations and called for a deeper probe into the matter. Paxton is only the third sitting official in Texass nearly 200-year history to have been impeached. Articles of Impeachment The whistleblowers accused Paxton of improperly issuing legal opinions to benefit Paul and had previously reached a tentative settlement agreement with Paxton for $3.3 million, which prompted the Texas House committee investigation. Specifically, Paxton benefited from Nate Pauls employment of a woman with whom Paxton was having an extramarital affair. Paul received favorable legal assistance from, or specialized access to, the office of the attorney general, the articles of impeachment state. The articles also accuse Paxton of having benefited from Paul providing renovations to Paxtons home in exchange for favorable legal assistance and specialized access to the office of the attorney general. Other charges date back to Paxtons pending 2015 felony securities fraud case, shortly after he won his first attorney general election, and include making false statements to state investigators. After Paxton was elected attorney general, Paxton was indicted by a Collin County grand jury for engaging in fraud or fraudulent practices in violation of The Securities Act (Title 12, Government Code), the impeachment articles state. Paxton then concealed the facts underlying his criminal charges from voters by causing a protracted delay of the trial, which deprived the electorate of its opportunity to make an informed decision when voting for attorney general. Paxton, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, was reelected to a third term as attorney general in November. He has denied the charges and said the impeachment vote was based on totally false claims. Trump, too, denounced Paxtons impeachment. The RINO [Republican In Name Only] Speaker of the House of Texas, Dade Phelan, who is barely a Republican at all and failed the test on voter integrity, wants to impeach one of the most hard-working and effective Attorney Generals in the United States, Ken Paxton, who just won reelection with a large number of American Patriots strongly voting for him, Trump stated on Truth Social recently. You would think that any issue would have been fully adjudicated by the voters of Texas, especially when that vote was so conclusive, the former president added. Katabella Roberts contributed to this report. Former Vice President Mike Pence called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to justify the unprecedented federal indictment of former President Donald Trump while speaking at a convention in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday. On the same day, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the federal government. Power Bills to Jump by Almost 30 Percent in One Australian State Regional Queenslanders are set to feel the most pressure on their power bills as the highest power price increase of almost 30 percent was announced. The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) released the final decision on regulated real electricity prices on June 9, with the price increase starting from July 1. The households in regional Queensland will see an average increase of $429 (US$290) or 28.7 percent added to their annual power bill, taking the average annual household bill from $1,496 (US$1,008) to $1,926 (US$1,298). Small business owners will also be impacted by the price increase, their annual average bill will increase by $511 (US$344) or 26.8 percent, taking it from $1,907 (US$1,285) to $2,418 (US$1,630). Southeast Queenslanders will also face an increase to their annual power bill but only with an increase of 21.5 percent or $349 (US$235) per year. The QCA release said the significant price increase is mainly due to an increase in wholesale energy costs from the National Electricity Market (NEM). Retailers often adopt strategies like purchasing Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) contracts to hedge their risk to reduce their exposure to the changing prices in the NEM, which allows retailers to lock in a price for electricity that they will deliver to consumers at a later date. Our wholesale energy cost estimates reflect a significant increase in ASX contract prices, driven by market expectations of higher spot prices and greater price volatility, QCA Chair Flavio Menezes said. This is likely due to higher coal and gas prices, which have been impacted by the war in Ukraine, as well as uncertainty around the availability and reliability of coal-fired power plants, which impacts the supplydemand balance in the Queensland region. QCA added that the availability and reliability of the Kogan Creek and Callide C coal-fired power stations have contributed to the price increase, after uncertainty with major outages and delays in returning their service. These events have placed upward pressure on wholesale energy prices and are important determinants of Queensland retailers energy costs and of the wholesale cost of energy in the NEM more broadly, the report (pdf) read. Impact of Explosion at Power Plant Callide C is a coal-fired power plant located in central Queensland that was forced to go offline following a series of malfunctions in the facility. The entire power station comprises of two power plants Callide B and C, each with two generating units. On May 25, 2021, an incident caused Unit C4 to explode, causing substantial damage to the unit and power outages for hundreds of Queensland homes. Queensland state-owned CS Energy who owns Callide C in a 50/50 joint venture with Genuity announced on May 30 that the damaged Unit C4 is still in the recovery state. After pushing the return to service date back multiple times, the Callide C return of service is now delayed until May 2024, and wont be able to run at full capacity until July 2024. The C3 unit is expected to partly return in early January 2024, but wont be fully operational until February. However, shadow treasurer David Janetzki said the report clearly shows that the Palaszczuk governments failure to properly maintain energy assets has driven up electricity prices for Queenslanders, and is a bitter blow to Queenslanders who are already dealing with the biggest cost-of-living pressures in the nation. Minister de Brenni said multiple times the failures at Callide would have no impact on Queenslanders power prices, Janetzki said in a release. Minister de Brenni told Queenslanders the failure at Callide wouldnt impact power prices, yet their bills are going through the roof again, shadow energy minister Pat Weir said. Rebate Relief for Vulnerable The Queensland government introduced a new energy bill rebate with the Australian government on May 15 for the 2023-24 financial year under the Energy Bill Relief Fund. Vulnerable households will receive a $500 (US$337) energy bill rebate, and Queensland small businesses will receive a $650 (US$438) energy bill rebate. Eligible households include existing Queensland Electricity Rebate recipients and holders of a pensioner concession card, health care card, Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) gold card, or senior health card. Queenslands state energy minister Mick de Brenni said the government is always looking to put pressure down on electricity prices and would deliver a bigger cost of living rebate in the next budget, without mention of looking to lower energy prices. We are also working with the Australian government to deliver $500 in bill relief to more than one million vulnerable Queensland households, he said in a statement. The Power Together coalition is an alliance of organisations, such as the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) and the Queensland Conservation Council (QCC), who advocate for the state government to act on their eight-point plan to address the increasing pressures on the cost of living. Some points from Power Togethers plan are to install solar panels on public housing, offer electricity rebates, and to introduce stronger minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties; which will help Queenslanders who rent and cannot control their own energy bills. Environmental group QCCs director Dave Copeman said on June 9 in a media release that bipartisan support is needed for the Energy Bill from the Liberal National Party of Queensland, and communities will be a risk from climate change and uncoordinated development if we dont have the LNP support for the Bill. Queensland power prices and climate emissions will drop when renewables are built and coal is closed. The pressure on global energy prices from the war in Ukraine may be out of our hands but the Queensland government has the responsibility and solutions that can help put the brakes on soaring local energy bills, Copeman said. Price Increases Across the Nation Price increases were also announced for New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia in May, but they did not exceed the rise placed on regional Queensland. The Australia Energy Regulator confirmed in the Default Market Offer Prices 2023-24 (pdf) that electricity prices will increase between 19 and 25 percent from July 1. However, Victorias Energy Services Commission announced on May 25 its annual increase would be a 25 percent default offer. Since the Victoria state government launched a $250 (US$168) Power Saving Bonus scheme on July 1, 2022, it has since had more than 1.8 million households receive their $250 payment by comparing their energy bills online. Hundreds of pro-Trump supporters drive from Miami to Palm Beach to show their loyalty to the former president, who faces 37 counts of federal charges for keeping classified documents after leaving office in 2021. He is due to appear in Miami federal court on Tuesday, following the unsealing of his indictment on Friday. MOGADISHU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army on Sunday killed 19 al-Shabab militants during an operation in the lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia, officials said. Somali National News Agency quoting army officials said the operation was jointly conducted by Somali troops and their international partners, culminating in the destruction of vehicles and weapons belonging to al-Shabab fighters. The agency added that the operation is still going on but the al-Shabab militants are yet to comment on the latest military operation in southern Somalia. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Dismissal of China Military Threat Dangerously Naive: Retired Colonel Robert F. Kennedys view that China doesnt pose a military threat to the United States is misguided and doesnt align with reality, according to analysts. In a Twitter Spaces conversation earlier this week with the platforms owner Elon Musk, the Democrat presidential candidate called for the United States to engage with China in talks and compete with the country economically but not militarily. The Chinese cannot and do not want to compete with us militarily, Kennedy said. So its kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy that says, Oh, the Chinese want to be our enemy and have a military competition, they dont. What we should be doing is de-escalating military pressure on China. While rebuilding U.S. industrial base is a top priority for Kennedy in potential negotiations with China, he believes that the regime has been a lot better at projecting economic power abroad. We think the world is on our side, but it isnt. All weve gotthe only people who are supporting this pugnacious, bellicose relationship with China are Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Britain, Canada, he said. Were pretty much alone in the world. The rest of the world is looking at us and saying, What the heck are you doing? Why are you trying to create a war with China? Why are you fighting them over? They dont want war, they want peace and they want prosperity, and that cannot happen where theres a war, he said, adding that the United States should de-escalate the war talk on issues such as Taiwan and seek a smart negotiation where we do better because of China. Lets let theyTaiwan and Chinawork out that issue on their own and back off militarily. While the CIA director William Burns made a secret trip to China last month to thaw relations with Beijing, Kennedy said he wanted to have a real political and economic discussion with the Chinese side that is that is frank and where everybody puts their cards on the table, to see if there are ways that we can work with each other peacefully and keep the world at ease. Dangerously Naive To John Mills, a retired Army colonel who previously oversaw cybersecurity policy and international affairs at the Department of Defense, the remarks indicate that Kennedy is almost dangerously naive as to the malign behavior of China. Im a little puzzled by his comments, Mills, a contributor to The Epoch Times, said in an interview. He has strong opinions on the virus and the vaccine. Well, where does he think the virus came from? Its kind of incongruent. Expanding its military power and overseas presence has been one of the top priorities for Beijing. In March, Chinese leader Xi Jinping renewed his call for faster development of a world-class military, months after he ordered the Chinese military to strengthen its preparation for war. Chinese Army soldiers assembling during military training at the Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region on Jan. 4, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Pentagon reports estimate that Beijing will acquire 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) has said the regime now has more intercontinental ballistic missile launchers than the United States. China also has the largest navy in the world, and is rapidly producing warships. Its naval force has an estimated 340 ships and submarines as of 2022, a number that will bloat to 440 by the end of the decade, according to a 2022 Pentagon report. I dont think Mr. Kennedy fully understands the gravity of how this is rapidly pivoting toward a military confrontation, which is not of our making, said Mills. Their arms factories are humming, ours are not coming. Failed Engagement Policies Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine colonel and senior fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, noted that what Kennedy advocated was the U.S. policy for most of the last 50 years until Donald J. Trump came along. What we did was accommodate the PRCand, in fact, appease the PRC in the expectation that it would liberalize and become a responsible stakeholderand a threat to nobody, he told The Epoch Times in an email. Part of that support, he said, included shipping a huge part of our manufacturing to Chinaand putting millions of Americans out of work while allowing the Chinese military to grow. The Trump administration shifted toward a hardline stance toward China. Reverting back to the policy of engagement and dialogue, though, would be just what Beijing wishes, said Newsham, an Epoch Times contributor. The Chinese communists have been very fortunate over the years to have many Americans in positions of influence who have naively or intentionally undercut Americas interests and allowed China to develop into a first-class threat to the U.S. and the free world writ large, he said. The Chinese military has undertaken the biggest, fastest build-up in history (largely funded by U.S. dollars)despite facing no enemies. Chinas DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles are seen during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) Newsham questioned how the U.S. economic relationship with China can be mutually beneficial, citing Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization with U.S. backing in 2001 that had failed to force Beijing to open its economy. China was allowed into the World Trade Organization despite meeting none of the requirements. It promised to comply with the rules and still hasnt, and it shows no sign of complying, he said, describing Beijings national strategy as to dominate every industry that mattersand to achieve that goal by hook or by crook. Newsham sees the belief that Beijing wants peace and prosperity rather than a military conflict as mistaken at best, noting that in Chinese state media and official releases, the regime has been clear about its ambition to overturn the U.S.-led world order. Without American help, Taiwan will only be able to negotiate the terms of its surrender to Beijing. Let Taiwan come under CCP control and Asia will turn red overnight, and no country anywhere will believe Americas promises of protectionor its ability to fend off Chinese aggression. The USS Chung-Hoon observes a Chinese navy ship conduct what it called an unsafe Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait, on June 3, 2023. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre Richard/U.S. Navy via AP) Neither Newsham nor Mills considers it accurate to state that the United States is pretty much alone in confronting threats from China. Those are the top military forces outside the China sphere, Mills said as he went over the countries on Kennedys list, noting that India, which has toughened up on China since the deadly border clashes, will likely side with the United States. And contrary to Kennedys argument that the U.S. military spending is excessive, the United States should ready itself militarily, said Mills. When faced with an aggressive totalitarian state, he said, the more we prepare, the less likely there will be war. And whatever action the United States takes is setting the example for the rest of the world, noted Newsham. People everywhere are looking to the United States for leadership against the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] and its aggressive, totalitarian, communist regime, he said. Newsham holds the view that we should do nothing that benefits Chinas communist regime economically, which effectively is building up our enemy that seeks to destroy us. And instead of the United States seeking a dialogue with China, Newsham believes that such a step should start from the other end. If China wants to talk to us, they know the number, he said. And this should be the nature of our relationship until China is governed by a consensually chosen government and there is some real vestige of individual rights and liberties in the country. In a statement to The Epoch Times, Kennedys campaign team said the presidential hopeful will maintain strong military deterrence against China without being deliberately provocative. He believes that China does not want war. The best counter to China is to restore our economic strength, the statement read. This article has been updated with a statement from the Kennedy campaign. San Clemente Moves to Close Beaches 2 Hours Earlier After Marines Attacked by Teens After repeated complaints of high schoolers causing trouble at San Clementes public beacheswith an attack on three off-duty marines by a group of teenagers over Memorial Day weekend making national headlinescity officials voted unanimously on June 6 to close the citys beaches two hours earlier than the current midnight schedule. I think this issue from a public safety point of view is really important. The beaches after 10 oclock have been a problem for a long time, said Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock during the meeting. Joe Janis, a San Clemente neighborhood beach watch captain of seven years, said he has been asking for changes to be made to the schedule for about five years after repeated reports of criminal activity during the later hours. Weve had a break-in at knifepoint. Weve had attempted rapes. We had a guy light one of our houses on fire. It happens all the time. All the teenage kids put it on social media, he said. He said the teenagers will often post on social media to meet up at the beach, and then all of a sudden we [have] 400 kids down there, he said. Another resident who lives near T-Street beach, adjacent to the pier, and has the best view of anybody said he is able to see all sorts of activity at night, from kids shooting fireworks at each other, to fighting, and even drug use. Last Friday I saw all the kids starting to accumulate and then I started seeing fights. We need to do something. We need to get people off the beach at 10 oclock, he said. City officials were all in agreement to close public beaches at 10 p.m., which coincides with most other Orange County cities including Dana Point, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach. Residents would still be allowed on the San Clemente Pier which has some businesses that stay open past 10 p.m. Councilman Victor Cabral said closing the beaches earlier is the first step and hiring private security to protect the citys beaches could be something to be discussed later to enhance security. I dont think anything good happens on these beaches after 10 oclock. The sheriff does an outstanding job but theyre not there all the time and we need the private security to watch [and] observe, he said. Councilman Mark Enmeier raised attention during the meeting that if the beaches were closed earlier, young people may find a new place to be disruptive. If its not the beach, theyre going to find another place to go. I dont want them ruining a cul-de-sac [or] a park. We need to contain this situation, he said. He said though he was also in favor of the earlier closure, the council should soon discuss other potential late-night activities for youth in the city, which lacks such alternatives. What are these kids going to do? After 10 oclock? Since I was in high school, theres nothing for high schoolers to do in this town on a Friday or Saturday night, he said. The ordinance will be heard for a second reading in the citys next council meeting on June 20. Taiwan Activates Air Defence as China Aircraft Enter Zone Chinese J-15 fighter jets being launched from the deck of the Liaoning aircraft carrier drills in the South China Sea on Jan. 2, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) TAIPEITaiwan activated its defense systems on Thursday after reporting 37 Chinese military aircraft flying into the islands air defense zone, some of which then flew into the western Pacific, in Beijings latest mass air incursion. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has over the past three years regularly flown its air force into the skies near the island, though not into Taiwans territorial air space. Taiwans defense ministry said that from 5 a.m. (2100 GMT on Wednesday) it had detected 37 Chinese air force planes, including J-11 and J-16 fighters as well as nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, flying into the southwestern corner of its air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. The ADIZ is a broader area Taiwan monitors and patrols to give its forces more time to respond to threats. Some of the Chinese aircraft flew to Taiwans southeast and crossed into the western Pacific to perform air surveillance and long distance navigation training, the ministry said in a statement. Taiwan sent its aircraft and ships to keep watch and activated land-based missile systems, it added, using its standard wording for how it responds to such Chinese activity. Chinas defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China completed a second phase of joint air patrols with Russia over the Western Pacific on Wednesday, following flights on the previous day over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea, prompting concern in Japan over its national security. Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, which manages the unofficial relationship between Washington and Taipei, is visiting Taiwan this week. On Monday, she told Taiwan media that the United States had an enduring interest in preserving stability in the Taiwan Strait and the United States would continue to arm the island, a source of constant friction in Sino-U.S. ties. In April, China held war games around Taiwan following a trip to the United States by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwans government rejects Chinas sovereignty claims and says only the islands people can decide their future. Tesla Is the New Energy Infrastructure Company A Tesla Model S sedan is plugged into a Tesla supercharger electrical vehicle charging station in Falls Church, Va., on Feb. 13, 2023. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) News Commentary Detroit rivals General Motors and Ford Motor Company both announced that they signed deals to use Teslas supercharger network in North America starting next year. Existing owners of Ford and GM electric vehicles (EV) can soon begin accessing Teslas massive supercharger network that uses the companys North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector with an adaptor, and future Ford and GM EVs will have NACS chargers standard. Its a brilliant move by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Locking up two of the biggest North American automakers effectively means Teslas NACS technology has emerged as the industrys new VHS standard, drawing parallels to the 1980s battle between VHS and Betamax for home video standard. Lets examine what this means for the EV landscape and Tesla. The deals give Tesla a stranglehold on EV charging infrastructure. Two dominoes have fallen, and more automakers will now follow suit. The Biden administration on June 9 tried to throw a lifeline to the other EV charging standard, the Combined Charging System (CCS), by touting building infrastructure with the flexibility for adding both CCS and NACS, said White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson. But make no mistake, its only a matter of time until Teslas NACS effectively locks up the entire North American charging infrastructure. Any company looking to invest millions in CCS technology would be wise to pause and reconsider. Does this make Tesla an infrastructure player in addition to its merits as a leading EV maker? Absolutely. We have a real opportunity here to really drive this to be the unified standard for North America, which I think will enable more mass adoption, GM CEO Mary Barra noted during a Twitter Spaces session announcing the deal. Musk said that Teslas charging network wont give preferential treatment to Tesla EV owners. If one believes in a future of EVsand this author is still skeptical, but for the sake of this article lets go with itthen EV charging stations are the future equivalent of gas stations. Not only would Tesla own the majority of these gas stations of the future, but it would also have the ability to advertise and sell other products and services alongside these charging stations. Unlike gas stations, where current vehicles can fill up within minutes, EVs take much longer to charge and businesses adjacent to EV chargers can engage EV owners more effectively in sales. To be clear, Tesla wont have a monopoly over the nations charging network, as the firm has already opened NACS charger technology to other manufacturers. But we still expect Tesla to own a large portion of the network given its already massive head start. And thats the key reason automakers are choosing to partner with Tesla. Any EV owner knows that Tesla runs the most efficient and reliable EV charging network. The charging network is as much of a purchase consideration for prospective EV owners as the car itself. One study found that across California, around 25 percent of the competing CCS EV chargers were out of order at any given time. Availability and reliability concerns surrounding CCS chargers are a mounting issue for automakers investing in manufacturing EVs. Its also the top detractor against EV adoption among consumers. Teslas Apple-like vertically integrated approach to its EV infrastructure and ownership experience grants it a distinct advantage. For Tesla, this provides a recurring and stable revenue windfall to cushion its car and battery manufacturing business, not to mention upfront funding from the federal government, which is investing billions in this space. The total addressable market for selling electricity to EV owners is massive, and the industry is just getting started. Alex Potter, the Piper Sandler analyst who covers Tesla, wrote in a note to clients that Tesla will stand to earn $3 billion in charging revenue from non-Tesla owners alone by 2030 and $5.4 billion by 2032. Game, set, match, Tesla bull and Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said in a Tweet. Tesla just cornered the market. Tesla was never going to have a monopoly among EVs, but charging infrastructure may be a different story. The company has around 45,000 NACS connectors around the world at 4,947 supercharger stations. The majority of that is believed to reside in the United States. A slightly higher number of CCS charging stations are currently operational in the United States, according to U.S. government data, but as previously stated, their operations are fragmented and unreliable. Teslas dominance in charging infrastructure will also augment its growing energy storage business. It already offers Powerwall and Megapack products in this space. As its energy and charging infrastructure grows, theres massive potential to link energy storage solutions and clean energy (solar) to its expanding grid. For Tesla, one of the most polarizing companies in the stock market, its potential energy infrastructure dominance is a compelling thesis for investors. Texas Congresswoman Introduces Legislation to Prevent China From Buying US Farmland Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) A congresswoman from Texas has introduced legislation aimed at preventing foreign adversaries, particularly China, from buying U.S. farmland. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, introduced the legislation on June 9. Known as the Protecting American Farmland Act (H.R.3996), the bill would amend the U.S. tax code to prevent undisclosed purchases of U.S. farmland by imposing a 60 percent excise tax on country of concern buyers. China is relentlessly trying to undermine our countrywhether its poisoning our citizens with fentanyl smuggled in through our southern border, spying on us, or filling the global stage that has been left empty by the Biden Administration, Van Duyne said in a statement accompanying the bills introduction. American farmlandespecially here in Texasis the new front line in our fight against the Chinese Communist Partys aggressions. Im glad to join Chairman Jason Smith in introducing this bill to keep our farmland from enemy hands, protecting our nations farmers, supply chains, and security. According to the language of the bill (pdf), a country of concern is defined as any nation that is engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States. The bill names China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela as countries of concern. China owned 383,935 acres of U.S. agricultural land as of the end of 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (pdf). That was only 0.9 percent of the total foreign-held land at the time, but the reported acreage owned by China has increased by more than 50 percent from the end of 2018 (pdf), Van Duyne said. We must protect Americas agricultural resources from being snatched up by foreign adversaries and companies under their control, Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a statement. To prevent the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile foreign governments from staking claim to U.S. farmland, Representative Van Duynes bill expands an existing tax on foreign land sales and ratchets up the applicable tax rate by 400 percent. By protecting our agricultural land, we will increase our food and economic security. In recent months, other bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate to block China from buying U.S. farmland. Chinese Land Purchases In 2022, Fufeng Group, a China-based agribusiness with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), purchased 300 acres of land a dozen miles from the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The companys plan to build a wet corn milling and biofermentation plant on the land was struck down in February when the Grand Forks City Council voted unanimously to terminate the construction plan over national security concerns. In Texas, a Chinese former military official has purchased about 140,000 acres of farmland in Val Verde County, which is home to the U.S. Laughlin Air Force Base. His company has said that it would use the land to build a wind turbine farm. A legislative attempt to address the issue recently failed to make it to Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. The state legislation, SB 147 by Republican Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, passed the Senate in April, but it failed to pass out of the House State Affairs Committee before the end of the regular legislative session in late May. Before the bill expired, Republican state Rep. Tony Tinderholt took to Twitter to criticize the holdup in the House. The Texas House is killing SB 147, which would keep the Chinese from purchasing our farm land, Tinderholt wrote on May 16. China wants the power to sit on our food supply. They are our adversary. The Senate passed a ban. The Texas House is sitting on it while passing Democrat bills every day. Christian human rights group China Aid, the Independent Cattlemens Association of Texas, the Oil and Gas Workers Association, and Texans for Strong Borders are among several groups that have voiced support for SB 147. According to Texas Scorecard, Texans for Strong Borders sent fortune cookies to every House office on May 22, with a mock message from the CCP telling Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan thank you for not passing the legislation. The advocacy group posted a picture of the fortune cookies on Twitter and wrote, Today we ensured House offices know the Chinese Communist Party is happy about this. The Battle Isnt Won: Next 48 Hours Crucial in Quebec Wildfire Fight: Bonnardel Smoke is seen obscuring the sky on the Ouje-Bougoumou Cree Nation, Que., in a June 6, 2023, handout photo. (The Canadian Press/HO-Deputy Chief Lance Cooper) The next 48 hours will be crucial in Quebecs wildfire fight in northern and western parts of the province, Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel said Saturday, with authorities hoping the situation remains stable ahead of rain forecast for early next week. Bonnardel told reporters that warmer temperatures and lower humidity levels will precede the moment when precipitation is expected Tuesday in those hard hit regions, noting the hotter, drier conditions could exacerbate the wildfire situation. We have to hold on for the next 48 hours, the flammability index will increase, the humidity will cease and the temperature will rise. Its a cocktail that could bring new fires, Bonnardel said. The battle isnt won, he added. Environment Canada meteorologists are forecasting about 10 to 20 millimetres of rain for affected regions when the precipitation does arrive. On Saturday, firefighters set their sights on Normetal located 720 kilometres northwest of Montreal in the Abitibi region where fires are burning nearby and had reached within 500 metres of some parts of the community. It hasnt gotten any bigger, its the same perimeter as two days ago, said Bruno Pelletier, a New Brunswick Natural Resources Department supervisor who is overseeing the fight in that community and nearby St-Lambert. He said the situation was stable and while Normetal was surrounded on several sides by flames, Pelletier told reporters teams were continuing to build a 10-metre wide firebreak around the two communities. Normetal Mayor Ghislain Desbiens joined several local officials for a short news conference on Saturday, telling residents the fight was going well. He said trench work has dramatically changed the look of the small community of about 800 people. They finished digging trenches yesterday and when we look at before and what it looks like today, the village certainly has lost some of its allure, Desbiens said. But whats important for me and the others is saving the homes. Another major fight is taking place in Lebel-sur-Quevillon, a northern municipality where the provinces largest fire is about five kilometres southeast of the community, but also within a few kilometres of the Nordic Kraft pulp mill. Lebel-sur-Quevillon Mayor Guy Lafreniere told a briefing that fires didnt move on Friday and arent expected to for now. About 2,100 residents have been evacuated since June 2. Its starting to get better, this morning is the eighth day, its starting to be encouraging and at the same time, its about time it was encouraging, Lafreniere said. The situation remains stable in Chibougamau, Mistissini, Chapais and Ouje-Bougoumou in northern Quebec, where numerous teams are deployed. On Saturday, Chibougamaus mayor said in a video posted to social media the city is preparing for its roughly 7,500 citizens to return home, hopefully as early as Monday. Manon Cyr said that during the weekend, essential services including grocery stores as well as the area hospital will be up and running again before residents return. We are looking at the situation from hour to hour, Cyr said. If we want it to work, we have to restart essential services. Cyr said returning residents will have to contend with smoky air and residents will have to deal with plenty of firefighters working in the community. Despite the multiple fires, Quebec has not reported any deaths or damage to residential properties since the blazes sparked earlier this month. Bonnardel said there are more than 130 fires burning in the province and teams have prioritized 37 of them, with 861 firefighters on the ground and 20 water bombers taking part in the fight. About 300 firefighters from abroad are expected in the next 48 to 72 hours from Spain, Portugal and the United States, Bonnardel said. Provincial authorities said 13,810 Quebecers have been evacuated due to the wildfire situation in the province. Fighting so many fires, evacuating so many people, its a first in Quebec, Bonnardel said. Well have a fight that will probably last the entire summer. Bonnardel said one bit of good news was that fires on Quebecs north shore were contained thanks to rain in that region in recent days, allowing resources to be redeployed to other hot spots. The Wrong Indictments Commentary The planned indictment of former President Donald Trump for mishandling national secrets is the natural next phase of the leftwing establishments arrogance and corruption. The left has been desperately trying to stop Trump since he announced his candidacy in 2015 (recall the made-up Trump TowerMoscow scandal, the phony RussiaTrump collusion scandal, the made-for-TV impeachment effort, etc.). The constant attacks have only eroded Americans trust in government institutionswhich is a far bigger problem than the lefts hatred of Trump. There are several other indictments that should have been announced to reestablish the integrity of the rule of law. First, corrupt FBI agents such as those identified in the Durham Report should have already been indicted for extraordinary violations of their oaths of office. They lied to FISA court judges. They deliberately pursued a case they knew was based on a lie. They leaked knowingly phony information to the left-wing media to further undermine Trumpfirst as a candidate and then as the President of the United States. They should all face legal consequences. Other FBI officials should be indicted for colluding to protect Hillary Clinton when she clearly broke the law repeatedly. How many classified documents were saved on then-Secretary of State Clintons illegal home server? How did her emails end up on Anthony Weiners laptop? How does someone erase more than 32,000 potentially evidentiary emails and get off scot-free? How does a government official order her staff to destroy evidentiary hard drives with a hammer and face no consequences? Further, why did the then-director of the FBI arrogate to himself a decision that belongs to prosecutors and hold a press conference exonerating Clinton during a presidential campaign? The Durham Report makes crystal clear the FBIs double standard of aggressive hostility toward Trump and defensive deference toward Clinton. That there have not been any indictments of Clinton (or the Bidens for that matter) demonstrates that the current corrupt senior leadership of the FBI is protecting itself and its alliesand attacking its perceived enemies. Second, there should be a wave of indictments against the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware, and other universities that have been illegally accepting secret foreign money and refusing to report it to federal authorities. As the U.S. Department of Education website notes: Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) requires institutions of higher education that receive federal financial assistance to disclose semiannually to the U.S. Department of Education any gifts received from and contracts with a foreign source that, alone or combined, are valued at $250,000 or more in a calendar year. The statute also requires institutions to report information when owned or controlled by a foreign source. We have no idea how many millions of dollars communist China gave to the universities of Pennsylvania and Delaware (where President Joe Biden has education centers). According to estimates (which are likely low), the University of Delaware (which houses about 1,850 boxes of Bidens vice presidential and senatorial documents) received $6.7 million in anonymous donations from the Chinese government. The University of Pennsylvania received nearly $40 million ($60 million, including contracts). Both universitiesand many moreare still breaking the law and not reporting foreign money they receive. At the same time, former University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann (who also helped create the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington) became Bidens ambassador to Germany. Former university Board of Trustees Chairman David L. Cohen is Bidens ambassador to Canada. These two became ambassadors after members of the Biden team received huge salaries from the University of Pennsylvania. At least 10 other people on the Penn Biden Center payroll ended up with senior positions in the Biden administration. This includes Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We have no idea the source of the money paid to Blinken when he managed the Penn Biden Center. Now, hes Americas chief diplomat. It is amazing the arrogance with which elite universities take millions from foreign sources and simply ignore the law and reject the federal governments demands for information. The leadership of these institutions should be indicted for illegally accepting foreign money and hiding it from the public. Instead, they are more likely to become U.S. ambassadors. Third, President Biden, Hunter Biden, and other members of the Biden family should be under indictment for influence peddling and accepting bribes. Does anyone seriously believe the widow of the mayor of Moscow sent Hunter Biden $3.5 million out of the goodness of her heart? Did the Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma pay Hunter Biden millions because of his expertise? Does anyone really think a Chinese billionaire sent Hunter Biden an exquisite diamond just because they are just good friends? Chairman James Comer and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability have produced evidence that the depth of deliberate corruption in the Biden family operation is worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. The Bidens have created layers of phony companies as pass-throughs to hide a trail of foreign money theyve been getting. President Biden claims to know nothing of his sons business dealings, but the records show then-Vice President Biden was routinely meeting with Hunter Bidens business associates. The evidence is clear that Bidens brother was also deeply involved in the influence-peddling scheme. Much of this was initially reported as Hunter Bidens laptop began to be investigated. Biden government officials immediately falsely claimed the story was Russian disinformation. Whistleblowers and potential eyewitnesses have been surfacing. Yet, after three years, there has been no action. In fact, FBI leadership insisted that the IRS disband a team that was looking into Hunter Biden and corruption. These are the indictments that should have been announced this week. Instead, the FBI has protected the Bidens just as it protected the Clintons. The contrast with the ruthless, dishonest, and illegal efforts to ruin President Trump is stunning. This is the scale of corruption, bias, and lawlessness with which the American people should weigh the Trump indictments. From Gingrich360.com Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Trump Reveals His 2024 Plans If He Is Convicted of Crimes Former President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., on on June 10, 2023. (Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump revealed whether he will drop out of the 2024 race if he is convicted in connection to a Department of Justice case over whether he mishandled classified documents. In an interview with Politico, the 45th president and current GOP frontrunner was asked about if he would drop out of the race if he is convicted in the case. Trump stated that he believes he wont be convicted and doesnt plan on taking a plea deal with prosecutors. Ill never leave, Trump told the outlet. Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable. The indictment unsealed Friday charges Trump with willfully defying Justice Department demands that he return classified documents, enlisting aides in his efforts to hide the records, and allegedly telling his lawyers that he wanted to defy a subpoena for the materials stored at his residence. The indictment includes allegations that he stored documents in a ballroom and bathroom at his Mar-a-Lago resort, among other places. The 49-page indictment centers on hundreds of classified documents that Trump took with him from the White House to Mar-a-Lago upon leaving office in January 2021. Even as tens of thousands of members and guests visited Mar-a-Lago between the end of Trumps presidency and August 2022, when the FBI obtained a search warrant, documents were recklessly stored in spaces including a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, and office space, his bedroom, and a storage room. The indictment claims that, for a two-month period between January and March 15, 2021, some of Trumps boxes were stored in one of Mar-a-Lagos gilded ballrooms. A picture included in the indictment shows boxes stacked in rows on the ballrooms stage. Special counsel Jack Smith, whose presented charges against Trump were approved by a grand jury, said in prepared remarks from Washington that our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced and violations of those laws put our country at risk. He added, We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone, but added the caveat that Trump and others must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. A capacity crowd of about 3,000 people greets former President Donald Trump at the Convention and Trade Center in Columbus, Ga., on June 10, 2023. (Janice Hisle/The Epoch Times) Trump is due to make his first federal court appearance Tuesday in Miami. He was charged alongside valet Walt Nauta, a personal aide whom prosecutors say moved boxes from a storage room to Trumps residence for him to review and later lied to investigators about the movement. Nauta traveled with Trump on Saturday, appearing by his side at a Georgia Waffle House stop where the former president signed autographs, posed for photos, and told supporters, We did absolutely nothing wrong. The ridiculous and baseless indictment by the Biden administrations weaponized Department of Injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country, Trump told reporters in a campaign stop. A legal analyst said that the federal governments case against Trump doesnt meet what I call the Richard Nixon standard, which was very clear obstruction of justice, destroying evidence, paying bribes, said Alan Dershowitz, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, during a Newsmax interview on June 9. This is too close a case to bring against the man running for president, against the incumbent president, Dershowitz stated. Trump may claim he didnt show it to them, just kind of waved it in front of them as part of bragging but thats something that will have to be explained, Dershowitz said. When you have a tape in the voice of the defendant himself its hard to dispute, so I think this is a serious indictment on these two charges. Everything else I think was exactly what we expected, the former law professor and high-profile criminal defense attorney also said. Trump has said that he declassified documents before leaving office. Presidents have the power of declassification. His lawyers have not included that claim in court filings related to the case. Other 2024 candidates have mostly publicly backed Trump after the indictment was unsealed, including his former vice president, Mike Pence, who on Saturday called on the Department of Justice to release more details about the unprecedented case against a former president. We also need to hear the former presidents defense so that each of us can make our own judgment, Pence told attendees at a North Carolina GOP convention. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that, in response to the indictment, I think there needs to be one standard of justice in this country. He condemned what he described as a weaponization of federal agencies. The Associated Press and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Trumps Lawyer Advises Against Plea Deal in Classified Documents Case Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures to the audience after delivering remarks in Greensboro, N.C., on June 10, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) An attorney for former President Donald Trump said Sunday that she advises against a plea deal in the federal governments classified document case. I know, I would never advise that, especially when hes not done anything wrong. You take a plea deal to make something go away, Alina Habba told Fox News Sunday. Thats an admission of guilt. He would never admit guilt. Because there was nothing wrong with declassifying documents, taking documents with you. Habba added that any indictment is a one-sided document, continuing, He has a defensethe defense is real. He had the Presidential Records Act, which only he has in play. Hillary Clinton didnt have that. Biden didnt have that. And well put that defense on. On Friday, special counsel Jack Smith unsealed an indictment against Trump, including 37 federal counts such as conspiracy to obstruct justice, making false statements, and retention of national defense information. The indictment claimed that Trump kept classified records at his residences and shared them with people on several occasions. Trump has denied the charges against him and said theyre politically motivated attempts to sink his 2024 presidential campaign. The former president will appear in a Florida court on Tuesday to face the charges. In a social media post, Trump said he would plead not guilty. According to the indictment, classified records included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack. The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods, the court papers alleged, without elaborating on the nature of the materials. The FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in August in an unprecedented move against a current or former president. Months later, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Smith would head the classified records case, among others. Campaign Moves Trump, meanwhile, indicated that he would campaign for the 2024 presidency even if he was convicted. Hes made similar statements in the past, notably doing so when he was charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office for allegedly falsifying business records in connection to payments made during the 2016 election. Polls have shown that Trump is currently the leading GOP candidate. An average of national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics shows the former president is leading his closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, by more than 30 percentage points. Ill never leave, Trump told Politico on Saturday, Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable. Nobody wants to be indicted, Trump added to the outlet, noting, I dont care that my poll numbers went up by a lot. I dont want to be indicted. He added, Ive never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months. Its been political. Trump is due to make his first federal court appearance Tuesday in Miami. He was charged alongside valet Walt Nauta, a personal aide who prosecutors say moved boxes from a storage room to Trumps residence for him to review and later lied to investigators about the movement. Nauta traveled with Trump on Saturday, appearing by his side at a Georgia Waffle House stop where the former president signed autographs, posed for photos, and told supporters he didnt do anything incorrectly. The ridiculous and baseless indictment by the Biden administrations weaponized Department of Injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country, he said Saturday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Virginia Man Who Attended Jan. 6 Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Attacking Police With Chemical Irritant This image from police body-worn video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the statement of facts supporting an arrest warrant for Markus Maly, shows Maly, circled in red, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Justice Department via AP) A Virginia man was sentenced on Friday for assaulting law enforcement on Jan. 6, 2021, with a chemical irritant, amid the breach of the U.S. Capitol that day. Markus Maly, 49, of Fincastle, Virginia, received six years in prison, as well as three years of supervised release. His prison sentence is significantly lower than the 15 years and eight months the Department of Justice had recommended. A jury convicted Maly on Dec. 6, 2022, of all eight charges against him. The jury trial was overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta, an Obama appointee. Maly has been jailed since then. He was convicted alongside two co-defendants, Peter J. Schwartz and Jeffrey Scott Brown. The three were the first people convicted of assaulting police officers with chemical irritants on Jan. 6. Defendant Denies Attacking Police Maly said he had simply occupied space in the crowd and denied attacking and spraying police with any irritants. I went to a rally. Thats what I did, he told the judge. Mehta said the jurors had ample evidence to convict Maly of assaulting police. Its not that you were there and occupying space. Its that you did these things and kept doing them that day, the judge told him. The specific six felony counts Maly was convicted of were interfering with police during a civil disorder; two counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon. The other two charges he was convicted of include disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and an act of physical violence in a Capitol building or grounds. Prosecution Accuses Man of Lying Court documents and evidence presented by prosecutors at trial said that on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, Maly pointed and sprayed a chemicalpossibly pepper sprayat a line of police officers while they retreated into a tunnel in an attempt to secure an entrance at the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol Building. Maly also took a can of spray from Schwartz and gave it to Brown, and later joined a coordinated push against police before leaving the tunnel with a stolen riot shield, prosecutor Stephen Rancourt wrote in a court filing (pdf). Rancourt said Maly lied on the witness stand when he testified that he only showed a cannister to Boyle but didnt spray the officer. Maly claimed that the stream of liquid coming out of the canister was actually a piece of fringe on his hat. However, his hat didnt have a fringe, Rancourt wrote. The judge, Mehta, sentenced Schwartz in May to 14 years and two months in prison, and sentenced Brown in April to four years and six months in prison. Schwartzs sentence was the longest for a Jan. 6 case before Mehta gave 18 years in prison to Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers militia group, making it the lengthiest term among Jan. 6 cases to date. Rhodes was convicted in 2022 of seditious conspiracy for his part in the breach of the Capitol. In the 29 months since Jan. 6, more than 1,000 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. Overview of Jan. 6 Deaths On Jan. 6, 2021, proceedings at the U.S. Capitol for a joint session of Congress to count and certify electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election were temporarily interrupted when a sizable group of protesters and rioters entered the building and its surrounds. Thousands of other protesters, mostly peaceful, remained outside. A total of five deaths were recorded in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 incident. Of the deaths, Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt was determined to have died from homicide on Jan. 6, having been shot and killed by Lt. Michael L. Byrd. Another three people died of what was ultimately determined to be natural causes. One of them was Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick who died on Jan. 7; he was initially believed to have died due to injuries caused by protesters, but was ultimately determined to have died due to strokes. The other two people were men in their 50s who died on Jan. 6 due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The fifth death involved a female protester in her 30s, Rosanne Boyland. The D.C. medical examiner ruled her death as an accident from a drug overdose. But video unsealed in December 2021 confirmed that Boyland was crushed and trampled when the crowd of protesters was pushed out of the tunnel, then repeatedly struck by police as she lay unconscious. The Associated Press contributed to this report. South Africa: President Ramaphosa briefs Chinese President on peace mission President Cyril Ramaphosa has briefed the Chinese President, Xi Jin Ping, on the African Leaders' Peace Mission to Ukraine and Russia. President Ramaphosa noted that the peace plan has been proposed by China and affirmed by South Africas and the African leaders support of initiatives that are aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict. President Xi commended the initiative by the African continent and acknowledged the impact the conflict has had on human lives and on food security in Africa. The leaders also discussed their cooperation at BRICS and preparations for the upcoming BRICS summit. They both committed to work towards a successful summit. South Africa will host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China at the 15th BRICS Summit from 22 to 24 August 2023. Through its chairship, South Africa will work with its BRICS partners to advance the African agenda for growth, development and integration and to advocate for the needs and concerns of the Global South. President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed these sentiments, while updating Parliament on State capability for economic recovery and the fight against crime on Thursday in Cape Town. The President was responding to a question on what strategic focus areas will South Africa advance during its tenure as chair of BRICS. South Africa is chairing the BRICS group of countries in 2023 under the theme: BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism. The BRICS group brings together some 3.2 billion people. After the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, BRICS is among the largest bloc of countries by total population. The President recently told Members of Parliament that there are great opportunities for BRICS countries to participate in infrastructure development and the AfCFTA by locating production and services activities in the continent and partnering with local companies and entrepreneurs. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-06-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. ABUJA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian military said on Saturday that at least six terror suspects were killed in a recent gunfight with troops in the country's northern state of Kaduna. A cache of arms and ammunition belonging to the suspects were also recovered during the gunfight on Friday, at Maidaro village in the Giwa local government area of Kaduna, said a statement by Musa Danmadami, the spokesman for the Nigerian military. Danmadami said the troops had embarked on a covert operation to the suspected terrorists' enclave at Maidaro village and made contact with the criminals. With high firepower, the troops recorded success in the gunfight with the criminals, he added. Roaring waves and mewing ocean birds penetrate the pre-dawn darkness. Nick Selway, who has lived here in Hawaii for 14 years, parks and enters before the gate opens and then walks 20 minutes down to the shore where the water is warmaround 80 degrees. His goal is to photograph the magic of a sunrise shining through big, breaking waves. The ocean does something to your body, it kind of starts to heal you, the 39-year-old photographer told The Epoch Times of his passion for photographing waves. That passion was first piqued from old surfing magazine shots from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Born in Seattle, Selway moved to Hawaii at age 21 and carved out a niche by diving in and capturing through his underwater lens the glassy insides of those iconic surfer waves. With the curling water turned inside out, as it were, viewing the outside worldthe sky and landfrom within the wave, its a surreal perspective like no place else. Haleakala Vortex by Nick Selway, photographed at Makena Beach, Maui, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) The Green Room by Nick Selway, photographed at Sandys Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) As the waves start to come in, you let the wave pitch over you but you dive underwater and then you turn around and youre facing back towards shore, he said. What happens is the wave creates a vortex; the wave sucks up underwater and then in the middle of the wave it creates a window and youre able to see out of the wave and on the shore on land. It does this magical thing in front of you and you can capture it. Its awesome. Few in the world can pull off a shot like that. It stems from becoming comfortable in the waterand that takes experience. You could take a thousand amazing landscape and nature photographers, stick them in the ocean with a water housing, and theyre gonna be horrible at it, Selway said. You could take a surfer, give them a water housing, and give them a few days, and theyll probably be amazing at it. Running Man by Nick Selway, photographed at Sandys Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) The Ring Around by Nick Selway, photographed at Kua Bay, the Big Island, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) His foray into the brine to take photos began after he ordered his first AquaTech underwater camera housing in 2007. But he quickly found out during his first photoshoot: Wow, this is a lot harder than it looks, he said, adding that its not made easier by the fact that the sweet spot is just basically getting annihilated by the wave, and thats how you get that full 360-barrel look all around you. Other than the glassy insides of surfing waves, Selway has photographed Hawaiis iconic volcanic eruptions in 2008, capturing the convergence of molten lava and seanot a photoshoot for the faint of heart. One of his most impressive feats involved descending a 30-foot cliff, dipping into the steaming oceanwhile dodging scalding-hot lava bombs floating aroundand capturing a curling wave before an infernal backdrop. You can feel the heat coming up from the bottom of the ocean, which was super, super crazy, he said. Peles Wave by Nick Selway, photographed at the Kalapana coastline, the Big Island, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Surround Sound by Nick Selway, photographed at Kua Bay, the Big Island, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Two decades in the water has taught him to respect the power of Mother Nature. Surviving the big waves that knock your fins off and pin you to the bottom has more to do with not panicking and staying calm to stay alive. Hes had a few close calls, including the time a rip current rocketed him way out to sea, almost preventing him from making it back ashore. He now ventures on photoshoots with a friend to keep watch most of the time. Yet with his hard-won ocean savvy comes an intuition that is useful in underwater wave photography. I became really comfortable in the water and know exactly where to be, when the wave would break, he said. I just had a good feel for it, and then over time I just got really, really good at it. Ive been doing that, shooting waves, for almost 20 years now. Eye Of The Storm by Nick Selway, photographed at Hapuna Beach, the Big Island, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Kua Glitter by Nick Selway, photographed at Kua Bay, the Big Island, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Perhaps Selways most enduring shot stems from the tranquility of a morning visit to Kua Bay on the Big Island in Hawaii in 2013. I always wanted to get like the sunrise almost coming straight down the barrel, he said. One morning, I parked at the gate, walked down to the beach 20 minutesbecause Id always get to the beach before the gate would even openget in the water, and the light was awesome. With no wind and just amazing 6-foot waves breaking pretty close to shore, Selway photographed that one shot he had always been thinking about in his head. He said, I dont think Ive ever gotten a cooler shot to this day. Flemming Gold by Nick Selway, photographed at Flemming Beach, Maui, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Green Machine by Nick Selway, photographed at Sandys Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Makena Glass by Nick Selway, photographed at Makena Beach, Maui, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Pitch Perfect by Nick Selway, photographed at North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Waipikai by Nick Selway, photographed at Kee Beach, Kauai, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Makena Tribute by Nick Selway, photographed at Makena Beach, Maui, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Waipio Reflection by Nick Selway, photographed at Waipio Valley, the Big Island, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nick Selway) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Wirral Port Operator Rejects Home Office Migrant Barge Plan The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Falmouth docks in Cornwall, England, on May 31, 2023. (Matt Keeble/PA) The operator of a port near Liverpool has said theres no conceivable scenario where the Home Office can moor a barge to hold illegal immigrants owing to the lack of local support. The Home Office, which is reportedly no longer considering the site, said its continuing to find new alternative sites and vessels to accommodate migrants. The department first announced plans in April to berth a barge in Dorset to house around 500 single adult males while their asylum claims are processed. Mick Whitley, Labour for Birkenhead, said last month that the Home Office had also approached Wirral Council about boarding up to 1,500 asylum seekers on a vessel berthed in Birkenhead. The Labour MP condemned the plan, saying its inhumane to put them in what he called a floating prison ship, and said the news had caused considerable concern across his constituency. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick confirmed the port was being considered as a potentially viable location, and the Home Office was seeking to engage the local authority, the local NHS, police, other emergency services, and other public agencies to help inform a final decision. He also said those being housed on the vessel would be free to leave to spend time on the shore while the process would be carefully managed by the Home Office to ensure the safety of the migrants, community cohesion, and the impact on local town centres and high streets. The Wirral Peninsula town is opposite Liverpool across the River Mersey and is home to a ferry terminal thats part of the Port of Liverpool. Peel Ports Group, operator of The Port of Liverpool, on Saturday told the PA News Agency that local agencies wont be able to help make the plan work. A spokesman said the company has consistently said throughout the process that they could provide the berth, but it was dependent on the necessary support from the local agencies. Last week, we simply observed that we could not see any conceivable scenario where the local agencies are going to be able to provide the necessary support to make this solution work, he said. Peel Ports remains committed to fulfilling its full statutory obligations to provide access to any vessel, provided it can do so safely and securely, and it has the available infrastructure. A view of the scene outside the Comfort Inn hotel on Belgrave Road, where the Home Office have reportedly asked a group of refugees to be accommodated four to a room, in Pimlico, central London, on June 2, 2023 (James Manning/PA Wire) In an email to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for Home Office said, The pressure on the asylum system has continued to grow and requires us to look at a range of accommodation options which offer better value for the British taxpayer than expensive hotels. This is why we continue to source new alternative sites and vessels to accommodate migrants and remain committed to working closely with all councils and key partners across the country, to manage the impact of using these sites, the spokesperson said. Vessels have been used safely and successfully by both the Scottish and Dutch Governments over the past 18 months, and other European countries are also planning their use as temporary emergency accommodation. Dorset Drops Legal Challenge It comes as Bibby Stockholm, the first accommodation barge the government has acquired, is set to arrive in Portland off the coast of Dorset. Conservative MP for South Dorset Richard Drax in April accused the government of imposing the plan on his constituency with many questions being left unanswered. Earlier this week, Dorset Council said it had considered taking legal action against the Home Office, but decided to give up because based on specialist legal advice, and the experience other councils have had across the country, any legal action we take is unlikely to be successful and would incur high costs to Dorset taxpayers. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on June 5 that the first vessel was to arrive in Portland in the next fortnight. Bibby Stockholm would initially be in place for 18 months while the plan would be kept under review. Accommodation vessels are designed to provide temporary housing for the off-shore workforce such as oil drilling units. According to promotional materials on the vessels operators website, there are 222 en-suite bedrooms on board, with a capacity of up to 506 people. The website also said there is a gym, a bar, a restaurant, and game rooms available. A fact sheet (pdf) previously published by the government said the barge will be used to put up single adult male asylum seekers aged 18 to 65 who would otherwise be destitute. Sunak has also said the government had acquired two more vessels that would accommodate another 1,000 people, but he hasnt revealed where the vessels will be located. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said this week that Royal Docks Management Authority had rejected the Home Offices proposal to berth a barge at its King George V Dock. In his letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, he also voiced his absolute opposition to the Governments policy of housing asylum seekers on vessels. Number of people smuggled into the UK on small boats. (Data Source: Home Office. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0) Since 2018, Some 92,500 people have been smuggled into the UK in small boats across the English Channel, including 7,697 who arrived so far this year. The government has said the increase meant some 51,000 destitute illegal immigrants are accommodated in hotels, incurring a cost of over 6 million a day, or 3 billion a year, on initial accommodation and hotels. But its plan to use barges and disused military sites has been met with opposition from locals over concerns including health, safety, and impact on local development, with some councils threatening legal action against the Home Office. Zelenskyy Says Counteroffensive, Defensive Actions Taking Place in Ukraine KYIV, UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions are underway against Russian forces, asserting that his top commanders are in a positive mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line. The Ukrainian leader, at a Kyiv news conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responded to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putins comment a day earlier that Ukraines counteroffensive had startedand Ukrainian forces were taking significant losses. Zelenskyy said that the counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. I will not speak about which stage or phase they are in. I am in touch with our commanders of different directions every day, he added, citing the names of five of Ukraines top military leaders. Everyone is positive. Pass this on to Putin. Trudeau, the first foreign leader to visit Ukraine since devastating floods caused by a breach in a Dnieper River dam, offered up monetary, military and moral support. He pledged 500 million Canadian dollars ($375 million) in new military aid, on top of more than 8 billion Canadian dollars ($6 billion) that Canada has already provided since the war began in February 2022, and announced 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.5 million) for humanitarian assistance for the flood response. Trudeau said the dams collapse was a direct consequence of Russias war, but he didnt blame Moscow directly. Ukraines General Staff said Saturday that heavy battles were ongoing, with 34 clashes over the previous day in the countrys industrial east. It gave no details but said Russian forces were defending themselves and launching air and artillery strikes in Ukraines southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive was underway, though some Western analysts have said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggests it was. Recent Western injections of billions of dollars worth of military equipment some of it high-tech and top-of-the-line to Ukraine has raised expectations about when it would be used, and to what effect against dug-in Russian lines. For months, Ukrainian commanders in the eastern city of Bakhmutwhich was largely devastated in a months-long fight that has been one of the bloodiest battles of the warhave used the language of counteroffensive and defensive operations to describe the activity there. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Friday that the epicenter of the fighting has been in the east, particularly in the Donetsk region, and cited heavy battles in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka. Valerii Shershen, a spokesperson for Ukraines armed forces in Zaporizhzhia, told Radio Liberty that they were searching for weaknesses in Russias defense in that region, to the west. Ukraines nuclear energy agency Energoatom said the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europes largest, had been placed in cold shutdown mode. Thats a process in which all control rods are inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure. The plants other five reactors already were in cold shutdown amid concerns about the plants exposure to the fighting. Energoatom said in a statement late Friday that there was no direct threat to the Zaporizhzhia plant because of the breach of the Kakhovka dam further down the Dnieper River, which has forced thousands of people to flee flooding and also sharply reduced water levels in a reservoir used to help cool the facility. Water levels in the Kakhovka reservoir, which feed the Zaporizhzhia plant, remained stable on Saturday, Energoatom said. The sites power units have not been operating since September last year. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to visit Ukraine in the coming days. Ukrainian authorities reported Saturday that at least six civilians have died across the country as Russian forces launched Iranian-made Shahed drones, missiles, and artillery and mortar strikes. Ukraines State Emergency Service reported that three people were killed and more than two dozen wounded overnight in an attack targeting the Black Sea port of Odesa. A spokesperson for Ukraines southern operational command, Natalia Humeniuk, said two children and a pregnant woman were among those wounded. Two people were killed in a Russian attack on the town of Orekhova in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to governor Yuriy Malashko. In Ukraines northeast, a 29-year-old man was killed as more than 10 drones targeted the Kharkiv region, its governor, Oleh Syniehubov, reported Saturday. He added that at least three other civilians were wounded. The Ukrainian air force said that during the night, it had shot down 20 out of 35 Shahed drones and two out of eight missiles of various types launched by Russian forces. The fighting and civilian casualties took renewed attention as authorities in southern Ukraine said water levels have been declining in a vast area beneath the ruptured dam. Nearly one-third of protected natural areas in the Kherson region could be obliterated by flooding following the breach of the Kakhovka dam, the Ukrainian environment minister warned Saturday. The U.N.s humanitarian aid chief, Martin Griffiths, said in an Associated Press interview Friday that an extraordinary 700,000 people were in need of drinking water. In other developments: On Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he wants to continue speaking with Putin whose order for Russias invasion of Ukraine has been criticized by many Western leaders and plans to do so again soon. Scholz has spoken several times by phone with Putin since the invasion. The chancellor said the basis for a fair peace between Russia and Ukraine is the withdrawal of Russian troops. Thats needs to be understood, he said. The U.K. government said it will give 16 million pounds ($20 million) in humanitarian aid to those affected by the flooding. Most of the money is being channelled through international organizations such as the Red Cross and the United Nations, and the U.K. is also sending boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to Ukraine. The U.K. has already given Ukraine 1.5 billion pounds in economic and humanitarian support since the war began, the government said, and has committed 4.6 billion pounds in military aid. By Samya Kullab and Jamey Keaten A grand start to CM Chouhans Ladli Bahna Yojana Staff Reporter Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday made a major announcement while addressing a mammoth gathering of women beneficiaries of Ladli Bahna Yojana at Garrison Ground in Jabalpur on Saturday evening. He said that up to Rs 3,000 will be provided to the Ladli Bahnas. Furthermore, even the young girls who have turned 21 will also benefit from the scheme. CM Chouhan said that the scheme has begun with a grant of Rs 1,000 and the amount will gradually increase by Rs 250. During the State-level programme Ladli Bahna Yojana, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan transferred Rs 1,000 into the accounts of 1.25 crore beneficiaries with a single click. Terming the day a remarkable and historic one, Chouhan said that Indian culture had always honoured women since centuries. However, there came a time when injustice was done to daughters and sisters. They were considered inferior. The CM explained the objective of the Ladli Bahna Yojana and the reasons for its implementation. He said that Rs 1,000 will be deposited into the accounts of women beneficiaries every month. Initially, this scheme was launched for the benefit of the tribal people and their condition improved. When the Congress government came, they discontinued it. They even discontinued giving laptops to boys and girls, he said. Chief Minister said that the State Government will not stop at just Rs 1,000 and the amount will gradually increase. Once the arrangements for the funds are made, the amount will be increased further, Chouhan assured. In future, the amount will be raised to Rs 3,000 by increasing it by Rs 250 gradually. Chouhan also mentioned that until now, the scheme was only available to young girls/women who were 23 years or older. Now, even daughters who have turned 21 will benefit from the Ladli Bahna Yojana. During the programme, the Chief Minister transferred the grant of Rs 1,000 to the accounts of 1.25 crore beneficiary women with a single click. Earlier on reaching Jabalpur, the Chief Minister first offered prayers and performed rituals at the Khermai temple. The young girls and women welcomed the Chief Minister by presenting him flowers. On Saturday, the responsibility of the CMs security in Jabalpur was in the hands of female police personnel. During the programme, the girls were worshipped, followed by the ceremonial lighting of lamps to mark the official start of the programme. Amongst those shared the dais with the Chief Minister were BJP State President V D Sharma, Minister Incharge Gopal Bhargava, Member of Parliament from Jabalpur Rakesh Singh, former Minister Ajay Vishnoi and others. Citys global woman Jayanti Kathale feted with Saraswati Sanman Puraskar Staff Reporter A daughter of Nagpur, Jayanti Kathale, laid out a delicious spread of various recipes of her success as an entrepreneur who launched Purnabramha as the worlds biggest restaurant of Maharashtrian food and saw the dream of converting it into a global chain. As she narrated her own story at times smilingly and at other times forcefully, the Nagpuri audience clapped in rapture and laughed heartily recognising that one girl among them had shown the courage to dream really big, and demonstrate her prowess to fulfill it. The occasion was Jayanti Kathales felicitation with Saraswati Sanman Puraskar by Mahila Samaj Ram Nagar as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Saraswati Mandir in Ram Nagar. And the story was revealed through an open interview that had the capacity-packed audience at the Saraswati Mandir auditorium mesmerised by fragrance of success through hard work and honesty. Adopting the mode of a leisurely chat, interviewer Prabha Deoskar, herself a noted anchor and theatre personality, led Jayanti Kathale artfully to tell her story to a spellbound audience on Saturday. Earlier, Anuradha Kurhekar, President of Mahila Samaj Ram Nagar, honoured Jayanti Kathale with the Saraswati Sanman Puraskar. I saw a dream and worked to make it come true. But that dream was triggered by a reality that vegetarian food was not available in different parts of the world. On a trip to Paris, my husband Pranav wrote to me how hungry he was without vegetarian food. I decided to launch such a service. I gave up my cosy corporate job and launched the entrepreneurial venture. Fortune favours the brave, and good luck smiled on me. Purnabrahma is not just a restaurant, I must say. It is an idea that has caught everybodys fancy, Jayanti Kathale said in the open interview, much to the cheer of the audience that clapped lustily every time a good question elicited an equally good answer. Dressed in the Maharashtrian nine-yard lemon-green saree with a pink border, Jayanti Kathale was at her usual best as she answered questions. She said, she was a tom-boy in a family of brothers. I had to be taught to be a girl. Cooking was never my forte. Yet, here I am in the profession of offering to the world best of Maharashtrian food, which people are lapping up everywhere I open an outlet. In Nagpur, too, I propose to launch one at the right time, she said drawing another round of applause. In her Maharashtrian attire that she has made her signature, Jayanti Kathale looked like the queen of whatever she surveyed. Her face radiated her confidence and an aura of the idea she produced. Drive to rid seized vehicles lying at police stations Staff Reporter Vehicles dumped in heaps, literally making the courtyards of police stations across the State a graveyard of abandoned vehicles, is a common sight in most of the places. But now the Police Department has decided to get rid of them. Police stations across the State will be cleaned in one-and-a-half month. Junk and seized vehicles of police stations are being disposed through public auction. This special campaign began from June 1 and will continue till July 15. A guideline in this regard has been issued by Special DG CID to Zone ADGs, IGs, Range DIGs, Bhopal-Indore Police Commissioners and all district's Superintendents of Police. Guidelines have been issued recently by Director General of Police Sudhir Kumar Saxena, during a surprise inspection of a police station after he found that such seized vehicles were lying unclaimed in the police station premises over a long period of time. They not only eat away space on the premises of police stations, but are also an eyesore. A few vehicles that are seized from criminals would be handed over to their rightful owners after obtaining permission from court while rest unclaimed vehicles would be auctioned. The amount collected after auctioning these unclaimed vehicles would be deposited with the States treasury. Govt sets up committee in Manipur to facilitate peace-making process NEW DELHI, THE Centre has constituted a committee in Manipur headed by the Governor to facilitate the peace-making process among various ethnic groups and initiate dialogue between conflicting parties, the Union Home Ministry said on Saturday. The members of the peace committee include the Chief Minister, a few Ministers, MPs, MLAs, leaders from different political parties and civil society groups, it said. Government of India has constituted Peace Committee in Manipur under the chairpersonship of the governor, Manipur. The members of the committee include the Chief Minister, a few Ministers in the state Government, MP, MLAs and leaders from different political parties, a Home Ministry statement said. The mandate of the committee will be to facilitate the peace-making process among various ethnic groups of the State, initiate peaceful dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties and groups, it said. The committee will strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups, the statement said. It also includes former civil servants, educationists, litterateurs, artists, social workers and representatives of different ethnic groups, the Home Ministry said. CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Three British tourists went missing on Sunday morning after fire caught a boat carrying 27 people on a cruising trip off the coast near Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Marsa Alam, the Red Sea Governorate said in a statement. Twelve out of 15 British tourists, along with 10 Egyptian crew members and two Egyptian tour guides, were rescued by another boat, "while the search for the three missing is still underway," said the statement. Initial investigation showed that the fire was likely caused by a short circuit in the boat's engine room, according to the statement. Mohamed Bendary, the Red Sea Governorate's secretary-general, said that the accident took place off the coast of the Elphinstone area, some 25 kilometers north of Marsa Alam. The Egyptian prosecution is currently further probing into the accident, said the statement. Gujarat ATS arrests 4 IS affiliates from Porbandar PORBANDAR, THE Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Gujarat Police has arrested four Islamic State (IS) affiliates after it dismanted a module of the terrorist group in the coastal town of Porbandar. The four arrested individuals include a woman named Sumera from Surat, the police said, adding that another person involved with the IS module is currently at large. According to the police, these suspects were active members of the IS module with plans to abscond and officially join the terror group. For the past year or so, they had been engaging in regular communication and were reportedly radicalised by their Pakistani handlers, the police added. India among top 5 economies in world: Rajnath SASARAM (Bihar), DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday asserted that the country has been making rapid economic progress and is tipped to become a developed nation by the time it celebrates the centenary of its Independence. Addressing the convocation of a private university in Bihars Rohtas district, Singh also noted with delight that there has been an increasing appreciation of the countrys cultural roots and foreigners were often using the word Bharat instead of India. In 2014, India was at the bottom of the list of top 10 economies of the world but in a short span of time since then, the country is now among the top five, said Singh, referring to the period since the Narendra Modi Government has been in power. Citing a recent report of Morgan Stanley, an American multinational investment bank and financial services company, he said, The global financial analyst believes we will be among the top three by 2027... We must now resolve to become a developed nation by the time we celebrate 100 years of Independence in 2047. We are being increasingly respected the world over. I have learnt that foreigners now prefer to call our country Bharat instead of India. This denotes the growing sense of pride in our cultural heritage exhibited by people and the political class alike, said Singh. Last nine years were period of Indias transformation: Pankaja Munde Staff Reporter Gone are the days when the Prime Minister of our nation was chosen through Jugaad or nepotism. Today, an individual from an ordinary family has ushered in an unprecedented era of political transformation, said Pankaja Munde, BJPs National Secretary and Co-incharge of Madhya Pradesh while addressing a press conference, on Saturday. Highlighting the changing scenario of Indian politics, Munde emphasized how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shattered the age-old notion that leadership was either acquired through favoritism or family connections. Munde said the BJP has initiated a month-long public relations campaign from May 30 to June 30, commemorating Prime Minister Narendra Modis nine years in office. As part of the campaign, party leaders and workers will engage with over a thousand families and beneficiaries of government schemes across the Lok Sabha constituencies. Additionally, a series of programs will also be conducted at 2132 booths in Jabalpur Lok Sabha area. Munde termed the past nine years as a period of transformation and welfare for India. She said PM Modis firm dedications have positioned the nation as a potential global superpower, with the world acknowledging that the 21st century belongs to India. She said India has transitioned from policy paralysis to decisive decision-making and has risen to become one of the top five economies worldwide. The country has successfully implemented the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (Collective Efforts, Inclusive Development), surpassing the self-centered policies of previous governments. She said earlier, the voice of India was unheard, but today, when India speaks, the world listens. Munde also acknowledged the efforts of Member of Parliament, Rakesh Singh, who has secured several significant projects for the region. She said a huge flyover, estimated at a cost of Rs 1100 crores is currently under construction. Likewise, Dumna Airport is also being developed at an expenditure of about Rs 450 crore. A 118 km long ring road, the countrys second-largest is being built at a cost of around Rs 4,000 crores. She said the completion of Jabalpur Gondia broad gauge project, amounting to Rs 1756 crores and development of Madan Mahal Railway station as a terminal station with an investment of Rs 150 crore and proposed establishment of countrys first Geological Park exemplify the regions progress. MP of Bulandshahr, Bhola Singh also present on the occasion. Navys mega op in Arabian sea NEW DELHI, IN ONE of the biggest demonstrations of its combat prowess in recent years, the Indian Navy has carried out a mega operation in the Arabian sea that involved two aircraft carriers, multiple warships, submarines and over 35 frontline planes amid Chinas increasing presence in Indian Ocean Region. The Navys aircraft carriers -- INS Vikramaditya and newly inducted INS Vikrant -- were the centrepieces of the exercise as they served as floating airfields for a wide array of aircraft, including MiG-29K and helicopters such as MH60R, Kamov and Advanced Light helicopters, officials said. The twin carrier CBG (carrier battle group) operations were held recently, they said without divulging the specific date of the exercise. The Indian Navy said the seamless operational integration of the two aircraft carriers as well as the fleet ships and submarines is a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power and Indias role as the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean and beyond. A carrier battle group or carrier strike group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number of destroyers, frigates and other ships. The Indian Navy has undertaken the twin-carrier CBG operations with more than 35 aircraft in Arabian Sea, demonstrating its formidable capability in ensuring sustained air operations across the vast maritime expanse and underscoring our commitment to safeguarding Indias national interests, Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. He said the exercise marked a significant milestone in the Navys pursuit of enhancing maritime security. Two pilots on world tour raising awareness about Polio eradication Staff Reporter Rotarians Peter Teahen and PDG John Ockenfels from Ohio, Unites States, while on the world tour to create awareness about Polio eradication, were in city on Saturday. The pilot duo provided valuable insights and updates regarding their initiative Around The World: Flight To End Polio. The two cousins took off from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States on May 5. During their world tour, they would cover 21 countries in 90 days, and complete their sojourn on July 30. The Rotarians are not only bearing entire cost of the entire journey in their own aircraft, but also taking time off their careers to raise awareness about eradicating Polio from the face of earth. Currently, Polio cases are found in only two countries -- Afghanistan and Pakistan, which were their previous stops before landing in India. However, it remains a threat until the entire world is Polio-free. Addressing a press conference at a city hotel on Saturday, Rotarian Peter Teahen, said, I dont just hope but I have firm belief that Polio will end from the face of earth. It will not be too late from now. Ockenfels last visited India in 2002 to be a part of Polio Eradication Summit 2002, held in Mumbai. He said, he felt happy about his own incorrect perception about Polio awareness in children of today. During his visit to a country he realised that childrens understanding of Polio is based on what happened in the past because they are not experiencing it around them, which is a good sign. On taking up the world tour for the cause in a single engine aircraft, he said, so far, only 700 pilots have ever achieved this feat, and less than 270 are alive today. Both the cousins are working hard to create awareness and raise funds through donations. They have with them the support of The Gates Foundation, who will generously match all donations in the ratio of 2 to 1. Teahen said, a child needs to get vaccinated before attaining five years of age. The virus enters a body through oral contamination and the effects on body are irreversible. In India, the Polio vaccination is provided by the Government with logistic support from the Rotarians, as required. India is free from Polio for almost last 10 years, the last such case was found in year 2014. One can visit FlightToEndPolio.com to know more about the efforts they are making for the cause. PDG Dr Rajan, Rajinder Khurana (Past President, Rotary) and Tarun Patel also were present at the press conference. SYDNEY, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Investigations are underway after a man was fatally shot in Sydney's west on Sunday, according to Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Police Force. Police said in a statement that emergency services were called to Factory Street in Granville, a suburb located about 20 kilometers west of Sydney's central business district, just before 4:30 p.m. local time, following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering a gunshot wound. He received treatment from paramedics but died at the scene. Police noted that the victim is believed to be in his 40s, whose identity remains to be formally confirmed. A crime scene has been established, with investigations continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Investment analysts at StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of New Concept Energy (NYSE:GBR Get Rating) in a report issued on Saturday. The firm set a sell rating on the stock. New Concept Energy Price Performance About New Concept Energy (Get Rating) New Concept Energy, Inc engages in real estate rental business. The company owns approximately 190 acres of land located in Parkersburg West Virginia. It also provides advisory and management services for an independent oil and gas company. The company was formerly known as CabelTel International Corporation and changed its name to New Concept Energy, Inc in May 2008. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for New Concept Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Concept Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Altice USA, Inc. (NYSE:ATUS Get Rating) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the twenty ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $8.06. A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ATUS shares. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Altice USA from $4.00 to $2.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Loop Capital decreased their target price on Altice USA from $12.00 to $3.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Altice USA from $4.00 to $3.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Pivotal Research decreased their price objective on shares of Altice USA from $4.50 to $3.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, TD Securities dropped their target price on shares of Altice USA from $6.00 to $4.75 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Get Altice USA alerts: Altice USA Price Performance Shares of ATUS stock opened at $2.76 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $2.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.25 billion, a PE ratio of 55.21 and a beta of 1.37. Altice USA has a 1-year low of $2.31 and a 1-year high of $13.17. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Altice USA ( NYSE:ATUS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by $0.01. Altice USA had a net margin of 0.25% and a negative return on equity of 16.96%. The business had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.43 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Altice USA will post 0.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Altice USA by 798.9% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,353 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 2,980 shares during the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in Altice USA in the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Diversified Trust Co acquired a new stake in Altice USA in the 4th quarter worth about $48,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Altice USA in the 4th quarter valued at about $49,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altice USA during the 1st quarter valued at about $134,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Altice USA (Get Rating) Altice USA, Inc engages in the provision of broadband, pay television, telephony services, proprietary content, and advertising services. Its brands include Optimum, Suddenlink, Optimum Mobile, Altice Business, News 12 Networks, Cheddar News, a4 Advertising, and i24 News. The company was founded by Patrick Drahi in 2001 and is headquartered in Long Island City, NY. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Altice USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altice USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA Get Rating) and Light (OTCMKTS:LGSXY Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends. Profitability This table compares Ormat Technologies and Lights net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Ormat Technologies alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ormat Technologies 10.39% 4.86% 2.17% Light N/A N/A N/A Valuation & Earnings This table compares Ormat Technologies and Lights top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ormat Technologies $734.16 million 6.94 $65.84 million $1.35 63.19 Light N/A N/A N/A $1.33 0.85 Dividends Ormat Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than Light. Light is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ormat Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Ormat Technologies pays an annual dividend of $0.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Light pays an annual dividend of $1.41 per share and has a dividend yield of 125.2%. Ormat Technologies pays out 35.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Light pays out 106.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Institutional & Insider Ownership 81.7% of Ormat Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Light shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of Ormat Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Ormat Technologies and Light, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ormat Technologies 0 6 2 0 2.25 Light 0 0 0 0 N/A Ormat Technologies currently has a consensus price target of $91.86, suggesting a potential upside of 7.69%. Given Ormat Technologies higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Ormat Technologies is more favorable than Light. Summary Ormat Technologies beats Light on 11 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Ormat Technologies (Get Rating) Ormat Technologies, Inc. engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Honduras, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electricity, Product, and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells electricity. The Product segment designs, manufactures, and sells equipment for geothermal, recovered energy-based electricity generation; and provides services relating to the engineering, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance of geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants. The Product segment serves contractors; developers, owners, and operators of geothermal power plants; and owners and operators of interstate natural gas pipelines, gas processing plants, and cement plants, as well as companies in other energy-intensive industrial processes. The Energy Storage segment offers energy storage and related services, as well as services relating to the engineering, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance of energy storage units. Ormat Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is based in Reno, Nevada. About Light (Get Rating) Light S.A., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric power in Brazil. The company distributes electricity in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It also engages in the research, planning, building, operation, and exploration of generation and transmission systems; purchase, sale, import, and export of electric and thermal power, and gas and industrial utilities; provision of consulting services in the energy sector; lease of real estate and personal properties; acquisition and sale of goods related to the studies and projects; implementation, operation, and maintenance of construction works and facilities; and trading activities. In addition, it provides services to low voltage clients, including the assembly, renovation, and maintenance of facilities. The company primarily serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Light S.A. was founded in 1899 and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Receive News & Ratings for Ormat Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ormat Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated their buy rating on shares of GSK (LON:GSK Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 1,700 ($21.13) price objective on the stock. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group set a GBX 2,000 ($24.86) price objective on shares of GSK in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Barclays reissued an equal weight rating and set a GBX 1,450 ($18.03) price target on shares of GSK in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 1,730 ($21.51) price objective on shares of GSK in a research report on Monday, June 5th. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of GSK in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 1,573.33 ($19.56). Get GSK alerts: GSK Stock Performance Shares of GSK stock opened at GBX 1,378 ($17.13) on Thursday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 1,445.38 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 1,437.16. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 184.80. The stock has a market capitalization of 56.36 billion, a PE ratio of 1,264.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.28. GSK has a 52-week low of GBX 1,280.92 ($15.92) and a 52-week high of GBX 2,280.50 ($28.35). GSK Increases Dividend Insider Buying and Selling The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a GBX 14 ($0.17) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.93%. This is a boost from GSKs previous dividend of $13.75. GSKs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 5,137.61%. In other GSK news, insider Jonathan Symonds purchased 2,100 shares of GSK stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 1,399 ($17.39) per share, with a total value of 29,379 ($36,522.87). In related news, insider Jonathan Symonds purchased 2,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 1,399 ($17.39) per share, with a total value of 29,379 ($36,522.87). Also, insider Iain Mackay acquired 200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 1,493 ($18.56) per share, for a total transaction of 2,986 ($3,712.08). Insiders have acquired 2,309 shares of company stock worth $3,249,586 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.75% of the companys stock. About GSK (Get Rating) GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. Read More Receive News & Ratings for GSK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GSK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Farmland Partners (NYSE:FPI Get Rating) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Wednesday. Separately, Raymond James cut their price target on Farmland Partners from $17.00 to $13.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Get Farmland Partners alerts: Farmland Partners Stock Down 0.5 % FPI stock opened at $12.21 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $10.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.67. The stock has a market cap of $633.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.83 and a beta of 0.81. Farmland Partners has a fifty-two week low of $9.44 and a fifty-two week high of $15.12. Farmland Partners Announces Dividend Insiders Place Their Bets The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.06 per share. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 30th. Farmland Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 133.33%. In related news, Director Murray R. Wise bought 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $9.66 per share, with a total value of $96,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 199,846 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,930,512.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 8.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Farmland Partners by 6.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,769,243 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,331,000 after purchasing an additional 226,151 shares during the period. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Farmland Partners by 21.3% in the first quarter. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. now owns 3,490,783 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,351,000 after buying an additional 614,076 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Farmland Partners by 16.8% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,343,449 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,692,000 after buying an additional 336,375 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA purchased a new stake in shares of Farmland Partners in the third quarter valued at approximately $15,060,000. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Farmland Partners by 3.2% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,102,093 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $11,858,000 after buying an additional 34,124 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.51% of the companys stock. Farmland Partners Company Profile (Get Rating) Farmland Partners, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. the firm engages in the management and acquisition of farmland and land with agricultural development potential. Its property portfolio focuses on the primary crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton and the remaining land is used to grow specialty crops, such as almond, citrus, blueberries, vegetables and edible beans. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Farmland Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Farmland Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A student demonstrates Chinese kongfu during the final round of the 22nd Chinese Bridge language contest in Lalitpur, Nepal, June 11, 2023. A total of 10 Nepali college students on Sunday contested in the final round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" language contest in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The Chinese language proficiency competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, featured speeches on "One World, One Family," quizzes on Chinese knowledge and talent shows. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) KATHMANDU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 10 Nepali college students on Sunday contested in the final round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" language contest in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The Chinese language proficiency competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, featured speeches on "One World, One Family," quizzes on Chinese knowledge and talent shows. The Nepali contestants, five males and five females, shared their visions of "One World, One Family" through their own experiences. They also showed their appreciation of Chinese culture through singing Chinese songs, violin solo, practice of Taiji (Tai Chi) and martial arts. Anish Kumar Kikel from Kathmandu University was thrilled to secure the first place in the contest, saying he dreams about visiting China. "I'm on the way to you, China," he exclaimed. Kikel will be invited to attend the global final in China to compete with contestants from other countries. "You will get to see and learn, at first hand, how China has prospered, which I believe will transform your way of thinking," Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, Lalitpur's deputy mayor, told the audience. "Change in Nepal is possible if young minds like you can better our relationship with China," she said. Chinese education has become a well-known name card in the development of China-Nepal relationship, as language is the best key to getting to know about another country, said Chen Song, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal. He said that over 10,000 Chinese learners have been registered with two Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Nepal, and there are nearly 100 Nepalis studying in China each year. Besides, Chinese has been added as a course of study by many universities and colleges and primary and secondary schools in Nepal, Chen said. The ambassador pledged joint efforts with the Nepali government and friends from all walks of life to implement the China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative and pool resources available, including the Chinese government scholarship, to make Chinese education high-end and professional and offer better opportunities and platforms for learners to learn and use the language. A student performs Taiji, or Tai Chi, during the final round of the 22nd Chinese Bridge language contest in Lalitpur, Nepal, June 11, 2023. A total of 10 Nepali college students on Sunday contested in the final round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" language contest in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The Chinese language proficiency competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, featured speeches on "One World, One Family," quizzes on Chinese knowledge and talent shows. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, Lalitpur's deputy mayor, addresses the final round of the 22nd Chinese Bridge language contest in Lalitpur, Nepal, June 11, 2023. A total of 10 Nepali college students on Sunday contested in the final round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" language contest in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The Chinese language proficiency competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, featured speeches on "One World, One Family," quizzes on Chinese knowledge and talent shows. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song addresses the final round of the 22nd Chinese Bridge language contest in Lalitpur, Nepal, June 11, 2023. A total of 10 Nepali college students on Sunday contested in the final round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" language contest in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The Chinese language proficiency competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, featured speeches on "One World, One Family," quizzes on Chinese knowledge and talent shows. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song (L) presents a certificate to the winner of the 22nd Chinese Bridge language contest in Lalitpur, Nepal, June 11, 2023. A total of 10 Nepali college students on Sunday contested in the final round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" language contest in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The Chinese language proficiency competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, featured speeches on "One World, One Family," quizzes on Chinese knowledge and talent shows. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) A student performs during the final round of the 22nd Chinese Bridge language contest in Lalitpur, Nepal, June 11, 2023. A total of 10 Nepali college students on Sunday contested in the final round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" language contest in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The Chinese language proficiency competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, featured speeches on "One World, One Family," quizzes on Chinese knowledge and talent shows. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) Hannover Ruck SE (OTCMKTS:HVRRY Get Rating) has been given an average rating of Hold by the nine analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $183.67. Separately, Bank of America upgraded Hannover Ruck from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, March 27th. Get Hannover Ruck alerts: Hannover Ruck Trading Down 1.4 % Shares of HVRRY opened at $102.01 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $103.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $99.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.20. The company has a market capitalization of $24.60 billion, a PE ratio of 14.45 and a beta of 0.72. Hannover Ruck has a fifty-two week low of $65.98 and a fifty-two week high of $111.33. Hannover Ruck Cuts Dividend Hannover Ruck ( OTCMKTS:HVRRY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 9th. The financial services provider reported $2.27 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $8.95 billion for the quarter. Hannover Ruck had a return on equity of 17.89% and a net margin of 5.26%. The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th were given a dividend of $0.4037 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 4th. This represents a yield of 2.3%. Hannover Rucks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.33%. About Hannover Ruck (Get Rating) Hannover Ruck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The company offers property and casualty reinsurance solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space businesses; catastrophe XL business; credit, surety, and political risks businesses; facultative business; and marine and offshore energy businesses, as well as insurance-linked securities and structured reinsurance. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hannover Ruck Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hannover Ruck and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA Get Rating) had its price target lowered by Barclays from C$93.00 to C$92.00 in a research note released on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on NA. Veritas Investment Research reissued a buy rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on National Bank of Canada from C$111.00 to C$108.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. CIBC decreased their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$110.00 to C$108.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$102.00 to C$104.50 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their price objective on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$111.00 to C$109.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$105.77. Get National Bank of Canada alerts: National Bank of Canada Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of NA opened at C$96.22 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$99.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$97.82. The company has a market cap of C$32.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.14, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.11. National Bank of Canada has a twelve month low of C$82.16 and a twelve month high of C$104.83. National Bank of Canada Increases Dividend National Bank of Canada Company Profile The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 26th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.24%. This is a positive change from National Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $0.97. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 23rd. National Bank of Canadas payout ratio is presently 40.89%. (Get Rating) National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for National Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Rating) have been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $5.78. NOK has been the topic of several recent research reports. TheStreet upgraded Nokia Oyj from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. StockNews.com lowered Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Raymond James reduced their price target on Nokia Oyj from $7.00 to $6.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Get Nokia Oyj alerts: Nokia Oyj Stock Performance Shares of NYSE NOK opened at $4.00 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $22.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.06, a P/E/G ratio of 5.15 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Nokia Oyj has a 1-year low of $3.93 and a 1-year high of $5.28. The stocks 50-day moving average is $4.27 and its 200 day moving average is $4.57. Nokia Oyj Increases Dividend Nokia Oyj ( NYSE:NOK Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The technology company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $5.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.74 billion. Nokia Oyj had a net margin of 16.78% and a return on equity of 11.57%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.08 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Nokia Oyj will post 0.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 25th were paid a $0.0329 dividend. This represents a $0.13 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 24th. This is a boost from Nokia Oyjs previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. Nokia Oyjs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.39%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NOK. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 55.0% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 27,742,934 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $128,727,000 after purchasing an additional 9,842,934 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 35.1% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 28,586,180 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $140,358,000 after purchasing an additional 7,419,900 shares during the period. Capital Growth Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Nokia Oyj in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,250,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its stake in Nokia Oyj by 8.7% during the third quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 84,525,880 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $360,925,000 after buying an additional 6,733,618 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Nokia Oyj by 93.1% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,039,382 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $54,203,000 after buying an additional 5,321,714 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 7.57% of the companys stock. Nokia Oyj Company Profile (Get Rating) Nokia Oyj engages in the provision of network infrastructure, technology, and software services. It operates through the following segments: Mobile Networks, Network Infrastructure, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. The Mobile Networks segment offers technologies for Radio Access Networks (RAN) as well as Microwave Radio Links (MWR) for transport networks. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC (LON:FGT Get Rating) insider Simon Hayes bought 1,567 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 888 ($11.04) per share, for a total transaction of 13,914.96 ($17,298.56). Simon Hayes also recently made the following trade(s): Get Finsbury Growth & Income Trust alerts: On Wednesday, April 5th, Simon Hayes acquired 3,537 shares of Finsbury Growth & Income Trust stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 891 ($11.08) per share, with a total value of 31,514.67 ($39,177.86). Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Trading Down 0.6 % LON:FGT opened at GBX 877 ($10.90) on Friday. The company has a market cap of 1.82 billion, a PE ratio of -1,624.07 and a beta of 0.51. The businesss 50 day moving average is GBX 899.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 878.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.01. Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC has a 52 week low of GBX 731.80 ($9.10) and a 52 week high of GBX 923 ($11.47). Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Cuts Dividend About Finsbury Growth & Income Trust The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 6th were issued a GBX 8.50 ($0.11) dividend. This represents a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 6th. Finsbury Growth & Income Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently -3,333.33%. (Get Rating) Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched Frostrow Capital LLP. The fund is co-managed by Lindsell Train Limited. It invests in public equity markets of the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Finsbury Growth & Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Equities research analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Can-Fite BioPharma (NYSEAMERICAN:CANF Get Rating) in a research note issued on Friday. The firm set a hold rating on the biotechnology companys stock. Separately, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $34.00 price objective on shares of Can-Fite BioPharma in a report on Monday, March 13th. Get Can-Fite BioPharma alerts: Can-Fite BioPharma Stock Down 2.4 % Can-Fite BioPharma stock opened at $2.63 on Friday. Can-Fite BioPharma has a twelve month low of $1.52 and a twelve month high of $11.20. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $2.33 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.23. The company has a market capitalization of $9.29 million, a P/E ratio of -0.71 and a beta of 1.29. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Can-Fite BioPharma ( NYSEAMERICAN:CANF Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 30th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.11) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.57) by ($0.54). Can-Fite BioPharma had a negative net margin of 1,255.93% and a negative return on equity of 120.33%. The company had revenue of $0.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.50 million. Equities analysts expect that Can-Fite BioPharma will post -2.03 EPS for the current fiscal year. A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Can-Fite BioPharma stock. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:CANF Get Rating) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 56,322 shares of the biotechnology companys stock, valued at approximately $52,000. Virtu Financial LLC owned 0.21% of Can-Fite BioPharma at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.82% of the companys stock. About Can-Fite BioPharma (Get Rating) Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company, which engages in the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases and erectile dysfunction. Its product pipeline include Piclidenoson, Namodenoson, and CF602. The company was founded by Pnina Fishman and Ilan Cohn on September 11, 1994 and is headquartered in Petach-Tikva, Israel. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Can-Fite BioPharma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Can-Fite BioPharma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com cut shares of Teekay Tankers (NYSE:TNK Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report released on Thursday morning. A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on TNK. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Teekay Tankers from $44.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. TheStreet raised shares of Teekay Tankers from a c rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $51.00. Get Teekay Tankers alerts: Teekay Tankers Stock Performance TNK stock opened at $36.91 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.09, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of -0.14. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $39.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $36.83. Teekay Tankers has a fifty-two week low of $14.90 and a fifty-two week high of $48.05. The company has a quick ratio of 2.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. Teekay Tankers Announces Dividend Teekay Tankers ( NYSE:TNK Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The shipping company reported $5.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.65 by $1.48. The business had revenue of $270.47 million during the quarter. Teekay Tankers had a net margin of 32.12% and a return on equity of 39.74%. Sell-side analysts predict that Teekay Tankers will post 13.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 19th. Teekay Tankerss payout ratio is presently 8.36%. Institutional Trading of Teekay Tankers Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TNK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Teekay Tankers by 18.4% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 259,382 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $3,590,000 after buying an additional 40,309 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Teekay Tankers by 27.5% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 105,429 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,459,000 after purchasing an additional 22,761 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in shares of Teekay Tankers by 20.7% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 32,864 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $455,000 after purchasing an additional 5,639 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Teekay Tankers by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 98,450 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,363,000 after purchasing an additional 2,394 shares during the period. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Teekay Tankers in the 1st quarter valued at about $159,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.74% of the companys stock. Teekay Tankers Company Profile (Get Rating) Teekay Tankers Ltd. engages in the provision of crude oil and refined petroleum products through the operation of its oil and product tankers. It operates through the Tanker and Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfer segment. The Tanker segment includes the operations of all the tankers, including those employed on full service lightering contracts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Teekay Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teekay Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vulcan Value Partners LLC cut its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Get Rating) by 16.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,402,068 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 283,871 shares during the quarter. Mastercard makes up approximately 6.5% of Vulcan Value Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Vulcan Value Partners LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $487,498,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Transform Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Transform Wealth LLC now owns 5,090 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,770,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 20.5% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 73,278 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $25,481,000 after acquiring an additional 12,481 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 488.1% in the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,463 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,248,000 after acquiring an additional 5,364 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK increased its position in Mastercard by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 910 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $316,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at about $198,000. 74.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard Price Performance Mastercard stock opened at $369.22 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $373.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $364.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12 month low of $276.87 and a 12 month high of $392.20. The company has a market cap of $349.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.89, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.11. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.09. Mastercard had a net margin of 42.33% and a return on equity of 169.12%. The business had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.76 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.25 EPS for the current year. A number of brokerages recently commented on MA. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Mastercard from $410.00 to $435.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. KeyCorp boosted their target price on Mastercard from $425.00 to $430.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their target price on Mastercard from $390.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Mastercard from $392.00 to $404.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on Mastercard from $405.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $417.27. Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard In other Mastercard news, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 27,417 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $374.49, for a total transaction of $10,267,392.33. Following the sale, the insider now owns 39,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,703,600.87. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 27,417 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $374.49, for a total value of $10,267,392.33. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 39,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,703,600.87. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on 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 directly owns 99,808,197 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,111,760,024.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 542,079 shares of company stock valued at $207,174,711 in the last 90 days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Mastercard Profile (Get Rating) Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Get Rating). 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. WHAT NIGERIA ACHIEVED IN LESS THAN 70 YEARS ENGLAND AND WALES SHALL BE ACHIEVING IN 755 YEARS AFTER Today, Sunday June 10, 2023, I received an Email that excited me exceedingly and made me laugh uncontrollably. It was a mail from a Law Teacher in Cambridge University, UK. In it, he said he was proudly pre-informing me that the UK was about to do what I jocularly taunted it as unable to do throughout all its history but which Nigeria did in less than 70 years. I instantly recognised what he was referring to and I anxiously read on for the evidence. In 2003 or so, I was in Cambridge university- not as a student (I schooled in Nkpolu- Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria) - but as one of Key Note Speakers in a symposium there that year. At the Dinner after the Opening Ceremonies, I was honoured with the assignment of proposing the Toast to: " All Heads of Government and Sovereigns here represented". It was a huge honour and a proud moment for me. At the Dinner, seated on the High Table, was Nigeria's then Chief Justice, Justice Mariam Alooma Mukthar. She was Nigeria's first woman to occupy that position. Justice Amina Augie, also of the Supreme Court, was in audience. Coincidentally, it was her - Justice Augie's- Birthday that day. When it was time, during the Dinner, and I was called upon to perform the Toast, I applied for two indulgences, before proposing the Toast and was permitted. Firstly, I informed the Dinners that a Justice of Nigeria's Supreme Court, Amina Augie, was dinning with us and that it was her Birthday. My Lord stood up, and took a bow to Happy Birthday wishes from the fellow Dinners. Later, a Birthday cake was arranged and presented to her by Prof Berry Rider. Secondly, I asked my audience whether, in the entire History of England and Wales, in particular, for the over 700 years that the office of the Chief Justice of England and Wales was established in 1268 or so, a female had ever occupied it. I answered in the negative myself and to which answer they all concurred; or at least, no one negatived. I then proudly introduced to them, the Hon Justice Marriam Alooma Mukthar, Nigeria's first female Chief Justice. Something England and Wales had never accomplished. We beat them to it, I triumphantly announced. It was after that, that I proceeded to propose the Toast as requested. That was more than a decade. Today, in the email I referred to earlier, my learned friend informed me that the UK, soon, very soon, would have a female Lord Chief Justice FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME since over 700 years and more than 10 years after we attained that feat in Nigeria within 70 years of our own nationhood. According to him, only two (2) persons have made the Final Shortlist and they are women. Both were QCs ( senior advocates, as we call them here in Nigeria) before they joined the Bench. One is of the Court of Appeal and the other, of the UK Supreme Court. They are: 1. Dame Victoria Sharp 2. Dame Sue Carr From analysis, it seems it will swing to Mrs Sharp, with a reputation for hard work and dillgence. She is said to work from 7am to 9pm weekdays and at weekends. A twin sister to Richard Sachs, the legendary banker with Goldman Sachs, Justice Sharp so loves hardwork she rejected any leave on the birth of any of her children! (This workaholic habit reminds me personally of the 1960's Lord Chief Justice of England, Renner Goddard, whose Biographer stated that for all the period Justice Goddard was both a High Court Judge and the Lord Chief Justice, spanning a combined period of over 2 decades, his Lordship missed Court only one day -on the insistence of his doctor. And that he never was late for one day!) To me, and indeed it is so, this is a truly historic moment- a position, for over 700 years that over 100 men had occupied with no woman ever occupying it, is about to be occupied by a woman- Dame Sharp or Dame Carr, Lord (or Lady) Chief Justice of England and Wales! Since there is no NJC there ( NJC is Nigeria' s National Judicial Council that constitutionally makes such recommendation), Prime Minister Sunak and the Lord Chancellor Chalk, would put heads together, recommend one of the two women to the King and the appointment of the first woman Chief Justice of Engalnd and Wales since over 700 years is made! We rejoice with the UK people and congratulate Justice Sharp or Justice Carr, whoever finally makes it. For me, and returning to the Theme: What England and Wales could not do in over 700 years, Nigeria did in less than 70 years! Is God our God, not great? My name is WorguBoms The Nigerian Voice, an online newspaper founded over 15 years ago has had over a decade of media partnership with Africas oldest and most innovative, thriving, and prosperous airline, Ethiopian airlines. Founded on April 8, 1946, Ethiopian Airlines, commenced flight operations about 77 years ago and have on her fleet, over 150 commercial aircrafts, including the latest Boeing 787 -9 and more expected deliveries. A proud member of the prestigious Star Alliance, Ethiopian airlines is wholly owned by the government of Ethiopia, demystifying the erroneous belief in some African countries that government does not have the capacity to operate and manage a successful business venture. Mr. Mesfin Tasew Bekele, an Ethiopian electrical and communications engineer is the chief executive officer of Ethiopian airlines group, again, dismantling the compartmentalized opinion in some quarters on the capacity of Africans. Ethiopian Airlines is the pathfinder of aviation industry in Africa, creating aviation one-stop-shop and hub in Addis Ababa and crowning it with Ethiopian Aviation University. The Publisher of The Nigerian Voice, Mr Henry D. Oduenyi was recently hosted by a representative of the Groups PR and Corporate Communications media relations at the Business lounge at the departure hall in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Mr Ashenafi Zeray was excited to usher his guest into the luxurious and cozy Business lounge. The Business lounge has a portion dedicated to Ethiopian traditional coffee. A setting of the legendary folktale of the origin of Ethiopian coffee, dating back to 750 AD. The Ethiopian coffee is one of worlds most sought-after coffee blend and it was obviously confirmed by Mr. Oduenyi. With a flowery taste indicating wine and a berry aftertaste due to the fact that the coffee beans are often dried while still within the cherry fruit of the plant it was enough confirmation. That is the secret of Ethiopian coffee. Ethiopia is one of the largest coffee producers in the world, a feat it has jealously guided and maintained. No wonder the choice to educate and entertain their Nigerian media partner with a significantly unique traditional and economic produce. Even though the ambiance of the Business lounge was unpretentiously enticing, it was time to continue the journey with a Boeing 787 -9 jet flight to Nigeria. The Nigerian Voice thanks the Ethiopian Airlines media team for a flourishing relationship. BUDAPEST, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation with China brings significant benefits to Hungary, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in a video message posted on his Facebook page here on Saturday. Hungary and China are strategic partners, Szijjarto said, adding that "We look at China as a country with which cooperation can bring a lot of benefits." According to the chief diplomat, in 2020, Chinese investors brought the highest amount of investments to Hungary, and this year is set to be the second year with such substantial investments. Szijjarto appreciated that Hungary has been invited as a guest of honor at the 2023 World Power Battery Conference, being held between June 8 and 11 in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province. He pointed out that Hungary has become a hub for Eastern and Western investors, stating, "We are one of the three countries of the world, together with China and Germany, which host the factories of the three premium German car-making companies, who have all located the heart of their electromobility strategy to Hungary." The battery suppliers for these manufacturers are Chinese companies, he said, noting that it was a "great honor" to announce the investments of CATL and EVE Energy in Hungary and the investment of another top-ten electric vehicle battery manufacturing company will also be announced soon. In mid-May, the local media reported that the Chinese company Sunwoda, one of the world's top ten battery manufacturers, is planning to build a battery factory in Hungary targeting the European market. Szijjarto highlighted that Hungary ranks fourth globally in electric vehicle battery production, and with the completion of these investments, the country will move up to second place. He also mentioned that electric vehicle batteries have become Hungary's number one export product over the past 1-1.5 years. The Hungarian FM attributed the success of the flourishing Hungarian-Chinese relations to the Eastern Opening Policy of the Hungarian government, initiated 13 years ago. "This policy, this political strategy of ours, has become a huge success story." It is a pedestrian information that in his effort to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living in the country triggered by the recent removal of subsidy on petroleum products in the country, the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki , raised the minimum wage for workers on its payroll from N30, 000 to N40, 000. Also heartening is the awareness that the workers have been permitted work from home twice a week and show up in the office three days per week, measures which the governor noted were taken as the states immediate response to the stoppage of petrol subsidy payment by the Federal Government, which pushed up food costs and petrol price. Unfortunately, this noble and sublime decision has not gone without criticism. For instance, I have within this few days of that announcement seen many argue that the governor has done nothing exemplary or impressive with the paltry ten thousand naira (N10,000) increment, particularly as the forty thousand naira minimum wage cannot truly alleviate the economic situation of a household in todays Nigeria. Even more, I have equally heard others demonstrate how the latest spontaneous increment of workers salary by the governor cannot be sustained as it is laden with in-built risks that the governor is yet to discover for the so-called increment was neither system/budget supported nor method-based. As the debate 'flourishes', the truth is that whether the increment was not practical or pragmatic, even though it was not 'system supported or method based', Governor Obaseki has set separate but similar examples for his fellow state governors and of course the Federal Government. Aside from demonstrating that we are poor as nation not because of our geographical location or absence of Mineral resources, the Edo state Governor has through this singular action exemplified that he considers Edo state civil servants as soldiers in the states development army and have the same ranks and tasks with him just as it exists in traditional armies. Unless the leader of these teams (civil servants) provides them with the right incentives, care and encouragement, they will never conquer obstacles needed to assist the state achieve developmental goals and objectives. Regardless of what others may say, the hour has come and it is urgently true that if we are to remain as one united Nigeria, those in the position of authority must stop creating second class citizens. our governor must internalize as well as recognize that 'power properly understood is nothing but the ability to achieve a purpose. It is the strength required to bring about social, economic, political, cultural and religious changes'. What is also needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anaemic. That power at its best is love implementing the demand of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love'. As the excruciating pains arising from the sudden removal of subsidy continues to fester, what Obasekis example educates other public office holders in the country is that to avoid failure, a leader must develop his vision according to a strict timetable, because delay and procrastination are the enemies of success. That many leaders lost crucial battles because they did not make the right decisions at the right time; when they finally did, it was too late the situation had changed and potential victories turned into defeats. Viewed broadly, his prompt attention to the plight of Edo civil servants is aptly in consonance with the leadership ideology/vision of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , a great leader and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirate (UAE), who among other leadership remarks emphasized that 'behind every major failure lies a failed decision, and behind every failed decision lies government that failed its people a government that did not carry out its duties properly, having made the wrong decisions or delaying the right ones'. Without doubt, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo, may not be a saint or an angel, but in this junction of our nations history with visible shortfalls in dedicated and courageous leaders that are reputed for public good and greater good for greater number, there are indeed more reasons why he deserves commendation. This fact becomes overwhelmingly valid when one remembers that this is not his first impressive and exemplary people-focused leadership provisions. Take as an illustration, a few months ago, precisely in January, 2023, it was in the news that under his watch, the Edo Modular Refinery commenced operation at its 6,000 barrels per day (bpd) plant in Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, with plans underway to complete the phase II of the project, and after which, its production capacity will jump from 6,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 21,000bpd. The modular refinery going by media reports, is a fully funded project undertaken by AIPCC Energy Limited in a joint venture between AFCOM Oil & Gas and Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company of China, but was developed by Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (ERPC) with support from the state government through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Separate from the awareness that Obasekis people-oriented and development focused leadership in the state is coming at about the same time when other state governors in the country cannot revitalize infrastructures in their states or incubate new ones, also remarkable is the fact that the referenced refinery which had the capacity to produce 50percent of diesel (500,000 litres), 25 percent of naphtha (300,000 litres) and 200,000 litres of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), is not the first, but the second attracted to the state by the administration of the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, to boost investment inflow and drive industrialization in the state. Through Governor Obasekis efforts in the state, it was reported that thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the good people of Edo state have been created-men and women, young and old alike while the coming of the refinery have increased the states revenue base. Even as this author joins Edo civil servants to celebrate Obasekis leadership benevolence with accompanying request that he do more for the people of the state, it also necessitate the call on all Nigerians to recover their moral and strategic health to stand again for freedom, demand accountability from their leaders particularly their state governors for poor decisions, missed judgment, lack of planning, lack of preparation and willful denial of the obvious truth about serious and imminent threats that are facing their states. The time is ripe for Nigerians to reject the false and horrendous reasons being offered to them by their clueless state governors as an explanation for why their states are not yet developed. Obaseki is not the only public office holder in the country but his recent leadership actions and inactions is addressing the scary unemployment levels in his state through productive partnership with key players in the nation's private sector. This is a lesson that other state governors must learn; the only way to survive is to creatively support industrialization of their various states as failure to do so, will see the state continue to find itself faced with difficulty accelerating economic life cycle of its people. Finally, if we are to move forward and solve the multifaceted challenges bedeviling the nation, this piece calls for enthronement as leaders, Nigerians with needs of the masses close to their hearts and contemplate industrialization via productive collaboration with private organizations that have surplus capital to create employment. . Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), A Lagos-Based Non Governmental Organization (NGO).And could be reached via [email protected] /08032725374. Business interests suspected as motive for Boat Avenue shooting PHUKET: Investigators believe that the possible motive behind an assassination attempt on a Russian man at Boat Avenue could be his business interests in Phuket. The man was shot four times through the windshield of his car on Wednesday (June 7) but managed to survive the attack. crimemurderRussian By The Phuket News Sunday 11 June 2023 09:00 AM Retrieving the shooters gun took several days as the suspect threw it into a lake. Photo: Cherng Talay Police Retrieving the shooters gun took several days as the suspect threw it into a lake. Photo: Cherng Talay Police Retrieving the shooters gun took several days as the suspect threw it into a lake. Photo: Cherng Talay Police As of this morning (June 11), police have arrested one man in connection with the case and have obtained an arrest warrant in his name. The charges on which he has been arrested and the duration of his detention have not been disclosed. The man was apprehended on June 8, though not on attempted murder-related charges but solely for overstaying his visa. At that time, Phuket Police Chief Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong confirmed in a phone conversation with The Phuket News that there were no formal charges against him related to the shooting. It is unclear if this has changed since then. The suspect, a national of Kazakhstan of Korean origin born in 1974, was arrested after police discovered that he had rented the Yamaha N-Max scooter used in the shooting. The man denies any connection to the murder attempt. The absence of formal confirmation regarding shooting-related charges has led to speculation on social media about the resemblance between the arrested man and the suspect captured by CCTV cameras at the shooting scene Several key pieces of evidence are now in police custody, including the aforementioned Yamaha N-Max scooter, the clothes worn by the shooter and dropped near the scene, and a .38 caliber revolver with two unused rounds of ammunition found in a nearby lake. Police are yet to confirm if they are able to conduct DNA tests or similar tests to establish a connection between the arrested man from Kazakhstan and the shooting. Boat Avenue shooting An attack on a Phuket-based businessman from Russia, whose name the police have not officially disclosed, occurred at the Boat Avenue complex near Laguna Phuket at around 11.30am on Wednesday (June 7). According to eyewitness accounts, the attacker had been waiting at the complex on a grey Yamaha N-Max motorbike, with his face concealed at all times by a crash helmet. Shortly after the Russian businessman parked his car in front of Anise Tapas and Bar, the man fired four shots from a firearm into the windshield of the vehicle. The man inside the car, identified as a 43-year-old Russian national at that time, was struck in the chest and upper arm. Despite bleeding heavily, the victim remained conscious when police and medical workers arrived at the scene. He was subsequently taken for medical care, though there have been no updates on the victims condition from the police thus far. Investigators now believe that the motive for the attack may be related to the Russian mans business interests in Phuket, reports Khao Phuket, The Phuket News sister-newspaper in Thai language. The Russian businessman, who turned 44 years old on Friday (June 9), is know to be involved in the restaurant business in Phuket Organic law probe could doom Pita BANGKOK: The Election Commission (EC)s decision to investigate Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat over whether he had violated the organic law on the election of members of parliament may lead to many senators voting against his bid for the prime minister post, according to a former commissioner. politics By Bangkok Post Sunday 11 June 2023 12:53 PM Mr Pita meets supporters in Phuket last week. (Photo: Move Forward Party) The EC decided to conduct the inquiry on Friday (June 9) over whether Mr Pita had applied as a list-MP candidate despite knowing he may not have been eligible to run for a House seat. It did so on the same day it decided to no longer accept complaints over Mr Pitas alleged iTV shareholding offence, reports the Bangkok Post. The ECs decision to pursue this criminal case against Mr Pita, although it may not be made final in time [for the prime minister selection process], is enough an excuse for many senators who intend not to vote for Mr Pita to justify their move, said Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, former EC commissioner. Worse still, he said, Mr Pitas share-holding case could still be filed with the Constitutional Court if at least 50 MPs or 25 senators signed a court petition against his premiership bid, he said. Heavier weapons are being transported into this warzone, meaning the 151 anti-aircraft guns are just the beginning, he said, apparently referring to the ECs inquiry into whether Mr Pita had violated Section 42 (3) and Section 151 of the organic law on the election of MPs. Deputy Pheu Thai leader Sutin Klungsang echoed Mr Somchais opinion that a number of senators will use the inquiry as a reason to not vote for Mr Pita when selecting a PM. Those senators will cite uncertainties surrounding Mr Pitas future as the next PM as a reason not to support him, he said. However, regarding speculation that Pheu Thai may form a coalition without the MFP should Mr Pita fail to win enough support to become prime minister, Mr Sutin said such a decision would have to be discussed among all eight potential coalition partners, not just Pheu Thai alone. To prove whether Mr Pita is guilty of violating Section 151 of the organic law will be more difficult than deciding whether he is eligible to contest the election because of his iTV Plc shareholding, said Sodsri Sattayatham, another former election commissioner. The sentence for violating Section 151 carries a more serious penalty, she said. Those found guilty face 10 years in prison, a fine of up to B200,00 and a ban from voting in elections for 20 years, she said. Violating Section 151 is a criminal offence, and a final ruling may take about a year, she said. However, while awaiting the final ruling, Mr Pitas political opponents can still petition the House speaker to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on Mr Pitas alleged ineligibility to contest the election, she said. Jade Donavanik, former adviser to the Constitution Drafting Committee, urged the EC and the court to speed up Mr Pitas case, saying if their decision is only known after he becomes PM, the situation will become even more complicated. However, he admitted that deciding whether Mr Pita had violated Section 151 of the organic law is something new in Thailands judicial process. MFP list-MP-elect Rangsiman Rome also viewed the ECs inquiry into Mr Pitas alleged violation of the organic law as an attempt to prevent the MFP from forming a new government. Ratsadorn leader Arnon Nampa warned that if Section 151 is used as a tool to derail Mr Pitas future as PM, his supporters will protest in the streets. Phuket residents gather to greet King and Queen of Thailand PHUKET: People from all walks of life, clad in vibrant yellow garments, have begun gathering at assembly points from where they will proceed to Tha Kraeng Rd in Phuket Town or to designated greeting points on the route of the Royal Motorcade to pay their respects to King Maha Vajiralongkorn (King Rama X) and Queen Suthida later today (June 11). By The Phuket News Sunday 11 June 2023 01:00 PM Streets of Phuket have been decorated for the frist official visit of Rama X on June 11. Photo: Phuket City Municipality In a notice issued yesterday (June 10), the Phuket provincial branch of the Public Relations Department clearly confirmed that everyone is welcome to greet His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, who will lead two official ceremonies at Phuket Provincial Hall and the Court of Appeal Region 8. The invitation has been extended to everyone, irrespective of whether they have registered with local authorities as participants. Registration was recommended but not mandatory. The ceremony at Phuket Provincial Hall and the Court of Appeal Region 8 will start at 5pm. However, attendees have been asked to arrive by 2pm as everyone will be required to undergo a screening process before being granted entry. People who have completed advanced registration for the Tha Kreang Rd event should follow the recommendations from the registrar (such as Phuket City Municipality) and direct any questions to the registrar, if needed. Those without registration for the Tha Kreang Rd event should come to one of the designated public parking areas by 2pm, park their vehicles there, and then follow the instructions provided by officials on-site. The designated parking areas are as follows: Warm Bar on Bangkok Rd Yi Teng Complex on Bangkok Rd Ban Talad Nuea School Saphan Hin Park/Sports Complex Phuket Polytechnic College Phuket Land Transport Office Phuket Red Cross Office There is no single comprehensive set of guidelines provided by PR Phuket for individuals heading to various greeting points along the route of the Royal Motorcade. Separate notices have been issued by Srisoonthorn Municipality and Thepkrasattri Municipality. Srisoonthorn Municipality has invited people to come to Tha Ruea Shrine south of Heroines Monument by 2pm and has also provided several pick-up points throughout the tambon area (see notice here). Thepkrasattri Municipality has invited people to come to Thalang District Office north of Makro Thalang and Lotuss Thalang by 2pm (see notice here). Local authorities from Koh Kaea confirmed yesterday (June 10) that they were preparing a public space at Muslim Wittaya School north of Boat Lagoon and Royal Phuket Marina. It is understood that people should arrive by 2 pm as well. No information has been provided regarding the greeting points at Phuket International Airport. The following guidelines have been provided for all attendees by PR Phuket: UKs Boris Johnson quits as MP, claiming a witch-hunt LONDON: Britains former prime minister Boris Johnson angrily quit as a member of parliament on Friday (June 9), claiming he had been forced out in a stitch-up by his political opponents. politicsCOVID-19 By AFP Sunday 11 June 2023 08:00 AM Boris Johnson pictured in May 2022. Photo: AFP The 58-year-old populist politician has been under investigation by a cross-party committee about whether he repeatedly lied to parliament over COVID lockdown-breaking parties when he was in office. In evidence earlier this year, he angrily insisted he had not. But as the committee prepares to make public its findings, he said they had contacted him making it clear... they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament. The Privileges Committee, which has a majority of MPs from his own Conservative party, has powers to impose sanctions for misleading parliament, including suspension. Ordinarily, suspension of more than 10 working days leads to a by-election in the MPs constituency. Johnson, though, pre-empted any finding - or the consequences of a humiliating fight to remain an MP in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency in northwest London where he holds a slim majority of just over 7,000 - by quitting. He denounced the committee, chaired by veteran opposition Labour MP Harriet Harman, as a kangaroo court. It is very sad to be leaving Parliament - at least for now - but above all I am bewildered and appalled that I can be forced out, anti-democratically... with such egregious bias, he said. The committees report, which has not been published, was riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice, he said, complaining he had no formal ability to challenge anything they say. Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts, he added. Responding to the resignation, the Privileges Committee said Johnson impugned the integrity of the House by his statement. The committee said it would meet tomorrow to conclude its inquiry and would publish its report promptly. Sunak attack The announcement came just hours after Johnson controversially rewarded his closest Brexit allies - and officials implicated in the Partygate saga - in his prime ministerial resignation honours list. At the same time, his former culture secretary Nadine Dorries announced that she was quitting as an MP with immediate effect. Johnson led the Tories to a thumping 80-seat majority in the December 2019 general election on a promise to get Brexit done. That allowed him to railroad through parliament his divorce deal with the European Union, unblocking years of political paralysis. But he was undone by his handling of the COVID pandemic, Partygate and a succession of other scandals that led to a ministerial rebellion in July last year. He quit as prime minister and left office in September last year, although rumours persisted that he wanted another shot at the top job. Rishi Sunak, who was one of Johnsons top team who quit, has been trying to steady the ship since becoming prime minister in October last year, after the turbulent tenure of his former boss and the short-lived premier Liz Truss. Johnsons resignation will likely be seen as his revenge on Sunak, whose Tories are well down in the polls to the main opposition Labour party after 13 years in power and with a general election looming next year. When I left office last year the government was only a handful of points behind in the polls. That gap has now massively widened, said Johnson in his letter lashing out at Sunak. Just a few years after winning the biggest majority in almost half a century, that majority is now clearly at risk. Our party needs urgently to recapture its sense of momentum and its belief in what this country can do. Good riddance Johnsons supporters rallied behind him, lauding his achievements on Brexit, and galvanising support for Ukraine. But Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner said the public - battling a cost-of-living crisis - have had enough of the never-ending Tory soap opera. Her opposite number with the smaller Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, said it was good riddance while the Scottish National Partys deputy UK parliament leader Mhairi Black, said Johnson jumped before he was pushed. Johnson, who was sacked from his first job at The Times newspaper for making up a quote, made his name as Brussels correspondent of the Daily Telegraph peddling euromyths. He first became an MP in 2001 until 2008, then quit to serve two four-year terms as Londons mayor. He became an MP again in 2015, going on to be foreign secretary under Theresa May. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 9, 2023 / Tsodilo Resources Limited ("Tsodilo" or the "Company") (TSXV:TSD)(OTCQB:TSDRF)(FSE:TZO) is pleased to announce that at its Annual Meeting of shareholders held on June 9, 2023, the following directors were elected: James M. Bruchs, Thomas S. Bruington, Jonathan R. Kelafant, Blackie Marole and Mark Scowcroft. Appointment of Auditors The shareholders also approved the appointment of Crowe MacKay LLP, Vancouver, Canada, as auditors of the Company. Grant of Stock Options Under the terms of its Stock Option Plan, Tsodilo granted incentive stock options to five directors, two employees and an advisor to purchase an aggregate of 950,000 common shares of Tsodilo exercisable at CDN$ 0.21. These options vest as to 25% effective June 12, 2023, and 25% on each of the sixth, twelfth and eighteenth-month anniversaries of the date of the grant. The options are valid for five years. About Tsodilo Resources Limited Tsodilo Resources Limited is an international resource exploration company engaged in the search for economic metal and diamond deposits at its Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Limited ("Gcwihaba") and Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. ("Bosoto) projects in Botswana. The Company has a 100% stake in its Gcwihaba project area consisting of five metal (base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth) prospecting licenses all located in the North-West district of Botswana. The Company has a 100% stake in Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. which holds the BK16 kimberlite project in the Orapa Kimberlite Field (OKF) in Botswana. Tsodilo manages the exploration of the Gcwihaba and Bosoto projects. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements pertaining to the use of proceeds, the impact of strategic partnerships and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals) are forward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward- looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company 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 the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, changes in equity markets, changes in general economic conditions, market volatility, political developments in Botswana and surrounding countries, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, exploration and development risks, the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration results and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company 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, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, uncertainties relating to availability and cost of funds, timing and content of work programs, results of exploration activities, interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, risks relating to variations in the diamond grade and kimberlite lithologies; variations in rates of recovery and breakage; estimates of grade and quality of diamonds, variations in diamond valuations and future diamond prices; the state of world diamond markets, reliability of mineral property titles, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required project approvals, operational and infrastructure risk and other risks involved in the diamond exploration and development business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward- looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("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. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: James M. Bruchs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer JBruchs@TsodiloResources.com Head Office Telephone +1 416 572 2033 Facsimile + 1 416 987 4369 Website http://www.TsodiloResources.com SOURCE: Tsodilo Resources Limited View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/760397/Tsodilo-Resources-Limited-Annual-Meeting-Results Drone recovered | IMPHAL, Jun 11: A drone suspected to have been used by Kuki militants for surveying Meitei villages was recovered at Phougakchao Ikhai on June 8. The drone recovered by some villagers of Phougakchao Ikhai contains video footage of Phougakchao Ikhai and surrounding areas. It also contains photos and video footage of suspected Kuki militants wielding sniper rifles, SLR and other sophisticated weapons, informed a source. 404 Something's wrong here Sorry. We can't find the page you're looking for. RETURN HOME The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and its integration into our daily lives has created a sense of urgency for organizations to ensure they are harnessing its benefits while also mitigating its risks. This is particularly important in Canadas financial services industry, where AI has the potential to revolutionize the sector with more personalized products and better customer service, while enhancing risk management, cybersecurity and asset allocation. To gain a competitive edge, organizations must safeguard public and consumer confidence and trust while using the new technology. This requires examining the ethical, legal, financial, and social implications of AIs development, deployment and oversight. Organizations must prioritize the safe and responsible use of AI to maintain public trust, and in turn, secure their long-term success in the industry. To that end, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the Global Risk Institute brought together experts from Canadas financial services sector, government and academia. Together, we listened to AI experts and influential regulators from several countries and debated the learnings. We developed a framework for the financial services sector that would help institutions manage risks more effectively. Institutions should use the framework to analyze and mitigate the risks associated with AI, which will allow for better risk reward assessments. The framework we developed concentrated on the need for guardrails that address explainability, data, governance and ethics, or the EDGE principles. This lens is universal in its application, agnostic of the underlying technology, and any organization can follow this approach with AI to fortify their business model deployment. Regulators, as well as customers and investors, are already questioning the risks of AI. One of the most prominent and persistent challenges of AI is the potential difficulty of explaining how those models reach a conclusion. To address concerns about the difficulty of explaining AI models, organizations should be certain their models are explainable, which will promote fairness, transparency and accountability, and generally help to protect against unintended bias and discrimination. In other words, when customers understand the reason for the AI response or decision, they become empowered to act upon it. Organizations also need to address the issue of bias in AI decision making. If the data being used to train AI models is incomplete or inaccurate for the task at hand, then bias will be intrinsically present. Advanced data management with human oversight will help ensure data is accurate, complete, consistent, and private, which is crucial for AI systems to work effectively in financial services. A robust governance framework within an organization promotes a culture of responsibility and accountability around the use of AI as societys expectations of financial institutions maintain high ethical standards increase. Organizations should consider disclosing how they maintain standards for their AI models to promote internal and external transparency. This will allow financial institutions to fully realize the benefits made possible by AI while building trust with their customers. It is this need for trust that will see the application of AI in Canadas financial institutions target use cases that lead to faster decision-making and better customer service outcomes, rather than a release of control to autonomous machines. Effective governance structures are essential for ensuring that AI models make the right decisions for the right reasons, and that intervention points are in place to prevent unintended consequences. This will help to maintain trust and confidence in AI systems, while enabling organization to achieve their business objectives through the use of AI. Regulators must strike a balance between regulation and innovation. For example, OSFI will release policy guidelines that will include AI applications in their enhanced E-23 Enterprise Model Risk Management Guideline, due for public consultation later in 2023. In the interim, the financial services industry should implement the spirit and intent of the EDGE principles with a sense of urgency to ensure they meet (or hopefully) exceed their stakeholder expectations. Sonia Baxendale is president and CEO of the Global Risk Institute. SHARE: Armed with a BFA in acting from the University of Windsor, Eric Miinch arrived in Toronto on May 1, 2008, determined to become an actor. Exactly ten years later, on May 1, 2018, he left and returned to the town where he grew up. The bright, affable Miinch gave the profession his best shot. He took Second City classes, acted in several plays, including sold-out Fringe shows like Caitlin And Eric Are Broken Up. He was a regular on the improv scene and toured festivals with his sketch troupe Fratwurst. He booked commercials. I was making somewhere between $10,000 and $12,000 a year, he says. He supplemented his acting work with at least one part-time job. But it wasnt feasible. I got to the point where I could go to a commercial audition that would pay $2,000 if I booked it, or I could work at a day job that paid a guaranteed $200. In the end, I had to pay my rent. Now, five years after leaving the industry, hes happier than ever. After pursuing his life-long interest in craft beer, hes become the head brewer at the Banded Goose Brewery and Taproom in Kingsville, Ontario. Hes paid off the debt he racked up in Toronto. He and his fiancee (theyre getting married in October) have bought a house. And hes the proud father of a one-year-old. Hes also begun doing community theatre while playing Guys and Dolls he met his fiancee. And recently hes started producing and performing in improv shows nearby and feels none of the anxiety he experienced while doing it professionally. As someone whos monitored the performing arts industry for decades, Ive seen dozens of talented, up-and-coming artists leave the profession. Or rather, I likely havent seen them. Theyve just disappeared, quietly pursuing other work away from the spotlight. In the late 1990s and early aughts, Yashoda Ranganathan was one of the most promising actors on the scene, appearing in plays by award-winning companies like Modern Times Stage Company, Aluna and Cahoots. Now shes a lawyer in the public sector. In her Linked In bio, she jokes that graduating from law school in 2008 was the best thing that ever happened to her father. I found two things frustrating about being an actor, explained Ranganathan. The first was finishing a show and not knowing what the next job would be. The second involved the different jobs I had to take to make money. Im an intelligent person. But these were low-level, part-time positions in which everybody treated you like you werent very smart or capable. And I would fight against that and try to prove myself, even though I always had one foot out the door and couldnt fully immerse myself in that world. Throughout her eight-year acting career, she always had the idea of attending law school. And then came a fulfilling two-year period in theatre, in which she toured with a show to Iran, performed in a couple of Aluna shows and began rehearsing a new play called Bhopal, which got her profiled by my late colleague Jon Kaplan in NOW Magazine. I remember thinking, Okay, I could leave now and feel like I left a bit of a mark, she says. I proved myself. I honed my craft. I felt I could take on any number of roles. So I wouldnt be leaving feeling like I had failed. I achieved some success and could seek success in something else. The concept of success in the performing arts is misleading. You book a gig, and for a couple of weeks of rehearsals and a month of shows, youre immersed in the art you studied and trained to do. But then what? Its not feasible anymore for artists to identify live performance as how they pay their bills, says Winnie (not her real name), a mid-career theatre artist. There are two exceptions. Either you are doing other work and are somehow balancing that and by work Im not talking about a couple of shifts at a bar or restaurant. Or you are living off generational wealth or partner wealth. If youve inherited money or have a husband or a wife whos, say, a law partner, then your life as an artist is very different. Winnie has won major awards and worked at one of the countrys most esteemed theatre companies. She says its impossible to make a living in the theatre. She also has other responsibilities; she has parents who are getting older and shes concerned about how she will care for them. I have some very successful friends whose names you would recognize and theyre broke, she said. They are taking out lines of credit to do what they do. Its not fair to be asking artists to do that. I looked at my income over the last 12 years, and if you subtract things like teaching and making TV, my income from theatre is about seven per cent. Winnie doesnt see an easy solution to the problem, especially with rising housing costs in cities like Toronto. But she does think theatres should start understanding the limits of what they can offer their artists. Its not responsible for theatres to encourage people to pursue this work as their sole means of subsistence, she says. Its not just about paying people a living wage for two or three weeks. It means removing the shame and stigma of needing other resources to get by. Winnie still believes you can make great theatre while holding down another job. But there has to be a reason why you take that time off to make art. What gives me hope is that we dont have to let go of dreams like excellence, she says. Working under these circumstances could unlock a real urgency because its not just about making money. Artists will think about what story they want to tell and whether that story is worth making space for in their life. *** Actor and comic Paul Constable understands the need to balance two jobs. My son turns 12 this month, and Ive had my real estate license for 12 years, so you can do the math as to why I thought I needed some extra income, says Constable. A Second City mainstage cast member in the early aughts, Constable chose real estate as a second job for its flexibility. He remembers a couple of times when the two jobs jutted up against each other. Once, he closed on a house at 9:30 pm and then immediately got in his car to drive to North Bay because he had to shoot a commercial the next day. Constable is widely known for being the face of Canadian Tire in more than 100 TV commercials. Most of his real estate clients recognize him from those spots, and hes up front with them about the possibility of being pulled away to do something else. He estimates selling houses accounts for about a quarter of his working time. The commercials gave him freedom and the ability to spend more time with his son. They allowed me not to have to worry about the next job which a lot of actors or realtors do. They think, I just sold a house, or I just wrapped a season on a show, or Im at the Shaw Festival now but its November and I dont know if Im coming back next season. *** One of the toughest professions in the performing arts is being a dancer. Unless youve got one of the rare jobs with a well-known company like the National Ballet of Canada or the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, youre barely making a living at all. Worse, because of the nature of the work, and its physical toll on your body, your career will often be short-lived. Thats one of the reasons behind the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, founded by Joysanne Sidimus in 1985 to help dancers transition to other careers. As outgoing executive director Kristian Clarke tells me, a lot of the organizations recent work involves extending dance careers by opening dancers up to skilled training to develop parallel careers. This is something that complements your dance, so you can continue to pursue your first love but also have another stream of income to pay the bills and support families as your life evolves. With the help of DTRCs counselling and exploration grants, many dancers have taken up careers in body-based professions like physiotherapy, osteopathy and other jobs in the health sciences. But weve also had members who became accountants or got their MBAs, says Clarke. Even after leaving the performing arts as a career, many people have still found a way to connect with the arts in meaningful ways. Steven Smits was the general manager of indie theatre company Volcano Theatre. During the pandemic he and his wife relocated to North Bay, where hes currently the manager of alumni and advancement at Nipissing University. The pause gave the couple the chance to reassess their lifestyle and where they wanted to raise a family. These days, Smits serves on the board of the local North Bay theatre, and volunteers at a regional theatre guild, sharing the expertise hes honed over his career. Its his way of giving back. After leaving acting and becoming a lawyer, Ranganathan took a break from the stage. She also raised a family, so she didnt have much time time to go to shows. Recently, however, she joined the board of Necessary Angel Theatre, whose artistic director, Alan Dilworth, had directed her in a show two decades ago. Sitting in the audience at the companys recent show NEW, Yanganathan remembered why she loved theatre. I forgot that connection you have in the theatre that connection with the audience, and the joint decision you all make to enter into the world the playwright has created. I didnt realize how much I had missed that. GS Glenn Sumi is a Toronto-based writer who recently launched the theatre newsletter So Sumi. SHARE: In the early months of the pandemic in 2020, when drag queens had to scramble to find new avenues for performing, Gila Munster swapped lip-syncing at the bar for reading stories for children online at her local public library in Richmond Hill. Munsters storytime sessions have since stretched to Toronto from York Region, adding her humour to five books on inclusivity and diversity that are read, danced and sung along to with kids and their parents and caregivers. Munster, who calls herself Torontos cross-stitching, cross-dressing Jewish-American princess, decided to bring the readings to libraries in person in the spring of 2022. On April 29, at an event in Fort York Library, protesters showed up flying far-right-associated Canadian Red Ensign flags, carrying crosses and waving signs with slogans like Drag is not for kids. Across the sidewalk, counterprotesters stood behind police, Munster said, forming a physical barrier to protect families who chose to come to the program. Despite the protests, she continues to host readings at the Toronto Public Library during pride month and beyond, with upcoming sessions on June 16 and June 24. I sat with Munster for a conversation about the value of her mission, the defiance of opposition and raising hope in a time of hatred. What is the importance of sitting in front of a group of children, in drag, reading? Regardless of who walks through those doors, the goal is to create a space that welcomes and celebrates (children) for who they are, whatever expression that is. The families that bring their children to these events they are sometimes queer families, sometimes not. Sometimes the children already identify as queer or trans. Whats most important is fostering a sense of safety for children. If we can give them a sense that their life can be wonderful and glamorous, and that they can make it to adulthood because often the biggest challenge for queer youth is suicide then perhaps weve saved their life. Then why do you think people question the interaction between drag queens and children? The controversy around drag queen story hour is just a distraction. It is not a real worry. There is not one single recorded incident of a drag queen going into a library or a public school and performing indecently. Not one. The narrative has been spun that drag queens are groomers and molesters. But when we examine the history, this grooming is simply a new, revised term for recruiters. In the 1970s the conservative media used the term recruiting the idea that gay men could turn others gay. The narrative has stayed the same, its just using a different word. And theyre using this highly visible target of drag queens to push that narrative. What do you have to say to those who stood outside the library to protest your storytime? The people who want to protest have a right to live their lives how they want to, but they dont have a right to tell other people how to live. If a parent or guardian has made the decision that drag queen storytime is appropriate for their child, you dont get to override that. You have a choice of attending. Lets put it this way: you will never accidentally walk into drag queen storytime. You will know what youre getting into. These events are not taking place everywhere all the time. Theyre in specific locations at specific times. Everyone who is there is there consensually. These are highly regulated environments with a lot of bureaucracy, where our rights to play can easily be revoked. So should there ever be a concern about safety to the patrons, trust that the institutions will do their job to eliminate that threat. Sometimes the opposition to drag queen storytime is seen as an American issue. Were you surprised to see this at the doorsteps of Toronto libraries? I was shocked because Ive been doing this since 2020, and the first time I was ever protested was just a couple of weeks ago. I knew of other cities in Canada that had issues: Saskatoon, Winnipeg. I did not expect it in our own backyard. However, what I also didnt expect was the way the local community here in Toronto rallied around these events and said, No hate in our backyard. So was I surprised? Yes. Was I also pleasantly surprised to see the support behind us? Absolutely. Living in Toronto, we take for granted our personal liberties and our safety. Toronto has a long history of events the bathhouse raids, the pussy palace raids, the serial killer in the Village a lot of trauma we would rather forget. But it was a wake-up call that we cant forget because theres still a lot more work to do. We have seen the opposition to drag queen storytime grow especially over the last few months. How might this shape the way we mark Pride this time around? As an Israeli, security is always in the back of my mind. Every time I walk into a synagogue, Im aware theres usually a security guard at the door. We should have a similar understanding of the role of security in Pride events. (However, though) we should be conscious of security, Lets not let it control our lives. We cannot stop celebrating and being who we are because a fringe minority doesnt like it. Weve always had protests. Pride itself was a protest. So its nothing new to the community. If anything, I think this has expanded the conversation into new spaces, giving us (a bigger)platform to address the very real concerns that we have about peoples well-being. How has all this taken a toll on you? Im very fortunate I have a robust support network. Its definitely made me pause and reconsider whether I was still doing the right thing for me and my community. But if anything, its made me double down and say with 100 per cent certainty that I am. They say that if you have haters, youre successful. So all I have to say to the people who want to see this flounder is, Ive never had more business than this year. So keep it coming. At a time when theres opposition to drag queen performances and increasing homophobic discourse especially targeting transgender people, what makes you hopeful? We have the opportunity to live an authentic, free, safe life in a way that perhaps has never been possible for as many people before. Knowing that the possibility exists for so many people necessitates working to protect and advance it. I know weve been speaking specifically about Canada, but we cant forget that lots of places in the world are still extremely unsafe for queer people. And part of the privilege of living in Canada is that we must continue to advocate for the people who dont yet share the same benefits that we do. SHARE: Should he stay or should he go? It was the question on Sanjay Gupta Sagars mind. He had come to Canada six years ago, with the expectation that everything would fall into place. The Nepalese man had a PhD. He had years of international research experience in public health and epidemiology. He had chosen to come to Carleton University in Ottawa as a postgraduate work fellow. I was flying high in my professional career, says the 37-year-old. There was nothing that couldve stopped me from becoming a successful scientist and researcher. After a year, in 2019, riding his solid credentials, he, his wife and his son got their permanent residence in Canada. It was, it turned out, the easy part. After I completed my fellowship, that was the turning point, he says. Sagar struggled to find work in his field. He eventually got an administrative job at Statistics Canada, but he felt frustrated at not being able to use his training and education. I never wouldve thought I would have to struggle in my life professionally or financially, he says. He knew he was unhappy, but uprooting his family and leaving Canada? That was a tougher question one without an easy answer. It has been a question not just for Sagar, but for thousands of other newcomers, and for the policymakers striving to grow this countrys population. Canada is in the process of welcoming a historic number of permanent residents 465,000 in 2023; 485,000 in 2024; and 500,000 in 2025. But Canada is not the only country vying for skilled immigrants, and many highly educated and motivated immigrants who have come here are also leaving, in search of greener pastures. A conservative estimate of 15 to 20 per cent of immigrants leave the country within 10 years, according to Statistics Canada. But its rarely an easy decision to give up on the Canadian dream. Do immigrants get a fair opportunity in Canada? Sagar left Nepal when he finished his undergraduate studies in public health and moved to Missouri for postgraduate studies. His research interest would later take him across the United States and to Germany, South Africa and Australia. Although he had never been to Canada, it seemed to be a great choice. It offered a clear and promising pathway for permanent residence via the work permit with his postgraduate fellowship. A pioneering researcher in electromagnetic field exposure, Sagar was confident he would thrive in his adopted country and bought a three-bedroom condo in Ottawa shortly after his arrival. But the harsh reality sank in soon after he finished his fellowship. He applied to more than 50 jobs related to public health but only got two interviews. Both were unsuccessful; one employer was looking for different skill sets, while the other had a better candidate. It was demotivating, frustrating and demoralizing, says Sagar, who wasnt sure of the reason why. Im not getting the right kind of job. Is there any problem in me or is it Canada? He started applying for jobs in the U.S. To his surprise, he says, calls for interviews started pouring in, though he always balked at taking up any job offer in the U.S. on a work permit without the safeguard of a green card. There are so many skilled immigrants who qualify to come to Canada, but once they end up here, many dont get the opportunity for the jobs their skill sets are for, he laments. You have engineers, doctors and dentists working in retail. Thats very strange to me. A recent Statistics Canada report found 34 per cent of immigrants selected via the economic category a group selected for entry into this country due to their higher education and skills were employed in lower-skilled jobs. Even among longer-term economic immigrants who have been in Canada for more than a decade, 31 per cent were in these so-called survival jobs. We historically focused on the front end of immigration, namely recruitment, says Western University professor Michael Haan, whose research focuses on immigrant settlement, labour market integration and data development. Nearly no research or policy attention has been given to keeping newcomers in Canada. It is very expensive to identify the types of immigrants we want and need, recruit newcomers that fit the profile, process their applications and provide them with settlement services. To have them leave the country after all this work provides us with little to no return on this investment. Sagar, meanwhile, worried that the longer he settled in Canada with an unfit job, the more he would lose his aspiration to stay the course as a researcher. His older son had grown comfortable in Canada, and now Sagar also had a Canadian-born baby daughter to feed. Immigrants expectations have shifted The issue of deskilling highly skilled immigrants is not new. Successive waves of newcomers have struggled to get their foreign credentials accredited and satisfy employers preference for Canadian work experience. Toronto Metropolitan University professor Marshia Akbar, who studies labour migration, says many immigrants who came in the 1980s and 1990s accepted the adversity and toiled in odd jobs to remain in Canada, because they believed they had no other option and their sacrifices would give their children a better future. But their expectations seem to have shifted. For this generation of immigrants, they are not going to work in low-skilled jobs and wait for 10 years to catch up and get to work as an engineer or as a banker, she says. They get their residency but they dont even wait for their citizenship. She says research suggests the country simply doesnt have so many skilled jobs to go around. A recent Statistics Canada report suggested there are no widespread labour shortages for jobs that require high levels of education as the number of unemployed Canadians with a bachelors degree or higher education since 2016 has always exceeded the number of vacant positions that require at least an undergraduate education. Akbar knows a number of people who have left Canada after completing their PhDs because they couldnt find a job and moved to the U.S. or returned home, where their Canadian education is highly regarded. In the contemporary situation, not just the traditional immigrant-receiving countries like the U.S., U.K. and Australia are looking for highly skilled migrants. Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, U.A.E. and every country are all waiting to receive highly skilled migrants, she says. We have a higher cost of living. We pay higher taxes. These are all the reasons why many newcomers are not happy in Canada. And that seems to be supported by a national survey released in April by Leger for the Institute of Canadian Citizenship that found 30 per cent of newcomers below age 35, and 23 per cent of university-educated new immigrants, are planning to relocate within the next two years. Citizenship rate declining Among the worrying signs when it comes to Canadas immigration success story is the fact that the citizenship rate among immigrants has been declining for years. The 2021 census found that just 45.7 per cent of permanent residents became citizens within 10 years, down from 60 per cent in 2016 and 75.1 per cent in 2001. The two countries from which Canada gets the most immigrants India and China dont recognize dual citizenship. That has likely had an effect on Canadian citizenship uptake as newcomers are afraid Beijing and Delhi will strip their Chinese and Indian citizenship. Critics have linked the decline with measures brought in by the former federal Conservative government that were meant to tighten citizenship requirements. However, it could also be an indication of the devaluation of Canadian citizenship. Feng Hou, principal researcher of the statistics agency, says data has shown immigrant out-migration from Canada generally surges during recession years. Thats indicated by the decline in immigrant income tax filing a default indicator of a persons presence in Canada in the absence of official exit and entry records. Among the different classes of immigrants, he says the ones least likely to stay are those who are the most educated and here for economic opportunities; who came under the federal skilled workers program; and immigrants from the U.S. and Western Europe. We need to have a better understanding of why immigrants leave Canada, says Hou, adding that a Canadian passport does offer skilled immigrants further mobility without the hassles for visas. Are they just using Canada as a stepping stone? Are they moving to the U.S., where there are more opportunities, or are they returning home? A lack of Canadian experience Komal Makkar, who is in her 30s, had never been to Canada before she landed in Toronto in January 2021. But back home in Punjab, she was raised surrounded by billboards and signs that painted the country as a land of opportunities. The architect who hailed from India had worked in Dubai since 2016 and developed a niche in multiple international projects in Africa, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, designing state-of-the-art hospitals. But trying to get citizenship in Dubai was close to impossible. To move to the U.S., she would need an employer to sponsor her visa. Canada seemed a good choice as her education and work experience would get her direct entry for permanent residence. She knew there could be initial struggles to find her footing and she thought she was prepared. Makkar and her husband, also an architect, were excited to find a permanent home in Toronto. The winter snow was pretty. The air was fresh. The people were friendly. The vibe of the city was amazing. The career-oriented couple hit the ground running as soon as they found a temporary home subletting someones one-bedroom apartment. But they were daunted by the advice of job counsellors at various immigrant serving agencies. She was advised to remove her masters degree from the resume and shave off some years of her work experience and high-profile projects in her reference, so she wouldnt be overqualified for entry-level positions. Suggestions were also made for them to explore job options that use their skills in other ways. We applied for so many jobs. But most of them were asking for Canadian experience, says a frustrated Makkar, who was instead offered architectural technician positions at minimum wage. Others offered co-op or unpaid internships for the elusive work experience. With their savings quickly depleting, she and her husband were faced with the choice of paying hefty tuition fees to go back to school for more certifications or just settle for low-paying jobs that wouldnt allow them to build a life and home here. While the cost of living is high in Dubai, it offered Makkar and her husband the financial and professional security that Canada didnt. I was already working up the ladder. I was working on big projects. My goal was to go for even bigger projects. Should I start again from where I started? Makkar asks. We dont see this country as a permanent home. After two months, she and her husband made what she called an unexpected decision to return to Dubai. Despite the $4,000 she spent in getting all the papers and in fees for their permanent residence application, she says it was the best decision. Im happy in what Im doing. I love what Im doing. I dont have to throw something out of experience, says Makkar. I respect myself too much to stay in Canada. Skill sets in IT are easily transferable Harman Singh Dhaliwal was among the fortunate immigrants whose technical skills in IT happened to be in short supply when he arrived in Toronto in February 2018, before living costs went through the roof. He and his wife, who also worked in IT in India and in the U.S., found jobs in their field within a month, though their positions were one notch below their years of work experience. But that allowed them to soon buy a home in the city. The skill sets in IT are very easily transferable, says the 35-year-old, who took three years to get promoted to be a technical lead at work. They are the same whether you work in Mumbai, Shanghai, L.A. or Toronto. Dhaliwal says he and his wife were not desperate to leave India and were simply looking for a different lifestyle in North America, where the living standards are higher and air quality and environment are much nicer. Having access to good jobs is a starting point to keep top talents in Canada as people now have options in China, India and the Gulf countries and can afford to be picky, says Dhaliwal, who became a father last year and is now a Canadian citizen. Current economic immigration policy favours applicants under 30, with points awarded for age progressively decrease every year. The younger demographics, he says, have fewer obligations, which makes it easier just to pack and leave if they have the sought-after skills. When you have a family of your own, you are married and your kids are in school, you live in a nice neighbourhood, own your home, its very difficult to leave all of that behind, says Dhaliwal. While Canada is focusing on the quantity of immigrants its bringing in, he says it must pay as much attention to the quality of opportunities available for newcomers and make sure they have the supports for new ideas and innovations. I think we are attracting a lot of top-tier talent but we end up not giving them the top-tier opportunity or the platform to utilize their talent, he notes. I never felt I was bound to Canada, but I got a job in the first month and we bought a house. Were now very focused on settling our life over here. How to retain immigrants The value of Canadian immigration became a heated debate recently in a Facebook group run by Toronto immigration consultant Kubeir Kamal. The group has half a million followers, and someone posted a question to them about whether Canada offered what they came to this country for. Kamal says he was surprised that there were more people who were willing to go back or have already returned to where they came from than those who would stick it out. He says many cited the high costs of living and the challenges to maintain the lifestyle they used to enjoy while struggling to secure jobs. That was quite an eye-opener even for me, says Kamal, host of Ask Kubeir on YouTube, which has 80,000 subscribers. The charm of the first-world passport is very quickly fading away. Retention efforts, according to Kamal, should focus on those who show the desire to be here and have established themselves, which mean they have more incentive to stay. He points out there are more than 1.5 million temporary residents such as international students and temporary foreign workers in Canada, but only a fraction have a shot at permanent residence. Meanwhile, the bar for permanent residence is extremely high for those who immigrate directly from abroad, without the benefits of Canadian education credentials and work experience. Most of these newcomers, says Kamal, would be 30 or under, with a masters degree and good English, plus several years of international work experience to meet the permanent residence requirements. When they come to Canada, it is a shock in terms of the cost of living, the lifestyle. Its not remotely anticipated for them, he says. As a result, some may stay until they get their citizenship and others may leave their spouses and children in Canada and return to their careers in the United Arab Emirates or their country of origin so they could financially support their families here. Even though the federal government has recently launched a program to target immigration applicants with skills in demand in the country to better align newcomers with Canadas labour market needs, Kamal says it wont work without the proper support to help them overcome the lack of Canadian experience and credential recognition, and in professional licensing processes. This would fall flat if you dont back it up by providing accreditation or an easy route to accreditation for these people to practise in Canada, he says. If you dont make it conducive for them to find meaningful employment in Canada, you will end up losing them. Opportunity found in the U.S. In Ottawa, Sagar, the Nepalese PhD, had a full-time contract job first as a statistical assistant and later an analyst while his wife worked as a retail clerk. When their daughter was born in the summer of 2021, he decided to take a year off to contemplate the familys future. He knew he was deeply unhappy in Canada and decided to revive his stalled career as a research scientist. With his PhD credentials, he successfully applied for an American green card last June. In September, he moved to St. Lawrence County, N.Y., and worked as an epidemiologist. In March, he made another move to Lebanon, N.H., into a managerial position in public health, to be followed by his wife and children after this school year. When he recently sold the three-bedroom condo they bought in Ottawa in 2018, the value of the property actually doubled. I actually made more money selling my house than all Id earned in my time in Canada, says Sagar, who is now a citizen. Immigrants are not coming to Canada with the aim to become super-rich. They just want to have the right kind of jobs and they would be happy to stay and raise their family there. Read more about: SHARE: In this detailed article, we'll research where aluminum is found in the world and find the largest aluminum producing countries. If you want brief knowledge on which nations are driving the international market of this widely-used and mined metal, read 5 Largest Aluminum Producing Countries In The World. Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust, comprising approximately 8% by weight. However, aluminum rarely exists in its pure form and is typically found in bauxite ore. Bauxite deposits are in a wide belt around the equator, with the largest bauxite reserves in Guinea, Australia, Vietnam, and Brazil. Furthermore, the commercial extraction of aluminum also happens in China, which amounts to 58% aluminum smelter production. China asserted its dominance as the largest producer of aluminum in the world in 2022, owing to its extensive year-end mining capacity. Since China also has the largest aluminum reserves in the world and immense smelting capacity, its assertion as the leading producer is undisputed. However, environmental concerns and resource-intensive aluminum smelting are obstacles to the country's aluminum industry. Other leading countries in aluminum production are Russia and India, which, despite having smaller bauxite reserves, produce a significant percentage of aluminum because of huge domestic demand and integrated production systems. Notably, Russia's aluminum industry, driven by Rusal, has flourished despite geopolitical pressures and economic sanctions. Since aluminum production depends on a country's bauxite mining, we recommend reading Top 20 Largest Producers of Bauxite In The World. Global Aluminum Market Global aluminum market was $179.32 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $277.5 billion by 2031 by the end of this decade. This market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.61% from 2022 to 2031 and further contribute to the GDP of the largest aluminum producing countries in the world. Developing sectors like automotive, construction, and packaging industries require aluminum to meet their production. Therefore, the global aluminum consumption in 2022 was recorded to be 65.87 million metric tons. This figure is projected to reach 78.4 million metric tons by 2029, owing to the expansion in major industries worldwide. Since aluminum is lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant, it has been increasingly adopted as a preferred manufacturing material. While this increase is a positive sign for the major aluminum producing countries in the world, the depletion of its reserves is concerning. Hence, countries are implementing more diverse aluminum recycling efforts to reduce the load of smelters. In the automotive and building sectors, aluminum recycling reaches up to 90%. As a result, 75% of aluminum ever produced is still in use today, indicative of this industry's long-term stability. If you want to know which metal stocks you should load up on, take a look at 11 Best Metal Stocks To Buy Now and grow your financial footprint. Main Alumining Mining Companies Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) is the largest American aluminum company that holds a prominent position in aluminum mining. Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) has headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spearheads the industry through its expansive bauxite mining to the manufacturing of aluminum products. Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) focuses on sustainable mining so the raw sources for aluminum don't get unfairly exploited. Another prominent name in the aluminum industry is the Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO). In 2022, Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) produced a substantial 521,100 metric tons out of a total of 3 million metric tons of aluminum. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) is also the world largest aluminum-producer company, with a market capitalization of $116 billion. It has well-planned mining strategies that don't exhaust aluminum resources from the Top 10 largest aluminum producing countries in the world. Another company doing well in aluminum mining is Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) aims to improve the quality of its aluminum products, increase yield, and minimize environmental impact. Notably, Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) emphasizes recycling efforts that underscore its commitment to sustainable mineral exploitation. 15 Largest Aluminum Producing Countries In The World Photo by Shane Cottle on Unsplash Our Methodology We relied on the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries of 2023 and 2018 as our primary data sources to rank the 15 largest aluminum producing countries. Owing to its diverse data sources, USGS provides extensive and annually updated databases on all minerals to showcase which country produces maximum aluminum in the world. The annual USGS reports offer well-documented information that covers multiple aspects related to minerals, i.e., production, consumption, and trade. As we analyzed the summaries, we studied the sections focusing on aluminum to understand the aluminum production statistics of all major countries. Moreover, since the 2023 summary focused on the 11 largest aluminum producers, we dug deep into the SUSG summaries from 2018, 2019, and 2020. Eventually, we were able to rank based on solid aluminum production statistics for a clear perspective on this global market. Based on our understanding of where aluminum is found in the world, here are this metal's largest producers: 15. Brazil Aluminum Smelter Production in 2018: 0.66 million metric tons Brazil hit 0.66 million metric tons of aluminum in 2018, and impacted the global market of this key industrial metal. The largest alumina mine in Brazil is the MRN mine, owned by Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE), which extracted 10.46 million metric tons of bauxite in 2022, a major portion of which went to aluminum production. 14. Qatar Aluminum Smelter Production in 2019: 0.697 million metric tons Data reveals that Qatar's aluminum smelter output reached 0.697 million metric tons in 2019. This industry-specific statistic hints at the Gulf nation's significant role in the global aluminum sector. The most notable aluminum smelter in Qatar is Qatalum, located in the Mesaieed Industrial Area as a joint venture between QatarEnergy and Norsk Hydro. 13. South Africa Aluminum Smelter Production in 2019: 0.699 million metric tons South Africa's aluminum sector achieved a noteworthy output of 0.699 million metric tons from its smelters in 2019. This data indicates the significance of aluminum production to South Africa's economy and advancements in its smelting operations. The largest aluminum smelter in the Northern Hemisphere, named Hillside Aluminium, is also located in Richards Bay, South Africa. 12. Iceland Aluminum Smelter Production in 2022: 0.75 million metric tons Iceland's aluminum production capacity experienced noteworthy utilization of 0.75 million metric tons in 2022. This achievement owes to the country's renewable geothermal and hydroelectric energy sources to fuel the energy-intensive smelting process. The Grundartangi smelter in Iceland alone has a production capacity of approximately 317,000 metric tonnes of aluminum with its low-cost operations. 11. Malaysia Aluminum Smelter Production in 2017: 0.76 million metric tons Malaysia, owing to its 110 million metric tons of bauxite reserves, demonstrated significant industrial productivity in the non-ferrous metals sector. The country's output amounted to 0.76 million metric tons of smelted aluminum in 2017. 10. Saudi Arabia Aluminum Smelter Production in 2019: 0.85 million metric tons The major alumina refinery in KSA is Ma'aden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC), with a mining capacity of 1.8 million metric tons of alumina. Reports indicate Saudi Arabia yielded 0.85 million metric tons of aluminum in 2019. This smelter, paired with the country's capacity, makes it a top player in the global aluminum market. 9. United States Aluminum Smelter Production in 2022: 0.86 million metric tons As per the USGS summary, the United States had an aluminum smelter production of 0.86 million metric tons in 2022. Although not exceptional, this yield is a result of the major US aluminum smelters operating at their full capacity. Some smelters also worked at reduced capacity because of increased mining costs and energy shortages but impacted industry demands in the automotive, packaging, and construction sectors. 8. Norway Aluminum Smelter Production in 2022: 1.4 million Data reveals that Norway mined 1.4 million metric tons of aluminum in 2022. The biggest aluminum refinery in Norway is Norsk Hydro, which operates many aluminum plants in Sunndal, Ardal, and Husnes. It's also Europe's third-largest aluminum maker that impacts this non-ferrous metal industry, and helps Norway's resource management strategies. 7. Australia Aluminum Smelter Production in 2022: 1.5 million metric tons Australia generated 1.4 million metric tons of aluminum in 2022 via its vast smelters and refineries. Its largest aluminum smelter is Tomago Aluminum, which has been functional since 1983 and contributes $2.2 billion annually to the country's economy. Tomago's robust infrastructure and innovative processing techniques continually support Australia's steady climb in global aluminum production rankings. 6. Bahrain Aluminum Smelter Production in 2022: 1.6 million metric tons The Kingdom of Bahrain has been influencing this metal's market over the years. In 2022, Bahrain's smelter production was 1.6 million metric tons of aluminum. Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) is the world's 2nd largest and Bahrain's largest aluminum smelter, with a production capacity of 1.548 million metric tons. This smelter has also fostered stable growth in Bahrain's non-oil sector, owing to its diverse refining infrastructure. Click to continue reading 5 Largest Aluminum Producing Countries In The World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Largest Aluminum Producing Countries In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey. Shira Farber was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She first requested a mammogram ten years ago when she went in for a checkup at age 40. Her request was denied. I had a wonderful family doctor, very thorough. I was scared of mammograms, so I remember feeling relieved when she told me that I didnt need one before 50, Farber said in an interview. A mammography, a low-dose X-ray of the breast, is the most reliable way to detect breast cancer early in women. Guidelines from The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care say women should start getting mammograms at age 50 unless they have specific risk factors. But some advocates have called for the guideline to be changed, so that women are advised to have mammograms starting at age 40 instead of 50. Last month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, updated its proposed guidelines saying women should get mammograms every other year starting at age 40. Farber did not push harder to get a mammogram until the age of 48, when she felt what she described as an abnormality in her right breast. I knew something was wrong. I dont know if it would have made a difference if I could have gotten in earlier, but they discovered three large masses and they have been there for a long time. Farber had to wait six weeks to get a mammogram and an ultrasound. A breast ultrasound is done to explore tissue found by a mammogram like a cyst filled with fluid or a solid tumour. It is not usually done to screen for breast cancer, because it may miss some early signs. Once diagnosed, Farber quickly started treatment that included chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and hormone drugs. It was pretty horrible. I lost my hair. I had trouble walking and could not work. I was in pain and could not take care of my children. (By allowing early screening) I really believe we can put an end to a lot of unnecessary suffering and death. She has been told by her surgical oncologist and by other experts that her treatment could have been less aggressive had the cancer been detected earlier. Farber has been advocating for access to early breast cancer screening in Canada for a while now. She has given speeches at Parliament Hill, and at Queens Park, asking for the guideline for getting a mammogram to be 40, instead of 50. And shes not alone. Sherry Wilcox, 45, first asked for a mammogram a year ago when she felt a lump in her right breast. Her family physician said that it was likely a benign mass. When she pushed for a mammogram, she was told she did not need one, because the cancer, if she had it, would not show because of her age. I was outright refused, she told the Star in an interview. She said I was too young because younger women typically have denser breasts, if I had cancer it would not show. I kind of pushed a bit more and she agreed to give me a requisition for an ultrasound, which then showed something suspicious. They didnt think it was alarming and told me to come back in 16 weeks. Breasts that have more than 50 per cent glands and fibrous tissue are called dense breasts. Dense breasts make it harder for doctors to spot cancer because both cancer and dense breast tissue appear white on mammograms. Wilcox demanded a mammogram at that point, thinking 16 weeks was too long to wait, and when she was finally screened weeks later, the radiology report showed that she had invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. I do not want to bash anyone but I do think that they erred in not giving me a mammogram on request. I think there is a lot of misinformation. Wilcox has also gone through chemotherapy and radiation treatment in the last year. She will finish chemo in October and will have breast reconstruction surgery after that. Canadas guidelines are not the clearest, said Wilcox, adding that she believes the usual rhetoric shes heard in the medical community around shared decision-making and empowered decisions, does not reflect whats actually happening. I actually had a physical lump. So the guidelines probably should have been thrown out the window, Wilcox said. Im frustrated, I cant go back and change what happened to me, but I can try to help others who may not push back with a physician, because many of us do revere doctors, and will listen to everything they say. The Canadian Task Force will be reviewing and analyzing new evidence for an update, which they began working on earlier this year, according to Dr. Guylene Theriault, the chair of the panel, but there is not yet a date for when the update will be available. The evidence in the 2018 guideline showed a close balance between potential benefits and harms, Theriault said. For women in their 40s, its always an individuals choice whether or not to get screened based on personal preferences and discussions with their health-care provider. With shared decision-making, women in their 40s should be able to have a mammography if they want one, said Theriault. Potential harms of screening for breast cancer include false-positive results, the need for additional imaging and biopsy, overdiagnosis and radiation exposure according to the U.S. and Canadian task forces. The U.S. task force also noted that Black women are 40 per cent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, making mammograms at 40 an especially important step but also urged more research to better understand and combat the disparity. Hannah Jensen, a spokeswoman for the Health Ministry in Ontario, told the Star the province is exploring lowering the breast cancer screening age to 40, but did not elaborate. I think (the U.S.s proposed update) is a monumental first step in the right direction. Canada must update its own recommendations without question, said Dr. Toni Zhong, an associate professor in the department of surgery at the University of Toronto. It will save thousands of womens lives each year, said Dr. Martin Yaffe, a breast cancer and imaging scientist with Sunnybrook Research Institute. In some provinces of Canada, the screening program may not accept women aged 40 to 49 for a mammogram if they dont show any symptoms and are not high risk. Women between 50 and 74 years old can make an appointment at a screening centre without a doctors referral in all provinces and most territories, if they are at average risk for breast cancer. Many women, especially in Ontario, are being denied screening because of misinformation circulated by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, suggesting less benefit and more harms associated with screening, said Yaffe. This notion has passed on to professional colleges and physicians as well as women and is dangerous according to Yaffe, who said on this basis some doctors are refusing to provide a requisition for screening to younger women. One of those denied screening was 45-year-old Adina Isenberg. She asked her family doctor for a mammogram when she turned 40. Her doctor dismissed her request, she told the Star, despite risk factors like having a history of cancer in her family and her background. As Ashkenazi Jewish, she is at a higher risk for breast cancer at a young age, according to studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). My doctor was very dismissive, he said I was too young to worry about breast cancer citing the guidelines. Worse, when I had called his office asking for a mammogram referral, his assistant laughed at me and said Thats not how it works, you need an appointment to determine whether you need one. After she was reluctantly scheduled in for an appointment about a month later, she said, the doctor dismissed her request again. When she pushed back, the doctor strongly discouraged her from getting screened elsewhere, stressing the risks of unnecessary mammograms. He said that was a mistake, and that the radiation from the mammogram would increase the likelihood of giving myself cancer. After more than three months of waiting and going to another doctor for a mammogram and ultrasound, Isenberg was finally diagnosed with triple-positive breast tumours. Triple-positive breast tumours refers to cancer cells that test positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and have higher than usual levels of the HER2 protein. Im asking for the barriers to be removed so that younger women, can access the care they need, she said. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women and the second leading cause of death from cancer in Canadian women, according to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). The provincial and territorial screening programs should act on the science and on the U.S. guidance and not wait for the Canadian Task Force, said Yaffe. Yaffe added that the screening should be done annually, not every second year, as suggested, at least for premenopausal women. It is extremely difficult to interpret for the family doctors who have to counsel their patients about the pros and cons of breast cancer screening, said Zhong. Zhong suggested that the task force is relying on outdated and weak evidence. Guidelines based on 30-year-old studies are questionable in their conclusions and irrelevant, since so much about breast cancer epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment have changed, she explained. There are several reasons why screening between the ages 40 and 49 is critical, according to experts. Cancers grow more rapidly in younger women so screening every second year would cause too many to be missed, Yaffe explained, adding screening should also be readily available to women over age 74 who are in otherwise good health. According to Zhong, nine per cent of all breast cancers occur in women younger than 45 years of age in the U.S., and statistics are probably similar in Canada. Breast cancer in younger women tends to be more aggressive and lead to more morbidity and more mortality than in older women. Therefore diagnosing younger women earlier is critical and gives them the best chance at survival. Young women are dying and going through aggressive treatment and surgeries because cancer is being found later, said Jennie Dale. Dale is the cofounder and executive director of Dense Breasts Canada, an advocacy group that works to raise awareness of breast cancer screening. Women in their 40s are not acceptable losses. They are not expendable. Lets stop the needless deaths and suffering. With files from The Associated Press SHARE: Toronto police are asking the public to help identify the man wanted for a stabbing at Downsview Park Subway Station in May. Police said they responded to a call for a stabbing at the station at around 6:10 a.m. on May 27. The victim, a 25-year-old man, was taken to a local trauma centre with multiple stab wounds, paramedics told the Star at the time. Police later told the Star that the victim was in stable condition and that the injuries were non-life-threatening. Toronto police said in a media release Saturday that the stabbing was unprovoked and the suspect was last seen running eastbound on Sheppard Avenue towards Allen Road. The suspect is described by police as male, 30-35 years of age, approximately five-foot-nine, black straight hair, and has a moustache. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, dark-coloured shirt with a white logo in the middle, blue ripped jean shorts, black runners and was seen carrying a black duffel bag. Toronto police asks anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-3200, anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com. TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca SHARE: Toronto police are investigating after reports of a teenager climbing on top of a moving westbound GO train Saturday night. Police say they were called to Islington Avenue and the Gardiner Expressway, and the Lakeshore West rail line, just before 9 p.m. for reports of a teen on top of a train. Officers requested the train be stopped. It is not known if there were any injuries. TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca Read more about: SHARE: Eight fallen Toronto firefighters who died in the line of duty over the last decade had their names added to the Memorial Honour Roll in a memorial service Sunday morning. You are gone, but you will never be forgotten is carved into the Last Alarm sculpture, where the remembrance ceremony is held annually. Nearly 125 firefighters attended the ceremony at 339 Queens Quay W., where flower wreaths were laid for the fallen firefighters. Their commitment and sacrifice serve as a constant reminder of the bravery exhibited by our firefighters. Torontonians are grateful and indebted to them for their service, deputy mayor Jennifer McKelvie said in a tweet. The memorial pays tribute to the 327 firefighters who have either died since 1848 in the course of firefighting or a related illness. Captains William J. Wainwright, Bradley Ronald Andrews and Norman C. Sinclair were inducted to the Memorial Honour Roll along with firefighters Ralph C. Sparks, Jason Pal and Thomas Emmett Todd and district chief Christian L. Cauchon, all of whom have died between October 2020 and November 2022, with the exception of captain Douglas James Lynn who died in May 2012. Thank you for your dedication, reads the memorial. SHARE: Ontarios Special Investigation Unit is investigating after Toronto police fired gunshots during a robbery call, Sunday. In a tweet, Toronto police said officers were dispatched to a vehicle theft call around noon at College Street and Roxton Road in Little Italy. The SIU later added in a press release that Toronto police located the stolen vehicle in the area College and Dufferin Streets. During an interaction with the vehicle occupants, two officers are said to have discharged their firearms at the vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene. Subsequently, the SIU said, the vehicle struck a pole at the Bloor Street West and Havelock Street area. Two occupants of the vehicle were arrested. They are said to be a 26-year-old man and a 45-year-old man. Although it appears that no one was struck as a result of the discharging of the police firearms, the SIU will continue investigating as per their mandate. The street festival Do West Fest was underway a few blocks south on Dundas Street West, between Shaw Street and Lansdowne Avenue. Star contributing columnist Shawn Micallef tweeted from the scene, writing a car appeared to be ramming other cars, after which police fired multiple shots at the car. The car took off and was pursued by officers racing into the neighbourhood, he continued. Terrifying. So many people (are) out today, Micallef said. People were freaked out but not panicking, mostly talking to each other, making sure nobody was hurt. A black Cadillac, with what appeared to be a bullet hole in the windshield and a broken rear window, was later cordoned off by police at Bloor and Havelock streets, Micallef added. They drove up Havelock, crashed into a pole at Bloor, went running from the car, one guy covered in blood. Everyone on Bloor was kinda freaked out too, said Twitter user @carlink1. Sitting on a stoop in the evening, steps from the crime scene, John Lyras, 40, looked weary. He was watching a movie, Police Academy 6, when he heard the sound of gunshots a little after noon. He ran down from his apartment to watch a police SUV race east down College Street, sirens blaring. Ive been here for 40 years. Ive never seen this s---, he said. But he said he has noticed more sirens in recent years. The citys getting worse. Across the street, a dented Volkswagen hatchback and a damaged white van with a flat tire could be seen. The vans door read, Think safety. Toronto police told the Star they could not confirm the bystander observations as the SIU has invoked its mandate. Along College Street, traffic was closed off at 6:30 p.m. between Dufferin Street and Macklem Avenue. Several empty streetcars were stranded. Meanwhile, SIU and forensic detectives studied the scene where several civilian cars were parked, as uniformed officers looked on. The SIU is an arms-length agency that investigates reports involving police where a firearm has been discharged at a person or there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. With files from Ben Mussett and Thea Gribilas. SHARE: Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled 29 closures in Toronto on June 11, 2023 for roadwork on Highway 400, Highway 401, Highway 404, Highway 427 and Queen Elizabeth Way. Highway 400 northbound between Finch Avenue, Toronto and Highway 7, Vaughan: three alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 18 at 9 a.m. Highway 400 northbound between Finch Avenue, Toronto and Highway 7, Vaughan: three alternating lanes closed until June 11 at 9 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound between Allen Road and Allen Road, Toronto: one left lane closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 18 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound between Allen Road and Allen Road, Toronto: one left lane closed until June 11 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound between Highway 427 and Highway 427, Toronto: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 10 p.m. until June 17 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound between Highway 427 and Kipling Ave, Toronto: three alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 10 p.m. until June 17 at 5:30 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound between Neilson Road, Toronto and Whites Road, Pickering: one alternating lane closed from June 11 at 10 p.m. until June 24 at 8 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound express between Jane Street and Avenue Road, Toronto: all lanes closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 16 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound express between Kipling Avenue and Islington Ave, Toronto: all lanes closed from June 11 at 10:30 p.m. until June 17 at 5:30 a.m. Highway 401 eastbound express between Neilson Road, Toronto and Whites Road, Pickering: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 10 p.m. until June 24 at 10 a.m. Highway 401 westbound between Allen Road and Allen Road, Toronto: one left lane closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 18 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 westbound between Allen Road and Allen Road, Toronto: one left lane closed until June 11 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 westbound between Brimley Road and Warden Ave, Toronto: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 8 p.m. until June 17 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 westbound between Islington Avenue and Highway 427, Toronto: three alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 10 p.m. until June 17 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 westbound between Morningside Avenue and Kennedy Road -Scarborough, Toronto: three alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 8 p.m. until June 17 at 5 a.m. Highway 401 westbound on-ramp at Allen Road, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 15 at 6 a.m. Highway 401 westbound on-ramp at Dixon Road / Martin Grove Rd, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 4 at 7 a.m. Highway 401 westbound on-ramp at Kennedy Road -Scarborough, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 22 at 6 a.m. Highway 404 northbound between York Mills Road, Toronto and Woodbine Ave, East Gwillimbury: one alternating lane closed until July 7 at 5 a.m. Highway 427 northbound between Burnhamthorpe Road and Burnhamthorpe Road, Toronto: four alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 17 at 12 a.m. Highway 427 northbound express between Bloor Street and Bloor Street, Toronto: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 16 at 6 a.m. Highway 427 northbound express between Burnhamthorpe Road and Burnhamthorpe Road, Toronto: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 16 at 6 a.m. Highway 427 northbound express between Dixon Road / Airport Road and Campus Road / Fasken Drive, Toronto: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 6 p.m. until June 14 at 6 a.m. Highway 427 southbound express between Bloor Street and Bloor Street, Toronto: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 16 at 6 a.m. Highway 427 southbound express between Burnhamthorpe Road and Burnhamthorpe Road, Toronto: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 9 p.m. until June 16 at 6 a.m. Highway 427 southbound off-ramp at Burnhamthorpe Road, Toronto: all lanes closed from June 11 at 10 p.m. until June 17 at 6 a.m. Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between East Mall, Toronto and Dixie Road, Mississauga: two alternating lanes closed from June 11 at 10 p.m. until June 18 at 5:30 a.m. Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between East Mall, Toronto and Dixie Road, Mississauga: two alternating lanes closed until June 11 at 5:30 a.m. Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound off-ramp at West Mall / Evans Ave, Toronto: one right lane closed until June 13 at 11:59 p.m. Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside Toronto About this story This story was automatically generated using open data from Ontario 511. These closures are scheduled for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance of provincial highways around Toronto, including North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors. SHARE: BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) After a rocket attack in eastern Ukraine, half of Rambos face was mangled and bloody. Shrapnel had ravaged the right side of his head, and it was uncertain if he would survive. The 3-year-old German shepherd, who had accompanied Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines of the war, underwent emergency surgery that saved his life. Now, Rambo is training with the Budapest police department in neighboring Hungary and serving as a reminder that dogs and people with disabilities can do great things. Recovered from his brush with death in northeastern Ukraines Kharkiv province, Rambo is learning how to interact with children, older adults and disabled people at police demonstrations and rehabilitation institutions, according to Lt. Col. Maria Stein with the Budapest Metropolitan Police. Demonstrating the tasks performed by canine units is part of the departments crime prevention program, with a goal of teaching young people to be more tolerant and to respect one anothers differences, Stein said. Nowadays, unfortunately, it happens that children mock each other because they wear glasses, because they have braces, because their ears look funny or whatever because theyre different, she said. With Rambo, we might be able to sensitize these children a little and show them that, yes, he is injured, hes different, but he can do the same things as other dogs. Rambos journey to police service didnt come easy. Last year, shrapnel from the rocket attack, which also injured some Ukrainian soldiers, blew away pieces of skull, damaging his jaw and severely mangling his right ear. After his initial surgery, Rambo was taken to safety in western Ukraine. Violetta Kovacs, head of a Hungarian organization dedicated to rescuing German shepherds, soon collected him and brought him to a rehabilitation center near Budapest. The dog needed immediate help, Kovacs, head of the German Shepherd Breed Rescue Foundation, said. We had to operate again here in Hungary because several of his teeth were causing him great pain because of the injury, which required immediate intervention. Rambo spent eight months at the center, where his jaw was reconstructed, his right ear amputated and several teeth removed. He underwent training to be socialized with other dogs, Kovacs said, but his fondness for children was clear from the start. Gyula Desko, a lieutenant colonel with the Budapest Metropolitan Police, then adopted Rambo, providing him with further training and a home. He called Rambo a very friendly, good-natured dog who is making good progress in his training and whose survival was a miracle. Working with him requires more patience and more attention, as we do not know what kind of mental problems his head injury caused him, Desko said, but Rambo is so open with people and accepts them, despite his injuries and the shock that befell him. Its those qualities, Desko said, that the police force hopes will inspire those who meet Rambo to open themselves to kindness and acceptance. As a police dog, one can see through him that you can live a full life even when injured, and can be a useful member of society and do very diverse things, Desko said. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine SHARE: BAGHDAD (AP) Islamic State group militants attacked an Iraqi army position in the northern governorate of Kirkuk, killing two military officers and wounding three soldiers, Iraqs security media office said in a statement Sunday. The Iraqi Security Media Cell said militants belonging to the extremist group late Saturday targeted the military position in the district of Dibis with light and medium weapons but did not provide further details. The statement said that Iraqi authorities held a meeting to investigate the attack. IS, in a late Saturday statement, claimed responsibility for the attack on their website. This comes as the Iraqi military has cracked down on IS sleeper cells near the countrys borders over the past month. Iraqs Counter Terrorism Service launched airstrikes targeting the groups positions in the western desert of the Anbar province and in the Hamrin mountains near Kirkuk, killing 27 militants. The militant group in recent years has targeted Iraqi army positions in the governorate of Kirkuk. In November 2022, IS militants killed four Iraqi soldiers in the governorates district of Dibis , and took their weapons and communications gear. Kirkuks governor, Rakan Saeed al-Jiboury, told The Associated Press at the time that the attack happened in an area divided between the Iraqi army and Kurdish peshmerga forces who dont coordinate their actions and (IS) takes advantage of this. ISs territorial control in Iraq and Syria was crushed by a years-long U.S.-backed campaign, but its fighters continued with sleeper cells that have killed scores of Iraqis and Syrians. SHARE: CAIRO (AP) Egyptian authorities said three British nationals were missing after a scuba diving boat they were cruising in caught fire off Egypts Red Sea coastline on Sunday. In a short statement, Egypts Red Sea Governate said 12 crew members and 12 British tourists were rescued when a medium-sized scuba diving boat, christened Hurricane, went up in flames off the southern Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam. A search party was launched to find the remaining three British tourists whose identities were not revealed. Following an initial examination of the vessel, Egyptian authorities said, an electrical short circuit in the boats engine room sparked the blaze. Britains Foreign Office said that it was in contact with the Egyptian authorities and is supporting the British nationals involved. Fatal boat accidents are relatively uncommon in Egypt. In 2021 a boat capsized in a lake near Egypts Mediterranean city of Alexandria, leaving at least five people dead, including three children. In 1991, the Egyptian ferry, Salem Express sailing from Saudi Arabia to Egypt sank killing as many as 471 people, mostly Muslim pilgrims. Egypts Red Sea resorts harbor some of the countrys most renowned beach destinations and are popular with European holiday goers. It has cemented its reputation as a dive destination with easy access to coral reefs from shores and dive sites offering diverse marine life. In recent years, Egypt has gone to great lengths to bolster its tourism industry, hurt by years of political instability, COVID-19 and the negative economic effect of the war in Ukraine. Read more about: SHARE: GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) Former President Donald Trump said Saturday night in North Carolina that he would endorse Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson for governor in a move many delegates expect will cement Robinsons place as the front-runner in a competitive GOP primary and propel him to the governors office. Trump threw his support behind the similarly sharp-spoken Robinson at the state GOP convention in Greensboro during one of his first public appearances since he was hit this week with a historic indictment the first federal case against a former president. Trump said he would save his formal endorsement for another time but told Robinson from the stage, You can count on it, Mark. He referred to Robinson as one of the great stars of the party, one of the great stars in politics. The former president, meanwhile, faces 37 felony counts for improperly storing in his Florida estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides to help him hide records demanded by investigators and showing off a Pentagon plan of attack and a classified map. But several North Carolina delegates, who greeted the former president and 2024 GOP front-runner with roaring applause, dismissed the indictment as a bad-faith attack by President Joe Bidens administration to undercut his strongest competitor. Many Republican voters anticipate the indictment, which Trump called a travesty of justice, will boost his presidential campaign and boost Robinsons along with it. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Trump in that he doesnt pull any punches, said Mia Brydie, a 52-year-old GOP delegate from Greensboro. I admire him because hes a man that speaks for the people. Robinson was elected in 2020 as the states first Black lieutenant governor in his first run for public office. He would make similar history if he wins the governorship. Brydie, a Black woman, said she thinks Robinson is the best person to represent her and other Black and working-class families. Robinson released an autobiography last year that talked about a childhood of poverty and the various financial challenges he has faced as an adult. But some members of the party have questioned whether Robinsons long history of harsh comments which some women, Jewish people and members of the LGBTQ+ community have blasted as misogynistic, antisemitic and homophobic might hurt the partys chances of winning back the governorship in a closely divided state. Robinsons campaign did not immediately respond Saturday to email and phone messages seeking comment. Despite Republican success in controlling both chambers of the state legislature, the GOP has won the governors office just once since 1992 back in 2012. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has held the office since 2017, is term-limited and cannot run again in 2024. State Attorney General Josh Stein is the only prominent Democrat who has entered the race to succeed Cooper. His campaign spokesperson, Kate Frauenfelder, said she expects Trumps endorsement of Robinson will spur even more chaos in the already messy Republican primary. State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who is running against Robinson in the GOP primary, told The Associated Press by text message Saturday during Trumps speech that he never intended to ask for or receive the former presidents endorsement. Trump doesnt know me or my track record for governing or explaining conservatism without offending people, Folwell said. Charles Norwood, a delegate from Hampstead, said shortly before Trumps speech Saturday that he was undecided about which gubernatorial candidate to support. Robinson is very dynamic, Norwood said. But he and his wife, Lynn, said they were both leaning toward Folwell, who has impressed them during his time as state treasurer. Mark has got the enthusiasm, but he may be unfamiliar with the levers of power, Norwood said. He may not work the political system as well as he works the emotional system. Robinson, Norwood said, is not as politically sophisticated as Folwell. But the husband and wife agreed that Trumps endorsement of Robinson would be enough to sway them because Trumps going to be president, and the governor should be on his side, he said. Jonathan Bridges, a campaign spokesperson for former U.S. Rep Mark Walker, another GOP candidate for governor, said he fully anticipated Trumps expression of support for Robinson but expects he might not want to follow through with a formal endorsement once he learns more about the lieutenant governor. Jim Forster, an 81-year-old delegate from Guilford County, drew several parallels between Trump and Robinson, including their hardline conservative positions on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights and their uncensored approach to campaign speeches. Like Trump, Robinson is strong and aggressive, he said. He would make a lot of mistakes but would do a lot of good things, too, Forster said. Hes loud, hes noisy, hes pushy and hes right thats what makes him special. ___ Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. ___ Associated Press writer Gary Robertson contributed from Raleigh. Read more about: SHARE: Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Exxon Mobil's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 42% ownership Insiders have sold recently Every investor in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 60% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Exxon Mobil. View our latest analysis for Exxon Mobil What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Exxon Mobil? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Exxon Mobil. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Exxon Mobil's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Exxon Mobil. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 9.7% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 6.9% of common stock, and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. holds about 5.3% of the company stock. Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Exxon Mobil The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Exxon Mobil Corporation in their own names. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own US$496m of stock. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 39% stake in Exxon Mobil. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Exxon Mobil you should know about. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Two weeks ago I jogged around the perimeter of Ontario Place, not knowing it would be my last run around the park like that for a while. The next day gates were closed on the east and west sides, sealing off the centre of the site from the public, with some construction taking place. One of the great myths peddled about Ontario Place is that nobody goes there. Premier Doug Ford has said as much. His Minister of Infrastructure, Kinga Surma, has repeated the same, as have others who benefit from the spa scheme. It isnt true though and never was which is obvious to anybody whos actually been to Ontario Place lately. One way to make that true is to not let anyone in. Indeed, the so-called demise and desertion of Ontario Place has always been by design. This season, the marina at the centre of the site wasnt opened and the floating docks werent installed. Whats usually a busy, Margaritaville kind of place filled with the gentle rattling of masts and rigging and the happy hubbub of boaters was strikingly empty on my run. These recent developments are part of a wider provincial government effort to convince us that a mega spa is needed to save Ontario Place, complete with radio ads and Doug Ford stating he wont back down no matter who is elected mayor of Toronto. Translation, no matter the will of Torontonians and Ontarians, the Premier will override their wishes. But were used to that by now. Apart from privatizing a large amount of what is now public space, the spa project also includes a massive parking garage paid for by Ontario taxpayers. It, and readying the land for the development, could cost up to half a billion in public funds. The communications firm hired by Therme, StrategyCorp, has pushed a message that Ontario Place is not just for Torontonians. Sure, but the rest of Ontario should ask why the Ford government is dumping all this money into downtown Toronto on a dubious project, during a time of tight budgets, when it could be spread around to the rest of the province. This week it was revealed the businesses bidding on the project are the ones who requested the province add in the publicly funded parking, a demand that the province complied with. It makes the negotiating skills of the Ford government seem rather curious and also suggests downtown Toronto is a desperate place begging businesses to come save it. Ontario Place never needed saving, though it just needed updating and tweaking. Indeed, the decline-by-design was started long before Ford, when the Ontario Liberals dithered on what to do about the site as the theme park wound down. That government did create Trillium Park on the east side of Ontario Place and its been a total success. Other good ideas were needed for other parts of the site, but we have them now. While big local architecture and design firms like Urban Strategies and Diamond Schmitt are working on the massive, glass-walled project that is a climate disaster and an immoral privatization of public space, a broad and growing coalition of people under the banner of Ontario Place for All have resisted the plans. That coalition offers an alternative that is faithful to original vision of Ontario Place put forth by a very different kind of Ontario Progressive Conservative government in the 1960s. The coalitions counterproposal is meant to leverage the planned Ontario Line subway between its namesake sites: Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre. They suggest the pods and Cinesphere at Ontario Place could be used as a complementary lakeside branch for water science, with the main location remaining intact and open. Though the Cinesphere has screened films since a 2017 reopening, the question of what to do with the pods has been difficult as they are so magnificently unique. This part of the proposal makes sense as the Science Centre knows how to program these kinds of spaces, and being suspended over water makes the theme a natural one. As for the rest of the island, the coalition takes inspiration from the success of Trillium Park and proposes an enhanced park area with amenities like cafes, performance areas and places to swim. The buildings for such things are already there, but have been grossly underused and allowed to decay yet the people still come. To improve connectivity, it also proposes routing a branch of the Martin Goodman Trail around Ontario Place and creating a new land bridge over Lake Shore Boulevard to Exhibition Place and the Ontario Line station. They estimate this will cost around $70 million, much more bang for the public buck than a parking garage, surely. At the other end they propose creating a new residential neighbourhood where Science Centre parking is now, with ample affordable housing, that will allow the centre to continue to operate as it has for half a century. Everyone is open to talking about other ideas except the Ford government who remain defiantly loyal to Therme. Its very strange. Shawn Micallef is a Toronto-based writer and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @shawnmicallef Read more about: SHARE: Whats large, white, male and lives in rural Alberta? Danielle Smiths new provincial cabinet. The premier has constructed the best provincial cabinet for Alberta if this were 1960. What we have instead is not an executive council that reflects the Alberta of 2023, one that is diverse, urban and has more women than men. Smith, of course, argues, as she did Friday afternoon, her new cabinet represents all Albertans in all of our diversity. But its a cabinet with just five women among 20 men. Of the 25 ministers, 16 come from outside the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary, including Smith herself. Speaking of Edmonton, all 20 of the citys ridings went NDP, so Smith has no one from Edmonton in cabinet. Because the United Conservative Party fared so badly in Calgary election night, just nine ministers are from Cowtown. And its a cabinet thats pretty much a sea of white faces. Smith built her cabinet out of the materials provided by the May 29 election. This is a cabinet that might not reflect Alberta as a whole but it accurately reflects the Alberta that supported Smith and the UCP. Smith, obviously aware of the imbalance, made a point of singling out her choice for justice minister, Calgarys Mickey Amery, as an historic appointment as it is the first time Alberta has a justice minister of the Muslim faith. Its also a remarkably large cabinet. More than half of the UCPs caucus is in cabinet. Thats because while the UCP lost 14 seats on May 29, Smith has only cut two cabinet positions. She might be a libertarian when it comes to talking about small government, but she has delivered what might be the largest cabinet in Alberta history when it comes to a percentage of caucus. Smith says having a multitude of ministers focusing on specific issues means things will get done more quickly. It might also mean ministers who ran against her for the UCP leadership last year will be too busy to plot a coup. One of those competitors is Brian Jean, who after failing twice to seize control of the UCP, might be too discouraged to try again. He is the new minister of energy. It is not a surprising choice given that Jean, who represents the oilsands capital of Fort McMurray, is a fierce proponent of the oil and gas industry. Hell happily be Smiths proxy in her non-stop war against the federal governments climate action plan that includes a cap on emissions from the energy sector. Perhaps proving a counterbalance to Jeans combative stance is Smith's decision to name Rebecca Schulz another leadership contender as minister of the environment. As childrens services minister in Jason Kenneys government, Schulz has a track record of working co-operatively with the federal government over the $10-a-day child-care deal. Then again, environment ministers in Alberta have always played second fiddle to energy. Climate change is not exactly top of the Alberta governments list of things to fight. Over the past few days, when pressed by journalists, Smith refused to acknowledge the wildfires that have ripped through northern Alberta (as well as many parts of Canada) are in any way tied to human-made climate change, as experts keep telling us. While speaking with Edmonton-based talk show host Ryan Jespersen on Thursday, Smith went into conspiracy mode, as she is wont to do, by suggesting many of the fires might have been set deliberately. We are bringing in arson investigators from outside the province, said Smith, who also refused to acknowledge Jespersons point that arson wouldnt account for the massive size of many wildfires. It would seem Smith still has a tendency to be her worst enemy. Just the other day, she created controversy by saying she would create a council of defeated UCP candidates in Edmonton to give her advice on local issues. An annoyed Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi shot back saying she should ask the elected city council for advice, while the NDP reminded Smith the city has 20 elected MLAs. Smith has since backed down, saying she will indeed rely on feedback from the city council, as well as her own Edmonton-based staff and cabinet ministers representing three ridings in the Edmonton region. Smith insists she will run a competent and reasonable government and proffers the cabinet as proof. It certainly isnt an exciting cabinet but thats probably the point. And much like her election campaign, she continues to try to distance herself from contentious issues and comments from the not-so-distant past when she was pandering to right-wing groups, notably Take Back Alberta, that helped undermine Premier Kenney last year. In some encouraging signs, no UCP candidates with ties to the group were elevated to cabinet. Interestingly, one UCP candidate, Jason Nixon, who was a top lieutenant to Kenney and thus targeted by Take Back Alberta (and dropped from cabinet last October by Smith), managed to survive a nomination battle, get re-elected and was promoted back to cabinet by Smith. Of course, a skeptic might say after losing six cabinet ministers Smith was desperate for ministers with experience. And now she has to rely on a new cabinet so reminiscent of days-gone-by cabinets to guide an energy-reliant Alberta into an uncertain future. Graham Thomson is an Edmonton-based political commentator and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Reach him on email: gthomson2016@gmail.com Read more about: SHARE: There is a lot at stake for youth in this mayoral byelection. Young people are envisioning a Toronto that is more youth-friendly and equitable, one that supports them in reaching their full potential, instead of one that pushes them further from success. There is a saying: show me your budget and itll show me your priorities. For this election, a candidates platform will show us their priorities for Toronto. However, weve yet to see many that centre the needs of youth. From increasing community safety issues, rising rates of youth unemployment and homelessness, Torontos youth require a mayor who is able to prioritize and ensure the improvement of their socioeconomic conditions. Ive long been reinforcing that the rise in violence on the TTC to carjackings and armed pharmacy robberies to school violence, will not be effectively addressed through downstream approaches of policing first. Only an upstream, community-driven response will be successful and has proven to be effective. Imagine, we have 52 communities in Toronto with Neighbourhood Community Officers. Yet, only 40 communities have active youth hubs/spaces. We cant say that we are more focused on prevention than intervention when we have consistently supported and funded intervention efforts over effective prevention efforts. These arent anti-police sentiments, but pro common sense policies. Officers themselves have said that they depend on these spaces to engage youth. Torontos youth unemployment rate is the worst in Ontario and for Black and Indigenous youth the numbers are dire. Imagine if Torontos equity-deserving youth were able to access meaningful and gainful employment opportunities that will aid them on their path toward a future of career success and economic security. This is why the Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC), backed by the TDSB, have been calling for: The creation of more enhanced youth spaces to ensure every Neighbourhood Improvement Area has an active youth space where young people can have access to recreational programming and support services. The creation of a Summer Youth Employment Program as well as to ensure youth have access to employment year-round. On homelessness, candidates have yet to put out a plan that meaningfully centres youth, although they make up the fastest-growing population of homeless people whose needs are changing, requiring longer stays and deeper support. According to the citys pre-COVID data, Toronto had 594 youth shelter beds in January 2020 and as of the end of April 2023, Toronto had 603. Youth shelters are at full capacity with many having to turn youth away. In 2020, 479 youth were moved from the shelter system to housing, in 2022 that number decreased to 352. Covenant House Toronto and the TYC have noted that Torontos current strategy to combat homelessness does not sufficiently address the unique challenges of youth. Were calling for a creation of a youth specific plan to prevent and end youth homelessness. Some will read this and say youth are apathetic, theyll ask why should candidates cater their platforms towards youth when they dont vote? The continuous neglect of Torontos youth has and will continue to affect everyone. Decades of disinvestment toward Torontos youth have created the conditions we are in today. Last week the Toronto Youth Cabinet released our Mayoral Candidate Youth Survey to all candidates to fill out. The survey contains 20 evidence-based questions on a range of issues of utmost priority and importance to youth. Candidates must lay out a clear and ambitious vision and plan for Torontos youth. Youth in Toronto should be able to live and grow in healthy and safe communities; communities with a bounty of opportunity rather than overwhelming poverty and violence. They deserve a mayor committed to supporting them in reaching their full individual potential. Stephen Mensah is executive director of the Toronto Youth Cabinet. SHARE: Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Sunday his party will introduce a bill to make it mandatory for mass murderers to serve their sentences in maximum-security prisons, amid a public outcry over a decision to move notorious schoolgirl killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison. Since this outrage has become known, (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau has done nothing so were introducing a bill that would ban the Trudeau government from moving mass murderers into medium security, Poilievre said at a news conference. The Conservative bill would require every mass murderer to serve out their full sentences in maximum security. The bill, which will be soon introduced by Conservative MP Tony Baldinelli, comes after Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Canadas prison system has some explaining to do over its incomprehensible decision. Bernardo is serving a life sentence for kidnapping, torturing and killing Leslie Mahaffy, 14, and Kristen French, 15, in the early 1990s near St. Catharines. He lured the girls into his car and then, with the help of his fiancee-then-wife Karla Homolka, kept them prisoner in the couples Port Dalhousie home where they were raped and murdered. He was also found guilty of manslaughter in the rape and drugging death of Homolkas sister Tammy, 15. After his trial, Bernardo confessed to raping 14 women 13 as the Scarborough rapist. He attacked most from behind, dragging them into bushes with a knife to their throats. Rather than going through another trial, the Crown applied that he be declared a dangerous offender a designation reserved for Canadas most violent criminals and sexual predators. Bernardo agreed. Homolka, for her part, served 12 years after a controversial plea bargain that saw her testify against Bernardo. She is now believed to be living in Quebec. Poilievre also said that Trudeau and Mendicino had the power to stop Bernardos transfer to a medium-security facility, and called on them to do so. The Office of the Minister of Public Safety told the Star in a statement Sunday that Mendicino shares the shock and anger of people across the country following the Correctional Service of Canadas independent decision to transfer Paul Bernardo. It said that Mendicino had spoken with corrections commissioner Anne Kelly, and ordered that CSC conduct an additional review of Bernardos security classification. The final outcome of this review will inform next steps on this issue. Last week, Correctional Service of Canada defended its decision to uphold Bernardos privacy rights. It said Bernardo was transferred as a result of a review into his security classification, which is required every two years. In a maximum-security prison, movement, association and privileges are very restricted, according to Correctional Service of Canada, and they are designed to house inmates who present a greater threat to public safety, require more supervision or have a higher chance of attempting to escape. These institutions aim to prepare inmates for medium-security prisons, which is done through programs, employment and educational activities, CSC says. Medium-security prisons, on the other hand, give inmates more freedom of movement, association and privileges as they are moderately restricted. These institutions allow for more interaction between inmates, which CSC says allows them to take responsibility for their actions, and co-operate with each other. It also helps prepare them for a minimum-security institution, CSC says. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had also called for corrections commissioner Kelly to quit or be fired. Amping up his rhetoric by calling Bernardo a scumbag who should rot in hell, the premier said Bernardos transfer has shattered public trust. Im going to quote the correctional services commissioner We want Canadians to have confidence in our decisions. Well, commissioner, Ill tell you, no Canadians have confidence in your decisions, Ford thundered in the legislature. You should step aside, step down or be fired. With files from Alessia Passafiume and The Canadian Press Joanna Chiu is a B.C.-based staff reporter for the Star. She covers global and national affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu Read more about: SHARE: When former US Vice President Mike Pence announced his candidature earlier this week for the Republican nomination for president, going up against his former boss Donald Trump, the sense of high drama was palpable. And it will get even more intense going forward, with expectations of the contest playing out as a US daytime television revenge drama. For most of his time in office, Mr. Pence was steadfast in his support for Mr Trump, as he helped consolidate the Bible Belt base of the Republican Party for his boss. Yet, in the defining moment of his presidency, when Mr. Trump wanted his deputy to interrupt the electoral vote count, Mr. Pence chose the Constitution over his boss. According to a veteran commentator on US politics, the enormity of this decision eclipsed for Mr. Trumps fanatical supporters and from all accounts the man himself ~ Mr. Pences previous years of loyalty. The two men are on a collision course the likes of which has not been seen before in American political history; loyal pairs of presidents and vice presidents have been the norm thus far unless one goes way back. That, in turn, experts point out, is a function of the modern nomination system where the choice of the vice president is no longer integral to achieving the presidential nomination itself; the presidential candidate endorses the person s/he wants as her/his running mate and primary voters, not delegates to the party convention, decide the nomination. In the old system, however, the convention chose the president and the vice president. The vice presidency often went to the faction that lost the presidency as a means to ensuring there was no lingering bitterness within. Sometimes these pairings worked, but the relationship at other times was like a badly arranged marriage put together by political expediency. Mr. Pence trails badly among primary Republican voters despite his status as a former vice president and opinion polls suggesting high name recognition for him. He is attempting to position himself as the traditional conservative whom the Republican Party used to represent in the pre-Trump era in the hope that the cult around the former president does not continue to successfully hijack the partys agenda. But its a long shot. Mr. Trump could, of course, still lose the nomination race, but even if that upset ~ and it would be a big one ~ were to come to fruition, there is no way he would support his former deputy. Such is Mr. Trumps animus towards Mr. Pence that he has already started attacking him with a viciousness that seems rooted in deep personal dislike. Its not about politics, policies, and programmes anymore. The narrative being built around the former vice president entering the nomination fray by his opponent and ex-boss, is that Mr. Pence was the betrayer-in-chief of his commander-in-chief. The Trump cohort is baying for blood, and the former vice president is unlikely to survive whats coming his way Advertisement Tamil Nadu is celebrating DMK patriarch and former chief minister Kalaignar Karunanidhis birth centenary for a year beginning June 3. Considering his contribution to state, regional and national politics, it is only fitting to celebrate it grandly. He died at 94 and remained the DMK President until his last breadth. Karunanidhi was chief minister for five terms spread over 19 years. He was DMK chief for ten terms and a legislator 13 times. Along with M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, he dominated Tamil Nadu politics for decades. Karunanidhi was multi-faceted. Growing up amid the Dravidian movement of the 1930s, he began his life as an activist and journalist. He later became a powerful scriptwriter who used films as a medium to spread the DMK message. He was many things to many people. He was Thalaivar to his cadres and a wily politician to his opponents. His autobiography Nenjukku Neethi gives a glimpse of his life and struggle. Rising from humble origins and a champion of Dravidian politics, Karunanidhi joined politics at 14. When Annadurai launched the DMK in 1949, he was part of it. The DMK politics was built around two central ideological planks. The first was caste-based social justice, and the second was Tamil identity. It was anti-Sanskrit, anti-caste, and secular. Karunanidhi became an MLA in 1957, a minister in 1967 and chief minister in 1969. Advertisement He weathered many political storms. Indira Gandhi dismissed his government in 1976 when he opposed the Emergency. Meanwhile, his one-time friend M.G. Ramachandran split the party in 1972. He formed a new party, the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Since then, the DMK and AIADMK have ruled the state alternately. Karunanidhi remained the opponent to MGR and later J. Jayalalithaa but did not have die-hard fans like them. The DMK remained out of power from 1977 to 1987 during the MGR regime; in 1991, in the aftermath of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa won in alliance with Congress. Since then, the DMK and the AIADMK have alternated in power except from 2011 to 2021. In his own words, Karunanidhi said, I have written stories and dialogues for 75 films. I have used my career in films to dispel ignorance among the people in the lower rungs of society, to light up their lives, to remove inequities in society, to spread socially reformative and progressive views and to make Tamilians aware of the antiquity, the sweep, the grandeur and the richness of their language. He also dabbled in national politics. DMK was part of all coalitions, including the 1989 United Front, the 1996 National Front, NDA in 1999, and UPA in 2004. Just before the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, I met Karunanidhi. I asked him how he and other senior leaders like comrade Jyoti Basu accepted Congress chief Sonia Gandhis (a novice compared to them) leadership. True to his prediction, and to the surprise of many, the UPA defeated the Vajpayee government. As for why he declined to become the Prime Minister at the time of the formation of the United Front, Karunanidhi said, I know my height. But he played a role in installing prime ministers like H D Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral. Karunanidhi could always gauge the public mood correctly. He made and unmade alliances based on electoral fortunes. As a consummate politician, he believed in no permanent enemies or friends in politics. Indira Gandhi got his government dismissed in 1976, but four years later, he became an ally of the Congress. He hobnobbed with political leaders virtually across the spectrum, switching sides, dumping some, and persuading others to support him. Karunanidhi played a crucial role in Indo-Sri Lankan relations. While MGR supported the LTTE, Karunanidhi had links with Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, which LTTE finished. He criticised the India-Sri Lanka Accord. Karunanidhis critics blamed him for his governments failure to take a decisive stand against the massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils in 2009. In the seventies, he also faced corruption charges, and the Sarkaria Commission partly acquitted him. The 2 G scam also was a black mark during the UPA era. On the plus side, despite consistent complaints that Karunanidhi had made the party his family property, he kept the cadres with him. He prepared a smooth succession plan and made his son M.K.Stalin succeed him. As a good administrator, he built the basic infrastructure which became the basis for industrialisation in the state. Establishing the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and a range of welfare boards enabled the state to attract investments. Karunanidhi outlived all his opponents. But his place in Tamil Nadu and national politics will be remembered forever. He was known for constantly fighting with the Centre on states rights and federalism. The credit for keeping the Dravidian ideology for decades also goes to him. Karunanidhi will always be remembered as the most daring politician of his time. He has left behind a lasting legacy With Presidential elections due in a little more than six months, and with the outcome expected to directly impact ties with Beijing and geostrategic equations in the IndoPacific, Taiwan is being rocked by a succession of allegations of sexual harassment, primarily targeting members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Already and in the past week, there have been more than two dozen allegations made. Outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, who is ineligible under Taiwans laws to contest in 2024, has been forced to offer public apologies twice in the week. Ms. Tsai and her party have traditionally adopted a robust stance against reunification with China, and have thus been in the cross-hairs of the Communist regimes propaganda initiatives. Some observers therefore contend that while the allegations per se are or may be true, their timing is suspicious. What might lend credence to this theory is that the unleashing of so many allegations in such a short time suggests manipulation more than it does the organic growth of a #MeToo movement. Like China, Taiwan too has an entrenched patriarchal society, even if the presence of a woman President may suggest this is not the case. Misogynistic conduct is not unknown, just as it is not across the Taiwan Strait, but is seldom taken seriously. Even as mainland China sees increasing pressure on women to conform to traditional gender roles in boosting the countrys birth rate, President Tsai has sought to project Taiwan as a land where social equality exists. The allegations thus target not just the ruling party, but its leader. It is fairly certain that the discomfiture of the DPP works to the advantage of its main opponent, the Kuomintang, which was founded by Chiang kaishek but is widely perceived as being close to the Communist regime in Beijing. Already, some flash polls suggest a drop in the DPPs popularity after the allegations surfaced; in other words, and if the airing of the allegations are part of a larger political game, the ploy seems to be working. A close aide of the President, national policy adviser Yan Chih-fa, has resigned after being accused of sexually harassing an employee. He is the most prominent of the several persons who have been forced to put in their papers after being named. But allegations of sexual harassment can cut both ways. A Kuomintang legislator has now been accused of assaulting a journalist, and kissing her without her consent at a work dinner, a charge that forced the partys presidential candidate, Hou you-ti, to call for an investigation. If indeed Taiwanese women are finding the courage to overcome societal pressures to call out male predators, it is a welcome development. But weaponising sexual harassment allegations is a dangerous game, if only because two can play at it. Advertisement Bharatiya Janata Partys three top leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and national president JP Nadda will not be visiting the state during the panchayat election period. The three leaders were initially scheduled to visit the state in June to mark nine years of the BJP government at Centre. However, their meeting will now be held after the completion of the panchayat elections, as stated by a senior central BJP leader. According to saffron party sources, due to the declaration of panchayat election in the state, it is highly unlikely for the trio to come to Bengal, as it is not customary for the central leadership to campaign in local body elections in any state. The nomination process for panchayat elections began on Friday. The BJP has approached the court to demand sufficient time for nominations, exclusion of civic volunteers from the election process, and the deployment of central forces to ensure fair polls. Advertisement However, district-wise guidelines have already been sent, stating that nomination papers should be submitted without awaiting the court order. The guidelines, along with the nomination forms, have provided instructions on how to fill in the forms and the required supporting documents. It has also been mentioned that the district president will assign the symbol for the gram panchayat and panchayat samiti candidates, while the state president will assign symbols to the zilla parishad candidates. The state leadership is expected to make an interim decision on the panchayat elections in an upcoming meeting. The term of six Rajya Sabha constituencies in West Bengal will end in July, and the term of the newly-elected MPs will begin in August. A source claimed that Union home minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari held a discussion on the Rajya Sabha candidature in Delhi on Friday. However, neither of them made any public comments following the meeting. It is worth noting that this will be the first time BJP will have a Rajya Sabha MP from Bengal since the partys formation in 1980, making this a prestige issue. Over 300 eminent educationists from country and abroad have sent a mass petition to President Droupadi Murmu seeking action against vice-chancellor of Visva Bharati University (VBU), Professor Bidyut Chakraborty allegedly for Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. The grandfather, father and mother of Amartya Sen were very close to the first Nobel Laureate in Asia, Rabindranath Tagore. Amartya Sen himself has made the country proud and has won the highest civilian award of the country, Bharat Ratna in 1999. But despite that the present vice-chancellor has been continuously trying to defame him and has levelled charges of land grabbing by him at Santiniketan, the petitioners claimed. The petitioners further added that Professor Amartya Sen differs on certain issues with the central government and also raised his voice over running the central varsity, which has recently dropped to the 97th ranking. Advertisement President Droupadi Murmu is the visitor of VBU and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the chancellor of VBU. In recent times, VC Bidyut Chakraborty has taken a number of controversial steps and has suspended faculty members and students. Professor Chakraborty has claimed that he is trying to restore the land belonging to VBU which is grabbed by outsiders. He has sent notices to the house of Amartya Sen several times and the matter is in court now. The signatories included Professor Abhijit Choudhury, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Alaka Acharya of JNU, Ambikesh Mohapatra of Jadavpur University, Arnab Haldar of Presidency University, Atanu Sengupta of Burdwan University, Arpita Bhattacharya of Lady Brabourne College, Debabrata Dasgupta, former VC of Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University, Supriyo Tagore, member of the Tagore family etc. Persons from abroad included Professor Antony D Costa of University of Alabama, Huntsville, Abinash Kumar, University of Edinburgh, Bibhas Saha of Durham University, former bureaucrat Jahar Sircar etc. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has also supported Amartya Sen on this issue and has visited his house and handed him papers of his Pratichi house. She has also provided him Z Plus security and a police outpost has been set up outside his house in Santiniketan. There has been no reaction available from neither VBU nor the VC on the issue. Worried about reports of ongoing violence in connection with filing of nomination papers for rural body polls across the state since Friday Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday asked the West Bengal State Election Commissioner (WBSEC) Rajiva Sinha to ensure adequate security arrangements. During his meeting with Sinha, who was summoned to the Raj Bhavan on Saturday, the Governor expressed concern over the reports of clashes that have already broken out in different pockets of the state since the filing of nominations started on Friday. During the meeting that lasted for around 45 minutes, sources said, the Governor clearly gave a message to the SEC that he is keeping a close watch on the evolving situation and will not remain silent if the violence continues. Advertisement sources said that Bose also inquired whether there are adequate forces in the state to ensure peace and fair polls, and if the SEC was considering the deployment of central armed forces. Sinha said the issue of deployment of central forces often depends on the direction of the court, and since a matter on this count is pending at the Calcutta High Court, the poll commission is looking forward to the court order. Soon after his meeting with the Governor, Sinha convened a press conference where he said that an allparty meeting on panchayat polls will be held on 13 June. Incidents of clashes between the ruling Trinamul Congress and opposition parties marred filing nomination papers even on Saturday. Rattled with reports of violence in districts the state election commission has spoken to administrations in districts like Murshidabad, North 24-Parganas and Burdwan East and West seeking to know about the law and order situation. The commission will sit for an all-party meeting at its office on Wednesday to hear their proposals related to the elections. Armed with a revolver, a reported local Trinamul leader Basir Mollah along with his party workers allegedly prevented CPM workers from filing nominations at Domkal BDO office in Murshidabad district. Police rushed to the spot and seized the arms from the custody of the leader Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Accrol Group Holdings implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 6 shareholders own 51% of the company Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company A look at the shareholders of Accrol Group Holdings plc (LON:ACRL) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 74% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Accrol Group Holdings. See our latest analysis for Accrol Group Holdings What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Accrol Group Holdings? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Accrol Group Holdings does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Accrol Group Holdings' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Accrol Group Holdings. The company's largest shareholder is Lombard Odier Asset Management (Europe) Limited, with ownership of 16%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 12% and 8.6%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. In addition, we found that Gareth Jenkins, the CEO has 1.4% of the shares allocated to their name. We also observed that the top 6 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Accrol Group Holdings The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. We can see that insiders own shares in Accrol Group Holdings plc. It has a market capitalization of just UK107m, and insiders have UK5.7m worth of shares, in their own names. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board, though we generally prefer to see bigger insider holdings. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 11% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Equity Ownership With a stake of 8.6%, private equity firms could influence the Accrol Group Holdings board. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Accrol Group Holdings you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here About 9,09,528 voters are set to cast their franchise in total 1,210 seats in the three-tier panchayat election in West Burdwan district. There are 1,020 seats in gram panchayats, 172 seats in panchayat samities and 18 seats in zilla parishad. Just after the dates of elections were announced yesterday by the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC), the president of West Burdwan district of Trinamul Congress, Narendra Nath Chakraborty himself started writing graffiti. Today, the TMC candidates started filing nominations at the offices of BDOs and SDOs of the district. The Left Front also announced its list of candidates in a joint press conference at Asansol today. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are yet to announce their candidates. Last day for filing nominations is 15 June and 17 June will be the scrutiny of the applications. 20 June is the last day of withdrawal of applications. Advertisement Section 144 has been imposed within the 100 metres of the BDO and SDO offices from today. In 2018 panchayat polls, there were 833 gram panchayat seats, 163 panchayat samity seats, 17 zilla parishad seats. A landmark programme started for the betterment of the school children in Andhra Pradesh called From the Principal Secretarys Desk is focusing persistently on providing quality education to the students. In its latest episode (sixth), here is what the Principal Secretary of Education Andhra Pradesh Praveen Prakash said. He said that this year through the programme, I am fervently making an appeal that if any headmaster, teacher, or parent finds that the school kit, whether it is the bag, shoes, uniforms, books or any other thing they find is sub-standard it should be immediately brought to my notice. Advertisement The schools are reopening on June 12. The students will get their textbooks, notebooks, dictionary, bag, etc If anything is found to be amiss in terms of quality, immediately click a picture of it and Whatsapp it to me. Praveen Prakash added, I have only one mobile number. And at any point in time, I am available to all the 42 lakh parents if they have a grievance. He further added, I dont want a situation like the one that emerged last year in Kasturba Gandhi School in Manyam district where students were given mathematics books in the last days of the session. At the most, all the books to be studied in the second semester will be available to the students in the third or fourth week of June, IAS Praveen Prakash said. Regarding the raw material that is used in the making of the school if I find that the benches in the school or RO plant, tube lights, tiles or any other thing is found to be sub-standard, I will not only ensure that such a vendor is blacklisted in India but also across the globe. Regarding this, I have already done a video conference with my vendor and have them about it, Prakash said. Also, Andhra Pradesh will have 30,000 classrooms installed with interactive flat panels, and smart TVs with BJYUs content uploaded on it so that students get to learn better. My appeal is also to the parents that on their part, please spend 15 to 20 minutes with the children every day so that they remain updated about the goings-on in the schools and remain generally aware of the child, Praveen Prakash said. Former West Bengal BJP Vice-President Chandra Kumar Bose is one of the more prominent voices in the political fraternity of Bengal. Bose, the grandson of Sarat Chandra Bose and the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, contested against Mamata Banerjee from the Bhawanipur constituency in his first outing at the hustings in 2016. A maverick of sorts, Bose emphasizes what Didi is doing right despite being her political opponent. He harks back to a time that was gentler, in some ways, because one could appreciate an opponent. Advertisement The 63-year-old politician doubts if the BJP has the bandwidth to connect with Bengal as the state heads into the three-tier panchayat elections, a rehearsal for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. What works for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, may not work in Bengal, he says. At the same time, he finds Modi an extremely charismatic leader. Excerpts from an interview with The Statemans Dola Mitra: DM: You contested the elections on a BJP ticket directly against Mamata Banerjee in the 2016 Assembly Elections from the Bhawanipur constituency. What was your experience of fighting against someone whom we can certainly call a formidable foe? CKB: I remain grateful to BJP for giving me the chance to contest against none other than Mamata Banerjee. It was the first time that I contested elections and I was clear that I would want it to be a challenge rather than an easy win. Mamata has mass appeal and is extremely popular with the people. I was told by many that I was crazy to contest against her. I would rather take on the best than settle for a less daunting opponent. For me winning an election somehow was never the issue but in politics one has to win an election to serve the people. DM: Despite being in the BJP, Banerjees main political rival, you have often pointed out what her strengths are. That is something missing in todays politics. Rivals rarely appreciate each others good work. CKB: Thats the problem with todays politics. Had it been in the interest of the political class to bring good governance to the country, the chief focus would not be to gain power at any cost by pulling each other down. If politicians in power had the will, they would have been more mature in the way they deal with their opponents from other political parties. Yes, the role of the Opposition is to critique but when something has been done right, let us say it. DM: What do you think Mamata Banerjee is doing right in Bengal? CKB: She is doing a lot of things right. For one, she knows Bengal like the palm of her hand. She is from the grassroots herself and she understands the problems and challenges that the people face on a daily basis. She seems committed to addressing their problems and issues. In the districts and villages the poor people have really benefitted from the various schemes she has introduced, especially for young girls and women. Whether it is the Kanyashree programme for the education of the girl child which has received an international award or the Swasthasathi scheme which is aimed at providing health insurance to women (of all economic groups) and their families, or the Laxmi Bhander which provides free ration to female heads of households these programmes have all brought about genuine improvement in the lives of women and their families. DM: What do you think is the biggest challenge for BJP when it comes to Banerjee and Bengal? CKB: The BJP does not have the same level of contact with the ground or the grassroots as does Trinamool, (which incidentally means grassroots). It would be very difficult to take on Mamata on her own turf unless BJP understands what Bengal needs or wants. Mamata knows that. DM: What does Bengal need or want? CKB: Well, I have always advised the leadership of BJP that divisiveness on religious issues would not work in Bengal. The same strategy that works in, say a state like UP, where caste and religion play a vital role, would not go down well with the electorate in Bengal. Bengal is a largely secular state and people do not vote on religious and caste lines. For thirty-four years Bengal kept the secular Left Front in power. Didi dethroned them by using the same tools which was to reach out to the grassroots and offer them what they need. In the case of the poor the basic needs are education, health and basic sustenance such as rations. DM: Why did you join BJP? CKB: I had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2013 before the Parliamentary elections of 2014. We discussed matters concerning India and particularly Bengal. His ideas on development had appealed to me then. He was very receptive to ideas I shared with him about implementing the philosophy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who had a plan for a secular and progressive Bengal. We had discussed a plan to form a group called Azad Hind Morcha which would oversee the work. That did not happen. I have found Modiji to be a charismatic leader committed to an agenda for development and progress. DM: On 23 June, senior leaders of the Opposition Parties are scheduled to meet in Patna to discuss forging a united front to fight against BJP in the 2024 Parliamentary elections. What are your views about identifying a face who will lead this front? CKB: I think it will be important to identify a face. One of the reasons why people in Bengal possibly did not vote for BJP because there was no declared chief ministerial candidate who would stand up to the might of Mamata Banerjee. There was no match. In case of Narendra Modi, again, he is a formidable figure and if the Opposition is putting up a fight against him, the people would want to know, if not Modi ji, then who? At the very outset the Opposition needs to work out a common minimum programme. DM: Finally, what are your political plans for the future? CKB: Well, I had contested the elections on a BJP ticket once in the Assembly elections of 2016 and then in the Parliamentary elections of 2019. While I did increase the vote share of BJP in my constituency, the seat went to Trinamool. My own ideology as a politician is that of a secular and progressive Bengal and India. I have never shied away from criticizing BJP when I deemed it necessary. But I did that always from the point of view of promoting a constructive dialogue. At the same time, I have no qualms about appreciating the good work done by any political party. Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said that despite being the problem creator in Kashmir, New Delhi holds the key to viable solutions in the valley. Bukhari said the Apni Party will ensure the solutions to J&Ks problems come from New Delhi. He said: The solutions to our problems, created by the centre, lie with the centre. And, I promise you that if the Apni Party receives the mandate to form the next government, we will ensure that New Delhi addresses all these issues to our utmost satisfaction. Everything that is required for Jammu and Kashmirs prosperity and development would come from the centre. He said that Jammu and Kashmir is destined to remain a part of India, and New Delhi holds the resources and capacity to resolve the problems and challenges J&K is facing, especially post August 5, 2019 when the Article 370 was abrogated. Advertisement Bukhari was addressing a party convention at Reshnagri in south Kashmirs Shopian district. Asking youth not to be swayed by emotional slogans of the traditional political parties, Bukhari promised people that the Apni Party would ensure ideal solutions to the issues that farmers and orchardists in J&K are facing. Demanding an inquiry into the reasons behind the violation of norms regarding the provision of cold storage facilities in Shopian, he said: The previous governments allotted and allowed establishing of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage to benefit certain individuals with political connections. And, now these CA storage owners are exploiting the vulnerable growers by imposing unfair conditions on them. These CA storages have become advantageous only for the privileged people, while poor farmers are subjected to sufferings, he added. Once our party is elected, we will designate horticulture as an industry. Also, we will be establishing Apple Villages in Shopian and other suitable locations to harness and nurture the natural potential in the horticulture sector, he said. Bukhari urged the people not to fall prey to the emotional slogans or unattainable goals that are used by the traditional political parties and their leaders solely for their own political gains. He said: While fighting against the country, we have tragically lost thousands of our youngsters either to jails or graveyards so far. We cannot bear the burden of further deaths and destruction on this land because the future of our youth and generations to come is at stake. Therefore, we must be honest with ourselves, stop following unattainable goals, and not be swayed by emotional slogans anymore. Lashing out at those engaged in a defamatory campaign against Apni Party, Bukhari said: Imagine a leader who, despite her own sister appearing as a witness advocating for the execution of a separatist leader, now accuses the Apni Party of being a party of Ikhwanis. These so-called leaders must be ashamed of themselves for orchestrating such a malicious campaign against the Apni Party. Do they think that people have forgotten the crimes that they committed while they were at the helm of affairs in J&K? They must know that they stand exposed in front of people, as the people have faced the brunt of their ruthlessness, he said. On this occasion senior vice-president of the party, Ghulam Hassan Mir, while addressing the convention, emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir requires sustained peace for its enduring prosperity and development. He said: Unfortunately, the traditional political parties have consistently engaged our younger generations with deceptive slogans like Rai Shumari, Autonomy, Self-rule, and similar rhetoric for several decades. As a result, we lost sight of crucial matters such as employment opportunities, well-being, prosperity, and overall development. Today, Jammu and Kashmir lags far behind the rest of the world. In fact, our traditional politicians, driven by their own vested interests, have left us in a state of darkness, and our youth now bear the burden of this political gimmickry. Taking a dig at the parties like NC and PDP, Mir urged the people not to be caught in the trap of deceptive and fake promises by these traditional parties and their leaders anymore. Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot on Sunday paid tribute to his father Rajesh Pilot on his 23rd punyatithi. Though he refused to make any political statement on the occasion, Pilot reiterated his resolve to fight corruption taken during the regime of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Today is not the time to talk about politics. That is why I will not do any political talk from this platform. The people of the state will definitely get justice. Fight on issues of corruption and youth will continue, Pilot said after offering floral tribute to his fathers portrait at Bhadaa village, and later unveiled his fathers statue at Gurjar Chhatrawas in Dausa district. Recalling his three demands for which he had served an ultimatum to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on May 15 after Jan Sangharsh Pad Yatra, Pilot said: I opposed former Chief Minister Raje throughout 365 but never an abusive word came out of my mouth. She is older than me but even today I say that you (Gehlot) allotted the mine, caught stealing and then canceled it. But the allotment was done. Advertisement Every mistake demands punishment. No matter how we are related to each other. If not today, then tomorrow justice will definitely be done, he said while addressing thousands of his followers and supporters. Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent statement on freebies being given in Rajasthan, Pilot said: If we help the poor, the Central government says that they will become financially bankrupt. On Chief Minister Ashok Gehlots remark against compensating in cash to the students whose question papers were leaked, Pilot indirectly said: If I help the youth who have been cheated, they (Gehlot) say that we (me) are mentally bankrupt. One should have a big heart to help the poor, youth with a sincere heart. Remembering his father who died in a road accident while travelling in an SUV on this very day, Pilot said: I learned politics from my father who was earlier in the army. He (Rajesh) came into politics after a lot of hard work there. Here he decided his line in politics. He never compromised against injustice. For him, matters of public interest were paramount. Pilot, whose mother Rama Pilot was also a former Minister in Rajasthan, said that he considers his father as his ideal and like him, he too will never compromise on his self-respect and ideals. Meanwhile, in a close byte to the media, Rajasthan Agriculture Marketing Minister Murarilal Meena, who is one of the main organizers, ruled out the possibility of any break up or formation of a political party by Pilot. I assessed that it is all created by you media guys. Everything was being considered by the Congress party high command, and it is not in my purview. We are all in the Congress, Meena replied to a volley of questions from the electronic media. Seven Congress Ministers Parsadi Lal Meena, Mamta Bhupesh, Brijendra Ola, Pratap Singh Khachariawas, Hemaram Choudhary, Murarilal Meena, and Rajendra Gudha, nine sitting MLAs and former MLAs graced both the events including shradhanjali Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first-ever National Training Conclave in the national capital on Sunday. The PM will inaugurate the conclave at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre Pragati Maidan at 10:30 am, stated an official release from the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion. Prime Minister has been a proponent of improving the governance process and policy implementation in the country through capacity building of civil service. Guided by this vision, the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) Mission Karmayogi was launched to prepare a future-ready civil service with the right attitude, skills and knowledge. This Conclave is yet another step in this direction, it read. As per an official release from PMO, the National Training Conclave is being hosted by Capacity Building Commission with the objective to foster collaboration among civil services training institutes and strengthen the training infrastructure for civil servants across the country. More than 1500 representatives from training institutes, including Central Training Institutes, State Administrative Training Institutes, Regional and Zonal Training Institutes, and Research institutes will participate in the conclave. Civil Servants from central government departments, state governments, and local governments, as well as experts from the private sector, will take part in the deliberations, it said. Advertisement This diverse gathering will foster the exchange of ideas, identify the challenges being faced and opportunities available, and generate actionable solutions and comprehensive strategies for capacity building, it read. The conclave will have eight-panel discussions, each focusing on key concerns pertinent to Civil services training institutes such as faculty development, training impact assessment and content digitisation, among others. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Varanasi to chair the meeting to be held under the G-20 conference, on Sunday morning had breakfast with BJP leaders at the residence of a Scheduled Caste booth president Sujatha. Talking to the media, the External Affairs Minister said that the breakfast was very tasty. He also said that the programs of G20 conference will start from this evening. Dr Jaishankar said many topics including food security, food grains and fertilizers will be discussed in the meeting G20 meeting. Advertisement Speaking to the media, Sujatha said that her entire family was engaged in preparations to welcome External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar a day in advance. My whole family was busy cleaning the house. I am very happy that someone so powerful came to our house, she added. The External Affairs Minister will address a seminar on Indian Foreign Policy Objectives and Features, organized at Gandhi Study Chair Auditorium, Kashi Vidyapeeth, this afternoon. Dr Jaishankar, who reached Varanasi on Saturday on a four-day visit, on his arrival said that Kashi is the city of Baba, it is a matter of good luck to come here. As soon as I set foot in Kashi, my mind became happy. The grand reception and preparations show that Kashis hospitality is universally accepted in the world he said. The Foreign Minister is accompanied by his wife Kyoko to Kashi this time. The Foreign Minister has come to city for the second time. Earlier he had come on December 10, 2022 to participate in Tamil Sangamam. Meanwhile UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also reached Varanasi this noon. The CM will host a dinner for delegates of G20 tonight. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday claimed that the Ordinance that was brought by the central government in Delhi is going to be brought in other states as well. Addressing the AAP mega rally against the Centres Ordinance at Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal said, We have come to know that this is Modi jis first attack. Through the ordinance, today dictatorship is being implemented in Delhi. Tomorrow this will be brought everywhere, Punjab, MP, Rajasthan He further said that his partys movement against corruption was successful similarly the movement to save Constitution will also be successful. 12 years ago, we had gathered in the same Ramlila Maidan today to fight against corruption, I bow down to this platform, it is a holy platform. Today, from this platform, we have gathered to remove an arrogant dictator from the country. As the movement against corruption was successful, similarly this movement to save the Constitution will be successful, he said. Advertisement The Delhi Chief Minister thanked Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for fighting the battle of Delhiites in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court gave a decision in favor of the people of Delhi. I thank Abhishek Manu Singhvi from this platform for fighting the battle of Delhiites. Within a week of the Supreme Court order, the Prime Minister overturned it. For the first time in 75 years, such a Prime Minister has come, added Kejriwal. He further said, Today democracy is ending in the country, this is called dictatorship. The Supreme Court said in its decision that India is a democracy, the people choose a government, and the government has the right to work. But Modi ji says he does not accept the order of the Supreme Court and he has changed that decision through an ordinance. Modi jis ordinance says that now there will be no democracy in Delhi, dictatorship will continue, Prime Minister says that he will run the government through LG. CM Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders kept abusing him every day but he has been busy with his work and will keep rejecting the ordinance. While implementing the constitution on January 26, 1950, Baba Saheb had said that the public would be supreme, but Modi ji has blown away the constitution. BJP leaders abuse me every day but it doesnt matter to me, I am busy with my work. But Modi ji has slapped the people of Delhi with the ordinance. I will keep rejecting this ordinance, the AAP convenor said. AAP organised a mega rally at Delhis Ramlila ground on Sunday against the Centres Ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai and party MP Sanjay Singh addressed the rally. Notably, eminent lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal also addressed the rally and spoke about the legal and constitutional aspects of the ordinance. Sibal attended the rally at the invitation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi Police has made a heavy security deployment around the Ramlila Maidan in view of the rally. From May 23, Kejriwal embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the Ordinance. The AAP national convenor has so far met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav. On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said that if non-BJP parties come together, then the Centres ordinance can be defeated in Rajya Sabha. He said this would send a strong message that the Modi government will not come to power in 2024. The Union government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters. The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. If todays India knows how to maintain friendship, then it also knows how to answer an enemy, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the BJPs tiffin meeting in Varanasi on Sunday. He said that BJP is working for the upliftment of people in India and the welfare of humanity on the global stage. Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at the Tiffin meeting held at Kailash Math, located in Cantt assembly constituency, CM Yogi said, The internal and external borders of the country are completely secure today. Before 2014, there was a sense of mistrust and anger towards the government in India. Big agitations were taking place. But in the last 9 years everyone is feeling the progress of India. Indias reputation has improved all over the world. CM Yogi, who arrived in Varanasi on a two-day tour, said that with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tiffin meetings are being organized in all the assemblies of the state today to create a sense of belonging among the BJP workers towards ideology and organisation. I am feeling extremely happy to have attended the Tiffin meeting in Kashi. We all have seen the changing picture of India in the last nine years. India before 2014 and India after is before us. Earlier big movements were going on inside the country. Anger, resentment and mistrust prevailed among people towards the government. Every day a new corruption case comes to the fore. Internal and external security were under threat, but in the last nine years, we have seen a changing India. Recently, we all saw PM Modis 6-day foreign visit. This visit gives a sense of the growing power of India. You all have seen how Indias prestige has increased in other countries, CM Yogi remarked. Advertisement The Chief Minister added further that today India is the fifth largest economy in the world and in the next two-three years, it is going to become the third largest economy. Kashmir was once troubled and in the grip of terrorism and today it has moved on the new path of peace, he said. The North-Eastern states were once facing a peak of militancy, and today with the BJP government in those states, the states are marching ahead on the path of progress with new confidence. Earlier 120 districts were in the grip of naxalism, today their activities are restricted to hardly 3 to 4 districts. Various steps have been taken to respect the heritage. The revival of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Ayodhyas Shri Ram Temple, Kedarnath Temple and Mahakal is the result of PM Modis leadership, he pointed out. The Chief Minister said that today Prime Minister Narendra Modi is recognised as a global leader. PM Modi is representing Kashi in the Parliament of the country. This is the reason why Kashi is the centre of attraction for the world, CM Yogi said. Most of the G20 meetings are being held here. Kashi is shining. Kashi has become the centre of attraction globally. Kashi is Kashi because Kashi is imperishable. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given prestige and identity to Kashi. Not only this, UP has risen above the Bimaru state category under the guidance of the PM. Uttar Pradesh has become a standard of development, security and good governance. With the path that UP is following today, the day is not far when it will be established as the growth engine of India. We have to make joint efforts in this direction, CM Yogi remarked further. On this occasion, State Government Minister Daya Shankar Mishra Dayalu, Mahamandaleshwar Ashutoshanand Ji Maharaj of Kailash Math, Swami Anantanand Ji Maharaj. Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari, MLC Ashok Dhawan, former MLA Dr. Jyotsna Srivastava, Cantt MLA Saurabh Srivastava, Pindra MLA Dr. Awadhesh Singh, District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya and office bearers and workers of the organization were present. Slamming the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that the ruling party cadres have ooted the central funds meant for development and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was falsely taking credit for the welfare schemes funded by the Central government. However, Shah did not make any comment about the possibility of a tie up among the Opposition parties as hoped by the TDP or the Jana Sena. He was in Vizag today to address a public rally, marking the nine years of the Modi Government. In between listing out the achievements of the Modi Government, he launched a blistering attack on the state government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. At the very outset, he claimed that in the past nine years there has not been a single allegation of corruption against the Modi Government while the YSRCP government of five years was steeped in corruption. Advertisement The Jagan Mohan Reddy government is claiming to be a farmer friendly government. Andhra Pradesh ranks third when it comes to farmers suicide. You should be ashamed of this Jaganji, said Shah. He alleged that the Chief Minister was using central funds to distribute incentives among farmers under the Rythu Bharosa scheme. The same thing is done with the free rice for the poor that is sent by the Centre as the Chief Ministers photograph is put on the rice bags. He went on to add: Under Jagan Mohans rule, Vizag has turned into a hub of antisocials. Land scam, sand scam, selling drugs, all these are being done by the people of the ruling party. He further said: Where did the central funds go? It has been sacrificed in the corruption indulged in by the cadres of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The Union Home Minister expressed confidence that Narendra Modi will come back to office with 300 seats and Andhra Pradesh should contribute 20-25 seats to the BJPs kitty. The Left parties protested against Amit Shahs visit alleging that the BJP has done nothing for Andhra Pradesh so far. They also blamed the party for the decision to privatize the Vizag Steel plant. El Paso, Texas-based Mustang Express is an over-the-road truckload team-based operation with more than 65 truck drivers. (Photo: Mustang Express) Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Texas trucking company acquired by Online Transport Inc.; U.S. requests USMCA dispute resolution over Mexico corn ban; RK Logistics expands into Arizona market; and Watco opens railcar storage facility in Texas. Texas trucking company acquired by Online Transport Inc. El Paso, Texas-based Mustang Express has been acquired by Online Transport Inc., a truckload carrier with more than 550 power units and 600 employees. Mustang Express is an over-the-road truckload team-based operation with two drivers in the tractor at all times. Mustang Express fleet consists of 65 drivers that primarily operate on the El Paso to Midwest corridor, Online Transport said on LinkedIn. This strategic acquisition will immediately double our footprint in El Paso. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Mustang Express was founded in 2001 by Rick and Laura Hernandez. The company transports automotive parts, medical products, raw material and other cargo, according to a news release. The carrier serves customers in the automotive, medical, paper products and technology industries. Mustang Express terminal is located about 30 minutes from the Bridge of the Americas port of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border. Online Transport, founded in 2000, is based in Greenfield, Indiana. With 10 terminals across the country, the company provides over-the-road transportation services ranging from bulk liquid, flatbed, refrigerated and dry van, as well as brokerage and warehouse distribution services. As of Friday, outbound freight from El Paso (OTVI.ELP) fell about 3.7% week over week, according to FreightWaves SONAR. El Pasos outbound volume is down 36% year over year. In recent months, carriers in the El Paso area have experienced delays at the U.S.-Mexico border due to everything from computer glitches on both sides, as well as disruptions caused by migrant crossings. Outbound freight from El Paso, Texas, is down about 3.7% week over week, according to FreightWaves SONAR. To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. US requests USMCA dispute resolution over Mexico corn ban U.S. officials recently requested dispute settlement consultations with Mexico over the countrys plan to restrict imports of genetically modified (GM) corn from the United States. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai initiated the dispute consultations using the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The consultations will last 75 days. If no resolution is reached, officials can call for a third-party dispute panel. US officials recently initiated dispute consultations using the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement over Mexicos plan to ban imports of genetically modified yellow corn. (Photo: Shutterstock) Mexicos plan to prohibit the import of the GM crop began in 2020 when Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador decreed he would eliminate the use of the herbicide glyphosate and GM corn in the country. According to some U.S. officials, interruptions to corn exports to Mexico could severely affect farmers in corn-producing states, including Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana. Mexicos GM corn ban was initially scheduled to begin in 2024, but has been postponed by Mexican authorities until 2025. RK Logistics expands into Arizona market Fremont, California-based RK Logistics Group recently opened an office in Scottsdale, Arizona, aimed at supporting clients in the Phoenix area and southern part of the state. The facility will include sales, business development and administrative staff and will focus on delivering logistics solutions for industrial and manufacturing businesses in the region, according to a news release. In addition to the new office, the company has plans to open a 190,000-square-foot logistics warehouse in the area by the end of the year. RK Logistics is a 3PL providing supply chain services for global customers. The company has five logistics centers across the U.S. and employs about 400 workers. The Scottsdale office is the companys third expansion this year, previously opening facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Austin, Texas. Watco opens railcar storage facilities in Texas. Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics a joint venture between Watco, Pontikes Development and McNair Interests recently opened a storage-in-transit yard in Baytown, Texas. Watco will provide switching operations for the yard, which features 420 rail-car spots, the company said. The yard is near Port Houston and provides access to the Union Pacific Railroad. In addition to 400 railcar spots, 3 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space will be available for forward-positioning customer products. The new yard adds convenience, flexibility and operational efficiencies for our customers, said Marc Massoglia, Watco senior vice president of sales, in the companys monthly newsletter. Watco is a transportation and supply chain services company with locations throughout North America and Australia. The company is based in Pittsburg, Kansas. Watch: contract rates are dropping. Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney. More articles by Noi Mahoney National truck dealership exits Texas, blames state regulations Is Canada losing out to US and Mexico in nearshoring boom? Mexico offers incentives to lure investors to Tehuantepec project The post Borderlands: Texas trucking company acquired by Online Transport Inc. appeared first on FreightWaves. Former US President Donald Trump has described his federal indictment as ridiculous and baseless. He made the remarks at a Republican Party convention in Georgia during his first public appearance since the charges were unsealed, accusing him of 37 counts, including 31 counts of willful retention of sensitive documents related to national defense information at his Mar-a-Lago property, CNN reported. Trump on Saturday cast his federal indictment as election interference, telling Georgia Republicans it represented an abuse of power by the Biden administration, it reported. This is a political hit job. Republicans are treated far different at the Justice Department than Democrats, said Trump who offered no evidence for his claims at a state GOP convention in Columbus. Former US President Donald Trump faces a total of 37 counts, including 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information. While addressing the people in Georgia, he said that any other Republican at the top of the partys 2024 ticket will face similar scrutiny and legal challenges, as per the CNN report. Advertisement The ridiculous and baseless indictment of me by the Biden administrations weaponized department of injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country, CNN quoted the former president as saying. Trumps remarks were reminiscent of his first rally after last summers FBI search of his Mar-A-Lago estate. Speaking to supporters in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in September, Trump accused Biden of weaponizing federal law enforcement in what he said was one of the most shocking abuses of power by any administration in American history,as per the news report. Donald Trump said, Somebody else? Theyre not going to withstand that fire. While speaking about his second indictment in less than three months, he said, Our people are angry. He denied wrongdoing and called the probe as a sad day for the country. He is scheduled to appear in a federal courtroom in Miami on Tuesday, where he will be read the charges against him. Trump has avoided legal culpability in his personal, professional and political lives. He has settled a number of private civil legal cases through the years and paid his way out of disputes concerning the Trump Organization, according to CNN report. After leaving office, the US Justice Departments criminal probe into the alleged retention of classified information at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election cast dark clouds over the former president. Earlier in March, the Manhattan district attorney in New York indicted Trump on charges related to hush-money payments to a former adult star. Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, claimed that a conspiracy to remove him from office had been initiated during his tenure. He alleged that political forces within Pakistan influenced Washington to depict him as an enemy of the United States. Imran Khan, while speaking to Newsweek, accused the West of employing double standards and defended his own policy of non-alignment in international affairs. Khan stated that the distinctive sequence of events in Pakistan commenced on April 9 of the previous year when his government was removed from power. He highlighted that it was particularly remarkable that on April 10, which had never been witnessed in the country before, a large number of individuals emerged to protest on the streets. Imran Khan stated that the reaction of the people had surprised him and everyone else involved. He mentioned that he had never expected such a response, as there had been no prior planning. He characterized it as an unplanned and impromptu response. Advertisement Khan further added that he subsequently interacted with the public through a series of large-scale rallies, which were larger than any rallies witnessed in Pakistan. Imran Khan emphasised that their efforts led to a triumph in the subsequent by-elections. Imran Khan was forced out of power following a no-confidence vote in April of the previous year, after which he faced numerous charges. When discussing the assassination attempts against him, Imran Khan stated, There were two, incidentally. Another assassination attempt was made on me on March 18. They were all part of that larger scheme, preventing my return. Regarding the legal cases filed against him, the former Pakistani prime minister remarked, Then, on May 9, this false flag operation occurred. They could have easily come and arrested me, with the police presenting a warrant, and taking me to jail. However, while I was at the Islamabad High Court, a commando operation unfolded, resulting in the destruction of property Everyone was assaulted, including me. I was struck on the head. Khan described how he was put in a situation where he felt treated like the most dangerous terrorist in the country, despite being the leader of the largest political party. He mentioned that he was placed inside a jeep. Interestingly, he noted that once inside the jeep, the behavior of those involved suddenly transformed into a state of politeness and courtesy. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Abundant sunshine. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High around 80F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 62F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Investors can buy low cost index fund if they want to receive the average market return. But across the board there are plenty of stocks that underperform the market. Unfortunately for shareholders, while the Carlton Investments Limited (ASX:CIN) share price is up 16% in the last three years, that falls short of the market return. Zooming in, the stock is actually down 11% in the last year. Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. See our latest analysis for Carlton Investments In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the three years of share price growth, Carlton Investments actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) drop 6.3% per year. The strong decline in earnings per share suggests the market isn't using EPS to judge the company. So we'll need to take a look at some different metrics to try to understand why the share price remains solid. You can only imagine how long term shareholders feel about the declining revenue trend (slipping at 5.7% per year). What's clear is that historic earnings and revenue aren't matching up with the share price action, very well. So you might have to dig deeper to get a grasp of the situation The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Carlton Investments' TSR for the last 3 years was 27%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 6.6% in the last year, Carlton Investments shareholders lost 8.1% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 0.2% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Carlton Investments (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Mindset of parents must change to see that sports can also be a career, she said By Riyad Mathew, Pooja Biraia Jaiswal and Dnyanesh Jathar How you pronounce it determines your worth. It is air-mez, and if you call it anything else, well, please just leave. Even if you own a Birkin or a Kelly or a much more accessible Evelyne, its still air-mez to you. Hermes is not the worlds biggest fashion label. Would you believe that is actually Nike? Then Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Adidas and finally Hermes. But Hermes is certainly the most desirable brand. Last month saw the stock price of the French leather goods companyfounded by harness-maker Thierry Hermes in 1837soar to more than 2,000 per share. It raised Hermess market cap to 210 billion, even surpassing that of Nike. Hermess soaring stock, as well as its absolute snob value in luxury fashion, has made Businessoffashion.com (BoF) analyse the company in a case study. It found that the French house earned its stripes by selling good, old-fashioned tricks of the trade, like discretion and luxury, instead of new-age quick-fixes, like digital marketing and influencers. Kim Kardashian holding a Birkin | Getty Images For example, Hermes has a humble 12 million followers on Instagram, while Gucci has 51 million, Louis Vuitton has 53 million and Chanel has 56 million. Hermess socials and advertising are driven by its more commercial categoriesits iconic printed scarves and fabulous perfumes. Its leather-ware is meant for reverence, not for mere likes. Hermes practically invented luxury by those magic words that really turn us on: limited edition. Much of Hermess magnetism comes from positioning itself as an exclusive brand by creating scarcity over its two priciest best-sellersthe Birkin and the Kelly bags (these two alone account for 2 billion in annual sales). While Hermes has surfed the same waves of luxury growth as competitors like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and Dior, the company sets itself apart with a highly differentiated leather goods strategy, the BoF writes. This means it continues to enhance its rarity strategy and non-negotiable quality for its expensive leather purses instead of creating a more mass canvas line. Hermes focuses on traditional manufacturing techniques, training its artisans for up to 10 years, instead of offering assembly-line products. Hermes has been building and training highly skilled artisans across its 21 ateliers in France. It says it is determined not to outsource its manufacturing to other countries as it wants to maintain its quality and cachet. Leather artisans at Hermes spend 15 to 25 hours making one handbag. Their pay, a well-guarded secret, is said to be well above the French minimum wage, and sometimes includes shares of the company, too. Top-shelf luxury leather companies are known to treat their artisans like royalty. Hermes, unlike the other mega luxury behemoths, is still largely family-owned. Now in its sixth generation (Hermes has long fought takeover attempts by the Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy group), it manages its iconic status rather diligently. It is now the most profitable luxury label listed, operating above a 40 per cent margin. It weathered the Lehman crash of 2008 as well as the Covid pandemic better than the other brands. Meanwhile, its secondary or resale market offers three times the price for its popular purses. I met Patrick Thomasits most successful CEO and an Indophileover dinner one evening in Mumbai over a decade ago. I asked him what gave Hermes its edge and its mystique. Quality, he replied, and a commitment to tradition. For example, he was mildly furious that I had not yet visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, and made me promise that I would visit one Indian monument each year. It is not just looted diamonds and valuable artefacts that former colonial powers want to hold on to; they can also be possessive about old bones and mortal dust. Evidence: Buckingham Palace has recently rejected demands for the return of the remains of Prince Alemayehu of Ethiopia from the catacombs of St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. Alemayehus is a typical Victorian tale of colonial depredation dressed up in royal kindness. In the 1860s, his father, Emperor Tewodros II, had been given the royal ignore by Queen Victoria when he sought alliance with the British. Angered, he took some Britons hostage. A quick reprisal from a huge British military expedition, which incidentally included Indian soldiers, followed. Tewodros preferred suicide to capture and the British were free to plunder countless historical artefacts and untold wealth. For good measure, they also took away Alemayehu and his mother, who unfortunately died during the journey to Britain. Queen Victoria, never short on the maternal instinct, felt for the orphan prince. She appointed a certain Captain Speedy as his guardian and supported him financially. But Alemayehu was unhappy; bullied and badgered at Rugby and Sandhurst, he yearned for home. Unfortunately, he fell ill and died when just eighteen. The queen, while allowing his burial at Windsor, mournedas if it was not the doing of her own colonial officialsthat the prince had been all alone, in a strange country, without a single person or relative, belonging to him. Illustration: Bhaskaran There are strong resonances here with the tragic tale of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last king of Punjab. After Lord Dalhousie had duplicitously annexed the once mighty kingdom of Ranjit Singh, young Duleep was put under the guardianship of a surgeon-missionary, John Login. Subtly converted to Christianity, he sailed to England in 1854 to what would prove to be a lifelong exile. Initially, he, too, was feted by Queen Victoria as a handsome, English-speaking Oriental prince who had handed over not just his kingdom but also his heathen soul. Unlike Alemayehu, he lived long enough to rebel against the Crown and return to the faith of his ancestors. However, his endeavours to return to India at the head of an army proved fruitless and he died a lonely death in a small Parisian hotel. He still lies buried in a grave in the churchyard of Elveden, his Norfolk country seat. Barring some initial spadework, no serious attempt has yet been made towards bringing his remains back to Punjab. Revolutionaries have fared better than royals. The mortal remains of Udham Singh, who served cold revenge on Michael ODwyer, 21 years after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, were brought back to India in 1974 as were those of student-revolutionary Madan Lal Dhingra two years later, both from the small burial patch at Pentonville prison where they had been hanged. Incidentally, the remains of Roger Casement, the Irish nationalist hanged for the 1916 Irish Uprising, were also exhumed after 49 years from the same patch. In Prince Alemayehus case, the argument cited against exhumation, that it would disturb the resting place of a substantial number of others in the vicinity, seems specious. The British are immaculate record keepers and well know where the bodies are buried. They are also used to moving them around: Prince Philip has been moved to rest closer to the late Queen; Queen Maria of Yugoslavia was returned to Serbia in 2013 and Prince Philips mother sent to her final resting place in Jerusalem. The Ethiopians would be well advised to push: this is the time to ride the woke moment. Navtej Sarna is former high commissioner to the UK and author, most recently, of the novel Crimson Spring. Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers' (JSE:CAT) investors will be pleased with their splendid 167% return over the last three years The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But if you buy shares in a really great company, you can more than double your money. To wit, the Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers Limited (JSE:CAT) share price has flown 140% in the last three years. That sort of return is as solid as granite. In the last week shares have slid back 1.4%. Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns. View our latest analysis for Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During three years of share price growth, Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers achieved compound earnings per share growth of 35% per year. Notably, the 34% average annual share price gain matches up nicely with the EPS growth rate. This observation indicates that the market's attitude to the business hasn't changed all that much. Au contraire, the share price change has arguably mimicked the EPS growth. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers' earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers' TSR for the last 3 years was 167%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers shareholders gained a total return of 4.3% during the year. But that was short of the market average. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 5% over five years. Maybe the share price is just taking a breather while the business executes on its growth strategy. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers (including 1 which can't be ignored) . If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on South African exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold its 'Maha Rally' on Sunday against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital. Over one lakh people are expected to attend the event to be held at Ramlila Maidan. AAP national convenor and Delhi chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal will address the Maha-Rally around 12 noon, a statement by AAP read. AAP's Delhi state convenor and cabinet minister Gopal Rai, who reviewed preparations for the rally, had said the event will be a forceful demonstration of the party's commitment to fighting for justice and the rights of the people. "The people of Delhi have undeniably declared that they have given the responsibility of running Delhi to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, but the Modi government at the Centre has not been able to tolerate this," he said. The party had carried out door-to-door campaigns across Delhi on the issue and have fanned out all over the 2000 Mandals in the national capital. Security tightened Elaborate security measures have been put in place in and around Ramlila Maidan. According to a senior police officer, around 12 companies of paramilitary forces, along with the local police, will be deployed at the venue. He said surveillance through CCTV will also be conducted. All participants will be frisked and metal detectors have been installed at the entry gates. Fire tenders and ambulances will also be deployed there. Traffic advisory The traffic police has issued an advisory mentioning Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg, Mir Dard Chowk, Ajmeri Gate, JLN Marg, Bhavbhuti Marg, Minto Road, Delhi Gate, round about Kamla Market to Hamdard Chowk and round about Paharganj Chowk as diversion points. The traffic restrictions/regulation/diversion may be imposed on Ranjeet Singh flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, from Minto Road to round about Kamla Market, Vivekanand Marg, JLN Marg (Delhi Gate to Guru Nank Chowk), Chaman Lal Marg etc from 8 am on Sunday, the advisory said. People are advised to avoid these roads/stretches. Commuters going to railway stations and ISBT should leave with sufficient time at hand. People should avail public transport to help decongestion of roads and vehicles should be parked only at designated parking lots, it stated. In case any unsual/unidentified object or person is noticed in suspicious circumstances, information should be given to the police, the advisory added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's two-day Chennai visit sparked a controversy on Saturday after street lights went off near the airport at Guindy just as the senior BJP leader was about to leave for his hotel. The incident resulted in a verbal duel between the BJP and the ruling DMK after the former accused the government of committing a security lapse. Tamil Nadu BJP state vice president Karu Nagarajan, who staged a protest, said the incident shows a "security lapse" that should be seriously investigated. "This has to be investigated. How can there be a sudden power failure when our leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Chennai airport? This is a security lapse. This should be seriously investigated," Karu Nagarajan told ANI. Shah is in Chennai as part of the BJPs month-long campaign marking the nine years of the Narendra Modi government. The Home Minister will also attend a meeting of party workers from the Chennai South Parliamentary constituency on Sunday morning. He will later address a public meeting in Pallikonda near Vellore in the afternoon and leave for Andhra Pradesh in the evening. Ahead of his visit to the state, Chief Minister M K Stalin hit out at Shah comparing the BJP's contributions to the state with that of the UPA government's. Stalin has demanded that Shah release a list of special schemes implemented for Tamil Nadu in the past nine years. "I am asking this question," Stalin said addressing a meet of party functionaries last week. "Many special schemes were brought to Tamil Nadu during the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre," he said, referring to the "special initiatives" implemented during the UPA government in which the DMK was a constituent. Stalin said the first phase of the Chennai Metro Rail was implemented during the Congress rule while 11 per cent of the project spent by the Union government was brought to the State. "As many as 69 important schemes were implemented, Tamil was declared a classical language, Central Institute of Classical Tamil was set up, highway projects to the tune of Rs 56,664.21 crore were implemented in TN and the Sethusamudram project was launched," Stalin said. "The list will go on and on," Stalin said and challenged Shah to present such a list of special schemes implemented by the BJP-led Centre for Tamil Nadu. "Does he have the ability to give a list; he should list out the schemes tomorrow...he should get the courage and ability to say that this is what they have done for Tamil Nadu. Will he get (the courage) it? No." The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy will intensify into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) on Sunday. The cyclone is reportedly moving northwards with a speed of 5 kmph. A tweet posted by the IMD on Sunday morning read: "VSVS Biparjoy over eastcentral Arabian Sea at 0230 hours IST of 11th June, 2023, about 510 km south-southwest of Porbandar. To intensify into an ESCS during next 06 hours. To reach near Pakistan and adjoining Saurashtra & Kutch coasts around afternoon of 15th June, 2023 as a VSCS." VSVS Biparjoy over eastcentral Arabian Sea at 0230 hours IST of 11th June, 2023 about 510 km south-southwest of Porbandar. To intensify into an ESCS during next 06 hours. To reach near Pakistan and adjoining Saurashtra & Kutch coasts around afternoon of 15th June, 2023 as a VSCS pic.twitter.com/fE47T9gOna India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 10, 2023 The cyclone may not hit Gujarat as per the current forecast but will bring thunderstorms and strong wind in the western state for the next five days as it passes at 200-300 km from the Porbandar coast, an IMD official said on Saturday. Coastal districts such as Porbandar and Kutch and Jamnagar will witness winds gusting to 60 kmph and increasing to 75 kmph. "As it approaches, the port signal warning will be changed accordingly. For now, the cyclone is likely to pass from a distance of 200-300 km from Porbandar and 200 km from Nalia (Kutch). As far as the current forecast is concerned, it is not likely to hit Gujarat," director of the Ahmedabad IMD (India Meteorological Department) centre, Manorama Mohanty told on Saturday. Despite the cyclone not touching Gujarat coast, the authorities have taken all steps to meet any adversities. Authorities have dispatched teams of the National Disaster Response Force to the districts of Porbandar, Gir Somnath and Valsad. The Indian Coast Guard has commenced an outreach to advise the fishing community, seafarers and stakeholders of Gujarat, Daman and Diu to take requisite precautions and safety measures. The ICG units are communicating regular advisories to vessels at sea through ships, aircraft & RADAR stations. Meanwhile, Pakistan has put the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan on alert despite the authorities being unsure of the cyclone's track in the coming days. The country's weather department has also predicted "rain-thunderstorm with some heavy falls and squally winds in the Sindh-Makran coast from June 13 evening/night onwards," reported Express Tribune. View of anchored fishing boats, after ban imposed on coastal activities following the cyclonic storm, Biparjoy, over the Arabian Sea, at Karachi's Fish Harbour, in Karachi | Reuters The Karachi Port Trust has issued a 'red alert' in view of the cyclone as it was estimated to be roughly 900 kilometres due south of the city. In a statement, the port authorities said that the shipping activities will remain suspended in case of strong winds above 25 nautical miles. It further said that the movement of cargo ships will remain suspended if the wind speed is above 35 nautical miles. (With inputs from PTI) In the wake of militant attacks and arson, the state government on Saturday extended the ban on internet services for five more days. The order issued by the home department said that the internet ban would be effective till 3 pm on June 15. Earlier the ban was extended till Saturday. Meanwhile, the curfew was relaxed in most of the districts, particularly in Imphal East and Imphal West. The restrictions were relaxed from 5 am to 8 pm in Imphal. An earlier order said the curfew would be relaxed from 5 am to 6 pm. In latest attack, three people were killed in a village in Imphal on Friday when a group of insurgents disguised as security personnel called them out of the homes and fired at them. At least two people were injured in the firing incident that took place on Friday. According to officials, the insurgents belonged to the Meitei community and they approached villagers on the pretext of a combing operation. The incident took place in Khoken village on the border of Kangpoki and Imphal West districts. After hearing gunshots, security forces on routine patrol of the village stepped in. However, the insurgents fled the scene by then. Amid tensions, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday met with Manipur CM N. Biren Singh to discuss the ongoing situation. "We highlighted the issues of the state concerning the violence. Himanta Biswa Sarma assured us he will work at his level best to restore peace in Manipur," a senior BJP leader was quoted by PTI. Sarma also asserted that he will inform Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps. The clashes between Meitei and Kuki tribes have so far claimed over 100 lives and some 10,000 army and para-military personnel had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state. Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had visited the state and camped for four days evaluating the situation. Shah had called for peace in the state and appealed the people to surrender their arms and weapons. The central forces have been engaged in search operations in the violence-hit areas since the clashes broke out. Belying the hype surrounding the occasion, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday did not make any major announcement as he attended functions organised to pay homage to his father, late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot in Dausa. However, while Pilot did not make any big declaration about what his future plans were, in his speech at a function in Dausa, he made it clear that he was not backing down from his demands with regard to alleged corruption during the tenure of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and question paper leaks in recruitment exams in the state. "My political aim is clear, that politics in the country and in the state should be clean. There should be no place for corruption and the hope of the youth should not be destroyed," Pilot said addressing a gathering at Gurjar Chatrawas in Dausa after unveiling a statue of his father at the hostel. He said he followed the ideals of his father who, according to him, would put forth his views in politics forcefully and did not make any compromise with his ideals. The gap between him and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was evident in his speech as he, without naming the latter, took swipes at him. As he spoke about the issue of corruption during Raje's term as CM, specifically the alleged illegality in allocation of mining contracts, he quoted Gehlot, without naming him, as having once said that every mistake calls for punishment. And with regard to the demand for compensation to be given to the youth affected by paper leaks in recruitment exams, he said, "somebody called it intellectual bankruptcy," again quoting what Gehlot had said on the issue. Pilot, who is engaged in a bitter tussle for supremacy with Gehlot, asserted that whether he occupied any post or not, for him his credibility amongst the people was of prime importance. "Today or tomorrow, we will get justice...No matter what the situation, I assure you all that you will get justice. I will carry on with my struggle to fulfil the promises that I have made to you," he said. "I listen to the voice of the people. And I listen to my inner voice. Both say the same thing to me," he said. He also stressed that he will not walk back from his ideals and beliefs, while maintaining that he has always practised politics of decency and has never used bad words against his political adversaries. Earlier in the day, Pilot paid floral tributes at the Rajesh Pilot Memorial in village Bhandana in Dausa, the spot where Pilot senior had lost his life in a road accident 23 years ago. He also attended a prayer meeting at the memorial. Present on the occasion were ministers Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Murari Lal Meena, Rajendra Singh Guda and Hemaram Chaudhary. Also present were several current and former MLAs. State vice president Rajendra Chaudhary also attended the prayer meeting. There was immense anticipation in the run up to June 11 with regard to whether Pilot would make a major announcement about his future plans. There has been a huge buzz about the possibility of Pilot launching his own party. He has so far refused to comment on the issue. Pilot had sat on a day-long Anshan on the issue of inaction over corruption in the Vasundhara regime on April 11. It was followed by a five-day padayatra from Ajmer to Jaipur that began on May 11 to demand action on the issue of paper leaks. It was speculated if a month later, on June 11, the day also being his father's death anniversary, Pilot would make clear his future course of action. While the central leadership of the Congress claims to have resolved the issues between Gehlot and Pilot, the divide between the two is only too visible. It was evident in Pilot's remarks made today. His continued assertion that he will not back down from his demands over corruption during the Vasundhara regime and the paper leak issue lays bare the difficulties of bridging the gap between the two leaders. Three sailors from Kerala, who were released after over nine months of detention in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, said they were forced to drink toilet water in captivity. Sanu Joseph, V. VIjith and Milton D' couth were among the sixteen Indian crew members of cargo vessel MT Heroic Idun which was in detention since August last year. They were released following the government's lengthy negotiations with the authorities concerned and reached home on June 10. The vessel had a total of 26 crew members, including 16 Indians, eight Sri Lankans, a Polish and a Filipino. They were detained in Equatorial Guinea and subsequently in Nigeria after being accused of various crimes, including oil theft. The ship was also accused of crossing the territorial waters of Equatorial Guinea. According to reports, the Indian Mission officials remained in regular touch with the crew and undertook consular access on numerous occasions. Following interventions with the Nigerian government, the crew was allowed to remain on board the ship with the provision of regular food, instead of being taken to a detention centre. The crew members were also allowed periodic contact with their families. The sailors said that they suffered a lot while in captivity and they fell ill and had to be hospitalized due to malarial fever, reported IANS. One of the sailors said that they had even lost hope and never expected to see their family and friends again. "Emergency! Engine failure..." Those were the last words heard on May 1 as a single engine Cessna C-206 carrying 2 adult passengers, 4 children and a pilot over the Guaviare portion of the Amazon made contact at 7:34 am. Then tragedy struck. The plane hit the jungle floor nose first. We know that because that is how it was found after 370 hours of search, 16 days after the crash. In it, the bodies of the three adults. Around it, signs the children survived: a diaper, a child's bottle, chewed fruit, a leafy shelter. But the four children aged 13, 9, 4 and 11 months were nowhere to be found. Could they still be alive? Could they have succumbed to hunger, predators, disease, fear? The children are indigenous who have lived all their lives on the edge of the jungle. They were on the plane escaping their scratch of land to meet their father who had left earlier due to threats of violence and had asked them to get out of the area quickly, worried for their safety. The small plane left the remote settlement of Araraquara in the heart of Colombian Amazonia; an area on the shore of the furious Caqueta River, surrounded by thick jungle on all sides. It was once a home to Colombia's prison for its worst and most dangerous criminals. The flight was to land in San Jose de Guaviare, a provincial capital on the transition area between the jungle and Colombia's llanos plains. Flying over southeastern Colombia's vast and broad Guaviare jungle can feel like you are suspended in mid-air. Then it feels like you are dipped in a dark green ink that swallows you and never ends. It is a formidable jungle. The foliage is thick, clearings are rare. Just imagine yourself on the ground, insignificant in size against the vast expanse. If alive, the children's survival would be difficult. They would be lost in what is perhaps the harshest most inhospitable part of the entire Amazon jungle. The air is dense with humidity there, making breathing difficult. Tall, thin trees rise 30 to 40 meters; it rains nearly all the time. The tropical mud can cling to your feet when it is not slippery. Fallen branches, hidden rocks, and tree roots can cut your skin. Disease and infections can set in. There are swarms of mosquitos, and vicious bugs, snakes, jaguars, poisonous plants and myriad threats in the jungle. It is dark even during the day because of the think canopy; the nights are pitch black. The thought of the 3 orphaned children and a baby alone in the unforgiving jungle struck a chord with Colombians. The entire nation was gripped by a sense of urgency and empathy. Search and rescue teams that included military teams and people of the forest embarked on a relentless mission to locate the missing children. The children's father fueled their determination because he firmly believed his children were alive. Their grandfather also joined the search. They insisted the children had knowledge of the jungle and thus they could survive. The two oldest, they said, ventured into the jungle often. "We presume that the children who were inside the aircraft are still alive. We have found some traces in a different and distant location from where the aircraft was found," said an army spokesperson two days after finding the downed plane on May 18. "We have also found a possible site where the children could have taken shelter, and we continue the search," It was a daunting task. There are 1250 kilometers of dense jungle between Caqueta and Guaviare. The military mounted what it dubbed "Operation Hope" involving some 120 soldiers incorporating 70 indigenous searchers, search dogs and helicopters. Their commander said that if they were to find the children alive, it would become "Operation Miracle." The children Lesly Mucutuy, 13 years old; Soleiny Mucutuy, 9 years old; Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, 4 years old; and Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy, 11 months old, faced unimaginable hardships alone against the untamed forces of nature at one of the most ferocious and inhospitable jungles on Earth. Cut off from civilization, in unfamiliar terrain so dense that it is dark during the day, where it is nearly always raining, and impossible to see more than a few meters away, they would have to be strong, resilient, and resourceful enough to get through the treacherous labyrinth of the jungle, foraging for sustenance, eating without poisoning themselves. That is a lot to ask of adults. These are children and a baby. Nights would be frightening, wet, with no light at all, and predators to worry about, all while mourning the loss of their mother. Each passing day made their survival less likely. Each dawn would bring new trials, pushing and compounding against their physical and emotional limits. But Colombians never lost hope. The military, which has been operating in the area for decades in its fight against FARC guerillas, built maps plotting each spot where tracks or clues to the children's presence were found. Helicopters dropped food and used loudspeakers to play recordings by their maternal grandmother, Maria Fatima Valencia, in their native Uitoto language to calm them down and to instruct them to remain put so searchers could get to them. The effort amplified the advanced technology and the resources of the military. With help from indigenous guardians, masters of the jungle's hidden trails with innate instincts, they followed the often-disappearing tracks of the children. But it might have been a rescue dog named Wilson, who was himself lost from the rescuers, that might have found them and helped them closer to the rescuers. "Where we found the last footprints, we found the footprints of a canine. We believe that the doggie found them and accompanied them," said the national coordinator of the indigenous guard, Lucho Costa. It does appear the lost children were found by the lost rescue dog, who perhaps went searching for the rescuers and remains lost. The last tracks of the children before were some 3.2 kilometers from the crash site, and they suggested the children were meandering the jungle aimlessly in their struggle to survive. On Friday afternoon, the official Twitter account of the Military Forces of Colombia tweeted four pictures of its forces assisting the children and announcing their rescue. "The union of efforts made possible this happy moment for Colombia," said the tweet from @FuerzasMilCol calling for glory and credit to the soldiers, the indigenous communities and institutions that make up Operation Hope. In Bogota, the capital, people opened their windows in shouts of joy at hearing the news. Others stopped in the streets to applaud and to cry of relief. Car horns blared in celebration. In the central department of Caldas, in Colombia's coffee zone where men wear a traditional hat called a sombrero vueltiao, people in the streets took off their hats in respect, flashing broad smiles, and letting loud shouts of joy. So began a national celebration that overcame even veteran reporters whose voices cracked with emotion at reporting the story. Colombian media said that tears and spontaneous screams of joy and pride broke out across Colombia throughout the evening. It had been 40 days and 40 nights of the children's endurance, their story touching on the archetypal tale of the Biblical Noah's Ark where humanity itself survives a 40 days and 40 nights onslaught of storm. It is a powerful story of survival. And it resonates even more because it fits into a narrative deeply rooted into the collective unconscious of humanity that includes the stories of Jesus's fast of 40 days, the Israelites; 40-year journey in the desert, and Buddha's 40 days under the Bodhi tree. The story has universal appeal. It also serves as a beacon of hope for Colombia. Military personnel unload from a plane one of four Indigenous children who were missing after a deadly plane crash at the military air base in Bogota, Colombia | AP The country's president Gustavo Petro qualified the event as a "day of magic," equating its significance to a cease fire he signed earlier in the day in Havana between the state of Colombia and ELN, the last guerilla at arms. "They are an example of total survival that will remain in history," said Petro. "These children are the children of peace and the children of Colombia." For many, the children's survival was indeed a miracle after so many days when the country was resigning to accept that the children had died or were under the control of dissident FARC groups. Instead, they were alive. One of the four Indigenous children who were found alive after being lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon rainforest following a plane crash resting at a hospital bed in Bogota | AFP An initial triage reported that the children were dehydrated and covered in insect bites, yet miraculously in good health. After being stabilized ty the special forces, they were transported by helicopter to a military base. At 1 am Saturday, a Colombian Air Force place carrying the children landed in Bogota and took them to a hospital where Petro has said he would be seeing them today. "Operation Miracle" is under way, and Colombia is celebrating. An IndiGo Airlines flight en route Ahmedabad from Amritsar strayed into Gujranwala near Lahore in Pakistan before heading back to Indian airspace at about 8 pm on Saturday. According to flight radar, the Indian plane with a ground speed of 454 knots entered north of Lahore at about 7:30 pm on Saturday and returned to India at 8:01 pm, the Dawn newspaper reported. There was no immediate comment from the airline. According to a senior official of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), it was not unusual and it was internationally allowed in bad weather conditions. In the meanwhile, in light of an alert issued by the CAA, several flights were diverted and delayed due to poor visibility at airports. A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight that was attempting to land in Lahore, entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan in May. Several flights heading to Lahore were diverted to Islamabad due to poor visibility. Rains accompanied by strong winds and thunder lashed Pakistan on Saturday. 29 people were killed in the three adjoining districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The bad weather warning for Lahore had been extended till 11.30 pm on Saturday. -- With PTI inputs Economist Arvind Panagariya, a Padma Bhushan awardee, was vice chairman of NITI Aayog, Indias G20 sherpa, and chief economist of the Asian Development Bank. He is now professor of economics and the Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University, the US. He has also been appointed as chancellor of Nalanda University in Bihar, designated an institution of national importance. Panagariya spoke to THE WEEK from the US on the state of higher education and research in India and how these compare with foreign institutions. He also talked about the National Education Policy 2020 and the Common University Entrance Test. Excerpts: Q What are your views on the state of higher education in India? How does it compare with the west? A Colleges and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom have full autonomy with respect to both administration and curriculum. The Indian system still remains centrally controlled. We need to give greater freedom to teachers to design courses and experiment with pedagogyto at least the best 5 per cent to 10 per cent of colleges. Such a reform was started in February 2018 by the then human resource development ministry with 59 colleges given autonomy. As I had written in May 2019, the change produced excellent results within a year. So, I am saddened to say that recently the UGC (University Grants Commission) has issued no guidelines, essentially reversing that reform. Q What about the overall research environment? A If I infer the research environment from research outcomes, the news is not good. The National Science Foundation data shows that the gap in the absolute number of journal articles in science and engineering by faculty members in Indian institutions and those in the United States and China steadily widened between 2005 and 2016. Using Scopus (a citation database), I have calculated that in terms of the absolute number of citations to papers in all areas, China jumped from 19th rank worldwide in 1996 to second in 2017. The rise in Indias ranking over the same period was 16th to eleventh. In arts and humanities, we do especially poorly. China rose from the 15th to sixth and India from 28th to 25th. Q How can the problems in our higher education system be rectified? A Full autonomy to the top 5 per cent to 10 per cent universities and colleges, provision for the best colleges to be fully independent, including awarding their own degrees, genuine opening of the system to foreign universities, and a shift away from the affiliation system for colleges will help. Q Will employing foreign faculty in our colleges help? A Absolutely. And now, with the possibility of online courses, this avenue must be considered far more seriously. The education ministry also needs to get on with the HECI Bill (to establish the proposed Higher Education Council of India) to provide a credible legal framework for foreign universities to open campuses in India. Q What are your thoughts on CUET? A CUET was a much-needed change. Standards of grading in India vary so widely across institutions that basing decisions on a comparison of the marks received is highly problematic. CUET may not solve all the problems, but it represents a marked improvement over the existing practice. Q The pandemic exacerbated the skill gap among students? What can be done to improve the situation? A If our system had been more flexible, we could have offered additional courses to different students as per their interest and willingness to make up for the lost learning. This becomes harder in our current one-size-fits-all system. Whatever standardised intervention you design will prove too little or too much for a large majority of the students. Q NEP 2020 aims to address some of the issues you mentioned. What are your views on it? Is there a similar system in the west? A At 484 pages, NEP is an excessively long document. A policy should be a much shorter document. This being said, it does have a lot of excellent ideas. For instance, for school education, the focus on foundational learning is critical. I also favour the option to learn in ones mother tongue. On higher education, its key recommendation to separate the functions of regulation, funding, accreditation and standard setting ought to be at the heart of future reform. It is essential that a liberal and transparent regulatory body such as the HECI replace the current multiple, command-and-control institutions of the UGC, the All India Council for Technical Education and the National Council for Teacher Education. In these respects, the policy is broadly in the spirit of many ideas I have championed for years. At the same time, the recommendation that a National Higher Education Regulatory Authority of India be all-encompassing and subsume the functions of not just the UGC, AICTE and NCTE, but also of professional regulatory bodies such as the Bar Council of India would create an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. Reforms of professional regulatory bodies should be on a separate track, with the National Medical Commission Act providing a possible roadmap. Q Many technical graduates are without jobs. How can our students be made more employable? A This is a huge challenge with no shortcuts. Part of the solution to the employment problem lies outside the education sector. Good jobs are produced by industrial growth and we have much work to do in that area. There is only so much skill formation that can happen in the college. Lot of the skill formation happens on the job and this is where we have a large gap. If you are looking to pursue an MA, Indias best-ranked arts colleges would surely be among your top priorities. But, the Indian Institutes of Technology, too, are now becoming feasible options. IIT Madras, for instance, where the sought after courses include aerospace engineering, computer science and electrical engineering, will offer a two-year MA, starting this July, in development studies, economics and English studies. Creative spark: Students at IIT Madras demonstrating a Mars rover they created. In 2022, IIT Guwahati launched a masters in liberal arts programmecourses range from essentials of political theory to foundational linguistics and historical studies. To be clear, several IITs have had humanities and social sciences departments for years. But, many more IITs are now expanding their programmes in this space. Prof P.J. Narayanan IITs are known for their rigour, said Prof Jyotirmaya Tripathy, head, department of humanities and social sciences, IIT Madras. That applies to the departments of humanities and social sciences as well. Since universities were struggling to offer quality education in arts and the need for quality graduates in the same subjects were rising in teaching, corporate consultancy and industry, IITs took the plunge and filled the vacuum. IIT Guwahatis master of liberal arts programme aims to offer training in theoretical analysis and abstract thinking with practical application. The institutes website says that the challenges of today call for a holisitc approach, lateral thinking abilities and non-traditional problem-solving skills and that the programme would allow students to make informed judgments with a sense of the ethical implications. The increased focus on humanities and social sciences is not restricted to IITs. The International Institute of Information Technology in Hyderabad offers a dual-degree programme, which combines a BTech in computer sciences and masters in human sciences. But, why are such courses needed? Because technology graduates would be creating systems and tools to be used by a large number of people who are not technologists, said Prof P.J. Narayanan, director, IIIT Hyderabad. As a result, such systems must be designed with the larger humanity in mind, he said. The students need to be aware of how humans as individuals and as members of society may use them. They should be given sufficient depth of understanding to make systems that are equitable and just besides being easy to use. Shyamasree Dasgupta, chairperson, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Mandi, which offers a two-year MA in development studies, said that students are able to see through the complexities of development and thinking like development practitioners after they complete the course. IIT Mandi also has a PhD programme in its School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Apart from the technical institutes, even top business schools like the Indian Institutes of Management are eyeing this space. IIM Bangalore, for instance, has announced it would start a four-year undergraduate programme in liberal arts from 2024. At IIM Kozhikode, humanities and liberal arts in management is one of eight academic areas. The primary focus is on human communication, law, social and political aspects of Indian societies, culture, history and ethics. The aims is to foster the imagination of the students further. Many of these courses are also fairly integrated and may be open to students from other streams. For instance, at IIT Mandi, the courses offered towards the MA and PhD programmes are relatively advanced and, many a times, open to third or fourth year BTech students. MTech students could also opt these courses as free electives, said Dasgupta. The courses are getting a good response from students. At IIIT Hyderabad, out of around 20,000 students who applied to the BTech and MS dual-degree programme last year, over 2,000 students applied for the human sciences dual degrees, said Narayanan. While, this years admissions are yet to finish, the numbers have increased significantly, he added. IIT Madras used to get close to 6,000 applications for 50-odd seats for its five-year integrated programme, according to Tripathy. (The five-year programme has now been converted into the two-year programme mentioned above.) Several IITs, including IIT Madras, select students from GATE (the graduate aptitude test in engineering) for their two-year MA programmes. A few other IITs that offer economics programmes admit students through the JEE advanced test. At IIT Guwahati, applicants for MA in liberal arts will be selected based on an entrance test. The written exam tests applicants on reading comprehension, general and social awareness, quantitative ability and logical reasoning. Furthermore, applicants also need to write three essays that test their critical thinking skills and articulation. Prof P.J. Narayanan Director, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad Students need to be aware of how humans as individuals and as members of society may use [technology]. They should be given sufficient depth of understanding to make systems that are equitable and just. John C. Maxwell said success is the result of growing to our potential. It is also said that our potential is Gods gift to us and what we do with it is our gift to Him. We focus on improvement in three areas: enterprising skills, employability skills and life skills. Vijay Kumar Srivastava Vice chancellor, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara It may be difficult for a student to choose a course because of the variety of disciplines on offer. A tried-and-tested strategy is to reflect on a former experience or subject that you found particularly rewarding or for which you frequently received high grades in school. Chakravarthi Mittapalli Vice chairman and managing director, NEC Group of Institutions, Andhra Pradesh Various state and centrally sponsored scholarships and initiatives have bridged the gender gap and played a significant role in attracting more women to pursue STEM courses. As a result, we are witnessing a positive transformation in the representation of women in traditionally male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Koneru Lakshman Havish Vice president, KL Deemed to be University To improve the Indian education sector and research ecosystem, several key steps can be taken. These include, digital integration and technology adoption, teacher empowerment and professional development, strengthening vocational and skill-based education, addressing inequities and improving access, promoting research and innovation. Maitreyee Chaudhuri Group director, IAM institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata The government must make quality education more accessible at all levels of the educational system, especially in rural and remote areasfrom primary to higher levels. Additionally, there should be more funding provided to underprivileged children and/or groups who are marginalised so they can attend school. Abbas Ali Mahdi Vice chancellor, Era University, Lucknow To improve the Indian education sector, we must move from large fragments of higher education institutes towards large, multidisciplinary universities; have more emphasis on the development of cognitive skills and learning outcomes; move towards faculty and institutional autonomy and have a single regulatory body for higher education. M.S. Ganesh Prasad Vice principal, The National Institute of Engineering, Mysuru While selecting a programme, students should consider accreditation and infrastructure of the college, NEP implementation, skill development and opportunities for holistic development, incubation centre for innovation and entrepreneurship, career guidance centre, placement and internship facilities, international alumni and industry connect and counselling/mentoring facility. Sachin Vernekar Dean, faculty of management studies; director, IMED, Pune, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) About 43 per cent of STEM graduates in India are women, higher than in developed countries like Canada, the US and the UK. Many educational institutions and policymakers have implemented educational reforms to make STEM education more inclusive and appealing. Overall, STEM offers diverse, rewarding and well-paid career prospects to women. Vidula Sohoni Principal, College of Engineering, Pune, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) To improve the Indian education sector, it is crucial to focus on enhancing access to quality education, invest in infrastructure development, and update the curriculum to align with industry needs. To improve the research ecosystem, there should be increased funding for research and better support and resources for researchers. Girish Desai Executive director, Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust, Pune From ordering food and groceries online to booking cabs or checking calories burned or writing content through ChatGPT, the impact of technology is visible in every aspect of life. Technology is being developed by technologists or engineers and to become successful engineers or technologists, STEM courses are a must. Nandan Gupta Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda University Digital transformation and emerging new technologies have made engineering an in-demand profession and the demand for engineering graduates is steadily growing. To cater to this growing trend and make graduates employable, the AICTE included emerging technologies in the curriculum in the recent past. P. Deiva Sundari Principal, KCG College of Engineering Students should select the course that is of interest to them. Also, the institute offering the course is more important than the course itself. In order to improve education in India, there should be investment in manpower with a focus on skilling. Research should be applied research. V. Balusamy Principal, Kongu Engineering College, Erode RESEARCH METHODOLOGY THE WEEK-Hansa Research Best Colleges Survey 2023 covered 11 disciplinesarts, sciences, commerce, engineering, medicine, dentistry, law, hotel management, fashion technology, mass communication and architectureacross 22 cities. A primary survey was conducted with 1,271 academic experts, 2,782 students and 69 recruiters. Opinion of recruiters was taken only for engineering. The respondents were asked to nominate and rank the 25 top colleges in India and their respective zones. Perceptual score was calculated based on the number of nominations and the actual ranks received. For factual data collection, a dedicated website was created and the link was sent to more than 3,500 colleges. Of the 501 colleges which responded, three were rejected as they did not meet the eligibility criteriaat least three batches should have graduated. Data for the remaining colleges was used for rankings and validations. Factual score was calculated based on weightages assigned to parameters such as infrastructure, faculty, teaching-learning process and extracurricular, placement and hospital association (for medicine and dentistry). Placement was assigned a lower weightage (20 per cent) in the case of arts, sciences and commerce compared with other disciplines like engineering (30 per cent) and architecture (27.5 per cent). Final score = Perceptual score (out of 600) + factual score (out of 400) Some colleges could not respond to the survey. For them, composite score was derived by combining the perceptual score with an interpolated factual score based on their position in the perceptual score list. In cases where factual data from within the last three years was available, that was used. Colleges that did not participate and did not wish to be ranked have been omitted. "It is critical that we focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate, tells UN Climate Change Conference. The conference, running from June 5-15 in Bonn, Germany, is hosting discussions on a range of issues, including the Global Stocktake, the global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage and the mitigation work program. "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake ensuring a just and balanced energy transition that leaves no one behind." BONN, Germany, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COP28 President-Delegate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, met with heads of delegations and key negotiating groups including those from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference, being held in the run up to COP28, emphasizing the need to engage and listen to all voices in the climate change discussion especially those of the Global South. COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber with members of the indigenous communities at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn The conference, taking place in Bonn, 5-15 June, is hosting discussions on more than 50 agenda items. In framing the meetings in Bonn, Dr. Sultan said "we will reach out to engage every community, seek to include the active participation of the under-represented, including young people and indigenous peoples. And we will give the space and enabling environment to discuss, debate and align on every mandate across every climate pillar." During his meeting with the delegates from the G77 + China Group, Dr. Al Jaber said, the G77 members have a special contribution to make by helping shape ambitious negotiated outcomes, a transformative action agenda and a just and equitable energy transition that leaves no one behind. For this, climate finance is critical, with Dr. Al Jaber emphasizing his commitment to reform global financial institutions, to unlock more concessional finance, to attract much more private capital. He underscored that COP28 will be the first-time a G77 Summit is hosted at a COP. Dr. Al Jaber also engaged with the Arab Group and various delegates from SIDS and highlighted the importance of driving tangible changes to deliver real climate action that leaves no one behind. Adaptation, he said, is a critical focus for the region securing resources for countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, including those associated with food and health. "Everyone is affected and the most vulnerable communities who have done the least to cause climate change, are the most affected. Arab countries only contribute 5% of global emissions yet are among the hardest hit by climate impacts. Temperatures rising across Middle East and North Africa region almost twice as quickly as rest of world", added Dr. Al Jaber. Building on these comments, Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion highlighted her longstanding commitments to nature and biodiversity and the critical role they will play in delivering a successful outcome. She also emphasized the importance for inclusion to cut across every aspect of the COP process especially those most vulnerable to ensure that every voice is heard and that every stakeholder feels empowered to participate in the shared commitment to combatting climate change. Delegates from member states of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) met with Dr. Al Jaber. He pointed out that Africa is rich in clean energy resources including wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal providing the African continent with huge potential for low-carbon growth and sustainable development. But that this will only be feasible if finance, technology, and capacity building is made available through investment that flows at scale, making a just transition a reality. "It is critical that we build on the successes of COP27 to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable communities and make transformational progress across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage," he said. "The phase down of fossil fuels is inevitable. The speed at which this happens depends on how quickly we can phase up zero carbon alternatives, while ensuring energy security, accessibility, and affordability." Dr. Al Jaber also listened to the priorities of the Indigenous Peoples, the role they can play in the COP process, and assured them that that their voices and those from marginalized communities are being heard. He noted that Indigenous Peoples represent just 5 percent of the global population but protect 80 percent of the world's biodiversity. The role of Indigenous Peoples as custodians of nature will be recognized by an "Indigenous Peoples Pavilion" at COP28. During his remarks at the Constituency Roundtable, the President-Designate said: "We will prioritize an inclusive approach to guide the highest level of ambition in our response to the Global Stocktake, ensuring a just and balanced energy transition and providing space for discussion, dialogue and consensus on the role of fossil fuels", adding "We are committed to ensuring all groups, all stakeholders, are fully engaged. We need a COP of action, a COP of solidarity, and a COP of unity", added Dr. Al Jaber. In his remarks to the Heads of Delegation of all Negotiating Groups and Parties under the UNFCCC, Dr. Al Jaber said: "The COP28 Presidency recognizes the views of many in this room that the Global Stocktake, and by extension COP28, must be a turning point. We must respond to the Stocktake with a pragmatic and effective way forward to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement." He further added: "Many of you have devoted your entire careers to this cause. You know what is at stake. Many of us remember that moment in Paris when the world chose to take a different path to a better, sustainable zero carbon future. We know we aren't moving fast enough, but we also know that we have the power to make the difference, if we act in solidarity." Young people will be at the forefront of addressing the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber told the youth delegation, which is why COP28 will be putting a special focus on empowering youth. He introduced COP28's Youth Climate Champion, Shamma Al Mazrui, who stressed the importance of including youth in all conversations around climate change. Al Mazrui also headlined the first ever Youth Stocktake event; an assessment of the challenges for youth inclusion in UNFCCC processes and a roadmap for the future. The COP28 Presidency also met with SB Chairs Ambassador Nabil Munir and Harry Vroels and various other delegation heads attending a reception at the Bundeskunsthalle museum. "At COP28, we are going to be laser-focused on concrete and ambitious solutions that will allow us to bridge the gaps by 2030. And we will include all stakeholders to drive an inclusive plan of action that gets us moving in the right direction. We need to shift from incremental steps to transformational progress that delivers for everyone, everywhere. And that work begins right here in Bonn." For all media enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact communications@cop28.com For up-to-date COP28 news, follow us on Twitter @COP28_UAE COP28 UAE: COP28 UAE will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30-December 12, 2023. The Conference is expected to convene over 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors. As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE will deliver the first ever Global Stocktake a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals. The UAE will lead a process for all parties to agree upon a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a "leave no one behind" approach to inclusive climate action. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098381/COP28_Indigenous_Communities.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098380/COP28_Meeting_with_LDCs.jpg COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber with representatives from the Least Developing Countries at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cop28-must-deliver-for-the-most-vulnerable-president-designate-tells-un-climate-change-conference-301847822.html SOURCE COP28 UAE In recent years, Indian movies like Zero (2018) and Brahmastra (2022) have had top-notch visual effects powered by Indian companies. They have shown that Indian technology is at par with global giants. More recently, India got its first AI news presenter, while AI and ChatGPT have dominated headlines. The seeds of such developments are sown in classrooms, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). There was a shift from science to commerce earlier. However, today, STEM is also leading to innovation and entrepreneurship. And that is why the demand for STEM courses is slowly increasing. Prof V. Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras Even amid ruthless layoffs in the IT and technology sectors, STEM is seeing a resurgence. Studies show the demand for STEM courses growing steadily. There was a shift from science to commerce earlier as the latter provides more scope for entrepreneurship, says Prof V. Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras. However, today, STEM is also leading to innovation and entrepreneurship. And that is why the demand for STEM courses is slowly increasing. All mathematics-based courses [have] a big range. According to an IBM study that was released in March, 66 per cent of the respondents think that STEM jobs will increase over the next decade. The study was conducted among a sample of 4,926 students, 4,629 job seekers, and 4,628 career changers in 13 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the UK, and the US. The report states that job seekers, students, and career changers around the world want to pursue roles related to STEM across industries, but say they are not familiar with career options. Prof V. Kamakoti To address the gap, premier institutes in India are launching a number of new courses. In January, IIT Madras launched an interdisciplinary, dual-degree quantitative finance programme. It is being jointly offered by the departments of management, computer science, engineering, and mathematics. Prof B. Ravindran, head, Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, says that the course exposes students to the latest data science and AI techniques and that the combination of technology and finance enables students to contribute significantly to the digitisation of the finance and banking industry. This becomes significant as The Future of Jobs Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum states that the growth that is forecast is approximately 40 lakh digitally-enabled roles, such as e-commerce specialists, digital transformation specialists, and digital marketing and strategy specialists. It also states that more than 75 per cent of companies are looking to adopt big data, cloud computing and AI feature technologies in the next five years. The majority of the fastest growing roles are technology-related roles like AI and machine learning specialists, followed by sustainability specialists, business intelligence analysts and information security analysts. Prof Rangan Banerjee, director, IIT Delhi, says that new investments and modernisation of technology both at the country level and the university level is further encouraging students in this direction. An early push by schools is ensuring that students are exposed to AI and coding to help them identify their interests and to familiarise them with the technologies. In fact, CBSE schools have rolled out AI and coding courses for students from class 6 onwards. Lakshita Goyal, a class 11 student of Modern Public School, Delhi, says that when she was in class 7, an AI and coding course was introduced as part of their syllabus. Class 11 onwards, the course becomes an elective. Since everyone is talking about AI now, I think it is a great step that students are being introduced to it in schools, says Goyal. We see AI and newer technology in our day to day lives now. While the interest in STEM is rising, humanities, too, has seen a steady growth with colleges introducing courses that cater to wider interest areas. Ishan Sharma, who is pursuing BA in multidisciplinary studies at St. Stephens College, Delhi, plans to pursue a career in public policy and chose the course as it equips him with the two subjects he needs; he is majoring in economics and minoring in political science. STEM, THE PROBLEMS Lack of resources and guidance is one barrier when it comes to choosing STEM. The 2023 IBM report on STEM careers highlights the misconceptions around it and states that the notion that the courses would be costly and not knowing where to start are the biggest barriers in training. Kamakoti says that a challenge is the perception that only a certain set of courses will lead to employment and hence there is need for awareness. Prof Anil Shaji, school of physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, says another challenge is guaranteeing the quality of the training and teaching as these are relatively resource-intensive in terms of having good laboratory infrastructure, qualified teachers and so on. We are producing professionals who use their scientific training as part of their job, so that level of infrastructure and exposure is required, he says. With the increasing economic value being placed on innovation and the creation of intellectual property, we need people trained enough to put their scientific and technical knowledge to actual, productive use in society. However, finding good faculty is a challenge, according to Banerjee. He says that when students are now asked if they would like to become educators, very few show interest. He says that IITs are fortunate in being able to find good faculty, but at many institutions that is a problem. Becoming a teacher should be a good career choice for young people, but currently that is not always the case, he says. Efforts must be made to change that. Moreover, because technology is developing rapidly, it is a challenge to keep up with the pace of development, says Prof John Varghese, principal, St. Stephens College. By the time you invest in equipment, the technology becomes redundant, he says. Therefore, a constant update is required. To fix this, St. Stephens, apart from investing in updating infrastructure, fosters an attitude where young people and faculty are encouraged to link what they are studying with other areas and newer developments that are happening all over the world, says Varghese. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES It was in 2020 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the I-STEM portal as an important national programme to build a unique one nation, one research web portal for the scientific community. Once researchers locate the desired facility through I-STEM, they can make an online reservation, paying for it through a secure payment gateway. Last year, WESTwomen in engineering, science and technologywas launched to initiate women back into science and technology domains after a break. While such national initiatives encourage higher STEM education and research, efforts at primary level, too, instill a STEM mindset in students hence aiding the Indian tech education system to develop for the future. For instance, the school education department in Tamil Nadu directed all 13,210 government middle, high, and higher secondary schools to form STEM clubs for students from class 6 to 8. A 2023 study by Ernst & Young finds that as one of the largest exporters of services globally, India stood at $157 billion in the fiscal year 2021-2022; $106 billion (close to 09 lakh crore) was IT services. Direct employment in the IT and BPO segment is estimated at 51 lakh (2021-2022) and indirect job creation is estimated at more than one crore. In the next two decades, as India gains strength as the worlds technology and innovation hub, the share of transformational and more complex, expertise-based services will enable the Indian IT services sector to grow faster. EY also states that India has the potential to be the robotics and AI capital of the world, with as many robots as engineers serving clients 24x7 in a hybrid workforce. Kamakoti, who believes data science is the future, says that CSR funds from industry must be pumped in over the next two years to facilitate improvement of research infrastructure at institutions. Students should be [engaged] at school levels so that when they come to college, they can pursue a similar process, he says. CORRECTING GENDER IMBALANCE The Future of Jobs Report 2023 indicates that the Indian job market is expected to witness a churn over the next five years, with top emerging roles coming from AI, machine learning and data segments. As the future holds promise of an AI-enabled time and rapidly evolving technology, the interest in STEM is increasing across genders. Naturally, participation of women in STEM courses has seen a rise in recent years. At IIT Madras, a number of science courses have a greater number of women than men and there has been a continuous rise in the percentage of women compared with men. At IIT Delhi, too, the gender issue is being corrected. Banerjee says that though the ratio is still not 50:50, the percentage of female students has increased and currently stands at about 29 per cent. He says further steps are being taken to correct the gender imbalance. This has also been the result of the supernumerary quota for women at IITs that initially, in 2018, reserved 14 per cent seats; this was increased to 17 per cent a year later and eventually to 20 per cent. In the 1990s, the women to men ratio at IITs was 1:10. Varghese says that at St. Stephens, more women are opting for tertiary and higher education as, generally, women are more inclined towards higher education. With the rising number of female students, the ratio among faculty is also improving. Prof Shubha Pandit, principal, K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai, says that in cities like Mumbai and Pune, the number of male and female faculty is almost equal. In fact, we have 65 per cent female teachers in our college, she says. Though far from achieving a gender balance in STEM courses, there seems to be a gradual positive change. This becomes a significant milestone to boost Indias IT sector as an analysis by CFA Institutea global association of investment professionals, with disclosures from 134 companiessuggests that Indias IT sector had the highest female participation rate (30 per cent) during 2021-2022. WHY INDIA LAGS BEHIND IN RESEARCH India is home to premier institutes like IITs, yet when it comes to research, it lags behind. A recent report by British higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds with data from the research analytics platform SciVal, mentions that though Indias research output is more than double the global average (between 2017 and 2022, Indias research output grew by around 54 per cent, taking it to the fourth position globally in producing academic papers), it lags behind in citations as it stood ninth globally. Shaji of IISER says that research must not only be limited to theoretical studies but must find applications in industry as well. He suggests an industrial partnership wherein industry leaders can guide researchers on real world applications. Our new i2 science programme (integrated and interdisciplinary sciences) focuses on applied aspects of science, whether it is medicinal chemistry or bio-physics so that students can not only indulge in research but also take up the skill, jobs or even start new ventures in these kinds of areas, he says. When it comes to newer technologies and rapidly advancing AI and robotic systems, India is behind in terms of citations. Last year, former Niti Aayog chairman Amitabh Kant, too, noted that the country lags behind in artificial intelligence research and needs to elevate its supercomputing capabilities. He had noted that India falls behind in core and applied research and must take efforts to catch up with the US and China. Prof Ashish Verma, convenor, sustainable transportation lab, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, makes a case for governmental investment in funding research in STEM areas, as current support is inadequate. They need to provide funding support for open access publication in STEM, which will boost visibility and impact of Indian research, internationally, he says. EXPERT SPEAKS What needs to be changed to prepare students for future jobs? Vineet Nayar, former CEO of HCL Technologies, author and philanthropist, says that both universities and IT companies should collaborate to fix the abundance of supply of past skills and shortage of future skills we face today. In 2008, IT firms saw significant growth within two quarters of the US meltdown because we had ready skills, people, and pricing to solve the cost take-out problem, he says. In 2023, customers are once again seeking accelerated technology investments to drive digital led growth. Nayar says that IT companies now hire high school pass-outs and train them on coding and testing skills in just three months, giving them the advantage of lower costs and lower attritions. What they now seek from universities and engineering colleges are advanced digital skills. Thus, the challenge is not the availability of talent with basic technology skills, it is how we use the four years in college to up the skill levels and make them relevant for tomorrow, he says. He pitches for collaboration between IT companies and colleges so that the former invests in the latter through live projects and structured feedback. Technology skills in demand will keep changing, thus, which skill is relevant for the future is the wrong debate, he says. How to build them is where we need design thinking, innovation and relentless execution, at scale. We also have to give up our obsession of parking all problems on the door steps of the government. India has the potential to become a global education hub, but to achieve this, we need to promote research and innovation, and create a conducive environment for learning. Ashok Kumar Mittal Chancellor, Lovely Professional University New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The government procurement portal GeM is organizing buyer-seller workshops in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh from June 12 till August 31, an official statement said on Sunday. It aims to enhance the understanding of GeM's functionalities among buyers and sellers in the state, as well as provide a platform to address any queries or concerns they may have, the statement said. During the workshops, participants will receive comprehensive training on GeM's (government e-marketplace) features, registration processes, and various aspects of online procurement. The workshops will also facilitate networking opportunities, enabling participants to connect with potential partners and explore business collaborations. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd's (BPCL) Bargarh 2G bio-refinery which will use rice straw to produce ethanol for mixing in petrol, will invigorate a circular economy and give impetus to waste-to-wealth creation, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Sunday. Pradhan, who is the Union Minister for HRD, visited the under-construction Bargarh 2G bio-refinery site in Odisha as part of the Vikas Teerth Yatra to mark nine years of the Modi government. "Bargarh bio-refinery is making steady progress and is expected to be commissioned soon," he tweeted. After producing ethanol from sugarcane, India is now pushing for producing low-carbon fuel from grains and agri waste. This is part of an ambitious programme to mix ethanol in petrol to cut down emissions as well as the country's dependence on imports for meeting oil needs. Presently, 10 per cent ethanol is mixed in petrol (10 per cent ethanol, 90 per cent petrol) and this volume is targeted to be doubled by 2025. The Bargarh 2G bio-refinery is part of the plan to augment the production of ethanol to meet the higher mixing target. The Bargarh bio-refinery in Odisha is being built at a cost of Rs 1,607 crore and will produce 100 kilolitres per day of 1G ethanol (ethanol from rice grain) and a similar volume of 2G ethanol (ethanol from rice straw). "The Bargarh 2G Bio-refinery will invigorate a circular economy, give impetus to waste-to-wealth creation, boost farmers' income & welfare, create large-scale employment, augment indigenous production of green fuel and lead Odisha towards prosperity and self-reliance as envisioned by PM @narendramodi ji," Pradhan tweeted. The plant is the first of its kind in the world with rice-based 1G and 2G bio-ethanol production. Ethanol produced from the plant shall be utilized for blending with petrol under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme for a significant reduction in GHG emissions and savings in crude import bill for India. "Keeping in mind GoI's focus on #greengrowth and upcoming bio-refineries in Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, suggested to design relevant courses & modules in ethanol engineering, economics & technology in regional Govt ITI for connecting local youth with the emerging green jobs and also prepare competent and skilled manpower," Pradhan tweeted. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Kannauj-based luxury perfume brand Zighrana has tied up with Taj Group of Hotels lifestyle brand, Khazana, for its range of traditional attar and Eau de perfumes, according to a statement. The alliance is a celebration of the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative in Uttar Pradesh and the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag of Kannauj, where the art of Attar-making thrives, Zighrana said in the statement. Under its collaboration with Taj Khazana, Zighrana will showcase the brands portfolio in multiple cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, in the form of an exhibition. Its range of perfumes is also available on leading online retailer amazon.in and other offline and online stores in the country. Istanbul, Jun 11 (PTI) India has the right vision and well-timed strategy for the aviation sector, especially with good economic growth and high population, but it should also be ensured that the positive impact is not curtailed by too many taxes, according to IATA. Marie Owens Thomsen, the Chief Economist at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), also said that she is not in favour of any kind of duopoly in the airline industry and emphasised the importance of healthy competition as well as participants being resilient. She shared her views on competition in response to a question from PTI on the possibility of duopoly in the fast growing Indian airlines market. While the domestic traffic is on the rise, the airlines segment is facing headwinds with Go First suspending operations and SpiceJet grappling with various issues, while IndiGo and Air India group are expanding their presence. Akasa Air, which is on a steady path, is less than a year old. "I am an economist and obviously, I am not going to be in favour of any kind of duopoly. We want to see, in general economics, intense competition because we believe that will get more innovation, services and lower prices. "On the other hand, if the field is too crowded and there is too much capacity, then you might end up with too many players that are not financially viable. Healthy competition as well as robust and resilient participants, that is what we want," she said. In an interview on the sidelines of the IATA World Air Transport Summit in Istanbul earlier this week, Thomsen said the two fundamental drivers for air transportation are GDP and population growth, and on both fronts, India is doing well. While acknowledging that the country's strategy of having more airports and aeroplanes is well-timed, she also has a word of caution. "I love the aviation strategy, more airports, more aeroplanes and all of that seems well-timed and I would also caution India to try to make sure that they don't curtail the results that could come from that by imposing too many taxes and burdensome regulations. "... So far, we know that India has not quite been able to access that Tiger style growth that we would have hoped for," she pointed out. Thomsen is the Senior Vice President Sustainability & Chief Economist at IATA, a grouping of more than 300 airlines that account for over 80 per cent of the global air traffic. Various Indian carriers, including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet, are members of IATA. About the Indian market, she also said the right vision is there but it is execution that they need to pay attention to. "You can have the right policies and then curtail the positive impact of those policies if not careful". Earlier this week, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the country will have more than 200 airports, heliports and water aerodromes in the next five years and domestic carriers will order up to 1,400 additional planes during the same period. In February, aircraft maker Boeing said that India will require around 2,210 new planes in the next two decades and projected a nearly 7 per cent annual domestic air traffic growth through 2041. To a query on concerns about low airfares and high taxes, Thomsen said it is actually not just an Indian problem. "The world seems inexplicably tempted to always put more taxes on airlines in particular. It is a mystery to me because it is not part of the value chain that is the most profitable. On the contrary, structurally speaking, the airlines are the ones that make the least money in our value chain," she said. On June 5, IATA projected the global airlines industry to record revenues of USD 803 billion and a net profit of USD 9.8 billion this year, and airlines will make an average profit of USD 2.25 per passenger. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Indian flavours will meet the Italian sourdough in "The Great Indian Pizza Adventure", a new TV series that presents everyone's go-to fast food snack in a never-tasted-before desi avatar. The 10-episode series, which premiered on GOODTiMES channel on June 4, features Jasper Reid -- the man who brought Jamie's Pizzeria and Jamie's Italian chains to India -- as he sets out on a mission to create 10 Indian pizzas inspired from 10 Indian cuisines. "We believe pizza is what you kind of want it to be. Yes, it has its origins in Naples in Italy, but at the same time, so many cultures, including India, have bread with some kind of topping. "So, we have been everywhere. We have done Bengal, Punjab, Kashmir, Kerala... and had an amazing time. This is like a marriage between Italy and India," Reid, founder of Dolomite Restaurants Pvt. Ltd -- the company that manages the Jamie Oliver Restaurants in India -- told PTI. The wide array of desi-foreign fusion food in "The Great Indian Pizza Adventure" includes unique combinations such as 'Nihari Pizza', 'Chingri Malai Pizza', 'Fish Molee Pizza', 'Amritsari Fish Pizza' and 'Sarson Ka Saag Pizza', a vegetarian delight. In the culinary sojourn traversing through 10 Indian states, Reid meets several experts -- ranging from food historians Salma Yusuf Husain, Prima Kurien to celebrity chefs Manish Mehrotra, Kunal Kapur, Sabyasachi Gorai, Ashish Bhasin and food entrepreneur Raj Sanghvi -- who lend him a helping hand in whipping up best Indian-style pizzas. According to the channel, "The Great Indian Pizza Adventure" explores the hidden gems of "Indian tradition, culture, cooking forms and ingredients" to come up with pizza recipes that will leave foodies wanting for more. "We are excited to partner with Dolomite Restaurants Pvt Ltd, the all-India Master Franchisee for Jamie Oliver Restaurants in India, to bring you 'The Great Indian Pizza Adventure', a super delicious series where Jasper discovers Indian cuisine from its roots and creates the most delectable, decadent and never-tried-before Indian pizzas," added Arati Singh, CEO, GOODTiMES. Five out of the 10 desi pizzas, including 'Bhagara Baingan Pizza' and 'Lai Xaak Pizza', are currently being served as part of the special menu at selected outlets of Jamie's Pizzeria in the Delhi-NCR region. The remaining episodes of the series will go on air every Sunday till August. Karachi, Jun 11 (PTI) A minor Hindu girl, who was allegedly kidnapped by an Aghan Pashtun family, forcibly converted to Islam and married off to a Muslim man in Pakistan's Sindh province has been recovered from Karachi, police said. Raveena Meghwal was kidnapped from the Sanjar Chang area of Tando Allahyar in the Southern Sindh province and was taken to Karachi, said SSP Tando Allahyar, Syed Saleem Shah. A complaint about the kidnapping was filed by the girl's family and the Pakistan Dahrawar Ittehad (PDI) , a body fighting for minorities rights in the Sindh province. After investigating the matter we sent a team to Karachi from where the girl was safely recovered and brought back to Mirpurkhas, Shah said. The Afghan Pashtun family claimed the girl had converted to Islam and married Jamo Khan out of her own free will, he said. Interestingly, when the girl and the accused were presented in a magistrates court in Tando Allahyar on Saturday, Jamo Khan and his lawyer produced a marriage certificate but when the accused was asked to submit his national identity card it turned out he didnt even have a Pakistani NIC and was carrying a Afghan ID card. Magistrate, Saba Omar has sent the girl to a safe home and for a medical examination and said the statement of the girl would be recorded later. The magistrate allowed the girl to meet with her parents and relatives in the court where she told the media she was forcibly abducted and taken to a house in Karachi where Jamo Khan had a person and some witnesses read a 'Nikah' (marriage contract) after forcing her to first convert to Islam. The PDI has demanded that Jamo Khan and his associates should be tried under the Sindh Child Marriage Act and the Maulvi who performed the 'Nikah' (marriage contract) and witnesses should all be arrested as well. Kidnapping and forced conversions of young Hindu girls in the interior of Sindh have become a menace for Hindu families. In recent months there has been a surge in such cases in interior Sindh with the lower courts flooded with applications from affected parents seeking justice and the return of their daughters, sisters and wives. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in the Muslim-majority country. Kathmandu, Jun 11 (PTI) Senior Nepalese politicians have taken umbrage on Sunday over Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachandas much-publicised visit to the famed Pashupatinath Temple here a day earlier, and termed the move as politically motivated. Prime Minister Prachanda, accompanied by several cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and Foreign Minister NP Saud, visited the Pashupatinath Temple on Saturday. Pashupatinath Temple, situated on the banks of the Bagmati River, is a UNESCO heritage site. For Prachanda, the 68-year-old radical Communist leader, this was his first visit to the premises of the Pashupatinath Temple. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said a visit of this nature could be perceived as politically motivated. When the Prime Minister and the entire cabinet visits a religious place together, it takes a political dimension, and naturally, questions and concerns arise, Bhattarai said in a Facebook post. If the Prime Minister visited the temple on his own, it would have been praiseworthy, but if he visited the premises to please someone, it will be disastrous for Nepal, President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Rajendra Lingden said, without mentioning India. The Prime Ministers Secretariat said that Prachandas visit to Pashupatinath Temple was solely intended for observation purposes, according to news portal Khabarhub.com. During his May 31 to June 3 trip to India, Prachanda surprised everyone by visiting the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh, where he performed an elaborate puja and offered a 108-rudraksha bead thread to the deity. Political observers reckon Prachandas recent visit to temples was a move to shed his radical image. But his detractors and political rivals believe this was just an attempt to convince New Delhi that him being in office was in the Indian governments best interests. Prachanda, was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time on December 26 last year after he dramatically walked out of the pre-poll alliance led by the Nepali Congress and joined hands with opposition leader KP Sharma Oli. Indore, Jun 11 (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Indore unit president was beaten up allegedly by other functionaries in front of the outfit's Madhya Pradesh chief, with videos of the incident going viral on social media on Sunday. The incident took place in a restaurant in Bhanwarkuan area on Saturday and was captured by CCTV cameras installed there. As per eyewitnesses, the brawl started after BJYM city president Saugata Mishra allegedly made remarks about the father of colleague Shubendra Goud in the presence of the outfit's MP chief Vaibhav Pawar. Amid an argument, Mishra was thrashed allegedly by Goud supporters, the eyewitnesses said. Mishra, who arrived at the city Bharatiya Janata Party office, at first brushed aside the incident as normal but later alleged an attack by "goons" at the behest of Goud. A BJYM functionary said state general secretary, Rahul Tiwari has issued a notice to Goud and sought his reply regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Vivek Tripathi, chairperson of the media department of Youth Congress, tweeted two videos of the incident and asked why police was yet to act against BJYM functionaries involved. Panaji, Jun 11 (PTI) A three-day meet of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of G20 countries will be held in Dona Paula in Goa from Monday, an official said. The SAI20 Summit 2023, which will have a main meet and four side events, will hold discussions to form a consensus document, or communique, a state government spokesperson said. The SAI20 Engagement Group of G20 was established during 2022 during Indonesia's presidency of the G20, he added. The engagement group's website informed that the constitution of SAI20 stems from a recognition of the role of SAIs in promoting efficiency, accountability and transparency of public administration as well as supporting Sustainable Development Goals. "This mandate is achieved through engaging actively and effectively with the entire spectrum of stakeholders, from audited entities and governments to media and the civil society. Such effective engagement shall serve as a barometer of the expectations of the society," as per the website. This engagement group is expected to strengthen and empower audit engagements of SAIs through policy dialogue and identification of best practices. Tikamgarh (MP), Jun 11 (PTI) A 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped by the owner of a residential school and his brother in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh district, police said on Sunday. The residential school, housing about 30 students from Classes 1 to 6, is being run illegally in Bhatogra village, around 40 km from the district headquarters, Khargapur police station in-charge Nitesh Jain said. Based on a complaint, the police on Saturday arrested the two accused under sections 376 (rape), 506 (death threat) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said. The incident came to light when a cousin of the Class 4 student allegedly saw her being raped by the accused, the official said. The victim's parents were working as labourers in another city and the girl was living in the school hostel, he said, adding that her cousin also lived and studied in the institution. Initial probe has revealed that the owner's brother had also allegedly sexually exploited the victim, the official said. The police were investigating the matter further, he said. Mumbai, June 11 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday denied reports of lathicharge on warkaris by police in Alandi town in Pune district. He said a minor scuffle broke out between warkaris- devotees of Lord Vitthal- and the police. There was no lathicharge on the warkari community," he told reporters in Nagpur. Opposition parties, however, claimed police lathicharged warkaris and demanded a high-level probe and strict action. The incident occurred when devotees were scrambling to gain entry into Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi Mandir in Alandi town, 22 km from Pune city, during the ceremonial procession which is part of the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage to Pandharpur. "We learned from the last year's stampede-like situation at the same place (Alandi) and tried giving a few number of the entry pass to various groups. It was decided to issue 75 passes to each group that participate in the pilgrimage," said Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio. He said some 400-500 youths insisted that they would participate in the pilgrimage and won't follow the decision on the restricted allotment of the entry pass. "They broke the barricades and the police tried to stop them, during which some police personnel were injured," Fadnavis said. This decision (of allotting a limited number of the entry pass) was taken after a joint meeting with the principal district judge, the charity commissioner and the heads of various groups as part of the preparation for the pilgrimage, he added. Police had made elaborate arrangements and held meetings with temple trustees to prevent any untoward incident, Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, Vinay Kumar Choubey, had said. While the police were sending batches of 75 devotees at a time, a few people breached the barricades and tried to enter the temple, he said. "There was an altercation when police tried to stop them," Choubey said but refuted allegations that police lathi-charged warkaris. Nationalist Congress Party working president Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed warkaris were lathicharged by the police and condemned the incident. Sivasagar (Assam), Jun 11 (PTI) As a teenager, Bipul Kalita, a former self-styled lieutenant of the banned ULFA, had once tried to cleanse ills of society with guns but after coming back to the mainstream, he is trying to clean up his hometown Sivasagar as an entrepreneur dealing with garbage. In his mid-fifties now, Kalita had once chased the dream of the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for around 12 years to establish a 'sovereign Assam'. He gave up arms in 2000 and has since settled into family life with his wife and two daughters at his native place Sivasagar in the eastern part of the state. After doing some jobs for the first few years, Kalita chose to be an entrepreneur in 2016 and started a door-to-door waste collection venture with seven-eight partners. We started the garbage collection work in the 14 wards of Sivasagar town. We also undertook an awareness drive about proper waste disposal in Dibrugarh. Though we were a group of seven-eight people in the beginning, most left the venture as they didnt consider it as an appropriate job. I continued with it alone with my NGO Rupantar and soon received help from six other civil society organisations, Kalita told PTI. In Assam, NGOs are engaged in door-to-door waste collection in urban areas. He now has seven vehicles and several employees, including the drivers and other associates, with the task of garbage collection and disposal. We also have 20-25 women working with us. Besides garbage collection, we have two machines for turning waste into manure. These were given by the Sivsagar Municipal Board, he said. The suppliers of the machine had come from New Delhi and trained Kalita and his team to convert waste into manure, but a chemical needed for the process has to be sourced from the national capital, which has been a problem for them. Financial crunch remains the biggest challenge for the militant-turned-entrepreneur as his venture is dependent only on the nominal monthly charges collected from households and commercial buildings. We get Rs 60 per month per household, of which we pay Rs 10 to the municipal board. Commercial buildings pay a little more in terms of monthly charges but we have to give 50 per cent of it to the board. Our appeal to the municipal board is to waive the tax so that we can get some more margin, he said. Kalita is not one to be dissuaded from hardships and hurdles, having spent several years, as a member of the outlawed ULFA, in tough terrain and constantly on the run. I was influenced by a neighbour to join the ULFA in 1986. I was about 17-18 years of age then. The ideology propagated by the outfit seemed correct then, he said, recalling the immense difficulties endured by the cadres as they trained and camped in the Kachin province of Myanmar. Many boys died even before reaching the training camps. Unknown diseases afflicted us and there were no medicines. Yet, we sustained and returned to Assam after three-four years. Counter-insurgency operations were intense then, but the popularity of the group was also high. People from different sections of society helped us in many ways. But later, the secret killings proved to be a big blow for the organisation, Kalita claimed. Secret killings in Assam referred to the killing of relatives, friends and sympathisers of ULFA militants by unidentified assailants in the late 1990s. When Kalita left ULFA in 2000, it still had some "popularity, but once most members of its central committee came overground between 2008 and 2010, peoples confidence eroded and popularity decreased", he claimed. Time has changed now. When we took up arms, it was a different age. We have been now following the peace talks between the organisation and the government, but except for a few visits to New Delhi, nothing has happened, Kalita rued. The negotiations are going on between the government and the pro-talks factions of the banned outfit but the hardliner group led by Paresh Barua is yet to come for peace parleys. The Barua-led faction was named ULFA (Independent), following the split as the majority of the top leaders of the outfit came forward for talks. ULFA (I) had announced a unilateral ceasefire following Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas appeal for peace talks in 2021. Many like me did not get any financial support from the government after our surrender. We hope that the administration will be sympathetic and will help us, he added. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Nitin Agarwal, a 1989-batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre, was on Sunday night appointed as the new director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), more than five months after the post fell vacant. Agarwal is currently posted as the Additional DG of operations at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters in Delhi. An order of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) issued late night stated Agarwal has been appointed as the BSF DG "from the date of joining the post and up to 31.07.2026, his date of superannuation, or till further orders whichever is earlier." The post of BSF chief has been vacant for more than five months after Pankaj Kumar Singh retired on December 31, 2022. CRPF DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen has been handling the charge of BSF in an additional capacity since then. The appointment of Agarwal came on a day the BSF began its bi-annual four-day border talks with its Bangladeshi counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Delhi. Thaosen is heading the BSF delegation for these talks. The Bangladesh delegation is led by BGB DG Maj Gen AKM Nazmul Hasan. The new DG is expected to take charge of the BSF after these talks end on June 14. Agarwal has served in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), another border guarding force under the command of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), apart from working in various capacities in his cadre state of Kerala. The about 2.65 lakh personnel strong BSF is primarily tasked to guard Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh apart from rendering a variety of duties in the internal security domain. Srinagar, Jun 11 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Sunday accused the Nationalist Congress Party of promoting dynastic politics, a day after NCP president Sharad Pawar appointed his daughter Supriya Sule as working president. "I will only say that like in the Shiv Sena, Uddhav ji became the CM himself, and made his son a minister, the same is happening in the NCP as well," Shinde told a select group of reporters at the Raj Bhavan here. He called on J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. "(Sharad) Pawar was president, and made a working president in the family. This is an internal matter of their party, and I don't have to meddle in that, but it has happens like that only," Shinde said. Asked about his son and MP Shrikant Shinde's remarks that some local BJP leaders in Maharashtra were engaging in selfish politics, the Maharashtra CM said it was a small matter and the BJP has issued an explanation over it. "It was a small issue and it is over now. The president of Maharashtra BJP, Chandrashekhar Bawankule has given an explanation on that and I don't feel there is any need to say anything else on that," Shinde said. Asked to comment over the political situation in Maharashtra, Shinde said when he returns to his state, there will be a lot of time to discuss it. "I am in Kashmir right now. When I return there, we will have a lot of time to discuss that. I met Manoj Sinha and we had good discussions. I requested him that many tourists come here from Maharashtra, and if we get some place for Maharashtra Bhawan, that will benefit the tourists," the Maharashtra CM said. Chandigarh, Jun 11 (PTI) The Punjab Police has rolled out a drone emergency response system in the border district of Pathankot to foil attempts to smuggle drugs and weapons from across the border using unmanned aerial vehicles, officials said. Under the drone emergency response system, police will coordinate with village-level defence committees in areas along the India-Pakistan border for a faster response to instances of smuggling of narcotics and arms and ammunition from the neighbouring country. According to the officials, frequent drone movements for smuggling of drugs and weapons from across the border pose a challenge for security agencies in Punjab. They said that hardly a day passes when drone movement is not spotted in border districts of Punjab even though the Border Security Force has gunned down many unmanned aerial vehicles and seized packets of heroin in the recent past. In the past few weeks, the border guarding force shot down several drones in Punjab, which shares 553-km border with Pakistan. Last week, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit targeted Pakistan for pushing drugs into India and said that surgical strikes should be conducted against the neighbouring nation to teach it a lesson. During his two-day visit to border districts, Purohit also commended the Punjab Police and district administrations for making a lot of efforts for drug seizure, border security and tackling the issue of drones. Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said the drone emergency response system (DERS) is being implemented on a pilot basis in Pathankot and it will be replicated in other border districts of the state. DERS has been implemented in Pathankot's 14 villages which are within two kilometers of the international border. He said two village police officers have been deployed in each of the 14 villages. The village police officers (VPOs) are local residents and will work in tandem with village-level defence committees (VLDCs) to keep a check on any suspicious movement in their villages. Whenever any drone movement is noticed in a village, the VPO will activate the VLDC and will also inform the police control room, he said. Till the time a police team reaches the spot, the VPO along with the VLDC will cordon off the area where any contraband or weapon has been dropped off by a Pakistani drone to prevent its retrieval by any miscreant or smuggler, the police said. The initial response will be triggered without any delay, followed by a secondary response within a span of five to 10 minutes, and a tertiary response within 15 to 20 minutes, resulting in the swift apprehension of individuals involved in unlawful activity, the police said. VLDCs have been set up in border districts of Punjab to keep a check on suspicious movement. Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggawal said VLDCs comprising 11 members each have been set up in 265 villages which are located within 15 km of the international border. VLDC members are mainly village heads, ex-servicemen or influential persons and if they see any suspicious activity, they inform the authority concerned, Aggarwal said. WhatsApp groups of VLDCs have been formed to share information and a joint command and control centre has been set up in the deputy commissioner's office. "We are motivating them (VLDC members) to be the defenders of their villages, Aggarwal said. The Gurdaspur district administration was praised by the Punjab governor for setting up VLDCs in villages up to 15 km from the international border. "Ninety-four cameras have been installed across the district, especially in the border areas, and the live feed of these cameras is jointly monitored by police and civil officials, the deputy commissioner said. He said 30 panchayats in Gurdaspur have already passed resolutions that they will not allow any drug activity in their villages and will make their villages completely drug-free in the next six months. Last month, the Punjab Police had declared a reward of Rs 1 lakh on information of drone movement leading to the recovery of weapons and narcotics. The state government has sanctioned Rs 20 crore for installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations in the border villages to keep a strict vigil on the movement of drones and cross-border smugglers. Kota (Rajasthan) Jun 11 (PTI) A vehicle overturned on the Kota-Baran highway on Sunday, leaving three labourers dead and four others injured, police said. A police patrolling squad spotted the overturned vehicle in the early hours, DSP Harshraj Singh said The police rushed the injured to a hospital where two persons were declared brought dead while another succumbed to injuries later, he said. Four others are being treated for their injures. The seven labourers hailing from Lalsot area in Dausa district were returning to Kota from Bhopal when the accident took place. The bodies have been handed over to family members. Banihal (J&K), Jun 11 (PTI) A court here has rejected the closure report in a 17-year-old murder case of a soldier in Banihal township of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed dissatisfaction with the police probe, saying it raises serious doubts that efforts were being made to protect someone. Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Banihal, Manmohan Kumar also directed the Superintendent of Police, Ramban to monitor the investigation in the case and conclude it within a period of three months. Sepoy Yuvraj Uttam Rao of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles was found dead in the sentry post with several bullet injuries on his chest inside a camp in Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on May 19, 2006. There are discrepancies in the (police) investigation as at one point Investigating Officer (IO) observed that some unknown officials have killed the deceased and simultaneously IO himself has concluded that death might be an act of terrorists. However, IO has not collected any evidence that there was any transgression or attack in the army camp on the fateful night. The role of terrorists in the killing is also ruled out as the holes were detected in the roof of the sentry post which seem to have been fired from inside the sentry post instead of outside as the tin shed was opened towards outside, the court said in its order on Friday. The court said the probe of the case remained inconclusive for nearly 17 years and the investigating agency observed that someone from inside the camp had committed the offence but they were unable to find out the accused. The investigation in the case has reached a dead end without identification of the offenders...the excuse of the IO that it is not possible to trace or identify the accused is preposterous, as the deceased was not alone in the camp, there were a number of Army personnel along with officers on duty then and there, the court said. It said investigations conducted by the IOs show total reluctance on their part to unravel the truth or lack of modicum knowledge of law needed to investigate an offence like murder. The casualness and callousness of the police is reflected from the fact that they are not able to identify the accused within the four walls of a campThe court is dissatisfied with the manner in which the police were dragging its feet in failing to make proper investigation, raising serious doubts that efforts were being made to protect someone, the court said. The court said it is astonished to note that the closure report was kept at Police Station Banihal for six years after the completion of the investigation, as the closure report was prepared in 2016, but presented before court in 2021. The case demands further investigation in order to do justice, the court said. Much time has passed and there is undoubtedly an urgency in the matter now therefore, this court directs that further investigation must be concluded within a period of three months from today and the police report be filed before the court concerned where after the matter shall proceed in accordance with law. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Monday a plea related to lack of toilets for women lawyers in the Nilgiris Court Complex in Tamil Nadu's Ooty. According to the apex court website, the plea of the Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris is listed for hearing on Monday before a vacation bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal. The bench had directed the Madras High Court registry to file a detailed report on the measures taken by it to address the lack of toilets for women lawyers in the Nilgiris Court Complex. On June 9, the apex court said the earlier report of the registrar general of the Madras High Court did not explain in detail about the facilities for women lawyers in the new court complex and as to whether there was any shrinkage of such facilities which were earlier available. The bench then asked the HC registry to file the report which would be perused by it on Monday. "Let a detailed report be filed by the high court administration through the registrar general. Such report should reach the registry of this court by Sunday through electronic mode and this matter shall be listed on June 12, Monday," the bench had said. The top court was hearing a plea by Women Lawyers' Association of Nilgiris alleging lack of toilet facilities for female advocates at the recently inaugurated combined court complex in Ooty. National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma had written a letter on June 7 to the Registrar General of the Madras High Court seeking measures to address the lack of toilets for women lawyers in the Nilgiris Court Complex. The NCW, in its letter to the high court, had said that the new court complex, which was inaugurated in June, 2022 and boasts of several amenities and facilities, shockingly lacks a designated toilet that women lawyers can access. This oversight has left women lawyers in an uncomfortable and undignified position, having to struggle with basic sanitation needs while performing their professional duties. It is disheartening to learn that the women lawyers in Nilgiris have been demanding a toilet in the court complex for the past 25 years without any resolution. "This prolonged neglect of their legitimate and basic requirement is not only a violation of their rights but also hinders their ability to carry out their legal responsibilities effectively" the NCW said in its letter to the HC. Chennai, Jun 11 (PTI) The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Sunday questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion on the Centre's initiatives for the state and said allocation of funds as stated by him was part of the government's "constitutional duty". DMK Parliamentary Party leader T R Baalu claimed Shah could not point out any "special schemes" as sought by his party president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. Responding to Stalin's demand that Shah list out the Centre's special schemes for Tamil Nadu in the past nine years, the senior BJP leader at a public meeting in Vellore in TN detailed the various initiatives of the Narendra Modi-led Union government for the state in sectors including aviation, railways and roads. He had also said devolution of central funds to Tamil Nadu has increased manifold during this period. In a statement here, Baalu said Stalin's charge was that there had been no special schemes announced by the BJP-led NDA for Tamil Nadu in the last nine years. He claimed Shah could not point out any such scheme. "The fund allocation and subsidies pointed out by the Home Minister are the constitutional duty of the Union government towards the state government," he said. Any government at the Centre has to give them to the states, Baalu added. Tesla CEO Elon Musk doesnt appear to feel threatened by Ford and GM. Indeed he may view them as customers. Both of the legacy carmakers recently announced that drivers of their electric vehicles would, starting early next year, be able to use Tesla Supercharger stations, and that they would adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) for connectors. That could lead to more crowded charging stations and encourage some EV customers who might otherwise buy a Tesla to instead purchase a Ford or GM vehiclewhich, on the face of it, might sound like an unwise move by Musk and company. But Dan Ives, a Wedbush Securities analyst, sees something bigger at play. Tesla, he believes, is just getting started with selling access to its infrastructure and technologies, and an AWS moment is at hand. AWS, or Amazon Web Services, went from a risky bet to an enormous success for Amazon. What is today a dominant cloud computing platform started as essentially an internal cloud that the online retailer built for itself out of necessity. Selling access to the infrastructure it had developed turned out to be a genius business move for Amazon, despite the doubters, thrilling investors and making founder Jeff Bezos even wealthier. Today, Tesla has infrastructure and technology its likewise developed for its own use that legacy carmakers could benefit from as well. I believe this is just the first step, Ives told CNBC on Friday. It's starting with Superchargers and, ultimately, I think the next step could be battery technology. I think that's the golden goose right now is that theyve built the castle [and are] waiting for others to call. Ford CEO Jim Farley and GM CEO Mary Barra have made the call, he noted, suggesting others will follow. As for the possibility that Supercharger access will help GM and Ford sell more electric vehicles, Ives suggested thats just fine with Tesla: My view is that Musk needs GM and Ford actually to be successful for the broader EV vision, in terms of just adoption in the United States. This week, Musk tweeted that Tesla aspires to be as helpful as possible to other car companies and is enabling other companies to use our Supercharger network." He added, "Also happy to license Autopilot/FSD [full self-driving] or other Tesla technology. Ives said Tesla could generate billions from its Ford and GM charging partnerships in the years ahead and thinks the company is just getting started with that kind of services revenue. He referred to the two carmakers as early ambassadors to Teslas plan of granting access to its technology and infrastructure. Piper Sandler estimated in a research note that Tesla could add upwards of $3 billion in charging revenue from non-Tesla owners by 2030 and $5.4 billion by 2032. Such revenue, along with federal incentives, will help Tesla expand its charging network. Tesla shares are up 126% year to date, helping Musk reclaim the title of the worlds richest person from luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault. "From batteries to Superchargers to storagethe sum-of-the-parts thesis is now starting, I believe, in the early stages to play out with investors, Ives said. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Lucknow, Jun 11 (PTI) Two persons were killed when a speeding container truck ran over them outside the Haj House here on Sunday, police said. SHO of Sarojininagar police station, Shailendra Giri, said the two had come here to see off their relatives going for the Haj pilgrimage. The deceased have been identified as Atif (28) and Firoz (46), both hailing from Azamgarh district. The truck driver fled from the spot. Ballia (UP), Jun 11 (PTI) A 15-year-old boy has died after falling off a mango tree in a village here, police said on Sunday. They said the incident took place on Saturday afternoon in Kathura village under the Rasra police station area. The victim was identified as Chandrajeet. The body of the deceased has been sent for a post-mortem examination, police officials said. Uttarkashi, Jun 11 (PTI) Two men were killed when their motorcycle fell into a deep gorge near Syana Chatti on the Yamunotri National Highway on Sunday, officials said. District Disaster Management officer Devendra Patwal said the two men were rushed to Barkot Community Health Centre where Kuldip Singh Rana (35) died during treatment. Sohan Singh Chauhan (40) succumbed to his injuries at Damta while being taken to a better medical facility, he said. Kochi, Jun 11 (PTI) A woman, accused of furnishing a fake teaching experience certificate to secure a guest faculty post in the Maharajas College here, has moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the forgery case against her. The plea by the woman -- Vidya K Maniyanodi -- was listed for hearing before Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas on Friday and the court asked the prosecution to indicate its stand on the matter by June 20, the next date of hearing. She has claimed in her plea that the case against her has been "initiated for political reasons" and at any rate "the allegations on the face of it does not attract the offences alleged". Police have lodged an FIR against her under sections 465 (forgery), 471 (using forged documents as genuine) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. In her plea, the woman claimed that while the first two offences are bailable, the third is not made out as cheating must ensue pursuant to the forgery and the same has not happened in the instant case. "Since a serious non-bailable offence is alleged against the applicant, she apprehends imminent arrest. Hence, this application for anticipatory bail," the plea said. Another reason cited by her for protection from arrest is that she is in her mid twenties, unmarried and "if she is arrested and incarcerated the same would result in a travesty of justice". The FIR against her has been registered on the complaint by Maharajas College. According to the complaint, the woman has claimed in the "fake certificate" that she was a guest lecturer at Maharajas College in 2018-19. "No guest lecturers have been appointed in the Malayalam department of the college in the last 10 years. The emblem clearly shows that it was fake," college principal V S Joy had told the media after the incident was reported. Two apologetic lawyers responding to an angry judge in Manhattan federal court blamed ChatGPT Thursday for tricking them into including fictitious legal research in a court filing. Attorneys Steven A. Schwartz and Peter LoDuca are facing possible punishment over a filing in a lawsuit against an airline that included references to past court cases that Schwartz thought were real, but were actually invented by the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot. Schwartz explained that he used the groundbreaking program as he hunted for legal precedents supporting a clients case against the Colombian airline Avianca for an injury incurred on a 2019 flight. The chatbot, which has fascinated the world with its production of essay-like answers to prompts from users, suggested several cases involving aviation mishaps that Schwartz hadnt been able to find through usual methods used at his law firm. The problem was, several of those cases werent real or involved airlines that didnt exist. Schwartz told U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel he was operating under a misconception that this website was obtaining these cases from some source I did not have access to. He said he failed miserably at doing follow-up research to ensure the citations were correct. I did not comprehend that ChatGPT could fabricate cases, Schwartz said. Microsoft has invested some $1 billion in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Its success, demonstrating how artificial intelligence could change the way humans work and learn, has generated fears from some. Hundreds of industry leaders signed a letter in May that warns mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war. Judge Castel seemed both baffled and disturbed at the unusual occurrence and disappointed the lawyers did not act quickly to correct the bogus legal citations when they were first alerted to the problem by Aviancas lawyers and the court. Avianca pointed out the bogus case law in a March filing. The judge confronted Schwartz with one legal case invented by the computer program. It was initially described as a wrongful death case brought by a woman against an airline only to morph into a legal claim about a man who missed a flight to New York and was forced to incur additional expenses. Can we agree thats legal gibberish? Castel asked. Schwartz said he erroneously thought that the confusing presentation resulted from excerpts being drawn from different parts of the case. When Castel finished his questioning, he asked Schwartz if he had anything else to say. I would like to sincerely apologize, Schwartz said. He added that he had suffered personally and professionally as a result of the blunder and felt embarrassed, humiliated and extremely remorseful. He said that he and the firm where he worked Levidow, Levidow & Oberman had put safeguards in place to ensure nothing similar happens again. LoDuca, another lawyer who worked on the case, said he trusted Schwartz and didnt adequately review what he had compiled. After the judge read aloud portions of one cited case to show how easily it was to discern that it was gibberish, LoDuca said: It never dawned on me that this was a bogus case. He said the outcome pains me to no end. Ronald Minkoff, an attorney for the law firm, told the judge that the submission resulted from carelessness, not bad faith and should not result in sanctions. He said lawyers have historically had a hard time with technology, particularly new technology, and its not getting easier. Mr. Schwartz, someone who barely does federal research, chose to use this new technology. He thought he was dealing with a standard search engine, Minkoff said. What he was doing was playing with live ammo. Daniel Shin, an adjunct professor and assistant director of research at the Center for Legal and Court Technology at William & Mary Law School, said he introduced the Avianca case during a conference last week that attracted dozens of participants in person and online from state and federal courts in the U.S., including Manhattan federal court. He said the subject drew shock and befuddlement at the conference. Were talking about the Southern District of New York, the federal district that handles big cases, 9/11 to all the big financial crimes, Shin said. This was the first documented instance of potential professional misconduct by an attorney using generative AI. He said the case demonstrated how the lawyers might not have understood how ChatGPT works because it tends to hallucinate, talking about fictional things in a manner that sounds realistic but is not. It highlights the dangers of using promising AI technologies without knowing the risks, Shin said. The judge said hell rule on sanctions at a later date. (AP) A police officer who rushed into a high school building during the 2018 Parkland shooting testified Friday that a sheriffs deputy outside confirmed that the shooter was upstairs. The former Broward County deputy, Scot Peterson, is on trial for failing to confront the shooter who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. He has insisted since he spoke to investigators two days after the massacre that he couldnt tell where the gunshots were coming from, and that he thought they may have been fired outside. On the third day of Petersons trial, Coral Springs officer Richard Best related what he says Peterson told him outside the classroom building, WPLG-TV reported. I said, Hey brother, what do we got? Best told the jury. He said, Gunshots second or third floor. Peterson, 60, could be sentenced to nearly a century in prison if convicted. It is understood that the longer you wait, the more damage is being done, Best said. Every time you heard a gunshot, somebody might be dead. Peterson is charged with failing to confront shooter Nikolas Cruz before the gunman reached the buildings third floor, where he killed six people. The deputy is not charged in connection with the 11 deaths on the first floor, before he reached the building. Peterson arrived at the building with his gun drawn 73 seconds before Cruz reached the third floor. Peterson took cover 75 feet (23 meters) away in the alcove of a neighboring building, his gun drawn. He didnt leave his spot for about 40 minutes around 35 minutes after the shooting had stopped. Arman Borghei, who was a student on the buildings third floor during the shootings, said he looked out of a window and spotted Peterson below with his gun drawn. Borghei said he was really scared, wondering when help would arrive, but never saw Peterson approach the building. Best testified that he considered it his job to risk his life to stop a threat and render aid. It is not that as one police officer I want to go inside by myself, Best said. But that is our training to go inside. The most serious charges against Peterson are seven counts of felony child neglect. For Peterson to be convicted of child neglect, prosecutors must first show he was legally a caregiver to the juvenile students defined by Florida law as a parent, adult household member or other person responsible for a childs welfare. If jurors find Peterson was a caregiver, they must determine whether he made a reasonable effort to protect the children or failed to provide necessary care. Peterson is the first U.S. law enforcement officer ever charged for an alleged failure to act during a school shooting. Similarly, Texas authorities are investigating officers in the town of Uvalde who didnt confront the shooter who killed 19 elementary students and two teachers last year. None have been charged, however. The trial began Wednesday and is expected to last up to two months. Cruz, 24, pleaded guilty and last year received a life sentence. (AP) During renewed nuclear deal talks with Iran via Oman, the Biden administration has reportedly issued a stern warning against the ayatollah-led regime attempting to enrich uranium to 90% enough to build a nuclear weapon. According to three sources who spoke to Axios, US officials have delivered a clear message to Iran, stating that there will be serious consequences if Tehran reaches the 90 percent uranium enrichment level required for the development of a nuclear weapon. This warning comes as Irans uranium enrichment reaches a critical stage, with the UNs nuclear watchdog estimating that the country currently possesses 114.1 kilograms (251 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, just a short technical step away from weapons-grade. The discussions, referred to as proximity talks, have reportedly focused on deterrence and were revealed in a report by Axios. Brett McGurk, the White Houses Middle East coordinator, reportedly traveled to Oman on May 8 to discuss potential actions by the US regarding Irans contentious nuclear program. Although Irans top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kan, was also in Oman at the same time as part of a delegation, there were no direct meetings between the American and Iranian officials. Instead, Omani officials acted as intermediaries, shuttling between the two teams. In response to Axios request for comment, a spokesperson from the White House National Security Council stated that the US remains focused on constraining Irans destabilizing behavior through pressure, close coordination with allies, and de-escalation in the region. The spokesperson emphasized the USs commitment to ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and expressed readiness to take action in coordination with partners and allies if necessary. No comments have been provided by the Omani or Iranian foreign ministries regarding these discussions. However, last week, the Financial Times reported that Robert Malley, the Biden administrations special envoy for Iran, held several meetings with Irans ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani. These meetings were believed to be the first direct interactions between American and Iranian officials since the US withdrew from the nuclear deal under the Trump administration. The Financial Times described this outreach as part of a broader shift among US and European officials, who are increasingly concerned that Irans continuous violations of the nuclear deal could escalate into a regional conflict. These reported discussions come approximately nine months after indirect talks aimed at revitalizing the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers collapsed, with the US indicating that the negotiations were no longer a top priority. Recently, there have been signs of increased diplomatic activity centered around Oman, which played a crucial role in initiating the talks that led to the 2015 agreement, from which the US withdrew in 2018. Last month, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman visited Tehran for a two-day trip, marking the first visit by an Omani leader to the Iranian capital in a decade. This visit coincided with Irans efforts to reconcile with regional rivals, such as Saudi Arabia, and express support for establishing full diplomatic relations with Egypt for the first time since 1979. Israeli officials have accused the US and Iran of seeking an interim nuclear agreement that would permit Tehran to continue its uranium enrichment activities. However, the White House denied a report on Thursday suggesting progress in a new nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran. Israel has been closely monitoring these developments with increasing concern. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an extensive conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, during which he reiterated his position that Iran will not halt its nuclear program even if it agrees to revive the nuclear deal with the US. Netanyahus office stated that he expressed his belief that diplomatic efforts alone would not prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and emphasized the need for a credible military threat. In a separate show of force toward Iran, Israeli F-16D fighter jets escorted two American B-1 bombers as they transited through Israeli airspace from the Persian Gulf. Over the past two years, Israeli jets have frequently escorted American bombers in the Middle East, as tensions between Tehran and the West have escalated amid stalled negotiations to reach a new deal that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief. Israel strongly opposed the 2015 nuclear deal and has also voiced its objections to Europe and the Biden administrations efforts to revive the agreement, arguing that diplomatic initiatives fall short in preventing Irans nuclear ambitions. Israel is concerned that a new deal could legitimize Irans nuclear activities and erode international support for potential military action. Last week, the UNs atomic watchdog closed an investigation into a suspected Iranian site where secret nuclear activity was believed to have taken place. In response, Israel accused the monitor of yielding to pressure from Tehran. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Iran had addressed concerns regarding suspected secret nuclear activity at the Marivan site and the underground Fordo facility. Iran had contended that the uranium traces found could have originated from laboratory instruments and equipment used by miners at the site. The IAEA accepted this explanation as a possible one. Experts had previously linked the Marivan site to Irans clandestine military nuclear program and accused the country of conducting high-explosive tests there in the early 2000s. In 2019, Netanyahu exposed the facility, claiming it to be a secret nuclear site. Furthermore, the IAEA closed a separate investigation into uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found at Irans underground Fordo facility, stating that Tehrans explanation attributing the fluctuations to an enrichment byproduct was acceptable. Last year, Irans President Ebrahim Raisi had emphasized that the closure of IAEA investigations into nuclear particles found at suspected sites was a prerequisite for reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. In another concerning development, a second IAEA report revealed that Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium in recent months to more than 23 times the limit set out in the 2015 accord. The nuclear deal limited Irans uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms (661 pounds) and restricted enrichment to 3.67%, a level suitable for powering nuclear reactors. However, Iran has been producing uranium enriched to 60% purity, a level that experts argue has no civilian use. As of May 13, the IAEA estimated that Irans total enriched uranium stockpile stood at 4,744.5 kilograms (10,460 pounds), with 114.1 kilograms (251 pounds) enriched to 60% purity. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The New York City Council is seriously considering a proposal for reparations to be given to black New Yorkers for slavery, as well as an initiative aimed at removing artwork deemed racist from public property. Councilwoman Farah Louis, a Democrat representing Brooklyn, introduced her reparations bill last Thursday, coinciding with the state Legislature in Albany approving a similar bill. The state bill has been forwarded to Governor Kathy Hochul for review and potential approval. If passed, it would establish a commission to examine the effects of slavery and racial discrimination across the entire Empire State, potentially leading to compensation payments. Louis bill, focusing exclusively on the city, proposes the creation of a nine-member task force tasked with delivering a report within one year of appointment. Like the state bill, the recommendations put forth by this task force would be non-binding and solely advisory in nature. This reparations bill is part of a comprehensive legislative package introduced by several council members of color who argue that it aims to address historical injustices. Crystal Hudson, also from Brooklyn and affiliated with the Democratic Party, has introduced a measure that would require the citys Commission of Racial Equity to establish a Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation process. This process would identify historical facts relating to the citys past involvement with slavery and recommend changes for local government and institutions to prevent any recurrence. New York abolished slavery over two centuries ago and suffered significant losses, with over 50,000 men fighting to free slaves during the Civil War. Another bill, proposed by Sandy Nurse, another Democratic council member from Brooklyn, would require the citys Public Design Commission, in consultation with relevant city agencies, to publicly disclose a plan for the removal of monuments and artwork on city land that is deemed to glorify ex-slave owners, individuals who profited from slavery, or those involved in systemic crimes against indigenous peoples or humanity. Additionally, the bill calls for the installation of explanatory plaques near schools that are named after individuals who profited from slavery or committed other crimes against humanity. In 2017, former Mayor Bill de Blasio sparked controversy by establishing a commission to review monuments throughout the five boroughs following violence by white supremacist groups in Charlottesville, Virginia, protesting the removal of a Confederate statue. The commission ultimately recommended the removal of just one statue from Central Park: that of Dr. J. Marion Sims, a pioneering 19th-century gynecologist who conducted experiments on enslaved black women. Councilwoman Louis expressed her support for the legislative package on Twitter, describing it as a significant step toward rectifying long-standing injustices and acknowledging the need for genuine reparations. She emphasized the importance of confronting the pain and inequalities of the past to build a fair and inclusive society. However, the bills have encountered strong opposition from more moderate and conservative members of the City Council, including Minority Leader Joe Borelli of Staten Island (Republican) and Robert Holden of Queens (Democratic). Holden emphasized that New York has a proud history of opposing slavery and providing refuge to those seeking freedom, suggesting that the focus should be on addressing the citys current pressing issues rather than engaging in divisive debates over copycat bills that detract from real problems. Mayor Adams office has announced that they are currently reviewing the proposed legislation but have not provided further comment at this time. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Former prime minister Ehud Barak called for civil disobedience at an anti-judicial protest on Motzei Shabbos. Well win because we have no other country and have no other way, Barak said at a protest in Haifa. But we havent won the battle yetwe must intensify the protest and end the negotiations immediately. For this purpose, we must increase the protests and move into civil disobedience. The script for civil disobedience has already been written by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and others. I call on the citizens of Israel to prepare to act, and when the call comes to respond to it. We will fight and were not afraid of anyone or anything. In March, Barak and former justice minister Tzipi Livni besmirched the Israeli government, especially the Chareidi and Dati Leumi parties, on CNN. In 2021, Barak and Yair Lapid instigated Jordanian King Abdullah II into refusing Israels request to enter its airspace so as not to allow Netanyahu to visit the United Arab Emirates prior to elections. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) What to Downsize in Retirement? Here's How to Make It Work For You Senior Downsizing Services: Retirement Guide Downsizing in retirement has become a popular choice for many seniors, offering a fresh start and newfound freedom. Whether its driven by a desire to simplify, financial reasons, empty nests, health needs or emotional well-being, downsizing opens doors to a more fulfilling lifestyle. But where to begin? Senior downsizing companies help transition to smaller living spaces by assisting with decluttering, organizing, packing, moving and settling into new homes. Consider starting with the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), a network of downsizing companies that offer a range of services. A financial advisor can also help you make critical decisions surrounding your newly downsized financial life. Reasons to Downsize There are several reasons why a retiree might choose to downsize. Here are some of the most common : Simplify your lifestyle. Typically, downsizing allows retirees to simplify their lives. With fewer belongings and a smaller living space, they can reduce the time and effort spent on maintenance and cleaning. Less clutter and fewer responsibilities provide the freedom to pursue hobbies, travel or spend time with loved ones. Financial considerations. Downsizing can be a strategic financial decision. For instance, retirees can reduce their housing-related expenses by moving into a smaller home or less expensive area, such as mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Doing so frees up funds to support their retirement lifestyle, travel plans or other financial goals. Empty nest. As children grow up and move out, retirees usually find themselves with more space than they need. Downsizing to a smaller home or apartment can help them avoid the burden of maintaining an underutilized property while potentially providing financial benefits. Health and mobility. Aging often comes with changes in mobility and health. Moving into a home with age-in-place features, such as widened doorways and no stairs, makes navigating and maintaining independence easier as physical abilities change. Additionally, moving to a community with amenities and services tailored to seniors can provide access to healthcare, social activities and additional assistance if needed. Emotional well-being. Some retirees find that downsizing brings a sense of relief and emotional well-being. Letting go of the physical and emotional weight of accumulated possessions can be liberating, allowing them to focus on experiences and relationships rather than material things. Where to Start Senior Downsizing Services: Retirement Guide The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) is an excellent starting point to help with your move. NASMM is a network of top-quality businesses in your area for senior relocation. Companies must qualify to become network members through various efforts, including carrying liability insurance, passing industry-specific examinations and complying with the NASMMs code of ethics. Services Offered By Downsizing Companies If you hire a downsizing company, it usually assigns a professional to your situation. This individual, a senior move manager, will help you resolve issues and overcome obstacles during your move. Downsizing companies can help with: Decluttering and sorting: Assist clients in determining what to keep, donate, sell, or discard and providing guidance and assistance in organizing items effectively Space planning: Provide expertise in optimizing the new living space by arranging furniture and belongings efficiently Packing and unpacking: Handle the safe and appropriate packing, labeling and transportation of items, as well as unpacking services for quicker settling in the new home Coordination of moving logistics: Manage the logistics of the move, including hiring and supervising movers, scheduling moving dates and coordinating transportation of belongings for a smooth transition Estate sales and liquidation: Assist with the sale of unwanted items through online platforms, auctions or estate sales Donation and disposal services: Arrange for the pickup or drop-off of donated items to charitable organizations and ensure the responsible disposal of unwanted items Home staging: Offer services to enhance the appeal of the clients current home for potential buyers if they intend to sell it Relocation support: Provide emotional and logistical support throughout the relocation process, including guidance, resources and expertise to minimize stress and ensure a successful transition Cost of Hiring a Downsizing Service Regarding the prices for senior move managers, considerable variation occurs nationwide, hinging on the scale of the undertaking. For instance, the sheer volume of possessions a senior may need assistance with can affect moving costs. Furthermore, the pricing structures used by senior move managers may involve either a project-based fee or an hourly rate. Specifically, project-based rates generally fall within a range of approximately $3,000 to $5,000. Remember, these figures are approximations, and your unique situation will drive pricing as you gather quotes from companies. Comparing prices by region shows that the prevailing hourly rates hover between $125 to $150. On the other hand, in the heartland of the country and the South, hourly rates typically span from $60 to $150. Senior Downsizing Services Senior Downsizing Services: Retirement Guide Here are 17 companies you can hire to help you downsize: Moves for Seniors Moves for Seniors is a highly esteemed company specializing in senior relocations and offers comprehensive support for local and cross-country moves. Their services encompass various offerings, including senior community relocation, downsizing, decluttering and legacy services. In addition, the company caters to individual needs, providing as much or as little assistance as requested. From solely loading and unloading moving vans to managing the entire move, Moves for Seniors assigns a specialist to oversee every detail of the relocation process. Operating in every state except Alaska, the company has established a strong presence nationwide. Caring Transitions Caring Transitions boasts an expansive network of 200 franchise locations across 40 states. The company gives free consultations and offers services in the following categories: relocation and move management, downsizing, estate sales and online auctions. Caring Transitions excels in consolidating belongings, packing/unpacking boxes and drawing up a floor plan for the move. Each client receives a customized service plan tailored to their unique requirements. Moving Station Moving Station focuses on assisting seniors in transitioning from their homes to senior-specific communities. With over two decades of experience, the company aids seniors with selling their homes, organizing and sorting belongings and facilitating the actual move. Their detailed list of duties includes: Creating a timeline Tracking the moves progress Simplifying decision-making associated with the relocation process Welcome Home Senior Services and Placement Co. Based in Florida, Welcome Home Senior Services and Placement Co. offers comprehensive support in helping seniors find assisted-living communities tailored to their situations. During in-person consultations, Welcome Home Senior Services will consider a clients income, assets, required level of care, desired setting (such as spaced-out individual homes or a bustling campus), proximity to family and more. The company aims to pinpoint communities that meet both financial and lifestyle requirements. To that end, the company provides clients with a list of communities in their target region, plans and accompanies seniors during community visits and coordinates the eventual move. In addition, theyll help you understand how your possessions will fit into your new home. MaxSold MaxSold specializes in relocation downsizing and estate sales, with team members operating in 20 states across various regions in the United States and Canada. From Georgia to California and Ontario to British Columbia, MaxSold offers support to retirees, with prices ranging from $300 to $700 and a 30% commission fee. Gentle Transitions Gentle Transitions has been in business since 1994 and works throughout the state of California. The company provides comprehensive move planning, coordination and supervision. As a result, theyll cover every aspect of your move, such as sorting belongings, professional packing/unpacking and resettling. Going the extra mile, Gentle Transitions ensures their clients feel at home by making beds, hanging pictures, organizing clothes in closets, connecting televisions and removing all shipping boxes. A dedicated move manager oversees and guides each move from start to finish. JK Moving JK Moving specializes in senior and accessible-living moves, with expertise in helping customers with disabilities. In addition, the company offers a range of support services, including downsizing, moving to adult- or assisted-living communities and personalized planning and management of all relocation details. Customers who want to move across town or the entire country can hire JK Moving for help. Senior Move Masters Senior Move Masters, based in San Diego County in California, provides professional relocation support to seniors. Their services include planning, packing and unpacking seniors in their new homes. The company assists clients in evaluating which of their belongings to get rid of and which to hold onto. In addition, the company offers personalized timelines and move checklists. This way, youll plan how to utilize your new space, hire a moving company, label and pack household possessions and arrange items in the new home. Sage Relocation Sage Relocation Services assists seniors in Ontario, Canada. Their offerings encompass move management, downsizing, decluttering and packing/unpacking services. First, clients receive a complimentary in-house consultation to define their needs. Then, the company creates a customized project plan, including timelines and pricing. Plus, the company finds new owners for discarded possessions. The Move Managers The Move Managers offers robust support to seniors in California, including Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita and southern Ventura counties. Their services address a moves emotional and physical challenges. The company categorizes and organizes belongings to determine what will be kept, donated, discarded, sold or given to family and friends. The Move Managers also have relationships with reliable moving companies and professional packing services. Lastly, theyll clean the former residence and ensure its ready for the next inhabitant. A Move Made Easy A Move Made Easy specializes in assisting seniors and individuals with disabilities in relocating to South Florida. The companys connections with retirement communities and healthcare facilities help it excel in the industry. In addition, it collaborates with companies across the United States to direct long-distance moves. The company has senior move managers and personal move coordinators who handle various tasks, from packing possessions to organizing the new home. A Move Handled with Care Serving the Denver Metro Area, A Move Handled with Care has been a member of the NASMM since 2007. The company offers a comprehensive range of services supporting moving, downsizing and aging in place. The company, which offers free consultations, can aslo: Develop customized move plans with detailed tasks and timelines Catalog belongings Organize important documents Facilitate communication with family members on behalf of seniors Changing Places Changing Places, based in Westchester, New York, has been helping older adults and their families since 2005. Professionals from the fields of social work, nursing and project management run the company, which has an A+ Accreditation from NASMM. Its services cover various aspects, including creating customized floor plans, organizing, sorting, downsizing, auctioning/selling items, unpacking and resettling seniors. Soft Landings Services Soft Landings Services, based in Beaverton, Oregon, has also earned a NASMM A+ Accreditation for its exceptional senior move management services. They provide many amenities, including move management, estate services, finding an affordable future home and creating income projections for retirees. Golden Bridges Golden Bridges, operating in Missouri, assists with packing, moving and selling belongings. In addition, the company manages the move by vetting moving companies. Easy Living Solutions, by Ginny Virginias Easy Living Solutions serves Beaufort and Jasper counties in South Carolina and Chatham County in Georgia. In addition to decluttering and downsizing, the company implements a discard-and-donate program to help customers prepare their homes for the market. Caretaker Caretaker is helpful for seniors needing to quickly exit a lease, especially for those with health conditions. The company specializes in terminating leases promptly, facilitating moves with urgent timelines. It does so by taking over the lease and paying the rent, ensuring a legal and seamless transition. This service costs a one-time fee, typically ranging from 100% to 150% of one months rent, depending on the circumstances. Bottom Line Downsizing offers several benefits for retirees, including simplifying their lifestyle, addressing financial considerations, adapting to changing health and mobility needs and promoting emotional well-being. The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) is a valuable resource for finding reliable downsizing companies. These companies provide a range of services, including decluttering, space planning, packing/unpacking, coordination of moving logistics, estate sales, donation and disposal services, home staging and relocation support. Downsizing Tips for Seniors Although retirement means leaving the workforce, it can leave you juggling a host of responsibilities and downsizing is just one of them. Managing your finances, including optimizing income streams for tax purposes and affording healthcare, is also a top priority. Fortunately, a financial advisor can customize a spending plan to make your resources last throughout retirement. Finding a financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Downsizing is supposed to make life more affordable but this isnt always the case. For more, heres a guide on the hidden costs of downsizing. Photo credit: iStock.com/Daisy-Daisy, iStock.com/sturti, iStock.com/milan2099 The post Senior Downsizing Services: Retirement Guide appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Dozens of Lebanese rioters threw stones at IDF troops on Israels northern border on Friday afternoon and tried to vandalize the security barrier. Lebanese Army soldiers stood guard near the rioters and aimed RPGs at IDF soldiers on the other side of the border. IDF soldiers fired tear gas in response and engaged in other riot dispersal means in order to disperse the crowd. The IDF spokesperson later issued a statement saying that the IDF will not allow any attempt to violate the sovereignty of the State of Israel. The Defense Ministry has been rebuilding the security barrier on Israels northern border since 2018 and in recent years, there have been numerous conflicts between the IDF and the Lebanese army over the latters claim of Israeli incursions into its territory. On Wednesday, a Lebanese man tried to establish sovereignty and stop an Israeli bulldozer working on the border by standing in front of it. The bulldozer continued until the man was stuck in the dirt, at which point U.N. peacekeepers intervened to extricate him. Videos of the incident were widely circulated on Israeli social media. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the Israeli governments plan for judicial reform after she was informed that one of the plans architects, Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman, was in the audience, Ynet reported. The report cited a US source that Rothman was not on the original guest list for the event at the Israeli embassy in Washington celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. Following the incident, the embassy issued a statement saying: Shortly before the event, the Foreign Ministry informed us that MK Rothman contacted them and informed them of his intention to come to Washington and requested to be invited to the embassy event. We regret that the public focus on this event, which brought great honor to the State of Israel, is centered around the question of the presence of Member of Knesset Rothman. The Embassy of Israel is not a political entity and requests not to be drawn into political discussions. It represents the State of Israel with dignity and respects the elected officials of the State of Israel accordingly. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen last week excoriated Harris for her statement, saying that he doesnt believe that the vice-president read a single clause of the legislation. I can tell you that if you ask her what actually bothers her about the reform, she wont be able to answer you, he said. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Likud MK Nissim Vaturi on Sunday morning excoriated former prime minister Ehud Barak for his call for a civil rebellion at a protest on Motzei Shabbos. In an interview with Radio Tzafon 104.5FM, Vaturi said: In other countries, he would be a candidate for hanging. But Israel is a democratic country so he should go to prison for at least 20 years. Vaturi also posted a photo of Barak entering the home of convicted felon Jeffery Epstein: 30 . , . . pic.twitter.com/0SaCyh96KN Nissim Vaturi (@nissimv) June 11, 2023 The Likud party issued a harsh statement against Barak, mentioning his association with Jeffery Epstein: Baraks severe words of incitement wont help his actions in Epsteins closed rooms to be forgottenthis is the man who purports to be the moral beacon of the left. Journalist Berale Crombie commented that when Shai Malka [a former right-wing politician] called to block the streets prior to the Disengagement from Gaza, he was arrested. How is it that Ehud Barak who called for civil disobedience hasnt even been summoned for questioning? he questioned. And how is it that Brothers in Arms, who call for blocking the streets, dont even receive a police warning? Likud activist Boris Aplichuk wrote: As long as Barak walks around a free man its proof that the law enforcement system is complicit in the sedition led by corrupt tycoons. The police leadership is either complicit, or scared. The silence of the Attorney-General and State Prosecutor places them in the ranks of coup conspirators. The Israeli government will have to make difficult decisions because it is simply left with no choice. One social media user posted a video of Barak inciting against Netanyahu and claiming the destruction of democracy in 2019 long before the judicial reform plan was even on the table. We will have to stand in the streets, a million people, a million citizens, Barak said at the time. I promise you to be among them and simply stop the destruction of democracy with our bodies. Watch Barak speaking at the protest in Haifa: Barak also called for a civil rebellion in an interview with Channel 12 News: Barak calling for civil rebellion in 2019: (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) WEC Energy Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. The company operates through six segments: Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate and Other. It generates and distributes electricity from coal, natural gas, and oil, as well as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and biomass sources; provides electric transmission services; offers retail natural gas distribution services; transports natural gas; and generates, distributes, and sells steam. As of December 31, 2022, it operated approximately 35,600 miles of overhead distribution lines and 36,100 miles of underground distribution cables, as well as 430 electric distribution substations and 514,800 line transformers; 52,000 miles of natural gas distribution mains; 1,100 miles of natural gas transmission mains; 2.4 million natural gas lateral services; 500 natural gas distribution and transmission gate stations; and 68.2 billion cubic feet of working gas capacities in underground natural gas storage fields. The company was formerly known as Wisconsin Energy Corporation and changed its name to WEC Energy Group, Inc. in June 2015. WEC Energy Group, Inc. was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But in contrast you can make much more than 100% if the company does well. For example, the EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) share price has soared 121% in the last three years. How nice for those who held the stock! We note the stock price is up 3.9% in the last seven days. After a strong gain in the past week, it's worth seeing if longer term returns have been driven by improving fundamentals. Check out our latest analysis for EOG Resources While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During three years of share price growth, EOG Resources achieved compound earnings per share growth of 64% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 30% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 7.24. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. This free interactive report on EOG Resources' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, EOG Resources' TSR for the last 3 years was 162%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 10% in the last year, EOG Resources shareholders lost 13% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 4%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand EOG Resources better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for EOG Resources (1 is a bit unpleasant) that you should be aware of. EOG Resources is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Taiwans air force scrambled into action on Sunday after spotting 10 Chinese warplanes crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as the islands defence ministry said four Chinese warships also carried out combat patrols. This is the second time in less than a week that Taiwan has reported renewed Chinese military activity, after 37 Chinese military aircraft on Thursday flew into the islands air defence zone, some of which then flew into the western Pacific. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has over the past three years regularly flown its air force into the skies near the island, though not into Taiwans territorial air space. In a short statement, Taiwans defence ministry said that as of 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Sunday it had detected 24 Chinese air force planes, including J-10, J-11, J-16 and Su-30 fighters, as well as H-6 bombers. It did not specify where the aircraft flew but said 10 had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two sides and had previously served as an unofficial barrier. China says it does not recognise that and has been routinely crossing it since last year. Four Chinese naval ships were also engaged in joint combat readiness patrols, the ministry added, without giving details. Taiwan sent up its own fighters and deployed ships and land-based missile systems to keep watch, it said, using typical wording for how it responds to such Chinese activities. Chinas defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has not commented on Thursdays flights. China has previously said such missions are to protect the countrys sovereignty and aimed at collusion between Taiwan and the United States, the islands most important international backer and arms seller. In April, China held war games around Taiwan following a trip to the United States by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwans government rejects Chinas sovereignty claims and says only the islands people can decide their future. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan, which is gearing up for presidential and parliamentary elections in January, under its control. In a Sunday video address to supporters on the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands close to the Chinese coast, Taiwans Vice President William Lai said he would do his best to stabilise the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait if he wins the presidency, his campaign office said. Lai is running as the ruling Democratic Progressive Partys candidate. Tsai cannot run again due to term limits. Tsai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed as Beijing views her and her party as separatists. Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, which manages the unofficial relationship between Washington and Taipei, visited Taiwan last week and meet all three presidential candidates. SOURCE: REUTERS These nicer community news links didn't really fit anywhere else on the blog . . . So this post seems like the proper place to share neighborhood items with local readers. Check TKC news gathering . . . Veterans hike 100 miles to raise awareness on post-traumatic stress disorder KANSAS CITY, Mo - Veterans from across the nation are taking steps to educate the public about post-traumatic stress disorder through a 100-mile hike from Whiteman Air Force Base, to Fort Leavenworth. "This is not an easy task," said Chad Prichard, an Army veteran. "And 100 miles is no joke. Park Hill considers eliminating bus routes for some students KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Park Hill School District is the latest in the metro to propose big changes as it struggles to find enough bus drivers for next school year. The school board heard an update on the process during a meeting Thursday evening. Kansas City can't fix homelessness with just a free room. Here's a proactive solution | Opinion It isn't safe to live on the street. Not a matter of debate. It is clearly dangerous and often deadly. Missouri's new law against camping on public property is having an impact on homeless encampments. But unfortunately, it means people who were visibly homeless in parks and highway rights-of-way are now moving where they aren't readily seen. CEO, president of non-profit steps down after 10 years of advocating for Latino communities Irene Caudillo has spent the last decade working to tap into the Latino community in Kansas as president and CEO of El Centro, a not-for-profit organization that has operated in Johnson and Wyandotte counties for 46 years. Her focus in that time: expanding the organization with partnerships and getting it more connected to the community. Teacher remembers Amtrak derailment, shares how incident sparked interest in emergency training OLATHE, Kan. - June 27, 2022, marks one year after a deadly train derailment in Mendon, Missouri. Four people died and dozens of others were injured after an Amtrak train hit a dump truck that was stopped on a railroad crossing. 'A big influence': Kansas City musician and teacher Armond Nelson Sr. dies at 63 Armond Nelson Sr. spent his life touching the lives of those around him with music. Whether he was jamming out to funk music, playing in the church band or educating students, he used his passion to reach people, his son Armond Nelson Jr. said this week. Summer theater performances take center stage in the southland By Kady Cramer June Steel Magnolias - Belton's Main Street Theater, 510 Main St., presents a comedy-drama about the bond between a group of Southern women in Steel Magnolias. June 2 - 18 on weekends.$17 adults, $15 seniors (65+), youth and students. 816-406-9422 www.mainstreettheaterbelton.com You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown - Belton's Memorial Park, 988... Meal program feeds Kansas City kids for the summer Many local families are struggling as summer break begins. The end of school means the end of free and reduced lunches for kids, many of whom live in food deserts. We go to a local Boys & Girls Club to see how organizers are providing an oasis of sorts, while keeping kids happy and healthy. 10-year-old girl collecting Squishmallows for Children's Mercy patients OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - A Johnson County 10-year-old is calling on her community to bring comfort to kids at Children's Mercy Hospital. Abby Stilley got out of the hospital on her 10th birthday. Now, she wants to give a gift to the kids who are still inside and provide comfort during their battles. Creature Feature: Frank is a tank, ready to storm the ranks for food and snuggles Frank the cat. // Courtesy Scott Poore Frank Frank is a 2-year-old domestic shorthaired cat available for adoption. He is a very happy-go-lucky guy and loves to make a good impression on everyone he meets. Frank is quite the chatterbox and never seems to run out of jokes. Developing . . . Greece's Independent Authority for Public Revenue - known in Greece as AADE - is preparing to step up the war on tax evasion this summer by enlisting the aid of a new digital "weapon" dubbed "ELEGXOSLive", in hopes of boosting tax compliance on Greek islands and other tourist areas, ANA reports. The digital app will allow on-the-spot access to the financial profiles and archived information of the businesses being inspected and also permits searches and cross-checks of financial data. The finance ministry and AADE estimate that the tourism industry can significantly boost tax revenues through the disclosure of undeclared income, noting that a part of the hike in VAT revenue the previous year was due to extensive inspections. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Hi Stratford, Have been to Barbados 6 times and going again in June. We stayed at Mango Bay and didn't like it. If you appreciate good food, why not choose a hotel and is not all inclusive. There are so many great restaurants in Barbados. What about Little Arches across the street from Miami Enterprise Beach. Great food there-Canadian chef and owner. Have fun! Katherine-Burlington, Ontario The Prime Minister says that the offer by the U.S. to assist the region and this country in Chottur arrived at Makkah after travelling more than 8,600 kilometers. He travelled by foot for his pilgrimage via India, Pakistan, Iran, and Kuwait. The pilgrim's visa was giving him trouble. Although the High Court had dismissed his application, he was ultimately successful after challenging it in the Supreme Court. Chottur entered Saudi Arabia in the second week of May of this year via Kuwait. He has now travelled on foot for barely nine days from Madinah to Makkah. Moldova will provide Ukraine with aid in the amount of 4.2 million lei (over $236,000) to eliminate the environmental and humanitarian consequences of the Kakhovka HPP destruction. Thats according to NewsMaker, Ukrinform reports. "The batch of humanitarian aid includes water pumping stations, inflatable boats, food, and equipment needed to mitigate flooding effects," the report said. The corresponding decision was taken by the National Emergency Situations Commission of Moldova. The equipment will be provided from the reserves of the General Inspectorate of Emergency Situations and the Agency for Material Reserves. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on the night of June 6, Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam. The plant cannot be restored, according to the operator. In Kherson region, rescue operations and evacuation of the population from flooded areas are ongoing. Japan has announced it will provide $5 million to Ukraine through international organizations for urgent aid to victims of flooding caused by the Russian forces blowing up the Kakhovka HPP dam. Also, immediate help is expected from Belgium to support those affected by the flood. The country engaged several federal ministries and departments to this end. The Office of the Ukrainian President discussed with the delegation of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday Russia's evasion of international sanctions. Thats according to the Offices press service, Ukrinform reports. On the instructions of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Presidential Office, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Roman Mashovets met with a delegation from the United Arab Emirates headed by Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates, Head of the Office of International Affairs under the President of the UAE Mariam Almheiri. Mashovets briefed the Emirati side on the situation on the frontline and the overall security situation in Ukraine, in particular on the continuation of missile and Iranian drone strikes throughout the country. Almheiri and other members of the delegation were also briefed on the consequences of the Russian occupiers' blowing up of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam. The UAE delegation was informed about the needs of the Ukrainian energy system to recover from Russian missile attacks and prepare for the fall and winter period. The Ukrainian side also emphasized that the military-industrial complex of the aggressor state continues to produce high-precision munitions, which is facilitated by the fact that the international sanctions imposed do not work as they should. They need to be extended to all production capabilities of the Russian military-industrial complex, in particular, the sale of dual-use products to Russia. Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Vladyslav Vlasiuk shared with the Emirati side information on Russia's circumvention of international sanctions, which is a concern for Ukraine. In particular, it concerns companies that supply microelectronics to Russia, facilitate financial transactions, and transport oil in violation of price restrictions. "Helping Russia avoid sanctions will not help restore peace. Bypassing sanctions means putting yourself at risk, and at least 10 companies from the UAE have already been subject to sanctions because of this. We urge you to examine the information we are concerned about and take fair measures," Vlasiuk said. Read also: Canada sanctions those involved in destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, reported on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the human rights situation as a result of Russian aggression. He stressed that a large number of Ukrainians were forced to flee country, also noting a large number of internally displaced persons. According to him, the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied territories, including Crimea, is very complicated, so only the liberation of all Ukrainian territories will protect the people living there. Lubinets emphasized that today there are thousands of illegally imprisoned Ukrainian civilians in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories, and asked the UAE to assist in finding ways and effective mechanisms for their release. Dmytro Usov with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, spoke of the POW swap and the problems that arise in this regard due to the position of the aggressor state. He also expressed gratitude to the UAE for their contribution to certain exchange efforts. As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the consequences of Russian environmental crimes in Ukraine with the Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates, Head of the Office of International Affairs under the President of the UAE, Mariam Almheiri. A peace mission consisting of leaders from six African nations intends to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow in an effort to end the war. President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio said this in an interview with Bloomberg, Ukrinform reports. It is noted that leaders from Zambia, Senegal, Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Africa will visit Kyiv and Moscow later this month and present their proposals to end the war. Were trying again with the hope that well be able to get the side of President Putin, or both sides, to really bring this war to an end, Bio said. According to him, the war between Russia and Ukraine caused many economic problems for his country and other African states. Its affecting us very seriously because were a net importer. Almost all of our essential commodities and food items we get them from outside, the President of Sierra Leone said. Bloomberg adds that Russia and Ukraine are key suppliers of wheat and fertilizer to the West African nation, and the war has driven up the cost of importing those commodities. Ukraine and the multiple international crisis has weakened our states in the sense that the economic pressures that are here, the cost of living crisis, its an easy excuse for the opposition, Bio said. However, it is not clear what the leaders from six African nations will propose to end the war. Photo: Hannah McKay/Pool/Getty Images The billionaire philanthropist George Soros has chosen his son, Alex, as his successor - Olivier Hoslet/EPA The billionaire philanthropist George Soros has handed over the leadership of his $25bn empire to his 37-year-old son. Alexander Soros has been elected chairman of the Open Society Foundations, making him the head of one of the wealthiest philanthropic institutions in the world. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Alex Soros signalled that the OSF would play a significant role in the upcoming 2024 American presidential election. He described himself as more political than his father and that he was worried about the possibility that Donald Trump could return to the White House. Alex added: As much as I would love to get money out of politics, as long as the other side is doing it, we will have to do it, too. George Soros, 92, has been one of the US Democratic Partys biggest political donors. Alex Soros has recently met with officials from the Biden administration, as well as Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. Alexs appointment was a surprise move. In the past, George Soros had said he did not want his foundation to be passed on to one of his children as a matter of principle. But he has changed his tune. George Soros told the WSJ: Hes earned it. For a long time, many commentators had expected that Alexs older half-brother, Jonathan Soros, was the natural successor, but he left the Soros investment business after relations reportedly soured with his father. Alex is also president of Democracy PAC, Soros political campaign finance group, and is the sole family member on Soros Fund Managements investment committee, which oversees the funding for both the OSF and the Soros family. The bulk of the funds $25bn will be directed to OSF in the years ahead. The OSF gives around $1.5bn a year to human rights groups, educational institutions, and towards building democracies. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. You may think that with a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 6.9x Cyclopharm Limited (ASX:CYC) is a stock to avoid completely, seeing as almost half of all the Medical Equipment companies in Australia have P/S ratios under 4.6x and even P/S lower than 1.7x aren't out of the ordinary. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so lofty. Check out our latest analysis for Cyclopharm How Has Cyclopharm Performed Recently? Cyclopharm certainly has been doing a good job lately as it's been growing revenue more than most other companies. It seems the market expects this form will continue into the future, hence the elevated P/S ratio. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock. Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Cyclopharm will help you uncover what's on the horizon. Do Revenue Forecasts Match The High P/S Ratio? Cyclopharm's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the industry. If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 24%. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 46% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been superb for the company. Shifting to the future, estimates from the three analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 23% per year over the next three years. That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 10% per annum growth forecast for the broader industry. With this information, we can see why Cyclopharm is trading at such a high P/S compared to the industry. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future. The Key Takeaway While the price-to-sales ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of revenue expectations. Our look into Cyclopharm shows that its P/S ratio remains high on the merit of its strong future revenues. It appears that shareholders are confident in the company's future revenues, which is propping up the P/S. It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances. A lot of potential risks can sit within a company's balance sheet. Our free balance sheet analysis for Cyclopharm with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue. Of course, profitable companies with a history of great earnings growth are generally safer bets. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here This growing Idaho city needs more workforce housing. Over 500 new homes approved Hundreds of homes and apartments that promise to be at market rate will soon be developed in Caldwell, after the City Council unanimously approved the housing projects. The housing proposals total 551 new homes and came from two developers, one who has plans for single-family homes and townhouses and the other for apartment units. (This project) provides needed housing, said Justin Fishburn, a local developer who proposed the apartment complex. It does not create additional sprawl and it helps preserve the agriculture and water in our rural areas. Lavender Crossing adds market rate apartments Local mother-and-son developers, Gennie and Justin Fishburn, plan to build 272 apartments in south Caldwell near Laster Lane and Interstate 84. Their apartment project, called Lavender Crossing, includes 12 apartment buildings with 24 apartment units in each. It also includes a clubhouse, community kitchen and lounge and a gym. Lavender Crossing is surrounded by recent residential development, including Alante Homes, which includes 419 patio homes and townhouses. Elizabeth Koeckeritz, an attorney with Givens Pursely who represented the Fishburns, said Lavender Crossing would fit in with Caldwells growth plan and with the development in the area. It really does help this middle-market niche and it does add additional housing to Caldwell, which as you know is rapidly growing and developing, Koeckeritz said during the meeting. The Fishburns plan to rent the apartments at market rate. According to Zumper.com, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Caldwell is $1,075. Lavender Crossing includes six one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units in each of the 12 buildings. A rendering of one of the 12 buildings that would make up the Lavender Crossing. The apartment project adds 272 apartments to the city of Caldwell. Justin Fishburn said Caldwell needs more mid-level housing. He told the council he spoke with Joey Palmer, Vallivue School District director of federal and state programs, who said the district has lost qualified teachers in recent years because they cant afford or find local housing. Lavender Crossing will fulfill the need for situations such as this, Fishburn said. The Fishburns will donate money to the district, but even so, Palmer wrote a letter to the council opposing the development. Adding the Lavender Crossing subdivision without a bond approved by the community will only continue to make the effort to provide our students a quality education even more challenging, Palmer wrote. His letter was authored before the Vallivue bond passed in Tuesdays election. Fishburn said he plans to donate money to the district to help build a school, but the application did not say how much the donation is. Traverse Creek adds townhouses, patio and single-family homes Corey Barton, local Idaho developer, will build 279 homes to the northwest corner of Marble Front and Wells roads in east Caldwell. The project, called Traverse Creek, includes 148 single-family homes, 14 townhouses and 117 patio homes, which are single-level homes attached by patio. The project would be on 84.5 acres, which has a creek and the Noble Drain running through it. Bonnie Layton, a senior planner with NV5, represented Barton in the meeting. She said Traverse Creek would be close to Caldwells North Ranch Business Park, 115-acre mixed-used development with office, retail and industrial spaces, built by Tommy Ahlquist, the CEO of local development company Ball Ventures Ahlquist. Traverse Creek, along with Lavender Crossing, hope to be homes for people who work in the area, many of whom have been priced out of larger homes in Caldwell. This makes it an easy commute. People could even walk to work, Layton told the council. Barton expects to build the subdivision in six phases, with the first phase planned to start next summer. The Department of Labor said there are almost 1,300 jobs available within the city of Caldwell, Layton said. We need those rooftops to help complement and have a place for those employees to live. Avimor is back on the Eagle City Council agenda. Homeowners try to block decision Bench townhomes, North End booze and pho, Meridian drive-thru soda. All coming near you He's out there at Sewell Park in San Marcos, taking in the sun, the energy and the calm pres Read moreThe Sun God: Behind the man, myth, legend The Department of Housing and Residential Life plans to build new dorms to accommodate the growing number of students on Texas States campus. Bogot, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2023 ) :Exhausted but happy, four Indigenous children who had been missing for more than a month in the Colombian Amazon rainforest were reunited with their relatives Saturday, in a happy ending to a nerve-racking saga that gripped the nation. The siblings, who had been wandering alone in the jungle after surviving a small plane crash, were discovered after an intense rescue operation involving sniffer dogs, helicopters and aircraft. Looking thin and frail, the children were transported by army medical plane to a military hospital in Bogota, according to AFP journalists at the scene. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez, who visited them in the hospital with President Gustavo Petro, said they are recovering, but cannot yet eat solid food. The youngest two children, now five and one, spent their birthdays in the jungle, as Lesly, the oldest at just 13 years old, guided them through the ordeal. "It is thanks to her, her value and her leadership, that the three others were able to survive, with her care, her knowledge of the jungle," Velasquez said. General Pedro Sanchez, who led the search operation, credited Indigenous people involved in the rescue effort with finding the children. "We found the children: miracle, miracle, miracle!" he told reporters. - 'A joy for the whole country' - Members of the Huitoto Indigenous group, the children -- aged 13, nine, five and one -- had been lost in the jungle since May 1, when the Cessna 206 in which they were traveling crashed. The pilot had reported engine problems only minutes after taking off from a deep Amazon area known as Araracuara on the 350-kilometer (217-mile) journey to the town of San Jose del Guaviare. The bodies of the pilot, the children's mother and a local Indigenous leader were all found at the crash site, where the plane sat almost vertical in the trees. Officials said the group had been fleeing threats from members of an armed group. "They are happy to see the family... they have all their senses," the children's grandfather, Fidencio Valencia, told reporters shortly after visiting them. "They are children of the bush," Valencia said, adding that they know how to survive in the jungle. They "survived at first by eating a little flour (which was on board the plane), then seeds," he said. At the request of their father, General Sanchez will be made the youngest child's godfather. "For me, it is an honor," the visibly moved officer told lcoal television, placing his hand on his heart. A massive search involving 160 soldiers and 70 Indigenous people with intimate knowledge of the jungle was launched after the crash, garnering global attention. Army chief Helder Giraldo said rescuers had covered over 2,600 kilometers (1650 miles) in total to locate the children. "Something that seemed impossible was achieved," Giraldo said on Twitter. Petro posted a photo on Twitter showing several adults, some dressed in military fatigues, tending to the children as they sat on tarps in the jungle. One rescuer held a bottle to the mouth of the smallest child, whom he held in his arms. He heralded the success as a "meeting of Indigenous and military knowledge" that had demonstrated a "different path towards a new Colombia." - Warrior spirit - The area is home to jaguars, snakes and other predators, as well as armed drug smuggling groups, but clues such as footprints, a diaper, and half-eaten fruit led authorities to believe they were on the right track. Worried that the children would continue wandering and become ever more difficult to locate, the air force dumped 10,000 flyers into the forest with instructions in Spanish and the children's own Indigenous language, telling them to stay put. The leaflets also included survival tips, and the military dropped food parcels and bottled water. Rescuers had also been broadcasting a message recorded by the children's grandmother, urging them not to move. According to the military, rescuers found the children about five kilometers (three miles) west of the crash site. The children's grandmother Fatima Valencia said 13-year-old Lesly kept her younger siblings safe with her "warrior" spirit. But the search is not completely over: the army announced Saturday it would continue looking for Wilson, a rescue dog that went missing during the search. "No one is left behind," the army said in a tweet containing a video of the six-year-old Belgian Shepherd Malinois. The dog was key to finding some of the items left behind by the children in the jungle, and may have at one point -- while straying from the Army -- tagged along with the kids. They recounted a dog following them, but it's unclear if it was Wilson. News of the children's rescue came as Petro returned home from Cuba, where he signed a six-month truce with Colombia's last active guerrilla group, the ELN. On Friday, he praised "the effective coordination between the military and the Indigenous people" during the search, saying it was an "example of an alliance for the country to follow." BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2023 ) --:State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras in Beijing with visiting Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina on Sunday. Extending warm congratulations on the opening of the Honduran embassy in Beijing, Qin said the establishment of diplomatic ties on the basis of the one-China principle has opened a new era of China-Honduras relations. Noting that bilateral relations got off to a strong start over the past two months, Qin said that the rapid development of bilateral relations has fully proved that adherence to the one-China principle is recognized by the international community, reflects the trend of the times and the aspiration of the people, and serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples. Echoing Qin's remarks, Reina said that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China opens a new era in Honduras' relations with the world and offers a chance for Honduras to become a great and prosperous country Bogot, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2023 ) :Lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon, four Indigenous children survived eating seeds, roots and plants they knew were edible thanks to their upbringing. And it was in part down to the local knowledge of Indigenous adults involved in the search alongside Colombian troops that they were ultimately found alive. "The survival of the children is a sign of the knowledge and relationship with the natural environment that is taught starting in the mother's womb," according to the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (OPIAC). The four siblings survived a small plane crash on May 1 that took the lives of the pilot, their mother and a third adult. The family of the children clung to hope that the siblings' familiarity with the jungle would see them through. The "children of the bush," as their grandfather called them, survived eating yucca flour that was aboard the doomed plane, and scavenging from relief parcels dropped by search helicopters. But they also ate seeds, fruits, roots and plants that they identified as edible from their upbringing in the Amazon region, Luis Acosta of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), told AFP. - 'Spiritual force' - Acosta, who took part in search operations, said the children were imbued with "spiritual force." That is a shared perception among Indigenous leaders, and Acosta noted that a guardian was to be posted outside the military hospital where doctors were attending to the children to help accompany them "spiritually." "We have a particular connection to nature," Javier Betancourt, another ONIC leader, told AFP. "The world needs this kind of special relation with nature, to favor those like the Indigenous who live in the jungle and take care of it." During the search, soldiers worked side by side with Indigenous trackers for 20 days. President Gustavo Petro praised what he called a "meeting of Indigenous and military knowledge" that he said showed respect for the jungle. Army helicopters broadcast recordings of the childrens' grandmother telling them in the Indigenous Huitoto language to stay put in one spot until rescuers reached them. "It was President Petro who brought us together," Acosta told local media, referring to soldiers and Indigenous experts. "In an initial meeting, eight days before our search began, the president told us we needed to go with the army because the army couldn't do it alone," he added. - A winning combo - More than 80 volunteers from Indigenous territories in the departments of Caqueta, Putumayo, Meta and Amazonas joined around 100 soldiers in what was dubbed "Operation Hope." It was an unusual union of forces. In many of Colombia's Indigenous territories, armed outlaw groups roam and easily coerce native peoples, who protect their lands with rudimentary weapons. Relations between Indigenous communities and the armed forces are also strained. But in the Guaviare department, rescuers from separate groups set their differences aside to work together. While soldiers planned operational details, native searchers held rituals to communicate with jungle "spirits," using mambe, a paste made of coca leaf and ash, as well as chirrinchi, a fermented drink. Using machetes, rescuers felled trees and marked them with spray paint to guide the children. Indigenous medicinal knowledge was also used to adapt to the difficult jungle conditions, treating scratches, splinters, insect bites, exhaustion and physical pain. The indigenous people have "worked in the rain, in storms and in many difficult situations, but always with the hope and spiritual faith that (the children) could be found," Acosta said. It all led to the discovery of the siblings by an Indigenous tracker in an area that hadn't yet been explored. (@FahadShabbir) Hong Kong, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2023 ) :Bent over a low bench in his cluttered Hong Kong workshop, dark-framed glasses perched on his nose, Lui Ming deftly assembles a bamboo steamer, a utensil essential to Cantonese cooking. It's a craft the 93-year-old has been perfecting for seven decades, and steamers like his are an indispensable part of yum cha, the Cantonese brunch involving tea and dim sum -- perhaps the most prized culinary ritual in the city. The circular bamboo baskets are ferried in small trolleys around yum cha restaurants, filled with bite-sized dumplings and other delicacies. "My only hobbies are yum cha and Cantonese opera," Lui tells AFP while twisting thin strips of bamboo to build the single most important dim sum-making tool. "Those are the joys of my life." Hong Kong is equally acclaimed for its fine dining restaurants and its street-side eateries, and the enduring use of handwoven steamers in both is part of a set of unique food traditions that have shaped its culinary landscape for generations. As in many modern metropoles, the flow of commerce in the finance hub brings constant change, but Hong Kong's cuisine remains wedded to a network of traditions that residents view as staunch markers of local identity. "Bamboo steamers absorb moisture and there won't be condensation (on the lid)," Lui explains, adding that metal or plastic versions would never pass as part of an authentic yum cha experience in Hong Kong. But he does add steel around the bamboo rim to make his steamers more durable and improve insulation, an innovation he says he pioneered. "For steaming buns, there is no substitute." - Hong Kong institutions - Liu's shop is located on Shanghai Street, a historic stretch of road in Hong Kong's Kowloon district that is a treasure trove of kitchenware and utensils. One block north is Chan Chi Kee Cutlery -- a family-run Hong Kong institution more than 100 years old. Retired craftsman Mr. Chan, who is part of the clan that runs the shop and is now in his 80s, spends much of his time there. He started forging cleavers when he was around 15 years old as part of the already-established family business. "I was given a piece of metal and shaped it into a knife," he says, giving only his surname. "It was on the mountainside in the squatter huts. .. But eventually, there was not enough space -- they built housing there." Today, Chinese chefs from around the world visit Chan Chi Kee's storefront on Shanghai Street to buy handcrafted cleavers and works. "At least 80 percent of Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong use our knives," Chan tells AFP. But rising property prices and the city's shift away from manufacturing has pushed the bulk of production for the knives, woks and steamers to Guangzhou, China -- though a small select stock is still "Made in Hong Kong". Increased wages have also contributed to soaring costs, says Wong Yan-wai, a dried seafood trader for over three decades. "Most dried seafood is not processed in Hong Kong because of the high cost," Wong, 53, tells AFP. The fresh seafood is caught across the world and dried on-site -- in South Africa, Japan, Brazil and Australia -- before being shipped to Wong's shop on Des Voeux Road. More colloquially known as "Dried Seafood Street", it and its neighbouring side streets are home to nearly 200 vendors hawking dried scallops, bird's nest, abalone, sea cucumber and more. Pulling out a dried fish bladder from an ornate gold box, Wong says it is priced at 168,000 Hong Kong Dollars ($21,500) due to its age and size. "For businesses that do well, they can make 800 million to a billion Hong Kong dollars a year in revenue." - 'Modernise Cantonese food' - Ten minutes away, ArChan Chan deftly flips dried shrimp in a carbon steel Chan Chi Kee wok to make her version of the classic Cantonese dish known as stir-fry king. The 37-year-old chef at Ho Lee Fook, located in the glitzy Central district, is one of the city's most celebrated women chefs and among a handful of young innovators redefining Cantonese food. "One of the biggest challenges I have is how to modernise Cantonese food," ArChan says. The answer lies in sourcing quality ingredients while making small tweaks to dishes' flavour profiles, such as adding fermented aged garlic soy to a classic razor clam dish. In her sleek kitchen, Archan lifts the lid of a bamboo steamer to unveil three glistening vegetable dumplings, ready to be served. "There is such a big wealth of knowledge," she tells AFP. "I want to be able to learn and absorb as much as possible and just to pass it on." (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2023 ) :Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that the enhanced bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye through joint investment and ventures would prove 'a win win' situation for the both countries. In an interview with Haber Global, a Turkish tv channel, the prime minister highlighted that a target of bilateral trade to the tune of $5 billion, in the next three years, between the two countries was very much achievable. The prime minister said that the areas of solar and hydro power energy in Pakistan possessed huge potential and the Turkish investors could avail of this opportunity. "I want to assure as Prime Minister of Pakistan to do everything to facilitate Turkish investors. There is great scope between the two countries to make this wonderful journey more successful," he added. The prime minister opined that respective sectors of Turkiye had potential in these areas of Pakistan and it could play its role. Our labour was more skilled and if they have Turkish investment, it would be a well combination, thus opening vistas of opportunities for joint ventures, he added. The prime minister, to another query, replied that the railroad network between Pakistan, Iran and Turkiye could play a very important role which required improvisation. It would definitely result in reduction of the cost of transportation and making their production of goods very compatible in the global markets, he said, adding that his aim was make this network more efficient. Felicitating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his reelection, the prime minister said that the president had proved himself as an established statesman and politician. The prime minister said that he was looking forward to working closely with president Erdogan to further cement their bilateral relations and trade and investment ties. Comparing Pakistan and Turkiye as 'one soul two hearts' he said the relations between the two countries dated back to centuries. Turkiye had always supported Pakistan in difficult times, ie; during floods and quakes, it had gone an extra mile to support them, he added. Similarly, different governments of Pakistan irrespective of the political party in power, they always supported their Turkish brothers and sisters. When it came to Turkiye, all the political parties were one. "This is the journey we have adopted and hope to achieve our mission through hard work and sincerity of purpose," he stressed. The prime minister said that these personal bonds of brothers and friends always helped them to come through every thick and thin. The prime minister said that Pakistan and Turkiye enjoyed strong strategic partnership as they had also entered into joint ventures over ship making industry, adding while there were other areas in which both brotherly countries had shared interests. He reaffirmed support to Turkiye's territorial solidarity and integrity and said that Turkiye had always supported Pakistan on the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. \more (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th June, 2023) The four children rescued after spending 40 days in the jungle after a plane crash in Colombia have been taken to a military hospital in Bogota and are in good health now, doctor of the hospital Carlos Arango said. On Friday, Colombian media reported the siblings, aged 13, 9, 4 and 1, who were passengers of the Cessna 206 plane that crashed in May, were found alive by soldiers and members of indigenous tribes. The Tiempo newspaper reported, citing military sources, the children were dehydrated and had suffered from insect bites. "After an initial check of girl Lesly and her three younger brothers, we found that they are ... in acceptable clinical condition, despite the situation experienced in the last 40 days," Arango was quoted as saying by Colombian news agency EFE on Saturday. Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his wife visited the children in the hospital, according to the president's office. A Cessna 206 aircraft that was flying from Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare in the department of Caqueta in the south of the country reported an engine failure and sounded the alarm on May 1. It was discovered after more than 370 hours of searching. The pilot's body was on board, but the six passengers, four of them minors, were not in the cabin or in the vicinity of the plane. Tiempo reported that the two bodies found later belonged to co-pilot Herman Mendoza and passenger Magdalena Mukutui, mother of the four children. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th June, 2023) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted the proposal of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against 178 individuals, mainly Russian nationals. The relevant decree was published on the website of Zelenskyy's office on Sunday. The decree number 321/2023 "On the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated June 11, 2023 'On the application and amendment of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)'" imposed sanctions against 178 people, including Chairman of the Russian Constitutional Court Valery Zorkin. The sanctions are imposed for a five-year period. They provide for the freeze of assets, limit trade operations, suspend economic and financial obligations, prohibit the transfer of technologies and intellectual property rights, among other restrictions. In late May, Zelenskyy signed a decree imposing sanctions against 51 Russian citizens and 220 organizations from Russia and some European countries. Silhouette of raised arms and clenched fists on the background of the flag of Guinea. The concept of power, conflict. The internet in Guinea is going dark as citizens prepare to take the street for two days of anti-government demonstrations. Many of the most popular social media platforms around, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and Signal, have been restricted across the country since Wednesday May 17, UK-based internet watchdog Netblocks has reported. Citizens should be able to bypass the block by using a VPN service, and recent Google Trends data shows a spike in free VPN and VPN-related search across the region since the disruptions firstbegan. Graph showing the Google search for the terms VPN and Free VPN in the Replic of Guinea between May 17 and 18 The graph show a spike in search for the term VPN and free VPN in the Republic of Guinea between the evening of May 17 (when the outages began) and the following day. (Image credit: Google Trends) Guinea social media blackout "NetBlocks metrics confirm the restriction of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms in Guinea-Conakry on Wednesday 17 May 2023. The measure comes as authorities call in the army to assist police in dealing with protests amid political unrest," wrote NetBlocks. Other Twitter users, including Guinea-based journalists and other experts, confirmed that, along with the social media blackout, also many Guinean news sites cannot be accessed unless using a circumvention tool. "This class of disruption can be worked around using VPN services, which are able to circumvent government internet censorship measures," explains NetBlocks. That's because a VPN is security software able to spoof users' real IP location to trick their ISP to think they're browsing for an entirely different country within seconds. Despite authoritarian governments increasingly cracking down on the use of this tool, this doesn't seem to be the case in the Republic of Guinea so far. Graph showing social media outages in Guinea on May 17, 2023 The data, showing the disruptions in social media platforms across the Republic of Guinea on May 17, 2023, comes from a sample size of 860 measurements from 18 vantage points across the country. (Image credit: NetBlocks) The social media blackout comes as a means to disrupt the two days of peaceful anti-government demonstrations planned for May 17 and 18 across the capital Conakry and some other biggest cities. Internet shutdowns during times of political turmoil have, sadly, become a relevant part of authoritarian governments' playbook. The most recent instances come from Pakistan, Sudan and Iran, where authorities repeatedly clamp down on the internet to silence protesters as well as to restrict the information flow in and out of the country. Previously, on May 11, at least seven people were killed and 32 wounded as anti-riot police officers harshly cracked down on a wave of protests across the region. This hasn't stopped pro-democracy activists from going ahead with further peaceful rallies, though, to voice their discontent against the military junta which seized power in 2021. The Republic of Guinea is, in fact, one of the many West Africa regions where military governments have been taking power following a wave of coup d'etat since 2020. Sally Bilaly, a Conakry-based reporter, confirmed to TechRadar that, at the time of writing, access to social media platforms and several news sites is "still impossible" without using a VPN or other circumvention software. He said: "These are bad signals for our young democracy. The transitional government must allow Guineans to access social media without any restrictions." Pakistan is continuing a months-long crackdown on Afghan refugees living in the country, detaining hundreds of people accused of lacking proper documentation. Taliban leaders have asked Pakistan to stop the process "immediately." Not only has it continued, but Afghan refugees in Pakistan have told VOA that the crackdown in recent days has intensified in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and adjacent areas. "Unfortunately, the detentions have intensified, and it still continues," said Shukria, an Afghan refugee who fled Afghanistan after the Talibans takeover. Shukria, who asked that her full name be withheld, told VOA that the security forces arrested "even those refugees who have UNHCRs documents." She added that some Afghan refugees were arrested at their homes. "In the places where most Afghans live, Pakistani police arrest Afghans from their houses. They know where they are living ... as they were required to register in the nearest police station," she said. Shukria said that "among those arrested include women and children." She added that Afghan refugees are "terrified." "Most of the Afghans do not want to get out of their houses," she said. The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad, in a tweet Thursday, said that Taliban officials at the embassy met with officials of Pakistans Ministry of Interior and had a "serious discussion on the detentions and harassment of Afghans in Pakistan, and it should stop immediately." "The Pakistani side assured the leadership of the [Afghan] embassy of cooperation and added that they only arrest those who do not have legal documents." Abdul Karim Haqqani, a Taliban official in the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad, told VOA on Wednesday that 300-400 Afghans have been detained by Pakistani security forces. He added that they are trying to negotiate with the Pakistani officials for their "immediate release." Asif Durrani, Pakistans newly appointed special envoy to Afghanistan, told VOA that those Afghans "without proper documents, or he or she has overstayed their visa limit, there is a law that they will be detained." Quoting Pakistani officials, local media reported that undocumented Afghans face deportation. But Arsala Khan, an Afghan refugee who works as a laborer at Islamabads Fruit and Vegetable Market, told VOA that he was detained while working even though he had his refugee card on him. "I was halfway loading a car. I was arrested though I showed my smart card to them," said Khan, who said he was later released on bail. The government of Pakistan, with the support of the United Nations, began issuing smart cards to Afghan refugees in Pakistan in April 2021. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated that more than 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees are in Pakistan. The U.N. refugee agency says about 3.7 million Afghans are living in Pakistan. Of about 1.6 million Afghans who fled Afghanistan to neighboring countries after the Taliban seized power in August 2021, about 600,000 went to Pakistan, according to the agency. Devon Cone, senior advocate for women and girls at Refugees International, told VOA that refugees who fled to Pakistan after August 2021 "bring a lot of challenges." Cone said that the Afghans who arrived in Pakistan after the fall of Afghanistan into the hands of the Taliban have "limited opportunities." Cone added that newly arrived Afghan refugees in Pakistan are "running out of money. Most of them sold all their belongings in Afghanistan, and almost two years later, theyve run out of money ... Their visas expired. They cant work in the labor market. They cant access public education." "And finally, they have mental stress and trauma from having had to flee Afghanistan, [and] not being able to go back," Cone said. Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, told VOA that once refugees cross the border, they have "a right to international protection." "All [refugees] have the right to have their asylum cases treated seriously and fairly," he said. This story originated in VOAs Afghan Service. Staying in touch with a loved one after their death is the promise of several start-ups using the powers of artificial intelligence, though not without raising ethical questions. Ryu Sun-yun sits in front of a microphone and a giant screen, where her husband, who died a few months earlier, appears. "Sweetheart, it's me," the man on the screen tells her in a video demo. In tears, she answers him, and a semblance of conversation begins. When Lee Byeong-hwal learned he had terminal cancer, the 76-year-old South Korean asked startup DeepBrain AI to create a digital replica using several hours of video. "We don't create new content" such as sentences that the deceased would have never uttered or at least written and validated during their lifetime, said Joseph Murphy, head of development at DeepBrain AI, about the "Rememory" program. "I'll call it a niche part of our business. It's not a growth area for us," he cautioned. The idea is the same for StoryFile, a company that uses 92-year-old "Star Trek" actor William Shatner to market its site. "Our approach is to capture the wonder of an individual, then use the AI tools," said Stephen Smith, boss of StoryFile, which claims several thousand users of its Life service. Entrepreneur Pratik Desai caused a stir a few months ago when he suggested people save audio or video of "your parents, elders and loved ones," estimating that by "the end of this year" it would be possible to create an autonomous avatar of a deceased person, and that he was working on a project to this end. The message posted on Twitter set off a storm, to the point that, a few days later, he denied being "a ghoul." "This is a very personal topic and I sincerely apologize for hurting people," he said. "It's a very fine ethical area that we're taking with great care," Smith said. After the death of her best friend in a car accident in 2015, Russian engineer Eugenia Kyuda, who emigrated to California, created a "chatbot" named Roman like her dead friend, which was fed with thousands of text messages he had sent to loved ones. Two years later Kyuda launched Replika, which offers personalized conversational robots, among the most sophisticated on the market. But despite the Roman precedent, Replika "is not a platform made to recreate a lost loved one," a spokesperson, said. Somnium Space, based in London, wants to create virtual clones while users are still alive so that they then can exist in a parallel universe after their death. "It's not for everyone," CEO Artur Sychov conceded in a video posted on YouTube about his product, Live Forever, which he is announcing for the end of the year. "Do I want to meet my grandfather who's in AI? I don't know. But those who want that will be able to," he added. Thanks to generative AI, the technology is there to allow avatars of departed loved ones to say things they never said when they were alive. "I think these are philosophical challenges, not technical challenges," said Murphy of DeepBrainAI. "I would say that is a line right now that we do not plan on crossing, but who knows what the future holds?" he added. "I think it can be helpful to interact with an AI version of a person in order to get closure particularly in situations where grief was complicated by abuse or trauma," Candi Cann, a professor at Baylor University who is currently researching this topic in South Korea. Mari Dias, a professor of medical psychology at Johnson & Wales University, has asked many of her bereaved patients about virtual contact with their loved ones. "The most common answer is 'I don't trust AI. I'm afraid it's going to say something I'm not going to accept.' I get the impression that they think they don't have control" over what the avatar does. President Joe Biden on Saturday hosted what he described as the largest-ever White House event celebrating members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, during a month dedicated to celebrating gay pride. This years event comes amid a flurry of laws passed in U.S. states and around the world that critics say hamper the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens. At this years colourful event, Biden stressed his administrations support for the community. You are loved, he said to the crowd gathered on the South Lawn of the White House. You are heard, you are understood and you belong. And as I made clear, including in my State of the Union address, your president, my entire administration has your back. We see you you are made the image of God deserving of dignity, respect and support. Not all Americans agree or think these conversations should be held in public. Earlier this month, protesters in Glendale, California, gathered to air their opposition to teaching LGBTQ+ issues in public schools. The crowd of several hundred shouted at each other and at one point even exchanged punches. Presidential challenger and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed several bills concerning LGBTQ+ rights, including the so-called Dont Say Gay law, which Biden described as hateful. DeSantis says he is protecting conservative values. "But we will, as president, lean in against woke ideology and against the sexualization of children, he told a FOX News journalist on air. The East African nation of Uganda recently passed the so-called kill the gays law, prompting some Ugandans to flee for safety to neighboring Kenya. Biden has described the law as wrong and shameful. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told VOA that the trend of using the law to restrict gay rights makes this years celebration even more important. Let's not forget what we're seeing across the country from statehouses: more than 600 pieces of legislation, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, she said. A few hundred of those are against transgender youth. And so we have not seen that type of anti sentiment, anti against this community in decades. And so we believe that not only does this community need to be celebrated and continue to be celebrated, she added. The faith community has mixed views on gay rights and at times members of the same religious congregation will have opposing views on the issue. Pope Francis this year said homosexuality is not a crime, but that any sexual act outside of marriage is a sin. The Catholic Church does not bless same-sex unions. There are some churches that minister specifically to the LGBTQ+ community. You have to take a look at the overall message of the Bible, which is affirming of the dignity and the humanity of every human being made in the image of God, said the Rev. Lea Brown, who ministers in North Carolina at Metropolitan Community Church, a protestant congregation with outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. That is the context and a God that stands for love, a God that stands for social justice, a God that stands for an end to poverty and economic exploitation of human beings. The White House declared June as Pride Month in 1999. And this Pride Month, across the U.S. members of the LGBTQ+ community say theyre undeterred. We're not going back into the closet, it's not going to happen, Brown said. And so, absolutely, we're going to be out there. We're going to be voting. We're going to be marching and hopefully, I really hope sharing our stories, showing the truth about our lives. President Joe Biden on Saruday hosted what he described as the largest-ever White House event celebrating members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, during a month dedicated to celebrating gay pride. This years event comes amid a rash of laws passed in U.S. states and around the world that critics say hamper the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens. VOAs Anita Powell reports from Washington. Ten Chinese air force planes crossed Taiwan Strait median line, Taiwans National Defense Ministry said Sunday. The strait is generally viewed as the unofficial border between Taiwan and China. The ministry also said four Chinese ships conducted combat patrols Sunday. Taiwan deployed its own aircraft and ships in response to Chinas moves. This marks the second time in less than a week that China has stepped up military activities around Taiwan. On Thursday, Taiwan reported that 37 Chinese military aircraft had flown into Chinas air defense zone. Taiwan is democratically governed, but China claims it as Chinese territory. If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Although, when we looked at BMTC Group (TSE:GBT), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on BMTC Group is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.093 = CA$44m (CA$582m - CA$112m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to January 2023). Therefore, BMTC Group has an ROCE of 9.3%. Even though it's in line with the industry average of 9.5%, it's still a low return by itself. See our latest analysis for BMTC Group roce While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you'd like to look at how BMTC Group has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. What Does the ROCE Trend For BMTC Group Tell Us? In terms of BMTC Group's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 29% over the last five years. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. If this were to continue, you might be looking at a company that is trying to reinvest for growth but is actually losing market share since sales haven't increased. On a related note, BMTC Group has decreased its current liabilities to 19% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Some would claim this reduces the business' efficiency at generating ROCE since it is now funding more of the operations with its own money. In Conclusion... We're a bit apprehensive about BMTC Group because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. In spite of that, the stock has delivered a 13% return to shareholders who held over the last five years. Either way, we aren't huge fans of the current trends and so with that we think you might find better investments elsewhere. BMTC Group does have some risks though, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for BMTC Group that you might be interested in. For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Shelling and gunfire resumed Sunday in the Sudanese capital, witnesses said, after the end of a 24-hour ceasefire that had given civilians rare respite from nearly two months of war. Deadly fighting has raged in the northeast African country since mid-April, when army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), turned on each other. The latest in a series of ceasefire agreements enabled civilians trapped in the capital Khartoum to venture outside and stock up on food and other essential supplies. But only 10 minutes after it ended at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday the capital was rocked again by shelling and clashes, witnesses told AFP. Heavy artillery fire was heard in Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman to the north, and fighting also erupted on Al-Hawa Street, a major artery in the south of the capital, they said. The one-day lull was "like a dream" that evaporated, said Nasreddin Ahmed, a resident of south Khartoum who was awoken by the fighting. Asmaa al-Rih, who lives in the capital's northern suburbs, lamented the "return of terror" with "rockets and shells shaking the walls of houses" once again. Clouds of smoke were also seen billowing for a fifth successive day from the Al-Shajara oil and gas facility near the Yarmouk military plant in Khartoum. Multiple truces have been agreed and broken, including even after the United States had slapped sanctions on both rival generals after the previous attempt collapsed at the end of May. Both Burhan and Daglo amassed considerable wealth during the rule of longtime Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, whose government was subjected to decades of international sanctions before his overthrow in 2019. Egypt toughens visa rules The 24-hour ceasefire that ended on Sunday morning had been announced by US and Saudi mediators who warned that if it failed they may break off mediation efforts. The two warring sides had "agreed to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country," the Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday. "Should the parties fail to observe the 24-hour ceasefire, facilitators will be compelled to consider adjourning" talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah which have been suspended since late last month, it added. The mediators said they "share the frustration of the Sudanese people about the uneven implementation of previous ceasefires." The fighting has gripped Khartoum and the western region of Darfur, killing upwards of 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Nearly two million people have been displaced, including 476,000 who have sought refuge in neighboring countries, the United Nations says. Over 200,000 have entered Egypt, mostly by land. But Cairo on Saturday announced it was toughening requirements for those Sudanese who had previously been exempted from visas -- women of all ages, children under 16 and anyone over 50. Egypt said the new requirements were not designed to "prevent or limit" the entry of Sudanese people, but rather to stop "illegal activities by individuals and groups on the Sudanese side of the border, who forged entry visas" for profit. Environmental groups and aid agencies say a long road awaits Ukraine when it comes to assessing the real impact of its latest environmental catastrophe. An explosion at a vital dam last week flooded swaths of land in southern Ukraine, threatening a host of ecosystems and even Europes largest nuclear power plant. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more. The southern reach of the Dnipro river is likely to return to its banks by June 16 following a vast flood unleashed by the breach of Ukraine's Kakhovka dam this week, a Russian-installed official said Saturday. The flood has inundated towns and villages below the dam, trapping residents and sweeping away entire houses on both sides of the Dnipro, which separates Ukrainian-controlled Kherson province from the southern section that Russian forces control. Vladimir Saldo, who heads the Russian-controlled part, said the water level at Nova Kakhovka, the town adjacent to the dam on the downstream side, had dropped by 3 meters from Tuesday's peak. "The pumping of water and garbage collection from the streets have started," he said. Late on Saturday, Saldo added that almost 7,000 people had now been evacuated from the flooded districts of Nova Kakhovka, including 323 children, while 77 people have been hospitalized. He said preliminary calculations by the Russian hydroelectricity producer RusHydro indicated the Dnipro would return to its usual course below the now-destroyed Kakhovka power station by Friday. Saldo also accused Ukraine of shelling temporary refuges for those displaced by the flood, saying one woman had died as the result of the attacks. He posted a picture of a destroyed building, saying it was a hotel. Reuters could not independently verify the assertion of shelling, which echoes similar allegations made in recent days. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv. Ukraine has also accused Moscow's forces of shelling and killing civilians on flooded territory that it controls. Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the hydroelectric power station and dam from inside the plant, which had been under Russian control since the early weeks of Russias invasion more than a year ago. Moscow has blamed Ukraine. Huge strides in life expectancy worldwide are bringing new challenges that come with increased longevity, the Dutch health minister told VOA this week. If you look at it from a global perspective, weve seen that over the past 25 years, on average we added more than five years of global life expectancy, Ernst Kuipers, Dutch minister of health, welfare and sport, noted during a stop in Washington. Looking at it another way, the former internist continued, It actually means that for more than 20 years in a row, every week we added more than a day to the life expectancy of our world population. That is huge! Kuipers and a Dutch delegation co-led by the countrys minister of economy are in the U.S. to take part in a trade fair focused on international health and life sciences in Boston. The Dutch are known to be the tallest people in the world and rank high in the world longevity list. Kuipers looked at the global picture when discussing the worldwide jump in life expectancy in the past quarter century. While clean water supply, improved hygiene, sanitation conditions, access to vaccines, medicines and medical treatments have contributed to rising life expectancy in low-income countries, breakthroughs in many areas of life sciences have helped prolong life in higher-income countries, he pointed out. For example, new drugs in cancer treatment, newly developed interventions to treat cardiovascular diseases, and also improvement in public health. The good news about longevity aside, the former doctor pointed out some of the challenges that come with longer lifespans. We have an aging population [in the Netherlands], like in most places. People tend to get older, but they live longer usually with certain [health] conditions, with reduced mobility, etc., very similar to here, Kuipers said. Kuipers said his country is also experiencing a shortage in health care personnel, even as the number of working men and women affiliated with the health care industry takes up an increasing percentage of the workforce. If you look at the Netherlands, at the moment, one out of every six people with a job works in health care, he said. That figure includes not just nurses or physicians, but also those serving the health care industry in human resources, finance and legal matters. If the current pattern continues, one in five Dutch jobs will be related to health care by the year 2030, and that number will increase to one in four by the year 2040. Kuipers said this pattern will be very, very difficult, if not impossible, to sustain, simply because were also going to need people in other areas of society. Given that health care is very labor intensive, Kuipers said governments and societies have no choice but to think of ways to meet the demands in a different, yet still effective way, to successfully cope with changing demographics. In addition to the shortage of manpower, increased life expectancy also requires more money to care for the elderly, causing each country and government to think harder about budget priorities. Like the U.S., we have many burning issues, whether its energy transmission, preparation for climate change, infrastructure, you name it the question of how to deliver and provide high-quality, good-access care to everyone while also limiting the increase in budget, that is very, very relevant, like it is here, the Dutch minister said. The Netherlands has universal health insurance and caps most peoples out of pocket expenses at 385 euros a year, a little more than 400 U.S. dollars a year. So far we [the country as a whole] can still afford this, he said, but its a continuous debate. The problem is especially acute in the case of certain very expensive drugs, the cost of which is increasing very, very rapidly and putting the solidarity underlying our system under pressure, the minister said. He cited orphan drugs, which are needed by only a small number of people but are often a matter of life and death for those patients. Kuipers and the Dutch delegation are among over 10,000 health science professionals and government officials from around the world who gathered in Boston this week to exchange ideas and find out the latest in health science at a biotech trade fair put together by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Honduras opened an embassy in Beijing on Sunday, Chinese state media reported, months after the Central American nation broke off relations with Taiwan to establish diplomatic ties with China. China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Reina took part in the inauguration of the embassy on Sunday morning, China's official CCTV said. The report said Honduras still needed to determine the embassy's permanent location and would increase its number of staff. Qin pledged that China would establish a new model with Honduras of "friendly cooperation" between countries with different sizes and systems, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry. The symbol of the two sides' strengthening diplomatic ties came during Honduran President Xiomara Castro's six-day visit to China. Honduras established formal relations with China in March, becoming the latest in a string of countries to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China sees self-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary, and prohibits its own diplomatic partners from having formal ties with Taipei. The island also faces increasing military threats from Beijing. Its defense ministry on Sunday reported that 10 Chinese warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems. Castro arrived in Shanghai on Friday on her first visit since the establishment of relations. During her stay in Shanghai, she visited the headquarters of the New Development Bank, a bank established by the BRICS nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Honduras requested admission to the bank, Castro's office tweeted Saturday. The president also visited a research center for technology giant Huawei before arriving in Beijing on Saturday night, China's official Global Times newspaper reported. The ties formed in March were a diplomatic victory for China amid heightened tensions between Beijing and the United States, including China's increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan. It also signaled China's growing influence in Latin America. China and Taiwan have been locked in a battle for diplomatic recognition since they split amid civil war in 1949, with Beijing spending billions to win recognition for its "one China" policy. William Barr, former U.S. President Donald Trumps top law enforcement official at the end of his presidency, said Sunday that the criminal indictment accusing Trump of illegally retaining highly classified national security documents as he left office in 2021 was very, very damning. Other Republicans, however, came to Trumps defense, saying the indictment was an unwarranted political attack to keep him from winning back the White House in the 2024 presidential election. "If even half of it is true, then he's toast. I mean, it's a very detailed indictment, Barr, Trumps attorney general in 2019 and 2020, told the Fox News Sunday show. This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous." Watch related video by Veronica Balderas Iglesias: Barr added, We can't forget here that this entire thing came about because of [the] reckless conduct of the president by taking more than 300 classified documents with him to his oceanside Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida when his presidential term ended and he left Washington, instead of turning them over to the National Archives, as required by law. He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents, Barr said. Those documents are among the most sensitive secrets the country has. They have to be in the custody of the archivist. He had no right to retain them, and he kept them in a way at Mar-a-Lago that anyone who cares about national security, their stomach would churn at it. Trump, who has proclaimed his innocence, at various times kept some of the documents in a bathroom, a bedroom and a ballroom stage, photographs in the indictment showed. A federal grand jury in Miami last week filed a 37-count indictment against Trump, accusing him of willful retention of 31 of the national defense documents, along with six more charges, including obstruction of justice, hiding documents so one of his own attorneys wouldnt see them and making false statements to the government investigators. Trump is set to turn himself in to federal authorities Tuesday at the U.S. courthouse in Miami. Despite Barrs assessment of the case against Trump, the first-ever federal indictment of a U.S. president, other Republicans criticized special counsel Jack Smith for bringing the case against the 76-year-old former commander-in-chief. Trump, according to national polling, is also the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. One of Trumps staunchest defenders, Senator Lindsey Graham, told ABCs This Week show that while some of the charges brought against Trump were filed under the countrys Espionage Act, He did not commit espionage. He is not a spy. He said that what Trump did in retaining national security documents was not unlike what the 2016 Democratic presidential contender, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, did in maintaining a private email server at her home that contained classified documents while she was the countrys top diplomat. Its very similar to what he did, Graham said, referring to Trump. Not a damn thing happened to her. Representative Jim Jordan, a vocal Trump supporter, told CNNs State of the Union show that the indictment against Trump was a total affront to the rule of law and accepted Trumps claim that he had declassified the documents before leaving office. The indictment, however, alleges that Trump, after he left office, showed a couple of the documents to others while acknowledging they were still classified and that he no longer had the authority to declassify them. Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a longtime supporter of Democratic President Joe Biden, said, President Trump has no one to blame but himself for being accused in the classified documents case, noting that Biden and Trumps vice president, Republican Mike Pence, quickly turned over classified documents to the National Archives when such sensitive materials were found at their homes or offices. Trump hit the campaign trail at Republican political gatherings in Georgia and North Carolina on Saturday, criticizing Smith, the prosecutor, and the Justice Department for bringing the case against him. This is the final battle, Trump said at a speech in the southern city of Columbus, Georgia. Either the Communists win and destroy America, or we destroy the Communists, seemingly referring to opposition Democrats. Trump railed against globalists, warmongers in government and the sick political class that hates our country. Trump also described the Justice Department as a sick nest of people that needs to be cleaned out immediately, calling Smith deranged and openly a Trump hater. In an interview with Politico, Trump vowed Saturday to continue running for president even if he were to be convicted. Ill never leave, Trump said in an interview aboard his plane. Trump predicted he would be acquitted but acknowledged the gravity of his legal peril, in which he could face years in prison if convicted. Nobody wants to be indicted, he said. Lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon, four Indigenous children survived eating seeds, roots and plants they knew were edible thanks to their upbringing. And it was in part down to the local knowledge of Indigenous adults involved in the search alongside Colombian troops that they were ultimately found alive. "The survival of the children is a sign of the knowledge and relationship with the natural environment that is taught starting in the mother's womb," according to the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (OPIAC). The four siblings survived a small plane crash on May 1 that took the lives of the pilot, their mother and a third adult. The family of the children clung to hope that the siblings' familiarity with the jungle would see them through. The "children of the bush," as their grandfather called them, survived eating yucca flour that was aboard the doomed plane, and scavenging from relief parcels dropped by search helicopters. But they also ate seeds, fruits, roots and plants that they identified as edible from their upbringing in the Amazon region, Luis Acosta of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), told AFP. 'Spiritual force' Acosta, who took part in search operations, said the children were imbued with "spiritual force." That is a shared perception among Indigenous leaders, and Acosta noted that a guardian was to be posted outside the military hospital where doctors were attending to the children to help accompany them "spiritually." "We have a particular connection to nature," Javier Betancourt, another ONIC leader, told AFP. "The world needs this kind of special relation with nature, to favor those like the Indigenous who live in the jungle and take care of it." During the search, soldiers worked side by side with Indigenous trackers for 20 days. President Gustavo Petro praised what he called a "meeting of Indigenous and military knowledge" that he said showed respect for the jungle. Army helicopters broadcast recordings of the children's grandmother telling them in the Indigenous Huitoto language to stay put in one spot until rescuers reached them. "It was President Petro who brought us together," Acosta told local media, referring to soldiers and Indigenous experts. "In an initial meeting, eight days before our search began, the president told us we needed to go with the army because the army couldn't do it alone," he added. A winning combo More than 80 volunteers from Indigenous territories in the departments of Caqueta, Putumayo, Meta and Amazonas joined around 100 soldiers in what was dubbed "Operation Hope." It was an unusual union of forces. In many of Colombia's Indigenous territories, armed outlaw groups roam and easily coerce native peoples, who protect their lands with rudimentary weapons. Relations between Indigenous communities and the armed forces are also strained. But in the Guaviare department, rescuers from separate groups set their differences aside to work together. While soldiers planned operational details, native searchers held rituals to communicate with jungle "spirits," using mambe, a paste made of coca leaf and ash, as well as chirrinchi, a fermented drink. Using machetes, rescuers felled trees and marked them with spray paint to guide the children. Indigenous medicinal knowledge was also used to adapt to the difficult jungle conditions, treating scratches, splinters, insect bites, exhaustion and physical pain. The indigenous people have "worked in the rain, in storms and in many difficult situations, but always with the hope and spiritual faith that (the children) could be found," Acosta said. It all led to the discovery of the siblings by an Indigenous tracker in an area that hadn't yet been explored. Iraq has agreed to pay about $2.76 billion in gas and electricity debt to Iran after receiving a sanctions waiver from the United States, a senior Iraqi foreign ministry official said. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein was given the clearance during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the Riyadh Conference on Thursday, the foreign ministry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters. Because of decades of conflict and sanctions, Iraq is dependent on imports from Iran for a lot of its gas needs. However, U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil and gas have hampered Iraq's payments for imports, putting it in heavy arrears and leading Iran to retaliate by cutting gas flows regularly. Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Al-Sahhaf said in a brief statement that Hussein had made progress "regarding financial dues between Iraq and Iran during his discussion with his American counterpart in Riyadh" when asked about the funds. He did not give further details. Yahya Al-e Eshaq, head of the Iran-Iraq chamber of commerce, was quoted by Iranian news agencies as saying that "part of Iran's blocked funds in Iraq has been earmarked for haj pilgrims and portions have been used for basic goods." The Iraqi foreign ministry source said that the funds will be transferred through the Commercial Bank of Iraq and confirmed that the money will be used for Iranian pilgrims' expenses and foodstuffs imported by Iran. Iran has been unable to access billions of dollars in assets in several countries because of U.S. sanctions. The United States has insisted that oil-rich Iraq, the OPEC group's second-largest producer, moves toward self-sufficiency as a condition for its exemption to import Iranian energy, yet Baghdad has struggled to do so. Latest developments: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree Sunday, sanctioning 178 Russian nationals, including Constitutional Court judges, for five years. The sanctions include asset freezes, trade restrictions, travel bans and other measures. Russia launches Iranian-made Shahed "kamikaze" drones on Ukraine during the night to detect and "exhaust" Ukrainian air defenses and to fire missiles from its aircraft or missile carriers. Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, The Kyiv Independent reports. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said Sunday that his mercenary fighters would not sign any contract with the Russian ministry of defense after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered all "volunteer detachments" to sign contracts with the ministry by the end of the month. According to the Russian media, that was an attempt by Shoigu to bring the mercenaries under the ministrys control. At least three people were killed and 23 injured when Russia shelled elderly residents as they were being evacuated in small boats from the flooded areas in Kherson, a regional Ukrainian official said Sunday. Ukraine alleged that Russian forces are trying to derail rescue operations. "Today, terrorists opened fire on three boats that were used to rescue people from the flooded (eastern) bank," the Kherson regions Ukrainian-appointed governor, Oleksander Prokudin, said on Ukrainian television. In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried the Russian attacks on evacuation routes for civilians escaping the flooded areas. It was an evacuation from Kardashynka, a village on the left bank of Kherson region. The occupiers created this disaster by blowing up a dam, leaving people to their fate in flooded towns and villages, and then shelling the boats that are trying to take people away, he said. Russian forces announced a quarantine in the Russian-occupied flooded town of Hola Prystan in the Kherson region, blocking any humanitarian aid to the people there. The city is blocked. The Russians closed all entrances and exits, said the head of the citys military administration, Svitlana Linnyk. I dont yet know whether the delivery of drinking water and food will be organized. Watch related video by Arash Arabasadi: Earlier Sunday, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar alleged that the Kakhovka dam was blown up by Russian forces to prevent the Ukrainian offensive in the southern Kherson region.By destroying the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, the Russian leadership is trying to divert some of the forces and resources of the Ukrainian defense forces to eliminate the man-made disaster, thereby making it impossible to liberate the occupied territories on the left bank of the Kherson region," she said on the messaging app Telegram.Maliar added that Russias move also intended to facilitate a deployment of Russian reserves to the Zaporizhzhia and Bakhmut areas, while preventing Ukrainian forces from freeing up reserves for a deployment to the Kherson region.Russia has accused Kyiv of destroying the dam. The destruction of the dam caused a vast flood inundating towns and villages. Residents are still trapped in the flooded areas while entire houses have been swept away by torrential waters. In a tweet Sunday, Zelenskyy said that his country will do everything to guarantee people a basis for life, even after this disaster. Zelenskyy said that representatives of the International Court have visited the flooded area in recent days and started an investigation on what caused the collapse of the dam. At least 700,000 people need drinking water after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, United Nations Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths said on Saturday. The U.N. aid chief said the humanitarian situation in the country has gotten hugely worse since the rupture of the dam. He warned that the flooding in one of the world's most important breadbaskets will almost inevitably lead to lower grain exports, higher food prices globally and less to eat for millions in need. The long-term consequences of this evolving environmental catastrophe will be generational, said Eugene Simonov, an environmental scientist with the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group (UWEC), a nonprofit organization of activists and researchers. Simonov said fish and waterfowl that had used the Kakhovka reservoir "will lose the majority of their spawning grounds and feeding grounds. On Friday, the Norwegian earthquake center NORSAR said that a seismological station in neighboring Romania recorded tremors in the vicinity of the dam at 2:54 a.m. Tuesday local time, around the time Zelenskyy said the breach occurred. What we can see from our data is that there was an explosion in the area of the dam at the same time as the dam broke, NORSAR head of research Volker Oye told The Associated Press. The Norwegian center is part of a global monitoring system that helps verify compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the AP reported. Ukraine counteroffensive Ukraine said Sunday it has taken three villages in the Donetsk region. Footage on social media showed Ukrainian soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag at a bombed-out building in a settlement identified as Blahodatne. The unverified video was published by Ukraines 68th Jaeger Brigade. Footage also showed Ukrainian soldiers celebrating in the settlement of Neskuchne, while Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Maliar said Ukrainian forces freed the settlement of Makarivka. Maliar added that Ukrainian troops continued to assault Russian positions around Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russia claims its air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian missile near the Russian-controlled port city of Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. Also, Russia said Sunday it had destroyed at least seven German-made Leopard tanks and five U.S.-made Bradley vehicles over 48 hours while repelling Ukrainian attacks, though Russian bloggers reported Ukraine had briefly broken through the Russian line. Reuters was unable to verify battlefield reports from either side. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Latest developments: The British Defense Ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update on Russias invasion of Ukraine that the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam has left the Russian and Ukrainian communities on either side of the flooded Dnipro facing a sanitation crisis with limited access to safe water, and an increased risk of water-borne diseases. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Iran on Saturday to "immediately cease delivering drones to Russia, a violation of a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution on the Iran nuclear deal. The White House said Friday that Russia appeared to be deepening its defense cooperation with Iran and had received hundreds of one-way attack drones that it is using to strike Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Saturday he planned to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone soon to urge him to withdraw Russia's troops from Ukraine. German investigators are examining evidence suggesting a sabotage team used Poland as an operating base to damage the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea last September, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. It has not been determined who is responsible for the attack. Heavy fighting is taking place in eastern Ukraine, around Bakhmut and Maryinka, where Ukrainian forces reportedly have repelled Russian advances, Ukraines general staff said Saturday. Russian forces, it said, "continue to suffer heavy losses which they are trying to conceal." The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Russian forces carried out 66 airstrikes and launched 39 attacks from rocket systems. "Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population, private houses and other civil and administrative infrastructure have been destroyed and damaged," the general staff said in its Saturday evening update, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Earlier Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that appropriate counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but he did not divulge any information on whats happening on the battlefield. However, he did exude optimism, saying his generals are all in a positive mood, pass that on to Putin," he said during a news conference in Kyiv alongside visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In his nightly video address, he said, Thank you to all those who hold their positions and those who advance," citing the eastern and southern fronts, where fighting is heaviest. Russia says Ukraine is making a big offensive push this week, but that Kyiv's forces failed to breach Russian defenses and sustained heavy casualties. The British Defense Ministry said Saturday that Ukraine has conducted significant operations in the last 48 hours in its eastern and southern regions. Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defenses in some areas, the daily intelligence update said. In other areas, Ukrainian progress has been slower. Independent media have not been able to confirm whether Ukraine was penetrating Russian defenses. Canadian aid to Ukraine During his visit in Kyiv, Trudeau announced new military aid for Ukraine. We will provide $500 million in new funding, he said during a joint news conference with Zelenskyy. "We will be there with (you) as much as it takes, for as long as it takes." Zelenskyy offered Canada assistance in extinguishing the wildfires raging there. Ukraine is ready to help extinguish fires if Canada needs such international assistance, he said. And in his Saturday night video address, he thanked Trudeau and the Canadian people for their support. Kakhovka dam ecocide During his address, Zelenskyy thanked those who are helping support the communities devastated by the collapse of the Kakhovka dam, calling it an ecocide and human tragedy caused by the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP. As of now, over 3,000 people have already been evacuated in (the) Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. But again, it is only a free territory under our control, adding that, in the occupied territory, it is only possible to help in some areas only as Russian shelling continues. At least 700,000 people need drinking water after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, said U.N. Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths. The U.N.s aid chief said the humanitarian situation in the country has gotten hugely worse since the rupture of the dam. He warned that the flooding in one of the world's most important breadbaskets will almost inevitably lead to lower grain exports, higher food prices around the world and less to eat for millions in need. Clear signals have emerged that an explosion occurred at the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine early Tuesday morning, the Norwegian seismic research foundation Norsar said. While Russians and Ukrainians have traded accusations over the destruction of the Soviet-era dam, it has been under Russian control since early in the invasion. Black Sea grain deal Russia could still walk away from the U.N.-brokered Black Sea Grain Deal on July 17, when the agreement expires, if its demands are not met, said Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergey Vershinin. Vershinin made the comments Saturday after meeting with senior U.N. trade officials Friday, the TASS news agency reported. Vershinin expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the memorandum is implemented. "Barriers to our exports remain," he said. The demands outlined by Moscow include the resumption of the transit of ammonia from Russia via Ukrainian territory to Pivdennyi port in Odesa, from where it is exported and the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT international payment system. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Travis Perkins' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 7 shareholders own 52% of the company Recent sales by insiders Every investor in Travis Perkins plc (LON:TPK) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 88% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). And institutional investors saw their holdings value drop by 5.1% last week. This set of investors may especially be concerned about the current loss, which adds to a one-year loss of 20% for shareholders. Institutions or "liquidity providers" control large sums of money and therefore, these types of investors usually have a lot of influence over stock price movements. As a result, if the decline continues, institutional investors may be pressured to sell Travis Perkins which might hurt individual investors. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Travis Perkins, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Travis Perkins What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Travis Perkins? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that Travis Perkins does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Travis Perkins, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Travis Perkins. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Pzena Investment Management, Inc. with 13% of shares outstanding. Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd is the second largest shareholder owning 9.5% of common stock, and Harris Associates L.P. holds about 6.8% of the company stock. We did some more digging and found that 7 of the top shareholders account for roughly 52% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Travis Perkins While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Travis Perkins plc. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own UK3.5m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 10% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Travis Perkins that you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Montenegro was holding an early parliamentary election Sunday, a vote that could put an end to deep political divisions and years of instability that have hampered the small NATO-member country on its route to joining the European Union. Some 542,000 voters are eligible to choose among 15 parties and coalitions fielding candidates, ranging from groups that are staunchly pro-Western to ones that are pro-Serbian and pro-Russian. Unlike in previous elections, when the focal point of campaigning was whether the country should be leaning toward the EU or closer to Russia and Serbia, the economy and living standards dominated the issues this time. Finally, we are deciding on the quality of life, rather than on the East or West, Tanja Bojovic, 38, said as she cast her ballot in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. I expect the victory of those who will lead us to a better life. The election is Montenegros first in more than 30 years that does not feature Milo Djukanovic, who served almost continuously as the countrys prime minister or president since 2001. He lost a presidential election in April and has taken a back seat in national politics. Polls and analysts predicted Europe Now, a newly formed centrist movement, was most likely to be the top vote-getter but without enough seats in the 81-seat parliament to form a new government on its own. President Jakov Milatovic, who belongs to the Europe Now movement, said he hoped that "following the parliamentary elections, the new Assembly of Montenegro will reflect what is currently a new political reality in the country. The Democratic Party of Socialists, the party formerly led by Djukanovic, experienced a decline in popularity after three decades of dominance and has new leadership looking for a chance to make a comeback. Also running were candidates from the pro-Serb and pro-Russian Democratic Front, a party considered likely to emerge as a kingmaker in the formation of a future coalition government. Political analyst Ana Nenezic, executive director of the Centre for Monitoring and Research, said the focus on the economy is beneficial for the society" but promises of salary hikes made by politicians are not based on a real economy. She added that based on the latest election forecasts, I will be really surprised if we get a politically stable government. Djukanovic led Montenegro to independence from Serbia in 2006 and defied Russia to join NATO in 2017. An alliance dominated by parties seeking closer ties with Serbia and Russia ousted the Democratic Party of Socialists from power in the previous parliamentary elections, held in 2020. The new ruling coalition, however, soon plunged into disarray, which stalled Montenegros path toward the EU and created a political deadlock. The government fell in a no-confidence vote last year but remained in office for months because of the stalemate. Montenegro, a picturesque Adriatic Sea country of about 620,000 people, was once viewed as the country first in line to join the EU from the Western Balkans. Myanmars military government continues to pick up the pace of deadly airstrikes against a growing armed and civil resistance to its rule, more than two years after seizing power in a coup. Rights groups and analysts say most of their targets and victims are civilians. The Burma military airstrikes have gone past anything weve ever seen in Burma, said David Eubank, head of the Free Burma Rangers, a Christian aid group at work in the countrys east for the past 30 years, using another name for Myanmar. It is an all-out onslaught. There hasnt been a day thats gone by that weve been here that there hasnt been a bombing somewhere, he told VOA from Karenni state, in Myanmars east, speaking of the past few months. Countrywide data on reported airstrikes back up the accounts from rights groups, charities and resistance forces of Myanmar military jets, helicopters and drones bombing, rocketing and strafing targets across Myanmar at unprecedented rates. Picking up the pace The International Institute for Strategic Studies, a British research group, has been keeping a detailed tally of the fighting in Myanmar since the February 2021 putsch that ousted an elected government. It counted an average of 49 airstrikes per month by the Myanmar military from January through April, about 25% higher than the 39 average monthly strikes last year. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, or ACLED, based in the United States, has also tracked a steady and ongoing rise in airstrikes, including upwards of 150 over the first three months of this year, more than in any quarter since the coup. The increase in airstrikes comes with a rising death toll, according to the project. It counted 146 deaths from the militarys air attacks from January through March, also the most of any quarter since the coup. The project has counted another 330 deaths from airstrikes since the end of March, including an April 11 attack that killed at least 160 men, women and children gathered for a celebration in central Myanmars Sagaing region. A military spokesman said the strike targeted armed resistance groups and attributed the high death toll to having hit one of the groups explosives depots. Most of the juntas fighting has been on the ground. The IISS and ACLED data show airstrikes not just picking up, however, but accounting for a growing share of all military action. Matthew Arnold, an independent security analyst, says the military keeps ratcheting up the air war to make up for its mounting loss of control over swaths of the country. On the ground theyre struggling militarily, and so they have to rely on air power more. Thats very clear, especially in places like Chin, western Magwe ... western Sagaing, and then also in Karenni, he told VOA. Arnold said the military lacks the armored personnel carriers to cope with resistance forces ever more adept at ambushing convoys, laying roadside explosives and using its own jerry-rigged drones to drop bombs, and has even resorted to commandeering dump trucks to move troops. Theyve tried to use ... dump trucks because they have the heavy back, but there just arent enough of those to go around. And so theyre just taking significant losses from ambushes, IEDs, drones on their land movements, so predictably they fall back on air assets, he said. Clinics, schools, churches Aid groups say civilians are bearing the brunt of the strikes. What weve seen, at least in the last month, most of the airstrikes that have happened in civilian-populated centers, they have been targeting churches, schools and hospitals. Those are the largest buildings in the villages, said Salai Za Uk Ling, deputy director of the Chin Human Rights Organization, a local charity that delivers food, medicine and other critical aid to families displaced by the violence across western Myanmar. We have seen ... an increasing number of airstrikes in villages even when theres no resistance group present, he added. Near Camp Victoria, a major base for the armed resistance in Chin state, Biak Cung Lian says an airstrike hit his hospital on January 11. A large bomb destroyed the outpatient building, caused the roof of the operating room to cave in, and blew out all the windows, he told VOA. Luckily, he said, staff had already evacuated the compound of dozens of patients, mostly civilians, after bombs started falling the day before. We are so lucky that the outpatient department was not hit on the first day, [otherwise] there would be a lot of casualties, said Biak Cung Lian. Targeting these kinds of schools and hospitals, its a very inhuman act, he added. It shows ... they cannot fully win [against] the resistance forces, [but] the civilian people are very easy to be targeted, so they are just bombing [them]. This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal FILE - A man looks at the body of a child at a local school that was hit by an air attack carried out by the Myanmar military against the People Defense Force, in Sagaing, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022 in this social media video. The frequency and consistency with which the airstrikes are hitting civilian targets has charities, rights groups and analysts convinced theyre expressly in the juntas crosshairs. Every single hospital up here and every clinic has been bombed in Karenni, and many in Karen state and Chin as well, said Eubank, a former U.S. Special Forces officer. Before, the Burma army would attack hospitals, clinics and churches, but it was more episodic.... Theyd burn a church in one village and they wouldnt burn a church in another. Theyd destroy a clinic in one place and maybe not in the other. But since the coup, I believe completely its a policy, he said. More of the same The militarys latest purchases suggest more of the same to come. In a report out in May, Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, details some $1 billion worth of imports of arms, military equipment, dual-use items and raw material for making weapons since the coup. It shows most of the imports from Russia and China, the juntas main arms suppliers, are fighter jets, attack helicopters and the spare parts to keep them flying. It just affirms ... that they cant control ground terrain, and so they expect to compensate through air assets, Arnold said. Whether the junta can maintain, or even scale up, the pace of airstrikes for much longer is another matter, he added, strapped as it is for cash by a plummeting economy and having, in Russia, a key supplier bogged down with Moscows war in Ukraine. In any case, Arnold said he believes the juntas air war simply wont work. He said the military lacks the complex coordination between air and ground forces needed to hit actual enemy targets accurately, especially in the mountains where much of the armed resistance is, and that repeatedly hitting civilian targets instead only feeds popular resentment of an already widely reviled regime. Fundamentally, theres never been an insurgency or rebellion that was put down by the use of air attacks, he said. Definitely it causes damage, mostly against the civilian population, but its in itself not enough to fundamentally compensate for the lack of ground control. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said Sunday that Cyclone Biparjoy, a very severe cyclonic storm, is over the east-central Arabian Sea. It is maintaining its intensity and is located about 840 kilometers south of Karachi, 830 kilometers south of Thatta and 930 kilometers southeast of Ormara. Biparjoy is traveling with maximum sustained winds of 130 to 140 kph, with maximum wave heights between 7.5 and 8.5 meters. The weather forecasters say Biparjoy could evolve into an extremely severe cyclonic storm. The Pakistan Meteorological Department predicts Biparjoy will most likely travel in a north-northeast direction toward Southeast Sindh-Indian Gujarat coast. Romania has recalled its ambassador to Kenya after Dragos Tigau allegedly compared Africans to monkeys. Tigau is reported to have said, The African group has joined us, when a monkey appeared outside a window during a meeting in April at a United Nations building in Nairobi, Kenyas capital. CNN reports it has obtained documents showing that African diplomats formally condemned the Romanian diplomats remarks during a meeting with Eastern European envoys at an April meeting. CNN reports that it has also seen two letters of apology Tigau sent to the diplomats. Romania said Saturday that it had just recently learned about the April incident. Romanias Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "We deeply regret this situation and offer our apologies to all those who have been affected." A real estate deal in Jerusalem's Old City, at the epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has sent the historic Armenian community there into a panic as residents search for answers about the feared loss of their homes to a mysterious investor. The 99-year lease of some 25% of the Old City's Armenian Quarter has touched sensitive nerves in the Holy Land and sparked a controversy extending far beyond the Old City walls. The fallout has forced the highest authority of the Armenian Orthodox Church to cloister himself in a convent and prompted a disgraced priest who is allegedly behind the deal to flee to a Los Angeles suburb. "If they sell this place, they sell my heart," Garo Nalbandian, an 80-year-old photojournalist, said of the Ottoman-era barracks where he has lived for five decades among a dwindling community of Armenians. Their ancestors came to Jerusalem over 1,500 years ago and then after 1915, when Ottoman Turks killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in what's widely regarded as the first genocide of the 20th century. Alarm over the lease spread in April, following a surprise visit by Israeli land surveyors. Word got around that an Australian-Israeli investor, whose company sign appeared on the site, planned to transform the parking lot and limestone fortress of Armenian apartments and shops into an ultra-luxury hotel. As anger, confusion and fears of possible evictions mounted, the Armenian patriarchate the body managing the community's civil and religious affairs acknowledged that the church had signed away the patch of land. The Armenian patriarch, Nourhan Manougian, alleged that a now-defrocked priest bore full responsibility for the "fraudulent and deceitful" deal that the patriarch said took place without his full knowledge. The admission inflamed passions in the Armenian Quarter, where activists decried the deal as a threat to the community's longtime presence in Jerusalem. Jordan, with its historic ties to Jerusalem's Christian sites, said it feared for the "future of the holy city." Palestinian officials accused Manougian of helping Israel in a decades-long battle between Israel and the Palestinians over a city that both sides claim as their capital. For Palestinians, such struggles over real estate are the centerpiece of the decades-old conflict, emblematic of what they see as a wider Israeli effort to remove them from strategic areas in east Jerusalem. "From a Palestinian point of view, this is treason. From a peace activist point of view, this undermines possible solutions to the conflict," said Dimitri Diliani, president of the National Christian Coalition of the Holy Land. In a dramatic move, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah II suspended recognition of Manougian, the patriarch who has served for the past decade in what is normally a lifelong position. That renders him unable to sign contracts, make transactions and make decisions in the Palestinian territories and Jordan. The priest who coordinated the deal, Baret Yeretsian, was deposed, assaulted by a mob of angry young Armenians and whisked away by Israeli police before seeking refuge in Southern California. Manougian has barricaded himself in the Armenian convent, unwilling or unable to be seen publicly, according to residents. "This quarter is everything to me. It's the only place we have for Armenians to gather in the Holy Land," said 22-year-old community leader Hagop Djernazian. "We have to fight for it." The quarter is home to some 2,000 Armenians with the same status as Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem residents but not citizens, effectively stateless. Israel annexed east Jerusalem, where the Old City is located, after capturing it in 1967, a move not recognized internationally. For the past month most recently last Friday protesters have formed a human chain around the quarter and gathered under Manougian's window, shouting "traitor" and demanding that he come clean about who has leased the land and how. While the Armenian church has refused to disclose details about the sale, Yeretsian identified the investor as Australian-Israeli businessman Danny Rothman. As the church's real estate manager, Yeretsian said he was acting at the request of the patriarch. There is very little information available about Rothman, who also has used the last name Rubinstein, according to a 2016 Cyprus regulatory decision fining him for falsifying his academic background. His LinkedIn page describes him as chairman of a hotel company called Xana Capital. Records show the firm formed in the United Arab Emirates was registered in Israel in July 2021. Weeks later, a dozen Armenian priests raised the first alarm about a property deal being struck without their consent. A sign recently popped up marking the Armenian parking lot as the property of Xana Capital. Rothman, who is based in London, declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press. "I never get interviewed by the press. I'm a private person," he said before hanging up. The self-exiled priest, Yeretsian, said that Rothman plans to develop a high-end resort in the Armenian Quarter. The project, he added, would be managed by the One&Only hotel company based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020. The deal appears to be one of the most high-profile and controversial to come out of the business ties that were forged under the U.S-brokered agreements known as the Abraham Accords. Israel's Foreign Ministry declined to comment, citing the political sensitivity. Kerzner International, owner of One&Only Resorts, also declined to comment. The Dubai-based company said only that it is "always exploring opportunities to grow its portfolio of ultra-luxury resorts." Renowned Israeli architect Moshe Safdie told the AP that Rothman would fund the project and that he would design it. Construction, he said, would start following excavations at the parking lot. It is unclear whether residents will be evicted, but the patriarchate has promised to assist any residents who are displaced. The saga reflects the struggle over politics and real estate that has bedeviled the Holy Land for centuries. Jewish investors in Israel and abroad long have sought to buy east Jerusalem properties. The Armenian Quarter is desirable because it abuts the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray. Their goal is to expand the Jewish presence in east Jerusalem, cementing Israeli control of the part of the city claimed by Palestinians as their capital. Scandals involving land sales to Jewish settlers have previously embroiled the Greek Orthodox Church, the custodian of many Christian sites in the region. Two decades ago, the Greek Church sold two Palestinian-run hotels in the Old City to foreign companies acting as fronts for a Jewish settler group. The secretive deals led to the downfall of the Greek patriarch and prompted international uproar. Yeretsian, in California, dismissed fears of an Israeli settler take-over of the Armenian Quarter as "propaganda" based solely on Rothman's Jewish identity. "The intention was never to Judaize the place," he said, claiming that Rothman has no political agenda. He insisted that the Armenian patriarch was fully engaged in the long-running negotiations and personally signed off on the contract. "I did my job faithfully in the best interest of the patriarchate," he said, declining to offer further details about the lease that he said expires after a century. The patriarchate declined to say what it would do with the money from the deal. Meanwhile, Jerusalem's Armenians long ruled by foreign powers, displaced by wars and squeezed between Israelis and Palestinians are filled with nagging dread. "Our lands were acquired inch by inch with blood and sweat," said 26-year-old resident Setrag Balian. "With one signature, they were given away." Thousands of people who fled their homes in the central Philippines to escape a restive volcano must now contend with another threat that's complicating the ongoing evacuations: monsoon rains that could be unleashed by an approaching typhoon. More than 6,000 villagers have been forced to leave rural communities within a 6-kilometer radius of Mayon volcano's crater in northeastern Albay province. Thousands more need to be moved to safety from the permanent danger zone, officials said. Others living outside the perimeter have packed their bags and voluntarily left with their children for evacuation centers in Albay, which was placed under a state of calamity on Friday to allow more rapid disbursement of emergency funds in case a major eruption unfolds. Authorities raised the alert level for the volcano on Thursday after superheated streams of gas, debris and rocks cascaded down its upper slope, indicating activity below the surface that could precede a hazardous eruption within days or weeks. A key tourist attraction for its picturesque conical shape, the 2,462-meter Mayon is one of the country's most active volcanoes. It last erupted violently in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of villagers. Authorities warned that Typhoon Guchol, which is approaching the Philippines from the Pacific but is projected to skirt the archipelago, may still dump heavy rains unwelcome news for those living near Mayon's slopes. "There's a typhoon and floodwaters may rush down Mayon and swamp this village. That's one of our fears," Villamor Lopez, a house painter, told The Associated Press. He sat worriedly with his relatives clinging to bags of clothes, rice in pouches and bottles of drinking water on a truck hauling villagers from Daraga town in Albay to an emergency shelter several kilometers away. Other residents chatted on a roadside near a chapel, still undecided whether to leave. A loudspeaker in their laid-back community of low-slung rural houses and narrow dirt alleys warned people to prepare to evacuate quickly if the situation worsens. In the overcast sky above them, the volcano lay hidden by thick rainclouds. Village leader Dennis Bon, who was preparing to drive Lopez and others to the shelter, said he would not risk waiting until the last minute. "We have children, persons with disabilities and elderly residents here," Bon said, before he drove off. Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman and Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said they were prepared if monsoon rains were to trigger mudflows and rockfalls. "We will still make sure that we will have no casualties from any compounded calamities," Lagman said. Despite growing worries among many villagers, those who have survived Mayon's eruptions over decades were taking the latest threats in stride. In Bonga village near the volcano, a few men gingerly took a bath in a stream of spring water flowing down Mayon's lush foothills and washed two motorcycles near boulders as big as cars that rolled down years ago during past eruptions. They shrugged and smiled when asked if the volcano's new rumblings had struck fear. The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the area around the ocean rim where tectonic plates meet that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A long-dormant volcano, Mount Pinatubo, blew its top north of Manila in 1991 in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing hundreds of people. Latest developments: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree Sunday, sanctioning 178 Russian nationals, including Constitutional Court judges, for five years. The sanctions include asset freezes, trade restrictions, travel bans and other measures. Russia launches Iranian-made Shahed "kamikaze" drones on Ukraine during the night to detect and "exhaust" Ukrainian air defenses and to fire missiles from its aircraft or missile carriers. Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, The Kyiv Independent Reports. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prighozin said Sunday that his mercenary fighters would not sign any contract with the Russian ministry of defense after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered all "volunteer detachments" to sign contracts with the ministry by the end of the month. According to the Russian media, that was an attempt by Shoigu to bring the mercenaries under the ministrys control. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malia alleged on Sunday that the Kakhovka dam was blown up by Russian forces to prevent the Ukrainian offensive in the southern Kherson region. By destroying the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, the Russian leadership is trying to divert some of the forces and resources of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to eliminate the man-made disaster, thereby making it impossible to liberate the occupied territories on the left bank of the Kherson region," she said on Telegram. Maliar added that Russias move also intended to facilitate a deployment of Russian reserves to the Zaporizhzhia and Bakhmut areas, while preventing Ukrainian forces from freeing up reserves for a deployment to the Kherson region. The destruction of the dam caused a vast flood inundating towns and villages. Residents are still trapped in the flooded areas while entire houses have been swept away by torrential waters. Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations over the destruction of the dam which has been under Russian occupation since the early weeks of Russia's invasion in February last year. The British Defense Ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update on Russias invasion of Ukraine that the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam has left the Russian and Ukrainian communities on either side of the flooded Dnipro facing a sanitation crisis with limited access to safe water, and an increased risk of water-borne diseases. In a tweet Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his country will do everything to guarantee people a basis for life, even after this disaster. Pointing the finger of the destruction at Russia he said any terrorist counts on only a few forms of results for himself: the suffering of people, the intimidation of people, and the ruins that terror leaves behind. This is exactly how Russia acts in this case. At least 700,000 people need drinking water after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, said United Nations Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths. The U.N. aid chief said the humanitarian situation in the country has gotten hugely worse since the rupture of the dam. He warned that the flooding in one of the world's most important breadbaskets will almost inevitably lead to lower grain exports, higher food prices globally and less to eat for millions in need. The long-term consequences of this evolving environmental catastrophe will be generational, said Eugene Simonov, an environmental scientist with the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group (UWEC), a nonprofit organization of activists and researchers. Clear signals have emerged that an explosion occurred at the Kakhovka dam early Tuesday morning, the Norwegian seismic research foundation Norsar said. Ukraine counteroffensive Ukrainian troops said Sunday they recaptured a village from Russian forces in the southeast, the first liberated settlement they have claimed since launching the counterattack. Soldiers hoisted the Ukrainian flag at a bombed-out building in an unverified video published by Ukraines 68th Jaeger Brigade, which identified the settlement as Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. "We're seeing the first results of the counteroffensive actions, localized results," Valeryi Shershen, spokesperson for Ukraines "Tavria" military sector, said on television. He said the village lay on the edge of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions a few kilometers south of the Kyiv-controlled village of Velyka Novosilka. Meanwhile, Russia claims its air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian missile near the Russian-controlled port city of Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. Also, Russia said Sunday it had destroyed at least seven German-made Leopard tanks and five U.S.-made Bradley vehicles over 48 hours while repelling Ukrainian attacks, though Russian bloggers reported Ukraine had briefly broken through the Russian line. Reuters was unable to verify battlefield reports from either side. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Worley fair value estimate is AU$20.49 Current share price of AU$16.29 suggests Worley is potentially 21% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 28% higher than Worley's analyst price target of AU$15.98 In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Worley Limited (ASX:WOR) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Check out our latest analysis for Worley Step By Step Through The Calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$393.0m AU$538.0m AU$625.0m AU$688.9m AU$742.3m AU$786.9m AU$824.7m AU$857.2m AU$885.9m AU$911.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 10.23% Est @ 7.75% Est @ 6.01% Est @ 4.80% Est @ 3.95% Est @ 3.35% Est @ 2.93% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 8.5% AU$362 AU$457 AU$489 AU$497 AU$493 AU$482 AU$465 AU$446 AU$425 AU$403 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$4.5b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$912m (1 + 2.0%) (8.5% 2.0%) = AU$14b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$14b ( 1 + 8.5%)10= AU$6.3b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is AU$11b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$16.3, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 21% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Worley as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.104. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Worley Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market. Opportunity Expected to breakeven next year. Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Worley, we've put together three fundamental items you should consider: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Worley . Future Earnings: How does WOR's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images One thing not on the menu at country-music legend Garth Brookss new Nashville bar: transphobia. Brooks, whos set to open Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in Nashvilles lower Broadway area later this summer, shared his thoughts on the Bud Light boycott during a panel at Billboard Country Live this week. I want it to be a place you feel safe in. I want it to be a place where you feel like there are manners and people like one another. And yes, were going to serve every brand of beer. We just are, Brooks said, referring to the transphobic backlash faced by Bud Light following its partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Brooks continued, Its not our decision to make. Our thing is this: If you [are let] into this house, love one another. If youre an asshole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway. We have some suggestions in that case. Chastain-as-Noras exit onto 45th Street. Photo: TikTok/@imtoooldforthat Eight times a week for the past five months, Nora Helmer has made the fateful decision to leave her husband and walk out the door. You have perhaps seen it on TikTok. A loading dock at the Hudson Theatre, located at the back of the stage facing 45th Street, trundles open. Jessica Chastain as Nora, in a midnight-blue dress and black heeled boots, steps out, slowly. She appears frightened but determined, and she peers down the street. During evening performances, lights from inside the house bounce off a fire escape, bathing Chastain in a warm glow. She walks down 45th towards Seventh Avenue, and the door rolls shut behind her. She takes a few steps down the block, and then ducks back into the theater through the stage door. So goes the coup de theatre that closes out Jamie Lloyds staging of Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House, which played its final Broadway performance on Saturday evening and is up for six Tony Awards tonight. Noras infamous door-slam is reconceived as a woman stepping out of one time and directly into another. This final flourish was intended as a surprise for audiences, and did often elicit gasps. It may not have been intended to attract swarms of TikTokers. But once word of the ending began to spread, crowds started gathering on 45th Street to watch Noras escape and, of course, to film it. By late February, just a couple of weeks into the shows run, TikToks of Chastains exit were going viral. One video taken by @Celebsnewyork1 now sits at 1.4 million views and over 79,000 likes. Others have also racked up big numbers. The producers of A Dolls House have never acknowledged the filming, but according to the @Celebsnewyork1 account, no one ever requested that its video be taken down, either. In terms of viral chatter, most of the attention has been on the preshow, in which Chastain sits on a turntable onstage and spins around for 20 minutes as the audience files in (also popular on TikTok). A press representative for A Dolls House declined to comment for this story. But its obvious to anyone on 45th Street how the mechanics of crowd control during the scene have worked, and a production staff member, on background, filled in some details. Two barriers block the door throughout the performance, with a sheet covering the small metal step that Chastain descends. Two black SUVs hold the parking spots just opposite the door. Roughly 15 minutes before the exit, security staffers move the barriers out and position fans and TikTokers behind them. Around this time, a props person appears, removes the sheet, then steps back inside. (Whats union minimum for that?) When Noras exit is imminent, security starts asking passersby to pause for a moment or directs them around. A stage manager in a headset and Chastains assistant pop out from the stage door. The moment arrives, Nora takes her walk, and the SM and Chastains assistant hurry her back inside through the stage door for bows. And its over. It takes all of 10 to 15 seconds and requires seven bodies: Chastain herself, three guards, a stage manager, Chastains handler, and that props dude. All of this management has in itself a certain theatrical quality. One security guard rarely spoke on any of my visits, instead repositioning me with just a head shake and a finger point (his silence was commanding, Ill admit). The other two security personnel usually flanked the exit door, like Secret Service agents. Though some of their radios clearly worked, at least one guards headset cord dangled, evidently connected to nothing. Why do people bother to come and watch? One fan I spoke with, who gave the name Artemis, said a friend in London had demanded a video of Chastains exit, telling her: If you dont do this, I will be very disappointed. A couple had seen that days matinee but wanted to experience the ending again from outside. Two people had been sitting at house left and couldnt see the big moment at alla problem for large portions of the audienceso they were here to make up for their disappointment. And at the shows final performance last night, a few fans who had missed out on tickets were taking in the only part of the show they still could. I just saw A Dolls House! yelled one young woman as Chastain hustled back inside. There have been tricky nights. Fans have hopped onto fire hydrants to improve their vantage points or run across the street right at the moment of Chastains appearance to get a close-up video. Yet aside from a slightly larger and noisier rowdier crowd of about 50 on the final night, the fans outside have been respectful, eager to not disrupt Chastain as she attempts to stay in character for a final moment in the middle of chaotic midtown. I dont want to bother her, said Regina, a return visitor. Im just a big fan. As Regina and I watched Chastains exit, a middle-aged man appeared with wife and son in tow. He swiftly pulled out his phone and filmed the big moment. After it ended, he turned to us and asked: So who was that? We explain. Oh, Jessica Chastain! he chuckled with amusement. Wow. A New York moment. If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. So, when we ran our eye over Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad's (KLSE:PMETAL) trend of ROCE, we liked what we saw. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.15 = RM1.8b (RM15b - RM2.5b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023). Therefore, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad has an ROCE of 15%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Metals and Mining industry average of 9.0% it's much better. See our latest analysis for Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad roce In the above chart we have measured Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad. What Does the ROCE Trend For Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad Tell Us? While the current returns on capital are decent, they haven't changed much. The company has consistently earned 15% for the last five years, and the capital employed within the business has risen 102% in that time. Since 15% is a moderate ROCE though, it's good to see a business can continue to reinvest at these decent rates of return. Over long periods of time, returns like these might not be too exciting, but with consistency they can pay off in terms of share price returns. Our Take On Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad's ROCE The main thing to remember is that Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad has proven its ability to continually reinvest at respectable rates of return. And the stock has done incredibly well with a 122% return over the last five years, so long term investors are no doubt ecstatic with that result. So while investors seem to be recognizing these promising trends, we still believe the stock deserves further research. Like most companies, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of. While Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Blocked from procuring military goods from Western countries, Moscow has increasingly looked for help from former Soviet states in Central Asia, some of which are historically and financially bound to Russia but also trade extensively with Europe and China. MORE COVERAGE Istanbul: Things were looking up for Air New Zealand boss Greg Foran at the end of last year. The airlines ASX-listed share price had clawed back more than 40 per cent of the value it had shed when COVID-19 hit in 2020. The insatiable demand for travel buoyed the airline to a $100 million profit upgrade for the first half of 2023. Enter: flash flooding, landslides and Cyclone Gabrielle. New Zealand was battered by natural disasters at the beginning of this year, grounding much of the carriers route map and leaving 100,000 passengers stranded around the world. Air New Zealand chief Greg Foran. Credit: Aresna Villanueva You go through a series of emotions when something like that happens, said Foran at the International Air Transport Associations annual meeting in Istanbul. Air New Zealand was forced to put on extra flights, convert its cargo flights to passenger services and call in some favours from its Star Alliance partners to get those who were displaced home safely quite the logistical exercise for a crisis-fatigued workforce. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story part of the June 11 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . The heartbreak of miscarriage is far more common than many of us realise, as its often not talked about. In Australia, it is estimated about 285 miscarriages occur every day, or one every five minutes, affecting more than 100,000 couples a year. Dr Jade Bilardi, senior research fellow at Monash University and co-founder of Miscarriage Australia, says that medically, miscarriage (the loss of a baby under 20 weeks gestation) is viewed as a routine pregnancy complication that is generally easily managed on a physical level. However, what people often dont realise is how deeply it can impact those affected on an emotional level, she says. Because we have this unwritten social rule around not disclosing pregnancies until the 12-week mark, when its considered safe to tell others, when miscarriage occurs people often dont have that support around them, which leaves them feeling even more alone and isolated in their grief and loss. Adding to this, miscarriage is often unrecognised as a loss because its unseen, with no tangible person to grieve for, and no rites and rituals to commemorate the loss. Bilardi says that consequently there can be expectations from family, friends and healthcare professionals that women should move on quickly after miscarriage. But we know that the levels of grief and loss women experience are not associated with how many weeks pregnant they are; miscarriage can be a cause of major bereavement, she says. Important during this time is that a woman receives positive emotional support from her partner, family and friends, which can help to buffer the loss. Bilardi says that for some it may be helpful to talk to a psychologist or counsellor or join an online support group where women can talk about their experience of miscarriage. Advertisement Here, three women share their stories of pregnancy loss and how they found healing. Ive reconciled with the fact that I will not have another child For Katie Parker, 42, the loss of her third child has been a process of ongoing grief. Katie Parker. Credit: Gabrielle Dennis Photography After I experienced a bleed during my third pregnancy at 12 weeks, the doctors confirmed a miscarriage when they couldnt find a heartbeat. I decided to allow the miscarriage to occur naturally rather than surgically, but I did expect the medical staff to at least provide me with a brochure about support services around miscarriage grief, which they didnt. Three days later, I was at the Seven Sisters [women-only wellbeing] Festival in Melbourne when my body began to release the pregnancy tissue without any complications. Being surrounded by like-minded women who were into holistic health, including the nurturing environment that was created by the festival, made it an even more empowering experience. Advertisement On the evening of my miscarriage, a long walk by the beach at sunset with a close friend was comforting, as she held space for me to verbalise and process my experience. Loading Back home, because of my work as a post-partum doula and completing my masters in palliative care at the time, I knew that my healing journey required practical and emotional care. Thus, I began supporting myself with lots of rest, nourishing meals, self-compassion and journalling. Friends and family further held space for me to grieve, talk and cry. Not long after my miscarriage I shared my story on a podcast I was still quite vulnerable and I listen to it every year because I find it very healing and it helps me to integrate my loss. Although its been three years, Im still grieving what my life couldve been like. We always wanted to be a family of five and even bought a house with that in mind. Every anniversary I return to the beach where I experienced the miscarriage to spend some time there alone, which helps me reflect on where Im still raw and require healing. Advertisement Ive now reconciled with the fact that I will not have another child. I feel that, at age 42, a fourth pregnancy will be too much for my body. So, Im enjoying knowing that we now have more freedom with two kids, and we can do things we love. I feel lucky to have been able to help someone else Lucy Banks, 33, found healing after her miscarriage by donating her eggs. Lucy Banks. I was devastated in 2009 when I lost my first child at 12 weeks after a routine scan revealed no heartbeat. I was 19 at the time and what made it even worse was sitting in the waiting room alone for seven hours without any support, anticipating my dilatation and curettage procedure to remove the pregnancy tissue. When I asked the nurse when I was due to go into surgery, she responded that the doctor was busy with babies who were actually alive. At such a sensitive time, I found her reply very difficult to handle. A friend gave me the number for SANDS, a not-for-profit service for bereaved parents following pregnancy loss, and I did a few sessions over the phone with a counsellor. She listened to me pour my sadness out and that was very beneficial for my grieving process. While I hadnt told anyone at work that I was pregnant, I had to have the difficult conversation about my loss with my manager, as I wanted a few days off. It just happened that one of my colleagues had a stillborn 20 years earlier and every year on her childs birthday she would take the day off. So my employers were aware of how such loss affects women, and they were equally supportive in my case. Advertisement I went on to have two boys, in 2013 and 2015. I felt nervous around both my pregnancies. I never expected any of them to be born and every routine scan was nerve-racking. Im grateful to now have two healthy children. Around that time, I had a family member who needed an egg donor. I did a lot of research and, once Id wrapped my head around the idea, I offered my eggs. But she was not comfortable having my genetic child. Still ready to donate, I found a couple through Egg Donors Australia who had also experienced child loss and found it challenging to conceive again. They went on to have two children and we keep in touch through social media. I feel lucky to have been able to help someone else create their family after having my own babies and also after first experiencing loss. I felt this heavy cloud of trauma begin to lift Pam Foster, 38, experienced two miscarriages and a stillbirth but went on to have two children. Pam Foster. Credit: Erik Bergan I experienced two consecutive miscarriages, one in 2015 and one in 2016, at 10 and 12 weeks respectively. After my first miscarriage it was hard to go back to work, even to get out of bed. Also, none of my friends knew I was pregnant, so I couldnt speak openly about my loss, which I needed to do. Advertisement Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more -- or less -- than that. While the Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SGX:Z74) share price is down 24% over half a decade, the total return to shareholders (which includes dividends) was -4.7%. That's better than the market which declined 8.5% over the same time. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. View our latest analysis for Singapore Telecommunications While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Looking back five years, both Singapore Telecommunications' share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 17% per year. The share price decline of 5% per year isn't as bad as the EPS decline. So the market may previously have expected a drop, or else it expects the situation will improve. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Singapore Telecommunications, it has a TSR of -4.7% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective Singapore Telecommunications provided a TSR of 0.8% over the last twelve months. But that was short of the market average. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it is certainly better than the yearly loss of about 0.9% endured over half a decade. It could well be that the business is stabilizing. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Singapore Telecommunications . Of course Singapore Telecommunications may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here READING, Pa. - A high school graduate is dead after a shooting in Reading. The Reading Police Department said officers responded around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday to the area of Brookline Plaza and Pershing Boulevard for a report of shots fired. That is a few blocks away from Kenhorst Boulevard in the Oakbrook section. Police said when they arrived, a wounded man was found lying in the street. He was rushed to Reading Hospital, where he died. Berks County District Attorney John Adams said the shooting happened at a party. "At that party there was some sort of dispute, which led to gunfire," said Adams. He tells 69 News the victim graduated from Wilson High School earlier in the week. The Berks County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Chris G. Marc Nicholas, 18, of Spring Township. "Again, this is a very unfortunate loss of life of a young person, unnecessary violence and again another example of individuals who get involved in disputes and settle their disputes by the use of gunfire," said Adams. The high school posted an announcement on its website saying a 2023 graduate passed away unexpectedly. "As a community, the Wilson School District wants to express our sincerest condolences to the student's family," the High School said in part in a statement. The high school said it will provide counseling services to students requiring assistance on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon in its library. It is asking people to keep the family in their thoughts. The coroner's office said an autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Reading Police Department Investigations Division or Crime Alert Berks County. "We believe that there were a number of individuals there. We are asking for people to come forward with information," said Adams. Police said the investigation is ongoing. According to police, there is no suspect information at this time. BIRDSBORO, Pa. - A group in Birdsboro lit up the grill for a good cause today. The Blue Knights Pennsylvania Chapter 4 held its annual chicken bake. The Blue Knights is an international Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club that serves the local community. The group says they just want to give back to the community. "We generate money by functions like this and we return it to the community in the presence of a gift," said David Seidel, retired Birdsboro Police Officer. The goal for Saturday's event was to sell 300 meals. The Blue Knights take part in several charitable events each year including Toys for Tots. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Get Rating) in a research note published on Wednesday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. Separately, TheStreet downgraded American Shared Hospital Services from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Get American Shared Hospital Services alerts: American Shared Hospital Services Stock Performance Shares of NYSEAMERICAN AMS opened at $2.65 on Wednesday. American Shared Hospital Services has a 52 week low of $2.21 and a 52 week high of $3.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.31 million, a PE ratio of 12.62 and a beta of 0.86. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $2.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 3.95 and a current ratio of 3.95. Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Shared Hospital Services American Shared Hospital Services ( NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, March 24th. The company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $5.04 million during the quarter. American Shared Hospital Services had a return on equity of 5.78% and a net margin of 6.71%. A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CI Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in American Shared Hospital Services in the 4th quarter worth $470,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in American Shared Hospital Services by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 166,056 shares of the companys stock worth $467,000 after purchasing an additional 7,375 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Shared Hospital Services by 73.8% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 45,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 19,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canton Hathaway LLC boosted its stake in American Shared Hospital Services by 50.0% in the first quarter. Canton Hathaway LLC now owns 30,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. 13.25% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About American Shared Hospital Services (Get Rating) American Shared Hospital Services engages in leasing radiosurgery and radiation therapy equipment to healthcare providers. Its equipment includes Gamma Knife, PBRT, and IGRT. The Gamma Knife radiosurgery equipment is a non-invasive treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for American Shared Hospital Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Shared Hospital Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blue Capital Reinsurance (OTCMKTS:BCRHF Get Rating) and Kinsale Capital Group (NYSE:KNSL Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings for Blue Capital Reinsurance and Kinsale Capital Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get Blue Capital Reinsurance alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Blue Capital Reinsurance 0 0 0 0 N/A Kinsale Capital Group 0 2 3 0 2.60 Kinsale Capital Group has a consensus target price of $362.80, suggesting a potential upside of 1.84%. Given Kinsale Capital Groups higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Kinsale Capital Group is more favorable than Blue Capital Reinsurance. Risk & Volatility Profitability Blue Capital Reinsurance has a beta of 0.45, meaning that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kinsale Capital Group has a beta of 0.86, meaning that its stock price is 14% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Blue Capital Reinsurance and Kinsale Capital Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Blue Capital Reinsurance N/A N/A N/A Kinsale Capital Group 20.44% 28.34% 7.67% Earnings & Valuation This table compares Blue Capital Reinsurance and Kinsale Capital Groups revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Blue Capital Reinsurance N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Kinsale Capital Group $819.20 million 10.07 $159.11 million $7.90 45.09 Kinsale Capital Group has higher revenue and earnings than Blue Capital Reinsurance. Institutional and Insider Ownership 86.0% of Kinsale Capital Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Blue Capital Reinsurance shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.0% of Kinsale Capital Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Kinsale Capital Group beats Blue Capital Reinsurance on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Blue Capital Reinsurance (Get Rating) Blue Capital Reinsurance Holdings Ltd. is a reinsurance holding company, which engages in the provision of collateralized reinsurance in the property catastrophe market and invests in various insurance-linked securities. It operates through its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Blue Capital Re Ltd and Blue Capital Re ILS Ltd. The company was founded on June 24, 2013 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda. About Kinsale Capital Group (Get Rating) Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of property and casualty insurance services. It operates the Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance segment. The Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance segment provides commercial excess and surplus lines liability and property insurance products through underwriting divisions. The company was founded by Michael P. Kehoe on June 3, 2009 and is headquartered in Richmond, VA. Receive News & Ratings for Blue Capital Reinsurance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blue Capital Reinsurance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Ford Motor fair value estimate is US$18.10 Current share price of US$13.74 suggests Ford Motor is potentially 24% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 28% higher than Ford Motor's analyst price target of US$14.11 How far off is Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Ford Motor The Method We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$5.07b US$4.76b US$5.49b US$6.73b US$8.70b US$10.0b US$11.1b US$12.0b US$12.8b US$13.5b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 14.90% Est @ 11.06% Est @ 8.38% Est @ 6.50% Est @ 5.18% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 14% US$4.4k US$3.7k US$3.7k US$4.0k US$4.5k US$4.6k US$4.4k US$4.2k US$3.9k US$3.6k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$41b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 14%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$13b (1 + 2.1%) (14% 2.1%) = US$116b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$116b ( 1 + 14%)10= US$31b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$72b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$13.7, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 24% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Ford Motor as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 14%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Ford Motor Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Auto market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the American market. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Ford Motor, there are three relevant factors you should explore: Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Ford Motor (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) . Future Earnings: How does F's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI Get Rating) Stock analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of CACI International in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, June 6th. Zacks Research analyst A. Bhagat now forecasts that the information technology services provider will earn $5.08 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $5.05. The consensus estimate for CACI Internationals current full-year earnings is $18.40 per share. Get CACI International alerts: CACI International (NYSE:CACI Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The information technology services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.64 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $1.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.66 billion. CACI International had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.60%. The businesss revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $4.64 earnings per share. CACI International Stock Performance Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on CACI. StockNews.com began coverage on CACI International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of CACI International in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, CACI International currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $338.20. Shares of CACI stock opened at $317.23 on Friday. CACI International has a one year low of $245.32 and a one year high of $319.33. The company has a market capitalization of $7.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.97. The companys 50-day moving average is $304.86 and its 200 day moving average is $300.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.23. Hedge Funds Weigh In On CACI International Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC raised its position in shares of CACI International by 1,046.2% in the third quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 375,387 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $97,998,000 after buying an additional 342,637 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of CACI International by 30.3% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 604,767 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $179,180,000 after purchasing an additional 140,710 shares in the last quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC increased its holdings in shares of CACI International by 2,850.9% in the first quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 50,165 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $14,862,000 after purchasing an additional 48,465 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in CACI International by 15.2% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 366,123 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $108,475,000 after buying an additional 48,439 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Channing Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in CACI International during the first quarter worth $12,950,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.08% of the companys stock. CACI International Company Profile (Get Rating) CACI International, Inc operates as holding company, which engages in the provision of information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for intelligence, defense, and federal civilian customers. It operates through the Domestic Operations and International Operations segment. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CACI International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CACI International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Get Rating) by 26.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 409,652 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 84,830 shares during the quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $45,185,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Corrado Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. My Personal CFO LLC lifted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 15,000.0% during the 4th quarter. My Personal CFO LLC now owns 302 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $262,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. Koesten Hirschmann & Crabtree INC. bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Red Tortoise LLC bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.49% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,500 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.11, for a total transaction of $290,275.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 29,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,398,771.92. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Exxon Mobil Stock Performance Shares of NYSE XOM traded down $0.80 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $107.39. The company had a trading volume of 12,252,531 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,388,672. The company has a market capitalization of $434.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.09. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 1 year low of $80.69 and a 1 year high of $119.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $110.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $110.03. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $86.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.07 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 31.48% and a net margin of 15.06%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.07 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.59 earnings per share for the current year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is 24.64%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Exxon Mobil from $118.00 to $122.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $145.00 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $125.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price target on Exxon Mobil from $147.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Exxon Mobil has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $125.52. Exxon Mobil Company Profile (Get Rating) Exxon Mobil Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and distribution of oil, gas, and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical. The Upstream segment produces crude oil and natural gas. The Downstream segment manufactures and trades petroleum products. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of China Resources Cement (OTCMKTS:CARCY Get Rating) from an underperform rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. China Resources Cement Price Performance Shares of China Resources Cement stock opened at $13.19 on Wednesday. China Resources Cement has a 52-week low of $13.19 and a 52-week high of $18.18. The company has a 50 day moving average of $14.41 and a 200 day moving average of $14.73. The company has a market capitalization of $3.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.02 and a beta of 0.11. Get China Resources Cement alerts: China Resources Cement Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a $0.0304 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a yield of 2.73%. China Resources Cements dividend payout ratio is currently 1.83%. About China Resources Cement China Resources Cement Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in manufacture and sale of cement, concrete, and related products and services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. It operates through Cement and Concrete segments. The company engages in the excavation of limestone; and production, sale, and distribution of cement, clinker, and concrete. See Also Receive News & Ratings for China Resources Cement Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Resources Cement and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Rating) had its price target hoisted by HSBC from $275.00 to $280.00 in a report issued on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on STZ. Roth Mkm raised Constellation Brands from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $216.00 to $270.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. StockNews.com started coverage on Constellation Brands in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Barclays dropped their price target on Constellation Brands from $279.00 to $277.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Roth Capital raised Constellation Brands from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, April 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $256.45. Get Constellation Brands alerts: Constellation Brands Stock Performance STZ opened at $241.61 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $230.48 and its 200-day moving average is $229.48. The stock has a market cap of $44.28 billion, a PE ratio of -473.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. Constellation Brands has a twelve month low of $208.12 and a twelve month high of $261.32. Constellation Brands Increases Dividend Constellation Brands ( NYSE:STZ Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 6th. The company reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.12. Constellation Brands had a positive return on equity of 20.48% and a negative net margin of 0.70%. The firm had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.37 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Constellation Brands will post 11.66 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 4th were issued a $0.89 dividend. This is a positive change from Constellation Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 3rd. Constellation Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently -698.03%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Constellation Brands news, Director Richard Sands sold 3,858,476 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total value of $862,485,140.28. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 20,488,818 shares in the company, valued at $4,579,865,487.54. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Richard Sands sold 3,858,476 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total value of $862,485,140.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 20,488,818 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,579,865,487.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Business Holdings Lp Ajb sold 650,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total transaction of $145,294,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,365,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $752,338,273.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 16.19% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 1st quarter worth about $705,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in Constellation Brands by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 17,026 shares of the companys stock worth $3,921,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Constellation Brands by 17.6% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,149 shares of the companys stock worth $725,000 after purchasing an additional 471 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Constellation Brands by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,601,280 shares of the companys stock worth $2,902,327,000 after purchasing an additional 313,344 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 1st quarter worth about $257,000. Institutional investors own 84.87% of the companys stock. Constellation Brands Company Profile (Get Rating) Constellation Brands, Inc engages in the production, marketing, and distribution of beer, wine, and spirits. It operates through the following segments: Beer, Wine and Spirits, Corporate Operations and Other, and Canopy. The Beer segment includes imported and craft beer brands. The Wine and Spirits segment sells wine brands across all categories-table wine, sparkling wine, and dessert wine-and across all price points. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Thursday, The Fly reports. They currently have $65.00 price objective on the casino operators stock, down from their prior price objective of $69.00. Several other brokerages also recently commented on LVS. Roth Mkm raised their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $64.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.25. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Las Vegas Sands Stock Up 1.1 % Las Vegas Sands stock opened at $58.48 on Thursday. Las Vegas Sands has a 1-year low of $30.14 and a 1-year high of $65.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -81.22, a P/E/G ratio of 6.84 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $59.27 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.26. Insider Buying and Selling Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The casino operator reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.11. Las Vegas Sands had a negative net margin of 10.42% and a negative return on equity of 10.21%. The business had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.83 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.40) EPS. Las Vegas Sandss revenue was up 124.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Las Vegas Sands will post 1.82 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, Director Charles D. Forman sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.17, for a total value of $947,550.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 205,984 shares in the company, valued at $13,012,009.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.91% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Amalgamated Bank raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 87,554 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $3,285,000 after purchasing an additional 1,264 shares during the period. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter worth $334,000. Allworth Financial LP grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 17.9% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,385 shares of the casino operators stock worth $67,000 after buying an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 38,470 shares of the casino operators stock worth $1,849,000 after buying an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 28,347 shares of the casino operators stock worth $1,363,000 after buying an additional 691 shares in the last quarter. 39.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Las Vegas Sands (Get Rating) Las Vegas Sands Corp. engages in the development of destination properties. The firm operates through the Macao and Singapore geographical segments. The Macao segment handles the operations of The Venetian Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Macao, and Sands Macao. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rollins (NYSE:ROL Get Rating) is one of 59 publicly-traded companies in the Personal Services industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Rollins to similar businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, valuation and profitability. Volatility and Risk Rollins has a beta of 0.66, indicating that its share price is 34% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Rollins rivals have a beta of 0.99, indicating that their average share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Rollins alerts: Profitability This table compares Rollins and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Rollins 13.77% 31.07% 17.82% Rollins Competitors -18.54% -33.58% -1.90% Dividends Analyst Ratings Rollins pays an annual dividend of $0.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. Rollins pays out 67.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Personal Services companies pay a dividend yield of 1.0% and pay out 114.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Rollins has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. Rollins is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Rollins and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Rollins 0 2 3 0 2.60 Rollins Competitors 203 918 1444 64 2.52 Rollins currently has a consensus target price of $44.17, suggesting a potential upside of 8.25%. As a group, Personal Services companies have a potential upside of 13.98%. Given Rollins rivals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Rollins has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Rollins and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Rollins $2.76 billion $368.60 million 52.99 Rollins Competitors $610.86 million $23.14 million 279.11 Rollins has higher revenue and earnings than its rivals. Rollins is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Insider & Institutional Ownership 39.0% of Rollins shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 41.7% of shares of all Personal Services companies are owned by institutional investors. 4.7% of Rollins shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 23.8% of shares of all Personal Services companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Rollins beats its rivals on 9 of the 15 factors compared. About Rollins (Get Rating) Rollins, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife. It also provides workplace pest control solutions for customers across various end markets, such as healthcare, foodservice, and logistics. In addition, the company offers termite protection services and ancillary services. It serves clients directly, as well as through franchisee operations. Rollins, Inc. was incorporated in 1948 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Receive News & Ratings for Rollins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rollins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dollarama (TSE:DOL Get Rating) had its price objective hoisted by Stifel Nicolaus from C$94.00 to C$96.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Several other research analysts have also commented on DOL. Desjardins reiterated a buy rating on shares of Dollarama in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. CIBC lifted their price target on Dollarama from C$84.00 to C$89.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Dollarama from C$93.00 to C$95.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. National Bankshares lifted their price target on Dollarama from C$92.00 to C$93.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Dollarama from C$95.00 to C$98.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$92.55. Get Dollarama alerts: Dollarama Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of Dollarama stock opened at C$83.03 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of C$23.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.08, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.73. The business has a 50-day moving average price of C$83.27 and a 200-day moving average price of C$81.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 14,849.75. Dollarama has a twelve month low of C$70.12 and a twelve month high of C$85.88. Dollarama Announces Dividend Dollarama ( TSE:DOL Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 7th. The company reported C$0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.58 by C$0.05. The firm had revenue of C$1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$1.24 billion. Dollarama had a return on equity of 2,563.29% and a net margin of 15.87%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Dollarama will post 3.5383283 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.071 per share. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. Dollaramas dividend payout ratio is presently 10.14%. Insider Activity In other news, Senior Officer Johanne Choiniere sold 8,482 shares of Dollarama stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$80.63, for a total transaction of C$683,862.10. Insiders own 3.97% of the companys stock. Dollarama Company Profile (Get Rating) Dollarama Inc operates a chain of dollar stores in Canada. Its stores offer general merchandise, consumables, and seasonal products. The company also sells its products through online store. As of July 31, 2022, it operated 1,444 stores. The company was formerly known as Dollarama Capital Corporation and changed its name to Dollarama Inc in September 2009. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Dollarama Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dollarama and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Taylor Wimpey plc (OTCMKTS:TWODF Get Rating) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the nine brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $130.20. TWODF has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 114 ($1.42) to GBX 111 ($1.38) in a report on Monday, March 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 128 ($1.59) to GBX 130 ($1.62) in a report on Friday, May 26th. Barclays increased their price target on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 125 ($1.55) to GBX 131 ($1.63) in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 120 ($1.49) to GBX 130 ($1.62) in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, HSBC raised Taylor Wimpey from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Get Taylor Wimpey alerts: Taylor Wimpey Price Performance Shares of TWODF opened at $1.57 on Friday. Taylor Wimpey has a one year low of $0.95 and a one year high of $1.61. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $1.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.40. Taylor Wimpey Company Profile Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Taylor Wimpey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taylor Wimpey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL Get Rating) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the fourteen ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $435.38. TYL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and issued a $475.00 price objective on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Barclays increased their price objective on Tyler Technologies from $370.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Tyler Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $301.00 to $424.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on Tyler Technologies from $370.00 to $376.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Tyler Technologies from $440.00 to $470.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Get Tyler Technologies alerts: Tyler Technologies Stock Performance Shares of TYL opened at $388.67 on Tuesday. Tyler Technologies has a 1 year low of $281.11 and a 1 year high of $425.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $380.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $344.80. The firm has a market cap of $16.29 billion, a PE ratio of 106.19 and a beta of 0.83. Insider Transactions at Tyler Technologies Tyler Technologies ( NYSE:TYL Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The technology company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $471.85 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $473.66 million. Tyler Technologies had a net margin of 8.31% and a return on equity of 9.02%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Tyler Technologies will post 5.6 EPS for the current year. In other news, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 838 shares of Tyler Technologies stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $326.37, for a total transaction of $273,498.06. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 18,456 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,023,484.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman John S. Marr, Jr. sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $392.78, for a total transaction of $2,749,460.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 39,138 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,372,623.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 838 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $326.37, for a total value of $273,498.06. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 18,456 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,023,484.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 22,743 shares of company stock valued at $8,617,334 in the last quarter. Insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in TYL. Atomi Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Tyler Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at $257,000. ProShare Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 12.8% during the first quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 12,051 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $4,274,000 after buying an additional 1,371 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Tyler Technologies in the first quarter worth about $50,012,000. Toroso Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Tyler Technologies by 8.3% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 1,453 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $515,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares during the period. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC bought a new position in Tyler Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $79,000. 89.45% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Tyler Technologies Company Profile (Get Rating) Tyler Technologies, Inc provides integrated information management solutions and services for the public sector. It operates in two segments, Enterprise Software, and Platform Technologies. The company offers financial management solutions, including modular fund accounting systems for government agencies or not-for-profit entities; utility billing systems for the billing and collection of metered and non-metered services; products to automate city and county functions, such as municipal courts, parking tickets, equipment and project costing, animal and business licenses, permits and inspections, code enforcement, citizen complaint tracking, ambulance billing, fleet maintenance, and cemetery records management; student information and transportation solutions for K-12 schools; and financial management systems. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tyler Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tyler Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victoria Gold (OTCMKTS:VITFF Get Rating) had its price target decreased by HC Wainwright from C$21.00 to C$20.00 in a research note published on Thursday, The Fly reports. Several other research analysts have also commented on the company. CIBC lifted their price target on Victoria Gold from C$10.00 to C$10.50 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Victoria Gold in a report on Thursday, March 30th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Get Victoria Gold alerts: Victoria Gold Trading Down 3.6 % OTCMKTS VITFF opened at $6.09 on Thursday. Victoria Gold has a 52 week low of $4.77 and a 52 week high of $11.31. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $7.07 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.59. About Victoria Gold Victoria Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, evaluation, and development of mineral properties. It project portfolio includes the Eagle Gold, Dublin Gulch, Eagle Extension, and Canalask. The company was founded on September 21, 1981 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Victoria Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Victoria Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. How much can the IRS snoop in your business without you knowing? A lot more now, after a recent Supreme Court decision that is raising privacy concerns among experts. Last month, the highest court in the nation unanimously sided with the IRS in Polselli v. Internal Revenue Service, solidifying the tax agency's ability to ask for documents or financial records of those associated with a delinquent taxpayer without notifying that third party. The decision reinforced the tax agency's capacity to get information under wraps, experts say, and gives the IRS too much power and too few limits on how that information can be used. "I think the concern would be that this allows the IRS to ultimately get access to information that purportedly is in connection with collecting taxes from taxpayer A, but then, inevitably, it is information about taxpayer B that wouldn't have otherwise been available to the IRS," Michael Sardar, tax controversy attorney and partner at Kostelanetz LLP, told Yahoo Finance. Supreme Court unanimously sided with the IRS in Polselli v. Internal Revenue Service . Dry cleaner theory Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson used the example of a dry cleaner to illustrate the potential extent of this law in the court brief. In summary, she offered the following. Think about a delinquent taxpayer who frequents a mom-and-pop dry cleaner. If the IRS believes that financial records from the dry cleaner could help in tax collection, the agency could issue summons to the dry cleaner's bank for years and years of financial statements without even notifying the shop owners. In this scenario, the shop owners are powerless to object to the collection request. "It is really important to give a chance for somebody to go to court and say, 'wait, I am that dry cleaner, which is just an innocent third party who's just doing regular business,'" Tyler Martinez, senior attorney at National Taxpayers Union Foundation, told Yahoo Finance. The ruling also lacked clarity on how widely the IRS can use information obtained. Although the court's brief said the agency can only use the summons against the taxpayer concerned in the summons, experts worry that the IRS could use the same request as the pretext for another case. "While the summons is supposed to be about Taxpayer A, if the IRS find something fishy in a third-party's records, then the worry is that the IRS will use that information to launch yet another investigation into another taxpayer," Martinez said. Although Sardar did note that there are safeguards within the IRS to prevent the crossing over of information from different cases, he acknowledges that typical bank records are not privileged information. A close up of a file folder stamped "Confidential" rests on top of an IRS Form 1040 document. Another concern is simply the question of privacy. "I think generally judges are worried about people gaming the system to not pay taxes. I don't think that that should be the attitude of judges, Martinez said. "They should treat this like any other law enforcement context where you would need to give notice and let people defend their privacy rights in court. Certainly when they're a third party." "From a privacy concern about what information we want the IRS to have, one would have hoped the court would have been a little bit more attentive to that side of things," Sardar added. Polselli vs Internal Revenue Service The whole drama began when an IRS agent suspected Remo Polselli, a taxpayer who owed the IRS $2 million in unpaid taxes and penalties, was hiding assets under his business ventures. The officer turned to Polselli's law firm, where he has long been a client, and unsuccessfully requested documentation including invoices, billing statements, canceled checks, and wire transfers. The officer then summoned banks for financial records concerning Poselli, Poselli's wife, and his law firm. The law firms filed a federal suit to block the requests after learning about the summons from their banks. However, the court concluded that because no notice was required, the law firm therefore could not block the request. "The key is if you don't have notice, you don't have an opportunity to move to quash it," Sardar said. "It's kind of a big deal, the IRS is able to get records about you and you don't even have a notice about it." When notice is required The exterior of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington, on March 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) An important distinction that the Supreme Court made in this case is that the IRS may issue a summons to help determine taxes due, but it must provide notices to do so, according to IRC 7609(a)(1). But if the summons is to help collect that balance, no notice is required, according to IRC 7609 (c)(2)(D). The decision helps the agency in collecting unpaid taxes in two ways. First, taxpayers or their associates can't squash a request because they dont know it exists, and second, ill-intentioned debtors can't move their assets under someone else's name. "What sometimes happens in tax collection cases is taxpayers start to do creative things, so that the money is not in their name," Sardar said, "so I'm not shocked or terribly upset that this decision is what it is." But Sardar still thinks the ruling could have been more precise to address the third-party privacy concerns. "Personally, I am disappointed," he said. "I would have hoped that there would be more consideration." Rebecca Chen is a reporter for Yahoo Finance and previously worked as an investment tax certified public accountant (CPA). Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Pinterest, Inc. (NYSE:PINS Get Rating) Research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q3 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Pinterest in a research report issued on Tuesday, June 6th. Zacks Research analyst A. Chatterjee now anticipates that the company will earn ($0.06) per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of ($0.07). The consensus estimate for Pinterests current full-year earnings is ($0.09) per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Pinterests Q4 2023 earnings at $0.12 EPS, FY2023 earnings at ($0.19) EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at ($0.12) EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at ($0.07) EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at ($0.03) EPS, FY2024 earnings at ($0.13) EPS and FY2025 earnings at ($0.12) EPS. Get Pinterest alerts: Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Pinterest in a research note on Wednesday. They issued an equal weight rating and a $23.00 price objective on the stock. Rosenblatt Securities lifted their price target on shares of Pinterest from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price objective on shares of Pinterest from $28.00 to $23.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Loop Capital decreased their target price on shares of Pinterest from $32.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Pinterest in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $27.96. Pinterest Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of Pinterest stock opened at $23.87 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $24.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.18. The company has a market capitalization of $16.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -53.04 and a beta of 0.99. Pinterest has a 12-month low of $16.77 and a 12-month high of $29.27. Pinterest (NYSE:PINS Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.17) by $0.04. The company had revenue of $602.58 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $593.96 million. Pinterest had a negative return on equity of 4.83% and a negative net margin of 10.58%. Institutional Trading of Pinterest Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PINS. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of Pinterest by 372.5% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 20,073,874 shares of the companys stock valued at $487,394,000 after purchasing an additional 15,825,757 shares during the last quarter. Elliott Investment Management L.P. lifted its holdings in Pinterest by 200.0% during the third quarter. Elliott Investment Management L.P. now owns 15,000,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $349,500,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000,000 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in Pinterest by 627.8% during the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 10,282,402 shares of the companys stock worth $239,583,000 after purchasing an additional 8,869,542 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Pinterest by 262.8% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 11,515,600 shares of the companys stock worth $283,399,000 after purchasing an additional 8,341,222 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Pinterest during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $149,748,000. 71.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insider Activity at Pinterest In related news, CFO Todd R. Morgenfeld sold 60,537 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.32, for a total transaction of $1,714,407.84. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 512,820 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,523,062.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Jeffrey D. Jordan sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.87, for a total transaction of $209,025.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 191,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,343,097.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Todd R. Morgenfeld sold 60,537 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.32, for a total value of $1,714,407.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 512,820 shares in the company, valued at $14,523,062.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 155,648 shares of company stock worth $4,201,799 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 6.85% of the companys stock. Pinterest Company Profile (Get Rating) Pinterest, Inc engages in the operation of a pinboard-style photo-sharing website. It allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, and hobbies. The company was founded by Benjamin Silbermann, Paul C. Sciarra, and Evan Sharp in October 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pinterest Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinterest and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Weather Alert ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 AM CDT FOR NORTHEASTERN PULASKI...MASSAC...SOUTHERN POPE...SOUTHEASTERN JOHNSON...WEST CENTRAL LIVINGSTON...NORTH CENTRAL BALLARD AND NORTHWESTERN MCCRACKEN COUNTIES... At 742 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Vienna to Karnak to Dongola, moving east at 45 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Paducah, Metropolis, Brookport, Karnak, New Columbia, Joppa, New Grand Chain and Belknap. This includes the following highways... Interstate 24 in Kentucky between Mile Markers 1 and 4. Interstate 24 in Illinois between Mile Markers 19 and 38. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. && HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE... The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Massac County in southern Illinois... Graves County in western Kentucky... McCracken County in western Kentucky... * Until 100 PM CDT. * At 701 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Paducah, Metropolis, Lone Oak, Reidland, Brookport, Barkley Regional Airport, West Paducah, Lynnville, New Columbia, Kevil, Joppa, Water Valley, and Symsonia. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. && FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 516 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 9 COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ALEXANDER JACKSON JOHNSON MASSAC PERRY POPE PULASKI UNION WILLIAMSON IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY BALLARD CALLOWAY CARLISLE FULTON GRAVES HICKMAN LIVINGSTON LYON MARSHALL MCCRACKEN TRIGG IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI BOLLINGER CAPE GIRARDEAU MISSISSIPPI PERRY SCOTT THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BARDWELL, BENTON, CADIZ, CAIRO, CAPE GIRARDEAU, CARBONDALE, CHARLESTON, CLINTON, EDDYVILLE, GOLCONDA, HERRIN, HICKMAN, JACKSON, JONESBORO, MARBLE HILL, MAYFIELD, METROPOLIS, MOUND CITY, MURPHYSBORO, MURRAY, PADUCAH, PERRYVILLE, PINCKNEYVILLE, SIKESTON, SMITHLAND, VIENNA, AND WICKLIFFE. .Multiple rounds of thunderstorms will keep the potential for flash flooding, some significant, across the watch area through early morning. At this time, the heaviest rainfall totals are expected across far southern Illinois and the Purchase area of western Kentucky, where some locations will pick up over 5 inches of rain. Localized rainfall totals of up to 10 inches are possible and may result in significant life threatening flooding. ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be likely. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri, including the following areas, in southern Illinois, Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson. In western Kentucky, Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Graves, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenberg, Todd, Trigg, Union KY and Webster. In southeast Missouri, Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Mississippi, New Madrid, Perry MO, Ripley, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne MO. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. A few locations will experience significant life threatening flooding. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Multiple rounds of thunderstorms may produce 5 to as much as locally 10 inches of rainfall. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Move to higher ground if flooding threatens your location. Avoid flooded roadways. && Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, BorgWarner fair value estimate is US$52.87 With US$45.85 share price, BorgWarner appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Our fair value estimate is 5.8% lower than BorgWarner's analyst price target of US$56.12 In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for BorgWarner What's The Estimated Valuation? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$626.8m US$984.6m US$1.03b US$1.05b US$1.19b US$1.25b US$1.30b US$1.34b US$1.39b US$1.42b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x7 Analyst x7 Analyst x4 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 4.85% Est @ 4.03% Est @ 3.45% Est @ 3.05% Est @ 2.77% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 11% US$565 US$801 US$754 US$694 US$711 US$673 US$631 US$589 US$547 US$507 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$6.5b The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.4b (1 + 2.1%) (11% 2.1%) = US$17b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$17b ( 1 + 11%)10= US$5.9b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$12b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$45.9, the company appears about fair value at a 13% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at BorgWarner as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.474. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for BorgWarner Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Auto Components market. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the American market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. Moving On: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For BorgWarner, we've compiled three further factors you should assess: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 1 warning sign for BorgWarner we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for BWA's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Milwaukee School of Engineering President John Y. Walz at the We Energies STEM Center on campus. John Walz makes a list every day. Its the first thing he does in the morning. The list might include a schedule, ideas, and, most important, to-dos. The things that Walz, the president of Milwaukee School of Engineering, can start on that day. I know some presidents who say, I spend an hour each day just to myself in my office. I don't, Walz said. Since being inaugurated in 2017, Walz has helped draft a multi-level strategic plan and a diversity plan, and overseen the completion of several campus projects. Enrolling 2,729 students, the private downtown Milwaukee university often operates below the radar, but Walz hopes to change that by increasing enrollment, improving diversity and growing MSOEs name. One of the things that I heard a lot when I came here was MSOE. You guys are a hidden gem, Walz said. And I always say, Well, I like half of that. I like being a gem, but it doesn't help us to be hidden. MSOE focuses on engineering, business and nursing degrees. I want people to know more about who we are and what we offer, Walz said. We have a nursing school. We've had a nursing school here since 1995, and I mean people will still say, 'When did you guys add a nursing school?' Walz said that most students come to MSOE for one of three reasons: their parents went there, they have family in southeast Wisconsin or they wanted to play sports. I always say that when I meet that student from, say, California, I want to hear them say, I came here because of your great program, Walz said. I would love to be able to get to that point that people know who we are. You know, not just regionally, not just in Chicago, but nationally, that we are these outstanding programs. At a time when other universities are struggling with enrollment declines, Walz hopes to grow MSOE to around 3,000 students in the next five years. But I don't want to outgrow what makes us special. With a background at larger universities, Walz appreciates running a school where classes can be smaller and allow for more hands-on learning. From an administrative standpoint, the school also can be nimble theres less bureaucracy, fewer meetings and quicker turnaround on projects. We started a computer science degree and from the inception to having a degree was four months. That's incredible," he said, adding that larger public schools could take two years or more. Walz took journey from farm to halls of academia A Louisiana native, Walz didnt grow up participating in a robotics club or taking hands-on STEM classes. Rather, he grew up surrounded by chickens22,000 of them. Today, farms are huge, and they're all automated. My dad had four boys. That was the automation, literally, Walz said. We would come home from school, and we'd go to work, and on the weekends, we'd go to work. Walz was, however, intrigued by a cousin who was a chemical engineer. He decided to pursue the same career. I've heard people say the best engineers come off of farms because there's a little bit of 'you've-just-got-to-learn' to get by. My uncle ... give him a roll of wire and a pair of pliers and when he could fix anything with it." After finishing his undergrad at Tulane University in New Orleans, Walz took a job at Shell while he worked on his graduate degree at night at Tulane. Eventually, he moved to Pittsburgh, where he earned his doctorate at Carnegie Mellon University in 1992. I then had to make the decision, he said. I could have gone back to Shell and work for them. But I kind of got interested in the academic life and I thought, let me give it a shot. He went back to Tulane to teach, working his way up academic and administrative positions at Yale, Virginia Tech and the University of Kentucky. The transition to administration was not something Walz had planned. My wife said they line all the faculty up and say, Who wants to be the department chair, take a step forward, and everyone took a step back, Walz said. I knew a guy who was a grad student and he said, My goal is to be a university president one day and he is but I thought, Man, how can you think about that when you're 24 years old. That certainly wasn't on my radar. I just wanted to be a scientist in a lab. Despite spending most of his professional life in academia, Walz struggled in college at first. I remember my first calculus class and the professor was saying, How many of you know this? and everyone knew it, Walz recalled. Not me I remember this very vividly I thought Oh my god, I'm in trouble. Its a story he still tells new college students, reminding them that they might no longer be the smartest kid in the room, but not to get despondent. A number of changes have remade the campus When Walz was inaugurated in 2017, MSOE was developing a master plan to "feel more like a campus," he said at the time. Since then, MSOE has spent more than $100 million on campus developments. That includes such projects as the Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, which opened in 2019; the expansion of the Ruehlow Nursing Complex in 2020; the renovation and expansion of Hermann Viets Memorial Tower, a residence hall, in 2021; and the new Raiders Field softball stadium, which opened in April. Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, left, University Terrace, middle, and the Hermann Viets Memorial Tower, a residence hall, right, have added new life to the MSOE campus. Also opening between 2020 and 2022 were the Robert Spitzer Dining Commons at the Campus Center; a renovated Welcome Center at the Campus Center; and the University Terrace, a plaza and green space between Diercks Hall and Viets Tower. One of the things that was a big priority for me was the value of our residence halls because I had seen from my previous job how residence halls can be more than just buildings with beds and bathrooms. They can be great environments; they can be learning places, Walz said. Walz recalled his time in his college dorms and how a friend got him hooked on playing backgammon. We played backgammon continuously, he said. Walz won a campus tournament and went on to win a regional backgammon competition, irking his friends who were far more serious about it, he said. The result of all the campus development is more vitality on downtown's east side. It's also something Walz sees virtually around the clock. He lives on the MSOE campus, something that makes him feel more in touch with students and part of the campus community, but also can feel a little like a fishbowl, he said. The students are always there. I mean, sometimes Im ready to walk out the house and my wife goes, You can't go outside wearing that, Walz said. STEM center is dedicated to K-12 outreach MSOEs student body was 72% male as of 2022 and 20% minority, university enrollment data shows. Engineering is not a very diverse field, Walz said. I want to continue to push those boundaries and make our programs open, to see more and more under-represented students come here and succeed here, and do well here. One project that adds to the campus feel of MSOE as well as its diversity is the We Energies STEM Center which opened in 2021. The center is dedicated to K-12 outreach. The STEM Center offers coding classes, robotics workshops and artificial intelligence classes, among other programs to give younger students experience in STEM, and bring diverse groups together to learn. As a result of the center, which was funded through corporate donors, MSOE has been able to increase the number of students it interacts with in the community from about 1,000 annually to nearly 6,000, according to Walz. Most of the centers events are free of charge for students and some cater to specific under-represented groups like women. I think having those spaces where girls can meet other girls who are interested in STEM, but also see a college student, see a professional, and kind of see the trajectory that they could be on as a female, is really important, said Elizabeth Taylor, MSOE director of STEM outreach. The center can bring together kids from the suburbs, north side and south side, who usually wouldnt end up in the same spaces. We had a middle school summer program, and the engineering challenge was to come up with a shoe that does something cool for your community, Taylor said. One student designed shoes that made you fly but also have little buckets on the bottom to pick up litter because his neighborhood suffers from a lot of litter issues. Another kid was like, Why would you have shoes that pick up garbage? And he said No, in my neighborhood, trash is a huge problem. Seeing two kids who live 20 miles apart, if that, share their experiences was really cool. The outreach is something Walz is particularly proud of, adding that it can be a highlight of his daily walk around campus. At night it's all lit up and all the students in there are working on projects. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MSOE president wants to raise the profile of Milwaukee's 'hidden gem' In this article, we look at the military spending by country and create a list of the top 20 NATO countries that spend the highest on defense expenditure. To skip our detailed analysis, head directly to NATO Military Spending by Country: Top 5 Countries. Global military spending has reached a record high with $2.2 trillion spent on defense expenditure in 2022, with Europe seeing its steepest rise in 30 years amid Russias invasion of Ukraine. The three largest military spenders, the United States, China, and Russia, accounted for 56% of the world total. Military spending from NATO members increased by 0.9% from 2021, to a total of $1.2 trillion in 2022. These statistics were published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIRPI) in April this year. The surge in spending has created a boom for the armament manufacturing industry. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) reported net sales of $66 billion and a net profit of $5.7 billion in 2022. Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX)s net earnings for the year ended March 2023 were $14.1 billion an increase of 8.90% from last year. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) also announced that its profits in 2022 had risen by 2.5% compared to 2021. The revenues of General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) and BAE Systems plc were also significantly higher than in the preceding year. NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an intergovernmental alliance between 31 countries with an integrated military command structure. 29 of its members are European, while two of them are North American. The alliance is sourced through direct and indirect contributions of members. NATO does not have its own armed forces. Members commit troops and equipment on a voluntary basis. There is no obligation for allies to contribute, unless Article 5 of the treaty is invoked, which calls for collective defense. NATOs 2% Defense Expenditure Goal Defense Ministers of NATO countries in 2006 agreed for their countries to commit at least 2% of their GDP on defense expenditure. This decision was made to ensure NATOs military readiness. By 2014, only three allies were meeting this goal. That number is now up to seven. The change has been driven by calls from the United States urging allies to increase defense spending by country to meet NATOs target. The United States is the biggest military spender in the world. According to a report released by NATO this year, the U.S. is estimated to have spent more than $821 billion on defense expenditure in 2022 the highest amount in the world, which is close to 40% of all global spending on defense in that year, and nearly three times higher than the amount spent by China, the worlds second biggest military spender. Another significant factor behind more NATO members increasing military spending is that European governments are actively taking measures to strengthen their defense following Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014, and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This is discussed in detail in our article, 20 Strongest Militaries in Europe. Germany, for instance, has announced to commit $112 billion to a special fund to bolster its armed forces and meet NATOs spending target of 2% over the next few years. German lawmakers approved an order for 35 F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), with the first set of planes set to arrive in 2027. This is one of the series of contracts, worth $13.8 billion, that were approved by the parliament last year. While governments that are part of NATO are taking steps to increase their military spending as share of GDP, only seven countries are meeting the target of 2%, and a vast majority are falling well below the goal. Luxembourg (0.62%), Spain (1.09%), Belgium (1.18%), Slovenia (1.26%), and Canada (1.29%) make the bottom of our list of military spending by country for NATO members. These are the NATO countries that spend the least share of their GDP on defense, considering that Iceland does not have a military and therefore, its spending is negligible. Turkiye, which has the second largest standing army in NATO, also spends a mere 1.37% of its GDP on defense and does not make the top 20 list. NATOs Military Spending in Ukraine Members of NATO have been aggressively arming Kyiv to resist Russian advances. The United States is the largest NATO contributor to Ukraine, having spent $46.6 billion as of February 2023 in military assistance, according to data shared by the Council on Foreign Relations. By December 2022, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) had missile orders worth $950 million from Pentagon to refill stockpiles in Ukraine. Much of this amount was dedicated to the production of HIMARS and GMLRS. Earlier in the same year, Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) had been awarded a $624 million contract to build 1,300 stinger missiles for Ukraine. In January 2023, the U.S. announced to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks built by General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) in fresh military assistance to Ukraine. The United Kingdom is the second largest NATO contributor to Ukraine with over $7.5 billion pledged in military funding, followed by Germany at third. The UK announced to send 14 of its Challenger 2 tanks, while Germany said it would send 88 Leopard tanks to aid Ukraines fight against Russia. NATOs 2023 military budget is $2.1 billion dollars. The United States, United Kingdom, and Germany have pledged to contribute nearly half of it 43.9% to be precise. NATOs chief has urged member nations to increase their share of military spending to at least 2% of the GDP. Methodology We have ranked the top 20 list of military spending by country for NATO members by sorting them based on countries defense spending as percentage of GDP. This metric is directly aligned with NATOs requirement of countries having to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. The list has been prepared using data released by NATO this year on the estimated defense expenditures incurred by its members in 2022. Countries that had the same percentage of defense spending as share of GDP in 2022 were sorted based on their spending shares in the previous year. A country whose share had increased this year relative to last year outranked the country whose share of spending had decreased this year compared to last year. NATO Military Spending by Country: Top 20 Countries Photo by Kevin Schmid on Unsplash Lets look at the top 20 NATO countries with the highest military spending as a percentage of their GDP. 20. Denmark Military spending as share of GDP: 1.38% Denmark is a Scandinavian country which only spends 1.38% of its GDP on defense expenditure. The government has announced to spend about 21 billion euros in the next ten years to meet NATOs military spending by country target of 2%. Denmark is home to Terma Group, a company that produces defense systems such as command and control, radars, space technology, and aircraft self-protection systems. In 2022, it went into a contract with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to cooperate on electronic warfare training opportunities in Northern Europe. 19. Hungary Military spending as share of GDP: 1.44% The Hungarian government announced in June 2022 to raise its defense spending from $3 billion per year to $4.5 billion for 2023. Hungary has been taking active measures since 2019 to increase its military spending as percentage of GDP, which currently stands at a paltry 1.44%. In 2022, Hungary signed a deal with Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) to purchase air defense missiles worth $1 billion which was Budapests largest defense procurement ever from the United States. 18. Germany Military spending as share of GDP: 1.49% According to NATO statistics, Germany is estimated to have spent only 1.49% of its GDP on defense in 2022. However, the government in Berlin is considering a written pledge to NATO for increasing its defense spending to at least 2% of the GDP. Germany has also committed itself to contributing 319 million euros to NATOs 2023 military budget. Germany and United States, together, will be making up over 30% of the total budgetary amount of 1.96 billion euros. 17. Italy Military spending as share of GDP: 1.51% Italy is the 11th largest spender on military in the world in terms of monetary value, with a defense expenditure of $32 billion in 2022. However, this is only 1.51% of its GDP, which is over $2 trillion. Italy is fourth on the list of the 20 Strongest Militaries in Europe. Its air force has a fleet of 14 F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets and has placed an order with Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) worth $524 million in 2022 for another 18 of these jets. On the naval side, it boasts 2 aircraft carrier warships the Giuseppe Garibaldi and Cavour. 16. Bulgaria Military spending as share of GDP: 1.54% Bulgaria is estimated to have spent 1.54% of its GDP in 2022 on defense expenditure. According to a survey held by NATO this year, 83% of Bulgarians are in favor of their country increasing its military spending. The country is a key ally of the United States, which has spent over $238 million in military assistance to Bulgaria over the last five years. Eastern Europes first command and control center was built in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2004 by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC). 15. Norway Military spending as share of GDP: 1.57% Norways military spending as percentage of GDP touched NATOs 2% target in 2020 but has plummeted down to 1.57% in 2022 the lowest since 2015. Russias invasion of Ukraine has, however, forced a rethink, with the countrys prime minister announcing to raise defense spending to 2% of the GDP by 2026. In November last year, the Norwegian government entered a contract with Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) for its TPY-4 radars to boost its national defense. 14. Albania Military spending as share of GDP: 1.57% Albania had the same defense spending as share of GDP as Norway did in 2022 but outranked the latter due to its consistent growth in defense spending over the last few years. Barring a fraction of a dip in 2021, Albanias spending has grown from 1.10% of the GDP in 2016 to 1.57% of the GDP in 2022. The countrys defense minister in May 2022 announced that his country had bought anti-tank javelin missiles from Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) to strengthen the army. The cost and quantity were not disclosed. 13. North Macedonia Military spending as share of GDP: 1.61% North Macedonia is another country that is on upward trajectory as far as meeting NATOs military spending by country target of 2% is concerned. Its military spending as share of GDP has consistently grown from 0.89% in 2017 to an estimated 1.61% in 2022. According to a report in Janes, the government in Skopje has approved a budget of $292 million for defense in 2023, with the aim of modernizing the armed forces. 12. Netherlands Military spending as share of GDP: 1.64% The Dutch government announced in late 2022 that it would be spending nearly $3.5 billion in military procurement in wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. This will not only help the Netherlands strengthen its defense, but is also expected to take its military spending share as percentage of GDP to above 2% by 2024. 11. Romania Military spending as share of GDP: 1.75% Romania spent over 2% of its GDP on defense in 2020. That share is estimated to have dropped in 2022. However, the government is determined to increase military spending amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. A senior official announced in March this year that Romania plans on submitting a request to the United States in 2024 for procurement of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s F-35 fighter jets. The parliament has also approved the purchase of 54 used M1A2 Abrams tanks, manufactured by General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD), from the United States. 10. Slovak Republic Military spending as share of GDP: 1.76% Slovak Republic, also known as Slovakia, is the tenth biggest spender on military in terms of share of GDP. It is estimated by NATO to have spent 1.76% of its GDP on defense spending in 2022. This includes a $1.37 billion deal for the delivery of 152 infantry fighting vehicles from BAE Systems plc. The Slovakian government aims to achieve NATOs 2% defense spending target in 2024. 9. France Military spending as share of GDP: 1.89% France is one of the strongest militaries in the world, and Europes largest in terms of manpower. You can read more on it in our list of the most powerful militaries in the world in 2023. In 2022, France is estimated to have spent 1.89% of its GDP on military spending. French president Emmanuel Macron, this year in January, announced to raise Frances budget for 2024-2030 by 40% to get the armed forces ready for the possibility of high-intensity conflicts. Bloomberg reported recently that French aerospace group, Safran, is in talks with Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) to buy one of its flight control units for about $1 billion. 8. Croatia Military spending as share of GDP: 1.91% Croatia spent 1.91% of its GDP on defense expenditure in 2022. In December that year, the government approved procurement of French air defense system, Mistral, for $75 million. This deal followed last years purchase of Rafale jets from France worth over $1 billion, after an initial interest in Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s F-35 fighter jets. 7. Latvia Military spending as share of GDP: 2.07% We are now onto countries that met NATOs military spending target in 2022. Latvia is one of the top NATO military spenders. It is one of the seven countries that is estimated to have spent over 2% of its GDP on defense. The countrys spending ratio was a paltry 0.94% in 2014 according to statistics released by NATO. However, in the last few years, the government has increased funding to equip the military with sophisticated weapons to strengthen national security. In June this year, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced that it had modernized Latvias air defense capabilities. The project was funded by the U.S. government for three Baltic countries, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania for $14.3 million. 6. Estonia Military spending as share of GDP: 2.12% Estonia borders Russia to its east. It is estimated to have spent 2.12% of its GDP on defense in 2022. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced in April this year that her government plans to raise military spending to 3% of the GDP for 2024-2027. The countrys military spending has been above NATOs target consistently since 2015. BAE Systems plc in 2017 signed a contract with the Estonian government to support its fleet of infantry fighting vehicles, the CV9035. Click to continue reading and see NATO Military Spending by Country: Top 5 Countries. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. NATO Military Spending by Country: Top 20 Countries is originally published on Insider Monkey. 'You should never be at home': This NYU professor went viral for telling young folks that they need to be out of the house for success but his advice was blasted 'You should never be at home': This NYU professor went viral for telling young folks that they need to be out of the house for success but his advice was blasted Professor Scott Galloway of New York University is used to being the man who calls out the dinosaurs and pushes for new ways of thinking. Don't miss But when Galloway spoke recently at the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit, he sounded downright Jurassic when he said of remote work: You should never be at home. Thats what I always tell young people. Home is for seven hours of sleep and thats it You need to be out of the house. As if the pandemic never happened, right? Galloway, who teaches marketing and co-hosts the popular Pivot podcast, believes the amount of time spent at home is inversely correlated with success professionally and romantically. Yet his recent comments, since going viral, have reignited the debate over remote work, its social impact and whether older generations (Galloway is 58 years old) are out of touch with the challenges and choices of Gen Z. The Galloway fallout Galloway has some fair points. Relationships are the currency of a successful career, the professor has argued on his podcast and in media appearances. Hes also expressed concerns about the rise in loneliness and decline in mental health for young people. Yet, mental decline can be just as attributable to stress from micromanagement in the office, for example. As Galloways comments went viral on TikTok, users on the platform pushed back on the professors comments, focusing on the economic climate and costs associated with commuting. This is total BS, said one user. Hustle culture with a sprinkle of consumerism. Read more: 3 big mistakes people make with cash back credit cards that cost them every time they swipe Other comments discussed the high cost of rent and shelter to justify staying at home or the expenses associated with traveling and eating while going into the office. You step out of the house and spend $100, said one user. The cost of housing was another key factor for many in the comments section. If Im paying more than a quarter [of] monthly rent, Im enjoying my space, one user said. All this moved one BuzzFeed to observe it had never seen Gen Z and millennials come together so heated. Other TikTok commenters pointed out that online dating meant workers didnt need to go out to find relationships and that the proximity to family and pets was better for happiness and life satisfaction, even if it dragged their careers. Is remote work here to stay? Despite the pushback from some workers, several business leaders seem keen on getting workers back into the office. JP Morgan, Citibank and Goldman Sachs have all called employees back to work in recent months, while even tech companies like Snap and Tesla have clamped down on remote work. More than half (58%) of Americans work from home at least once per week, according to research by McKinsey. By 2025, 36.2 million Americans may be clocking in from the comfort of their home, according to an Upwork study. Another study found that remote work may impact collaboration, on-the-job learning and output because they were less likely to receive feedback from peers. The paper was put together by economists from Harvard, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the University of Iowa. On the other hand, a researcher from Stanford University suggests a hybrid work environment is the way to go. Coming into the office a few days a week while working from home the rest of the time could help employees collaborate and develop relationships with their co-workers without having to give up the flexibility of remote work. What to read next Here's how much money the average middle-class American household makes how do you stack up? Scrubs to riches: A California nurse just went viral showing how she paid off her student loans by 27 while making up to $500K a year here are 5 ways to build wealth without a wild salary What do Ashton Kutcher and a Nobel Prize-winning economist have in common? An investing app that turns spare change into a diversified portfolio This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. the tonga eruption, with a mushroom formation, seen from space History has seen some monstrous volcanic eruptions, from Mount Pinatubo's weather-cooling burp to the explosion of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai on the island nation of Tonga. The power of such eruptions is measured using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), a classification system developed in the 1980 that's similar to the magnitude scale for earthquakes. The scale goes from 1 to 8, and each succeeding VEI is 10 times greater than the last. There haven't been any VEI-8 volcanoes in the last 10,000 years, but human history has seen some powerful and devastating eruptions. Because it's extremely difficult for scientists to be able to rank the strength of eruptions in the same VEI category, here we present 11 of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history, meaning over the last 4,000 years, plus one VEI-8 eruption that happened in the distant past. Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, 2022 (VEI 5.7) The underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption releases plume of steam amid a lightning strike The Kingdom of Tonga, located in the South Pacific, experienced one of the biggest eruptions in recorded history in 2022. The submarine volcano first began to rumble in December 2021, the eruption started on Jan. 13, 2022 and it reached its steamy climax on Jan. 15, 2022. Because the volcano is underwater, seawater that came into contact with the erupting magma was instantly superheated. As a result, the blast, which measured a VEI 5.7, injected 50 million tons (45 million metric tons) of water vapor into the atmosphere, or enough to warm the planet for years. The blast extended for 162 miles (260 kilometers) and a pillar of ash, steam and gas stretched 12 miles (20 km) into the air, the tallest in recorded history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The giant blast released energy equivalent to more than 100 Hiroshima bombs, NASA said. Huaynaputina, 1600 (VEI 6) A distant view of Mount Huaynaputina on a sunny day This peak was the site of South America's largest volcanic eruption in recorded history, in the year 1600. The explosion sent mudflows as far as the Pacific Ocean, 75 miles (120 km) away, and appears to have affected the global climate. The summers following the 1600 eruption were some of the coldest in 500 years. Ash from the explosion buried a 20-square-mile area (50 square kilometers) to the mountain's west, which remains blanketed to this day. Story continues Although Huaynaputina, in Peru, is a lofty 16,000 feet (4,850 meters), it's somewhat sneaky as volcanoes go. It stands along the edge of a deep canyon, and its peak doesn't have the dramatic silhouette often associated with volcanoes. The 1600 cataclysm damaged the nearby cities of Arequipa and Moquengua, which only fully recovered more than a century later, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Krakatoa, 1883 (VEI 6) Anak Krakatau erupting with steam and ash The rumblings of Krakatoa (also spelled Krakatau) in the weeks and months of the summer of 1883 finally climaxed with a massive explosion on April 26 and 27. The explosive eruption of this stratovolcano, situated along a volcanic island arc at the subduction zone where the Eurasian plate meets the Indo-Australian plate, ejected huge amounts of rock, ash and pumice. The final blast was the loudest recorded sound in history, and could be heard on 10% of Earth's surface, according NOAA. The explosion also created a tsunami, whose maximum wave heights reached 140 feet (40 meters) and killed about 36,000 people. Tidal gauges more than 7,000 miles (11,000 km) away on the Arabian Peninsula even registered the increase in wave heights. While the island that once hosted Krakatoa was completely destroyed in the eruption, new eruptions beginning in December 1927 built the Anak Krakatau ("Child of Krakatau") cone in the center of the caldera produced by the 1883 eruption. Anak Krakatau sporadically comes to life, building a new island in the shadow of its parent. It last erupted in February 2022. Santa Maria, 1902 (VEI 6) Santa Maria volcano erupting with ash in 2007 The Santa Maria eruption in 1902 was one of the biggest volcanic explosions of the 20th century. Prior to the dramatic eruption, the volcano in Guatemala had been quiescent for 500 years. The blast left a large crater, nearly a mile (1.5 km) across, on the mountain's southwest flank. The symmetrical, tree-covered volcano is part of a chain of stratovolcanoes that rises along Guatemala's Pacific coastal plain. It has experienced continuous activity since its last blast, a VEI 3, which occurred in 1922. Novarupta, 1912 (VEI 6) Black and white photo of Katmai valley, alaska cliffs, 10 years after Novarupta eruption The Novarupta eruption was the largest volcanic blast of the 20th century. The Novarupta volcano formed on the slope of the Trident Volcano complex. The volcano was part of a chain that dots the southern Alaska Peninsula and is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The powerful eruption sent 3 cubic miles (12.5 cubic kilometers) of magma and ash into the air, which fell to cover an area of 3,000 square miles (7,800 square km) in ash more than a foot deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In Kodiak Alaska, nearly 100 miles (160 km) away, the air was so thick with ash that a lantern held at arm's length could barely be seen for 60 hours after the giant blast, according to the National Park Service. Pyroclastic flows after the eruption created the smoky, volcanically active region known as the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, which is peppered with fumaroles. Mount Pinatubo, 1991 (VEI 6) Mud and lahars from Mt. Pinatubo bury villages Mount Pinatubo is a stratovolcano in Luzon, Philippines. It is part of a volcanic arc created along a subduction zone where the Philippine and Eurasian plates meet. The cataclysmic eruption of Pinatubo was a classic explosive eruption. The eruption ejected more than 1 cubic mile (5 cubic kilometers) of material into the air and created a column of ash that rose up 22 miles (35 km) in the atmosphere. Ash fell across the countryside, even piling up so much that some roofs collapsed under the weight. The blast also spewed millions of tons of sulfur dioxide and other particles into the air, which were spread around the world by air currents and caused global temperatures to drop by about 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.5 degree Celsius) over the course of the following year. Yet despite being a giant eruption in a heavily populated region, it wasn't as deadly as it might have been, thanks to good evacuation plans and round-the-clock monitoring. Ambrym Island, A.D. 50 (VEI 6 +) Top view of lava lake in Marum Crater, Vanuatu Nearly 2,000 years ago, the 257-square-mile (665-square-km) volcanic island of Ambrym, in what is now part of the tiny South Pacific Republic of Vanuatu, experienced one of the most impressive eruptions in history. It sent a wave of scalding ash and dust down the mountain and formed a caldera 7.5 miles (12 km) wide, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Since that eruption, Ambrym's Marum caldera has continued to be one of the most active in the world. It has erupted close to 50 times since 1774, according to the USGS. In 1894, several people were killed by volcanic bombs and four people were overtaken by lava flows, and in 1979, acid rainfall caused by the volcano burned some inhabitants. Ilopango Volcano, A.D. 431 (VEI 6 +) An aerial view of the lake atop Mount Ilopango. Although this mountain in central El Salvador, just a few miles east of the capital city San Salvador, has experienced only two eruptions in its history, the first known eruption, in roughly A.D. 431, was a doozy. It blanketed much of central and western El Salvador with pumice and ash, and destroyed early Mayan cities, forcing inhabitants to flee, according to the Smithsonian Institution. In a 2020 study in the journal PNAS , scientists precisely dated the eruption and determined it produced about 0.9 F (0.5 C) of cooling for a few years. The blast likely contributed to the disruption of trade routes and the shift of the Mayan civilization from the highland areas of El Salvador to lowland areas to the north and in Guatemala. The summit's caldera is now home to one of El Salvador's largest lakes. Mount Thera, approx. 1610 B.C. (VEI 7) A view from space of Santorini and Mt. Thera Geologists think that the Greek island volcano Thera exploded with the energy of several hundred atomic bombs in a fraction of a second. Though it occurred during recorded history, there are no written descriptions of the eruption. Still, because the island was populated at the time, geologists think it could be the strongest explosion ever witnessed by modern humans. Mount Thera's eruption was four or five times more massive than Krakatoa and blew massive hole in Santorini, the island in the Aegean Sea that hosted the volcano. At the time, the Minoan civilization flourished on the island. Some evidence suggests that the inhabitants of the island suspected the volcano was going to blow its top and evacuated. But though those residents might have escaped, some archaeologists believe the volcano severely disrupted the culture, with tsunamis and temperature declines caused by the massive amounts of sulfur dioxide it spewed into the atmosphere that altered the climate. Changbaishan Volcano, A.D. 1000 (VEI 7) A view from the sky of Changbaishan volcano Changbaishan, also known as Baitoushan Volcano, straddles the border of China and North Korea. A massive eruption a millennium ago spewed volcanic material as far away as northern Japan, a distance of approximately 750 miles (1,200 kilometers). The eruption also created a large caldera nearly 3 miles (4.5 km) across and a half-mile (0.8 km) deep at the mountain's summit. It is now filled with the waters of Lake Tianchi, or Sky Lake, which is shared by both China and North Korea. The picturesque body of water is now a popular tourist destination both for its natural beauty and alleged sightings of unidentified creatures living in its depths. The volcano last erupted in 1702, and geologists consider it to be dormant. Gas emissions were reported from the summit and nearby hot springs in 1994, but no evidence of renewed activity of the volcano was observed. Mount Tambora, 1815 (VEI 7) Mount Tambora from the sky, shrouded in clouds The explosion of Mount Tambora is the largest ever recorded by humans, ranking a 7 (or "super-colossal") on the VEI, the second-highest rating in the index. The volcano, which is still active, is one of the tallest peaks in the Indonesian archipelago. The eruption reached its peak in April 1815, when it exploded so loudly that it was heard on Sumatra Island, more than 1,200 miles (1,930 km) away. The death toll from the eruption was estimated at more than 11,000 due to direct exposure to pyroclastic flows. However, the eruption unleashed food shortages that lasted over the next decade, ultimately killing 100,000 people, according to the NOAA. Yellowstone eruption, 640,000 years ago (VEI 8) A landscape shot of the Yellowstone volcanic supervolcano in the distance The entire Yellowstone National Park is an active volcano rumbling beneath visitors' feet. And though it hasn't erupted dramatically in recorded history, it does have an incredibly violent past: Three magnitude-8 eruptions rocked the area as far back as 2.1 million years ago, again 1.2 million years ago and most recently 640,000 years ago. "Together, the three catastrophic eruptions expelled enough ash and lava to fill the Grand Canyon," according to the USGS. In fact, scientists discovered a humongous blob of magma stored beneath Yellowstone, a blob that if released could fill the Grand Canyon 11 times over. The latest of the trio of supervolcano eruptions created the park's huge crater, measuring 30 by 45 miles across (48 by 72 km). Yellowstone is probably The chance of such a supervolcano eruption happening today is about 1 in 700,000 every year, Robert Smith, a seismologist at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, previously told Live Science. So are we overdue for an eruption from this supervolcano? Not really. Though Yellowstone last erupted around 70,000 years ago, magma conditions don't indicate this monster is likely to blow anytime soon. Edwin Chandler was wrongly convicted in 1995 of manslaughter and robbery and spent nine years in prison and another seven on parole while still branded as a felon. Since 1983, 27 Kentuckians have been exonerated after spending a combined 250 years behind bars an average of nine years each for crimes they did not commit. The longest was locked up for 28 years. Seven were from Jefferson County. On Thursday, three exonerees urged the General Assemblys Interim Judiciary Committee to join 38 states that by law offer compensation to people who are wrongfully convicted. The three, all from Louisville, testified about the pain they suffered while in prison and the hardships they suffered searching for jobs after they were released and even after they were exonerated. Mike Von Allmen told how he was locked up 13 years after he was wrongly convicted in 1983 in the abduction and rape of a woman because of mistaken identity. He held up a photograph of the actual rapist as he told the committee how he was unable to find his trade as a plumber after he we was paroled after serving 11 years of his 30-year sentence because of his conviction. This is not a bill that should have any opposition, he said. Ask your constituents if they were wrongly jailed for one day, wouldnt they expect compensation? More: Slap on the hand: How LMPD officers involved in egregious misconduct remain on the force Edwin Chandler, who was wrongly convicted in 1995 of manslaughter and robbery and spent nine years in prison and another seven on parole while still branded as a felon, told how he suffers from post-stress disorder and had a panic attack while mowing his lawn in which he imagined prison walls closing in around him. Chandler was cleared after new technology identified fingerprints on a beer bottle left at the scene as belonging to another man, and new evidence showed that corrupt Detective Mark Handy coerced a statement from Chandler and taped over a surveillance video that could have pointed to the real killer. Handy pleaded guilty to perjury and was sentenced to one year in prison. A third witness, Johnetta Carr, told the committee how she was 16 years old when she was interrogated by police for 11 hours until they coerced a false confession from her that she had killed a boyfriend. She was convicted in 2008 and freed and exonerated after four years in custody. Story continues Under HB 571, exonerees who could show they were actually innocent would be eligible for damages from the state of $65,000 for each year they were wrongly incarcerated or $75,000 for every year on death row. The bill would pay $25,000 for every year they were on parole as well as $25,000 for legal expenses and costs. The compensation would be available if their conviction was reversed or vacated or if they were pardoned, but Rep. Jason Nemes,R-33rd, the bills chief sponsor, said the pardon would have to be based on their innocence, rather than other factors. Under the bill, exonerees would still be able to sue local or state police for violations of their civil rights, but if they recovered a verdict or settlement greater than their state compensation they would be required to reimburse the state for the difference. Suzanne Hopf, a staff attorney in the Department of Public Advocacy and director of the Kentucky Innocence Project, said compensation is a part of making exonerees feel whole again." In an email, Nemes noted that if the compensation bill passes, compensation would be available even if there was no proof of misconduct or wrongdoing by law enforcement. That contrasts with a civil suit, in which the plaintiff would have to prove misconduct. Chandler received an $8.5 million settlement from Louisville Metro to settle his wrongful arrest lawsuit, and the estate of William Virgil, who served 28 years before he was exonerated in Campbell County, got $28 million. Committee members seemed to support the legislation and asked only procedural questions about it. Addressing the witnesses and other exonerees in the audience, Rep. Daniel Elliott, a Republican who represents Boyle and Casey counties and who chaired the hearing, said, I dont dont know what to say to you other than Im sorry. Also read: 'What in the world is going on'? See video of crazy long TSA lines at Louisville's airport Reporter Andrew Wolfson can be reached at (502) 396-5853 or awolfson@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky urged to pass HB 571, compensation for wrongful convictions EXCLUSIVE: A documentary maker involved in a car accident in Ukraine with presenter Clive Myrie has commenced legal action against the BBC and warned that the UK broadcaster is not doing enough to protect freelancers in warzones. Nick Sturdee suffered a life-changing brain injury and had his spleen removed after a tire exploded on his armored vehicle, causing it to turn over four times and hit a tree. He was filming the BBC documentary Ukraines Musical Freedom Fighters With Clive Myrie. More from Deadline Sturdee, a 53-year-old Russian-speaking journalist, has instructed personal injury lawyer Helen Clifford to lodge a particulars of claim with the BBC as he seeks compensation. His injuries have prevented him from working in Ukraine since the accident, but the BBC has provided some financial support and a contract on its Ukrainecast podcast. It is exactly a year since colleagues and I had a bad accident in Ukraine making a BBC doc about the superb Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, he said. Police blamed the poorly maintained state of our vehicle. I had multiple injuries, including to my brain. A neurosurgeon recently said my brain injury is permanent, and Ill have lifelong pre-disposition to seizures. My family has been through a lot. But were still here, grateful for what we have. Myrie, one of the BBCs best-known news presenters, emerged from the accident relatively unscathed. Nick Sturdee Sturdee, who has made films for the BBC in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine, said his accident raised concerns about the corporations insurance arrangements for freelancers working in some of the most dangerous places in the world. The journalist was shocked to discover that he was not fully insured by the BBC following his accident. The BBC has for decades offered emergency medical cover to staff and freelancers in the field, which the broadcaster argued is tantamount to insurance and similar to policies offered by rivals. Story continues But Sturdee said that this does not cover him for loss of earnings after his injuries have limited his capacity to work. He believes that the BBC would have to acknowledge negligence to offer compensation, which may not have been the case had he been insured under a third-party policy. The BBCs insurance arrangements state that freelancers are expected to have their own personal accident insurance, but Sturdee said that the corporation had failed to communicate this effectively. The BBC said it makes individual freelance journalists aware of the insurance position and directs them to its policies in contracts and during training. Sturdee said this was not the case for his Ukraine trip last year. Insurance was never discussed in preparation for travel to a warzone or in training. In my experience, it is never even mentioned, he said in comments to Deadline and The Times of London. A second veteran BBC freelancer, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed Sturdees concerns. This journalist said the BBC had never proactively communicated its insurance arrangements. I was really shocked when the BBC said I wasnt insured, they should have notified me before I went to Ukraine, they said. The BBC will think that it can continue to get away with this until something happens and something has happened with Nicks accident. BBC Has Moral Responsibility On Insurance Clifford, Sturdees lawyer, said: People would be horrified if they knew that the BBC is sending journalists into war zones without adequate insurance cover. The BBC is providing a public service by providing us with information and for freelancers to be at risk is unacceptable. Its hidden away and is not being brought to peoples attention. Its certainly not checked. And no-one is telling them that they cant get on a plane until they have produced an insurance certificate. Clothilde Redfern, a director for the Rory Peck Trust, which offers support to freelance journalists, said the BBC was within its rights not to offer cover, but she was alarmed by the poor communication. Theres a difference between being legally responsible and being morally responsible. And being morally responsible for people that you are deploying into high-risk areas means you are incredibly transparent, and clear about the risks that people are taking on and whos responsible for those, said Redfern. A BBC spokeswoman said: The BBC has been supporting Nick Sturdee throughout his recovery, and we continue to do so. We remain in close touch with Nick. Its incorrect to say the BBC doesnt insure freelancers. The BBC provides emergency medical cover and a personal accident scheme for freelancers, and our schemes are comparable to those of our peers. The accident in which Nick was involved is the subject of a legal claim so it would be inappropriate to comment further. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. During a Thursday status hearing at the License Commission, the Shaking Crab co-founder Kevin Duong said issues with installing ventilation that have delayed construction on the 544 Main St. site have not improved since the chain's last update to the commission on May 4. 544 The status of the planned downtown location for the Shaking Crab, a Newton-based restaurant chain, is uncertain with the restaurant operator claiming their landlord's ventilation installation request is not acceptable to their engineer. During a status hearing at the License Commission, the Shaking Crab co-founder Kevin Duong said issues with installing ventilation that have delayed construction on the 544 Main St. site have not improved since the chain's last update to the commission on May 4. Duong said he was unsure about what his company's next steps would be for the site. Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce 500 A poll of 500 Worcester residents commissioned by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce found that 61% believe the city is going in the right direction, according to a Chamber news release Thursday. The Chamber released portions of a poll it commissioned in April of Worcester residents using data from the 2020 U.S. Census. The polled group said cost of living and crime were the two issues they were most concerned about. In total, 61% of those responding said the city was going in the right direction, 21% said it was headed in the wrong direction and 19% had no opinion. Cannabis company Trulieve has started taking steps to shut down business operations in Massachusetts by the end of 2023. 142 Cannabis company Trulieve has started taking steps to shut down business operations in Massachusetts by the end of 2023. Trulieve maintains a dispensary on 142 Southbridge St., which will close along with its Northampton and Framingham locations by the end of the month. In a press release Thursday, the Florida-based company stated that exiting Massachusetts, as well as closing Nevada and certain California assets, are part of ongoing measures to preserve cash and improve financial performance. Last December, the company paid $14,502 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a settlement of a case regarding the death of Lorna McMurray, 27, who worked at its Holyoke processing facility. A developer broke ground last week to build a 40,000-square-foot plant for a pharmaceuticals manufacturing company on Commerce Drive that will be home to EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, a Watertown-headquartered company that will lease the building for eye disease drug treatment development and delivery. 40,000 A contractor broke ground last week to build a 40,000-square-foot plant for a pharmaceuticals manufacturing company in Northbridge. The building will be home to EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, a Watertown-headquartered company that will lease the building for eye disease drug treatment development and delivery. The property is owned by 600 CPK, LLC. Slated for completion in late 2024, the building will have pharmaceutical production suites, chemistry and development laboratories, manufacturing support spaces and administrative spaces, according to Boylston-based contractor RP Masiello Inc., which is also building a 1 million-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing space in Sutton. Story continues The 110 Grill 110 A mother is suing the 110 Grill restaurant in Braintree for more than $500,000, alleging that her 17-year-old daughter suffered an allergic reaction while eating at the restaurant, according to court documents. In a complaint filed in Norfolk Superior Court, Hayley Lopes of Braintree said her daughter ate at 110 Grill with her father and brother in October 2022. The brother and sister told the waiter that they both suffer from life-threatening allergies to foods including peanuts, dairy and eggs. The 110 Grill chain has more than 35 locations in New England, including Worcester. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Business Matters: Central Mass. by the Numbers Dan Rather on How Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 'Changed Me as a Person and as a Professional' (Exclusive) The veteran broadcaster opens up to PEOPLE about what he learned from the "quiet at the center" of the civil rights trailblazer, who "lived on this razor's edge of danger" PA Images via Getty Images; Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images Dan Rather has chronicled the trajectories of some of historys greats, and he counts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as one of the formative subjects of his 73-year career. The legendary broadcaster is the subject of the documentary Rather, which premiered this weekend at the Tribeca Festival. The film chronicles his rise from a childhood in Depression-era Texas to a decades-long run as a world-class newsman who covered conflicts in Vietnam and Afghanistan. Related: Dan Rather Remembers the 'Toughest' Goodbyes to His Children and Wife: 'You May Not Come Back' (Exclusive) Little did he know, Rather would have the chance to prove his chops when he was assigned right from the start to report on a historic world-changer. "I consider it one of the really lucky, really blessed things that happened to me, that when I first came to CBS News in the early 1960s I was hired in 1961, I came in 1962 my first major day-to-day regular week-in, week-out assignment was to cover Dr. Martin Luther King in what was then the emerging civil rights movement in the Deep South," he tells PEOPLE. Shares Rather, 91: "Keep in mind that I grew up in Texas. I was raised in Texas, which for all of my younger life had institutionalized racism. They had the schools were separated, eating places were separated. It wasn't as dark as Alabama or Mississippi at the time but no question about it, it was legalized racism. I grew up in that environment. Now I'm cast with this heroic figure, which when I first came to him, I had no idea, frankly, who he was." Dan Rather Related: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Son Reveals Why He 'Never Felt Afraid' While Facing Brutal Racism with Dad Rather continues, "But I came to admire him tremendously because he walked minute by minute on the razor's edge of lethal danger. There never was any thought in my mind other than, He will not live a long life. Anybody who was around him and saw and saw what he was doing and what he was saying at the time, I think would've reached the same conclusion." Story continues "But," says Rather, "Dr. King had what I've called 'quiet at the center.' I'm sure he had his fears. He even spoke about his fears some of the time. But he was quiet at the center. The more chaotic things became and the more dangerous things became, he seemed to draw on some inner spiritual dare I say it, sacred self, to become quieter and quieter and more determined and more determined." Related: Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. with 15 of His Most Powerful Quotes CNP/Getty Images "One of the great things about being a journalist, one of the joys of being a journalist," Rather tells PEOPLE, "is that you learn so much. And I learned a great deal covering Dr. King." The civil rights crusader's indomitable spirit struck Rather as especially inspiring after the journalist witnessed harrowing displays of hatred with his own eyes. "When I saw the level of hate, the first time I saw a Ku Klux Klan rally, for example," Rather says, "I remember the sheer terror that prevailed from Black people and me, and I found myself saying, 'What must that be like to have this hanging over you every day, every night?'" He continues, "Here I am, a privileged white reporter operating on the edges of this Klan rally, but what a terrorizing thing for children. [I was deeply affected by] scenes like that, seeing Martin Luther King's courage, seeing what he was saying: 'I, Dr. King, and my movement, we're dedicated to non-violent protests.'" Rather affirms, "I think any reasonable person with my background in a segregated society who covered Dr. King, day after day, week in, week out, would've come to the same conclusion. It changed me as a person and as a professional, and I'm very thankful for it." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Rather premieres Saturday at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A new survey found a larger-than-expected population of the worlds most endangered marine mammal, a small porpoise whose collapse has generated international contempt toward Mexico. Researchers in the Gulf of California recorded between 10 and 13 individual vaquita marina porpoises over 17 days in May, roughly the same number of vaquitas spotted in October of 2021, indicating a more resilient than expected population. The survey reveals a remarkable 90 percent reduction of boats and fishing nets within the zero-tolerance area, underscoring substantial progress in safeguarding the vaquita marina, a spokesman for the Mexican embassy in Washington told The Hill. This significant progress demonstrates that we are heading in the right direction in our collective efforts to protect the vaquita marina. Fears over the extinction of the vaquita have simmered for years with increasing illegal fishing in the Gulf of California the only habitat for the species. The gulf separates the Baja California peninsula from the Mexican mainland. Fishermen largely seek out totoaba, a threatened species of fish, whose swim bladder is considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine, and fetches exorbitant prices. To fish for totoaba, fishermen use gillnets, which create barriers that entangle and drown vaquitas. The new survey on the vaquita population, conducted by Sea Shepherd, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Mexican Navy and ministry of the environment, found that some of the protective measures taken by Mexico and scientists proved effective. Last August the Mexican Navy deployed 193 concrete blocks with 3m high hooks designed to entangle gillnets, reads the report. While the exact reason for no gillnet vessels being observed within the [zero tolerance area (ZTA)] is unknown, the simplest explanation would be that the concrete blocks and hooks, in combination with the collaborative efforts by the Mexican Navy and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) to remove the few fishermen who were willing to risk their nets by deploying them inside the ZTA, is working. Story continues The dorsal fin of a vaquita porpoise is seen swimming during a census mission run by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Mexican authorities as part of the efforts to save the endangered vaquita porpoise near San Felipe, in the Gulf of California, Baja California State, northwestern Mexico, on May 20, 2023. (Photo by GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images) Porpoise population led to sanctions The decaying vaquita population has been a source of tension in U.S.-Mexico relations, and more broadly damaging to the countrys international reputation. In March, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) imposed global sanctions on Mexico for not doing enough to curtail totoaba fishing and protect the vaquita. CITES is a multilateral international body created by treaty that regulates trade in goods sourced from wildlife, and evaluates countries individual action plans to protect endangered species. The sanctions, which limited Mexicos ability to export wildlife-sourced goods, were lifted in April after a high-level Mexican delegation presented a revised action plan to CITES officials in Geneva. But the U.S. Department of the Interior found Mexicos efforts still lacking, triggering the potential for a U.S. embargo on Mexican seafood. The Department of the Interior, in consultation with the Department of State, has determined through a thorough investigation of the evidence that, despite international protections and commitments, the government of Mexico has failed to stem the illegal harvest and commercial export of totoaba, wrote Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in May 26 in letters to Vice President Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Haalands letter stemmed from a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finding that Mexicos efforts were lacking, triggering whats known as the Pelly amendment, which allows the president to embargo imports from a country found to diminish the effectiveness of wildlife treaties. The Fish and Wildlife Service certification was spurred by a settlement to a lawsuit against Interior brought by environmental groups who wanted to trigger the Pelly amendment. Per that law, President Biden has until mid-July to decide what actions to take, given the Fish and Wildlife findings, or otherwise must issue an explanation as to why sanctions were not imposed. Impact on US-Mexico relations While the United States currently imposes a ban on some Mexican seafood caught using gillnets in the Gulf of California, a broader embargo could estrange bilateral relations. The two countries have for decades been at odds over Mexican tuna exports, stemming from allegations that Mexican tuna fishing was entangling dolphins. While that conflict has simmered from its peak in the 1980s, it remains a sore subject in Mexico. Both a fisheries embargo or findings of continued environmental failings could trigger larger United States Mexico Canada Agreement consequences, risking tit-for-tat retaliations among two neighbors with a complex relationship. In 2021, the United States briefly banned all Mexican shrimp imports due to a similar concern over sea turtle protections that ban risked an industry worth more than $200 million per year, according to a 2021 Brookings Institution report. That report recommended strict enforcement on the Mexican side, but also warned of a vicious cycle if the U.S. market is closed to Mexican fish products and fishermen cant find economic incentives to comply with regulations. Complying with environmental and fishery laws to prevent the bycatch of endangered species and acting against illegal fishing is not just a vaquita-hugging agenda of environmentalists. It is essential for restoring Mexicos most important trade relationship, reads the report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Whether the 37 felony charges detailed in the federal indictment against Donald Trump are a blow or a boon for the former presidents political standing depends on whos being asked. According to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Trump is at his most powerful. I think Donald Trump is stronger today politically than he was before, Graham said on Sunday on ABCs This Week. Most Republicans, he added, believe that the law is used as a weapon against Donald Trump. This double standard is real in the minds of most Republicans. But both New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former Attorney General Bill Barr said he could be in deep trouble politically. If even half of [the charges are] true, then hes toast, Barr, who was Trumps final attorney general and at one time one his fierce defenders, said on Fox News Sunday. Sununu, a Trump critic who recently announced he wouldnt run for the Republican nomination in 2024, made similar comments on CBS Face the Nation, adding: Its self-inflicted. The former president broke the news of his indictment Thursday evening on social media. The details of the charges, unveiled Friday, are the result of a months-long investigation that included an initial FBI search of Mar-a-Lago last August. Trump is expected to appear in court in Florida on Tuesday, but on Sunday his case was already being tried in the court of public opinion, with different narratives evolving for partisan and personal reasons. What no one really wanted to discuss was the substance of the charges, which allege that the former president stored a massive collection of highly sensitive material including intelligence about the defense and weapons capabilities of the United States and foreign countries at his Florida estate. None of Trumps prominent defenders on Sunday denied he possessed those files or even suggested that it seemed like a good idea for him to have them. I dont like what President Trump did in certain aspects, said Graham. Story continues Vivek Ramaswamy, a GOP presidential candidate, said of Trumps decision, It is a very bad judgment, no doubt about it. But he has promised to pardon Trump should he be elected. Trumps allies and critics were divided, however, about the move to store documents at Mar-a-Lago constituted a crime and whether the decision to prosecute him for having that material was politically motivated. I would not have taken the documents with me and I would have returned them on demand, because it would have set up for a much more constructive discussion, Ramaswamy said on CNNs State of the Union. But there is a difference between bad judgment and breaking the law. Graham, however, defended the former president up to a point: Whether you like Trump or not, he did not commit espionage. He did not disseminate, leak or provide information to a foreign power or to a news organization to damage this country. He is not a spy. Hes overcharged. Did he do things wrong? Yes, he may have. Many of his supporters said Trump is facing a double standard under the law. If he wants to store material in a box in a bathroom, in a box on the stage, he can do that. That is just what the law and the standard is, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said on State of the Union. Jordan called the decision to indict Trump an affront to consistent application of the law. He and other supporters of the former president have accused the Biden administration of using the Justice Department to tear down Trump, the current front-runner in the GOP primary race, and have claimed that the Justice Department has no intention of prosecuting Biden or members of his family for any misdeeds. What I have been hearing from Republicans that Ive spoken to is frustration, a growing frustration, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said on Fox News Sunday. The trust in our Justice Department has been eroded, as well. These are core institutions in a democracy that must have the peoples trust. When you see things like this that have political overtones, its very frustrating for people. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) suggested the indictment was strategically timed to cover up Bidens own alleged misdeeds, and those of his son Hunter, a perennial Republican punching bag. Every time the Oversight Committee has evidence of corruption, bribery, money-laundering on the Biden family, they indict Donald Trump, Mace said on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. And whether you agree with Donald Trump politically or not, most of America sees this for what it is, as weaponizing the executive branch to take out your political enemies. Mace also described the indictment as a death sentence for the former president. Joe Biden wants to give Donald Trump a death sentence for documents. Hes facing hundreds of years for mishandling documents, and they want him to die in jail, she told host Maria Bartiromo as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) nodded in agreement. Barr, however, was less willing to cut Trump slack for what hes accused of in this case. Yes, hes been a victim in the past. Yes, his adversaries have obsessively pursued him with phony claims. I have been at his side defending against them when he is a victim. But this is much different. He is not a victim here. He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents. Those documents are among the most sensitive secrets the country has. Barr also said there was a tremendous difference between a former president retaining personal-use documents, such as notes taken at meetings, and material that has been prepared by government agencies for the purpose of government action, including military plans. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, another GOP presidential candidate, noted that Trump is innocent until proved guilty. But the indictment is bad for our country, bad for the presidency, and it is a legitimate campaign issue, he said on CNNs State of Union. We do not need to have our commander in chief of this country not protecting our nations secrets. Democrats, who were mostly absent from Sunday-morning shows this week, have largely maintained the evidence Trump committed a crime is clear. There is no question, based on his private recorded conversations, that he did not declassify these documents, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said on CNN, pointing to descriptions in the charging document. Mr. Jordan and Donald Trump and his defense team can try to spin this any way they want. But the evidence based on his own recording, his own voice, says to the contrary. Trump himself has said that he will emerge politically stronger from the indictment and that his fundraising is already doing well off of it. On Saturday, he and his team appeared to be in good spirits. He spoke with a pair of reporters on his plane, both on and off the record. He ordered in Jimmy Johns sandwiches for lunch and McDonalds quarter-pounders, chicken nuggets and French fries for dinner. He spent part of the ride home to New Jersey blasting songs from, among others, Luciano Pavarotti and James Brown. He also appeared eager to engage in the political combat around his legal troubles. He said he believed congressional Republicans should bring special counsel Jack Smith before Congress to testify about the decision to charge him. They should, he said. I think they should. Even Hutchinson, who has called on Trump to drop out of the GOP primary, acknowledged that the legal battle could be a boon for the front-runner. I suspect that hes going to raise money on the indictment as he did before, Hutchinson said, referencing a fundraising bump Trumps team said he saw earlier this year when he was indicted in New York on different charges. And obviously with a lot of Republican leaders saying that this is selective prosecution, and this is unfair, that there is a sympathy factor that is built in. That sentiment seems to be backed by a new CBS poll, which found that Republican primary voters are much more concerned about whether the indictment is politically motivated than whether his actions posed a national security risk. If he is convicted, 80 percent of those surveyed said, he should still be able to be president, and 75 percent said the charges either did not change their view of Trump or changed them for the better. The poll included answers from 2,480 adults surveyed between June 7 and June 10. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.7 points for the sample overall and plus or minus 5.5 points for likely Republican primary voters A second poll showed sharp divisions among Americans. Though nearly half of Americans 48 percent think Trump should have been charged in the case, according to an ABC/Ipsos poll out Sunday, 47 percent of Americans believe the charges are politically motivated, compared with 37 percent who do not. The ABC poll, which surveyed 910 adults, had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points and was conducted June 9-10. Padma Lakshmi opens up about her former marriage to writer Salman Rushdie. (Photo: Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Imagess) Padma Lakshmi who just made her final appearance as host of Top Chef is reflecting on her former marriage to author Salman Rushdie. Following the publication of his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses, Rushdie was met with threats of violence, including a fatwa demanding his execution issued on Valentine's Day 1989 by Ayatollah Khomeini, the then-Supreme leader of Iran, who called the book "blasphemous against Islam." Appearing on Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? on Max and CNN this weekend, Lakshmi, 52, admitted that the threats weighed heavily on her during her three-year marriage to Rushdie, 75. The former couple were wed from 2004 to 2007. "I would be lying if I said, I didn't think about those things. I did think about the fatwa every day of my life, I couldn't not think about it," Lakshmi told Wallace. "But what I thought about more, was very deep love between us. And that made me not afraid, because I was with the man I loved. And I thought that was where it should be." The cookbook author added that her family had reservations about the relationship. "My family wasn't very excited at first either, you know, by this relationship, but they also in time really grew to love Salman," she shared. "And that's really what I hope propels all of my important decisions." Now mom to 13-year-old daughter Krishna from her past relationship with Adam Dell, Lakshmi also shared her thoughts on Rushdie's condition after being stabbed last summer at a literary event. "Hes healing beautifully, valiantly," said Lakshmi, who spoke out after the attack on Rushdie. "Like everyone else, when I heard about it it catapulted me right back to things that I hadn't thought about for a very long time." She added, "You know, obviously, we have a lot of common friends and I think he's doing great. He's a tough old boot. And he's not anything if he's not tenacious, so I'm happy that he is healing." Performers entertain a crowd gathered in Centennial Plaza in Canton during the 2023 Stark Pride Festival on Saturday. Canton, which hosted its second annual Stark Pride Festival Saturday, soon will become home to Stark Countys first LGBTQIA+ community center. Abby Henry, founder of Queer in Canton, announced Saturday that her nonprofit organization has raised the $20,000 it needs to open the areas first community center to support those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex and asexual, as well as their allies. The Queer in Canton Community Center will host a grand opening event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 25 at 2663 Cleveland Ave. NW, which is the same building as Planned Parenthood. The center will include a hangout space, a community closet where visitors can find clothes that help affirm their gender presentation or allow them to try a new look and programs and resources such as a monthly support group, youth programming, kickball, a book club and social events. The 2017 Jackson High School graduate hopes the center will allow queer residents to find their community, something that took her leaving Ohio to find. Queer in Canton, led by founder Abby Henry, far right, participates in the festival Saturday. Henrys announcement drew cheers from the thousands of people gathered at Centennial Plaza for the Stark Pride Festival. The festival, which doubled in the number of visitors, exhibitor booths and performers this year compared to its inaugural year, carried the atmosphere of a celebration with music, drag performances and children's activities. But it also served as part protest, as lawmakers in Ohio and across the nation are considering legislation that targets transgender men and women by restricting their access to health care and which bathrooms they use. Participants kick off the 2023 Stark Pride Festival on Saturday with a pride walk, crossing Cleveland Avenue in downtown Canton. Stark Pride Festival started with a Pride Walk A Pride Walk of more than 100 people kicked off the festival with members of the Canton Bluecoats leading them to Centennial Plaza while playing Lady Gagas Born this way. Event organizer T.J. Horwood said the walk was added this year at the request of last years festival participants. He said the walk embraces the origin of Pride events that followed the 1969 riot by queer patrons at the Stonewall Inn in New York City who fought against police mistreatment. Story continues Its like how Pride started, Horwood said. Its important for visibility and celebration. Its also a way for organizations and companies to show their support, in addition to exhibiting and their sponsorships. Leo Walsh, who will be a senior at Jackson High School this fall, delivered a fiery speech on the Centennial Plaza stage that decried how those seeking to restrict the rights of transgender men and women have been treating him and his supporters as less than human. Im here with my parents who would give anything to make sure I feel safe and happy with who I am, Walsh said. But their love and their support are now being called grooming, child abuse and, sometimes, even torture. Their love is being compared to the most deplorable acts. I dont demand for everyone to understand. But I do demand respect." The 17-year-old called on those gathered to come together to support each other and push back against those who have made trans rights a talking point, a debate and a joke. We are not monsters, we are not groomers, we are not delusional, he said. We are people. We are proud of our existence. A crowd cheers on speakers in Centennial Plaza, kicking off the 2023 Stark Pride Festival on Saturday in downtown Canton. Canton City school board member Eric Resnick, who described himself as the first and only publicly gay Stark County elected official, called on the audience to stand up against lawmakers like Canton residents did after someone set fire to a housing complex for people with HIV or AIDS in 1991. The tragedy drew people out, out of their closets, and they stood up, Resnick said. Silence was not an option in Canton, Ohio, then, and its not an option in Canton, Ohio, even today. The arson of the St. HOPE Stark County Helping Our People Endure complex remains unsolved. Resnicks speech was temporarily interrupted by cheers when Tony Collins-Sibley of Alliance strategically planted a pole holding a large American flag and a gay pride flag in front of a man who had been holding a sign that called homosexuality a threat to national security. Reach Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @kweirREP Charlie Batdorff joined her parents, Sarah and Al Batdorff, for the fun at the Stark Pride Festival in downtown Canton on Saturday. Tony Collins-Sibley of Alliance plants his flags strategically in front of protesters to block their message Saturday as speakers take the stage at the Stark Pride Festival in Canton. The Bluecoats perform at Canton's Centennial Plaza at the Stark Pride Festival on Saturday. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Queer in Canton Community Center to open in Canton Its not even good for money laundering: Black Swan author Nassim Taleb lashes out at Bitcoin and says its transformed into a cult Bitcoin is an ineffective cult that not even bad guys want to join anymore, said the author of The Black Swan, a bestselling book on the extreme impact of outlier events. Cryptocurrency falls short on its claim to streamline payments, and doesnt even facilitate illegal transactions well, Nassim Taleb told Bloomberg on Thursday. Its not even good for money laundering, he said. It is too traceable. Gold you can re-melt [into] bars, you can do something, but Bitcoin has a book entry somewhere that anyone with basic knowledge of statistics can triangularize. The essayist assailed broader crypto culture, too, describing it as fanatical and dysfunctional. It has transformed into a cult. The first time in history probably, were mixing money and cults, Taleb told Bloomberg. Usually you do cults with yogacults with music, but here is a cult with a financial product. These things dont go together well, because finance has some gravity rules that eventually end up hurting that model. He added that crypto is a fad that falsely claims to be a refuge from regulation. Despite advertising itself as a haven from government oversight, Bitcoin is not even attracting the bad guys anymore, according to Taleb. Taleb, a former options trader and risk analyst, has switched his stance on crypto over recent years. In 2019, he was an advocate for the currencys antiestablishment ethos. He disapproved of the Lebanese governments capital controls on banks, and lauded Bitcoin for existing outside central banking. The most potent case for cryptocurrencies: Banks are never there when you need them, Taleb tweeted in 2019. And they are trying to bully the public so they avoid accountability and profit disbursements. Bankers are legal crooks. Bitcoin currently trades at around $26,400, down about 12% from this time last year, and down 62% from its peak of over $68,000 in November 2021. Taleb previously invested in Bitcoin, but in 2021 he began selling his crypto because he found the currency too volatile. He also tweeted that the Bitcoin community had been taken over by COVID-denying sociopaths with the sophistication of amoebas. Ever since, the author has been vocal about his distaste for crypto and predicted its failure. On Tuesday, he compared Bitcoin to the Mafia, but said the Mafia was truer to its promise of protection than cryptocurrency. Taleb also told Bloomberg that the Federal Reserve could pull the plug on crypto at any moment, and would replace Bitcoin next month. He said this in reference to FedNow, an instant payment service the Fed plans to introduce in July. FedNow will let individuals and businesses transfer money in real time and have access to the funds within seconds, according to a video by the Fed. The service, which does not necessarily replace crypto, will be released in phases starting next month. Talebs comments on Bloomberg came on the same day that the founders of Binance and Coinbase, the two largest crypto trading platforms, lost close to a combined $2 billion after being hit with SEC lawsuits. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong lost $361 million, and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao lost $1.4 billion. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler is suing Binance for alleged wash trading, when a company trades with itself to inflate volume. Meanwhile, hes suing Coinbase for allegedly selling unregistered tokens and acting as a broker, exchange, and clearinghouse without permission. Taleb took aim at Coinbase on Thursday, replying to a tweet by the trading platform claiming it is easier to deliver a bag of money by plane than by wire transfer, and that crypto is a faster solution. Taleb responded by writing that the statement was a lie meant to fool those who dont do wire transfers. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com More from Fortune: 5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per yearall while working from home Looking to make extra cash? This CD has a 5.15% APY right now Buying a house? Here's how much to save This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home Scotlands former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been released without a charge after she was arrested by police earlier Sunday, as part of an investigation into financial irregularities by the Scottish National Party (SNP), according to UKs PA Media. A 52-year-old woman who was arrested earlier today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation, Police Scotland said in an updated statement Sunday. A spokeswoman for Sturgeon earlier confirmed the arrest and told PA Media Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so. Sturgeons husband and former SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, was arrested and released earlier this month, followed by the groups treasurer, Colin Beattie, and officers have raided the partys headquarters in Edinburgh. Sturgeon abruptly announced her resignation as first minister in February after a nine-year stint in which she became the figurehead of the movement for Scotlands independence from the United Kingdom. She cited the demands of public life and the brutality of frontline politics for her surprise decision. But since standing down, the party she led for almost a decade has descended into chaos amid a widely publicized police investigation. Officers have been probing the SNPs handling of money that was slated for Scottish independence campaigning, according to PA Media. The group has dominated politics north of the border for more than a decade and has pushed for a repeat of a 2014 referendum on independence, in which voters rejected the chance to split from the UK by 55% to 45%. Sturgeon enjoyed a series of significant electoral wins in Scotland, which has a devolved government that the SNP has led since 2007. But momentum behind the push for independence which Sturgeon fronted has stalled in recent months, with polling showing dips in support and the Supreme Court blocking her effort last year to unilaterally call a referendum without the backing of Westminster. Story continues Sturgeon was replaced as leader this year when Humza Yousaf narrowly won a bitter leadership election that exposed divisions within the party. The chaos and legal questions surrounding the party could put its stranglehold on Scottish politics at risk, with the pro-union Labour Party eying a resurgence in the nation. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The News Turkey will hold a runoff election on May 28 after neither presidential candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in Sunday's tightly-fought election. The incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received 49.5% of the vote, while his challenger Kemal Klcdaroglu trailed closely behind with just under 45%. The runoff ballot marks an unprecedented moment in the battle for the Turkish presidency, a position Erdogan has occupied for more than 20 years. Heres some key analysis on the crucial election in the NATO member state. Know More Zeit Online Erdogan has performed suspiciously well, wrote Michael Thumann, reporting from Istanbul for German-language outlet Zeit Online. The preliminary results run counter to polls that suggested the opposition would lead. There are also fears of voter suppression: Turkish counties that traditionally vote for Klcdaroglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP) have had their ballot counts delayed. If Recep Tayyip Erdogan triumphs again, there might not be much left of Turkish democracy, Thumann said. Middle East Eye Erdogan is performing as his party expected him to, Ragip Soylu reported for the Middle East Eye. Internal polling conducted by Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) put the incumbent ahead, counter to public polls that suggested the opposite. Erdogan is likely to be bolstered in runoff voting by supporters of Sinan Ogan, an ultranationalist candidate who received more than 5% of the vote Sunday, Soylu wrote. It is likely these voters will return to Erdogans camp in the runoff, since he most represents the Turkish nationalist side of the country in a binary choice with Klcdaroglu. Financial Times The opposition will need to do some soul-searching in the wake of Erdogans better-than-anticipated showing Sunday, Adam Samson and Ayla Jean Yackley said in the Financial Times. Analysts told the FT that a runoff would be an uphill battle for Klcdaroglus coalition, hampered too by a long-standing aversion to coalition governments in Turkey. Sundays outcome still presents Klcdaroglu with one of the worst-case scenarios ahead of an election that has been portrayed by both main candidates as a battle for Turkeys future, Samson and Yackley wrote. Los Van Van, the famous Havana orchestra formed after the Cuban Revolution, canceled their Miami Beach performance next Friday. Was it logistics or politics that put an end to their appearance at the citys historic bandshell? The band blamed travel logistics, but a tweet from Cuban-American Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez reveals that he asked for the cancellation for political reasons. Heres how he explained it: For decades, Los Van Van have used their musical talent to promote Cuban tyranny and its violation of fundamental human rights, he wrote. The money raised in the concert will contribute to sustaining the violation of human rights and individual liberties within Cuba. Fernandez makes a solid point, but should we ban artists from performing their craft over politics? Heres a thought: Banning is what we see done now in Gov. Ron DeSantis Florida: publicly flog. Ban. Remove. Cancel. Repeat. We didnt like it in 1999, and we dont like it now. Back in 1999, Los Van Van, whose members live on the island and tour the world, announced their first Miami concert. The outcry from those wanting to cancel their their appearance and those who wanted them to play was explosive. Today, its different. We ban more than we tolerate. Dont like Disneys corporate stand? Use the power of the state to make its life difficult. Arbitrarily disagree with approved content of school textbooks? Remove them from libraries and classrooms. Dont approve of a teacher sharing their political views with students? Fire them. Twenty-four years ago, it was a different story. Fidel Castro was alive and at war with Miamis exile community, whom he called the mafia. Spanish-language radio stations were still powerful and rallied the audience troops. The announcement of the bands first Miami concert made international headlines. Cuban exiles in Miami were accused of being regressive. After canceling and rescheduling, Los Van Van finally performed at the old Miami Arena under heavy security. Concertgoers had to pass through a security line and endure insults from exiles protesting the bands performance. Story continues For all the fear and loathing, no violence erupted, and the band has since quietly performed in South Florida through the years, usually in smaller venues. The Miami Beach Bandshell venue attracted too much attention. But lets see how big a deal the cancellation of Los Van Van concert is today. Fidel Castro is dead, and many members of Miamis exile community have passed away. We suspect it wont make a significant splash. Plus, we Floridians should not be getting used to silencing what elected officials dont rubber stamp. An Oregon-based coffee chain has lost its bid to build a double drive-thru coffee kiosk on South Limestone near the University of Kentuckys campus. Dutch Bros applied for a zone change at 507 S. Limestone from a neighborhood zone to a neighborhood business zone for the construction of a 967-square foot, single-story Dutch Bros coffee house with a double-lane drive-thru. The Urban County Planning Commission voted 8-1 to deny the application in February. During a Thursday Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council hearing on the zone change, the council failed to get enough votes to reverse the commissions decision or approve it. The commissions decision to deny the zone change stands. To reverse the commissions decision, the council needed 8 of 11 votes. A motion to approve the zone change failed 6-5. Dutch Bros efforts to enter the Lexington market have been stymied in recent months. The planning commission also denied an application for a zone change on South Broadway in March. The council is expected to hear an appeal of that zone change soon. Dutch Bros is currently building a coffee shop on New Circle Road at the site of a former Sonic. It will be the first Dutch Bros location in Kentucky. The Arbys location at 507 S. Limestone in Lexington, Ky., photographed Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Traffic, density a concern Lexington planning staff recommended the commission not approve the zone change, citing concerns with traffic in and out of a property in a high pedestrian area near UKs campus. Moreover, the citys comprehensive plan, which guides development, encourages more dense development along the citys main corridors, including South Limestone Street, city planners said during Thursdays council hearing. Bruce Simpson, a lawyer for Dutch Bros, said the site has been vacant since the iconic Blue Arbys closed in 2019. Dutch Bros had proposed a drive-thru with no interior dining. Entrance and exits would be limited to Colfax Street. There would be walk-up service available fronting South Limestone. Moreover, no neighbors of the property have opposed the zone change, Simpson said. Story continues Simpson argued that more density at that location which is where Nicholasville and South Limestone splits into two-way is not feasible. It will be less traffic than an Arbys, Simpson argued. Simpson said the site has operated as a restaurant since 1974. Yet, some council members had concerns about pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the area. The property is where South Limestone and Nicholasville Road splits. Thats five lanes of traffic into and out of the property, which makes getting to the property tricky and dangerous, said Councilwoman Hannah LeGris, who represents the area. That area, near UK, has a lot of pedestrians, she said. LeGris voted against approval of the zone change. Vice Mayor Dan Wu agreed. Wu said he, too, had concerns about pedestrian safety. Other council members said the property was unique. If more density was needed at that location, developers would have built it but that hasnt happened. Councilman James Brown, who voted in favor of the zone change, said the property was unique. Its been vacant since 2019. Councilwoman Denise Gray agreed. Gray said she did not want people to think Lexington was closed for business or that it was unfriendly to new businesses. Councilors who voted in favor of the zone change were: Brown, Gray, Jennifer Reynolds, David Sevigny, Brenda Monarrez and Chuck Ellinger. Those who voted against the zone change: LeGris, Wu, Liz Sheehan, Tayna Fogle, Shayla Lynch. The Madison County Sheriff's Office turned its parking lot into a solemn memorial space during the National Law Enforcement Memorial Service on Friday, honoring 30 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. An officer salutes Madison County officers killed in the line of duty during the National Law Enforcement Memorial Service at Madison County Sheriff's Office in Denmark, Tenn. on Friday, May 19, 2023. The ceremony commenced with a welcome from Madison County Sheriff Julian Wiser and Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley and was followed by the Presentation of Colors by the MCSO Honor Guard. Madison County Mayor AJ Massey and Jackson Mayor Scott Conger took to the podium to read a proclamation honoring Saturday, May 20 as National Law Enforcement Memorial Day following National Police Week. "I can't say thank you enough, there needs to be a better word than that, but right now all I'll say is thank you, and you are appreciated," Massey said. Officers bow their heads as Jackson Chaplain Ronald Benton leads prayer during the National Law Enforcement Memorial Service at Madison County Sheriff's Office in Denmark, Tenn. on Friday, May 19, 2023. MSCO spokesperson Tom Mapes read the names of 30 individuals who gave their lives in the line of duty, dating back as far as 1876, including those from the following entities: Jackson Police Dept. Madison Co. Sheriff's Dept. Crockett Co. Sheriff's Dept. Lexington Police Dept. Tennessee Highway Patrol Bolivar Police Department U.S. Customs Service Dallas Police Dept. Murfreesboro Police Dept. Henderson Police Dept. Whiteville Police Dept. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Baldwin Co. District Attorney's Office, Alabama Hardin Co. Sheriff's Dept. Roses in honor of Madison County officers killed in the line of duty stacks on a table during the National Law Enforcement Memorial Service at Madison County Sheriff's Office in Denmark, Tenn. on Friday, May 19, 2023. After Mapes read each name, an officer walked through the aisle with a single rose to be placed on the memorial and gave a final salute. U.S. Representative Chris Todd was a speaker at the event where he shared his support for law enforcement and the importance of memorializing their service. Terry King leaves a rose for his grandfather Deputy Joe Edwards during the National Law Enforcement Memorial Service at Madison County Sheriff's Office in Denmark, Tenn. on Friday, May 19, 2023. "Today, as we remember those officers who have fallen, we are reminded of their selfless acts of heroism, their devotion to duty, and the indelible mark they have left on our lives," Todd said. "Each name written on the bulletin that you currently hold represents a life dedicated to service, a life that touched the lives of countless individuals, and a life that will forever be remembered." This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: A memorial service for law enforcement was held on Friday in Denmark Kansas City has done away with what the executive director of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant association calls the most hated aspect of employment among servers and bartenders in Kansas City. The City Council on Thursday passed an ordinance freeing workers from the hassle and expense of obtaining a liquor control card from the city as a condition of their employment at restaurants and bars. Most of the $42 that workers pay the citys Regulated Industries Division went for a criminal background check that weeded out felons. Whether to conduct background checks or hire ex felons is now up to employers, with one exception. At the urging of MOCSA, a group that advocates for the prevention of sexual violence, there is a new requirement that businesses serving alcohol must check with state and national sexual offender registries to see if the names of potential employees show up on those lists. Registered sex offenders cannot be hired to serve or dispense alcohol or check IDs at the door. Restaurant association executive director Bill Teel on Wednesday told a council committee that restaurant owners have a vested interest in hiring good employees, and should be tasked with making making proper hiring decisions. Regulated Industries, the city agency responsible for policing businesses such as bars, strip clubs, skating rinks and junkyards, remains responsible for enforcing liquor laws and ensuring compliance, he said. In addition to freeing workers from the expense and hassle of obtaining a liquor card, the move should make it easier for people with criminal records to get a job. Were a second-chance industry, David Lopez, general manager of Mannys Mexican Restaurant, testified. We want to help people make their lives better. The ordinance adds a new requirement that any business selling alcoholic drinks must also have at least one manager on staff who has completed the National Restaurants Association course on serving alcohol safely. The lead sponsor on the ordinance, Mayor Quinton Lucas, celebrated ahead of Thursdays vote with a post on Facebook: Proud our legislation to eliminate the liquor card requirement for thousands of servers in Kansas City moved unanimously out of committee and will be heard tomorrow at City Council. Removing cost and burden for thousands of Kansas Citians. Love it! Kari Lake, the GOP nominee and election denier who lost the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election, has issued an incendiary warning to the Biden administration over the indictment of Donald Trump. The former president has been indicted on 37 counts in relation to his allegedly illegal retention of classified national security information that hes reported to have taken with him to his Palm Beach, Florida club Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House in January 2021. The consensus among legal experts appears to be that Mr Trump is in serious legal jeopardy that may end in a decades-long prison sentence. That hasnt stopped many Republicans, including Ms Lake, to come to his defence as they attempt to portray the legal action taken by Special Counsel Jack Smith as politically motivated. Ms Lake said on Friday that those wishing to go after Mr Trump would have to go through her and all those who supported Mr Trump in the 2020 election 75 million people. She then went on to falsely say that most of us are card-carrying members of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The organisation reportedly has around 4.3 million members. She specifically called out Mr Smith, President Joe Biden, and Attorney General Merrick Garland. I have a message tonight for Merrick Garland, and Jack Smith, and Joe Biden, Ms Lake said as she was speaking at the Georgia Republican Party convention. And the guys back there in the fake news media, you should listen up as well, this ones for you. If you wanna get to President Trump, youre gonna have to go through me, and youre gonna have to go through 75 million Americans just like me, she claimed. And Im gonna tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA, she added to cheers from the crowd. Thats not a threat, thats a public service announcement. Washington Post reporter Isaac Arnsdorf quoted Ms Lake on Twitter and noted that she received a standing ovation. Responding to Mr Arnsdorf, Ms Lake wrote: I meant what I said. Story continues Ms Lake was replacing former vice president and GOP presidential candidate Mike Pence after he dropped out of his planned speech at the Georgia convention, according to Mediaite. Ms Lake has been an aggressive supporter of Mr Trump and in January it was reported that she was one of the candidates the ex-president was considering as a possible running mate in 2024. Reed Galen of the Lincoln Project said Ms Lakes kind of rhetoric had sparked violence in the past, listing a number of mass shootings. This will escalate. Weve seen the results of these words: El Paso, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Allen, N. Charleston, Christchurch, he tweeted. How does this not warrant at least a visit by Secret Service? Nicky Frank asked. Congrats to all the wise consultants out there who decided that Trumpism would fade away. Take a f***ing bow folks, you negotiated with the terrorists and it worked out great, one Twitter user added. This is shocking. Kari Lake should issue a retraction and apology. This is not even a veiled threat of a violent war in America. It is a call to arms, Jon Hinck said. The press conference for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was largely an obsequious affair on Saturday, with one journalist telling Harrison Ford Youre still hot and asking about his workout routine, and another wearing an Indiana Jones t-shirt telling the actor, Thank you for existing. When IndieWire got the microphone, we chose instead to address producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall to get their take on the WGA strike, noting that a movie like Indiana Jones wouldnt be able to go into production right now. I would like to see the whole situation resolved by truly being in an environment where people can talk about what are some really complicated issues right now that are affecting the entire industry, Kennedy said. But when it comes to acknowledging the importance of writing, I think everybody up here demonstrates that you cant do any of this without great writing. So all of us who make movies, who create anything on television, I am in full support I know most people are in full support of the writers getting what they deserve. More from IndieWire Kennedy also hinted at the conversation surrounding AI technology thats central to current negotiations. I think whats the meta issue here is how is that being impacted by an industry thats in the midst of change, both technologically and just the basic aspects of how we work, she said. Thats going to take time and I think thats what everybodys getting ready for to take the time thats necessary to try to ensure that everybody can articulate what those feelings are and try to arrive at a resolution around alignment. Director James Mangold also weighed in. Of course, were not writing now, he said. Writers are often, because theyre first in the process, theyre first to be forgotten. I think that is true in so many parts of our life in their struggle to get whats fair for everyone. Story continues Ford, meanwhile, fielded a few meaningful questions about his decision to move on from the franchise at the age of 80. Is it not evident? he asked. I need to sit down and rest a little bit. But I love to work and I love this character and I love what it brought to my life. He also addressed the de-aging technology used in the film to make him look like the earlier incarnation of the character. This iteration of technology has evolved to the point where it seems to me very realistic, and I know that it is my face. Its not Photoshop magic. Thats what I looked like 35 years ago because Lucasfilm has every frame of film that weve made together over all of these years. This process of scientific mining of this library was put to good use. Its just a trick unless its supported by story and it sticks out like a sore thumb if its not real. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Billy Crudup and Naomi Watts attend the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards at Barker Hangar on February 27, 2022 (Getty Images for WarnerMedia) Naomi Watts has confirmed that she and Billy Crudup have tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Manhattan, New York City. The Mulholland Drive star, 54, shared a photograph of her and Crudup, also 54, standing in front of a courthouse with their arms around one another on Saturday (10 June). Watts wore a white lace sleeveless dress by Oscar de la Renta and held a bouquet of flowers while Crudup wore a navy suit with a white shirt and no tie. The pair beamed in the photograph, with Watts writing in the caption: Hitched! In her Instagram Stories, Watts posted more photographs from her and Crudups special day and revealed her flowers were from a deli. She shared a selfie of her and Crudup smiling at the camera and wrote: Hubby. Another photograph showed the happy couple celebrating with a few friends, including Mark Ruffalo. Watts and Crudup met in 2017 while co-starring in the Netflix psychological thriller Gypsy. Replying to a comment congratulating the couple, Watts replied: Gypsy launched a love story! They kept their relationship largely private for five years and only made their red carpet debut in 2022 when they attended the Screen Actors Guild Awards arm-in-arm. Celebrity friends were quick to congratulate the couple, including Watts ex-husband Liev Schreiber, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Coolidge, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Chloe Sevigny. Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup have officially tied the knot (Instagram/Naomi Watts) Schreiber, with whom Watts shares two children, Kai, 14, and Sasha, 15, wrote: Congratulations! Gorgeous! Coolidge gushed: Hooray!! Just woke up to this!! Congrats! You two couldnt look happier! Meanwhile, Moore simply wrote: Finally! Naomi Watts wore an Oscar de la Renta dress for her nuptials, with flowers from a deli in New York (Instagram/Naomi Watts) Crudup also has a child from a previous relationship. He shares 19-year-old son William with ex-girlfriend Mary Louise Parker. On Friday (9 June), PageSix published photographs of the couple wearing their wedding gear on the way back to their apartment in the city. Story continues The couple first sparked rumours that they were engaged in April, when the King Kong star appeared on the Today programme wearing a large diamond ring on her left hand. Host Hoda Kotb said at the time: My eye is hurting. Theres a big glint coming from some ring over here. It just struck me. But its beautiful. Watts did not confirm whether it was an engagement ring but said: Oh the brain fog! Some parents use a form of cannabis. Experts explain how to address it with kids. (Photo: Getty; illustration by Victoria Ellis for Yahoo) With more states legalizing cannabis, weed moms are becoming the new wine moms. Some parents keep their cannabis use a secret from their children, while others are upfront about it. As a dad who makes glass accessories for using cannabis, Mike Colavita tells Yahoo Life he believes transparency is key. However, he is waiting until his children, who are now 5 and 11, are a little older to talk to them about his own drug use. I want them to hear it from me first, he says. But he notes that, since some parents of his kids friends know about his cannabis use, its possible that someone else may beat him to the punch. There is little guidance about how, when or even if parents who use marijuana legal or otherwise should tell their children. But experts predict that that will change. As cannabis usage becomes increasingly normalized in our society, it will become similar to how we use, view and discuss alcohol, says Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and board member of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation. In the meantime, here's what experts recommend parents who use cannabis do. Should parents talk to their children about using cannabis? Grinspoon says he is a big advocate for being open and honest. If parents tell children about their drug use it makes them a trusted partner and preserves credibility, he says. He adds that being transparent with children can also show some vulnerability and open lines of communication. This is important because later if they struggle, they will feel comfortable coming to you for help, he notes. For parents who are using cannabis for a medical condition under the supervision of a doctor, Grinspoon recommends being open about this, just as they would with any other medication. This helps destigmatize [cannabis]. It will make it less interesting to them if creaky old dad is using his medicine, he says. If a child comes to a parent and asks about drug use past or present, Grinspoon says that parents should never lie. If they find out about your drug use which you've denied and realize you've lied to them, your credibility is in tatters, he says. Story continues When should parents talk to their children about their cannabis use? There is no magic age when parents should disclose their drug use. However, Grinspoon says its safe to broach the issue with children when they are old enough to understand a nuanced message or when a parent believes that sharing this information will help them navigate ... peer pressure [and] other things that go into their own decisions on whether or not to try cannabis, alcohol or other drugs." This will normally be when children become teenagers, though they may bring it up sooner. Before parents broach the topic with their children, they should be sure that their children are able to understand subtle distinctions, including that a parent uses cannabis now but they would not, or should not, have used it as a teenager because it harms teenage brains, Grinspoon says. If parents have made mistakes, including using cannabis as a teen, they should share this with their children, advises Dr. Lateefah Watford, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. Using your past behaviors and mistakes as warnings against the potential pitfalls can be a powerful tool," Watford says. How should parents tell children about their cannabis use? Watford says that there is no right or wrong way to handle this discussion that will fit every person and situation. Both she and Grinspoon emphasize the importance of being honest. Grinspoon says that the main risk is that of role modeling. He tells Yahoo Life that he doesnt think modest cannabis use for most adults is dangerous. However, if parents are using cannabis, children may get the message that it is OK and might miss the more nuanced memo that the safety is age-dependent." Kids who are more "impulsive," he cautions, may not care about that distinction. Teens might think that if a parent is using cannabis its OK for them to use the drug too. But he adds that "it is not hypocrisy" for parents who, say, smoke weed or pop a gummy to put their put down when it comes to their kids. Grinspoon says that parents should explain that it is a much more risky activity as a teen than as an adult, though he cautions against exaggerating the harm cannabis can cause teens. As shown by the failure of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, this approach can backfire and increase the likelihood that teens will use drugs. A parent might not think twice about having a glass of wine in front of their kids, but what about using cannabis? Grinspoon argues that so long as a parent is not "stoned out of their mind" or impaired, or in charge of any "adult responsibilities" at the time, it is possible to model responsible cannabis use. However, Lea McMahon, an adjunct professor of psychology at Columbia College, licensed professional counselor and chief clinical officer at Symetria Recovery, thinks that there is some risk that using cannabis in front of children can have an adverse effect on them. By not doing it, you are not involving any risk whatsoever," she says, calling the decision to use cannabis in private a "no-brainer." McMahon notes that parents who use cannabis for medical purposes may have no choice about using cannabis with their children present, but says that for those that have the luxury of choice ... it's a risk not worth taking." How does the legality of cannabis impact how parents should broach the topic? Cannibals for recreational use by adults is legal in 21 states. Medical use of cannabis is legal in 38 states. That means cannabis use of any kind is still illegal in 12 states. Grinspoon says that ideally, parents would always demonstrate law-abiding behavior." He also stresses that parents need to avoid legal jeopardy and avoid entanglements with law enforcement, as that isn't good for the kids either. However, Grinspoon believes that talking about cannabis being illegal can be an opportunity to teach children critical thinking skills. What is legal does not equate to what is moral, he says, noting that slavery and bans on same-sex marriage were both legal at one point. Nevertheless, if parents are using cannabis in states where it is not legal, Grinspoon advises them to never use cannabis around their children because of the risk of becoming entangled with law enforcement. But even in states where cannabis is legal, Watford warns that legality does not turn cannabis use into a black and white situation that doesnt require further discussion. Concerns surrounding responsible cannabis use still apply regardless of whether it is legal or not. Legal status of the substance is not one of those variables that determines whether someone uses the drug responsibly, she says. She notes that some of the most addictive substances, such as nicotine and alcohol, are legal and easily accessed by adults. But this does not make the potential impact of using these substances any less hazardous than other substances. Ultimately, Watford says that talking to children about cannabis use is a highly personal decision that has to be made by each individual." Conversations about it will really come down to the "nature of the relationship the parent has with their teen. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. Key Insights Walt Disney's estimated fair value is US$131 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Walt Disney's US$91.93 share price signals that it might be 30% undervalued The US$120 analyst price target for DIS is 8.5% less than our estimate of fair value Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Walt Disney The Calculation We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$3.90b US$7.95b US$10.3b US$13.2b US$15.9b US$17.9b US$19.6b US$21.1b US$22.3b US$23.3b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x6 Analyst x11 Analyst x9 Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Est @ 12.76% Est @ 9.57% Est @ 7.33% Est @ 5.76% Est @ 4.67% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.9% US$3.6k US$6.7k US$8.0k US$9.4k US$10.4k US$10.7k US$10.8k US$10.7k US$10.3k US$9.9k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$90b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.9%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$23b (1 + 2.1%) (8.9% 2.1%) = US$351b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$351b ( 1 + 8.9%)10= US$149b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$240b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$91.9, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 30% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Walt Disney as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.144. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Walt Disney Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness No major weaknesses identified for DIS. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the American market. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Walt Disney, there are three essential elements you should further examine: Financial Health: Does DIS have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does DIS's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Karwai Tang - Getty Images Prince Harry was in London last week to give evidence at the High Court against the publisher of the Daily Mirror. As well as making headlines for the evidence he gave at the trial, the royal was also inundated with questions about whether Meghan Markle and the Sussex children had joined him on the visit. It's likely then, that the Duke of Sussex was eager to get back to his California home. During the journey, Harry met a royal fan and his sweet gesture towards him is being praised on social media. Taking to Instagram, flight attendant Holden Pattern shared a selfie with the royal on his Story. "Passenger prince," he wrote in the caption, alongside a photo of Harry looking happy and relaxed. "Awwww, that smile shows the man is happy. Hes going home to his wonderful family," one person wrote in the comments section after the photo was shared to a fan account. "Time to go home: Harry on a commercial flight back home to his family," the fan account caption read. "Looks unbothered and happy," someone else replied, with another fan writing: "He really is a 'Prince of the People'. Like his mother." In another photo, flight attendant Holden revealed that as well as stopping to take a selfie which is against royal protocol for those still carrying out official duties Harry left him a signed copy of his recent memoir, Spare. "Just found this," the American Airlines staffer wrote, sharing a photo of the book. We love to see it! You Might Also Like Airplanes could soon be significantly more accessible for travelers who rely on electric-powered wheelchairs. A new airplane seat that debuted at an expo this week would allow travelers to remain in their own wheelchairs for the duration of their flight. PriestmanGoode, a transport design specialist who led the design, said it's a "first-of-its-kind." The design allows wheelchair users to still use a headrest, center console, tray tables and a cocktail table, PriestmanGoode said. A new airline seat prototype has been unveiled that would allow travelers who rely on electric-powered wheelchairs to stay in their chairs for the duration of their flight. / Credit: PriestmanGoode So, how does it work? Video shows that the cushions in the seat that would be used in standard seating can be detached from the rest of the seat that's bolted in and stowed away. The seat base folds up to the back of the area and the headrest is raised allowing for people who use wheelchairs to back into the space comfortably. The seat debuted at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 in Hamburg, Germany and was designed in a collaboration between Delta Flight Products and the United Kingdom consortium Air4All. Delta Flight Products, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, said that the new seat will also allow for "a more seamless boarding and disembarking experience" for those who have reduced mobility. "Air4All is collaborating with DFP and our strong production and manufacturing capabilities to explore new ways to deliver equal access to comfort, safety, and dignity for all customers," said Rick Salanitri, president of Delta Flight Products. "This patented design offers new possibilities for customers with disabilities to enjoy a travel experience they truly deserve." After the prototype's debut at the expo, DFP said that the seat will go through the final stages for its design and validation. After that it will go through its testing and certification programs for installation. It will still need to be verified to meet U.S. and European standards. The seat is currently designed to fit on Airbus A321 aircraft, Salanitri told aviation news website Runway Girl Network. Delta's A321s are single-aisle planes that accommodate 191 seats. However, Salanitri said the design also allows it to be installed on other aircraft types "with only minor modifications." Story continues The new seat has been heralded by disability activists. Chris Wood, the founder of the organization Flying Disabled, which is part of Air4All, got to try out the seat for himself. "An innovation like this in air travel provides those with reduced mobility a safe and comfortable way for them to travel and remain in their own power wheelchair," he said. "It has taken a truly collaborative effort to develop this seat and we believe this product provides an optimal solution for all parties." Its travelling in your own wheelchair but not as we know it Jim @Priestmangoode @WCTravelOrg pic.twitter.com/iKwLT2uL4H Christopher Wood MBE (@flyingdisabled) June 6, 2023 Maayan Ziv, the founder of AccessNow, which aims to be a resource for accessibility information, said that "airlines should take note" of the innovation. "What Delta is doing is what real leadership looks like and they will reap the rewards," she tweeted. "The disability community spends over $58B on travel annually. I know what airline I'll be flying with when these prototypes hit production." The debut comes just under a year after U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the department is taking "big steps" to make air travel "safe and accessible for everyone." Part of that was proposing a new rule that would expand airplane bathroom sizes to be more accommodating to passengers who use wheelchairs. "No one should have to choose between dehydrating themselves and avoiding air travel altogether," Buttigieg said. The department also unveiled a bill of rights for passengers who have disabilities and Buttigieg said they are working on a rule that would allow people to stay in their own wheelchairs when they fly. Currently, TSA regulations state that electric wheelchairs and other similar devices are not permitted in aircraft cabins. All the cases and investigations Trump is facing Trump could face up to 10 years in prison on federal charges, legal expert says Trump changes lawyers amid indictment A Chinese People's Liberation Army plane refueling. Xinhua via Getty Images Taiwan deployed fighter jets after 10 Chinese planes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Earlier this week, 37 Chinese military planes also flew into Taiwan's air-defense system. It follows video footage of a Chinese warship cutting off an American destroyer. Taiwan's defense ministry said it deployed military fighter jets, naval vessels, and missile systems after it detected 24 Chinese warplanes, 10 of which it said crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese aircraft detected included J-10, J-11, J-16, and Su-30 fighters, and also H-6 bombers, according to a tweet by the defense ministry. In the tweet, the defense ministry said that four People's Liberation Army Navy vessels "conducted joint combat patrol" while ten aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China and Taiwan something which China says it does not recognize, per Reuters. This is not the first instance of Chinese military activity around Taiwan this week. Reuters reported that 37 Chinese military planes flew into Taiwan's air-defense system before some headed to the western Pacific. The US Navy's 7th Fleet also released a video late last Sunday night showing a Chinese warship cutting off an American destroyer during an "unsafe" encounter in the Taiwan Strait. In the video, the Chinese Type 052D destroyer Suzhou, as US Indo-Pacific Command described it, "executed maneuvers in an unsafe manner" around the USS Chung-Hoon. According to Reuters, China has previously defended these kind of actions, saying they were to safeguard the country's sovereignty. China has frequently responded to US-Taiwan relations with military exercises and shows of force. China views Taiwan as part of its own territory, claiming that it is a breakaway province. Chinese President Xi Jinping has frequently called for unification with Taiwan. "We are willing to create a vast space for peaceful unification, but we will never leave any room for any sort of Taiwan independence separatist activities," he has said. Read the original article on Business Insider If youve been embroiled in the royal drama (especially the debates going on on Twitter), then you know all about the breakup and fighting rumors between Kate Middleton and Prince William, along with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In the past few weeks, there has been an influx of royal rumors and reports saying that both couples are in a bit of a state of turmoil in their relationships. But this new video of Kate and William on their recent visit to Jordan is confirming to a lot of fans that their relationship is much more strained than others thought. More from SheKnows In this video obtained by DailyMail, we see Kate and William in the queue to talk to Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan, and his bride Rajwa Alseif during their marvelous wedding in Jordan. Now, the reason this video is getting so embroiled in the strained relationship speculation is that as Kate is talking happily to Alseif, William is heard saying things like chop chop and lets keep going as the queue starts to pack more people behind it. Kate more or less ignores him, and continues the conversation until she ends it herself. Now, this video has caused a bit of a debate amongst royal fans. Many are saying this video shows a darker side to the couple, with one Twitter user saying, Just imagine how he must be treating Kate behind closed doors. Sad. She is truly married to a bully. Click here to read the full article. Another user added, William really has no manners and shows little respect for his wife in public wonder how he would feel if she did the same to him hes more like his dad than he realises arrogant. However, quite a few have defended the video, calling the moment cute, and even saying it reminded them of their husbands. One Twitter user said, Like William, Id feel anxious looking at the line waiting, but Kate is being her lovely, chatty self, focusing on the person in front of her. He often patiently waits while she says hi to a few more people, plays w a baby, etc. To me, hes being a normal husband! Story continues Another user added, love itjust like every hubby and wife. People never know what relationships are like behind closed doors, but royal fans continue to speculate as each new piece of information comes out. Truly, only time will tell how these royal couples relationships will go. Before you go, click here to see more photos of Prince William & Kate Middleton through the years. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is gearing up to roll out a $6 million ad campaign, part of whats expected to an official launch of a presidential campaign Monday. A senior Scott official said that the senator will be launching a $5.5 million multi-platform ad campaign that will air on TV, radio, satellite and cable statewide in the early presidential primary states of New Hampshire and Iowa. A separate seven-figure digital ad buy will also be launched. Both ad campaigns will air until the first GOP debate. This campaign is built to win and has the resources and messenger to deliver a Republican nomination and ultimately the White House, said a senior Scott official. Scott is anticipated to announce Monday that hell officially be running for president. Scott launched an exploratory committee last month and has been making trips to states early primary states, including Iowa and his home state of South Carolina. Several Republican challengers have already launched formal White House bids, including former President Trump, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Pence, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are widely speculated to be running but have not yet made formal announcements. Polling has shown, however, that Trump holds a significant lead over the presumptive 2024 GOP field, with DeSantis largely polling second. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Donald Trumps 2024 Republican rivals have largely come to his defense and cast doubt about the legitimacy of his federal indictment over his handling of classified documents, while also distancing themselves from his behavior. The Justice Department on Friday unsealed an unprecedented 37-count indictment against Trump who continues to lead in polls accusing him of mishandling classified documents, obstructing justice and making false statements, facing him with substantial prison time if convicted. Trump has dismissed the charges and proclaimed his innocence. He has vowed to continue his White House campaign, even if convicted, Politico reported. Heres how his Republican competitors have responded: From left: Former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. From left: Former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Ron DeSantis The Florida governor, who is second behind Trump in the polls, has refrained from criticizing his GOP rival over the indictment and has instead sown doubt about the Justice Department. DeSantis responded to the indictment Friday by alleging that there is a weaponization of government agencies and no one standard of justice in this country. Hillary had the emails, DeSantis said in a speech that did not reference Trump by name. Is there a different standard for a Democrat Secretary of State versus a former Republican president? Hillary Clinton was investigated for using a private email server while serving as Secretary of State. A federal investigation found no evidence of deliberate mishandling of classified information by her. Mike Pence While the former vice president has said that Trump is unfit for the presidency, citing Trumps actions on Jan. 6, 2021, he has defended Trump in the classified documents investigation. Pence in a speech on Saturday called the indictment a sad day for America and said that Trump is presumed innocent before guilty. Story continues Pence said Attorney General Merrick Garland needs to personally and publicly explain why the indictment is necessary and stop hiding behind the special counsel, which brought the charges against his former boss. Pence was also investigated by the Justice Department after classified documents were found at his home earlier this year. He was recently cleared of any wrongdoing. Mistakes were made, and I take full responsibility, Pence said after the documents were found in January. Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday. DeSantis has refrained from criticizing his GOP rival over the indictment. Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday. DeSantis has refrained from criticizing his GOP rival over the indictment. Nikki Haley The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor has not commented critically on her former boss handling of the classified documents. Haley, who was appointed ambassador by Trump, on Friday instead criticized the indictment as prosecutorial overreach, double standards, and vendetta politics. Its time to move beyond the endless drama and distractions, she said in a short statement. Chris Christie The former New Jersey governor and federal prosecutor has been openly critical of Trump. On Friday, he called the facts of the indictment devastating. Is this the type of conduct that we want from someone who wants to be president of the United States? he told CNNs Jake Tapper. I think that we have to focus on the conduct, Jake, and the conduct is bad. Christie said he believes the number of people speaking out against Trump will get larger as they understand the facts. Is this the type of conduct we want from someone who wants to be President of the United States? We have to focus on the conduct, and the conduct is bad. pic.twitter.com/9RNMLKMXAM Chris Christie (@GovChristie) June 10, 2023 Vivek Ramaswamy The businessman told CNN on Sunday that the indictment against Trump is deeply politicized and selective prosecution. He said he believes a court will acquit Trump but also that a pardon is the right answer here. Theres a difference between a bad judgment and breaking the law, he told CNNs Dana Bash. Ramaswamy said if he were in Trumps shoes, he personally would not have taken the documents with him when he left the White House, and if he had, he would have returned them on demand. I would not have made the judgments that President Trump made. Its a big part of why Im in this race is, I think that I would have made different judgments than Trump made, he said. Asa Hutchinson The former Arkansas governor and former federal prosecutor has called for Trump to end his campaign, saying in a statement Thursday that the indictment is a major distraction that weakens our democracy. Speaking with CNN on Sunday, Hutchinson said the indictment is obviously very solid but that it will be a challenging case in court not because the facts are weak but because the defendant is a former president and the jury may not be impartial. We need somebody who has a high regard for military secrets, for classified documents and for the rule of law, he said of the next president. It is simply wrong for a candidate to use the pardon power of the United States, of the president in order to curry votes and in order to get an applause line." GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson reacts to Vivek Ramaswamy's promise to pardon Trump. #CNNSOTU@CNNSotupic.twitter.com/r0Y7LiSBYG CNN (@CNN) June 11, 2023 He said Ramaswamys suggestion that he would pardon Trump if he was president is nothing more than an attempt to curry votes and get an applause line. If you start down that path, it is unending, he said, adding that such a pardon would undermine the jury system, which found probable cause to indict Trump, and the rule of law. Tim Scott The South Carolina senator, in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, said Trump should be presumed innocent and that he will continue to pray that justice prevails. The scales are weighted, he said of the Justice Departments investigation. Doug Burgum The North Dakota governor has largely stayed silent on the indictment. He told CNN on Thursday that his campaign is instead focused on the economy, energy and national security and not the past. He told CBS News on Sunday that if elected president, he would follow every rule related to handling classified documents. Larry Elder The conservative talk radio host, prior to reading the indictment, said it was a sad, pathetic day. Related... A new report shows unmet needs and barriers are continuing to affect those with mental health conditions. In Louisiana, 715,000 adults have a mental health condition, and 44,000 ages 1217 have depression, according to a National Alliance on Mental Illness report. In February 2021, 47.5% of adults in Louisiana reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Many struggle with mental illness because of a lack of insurance and other resources, as well as the stigma associated with mental illness. The Acadiana Area Human Services District conducted a community needs assessment for the residents of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes. The assessment showed that, within the seven parishes, 1,679 children had a substance use disorder in the past 12 months. What concerns me is that 1,523, which is the vast majority of that population, needed help but did not receive treatment, Executive Director Brad Farmer said. In Louisiana, 715,000 adults in Louisiana have a mental health condition Insurance Insurance is a barrier for many to receiving mental health care. Research from QuoteWizard showed a direct correlation between the number of people who don't receive mental health care and the number of people who don't have insurance. In Louisiana, 8.9% of residents are uninsured, and many Louisianans are four times more likely to be forced out of network for mental health care than for primary health care, making it more difficult to find care and less affordable due to higher out-of-pocket costs. Of the 194,000 adults in Louisiana who did not receive needed mental health care, 41.8% did not because of the cost, according to NAMI. Forbes ranked Louisiana No. 11 among the worst states for mental health care, reporting that 27.79% of adults with a cognitive disability could not see a doctor due to cost, and 62.50% of youth who had a major depressive episode in the past year did not receive mental health services. Acadiana Area Human Services District was created to provide administration, management, behavioral health, addictive disorders, mental health disorders and developmental disabilities services to the residents of the seven parishes. Story continues We dont turn anybody away due to financial status, that is a part of our mission, so financial issues are probably one of the least barriers for the populations we serve," Farmer said. Lack of professional care and service In Louisiana, 3,398,990 people live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals. Farmer cited the lack of resources in many rural areas. "The service capacity is available within Acadiana, mostly centered in Lafayette," Farmer said. "But when you get into those more rural areas, you see a lack of help. The workforce within this field is a problem because finding people to work that are licensed and have the right credentials is challenging. Not just in Lafayette but across the country, how do we get more employees?" The Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services found that among 79% of Louisianans, DHHS reports only 26.2% of the mental health needs are being met, and that to meet the mental health needs of Louisianas citizens in the 167 Mental Health HCPAs would require 166 additional psychiatrists. Social stigma Nearly one-third of Americans have worried about others judging them when they told them they have sought mental health services, and 21%, have even lied to avoid telling people they were seeking mental health services, the report found. The community needs assessment within Acadiana reported 20% of respondents were concerned about the stigma and peer pressure associated with mental health conditions. "After being in the field for 32 years, I have seen the social stigma about mental health improve," Farmer said. "If there was is one good thing about COVID, it tremendously impacted addressing stigma, because now people talk about it a lot more, and you hear people much more commonly hearing check on your mental health." This stigma is particularly true among younger Americans, who are more likely to have worried about others judging them when they seek mental health services, according to the National Council for Wellbeing. Other barriers included 45% believed trusting someone to speak with was difficult, and 46% not knowing how to get help. The CDC states mental health can affect how we think, feel and act, all components of overall health. To find out more about AAHSD and its services, resources and locations, visit aahsd.org. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Mental Health continues to be a problem in Louisiana The days are numbered for those reasonably priced, non-stop Fort Lauderdale-to-London flights. Norse Atlantic Airways, a discount carrier often referred to as the Spirit of Europe, has announced it will be moving its operations to Miami International Airport (MIA) just days after it began flying out of Fort Lauderdale (FLL). The Miami switch is scheduled to begin Sept. 18. Fort Lauderdale airport officials are not happy. The Broward County Aviation Department (BCAD), the operator of FLL, said in a press release it is very disappointed to learn of Norse Atlantic Airways decision to discontinue its FLL flight operations and relocate service to Miami. While BCAD had high hopes that this budding relationship with Norse would grow and blossom into a mutually beneficial, established, and long-term collaboration, we wish them well in their future endeavors. Norse Airways has announced it will shift its flights beginning in September from Fort Lauderdale to Miami. It offers discount non-stop flights to London and Oslo, Norway. The London flights from Fort Lauderdale had offered Palm Beach County residents an alternative to making the long drive to Miami, from where several non-stop flights to London are scheduled daily. The discount carrier began flying to Norway a year ago from Fort Lauderdale and announced, to much fanfare, the addition of a non-stop flight to London. The first plane took off May 26. Five days later, Norse reported that all of its operations would be moved to Miami in September. So, too, will non-stop service to Oslo, Norway. So what happened? Norse liked what it saw in Miami. Previously: Fort Lauderdale to London non-stop service on Norse Atlantic to begin in May CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen said in a press release that Miami has high levels of passenger demand with both direct and connecting traffic volumes greater than other airports in the region. He added that Miami will also offer its cargo customers more choice and flexibility. Fort Lauderdales loss is Miamis gain. Said Ralph Cutie, the CEO for Miami International Airport: We are thrilled that Norse Atlantic has chosen MIA for all of its South Florida flights. Story continues More: Palm Beach International Airport shuts down short-term, premium parking lots for months Norse will be entitled to a one-year waiver of landing fees and other incentives that are given to all new entrant airlines that commit to at least one continuous year of service. A spokesman for MIA said an airline can typically save $100,000 or more on the incentive package depending on the route, frequency and other variables but noted that most airlines choose to fly at MIA because of its extensive route connections to Latin America and beyond, and not because of the incentive package. Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach have similar incentive programs, and one of its airlines, Avelo, recently received those incentives for beginning service to Wilmington, Delaware and Raleigh, North Carolina. PBIA update: Concourse B to get million-dollar makeover; nonstop flights to Wilmington, NC, to start Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale says it will remain focused on attracting European air service to serve the needs of South Florida travelers. El AL non-stop service is expected to begin in September. The airport has been steadily increasing its international footprint. In April, international traffic increased by 21% to 641,919 from April of 2022. The figure, though, is still about 20% lower than pre-Covid traffic of April 2019. Through the middle of September, Norse will continue to offer several flights a week from Fort Lauderdale to Londons Gatwick (LGW) airport. Gatwick is about 30 miles south of London. See the airlines web site flynorse.com for more information. Non-stop London service is also offered at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and New York as well. Norse Atlantic was founded in 2021 and offers more affordable fares sometimes as low as $250 round trip for flights to Europe. One of its partners is Spirit Airlines. Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Norse Airlines to soon move operations from Fort Lauderdale to Miami A-Beauty has long gone unnoticed in the UKs luxury space but thanks to De Avillez all that is changing (The Natural Africa) Numerous destinations across the globe serve as inspiration for skincares most beloved and sought-after offerings. The K-Beauty (Korean) and J-Beauty (Japanese) brands are celebrated for raising the standards of the global skincare industry. Then there is the pursuit of the effortlessly cool French girl beauty think tousled bed hair with a parted fringe and a just-been-kissed blotting of red lipstick. But South African skincare grounded in ancestral knowledge and formulated from the regions rich array of botanicals offers a beauty perspective that much of the world hasnt yet seen. This fact propelled Catarina De Avillez, a veteran of the premium beauty industry who has worked for the likes of YSL Beauty, Armani, and Lancome, to found The Natural Africa. This new, small-batch, sub-Saharan-plant-based skincare range reflects a deep love for her heritage and a reverence for the lands native flora. African beauty also referred to as A-Beauty has long gone unnoticed in the UKs luxury space, so this week I spoke with De Avillez about why it deserves a spot on our top shelves. Premium beauty industry veteran Catarina De Avillez worked for YSL Beauty, Armani and Lancome before founding The Natural Africa (The Natural Africa) A descendant of rooibos farmers in South Africa, De Avillez says: I grew up around African plants, steeped in the knowledge of their powerful applications and nourishing benefits. My mother is South African, so I have always spent a lot of time in Cape Town and, more specifically, in Hermanus, a coastal town in the Western Cape, home to an abundance of natural beauty and wholesome ingredients. She tells me that the regions magnificent mountains, lowland valleys and coastal plains form one of the richest areas in the world for plant biodiversity, being uniquely located at the convergence point of numerous soil types and microclimates. Often, beauty brands source ingredients from parts of the world they have never seen, so its special to have experienced first-hand how the plants growing around me are trusted for their healing properties, being used as teas, medicinal remedies, and natural skincare by the Capes indigenous communities for millennia, De Avillez says. Story continues Africa is too often overlooked within the luxury market. Being able to showcase what this part of the world has to offer, and honour its rich heritage on a global scale, feels necessary. Rosehip berries, which grow at high altitude, are a key ingredient in the range (The Natural Africa) De Avillezs goal became to mindfully bring luxurious skincare that is superpowered by Southern African botanical wisdom to the world without damaging the Cape in the process. As someone with an eternally thirsty complexion, The Natural Africas Resurrection Moisturiser immediately caught my attention. De Avillez explains to me that Myrothamnus flabellifolius, or resurrection plant, found only in Southern Africa, is known for its ability to play dead. The plant has developed a remarkable survival strategy to remain dormant throughout a drought. Its able to exist for years without a drop of water, drying out completely and appearing to be dead, only to spring back to life within three hours of rainfall, sturdy and renewed. The same compounds that protect the plant and allow for rehydration during the harshest of conditions are what The Natural Africa uses in its moisturiser formula to create a tall drink of water for your face. Rosehip berries, which grow at high altitudes between the dramatic peaks of the Maluti mountains, are another key ingredient in the range, being used to create the brands Rosehip Oil. De Avillez explains: Across Africa, more than 40 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line. Rural people are often left with little to no sustainable income, especially in the winter months. Our rosehip berries are hand-picked, mainly by women, providing the local communities with valuable and sustainable economic opportunities. We work with a botanical supplier that provides income year-round for over 500 families who would otherwise be impoverished. Once gathered, the berries are sorted according to village, which means that each batch can be traced back to the specific family who picked it. The resurrection plant, found only in Southern Africa, has developed a remarkable survival strategy to remain dormant throughout a drought (The Natural Africa) This thoughtful, wild harvesting and selective eco-sensitive cultivation of over 10 key botanicals results in a dermatologically approved product range, featuring a cleanser, serum, moisturiser, and oil each lovingly named after its hero plant. De Avillez concludes: Africa is a treasure trove of nourishing flora. For thousands of years, indigenous people have relied on these as organic skin remedies. We couldnt make our products without the collaborative efforts and knowledge passed on through generations. Embracing a truly global vision of wellness, a handful of UK-based e-retailers are beginning to bring A-Beauty to our doorsteps. The Natural Africas range is currently available through the companys own website, as well as from Skindays and Collagerie, and will be launching on more clickable destinations soon. FullCircle - Credit: HBO The trailer for Steven Soderberghs upcoming miniseries, Full Circle, has all the makings of an intriguing drama: a kidnapping, international intrigue, and a random shot of Jim Gaffigan looking implausibly serious. The show debuts July 13 on Max (fka HBO Max), and stars Zazie Beetz and Claire Danes as a cop and mother, respectively, connected through a bungled kidnapping. The series also features Jharrel Jerome, Timothy Olyphant, and Dennis Quaid among others. In the clip, Danes character answers a phone and learns her son has been abducted, leading to Beetzs looking around her house and Quaid looking pensive. At one point, Beetz addresses Danes: I just wanted to ask about the ties between you, your family, and Guyana. Danes does her anxious, Homeland scowl, and it cuts to kids in a boat and a woman (actress CCH Pounder) asking, Are you scared. More from Rolling Stone Theyre all hiding shit, Beetz says frustratedly. The series sees the reunion of Soderbergh with screenwriter Ed Solomon (Men in Black, Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure, Now You See Me 2); the pair previously worked together on the movie No Sudden Move and the series Mosaic. The story is based on Solomons 550-page spec script, according to a 2021 Hollywood Reporter article. Even by Eds standards this is a complex narrative that manages to be both kaleidoscopic and intimate, Soderbergh said at the time. Our task now is to assemble a great cast and make sure we execute at the level the scripts deserve. Full Circles first two episodes of the six-episode series will premiere at the same time on the streaming service, with more installments arriving two by two on Thursdays, with a finale scheduled for July 27. Story continues Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Four Rhode Island families have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice alleging that the West Warwick and North Kingstown school districts excessively and unlawfully restrained their children, causing mental-health trauma and physical injury. One child is 6 years old, one is 8 and two are 10. Two attended Greenbush Elementary School in West Warwick and two attended Davisville Academy in North Kingstown. All four of the students have special-education plans addressing behavioral difficulties and other disability-related issues, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island. One child was restrained 25 times; another was restrained at least 14 times, sometimes for over half an hour at a time, the ACLU said. Attorneys for the ACLU and Rhode Island Legal Services filed the complaints on behalf of the families. The complaints also question the level of oversight by the state Department of Education. "All four parents who bring these complaints believe that their children were excessively and unnecessarily restrained by staff in these schools, in violation of their civil rights under federal law (and the state laws and regulations concerning restraint and seclusion)," the attorneys said in a letter to the Department of Justice. "The large number of restraints experienced by each child, and in some instances their duration, as well as injuries resulting therefrom, are indicative of a pattern where restraint has become a norm rather than a warning to adjust to alternative and preventative strategies," the attorneys said. Karen Tarasevich, superintendent in West Warwick, issued a statement saying the school department was made aware of the complaint Friday. "The safety of our students is our top priority. Accordingly, we ensure our faculty and staff have the updated certification and training needed to respond safely and appropriately to any escalating scenario, meeting all of RIDE's requirements," Tarasevich said. "Federal privacy laws prevent us from sharing any details involving student related matters." North Kingstown Interim Superintendent Dr. Frank Pallotta issued the following statement: "We cannot provide details regarding any individual student incident, but continue to prioritize the safety and security of our students. Every faculty and staff member that supports any student with special education needs in our schools receives updated training, in coordination with state regulations, around safely de-escalating and intervening if a student is experiencing a crisis." "Our District learned of this complaint by the ACLU and R.I. Legal Services today, and are thoroughly reviewing it with our legal team," Pallotta said. ACLU says restraint is for crises only, and 'for the shortest time possible' According to the ACLU, "restraint is the use of physical intervention to immobilize a person or limit their movement; by law, it can only be used in a crisis and to prevent injury, and for the shortest time possible." The mother of one child, a 10-year-old girl, "surprised" two workers at Greenbush when she showed up at the school and found them restraining her daughter in "a face-down 'prone' restraint, which is illegal because it can lead to asphyxiation," the ACLU said. "What happened to my child was horrible. I dont want any other child or parent to go through this. If I put my hands on my child the way it happened in school, DCYF would take my child away, the mother is quoted saying in an ACLU news release. The children and parents are not identified by name in the complaint or news release. North Kingstown boy arrived home 'sometimes with bruises' In North Kingstown, an 8-year-old first-grader at Davisville Academy was restrained at least 25 times, "sometimes by two people and in some instances multiple times per day," the complaint alleges. The boy has been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, anxiety and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. The child would "come home sometimes with bruises," according to a complaint, "and as a result of these restraints he developed anxiety around going to school. He reverted back to bed wetting and began to urinate on himself at school. There was also at least one occasion in which [he] jumped out of a window and ran almost to the street before being caught." The complaints allege that the children's experiences were part of a pattern by the school districts and that the schools used restraints at "very high rates compared to other Rhode Island public schools, and that restraints are applied repeatedly against just a few children." Citing information obtained via public records requests, the attorneys noted that Davisville Academy reported 102 restraints involving six children during the 2021-2022 school year, and Greenbush Elementary reported 546 restraints involving 22 children. ACLU lawyers: 'Lack of scrutiny' accompanied 'extremely high restraint rates' "While school districts must provide annual restraint data for each school, based on (the Department of Education's response to an Access to Public Records Act request), it does not appear that extremely high restraint rates at particular schools have resulted in additional inquiry or oversight by the state agency," the attorneys said in their letter to the DOJ. "The lack of scrutiny can be dangerous, especially in situations where turnover and attrition has led to insufficient staffing and/or training." Victor Morente, a spokesman for RIDE, emailed a message saying, RIDE "was just made aware of these complaints and will look into the matters. At this time, the agency has no further comment." Two of the students were later moved into other schools and haven't been restrained since, which is evidence, the attorneys said, that the restraints were unnecessary and ineffective. The complaints argue that the children's rights were violated under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The complaints seek compensatory education and mental-health counseling for the children, revisions to school procedures, improved oversight and accountability and elimination of the use of restraint as punishment. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: West Warwick, North Kingstown parents say in-school restraints caused trauma On Jan. 26, 1958, an amazing contest was announced in the Argus Leader: One lucky and talented newspaper carrier between the ages of 12 and 17 would be whisked away for a springtime trip to Portugal and Spain, courtesy of the Argus Leader and Parade Magazine, a Sunday magazine supplement carried by the paper at the time. The exciting announcement said; What boy wouldnt thrill to an adventure like this? Its Sioux Falls Argus-Leader and Parades Young Columbus Contest for newspaper boys in the Sioux Empire. It is worth noting that the Argus Leader didnt have any female paper carriers at the time, but also that, for several years, the contest wasnt open to young women. The image is Gary Gamache in 1958. The photographer is at 12th and Phillips, looking north. The contest was a point-focused competition between carriers. Points could be earned by adding new customers or adding to existing subscriptions, collecting payments on time and getting favorable notices from people on their routes. Consideration was also given to school records and church attendance. The contest began on Jan. 27 and ran until March 8. Teasers were printed during the contest showing the exotic locales to be visited by 60 paper boys from across the country. They would get to see castles, a ranch used to train young bullfighters and street vendors in Spain vying to have their pictures taken by tourists. On March 13, the announcement of the winner was held at 7 p.m. in the Argus Leaders lunchroom. Chosen as Sioux Falls representative in the Young Columbus program was Gary Gamache, a 13-year-old whod had his route for more than eight months after spending time as a street carrier. Four alternates were chosen, should Garys church and school background check reveal any concerns. More: Crawford's brought 'topmost in quality' men's wear to Sioux Falls for decades: Looking back In the days leading up to his departure, Gary basked in the newsprint version of the limelight. He could be seen on his bicycle on his newspaper route, serving as an altar boy at St. Josephs Cathedral, helping Cub Scouts tie knots as part of his mentoring duties as a Boy Scout, and looking in a book with his family at pictures of some of the sites he might see in Europe. In his free time, Gary enjoyed stamp collecting and model building. Story continues Gary left for New York on April 3, carrying a letter from Mayor Fay Wheeldon to be passed on to Colonel Alvaro Salvacao Barreto, Mayor of Lisbon, as a token of good will. The hope was that Wheeldon could one day reciprocate the colonels hospitality. Gary was also equipped, by his employers, with a press card identifying him as a representative of the Argus Leader. It would bestow upon him courtesies afforded traveling journalists. I will have to ask about getting one of those. Gary returned home on April 14. He shared stories of his adventures and distributed souvenirs purchased for friends, family and people on his newspaper route. While in Portugal, local newspaper boys helped him to barter with the shopkeepers for a better price on trinkets. His life returned to normal and his journey became a happy memory. More: How John Morrell's grand residential palace came to be in Sioux Falls: Looking back By 1973, the contest was opened to female paper carriers, and in 1978, Sue Gillen, of Hartford, earned a trip to Ireland and England. The Young Columbus contest was held annually in Sioux Falls through 1985. It was a tremendous opportunity to expand the horizons of hard-working paper carriers. The contest was discontinued locally in the spring of that year when Gannett newspapers replaced Parade in all of their papers with USA Weekend. The final local winner was Matthew Sonnenfeld, of Sioux Falls. He headed to England and Scotland for his efforts. For carriers of newspapers that continued to distribute Parade Magazine, the contest continued on until 2001. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: This Argus Leader contest once offered newspaper carriers trips around the world: Looking back The collapse of an elevated section of I-95 in Philadelphia on Sunday caused by a vehicle fire is expected to clog road travel for months along the heavily used interstate, authorities said. I-95 in the northeastern part of the United States is used for commerce among the East Coast's population centers and serves as a nonstop route for vacationers and other travelers. There are several ways to get around the collapsed section of highway. Story continues below photo gallery. From northeast New Jersey, the simplest route will be to head west on either I-78 or I-80, then pick up the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension (I-476), which joins I-95 just south of the Philadelphia airport. Or drivers can take the I-95 bridge near Bordentown into Pennsylvania and stay on the main Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) to I-476 south. The collapse occurred in northeast Philadelphia where Route 73, also known as Cottman Avenue in the city, crosses under the interstate. The interstate collapsed onto the Cottman Avenue exit of I-95. The collapsed portion of Route 95 northbound over Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, PA, is shown Sunday afternoon, June 11, 2023. A vehicle fire under the overpass caused the collapse. As of Sunday afternoon, it was not known where along I-95 the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania highway departments would close the highway to through traffic. The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (Route 73) is immediately south of the bridge collapse and the one most likely to have traffic diverted. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said the vehicle fire closed all lanes between Exit 25 and Exit 32, a stretch that includes Allegheny Avenue, Castor Avenue, Academy Road and Linden Avenue. The collapsed portion of Route 95 northbound over Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, PA, is shown Sunday afternoon, June 11, 2023, in this view looking south towards Center City. A vehicle fire under the overpass caused the collapse. Philadelphia Fire Department Capt. Derek Bowmer said emergency crews responded shortly before 6:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a vehicle on fire on the interstate. Reports indicated that the vehicle may have been a tanker truck, but that has not been confirmed. The United States Coast Guard has confirmed that the truck that caught fire was transporting gasoline. A representative said "the company which owns that truck only transports gasoline." Story continues "The New Jersey State Police is closely monitoring the closure of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia," said Sgt. Philip Curry. "We are working with our partners and will be prepared to address any traffic concerns due to the potential increase of commuter and commercial traffic through New Jerseys roadways." Story continues below this archived gallery from 2001: There will be backups on local roads as traffic from I-95 is diverted, and on and around the many bridges over the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The closest bridge north of the collapse is the Burlington-Bristol Bridge, which carries Route 413 across the river. And there is the I-95 bridge that crosses the Delaware and connects to I-276, which goes through the suburbs north of Philadelphia and connects to the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Plymouth Meeting. Story continues below gallery: The Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin and Walt Whitman bridges also provide alternative routes farther south of the collapse. As of midafternoon Sunday, neither the New Jersey State Police nor the state Department of Transportation was available to say what the preferred routes would be and what signage would be erected to alert motorists of the issue with I-95 in north Philadelphia. On the New Jersey side of the river, another alternative route is I-295 all the way south to where it crosses the Delaware River into Delaware via the Delaware Memorial Bridge. That bridge is also the southern terminus of the New Jersey Turnpike and connects to I-95. This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Avoid collapsed I-95 in Philadelphia with these alternate routes Columbus Catholic Diocese Bishop, Earl K. Fernandes, seated, is applauded by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, left, during his ordination and installation as the diocese's 13th Bishop on May 31, 2022 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westerville. Jack DAurora is a partner with the Behal Law Group and produces a podcast, JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo. He is a frequent Dispatch contributor. Why is it Columbus Catholic Diocese Bishop Earl Fernandes cannot speak the truth? In the May 28 edition of The Dispatch, he again denied that he forced the Paulist priests to leave the Newman Center last year and repeated the fiction they chose to leave. The Paulists left because Fernandes would allow them to stay just two, not all four priests only if they agreed to be relegated to the status of chaplain and report to his new executive director. They could preach and hear confessions, but performing weddings and funerals would require permission. It was like being put on double-secret probation. You can stay, but youll be under my thumb. Beyond his aversion to the truth, Fernandes is blind to the reality about him. For years, the Catholic Church has been losing members and has failed to recruit enough priests. Fernandes sees the need to close 15 of his churches as an adventure. Memo to Bishop Fernandes: your ship is taking on water. This is an emergency and time to rethink everything. We shouldnt be surprised the church is struggling. In the podcast, Catholic in America, three priests discuss why Catholics are leaving the church: abuse scandals, loss of connection and not being fed spiritually, the churchs harsh attitude on the LGBTQ+ community and divorce. No news flash here. Add to the list a militant anti-abortion stance, condemnation of contraception, and a refusal to ordain women. Sadly, it doesnt pay to be open-minded in the Catholic Church. Even Pope Francis gets criticized for his progressive view of the LGBTQ+ community and the divorced. Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, stated, I believe Pope Francis is the Pope but it is time for me to say that I reject his program of undermining the Deposit of Faith, that is, the body of truth entrusted by Jesus to the Apostles to be proclaimed. A fringe group of priests assert Francis is a heretic. Story continues I guess somebody has to tell the Pope hes got it all wrong. Other bishops are equally out of touch. Bishop Robert Barron of Rochester, Minn., criticized President Joe Bidens stance on abortion, saying, What hes doing is repugnant. Bishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles believes Biden should be denied Communion because of his pro-choice stance. Does anybody remember Barron or Gomez criticizing President Donald Trump for his degrading statements about immigrants and women or his prolific lying? Apparently, Trump gets a pass because hes aligned with the churchs anti-abortion stance. How did the church get here? It starts with a hierarchy insulated from everyday life. According to the National Catholic Reporter, the average bishop is a non-Hispanic white 65-year-old, who graduated from a Catholic high school, went to college seminary, earned a graduate degree in theology, and then served as an associate pastor and then pastor. Think about this. A bishop has never had to rent an apartment, apply for a job or deal with a job loss, buy groceries, pay utility bills, worry about not having enough money to survive, suffer the heartbreak of divorce, deal with the anxiety that comes with being alone, unemployed and pregnant, or face the challenges that come when a son discloses he is gay. Despite this minimal life experience, these men develop an outsize confidence, if not arrogance, in telling others how to handle lifes toughest issues. They forget theyre just like the rest of us: mere mortals susceptible to error. Should we be surprised by the attitudes of men like Fernandes, Strickland, Barron and Gomez? But the church hierarchy does excel at one thing: losing people. Pew Research reports there are 6.5 former Catholics in the U.S. for every Catholic convert. No other religious group analyzed in the 2014 Religious Landscape Study has experienced anything close to this ratio of losses for gain via religious switching." And, yes, Im a cradle Catholic. Jack DAurora is a partner with the Behal Law Group and produces a podcast, JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo. He is a frequent Dispatch contributor. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bishop Fernandes not speaking truth about Paulists or reality| Opinion Gray, sulfurous fumes rise from the rocky verge of Solfatara di Pozzuoli, one of Campi Flegrei's 24 craters A long-slumbering "supervolcano" in Italy is getting closer to a potential eruption for the first time since 1538, a new study warns and the consequences could be catastrophic. The Campi Flegrei volcano, near Naples in southern Italy, has crust that is becoming weaker and more prone to rupturing, "making an eruption more likely", scientists behind a new study have said. More than 1.5 million people live above the vast underground volcano complex, and half a million people have their homes inside its 7-mile-long (11 kilometers) caldera, which was formed after an enormous eruption 39,000 years ago. Related: Yellowstone volcano super-eruptions appear to involve multiple explosive events If Campi Flegrei were to reenact its largest previous eruption, it would punch molten rock and volcanic gases high into the stratosphere, unleash 100-feet-high (33.5 meters) tsunamis and spread a plume of sulfur and toxic ash that could plunge Earth into global winter for years killing crops and causing mass extinctions. The researchers published their findings June 9 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment . "Our new study confirms that Campi Flegrei is moving closer to rupture," study lead-author Christopher Kilburn , a professor of Earth Science at University College London, said in a statement . However, he cautioned that "this does not mean an eruption is guaranteed. The rupture may open a crack through the crust, but the magma still needs to be pushing up at the right location for an eruption to occur." Campi Flegrei, which means "burning fields" or "fiery fields," is a sprawling, mostly-hidden network of 24 craters and edifices that stretches from its vast caldera opposite Vesuvius at the western edge of Naples into the nearby Gulf of Puzzuoli. A 2016 satellite image showing the breathing landscape of Campi Flegrei pockmarked by craters. Though Campi Flegrei is commonly referred to as a supervolcano, this hasn't been established for certain. Supervolcanoes are volcanoes that can produce eruptions of the highest magnitude an 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index expelling more than 240 cubic miles (1,000 cubic kilometers) of material in the process. Story continues Yet Campi Flegrei's biggest ever eruption ejected up to 70 cubic miles (285 cubic km) of material, ranking it as a still-disastrous category 7. One of the hazardous chemical elements that would be unleashed in the eruption's cloud is fluorine, which in sufficient quantities can kill plants and cause a disease called fluorosis in animals. The volcano has been stirring since the mid-20th century, with bursts of heightened activity in the 1950s, 1970s and 1980s. Another period of unrest began in the last decade and is still ongoing, during which the ground below Pozzuoli, a town located on the volcano's roof, has risen by 4 inches (10 centimeters) each year, adding up to a total change in elevation of 13 feet (4 m) since the 1950s. Campi Flegrei is also experiencing persistent small earthquakes, with more than 600 detected in April breaking its largest monthly total ever recorded in the region. The subterranean ferment is likely being driven by volcanic gas seeping into the crust 2 miles (3 km) beneath Campi Flegrei's surface, which soaks it up like a sponge, the researchers said. This causes the crust to stretch, warp and slip, sending earthquakes rumbling to the surface. If enough volcanic gas enters the crust, the heat and pressure it provides can push the rocks beyond "critical degassing pressure," rupturing them and opening up a crack for the magma beneath to burst outwards in an eruption. White and gray puffs of sulfur seep out from beneath the ground inside a fumarole in the Campi Flegrei caldera. RELATED STORIES Secrets of 'mystery sandwich' beneath Yellowstone revealed in new map Foot floating in a Yellowstone hot spring leaves more questions than answers Newly discovered Yellowstone eruption is one of 'top 5 eruptions of all time' To see how likely an eruption may be, the researchers combined seismic readings with measurements of ground uplift to map estimates of the changing tensile strength of the region's crust (the maximum stress a material can take before breaking) and its proximity to rupture. The researchers' model suggests that the crust beneath Campi Flegrei is breaking and not bending under pressure. Deep beneath Earth, the churn of underground gas and magma has been slowly flexing and weakening Campi Flegrei's crust since the 1950s, reducing its tensile strength to just a third of what it was in 1984, according to the study. This means that even though the earthquakes in the region are not as powerful as they were in the 1980s, the weaker rock has the potential to rupture under smaller strains, giving seismologists fewer detectable earthquakes and people less notice to evacuate. Despite this, the scientists say this doesn't mean a gigantic eruption is now inevitable. For volcanoes to blow, gases must build up faster than they can escape, and magma also needs to be able to move rapidly through the crust where a crack has formed two conditions that scientists cannot know for certain have been met until an eruption takes place. The same can also be said for the size of Campi Flegrei's potential eruption, which is difficult to predict but is much more likely to be small than large, according to the scientists. "It's the same for all volcanoes that have been quiet for generations. Campi Flegrei may settle into a new routine of gently rising and subsiding, as seen at similar volcanoes around the world, or simply return to rest," Stefano Carlino, a researcher at the Vesuvius Observatory, said in the statement. "We can't yet say for sure what will happen. The important point is to be prepared for all outcomes." Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., was censured by Republican delegates in North Carolina over his votes on LGBTQ rights, gun violence and more. The Saturday vote was taken behind closed doors at the annual North Carolina Republican Party state convention. A two-thirds majority of the partys 1,801 voting delegates was needed for the measure to pass. Many delegates criticized Tillis over his work on the Respect for Marriage Act. The legislation guarantees federal recognition of a marriage between two people if the union was valid in the state where they were married, enshrining rights for same-sex and interracial marriages. The state and national Republican platforms oppose same-sex marriage, but Tillis was a supporter of the legislation and lobbied his fellow Republicans to back the law. Delegates also criticized Tillis for supporting a measure to fund red flag laws, which allows courts to authorize removing firearms from individuals who may be a risk to themselves or others. The next Georgia? Biden campaign targets North Carolina to reshape 2024 electoral map Daniel Keylin, a spokesperson for Tillis, told the Associated Press that the lawmaker keeps his promises and delivers results. He will never apologize for his work passing the largest tax cut in history, introducing legislation to secure the border and end sanctuary cities, delivering desperately-needed funding to strengthen school safety and protecting the rights of churches to worship freely based on their belief in traditional marriage, Keylin said. Jim Forster, a delegate from Guilford, North Carolina, told the outlet that Tillis actions dont reflect the partys shift to the right in fact, theyre moving in the exact wrong direction. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NC Republican senator censured over LGBTQ, gun violence positions If you want to make Elle King cry put two couples one getting married for the first time and another renewing their vows after 25 years in front of her ... and ask her to marry them at CMA Fest. "I love weddings. There's always like free booze and love," Elle said standing backstage at Acme Feed and Seed. "I feel like I'm married to country music, and I feel like I'm a blushing bride and I just wanted to celebrate it." The ceremonies started like this: Elle took the stage with yellow folder in hand, welcomed all 300-ish people to the affair as Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" piped through the speakers. She dropped her jaw in excitement as Amy Strutton came down the aisle. Elle King marries Katrina Robinson, right, and Amy Strutton at Acme Feed and Seed during the 50th annual CMA Fest in Nashville, Tenn. on June 10, 2023. Strutton and her fiance, 27-year-old Katrina Robinson, drove down from Indianapolis Friday arriving in Nashville about midnight. "We entered a contest and the only stipulation was we had to be in Nashville on June 10. We found out Thursday we'd been picked," Stutton, 34, said. The couple overnighted Robinson's dress from Amazon. Due to Tennessee law not respecting Elle's authority, the couple has a second legally binding ceremony planned for September. Ted and Carla Loftus got married in Las Vegas 25 years ago and Saturday they renewed their vows, with Elle. "Just like a virgin all over again," Elle said as Carla came down the aisle, drawing out a hearty chuckle from the couple. The two took each other's hands in their own and hooted and hollared with the crowd as Elle led them through their vow renewel. Jeff and Carla Loftus renew their vows with Elle King as officiant at Acme Feed and Seed on the third day of CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, June 10, 2023. "These two people found each other and they have a mutual respect, a love for partying and being kind to each other, being great parents and going through life together," Elle said. "That's really wonderful and I think very rare to find. I'm very happy for you guys. I love y'all. You give me hope." The nuptuals ended with Elle singing "Lucky" off her new album "Come Get Your Wife" while the couples embraced and swayed to the music for their first dance. "This isn't sweat, these are tears," Elle said wiping her face. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Elle King at CMA Fest: Country music star, impromptu wedding officiant Kojo Quartey, president Monroe County Community College It appears that the debt ceiling issue has been resolved for the next two years. See, I told you! Trying to set politics aside, the two sides came together to ink a bipartisan agreement which will go through 2025. According to the Associated Press, government spending will be reduced by at least $1 trillion this year. In the agreement, veterans are left whole, non-defense spending stays about the same, and defense spending is also fairly even. Other areas of reduction include, rescission of some unspent COVID-19 funds, expansion of work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps, an end to the pause for student loan payments by August, even as student loan relief is before the Supreme Court. This deal is significant for the entire global economy, because as the worlds largest economy, whatever happens in the U.S. has ripple effects throughout the world. As you have heard me say before, When America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. Well, that is not original, but I have said it. Now that the debt ceiling debate has been put to rest for a couple of more years, I would like to explore the national debt and what it is comprised of. How do we control this debt and keep from being in the same place again in two years? The U.S. government collects money, mostly from taxes, and borrows money to pay its daily expenses. If the amount collected were sufficient, there would be no need to have a debt. This rapidly growing imbalance between revenues and spending leads to higher and higher annual deficits, and the result is an increasing national debt balance. While almost all other organizations have to balance their budgets, the federal government is not required to. So why be surprised if they keep overspending? The national debt is now almost $31.5 million, thats $94,185 for every single American, and it gets worse literally by the second as the National Debt Clock continues to tick. Story continues For the year 2022, government revenues were $4.9 trillion compared to $6.3 trillion in spending. This leads to a deficit of $1.4 trillion. As these annual deficits accumulate each year, they add to our national debt. As our debt continues to climb as a result of continued deficits, our interest on that debt also rises and threatens to overwhelm us. As the treasury borrows more, interest payments rise just as your interest payments rise based on how much you owe. Heres a stunning statistic: Every day, the U.S. spends over $1.3 billion on interest payments yes, that is daily! Interest is becoming the fastest growing part of the federal budget. In ten years, interest payments will be almost triple what they are now. Every dollar that goes toward interest payments means less resources available to build a stronger, more resilient economy and it negatively impacts the future. While the largest single holder of U.S. debt is the U.S. government itself, most of the debt is owed to the public (78%), intragovernmental holdings account for the other 22%. This is money owed by the treasury to other government agencies, such as the Social Security Trust Fund. The amount owed to the public was over $24.5 trillion in 2022. Foreign governments hold a large portion of the public debt, while the rest is owed to U.S. banks and investors, the Federal Reserve, state and local governments, mutual funds, pensions funds, insurance companies, and holders of savings bonds. Foreign and international investors held over $7.4 trillion. Of these foreign nations, in 2022, Japan was the largest, followed by China, and the U.K. What this means is that a significant percentage of the interest paid is flowing out of the U.S. to these nations to boost their economies. Thank you, America! It seems simplistic that to make progress here, we need to grow our revenues, reduce expenses or both. Certainly, the government is overspending and tax revenues can be increased. The more in line we bring expenditures and taxes, the less borrowing and the less interest we pay. Kojo Quartey, Ph.D., is president of Monroe County Community College and an economist. He may be reached at kquartey@monroeccc.edu. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Kojo Quartey: Breaking down the U.S. debt The Missouri Symphony Orchestra is tuning up for summer magic. Later this month, the Columbia institution will throw open the Missouri Theatre's great doors for "a reimagined summer festival experience" that builds off the legacy of its Hot Summer Nights tradition while expressing its ideals in new ways. Firefly Music Festival, the first of its kind and first to be led by Music Director Wilbur Lin, joins classical gems, brand-new compositions and iconic pops in one dynamic promise. A number of standout musicians will bring Firefly aglow central to the cause, of course, is Lin and his talented orchestra. Before the festival begins, meet these exciting guest musicians who will come alongside the Missouri Symphony to create a memorable summer. Michael Stephen Brown Michael Stephen Brown Composer and pianist Michael Stephen Brown quickly found his musical lineage. On his website, Brown cops to loving Raffi by age 2, Billy Joel at 3, then wanting "to be the reincarnation of Mozart" at age 4. Brown's career is one of continuing to carve out places of discovery and belonging: he has performed frequently at Lincoln Center, soloed with symphonies in Seattle, Grand Rapids and Wichita, and expressed his vision between earbuds and on hi-fis with a number of albums to his credit. Reviewing his 2021 album "Noctuelles," BBC Music Magazine's David Nice praised Brown's "magical concept and execution" as well as his capacity for realizing the music's "luminosity and the quietest dynamics." Brown will perform the music of Edward MacDowell at the closing Schuman(n) Connection concert on July 15. Ching-Shan Chang Ching-Shan Chang From work on films such as "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" and indie fare to pieces performed by the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, composer Ching-Shan Chang is fleshing out the sound of our modern world. "'Music must tell a story' is the principle Ive always followed for all of my musical works," she said in a Q&A with the Alliance for Women Film Composers, and that storyteller's vision stretches across the many means and musical corners she inhabits. Story continues Chang's composition "Fanfare CoMo" will have its world premiere at the concert of the same name on June 24. Emi Kagawa Emi Kagawa Pianist Kagawa brokers a beautiful unity between head and heart, invention and human grace. She has performed in some of New York City's most resonant rooms and committed herself to chamber music through her guidance of MANI Brooklyn Chamber Music. But more than this, Kagawa continues to fine-tune and apply her studies of mindfulness and whole-musician health. Kagawa will perform Clara Schumanns Piano Concerto in A within the Clara: Inspiration and Legacy program on June 30. The Matsuo Duo Hiro Matsuo of The Matsuo Duo Synchronicity. That's what married musicians Stefani and Hiro Matsuo carry into their collaboration. She is the concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and a venerated chamber musician; he is a cellist who digs the Romantic repertoire. Together, they serve among several co-directors of the ensemble concert:nova, and their duo playing reflects their singular connection. The Matsuos will perform Brahms' Double Concerto during the Fanfare CoMo program June 24. Gabriela Ortiz Gabriela Ortiz Ortiz proudly and thoughtfully carries a musical inheritance bestowed by her parents, members of the Mexican folk ensemble Los Folkloristas, a group that keeps traditional music breathing and soaring. As a composer creating through great collaboration and urgent concern, Ortiz has earned the trust and talent of musicians around the world; a Latin Grammy nomination; and the praise of luminaries such as conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who noted that "Gabriela possesses a particular capacity to showcase our Latin identity." The Missouri Symphony will perform Ortiz's "Clara," a commission of the New York Philharmonic, at the Clara: Inspiration and Legacy program on June 30. Hometown heroes: Jazz Rucker and Symonne Sparks Symonne Sparks Columbia audiences understand just how dynamic these two names and their talents nurtured in part here are. Sparks' already all-time voice has been heard in bands such as Loose Loose, spotlighted in musical theater productions and elsewhere. Rucker, a vital music educator, has participated in all manner of choral and solo music, sounding an unforgettable timbre. Rucker and Sparks will perform during the Missouri's Finest, America's Best concert on July 2. Don't forget Brahms and the Schumanns The ghosts of 19th-century wonders Johannes Brahms and Robert and Clara Schumann continue to live, animating performances of their abiding music across the world. This summer, the Missouri Symphony will devote serious time to their work, performing them in multiple concerts. Plunge deeper into their genius and undying relevance with the orchestra and special guests. The Firefly Music Festival runs June 24 through July 15. Visit https://themosy.org/firefly/ for more information on each concert. Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. Find him on Twitter @aarikdanielsen. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Meet some of the musical lights behind this summer's Firefly Music Festival GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 13% in the last month. But spare a thought for the long term holders, who have held the stock as it bled value over the last five years. Five years have seen the share price descend precipitously, down a full 77%. The recent bounce might mean the long decline is over, but we are not confident. The real question is whether the business can leave its past behind and improve itself over the years ahead. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. Check out our latest analysis for GrafTech International While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During the unfortunate half decade during which the share price slipped, GrafTech International actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 2.7% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. Based on these numbers, we'd venture that the market may have been over-optimistic about forecast growth, half a decade ago. Looking to other metrics might better explain the share price change. The modest 0.8% dividend yield is unlikely to be guiding the market view of the stock. It could be that the revenue decline of 4.9% per year is viewed as evidence that GrafTech International is shrinking. That could explain the weak share price. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. You can see what analysts are predicting for GrafTech International in this interactive graph of future profit estimates. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, GrafTech International's TSR for the last 5 years was -74%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective Investors in GrafTech International had a tough year, with a total loss of 43% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 10%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 12% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for GrafTech International (of which 1 is potentially serious!) you should know about. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here I never had nothing in my life that had happened to me like that before, said 16-year-old Ryheem Lumpkins Customer Robert Samay and Ryheem Lumpkins A teen pizza parlor employee from Missouri was speechless after a customer gave him a $2,500 tip. Ryheem Lumpkins, a 16-year-old student at William Chrisman High School whose hands and arms never fully developed, runs the cash register, sweeps the floors, and wipes down the buffet at the Pizza Ranch location in Independence, according to CBS affiliate KCTV. In the process, he also made a good impression on Robert Samay. "I appreciate your hard work, your good smile, your good attitude," Samay told the teen, per the outlet. "We dont get that nowadays, especially with young kids." Related: 18-Year-Old Uses College Funds to Buy Restaurant Where She Started Out as Dishwasher Last month, Samay gave the teen a $5 tip. On Tuesday, he returned to give him a significantly larger thank you. I never had nothing in my life that had happened to me like that before, Lumpkins told KCTV. To be honest, I was speechless." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. For Lumpkins, who is saying to buy his first car, the money is nice, but the meaning behind the gesture means even more. That right there showed me that theres more people in the world that really cares for me, he told the station. Related: Customer Who Ordered a Single Beer at Cleveland Restaurant Leaves $3,000 Tip for Staff His goal is to to be a motivational speaker for kids. Embrace what you have different from other people, he said. Because a lot of people think its cool and a lot of people wouldnt think its cool. The negative words, dont let it get to your head. Because there is a lot of positivity in the world." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. WASHINGTON Stephanie Jabusch, a retired computer programmer from Cary, North Carolina, already planned to vote for Joe Biden in 2024, just like she did in 2020. Then Republicans in the North Carolina state legislature handed her extra motivation last month when they overturned a veto from the state's Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, to pass a 12-week abortion ban. "I've got two daughters," said Jabusch, 60, a registered Democrat. "It scares me that if they get in trouble with a normal pregnancy, they could die just because they're not given proper health care." Biden's reelection campaign is targeting North Carolina as a top state to try to flip in 2024, with Democrats convinced that the Tar Heel state's booming suburbs with college-educated voters around Charlotte and Raleigh's "Research Triangle," combined with its sizable Black population, make it prime for a Democratic pickup. It's a similar formula that turned once-reliably red Georgia to the Democratic column in 2020, and it makes North Carolina and its 16 electoral votes perhaps the best shot for Biden to reshape the electoral map by carrying a state he lost in 2020. The Biden campaign is already running television ads in the state. And in a sign of North Carolina's battleground status in 2024, former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence and other Republican presidential contenders converged Saturday on Greensboro, North Carolina for the state's Republican Party convention. Their appearances came one day after Biden visited the state. "There's no question he can win North Carolina," Cooper said of Biden in an interview with USA TODAY, calling the abortion override a "flashpoint" for many North Carolinians. "A strong majority of people in North Carolina do not want restrictive bans on abortion." Biden lost North Carolina by just 1.3 percentage points in 2020, the smallest margin of all the states he lost. It was Democrats' best presidential performance in North Carolina since former President Barack Obama carried the state by less than 1 point in 2008. And Biden has a strong ally in Cooper, North Carolina's most popular Democratic officeholder in recent political history as he wraps up his second term next year. Story continues Democrats believe the state's new abortion law will help galvanize their base, including women and young voters in the way that the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade last year helped carry Democrats nationally in the 2022 midterms. North Carolina's law bans abortions after 12 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, fetal anomalies and cases in which the life of the pregnant person is at risk. A poll from Meredith College found that 57% of North Carolinians supported either keeping the state's previous law, which restricted abortions after 20 weeks, or expanding abortion services. President Joe Biden speaks at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, N.C., Friday, June 9, 2023. North Carolina Democrats, after a string of setbacks, still see an uphill fight Yet for all the reasons Democrats feel encouraged by their chances in North Carolina, they also see signs of another letdown. Both of North Carolina's state legislative chambers have turned into Republican supermajorities. Republicans took control of the state Supreme Court last year. No Democratic statewide candidate running for a federal office has won in North Carolina since Obama in 2008. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., defeated Democrat Cal Cunningham in 2020 by 2 percentage points, while Trump-backed Ted Budd beat Democrat Cheri Beasley by a wider 3 percentage points in the state's 2022 Senate race. Beasley's close loss led to second-guessing among the left about the Senate Democrats' campaign arm's decision not to pump significant resources into the contest. Meanwhile, North Carolina has become fertile ground for conservative battles on abortion, sexuality and gender identity, and teaching about race in public classrooms. "It's probably going to be uphill to do that," Jabusch said of turning North Carolina blue for Biden. "There's a lot of Republicans who vote here and the Democrats don't seem to always get everybody out to the polls." She added: "Sometimes I wonder why I'm still living in North Carolina." Biden on Friday visited a community college in Rocky Mount, North Carolina a city of about 50,000 in northeast North Carolina that he narrowly won in 2020 to tout his administration's "Investing in America" plan to reinvigorate U.S. manufacturing and historic infrastructure law. "A manufacturing and innovation boom is happening all across America, not just in North Carolina," Biden said before traveling to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, formerly Fort Bragg, to visit with service members. It marked Biden's sixth trip to the state as president. He appeared with Cooper in a pairing that the Biden campaign will rely on repeatedly in the campaign ahead. While Biden fell 74,000 votes short in North Carolina in 2020, Cooper carried the state in his reelection bid by 4.5 percentage points, 248,000 votes. President Joe Biden arrives at Fort Liberty, N.C., Friday, June 9, 2023, with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, right. Although Cooper is term-limited from running again in 2024, the ballot will include a high-profile open governor's race. Most political analysts expect a contest between Josh Stein, North Carolina's Democratic attorney general elected in 2020, and Mark Robinson, a firebrand Republican lieutenant governor who has a trail of controversial statements about homosexuality, guns and abortion. North Carolina Democrats believe a Robinson nomination for Republicans can work to Stein's and Biden's advantage, particularly in a potential rematch against Trump, by reinforcing their attacks against an "extreme MAGA" agenda. "The Republican (gubernatorial) candidate is most likely going to be an extreme MAGA candidate who believes that all abortion should be banned," said Cooper, who serves on the Biden campaign's national advisory board. "And I believe that in North Carolina, you're going to see a lot of the electorate stirred up about that race and we know that we'll get the MAGA candidate himself, Donald Trump, or someone in that vein." Is fast-growing North Carolina nearing a political 'tipping point?' A Biden win in North Carolina could open a new path to secure the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency if the president doesn't repeat a trifecta of victories in three Midwest battlegrounds, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Biden carried each narrowly in 2020 after Trump won all three in 2016. A loss in North Carolina for Republicans would severely hinder their nominee's chances. The Biden campaign targeted North Carolina in its first set of television ads, a seven-figure buy last month, along with five other battleground states that Biden won in 2020 as well as Florida, the other state the Biden campaign has circled as a possible pick-up. We are excited the Biden campaign is investing in North Carolina," said Emma Vaughn, national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, "as Republicans always encourage Democrats to light money on fire in places where voters have solidly rejected them cycle after cycle." Democrats' optimism about North Carolina is largely due to the rapid growth of Charlotte and the Research Triangle, anchored by Raleigh and Durham and home to universities such as the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University and Duke University. Like other parts of the country, the state's suburbs have shifted more Democratic in the era of Trump. Morgan Jackson, a Democratic consultant for Cooper and Stein, compared North Carolina's growth centers to the exploding Atlanta metro area in Georgia, Phoenix suburbs in Arizona and suburbs in Northern Virginia that propelled those states to shift from Republican strongholds to recent Democratic wins. Biden won all three states in 2020. "There's a tipping point where they just outvote the rest of the state, and North Carolina is headed that way," Jackson said. Republicans betting on 'diminishing returns' in North Carolina, GOP consultant warns Biden's narrow 2020 loss in North Carolina, Jackson noted, came despite a massive voter turnout among Trump's core supporters: 81% of registered Republicans and 79% of white voters went to the polls, and there was historic turnout among rural voters and white voters without college degrees. "The electorate actually happened to be in 2020 more favorable to Republicans than it was in 2016 and Donald Trump did two points worse than in 2016," Jackson said. "And that's all driven by demographic shift, by urbanization. North Carolina continues to head that way." Yet Republicans have made up significant ground in North Carolina voter registration, forcing Democrats to rely increasingly on unaffiliated independent voters to win elections. North Carolina added about 760,000 new registered voters between 2012 and 2022. Although Democrats maintain a small edge in registered voters, Democrats experienced a net loss of 360,000 registered voters in the state over that period, compared to a net gain of 170,000 for Republicans. Leading the growth has been an explosion of 930,000 voters not registered with either major party. "I will definitely not be voting for Biden," said Mark Stevens, 50, a computer technician in Kernersville, North Carolina, who votes Republican. "Everything he seems to be doing seems to be increasing the size, power and scope of government without increasing any effectiveness." The concern, however, for North Carolina Republicans: The bulk of new unaffiliated voters are in Democratic-heavy Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) and Wake County (Raleigh), which collectively gained more voters over the past 10 years than 88 other North Carolina counties combined, consisting of mostly rural areas that make up the Republican base. North Carolina's 12 other counties, including Mecklenburg, Wake and other suburban and urban counties, accounted for 75% of voter registration growth over the past decade, according to Paul Shumaker, a Republican consultant in North Carolina who has worked for Tillis, among others. "Republicans are going to be betting their success on diminishing returns," Shumaker said. "And Democrats are going to be betting their success on the suburbanization, urbanization and growth of those 12 counties." Shumaker said the key voting bloc will be unaffiliated women voters. He predicted Democrats will look to "radicalize" Republicans over the abortion issue to get women voters, but he argued the state's voters are actually "more in line" with the new 12-month ban passed by Republicans. "The Democrats want full-term, unlimited, unrestricted access at any time," Shumaker said. "That's not what a majority of voters are." If the Republican base turns out in North Carolina the way it did for Trump in 2020, Shumaker said Republicans should still carry the state in 2024, albeit by a smaller 20,000 votes. But if turnout dips among rural, white non-college educated voters, he said Biden will win. And that would potentially be a crushing blow to the Republican ticket. "They cannot win the White House without winning North Carolina," Shumaker said of the GOP. "That's the national map." Contributing: Associated Press. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden campaign eyes North Carolina to reshape 2024 electoral map A Ukrainian soldier covers his ears while firing a mortar at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, on May 29. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky Reports of Russian casualties climb as they "withdraw through their own minefields," per UK intel. Military progress on both sides has been mixed in the past two days, the UK defense ministry said. This comes as Ukraine's long-anticipated counteroffensive began this week. Russian military performance has been "mixed" in the past 48 hours of fighting, with an increasing number of Russian casualties being reported as troops "withdraw through their own minefields," according to intel from Britain. In an intelligence update on Saturday, the UK's ministry of defense outlined the progress that had been made on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine. "In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defences. In others, Ukrainian progress has been slower," the agency said in a statement. "Russian performance has been mixed: some units are likely conducting credible manoeuvre defence operations while others have pulled back in some disorder, amid increased reports of Russian casualties as they withdraw through their own minefields." The Russian Air Force has also been "unusually active" over southern Ukraine, according to the intelligence, but it remains "unclear" whether tactical airstrikes in the area have been effective. Mine warfare An M109A6 Paladin 155 mm self-propelled howitzer camouflaged in a Ukrainian position on May 18 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. The weapon can fire the Remote Anti-Armor Mine System shell. Serhii Mykhalchuk/Getty Images Russia has built a complex defense in southeastern Ukraine, Insider recently reported, comprised of razor wire, anti-tank obstacles, and deadly minefields. Two US officials told CNN on Thursday that mines were also having a negative impact on Ukraine's armored vehicles. Ukrainian forces are using US-made artillery rounds that lay anti-tank mines in flight. The US has supplied Ukraine with more than 10,000 of these Remote Anti-Armor Mine Systems along with the 155 mm howitzers that can fire them nearly 11 miles. The mine-laying artillery shell is designed to force desperate choices, wrote Insider's Sam Fellman. Vehicles must run a gauntlet laid with mines to deliver fresh troops, ammunition, fuel, and food to front-line positions. It also can be used to set traps along escape routes for front-line forces. Story continues Ukraine has confirmed that its long-anticipated counteroffensive is underway, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that the Ukrainian forces are fighting "very tough battles." The fog of war makes determining a main line of effort difficult, but one objective of the counteroffensive may be severing the so-called land bridge connecting Russia and Russian-controlled territories in the southeast in a push to the Sea of Azov, wrote Insider's Ryan Pickrell. Read the original article on Business Insider SARS-CoV-2. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease "Cryptic" COVID-19 lineages are new versions of the virus that haven't been seen before. A researcher says one person in Ohio is shedding massive amounts of a new kind of COVID. Identifying people with mysterious strains can help scientists to preempt dangerous mutations. Earlier this year, Marc Johnson, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, took to Twitter with an appeal: "Help me solve a COVID cryptic lineage mystery." Johnson told Insider that he was looking through a database of COVID samples when he came across a brand-new version, or "lineage," of the virus. There were massive amounts of this unique strain, all coming from one mystery person in Ohio. The viral material has been primarily found at two sites: The city of Columbus and 40 miles away in the city of Washington Court House Johnson says the person may live in one city and work in the other. He says that this isn't "an imminent public-health threat," and that the person likely has a form of "long COVID" that isn't contagious. But finding these lineages, and identifying the people who spread them, could unlock new clues into how COVID mutates as well as why some people become super-shedders of the virus for long periods. "Cryptic" COVID lineages show how the virus can mutate in new ways Johnson told Insider that he had been identifying "cryptic" COVID lineages in wastewater nationwide since 2021. These strains "don't match anything we've seen before," he said, adding that SARS-CoV-2 still had some tricks up its sleeve and plenty we didn't know. While these cryptic strains have only been identified in wastewater, they could be harbingers of future variants. Long before Omicron emerged, researchers were collecting samples of COVID that they didn't recognize cryptic lineages that we now understand to be similar to Omicron, according to a preprint paper not-yet-peer-reviewed published last month by Johnson and his team. Story continues The first cryptic-COVID lineage Johnson found in 2021 was a classic example of his discoveries. There was so much virus in the wastewater that he thought it was coming from a nursing home or maybe an animal reservoir like a dog shelter. But his team traced it to a single office building in Wisconsin with about 30 employees, they wrote in the preprint paper. "I didn't believe a person could shed that much," Johnson said. The workers in the building were notified and were able to get tested. Eventually, the lineage disappeared from the wastewater. Trying to reach a mystery person in Ohio The route from Washington Court House, Ohio, to Columbus, Ohio. Google Maps Now, the situation is replaying in Ohio. Johnson and his Twitter followers have narrowed down the list to about 1,600 people the number of people who make the daily commute from Washington Court House to Columbus, according to US Census data. While some have voiced concerns that he might be invading people's medical privacy, Johnson says "there's no manhunt" going on. The only reason he is being public about the situation, he added, is the hope that someone seeks help after recognizing that themselves, a friend, or a family member has the cryptic lineage. "If someone has this infection, the chances that they're going to figure out what it is is nil," he told Insider, adding that there was currently no test available in the US to test stool for COVID. "I'm trying to get the word out so that they might figure it out and put it together." Johnson says the person is likely experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms and may not even know they have a long-COVID infection. He says he hopes the person recognizes they are shedding the virus and goes to see a doctor. "I would love to know the details," he said, but "mostly, I want them to seek treatment." Read the original article on Insider 13 people have been injured after a gathering in Syracuse, New York. (WSYR) Police in Syracuse have said that at least 13 people have been injured after a gathering at the southwest side of the city in upstate New York descended into chaos. The gathering was taking place at the 100 block of Davis Street on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday, with police being called to the scene at about 12.30am after a report of shots being fired near Davis Street and Massena Street, according to WSYR. When police got to the scene, they found several victims in the large crowd that had either been shot, stabbed, or struck by cars fleeing the area following the gunfire. Police have said that all of the victims are expected to survive but that the seriousness of the injuries remains unknown. The shooting victims include a woman, 20, who was shot in her right hip; a 22-year-old woman shot in the abdomen; a 17-year-old female shot in the hip and her midsection; and a 20-year-old man shot in the forearm. Those stabbed include two women with head lacerations, aged 23 and 19. A 25-year-old woman suffered several lacerations to her shoulder and midsection, a 17-year-old female suffered wounds to her leg and arm, and a 17-year-old male had his hand wounded. The victims who were hit by cars include a woman, 24, with lacerations to both of her legs; a 23-year-old woman with abrasions on her side from being hit by a car and then hitting the ground; a man, 22, with abrasions to his side and foot after also being hit by a car and subsequently hitting the ground; and a woman, also 22 years old, who suffered abrasions to her midsection from being hit by a car and then hitting the ground. The investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing. Fadi died as his family struggled to access appropriate medical care for him in Turkey. (Open Democracy) An Iraqi family remains stuck in Turkey after almost a decade waiting to be legally resettled, despite their toddler son dying because he couldn't get the medical care he needed and their daughter suffering from the same condition. The family has been waiting for resettlement since 2014, after opting to go through the official United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) channel, they told news website Open Democracy. They begged for their application to be fast-tracked, sending as evidence medical documents proving a rare autoimmune condition toddler Fadi not his real name suffered from. The same disease killed the family's eldest son in 2009 while they still lived in Iraq, before killing Fadi in 2020. Their mother Mina is terrified that her daughter, who was born in 2012, will also die as she has the condition too. In 2016, the family was rejected for resettlement by the US with no reason given, after being recommended by the UNHCR. Read more: Illegal Migration Bill breaches UK human rights obligations, MPs and peers warn Fadi's family wonder if he would still be alive today had they taken the smuggler route into the UK. (Getty Images) In 2017 three years before Fadi died they were notified that they had been referred to a resettlement country for consideration, but they've heard nothing since. Mina said restrictions imposed on refugees in Turkey made it hard to access medical care for Fadi, as it is expensive and because the family needs permission from the immigration office to travel to medical appointments. It raises questions over UK home secretary Suella Braverman's insistence that there are already safe and sufficient legal routes for people to take, as she attempts to prevent small boats crossing the English Channel. Read more: EU countries strike major deal on migration rules, delivering the first breakthrough in years But as Mina says: "Sometimes I think, if I had taken the smuggling route, I would have gotten treatment for my children." After their rejection by the US, Mina wrote to the UNHCR's international office in Geneva to complain about their treatment, she says officials seemed concerned about the delays. Story continues But she alleges the body's local Turkish office then contacted her directly to scold her for complaining, according to Open Democracy. Read more: Plan for cruise ship to house asylum seekers near Liverpool scrapped Refugee charities have said the UK criminalising Channel crossings contradicts the very principle of claiming asylum. (Alamy Live News) Sonya Sceats, chief executive of Freedom from Torture, told Yahoo News: "For most people fleeing war and torture, there are no safe and legal routes to claim asylum, despite Braverman's fictitious claims. "While people in need of our help are tragically losing their lives, the British government is dismantling the system of refugee protection established after the Holocaust, and introducing one of the most authoritarian anti-refugee laws in the world. "The UK must scrap the refugee ban bill and act now to save lives. This means rebuilding an efficient asylum system and collaborating with our European allies to create safe routes across the continent." Read more: How many people migrate to the UK each year? This is a tragic case and our deepest sympathies go to the family," the Refugee Council told Yahoo News. It once again underlines the lack of safe routes for people in desperate need, and underlines the misinformation which is pumped out with depressing regularity about how refugees seeking sanctuary can reach the UK or other countries. "The simple fact is that as the UNHCR has repeatedly said, its resettlement programmes are not in any way equivalent to the safe routes we have provided for refugees from Ukraine. "If a refugee is from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Eritrea or Iran, for example, there are no workable and safe routes to take." Read more: Suella Braverman: What happens if home secretary breached ministerial code? The SNP's Home Affairs spokesperson, Alison Thewliss MP told Yahoo News: "The devastating circumstances this family find themselves in shows the cruel reality of Westminster's decision to callously close our borders to those who need our help the most and have no legal routes open contrary to international obligations and the Westminsters own Joint Committee on Human rights. "Families like Fadi's deserve our help and compassion yet the Tories recent move through their Illegal Migration Bill, to ignore the UN Refugee Convention and the Human Rights Convention, has resulted in the polar opposite - they should hang their heads in shame. "The Tory government needs to take action urgently to help Fadi's family. They should see this as an opportunity to create an asylum system that offers people protection, security and dignity - however, ultimately, it is only with the full powers of independence we can make Scotland a welcoming place to those fleeing persecution and war." How does the UNHCR system work? When going through the UNHCR system, asylum seekers do not apply directly to resettle in a country of their choice. As the body explains: "There is no application process for resettlement refugees at heightened risk are identified by the UNHCR through our ongoing protection programmes in countries of asylum. "Currently, new resettlement opportunities to the UK for nationalities other than Afghans are minimal." Read more: Government dismisses previous Tory targets to limit net migration to 100,000 This flies in the face of Braverman's recent comments in April on the Sudan crisis, in which she said: "If you are someone who is fleeing Sudan for humanitarian reasons there are various mechanisms you can use. "The UNHCR is present in the region and they are the right mechanism by which people should apply if they do want to seek asylum in the United Kingdom." Read more: 'No chance' of Boris Johnson standing as MP again, Grant Shapps says The case flies in the face of home secretary Suella Braverman's claims that there are sufficient legal routes for asylum seekers to take. (Getty Images) But the refugee agency says that unless you already qualify for protection under an existing resettlement scheme, for refugees and asylum seekers such as the one set up for Ukrainians then "there are no safe and regular routes by which to travel to the UK, including for the purpose of seeking asylum". While it is true that the UNHCR could identify someone and recommend them for resettlement in the UK, it is not true that asylum seekers can apply to move to Britain themselves through this channel, according to Full Fact. Read more: How much is the UK paying Rwanda to take refugees? It comes after Braverman was grilled by a panel of MPs in November who told her she was "out of her depth" after conceding many asylum seekers wouldn't have the chance to legally apply for UK asylum from abroad. The UNHCR agency says that since 2015 around 28,000 refugees have arrived in the UK through UK resettlement schemes operated in partnership with UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration. Watch: Braverman 'wrong' to say asylum initial decision backlog has reduced More platform instability could be in Twitters near future. In 2018, Twitter signed a $1 billion contract with Google to host some of its services on the companys Google Cloud servers. Platformer reports Twitter recently refused to pay the search giant ahead of the contracts June 30th renewal date. Twitter is reportedly rushing to move as many services off of Googles infrastructure before the contract expires, but the effort is running behind schedule, putting some tools, including Smyte, a platform the company acquired in 2018 to bolster its moderation capabilities, in danger of going offline. If Twitter cant migrate the system to its own servers before the end of the month, Platformer suggests a shutdown would greatly impact the companys ability to combat spam and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Before Saturday, Smyte had been already showing signs of strain, following Elon Musks deep cuts to Twitters workforce. In December, Musk reportedly asked Twitters trust and safety team why the automated system hadnt caught a Twitter Blue user who had been impersonating him to pump a crypto scam. The team told Musk the system had been unstable for a week, crashing at least once a day. You are the owner of this article. If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. In light of that, when we looked at Creightons (LON:CRL) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Creightons is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.063 = UK2.1m (UK49m - UK17m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2022). So, Creightons has an ROCE of 6.3%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Personal Products industry average of 9.1%. Check out our latest analysis for Creightons roce Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Creightons' ROCE against it's prior returns. If you want to delve into the historical earnings, revenue and cash flow of Creightons, check out these free graphs here. What Does the ROCE Trend For Creightons Tell Us? On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Creightons doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 18% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line. The Key Takeaway In summary, Creightons is reinvesting funds back into the business for growth but unfortunately it looks like sales haven't increased much just yet. Unsurprisingly, the stock has only gained 36% over the last five years, which potentially indicates that investors are accounting for this going forward. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options. Like most companies, Creightons does come with some risks, and we've found 5 warning signs that you should be aware of. While Creightons isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. 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Nigers Mohamed Bazoum (top right) stands alongside Antony Blinken at the US-Africa Business Forum in Washington last December (AP) In a region beset with violent strife, Islamist insurgency, Russias Wagner mercenaries and unstable military regimes, the Sahel state of Niger has become a focus of Western interest as a security and economic partner. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has visited recently, and the defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, is due to follow. The countrys president, Mohamed Bazoum, has met Emmanuel Macron in Paris, and was one of the few notable non-Commonwealth African heads of state in London for King Charless coronation. Mr Bazoum spoke to The Independent about the issues facing his country, including the threat of Wagner, a jihadist surge being fuelled by the climate crisis, the need to attract foreign investment to help drive education and employment, and efforts to foster relations with the West and Britain. Niger, which is five times the size of the United Kingdom and has a population of 27 million, is rich in mineral wealth and produces 7 per cent of the worlds supply of uranium. The US and the UK claimed, memorably and falsely, in the run-up to the Iraq invasion, that Saddam Hussein was seeking to obtain uranium yellowcake from Niger for his WMD programme. The Wagner Group, owned by Vladimir Putins ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, is heavily involved in lucrative commercial ventures in Africa, as well as having a widespread military presence. Some of the proceeds go towards funding its current military operations in Ukraine, which cost an estimated $100m (80m) a month. Wagner has established itself in Nigers neighbouring states in Libya, where it has secured oil assets, and in Mali, where its arrival at the invitation of the military regime led to the withdrawal of French, British and other Western forces. There are reports that the company is also operating in Burkina Faso, another country French forces have recently left. The president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, has claimed that Burkina Fasos army rulers are paying the mercenaries with rights to a gold mine. Wagner is certainly a very real presence in our region, Mr Bazoum said during a visit to London. They are in Libya, which continues to be volatile and from where we have had weapons going to the Islamists in other countries ever since the fall of [Muammar] Gaddafi. They are in Mali: has Wagners presence in Mali led to any benefit for Mali? I would say not at all. We have certainly no intention of inviting them into our country. They create problems, [they] dont solve them. We know they have been engaged in disinformation campaigns against us. A fake social media post claimed that Mr Bazoum had faced a coup while visiting Macron in Paris; another that the French had armed a group of jihadists who killed 17 members of Nigers armed forces at around the same time. Both of these posts have been traced to the Lakhta project, a troll farm financed by Mr Prigozhin, which has been sanctioned by the US since 2018. Blinken, during his visit to Niger, warned of the malign influence of Wagner. We have already seen it end badly in a number of places where Wagner has been present; bad things have been inevitable, he said. Many African states point out that Russia has taken advantage of a lack of Western commitment in the continent. The US secretary of state presented a range of initiatives, including $233m in humanitarian assistance for the Sahel over the year. There would be a comprehensive security deal, which would also focus on good governance, on development, on creating opportunity, on being responsive to the needs of the people, he said. Mr Bazoum, who was elected in April 2021, said: Terrorism destroys society. But we know that military action is just part of the solution in countering extremism. Education and jobs are vital to ensure young people do not turn towards violence. Our whole area is facing this Islamist threat. But joint operations with Mali and Burkina Faso are proving difficult because they are run by miliary regimes. We need to protect our democratic system. Niger is one of the countries hardest hit by the climate crisis in west Africa. The temperatures in the Sahel are rising 1.5 times faster than anywhere else in the world. A cycle of erratic rainfall and droughts has eroded 15 per cent of its arable land. What is happening to the environment is a big, big problem. The nomadic people are seeing the food for themselves and their livestock disappearing. They are vulnerable, and the Islamists can then come along and exploit the situation, try and recruit the men. And, of course, there is the terrible hardship families face in their lives with the changing climate, said Mr Bazoum. Economic aid to help his country face these challenges is welcome. But Nigers president also wanted to stress the great need for Western investment. We are told to be careful about Chinese investment. But why do we not see more from countries like France and Britain? They have historical links with Africa, the Chinese dont. Yet they are there, and we dont see enough from the West, he said. Niger is embarking on building stronger ties with the UK, said Mr Bazoum. We are described as a Francophone country, but these are old terms, he said. The world is changing, and what happens in one continent affects others. We need to build strong relationships to protect our future. New Delhi: One of the top businessmen in the nation is Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Sons. Recently, a young man by the name of Shantanu Naidu who is frequently seen with him has become very well-known. He has frequently been spotted helping Rata Tata. When Shantanu Naidu's video of Ratan Tata's birthday celebrations went viral, he gained additional notoriety. Ratan Tata does not consider Shantanu to be his son even though he never wed. He serves as both his personal assistant and the general manager of his business. You'll be shocked by his net worth at such a young age! Who Is Shantanu Naidu? cre Trending Stories He works for the Tata Group and is the general manager of Ratan Tata's office, according to his LinkedIn page. He began working for Ratan Tata in May of last year when he was about 29 years old. Shantanu also owns his own business, Goodfellows, where he provides the elderly with all the assistance they need in their final years. His company reportedly has a net worth of Rs 5 crore. How Ratan Tata Met Shantanu Naidu? When he was providing food for stray dogs through his NGO, he attracted Ratan Tata's notice. Ratan Tata was so impressed that he hired him as his general manager and invested in his project to care for stray dogs. Ratan Tata, a well-known industrialist and philanthropist from India, was instrumental in transforming the Tata Group into an international corporation. He is regarded as a respected person in both the business community and society at large as a result of his visionary leadership, moral principles, and dedication to social concerns. Ratan Tata is respected for his humility, ethics, and leadership style in addition to his business accomplishments. He is frequently held up as an example for ambitious businesspeople and executives, motivating them to combine financial success with positive social influence. BENGALURU: Even after the drubbing in the Assembly elections and losing its base in entire south India ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the Karnataka BJP unit still remains a divided house. The party leadership is struggling to foster unity and the spirit of fighting against the odds among the cadre. The saffron party that once showed all the signs of emerging as a strong force in the region and making inroads into the south Indian states, has lost miserably and is waiting for a momentum to carry it forward. It is almost a month since the results were declared on May 14 and the BJP is still to appoint the Leader of the Opposition in the legislative assembly and the council. Former chief minister and BJP MP from Bengaluru North D.V. Sadananda Gowda and national general secretary C.T. Ravi`s statements have proved to be a further setback for the party. C. T. Ravi who faced defeat against his former right-hand man H.D. Thammaiah, pitted against him as the Congress candidate in Chikkamagalur constituency, stated that there is adjustment politics within the BJP and the party was defeated for this reason in the assembly polls. cre Trending Stories "We have lost power because of our mistakes. The leaders have compromised and because of these few, the party lost power. I won`t name the leaders, but adjustment politics exists and it has resulted in the defeat of the party," he stated. Sources in the party maintained that C.T. Ravi`s outbursts were aimed at former CM B.S. Yediyurappa and his son B.Y. Vijayendra. The statements by former CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda further demoralized the party cadres and showed that all is not well within the party. He claimed that 13 MPs have approached him over being maligned and the party high command`s silence on the matter is intriguing. Sadananda Gowda stated that there is an attempt to malign 13 MPs among the total 25 as useless. A systematic attempt has been made to bring down the morale of senior parliamentarians. The state as well as national leaders must intervene and clear the confusion at this stage, he demanded. There is still a year`s time for the Lok Sabha elections. At this juncture, MPs are targeted and maligned. "I don`t know who is behind this. Rumours are being spread that 13 MPs have not carried out any development in their constituencies and some have fallen sick and won`t be given tickets," he alleged. Sadananda Gowda advised introspection over the defeat. The BJP held a meeting of its legislators and defeated candidates recently. These candidates have questioned the decision of the party to allot them tickets very late and sending wrong signals to the people of the state. However, the party has postponed the scheduled core committee meeting. Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh has taken the opinions of various leaders and the party is looking towards the high command. On the other hand, the Congress is making giant strides in consolidating its support in the state. As promised the grand old party is implementing the first guarantee scheme of free bus travel for women. There is a festive mood in the Congress as the party has directed the districts in-charge ministers to celebrate the inauguration of all the five guarantee schemes with much fervour. The party has filled the full quota of the cabinet and has already started preparations for the significant Bengaluru civic polls and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Congress is targeting and questioning the ideology of the BJP and the RSS. The high command is ensuring harmony between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar. The combination of the duo is looking dangerous for the BJP. Sources in the BJP said that the party is not showing any seriousness in trying to understand why 54 sitting MLAs, including ministers, lost the elections. The experiment of issuing tickets to 72 new faces has fallen flat. More than 40 candidates lost their deposits in the elections. The leaders are trying to put up a brave front by talking about the percentage of votes. UJJAIN: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar took part in the Bhasm Aarti' held at dawn on Sunday in the Mahakaleshwar Temple and then prayed at the Kalabhairava temple, both in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Shivakumar said Hindutva, temples and gods were not the private property of the Bharatiya Janata Party and predicted a thumping victory for the Congress in the year-end MP Assembly polls. The 61-year-old Congress leader reached Mahakaleshwar temple before 4 am to take part in the 'Bhasm Aarti' and also meditated for some time in Nandi Hall. "Hindutva, temples or gods are not the property of any political party. They are for everyone. It is not the BJP's personal property. We believe in every section of society, every culture of the society, every language of the country and every religion," he said in reply to a query on his temple visits. #WATCH | ..."Mahakaleshwar has given us a govt to serve, the people of Karnataka, I had come here before the election as well...today we're launching a great programme, free buses for all the women of Karnataka. We're going to implement all 5 promises that were given": Karnataka pic.twitter.com/EuGY9zkXjq ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 11, 2023 cre Trending Stories "This is the third or fourth time I am coming (to Mahakal Temple). I have come here during my difficult times. Before the Karnataka elections I had prayed to Mahakaleshwar and Kalabhairava for power. Now we have got power (in Karnataka)," he said. Shivakumar exuded confidence that the Congress will get more seats in the 230-member MP Assembly than the 135 seats his party won in Karnataka, which has a 224-member House. He said the Congress strategy for MP polls was in place but he refused to divulge details. In the Assembly polls in the southern state in May, the Congress won 135 seats, unseating the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government. The BJP could manage only 66 seats. WASHINGTON: Indian-American LGBTQ members on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support the equal rights of the LGBTQ community in India. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden this month. During his four-day visit starting on June 21, the US president and the First Lady will host Modi for a state dinner on June 22. "I would say the Indian Supreme Court has been debating the issue of gay marriage, LGBTQ marriage for a couple of months now. I would urge Prime Minister Modi to support this, to support the equal rights of the LGBTQ community in India and to understand that our children and LGBTQ folks are entitled to equal rights because we are all human," Aruna Rao, executive director, Desi Rainbow, told PTI. Rao was among the handful of Indian Americans who were invited to participate in the historic Pride Rally on the South Lawns of the White House which was addressed by President Joe Biden and the First Lady Dr Jill Biden. "My understanding is in the metro areas, there is some support for LGBTQ people. Legislatively also, the government has moved forward in terms of transgender rights. But there is a lot to be done, particularly not in the metro areas, in the small towns, in the villages where people don't have support, don't have access to any kind of equal rights," she said. cre Trending Stories "In every which way, economically, socially, culturally, LGBTQ folks in India, in South Asia need a lot of support," Rao said. Another Indian-American participant at the White House Pride Rally, Lesley Kingston hoped that President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a good meeting later this month. "I hope that their bilateral relationships between the two countries get stronger. But I do hope that Prime Minister Modi really spends some time taking a look at the South Asian, the Indian community here and learning how we are striving for progress and to be able to implement the same kind of things and give the rights of LGBTQ people in India: all the rights that we have here and more. Because they deserve it," Kingston said. "It's 2023, and we all, including Americans need to get past it and realize that we share the same blood. We're made up of the same things. We're all human beings and we're all deserving of equality. So I think the biggest challenge that we have is for us to recognize that we are colonized people and we have colonized minds, and we need to get past that," Kingston said. Nitin Agarwal, an IPS officer of the 1989 batch from the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the new Director-General of the Border Security Force (BSF). This appointment comes after a vacancy of more than five months in the position. Currently serving as the Additional Director-General of operations at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters in Delhi, Nitin Agarwal brings a wealth of experience to his new role. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) issued an order late at night, stating that Nitin Agarwal's appointment as the BSF DG is effective from the date of joining the post until July 31, 2026, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier. Previously, the position of BSF chief remained vacant after the retirement of Pankaj Kumar Singh on December 31, 2022. During this period, CRPF DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen held additional charge of the BSF. Interestingly, Nitin Agarwal's appointment coincides with the commencement of the bi-annual four-day border talks between the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Delhi. As the talks conclude on June 14, it is expected that Nitin Agarwal will assume his responsibilities as the new DG of the BSF. cre Trending Stories Throughout his career, Nitin Agarwal has served in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), another border guarding force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He has also held various positions in his home cadre of Kerala. What Is Border Security Force? The Border Security Force (BSF) is a paramilitary force in India responsible for protecting the nation's borders. Established in 1965, the BSF operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its primary objective is to ensure the security, integrity, and sovereignty of India's borders. With a force of around 2.65 lakh personnel, the BSF plays a crucial role in preventing illegal activities, such as smuggling, infiltration, and terrorist threats, along India's borders. The force is deployed along the western and eastern borders, guarding the frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh. The BSF is equipped with modern technologies and weaponry to effectively carry out its duties. It conducts regular patrols, surveillance operations, and border fencing to detect and deter any unauthorized crossings or threats. In addition to border security, the BSF also assists in internal security operations during times of civil unrest or natural disasters. The BSF's personnel undergo rigorous training to develop specialized skills in border management, counter-terrorism, and disaster response. The force maintains close coordination with other security agencies and collaborates with international counterparts to enhance border security measures. Overall, the Border Security Force plays a vital role in protecting India's borders, ensuring the safety of its citizens, and maintaining peace and stability in the border regions. NEW DELHI: Navniet Sekera is one of the most decorated Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the country today. This dashing and daring encounter specialist is also known as a Supercop in UP police circles. Not many of us know that the hugely popular web series Bhaukaal, which aired on MX Player, was inspired by the real-life events of IPS Navniet Sekera. Current Profile cre Trending Stories Navniet Sekera, a 1996-batch IPS officer, is currently posted as the Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow. In UP police circles, he is known as a fearless cop who has never bowed down to the muscle and money power while performing his duties as an IPS officer. The courage with which he has taken on notorious Bahubalis and dreaded criminals has earned him a sobriquet of a supercop. Early Life Born on October 22, 1971, Navniet Sekera went to the All-Boys School in Etah in Firozabad District in UP. Due to his hard work and perseverance, he managed to clear the prestigious IIT exam to pursue B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering from IIT Roorkee. After graduating in 1993, Sekera applied for the M.Tech program at IIT Delhi but an event changed his life forever. What Changed His Life? An unpleasant event that occurred soon after Sekera graduated from the IIT Roorkee, made a deep impact on him and changed his thought process entirely. Sekeras father, a low-income farmer, was receiving threats from powerful local criminals after which he went to a police station to register a complaint against them. Sekera also accompanied his father to the police station; however, he was shocked and deeply hurt by the insensitive attitude of the local police officer who made fun of them and shooed them away from the police station. Hurt by the incident, Sekera spent several sleepless nights after that. It was during that period that Sekera decided to leave everything and prepare for the UPSC exam with the sole aim of becoming an IPS officer. He strongly believed that a complete overhaul of the policing system was needed to make it more efficient and sensitive towards the problems and miseries of the common people. Dream Come True Through sheer hard work and dedication to his goal, Sekera fulfilled his dream of becoming an IPS Officer after clearing the UPSC exam in his very first attempt. Interestingly, he qualified for IAS, but since he was determined to join the police services, he opted for the IPS cadre. He completed his training at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad with flying colours in 1996. Career As A Police Officer After completing his training, Sekera was posted as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Gorakhpur. He was transferred to Meerut as the ASP in December 1998. During those times, organised crime was at its peak in some areas in Uttar Pradesh. Due to the lack of police action and political patronage, local criminals and mafias were wreaking havoc in the state. However, things began to change after the entry of Sekera who led a massive crackdown against these dreaded criminals by either eliminating them in countless encounters or putting them behind bars. Despite facing several odds and political pressure, he never fell short of fulfilling his duties as a responsible police officer and succeeded in restoring the peoples trust in the police machinery. It is very rare for police officers to witness such popularity which Sekera enjoyed during his posting in Meerut where posters requesting the authorities to cancel his transfer were posted across the city. Career Highlights In 2001, Sekera was promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP). After serving for 11 years as the Superintendent of Police, he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in 2012. Within a short span of 2 years, he took over as the Inspector General of Police (IG) of Women Power Line, UP, in 2014. He is currently posted serving as the Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow. A bright student from the beginning and an avid reader, he fulfilled his dream of pursuing higher education and cleared the GMAT exam to get admission to the prestigious Indian School of Business. He completed his MBA in Finance, Strategy and Leadership. An inspiration for millions of educated Indian youths, Sekera is surely a jewel in the crown of the Indian Police System. Lets hope that the success and achievements of IPS Navniet Sekera continue to inspire future UPSC aspirants to become responsible and sensitive police officers in the days to come. Several Target locations in the Oklahoma City metro area were briefly evacuated Saturday afternoon after media outlets received what police described as "vague bomb" threats, police said. The threats come as the retail chain faces backlash over its Pride Month merchandise. "Whether it's a hoax or not we have to take it seriously," said Sgt. Rob Robertson of the Oklahoma City Police Department. Robertson said Target stores in Yukon, Moore, Norman and Oklahoma City had been notified. Oklahoma City television station KFOR reported that it had received the email, which listed several Target locations and claimed two had bombs inside. "We are going to play a game," the email said, according to the station. "We hid the bombs inside some product items. The bombs will detonate in several hours, guess which ones have the bombs. Time is ticking." The email included the date of April 19, 1995, the date of the Oklahoma City bombing, KFOR reported. The Target store at 5400 N. May Avenue in Oklahoma City was evacuated Saturday afternoon after some media outlets received emails warning of bomb threats at several metro area Target stores. The Oklahoma City store at 5400 May Ave. reopened around 6:20 pm after about a two hour closure. The company said in a statement that all the stores had reopened. The safety of our team members and guests is our top priority," the statement said. "Law enforcement investigated claims regarding several stores in the Oklahoma City area today and determined these stores are safe. Our stores are currently open and operating regular hours. Target is among corporate brands that have come under fire from right-wing groups for supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Target stores in Utah, Ohio and Pennsylvania have also received bomb threats in recent weeks. The Target store at 5400 N. May Avenue in Oklahoma City was briefly evacuated Saturday afternoon after bomb threats at several Targets in the metro area. After critics posted videos of attacking LGBTQ+ Pride displays and confronting employees in Target stores in late May, the company held an emergency meeting and decided to remove or relocate some Pride merchandise to make them less visible in stores. "Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year," the company said in a statement at the time. June is Pride Month. KFOR reported that the threatening emails went out to several newsrooms and state lawmakers. The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, does not appear to have received one. Target bomb threats: Bomb threats made against Target stores in Utah, Ohio and Pennsylvania over Pride controversy This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bomb threats made against Oklahoma Target stores amid Pride backlash Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur District witnessed a passenger train and goods train to face each other on the same track. The drivers of the trains averted a major accident by stopping the trains on time a few feet away from each other. The incident comes days after the nation witnessed a major tragedy after a train accident in Balasore, Odisha. The state witnessed the collision and derailment involving three trains killing 275 people and injuring over a thousand people. The incident occurred in the Bilaspur district, which lies in the South East Central Railway Zone. The two trains involved in the incident were a Memu local train and a goods train that stopped a few feet away from each other. Also read: Odisha Train Accident: No Trains To Stop At Bahanaga Bazar As CBI Seals Railway Station cre Trending Stories The Memu local train was on its way to Korba when it faced the Goods train on the same track between Jairamnagar in Bilaspur District and Kotmisonar. The incident is reported to have occurred because of a human, technical error, which was rectified in time to evade the massive accident. The incident occurred just a few days after three trains derailed in the Balasore region of Odisha, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. The Railway Ministry requested an investigation after the train crash that occurred close to the Bahanaga Baazar station in the Balasore district, roughly 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar. The CBI investigation into the Odisha train catastrophe, in which 275 people died, and 1,175 were injured, has been approved by the railway board, according to railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday. Currently, the investigation bureau has sized the Bahanaga Bazar railway station to investigate the matter. A Delta Airlines flight from New York to Los Angeles made an emergency landing In Utah after experiencing a technical glitch. As per New York Post's report, an air slide deployed inside the aircraft ended up injuring a cabin crew member. Following the incident, the cabin crew member was rushed to the hospital. At the time of the incident, the plane had 168 people on board when the captain prompted that the aircraft would land in Salt Lake City. As per New York Post's report, the 7 am Delta flight departed from New York and landed in Utah, where passengers were requested to disembark. The aircraft was scheduled to take off again in the afternoon, about 1 PM Utah time, following some time for technical repairs. Also read: Ahmedabad-Bound IndiGo Flight Strays Into Pakistan Amid Inclement Weather: Report cre Trending Stories Meanwhile, an inflatable air slide at the back of the plane accidentally opened as the aircraft was still at the gate as passengers reboarded and prepared to take off. In the process, one of the crew members was hurt and sent to the hospital. After completing all necessary examinations, the employee was later let go. After the incident, the passengers were given another flight to Utah. NYP quotes Delta Airlines saying, "Delta flight 520, operating from New York-JFK to Los Angeles diverted to Salt Lake City due to a maintenance issue. While on the ground, the same aircraft's slide was deployed by accident. In an effort to get our customers to their final destination as quickly and safely as possible, they have been re-accommodated on a new aircraft. We apologize for the delay to their travelling plans. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people." A passenger said that the crew member was struck "like an airbag" of a car after the air slide of a rear door accidentally opened after it had been armed. Another traveller said that the slide "exploded" inside the plane. According to NYP, the aircraft's catering staff accidentally launched the slide, which struck the crew member in the head. IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai returned back to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after reporting an engine failure. The flight declared a full emergency situation before its landing in the national capital. The incident occurred with the budget-Indian airline's Airbus A321Neo aircraft while it was on flight 6E 2789. At the time of the incident, the Airbus aircraft had 231 passengers and 2 crew members onboard. The mid-flight incident prompted the emergency situation forcing the aircraft to return to its origin airport. Also read: Air India Sats Introduces AeroWash, Indias First Aircraft Dry Washing Robot cre Trending Stories In a statement, DGCA said, "An IndiGo Delhi-Chennai flight (6E-2789) safely returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport within an hour of take-off on Saturday night following a snag in engine." The flight left the airport in Delhi at 9:46 PM, and its scheduled arrival time in Chennai was 12:24 AM. However, the emergency situation forced the aircraft to return. Following this, at 22:38, the aircraft successfully landed, assuring the safety of everyone on board. The flight crew's quick action and expert management of the emergency situation helped ensure a safe landing. ANI report quotes IndiGo saying, "IndiGo flight 6E 2789 from Delhi to Chennai returned to its origin due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely and is undergoing necessary inspection. An alternate aircraft was provided for the passengers to be flown to Chennai. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers." The Airbus A321Neo is a single-aisle narrowbody aircraft used by IndiGo for medium-range flights. Furthermore, the aircraft comes with a twin-engine design powered by either Pratt & Whitney PW1000G or CFM engines. New Delhi: The pre-teaser of the upcoming Ranbir Kapoor-starrer film 'Animal' was unveiled on Sunday. It gives a glimpse into the film's captivating world and intense narrative. It starts off with what seem to be two rival gangs - one whose members wear a golden skull headgear and the other is a group of sardars. The first gang calls Ranbir for a bloody face-off. Although the actor's face hasn't been fully revealed, he unleashes his wrath with the axe in his hand as he single-handedly hacks the other gang members and overpowers them before they're seen running away from him. cre Trending Stories The film has been directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who is known for directing 'Kabir Singh' and 'Arjun Reddy'. It also stars Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandana, Bobby Deol, and Tripti Dimri. Produced by Bhushan Kumar & Krishan Kumar's T-Series, Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios, and Pranay Reddy Vanga's Bhadrakali Pictures, 'Animal' will debut in theatres on August 11, 2023 in 5 languages - Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam where it will clash with two other big films, 'Gadar 2' and 'OMG 2' Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday gave a new slogan "80 harao, BJP hatao" (defeat 80, remove BJP), implying that if the saffron party has to be removed in 2024, it has to be defeated in all Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. He also targeted the Yogi Adityanath government, saying the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh is "becoming worse". "Police is registering an FIR against the ruling MP, Policemen were involved in robbing of silver, Stolen goods are being recovered from police station" What a double-engine government of the BJP!," Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi and used the hashtag "#Assi_Harao_BJP_Hatao". He was apparently referring to the registration of an FIR against BJP Kannauj MP Subrat Pathak for allegedly assaulting police personnel and the recovery of sliver at a policeman's house. cre Trending Stories Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats. The SP had only won five in 2019 and lost two of them -- Rampur and Azamgarh -- to the BJP in the by-elections. In a statement issued here, Yadav said, "In the BJP government, 'UP ease of doing' means murder, rape, loot and corruption. Were MoUs for the supply and manufacturing of country-made pistols signed in the Investor Summit? Is training for crime being provided under skill development?" "Instead of providing security and facilities to traders, there is freedom for their extortion and ransom," he added. The SP chief also alleged that corruption flourished under the BJP rule in Uttar Pradesh. "Why is the chief minister not seeing what is happening right under his nose? Is there any involvement at a higher level? Why is the chief minister not remembering the claim of zero tolerance for crime and corruption?," he asked. Reacting to Yadav's statement that the SP will win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2024 general elections, BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav said, "Leave alone the claims of winning 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, just win only one Lok Sabha seat, Varanasi. If your party does this, I will retire from politics and will also resign from the Rajya Sabha membership." Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: The upcoming Assembly Elections in Rajasthan are set to be a challenging battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. Both parties are facing internal conflicts, which overshadow the competition with their rivals. Sachin Pilot, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Congress, poses a significant challenge for the party. Meanwhile, Vasundhara Raje, a senior BJP leader, fights to maintain her presence in the state, despite being sidelined by party leaders in Delhi. Rumors suggest that Sachin Pilot, a prominent leader of the Gurjar community, may form his own party and leave Congress. However, the impact of this decision on Congress' fortunes in the December elections remains uncertain. The question arises: Is Pilot truly that powerful in Rajasthan? 1. Sachin Pilot's Influence: 40 Constituencies Sachin Pilot's influence directly affects 40 constituencies in various districts, including Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, and more. These constituencies have a significant number of Gujjar voters who hold substantial power in determining election outcomes. If Pilot were to form a new party, both Congress and the BJP would face substantial losses. cre Trending Stories 2. Support from Big Leaders Pilot enjoys the support of around 20 MLAs from diverse communities. These supporters can influence the results in 15 assembly seats, in addition to the 40 seats dominated by the Gujjar community. The Catch: Potential MLA Defections Currently, Pilot has the support of 22 legislators, including 8 Gujjar legislators. While the number may seem limited, Pilot's strong backing from the Gujjar community remains intact. Notable legislators supporting Pilot include Deependra Singh Shekhawat, Hemaram Chaudhary, Indraj Gurjar, and others. 3. Gujjar Support for Pilot and Discontent with BJP Traditionally, the Gujjar community has supported the BJP, as the Meena community (a dominant ST community in Rajasthan) supports Congress. However, during the 2018 Assembly elections, the Gujjar community shifted its allegiance to the Congress, primarily due to Sachin Pilot. The community hoped for Pilot to become the Chief Minister, but he was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister instead, which further fueled their discontent. 4. Impact on Lok Sabha Elections With the Lok Sabha elections approaching, the Congress is poised for a strong performance in Rajasthan. The results of the state elections are likely to influence the Lok Sabha elections as well. Sachin Pilot's emergence as a prominent leader and his connection with the Gujjar vote bank are crucial for the Congress. Out of the state's 25 parliamentary constituencies, 11 seats hold significant Gujjar influence. The Gujjar community constitutes a considerable portion of Rajasthan's population and voter base. In conclusion, Sachin Pilot's role and influence in Rajasthan cannot be overlooked. His support base, particularly among the Gujjar community, and the potential formation of a new party could impact the fortunes of both Congress and the BJP in the upcoming elections. Janata Dal (United) spokesperson and former MLC Ranbir Nandan on Sunday slammed the BJP for pushing the country into communal tension and severe unemployment. Nandan also accused the BJP of indulging in individual worship, a remark targeted at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar broke ties with the NDA and returned to Mahagathbandhan in August last year. Since then, CM Kumar has been actively meeting regional and national political leaders to form a united opposition against the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in which PM Modi will seek a third straight term. Speaking in Patna, Nandan said that the people of this country never accepted Nathu Ram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi. He said the forces idolising Godse and trying to tamper with the rich Indian culture and history have been mitigated. Lashing out at the BJP, he said that the ruling party could have led the country to the path of development in the last nine years but it indulged in individual worship leaving the country in complete disarray. "The country is in the grip of communal tension and facing an acute financial crisis and severe unemployment," he added. Ranbir Nandan said that the farmers are suffering as the government has made only hollow promises for their uplift. "None of the initiatives including the smart city project, Namami Gange and ideal village have been completed. The BJP appears desperate as it has no agenda for 2024 polls," he added. cre Trending Stories The JDU leader said that the opposition unity move initiated by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar would eventually lead to the ouster of the present regime. "Any movement that began from Bihar has reached its logical conclusion and changed the course of political history. The JP movement is the perfect example in this context," he said. Ranbir Nandan said the BJP has become apprehensive of the outcome of the opposition unity move and, therefore, indulging in all sorts of disruptive agenda to divert people's attention. "But the die for the saffron forces is cast this time. The BJP is bound to lose the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh followed by Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat," he added. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday shared the stage with Aam Aadmi Party leaders including Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal during the Ramlila Maidan rally organised by the AAP in protest against the Centre's ordinance. Kapil Sibal, who has been a vocal proponent of reforms within Congress, quit the grand old party in 2022. Sibal also addressed the gathering from the dias and said that people have had enough of the Modi government. "I have come here today to show that we need to be united whenever there is an attack on the Constitution. I am an independent MP and not associated with any party. My purpose in the coming days will be to go to different places and tell people that the time has come, we need to unite and fight against Modi ji. I want to tell you a 'Mann Ki Baat' today. Modi ji tells his 'Mann ki Baat' to children. The public does not like him. The public is saying enough of this (Modi govt). You (Modi) have been given enough time. You are a prime minister of rich people and you don't interfere in the matter of the poor. People are suffering. No government department worked for the welfare of people," said Kapil Sibal. cre Trending Stories #WATCH | Delhi: ..."My purpose in the coming days will be to go to different places and tell people that the time has come, we need to unite and fight against PM Modi...": Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal attends Aam Aadmi Party's rally against Centre's ordinance pic.twitter.com/5hB1jnCbpx ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023 On the other hand, Kejriwal said termed the rally a movement against dictatorship. "12 years ago, the movement against corruption was successful from this platform of Ramlila Maidan. Today, the movement that is starting from this platform to remove the dictatorial government, to save democracy and the constitution, this movement will also be successful," said Kejriwal while criticising the Modi government. The Delhi CM claimed that for the first time, there is a Prime Minister who doesn't obey the Supreme Court. "Friends, democracy is ending in the country and this is called dictatorship. When the country's Prime Minister says that he doesn't accept the decision of the Supreme Court, then it is called Hitlerism. Supreme Court in its verdict said that the elected government should have all the right to work for the people....Modi ji's black ordinance quashed Supreme Court's order. Modi's ordinance says there won't be democracy in Delhi, the public is not supreme in Delhi. Now there will be a dictatorship in Delhi," said Kejriwal. PM Modi Supreme Court Hitler - , Supreme , LG - CM @ArvindKejriwal #AAPKiMahaRally pic.twitter.com/FDX2o49VzY AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 11, 2023 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organised a mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila ground against the Centre's Ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital. The Union government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'. The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the toast of the town and has been altering the tech dynamics more of recently. Amid this AI boom, at the centre of attention is Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT. Be it India or any other country, everyone is aware of the potential that the AI has and this was reflected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement as well when he met Altman recently. PM Modi said that the potential of AI in enhancing India`s tech ecosystem is indeed vast and that too among the youth in particular. During his visit, Altman also addressed students and others at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi). Altman had said that the company behind ChatGPT is not presently training GPT5 -- the successor to GPT4. However, among other personalities, Altman also met Rohan Verma, who is often touted as Google's India rival. Verma and Altman shared a dormitory during their time at Stanford University. Verma currently holds the position of executive director at MapmyIndia, a notable competitor of Google Maps in India. Demonstrating their amicable relationship, Verma took to Twitter to share a photograph featuring himself alongside Sam Altman, referring to him as his friend. Who Is Rohan Verma? cre Trending Stories At the young age of 19, Verma established himself as the Executive Director and CTO of MapmyIndia, where he spearheads the company's product, technology, and marketing efforts. Founded in 2004, MapmyIndia stands as India's pioneering interactive mapping portal. Verma's passion for this field stems from his parents' extensive work in constructing the digital map data repository of India, which they had been diligently building since the 1990s. Verma pursued his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, where his exceptional academic performance earned him the prestigious President's Award for Academic Excellence. Building upon his educational foundation, he went on to obtain an MBA from the esteemed London Business School. Outside of his professional endeavors, Verma finds joy in various hobbies and activities. He has a keen interest in traveling, dancing, and sports, which contribute to his well-rounded personality. Verma is happily married to Namrata, and together they have a son. They currently reside in the vibrant city of New Delhi. Rohan Verma MapMyIndia Networth Verma's company, MapmyIndia, has achieved significant market success with a market capitalization of Rs 6257 crore. The journey of creating digital maps began approximately two decades ago when Rakesh and Rashmi Verma, who happen to be Rohan's parents, embarked on this endeavor. In 2021, the company's remarkable growth led them to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO), which resulted in a substantial increase in their net worth. As a result, their combined net worth surged to an impressive Rs 4400 crore. The Vyapam scam, also known as the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam, was a massive admission and recruitment scandal that took place in Madhya Pradesh and dealt a big blow to the reputation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in the state. Here are 10 key facts about the Vyapam scam: 1. Vyapam: The acronym Vyapam stands for Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal, which translates to the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB). It is responsible for conducting entrance exams for professional courses and recruitment exams for various government posts in Madhya Pradesh. 2. Scam Timeline: The Vyapam scam came to light in 2013 when irregularities were discovered in the Pre-Medical Test (PMT) conducted by Vyapam. It was later revealed that the scam had been ongoing for several years, involving multiple exams and recruitments. cre Trending Stories 3. Involvement: The scam involved a vast network of middlemen, candidates, and officials who colluded to manipulate exam results, facilitate impersonation, and secure admissions and jobs through unfair means. 4. High-profile Arrests: The investigation into the Vyapam scam led to the arrest of several high-profile individuals, including politicians, government officials, and education professionals. Some prominent politicians and bureaucrats were also named as accused in the case. 5. Extent of the Scam: The Vyapam scam affected thousands of candidates who were involved in the irregularities. It is estimated that the scam involved the manipulation of entrance exams for medical, engineering, management, and other professional courses, as well as recruitment exams for government positions. 6. Deaths and Controversies: The Vyapam scam gained significant attention due to the mysterious deaths of several accused, witnesses, and whistleblowers. The circumstances surrounding these deaths raised concerns and led to controversies surrounding the case. 7. Investigation and Judicial Proceedings: The scam was investigated by multiple agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a Special Task Force (STF) appointed by the Madhya Pradesh government. The case involved a series of arrests, chargesheets, and court proceedings. 8. Convictions and Acquittals: Over the course of the investigation and trials, many individuals were convicted for their involvement in the Vyapam scam. However, some accused were also acquitted due to lack of evidence or other legal reasons. 9. Reforms and System Overhaul: The Vyapam scam prompted a significant overhaul of the examination and recruitment processes in Madhya Pradesh. Measures were taken to enhance transparency, introduce online examinations, and improve the overall integrity of the system. 10. Ongoing Repercussions: The Vyapam scam had far-reaching consequences, including tarnished reputations, loss of trust in the education and recruitment systems, and an impact on the careers of genuine candidates. It served as a wake-up call for reforms and stricter vigilance in the examination and recruitment processes across India. Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Shell's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 25 shareholders own 38% of the company Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company Every investor in Shell plc (LON:SHEL) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 66% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Shell. View our latest analysis for Shell What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Shell? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. Shell already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Shell's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Shell is not owned by hedge funds. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 8.6% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 4.6% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 3.3% by the third-largest shareholder. On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Shell The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Shell plc in their own names. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own UK37m worth of shares. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 32% stake in Shell. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Shell better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Shell you should be aware of, and 1 of them shouldn't be ignored. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, is the most admired masterpiece of India's heritage. It is an enduring monument that signifies the love of a husband for his favorite wife. Though the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, recently a Chennai-based businessman has expressed his deep love for his mother by building a miniature Taj Mahal in her memory. The construction, which cost Rs 5 crore, took place in Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, the businessman's hometown. Amrudeen Sheik Dawood Sahib, a hardware businessman in Chennai, is the only male among his five siblings. His father, Abdul Kader Sheik Dawood, was a Chennai-based businessman involved in the leather goods trade. Unfortunately, Abdul Kader Sheik passed away when his children were very young. Amrudeen's mother, Jailani Beevi, was a resilient woman who faced numerous challenges while running the family business and raising her five children, including four daughters. As the children grew older, the four sisters got married, and eventually, Amrudeen Sheik himself tied the knot. cre Trending Stories Also read: Who Is Navniet Sekera: The Dashing And Daring IPS Officer Who Inspired Popular Web Series 'Bhaukaal'? In 2020, Jailani Beevi passed away, causing a profound shock to Amrudeen, who had been by her side from a tender age, helping her in the shop and accompanying her wherever she went. Jailani Beevi passed away on a new moon day, prompting Amrudeen to decide to serve biryani to 1,000 people on every new moon day as a tribute. However, Amrudeen felt that this was not sufficient, and he later conceived the idea of constructing a miniature Taj Mahal in honor of his mother. He purchased one acre of land in his ancestral village, Ammayiappan, and with the assistance of a friend who is a builder, he commenced the construction of the monument. To replicate the Taj Mahal in Agra, Amrudeen procured marble from Rajasthan and created pathways and walkways surrounding the monument. On June 2, the monument was unveiled to the public. This remarkable structure has attracted visitors from all over the state. The mini Taj Mahal not only features meditation centers where individuals of all faiths can meditate but also houses a madrasa that currently accommodates ten students. Interestingly, Amrudeen opted not to publicize the "Taj Mahal of the South," and its existence became known through word of mouth. New Delhi: Gehna Vasisth has come under the radar as she allegedly changed her religion from Hinduism and embraced Islam to marry the love of her life, Faizan Ansari. The actress, who belongs to a Pandit family from Chandigarh, has sparked concerns and outrage amongst the community with her landmark decision leaving millions unhappy. A section of community members has also alleged that this is a case of love Jihad. cre Trending Stories However, contrary to the claims, a source close to the development has argued that this is not a case of Love Jihad. Instead, Gehna and Faizan are madly in love with each other and their relationship is pure. Furthermore, the insider has also asserted that Gehna Vasisth did not undergo caste change to marry Faizan Ansari, it was her own personal choice. Interestingly, several pictures of the couples hush-hush wedding ceremony have been going viral and many have congratulated the couple extending their best wishes. Meanwhile, the Hindu samaj is aghast with Geehna Vasisth's decision. The only question remains, Will she be accepted by society for her marriage with Faizan Ansari? Will Gehna be able to live in the society peacefully? What are the reactions of her acquaintances? For the unverse, Faizan Ansari is a popular social media influencer and an actor in the Bollywood industry who was also in the Amazon MiniTv reality show Datebaazi. Gehna Vasisth, an actress-cum-model in the Bollywood industry, has been one of the most controversial names since the last year as she was reportedly involved with Raj Kundra, a renowned businessman, producer, and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's husband. As per the reports, Gehna Vasisth and Raj Kundra created pornographic movies and were taken into custody for the same. When the Mumbai Police arrested Raj Kundra, Gehna Vasisth came out in his support. She has made some bold statements regarding the people in the past but is known among a few people for being involved in Raj Kundra's case. However, Gehna Vasisth and Raj Kundra were later bailed for their work. New Delhi: Twitter has refused to pay its Google Cloud bills as its contract comes up for renewal this month, which could result in the social media company's trust and safety teams being crippled, Platformer reported on Saturday. Before Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform last year, Twitter signed a multi-year contract with Google related to fighting spam and protecting accounts, among other things, the report said. The Platformer report did not give details on how the conflict between the companies could hinder Twitter's trust and safety teams. The Information said Twitter has been trying to renegotiate its contract with Google since at least March. cre Trending Stories Twitter hosts some services on its server and houses others on the cloud platforms of Amazon and Google, Platformer said. In March, Amazon warned Twitter that it would withhold advertising payments because of the company's outstanding bills to Amazon Web Services for cloud computing services, according to the Information. Since Musk's acquisition, Twitter has cut costs dramatically and laid off thousands of employees. Musk ordered the company to cut infrastructure costs, such as spending on cloud services, by $1 billion, a source told Reuters in November. Twitter did not immediately respond to an email inquiry while Google did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The organizations behind several popular cryptocurrencies have spoken out against recent claims made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)which argued that Solana (SOL), Polygon (MATIC), and Cardano (ADA) are securities. The SEC named the three among a slew of other tokens as examples of securities being offered and traded on allegedly non-compliant crypto exchanges as part of its lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase last week. Solana, Polygon, and Cardano are among the lawsuits most recognizable tokens, placing within the industrys top 20 by market capitalization, according to CoinGecko. Combined, the three tokens have a market capitalization of over $21 billionequal to around one-tenth of Ethereums total value. Over the past seven days, the trio of tokens have tumbled around 30% each, according to CoinGecko. Yet, as of this writing, they staged a partial comeback on Sundayparing back a small portion of losses. SEC Claims Solana, Polygon, Cardano Are Securities in Binance Lawsuit Among the big three altcoins, Cardano was the first to have its regulatory status defended by a founding organization. On June 6, the blockchain research and engineering firm that created Cardano, Input Output Global (IOG), said ADA has never been a security under U.S. securities law. The SECs latest lawsuits will not impact the companys operations in any way, IOG said, adding that the firm welcomes a collaborative approach with regulators that would preserve the possibility of innovation while protecting consumers. This latest filing from the SEC demonstrates that we still have a long way to go, IOG added. Regulation through enforcement action does not provide either the clarity or certainty to which both the blockchain industry and consumers are entitled. On Saturday, the Solana Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to Solana and based in Switzerland, delivered a similar messagealbeit with less conviction. Instead of outright asserting that Solana isnt a security, the Solana Foundation said on Twitter it disagrees with the characterization of SOL as a security. The organization underscored its commitment to working with regulators in the statement, similar to IOG, explaining regulatory clarity is an issue that impacts everyone in the digital assets space thats building in the U.S. The Solana Foundation disagrees with the characterization of SOL as a security. We welcome the continued engagement of policymakers as constructive partners on regulation to achieve legal clarity on these issues for the thousands of entrepreneurs across the U.S. building in the Solana Foundation (@SolanaFndn) June 10, 2023 Meanwhile, members of the Solana community are debating the viability of forking Solanacontemplating whether splitting off and creating a new network would be the best path forward, similar to what Ethereum did following The DAO hack in 2016. Some, such as HGE.ABC on Twitter, said it could also be a way to skirt around the potential impact of FTXs bankruptcy, where a substantial amount of Solana tokens owned by Alameda Research, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Frieds trading firm, could hit the open market over the following years. [A] community fork [of] Solana will get rid of SEC issue, HGE.ABC said. [And] no bankruptcy will dump on you for [the] next 3 years continuously. Bold but not a bad idea actually. Community fork solana will get rid of sec issue. No bankruptcy will dump on you for next 3 years continuously.$ETH is a fork of $ETC and doing well. Blink twice if you agree https://t.co/fWxbkMQ4aI HGE.ABC (@HGEABC) June 10, 2023 Algorand and Flow Crash to All-Time Lows Following SEC Lawsuits Hours after the Solana Foundation commented on the SECs point of view, Polygon Labs chimed in on Twitter. The company behind Polygon did not say its Ethereum scaling solutions token is not a securitynor did it explicitly mention the SEC. But Polygon Labs did try to distance MATIC from U.S. markets. The company said Polygon was developed and deployed outside of the U.S., and drew attention to a global community that supports the network. Focusing on the coins utility, Polygon Labs said MATIC was needed to secure its Polygon network from launch. Additionally, Polygon Labs said it has conducted itself in a way where U.S.-based persons were not targetedpossibly laying the groundwork for a legal argument over regulatory jurisdiction regarding MATIC. We are confident in the actions we took in the past, Polygon Labs said. Given our focus on network security, we made sure MATIC was available to a wide group of persons, but only with actions that did not target the U.S. at any time. Since the SECs regulatory double-tap against Binance and Coinbase, the trading app Robinhood has said it will end support for Solana, Polygon, and Cardano, explaining that the lawsuits have cast a cloud of uncertainty around the cryptocurrencies in question. Other companies could potentially follow suit, but each coins respective organization is trying its best to clear its currencys name in the meantime. South African Tourism South African Tourism Hosts Panel Event Spotlighting the Genre Origins & Burgeoning Popularity on the Eve of Afro Nation Miami South African Tourism Hosts Panel on the Genre of Amapiano in Miami Amapiano to the World panelists shared their insights on the popularity of the new genre and its distinctly South African roots on Thursday, May 25 in Miami Beach, Fla. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/AP Images for South African Tourism) MIAMI, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The distinctive sound of the log drum permeated the air as several musicians, producers and industry experts gathered in Miami to celebrate the burgeoning genre of Amapiano. With a sound best described as a hybrid of deep house and jazz with percussive loops reminiscent of lounge music coupled with soulful vocals, Amapiano is arguably South Africas hottest new export and its infectious sound continues to attract new audiences as the genre spreads like wildfire. South African Tourism presented an industry-focused panel discussion in collaboration with Maphike Attorneys Inc., providing an opportunity for creators of this musical style to speak about the cultural impact of Amapiano and discuss the genres future as it continues to gain popularity worldwide. Taking place on the eve of the inaugural Afro Nation Miami, which boasts an Amapiano stage, the panel discussion included artists Pabi Cooper and DJ AYA who were joined by several industry executives including: Yoel Kenan, CEO of Africori, Devon Peterson, Creative Director of Africori, Manaileng Maphike, Attorney at Maphike Attorneys Inc. and Jerry Mpufane, President of South African Tourism North America. The discussion was moderated by Yolanda Sangweni, Vice President of Programming and New Content Development at NPR with opening remarks by Justin Barnette, Head of Marketing and Communications of South African Tourism North America. The conversation dove into a wide range of topics including the cultural significance of this new music genre, the impact of its growing popularity worldwide, and the spotlight it has cast on South Africa and its people, fueling industries such as tourism in growing source markets. Amapiano was born out of the black townships of Gauteng province with a distinctive character that is rooted in another uniquely South African musical style, Kwaito. The South African youth who grew up on the sounds of Kwaito have led the creation of Amapiano, a musical style that is distinctly characterized by its use of the log drum which serves as the sound for the baseline. But while Kwaito reflected the struggles of apartheid, Amapiano boasts a more optimistic tone of a young generation that strives to be unapologetically South African. In fact, in South Africa Amapiano has become a culture with its own fashions and styles and its own speech and dance form gaining mainstream popularity during the global pandemic. As Amapiano makes its way around the world its another way in which South Africas history and culture demonstrates its global influence, said Jerry Mpufane, President of South African Tourism North America. Amapiano is born out of the soul of South Africa and they say one of the best ways to experience it to its fullest is to be where the music is. So as this genre continues to captivate global audiences, we hope it inspires them to visit South Africa and learn about the history and culture that influenced the creation of Amapiano. Today, Amapiano music can be found in clubs, bars and music venues across South Africa but there are certain places where one might come across the artists who have been instrumental in Amapianos rapid rise to the world stage. Travelers arriving in Johannesburg can head south to Soweto, the birthplace of Kwaito, and also the former home of Nelson Mandela. While there, visitors can also take the opportunity to visit the Mandela House Museum, located at his former residence in Soweto, and learn more about South African history and the era of apartheid. Several of the panelists emphasized that understanding South Africas history allows one to better understand how South Africas freedom became intertwined with the musical styles that gave the people a platform to express their experiences through sound, movement and lyrics. In Soweto there are plenty of venues to choose from where one can regularly hear the sounds, or even catch a performance by local Amapiano musicians, like Amapiano pioneer and record label owner, Kabza De Small, Njelic or Kamo Mphela, at venues such as Konka, Zone 6 or Disoufeng. Roughly one hour north of Johannesburg the administrative capital city of Pretoria, known as the birthplace of Amapiano, is home to a number of influential Amapiano musicians such as Pabi Cooper, Focalistic, Chicco, Mellow and Sleazy (who make up a collective called Pitori Super League) and the likes of Vigro Deep. In Pretoria, one can enjoy the latest and most popular new hits at high-end lounge/restaurant Ayepyep which boasts two locations in the city (and a third now in Cape Town) and night club, ZanZou. Visitors can experience the authentic sounds at festivals including Straata Nation Address and Mamelodis outdoor music festival at Moretele Park that draws thousands of revelers annually. While the best place to experience Amapiano is in its birthplace of South Africa, the genre has made its way to clubs, festivals and bars worldwide, a testament to how infectious the sounds truly are. As a relatively young underground genre, Amapiano could have easily been stifled by the onset of the pandemic but instead it flourished. The artists noted that Amapiano originated in home studios so it is faithfully poetic the genre would reach audiences at home through social platforms while millions of people were on lockdown. Its popularity was largely driven by viral dance challenges, building an appetite for the genre internationally. Amapiano boasts a unique representation of women with many of the genres biggest names like Uncle Waffles, Pabi Cooper, TXC and Kamo Mphela, paving the way not only for South African women creators but creators from across the diaspora. Its not enough to say the women are influencing Amapiano as they are in fact defining it through the connection of movement and energy in the dance styles performed. The future of Amapiano is one full of possibilities as the young artists and creators continue to put their unique stamp on the genre and bring it to the world. Images are available via AP: https://apimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000LRl2h927iDU/G0000Ql_QFx9Y_1k/Sou2023-05-25-South-Africa-Tourism-Event-in-Miamii-WIRE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM South African Tourism is the national agency responsible for marketing South Africa as a preferred leisure and business events destination. From breathtaking beauty and sun-soaked coasts to wildlife and adventure to vibrant urban energy and the incredible warmth and cultural diversity of its people South Africa is a travelers dream! Destination South Africa offers a wide variety of experiences including safaris in 19 national parks, breathtaking diverse scenic outdoor spaces, vibrant modern designer cities, an amazing 2,500-kilometer coastline with Blue Flag beaches, inspiring heritage and cultural journeys as well as active adventure experiences and vacation offering impressive value for time and money at any budget. Contact: Justin Barnette, Head: Marketing & Comms North America, South African Tourism justin@southafrica.net Margot Delville, Account Director, MMGY NJF mdelville@njfpr.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05c9b04b-deb2-4021-a92f-b563f4d201fe The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. The federal courthouse for the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis is pictured in this 2021 file photo. A recently unsealed FBI affidavit in a federal case includes new details about the investigation of a pipe bomb found at South Marissa Trailer Park. A U.S. district judge ordered a Cahokia Heights man to spend 15 years and eight months in federal prison after he admitted to distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine and possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute the drugs in St. Clair County. Nickolas Shannon, 29, previously pleaded guilty in the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Upon release from federal prison, he will serve five years of supervised release, according to sentencing documents. Fentanyl is poisoning our communities at an alarming rate, and were confronting the crisis in southern Illinois, said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. Individuals found responsible for distributing illicit drugs can and will be subjected to steep federal prison sentences. According to court documents, DEA agents began investigating Shannon for distributing controlled substances in December 2021 based on information from a confidential source. Undercover sources working with DEA bought 5.4 grams of fentanyl and 6.883 grams of methamphetamine from Shannon on two separate occasions in St. Clair County. Shortly after, agents arrested Shannon and conducted a search warrant on his apartment. During the search, agents located 1.735 grams of cocaine base, 1.162 grams of cocaine and 2.9 grams of fentanyl as well as drug paraphernalia and three loaded and unsecured firearms, including an AR-15 rifle. Further DEA investigation revealed that Shannon was responsible for the distribution of nearly 300 grams of fentanyl, a release from the court said. DEA led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. Carraway prosecuted the case. hapabapa / Getty Images In what will be great news before the end of the year for small business owners and millions of Americans, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced it would delay the implementation of the tax reporting change for payments apps such as Venmo and PayPal. Explore: GOBankingRates Best Credit Cards for 2023 Related: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Take Our Poll: How Do You Think the Economy Will Perform in 2023? In turn, for this tax season, the reporting requirement for payments above $20,000 and exceeding 200 transactions within the calendar year will remain, instead of the much lowered new $600 amount. The IRS and Treasury heard a number of concerns regarding the timeline of implementation of these changes under the American Rescue Plan, acting IRS Commissioner Doug ODonnell said in a press release. To help smooth the transition and ensure clarity for taxpayers, tax professionals and industry, the IRS will delay implementation of the 1099-K changes. The additional time will help reduce confusion during the upcoming 2023 tax filing season and provide more time for taxpayers to prepare and understand the new reporting requirements. This lower threshold was enacted in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) back in March 2021. The new rules require users to report payment transactions via payment apps including Venmo, PayPal, Stripe and Square for goods and services meeting or exceeding $600 in the calendar year. The IRS added that it will provide additional details on the delay in the near future, along with additional information to help taxpayers and the industry. Following the agencys announcement, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who has been a staunch critic of the new rule, said in a statement: I am pleased the Treasury Department and the IRS listened to my request to delay the 1099-K reporting requirement that will harm small businesses and individuals who sell goods online across America. This will allow Congress more time to correct this regulation that puts undue burden on our small businesses. I will continue working with Treasury and my bipartisan colleagues to find a permanent solution that supports our small businesses in West Virginia and across America. Find: Child Tax Credit Wont Be Expanded How Much Youll Make in 2023 In mid-December, Sens. Joe Manchin and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) proposed an amendment to the $1.7 billion funding package to raise the $600 reporting requirement for third-party payment networks such as Venmo and PayPal to $10,000, as GOBankingRates previously reported. This is the best relief we can get for people, Manchin told CNBC about the $10,000 threshold. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Tax Update: IRS Delays $600 Reporting Threshold for Venmo, PayPal and Third-Party Payment Apps A Pennsylvania man was convicted of multiple crimes, including torture, in connection with the operation of an illegal weapons manufacturing plant in Iraq. The 54-year-old man, identified by federal authorities as Ross Roggio of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was convicted by a federal jury on May 19. The Department of Justice announced the outcome of the trial in a news release shared on Monday. The crimes took place in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Roggio was developing a weapons factory in the region, where he provided training to foreign citizens involved in the operation, assembly and manufacturing of the M4 automatic rifle. He also illegally exported weapons parts that were under restriction from the U.S. State and Commerce Departments. According to court documents and trial evidence, Roggio tortured an Estonian citizen who worked at the factory for over a month in 2015. The victim, who was not identified, was abducted and detained at a Kurdish military compound, where Roggio suffocated and threatened him. Roggio also directed Kurdish soldiers at the compound to beat and "otherwise physically and mentally abuse" the victim for 39 days. The victim eventually came forward, which officials said led to Roggio's conviction on multiple counts. "Roggio brutally tortured another human being to prevent interference with his illegal activities," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division in a news release. "Thanks to the courage of the victim and other witnesses, the hard work of U.S. law enforcement, and the assistance of Estonian authorities, he will now be held accountable for his cruelty." Roggio was convicted of torture, conspiracy to commit torture, conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, exporting weapons parts and services to Iraq without the approval of the Department of State, exporting weapons tools to Iraq without the approval of the Department of Commerce, smuggling goods, wire fraud, and money laundering. He faces life in prison and will be sentenced on Aug. 23. Friend reveals pregnancy to pregnant bestie Students line up to say goodbye to beloved security guard Ron DeSantis to announce presidential bid in Twitter chat with Elon Musk, sources say LONDON (Reuters) -Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday Britain could be the global home of artificial intelligence regulation as he pitched London as a tech hub to industry leaders and urged them to grasp the opportunities and challenges of AI. Sunak's government will host a summit on the risks and regulation of AI later this year, and on Monday he said the "tectonic plates of technology are shifting." "The possibilities (of AI) are extraordinary. But we must and we will do it safely," Sunak said in a speech at the London Tech Week conference. "I want to make the UK not just the intellectual home, but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation." Governments around the world are now trying to find a balance whereby they can assess and rein in the potential negative consequences of AI without stifling innovation. Sunak said the tech sector was at the heart of his priority to grow the economy, and while he acknowledged concerns that employees were worried about their jobs, previous technologies had presented similar challenges. "Obviously people's concern is for jobs," he said. "We've grappled with these things in the past." Britain in March opted to split regulatory responsibility for AI between those bodies that oversee human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than creating a new body dedicated to the technology. During a visit to Washington last week, Sunak got U.S. President Joe Biden's backing for Britain to host the AI summit, which will consider the risks of the technology and discuss how they can be mitigated through internationally coordinated action. "This is a moment when the contours of the world for the rest of this century are being set," finance minister Jeremy Hunt said at the conference. "I would like this country to be a force for good in making sure these are set in a way that means that technology can really benefit everyone." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Alistair Smout; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Sachin Ravikumar) This Week on Crypto Twitter: Outrage Over the SEC Crypto Crackdown Illustration by Mitchell Preffer for Decrypt Many leading cryptocurrencies plummeted in price this week after the United States Securities and Exchange Commission launched high-profile enforcement actions against cryptocurrency exchange titans Binance and Coinbase for allegedly violating securities laws. The coins worst affected by the news were Solana, Polygon and Cardano, which were all labeled as securities offerings in the SECs Binance lawsuit. Needless to say, it was a phenomenally busy week on the worlds favorite microblogging platform as people digested the news. Heres how this pivotal week played out on Crypto Twitter. On Monday, self-styled crypto sleuth @Leerzeit made an interesting observation. It should be noted here that former SEC director Bill Hinman in 2018 delivered a speech in which he explained his reasoning for why Bitcoin and Ethereum should not be considered securities. The @SECGov has now removed Bill Hinman's biography from its website. Getting ready to throw him under the bus. pic.twitter.com/O7HCUGWSgt Mr. Huber (@Leerzeit) June 5, 2023 Hinmans speech recently became the subject of the SECs lawsuit against XRP progenitor Ripple, which was sued by the regulator for offering unlicensed securities. A court recently blocked the SECs motion to block access to documents related to this speech, saying the material was subject to a strong presumption of public access. On Monday, the SEC sued Binance and in its filing listed several altcoins as securities. User @0xMert_ said the news was an industry call to arms. seems the SEC thinks Solana, Cardano, Polygon, Cosmos, Algorand etc are ALL securities this gets Coinbase, Robinhood etc involved as well time to put the interchain bullsh*t aside and unite against the war on crypto the SEC is unhinged and must be stopped pic.twitter.com/Win17xRJOP lightspeed mert | helius.dev (@0xMert_) June 5, 2023 Cardano creator Charles Hoskinson shared his two cents on the enforcement action in a lengthy tweet that was endorsed by Binance CEO Changpeng CZ Zhao. "a perfect opportunity for the entire industry to set aside it's fragmented nature and unite for a common sense set of rules and guidelines" CZ Binance (@cz_binance) June 5, 2023 Web3 law pundit James Murphy (a.k.a. MetaLawMan) wrote a thread about how the SECs complaint provided closure to an unresolved plot thread from 2021. 1/ The SEC complaint against @Binance appears to solve the mystery of why Brian Brooks abruptly resigned as CEO of @BinanceUS in 2021. CZ allegedly reneged on promises that Brooks would be given autonomy to run https://t.co/reBq6K7KAs independently from @Binance. MetaLawMan (@MetaLawMan) June 5, 2023 On Tuesday, CZ apparently needed some public validation, and most of his followers obliged. Who protects you more? CZ Binance (@cz_binance) June 6, 2023 Also that day, CNBC host Jim Cramer tried fanning the flames of a bank run on Binance, attracting comment from not one but two crypto CEOs. we will see soon enough. CZ Binance (@cz_binance) June 6, 2023 Former Twitter co-founder/CEO and current Square CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted a controversial opinion about Ethereum. Coinbase hit back against the SECs enforcement action on Tuesday with some counter propaganda with a natty bassline. Some revealing banter was passed between CZ and Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Wednesday responded to a public petition that Coinbase had filed against the SEC way back in July, asking the regulator to clarify its rules on which digital assets constitute securities offerings. Coinbases Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal tweeted about it. Earlier tonight the Third Circuit issued a short order in Coinbases mandamus action today. The court noted the SECs suit against us this morning and asked the SEC whether that means the SEC has decided to deny our pending petition for rulemaking. The SEC has 7 days to respond. pic.twitter.com/8QXXoHJ07Z paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) June 7, 2023 Pro-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis released a statement about the Coinbase lawsuit. My statement on the SEC suing Coinbase, inc. https://t.co/5KNEM0IPSV pic.twitter.com/EgRIxrIcjj Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) June 6, 2023 Blockchain-savvy lawyer Jake Chervinsky accused the SEC of clutching at straws with its definitions of securities. If the SEC's legal theories on investment contracts are right, then basically all luxury goods in existencewatches, sneakers, cars, handbagsare securities. The idea that the SEC should regulate markets for these goods is...I don't know how else to say it...pants-on-head crazy. Jake Chervinsky (@jchervinsky) June 7, 2023 Analyst Adam Cochran wrote a very juicy multi-tweet thread summing up some of the SECs most incriminating evidence against Binance. 1/15 Evidence from SEC case against Binance including internal chat logs, first between Sam Lin (former compliance lead at Binance) and Alivn (previously head of BD) First is their convo about equity bonuses where Sam talks about risks of holding BNB pic.twitter.com/96IfwJEUOT Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) June 7, 2023 On Thursday, Crypto Twitter was hit by the bombshell that CZ and Gary Gensler have a history. Documents filed by the SEC on Wednesday indicate that attorneys from Gibson & Dunn and Latham & Watkins, one of Binances law firms, allege that Gensler offered to serve as an advisor to the crypto exchange in several March 2019 conversations with Binance executives and Zhao. He Frank Chaparro (@fintechfrank) June 7, 2023 CZ was busy trying to put out a fire that day. This is simply false. Not sure if it's the journalist or the source. To the best of my knowledge, https://t.co/hSHrrlF7o7 had in total roughly $2 billion in user funds. This number in USD equivalent fluctuates a little as crypto prices change. And declining as users withdraw due pic.twitter.com/5dBPRaaNZN CZ Binance (@cz_binance) June 8, 2023 On Friday, popular investing app Robinhood announced that it was delisting the coins listed as securities in the SECs Binance lawsuit. BREAKING: @RobinhoodApp WILL AUTOMATICALLY SELL ITS USERS $SOL, $ADA, AND $MATIC IF THEY ARE NOT SOLD OR SENT TO OTHER WALLETS BY JUNE 27TH 6:59 PM ET pic.twitter.com/RXPh44zgYI DEGEN NEWS (@DegenerateNews) June 9, 2023 Binance.US published a lengthy notice saying that it would be suspending dollar deposits and withdrawals as it transitions to a crypto-only exchange. The SEC has taken to using extremely aggressive and intimidating tactics in its pursuit of an ideological campaign against the American digital asset industry. https://t.co/AZwoBOgsqS and our business partners have not been spared in the use of these tactics, which has created pic.twitter.com/rlIe6swIoY Binance.US (@BinanceUS) June 9, 2023 Finally, the weekend brought talk of another Saturday Bitcoin dump. Dubai-based "Titan of Crypto" was among many observers who cautioned against panic. "Each cycle this kind of thing happens," he wrote. "Whales love to dump it on the weekends." #Bitcoin Time & Cycles SEC news brought blood in the market, yet each cycle this kind of thing happens. It's nothing new in this wild market. Whales love to dump it on the weekends. If you're an investor, zoom out & don't get stuck in the lower time frames. If you're a pic.twitter.com/1eCn8dL8n6 Titan of Crypto (@Washigorira) June 10, 2023 Marketwatcher "Professor Few" also offered a long view of what might be happening. Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But that doesn't mean long term investors can avoid big losses. For example, after five long years the Western Forest Products Inc. (TSE:WEF) share price is a whole 59% lower. That's not a lot of fun for true believers. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 39% in the last year. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. See our latest analysis for Western Forest Products In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Western Forest Products became profitable within the last five years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics may better explain the share price move. The most recent dividend was actually lower than it was in the past, so that may have sent the share price lower. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. If you are thinking of buying or selling Western Forest Products stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Western Forest Products' TSR for the last 5 years was -51%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 1.3% in the twelve months, Western Forest Products shareholders did even worse, losing 36% (even including dividends). However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 9% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Western Forest Products (of which 1 is a bit unpleasant!) you should know about. Western Forest Products is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here What investors want to know about the SEC's crypto crackdown The Securities and Exchange Commission cracked down on the biggest names in the cryptocurrency world last week. First it accused the worlds largest crypto exchange, Binance (BUSD-USD), of violating securities laws, mishandling customer funds, inflating trading volumes and misleading investors. One day later it sued the largest US crypto exchange, Coinbase (COIN), for allegedly ignoring requirements to register with the SEC. What does all of this mean for the industry, crypto stocks and digital currencies? Investors have a lot of questions. Yahoo Finance asked experts for some answers. Is this an existential threat? One legal expert said the two new lawsuits pose existential threats to Binance and Coinbase even though the cases are civil and not criminal. "These, obviously, are pretty much life-and-death stakes for these companies, University of Kentucky securities law professor Alan Kluegel said. Thats because the SEC holds wide authority within American financial markets to shut down trading firms and exchanges, reverse the unlawful sale of unregistered securities to the public and suspend or permanently bar actors from the industry, Kluegel said. If the SEC is successful in its actions against either platform, it can also force them to either stop trading crypto on behalf of American consumers or to set up as registered exchanges and broker-dealers. Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) Ratings agency Moodys Investors Service on Thursday changed its outlook on Coinbase from stable to negative, citing "the uncertain magnitude of impact the SECs charges will have on Coinbases business model and cash flows." There will be an early test this week of how serious the SECs case is for Binance. The regulator has already asked a federal court to freeze the assets of Binances US entity Binance.US, and a hearing is scheduled for Monday on that request. Binance.US said in a Thursday tweet that it was stopping US dollar deposits and that users would soon not be able to withdraw dollars from the exchange. It intends to change to a "crypto-only exchange." Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance. (Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images) Its likely that these two lawsuits will take years to reach a resolution. There is, however, an older case that could help set a precedent much sooner. The SEC filed a lawsuit in 2020 against a startup company called Ripple, alleging the sale of its XRP token represented an unregistered securities offering. XRP is now the worlds sixth-largest cryptocurrency. "I don't think that this SEC under this leadership necessarily cares whether they win or lose in the courts," Ripples chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty said at the Piper Sandler Global Exchange & Fintech Conference on Wednesday. "I think what they are engaging in is a coordinated campaign to essentially destroy the crypto economy in the United States." Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) One investor, Cathie Wood, doesnt appear worried about the potential impact on Coinbase. Her flagship fund, the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), bought more than 400,000 shares of Coinbase on Tuesday after the exchange had been sued by the SEC. She has been a longtime proponent of crypto. The scrutiny of Binance was "a good thing longer term for Coinbase," she told Bloomberg. Will Congress write new rules? The good news for investors, perhaps, is that these legal battles could help establish how, and whether, cryptocurrencies are regulated in the US. "We've needed regulatory clarity in the United States for many years now," Moffett Nathanson Partner Lisa Ellis told Yahoo Finance Live. One key area of debate in Washington is whether certain digital currencies are securities or commodities and therefore fall under the oversight of the SEC or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. "The digital asset regulatory environment in the United States is opaque," said Daniel Stabile, co-chair of Winston & Strawns digital asset practice group. "At this point, the best solution is for Congress to sort out the regulatory morass." Earlier this month House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA) unveiled a draft discussion bill as a possible framework to regulate cryptocurrency. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-NC, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) The draft bill aims to create clarity around gaps between the rules of the CFTC and the SEC. It also tries to direct what firms need to do to register with the SEC and requires the SEC to write new rules that are customized to govern crypto. The House Financial Services Committee is also working on a new bill pertaining to stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies linked to a currency like the US dollar. A new discussion bill quietly put out Thursday night incorporates some concerns from Democrats. In the Senate, Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) are planning this month to reintroduce sprawling crypto legislation after making some changes to it following the 2022 meltdown of crypto exchange FTX. "There is some semblance of a bipartisan consensus in favor of regulating crypto, and most people feel the collapse of FTX was a wake up call about the urgent need to regulate a status quo that is dangerously deregulated," said House Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat who serves on the House Financial Services Committee. Who is safe from the SEC's dragnet? There are thousands of cryptocurrencies. The SEC considers some of these assets to be securities, and therefore under its oversight. That belief is central to its cases against Coinbase and Binance. The SEC alleged last week that 13 crypto assets available to Coinbase customers were crypto asset securities that should have been registered, including Solanas SOL token, Cardanos ADA token and Polygons MATIC token. It said Binance had been offering 12 coins without registering them as securities. If the courts uphold the SECs arguments, a number of digital currencies may not be able to trade on exchanges. One prominent online brokerage is already responding to the SECs actions. Robinhood Markets (HOOD) on Friday announced it would no longer allow trading of SOL, ADA or MATIC as of June 27. Robinhood currently allows trading in 15 crypto currencies, including bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH) and dogecoin (DOGE). The values of SOL, ADA and MATIC slid by double-digit percentages Saturday, a sign of nervousness among investors. Bitcoin was also down Saturday, as was ether. The SEC could also still go after other crypto exchanges that allowed investors to trade the tokens at issue. Some exchanges have already been a target of the SEC. US crypto currency exchange Kraken paid $30 million in fines to settle SEC charges in February, for allegedly violating securities rules by failing to register its crypto asset staking program. One exchange based in Singapore, Crytpo.com, said Friday that it would shut down its institutional exchange service for US customers due to "limited demand" in "the current market landscape." It was unclear if the move was at all related to the SEC's campaign. There is one big exception to the SECs securities dragnet: bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency. "The SEC has been extremely clear. Bitcoin is not a security," Steven Lubka, managing director of Swan Bitcoin, told Yahoo Finance. "Were very, very confident that never changes." Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The Howey Test The SEC's framework for evaluating digital assets as securities relies on the so-called Howey Test. This test has its origins in a 1946 Supreme Court case dealing with tracts of Florida orange groves sold by W.J. Howey Co. and leased back to the company. The Supreme Court labeled these leaseback deals as investment contracts, meaning they needed to be registered with the SEC. It also defined what constituted a security: "an investment of money in a common enterprise with profits to come solely from the efforts of others." The SEC still uses that measure today. Bitcoin, its defenders say, doesn't meet that test because it was created by anonymous software developer Satoshi Nakamoto in January 2009 as an open-source concept. SEC Chair Gary Gensler as well as former Chair Jay Clayton have indicated in numerous public comments they do not believe bitcoin is a security. "It's not," Gensler reiterated on Wednesday. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.'s (NYSE:DO) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.6x may not look like an appealing investment opportunity when you consider close to half the companies in the Energy Services industry in the United States have P/S ratios below 0.9x. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/S. View our latest analysis for Diamond Offshore Drilling How Has Diamond Offshore Drilling Performed Recently? Recent times haven't been great for Diamond Offshore Drilling as its revenue has been rising slower than most other companies. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is high because investors think this lacklustre revenue performance will improve markedly. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock. Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Diamond Offshore Drilling will help you uncover what's on the horizon. What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The High P/S? In order to justify its P/S ratio, Diamond Offshore Drilling would need to produce impressive growth in excess of the industry. If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 22%. Still, revenue has fallen 15% in total from three years ago, which is quite disappointing. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth. Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 31% as estimated by the three analysts watching the company. That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 16% growth forecast for the broader industry. With this information, we can see why Diamond Offshore Drilling is trading at such a high P/S compared to the industry. It seems most investors are expecting this strong future growth and are willing to pay more for the stock. The Bottom Line On Diamond Offshore Drilling's P/S Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-sales ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company. We've established that Diamond Offshore Drilling maintains its high P/S on the strength of its forecasted revenue growth being higher than the the rest of the Energy Services industry, as expected. It appears that shareholders are confident in the company's future revenues, which is propping up the P/S. Unless the analysts have really missed the mark, these strong revenue forecasts should keep the share price buoyant. Plus, you should also learn about this 1 warning sign we've spotted with Diamond Offshore Drilling. If you're unsure about the strength of Diamond Offshore Drilling's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The board of Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad (KLSE:YOCB) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of MYR0.035 on the 25th of July, an increased payment from last year's comparable dividend. Despite this raise, the dividend yield of 4.9% is only a modest boost to shareholder returns. View our latest analysis for Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions While yield is important, another factor to consider about a company's dividend is whether the current payout levels are feasible. Before making this announcement, Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business. Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 11.8% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 23% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range. Dividend Volatility Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2013, the annual payment back then was MYR0.03, compared to the most recent full-year payment of MYR0.07. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 8.8% over that duration. We like to see dividends have grown at a reasonable rate, but with at least one substantial cut in the payments, we're not certain this dividend stock would be ideal for someone intending to live on the income. The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 12% per annum. With a decent amount of growth and a low payout ratio, we think this bodes well for Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's prospects of growing its dividend payments in the future. We Really Like Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's Dividend In summary, it is always positive to see the dividend being increased, and we are particularly pleased with its overall sustainability. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock. Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. As an example, we've identified 2 warning signs for Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Too many thrillers rely on a single factor plot to carry the novel. But not Polly Stewarts debut in the genre, The Good Ones (Harper, $30, 304 pages). On Aug. 10, 2001, 23-year-old Lauren Ballard vanishes from fictional Tyndall County, a small locality in Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains. Sixteen years later, a friend, Nicola Bennett, now 37 and out of work after teaching at several small colleges across the nation, returns to Tyndall, still haunted by Laurens disappearance. As she reconnects with other Tyndall residents including Laurens husband, Warren Ballard, her daughter, Mabry and Warrens brother, Sean she wonders if Lauren is a murder victim or a runaway wife. Stewart born in Radford, raised in Roanoke, educated at Hollins University lives in Lexington, where she teaches English and creative writing at Virginia Military Institute. Her Old Dominion background and fertile imagination provide the splendid components that elevate The Good Ones to excellence: an intelligent and intricate storyline that features a multilayered array of twists, a cluster of carefully nurtured characters, descriptive prose (floodwater rose over the tops of the grass wobbling like a mousse), and surprising references to Schrodingers cat, whether alive or not, and poet Sylvia Plath, definitely dead. But the focus lies on complex, conflicted Nicola, as she gradually sheds the emotional cataracts that cloud her vision about the past, the townspeople and herself in this accomplished festival of secrets and deceit. Who gets the last word? Advice to book critics, pro and amateur: Before you post a review that crosses the line from adverse to antagonistic to acerbic, consider the authors reaction. Especially if he writes with clownish but intense overkill. Thats what reclusive Emma Carpenter faces in Taylor Adams thriller The Last Word (William Morrow, $30, 352 pages). Emma, a math teacher, fled Utah with her beloved dog to coastal Strand Beach, a remote site in Washington state, after the loss of her husband, Shawn. Shes house-sitting for Jules Julie Phelps, who resides in Oregon. Her only neighbor, Deacon Deek Cowl is a quarter mile away. Having read Murder Mountain by H.G. Kane, Emma posts a brutally negative online review saying, among other criticisms, that she has never been happier to see the words The End. Kane replies and asks her to remove her review. Emma declines, and Kanes requests become increasingly threatening. And when she has reason to believe that shes being observed, her fear morphs into panic and determination. And the carnage commences. Taylor lives in Washington state with a golden retriever and a Chihuahua. He forges a terrifying storyline complete with two major twists that commands unrelenting attention. And he paints vivid portraits of the principal characters, leaving no portion of their inner lives unrevealed. Inspired and intelligent, The Last Word offers a propulsive plot layered with grit and gloom, death and deception. A deluge of deception We remember floods that kill thousands, such as the 2005 killer spawned by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Or those near us, such as the record-breaking deluge from the remnants of Hurricane Camille that took the lives of 153 souls in 1969, mostly in Nelson County. Smaller inundations often escape our notice. But not the one around which Samantha Jayne Allen structures her second novel, Hard Rain (Minotaur, $27.99, 352 pages), which, like its predecessor, features budding private investigator Annie McIntyre in rural Garnett, Texas. When ministerial wife Bethany Richter is caught in a flood, shes saved by a young man who is swept away and remains missing. Annie the granddaughter of former Sheriff Leroy McIntyre and the employee of Mary-Pat Zimmerman (Leroys former partner) is assigned the case. She cant find the rescuer, but she discovers a victim shot to death. What follows in this tense and twist-laden thriller encompasses preachers and pharmaceuticals, neer-do-wells and neighbors and leaves the reader gasping at Allens mastery of storyline and characters. As they intersect in stunning ways, Allen fosters arresting reading and thoughtful response. And her prose, as tough as an old stone fence and as resonant with grace as scripture, provides the perfect phrasing to accompany the plot and shed light on the cast. In no way are these narrative downpours solely the showers of blessing that are promised in the old Baptist hymn. Allens hard rain stands instead for the power of torrents to torment and simultaneously the mercy drops that provide a measure of justice and peace. Ensign Jayla Darby, a native of Stafford County, joined the Navy five years ago and serves as an operations intelligence division officer aboard USS Shoup. I joined the Navy because my dad and two brothers are in the Navy, said Darby. I kind of grew up in the Navy, and Im continuing the family legacy. Growing up in Stafford, Darby attended Brooke Point High School and graduated in 2018. Today, Darby relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Stafford to succeed in the military. I learned in Stafford to be flexible and adaptable to different cultures and to be versatile, said Darby. Modern U.S. Navy surface ships provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface environments. A Navy surface ship is capable of operating independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups or expeditionary strike groups. Jobs aboard a U.S. Navy ship are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times. Darby serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world. I am proud of making it here, making an impact and being able to lead sailors, said Darby. As Darby and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy. Serving in the Navy means providing a good example to younger sailors and giving them motivation to reach for higher things, said Darby. Darby is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible. I would like to thank my dad, Capt. Jason Darby, added Darby. He provided structure, pushed me to succeed in every aspect and broadened my horizons. As thrilled as he was to be awarded a Quilt of Valor, Rick Spooner didnt feel entitled to any honors, believing his only achievement was getting old. I dont consider being old the thing Im most proud of, said the 96-year-old. The thing I am most proud of is being a Marine. Everyone can be old if they live long enough, but not everyone can be a Marine. Anyone who knows about Spooners storied past probably recognizes the place the man known as The Major has in Marine Corps lore and why hes a fitting quilt recipient. The Quilts of Valor Foundation has awarded more than 348,500 such blankets to service members and veterans with the goal of wrapping them in a healing and comforting embrace. While the foundation honors veterans of various ranks, years of service and specialties, Spooner is a rarity, as hes served in three wars. Its becoming more and more rare, thats for sure, said Ret. Marine Col. Walt Ford, whose wife, Sharon, made the quilt. Theres not many World War II veterans left, and then three-war Marines are very rare. Then, after he finished his military service, Spooner started serving up Marine Corps history lessons along with steak and ale, at the well-known Globe & Laurel Restaurant, now in North Stafford. Hes a walking Marine Corps history himself, Ford said. Richard Rick Spooner was 17 when he joined the Marines in World War II, with his parents permission. Less than a year later, he was among the 8,000 Marine infantrymen who landed on Saipan on June 15, 1944. He was captured by Japanese forces but managed to escape, then went on to participate in assaults on Tinian and the Battle of Okinawa. Spooner also served during the Korean and Vietnam wars, and retired after 29 years. Even before he left the service, Spooner and his late wife, Gloria, operated the popular Globe & Laurel Restaurant. Initially in the town of Quantico, the business relocated to Triangle after a fire, and into Stafford County when the Triangle property was seized for the expansion of U.S. 1. Spooner retired from the restaurant business in 2020 at the spry age of 93 and said last week he wishes he still worked there. Hes had a few strokes, apologizes for his speech, but talks in a strong voice, and his comments are organized and articulate. Hes maintained his connection, with those who served with him, his son also a retired Marine major and others who visited the Globe & Laurel for a bite to eat and a glance at photos of Marines through history. In a 2007 Free LanceStar story about the place, a former policeman and regular customer said he felt like he earned three credits of continuing education by going there for lunch. The walls and tables were decorated with Marine memorabilia including shoulder patches and sidearms, a bugle and drum, canteen, trench knives and sharpshooter badges from the past three centuries. Ford never served with Spooner, but met The Major after Ford retired from the Marines and began editing Leatherneck Magazine. The two have remained friends for more than three decades, and when Ford and his wife were visiting recently from their home in South Carolina, Spooners daughter, Anna, mentioned that her dad needed a quilt. Spooner lives with her, in Triangle. Sharon Ford has made more than 30 Quilts of Valor, and she nominated Spooner through the foundations website, then completed his blanket in a couple weeks. She typically doesnt make quilts that specify the recipients service branch theyre more of a general patriotic theme but she went above and beyond on this one. Hes been a special friend of ours, she said. We highly respect him and all that he stands for. Spooners quilt includes the Marine Corps memorial, the Constitution, American flag and Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate bridge because hes from San Francisco, and his favorite bird, the eagle. Spooner was surprised by the recent presentation and said later that he was pleased, grateful and amazed. He remembers years ago, watching his mother and grandmother quilting, and recognized even then how much work was involved. The fact that there are quilters across the country who have done such a wonderful thing for old-timers and veterans like myself touched him, he said. We dont expect anything, but when we do get something like this, its very very meaningful, he said. Ive put it on a bed and am using it and will continue to do so. Im so proud every time I see it. Often, a local chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation gets involved with a presentation, but the Fords went through their home chapter in Rock Hill, S.C. The foundation often crosses state lines to honor servicemembers and veterans, said Madonna Rabatin, who coordinates efforts in the mid-Atlantic region, including Virginia. Fredericksburg doesnt have a Quilts of Valor chapter, and Rabatin would love to get one organized. The Northern Neck Patriotic Piercers are based in Reedville and the Common Threads of Louisa in that county. More information on state chapters can be found at the foundations website, qovf.org/about-qovf/whos-in-my-area. Fredericksburg is home to the Virginia Star Quilters, whose members make quilts for several organizations, including the Quilts of Valor. Each quilt must be registered on the foundation website and be recognized as a Quilt of Valor. The Virginia Star Quilters also creates and awards Honor Quilts to local recipients. Monthly meetings are held throughout the year and usually on the third Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the Lee Hill Community Center. Theres an open sew the same day, starting at 10 a.m. More information is available on their website at vastarquilters.com. The Virginia chapter of Quilts of Valor awards about 350 quilts per year. The organization never gives a quilt, but awards it as a lifetime achievement, said Harvey Mayhill, an Air Force veteran and area representative for the Quilts of Valor in Rock Hill, S.C., where the Fords are based. While there arent many veterans who have had the same military experience as Spooner, Mayhill said the Quilts of Valor Foundation treats all who have served the same. The understanding is every link in the chain has a purpose and deserves respect, he said. Mayhill likes to put it this way. For veterans who have been in a war zone, like The Major has, if youve been there, no explanation is necessary, he said. If youve not been there, no explanation is possible. Introducing the new Free Lance-Star app Customize your experience so you see the stories most important to you. And sign up for pers Through the month of June, The Gazette and Mikes Camera are offering a chance for Coloradans to capture the perfect shot of their state through the Quintessential Colorado photo contest. Submissions opened on June 1 and will close on the last day of the month, after which 20 winners will be selected. Each winner will receive a $25 gift card to Mikes Camera, and the picture with the greatest number of votes will win the photographer a $250 gift card. Last years winner was Diana Fruh, whose picture, Herkimer the Worlds Largest Beetle, features the Hercules beetle replica that stands at the entrance to the May Museum. Entries are available for viewing on the submission page. Already, the submissions are filled with shots of mountain ranges, columbine flowers and wild animals in their element. Can you beat the bug? View the gallery and submit your own picture at gazette.com/photocontest. The gun-phobic, Here 4 the Kids just led a protest at the State Capitol demanding Gov. Jared Polis immediately confiscate all guns in Colorado via executive order. They said theyd protest until he does, or until four days passed, whichever came first. Have you ever seen a toddler try to hold his breath until he got something he wanted? Folks roll their eyes when pro-gun morons like me say that the Second Amendment is made for more than just self-defense, like keeping the country safe from tyranny. When I was anti-gun, I used to roll my eyes too. So, I dont blame you. But if the temper tantrum at the Capitol steps could get so much attention, then how about a little equal time for the peaceful power of armed citizens. On my recent trip to Europe, I spent time with friends from Ukraine, including a member of parliament. They very much regret not having a Second Amendment culture before the Russian invasion. They now realize why during World War ll Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto purportedly said: You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. How odd is it that in the U.S. people are crying for the government to confiscate guns, particularly semi-automatic rifles, while in Ukraine the government just handed out those very guns to untrained civilians? A well-armed civilian population makes invading and occupying a nation nearly impossible. Switzerland hasnt been invaded for hundreds and hundreds of years not just because of its mountains, chocolates or polite people. Where gun ownership is seen as a patriotic duty, almost half of citizens have a gun. I can see the bumper stickers at the protests now, Be like Switzerland, own a gun! The challenge in Ukraine is they were way too late in arming and still late in safety training citizens. Unarmed civilians close to the front are being brutalized by rogue Russians with war crimes not seen since World War II: rapes, child murders and mass executions. Women without guns cannot protect themselves or their children. Its the kind of world Here 4 the Kids naively will lead future generations toward. Ukrainian civilians are craving more firearms and safety training, the kind of instruction most Americans, until recently, used to get growing up. But its not just Ukraine thats late thinking about civilian gun culture. Like the blissfully ignorant protesters in Denver, most Europeans were taught that the nation-state would defend them from enemies foreign and domestic. They are beginning to learn otherwise. I asked my counterpart in Lithuania, who runs a free market organization there, what her greatest personal worry is. Its a Russian invasion. Like many, she is planning how her family will escape if and when an invasion happens. When I asked why they dont just arm and train civilians to make their country uninhabitable for an occupying force, she looked at me like I had three eyes. And this from a woman who remembers communist rule and whose parents remembered Nazi rule. This is a common viewpoint throughout Europe, they expect government to protect them. Often the same government that oppresses them. Contrast that to the United States where we believe the source of all governmental power originates from the individual, not the state, working in concert with others. We also know when seconds count, the police are minutes away. My counterpart in London helped me understand the difference. Being raised with the European sensibility, it took him years to understand the peaceful empowerment the Second Amendment brings. Hes now an NRA member in a country where he cannot own a gun. The paradox is a country where individuals are freely armed is a country not to be occupied from without or within. And its a country that will likely never need to expel occupiers. If the Taiwanese want to make their island the most uninviting to the Chinese, they should learn from Ukraine and create a Second Amendment culture where behind every blade of grass there could be a rifle. I understand the siren song of simple anti-gun thinking; I too wanted the unicorns to take all the guns. Until I realized only bad guys would have guns. Looking through history books I saw bad guys usually wore uniforms, sometimes uniforms of my own country. Maybe, those old dead White guys who wrote the Constitution werent so stupid after all. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. As Coloradans gear up for the reintroduction of wolves, a new specialty wolf license plate has been approved by the Colorado General Assembly to help fund nonlethal mitigation. According to House Bill 23-1265, which was signed into law by Governor Polis in May, proceeds from the "Born to Be Wild" license plate will go toward funding nonlethal wolf mitigation and conflict prevention programs. Applicants for the license plate will be required to pay several fees including: A one-time $25 fee that is credited to the highway users tax fund An annual $50 fee that is credited to the wildlife cash fund in the division of parks and wildlife A one-time $25 fee that is credited to the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account. The plate features a grey wolf in the center, with white mountains and a night sky in the background. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. According to WolfPlate.org, hundreds of thousands of dollars are estimated toward go to nonlethal mitigations programs because of the specialty license plate. "The plate symbolizes Colorados forward-thinking commitment to restoring wolves to her vast wildlands. The people of Colorado said they wanted wolves back, and that they wanted to make this work for everyone. The Born To Be Wild plate is the physical embodiment of that commitment. It will help ranchers adapt to wolves without putting a dent in their bottom line, while also protecting Colorados repatriated wolves," the website reads. The license plate option will reportedly be available in 2024. The gun-phobic, Here 4 the Kids just led a protest at the State Capitol demanding Gov. Jared Polis immediately confiscate all guns in Colorado via executive order. They said theyd protest until he does, or until four days passed, whichever came first. Have you ever seen a toddler try to hold his breath until he got something he wanted? Folks roll their eyes when pro-gun morons like me say that the Second Amendment is made for more than just self-defense, like keeping the country safe from tyranny. When I was anti-gun, I used to roll my eyes too. So, I dont blame you. But if the temper tantrum at the Capitol steps could get so much attention, then how about a little equal time for the peaceful power of armed citizens. On my recent trip to Europe, I spent time with friends from Ukraine, including a member of parliament. They very much regret not having a Second Amendment culture before the Russian invasion. They now realize why during World War ll Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto purportedly said: You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. How odd is it that in the U.S. people are crying for the government to confiscate guns, particularly semi-automatic rifles, while in Ukraine the government just handed out those very guns to untrained civilians? A well-armed civilian population makes invading and occupying a nation nearly impossible. Switzerland hasnt been invaded for hundreds and hundreds of years not just because of its mountains, chocolates or polite people. Where gun ownership is seen as a patriotic duty, almost half of citizens have a gun. I can see the bumper stickers at the protests now, Be like Switzerland, own a gun! The challenge in Ukraine is they were way too late in arming and still late in safety training citizens. Unarmed civilians close to the front are being brutalized by rogue Russians with war crimes not seen since World War II: rapes, child murders and mass executions. Women without guns cannot protect themselves or their children. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Its the kind of world Here 4 the Kids naively will lead future generations toward. Ukrainian civilians are craving more firearms and safety training, the kind of instruction most Americans, until recently, used to get growing up. But its not just Ukraine thats late thinking about civilian gun culture. Like the blissfully ignorant protesters in Denver, most Europeans were taught that the nation-state would defend them from enemies foreign and domestic. They are beginning to learn otherwise. I asked my counterpart in Lithuania, who runs a free market organization there, what her greatest personal worry is. Its a Russian invasion. Like many, she is planning how her family will escape if and when an invasion happens. When I asked why they dont just arm and train civilians to make their country uninhabitable for an occupying force, she looked at me like I had three eyes. And this from a woman who remembers communist rule and whose parents remembered Nazi rule. This is a common viewpoint throughout Europe, they expect government to protect them. Often the same government that oppresses them. Contrast that to the United States where we believe the source of all governmental power originates from the individual, not the state, working in concert with others. We also know when seconds count, the police are minutes away. My counterpart in London helped me understand the difference. Being raised with the European sensibility, it took him years to understand the peaceful empowerment the Second Amendment brings. Hes now an NRA member in a country where he cannot own a gun. The paradox is a country where individuals are freely armed is a country not to be occupied from without or within. And its a country that will likely never need to expel occupiers. If the Taiwanese want to make their island the most uninviting to the Chinese, they should learn from Ukraine and create a Second Amendment culture where behind every blade of grass there could be a rifle. I understand the siren song of simple anti-gun thinking; I too wanted the unicorns to take all the guns. Until I realized only bad guys would have guns. Looking through history books I saw bad guys usually wore uniforms, sometimes uniforms of my own country. Maybe, those old dead White guys who wrote the Constitution werent so stupid after all. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. Its an experience that Im sure we all can relate to. Youre in a class and you ask yourself why in the world you need to know whats being taught. For me it was English class. For others, its the dreaded quadratic formula. Regardless of what it was that spurred the question, I think it is a valid one. It neednt always have an answer you would accept to be valid either. For example, learning to do math, even math youll never use, teaches a good deal of soft skills youll be glad you developed. Still, the question stands, and asking it is appropriate. To me, the question also touches on a deeper aspect of learning that we cannot discuss enough. How do you match a learner with an environment that best suits them and their goals? Part of the issue, part of the reason things are as they are in schools, is the fact that the way a classroom has to be run dictates how and what is taught. Think about it. In one room you may have students that require a feeling of relationship and community to learn best, next to others that, like succulents, are content to be left mostly alone. You may have some that are talented in math and find the pace of class too slow, while others struggle mightily and need a more measured pace. You will also have some that just want to work on big trucks, while others want to be a microbiologist. There are ways to handle this. My favored approach was to do a little bit of everything teaching-wise on a rotating basis; that way everybody gets something. Experienced teachers also learn how to effectively offer the kids that would benefit from it some extra slack to work on their own and in different directions. Wouldnt it be nice to be freed from some of these constraints, however? Why couldnt someone, who was genuinely motivated enough to do it well, split completely off and learn on his or her own according to the things that serve their educational and life goals? Why couldnt a student interested in becoming a plumber set their own program, meeting all high school diploma requirements, but also addressing the specific needs of a plumber? Why couldnt a student talented in math and interested in physics set their own program to allow them to advance faster, focusing on the particular areas to best prepare them for undergrad studies? Homeschooling has offered an option up until now, but that is not feasible for all. For those not going that route, an educational paradigm called individualized learning (and/or the associated schools that are starting to pop up around the country) is starting to take shape. It almost got a start in Colorado during this last legislative session, in fact. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. HB23-1188, Individualized Learning Schools And Programs, would have provided a legal framework and guidelines for charters and other schools to create and see through this maximally student-centered approach to learning. In a session notable as much for bills not passing as for the ones that did, HB23-1188 was among those that almost made it to a floor vote in the House and sputtered out. That was disappointing to see. I have no illusions that that individualized learning is something that can be done at statewide scale, nor do I think its for everyone. Having taught high school and college, having taught online and in person, I can tell you that, just like in the gym, where some go to a personal trainer to learn how to train and then do it on their own vs. others who need the appointment in their calendar to keep them going, some people are able to learn independently and some are not. This isnt something that tracks with intelligence, either. I have known highly-driven, self-starters in nearly all the classes Ive taught and Ive taught a lot of people. The point here is not a fix, but adding another option folding more kids into the mix, and giving them a chance to engage meaningfully with school. I hope the sponsors try again next session. I hope the bill actually makes it out for a vote, some inquiry, and debate. Learning is a highly personalized endeavor. We should recognize that fact with more than just words. We should be opening up as many doors to the same endpoint as we possibly can. We already have a tradition of school choice in this state; lets advance it. Oh, and just for the record, I do love to read fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. I love to consider what Im reading. It was writing the papers that always killed me. Cory Gaines is a physics instructor at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. He runs the Colorado Accountability Project on Facebook and lives for what Richard P. Feynman called the pleasure of finding things out. In the 36 years Ive been running every morning, Ive encountered a wide range of smells the soothing fragrance of pine trees, flowers and grass, the intoxicating savor of freshly baked bread and bagels, the putrid stench of garbage trucks and road kill, the distinct aroma of rain, the relaxing scent of salt water, the ominous tang of wildfire smoke and lately, too many whiffs of marijuana. But for the last few summers over on the citys west side, high atop the Mountain Shadows neighborhood, Ive been enjoying one more the sweet and inviting smell of barbecue. And I love it. Its coming, of course, from the Flying W Ranch, a now historic establishment dating back to 1953. Nestled up against the red rocks and foothills, its best known today for serving up chuckwagon suppers and melodic cowboy music. Owned and operated by Leigh Ann Wolfe, daughter of the late Russ Wolfe, the ranchs founder, the 1,400-acre working cattle ranch is an inspiring story of grit and guts. It burned down back in 2012 when the Waldo Canyon fire roared over the mountain on that fateful June day, consuming not only the Flying W Ranch but also 346 homes in the surrounding neighborhood. It would have been easy to cash the insurance check, call it quits and a career and sell off the property but Leigh Ann was determined to try and rebuild. Said she owed it to her mom and dad who had devoted their lives to the effort. She faced several setbacks, including floods and expensive mitigation. But she kept going and the ranch has literally risen from the ashes. Its been said that smell is the closest thing we have to a time machine, that fantastical invention thats eluded and fascinated generations. When I climb Flying W Ranch Road in the predawn dark and catch my first smell, I do think back to being a 12-year-old boy and sitting at their picnic tables under the stars. I can hear the music and jokes of Vern Thompson and Scotty Vaughn, the wranglers of my childhood. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. At the time, I was on vacation with my family. We had come from Long Island, and were guests of my uncle, who lived in Denver. It never would have occurred to me that 30 years later Id be raising my own family in a house on land once owned by Russ Wolfe. Thats the romance and wonder of life, isnt it? We crave certainty and predictability, but uncertainty and surprise add flair and favor to our journey. On certain nights, when the wind is blowing just right, we can even hear the music, summers soundtrack along the front range. I enjoy the taste of barbecue, and in fact, the Flying W food is better than ever before (especially the brisket and apple sauce). But its not just the dinner that draws me in and brings me back. Its so much more than that. The smell of barbecue in the morning represents the triumph of the human spirit. It reflects answered prayer in crisis and Gods favor to a family and organization that has diligently and faithful served their community for the last 71 years. It was Robert Duvals Lt. Col. Bill Kilgores character in the epic war movie Apocalypse Now that claimed to love the smell of napalm in the morning, a morbid nod to mans resilience in tough times. The Flying W Ranch cooks overnight and in the morning to prepare and be ready for the crowds later that night a reminder that work comes before pleasure and that the spirit of the West is alive and well in Colorado Springs. Paul J. Batura is a local writer and host of the podcast, WHAT A LIFE! Lessons from Legends. He can be reached on Twitter @PaulBatura or via email [email protected] Another big win for attorneys I appreciate the column written by George Brauchler on Thursday. I could not agree more. I will say I have great sympathy for the victims and survivors of the Club Q shooting. I also have great sympathy for mass shooting victims. The real breakdown in the alleged shooters criminal history, however, and lack of an Extreme Protection Order seems to rest with his alleged kidnap victims (his grandparents) and his mother. They declined to press charges, and even when the grandparents were contacted in their new home in Florida, they took no action. The El Paso County Sheriffs Office took the previous situation as far as they could without cooperation from the victims. I was a commercial insurance broker for over 40 years. The attorneys only have interest in suing the deep pocket, whether that is an insurance company, or a regulatory agency of a city or county who is self-insured. The attorneys negligence burden of proof will, indeed, be an uphill battle, and clearly after seven months, this was the only option for a lawsuit that the attorneys could come up with. Hopefully, the sympathy factor will not preclude the legal and contractual language providing protections for our government agencies. The bottom line is if these lawyers on behalf of the victims and survivors prevail, the residents of Colorado Springs and El Paso County will repay the award in higher taxes and fees. This is also the reason, across the country, that auto insurance rates continue to escalate. Insurance companies must make a profit for their shareholders, and every time an attorney obtains a huge settlement, that cost trickles down to the everyday consumer of the insurance product. I certainly hope this situation does not become yet another big win for the attorneys. Trish Beyer Colorado Springs Being a part of the solution As a 79-year-old Hispanic woman, U.S. citizen since 1969, I wonder how I can be part of the solution. Perhaps if I start by categorizing them. 1) Politically, among the not so desirable candidates for the next presidency, we have one who is passionate about what this country can offer to minorities, implying that the concept of racism is a figment of our imagination. From personal experience, yes! this country is a blessing for those who have the drive to succeed, even though racism is very much alive. 2) Educationally, minorities cannot afford the luxury of as good an education at the primary level as the Caucasian communities do. That, right there, puts minority kids, adolescents and young adults at a great disadvantage to pursue a higher level of education, having to settle for low-paying jobs in adulthood. This fundamental problem creates a vicious cycle in life. 3) Legally, white collar crime, which encompasses the criminal cheating his/her fellow human beings out of millions of dollars and receiving a slap on his/her wrist, while a person of color gets shot to death for shoplifting. 4) Spiritually, one cannot even go to church for solace, without being aware of the division among denominations under the false premise that Catholics are better than Protestants, who, in turn, claim they are better than who knows? Based on the above, what is one supposed to do? Indulge in substance abuse, donuts, domestic violence, or simply become apathetic and do nothing about anything? Oh, what a sad state of affairs! If that is the case, then we cannot complain about anything, or wonder why depression and mental health issues are on the rise. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Instead, how about analyzing things intelligently and respectively by: 1) Use critical thinking to elect our next president. 2) Demand that your children, regardless of the neighborhood you live in, receive a good education, equal to all children in the country. 3) Demand that your elected officials redefine the legal system, and remind them that White skin is not a free ticket. 4) Demand congruent preaching from your church leaders between their own personal agenda and what God really wants to see in His church. Marcela Gaumer Colorado Springs Details on the debt ceiling What Congress and American citizens dont realize about the debt ceiling: Over decades, Congress has borrowed the trust funds that were supposed to be invested to cover Social Security, military and civil service pensions, and other contributory sources of retirement income. The Federal Government Has Borrowed Trillions, But Who Owns All that Debt? At the end of 2022, the nations gross debt had reached nearly $31.4 trillion. Of that amount, about $24.5 trillion, or 78%, was debt held by the public. At least the (considerable) interest on the debt to us must be paid annually. (Not to mention the principal). These obligations must be paid independent of the annual appropriation and authorization debates. They are called entitlements, earned because of who you are or what you did. You are entitled to them. These are first to suffer default! The very first! One reason is that they dont affect U.S. creditworthiness in the rest of the world. Not increasing the debt ceiling hurts most Americans. David Finkleman Colorado Springs We are being played How many years would it take for combustion engines in America to equal the amount of CO2 emitted from the current rash of Canadian wildfires? To compound this overlooked and underreported tragedy, these forests are not being maintained, not to mention being replaced in a timely way to offset greenhouse gases. Why the woke demand for all-electric cars by 2035? Were being played while carbon is mismanaged from Canadian wildfires to coal-burning Chinese solar panel manufacturers. Fred Stewart Grand Junction It will be eight years on June 16 since Donald Trump made his theatrical entrance into the 2016 presidential race, descending an escalator into the lobby of Trump Tower in New York and dragging the nations politics down with him. No reasonable assessment of his effect on public conduct and national unity can conclude anything other than that Trump has been a disaster. His lack of character and competence make him a chaos agent, attached like an incubus to the body politic. He always declares that he wants to make America great again, but he has not done so and never will. Voters should abandon thoughts of returning him to the White House. If Trumps good intentions are what he says they are, if he wants to put America first, he should withdraw from the race and let the country choose a new leader unencumbered by rage, vendettas and investigations. He will not do that, of course, although polls consistently show he is deeply and irretrievably unpopular with the wide public and therefore capable only of leading Republicans to unwonted defeat. Those who are ambiguous about Trump, generally approving of his policies while deploring his character, often exaggerate his success on the former. But he did not achieve as much as is claimed, especially by him. Trump never came close to draining the swamp or to finishing the border wall, never came close to reducing the trade deficit or adding manufacturing jobs, and did not even remotely tame China. He alienated the best people who agreed through gritted teeth to serve in his first administration. He is left with only third-raters willing to put up with his abuse but who cannot offer hope that they would rein in his ever-changing directives and destabilizing mood swings. Presidential second terms are usually less successful than first terms. A second Trump term would be appalling. Lets start by assessing his competence. After narrowly defeating Hillary Clinton, one of the most unappealing candidates to run for high office, Trump did several things that any Republican president in 2017 would have done. He signed a pro-growth tax reform that then-Speaker Paul Ryan had spent former President Barack Obamas years teeing up for just such a moment. Trump likewise nominated judicial conservatives teed up by the Federalist Society. The nation was fortunate that Trump was able to fill the Supreme Court vacancy that happened during the election year, plus two vacancies that occurred during his four years, and he was fortunate that it gave him something substantial to boast about. He also aggressively undid some of Obamas executive orders and rule-making. He raised defense spending (again, as any GOP president would have done), and he accelerated the rapprochement between Israel and five Arab or Muslim nations that had been underway since Obamas capitulation to Irans nuclear program, a deal Trump rightly pulled the United States out of. These are not nothing, but even with the advantage of a Republican Congress, undivided for two years and with Senate control for all four, Trump failed in most legislative endeavors. He, more than anyone else, torpedoed the best chance of substantive rejection of Obamacare, and when Ryan picked up the pieces to send a bill limping to the Senate, appetite for full repeal had evaporated. Trump grew the biggest government the U.S. had seen, even before throwing obscene sums of debt into his botched early response to the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also ruled out reform of so-called entitlements, without which American insolvency is inevitable. Trump boasted of shutting down the country in the face of the pandemic Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is attacking him aggressively for that and praised China for its pandemic response. Under his leadership, the wealthiest nation on Earth experienced the third-highest number of coronavirus deaths per capita of any country in the world. As for his signature issue, stopping illegal immigration, the record is patchy. In his four years, the 1,980,210 Border Patrol encounters of illegal immigrants exceeded those of either Obamas first term (1,724,443) or second term (1,660,343). And as for Trumps boasted negotiating skills? After he shut down the government for 35 days over his demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall, he secured less money for it, just $1.3 billion, than the $1.6 billion Democrats had offered seven weeks earlier. In foreign affairs, Trump was mercurial and incompetent, pronouncing himself in love with nutcase North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, allowing the release of 5,000 vicious Taliban prisoners for almost nothing in return, and disgracing himself with a pandering and narcissistic joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. He also abandoned a military base, tons of equipment, and key intelligence to Russia when precipitously withdrawing Americans from Syria. Trumps laziness and incompetence are confirmed by those who were closest to him. When a single disgruntled former staffer hurls accusations at his former boss, such complaints might be dismissed as sour grapes. But when numerous former aides, each of high independent stature, recount the same serious horror stories of an out-of-control president, reasonable people should believe them. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Former Gens. H.R. McMaster, James Mattis, and John Kelly, two-time Attorney General William Barr, and longtime foreign policy leader John Bolton were Trumps best men. But he drove them away to tell harrowing tales of catastrophes averted only because Trump was so easily distracted that he did not follow through on his worst instincts. Nevertheless, Trump managed to blow up Republicans chances of running Washington for the benefit of the country. The ills President Joe Biden is inflicting on America could not have happened without Trumps ham-handed interventions in federal elections across the country. First, Trumps unpopularity lost the House of Representatives in 2018, then he lost in 2020, then he sacrificed the Senate by torpedoing two Georgia Republican candidates in 2021, and finally, he endorsed awful candidates in 2022 and chased other good ones away from even running, thus solidifying radical Democrats control of the Senate. Now he is running again to continue his record of chaos and damage for another four years. None of the foregoing touches the worst aspects of Trumps character. Regardless of whether one thinks Trump deserved impeachment, he stressed the system while being unethical. He was wrong to demand that a foreign government target his political opponents and, of course, not just wrong but malicious to try to overturn a valid presidential election and inspire a mob to attack the Capitol. Trumps bad character has stoked left-wing excess and grotesque and unprecedented abuses. He promised to eradicate the deep state but instead emboldened it and strengthened its power. If Trump is so good at defeating it, why is it so successfully running rampant against him and against any voters who dont kowtow to the lefts brave new world? Trumps idea of getting tough is merely to make loud noise. His histrionics have drowned out more sober, competent efforts to ensure systemic integrity. When Trump keeps pushing the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen, for example, he helps discredit other efforts to fight vote fraud, no matter how well-founded. All of this stems from major character defects by now so obvious that too many people discount them as old news. But they should be repeated lest we forget. They are more than merely mean tweets and extreme bumptiousness. Character flaws are important. They keep Trump from effectively performing his duties or even understanding that his desires and the nations needs are two distinct things. It is a horror show, you know, when hes left to his own devices, said Barr, who was a notably loyal and effective attorney general until Trump pushed the Big Lie about a stolen election. If you believe in his policies, what hes advertising in his policies, hes the last person who could actually execute them and achieve them. He does not have the discipline. He does not have the ability for strategic thinking and linear thinking or setting priorities or how to get things done in the system. He will deliver chaos and, if anything, lead to a backlash that will set his policies much further back than they otherwise would be. Much though too many people have forgotten this, it really is important for the president, who represents our citizens to the rest of the world and who is the repository of so much institutional trust, to exude propriety and dignity. The founding generation called it republican virtue. It is crucial to keeping representative democracy functional rather than so fractious that its fabric rips irreparably. Trump fails this test more spectacularly than any president before. He denigrates women in private, and he publicly insults the looks of female opponents and of male opponents wives. He accuses the father of an opponent of helping assassinate President John F. Kennedy, calls on crowds to knock the crap out of silent protesters, and puts White House personnel in danger by keeping them close when he is in the contagious phase of COVID-19. Other presidents could be crass and boorish in private, but Trumps coarseness and churlishness regularly poison the public square. Until Trump came along, people were not so at each others throats. Trumps vulgarity not only dishonors the presidency but also pollutes civic society. Where Abraham Lincoln appealed to the better angels of our nature, Trump calls forth, and emotionally validates, the worst instincts of supporters and opponents alike. Surely surely! Republicans can do better than a presidential nominee who pays off porn stars, says he grabs women by the p, repeatedly stiffs small-business owners, cheats would-be university students, repels suburban women and young voters by margins never before seen by a major party nominee, uses extraordinarily violent language as a matter of course, bungles diplomacy, praises Putin, blows health care reform, throws around taxpayer money like confetti, erupts like Vesuvius with almost daily falsehoods, tries to overturn a valid election and catalyzes an attack on the U.S. Capitol as his followers chant for the execution of his vice president. Quin Hillyer is the deputy commentary editor for The Washington Examiner. To Mike: I hope a first-name basis is OK, and that we can put off the honorifics until you take office. First off, congratulations on a decisive victory. You have been at this a while. When you first ran for governor in 2018 with a bit more hair, I somehow doubt that you envisioned getting ready five years later to take the oath as Denvers mayor. It has indeed been a slog. I flash back to the very fun lunch Tracy and I had with you and Courtney and your kids along with both grandmothers at some Mexican restaurant in Granby back in 2019 as you were on the Senate campaign trail. You have long sought the chance to serve and lead in high ranks. Now that opportunity is yours as is that burden. As a friend, though sometimes a critical friend, allow me to offer ten pieces of advice as you prepare to take the reins of a troubled city. 1. Governing is far more difficult than campaigning. You are a natural at the political game and have an unquestioned knack for it. That has finally paid off. But governing, especially in times of challenge, is a wholly different task. In considering the transition over the coming weeks, keep in mind that it is not just about picking a cabinet and administrative team. As importantly, it is a personal walk over the bridge from inspiring candidate to sober chief executive. 2. Part of the art of governing is the ability to say no to your friends. Dealing with political adversaries is part and parcel of the process. Turning down or reining in friends and allies is a far trickier proposition. This is doubly true in the mayors office with plenty of jobs and perks to dole out. 3. There is a time and place for dreaming big dreams and painting an ambitious picture of what Denver can be. You did this eloquently and persuasively throughout the campaign and even in your speech on election night. But there is also a need to address the reality and lived experience of many Denverites which is far less cheery at the moment. Way too many fellow citizens are feeling anxious, unsafe and insecure. Crime, from auto theft to porch piracy to physical violence, is all too pervasive. Whole parts of the city seem inhospitable. Homeless encampments have become an omnipresent part of the landscape. Multitudes live on the economic margins or have fallen through the safety net. Office buildings are half empty. A trip through our once proud airport is unwelcoming to both the nerves and the eye. Voters resonated with your well-stated vision and aspirations. But they also expect very concrete fixes, and soon. 4. Talk less, listen more. Enough said. 5. There is a growing disconnect between the crime reduction goals of many who identify as political progressives and the policies they too often push on drug enforcement, sentencing, and police recruiting and staffing. That dissonance will soon land in your lap. Serving as mayor is a front-line job. This is not about esoteric debates in some august legislative chamber. It is your lot to bring clarity to this fundamental conflict. And to call it out when necessary. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. 6. I have a small inkling of how integral in your development was your founding role at the Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts. Bringing my then-young kids to a graduation ceremony was a formative experience on their end. Please dont forget where you started as a fearless advocate for quality teaching, school choice and educational opportunity for those who most need it. While DPS will not be directly under your thumb, it is a mess crying out for adult supervision. As you are soon to be the citys undisputed leader and chief advocate, use everything in your expansive tool kit to force DPS to up its game or yield to those who will do so. 7. Stick around a while. It is plainly evident that the mayors office is not your highest goal or political terminus. That is all well and good. Denver does not need you for 12 years. (In fact, why dont you lead a charter change to eliminate third terms?) But the city needs more than a short-timer. 2026 will be a year of political upheaval in Colorado with Gov. Polis term-limited and other high offices potentially open as well. But that is simply too soon to make your move. A 2026 campaign would mean starting in 2025 and spending the next two years processing issues through a nakedly political lens. Late in the campaign, you pledged in a Channel 7 debate that you would complete at least one term as mayor through the summer of 2027. Its a promise Denverites need you to keep. 8. Dont wear your ambition quite so much on your sleeve. Its more on the above point. Initiative is great. But maybe dial it back a few degrees. Make clear that your driving passion is Denver, not your own upward mobility. 9. Continue making it a family affair. I admired how you and Courtney dialed your children into your previous campaigns. Those kids, now older and with more of their own lives, absolutely deserve their privacy. And, surely, an outing to this or that Denver neighborhood is not quite as compelling as a weekend in Grand County. Still, keep your dad cap on and know there is no higher priority. 10. At the start of the campaign, I weighed in that what Denver most needed was a leader to restore the citys mojo. The voters have handed you that formidable assignment and invested their considerable hopes in your talents. The task is going to take plenty of cheerleading, but also some tough decisions and hard truths that may not always please your base. Finally, while your election night speech only mentioned the Nuggets, Avs and Broncos, maybe you can fix the Rockies in your spare time. Good luck, my friend. Enjoy the ride. Eric Sondermann is a Colorado-based independent political commentator. He writes regularly for Colorado Politics and the Gazette newspapers. Reach him at [email protected]cSondermann.com; follow him at @EricSondermann Right-leaning activists, media personalities, scholars and politicians gathered in Denver this weekend at the Western Conservative Summit to sound the alarm over threats to the region's way of life, which some warned is under attack. More than 1,000 people filled a corner of the Colorado Convention Center for the two-day summit, sponsored by Colorado Christian Universitys Centennial Institute, to hear from a lineup of speakers and join in discussions. Institute President Jeff Hunt set the tone for the summit and its "Western Strong" theme in his welcoming remarks, delivered Friday morning from the stage of the convention center's Bellco Theatre. "We're creating a place for conservatives to get together," said Hunt, noting that the gathering was in its 14th year. But this year, he added, conservatives appear to be on the run in the West. "If you're like me, this election was tough," he said, referring to last November, when Democrats swept every statewide office in Colorado and increased their majorities in the Legislature. "I've been through some elections that were gut-punches before. This one was really hard in the state of Colorado to get out of." Hunt noted that the summit's sponsors are nonpartisan and "not in the business of getting anyone elected here" but said that elections "are kind of temperatures of how the culture is going," and recent ones in Western states haven't gone well for conservatives. "In fact, it seems like the whole West is shifting." During the last presidential election, Hunt said, Donald Trump only won five of 13 Western states, and there are 6 million more Democrats in the West than there are Republicans. "That's going to shape our culture," he said. "It's going to change things." He said he was encouraged by a conversation with John Andrews, a former Republican leader in Colorado's state Senate and Hunt's predecessor running the institute. "He said this is exactly why we have the Western Conservative Summit," Hunt said. "It's easy to be a conservative when everyone's winning, the sun is shining, blue skies, and you can just follow everybody else to all the victories. It's tough to be a conservative when we're all losing." Hunt recalled that he had been in the same venue during the 2015 summit when news broke that the U.S. Supreme Court had legalized same-sex marriage, casting a pall of "heaviness and depression" over the crowd. That's when the late Bill Armstrong, a former U.S. senator and longtime president of CCU, "walked right to this podium, and he said, 'Fellow patriots, now is the time to mount your horses and ride to the sound of gunfire," Hunt said. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "And that's what I hope we can do through this conference. So be inspired, be educated, be activated. And let's go change this culture." Headliners at the summit included U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, Christian author Eric Metaxas, and Seth Dillon, owner and CEO of the satirical conservative website The Babylon Bee. Colorado's three Republican House members U.S. Reps. Doug Lamborn, Ken Buck and Lauren Boebert also spoke. Noting that his grandfather was a first-generation American, Hawley described his approach to politics during this keynote speech Friday night. "Now, we believe that the nation is a family, and when you come to this family, we stick up for one another, we we believe in one another, we fight for one another," he said. "That's why we believe in citizenship, because we believe in the value of this nation. And we believe that this nation has a purpose, this national has a destiny. And God isn't finished with it." While the summit was once considered an essential stop for Republican presidential hopefuls Trump's appearance in 2016 marked a move to solidify support in the GOP's conservative wing this year just two longshot White House hopefuls showed up: talk radio host Larry Elder and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has called on Trump to suspend his presidential campaign in the wake of federal criminal indictments. Although Hutchinson didn't mention Trump or the felony charges, his midmorning speech on Friday drew some boos and prompted some audience members to walk out. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, the Wyoming attorney and rancher who defeated Republican Liz Cheney in last year's primary, described "coastal elites" and environmentalists as "the problem." "They want to tell the rest of us how to live," she said, despite not understanding the West or its residents. "They think they know what makes us tick. I think it's because they watch 'Yellowstone' on TV, that they know all about us," she said, referring to the popular Paramount TV hit starring Kevin Costner. "They love to glamorize Western culture, and they love to watch it on TV and in the movies. But at the very same time, they want to make it impossible for real cowboys to exist. They want to make our entire way of life disappear." Later in her speech, Hageman put it more bluntly: "They may deny it, but we know whats true. The fact is, they despise your ranch, they hate your farm, they hate your sheep and your cattle, and they hate your coal and oil and gas. They despise these things because they represent strength, independence, self-sufficiency, community and family, and they despise you because you might oppose what theyre trying to do. Its a war. It is a war on us and on the entire Western way of life. So we must fight back; we cant ever give up." Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Shad Murib, who helps operate a cattle ranch in Eagle County with his wife, former state Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, told Colorado Politics that he didn't know enough about Hageman to respond to her remarks but said he had some thoughts about her tone. "One of the things that I've learned in my foray into running the ranch and being a part of I guess what you'd call the cowboy way of life is we typically treat each other with respect, and these politicians who try to turn us against each other out west have no idea what they're talking about," he said. "The irony of this all is, they all worship a celebrity from New York, so I don't really want to hear from them about who supports ranching or not when that guy decimated agriculture in this country and we're doing our best to bring it back." It is an easy town to locate, impossible to miss at the southernmost end of Interstate 25 in Colorado. Trinidads identity, however, is much harder to pinpoint. Look around and youll see plenty of symbols of industries past and present. Walk up and down the red-brick Main Street, and youll come to understand a town built on mining. Yes, the coal boom built Trinidad accompanied by the railroad boom that replaced the old Santa Fe Trail as the mode of transit. But the trail is far from forgotten today. Trinidad was the crossroads for that pioneer path, representing both the promise and the pain of the broader West, the lives made and lost. Ranching prevailed around here too. That was long before the modern economy turned its attention to recreational marijuana. Amid that industrys proliferation around Colorado and across the state line in New Mexico, officials have spoken of yet another boom and bust. And so here we are now in a town still colorful, still looking back but also looking forward. People are looking up up to the high cliffs of Fishers Peak. After generations in private hands, Trinidads biggest, boldest landmark is finally public land. Thats a clear hint at a future of tourism. Take a closer look around: Get cultured Trinidad History Museum is the first stop for a deeper dive into the important events that shaped this region and state. You might go pay your respects at the Southern Colorado Coal Miners Memorial. You might also drive 15 minutes north to the Ludlow Massacre Site, marking a nightmare that changed labor in America. Trinidad maintained faith, as beautifully displayed by Temple Aaron. The edifice of pink sandstone and cornices stands on a neighborhood hilltop, considered the oldest synagogue in Colorado. It was the design of a highly influential architect, Isaac Hamilton Rapp. His other grand works around town include Zions Lutheran Church and First Baptist Church. Corazon Gallery is among stops on Main Street, lined by boutiques and shops celebrating the local flair. The A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art celebrates the captivating works of Arthur Roy Mitchell. And the Art Cartopia Museum celebrates a much different kind of creativity. Trust us, you havent seen vehicles like this. Go play Trinidad Lake is a great, often-missed oasis for fishing, boating and camping. Across the interstate is the new state park: Fishers Peak, where 13-plus miles of trail are making their summer debut. The scenic network offers short and long outings including a mountain bike-only downhill section called Poison Canyon. Highway of Legends is a vastly underrated drive. You could make a full day of the 82 miles, stopping for photos at quaint towns, lakes and viewpoints. From Trinidad, the road peaks above 11,000 feet. Another drive to consider: south across the border to Raton, N.M. Sugarite Canyon State Park is another overlooked paradise of lakes, trails and mining history. Grab a bite Rinos is the creation of a Trinidad native who left as a youngster with dreams of musical fame. He touched that fame. But eventually, Frank Cordova came home to open an Italian restaurant complete with singing waiters. You might catch him belting a number one night, still going strong in his 80s. Nana and Nanos Pasta House is another trusted name in Italian cuisine. They also offer quicker bites: sandwiches with carefully selected meats and cheeses. Speaking of meats, Trinidad Smokehouse is the place. Theyve got you covered if youre craving a burger or barbecue. If its pizza on your mind, Bella Luna is the spot. China has been trying for years to expand its spy operations from Cuba, where it honed its capabilities in 2019, a White House official said Saturday (June 10) who did not wish to be identified. This statement comes after several American media, following the Wall Street Journal, have mentioned in recent days an agreement between Havana and Beijing to install a spy base on the island, some 160 kilometers from Florida, allowing data to be collected in the United States. John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, called the Wall Street Journal article a inexact . But according to the official who requested anonymity, the US executive now says that when Joe Biden came to power in January 2021 his office was briefed some efforts from China to install bases worldwide especially for espionage purposes. This is well established in the intelligence files Among these efforts figured the presence of Chinese intelligence collection sites in Cubathe official said, adding that Beijing honed its intelligence collection sites in Cuba in 2019. This is well established in the intelligence filessaid the official. He assured that the Biden administration had inherited of this situation and undertook to respond to projects for the establishment of Chinese bases in the world with discretion and precautionincluding through diplomatic channels, with several governments. The US government, says the same source, has slow motion Chinas plans for setting up abroad but there are still challenges and we remain concerned regarding the relationship with Cuba. China will continue to try to strengthen its presence in Cuba and we will continue to work to prevent itshe said again. Cuba denounces false and unfounded information The slanderous speculations continuereacted on Saturday the Cuban government, which has already denied the presence of a Chinese spy base on its territory. They are obviously encouraged by some media to harm and disturb, without respecting minimum standards of communication and without providing data or evidence to support what they broadcastDeputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said on Twitter. On Thursday, he called this press information false and unfounded. An embarrassing case for Biden The case is diplomatically sensitive, at a time when the American president says he hopes for a thaw very tense relations with Beijing, and evokes a meeting in the more or less near future with his counterpart Xi Jinping. It is also politically embarrassing for Joe Biden, campaigning for his re-election in 2024. The opposition regularly criticizes him for a lack of firmness both in the face of China and in the face of the communist regime in Cuba. The relationship between the two powers experienced a sharp rise in tension in February, after the United States destroyed a Chinese balloon which flew over their soil. The White House then accused Beijing of using it for espionage, which China has denied. This incident led to the cancellation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens trip to China. This visit has just been rescheduled for June 18. Before his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Jim Huinker of Garner was an avid bicycle rider, and frequently rode around Clear Lake. An event created in Jim's honor to bring awareness and raise scholarship money for a Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School student will get underway on Saturday, June 17. The Annual Huinker Lake Lap bicycle ride will begin at 10 a.m. at Kims in Ventura and end at 5 p.m. at Lone Oak Bar & Grill, also located in Ventura. At the start of the ride, attendees will receive punch cards for various stops along the route. Those who receive enough punches will be entered into a drawing for donations and gift baskets provided by the events sponsors. Around 200 riders are expected to attend. The Huinkers of Garner started the event after Jim was diagnosed with ALS in September 2019. By July 2020, he was in a wheelchair, no longer able to walk. Determined to give Jim every experience they possibly could in his final days, his friends and family gathered to put him in a Gator utility vehicle to drive him around the Clear Lake together for the first Huinker Lake Lap. In a year, our life changed, said Conrae Huinker, Jims wife. Thats why the ride is so important to us, but its more than that; its honoring him too. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is a rare neurological disease that affects motor neurons those nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. ALS deteriorates these nerve cells, which greatly impacts ones ability to move and talk. As of now, there is no cure or effective treatments for the disease. Jim died in October 2020, and his family began to evaluate how they would continue the event. As an auto technician, Jim valued trade schools and the opportunities they present to students. GHV High School students have the opportunity to apply for the William Henschen Scholarship Fund of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church of Garner, Iowa, which requires that the applicants attend a college or university. To help those interested in going to trade school, the Huinker family decided to create a scholarship called the Jim Huinker Scholarship. We thought, Maybe well do it again next year, and maybe we will raise some money, said Conrae. Thats the type of person he was; he would have given back to anybody. Hed do anything for anybody, and I think thats part of the reason we have such a good turnout is he touched a lot of people. This is what he would want us to do. Two years ago, the family gave a $4,200 scholarship and then provided a $4,500 scholarship last year. This year, the Huinkers hope to give out two scholarships. Jim and I both graduated from Garner-Hayfield, so its great to give back to a graduating senior; we want to support that, Conrae said. ALS has had a large impact on the Huinker family between the diagnoses of Jim, his sister and family friend. As the Huinkers have continued healing, they began considering how they can help other families impacted by ALS. Conrae also became an ALS advocate through the Iowa ALS Association and has been writing letters to Congress regarding clinical trials and support for families affected by the disease. Your whole life is changed, and just getting the support you need and the resources in your home is hard, said Conrae. My kids and I really want to be that for other people because we know what its like. Its that time of year again. Iowas baby bird and bunny season is officially underway. For me, each new sighting of a brand new, spindly-legged fawn, brood of Canada geese or fledgling robin is cause for celebration a vivid portrayal of the annual renewal of life. The sightings also serve as a visual reminder for me to fire off this column. Doesnt take much to put this one together. Filed under the heading Leave Wildlife Babies in the Wild Ive been blowing the dust off and rewriting this same piece since the late 1970s. The original version was pounded out on a slow and noisy manual typewriter. Todays column emanates from the slick and silent keyboard of my laptop computer. But although the methods of communication may be galaxies apart, the message remains the same wildlife babies belong in the wild. Yes, I realize that people are still scooping up baby bunnies or entire broods of ducklings and taking them back home with them. But there are some folks who will take these words to heart I even hear from some of them from time to time. If this piece even saves one wild baby, its worth the effort. So, here we go again. From now until mid-summer, this years crop of wildlife babies will be leaving home to begin learning skills critical to their survival. Many of those babies are destined to be discovered by humans. As a result, DNR and County Conservation Board offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries involving "orphaned or abandoned wildlife." Deliveries many arriving anonymously after hours will include everything from fawns and baby cottontails, to raccoons, ducklings and robins. Leaning toward the exotic, Ive even been treated to the surprise arrival of a box full of abandoned skunk kittens a feat that, I must admit, required the upmost dedication on the part of the person delivering the potently fragrant package. So why do so many wildlife babies end up inside cardboard boxes or confined to a makeshift pen in the corner of someones garage? The answer is simple. From fuzzy yellow ducklings to brown-eyed baby bunnies, nothing appears more cute and cuddly than a baby animal. Right or wrong, it's no mystery why humans feel compelled to come to their rescue. But in reality, the vast majority of wildlife babies that people encounter are not really orphaned or abandoned at all. And while the folks who attempt to "save" these babies may have the very best of intentions, they are in fact dooming the creatures they attempt to help. Regardless of whether theyre wearing fur or feathers, the young of most wildlife species leave their nests or dens well in advance of being able to care for themselves. Although broods or litters may become widely scattered during this fledgling period, the developing adolescents remain under the direct care of their parents. White-tailed does, for example, leave their fawns hidden and temporarily unattended while foraging for themselves, but return every few hours to nurse their offspring. Unfortunately, this parental care is abruptly terminated when deer (or other wildlife species) come in contact with humans. Whenever a newborn fawn, infant cottontail, or den of baby raccoons is discovered, it is automatically assumed that the animals are orphaned. The youngsters fate becomes sealed as they are promptly "rescued from the wild". Many babies perish soon after capture often from the overwhelming stress of being captured, handled, confined and force fed. Should an animal survive the initial trauma, it often succumbs more slowly to pneumonia, other diseases, or malnutrition. Whether theyre young or adult, wild birds and mammals have highly specific needs for survival. "Rescuing a baby from its mother" not only exhibits extremely poor judgment it is also illegal. Observing wildlife in its natural habitat is a moment to cherish. Sharing that experience with others or obtaining souvenir photos provides an even more lasting memory. But once you've done that, step back and walk away. Leave wildlife babies where they belong in the wild. Whenever you see an opportunity, I hope youll share this message. A recent survey of law enforcement in Cerro Gordo County has revealed that 100% of police officers and sheriff's deputies are required to wear body cameras whenever on duty. According to the survey conducted recently by the Globe Gazette, the Mason City Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office and the Clear Lake Police Department have a total of 87 body cameras available for use. Body cams can help hold officers accountable, said Jeff Fick, a criminal justice instructor at North Iowa Area Community College. "I think it has helped in a lot of ways. First and foremost, (body cams) really help with the report writing process," Fick said. "It helps hold officers more accountable. It's pretty clear cut when you have video evidence of exactly what happened." Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said body cam footage can be reviewed for a number of reasons, including being a new officer, an incident review, verbal or de-escalation skills, routine reviews, supervisor initiated complaints or a formal complaint. He said training is key for officers, and body cameras can help with that. "We have completed a wide variety of training throughout the years to help our officers recognize how they can be more self-aware and intentional about high-stress encounters and situations," Brinkley said. "This training has included bias awareness, verbal de-escalation and influence, and recognition of autism-Asperger's to name a few." Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals said any time there is a complaint of any sort an internal investigation is triggered. His office also conducts body cam footage spot checks at least once a month. "We're trying to check our people to make sure they're following our policies and procedures all the time," Pals said. He added that the state of Iowa requires that officers be trained every year on implicit bias and de-escalation. Some of the training is done locally and other training is conducted at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston. Clear Lake Police Chief Pete Roth said any use of force is reviewed by a supervisor to determine if it that use of force was within the department's guidelines and policy. He said his department operates similarly to other local departments when it comes to triggering an investigation. "If you are referring to when a supervisor would review video footage, then generally: receipt of a personnel complaint, a review of a use of force or pursuit, or for routine/random performance checks and evaluations," Roth said. According to the survey, the Clear Lake Police Department received zero complaints of excessive force between 2017 and 2022 and just one (2022) complaint of racial profiling that was determined to be unfounded. Mason City Police had 11 reports of excessive force and two complaints of racial profiling in that timeframe, while the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office had no complaints of either type. No officers or deputies have been fired or placed on leave at any Cerro Gordo County department. Fick said body cameras have benefited law enforcement officials in multiple ways. He said not everyone remembers things the same way in the heat of a charged moment. Body cams can help strengthen the public trust in law enforcement agencies as well. Fick said making sure officers are self reporting if and when mistakes are made also is important in earning and keeping the public trust. "That can help, and that can benefit public trust within the community," he said. "If you have trust within the community it might mean you have more cooperation." This week (or was it last week?) marks an anniversary for this reporting effort: 30 years ago the first Farm and Food File appeared in three central Illinois newspapers. One of those brave beginners, the Bloomington Pantagraph, continues to publish it weekly. Thirty years of anything seems like it should be a big deal and yet, on the farm, 30 years is often viewed as just a good start. My father, after all, farmed for 45 years and his Uncle Honey, who helped out on our farmand occasionally set parts of it ablazeworked 50 years as, first, a milkman and, later, an absent-minded tractor driver with matches. A Nebraska farmer friend just planted either his 74th or 75th crop. In truth, the key number in my line of work is making deadline. So far, Im shooting par on a tough course: In three decades of weekly free-lance columning, Im 1,560 out of 1,560. Come to think of it, He made this deadline, too might be a good epitaph for my final edition on this good earth. Like many of lifes pleasant curveballs, this writing life was unplanned. In college I was on a slow trainthink milk-run slowfor a degree in farm management when an out-of-patience dean handed me a one-way ticket back to the farm. Come see me when youre serious about being here, he announced, and good luck. He spared me his more embarrassing assessment: And good riddance. Two years later (I mentioned slow, right?), he readmitted me as a married, 23-year-old, mid-year junior. His only condition, however, was a big one: To stay, I will need to see some great grades from you. Great grades meant writing, a part-time gig I played in my previous stay at the Big U for dorm buddies who couldnt tell a verb from a Volkswagen. Many happily paid a modest retainer, usually in brewed refreshments, for me to show them the difference. The return to writing was destiny. Sixteen weeks and four credit hours of A later, the dean wore an optimistic smile and I glimpsed a path to fulfilling work. Eighteen months after that I had a degree, a job in ag journalism, and little idea of how it all happened. That was 40 years and more than a million words ago. The early years of story chasingfirst at Pro Farmer, next at Successful Farming and, later, eight years as a free-lance contributing editor at Farm Journalbuilt contacts and confidence. What it didnt build was certainty. Free-lance anythingwriting, plumbing, fishing, farmingis a roller coaster: when you work, you work like a fool and when you dont, you worry like a fool that youll never work again. That reality hit hard in early 1993 when the boss at Farm Journal, a magazine that had bought every sentence I had typed for almost a decade, telephoned to fire me. His reason was inarguable; You cant walk down the middle of the road anymore, he said. True, nor did I want to because most of agricultures milk-and-honey middle was being hogged by aggressive corporate newcomers and integrators aiming to dominate livestock, meatpacking, machinery, and crop biotechnology. Left to compete on the pothole-filled edges were thousands of small- and middle-sized farmers, ranchers, and rural communities struggling to just survive in their now-unrecognizable, increasingly commoditized world. The swift changes brought story after story that most ag magazines didnt want to publish because their readerships were rapidly changing, too, and the publishers, like their readers, were struggling to understand Big Ags growing presence and already outsized influence in both the marketplace and government. So most just favored stories that favored their now ever-fewer, ever-more influential advertisers over their ever-disappearing readers. That role reversal, fueled by the rapid rise of the internet, however, made space for others to take up the challenge and there I was with time, an empty bank account, two growing children, and the lovely Catherine to encourage me. Then you took over and here we are, 1,561 weeks down the road. Give or take a week that is. bschool83 wrote: The principal of a public elementary school complained bitterly when his school was included on a list of the fifty most academically troubled in the state. "Look around," he told reporters. "There's no graffiti in the hallways; no one is selling drugs; and math and reading scores have been going up for every grade except the fifth. Everyone on the staff here thinks it's very unfair, especially when you consider that this school didn't even have the lowest fifth-grade achievement scores in the city." Based on the passage above, the principal most likely believes which one of the following? A. The school in question had never been included on the list before. B. The school in question made the list primarily because of its low fifth-grade achievement scores. C. Students at the school in every grade except the fifth can read and do math well above their grade level. D. Drug problems at other elementary schools in the state are much worse than those of the school in question. E. Both urban and suburban schools should not have been included on the list, as the former obviously have difficulties unknown to the latter. Soln. Keywords "scores have been going up except the 5th grade"..."school didn't even have the lowest fifth-grade scores" He's clearly upset because everything is good except fifth grade scores, and still the school was placed in bottom-50. hence B. You have the perfect answer + Keyword..What help do you want from us? whats your doubt? A new documentary from a Pittsylvania County man focuses on the tenacity and heroism of Danvilles civil rights protestors during Bloody Monday 60 years ago this month. Titled The Movement, the film includes interviews with demonstrators who lived in Danville and participated in protests during the citys civil rights movement during 1963. Hurt resident Jonathan Parker, with Parker Productions, executive produced the film with his wife, Rebecca, and directed it. Parker and Karice Luck-Brimmer, the documentarys historical consultant, wanted to tell a story of Bloody Monday that went beyond what had been covered in the past. It was important not to rehash the same thing that people had heard about Bloody Monday, Parker said during an interview at Links Coffee House Cafe on Thursday morning. Parker said 17 people who lived through that period were interviewed for the film, including Apostle Lawrence Campbell Sr., City Councilman Sherman Saunders, Carolyn Wilson, Dorothy Batson and others. Campbell, local civil rights leader, died in March at 93. Danville Police Department Chief Scott Booth, who apologized in person to Campbell in 2018 for the brutality committed by the department toward protestors on June 10, 1963, is also interviewed in the documentary. The documentarys production gave those interviewed an opportunity to share an expanded story of their experiences, Luck-Brimmer said. Theyve never had a chance to tell their stories on a broader scale like this, she said. Luck-Brimmer, a genealogist and historian, is a program coordinator in the Office of Education and Community Initiatives for Virginia Humanities. She helps navigate the story from a historical perspective. For the past couple of years, Ive been engulfed in the civil rights movement, she said. Ive always been into history.... but I never did a deep-dive into the civil rights history, other than collecting others oral histories who had been part of the movement. 60 years ago As for what happened 60 years ago on June 10, 1963, about 50 civil rights marchers had gathered outside Danvilles jail that night to hold a prayer vigil for those who had been arrested during protests earlier in the day. Deputized city workers, police officers and state troopers carrying high-pressure fire hoses and nightsticks injured about 47 black demonstrators, turning the event into a pivotal moment for Danvilles civil rights movement. The incident was a culmination of frustration and protests resulting from institutional discrimination against Blacks in Danville and across the South. In the months leading up to Bloody Monday, several civil rights protests happened in Danville. Court documents point to demonstrations that occurred on May 31 and on at least six days in June and four days in July, the Danville Register & Bee reported in June 2003, for its series on the 40th anniversary of Bloody Monday. On June 5, 1963, 100 demonstrators marched, sang and chanted, staging sit-ins on sidewalks and in the offices of Danville Mayor Julian Stinson and City Manager T.E. Temple. Protestors, including Campbell, were arrested and their numbers had grown to 250 by that night. Court documents stated they threw bricks and bottles at buildings and police officers, but protestors have said the claims are not true. In response to the unrest, Danville Corporation Court Judge Archibald M. Aiken issued an anti-demonstration injunction June 6. That injunction was still in effect June 10, when about 50 protestors gathered outside the city jail. They went there to pray for those in jail from protests earlier that day, Campbell, who had been jailed that day and released that evening, told the Danville Register & Bee during an interview for the newspapers 50th anniversary series on Bloody Monday. Campbell was not one of those protestors gathered outside the jail. Before the protestors marched from Bibleway Church on Grant Street to the jail, leaders instructed them not to carry sharp objects, Campbell said 10 years ago. White deputized city garbage collectors, state troopers and police officers beat the protestors with billy clubs and sprayed them with water hoses, Campbell said. His wife Gloria, who wore a dress, was among those injured. When I saw my wife, that dress had been beaten halfway off, recalled Campbell, who was at the church that night. Periodically, she still has the pain from that beating that she received, Campbell added. Never forgotten Parker intends for his documentary to not only show the courage and conviction of the demonstrators, but to make sure that history is not forgotten. The seed was planted for Parkers project when he read a 2020 news article on race relations in Danville in The Washington Post, following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis on May 25 that year. Parker remembers reading about a George Washington High School student who had organized a peaceful protest in Danville following Floyds killing. She said that she had not heard of Bloody Monday until a couple of months prior, Parker said. It dawned on me that the story is getting lost. Parker, who grew up in Pittsylvania County, first found out about Bloody Monday while reporting on it for the Chatham Star-Tribune 10 years ago. He started working on The Movement project in spring 2022, taking five or six months to prepare and figure out who to talk to for it. It was kind of a trust-building exercise at first, Parker said. Filming took place the following October and November, with 15 full days of filming done over those two months, he said. For the project, Parker had approached Luck-Brimmer about being a consultant on the film. She was hesitant at first. My concern is people whitewashing the story, Luck-Brimmer said. But, when I met Jonathan, I was impressed. She wanted to make sure Parker had Campbells OK for the documentary, which he already did. Luck-Brimmer had worked with the late Emma Edmunds, who died in February 2020 and had researched Bloody Monday. The two women did work at Virginia Humanities and Edmunds completed an exhibit that detailed 1963 in Danville and is now at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. They knew part of the story of Bloody Monday hadnt been told and they needed to continue telling it, Luck-Brimmer said. So when Jonathan Parker reached out to me, after a little hesitancy, I went full force with it, she said. The exhibit was helpful as a navigation point for the documentary, but the film is separate from Edmunds project, Parker said. Images The documentary includes photos from Bloody Monday, including one of Batson being dragged by Danville police after being beaten. It ... tells the story of those heroes and those sheroes that have long been left out, said Luck-Brimmer, who grew up in the Camp Grove area in Danville. It was important for me to have the story told at this time because there were people that I knew of, personally, that were on the arrest reports that marched, protested and did all of those things and their stories hadnt been told. In addition, Parker and Wilson, Batson and John Pinchback, who is also interviewed in the film, took an Amtrak ride to Washington, D.C., to record at the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall, where the three reflect on attending the March on Washington in August 1963. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous I Have a Dream speech there at the time. The scenes were filmed in April. The Danville Historical Society provided Parker access to its archives. You start to get an idea of the weight of the story, Parker said. King visited Danville four times in 1963. The demonstrators fought for what they believed in and refused to stop even in the face of arrests and beatings, he said. It was to make their community and the world around them better for their children and grandchildren, Parker pointed out. Previously, I just wasnt aware of just how difficult it was, the constant degradation that was in their face every day, he added. He ended up with 5 1/2 hours of interview footage before trimming everything down to an 80-minute documentary. Besides being a spotlight on Bloody Monday, the film is also sort of a re-assessment of Danville racial past, present and future, he said. Its a little bit of a reflection piece, as well what happened then, whats happening now, whats changed and what still needs to change, Parker said. There will be a free screening of The Movement at 6 p.m., June 30 at Bibleway Cathedral with a question-and-answer session to follow. Parker said he and his wife would like to see the documentary viewed by a wider audience. Photo: G.H.E. Hudson from the Okanagan Archive Trust Society collection. File # KEL 018 Looking east up Kelowna's Bernard Avenue from the intersection with Pandosy Street in 1908. Photo: Terry Robertson (Thanks to the management of the Royal Anne Hotel for access to a suitable vantage point) From the same, albeit higher, vantage point at the Royal Anne Hotel near the intersection of Bernard Avenue and Pandosy Street in 2023, the view has changed. The archival photo above was taken in 1908 from the roof of the Holmes Grocery store, looking east up Bernard Avenue from its intersection with Pandosy Street. The large boxy building in the left foreground was the livery stable, where horses and wagons were kept for hire. It was also where the animals and vehicles of people coming to town could be stabled and secured while their owners conducted whatever business they had in Kelowna. Near the centre point of the distant horizon, two rounded humps mark the location of Black Mountainsntsk'il'nt?n Regional Park. The larger and higher promontory is the summit of the mountain commonly known as Black Mountain. However, it is more correctly cited in geographic reference sources as Black Knight Mountain. The modern day photo shows that even when viewed from a location several storeys higher than the rooftop elevation of the older photograph, the extent to which existing multiple-storey structures, as well as ones currently under construction, have shrunk and broken up a once broad uninterrupted vista. In a previous column I wrote a few lines about the origin of the names of Bernard and Leon Avenues in Kelowna. I noted it was pioneer settler Bernard Lequime who was responsible for the initial survey and layout of Kelowna in 1892. He saw to it that his and his brothers names were included as street names on that first survey. In this column, three more prominent street names are specifically noted, Pandosy, Ellis and Richter. Many residents of Kelowna may know Pandosy Street was named for the Catholic priest, Jean Pandosy. Father Pandosy is identified as the first permanent European settler in the Kelowna area. He came to North America from France in 1847 and was assigned to serve his church in various locations in what is now Washington State and also in Esquimalt on Vancouver Island before taking on the task of converting and ministering amongst the indigenous people of the Okanagan Valley. Upon his arrival in the Kelowna area in 1859, he established a church and school near what is now called Mission Creek. He was an avid farmer and did a considerable amount of promotion of the agricultural potential of the Okanagan area in an effort to attract more settlers, presumably to help increase his pastoral following, as well as for the advancement the entire community would enjoy as the population increased. The origin of the names Ellis and Richter are less well known today. The two streets were named after a pair of pioneer cattle ranchers, land speculators and venture capitalists who held land rights and owned property several parts of the Okanagan Valley, from the border with the U.S. to Vernon. Frank Richter arrived in the Okanagan from Austria in 1864 and Thomas Ellis came from Ireland and arrived in British Columbia in 1865. Although both men were more closely associated with communities in the southern Okanagan, both were also prominent men and well known throughout the entire valley by the 1890s when the names for the first Kelowna streets were chosen. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Higher education could soon become more affordable for more than 700,000 of the incarcerated people in the U.S. Starting July 1, theyll become eligible for Pell Grants for the first time in nearly 30 years, regardless of sentence length or conviction. Pell Grants are a type of need-based financial aid from the federal government that gives recipients up to $7,395 per academic year to cover college costs like tuition, books and other fees. Unlike a loan, the grants never need to be repaid; students qualify based on financial need. Incarcerated people those in juvenile justice facilities and local, state and federal correctional facilities will be able to use these Pell awards to pay for prison education programs (PEPs), which can lead to credentials like a professional certificate, an associate degree or a bachelors degree from a partner university. Though the change is effective July 1, students may not be able to enroll in a PEP using Pell Grants immediately, says Ruth Delaney, associate initiative director at the Vera Institute of Justice focused on education reform in prisons. Some programs may start this fall, she says, but even then, enrollment wont begin until later in the summer. Heres what you need to know about the Pell Grant expansion for prison education programs and how incarcerated students can access these funds. Impact of Pell expansion for incarcerated students Without access to Pell Grants, higher education has been virtually out of reach for most incarcerated people, who earn an average minimum wage of 86 cents per hour in typical prison jobs, according to a 2017 analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit public policy think tank. There were nearly 800 PEPs in the early 1990s, but after a 1994 crime bill blocked incarcerated students from receiving Pell Grants, the number of PEPs shrank to eight by 1997, according to the Vera Institute, a nonprofit that supports criminal justice reform. Obtaining a higher education degree or certificate can help incarcerated students find stable careers and better pay when they reenter the workplace. People who participate in correctional education are also 43% less likely to return to prison within three years than those who dont participate, according to a 2018 report by the Rand Corp., a public policy research organization. Some incarcerated students have been able to access Pell Grants for years as part of an experimental program called Second Chance Pell established by President Barack Obama in 2015. As of 2022, incarcerated students had earned more than 7,000 credentials through the program. For example, Georgetown University launched its Prison Scholars Program in 2018 to bring higher education to incarcerated students in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Financial aid is one piece of this puzzle, says Rachel Rotunda, director of government relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. This is a big change for students, but it's also a big change for institutions and really the whole higher ed prison education community. Submit FAFSA to qualify for a Pell Grant To be considered for a Pell Grant, incarcerated students must fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Because correctional facilities may offer limited or no internet access, students may need to submit a paper copy of their FAFSA application to partner college representatives at their facility. Then the partner college will submit the FAFSA on the student's behalf to the office of Federal Student Aid, which will evaluate the application and determine the student's eligibility and grant amount. A lot gets facilitated through the college, which means that the prospective student likely already knows what college they're going to be applying to, Delaney says. The other side to that is that it's rare to see more than one college program at a single prison. Though incarcerated students can legally submit the FAFSA as early as July 1, they may need to wait until their facilitys education staff is ready to accept applications and a PEP course is slated to begin. Incarcerated students shouldnt worry about filing the FAFSA months ahead of time; theyll likely need to submit the FAFSA around the time theyre slated to enroll in a PEP, Delaney says. Deadlines will vary by program. There tends to be a bit more of a condensed timeline for enrollment [in prisons] compared to the more community-based timeline, Delaney adds. Other grants and scholarships to pay for prison education programs Incarcerated students are blocked from receiving federal student loans, which can provide undergraduates with up to $12,500 in funds each year that must eventually be paid back. But if a Pell Grant award is not enough to cover the cost of a prison education program, students may turn to other funding sources. This may also be necessary if a student embarks on multiple degrees or takes extra time to finish a program because Pell Grants can be used for no more than six years. States like New Jersey and California offer additional grants to incarcerated students, and nonprofits like the Prison Education Foundation and the Transcending Through Education Foundation offer scholarships. Similar to a grant, scholarships typically do not need to be repaid. And in many cases, the colleges running PEPs are putting their own resources into making them affordable, Rotunda says, to ensure that they're able to offer high-quality programming and to provide students the same level of support that they would be providing for any other student. Where to get answers to your questions If youre incarcerated and have questions about the FAFSA, Pell Grants or PEPs, you can reach out to the following resources: A financial aid administrator or other education representative at your correctional facility: Varies by correctional facility. Send questions to the Education Department by mail. Address letters to: U.S. Department of Education c/o Prison Education Programs 400 Maryland Ave SW Washington, DC 20202 If you have internet access, send questions to the Education Department by email: Send your email to: pep@ed.gov. Incarcerated students with defaulted student loans If youve defaulted on student loans in the past, you can sign up for a temporary government program called Fresh Start. This program will return your loans to good standing, allowing you to submit the FAFSA and receive a Pell Grant while incarcerated. If you now have a loan in default, youll need to send a letter to: P.O. Box 5609 Greenville, TX 75403 In your letter, include your full name, Social Security number, date of birth and the following statement: I am a confined or incarcerated individual. I would like to use Fresh Start to bring my loans back into good standing. RALEIGH The North Carolina General Assembly seems poised to strip additional appointment powers from the governor. Senate Bill 512 would alter the composition of the states Board of Transportation, Environmental Management Commission and six other entities. The House passed its version May 31. The two chambers will work out their differences in conference. House Speaker Tim Moore put the matter plainly to the Raleigh News & Observer: Weve seen some litigation over the last couple of years that some of us think went the wrong way. The North Carolina Supreme Court decided the main case in question, McCrory v. Berger, in 2016. Republican Mark Martin, then serving as chief justice, wrote the majority decision blocking a legislative attempt to appoint majorities to three administrative commissions. The General Assembly had exerted too much control over commissions that have final executive authority, Martin argued, thus preventing then-Gov. Pat McCrory from performing his express constitutional duty to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. In 2016, the court had a Republican majority. It has one today, as well, but the personalities are different. Paul Newby was the sole dissenter in McCrory v. Berger, arguing there was ample historical precedent for the General Assembly giving itself a majority of appointments. Unless there is an express constitutional violation beyond a reasonable doubt, he wrote, lawmakers can not only create a board but also appoint most of its members. Newby is now chief justice. Would a case like McCrory v. Berger yield the same result? Moore expects to find out. There probably will be litigation as a result of this, he said of Senate Bill 512. Plenty of job security for the attorneys in the state. I disagree with the General Assemblys approach here, but its important to remember that North Carolinas constitutional system is not simply a state-level reflection of the national one. Our federal constitution vests executive authority in a single elected official, the president, and limits the lawmaking powers of Congress to those enumerated in the documents first article. Our state constitution, by contrast, requires the election not just of a governor but of nine other state executives. Moreover, the General Assemblys legislative authority is constrained only by whats constitutionally prohibited, not by an enumeration of powers. Other than the governor, our elected executives have few constitutional duties. The legislature decides what powers will be assigned to them. Even the governors specified powers are limited when compared to those of other states. Still, the document does state that the executive power of the state shall be vested in the governor and requires him to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. In their 2016 decision, most justices properly interpreted these provisions as giving the governor a distinct and important role in North Carolinas constitutional framework. With regard to populating key offices and boards, the constitution specifies some procedures. The General Assembly is granted the power to select members of University of North Carolina boards, for example, and of the other institutions of higher education. Thats why another measure, Senate Bill 691, that strips Cooper of appointments to community college boards is clearly constitutional, whatever one might think of its merits. But for all state officials whose appointments are not otherwise provided for, the constitution requires appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. In practice, as Newby pointed out in 2016, North Carolinas governors and legislatures have long shared appointments to boards that issue rules, hire and fire employees, and perform other tasks. I think we have too many such agencies, exercising too much power over North Carolinians, but I dont think the answer is to transfer appointment powers to lawmakers or the likes of the agriculture commissioner or insurance commissioner (and certainly not to a private entity, the North Carolina Medical Society, as Senate Bill 512 does in one instance). What our state needs is a cleaner separation of legislative and executive powers, not a muddier one. GREENSBORO The more than three dozen federal charges against Donald Trump unsealed this week was breaking news, but the former presidents reaction to them Saturday night at the North Carolina Republican Convention was punctuated by familiar themes dating back to his time in the White House. Trump framed his indictment by the Justice Department, just like he did at a GOP state convention in Georgia hours earlier, as an attempt to derail his campaign and a second term at the White House. Trump called the indictment the first against a former president by the government he oversaw ridiculous and baseless and insisted the legal action was aimed at blocking his potential return to the White House. Theyve launched witch hunt after witch hunt after witch hunt, he said. Trumps speech followed those of his two closest rivals in the crowded GOP field: former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both of whom called the federal probe and charges an example of a weaponization of the U.S. Justice Department. Trump used the same description Saturday night, suggesting that the department of injustice went after him at the urging of President Bidens administration. Well now call him crooked Joe Biden because you know, we took the name away from Hillary (Clinton), he said, drawing laughs from the packed ballroom. She suffered enough with that name. Trump tagged Clinton with the Crooked Hillary moniker when she was investigated for using a private email server for official business while she was secretary of state. An FBI probe cleared her of any legal wrongdoing. Trumps indictment, unsealed Friday, accuses him of improperly removing scores of boxes, some containing classified documents, from the White House and taking them to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Prosecutors say Trump refused to return the documents and in some cases showed highly sensitive materials to visitors, and asked aides and lawyers to hide them from investigators. Biden has maintained the Justice Department has remained entirely independent since he took office, and that any decision to charge Trump was based on evidence, not his influence. But Trump is hitting the weaponization narrative hard, and suggested that his opponents are pushing the corrupt DOJ, and the same corrupt FBI and attorney general and local district attorneys to interfere in our election at a level this country has never seen before. Trump insisted the indictment wouldnt have happened if he wasnt running for president and winning big. The former president suggested hes the most battle-tested of the other nine candidates seeking the GOP nomination. Theyll go after that person and that person will not be able to withstand the fire, he said of the eventual nominee. (But) in the end, theyre not coming after me. Theyre coming after you and Im just standing in their way. And the pursuit will continue, he added. These people have reached a level of Trump Derangement Syndrome that nobody thought was possible, he said. RALEIGH The North Carolina General Assembly seems poised to strip additional appointment powers from the governor. Senate Bill 512 would alter the composition of the states Board of Transportation, Environmental Management Commission and six other entities. The House passed its version May 31. The two chambers will work out their differences in conference. House Speaker Tim Moore put the matter plainly to The (Raleigh) News & Observer: Weve seen some litigation over the last couple of years that some of us think went the wrong way. The North Carolina Supreme Court decided the main case in question, McCrory v. Berger, in 2016. Republican Mark Martin, then serving as chief justice, wrote the majority decision blocking a legislative attempt to appoint majorities to three administrative commissions. The General Assembly had exerted too much control over commissions that have final executive authority, Martin argued, thus preventing then-Gov. Pat McCrory from performing his express constitutional duty to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. In 2016, the court had a Republican majority. It has one today, as well, but the personalities are different. Paul Newby was the sole dissenter in McCrory v. Berger, arguing there was ample historical precedent for the General Assembly giving itself a majority of appointments. Unless there is an express constitutional violation beyond a reasonable doubt, he wrote, lawmakers can not only create a board but also appoint most of its members. Newby is now chief justice. Would a case like McCrory v. Berger yield the same result? Moore expects to find out. There probably will be litigation as a result of this, he said of Senate Bill 512. Plenty of job security for the attorneys in the state. I disagree with the General Assemblys approach here, but its important to remember that North Carolinas constitutional system is not simply a state-level reflection of the national one. Our federal constitution vests executive authority in a single elected official, the president, and limits the lawmaking powers of Congress to those enumerated in the documents first article. Our state constitution, by contrast, requires the election not just of a governor but of nine other state executives. Moreover, the General Assemblys legislative authority is constrained only by whats constitutionally prohibited, not by an enumeration of powers. Other than the governor, our elected executives have few constitutional duties. The legislature decides what powers will be assigned to them. Even the governors specified powers are limited when compared to those of other states. Still, the document does state that the executive power of the state shall be vested in the governor and requires him to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. In their 2016 decision, most justices properly interpreted these provisions as giving the governor a distinct and important role in North Carolinas constitutional framework. With regard to populating key offices and boards, the constitution specifies some procedures. The General Assembly is granted the power to select members of University of North Carolina boards, for example, and of the other institutions of higher education. Thats why another measure, Senate Bill 691, that strips Cooper of appointments to community college boards is clearly constitutional, whatever one might think of its merits. But for all state officials whose appointments are not otherwise provided for, the constitution requires appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. In practice, as Newby pointed out in 2016, North Carolinas governors and legislatures have long shared appointments to boards that issue rules, hire and fire employees, and perform other tasks. I think we have too many such agencies, exercising too much power over North Carolinians, but I dont think the answer is to transfer appointment powers to lawmakers or the likes of the agriculture commissioner or insurance commissioner (and certainly not to a private entity, the North Carolina Medical Society, as Senate Bill 512 does in one instance). What our state needs is a cleaner separation of legislative and executive powers, not a muddier one. As of June 2, the home of U.S. Special Forces, Fort Bragg, N.C., officially became Fort Liberty. Some people still question the rechristening of the nations largest Army base, built in 1918 and straddling two counties in the Sandhills, as a slap in the face of Southern heritage. But before getting too worked up, theyd do well to crack open a history book. The Confederate general for whom the base is named, Braxton Bragg, was, by most accounts, not particularly good at his job. Born on March 22, 1817, in Warrenton, Bragg began his career auspiciously enough, graduating fifth in his class at West Point. His record as a wartime leader, however, was far from pristine. Bragg was known for his hot temper and prickly disposition. He also was involved in a number of notable setbacks, including the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee in April of 1862. In August of 1862, Bragg and Brigadier Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith fell short in an attempted invasion of Kentucky that ended in retreat. In December 1862 and January of 1863, in the Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tenn., troops under Braggs command also retreated. In the Tullahoma Campaign in June of 1863, Bragg surrendered Middle Tennessee. Even in a victory at the Battle of Chickamauga in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia in September 1863, Bragg was criticized for allowing fleeing Union troops to escape. Finally, in the Battles for Chattanooga in November 1863, Bragg was soundly defeated by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and relieved of his command. In March 1865, Bragg became a corps commander during the Battle of Bentonville, N.C., and was captured by Union troops. He was not the Michael Jordan of war strategists. Fort Bragg was one of nine major U.S. military installations were named for Confederate generals, all in the South, following World War I. Was this, in effect, affirmative action for the Confederacy? In a manner of speaking, yes. Although the Civil War had been over for more than 50 years, the Army viewed Confederate names as a gesture of goodwill toward the South obviously ignoring the fact that not everyone in the South, especially descendants of the enslaved would see it that way. In any case, Fort Bragg is no more. All nine Southern bases are being renamed in the wake of George Floyds death in 2020. On Tuesday, Fort Polk in Louisiana will be renamed for Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Black man who won a Medal of Honor for his heroism in World War I. Johnson, who served in a segregated unit, became famous for fending off a German raid with a knife. As for the name Liberty, it may disappoint those who preferred an individuals name. But its a thoughtful choice. The word that inspired it is ubiquitous at the base. For example, it recalls the Special Forces motto (the Latin De oppresso liber, or to free the oppressed), as well as the Liberty Point Resolves, documents that preceded the Declaration of Independence, and were signed near the site of the base in 1775. The independent commission that conceived the name considered more than 34,000 possibilities, which it culled to 3,670, then 100. And then for us, Liberty. At least one visitor from Florida prefers Bragg. Its an iconic name and iconic base, and were not gonna let political correctness run amok in North Carolina, presidential candidate and Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis said at the state Republican convention in Greensboro on Friday, the same day President Biden spoke at Fort Liberty. (This, from a man who would put blinders on history students.) But what about correctness period? As in the facts? And what about completeness? As in all of the facts? Whats in a name? In this case, more than a word or a brand. An ideal, something that all Americans can hold dear and precious. Whats in a name? Words we all can and should feel good about and be proud of, given the rich diversity of the men and women who fought and, in many cases, died for this country abroad, even during times when it was denying some of them the full rights of citizenship at home. Whats in a name? A message that will say 24/7, 365 days a year, Thank you for your service. All of you. Rikki Helds last name has been referenced in legal briefs, news articles and water cooler conversations for two years now, since the court case Held v. State of Montana was filed in Montanas First Judicial District Court. Held was one of 16 youth plaintiffs who filed the 2020 lawsuit against several Montana government agencies, and its governor, alleging that the implementation of two energy-related policies is an infringement of the youths constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. Since she was the only plaintiff of age when it was filed, its her name that will be forever attached to the decision made in the landmark case. Held was brought to the legal table by a meandering path that runs through the heart of her familys ranch. Held grew up on a 7,000-acre cattle ranch and saw the destruction of the land and her familys livelihood caused by the changing climate an experience she feels can be understood by the rural states ranching and farming communities. I think that ranchers see it in a different way, ranchers are on the ground every day, Held said. Maybe they aren't having as many conversations about climate change necessarily, but they are seeing these changes with wildfires and are worried about the daily impacts of hay prices going up because of drought and losing cattle from water variability or fires. Between growing up on a ranch and a chance encounter with the world of scientific inquiry at a young age, Held charted a unique path to the courtroom. And while Held didnt set out to become a climate activist, she felt compelled to act on behalf of her younger peers. Those who are too young to vote on the actions of the government look at the world through a different lens than their older counterparts, she says. As youth, we are exposed to a lot of knowledge about climate change. We cant keep passing it on to the next generation when were being told about all the impacts that are already happening, Held said. In some ways, our generation feels a lot of pressure, kind of a burden, to make something happen because its our lives that are at risk. Before it was a legal reference, Rikki Helds name was first published in the acknowledgments of a 2015 peer-reviewed paper in the scientific journal GeoResJ titled Preserving geomorphic data records of flood disturbances. Though Held was in middle school at the time, she is credited with helping U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers survey cross sections of Montanas Powder River, one of the longest undammed waterways in the West, which happens to pass through her family's 7,000-acre ranch. The Powder River begins in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming and flows north through Montana before joining the Yellowstone River between Miles City and Glendive. With no man-made modifications along the route other than some diversions to irrigate farmlands, Powder River provides a lengthy, natural, outdoor laboratory a scientists dream. A study on the river that began in the 1970s has quantified the natural erosion, transport and deposition of sediments throughout the riverbed, and mapped changes to the rivers channel with specific focus on years of high flood or periods following nearby wildfires. Researchers have established 24 survey sites along a 57-mile stretch of Powder River, several of which are accessed through the Held family ranch. Several scientific papers have come out of the study over the years. One documented the aftereffects of a major flood event in 1978 where as much as 65 feet eroded from sections of the river bank. Regular follow-up studies characterized sediment composition, erosion patterns and plant distribution along the river. Even when I was little I would go out with (the researchers) during surveys, just following them around and learning from them, Held said, adding that she got kind of caught up in the science, which later led to internships and ultimately the mention in the 2015 paper. I think that really got me interested in science, I was able to connect it back to my ranch, my home. Throughout high school, Held gravitated toward the hard sciences. I remember a wind pattern diagram with Hadley cells, and I just thought that was fascinating how things could be explained, she said. I got really interested in environmental science that way and learned about climate change in high school. I just knew that this is a really serious issue that we need to focus on. Held, now 22, graduated this spring from Colorado College with a degree in environmental science and is figuring out how to use her aptitude for environmental research to carve out a career path. Speaking about a recent NASA-funded study she contributed to, Held grew visibly excited as she described her work on combining ecology and geomorphology to map out invasive Russian olive species. She said shes considering future studies in climatology or hydrology, something about Earth processes where I can bring it back to the people and use science to help them. While Held was learning to survey stream widths and how Hadley cells circulate tropical air around the globe, she was also witnessing the effects of extreme weather events on her familys livelihood. The complaint states that in 2007 following several years of drought in southeastern Montana, the Powder River dried up, eliminating the water source for the ranchs crops and livestock. A decade later, an early spring thaw flooded the river basin, nearly reaching Helds house and eroding several feet of riverbank. Increased risks of major flooding events, such as the 2022 floods that damaged an entrance road to Yellowstone National Park, have been linked to global warming. One study published using the Powder River data also cites climate change as a contributing cause for the rivers changing migration rate over time. The Held family has lost cattle to flooding events, an economic hardship for any ranch. On the elementally opposite side of the extreme weather spectrum, the Helds also lost a great number of animals in 2012 to starvation following a wildfire that burned through acres of grazing land. The fire took out miles of powerlines in the area, leaving the ranch without electricity for weeks. During another spate of nearby fires in 2021, Held recalls ash falling from the sky, dusting the ground for days and local schools were set up as shelters for families that had to evacuate their homes. The wildfire smoke, along with a record-breaking string of triple digit days that summer, didnt keep Held inside there was ranch work that couldnt wait. When you're in the moment, you have to just keep going with daily life, you have to do everything you can to keep up with the business or keep your livestock as safe as you can and figure out issues like how to get them water, Held said. It's hard to think about it more broadly in terms of climate change but from studying this, I know that we need to make some big systematic changes in what we're doing to not continue down the route we're taking. The increased effects on her familys ranching lifestyle, along with her growing interest in studying environmental science in college, led Held to reach out to Our Childrens Trust when she heard about the potential lawsuit. When I was first learning about climate change in high school, I saw it as something on the other side of the world, like polar bears and ice melting or the coastlines with sea level rise, Held said. Living in the U.S., in a land-locked place I didnt really think about how it affected me, even though Id seen these changes while I was growing up. Being part of this case, its been nice to put my own story into the broader climate change narrative and make the connections through science and observation of how my home plays into it, she said. Montana is a big emitter of fossil fuels and is contributing to climate change. I know it's a broader global issue, but you can't not take responsibility. Held doesnt know whether shed consider taking over the family ranch, saying shes unsure what the future will be there. Its a sentiment about the viability of the industry she thinks is shared by many farmers and ranchers in the state indeed its her lived experience on the family ranch that she thinks will allow the lawsuit to resonate with a greater portion of Montanans who may not as readily engage in discussions of climate change Across the state though, Held believes that Montana is still a place where residents value their neighbors and the land and resources theyre entrusted, making it a unique place for this lawsuit to play out. Those values could play into this conversation and make a change, she said. Its important that this case is happening here. ...to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity and to secure the blessings of liberty for this and future generations These words from Montana's Constitution are not hollow. In some way, all of us want to leave something for those who come after us: treasured family heirlooms, a home for their children, words of wisdom. We want to leave a piece of ourselves behind for them to remember us. But for the youth of Montana, the inheritance they may receive could be one of hardship, destruction, and climate chaos. Montana youth know this, and they know that their future is dependent on the choices made by our towns, state and nation right now. Our Legislature just spent five months debating and passing bills that undermine climate action and our constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. The governor has signed several of these bills: HB 971 prohibits our state agencies from considering climate impacts; SB 228 and SB 208 pave the way for petroleum companies and infrastructure to do whatever they want, without regulation from local governments; a suite of coal mining bills removes protections for water and public input on expansions; and several land use bills will result in more water pollution and climate-damaging sprawl. Instead of thinking about ways to improve the quality of life for future generations, legislators prioritized short-term interests and perpetuated their decades-long commitment to propping up expensive, polluting fossil fuels, rather than climate action and renewable energy. Our constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment is to the benefit of ALL Montanans. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, hunters, anglers, miners, farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, and all generations young and old benefit from a healthy environment with air we can safely breathe, water we can safely drink and a stable climate in which we can safely reside. If they truly cared about the health and well-being of our economy and skilled laborers, our state leaders would be fighting for a just transition and providing long-lasting, good-paying job opportunities that support the health and safety of our communities. This is why a youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit is headed to court this June: Held v. the State of Montana. Sixteen young people across Montana are suing the state government for violating their rights to a clean and healthful environment by supporting a fossil fuel-driven energy system. Its so ridiculous to expect these 7- and 12-year-olds to have to persuade the state to protect us so we can have a healthy life, when the entire point of the state is to protect our rights, Grace Gibson-Snyder told Rolling Stone. Another Montana young adult, Isabel Shaida, wrote in a recent opinion piece, It is wrecking to hear folks generations older than me disregard long-term human health for the sake of immediate monetary benefit, bewildering to witness complete disregard for our air and waterways in order to protect a dying industry. Theyre right. If we are truly committed to our Montana values improving the quality of life for this and future generations we need to take significant steps now to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, increase energy efficiency, and protect our water resources. We shouldnt be relying on our young people to fight for their future; we should be working to give them the best future possible. If we dont, what type of legacy are we leaving them? The undersigned organizations support these youth in their pursuit of climate justice, and urge Montana leaders and industries to join this movement for a healthy and secure future with a resilient and fair economy and energy system that works for all. DECATUR Gentry Dunkirk of Morrisonville was at the Macon County Fair to show his pigs, but during a lull, he decided to visit the Macon County Farm Bureau's Ag Olympics. One event was heaving a bale of straw over a horizontal bar, and each time you succeed, they raise the bar a little higher. I'm going to show this guy how it's done, Gentry said with a grin after another boy struggled a bit to accomplish the task, and he managed to easily toss the bale over the bar at every level, even the highest one that was higher than his head, though that one at least presented a challenge. The fair kicked off Wednesday and continues through Sunday, with scheduled events on the final day including a car show, gospel concert and demolition derby. A version of the Ag Olympics used to be a regular feature of the fair, said Lance Muirhead, the Macon County Farm Bureau Young Leaders chairman, but it ended about 20 years ago. As a child, he always attended and enjoyed the activities, so when he became chairman of the Young Leaders and a member of the county fair board, he brought it back this year. Activities included roping a bull made out of PVC pipe, which sisters Anneliese and Michaela Winston had a go at. Anneliese, 7, sat by the bull's head while Michaela wielded the lasso. It's a lot harder than it looks, said Michaela, 9. The girls are from Washington, Ill., visiting grandparents Mark and Teresa Chenoweth of rural Decatur. Milking the cow was also harder than it looks, though Nick Ray, 7, said he didn't have much trouble. He got down on his knees to peer under the wooden cutout of a cow to see how it all worked before giving it a try. Little brother Bash, 4, just sat down on the stool and squirted milk actually water in a bucket outfitted with rubber teats all over the place. The boys live in Argenta with parents Maggie and Todd Ray. Most of the activities were just for fun, but the pedal tractor pull winners received trophies, and several kids were already lined up well before the event began. The final event of the day was an egg toss, always guaranteed to be messy fun. It's just free activities for kids of all sorts of ages to come out to the fair and do some hands-on farming activities, Muirheid said. Some farm kids show up, and some are kids who maybe didn't get to grow up on a farm to try activities they maybe wouldn't get a chance to try otherwise. Look back: Prairie Farms in Decatur Prairie Farms - 1985 Prairie Farms - 1985 Prairie Farms - 1985 Prairie Farms - 1986 Prairie Farms - 1989 Prairie Farms - 1989 Prairie Farms - 1990 Prairie Farms - 1994 Prairie Farms - 2001 Prairie Farms - 2007 Photo: The Canadian Press -Nicola Sturgeon speaks during a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh, Wednesday, Feb. 15 2023. Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who dominated politics in Scotland for years, was arrested Sunday by police investigating the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party. Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was detained as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives, the force said. U.K. police do not name suspects until they are charged. The BBC and other media outlets identified the arrested woman as Sturgeon. The party did not immediately comment. Scottish police have been investigating how 600,000 pounds ($745,000 USD) designated for a Scottish independence campaign was spent. Party treasurer Colin Beattie and former chief executive Peter Murrell were arrested previously and questioned as part of the investigation. Neither has been charged. Murrell is Sturgeons husband, and police searched the couple's home in Glasgow after his arrest in April. Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned in February after eight years as Scottish National Party leader and first minister of Scotlands semi-autonomous government. She said that it was the right time for her, her party and her country to make way for someone else. Sturgeon left office amid divisions in the SNP and with her main goal independence from the U.K. for the nation of 5.5 million people unmet. Scottish voters backed remaining in the U.K. in a 2014 referendum that was billed as a once-in-a-generation decision. The party wants a new vote, but the U.K. Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland cant hold one without Londons consent. The central government has refused to authorize another referendum. Sturgeon's departure unleashed a tussle for the future of the SNP amid recriminations over the partys declining membership and divisions about the best path towards independence. Australian financial services firm FIIG Securities has confirmed that an unauthorised third party has acted illegally to gain access to its IT systems. In response to a query from iTWire, a FIIG spokesperson said: "We have acted with urgency to investigate the issue, including the initiation of our cyber response strategy working with third-party cyber-security experts and isolating affected systems." The ransomware group ALPHV has claimed it was behind the intrusion, saying in a post on the dark web that 385GB of data had been stolen from the company's main server. "You have three days for contact with us to decide this pity [sic] mistake, which made your IT department, decide what to do in next step," the group added. #ALPHV has listed FIIG, an Australian financial services company which has $5 billion under advice. pic.twitter.com/gKJ6XzNQ81 Brett Callow (@BrettCallow) June 10, 2023 FIIG has been in business since 1998, manages $5 billion in funds, and has 6000 private clients. The company has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, and employs more than 100 people. The FIIG spokesperson added: "We are working in partnership with the relevant authorities to ensure we are complying with all necessary requirements and to proactively protect the security and privacy of all data we hold. This is of the utmost priority, and we take this very seriously. "We are attempting to notify all our stakeholders as quickly as possible. "FIIG takes the responsible management of personal information seriously and is reviewing the incident closely. Further updates will be provided as they become available." TRILLA Shutting off the water flow will occupy the efforts of the engineers of the Central Illinois Petroleum Company this week in the operations at the companys oil well southeast of Trilla. The steel casing is now down a distance of 2,312 feet, and is resting on the cap rock. A hole has been bored through the cap rock and also two feet below in an oil sand area. From this area below the cap rock, there are being obtained muddy deposits which test a high grade oil. Farmers in the region of the Embarrass River have reported that oil evidences rainbows have been seen on the river. This oil evidence, presumably, was carried away from the well location by creeks which empty into the Embarrass River. Water from the stratum above the cap rock has been coming up from the casing and it is necessary to cement this opening before oil can be allowed to flow...MATTOON A short circuit is believed to be the cause of a fire which damaged a motor and wiring at the Public Service Company pumping station at Thirty-third street and Marshall avenue about 7:30 Saturday night. The loss amounted to about $100. The fire is thought to have started in the starting box, and spread along the wiring to the fifteen-horsepower motor, where it burned some of its wiring. The interior of the shanty which houses the pumping machinery was scorched considerably...CHARLESTON Louise Parnell, 5 year old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Parnell of Frankfort, Ind., was badly injured yesterday afternoon when she was run down by an automobile driven by a Miss Brownlee of Gibson City, who had motored to Charleston for a visit with friends. The child suffered a concussion of the brain and the left side of her body was badly bruised. SHELBYVILLE House Bill 1076 passed out of the Illinois General Assembly with little fanfare. House members were unanimous in their support of the amended bill on May 25. There were no nay votes or lengthy floor speeches. In fact, there was no discussion, beyond state Rep. Brad Halbrook's explanation of the vote he planned to cast. The bill, which amends the Illinois Counties Code and allows with some restrictions the leasing of county farmland, now awaits the governors signature. HB1076 moved along quietly as legislators focused on ushering through a budget at the end of spring session. But many Shelby County residents were watching intently, as the bill represents a larger debate on the future of the countys long-held farmland about four and a half miles northwest of Shelbyville. That debate has sparked anger and division in the rural county of just over 20,000 residents, where one person might want the county to keep farming the land while their neighbor says doing so would be illegal. Such tension is evident in HB1076s path to becoming law. The bill was written in part by former Shelby County States Attorney Nichole Kroncke but opposed by Robert Hanlon, the man recently appointed to fill the vacancy left by her departure. One of McHenry County native Hanlons first public appearances as Shelby County states attorney was testifying against the bill in the House Counties & Townships Committee on Feb. 23. In response to an emailed list of questions from the Herald & Review, Hanlon clarified that he is not opposed to HB1076 as amended. Halbrook, a Shelbyville Republican who represents Shelby County, voted against the bill three times before voting yes on May 25. Hundreds of self-identified Shelby County residents filed witness slips in support of the legislation. And on Thursday, the Shelby County Board was evenly split on a vote to continue farming the land. Public purpose The farmland includes 197 tillable acres, but spans roughly 240 acres because of a cemetery also on the property. It was leased from the 1950s until about three years ago, when questions about the property began to arise, ultimately leading to the proposed legislation. Opponents of the bill and continued farming of the county farm property say this is mostly a debate of constitutionality the land doesnt serve a clear public purpose, they say, making the act of leasing it to a private individual unconstitutional. Has the farm committee answered the constitutional question of the public purpose? board member Sonny Ross, R-Windsor, asked during debate on the Thursday farm vote. Members of the public audibly groaned in response to the question. The meeting was closing in on its second hour at that point, with multiple items left on the agenda. Not to my knowledge, replied board Chairman Robert Bobby Orman, R-Windsor. But other members say the debate on constitutionality isnt so clear-cut. After all, the county leased the land for decades before turning to custom farming last year, and the Illinois Attorney Generals Office has never taken action against the county or suggested continued farming would be unconstitutional. And, according to documentation obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests and provided to the Herald & Review, at least 24 other Illinois counties currently cash rent or lease their farmland. Those counties include: Brown, Clark, Clinton, Dekalb, Fayette, Ford, Greene, Henry, Iroquois, LaSalle, Livingston, Logan, Macoupin, McDonough, Mercer, Montgomery, Moultrie, Pike, Randolph, Rock Island, Schuyler, Tazewell, Warren and Whiteside. We're already in violation of the rule if that's the case, because we've approved spending money on it for farming, right? said board member Tad Mayhall, R-Shelbyville, in response to a statement from another board member that paying taxes on the farmland is an issue of taxation without representation. If that stands to be true, then we're all culpable, right? Were already culpable. The agenda item in question read as follows: Discussion and vote to continue farming the county farm property unless otherwise directed on recommendation of the Farm Committee. Debate on the item continued for over 30 minutes. Opponents fixated on the idea of public purpose. We are a greedy county because we want to make all the money we can make off of it, said board member Mark Bennett, R-Bethany. If we want to convert it into a park or something that is a benefit to the members of this county, not just to our pockets, then it can be a public purpose. It can go to school, it can go to 4-H, there are a lot of uses and there are a lot of counties that are doing that. And that is how they're getting by with the public purpose. We are not doing any of that. The county board has been debating on public purpose and the farm's fate for years. On June 3, 2021, the Illinois Attorney Generals Office released an informal opinion to then-States Attorney Kroncke in response to her request for clarification on the legality of Shelby County's leasing of its farmland. Per that informal opinion, a copy of which was provided to the Herald & Review by the attorney generals office, state law allows counties to lease farm property or acreage under certain circumstances. Under the language of section 5-21005 of the Counties Code, a county may lease farm property or acreage acquired in connection with a county sheltered care home or county nursing home to public or private entities when deemed in the best interest of the county, the opinion read. A county board may also lease real estate when the real estate is no longer necessary, appropriate, required for the use of, profitable to, or for the best interests of the county, as determined by the county board. Whether either of these provisions authorizes the lease of the county property that is the subject of your inquiry involves questions of fact that cannot be resolved in a legal opinion of this office, the opinion determined. The inconclusive answer was attributed to the fact that Kronckes request didnt provide information on how the county farmland was originally obtained. The cemetery question Bennett and others have also voiced a fairly new concern that could halt farming on the county farm: whether the land in question may be legally classified as a cemetery. On Thursday, he moved to table the vote almost immediately after the farm item was introduced to the county board, saying he was still seeking legal advice on the subject. The idea did not originate with Bennett. In March, board member Carol Cole, R-Shelbyville, made a statement she hoped would prevent the board from allowing Prairie Power to run a series of power lines directly through the county farmland. Coles grandparents were superintendents of the county farm from 1925-1940, and her mother lived on the land for those 15 years. She commonly refers to the land as the poor farm because its intended purpose when first purchased by the county in the nineteenth century was to provide food for impoverished residents. During the March board meeting, Cole said that shed heard stories about bodies being buried along the farm's fence line during harsh winters when it was too difficult to reach and return from the cemetery. Such an event would have only taken place during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, she told the Herald & Review. Coles mother wrote a short book on the history of the county farm. The book contains no written record of bodies being buried on the farm, she said. She has no other evidence to believe there are bodies buried on the farm. The board voted to allow Prairie Power to survey the sections of the farmland where it wants to place the 12 poles. No bones or remains were found in that area. Cole intended her comments to prevent the farmland from being dug up and drilled into. But now its being used as a reason to potentially cease farming completely. (I was) hoping that maybe they could find a different route and not right through the middle of the farm. I mean, it was stupid, Cole said. I'll have to agree with that. It was stupid. But I was trying to save the farm from 12 poles, you know? Cole said she was told that shed have to sign an affidavit formally retracting her statement or else the county must accept her claim at face value and consider any actual farming of the farm inconsistent with the Illinois Cemeteries Act and, thus, illegal. Without identifying Cole, Hanlon told the Herald & Review he's addressed her comments with other board members. "That board member certainly can clear up the record, if her statements concerning bodies being buried 'anywhere they pleased' were to be recanted or explained to the board," he wrote. Back to the bill For Rep. Halbrook, public purpose is what matters most. This piece is really important, that counties shall not acquire farmland for the sole purpose of entering into a cash lease, crop-sharing arrangement, or custom farming arrangement, he told the Herald & Review, reading directly from HB1076. It was this language, tacked onto the bill through Senate Amendment 001, that Halbrook said convinced him to change his vote. Its not legal to take a piece of any public property the county owns, in this case farmland, and to lease it to a private individual, he said. The representative pointed to Article 8, Section 1 of the Illinois Annotated Constitution as defining a public purpose. If the farm is just a public asset, he argued, then it by definition cannot serve a public purpose. When asked if he believes the Shelby County Board should sell its farmland, he took a brief pause before saying: I think they need to figure out what is going to be best for the taxpayers of the county. Im not elected to the county board, he said. Im not going to get into my opinion because it doesnt matter. What's next Ultimately, 10 board members voted in favor of continuing to farm the county farm property, and 10 voted against. Because a majority wasnt reached, the motion failed. Its unclear what will happen next. In 2021, the boards indecision on the farm led to the growth of noxious weeds, frustrating local farmers and residents. Cole said she wants to preserve the land and its history for future generations. Some people want to pretend that history never happened, she said. Let's just get rid of history. Let's knock down all the statues and pretend that history didn't happen. Well, if we don't continue to tell the younger generation about this history, how are we ever going to know or appreciate what people went through for them? And some residents just want the board to play nice. I come to these meetings because we have lost so much humanity in how we treat people, and I'm going to keep coming and keep coming. And I'm going to say the same thing over and over and over again, said Shelby County resident Tricia Miller during public comment on Thursday. I'm, I've always been classified as pretty far right. Im not left What Im seeing out of the local Republican Party, that's not the party I want to be a part of, Miller continued. How you treat people, how you react to people and how you talk to the taxpayers. You don't have to like what we say. You don't have to agree with what we say. But if we can't sit and talk to each other in a respectful manner, were lost, and we need to get it together. PHOTOS: Balloons soar above Shelbyville during the 20th annual Touchstone Balloon Festival GREENSBORO Walking a fine political line reflective of his unique role in the 2024 election, Mike Pence on Saturday took turns referring to Donald Trump by name and as the former president during a speech at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention. While blasting the U.S. Justice Departments 37-count indictment this week related to Trumps removal of classified documents from the White House and keeping them at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Pence consistently went with former president. When touting what he considered the highlights of their time in the White House, the former vice president readily referred to the Trump-Pence Administration. Its an approach also employed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the early leading challenger to Trump among a crowded GOP primary field, a night earlier when he railed against the indictment without naming Trump. Pence, speaking at the Koury Convention Center just a few hours before Trump was scheduled to make an address of his own, took a similar tack when referring to Jan. 6, 2021 the day insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop congressional certification of Joe Bidens 2020 presidential win. It gives me no pleasure to say it, but on that fateful day, the American people deserve to know that President Trump demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution, Pence told a hushed audience. Well, I chose the Constitution, and I always will. To drive home his message, Pence quoted the U.S. Constitutions instructions on certifying presidential elections. The vice president, presiding over Congress, shall open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted, Pence noted. On Jan. 6, Trump ordered Pence to block the certification then ridiculed him when the vice president refused. Pence also laid into Attorney General Merrick Garland and the U.S. Department of Justice for the investigation and indictment of Trump, the first against an ex-president by the government he once served. I had hoped the Justice Department would have seen clear to resolve the issues involving the former president without an indictment and I am deeply troubled to see this indictment move forward, he said. Today, Im calling on the attorney general to stand before the American people and explain why this was necessary in his words. In the meantime, he said, Be patient, and well know the facts. I also encourage you to pray for the former president and his family. Pences primary challenge of Trump marks an unprecedented moment in American politics. The closest parallel was in 1940 when sitting Vice President John Nance Garner challenged President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Democratic primary. FDR won easily, then captured a third term by beating Republican Wendell Willkie. Photos: Former President Trump and VP Pence speak to Republicans in Greensboro Winston-Salem police are seeking the public's help after a carjacking at a Shattalon Drive apartment complex. According to police, a woman had started her car and was preparing to leave the Shattalon Terrace apartment complex at 5470 Shattalon Drive when she was approached by two men. The woman told police the men, one of which was wearing a bandanna, had a gun and told her to leave the vehicle, which she did, before they drove off in it. There were no injuries, police said. The Winston-Salem Police Department is currently looking for a purple 2012 Nissan Rogue with North Carolina license plate FFC-6845. Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800. You can read the full text of this article if you: Select an option Log In Buy Article Content & Permissions Access through Ovid This week (or was it last week?) marks an anniversary for this reporting effort: 30 years ago the first Farm and Food File appeared in three central Illinois newspapers. One of those brave beginners, the Bloomington Pantagraph, continues to publish it weekly. Thirty years of anything seems like it should be a big deal and yet, on the farm, 30 years is often viewed as just a good start. My father, after all, farmed for 45 years and his Uncle Honey, who helped out on our farm and occasionally set parts of it ablaze worked 50 years as, first, a milkman and, later, an absent-minded tractor driver with matches. A Nebraska farmer friend just planted either his 74th or 75th crop. In truth, the key number in my line of work is making deadline. So far, Im shooting par on a tough course: In three decades of weekly freelance column writing, Im 1,560 out of 1,560. Come to think of it, He made this deadline, too might be a good epitaph for my final edition on this good earth. Like many of lifes pleasant curveballs, this writing life was unplanned. In college I was on a slow train think milk-run slow for a degree in farm management when an out-of-patience dean handed me a one-way ticket back to the farm. Come see me when youre serious about being here, he announced, and good luck. He spared me his more embarrassing assessment: And good riddance. Two years later (I mentioned slow, right?), he readmitted me as a married, 23-year-old, mid-year junior. His only condition, however, was a big one: To stay, I will need to see some great grades from you. Great grades meant writing, a part-time gig I played in my previous stay at the Big U for dorm buddies who couldnt tell a verb from a Volkswagen. Many happily paid a modest retainer, usually in brewed refreshments, for me to show them the difference. The return to writing was destiny. Sixteen weeks and four credit hours of A later, the dean wore an optimistic smile and I glimpsed a path to fulfilling work. Eighteen months after that I had a degree, a job in ag journalism, and little idea of how it all happened. That was 40 years and more than a million words ago. The early years of story chasing first at Pro Farmer, next at Successful Farming and, later, eight years as a freelance contributing editor at Farm Journal built contacts and confidence. What it didnt build was certainty. Freelance anything writing, plumbing, fishing, farming is a roller coaster: when you work, you work like a fool and when you dont, you worry like a fool that youll never work again. That reality hit hard in early 1993 when the boss at Farm Journal, a magazine that had bought every sentence I had typed for almost a decade, telephoned to fire me. His reason was inarguable; You cant walk down the middle of the road anymore, he said. True, nor did I want to because most of agricultures milk-and-honey middle was being hogged by aggressive corporate newcomers and integrators aiming to dominate livestock, meatpacking, machinery and crop biotechnology. Left to compete on the pothole-filled edges were thousands of small- and middle-sized farmers, ranchers, and rural communities struggling to just survive in their now-unrecognizable, increasingly commoditized world. The swift changes brought story after story that most ag magazines didnt want to publish because their readerships were rapidly changing, too, and the publishers, like their readers, were struggling to understand Big Ags growing presence and already outsized influence in both the marketplace and government. So most just favored stories that favored their now ever-fewer, ever-more influential advertisers over their ever-disappearing readers. That role reversal, fueled by the rapid rise of the internet, however, made space for others to take up the challenge and there I was with time, an empty bank account, two growing children and the lovely Catherine to encourage me. Then you took over and here we are, 1,561 weeks down the road. Give or take a week, that is. Thank you. Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska #25. Valley #24. South Sioux #23. Chase #22. Boone #21. Rock #20. Antelope #19. Dundy #18. Garden #17. Buffalo #16. Brown #15. Dawson #14. Perkins #13. Keith #12. Knox #11. Red Willow #10. Kimball #9. Cheyenne #8. Morrill #7. Box Butte #6. Sheridan #5. Dawes, North Sioux #4. Holt #3. Custer #2. Lincoln #1. Cherry The priority candidate to become the 21st chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln detailed his experiences in higher education and outlined his aspirations for the state's flagship campus this week. Across more than 20 public forums, Rodney D. Bennett spoke with students, faculty, staff and the general public about issues ranging from the financial pressures faced by colleges and universities to how he navigates the challenges presented by a polarized political environment. The forums are part of a 30-day vetting process required by law for top candidates for university leadership jobs. NU President Ted Carter named Bennett the priority candidate to replace UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green on May 22. Bennett, 56, who led the University of Southern Mississippi for 10 years, said he withdrew from searches at several other universities to focus exclusively on the opportunity before him at UNL, which he called one of the nation's most important universities. UNL, he said, is a vehicle for lifting the quality of life for all Nebraskans for decades to come. "There is an opportunity to do something really special," Bennett told a forum for the College of Business earlier this week. "And there is a group of people who want to be involved in creating what that something is." Leadership style If Bennett gets the nod from the NU Board of Regents on June 22, the new chancellor said he'll start the work of reestablishing connections in the state and building new relationships right away. "The way forward is to be collaborative and develop relationships," he told a forum for the College of Law on Thursday. Tall and gregarious, with a noticeable southern accent, Bennett alternated between explaining his experiences in higher education and sharing anecdotes from his personal life, including self-deprecating bits to connect with the audiences. A fraternity member and proponent of Greek life, Bennett said he thrives on the energy of those he's speaking with, and plans to meet as many people as he can during the transition to become chancellor. That will include reconnecting with Gov. Jim Pillen and meeting state lawmakers to hear their expectations of UNL. Bennett said he would also seek out leaders in business, agriculture and communities across the state to solicit their input. On campus, Bennett said he wants to foster a culture of transparency between administrators and faculty something he said he attempted to do during his decade at Southern Miss while also using the established processes to "not get outside my lane." Bennett also told faculty at several forums that while they may not always agree on an issue or the best way to proceed, he would hear them out and hope they could "share a turkey sandwich" afterward. A former leader of student affairs, Bennett told faculty and students he plans to be a "genuine, ongoing and inspirational" presence on campus. In his past positions, Bennett said he has served as a mentor for students "whether I've been asked to be one or not," and said multiple students have asked him to be a groomsman in their weddings something he said he declined in favor of reading the scripture. "It's an honor that they are thinking about you and remembering you in such a way that they want you to be a part of that particular time in their life," he said. Budget challenges One of the first takes Bennett will have to confront as UNL's top leader will be the same his predecessor faced: Slashing millions from UNL's budget. Green recently finalized $10.8 million in cuts left over from the 2021-22 fiscal year by closing open positions and moving others to non-state aided funding sources. As much as $13 million will still need to be trimmed from UNL's budget in the coming year, however, and Carter told regents in late May that the system faces a structural budget deficit of nearly $50 million in 2023-24 and $80 million in 2024-25. While regents anticipate some additional revenue from a modest tuition increase, UNL would account for roughly half of the amount that needs to be cut. Bennett said he's no stranger to budget cuts he went through a series of reductions at Southern Miss and has spoken to Green about the situation, but said without diving into the numbers he could not offer a specific recommendation for how to move forward. At several forums this week, the 30-year veteran of higher education said the budget cuts at UNL, like other universities across the country, will likely mean the campus moves away from being "all things for all people." Academic programs where only a few students are enrolled or which have produced no graduates over multiple years could be put on the chopping block, as well as other campus services that are under-utilized or not realizing a return on investment, he said. On Thursday, Bennett told faculty at the College of Law that cuts to programs or positions would not mean more work for UNL's employees: "I don't subscribe to doing more with less." Rather, UNL would identify priorities moving forward and develop strategies to move toward those goals, and if there are things that fall by the wayside, so be it, he said. "You have to say no if the answer is no." Breaking down silos Some of those priorities may focus on fostering greater collaboration between departments across UNL, Bennett said in response to several questions put to him this week. The need to remove faculty and students from their silos and get them to work together has long been talked about, but Bennett said he has a strategy for making it work. "You can talk about it until you're blue in the face," he said, "but if the university is not rewarding or denying through the allocation process the resources that break down those silos, it's not going to happen." Tying budgets to creating an interdisciplinary approach to education and research is one part of the strategy. Bennett said the other part is psychology. "You have to convince people that you're not going to lose something by working together," he said. "You have to create a climate that eliminates the fear of loss." Regain AAU membership UNL was booted from the Association of American Universities in 2011 after two-thirds of the groups members, including peers from the Big Ten Conference, which UNL had recently joined, voted to end its membership after 102 years. The AAU based the decision on several criteria research expenditures, the number of faculty belonging to several national academies, faculty awards and citations where UNL ranked among the bottom of the organization. While previous chancellors and other university leaders have signaled their intention to move on from being AAU members, Bennett said he would work to put the flagship back in the organizations good graces with an eye of eventually rejoining. Its such an internationally recognized designation of excellence, Bennett said. It demonstrates what an institution is about and what they are able to accomplish. Bennett said a combination of enrollment growth, improving graduation rates, and boosting support for graduate students who will expand UNLs research portfolio and funding would put the university on track for accomplishing that goal. If UNL were able to regain admission Arizona State University, George Washington University, the University of California-Riverside, the University of Miami, Notre Dame, and the University of Southern Florida recently joined Bennett said the benefits would be plentiful. AAU membership would help with student and faculty recruitment and retention, boost research funding, and will generate excitement among donors and the business community, he said. Why wouldnt we? he said. Theres so many resources here, theres so much talent here, its sort of the thing thats missing in many ways. Navigating politics Bennett is no stranger to traversing difficult political environments. When former NU President Hank Bounds, then leader of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, appointed Bennett to lead Southern Miss in 2013, he became the first Black leader of a predominantly white campus in the Magnolia state. There was hate mail warning Bennett not to bring his family to Mississippi. Anonymous internet accounts told him to not even bother unpacking his boxes. "The politics sort of hit me right upside the head right out of the gate and it really did not stop throughout the 10 years of my service there," Bennett said. It got even rockier two years later when Bennett made the decision to remove Mississippi's state flag, which included the Confederate battle emblem, from campus. Putting a symbol that for many represented slavery was antithetical to the kind of welcoming campus community Bennett said Southern Miss was trying to create. But it generated backlash in the former Confederate state, with some calling for Bennett's removal and others suggesting the state defund the university. Bennett credited the relationships he had built at the state Capitol and elsewhere with allowing him to continue in the position. Mississippi later changed its state flag in 2021. "When you're handling those types of political issues, the ability to move the needle requires a certain type of relationship and calmness and resolve and courage," he said. "We were able to do that, and I'm very proud of that work." Nebraska, like Mississippi, is a conservative-led state, and Bennett said he plans to regularly interface with state leaders and the federal delegation to build those same kinds of relationships in order to help be a positive influence on potential changes made to higher education at the state house. That can help build understanding and head off issues on campus around areas like free speech or academic freedom that stir up political disputes, he said. Diversity and inclusion Among the biggest concerns Bennett said he has about the changing face of higher education is attacks on programs to create more diverse and inclusive campuses. In Florida, where Bennett currently resides, lawmakers have banned public colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Bennett said he found those efforts baffling. "Each of us are made better when there are people who are around us that think different, that believe different, look different, and challenge us to sincerely and genuinely embrace our differences," he said. As chancellor, Bennett said UNL which opened its diversity office in 2019 should lean into the effort, and help drive the conversation about what diversity means on a university campus. "Most people want us to prepare young people to take their rightful place all around the world," he said. "We all know as they do, they are going to encounter a lot of differences. If we are doing our job as educators, I think we have an obligation to put them in front of as many scenarios as we can." Bennett said he and other university leaders also need to be vocal in addressing the importance of those issues and defending them, which he said will help show UNL is a welcoming place for all. What comes next With the conclusion of public forums, UNL community members as well as others are encouraged to provide feedback to Carter as the 30-day vetting period wraps up. Comments can be submitted at https://nebraska.edu/unl-chancellor-search/feedback. Regents will take a vote to approve Bennett on June 22. 16 famous University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumni Johnny Carson Tyronn Lue Jeff Zeleny Willa Cather Ndamukong Suh Ev Williams Ted Kooser Joel Sartore Mary Pipher Tommy Lee Warren Buffett Aaron Douglas John J. Pershing Alex Gordon Ted Sorensen Louise Pound This photo taken with a mobile phone on June 10, 2023 shows ambulances outside a hospital in northwest Pakistan's Bannu. At least 25 people have been killed and 145 others injured in different rain-related incidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP said. According to the reports, 15 people lost their lives and 100 others were injured in Bannu district of the province, the local authorities reported on Saturday night, adding that 68 houses were damaged. (Str/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 people have been killed and 145 others injured in different rain-related incidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP said. According to the reports, 15 people lost their lives and 100 others were injured in Bannu district of the province, the local authorities reported on Saturday night, adding that 68 houses were damaged. Five people were reported to be killed and 42 injured in Lakki Marwat district of the province, said the PDMA. In Karak district, four people were killed and another injured, the authorities said, adding that one person was killed and two others suffered injuries in Dera Ismail Khan district of KP. The total deceased in the province included 17 males, one female and seven children, according to the PDMA. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed sorrow and grief on the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased, the Prime Minister's Office said on Saturday night. Sharif directed the country's National Disaster Management Authority and the local authorities of KP to carry out relief work in the affected areas. This photo taken with a mobile phone on June 10, 2023 shows debris of damaged houses in northwest Pakistan's Bannu. At least 25 people have been killed and 145 others injured in different rain-related incidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP said. According to the reports, 15 people lost their lives and 100 others were injured in Bannu district of the province, the local authorities reported on Saturday night, adding that 68 houses were damaged. (Str/Xinhua) This photo taken with a mobile phone on June 10, 2023 shows people examining a damaged wall of their house in northwest Pakistan's Bannu. At least 25 people have been killed and 145 others injured in different rain-related incidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP said. According to the reports, 15 people lost their lives and 100 others were injured in Bannu district of the province, the local authorities reported on Saturday night, adding that 68 houses were damaged. (Str/Xinhua) This photo taken with a mobile phone on June 10, 2023 shows people gathering around a damaged electric pole in northwest Pakistan's Bannu. At least 25 people have been killed and 145 others injured in different rain-related incidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP said. According to the reports, 15 people lost their lives and 100 others were injured in Bannu district of the province, the local authorities reported on Saturday night, adding that 68 houses were damaged. (Str/Xinhua) Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts receives the Henry J. Friendly Medal during the American Law Institute's annual dinner in Washington, May 23, 2023. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Although largely upstaged by former President Donald Trumps federal indictment, the Supreme Courts voting rights decision is likely to have a game-changing impact for many years to come. What the court decided is almost as surprising as who decided it. By a 5-to-4 vote, justices from the conservative and liberal sides came together to reaffirm the courts 1986 ruling on how legislative districts must be drawn under the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, as amended in 1982. Advertisement In Alabama, where 1 in 4 voters is Black in the states seven congressional districts, the justices ruled that the Republican-dominated state legislature had denied African American voters a reasonable chance to elect a second representative of their choice. A panel of three federal judges, including two appointed by Trump and one by former President Bill Clinton, had thrown out the states congressional map and ordered lawmakers to draw a new one with two, not just one, districts that are likely to elect Black representatives. Advertisement It was the sort of racial gerrymandering case for which the Voting Rights Act was enacted and, in more recent times, weakened by conservatives. Now Alabama will have to redraw its map to include a second predominantly Black district. Although the ruling does not expand minority voting rights, it doesnt reduce them either. Thats a net gain for Democrats and other liberals at a time when the Dems feared worse as they try to recover from the loss of their House majority, among other setbacks. Suddenly they see new hope coming from an unexpected source, the conservative court of Chief Justice John Roberts, which leaves many wondering why two of the courts conservatives moderated their opposition enough to let Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racially discriminatory voting practices, survive. All eyes understandably seem to be falling on two conservative justices, who also happen to be the ones who voted with the liberals. One was Roberts. He has been a famously outspoken critic of race-based remedies who authored or joined earlier decisions that gutted key parts of the voting law. Roberts declared in a 2007 affirmative action case that the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race. Sure, but if it was that easy we wouldnt need to turn to the Supreme Court to sort it out. The other was Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee who leaned toward the belief that the need for Section 2 was fading over time and suggested in his opinion that plaintiffs could try to return in some future case to argue that changing times had rendered the law unconstitutional. I hope I live that long. Which left many, including me, to wonder why both justices just happened to moderate their opposition enough to let the strongest remaining enforcement section of the Voting Rights Act survive. Advertisement Im intrigued by how Roberts maneuvers as best he can to sound fair and evenhanded in weighing his opinions, as a good, credible chief justice should. Roberts has long been reported to be extremely concerned about the courts integrity and credibility, a noble and necessary goal, even when both sides are shouting at him. Clarence Page Columns As it happens Sign up to receive Clarence Pages columns by email as soon as they're published. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > With opinion polls in these polarized times showing the high courts approval ratings to be in the cellar, Im sure recent headlines about a billionaire patron providing luxurious gifts to Clarence Thomas, as well as Justice Samuel Alitos tardiness with his financial disclosure forms, must cause the chief justice no end of consternation. I cannot write about the high court without the classic 1901 quote from the Mr. Dooley stories of Chicago writer Finley Peter Dunne coming to mind: No matter whether the constitution follows the flag or not, the Supreme Court follows the election returns. Im sure the justices might well deny that, but one thing is certain: Supreme Court appointments follow elections. And they last a lifetime. Thats another reason for us, the voters, to pay attention. Still, theres another reason why the high courts conservatives voted to rescue the Voting Rights Act. Theyre softening us up before they overturn affirmative action, which also is expected any day now. Advertisement If so, that also will be controversial. But nobody should be too surprised. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. The first encounter with racism that Harmony Kennedy can remember came in elementary school. On a playground, a girl picked up a leaf and said she wanted to clean the dirt from Harmonys skin. In sixth grade, a boy dropped trash on the floor and told her to pick it up, because youre a slave. She was stunned no one had ever said anything like that to her before. As protests for racial justice broke out in 2020, white students at her Tennessee high school kneeled in the hallways and chanted, Black lives matter! in mocking tones. As she saw the students receive light punishments, she grew increasingly frustrated. So when Tennessee began passing legislation that could limit the discussion and teaching of Black history, gender identity and race in the classroom, to Harmony, it felt like a gut punch. When I heard they were removing African American history, banning LGBTQ, I almost started crying, said Harmony, 16. Were not doing anything to anybody. Why do they care what we personally prefer, or what we look like? As conservative politicians and activists push for limits on discussions of race, gender and sexuality, some students say the measures targeting aspects of their identity have made them less welcome in American schools the one place all kids are supposed to feel safe. Some of the new restrictions have been championed by conservative state leaders and legislatures, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who say they are necessary to counter liberal influence in schools. Books have been pulled from libraries. Some schools have insisted on using the names transgender students had before they transitioned. And teachers wary of breaking new rules have shied from discussions related to race, gender and other politically sensitive topics, even as students say they desperately need to see their lived experiences reflected in the classroom. Among them are a transgender student at a Pennsylvania school where teachers are directed to use students birth names, a bisexual student in Florida who sensed a withdrawal of adult support, and Harmony, a Black student outside Nashville alarmed by efforts to restrict lessons on Black history. For these and other students of color and LGBTQ+ kids, it can feel like their very existence is being rejected. In late 2020, during the pandemic school closures, Leo Burchell started using different pronouns, trying on new clothes and shorter hair. The changes felt right. At school outside Philadelphia, Leo started telling teachers about using a different name and they/them pronouns, and the teachers were immediately accepting. A shift to using he/him pronouns followed. I changed my name to Leo, and for a while it was tough, he said. I told some of my friends. I told the people close to me, but I wasnt ready to come out to everybody yet and I had the space to do that in my own time. To tell his parents, Leo shared a poem he had written about his transition. He worried it would be hard for them, as parents who had always identified as girl parents to three daughters. His mom, dad, older and twin sister were all supportive. Then, over the past year, the Central Bucks School Districts board barred staff from using students chosen names or pronouns without parental permission. The board passed what it called a neutrality policy that bars social and political advocacy in classrooms. Each step felt like chipping away at the spaces that made Leo feel safe enough to explore his gender identity. Across the district, parents and students told the board stories of slurs, hate speech and sometimes violence directed toward transgender children. But other adults pressed forward in their effort to restrict inclusion. During one board meeting when a transgender student was speaking, rather than listening, a group of parents whispered to each other. One adult audibly asked: Is that a girl? One man told the school board transgender people posed a risk of violence in bathrooms. So at the next board meeting, Leo spoke up. Attacking students based on who they are or who they love is wrong, he said. Leo has spoken regularly at meetings since. Leo worries about what school will be like for younger transgender students. I dont want my friends to be misgendered and deadnamed every single day just because they dont want to come out to their parents, Leo said. Jack Fitzgerald, a high school student in Broward County, Florida, came out to friends by accident at first. At a book club meeting, he blurted out: I dont really like romance books unless theyre gay. He hadnt told anyone he was bisexual, but it came out easily in a place where he felt comfortable and safe. Later, he would come out to his mother while watching television. So, I am bi, he told her. And why are you telling me this? she said. A lifelong conservative, his mother told him she had long known about his sexuality. It was not a problem. The confidence and relief he felt led Jack to start his schools gender and sexuality alliance club. Last year, as a junior, he led a school walkout to protest a new law that banned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for kindergarten to third grade. Jack was surprised by two things. Most students initially knew little about the bill. And once they learned about it, support for the walkout was overwhelming. Teachers have been more cautious. Jack remembers talking to his debate teacher about covering some controversial topics. You have to realize, teachers have families, he told Jack, who took it as a comment on teachers worried about losing their jobs. There also was a school board member, Debra Hixon, who won Jacks admiration when she spoke last year at a town hall event for teens. Hixon, who became widely known after her husband was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, expressed support for LGBTQ+ students. I think I even told my mom. I was like, Oh, weve got to vote for her next time because she seems so impassioned, and she genuinely came across like she cared, he said. When Jack asked her in April how the school district would react to the new laws, Hixon said they were going to comply with the law. The response shocked Jack. He thought back to how the district had stood up to the DeSantis administration over COVID-19 policies like mask mandates. When it came to protecting LGBTQ+ students, it seemed, there was no appetite for defiance. They didnt even try to act like they were going to try, you know?" he said. "And it was so disappointing. It really took the air out of me. From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history 1969: Stonewall Riots 1969: Gay Liberation Front forms 1972: Sweden allows people to legally change gender 1972: UK has first Pride parade 1973: Lambda Legal forms 1973: Homosexuality is no longer classified as a mental illness 1974: First openly lesbian officials elected 1977: First openly gay man elected 1978: The rainbow flag is created 1979: First national LGBTQ+ march 1981: Norway enacts anti-discrimination laws 1981: Gay men affected with 'rare cancer' 1982: Wisconsin passes LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination law 1983: BiPOL forms 1984: HIV discovered 1986: Bowers v. Hardwick 1986: New York passes anti-discrimination bill 1987: UK opens first HIV/AIDS clinic 1987: Barney Frank comes out as gay 1987: ACT UP 1988: National Coming Out Day starts 1989: Denmark legalizes same-sex unions 1990: First Pride parade in South Africa 1994: 'Don't ask, don't tell' enacted 1994: American Medical Association opposes conversion therapy 1995: Gay and lesbian workers can get government security clearance 1996: President Bill Clinton signs Defense of Marriage Act 1996: High schooler starts Gay-Straight Alliance 1997: Ellen DeGeneres comes out 1998: Bisexual flag created 2000: Vermont recognizes same-sex unions 2000: Netherlands recognizes same-sex marriage 2002: New York City passes LGBTQ+ rights law 2003: US legalizes consensual same-sex acts 2004: Massachusetts performs first same-sex marriage 2009: Hate Crimes Prevention Act 2010: Same-sex marriage legal in Iceland 2011: 'Don't ask, don't tell' repealed 2012: First openly LGBTQ+ senator 2013: Supreme Court recognizes same-sex marriage 2014: Transgender students get federal protection 2014: First transgender person nominated for Emmy 2015: US legalizes same-sex marriage 2016: Ban lifted on transgender troops 2017: First openly transgender state legislator elected 2018: 'Rainbow wave' in politics 2019: Taiwan passes same-sex marriage 2019: Transgender troops banned from military 2019: Mayor Pete runs for president 2019: Being transgender no longer a 'disorder' 2020: NYC Pride March canceled by coronavirus 2021: Biden reverses Trump-era ban on transgender people in the military 2021: Gender-affirming care for minors is blockedthen overturned 2021: Switzerland and Japan make strides toward marriage equality 2022: Hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in US states 2022: First openly lesbian women elected governor 2023: Gender-Affirming Care WASHINGTON The limited language addressing permitting in the agreement to raise the debt ceiling will make the largest statutory changes to environmental law in decades, though it falls far short of Republican ambitions only a few months ago. The most substantial changes to the 1970s law known as the National Environmental Policy Act focus on how requirements for environmental reviews are implemented. The debt ceiling measure also includes authorization of a study on transmission siting, faster permitting for energy storage projects and the approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon, NEPA requires federal agencies to examine the environmental effects of major proposed projects. But many Republicans say the time needed to prepare the environmental analyses and impact statements unduly delays projects, delays that can lengthen if the studies are challenged in court. House negotiators originally floated a larger permitting overhaul for the debt ceiling measure, reflecting the energy bill that the chamber passed in April. The final debt ceiling measure cleared by the Senate June 1 and signed into law June 3, specifies only that agencies need to consider reasonably foreseeable environment impacts and narrows the definition of major federal action. House Republicans say both would narrow the scope of NEPA reviews. The measure requires environmental analyses to be done within one year and more detailed environmental impact statements to be done within two years. If two or more agencies are involved, the bill directs that one be named lead agency and tasked with outlining a joint schedule. It also allows project applicants to sue if the timelines arent met. Project applicants will also be allowed to help prepare environmental reviews. The measure includes new language to clarify that agencies arent required to undertake new scientific or technical research as part of the review process. This is all about unlocking Americas resources, said Rep. Garret Graves, R-La. This is about improving the competitiveness of the U.S. economy and not getting bogged down in the 115 lawsuits a year that are filed against NEPA taking on average three and a half years. Putting it more succinctly, Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, said that the headline here is that fossil fuels win and the greenies lose. The Trump administration adopted many changes to NEPA in 2020 through the rule-making process, which the president then said was an effort to cut red tape. The Biden administration moved to reverse those changes shortly after taking office, finalizing what was effectively a rollback in April 2020. But the White House accepted the latest changes, arguing that the legislation makes these changes without curtailing the substantive scope of NEPA, cutting down the statute of limitations, imposing barriers to standing, or taking away injunctive relief or other judicial remedies. The changes drew opposition from environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, Evergreen Action and the League of Conservation Voters, although these groups were divided on their support for the overall package that raised the debt ceiling but also outlined some spending cuts. Some Democratic lawmakers voted for the bill while expressing their displeasure. Others said the changes to NEPA, along with other provisions including the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, made it impossible to support the bill. The MVP is a 303-mile pipeline to carry natural gas from West Virginia to Virginia and has been a pet project of West Virginias two senators, Democrat Joe Manchin III and Republican Shelley Moore Capito. House Natural Resources ranking member Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., said the measure was just the latest move in a decades-old, industry-funded partisan attack on NEPA. NEPA is these communities strongest and often their only tool when it comes to protecting themselves against industry wrongdoing, Grijalva said before the House vote. Rather than strengthen that tool, this bill gives polluters a shield, inevitably worsening an already unacceptable status quo. Grijalva said most delays in the permitting process are due to the lack of staff at the responsible agencies who can review applications and prepare the necessary reviews. The Biden administration, in a list of priorities released last month, said staffing should be part of a larger permitting reform package. The White House also asked for a statutory requirement that agencies name a chief community engagement officer as well as other provisions that would ensure communities affected by a project would remain engaged during the permitting process. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said House leaders will work on permitting legislation that would include areas left unaddressed. Democratic members have urged further action on transmission beyond the study, while members of both parties have proposed changes to hard-rock mining regulations. How US trees are powering Europe's renewable energy goals US trees are powering Europe's renewable energy goalshere's where Americans are most affected The EU aims for renewables to make up 40% of its energy supply by 2030 Solid biomass still comprises about 45% of renewables The largest wood pellet mills are in the American South Three companies own about two-thirds of southern wood pellet mills exporting to Europe Its been a long week, so you decide to stop in for a pint and a Reuben sandwich at the Rathskeller Bier Haus at 45th and Farnam streets. What you might not know is that the property is owned by the University of Nebraska Medical Center. UNMC hasnt given up education and research for the restaurant biz, though. The university instead leases the property to the businesss owner. Same goes for the Don & Millies property at 44th and Farnam, the KPTM-TV station at 46th and Farnam and the current Community Alliance headquarters at 41st and Leavenworth Streets. All four are part of UNMCs expanded footprint in midtown Omaha, which has added about a million square feet of building space over each of the past several decades and now stands at about 10 million square feet, including parking garages. Its a big footprint and an important one we take seriously, in service to our state and community, said Brian Spencer, executive director of campus development and real estate and campus architect for UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, its clinical partner. Planners expect the campus to continue growing its building square footage over at least the next decade, he said, although they dont have a stated goal. Dr. Jeffrey Gold, UNMCs chancellor, said the physical growth of the campus is the result of decades-long efforts by UNMC and affiliated organizations to consolidate property around what the university calls its 42nd Street campus. That physical growth, he said, has been fueled by the growth of the organization namely, 22 consecutive years of enrollment growth, mostly through the development of new educational programs, as well as continued growth in research funding, the addition of more clinicians, researchers and laboratories and considerable growth in inpatient and outpatient clinical care. The university, for instance, added a dermatology department about five years ago. It now includes about a dozen dermatologists. Its seen similar growth in its physical medicine and rehabilitation department. Its not about purchase it and hope that we can use it, Gold said. Its purchase it with a plan to use it. UNMC and Nebraska Medicine together employ about 14,800 people, according to UNMC officials. Separately, Nebraska Medicine ranks No. 2 behind Offutt Air Force Base and UNMC No. 6 on the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerces list of top 10 employers in the Omaha metro area. Last year, the university brought in $169.7 million in total research awards, an increase of 4% from the year before and the second-highest amount on record. Gold noted, however, that land acquisition in the area is largely complete. The university and its partners may add one or two more parcels, but the goal will be to even out borders rather than to add acres. We dont see the need for much more, he said. And, with the NU system facing a $49.4 million budget shortfall in the 2023-24 fiscal year, Gold said, the university will be focused on investing its very precious resources in existing programs to be sure we can maintain the quality, access and affordability of those programs rather than on long-term growth, at least for now. Spencer said the university is somewhat cautious about outlining the exact boundaries of its holdings. But officials have made commitments to area neighborhood associations, setting borders at 38th Avenue to the east and 48th Street to the west. It generally is trying to stay north of Leavenworth Street west of 42nd Street. Dodge Street serves as a relatively hard northern border, although the campuss northern outline is a bit more jagged. Nebraska Medicine also owns some properties on the north end of campus. While the universitys land acquisitions have occurred over decades and somewhat under the radar, they have become more visible with a recent groundbreaking for the approximately $65 million Catalyst project west of Saddle Creek Road on the site of the former Omaha Steel Castings facility. Slated to open in late 2024, the 170,000-square-foot facility will serve as a home for the 40,000-square-foot UNMC Innovation Hub and include 130,000 square feet for biotech and technology startups as well as an event center, food hall and market. Gold noted, however, that the facility itself is being developed by private developers, not the university or hospital, with the aim of enticing small and medium-sized companies to lease incubator space. It really is a way of bringing new economic development to the community, he said. A little history Don Leuenberger, who played a key role in the universitys growth during nearly three decades as UNMCs vice chancellor for business and finance, said that growth began under the chancellorship of Dr. Charles Andrews. He envisioned leveraging the expertise in cancer research it had gained with the help of cigarette tax dollars that the Nebraska Legislature devoted to the cause. It gained additional steam under Dr. Harold Maurer, who appointed the first vice chancellor for research. That, and the contributions of Omahas donor community, accelerated the growth, Leuenberger said. It has continued under Gold. Because the university wasnt going into debt to construct buildings, Leuenberger said, it was able to recruit researchers worldwide. The universitys clinical program also grew, with a key factor being the merger of University and Clarkson hospitals in the mid-1990s. By then, UNMC had become a destination for clinical services. The expansion in programming meant a lot of married graduate students on campus. Officials felt the need to halt what they saw as deterioration in midtown, he said, which helped spur the Destination Midtown and then Midtown 2050 development initiatives. The university needed parking and space for growing clinical and research programs. Clinicians needed housing in the area. Indeed, photos of campus in the 1990s show a lot of houses on the east side of campus, many of them at the time leased by UNMC for student housing. The university bought them when they became available to have control over the land and have the space held in reserve in case it was needed, Leuenberger said. Over time, the university built buildings on the east side of campus to house the colleges of nursing, pharmacy and medicine. It centered research facilities on the west side of campus and drug discovery and organ transplant support facilities to the south. Spencer said the university also has tried to keep higher density and taller buildings toward the middle of campus in order to create a buffer between the campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Jim Farho, president of the Blackstone Business Improvement District, said UNMC has been a good neighbor as it has grown and is bringing a lot of economic development to the city. Were happy theyre here in the neighborhood, he said. Indeed, investments in the area by the university, developers and businesses have meant a lot more amenities for residents and lots more walkers, strollers and dogs out and about. Last years old home tour was a huge success. Weve done them before, but it really knocked the socks off, he said. John Ashford, president of the Dundee-Memorial Park Neighborhood Association, said the university has been transparent about its projects throughout the planning process, recently sharing plans for pedestrian overpasses at 39th and Leavenworth Streets and over Saddle Creek as well as for bike lanes on campus. The plans the group has seen all show the campus gradually blending into the neighborhood. Were heavily in support of everything UNMC is doing down there, he said. Leuenberger noted that the university also has expanded programs in Lincoln, Kearney, Norfolk and Scottsbluff. Its not just been there on campus, he said. Its been statewide. Saddle Creek District The expansion west of Saddle Creek Road, Leuenberger said, also began in the 1990s with the acquisition of the old Union Pacific Railroad lines in the area, followed by the purchase of the former Commercial Federal property, which backed up to the Child Saving Institute. The former bank since has been demolished and the property sold to CSI in exchange for some parking lots south of Douglas Street. CSI has proposed a $46 million expansion and renovation that would nearly double the size of its existing building near 46th and Dodge Streets. Spencer said the university now owns all of the rough triangle bounded by Farnam and Leavenworth Streets, Saddle Creek and 48th Street, except the Ace-Rent-to-Own and Russell Speeders Car Wash on Saddle Creek. The university recently acquired the Metro Credit Union at 414 Saddle Creek Road, which will build on the northwest corner of Farnam and Saddle Creek and lease from the university. But property acquisition in the Saddle Creek District is largely complete, Spencer said. The university also has a letter from state environmental officials indicating that no further environmental cleanup is needed in the area. He said plans call for the district to include space for bars, restaurants and other amenities that will serve workers as well as neighborhood residents. Another item on his wish list: Investors interested in partnering to build laboratory space that inventors and startups could rent to test products theyre trying to bring to market. Currently, no such space exists in the city, Spencer said. Meanwhile, work has begun on infrastructure in the area. The city is building a new intersection at 46th and Farnam Streets, which is currently closed, and will extend 46th Street south of Farnam into the Saddle Creek development. Emile Street, too, will be extended into the district. The city also plans to build a parking garage north of the Catalyst structure. Many of the stalls will be leased to UNMC. Eventually, 48th Street will be turned to connect to Saddle Creek rather than Leavenworth. Next summer, the city will begin work to turn Leavenworth and Saddle Creek into a traditional four-way intersection with added turn lanes and pedestrian crossings. Chaz Kline, who owns the Rathskeller, said the growth in the area is all upside. The university, utility workers and construction crews all have worked to make sure customers can still access the restaurant, including putting up signs to direct them. Its a massive Jenga, theres no doubt about that, he said. But the blending of businesses and universities isnt unusual, he said. Other Big 10 universities all have a lot of businesses like his integrated into their campuses. Theyve committed to us, as long as our lease is there, were there, Kline said. Up next for the area is a new administrative building on the southwest corner of Saddle Creek and Farnam. Now known as the Campus Operations & Research Excellence or CORE facility, Spencer said, it also will include some research space. Details, however, have not been finalized. UNMC, however, is not involved in another highly visible project that may be on tap for the area around 46th and Dodge Streets. A developer has proposed a new five-story, 330-unit apartment complex southeast of 48th and Dodge Streets that would incorporate and preserve the landmark Pittman Veterinarian Building, listed at 4629 Dodge St. Several other structures in the area already have been razed. Leavenworth Street In April, UNMC officials announced that they planned to raze three vacant houses near 44th and Leavenworth Streets. The university purchased the properties situated on the north side of Leavenworth Street in 2021 to allow for possible future development opportunities. Once the structures are razed, UNMC will create green space and some parking on the empty lots at 4412, 4408 and 4402 Leavenworth St. Spencer said a family that wanted out of the real estate business approached the university about purchasing the houses. We jumped on the opportunity because its close to the heart of campus, he said. The university also owns several vacant retail storefront properties on either side of Barretts Barleycorn Pub & Grill and Castle Barrett on the north side of Leavenworth Street. UNMC has no immediate plans to raze those properties and will make minor investments in them to stabilize and return them to use. Spencer said the university opted to raze the houses because it doesnt want to be in the home rental business and the structures would have required significant investment to bring them up to current standards. He stressed that the university typically does not use eminent domain to obtain properties. Most of the universitys acquisitions have come from willing sellers as a result of business closures or generational turnover. (The city, however, is seeking a narrow strip of right-of-way near the Neighbers Bar for the reconstruction of the Leavenworth/Saddle Creek intersection.) That was the case with the former Charlie Graham Body & Service on the northwest corner of 42nd and Leavenworth Streets, which was demolished to make way for a new entrance to the campus. Great Plains Auto Body bought the business and exchanged the Charlie Graham corner for a parking lot that UNMC owned on the southeast corner. Great Plains built a new autobody and service shop on that site. Likewise, the university acquired some land south of Leavenworth when Kiewit Corp. decided to close a construction yard as part of its move to its new headquarters in north downtown. The property now is home to parking lots and a service center for the health systems surgical platform. The universitys purchase of the Community Alliance building, Spencer said, provided some of the capital the organization, which also is expanding its programs, needed to finish its new and larger headquarters. The university wont gain possession of the building for about a year and a half and has no immediate plans for the building. Thats the general makeup of how so many of our deals happen, he said. Photos: UNMC Catalyst project to rise out of Omaha Steel Castings site A University of Nebraska regent and her investment-manager husband have pledged a total of $25 million to the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. Barbara and Wally Weitz will commit $19 million to UNO to support the universitys programs and priorities as well as create an endowed chair that will be attached to the chancellors position. The couple has also pledged $6 million to the agriculture college in southwest Nebraska toward renovating a 106-year-old building into a center for students. The couples commitment is just the latest example of Barbara Weitzs extensive involvement with UNO. She is a UNO alum and retired faculty member who taught social work. The Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center on UNOs Dodge Street campus is named in her honor. We felt really invested in making this the best it could possibly be, Weitz said. We have an incredible urban university that uses the whole city as its campus. I think the city and state has benefitted so much from UNO. UNO administration will have significant leeway on how to spend the money. The University of Nebraska Foundation says $14 million will go to the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund, which will be dedicated to help boost some UNO programs to be nationally recognized ones and address critical needs in Omaha and Nebraska. Each year from 2024 to 2029, the UNO chancellor will ask for proposals from faculty members. Awards will be based on various factors, such as how well a proposal fits into a campus need and the likelihood of success. The $14 million is truly an investment in new ideas, new innovation, new creativity that will take UNO to the next level and (is) really doing the right thing for the state of Nebraska, Chancellor Joanne Li said. Another $5 million is pledged for the Barbara and Wally Weitz Endowed Chair in Higher Education. The foundation said it will be the first endowed chair attached to the chancellors position in the University of Nebraska system, and is aimed at ensuring UNO can offer competitive salaries to attract top-tier chancellors. After the pledge is fulfilled, it will provide an estimated $200,000 a year to support any current or future chancellor and help implement their priorities. Barbara Weitz said she and her husband have been impressed by Lis ideas, energy and excitement since she became UNO chancellor two years ago. What will happen when she leaves? How are we going to get someone that incredibly good to come? Weitz asked rhetorically. The top leadership at UNO needs to be the best. In order to do that, weve got to provide a standard of support they might not find anywhere else. The couples $6 million pledge for the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture will help finance a $12 million renovation of a building, which is known as The Barn, into the Student Success and Activity Center on the rural college campus. The foundation is seeking another $6 million from private donors to match the couples contribution. Donations can be made online. The center will be a space for students to eat, socialize and study. The center will also host events. The couples $6 million pledge will be the single largest monetary donation for the two-year college, which had 250 students enrolled last fall. They could double the size of their student body if we could redo that building, Weitz said. The couple made the pledge through the Only in Nebraska fundraising campaign. Barbara and Wally are the UNO chairs for the $3 billion campaign. The campaign, which is raising money for all NU campuses plus Nebraska Medicine, has raised nearly $1.9 billion to date from 119,581 donors. Top Journal Star photos for June 2023 NENZEL Greg Nollette and his family lucked into the wine business. They planted 200 vines on their Cherry County ranch in 2002, not to sell wine but to grow grapes that George Johnson could crush and sour for his George Paul Vinegars in nearby Cody. Unknowingly, they had picked almost the perfect spot on their spread. The spark for the Nollettes Niobrara Valley Vineyards, a 2023 Nebraska Passport location, was struck a decade later by Ed Swanson. He owned the former Cuthills Vineyards near Pierce and was consulting with Johnson, Greg Nollette said. When he tasted the yield from the Nollettes grapes, Ed said the wines too good to spoil it. Vinegars spoiled wine, Greg said. So George called me up and asked if we could sell any wine. I said I had no idea because I had never seen it before. The familys wines debuted in 2012, with Johnson offering his vinegary grapes to produce the first 30 cases. After formally organizing their vineyard business in 2013, the Nollettes started producing at their own place in 2014. Their tasting room has operated ever since in the home place at the ranch. Its 1 miles off U.S. Highway 20 southeast of Nenzel, incorporated in 1899, where the four Nollette brothers grew up as the fourth generation from homesteader and town founder George Nenzel. The two oldest Lou, now 74, and Neal, 71 are retired Catholic priests in the Grand Island Diocese. Greg, 67, and Tim, 63, felt a call to agriculture, inspired in part by the hogs and cattle their father Joseph Nollette raised on the familys acreage in town. But their call was to the classroom, at least at first. Both of the youngest brothers taught agriculture in rural Nebraska high schools. But in 1982, with Tim teaching at St. Edward and Greg in graduate school to become an extension agent, their dad died. They had to deal with the family home. That was in the agricultural depression, Greg said. And people said you need to forget about that and sell it off. We didnt sell. Thats why were here. And we came home. They bought a more traditional spread, though. The family pooled resources to buy their 800-acre ranch in 1985, where Greg and Tim raised purebred Black Angus and Gelbvieh cattle when they werent teaching or working elsewhere. When Johnson asked them to consider raising grapes, the brothers jumped. It was a passion to try to find a way to make a living at a small place, Greg said. We had tried a lot of things in between. All we did was work. Theyve learned a lot about winemaking since. But Greg said the brothers didnt realize the virtues of their vineyard site along their ranchs entrance road. It was close to brother-in-law Jim Higgins neighboring hydrant, and it was kind of out of the way of the ranch, he said. We didnt have a lot of time to take care of grapes, but (Johnson) convinced us. Out of all the people who grew grapes for him, ours were the best. And we had neglected them. When homesteaders took up claims in the area George Nenzel filed for his in 1885 there were a few places in this area where they did a little farming, Greg Nollette said. That soils a little better here because were in the transition area between South Dakota and the Sandhills. The luck was with the spot the brothers chose for their vines. It had good airflow, so the grapes wouldnt freeze in the spring, he said. And were on a hill at 3,300 feet elevation, so its pretty high. Western Nebraskas later growing season affects Niobrara Valleys wines, too. Compared with Missouri River vineyards in eastern Nebraska, we think we have a lot better quality but less quantity, Greg said. The cooler temperatures at night allow the plant to rest, and you get a different quality of grapes. We hear some of the best reds in the state of Nebraska come from here. Its not something we do. Its from where we happen to be. The Nollettes have multiplied their first accidentally successful 200 vines more than tenfold, with 2,350 vines and 10 varieties of French-American hybrid grapes cited on Niobrara Valleys website at nvvsandhills.net. Thirteen wines are listed on the website, which Greg Nollette said can be shipped to 38 states. All of them are cold, hearty grapes, he said. We have a ranching mentality about the grapes. If they cant survive, we dont want them. Besides Greg and Tim Nollette, the vineyard operation has two full-time employees and 15 part-timers during the May 1-Sept. 30 summer season. People who visit the vineyards tasting room will see the medals Niobrara Valley has won at national wine competitions since 2015. Theyll soon be seeing them at a new tasting room and event center closer to Nebraska Highway S-16F. Its expected to open by late summer. The Nollettes are developing a 10-unit RV park and a 1-mile-long pathway winding through the vineyards. Niobrara Valley also offers pizza every Friday night and prime rib every fourth Sunday of the month during the summer. People come for pizza from a 90-mile radius which in western Nebraska isnt seen as a long drive. Everythings relative out here, Greg Nollette said. Local means they could be 60 miles away. If you go Website: nvvsandhills.net Phone: 402-823-4131 Address: 90256 State Spur 16F, Nenzel, NE 69219 Directions: From Valentine: 30 miles west on U.S. Highway 20, 1 miles south on Nebraska Highway S-16F Hours: 2-7 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, May 1-Sept. 30; by appointment, Oct. 1-April 30 (call or email 2-7 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, May 1-Sept. 30; by appointment, Oct. 1-April 30 (call or email jennie@nvv-ne.com for off-season reservation) On Sept. 30, 1990, I stood amid a massive rally in Kyiv with tens of thousands of Ukrainians chanting, No to the Soviet Union! and other cries for independence. As I interviewed Ukrainians in the Russian language theyd been forced to learn from childhood, they told me harrowing tales of Kremlin rule. Older protesters, many with tears in their eyes, recounted the Great Famine of the early 1930s when Soviet dictator Josef Stalins forced agricultural collectivization in what had been the breadbasket of Europe killed 4 million Ukrainian peasants. Even the most militant Ukrainians could not have imagined that 15 months later, following a short-lived coup against Mikhail Gorbachev by communist hardliners, the Soviet Union would collapse and Ukraine would gain full independence. Overnight, it become the second-biggest European country by land mass after only Russia itself. And none could have imagined that scarcely three decades after gaining independence, Ukraine would be pushing for membership in NATO, the U.S.-led Western military alliance formed during the Cold War to prevent Soviet expansion in Europe. Since 1999, Ukraine has watched NATO membership almost double as 14 nations that had been Soviet republics, or part of the Soviet bloc of nominally independent Eastern European countries, joined the alliance. Just this past April, Finland abandoned its decades-long policy of military neutrality, becoming the 31st NATO member. But a series of post-Soviet leaders have warned that Ukrainian membership would be unacceptable, pushing NATO to the Russian doorstep, giving Western powers a threatening perch along the 1,200-mile border between the two countries, and providing access to the key Black Sea port of Odesa. Among them, the most forceful was Vladimir Putin, who has ruled Russia since 2000, save a four-year stretch when his hand-picked aide Dmitry Medvedev held titular power. Putin, in 2005, famously called the collapse of the Soviet Union the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the (20th) century. Three years later, he warned that Ukrainian ascension to NATO would be a direct threat to Moscow. Six years after that warning, with Ukrainian nationalists pushing to join the Western alliance, he sent troops into the Crimean Peninsula and annexed the large southern section of Ukraine. Had Putin stopped there, he might have gotten away with his military aggression. Western leaders, led by Presidents Barack Obama and then Donald Trump, huffed and puffed about his brazen land grab, but they were unwilling to confront the Kremlin strongman directly. That changed on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Describing it as an illegitimate country that never had stable traditions of real statehood, Putin launched a brutal air and land assault aimed at a complete takeover. But like so many great-power leaders before him, he overreached, believing Kyiv would fall quickly, with the rest of Ukraine following suit. Instead, Ukrainians have held firm. Led by President Volodymyr Zelenskys reprisal of Winston Churchill in World War II, Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have resisted Russian incursions, retaken stolen land and inflicted massive casualties on the invaders. In a historic twist of irony, Putins misbegotten gambit turns the impossible into the possible. Ukraine is not yet a NATO member, which would invoke Article 5, the mutual-defense pledge viewing an attack on one as an attack on all, requiring the treatys signatories to provide direct military aid. Yet by steps and bounds, if sometimes haltingly, the United States and its allies embrace Ukraine within the informal fold of NATO. Poland, a NATO member since 1999, began delivering MiG-29 fighter jets last month, weeks after the same aircraft arrived in Ukraine from Slovakia, which joined the alliance in 2004. Longtime NATO members Britain and Germany began sending tanks in March. Despite a series of cautionary public statements, President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv in February, and the United States has transferred $46 billion in military assistance since the Russian invasion, including ships, Abrams tanks, anti-aircraft missiles and advanced radar systems. Perhaps more important, Washington provides battlefield intelligence and training for its sophisticated equipment. On June 3, the heads of nine of the newest NATO members, all former Soviet republics or Soviet-bloc nations, issued a statement calling on the alliance to increase aid to Ukraine and to speed its formal membership. Their statement looked ahead to the NATO summit next month in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. The longer Russia wages war on its neighbor, the more it pursues a bloody occupation that cannot succeed, and the closer it will come to see the Kremlins nightmare of full Ukrainian membership in NATO become a reality. RACINE Tiffany Engibous knew the job would be tough when she took over nine years ago, but she didnt realize how difficult. She was named principal of Renaissance Lutheran School, which was in a turnaround state at the time, Engibous said. A main challenge was getting staff and students on the same page regarding the schools values and expectations. Shifting a school culture, that just takes a lot of time, Engibous said. Im just really thankful that God led me to the opportunity. I think if I wouldve known what I was getting into at the time, I might not have done it. He knows what Im supposed to do, and now I dont regret it at all. It took time, but the private religious school hit a milestone earlier this year when it received a five-star rating on the annual accountability report card from the state Department of Public Instruction for the 2021-22 school year. A five-star school must receive a score of at least 83 out of 100. In 2021-22, Renaissance Lutheran had a score of 86.6. Staff and students were thrilled with the results. There was a party at the school and a dinner and dance for employees. I didnt have a full cry, but your eyes water and youre really excited, Engibous said. Knowing just how hard our teachers work and our kids, and our families, too, it felt really wonderful to see that. She said it was rewarding to see the students excitement too. When they see their successes, its very motivating for them, Engibous said. Carolyn Rager, Renaissance middle school English language arts teacher, said she was over-the-moon excited to hear the result. I got teary-eyed, because it is such a huge accomplishment for our school, and we have come so far since the day I started, Rager said. School background Rager, who has taught at Renaissance for eight years, said her first few years were tough because the school was in a transitional phase. In 2014, Renaissance Lutheran joined Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit founded in 2002 with the goal of supporting academic excellence and personal and spiritual growth in Lutheran schools. Renaissance Lutheran is privately owned and participates in both the Racine Parental Choice Program and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, which allow low income families to participate in school choice. The school is composed of two 4-K through eighth grade buildings in the Racine area: one at 1510 Villa St. in Racine and one at 6150 Taylor Ave. in Mount Pleasant. LUMIN also has five schools in Milwaukee and one in Wauwatosa. Renaissance Lutheran had received quality scores in prior years, but last school year was its best so far. The school had a four-star rating of 77.1 in the 2016-17 school year, a four-star rating of 77.1 in the 2017-18 school year and a three-star rating of 70.4 in the 2018-19 school year. There were no test results in 2019-20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school had a four-star rating of 72.5 in 2020-21. According to state data, Renaissance Lutheran has 412 students total, 96.6% of whom are choice students and 81.6% of whom are economically disadvantaged. Engibous said nearly all Renaissance students live in Racine or Mount Pleasant. Of the students, 54.1% are Black, 22.6% are Hispanic, 14.1% are white and 8.5% are multiracial. Collaboration is key Rager started as a volunteer at the Villa Street location when her children attended the school and then became a part-time first grade teaching assistant. She soon took a full-time role teaching kindergarten, which she did for seven years. This school year, she shifted to middle school. Rager loved making a positive impact and knew immediately that teaching was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She said the most rewarding part of the job is seeing a struggling student grasp a concept. In addition to teachers and students working hard to meet school values and expectations, it is key for staff to collaborate with one another to help all students. It really is about, collectively Are we all in this together? Engibous said. If Im doing really well, I gotta help the person whos next to me struggling, because its not just my kids in this classroom. Theyre all our kids, and every one of them deserves to have a great education. Staffers have a daily morning meeting before school to be on the same page, and any teacher can ask a colleague for help. Everyones really, really open to honest feedback, Rager said. Engibous and Rager said having Christ at the center of their faith-based education is instrumental as well. Striving for excellence Engibous feels some pressure to live up to the five-star rating and keep improving, but the overall aim is being an excellent school. The goal is excellence; the goal is not a rating, Engibous said. Our aspiration is excellence in every area: spiritual, social, academics. Thats what were striving for. She knows test figures are important measures of progress, but theyre not the end all, be all when determining school quality. Its not the only indication of success, but if we are working really hard, we are moving towards that, Engibous said. Rager doesnt feel pressure because of the great students and coworkers, so she thinks the school will receive similar five-star results in the future. I just know were going to do it, Rager said. I dont think its pressure. I think its that we keep doing what weve been doing. After initial challenging years, the school appears to have made a turnaround, but the daily labor is never finished. Were not done yet, Engibous said. We have so much more work to do, and so that should be that driver. St. Catherine's High School graduation collection of five photos Evan Moherek Three friends Simpson and Imani Moherek and Mosley Brenda White YORKVILLE A motorcyclist from Milwaukee County died Friday after a traffic crash that also sent another motorist to the hospital. The Racine County Sheriffs Office said the collision happened about 6:50 p.m. near the intersection of Plank Road and North Colony Avenue, north of Union Grove. Officials said a 22-year-old man from Greendale who was riding a Harley-Davidson died from his injuries. The sheriffs department did not say whether he was wearing a helmet. A 25-year-old woman from Milwaukee who was driving a Nissan Altima involved in the crash was taken to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. No details about her injuries were released. The sheriffs department did not identify either motorist. Officials said the motorcycle was found in the roadway and the Altima was found in a field beside the roadway. Both vehicles were described as being severely damaged. The incident remains under investigation. How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years Spending on public safety in cities in the US has doubled since 1980 Police funding has remained about half of public safety budgets consistently for 40 years Even with ballooning public safety budgets, many cities allocate more money to the police RACINE A Pride flag is now flying alongside the American flag in front of Racines City Hall. The flag was ordered to fly Monday by Racine Mayor Cory Mason and will be flown until the end of June to celebrate Pride Month, an annual celebration of LGBTQ+ people. The month also commemorates the Stonewall Riots that took place on June 28, 1969, in Greenwich Village, New York. These riots are often considered the beginning of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The first Pride Month, which included parades in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, took place the following year in 1970. The Pride flag flown at City Hall, 730 Washington Ave., is the design that features a six-stripe rainbow and was designed by artist Gilbert Baker as a redesign of the original flag he made in 1978. Gilbert made the original flag at the request of Harvey Milk, a San Francisco city supervisor and the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, and other activists. The flag debuted at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978, according to the GLBT Historical Society. After Milks assassination that same year, the flag rose in popularity and has spawned many different variations, including the Progress flag. The Progress flag features the six rainbow colors as well as stripes representing LGBTQ+ people of color, people living with and who have been lost to HIV/AIDS, and transgender individuals. The Progress flag as designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar and is considered a more modern version of the Pride flag. On June 1, Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #204, which ordered the Progress Pride flag to be flown at the east wing of the Wisconsin State Capital Building for the month of June. The order authorized state buildings and any jurisdiction of the State of Wisconsin to fly the flag as well. In November, Racine became one of the three cities in the state to receive a score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaigns Municipal Equality Index, a nationwide annual assessment of LGBTQ+ inclusion in municipal law, policy and services in more than 500 cities. At a city council meeting Tuesday, the City of Racine approved a Pride rally to take place at City Hall on June 25 at noon. The flag will be taken down two days this month: June 17 to honor Racine Police Department Officer John Hetland on the anniversary of his death, and June 19 for Juneteenth. In Photos: Racine Pride Day 2022 In the crowd Bronna and Sandy Nicole Cherrek and Jodi Hentzell Stephan St. Amand and Stacy Malacara Loving Family Brittany and Isaiah Rev. Kaye Glennon Rose Antczak Grace Cajiuat Rose in the crowd "Drag queens are fabulous" Brittany Kugler Greta Neubauer Christina Dressier A brew city sister Alderman CJ Rouse Mason and Farrar Stephan St. Amand Lily and Melissa Ruta Melissa Warner Mike Rude Grace Knapp Cory Mason Jr. Rose and Arain How often have you screamed for ice cream this month? Unless you are lactose intolerant, you should be have finished your fourth gallon. After all, this is June Dairy Month, an observance I understand was established by a member of royalty known as the Dairy Queen. She was given that title because every June the queen ordered her subjects to comb the countryside to find the most contented cow. The queen then presented a silver cowbell to the beloved bovine and fed her Hershey kisses to encourage the cow to produce chocolate milk. Its hard to believe there is no written record of any contented cow accomplishing that feat. Actually, the observance was originated in 1937 as National Milk Month by the American Dairy Council to encourage more milk consumption. The name was changed two years later. The Carnation Condensed Milk Co. of Kent, Wash., adopted the slogan Carnation: From Contented Cows in 1907. Im as disappointed as you to learn the slogan did not originate in Wisconsin, Americas Dairyland. June always takes me back to my childhood. You may be surprised to learn that I started milking cows at age 10 on my parents farm near Lester Prairie, a small town in Minnesota 50 miles southeast of Grove City. There is a microbrewery in Grove City we plan to visit this summer. But I digress. I was describing the days when I was given a junior sized pail and told to milk a contented cow name Lily. In those days, I believe, most cows were contented, especially in summer when they chomped on fresh grass in green pastures and lay in the shade chewing their cud. Near the end of the afternoon, they formed a line and moseyed to the barn, eventually to find their assigned stanchions. But there is where the story changed. Although contented, the cows did not give milk. We had to take if from them by squeezing four extensions on the part of the anatomy called the udder. That reminds me of a silly song I heard two brothers sing at St. Cloud State Teachers College in an earlier millennium. Originally recorded by Stan Frfeberg, it was titled Pass the odder udder over to my udder brudder. I hired them to sing at the 1956 Miss Lester Prairie Pageant where they were too exhausted to appear for a third encore. Im also reminded to the lyrics from the late Allen Shermans version of Mexican Hat Dance: In Wisconsin they dance on fresh butta, which they squeeze from one cow or anutta. Cows today dont have the luxury of strolling in pastures. They spend their days in huge sheds and never taste fresh grass. I think they are bored, not contented. How long has it been since you saw a cow jump over the moon? Off and on over the years, Racine County dairy farms hosted popular dairy farm breakfasts in June. But today there are few dairy farms in the county so we have breakfast on the farm. The Racine County Breakfast on the Farm will be held from 7-11 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at Swans Pumpkin Farm, 5930 Highway H. Im sure there will not be a pumpkin milking demonstration. But will there be pumpkin-flavored ice cream? Democrat Brandon Presley, current Northern District Public Service Commissioner and candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, addresses a group of supporters in Greenwood, Miss., on April 15, 2023. Presley faces Bob Hickingbottom in the August primary. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP) GRENADA, Miss. Conservative Mississippi is tough territory for Democrats, but the party sees an unusual opportunity this year to unseat first-term Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. Theyre pinning hopes in November on a candidate with a legendary last name who has used his own compelling story to highlight the economic plight of working families in a state that has long been one of the poorest in America. Democrat Brandon Presley is a second cousin of Elvis Presley, born a few days before the rock n roll legend died. While campaigning, Brandon Presley talks frequently about government corruption, focusing on a multimillion-dollar welfare scandal that developed when Reeves was lieutenant governor. Advertisement Presley, an elected member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor. He is pushing for Medicaid expansion to help financially strapped hospitals while telling voters about his own difficult childhood. I understand what working families in this state go through, Presley told about 75 people at a restaurant in Grenada, a town on the edge of the Mississippi Delta. Advertisement The 45-year-old said he was just starting third grade when his father was murdered. Presleys mother raised him and his brother and sister in the small town of Nettleton, earning modest wages from a garment factory. In his childhood home, you could see straight through the floors into the dirt, he said, and his mother struggled to pay for water and electricity. And let me say this to you clearly: When my name goes on the ballot in November, the names of families who have had their electricity cut off, who are getting up every day working for all they can to help their kids, to small business owners your name goes on that ballot in November, he said. Mississippi is one of just three states with a governors race this year, joining Kentucky and Louisiana. All are places that historically have supported Republicans for statewide office, though Kentuckys Democratic governor is seeking a second term. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, described the three contests as away games but said Mississippi may be the sleeper a state where the right Democrat could win. Thats despite voters twice heavily backing Donald Trump for president, the GOP holding all statewide offices and a supermajority in the Legislature and a Democrat not winning a Mississippi governors race so far this century. Reeves, who faces two underfunded opponents in the Aug. 8 primary, has the advantage of incumbency: 31 governors of U.S. states or territories sought reelection last year, and only one lost. Reeves had about $9.4 million in his campaign fund at the end of May, far more than the $1.7 million Presley reported. Republicans also say national Democrats enthusiasm for Presleys bid could be a liability. Reeves, 49, was a banker from a Jackson suburb before winning his first statewide office 20 years ago. He is campaigning on a record of reducing the state income tax, increasing teachers pay, restricting abortion access and banning gender-affirming medical care for people younger than age 18. He also is casting this as an us-versus-them election, portraying Presley as part of a national Democratic operation far removed from the realities of life in Mississippi. My friends, this is a different governors campaign than we have ever seen before in our state because we are not up against a local yokel, Mississippi Democrat. We are up against a national liberal machine, Reeves told more than 200 supporters at a campaign event in the Jackson suburb of Richland. They are extreme. They are radical and vicious. Reeves said outsiders look at Mississippi with scorn, but the state has momentum. Advertisement Are we going to let them stop us? Reeves asked, and the crowd responded: No! Are we going to let them make Mississippi conform to California values? Reeves asked. Again, the response was No! Presley was 23 when he was elected mayor of Nettleton in 2001. During his second term leading the town of 2,000, he won the northern district seat on the Mississippi Public Service Commission, a three-member group that regulates utilities. He is completing his fourth term this year. As Presley campaigns, he combines blunt criticism of Reeves with gospel and bluegrass songs that affirm the connection to his famous cousin without leaving the impression that he has chosen the wrong line of work. In Grenada, Presley said a $100 million financial package that legislators and Reeves approved for hospitals this year was a cheap, dollar store clearance-aisle Band-Aid when Medicaid expansion could bring the state about $1 billion a year from the federal government. Murphy said Presleys style has been winning over donors. At an event Presley attended in New Jersey with Murphy, they exceeded their fundraising goal. Advertisement Weve got a great candidate. This guys the real deal, Murphy said. When you listen to what he would do on Day One as governor, you say, You know what? Thats exactly what Mississippi needs. Four years ago, Reeves won the governorship by defeating four-term Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood by 52% to 47%, with two lesser-known candidates in the race. This year, one independent will be on the general election ballot. Republicans like their chances, given the states politics and Reeves history of five statewide wins: two for state treasurer, starting when he was 29; two for lieutenant governor; and one for governor. Democrats are desperately trying to create a mirage when it comes to Mississippi, said Republican Governors Association spokesperson Courtney Alexander. The reality is that Brandon Presley is bought and paid for by national Democrats, while Gov. Reeves record of historically low unemployment, historically high graduation rates, and substantial pay raises for Mississippi educators speaks for itself. About 38% of Mississippi residents are Black the highest percentage of any state and Black voters are vital for Democrats to have any chance of winning statewide. Janie Houston, a retired kindergarten teacher who attended Presleys event in Grenada, said some Black voters might not bother to show up in November because Republicans drew legislative districts specifically to protect wide majorities in the Legislature. Advertisement Thats the point of doing all that gerrymandering, Houston said. Democrats, she added, are not putting enough support behind down-ballot candidates to offset that advantage. They need to come face-to-face with Black voters and any other voter, she said. Thats just the way it is. I just dont think theyre putting enough money behind the candidates to get people to come out in the communities. The most influential Black politician in Mississippi, Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, did not endorse Hood in the 2019 governors race because he said Hood never asked him to. But Thompson endorsed Presley at the outset of this years campaign, and the congressman said he will provide any support Presley requests in the coming months. Thompson said Presley worked with him to help the tiny rural community of Schlater get safe drinking water after the pump for a water well broke, and that Presley has helped other needy areas get reliable electricity. After a tornado devastated the small town of Rolling Fork this spring, Thompson said, one of the first calls I got was from Brandon Presley asking me what could he do? Thompson said Presley found generators in Louisiana to provide electricity for an armory in Rolling Fork that became a disaster relief spot. Advertisement Thats the kind of person, the Brandon Presley that I know, Thompson said in an interview. Its easy to support somebody who demonstrates that they care about people. The Reeves campaign event in Richland was in a large, air-conditioned warehouse for a construction equipment dealership. One of the spectators was Terry Felder, a retired offshore oil rig worker who said he voted for Reeves in 2019 and will again this year because he believes Republicans do a better job of controlling government spending. Felder acknowledged Mississippi has problems but said he thinks the state is in pretty good shape. Every survey they have, if its a bad survey were at the top of the list. If its a good survey, were at the bottom, Felder said. But when youre here, it doesnt seem that way. Burnett reported from Chicago. 1. Yes. Voters across the city filled the seat in the first place. Voters should decide again. 2. Yes. An election is much preferable to back-room decisions among council members. 3. No. The charter calls for the council to fill the vacancy by appointment. Follow the rules. 4. No. An election would be expensive, both for the city and for the potential candidates. 5. Unsure. An election seems more transparent, but its not the perfect answer. Vote View Results Kenosha police continue to investigate early morning gunfire that injured at least two people in the 6800 block of 26th Avenue on Sunday. Just after 1:30 a.m., officers on patrol heard multiple gunshots fired, while multiple calls also reported a person had been shot, according to Lt. Joseph Nosalik, spokesperson for the Kenosha Police Department, in a news statement. He said officers were met with little cooperation when they arrived at the scene; however, they located a victim with a gunshot wound to an upper extremity. The gunshot was not life threatening. Moments later, officials of a local hospital notified police of another gunshot victim who self-transported to the facility. The victim also had non-life-threatening injuries. At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Illinois police notified Kenosha authorities of a gunshot victim at a hospital in Illinois who may have been shot at the Kenosha crime scene, according to the release. The victim also had injuries that were not life-threatening. Nosalik, however, said the persons description of events is being investigated and police have yet to confirm whether the victim was shot in Kenosha. Authorities said they have received little to no cooperation with the investigation and no one is in custody. They are encouraging anyone with information on the shooting to contact the Kenosha Police Department detective bureau at 262-605-5203. Callers who want to remain anonymous can contact Kenosha Area Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333. Gettyimagesbank A Korean woman in her 30s has been found dead in Cambodia and a Chinese couple has been arrested on charges of disposing of her body, local media reported Sunday. The woman's body wrapped in red cloth was found in a puddle in a small town near Phnom Penh on Tuesday, according to the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper and other local media outlets. The victim, identified as an internet broadcaster, was traveling in Cambodia at the time. The Chinese suspects, who are in their 30s, allegedly confessed to abandoning the body after the victim began experiencing seizures and subsequently died while receiving treatment at a clinic they were running on June 4. According to a local source, it is presumed that the victim died after receiving an intravenous solution or serum injection at the clinic. But there are also rumors that she was found with a swollen face, which raises the possibility of assault, the source said. Cambodian authorities are conducting an autopsy and initiating legal proceedings against the suspects. (Yonhap) A large disturbance in the sea can be observed off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm, Sept. 27, 2022 following a series of unusual leaks on two natural gas pipelines running from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany have triggered concerns about possible sabotage. AP-Yonhap German investigators are examining evidence suggesting a sabotage team used Poland as an operating base to damage the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. The investigators have reconstructed the two-week voyage of the "Andromeda", a 50-foot (15-metre) yacht suspected of being involved in the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, the newspaper said. The Journal cited people familiar with the voyage as indicating the sabotage crew had placed deep-sea explosives on Nord Stream 1, before they set the vessel on a course towards Poland. It added that Germany was trying to match DNA samples found on the vessel "to at least one Ukrainian soldier". Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office and Poland's government spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters, but one senior Polish official suggested the newspaper report was the result of Russian propaganda. "Information about Polish or Ukrainian clues in the destruction of NS1 and NS2, repeated in the media space, is consistently used by the Russian apparatus of influence to create the impression/presumption among the recipients that Warsaw and Kiev were behind this incident," Stanislaw Zaryn, deputy to Poland's Minister Coordinator of Special Services, wrote on Twitter. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 put Europe's reliance on Russian natural gas in the political spotlight. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines hastened the region's switch to other energy suppliers. The logo of Nord Stream AG is seen at an office building in the town of Vyborg, Leningrad Region, Russia, Aug. 22, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, at microphone, with House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, left, and Vice Chairman Ted Lieu, speaks after a meeting with the House Democratic Caucus on the Fiscal Responsibility Act at the Capitol in Washington on May 31, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) I was one of 46 Democrats in Congress to vote against the Fiscal Responsibility Act. I voted no on the bill because of the impact the spending cuts would have on my constituents. I also worry about rewarding Republicans for threatening a default as leverage to impose these cuts. The concessions Republicans won in the Fiscal Responsibility Act lay bare their cruel priorities. They want to make it easier for tax cheats to avoid paying up and easier for corporate polluters to poison our environment as they rip away lifesaving social programs from people who need them. Advertisement This bill will make it harder for my constituents to access nutrition assistance and poverty relief programs. Early estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive research and policy group, suggest this bill puts 47,000 people in Illinois at risk of losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP is a lifesaving program that enables struggling families to put food on their tables. This bill also blocks necessary investments in our crumbling infrastructure. This means less money to repair roads and bridges across Chicagoland, less money to improve OHare and Midway airports, and less money to address transit safety and reliability. Advertisement My constituents know the brutal impacts of environmental injustice the pain of dealing with flooding, breathing polluted air and drinking from lead pipes. I could not vote for a bill that fast-tracks fossil fuel pipelines instead of renewable energy development and guts foundational air and water protections. Collectively, Illinoisans hold $61 billion in student debt and the seventh highest average debt in the nation. I have constituents who have to make the decision between paying down debt or paying the bills. I could not vote for a bill that takes billions of dollars away from the Internal Revenue Service to enforce tax laws for the ultrawealthy while going after people in my district young and old who need debt relief. [ Editorial: Again, US teeters at the fiscal cliff. Time to revive talk of a balanced budget amendment. ] I could not vote for a bill that takes away rental assistance from my constituents, many of whom already struggle with housing insecurity and live in rapidly gentrifying communities. Nor could I vote for a bill that takes away federal resources that Chicago needs to welcome migrants and provide them with food and shelter. The only saving grace of the Fiscal Responsibility Act is that it does not touch Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. But these programs should never have been on the table in the first place. Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Republicans effectively used their power as the majority party to message a world of two options: either accept some version of their cuts or default. Though this false choice became our reality, the premise behind it was, in fact, false. There were many ways to avoid default that did not mean subjecting Americans to extreme cuts. My colleagues and I in the Progressive Caucus have been the loudest voices in Congress advocating for different ways to avoid default. Congress could have passed a clean increase of the debt ceiling, which we have done 29 times (under Democratic and Republican administrations) since 1978. Even in a Republican-controlled Congress, President Joe Biden had the constitutional authority to raise the debt ceiling by invoking the 14th Amendment. But the most sustainable solution is the elimination of the debt ceiling altogether. For the century the debt limit has existed, it has been used as a weapon of political brinkmanship while doing nothing to address mounting debt. In 2012 and again this time, Republicans have engaged in this brinkmanship to disinvest from our communities and hurt working people. The debt ceiling should not exist. Advertisement We cannot let Republicans play this game again and again, and I will continue my work in Congress to make sure Republicans cannot manufacture another debt crisis and do even more damage to our communities. U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia represents Illinois 4th Congressional District. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a delayed Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses. The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from Canadian wildfires. But the haze that blanketed a huge swath of the East Coast this past week had lifted over the nation's capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party. So today, I want to send a message to the entire community especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You're understood. And you belong, Biden said. Pride Month is being celebrated this year as state lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights. That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill into that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that he was running for president. In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum last month signed a bill that prohibits public schools and government entities from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who like DeSantis has made culture issues a central part of his tenure as governor, joined the White House primary field. Josh Helfgott, an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the tide of legislation added another layer to this years celebrations. Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry, Helfgott said The other side is so loud, incredibly loud. Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India. Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, she said, she was shunned by family and society as a transgender person. Times were tough in the United States, too, she said. She was pushed out of a job after she came out, was homeless for a time, and took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States. Its a moment that we are going to cherish for a lifetime, said Rimi, an activist in San Franciscos LGBTQ+ community. "This is a joyful moment, but its also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do. 12 important moments in the history of the gay rights movement Early organizing Talking about transgender On the front lines Fighting back PFLAG is started Pride parades are born Winning elected office Pop culture representation Making noise Political action Same-sex marriage Supreme Court ruling HARISH, Israel The sound of children and music echoed down a narrow basement hallway in Israel as they scrambled in a pool of balls, climbed on a jungle gym, munched popcorn and laughed. The atmosphere changed suddenly on that Saturday last month, as at least a dozen religious men appeared and blocked the entrance, accusing the indoor playground of desecrating the Jewish sabbath by opening for business. Angry parents confronted them, scuffles broke out and in an instant, the center in this mixed city had become a flashpoint symbol of a larger battle between secular and religious Jews in Israel. I think it represents whats going on in the country, said Tzipi Brayer Sharabi, a 38-year-old mother who says she was attacked and thrown to the ground during the May 20 incident. I want my kids to live how they choose to live. I dont want somebody to tell them how they should eat, how they should dress, what they should do on Shabbat. Similar incidents have long upset the tenuous balance between the communities. But with ultra-Orthodox parties now wielding unprecedented power in Israels new government and playing a key role in a contentious plan to overhaul the legal system they are aggravating concerns among secular Israelis that the character and future of their country is under threat. Thanks to its supercharged political clout, the haredi community has gained massive budgets that critics say will entrench its isolated way of life and weaken Israels economic prospects as the ultra-Orthodox population balloons. We have two kids. They have 10 kids. Theyre going to be the majority here, eventually, said Brayer Sharabi, a secular Israeli whose elbow was broken in the scuffle. Whats going to happen to this place once they have the majority? Israels ultra-Orthodox, known as haredim, make up 13% of the countrys 9.7 million population. The cloistered community has long been at odds with the secular majority, clashing over military conscription, their integration into the workforce and the basic tenets that guide their lives. Haredi Jews in Israel also are growing faster than any other group, at about 4% annually. The many differences between religious and secular Jews have chafed the country throughout its 75 years. Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, the sense has sharpened among secular Israelis that their lifestyle may have an expiration date. Netanyahu, meanwhile, brushes off such criticism, saying the ultra-Orthodox are Israeli citizens who deserve funding and that he is working to integrate them into the workforce. The ultra-Orthodox mostly live in separate towns and city neighborhoods, and unlike most secular Jews, most are not conscripted in the military under a decades-old system of exemptions that allows them to study religious texts instead. Many continue religious study well into adulthood and do not work, living off government stipends and grating on the nerves of the countrys tax-paying middle class. Ultra-Orthodox schools widely do not teach a core curriculum of math or English. Experts say this gives them few skills to enter the work world, creating a recipe for poverty and increased dependence on government assistance as the population grows. The ultra-Orthodox say their children nonetheless deserve robust state funding for education, and that their otherwise insular communities protect a centuries-old way of life. Their leaders also say they contribute to the economy by paying significant sums of sales tax on consumer purchases for their large families. Yinon Azulai, a lawmaker with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, last month in a parliament speech denounced what he called the wild incitement raging these days and running in the streets of baseless hatred for the ultra-Orthodox community after a popular TV host called the community blood suckers. Dan Ben-David, an economist who has long criticized what he says is preferential treatment for the ultra-Orthodox, said the generous subsidies and political power provide a glimpse of Israels future. Not a day goes by where were not inundated with a clear picture of whats life going to be like under an ultra-Orthodox majority, said Ben-David, president of Tel Aviv Universitys Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research. The level of tension is much higher. The tens of millions of dollars in financial handouts passed in the recent budget last month have enraged secular Israelis. Weekly protests against the legal overhaul have sometimes adopted anti-religious themes, especially ahead of a court-ordered July 31 deadline for Netanyahu to submit a new law to address the issue of ultra-Orthodox enlistment. It is not clear whether a proposed bill would pass legal muster. It does not seek to draft more ultra-Orthodox men into the military, but instead would cajole them into joining the workforce earlier. Gilad Malach, director of the ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program at the Israel Democracy Institute, a think tank, said that the large budget was part of a broader trend showing the community is not integrating with the countrys larger society. The last few years we have more and more signs that this process is not strong enough, he said. People ask themselves, what is the direction that (the) Israeli state goes? Photos: Israelis protest proposed judicial changes TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Debate surrounding Florida's new restrictions on gender-affirming care focused largely on transgender children, but a new law that Republican presidential candidate and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed last month also made it difficult even impossible for many transgender adults to get treatment. Eli and Lucas, trans men who are a couple, followed the discussions in the Legislature, where Democrats warned that trans children would be more prone to suicide under a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and Republicans responded with misplaced tales of mutilated kids. Eli said he and his partner felt "blindsided" when they discovered the bill contained language that would also disrupt their lives. "There was no communication. Nobody was really talking about it in our circles," said Eli, 29. Like many transgender adults in Florida, he and Lucas are now facing tough choices, including whether to uproot their lives so they can continue to access gender-confirming care. Clinics are also trying to figure out how to operate under regulations that made Florida a test case for restrictions on adults. Lucas, 26, lost his access to treatment when the Orlando clinic that prescribed him hormone replacement therapy stopped providing gender-affirming care altogether. The couple also worries about staying in a state that this year enacted several other bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community. "My entire life is here. All my friends, my family. I just got a promotion at my job, which I'm probably not to be able to keep," said Lucas, who works in a financial aid office at a college. "I'm losing everything except Eli and my pets moving out of here. So this was not a decision that I took lightly at all." The Associated Press is not using Eli's and Lucas' last names because they fear reprisal. While their friends and families know they are trans, most people who meet them do not. The new law that bans gender-affirming care for minors also mandates that adult patients seeking trans health care sign an informed consent form. It also requires a physician to oversee any health care related to transitioning, and for people to see that doctor in person. Those rules are particularly onerous because many people received care from nurse practitioners and used telehealth. The law also made it a crime to violate the new requirements. Another new law that allows doctors and pharmacists to refuse to treat transgender people further limits their options. "For trans adults, it's devastating," said Kate Steinle, chief clinical officer at FOLX Health, which provides gender-affirming care to trans adults through telemedicine. Her company decided to open in-person clinics and hire more physicians licensed in Florida in order to continue to provide care to patients who already enrolled, even though that represents a major change to the company's business model. Eli has been seeing a physician for years and therefore still has access to care. But SPEKTRUM Health Inc., the Orlando clinic that prescribed Lucas hormone replacement therapy, stopped providing gender-affirming care. "There are a lot of people looking for care that we're no longer legally able to provide," said Lana Dunn, SPEKTRUM Health's chief operating officer. Florida has the second-largest population of transgender adults in the U.S., at an estimated 94,900 people, according to the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. It used state-level, population-based surveys to determine its estimates. Not all transgender people seek medical interventions. At least 19 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. Restrictions on adults haven't been part of the conversation in most places. Missouri's attorney general tried to impose a rule in that state, but it was pulled back. Florida is "the proving ground of what they can get away with," Dunn said. Her organization treats about 4,000 people, mostly in Florida and some out-of-state telehealth patients, she said. While SPEKTRUM bolstered its mental health services since the law passed, it and other organizations heavily rely on nurse practitioners to provide care. Dunn estimates 80% of trans adults in the state were getting their health care from a nurse practitioner and now have lost access. "Right now what we're seeing in the community is just chaos," Dunn said. The law also contains language that she said could scare off doctors who would be otherwise willing to treat trans patients, such as a 20-year statute of limitations to sue over care they provide. As a trans woman herself, Dunn is grappling with losing her own access to hormones while trying to provide support to terrified patients. That's taken "a significant emotional toll," she said. Lucas, who transitioned eight years ago when he was 18, anticipates running out of hormone treatments in June. He hopes to be able to get a new prescription in August but fears he might start to get his period again. "It's just going to be extremely difficult mentally to have your body changing in a way that doesn't align with your brain," Lucas said. Eli and Lucas switched to a month-to-month lease and plan to relocate to Minnesota in November. They said they would leave sooner if they can afford it and started an online fundraiser to help. "I just never thought it could happen this way, this fast and to us," Eli said. 25 transgender celebrities who broke barriers Intro Andreja Pejic Asia Kate Dillon Billy Tipton Caitlyn Jenner Candis Cayne Caroline Cossey Chaz Bono Chris Mosier Christine Jorgensen Fallon Fox Gigi Gorgeous Hari Nef Hunter Schafer Jamie Clayton Jazz Jennings Josie Totah Kye Allums Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski Laura Jane Grace Laverne Cox Lynn Conway Michaela Jae Rodriguez Nat Puff Natalie ContraPoints Wynn Nikkie de Jager In the Dairy Month of June, Wisconsin residents can hoof it to local farms to experience fresh breakfasts in the same places many of the ingredients are sourced from. On Saturday, an estimated 5,000 people descended upon the Kahl Family Farm in Verona for the Dane County Breakfast on the Farm, where volunteers began slinging pancakes at 7 a.m. The warm farm air carried the aroma of farm-fresh breakfast offerings as full-bellied guests enjoyed live music, climbed on tractors and took in a moo-ving demonstration of where food comes from, complete with two brave souls dressed as a pig and a cow in the 80-plus-degree heat. Woven into the details of the breakfast were a blend of tradition and modernity. The Kahl family has farmed their homestead at 8385 County Road A since 1961, raising a variety of living things from dairy cattle to crops. In recent years, event coordinator Laura Herschleb said, the family has transitioned to a mix of crop land and auctioneering, running Imkahlng Auctions, a business started by Riley Kahl. A family affair The Kahl family takes the stage for a group photo at Saturday's Breakfast on the Farm. Alongside his wife, Suzanne, Gary Kahl purchased the fa One of the special things about Wisconsin agriculture is just the diversity of it, and the different ... industries and everything, said Herschleb. Saturdays event featured multiple live auctions with proceeds going to the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin, a nonprofit that combats food and housing insecurity. In this way, the event was feeding people who may not have even been in attendance. For those seeking an up-close and personal farm experience, a variety of offerings were available, including a petting zoo featuring multiple excitable fowl and a mild-mannered hog, and a cow statue with an interactive milking udder. Its experiences like these, Herschleb says, that allow Wisconsin residents to truly get in touch with where their food comes from. Were so lucky here in the state of Wisconsin to have agriculture and the dairy industry as such an important part of our state, she said. There are dedicated farmers that are up from sunup to sundown who are taking care of their herd or their crops and their animals to produce those healthy, nutritious products. Sharing the dairy enthusiasm is Tina Peterson, director of communications for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. Peterson said there are more than 60 events like the Dane County breakfast this month celebrating Wisconsins powerhouse dairy industry, which generates $45 billion annually according to the states Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Wisconsinites embrace the fact that we are Americas Dairyland, said Peterson. Dairy is what we do, its in our bones, its in our blood. Udderly thrilled Gracie King, 3, shows off her new look. Face painters worked through the morning at the Dane County Breakfast on the Farm, adding cow print to Bouncing back from the pandemic-induced absence of in-person events, Peterson said shes seen banner numbers in all the Dairy Month programming thus far, and she expects the month to continue the upward trend. Attendance is definitely up, she said. Were back to our pre-COVID numbers. Each event offers more than a shared meal or a cow-spotted face painting. Its a learning opportunity, a chance for farmers to educate their communities about land stewardship, the care and keeping of all living things, and changes in sustainability and conservation practices over time. These farmers are really embracing traditional values but also setting, I would say, a standard across the U.S. when it comes to sustainability, conservation and milk quality, said Peterson. I think one of the best things that people can learn is just how things change over time with technology. The Kahl farm has come a long way since Gary and Suzanne Kahl made that initial purchase in 1959. The family sold off the last of its dairy cattle to become a crop-only farm in the 1990s, but events like Saturdays are a reminder that the 300 acres of corn and beans they currently tend are supported by family tradition, built on decades of dairy cattle and hard work. One thing that I think farmers embrace is the fact that they are always looking to get better for the future, said Peterson. They want to make sure that their land and their animals are around for more generations to come. PRAIRIE DU CHIEN The celebration here will be centered on St. Feriole Island, a historic, flood-prone spot along the Mississippi River that was an active fur trading stop and later home to the Dousman House, a grand hotel constructed in 1864 to serve railroad passengers traveling to and from Milwaukee. But before there was a railroad, hotel, Fort Crawford and Europeans in search of beaver pelts, this was home to Indigenous tribes. So when the 350th anniversary of Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliets expedition is commemorated later this week, there will be a conscious effort to recognize the Native American people who have called this area home for thousands of years. This would be long before the French Jesuit missionary and a French Canadian explorer paddled through Wisconsin in search of a water route from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean. I think whats really interesting is that they wouldnt have gotten here had it not been for the Indigenous people that helped them along the way, and were finally recognizing that, said Carol Roth, executive director of Driftless Development, the regions economic development organization. Weve done a lot. I dont think weve ever planned so much for so many people to potentially arrive over the three days. One of the examples of the help from Native Americans, according to Roth, came when the expedition was paddling up the north-flowing Fox River after leaving St. Ignace, Michigan, on May 17, 1673. The group paddled through Lake Michigan and into what is now the Bay of Green Bay. When they reached what is now Berlin, after a more than 70-mile paddle on the Fox River, they were guided by members of the Mascoutin tribe to Portage, where the expedition encountered an overgrown area filled with wild rice. Thanks to the guides, they were able to find their way and carry their canoes and gear to the Wisconsin River. After arriving at the Mississippi River in mid-June, the expedition headed south before turning around in Arkansas on July 16 across from modern Rosedale, Mississippi, after confirming the river did flow to the Gulf of Mexico and due to fears of being captured by the Spanish. After heading north, they cut across Illinois via the Illinois River and then paddled north along Wisconsins Lake Michigan shoreline before arriving on Sept. 30 at the St. Francis Xavier Mission in what is now DePere. Historic journey Marquette and Jolliets (also spelled Joliet) voyage, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, helped to initiate the first non Native-American settlement in the North American interior that introduced Christianity into 600,000 square miles of wilderness and transformed traditional Indian cultures. The celebration in Prairie du Chien will conclude June 18 and is expected to draw an estimated 30,000 people. It will include a rendezvous encampment with an estimated 350 reenactors, a smaller voyager encampment, walking tours of the citys historic downtown, arrowhead displays, voyager canoe rides and flint making demonstrations. One of the more colorful and educational events of the weekend celebration will be from Native Spirit, a Native American dance troupe based in Phoenix, Arizona. The group, founded in 1997, gives performances throughout the country and will do three shows each on Friday and Saturday. On June 18, the group will perform two shows plus be in the parade that begins at 1 p.m. The dance troupe uses its art as a vehicle to tell the stories of its people and to help keep its culture alive. For Indigenous people, Marquette and Jolliet are like Columbus Day. It represents conquest. Its represents the beginning of what would ultimately be the unraveling of their culture with its connection to the land, said Michael Douglas, a historian and former longtime site director at the Villa Louis, the former estate of the H. Louis Dousman family on St. Feriole Island. Weve been hung up on the word celebration. We are celebrating our heritage but were not celebrating conquest. Prairie du Chien Mike Valley has owned Valley Fish and Cheese in the city for 40 years and helped start the annual Prairie Villa Rendezvous nearly 50 years ago. His family arrived in the area in the 1700s and at the time spelled their last name Vallee. At that time the city was populated by French Canadians, many of whom had Native American spouses. Later, there were also families of African Americans. Valley collects historic artifacts, and when we stopped by for an impromptu visit last week had just pulled out a batch of catfish from his smoker. He then showed off a wooden scale used to measure gun power and tools from the early 1800s. One of his more impressive collections is a can full of trading beads and turtles claws that he has found through the years in the river and in caves. My heritage is really deep and embedded in me, Valley said. Being a commercial fisherman and trapping, hunting and fishing all my life, Im much more deeply involved than being just a French person. This weeks events, which are also being organized by the citys Main Street program, include historical displays at the Fort Crawford Museum. The maps, paintings and artifacts help tell the story of Marquette and Jolliet, the first Europeans to see the Upper Mississippi River. Mary Antoine, a board member of the Prairie du Chien Historical Society, said the exhibit represents not only the expedition but the French culture they brought with them and their interactions with Native Americans. This is very important because this is where they found the Mississippi River for the first time, Antoine said. We dont say discovered because it had already been discovered by the Native people. Same goes for the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, where communities such as Sauk City, Mazomanie, Boscobel and Muscoda are relatively new entities when compared with the Native American communities. When Marquette and Jolliet paddled through the state, there were no paper mills, power dams or the impoundment upriver from Prairie du Sac known as Lake Wisconsin. Likewise, the Mississippi River was void of locks and dams, and near Prairie du Chien there was the Nine Mile Prairie and farmland that has since been flooded due to development that allows barge traffic to safely navigate from Minneapolis to New Orleans. But while Prairie du Chien will be the epicenter of Marquette and Jolliet celebrations this week, it should be noted that the duo likely never set foot on the land that is now a city of more than 5,500 people. The confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers is more than 3 miles south of St. Feriole Island. They probably got to the mouth of the Wisconsin and turned left, Douglas said. Thats the reality. Photos: Documenting the shipwrecks of Wisconsin Shipwrecks Shipwrecks Shipwrecks Shipwrecks Shipwrecks Shipwrecks Shipwrecks Shipwreck Research 07-07272021160451 Robert Crimo Jr. leaves the Lake County Courthouse on Jan. 26, 2023, in Waukegan following a hearing on the seven felony counts of reckless conduct he faces in connection with his son's alleged role in the July Fourth mass shooting in Highland Park. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Last Independence Day, my wife, my two little girls and I went to watch the July Fourth parade in our hometown of Highland Park. As the parade began, my wife went back to our car to get a blanket for us to sit on. As I sat on the side of the road with my 3-year-old and my 1-year-old, I noticed something strange: The high school marching band was running past us, looking scared. One of them shouted, Shots fired! Advertisement I picked up my kids and ran. We ran frantically down the street in a crowd of panicked people. We ducked into a parking lot and hid behind a car. A woman who lived in a nearby apartment building invited us inside. I took my kids up to her home, without my shoes, wallet or phone, items Id left behind in my rush to flee. As my kids played with a Peppa Pig flashlight and built a fort out of couch cushions, news of what happened splashed across CNN. Someone had shot into the crowd, killing at least five people and wounding dozens of others. Advertisement I borrowed the phone of the woman who was sheltering us to call my parents. I told them we were OK, but we didnt know where my wife was. She ended up being OK, but we were separated from her for more than five hours while police pursued the shooter and ordered people to stay inside. My kids ate a snack and colored with crayons. I watched from the windows while SWAT team members patrolled the streets, holding long guns and peering inside garbage cans. When I was finally reunited with my wife, we broke into tears. One year later, some of the shock has subsided. But our lives will never be the same. Our hearts beat faster now in large crowds. We jump when we hear cars backfiring. Our older daughter, who is 4 now, asks us questions like, Why did a bad man have a gun? [ Jacqueline von Edelberg: When Highland Park students faced another threat of gun violence, this is how they felt ] If she were older, I would explain. I would say that a bad man had a gun because his father allowed him to, sponsoring his application to legally purchase semi-automatic rifles when his son was 19 years old. I believe the shooting suspects father, Robert Crimo Jr., of Highwood, should be held accountable for his actions. His son had a history of drug use and depression. More glaringly, he also had a history of violence. He had attempted suicide with a machete. He had threatened to kill members of his family. Police had been to his house multiple times as a result of these incidents. Almost as important as what the shooting suspect had is what he didnt have. He had no history of having an interest in hunting or other sportsmanship that would have justified him owning the military-style weapon and 30-round magazines that he allegedly used to tear apart our town for his own amusement. The shooting suspect is in jail now. Hell probably be there for a while. But his father has been free on bail since December. Hes being prosecuted by the Lake County states attorney for seven counts of reckless conduct. But the bar to convict is high, and hes hired a legal team to defend him. Advertisement Many in our community are worried the father will be let off the hook. I dont believe thats right. Dozens of people are suffering because of his actions, and he should have to answer for that. His son didnt just allegedly kill seven people and wound dozens of others. He shattered our sense of security forever. Our kids now have regular active-shooter drills at their preschool, where theyre told to hide in the quiet corner. This is the world we live in as a result of some very poor choices from one local family. Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Im not a die-hard gun-control advocate. I believe in the constitutionally protected right of an American citizen to own a gun. But I also believe that if you dont use your guns responsibly, there should be consequences. And not just for the person who pulls the trigger. In this case, the shooting suspect got what he wanted fame and notoriety, forged from an otherwise lackluster life. But what about his father, who enabled him? We have signs around our town that remind people of the values we hold. One that touches a nerve for me lately says: Responsible People Think Ahead. Another, just down the road from where this nightmarish attack took place, reads: Be accountable for your actions. Here in Highland Park, these values mean something. I dont believe the alleged shooters father knew his son would go on a rampage. But he made a bad decision, and it ended up hurting a lot of people. As the one-year anniversary of the shooting approaches, I support the Lake County states attorney in his efforts to make the elder Crimo liable for the massacre. Advertisement Hunter Stuart is a public relations professional and former journalist. He lives in Highland Park with his wife, Adele, and his two daughters. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY JUNE 11, 2023 World Peace Is the Most Important Issue for Mankind June 10, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)An intense four-hour dialogue occurred at todays Schiller Institute online conference The World Needs JFKs Vision of Peace, an event commemorating President John F. Kennedys historic American University speech of June 10, 1963and the paradigm of Man that it represented, which is decisive to bringing about peace today in this most dangerous of global crises. Participants included Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute; Donald Ramotar, former President of Guyana; Pino Arlacchi, former head of the UN Office for Drug Control (1997-2002) and former Italian member of parliament; Ray McGovern, former senior analyst, CIA, and member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity; Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, Founder and president, JUST International, Malaysia; Diane Sare, U.S. Senate candidate from New York; and Harley Schlanger, spokesman for The LaRouche Organization. The meeting was moderated by the Schiller Institutes Dennis Speed. The following is taken from the opening section of Mrs. Zepp-LaRouches remarks to that meeting: We are commemorating one of the most important speeches of the postwar period, the speech given by JFK 60 years ago at American University, his very famous Peace Speech. But we are not doing it in an academic manner, we are doing it with a dramatic worldwide mobilization of as many forces as possible, and as an urgent appeal to the US government to return to the outlook expressed by John F. Kennedy, that the United States must return to become a force of peace in the world, not, as Kennedy said, a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war ... but the kind of peace that makes life on the Earth worth living. Because we are concerned that the world is dangerously close to the possible outbreak of a new world war, which this time would be a thermonuclear one, and therefore mean the annihilation of all life on Earth. Starting Monday, over Germany there will start the largest NATO air war maneuver since the end of the Cold War, the Air Defender 23, with the largest maneuver transfer of 100 fighter jets from the US to Germany, including the nuclear-capable stealth F-35, as well as 120 more fighter jets from other countries. The basis of the maneuver is an air war against an imaginary enemy, who as well commands a potent air force, and it is obvious, who that would be. Under the present condition of an escalating war in Ukraine, some military accident or the error of a pilot very easily can be misread as an act of aggression. There have been recently more and more Ukrainian strikes into the territory of Russia, and the Russian air surveillance for sure will be on high alert observing the NATO maneuver. Russian observers, who could verify that the maneuvers are not a pretext for the preparation of a nuclear attack, have not been invited. Even though this maneuver has been prepared since 2018, to actually carry it out under conditions of a hot war in the middle of Europe puts the world at risk of extinction, even if there were no intention, just misfortune. This maneuver must be called off before it starts! With an obviously insane proposal to drive nuclear brinkmanship to the extreme, under the headline The key to ending the war in Ukraine? Attacking Crimea, John E. Herbst, the senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center, and Daniel Fried, a fellow at the Council, have now repeated the proposal by the British Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) of a year ago, to end the Ukraine war by creating a Cuban Missile Crisis on steroids, by having Ukraine attack Crimea. By destroying the Kerch Bridge, Ukraine would first take Crimea, and then fissures in Putins regime would grow and he would then fall. Then Russia would accept to have lost the war. Not one mention of the utmost danger, that this would cross the ultimate red line of the presently strongest nuclear powerRussiaand a demonstrated ignorance about the lack of the kind of back-channel discussion which existed between Kennedy and Khrushchev, this proposal obviously reflects the thinking of a major faction in the Anglo-American establishment, for which the Atlantic Council is the mouthpiece. In addition to the member of the Order of the British Empire and former commander of the UK and NATO Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear Forces, ret. British Army Col. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, is asserting without the slightest proof, that President Putin would be preparing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as an improvised nuclear weapon. Therefore, the West should act to urgently stop Putin with whatever it takes, he says. These proposals are sheer madness. What should cause every sane person on the planet to be alarmed to the highest degree, is not only the fact that it has become normal for the mainstream media to publish such nuclear war-mongering poison, but that almost all the Western establishments dont denounce such irresponsible utterings, but go along with the official narrative about Putins unprovoked war of aggression. The situation today is far more dangerous than during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and far more dangerous than during the intermediate-range missile crisis in the beginning of the 1980s, but the public awareness has been squashed by a relentless war propaganda, which has demonized Russia and increasingly China, and seemingly eradicated any historic memory in parts of the population and leaves others with a feeling of despair about what to do! Indeed, what is to be done, in this amazingly dangerous moment of history? The Schiller Institute is circulating internationally an appeal to the President of the United Statesthat is, President Bidento urgently return to the policies of John F. Kennedy, as they are expressed in his peace speech given 60 years ago today. VOA Learning English presents Americas Presidents. Today we are talking about Abraham Lincoln. He was the 16th president of the United States. Many Americans consider him one of countrys greatest leaders. Yet people alive when Lincoln was elected in 1860 would probably be surprised by modern-day opinions about him. He had little formal education or government experience. During the presidential campaign, critics made fun of his appearance and his simple way of talking. They warned that he was not very intelligent and would harm the nations image. Some of his opponents especially in Southern states had even bigger concerns. They were afraid Lincoln would use the power of the federal government to end slavery in their states. They were right. Early life Abraham Lincoln was born in the frontier state of Kentucky. His family was very poor and had a simple home: a log cabin. Lincoln had to support his parents and his sister by working, so he rarely went to school. Instead, he taught himself by reading books. Eventually, he became a lawyer in the state of Illinois. As a young man, Lincoln was known for several qualities. He was tall and thin. He was very strong his neighbors remembered him cutting down trees. And he was honest. The people he defended in court called him Honest Abe. In time, Lincoln was elected to the Illinois General Assembly, the states legislature. He also served one term as a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. But he was not popular there. Voters did not like his opposition to the countrys war with Mexico. So Lincoln withdrew from politics and turned his attention to his family. He had married a Southern belle named Mary Todd in 1842. They had four sons. But two died when they were very young. Lincoln also developed his legal career representing railroad companies. Some people thought he might become the best railroad lawyer in the country. But that is not what happened. Election of 1860 In the 1850s, Lincoln returned to national politics. The division over the issue of slavery was deepening. Lincoln was not an anti-slavery activist, an abolitionist. But he did not support the countrys policies on slavery. Lincoln believed slavery violated the American Declaration of Independence, which said all men had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To be clear, Lincoln did not believe that black people should have the same rights as white U.S. citizens. But he did not agree that one person should own other people, or profit from their work while they earned nothing and were held captive. Lincoln decided to compete in elections for a seat in the U.S. Senate. He was chosen as the candidate of a new, anti-slavery party. Members called themselves Republicans. During the election campaign, Lincoln famously discussed the issue of slavery in a series of debates with Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Partys candidate. Lincolns words moved some voters. But they did not earn him enough votes to get elected. So, while Douglas took the seat in the Senate, Lincoln prepared to run for president. Lincoln said that, if he were elected, he would not expand slavery to new territories in the countrys west. But he promised not to interfere with slavery in the Southern states, where it already existed. Voters in Southern, slave-holding states did not trust Lincoln. Not a single Southern state supported him in the election of 1860. But he won anyway. The support of anti-slavery Northerners gave him the presidency. In answer, seven Southern states withdrew from the Union. Four more later joined them. These states formed a new government, called the Confederate States of America or, the Confederacy. Confederate officials chose their own president and wrote their own constitution, which permitted each state control over its own laws especially laws that protected slavery. Confederate officials said they no longer recognized the power of the U.S. federal government, or its chief executive. As that chief executive, Lincoln would have to decide what to do. Civil War President Lincolns first test came a little more than a month after he was sworn-in. The event involved Fort Sumter, a federal military base on an island off the coast of South Carolina. Soldiers on the base needed food. Lincoln said he would send some by ship. But Confederate officials considered the fort part of South Carolina, which belonged to the Confederacy. They demanded that the Union soldiers leave the fort. But Union forces and the U.S. president ignored the Confederates demands. As promised, Lincoln sent the supply ships. As expected, Confederate soldiers attacked. A day and a half later, the forts Union soldiers surrendered. The clash did not last long, and no one was killed in the fighting. But the battle at Fort Sumter marked the official beginning of hostilities between the Union and the Confederacy. Lincoln immediately took action to answer the loss of Fort Sumter. He called on state militias for troops and asked for a special meeting of Congress. The president was careful not to ask Congress to make an official declaration of war, in part because he did not want to recognize the Confederacy as a separate nation. Instead, he called the Southern states opposition a rebellion. However, the conflict between the Southern Confederacy and the Northern Union was a civil war. Neither side expected the fighting to last very long a few weeks or maybe months. Instead, the Civil War lasted four and a half years. Most of the major battles took place near Washington, DC, in the states of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Soldiers and civilians also clashed in the west, in Tennessee, as well as in the southern states of Mississippi, South Carolina, and Georgia. But the war involved the entire country. At least 4 million men fought in it. Among the soldiers were African-American and Native-American men. The conflict divided families. Brothers, fathers and sons fought against each other. Women in both the North and South also supported the war effort. They cooked meals, made and repaired clothing for the troops, served as nurses and cared for the soldiers. Both white and African-American women also took over the work of men who had left to fight. And more than 620,000 men died -- recent scholarship says as many as 750,000. The Civil War remains the bloodiest war in American history. And it changed the country. The war radically affected American politics, economics, and society. Abraham Lincoln was the U.S. president through all of it. Next week's article will discuss Lincolns presidency and legacy. I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Listening Quiz Quiz - America's Presidents: Abraham Lincoln (Part One) Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story formal - adj. received in a school frontier - n. a distant area where few people live cabin - n. a small, simple house made of wood belle - n. a very attractive and popular girl or woman abolitionist - n. a person who wants to stop or abolish slavery entire - adj. complete or full; not lacking or leaving out any part nurse - n. a person who is trained to care for sick or injured people Then-President Donald Trump leaves after speaking during a rally in Opa Locka, Florida, on Nov. 2, 2020. Trump faces multiple counts related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) In recent weeks, several credible Republican candidates have emerged. The list includes Ron DeSantis, with his red-blooded gubernatorial record in Florida and his war on woke, Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina with a moderate tone and strong international experience, Tim Scott, a businessman and senator with a message of self-reliance, Chris Christie, a pugnacious East Coaster, and former Vice President Mike Pence, a Midwest conservative. Someone in there, youd think, for every flavor of Republican. And not a single one of them has been indicted by the federal government. Advertisement The same, of course, cannot be said for former President Donald Trump. On Thursday, a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Miami served up charges relating to Trumps alleged mishandling of classified documents. The seven-count indictment, per Trumps legal team, said (among other things) that Trump had willfully retained national defense secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, had made false statements and thus conspired to obstruct justice. On social media, Trump denied the charges and proclaimed his innocence. These federal charges came, of course, on top of the previous state charges from the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, relating to hush-money payments made in 2016 by Trump to a former pornographic movie actress. Trump pleaded not guilty to those charges. Advertisement In essence, America now finds itself with a wholly undesirable situation in which the administration of a sitting American president is striving to convict not just a man who could well be his opponent in the upcoming presidential election, but a former president to boot. This is the kind of situation associated with struggling democracies flirting with autocracies or with a tinpot dictatorship, not the leading nation of the free world. Its truly bizarre that the U.S. increasingly dominates so many globally crucial fields, from mobile communication to artificial intelligence to drug manufacturing and yet its own presidential electoral process shows this scale of fragility. The situation now is that a chunk of the country, Trumps supporters, believe that their favored candidate is the victim of a politically motivated prosecution by some combination of the so-called dark state (a term for supposedly nonpartisan civil officials becoming partisan political actors) and the Biden administration. That view, of course, is being encouraged by Trump, who clearly sees it not just as a viable defense strategy but a potential path to electoral victory. [ Editorial: Time to take a jackhammer to the Trump sign on Chicagos Trump Tower ] None of these charges, or even potential convictions, prevent Trump from running for office. Trump would be free to campaign even if he is both convicted and sent to prison. The authors of the Constitution specified only that a candidate must be a natural-born U.S. citizen at least 35 years old and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. They did not feel the need to add provisos about not being under federal or state indictment. Clearly, they did not anticipate a Trump. Who did? Legal experts say there would be no basis to block his swearing-in as president even if he is incarcerated, though this would pose extraordinary logistical and security questions, Reuters reported. Thats an understatement if ever there was one: an oath to the Oval Office potentially sworn in a federal prison with the new president in handcuffs, followed hard upon by state dinners at Rikers Island or Fort Dix, perhaps with Secret Service agents poking their heads out of the next cell. Anyone who ponders that potential scenario, or even less extreme versions, would find themselves fearing for democracy. Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Certainly, Trump is entitled to his day in court, and a conviction is not assured. But a grand jury found the evidence compelling. And, as defendants go, Trump is among the most loquacious, with his utterances on social media not just helpfully previewing his likely defense strategy for the benefit of prosecution lawyers, but ruminating in a fashion that those opposing attorneys will surely use against him in court. It is all, to say the least, an unbelievable mess. Whats the solution? The Republican Party cannot pick Trump as its nominee for president in the 2024 election. There are many other choices. Meanwhile, Trumps supporters must face reality. If Trump is found innocent of all charges, or maybe even after he has served his sentence for them, they can consider him again. They can remain fans. They can visit him in prison, should it come to that. They can publish writings protesting his innocence and use their free speech rights to rail against the Justice Department or Braggs New York operation. He can remain in their hearts as someone who protected their interests. Advertisement But they must now see that, with all of these charges now out in the open and awaiting resolution, Trump cannot be a major partys candidate for president. America as we know and love it would not survive. Pick another name. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Donje Gates is 18 years old and lives in Chicago, Illinois. His family wants him to go to college in the fall. But Gates is thinking about going to a trade school instead. He says he worries about the cost of college and is not sure if it will be valuable to him. Gates was in a group of high school students visiting Chicagos Malcom X Community College. About 75 percent of the schools students are women. Like many colleges and universities in the United States, Malcom X is struggling to get more male students to enroll. Women now make up about 58 percent of U.S. college undergraduates. That information comes from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The percentage of men in higher education is getting smaller each year. Now, some universities are making extra efforts to attract and keep male students. For example, leaders at Malcolm X Community College saw that Black men were dropping out at a higher rate than other student groups. To help more Black men stay in school, leaders started a mentoring program. The program connects a teacher or other school employee with two Black male students. The effort has helped. Forty-three percent of Black male students dropped out between the fall of 2021 and the spring of 2022. But 93 percent of the men in the mentoring program stayed in school, said the schools president, David Sanders. However, Sanders said some men do not want to admit they need academic help. Theres an expectation for a male, he said. Hes supposed to be strong and not show weakness. Ideas about men can affect enrollment College officials say some ideas about men and boys add to the enrollment difficulties. Berea College is a small private school in the southern U.S. state of Kentucky. It has 18 percent fewer male students now than in 2019. The college is trying to attract more men from nearby areas in the Appalachian Mountains. Rick Childers is a former student at Berea. He now works for the college and leads the schools Appalachian project. He said many of the male students he meets face the same outdated ideas about masculinity that he did. In that old way of thinking, going to college was not something a strong man would do. Childers said his father would call him college boy in a negative way. Educators say it is difficult to make college appealing to men who have been told that college is not for them. Educators say another problem is that some officials at colleges and universities do not believe male students need any special help. Ioakim Boutakidis is a professor of child and adolescent studies at California State University Fullerton. He noted that some officials think men already have more advantages than women. As a result, those schools may be less likely to offer special support for male students. Boutakidis said he has tried to get his university to pay attention to male enrollment and academics. But his coworkers, he said, have expressed doubt about the need for more focus on male students. Overall, men of color are less likely to attend college than white men. Because of this, Boutakidis said he thinks schools should focus on men of color first. Some colleges across the country have started to do that. Californias large community college system has increased support of its African American Male Education Network and Development program, or A2MEND. The program aims to attract and keep Black men. One way it does this is by giving one-on-one mentoring and providing places for the students to meet. The program hopes this will make Black students feel welcome and build a sense of community. Amanuel Gebru is vice president of student support at Moorpark, a California community college. He is also president of the A2MEND board. He said he thinks colleges should hire more Black professors. Just seven percent of faculty members at American colleges are Black, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Moorpark College said just two percent of its faculty members are Black. The U.S. population is 13.6 percent Black. In New Jersey, Montclair State University has tried several ways to attract male students from communities in that state. This includes providing tutoring, counseling, food and other things students need. But many communities still believe men do not belong in college, said assistant provost Daniel Jean. Theres an anti-intellectual environment thats gotten worse, he said. The definition of manhood is often flawed. Vaughn Smith Jr. is a 23-year-old Montclair State student from Newark, New Jersey. Smith, who is Black, said boys and men in poorer neighborhoods may be focused on things other than making college plans. He said most of his male high school classmates did go to college. But many of them, he added, have since dropped out. I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Faith Pirlo. Matt Krupnick wrote this story for the Hechinger Report. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. Colleges, Universities Trying to Increase Number of Male Students Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story enroll -v. to enter a program of study in a school undergraduate -n. a student in a college or university studying for an associates or bachelors degree attract -v. to cause admiration of something or a desire to get closer to something mentor -v. to give advice or guidance to someone over a period of time masculinity -n. the qualities that are considered to be typical of men adolescent -adj. referring to people are no longer children but not yet adults, typically teenagers advantages -n. aspects that make something better or puts someone in a better position focus -n. attention directed to a specific topic or thing faculty -n. teachers at colleges and universities tutoring -n. additional teaching and instruction to help students flawed -adj. having a mistake or not working correctly _______________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. JUNE DAIRY MONTH | BREAKFAST ON THE FARM In the Dairy Month of June, Wisconsin residents can hoof it to local farms to experience fresh breakfasts in the same places many of the ingredients are sourced from. On Saturday, an estimated 5,000 people descended upon the Kahl Family Farm in Verona for the Dane County Breakfast on the Farm, where volunteers began slinging pancakes at 7 a.m. The warm farm air carried the aroma of farm-fresh breakfast offerings as full-bellied guests enjoyed live music, climbed on tractors and took in a moo-ving demonstration of where food comes from, complete with two brave souls dressed as a pig and a cow in the 80-plus-degree heat. Woven into the details of the breakfast were a blend of tradition and modernity. The Kahl family has farmed their homestead at 8385 County Road A since 1961, raising a variety of living things from dairy cattle to crops. In recent years, event coordinator Laura Herschleb said, the family has transitioned to a mix of crop land and auctioneering, running Imkahlng Auctions, a business started by Riley Kahl. "One of the special things about Wisconsin agriculture is just the diversity of it, and the different ... industries and everything," said Herschleb. Saturday's event featured multiple live auctions with proceeds going to the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin, a nonprofit that combats food and housing insecurity. In this way, the event was feeding people who may not have even been in attendance. For those seeking an up-close and personal farm experience, a variety of offerings were available, including a petting zoo featuring multiple excitable fowl and a mild-mannered hog, and a cow statue with an interactive milking udder. It's experiences like these, Herschleb says, that allow Wisconsin residents to truly get in touch with where their food comes from. "We're so lucky here in the state of Wisconsin to have agriculture and the dairy industry as such an important part of our state," she said. "There are dedicated farmers that are up from sunup to sundown who are taking care of their herd or their crops and their animals to produce those healthy, nutritious products." Sharing the dairy enthusiasm is Tina Peterson, director of communications for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. Peterson said there are more than 60 events like the Dane County breakfast this month celebrating Wisconsin's "powerhouse" dairy industry, which generates $45 billion annually according to the state's Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection. "Wisconsinites embrace the fact that we are America's Dairyland," said Peterson. "Dairy is what we do, it's in our bones, it's in our blood." Bouncing back from the pandemic-induced absence of in-person events, Peterson said she's seen "banner numbers" in all the Dairy Month programming thus far, and she expects the month to continue the upward trend. "Attendance is definitely up," she said. "We're back to our pre COVID numbers." Each event offers more than a shared meal or a cow-spotted face painting. It's a learning opportunity, a chance for farmers to educate their communities about land stewardship, the care and keeping of all living things, and changes in sustainability and conservation practices over time. "These farmers are really embracing traditional values but also setting, I would say, a standard across the U.S. when it comes to sustainability, conservation and milk quality," said Peterson. "I think one of the best things that people can learn is just how things change over time with technology." The Kahl farm has come a long way since Gary and Suzanne Kahl made that initial purchase in 1959. The family sold off the last of its dairy cattle to become a crop-only farm in the 1990s, but events like Saturday's are a reminder that the 300 acres of corn and beans they currently tend are supported by family tradition, built on decades of dairy cattle and hard work. "One thing that I think farmers embrace is the fact that they are always looking to get better for the future," said Peterson. "They want to make sure that their land and their animals are around for more generations to come." ON WISCONSIN | PRAIRIE DU CHIEN PRAIRIE DU CHIEN The celebration here will be centered on St. Feriole Island, a historic, flood-prone spot along the Mississippi River that was an active fur trading stop and later home to the Dousman House, a grand hotel constructed in 1864 to serve railroad passengers traveling to and from Mil waukee. But before there was a railroad, hotel, Fort Crawford and Europeans in search of beaver pelts, this was home to Indigenous tribes. So when the 350th anniversary of Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet's expedition is commemorated later this week, there will be a conscious effort to recognize the Native American people who have called this area home for thousands of years. This would be long before the French Jesuit missionary and a French Canadian explorer paddled through Wisconsin in search of a water route from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean. "I think what's really interesting is that they wouldn't have gotten here had it not been for the Indigenous people that helped them along the way, and we're finally recognizing that," said Carol Roth, executive director of Driftless Development, the region's economic development organization. "We've done a lot. I don't think we've ever planned so much for so many people to potentially arrive over the three days." One of the examples of the help from Native Americans, according to Roth, came when the expedition was paddling up the north-flowing Fox River after leaving St. Ignace, Michigan, on May 17, 1673. The group paddled through Lake Michigan and into what is now the Bay of Green Bay. When they reached what is now Berlin, after a more than 70-mile paddle on the Fox River, they were guided by members of the Mascoutin tribe to Portage, where the expedition encountered an overgrown area filled with wild rice. Thanks to the guides, they were able to find their way and carry their canoes and gear to the Wisconsin River. After arriving at the Mississippi River in mid-June, the expedition headed south before turning around in Arkansas on July 16 across from modern Rosedale, Mississippi, after confirming the river did flow to the Gulf of Mexico and due to fears of being captured by the Spanish. After heading north, they cut across Illinois via the Illinois River and then paddled north along Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shoreline before arriving on Sept. 30 at the St. Francis Xavier Mission in what is now DePere. Historic journey Historic journey Marquette and Jolliet's (also spelled Joliet) voyage, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, "helped to initiate the first non Native-American settlement in the North American interior that introduced Christianity into 600,000 square miles of wilderness" and "transformed traditional Indian cultures." The celebration in Prairie du Chien will conclude June 18 and is expected to draw an estimated 30,000 people. It will include a rendezvous encampment with an estimated 350 reenactors, a smaller voyager encampment, walking tours of the city's historic downtown, arrowhead displays, voyager canoe rides and flint making demonstrations. One of the more colorful and educational events of the weekend celebration will be from Native Spirit, a Native American dance troupe based in Phoenix, Arizona. The group, founded in 1997, gives performances throughout the country and will do three shows each on Friday and Saturday. On June 18, the group will perform two shows plus be in the parade that begins at 1 p.m. The dance troupe uses its art as a vehicle to tell the stories of its people and to help keep its culture alive. "For Indigenous people, Marquette and Jolliet are like Columbus Day. It represents conquest. It's represents the beginning of what would ultimately be the unraveling of their culture with its connection to the land," said Michael Douglas, a historian and former longtime site director at the Villa Louis, the former estate of the H. Louis Dousman family on St. Feriole Island. "We've been hung up on the word 'celebration.' We are celebrating our heritage but we're not celebrating conquest." Prairie du Chien Mike Valley has owned Valley Fish and Cheese in the city for 40 years and helped start the annual Prairie Villa Rendezvous nearly 50 years ago. His family arrived in the area in the 1700s and at the time spelled their last name Vallee. At that time the city was populated by French Canadians, many of whom had Native American spouses. Later, there were also families of African Americans. Valley collects historic artifacts, and when we stopped by for an impromptu visit last week had just pulled out a batch of catfish from his smoker. He then showed off a wooden scale used to measure gun power and tools from the early 1800s. One of his more impressive collections is a can full of trading beads and turtles' claws that he has found through the years in the river and in caves. "My heritage is really deep and embedded in me," Valley said. "Being a commercial fisherman and trapping, hunting and fishing all my life, I'm much more deeply involved than being just a French person." This week's events, which are also being organized by the city's Main Street program, include historical displays at the Fort Crawford Museum. The maps, paintings and artifacts help tell the story of Marquette and Jolliet, the first Europeans to see the Upper Mississippi River. Mary Antoine, a board member of the Prairie du Chien Historical Society, said the exhibit represents not only the expedition but the French culture they brought with them and their interactions with Native Americans. "This is very important because this is where they found the Mississippi River for the first time," Antoine said. "We don't say discovered because it had already been discovered by the Native people." Same goes for the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, where communities such as Sauk City, Mazomanie, Boscobel and Muscoda are relatively new entities when compared with the Native American communities. When Marquette and Jolliet paddled through the state, there were no paper mills, power dams or the impoundment upriver from Prairie du Sac known as Lake Wisconsin. Likewise, the Mississippi River was void of locks and dams, and near Prairie du Chien there was the Nine Mile Prairie and farmland that has since been flooded due to development that allows barge traffic to safely navigate from Minneapolis to New Orleans. But while Prairie du Chien will be the epicenter of Marquette and Jolliet celebrations this week, it should be noted that the duo likely never set foot on the land that is now a city of more than 5,500 people. The confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers is more than 3 miles south of St. Feriole Island. "They probably got to the mouth of the Wisconsin and turned left," Douglas said. "That's the reality." Barry adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin state Journal. send him ideas for on Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com. At 3:15 a.m., Fitchburg firefighters were sent to 2714 Pheasant Ridge Trail, where Chief Joe Pulvermacher said the smell of smoke was evident. The fire was contained to one unit, but due to "significant" electrical damage and awaiting the green light from electricians, Pulvermacher said all 24 units had to be evacuated for the foreseeable future. Residents were being assisted by the American Red Cross, with some staying with friends and family in the area while others were at a community shelter. GREEN BAY Wisconsin is once again expected to play an outsized role in the 2024 presidential election, but speakers at the Democratic Party of Wisconsins state convention in Green Bay said the significance of next years election could provide additional Democratic opportunities if Wisconsins legislative and congressional boundaries are redrawn before next Novembers ballots are cast. Calls for new district boundaries in Wisconsin have grown louder since liberal Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz, who has called the current maps rigged, defeated conservative Dan Kelly by 11 percentage points in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Groups that oppose current boundaries which were drawn more than a decade ago by Republicans, granting the party near unbreakable majorities in the state Assembly and Senate plan to file a legal challenge shortly after Protasiewicz joins the states high court in August. Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Ben Wikler told reporters the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, currently held by Republicans Bryan Steil, of Janesville, and Prairie du Chiens Derrick Van Orden, respectively, could be Democratic pickups under current maps. New political maps could open up other possibilities both in congressional and legislative districts, he added. Depending on what happens with the maps, there could be other districts in play as well, Wikler told reporters in Green Bay. Everything kind of depends on where the lines fall. Republicans also have reason for optimism next year thanks in part to an upcoming GOP primary presidential debate in Milwaukee this August, followed by next years high-profile Republican National Convention. Democrats, who shifted the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee to an almost entirely online affair due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will convene for their national convention next year just south of Milwaukee in Chicago. Even though the wind is blowing in our direction, every Democrat at this convention is determined to take nothing for granted, Wikler told reporters in Green Bay. Were planned for a 1 percentage point margin election and will do everything we can to make sure the ball gets over the line. Wikler said Democrats hope to build on recent successes including Democratic Gov. Tony Evers re-election last fall and Protasiewiczs spring victory up and down the ticket in 2024. The recipe for our success has been year-round organizing, including in odd-numbered years, Wikler said. We saw the impact of that with the Supreme Court race, and were not going to let up for a second as we go forward. GOP meets next Brian Schimming, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said he remains very, very bullish on the 2024 election, which he predicts to be a referendum on President Joe Biden and Democrats like U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who is running for re-election. Schimming said Wisconsin will certainly be in play for Republicans, thanks in part to the upcoming national convention. The truth is, what happens in the presidential race next year will come down to about five states Wisconsin is one of five and my argument is its one of one, Schimming said. Not just because the convention is coming here, but really because of our purplish nature and my job is to pull it over to the red side of purple. The Republican Party of Wisconsin will hold its state convention next weekend in La Crosse. Several GOP candidates have already launched campaigns to challenge Biden next November, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and former President Donald Trump, who last week was indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. The indictment marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president faces criminal charges by the federal government he once oversaw. Trump faces the possibility of prison if convicted. Donald Trump is a factor, but its not all about Donald Trump either, Schimming said last week before the former presidents indictment. Its about the stable of candidates who are profile candidates that people driving by on the street right now can vote for, and that puts us in really good shape. Its not just one or two candidates, its a bunch of them. To have them running up and down Wisconsin pre-primary next year, or having them come in for the debate, is all pluses for me and for the state party, Schimming added. Schimming said the state party will mobilize statewide to counter Democratic fundraising efforts, which have drastically outpaced the Republican Party over the last several years. If were doing things that are working, I want to enhance them, said Schimming, who took over as the partys chair in December. It theyre not working, theyre going out to the curb. Thats kind of been my attitude here. One particular challenge for Republicans next year will be countering prolific voter turnout, particularly among young voters, in Madison and Milwaukee, Democratic strongholds that have run up margins in recent statewide elections that have been too massive for most GOP candidates to overcome elsewhere in the state. People talk about the Democrats and how they run up the margins in Milwaukee and Madison, which is easier for them to do because of the physical density of the population, Schimming said. But my base is out there too. Its just that we havent always done a great job of going and getting them. I can assure you we are going to do that. The Democratic Party of Wisconsins 2022 convention came just two days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which has since become a major motivator for Democratic voters across the state and played a crucial role in both Evers and Protasiewiczs victories. Wikler said that energy has carried into 2023 and the issue of abortion rights remains a top issue that will hyper-caffeinate the intensity of the 2024 elections. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Photos: Trump indictment shows documents stacked in bathroom, bedroom, ballroom An agreement between an order of Catholic Sisters and a construction company will help preserve and fi nd new uses for part of a sprawling rural campus in Grant County. The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, their numbers in decline for decades, said last year that they needed to sell or remove, at considerable cost, three massive buildings totaling more than 300,000 square feet of chapel, auditorium, office, dining and dormitory space. Last week, the Sisters announced they had found an answer. The order has accepted a proposal from Tricon Construction Group in Dubuque, Iowa, that would renovate the space for an active, senior living community and event center "and to explore partnerships with local community organizations responding to human needs in the area." Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the deal will preserve the look and character of the campus, founded in 1847 on one of the region's highest hills. "We are grateful that Tricon and other neighbors in this Tri-State area value these iconic buildings and are committed to repurposing them so that others will be able to enjoy the special place that is Sinsinawa Mound," said Sister Toni Harris, prioress of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation since 2016. "While there are details that need to be worked out before finalizing a transfer of ownership, we appreciate Tricon's plan for stewardship of some of our buildings into the future." The buildings included in the transfer of ownership to Tricon are two constructed in 1964. One houses the Queen of the Rosary Chapel, and another includes the main foyer, dining room, kitchen, meeting spaces, wellness center, sleeping quarters and guest rooms. The other is the convent building, constructed in 1899. The Sisters will retain ownership of the stone building and St. Clara Chapel. Those spaces will be renovated to serve as congregation office space, public meeting and prayer space, community living space for the Sisters, and exhibit areas, Sister Harris said. The Sisters will also continue to own the Academy Apartments, two houses on the property and the surrounding land, while Sinsinawa Mound will continue to serve as the Motherhouse of the Congregation. Tricon owner Ron Richard was born and raised in Kieler, about 10 miles northwest of the Mound, "a place that I admired," he said in a statement. His construction company was founded in 1998 and besides Dubuque, also has operations in Cedar Rapids, Chicago and Florida. The company specializes in the construction of government buildings, police and fi re stations, hospitals, swimming pools, bridges and airports, among others. Renovating and finding new uses for the buildings at Sinsinawa adds to the company's growing repertoire. "We are very excited to be part of the Sinsinawa Mound's future," said Richard. "The buildings are in great structural shape, and it would be a shame to see them deconstructed or just not used. Because of the current housing need in the Tri-State area, along with the growing popularity of amenity filled retirement communities, we feel that our proposed plan will be a great benefit to the surrounding area." Site's history The campus, located 8 Miles from Dubuque and 10 miles from Galena, Illinois, was founded by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, who migrated from Italy in 1828, was ordained a priest in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1830, and was assigned as a missionary at Mackinac Island. He later served in Green Bay and southern Canada before finding his way to what is now southwestern Wisconsin. This is where, beginning in 1838, he built churches in Prairie du Chien, Potosi, Shullsburg, Hazel Green and other communities. He purchased 800 acres in 1847 that included the mound and founded Sinsinawa Mound College, which operated until 1854. He started St. Clara Female Academy at Benton in 1852, which relocated to Sinsinawa in 1867. The mound also was home to St. Clara College beginning in 1901, before it moved in 1922 to River Forest, Illinois, where it is now Dominican University. The presence in Madison received a considerable boost in 1881 when Gov. Cadwallader Washburn gave his Edgewood Villa and 55-acre wooded estate on the shore of Lake Wingra to the Dominican Sisters, who then moved St. Regina Academy in the city's Downtown to the new site. Two years later, after a tragic fire, the school was rebuilt and named Sacred Heart Academy, which was later separated into Edgewood High School and Edgewood Campus School. In 1927, the Sisters opened Edgewood College for women with a two-year liberal arts curriculum, housed in the same building as the high school. A four-year degree program was added in 1940, and a year later the college moved into its own building. The Sisters also own Whitefish Bay Dominican High School near Milwaukee. After navigating Chicago Public Schools selective enrollment process, in which students can apply to schools outside their neighborhoods, Yuridia Alcantar was crushed. It wasnt that her daughter, Jahayra Flores, didnt get into a high-performing high school. The problem for Alcantar as a single parent was getting the eldest of her three kids to Lane Tech College Prep on the North Side every day from the familys East Side home. Advertisement I couldnt take her because I had a full-time job, said Alcantar, a legal secretary. CPS transportation wasnt feasible, either. It was difficult because I see what she wants to achieve. ... I had to say no to her and say, Im sorry, I cant make that drive. But, as one of thousands of students across Illinois who received an Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship to attend a private school this school year, Flores said she feels better off at St. Francis de Sales High School, the small Catholic school on the East Side where she enrolled instead. Advertisement Its provided me with so many opportunities, Flores, a rising senior, said of the scholarship and one-on-one time she gets with educators. Why take that away? Created through state legislation in 2017, Invest in Kids provides what are effectively public subsidies, in the way of tax credits, for children from low-to-moderate income families to attend private schools. Its newly uncertain fate has refueled the long-running debate regarding the use of tax credits to help fund mainly religious schools. The way it works is individuals and corporations can donate funds for private school scholarships, and in exchange get a 75% income tax credit, capped at $1 million. A handful of nonprofits process applications and distribute the aid. The maximum allowed in total annual contributions is $75 million. The program has become a linchpin issue for Republicans who have railed against the Democratic-led legislature and its recently enacted state budget. That budget did not include an extension of Invest in Kids beyond the next school year. But Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly left the door open to renewing the program, an indication that theres a variety of interests at play. Hes said he would consider keeping it, in modified form, if lawmakers approve it in the fall legislative session. I cant speak to the decisions that were made across the General Assembly about it. Its obviously a program thats been around for a number of years now. I think theres time still for that program to be considered, Pritzker said Wednesday after signing the budget into law. He noted its just one piece of the significant dollars (put) forward to support education in every possible way. That just happens to be one thats still left dangling. Opponents of Invest in Kids contend the program is a diversion of state tax dollars to bolster theological-based education. Of the private schools that state records show have received Invest in Kids funds, some have policies that potentially deny entry to students who are LGBTQ, who are pregnant or have fathered a child, who are not U.S. citizens or who have certain disabilities, according to school websites or publicly available handbooks. Advertisement Critics also point to the deficit between the amount of state aid that Illinois funding formula determines should go to public schools and the actual figure a gap of at least $5 billion in the 2022-23 school year according to Illinois State Board of Education data. Supporters pitch the program as a benefit to students who otherwise couldnt access a private education. These citizens, these children, whose lives have been forever changed by scholarships to schools their parents or guardians would never be able to afford, have been left behind today in this budget, Republican state Sen. John Curran of Downers Grove said in the closing hours of the spring session. Enrollment and scholarship figures reported by ISBE and the Department of Revenue, however, suggest some awards might have gone to families whod previously paid tuition. One school, for example, saw an enrollment increase of five students in the 2020-21 school year, but the number of scholarship students increased by 50. That doesnt mean it was easy for parents who may have already been paying tuition, said Maria Hubbart, a parent who said she took a second job as a dialysis technician, expecting to cover her freshman sons tuition at St. Francis de Sales before he received a partial Invest in Kids award. Bad and terrible is how she describes safety and class sizes at the two public high schools in the neighborhood. Which one do you choose? The most recent Department of Revenue report shows the schools scholarship students are mostly Black and Latino and come from families earning less than 185% of the poverty level, or $40,626 per year for a three-person household. Advertisement Invest in Kids mandates priority be given to students at or below that poverty level, as well as to children in districts where student performance is below the state average or that have low graduation rates. Previous recipients and their siblings are also given preference. It was a big relief, Hubbart said of her sons Invest in Kids award. I hope that they will make better schools for the rest of the kids that cannot have scholarships. Not all students welcome Catherine Henchek, a former private school parent whose son now attends CPS Vaughn Occupational High School, spoke out against Invest in Kids this spring, telling lawmakers about her attempt to enroll her son in prekindergarten at the private school his older sister attended. When he was turned away because he has special needs, Henchek said, she was shocked and left with a load of worries, from where hed attend to whether she should transfer her daughter. It was like, What is the future going to be? That predated Invest in Kids, but some private schools that have received program funds specify that they cant always accept students with disabilities. State laws require the organizations that grant the scholarships to comply with the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. Students with disabilities may receive larger awards, but state and federal laws protecting the right of students with disabilities to a public education dont similarly apply to private schools. The fact that there was a requirement to take him (in CPS) was a good thing. Schools that are receiving any public money should have to take everybody, said Henchek, whos chair of Vaughns Local School Council. This is really public money, going around in a very roundabout manner, through the tax credits, she said. All (public) schools in Chicago are under-resourced at the moment. The state has acknowledged CPS receives around $1 billion less in funding than the district is owed under school funding reform legislation passed in 2017. Advertisement Henchek said shes also uncomfortable with the combining of church and state a subject of an ongoing national debate over various voucher and tax credit programs that shift public dollars to private schools. An Oklahoma school board recently extended the concept ever further, voting to establish a Catholic charter school, reportedly the U.S.s first publicly funded religious school. St. Francis de Sales High School students at the East Side school on June 7, 2023. Dozens of St. Francis students have received Invest in Kids scholarships. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Flores, the St. Francis de Sales student said, We do have theology classes here. But theyre so based around, growing into yourself, becoming a better person. Its always spirituality its never religious stuff as spirituality and figuring out who you are as a person. Her family and others that spoke to the Tribune are Catholic. The East Side high school is part of a network supported by the Big Shoulders Fund, which is one of seven nonprofits certified by the Department of Revenue to accept Invest in Kids donations and grant students awards. The organization also provides separate scholarships and other support to Catholic schools in Illinois and Indiana. St. Francis de Sales High School students head down a stairway. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Josh Hale, the Big Shoulders Funds president and CEO, said more than a third of the nearly 20,000 students from predominantly low-income households in its network arent Catholic. He said the schools embrace every child and are committed to providing safe, engaging environments. For me personally and for Big Shoulders Fund as an institution, we value and celebrate diversity and a more inclusive community, Hale said. We believe our mission and the environments fostered within our schools play a critical role in adding to a more equitable world. Policies among other Illinois Catholic schools that have received Invest in Kids funds, however, include a ban on transgender students taking hormone therapy medication on school property, the potential expulsion of students whove had an abortion and special rules imposed on students who are pregnant or have children. Rising senior Brooklyn Oliver said at St. Francis de Sales, the environment cultivated by Principal Roni Facen, a Latina alumna from the neighborhood, offers a degree of inclusivity she cant assume shed find elsewhere as a Black student. Her dad, Terry Oliver, said receiving the scholarship was a lift off my shoulders, at a time when he had to stop working because of a disability. Advertisement Rising sophomore Delilah Reyes described the community as a comfort amid all of the challenges of adolescence. Her mother, Maria Paz, said she feared that, in the neighborhood CPS high school she once attended, her daughter might struggle to meet her full potential. Its understandable some families see the tax credit scholarships as a godsend, said Cassie Creswell, executive director of Illinois Families for Public Schools. But from a policy level, we need to look at what is best overall for Chicago and the state. Creswell said that while its possible the state could try to prohibit schools with exclusionary policies from participating in the program, a number of legal and practical hurdles make that unrealistic. Our position is that the only solution on this issue is that the state should get out of the practice of funding private school tuition entirely, Creswell said. Robust scholarship funds for religious schools existed before 2017, she said, and taxpayers who make direct donations to charitable organizations, outside of the Invest in Kids program, can still receive a credit from the federal government. Creswell also pointed to studies that have found the academic outcomes of students in voucher programs in other states didnt show an improvement. Although the Invest in Kids Act required the state education board to create an annual report on the learning gains of students receiving scholarships, the jury is out on the programs results. Such a report has yet to be released, but the first should be out by late November, an ISBE spokesperson said, citing COVID-19 as the source of the delay. Advertisement Pritzkers shifting position In addition to Republicans, allied groups and religious organizations such as the Archdiocese of Chicago, the program also has backers within the Democratic legislative supermajority. That includes lawmakers with more moderate to conservative religious backgrounds, as well as some in the legislative Black Caucus who are politically close to their local churches. That, in part, helps explain the change Pritzker has had on the tax credit. As a candidate for governor in 2018, he vowed to repeal the program. But after winning office, he signed a legislative initiative that extended the program for a year beyond its original sunset date and expanded it to private trade schools. Pritzker has deferred to legislators on whether they want to keep the program in part as a negotiating chip with Republicans in an effort to get GOP votes on a budget. But he has said the program should be modified to allow a federal as well as state income tax deduction for donations, which is currently not allowed. That would share its costs between federal and state taxpayers. The program passed as part of a comprehensive measure that most notably contained a historic rewrite of the states school aid formula. It included a commitment of at least $350 million in additional dollars each year toward improving the neediest schools. The reform also committed the state to providing public schools the full funding prescribed by the new formula by 2027. The scholarship program was literally such a consolation prize for Republicans that then-GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner still smarting from a bipartisan legislative revolt after a record two-year budget impasse never even mentioned it when he signed the school funding bill into law. Last month, in the closing hours of the legislative session, Republicans offered up a variety of complaints about the new $50.4 billion state budget plan: little GOP involvement, lack of business tax incentives, opposition to a legislative pay raise. Advertisement But the most common sticking point was the failure to extend the scholarship program, which they said would put students in jeopardy in the middle of the 2023-24 school year. Something that state officials say is incorrect. And Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders questioned if Invest in Kids was such a major priority of Republicans, why they did not push to make it part of the budget backed up with their votes. No Republicans voted for the budget. Hale said the Big Shoulders Fund awards scholarships for the entire school year in single lump-sum payments. If the program isnt extended past December, the organization said it will receive donations and award scholarships up to the last day of the year and disburse the funds as soon as possible in 2024. A win for public education The sunset of the program has also served as a platform for Republicans to tee off on the political power of teachers unions. This program is not on the chopping block because it has not been successful. Its on the chopping block because the teachers union deem it as a threat to their control, said state Rep. Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City. But the unions contend the program represents an improper diversion of state taxpayer money to private schools with religious requirements for admission and attendance that would be considered discrimination at public schools. The Illinois Education Association used its Twitter account to note that Invest in Kids was not funded in the budget and declared it a win for public education. Advertisement The unions are on guard to fight against any effort to extend the program in the fall. The 2020 national Democratic Party platform proclaims that Democrats oppose vouchers and similar programs, and for good reason, said Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery, citing discriminatory policies. Expansion of vouchers is exactly whats happening under radical right-wing Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida. Illinois Democrats, including Gov. Pritzker, must stand up and refuse to let that happen here. Curran said he rejects the notion that Invest in Kids comes at the price of public education, saying it was doubtful the programs elimination would mean additional funding for public schools beyond what lawmakers already authorized. Invest in Kids is not taking any money from the public schools, he told the Tribune. We have leaned in very strongly on putting additional tax dollars into public education. At the pace of the mandated minimum of $350 million lawmakers have increased public school funding each year with the exception of 2021, the state will not meet its commitment to provide full funding by 2027 for two decades, according to a study by the Education Law Center. Chicago Tribunes Jeremy Gorner and Dan Petrella contributed. Advertisement smacaraeg@chicagotribune.com rap30@aol.com hsanders@chicagotribune.com WASHINGTON Many minority lawmakers and voting rights activists see this week's Supreme Court decision ordering Alabama to redraw its congressional districts as a stunning victory with the potential to become a major stepping stone for undoing political maps that dilute the strength of communities of color. Hank Sanders, a former Alabama state lawmaker, knew there would be a decision since the court heard arguments in the case last fall. He did not anticipate being happy with the outcome, given the conservative-leaning court's previous rulings essentially gutted some of the most important provisions of the Voting Rights Act. "I was afraid they were going to go ahead and wipe out section 2," he said, referring to the part of the law at stake in the Alabama case. He was at his law office Thursday in Selma, scene of one of the most pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement, when news of the 5-4 ruling in favor of Alabama's Black voters was announced. "It was a surprise that was good for my day," he said. How the decision will affect similar lawsuits against political maps drawn in other states is unclear, though voting rights groups say the ruling provides firm guidance for lower courts to follow. The court majority found that Alabama concentrated Black voters in one district, while spreading them out among the others to make it much more difficult to elect more than one candidate of their choice. Alabama's Black population is large enough and geographically compact enough to create a second district, the judges found. Just one of its seven congressional districts is majority Black, in a state where more than one in four residents is Black. Wider impacts Similar maps were drawn in other states, primary by Republican-controlled legislatures. Kareem Crayton, the Brennan Center's senior director for voting and representation, called the court's decision "a welcome surprise" and said challenges to the maps in Louisiana and Georgia were the most similar to the Alabama case. While it was considering the Alabama case, the Supreme Court placed a hold on a lower court ruling in Louisiana allowing creation of a second majority-Black district. That's now likely to be lifted. A federal judge last year also ruled that some of Georgia's U.S. House and state legislative districts likely violated the Voting Rights Act, but he allowed the districts to be used in the 2022 elections because it was too close to the election to redraw them. Maps in all three states could have to be redrawn for the 2024 elections. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said the court's action reaffirmed his own belief that Louisiana's map, drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature, violated the law. "As I said when I vetoed it, Louisiana's current congressional map violates the Voting Rights Act," he said. "Louisiana's voting population is one-third Black. We know that in compliance with the principles of the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana can have a congressional map where two of our six districts are majority Black." Rep. Troy Carter, a Black Democrat representing Louisiana's lone district that is majority Black, said the Legislature should immediately convene to draw a second majority-minority district. "This Supreme Court ruling is a win not just for Alabamians but for Louisianans as well," Carter said in an emailed statement. "Rarely do we get a second chance to get things right now Louisiana can." WASHINGTON Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski, the Harvard-educated mathematician who retreated to a dingy shack in the Montana wilderness and ran a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died Saturday. He was 81. Branded the "Unabomber" by the FBI, Kaczynski died at the federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina, Kristie Breshears, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Prisons, told The Associated Press. He was found unresponsive in his cell early Saturday morning and was pronounced dead around 8 a.m., she said. A cause of death was not immediately known. Before his transfer to the prison medical facility, he was held in the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, since May 1998, when he was sentenced to four life sentences plus 30 years for a campaign of terror that set universities nationwide on edge. He admitted committing 16 bombings from 1978 and 1995, permanently maiming several of his victims. Years before the Sept. 11 attacks and the anthrax mailing, the Unabomber's deadly homemade bombs changed the way Americans mailed packages and boarded airplanes, even virtually shutting down air travel on the West Coast in July 1995. He forced The Washington Post, in conjunction with The New York Times, to make the agonizing decision in September 1995 to publish his 35,000-word manifesto, "Industrial Society and Its Future," which claimed modern society and technology were leading to a sense of powerlessness and alienation. But it led to his undoing. Kaczynski's brother, David, and David's wife, Linda Patrik, recognized the treatise's tone and tipped off the FBI, which had been searching for the Unabomber for years in the nation's longest, costliest manhunt. Authorities in April 1996 found him in a 10-by-14-foot plywood and tarpaper cabin outside Lincoln, Montana, that was filled with journals, a coded diary, explosive ingredients and two completed bombs. Elusive mastermind Elusive mastermind As an elusive criminal mastermind, the Unabomber won his share of sympathizers and comparisons to Daniel Boone, Edward Abbey and Henry David Thoreau. But once revealed as a wildeyed hermit with long hair and beard who weathered Montana winters in a one-room shack, Kaczynski struck many as more of a pathetic loner than romantic anti-hero. Even in his own journals, Kaczynski came across not as a committed revolutionary but as a vengeful hermit driven by petty grievances. "I certainly don't claim to be an altruist or to be acting for the 'good' (whatever that is) of the human race," he wrote on April 6, 1971. "I act merely from a desire for revenge." A psychiatrist who interviewed Kaczynski in prison diagnosed him as a paranoid schizophrenic. "Mr. Kaczynski's delusions are mostly persecutory in nature," Sally Johnson wrote in a 47-page report. "The central themes involve his belief that he is being maligned and harassed by family members and modern society." Kaczynski hated the idea of being viewed as mentally ill and when his lawyers attempted to present an insanity defense, he tried to fire them. When that failed, he tried to hang himself with his underwear. Kaczynski eventually pleaded guilty rather than let his defense team proceed with an insanity defense. "I'm confident that I'm sane," Kaczynski told Time magazine in 1999. "I don't get delusions and so forth." He was certainly brilliant. Kaczynski skipped two grades to attend Harvard at age 16 and had published papers in prestigious mathematics journals. His explosives were carefully tested and came in meticulously handcrafted wooden boxes sanded to remove possible fingerprints. Later bombs bore the signature "FC" for "Freedom Club." Deadly bombings Deadly bombings The FBI called him the "Unabomber" because his early targets seemed to be universities and airlines. An altitude-triggered bomb he mailed in 1979 went off as planned aboard an American Airlines flight; a dozen people aboard suffered from smoke inhalation. Kaczynski killed computerrental store owner Hugh Scrutton, advertising executive Thomas Mosser and timber industry lobbyist Gilbert Murray. California geneticist Charles Epstein and Yale University computer expert David Gelernter were maimed by bombs two days apart in June 1993. Mosser was killed in his North Caldwell, New Jersey, home on Dec. 10, 1994, a day he was supposed to be picking out a Christmas tree with his family. His wife, Susan, found him grievously wounded by a barrage of razor blades, pipes and nails. "He was moaning very softly," she said at Kaczynski's 1998 sentencing. "The fingers on his right hand were dangling. I held his left hand. I told him help was coming. I told him I loved him." When Kaczynski stepped up his bombs and letters to newspapers and scientists in 1995, experts speculated the Unabomber was jealous of the attention being paid to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. A threat to blow up a plane out of Los Angeles before the end of the July Fourth weekend threw air travel and mail delivery into chaos. The Unabomber later claimed it was a "prank." Want to go? The Oakley Historical Home Tour is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17, to benefit the Oakley Valley Historical Museum. Also, part of the proceeds will go to the Howells Opera House ceiling project. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the city office. For more information, call 208-862-3495 or 208-862-ARTS. The Oakley Valley Historical Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wanted for violation of conditions of release on the original charges of two counts possession of a controlled substance The Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office asks that anyone with information please call 208-735-1911 or Crime Stoppers at 208-343-2677, where they can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips can be made at www.343cops.com or download P3 Tips on your mobile phone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that a counteroffensive was underway as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Kyiv and criticised Russia over flooding from the breached Kakhovka dam. Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail, Zelensky said at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Trudeau. Zelensky commented after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Kyivs long-expected counteroffensive was already failing. Russia has reported thwarting Ukrainian attacks in the east and south. Its interesting what Putin said about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion, Zelensky said. He added that he was in daily touch with military commanders, including armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny, and everyone is positive now tell that to Putin! Trudeau, 51, and Zelensky, 45, hugged each other and used each others first names as the Canadian leader made his second unannounced visit to Kyiv since full-scale war broke out in February last year. Canada, which hosts a large Ukrainian diaspora, has been one of Kyivs key allies since the Russian invasion. It has provided Ukraine with significant military aid, trained more than 36,000 soldiers and adopted sanctions against Moscow. Direct consequence Trudeau denounced Russias role in the destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday. The flooding from the breached dam has forced thousands to flee their homes and sparked fears of humanitarian and environmental disasters. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam, while Moscow says Kyiv fired on it. In his daily address, Zelenksy condemned the shameful indifference from the international community to the fallout of the dams destruction, including the failure to form and send a rescue mission to the occupied territory or come out with clear and strong statements condemning this latest Russian war crime. He urged international organisations to come to the aid of those in Russian-occupied territories. Pledging 10 million Canadian dollars (US $7.5 million) in new funding for flood relief, Trudeau said the dams destruction was the direct consequence of Russias invasion. There is absolutely no doubt in our minds that the destruction of the dam was a direct consequence of Russias decision to invade a peaceful neighbour, Trudeau said, adding Russia will be held to account for its actions in Ukraine. Pilot training The Canadian leader said he would provide 500 million Canadian dollars in new funding for military assistance to Ukraine. He also pledged Canada would be part of the multinational efforts to train Ukraines fighter pilots. Earlier in the day Trudeau placed flowers by a wall of remembrance displaying the faces of soldiers killed in combat while a military orchestra played. He also visited an open-air exhibition featuring destroyed Russian military vehicles. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Oleksandr Polishchuk handed Trudeau a box that he said held shrapnel from a rocket that fell on the Black Sea port city of Odesa. He said the gift was intended to remind Trudeau of Ukraines suffering from Russian strikes. Iran must end support for Russia Three people were killed early Saturday in a fire sparked by debris from shot-down Russian drones in the Odesa region. French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to immediately end Tehrans support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, which involves supplying Moscow with attack drones, the Elysee said. Macron in a telephone call underlined the serious security and humanitarian consequences of Irans drone deliveries and urged Tehran to immediately end the support it thus gives to Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, said a statement. The call came a day after White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Russia was receiving materials from Iran to build a drone factory on its territory that could be fully operational early next year. The United States has said that Russia has received hundreds of Iranian attack drones to attack Kyiv and terrorise Ukrainians, a charge denied by Tehran. According to US data, the drones are built in Iran, shipped across the Caspian Sea and then used operationally by Russian forces against Ukraine, Kirby said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. TODAYS WORD is hadal. Example: No sunlight can ever penetrate the hadal trenches of the Pacific Ocean. FRIDAYS WORD was ecossaise meaning a country-dance in quick duple meter. Example: The couples prepared to dance the ecossaise by forming two parallel lines. Popular dog breeds This past week we learned the most popular fruit in Virginia is the apple and the most popular flower is the lavender. Today we take a look at the most popular dog breeds here in our home state according to MyPetChild. In seven out of seven major cities in Virginia, including Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, the cane corso is the most searched dog breed. The Stroller found out the cane corso is an Italian breed of mastiff, whose lineage dates back to ancient Roman times, and whose name roughly translates from Latin to mean bodyguard dog. The corsi, whose lifespan is between nine and 12 years, are typically muscular in frame and their protective nature makes them a great family dog, provided they are property socialized. Next is the French bulldog, ranking as the second most searched for breed in six cities. The French Bulldog is a result of crossbreeding toy bulldogs imported from England with French ratters. The breed, which was the most popular in 2022 by number of American Kennel Club registrations, typically have a large, squared head and heavy wrinkles above a short snubby nose. French bulldogs are also characterized by their bat like ears and typically live for between 10 and 12 years. Third is the Australian shepherd, ranking as the second most searched in three cities. This breeds name is somewhat misleading as they were actually developed in California during the 19th Century and are believed to have come from a variety of herding dogs, imported to the state from Australia and New Zealand. These long-haired working ranch dogs are very intelligent and have maintained their natural impulse to herd. No-kill shelters While were on the subject of dogs, did you know Virginia now has an 86% save rate for shelter dogs and cats? Thats according to the annual data report from Best Friends Animal Society. Unfortunately, shelters in the U.S. had a setback in 2021, with an increase to around 378,000 dogs and cats killed, up from 355,000 in the prior year. In Virginia, 69% of the shelters are now no-kill and that includes the Martinsville-Henry County SPCA. Furball And speaking of the SPCA, dont forget about the Purrty in Pink 10th annual Furball at Chatmoss Country Club on June 17. First prize is a $5,000 custom diamond necklace! FRIDAY TRIVIA ANSWER: The Pillsbury Doughboys real name was Jonathan Pillsbury, also nicknamed Poppin Fresh. TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: What river is located along the southern border of Texas? On one of her last days of first grade, 7-year-old Kylee got a tour of a building long empty of students: Mount Jumbo Elementary. In her purple T-shirt emblazoned with girlboss on the front, Kylee hinted she wanted to open the front door, repeating first to her mentor and then to the executive director: I know how you put the key in. Commended for showing responsibility, she was given the key, opened the door and led the group inside the East Missoula school. Inside were the leftovers of a school closed in 2006. A couple dozen old practice cars for Driver's Ed sat on their backs in the hallways. One classroom was filled to the brim with a pile of chairs, desks and shelving. Nonetheless, Kylee was excited to see and show it all, from the leftover hangers in closets to a still-functioning water fountain attached to a classroom sink. This works perfect, she exclaimed. Kylee is the first of many children who will soon be regulars at the school as youth mentoring program Friends of the Children moves into its new home at Mount Jumbo Elementary. Its a needed move as the western Montana chapter expands the number of kids it can mentor. Currently, according to Friends of the Children Executive Director Ben Davis, mentors and others are doubled, tripled and quadrupled up in the bedroom offices in the current clubhouse" where theyve been working. The Mount Jumbo school gym they plan to use regularly is likely larger than their old place itself, he said. It wasnt going to work to find another house, Davis said. It just doesnt provide the same programming space and opportunity for activities as a school does. We love the homey, intimate area of our current clubhouse, but we can make this our home and make a really safe and vibrant place for the children. Since starting in Missoula in late 2021, Portland-based nonprofit Friends of the Children has helped provide regular one-on-one support for children across Missoula's schools. Children are often in the foster care system or face adversities like extreme poverty and single-parent homes, and are recommended to the program by other local organizations or schools. Enrollees like Kylee are often in vulnerable situations, hence the use of only her first name. Full-time professionals known as "Friends" regularly spend about four hours in and out of school every week with the children. They go on field trips together, play games at the clubhouse, and attend school with them, too. I have a lot of girls with sensory issues, so those loud, chaotic times are really hard for them like with PE, recess and other things, professional mentor Kinley Pope said. Like other mentors, Pope works with eight students every week from three separate Missoula schools. We try to talk to the teachers about what areas they really need the most support in," Pope said. "They might need me to come in at math, or lunch might be a hard time for them because its pretty unstructured, or they might need help in those structured times. Friends of the Children currently serves 32 children with plans to enroll 16 more next school year. Kids selected for the program are paired with a Friend around kindergarten. The mentor will stay by their side all the way to high school graduation. Theres not an organization that provides that sort of deep, long-term support for children who have experienced multiple, complex traumas early in their lives, Davis said. So, we are really focused on helping foster resiliency and empowering children to pursue their hopes and dreams. Davis describes himself as a recovering lawyer who found himself disappointed with much of the prosecutorial work he did and how it affected families. He started volunteering with another local youth mentoring program: Big Brothers Big Sisters. I really enjoyed that experience, but there were times as a volunteer where I couldnt be present and I wasnt emotionally trained to help with some of the traumas that he faced, Davis said of the boy he worked with. Davis sought out a career change to do work that was firmly rooted in the community and proven to disrupt cycles of trauma and generational poverty. When I found out about Friends of the Children, I knew this was an organization I wanted to be a part of," he said, "because of the evidence-based proven outcomes that the organization has been doing for 30 years now. The organization states that 92% of youth go on to enroll in post-secondary education, serve the country, or enter the workforce, and 83% of youth earn a high school diploma or GED diploma. Mount Jumbo Elementary was closed in 2006 after a declining student population led MCPS to vacate the school. Elementary-age students now go to Rattlesnake Elementary or Bonner Elementary instead. In 2019, the Missoula County Public School District said it would consider reopening the school if there were at least 200 youth in the area and they had a compatible partner that could co-occupy the building. According to MCPS Communications Specialist Tyler Christensen, there are no plans to reopen Mount Jumbo Elementary in the future. MCPS conducted a demographics study on Missoula youth just this year. Missoula County Schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved a two-year lease May 23 for Friends of the Children to use the majority of the school. The only other renter of the school is Missoulas first responder teams who use the building intermittently for crisis intervention trainings. Weve been looking for a compatible use of Mount Jumbo for quite a while, Trustee Grace Decker said at the May meeting. Friends of the Children is doing really phenomenal things for several kids who have been identified as being able to benefit from their particular set of support. Its exciting to see them grow their programs and it's exciting to see us partner with them. Friends of the Childrens lease started this June. The organization is planning to fully move in June 19. Soon, they will start to make cosmetic updates to add more vibrant colors, and finish moving out what was left behind in the hallways and classrooms. In the meantime, 7-year-old Kylee is already envisioning plans in the space, including where to serve food in the main office, restoring the library, and which small classrooms will soon be the office space for Friends of the Children. In one such office space, Kylee quickly replaced an old phone laying on the ground back on its receiver. Her mentor, Brittnie Heffner, praised her as they planned to make a stop at McDonalds for lunch after the school tour. On their way out, Kylee asked about getting ice cream for dessert. We cant now, but we will sometime soon, Heffner promised after helping Kylee climb a tree outside Mount Jumbo Elementary. With Friends of the Children, theyll have 10-plus years to get ice cream together. CSKT BISON RANGE The story of the American buffalo cannot be told without delving into the indiscriminate slaughter of the animals by white settlers, according to documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and his team. "There were, by the beginning of the 19th century, at least 30 million bison," Burns said recently at a press conference. "By the end of the 1880s nobody could find one. As one of our consultants said, this is the largest slaughter of animal life in the history of the world. Just as our last film was on the Holocaust ... this is a Holocaust of a different kind, an ecological Holocaust." Burns, famous for his documentaries on everything from the Civil War to Muhammad Ali, directed a two-part documentary called "The American Buffalo," which will premier on PBS this October. Much of the filming took place on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Bison Range north of Arlee, and Burns and his team worked with many Montana-based participants on the narrative. The film's creators recently toured several stops in Montana, including the Bison Range, to meet with media and talk about the purpose of their project. They also brought along many of the people they interviewed for the documentary. "The hunting of bison to near extinction is one of the most heart-wrenching and tragic stories in all of America," said Germain White, a CSKT information and education specialist who speaks in the film. "As Ken said, this is an American tragedy. And the lives of Indigenous people here and around the rest of the country and bison are inextricably linked. So the near-extermination of bison had a profound impact on us, our culture, our way of life." The series, which has been in production for years, will "take viewers on a journey through more than 10,000 years of North American History and across some of the continent's most iconic landscapes, tracing the mammal's evolution, its significance to the Great Plains and, most importantly, its relationship to the Indigenous people of North America," according to a press release. Today, there are more than 350,000 bison. The film producers consulted with Jason Baldes, the tribal buffalo program senior manager with the National Wildlife Federation, along with Whisper Camel-Means, who helps manage bison at the Bison Range. "It is a quintessentially American story," Burns said. "Filled with unforgettable stories and people. But it is also a morality tale encompassing two historically significant lessons that resonate today. How humans can damage the natural world and also how we can work together to make choices to preserve the environment around us." Burns noted that the Native nations lived with and relied on the buffalo to survive, developing a sacred relationship that evolved over more than 10,000 years but that was almost completely severed in fewer than 100 years. The story of American bison really is two different stories," said historian Rosalyn LaPier, a former Blackfeet scholar at the University of Montana. "Its a story of Indigenous people and their relationship with the bison for thousands of years. And then, enter not just the Europeans, but the Americans. Thats a completely different story. That really is a story of utter destruction. LaPier said there's been lots of documentaries made about bison but this film is more broad-reaching and more focused on the truth. "For example, oftentimes when we talk about the turn of the last century and the conservation movement and the preservation movement that got started in the United States, we often glorify sort of those white men who were part of that process," LaPier said. And that glorification often concealed many of their true intentions. "And one of the things you'll see within this particular film is not that glorification movement but thinking about some of those people who were the leaders of the conservation movement and especially the restoring bison movement at the turn of the last century as also part of the eugenics movement, also part of white supremacy," she said. So, she said, this film brings a "larger lens" to tell the story that doesn't sugar-coat or "over-glorify" some historical characters. There are many Indigenous voices in the film from a diverse array of geographical and professional backgrounds, including writers, artists and historians, she said. The film was written by Dayton Duncan, who also wrote a companion book called "Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo," which will be published in October. For more information visit online at kenburns.com/films/the-american-buffalo/. Jennifer Buddenborg is the new executive director of Preserve Montana, replacing Chere Jiusto, who announced her retirement. Buddenborg was described as an experienced and visionary historic preservation leader who had years of advocacy work as a senior field officer with the National Trust for Historic Preservation based in Denver. As part of her duties, Buddenborg covered Montana and neighboring states for over a decade. Preserve Montana is very fortunate to have Jenny coming on board as our next director, Carl Davis, Preserve Montanas board chair who led the national search for a new director, said in a news release. She is a longtime friend to many of us in historic preservation in Montana and most definitely has the experience and talent to lead Preserve Montana in its important and diverse preservation work across the state. More recently, Buddenborg served as the adaptive reuse senior project administrator for the city and county of Denver, where she established the citys first-ever adaptive reuse program, and as board president for the Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation in Leadville, Colorado. Buddenborg said she was excited to join Preserve Montana and its legacy of protecting and celebrating Montanas storied historic places. During my years with the National Trust partnering with communities across Montana, I developed a deep appreciation and fondness for the Treasure State and its people. It is a remarkable opportunity for me to return to those roots and lead Preserve Montana into its next phase of life, engaging and collaborating with people statewide to learn, share and preserve Montanas diverse cultural heritage. Buddenborg received her master's in historic preservation planning from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and her bachelor's in history from Wayne State University in Detroit. With Buddenborgs arrival on May 1, longtime Preserve Montana executive director Chere Jiusto assumed an interim role as director emerita and will move into retirement in July. Preserve Montana, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1987. Its mission is to protect Montanas historic places, traditional landscapes and cultural heritage. It works statewide on preservation and restoration of heritage properties, which allows historical places to act as major economic drivers. It also serve as a respected resource to local officials, state agencies, and government leaders in their efforts to preserve significant historic places. For more info visit: preservemontana.org or on Facebook @PreserveMontana. Streetsboro police officer Joshua Bartholomew recently won a statewide award for his role as Portage County's crisis intervention team coordinator. In a hotel room a few months ago Streetsboro police officer Josh Bartholomew found himself sitting across from the despondent and potentially suicidal man. "I was sitting on the bed right next to him. Right across. There was two queens. I was sitting right across from him, talking to him," said Bartholomew. Eventually, the man admitted to having a gun with him in the room, and Bartholomew got him to peacefully give it up and agree to get help. "Just an individual in a real bad spot and a real bad day and, you know, we got there and were able to talk, and talk him down and get him where he needed to go," he said. Helping people going through tough times, including talking and listening to them, is a specialty for Bartholomew. For more than a decade, nearly his entire career with the Streetsboro Police Department, he has been a trained crisis intervention team officer. He was one of three officers the Portage County Police Chiefs Association and the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County named as crisis intervention officers of the year in 2021 and is now Portage County's CIT coordinator. Last month, Bartholomew received the Michael S. Woody CIT Coordinator of the Year for the State of Ohio award at a CIT conference in Columbus. Woody, a retired Akron police lieutenant, is credited with creating the first crisis intervention team program in Ohio, and the fourth in the nation, when he brought CIT to Akron as the department's training director in 2000. "It was a huge honor," Bartholomew said of the award. "I mean, I was surprised by it. I wasn't expecting it." The annual conference, which was April 19, is organized by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence, located at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness in a collaboration with various community partners. "This conference serves as a platform to recognize and honor outstanding achievements and dedicated members of CIT who have made significant contributions to their communities," said Jeff Futo, Ohio CIT coordinator law enforcement liaison at the criminal justice center, in an email. "Throughout the event, various awards are presented to acknowledge their exemplary efforts." Started in 2001, the center's mission is to advocate for alternatives to jail for people suffering from mental illness, with crisis intervention teams as a component of that mission. It is funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board. In his capacity at the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence, Futo, who is also a police officer and crisis intervention team coordinator at Kent State University, provides CIT technical assistance and guidance to law enforcement and community CIT programs statewide. Futo said the CIT program in Portage County is "a partnership" among agencies and individuals in the criminal justice and behavioral health spheres, advocates, and "people with lived experience and their families." "This partnership is designed to facilitate better outcomes when law enforcement officers are called to interact with a person in crisis," said Futo. "That person is often in crisis due to unmet behavioral health needs such as mental illness, substance use disorders, other life stressors, or a combination." John Garrity, executive director of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County, said in a written statement that Bartholomew is "well deserving" of the award. He is committed to improving outcomes for people in crisis and values collaboration and community," said Garrity. Drawn to crisis intervention team early on Futo said CIT arrived in the county in 2006, when the mental health recovery board organized its first crisis intervention Patrol Officer Training Course. Since then, more than 260 members from all law enforcement agencies in the county have gone through the training. One of those officers was Bartholomew. He joined the Streetsboro Police Department in 2010 and gravitated early on to CIT, taking the training in 2011. A significant influence was his friend and mentor, Sgt. Andy Suvada, a crisis intervention team trainer and one of the first CIT officers in the county. You just talk to people in crisis, Suvada told the Record-Courier in June 2021, not long before he retired. Get a general idea of whats going on with them and work through that. It is that fundamental aspect of CIT that drew Bartholomew to it. "I like helping people, and I enjoy the talking to people and trying to get people to calm down," he said. "It's something I feel I've always done well with. And CIT just kind of meshed with that." He began teaching, with Suvada and Futo, around 2017 and became Portage County's CIT coordinator in 2020, when the position was created through a grant, coordinated by the mental health and recovery board through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence. "So as a coordinator, I pretty much try to fix any problems that we have in the county," said Bartholomew. "If there's an issue between agencies, I have reached out to all the different police departments to try to get everybody on the same page, make sure that everybody has set procedures and that they're trying to abide by those procedures." Bartholomew said every law enforcement agency in the county now has its own CIT coordinator, which gives him a contact person with each agency. Part of his job is also gathering statistics to help evaluate how well things are going. "A lot of it's a lot of meetings, a lot of going around and meeting with different people," he said. "Fill the cracks that there are in the system, things like that." One initiative is the establishment of Coleman Access with Coleman Health Services in Kent. "If we have somebody that doesn't necessarily need to be hospitalized or go somewhere, but needs mental health assistance, Coleman will actually come out to the residence," said Bartholomew. Futo said crisis intervention team coordinators have a "dual role." "In their capacity as a program coordinator, they engage in collaborative efforts with community partners, provide training to CIT members, and implement other program initiatives such as information sharing and data collection, and countywide policy and procedure development," he said. "Additionally, as a law enforcement liaison, they play a crucial role as a communication facilitator, collaborator and mediator between law enforcement agencies and other partners." Officer has an 'unwavering commitment' Futo said a CIT program has multiple goals, including: Improve the safety of everyone whenever law enforcement officers engage with people in crisis. Improve outcomes of such situations. Increase understanding of, accessibility to, and improve responsiveness by the local crisis response system. Whenever possible, steer people in crisis from the criminal justice system and toward mental health treatment alternatives. Transform the local crisis response system to use police officers as first responders only when there is an immediate or imminent threat to safety or a serious criminal concern. Futo said these are not only goals, but illustrations of the value of crisis intervention teams. As for Bartholomew, Futo said he is "exceptional" in his role as the county's CIT coordinator, on top of his other duties as a police officer, and his award is well-deserved. He describes Bartholomew as motivated and passionate, with enormous energy and approaching his duties in a proactive way, going "above and beyond to improve the lives of the people in Portage County." "Officer Bartholomew has a reputation for being remarkably approachable and easy to work with," said Futo. "His ability to forge relationships with law enforcement leadership has paved the way for effective collaborations and innovative cross-systems projects. His unwavering commitment to his role is exemplified by his relentless coordination of CIT activities." Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com. This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Streetsboro police officer honored for helping those in crisis A Tesla electronic vehicle is charged at a Tesla charging station Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. State and city measures may soon require electric vehicle-charging capabilities at residential buildings in Illinois. (George Walker IV/AP) Q. I am a condominium owner considering purchasing an electric vehicle and just heard about the Illinois legislatures recent adoption of the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. How does this Illinois statute differ from the City of Chicago Electric Vehicle Right to Charge Ordinance? A. The Electric Vehicle Charging Act is different from the proposed City of Chicago Electric Vehicle Right to Charge Ordinance (which remains proposed and is not yet adopted) in two major respects. First, the Electric Vehicle Charging Act is a State of Illinois statute and applies throughout the State of Illinois, while the City of Chicago Right to Charge Ordinance only applies to buildings in Chicago. Advertisement Second, after it goes into effect, the Electric Vehicle Charging Act will require newly constructed single-family homes and multi-unit residential buildings with parking spaces, including condominium and community associations, to provide the infrastructure for vehicle charging. Chicagos Right to Charge Ordinance, meanwhile, would apply to existing buildings. To date, the Electric Vehicle Charging Act has only been approved by the Illinois legislature. If the act is signed by Governor Pritzker or not vetoed by Governor Pritzker by July 3, it will become law and will be effective as of January 1, 2024. Advertisement Q. I live in a small selfmanaged condominium association in Chicago. I brought up to our board of directors the idea of charging selling unit owners a fee to compile a 22.1 disclosure with associated documentation. Can the association charge a fee for that service and is $200 a reasonable fee? A. It is customary for condominium associations, especially those that are professionally managed, to charge a fee to issue a 22.1 disclosure letter and provide associated documents. In fact, Section 22.1(c) of the Condominium Act states that a reasonable fee, not to exceed $375, may be charged by the association or board of directors covering direct out-of-pocket costs. Thus, $200 is a reasonable fee as well as any amount up to $375. Section 22.1(c) goes on to index the $375 fee by the consumer price index during the preceding 12-month calendar year. Q. I am a unit owner in a high-rise building that has an increasing number of short-term rentals. Short-term rentals are not currently prohibited by the governing documents. We are starting to experience a surge of problems with these tenants. What remedies does the board possess to address the situation? A. In the absence of the unit owners adopting an amendment to the declaration and bylaws to restrict leasing with reasonable provisions that makes sense for the building, for a tenant that violates the governing documents, the board of directors possesses authority to levy fines against the unit owner who is leasing their unit pursuant to section 18.4(l) of the Condominium Act. Additionally, the board of directors can file a lawsuit against the tenant and the unit owner to evict the tenant pursuant to Section 18(n) of the Condominium Act. Per Section 9.2 of the Condominium Act, the board is entitled to recover legal fees and costs incurred in enforcing the governing documents. Got a question for the Condo Adviser? Email ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com. Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news. Today, the Tribune continues its 19th annual series of articles looking back at the news and advertisements from Mooresvilles newspaper of a century ago. These news items, with original headlines, are from The Mooresville Enterprise, predecessor to the Tribune. They are transcribed, edited and introduced by local historian O.C. Stonestreet. June 14 Machine Shops and Foundry Assured The Academy Machine Shops, of Troutman, will be moved to Mooresville on or about the first of July and will occupy the new building now in course of erection on McKey Avenue, facing the Mooresville Furniture Company. The building will be 60x120 feet and is just about complete. The Academy Machine Shops is the property of J. O. Johnston, president and treasurer; M. E. Johnston, secretary; J. O. Johnston, Jr. and C. H. Johnston. These enterprising men have been doing a very successful business at Troutman, but on account of enlarging, they sought Mooresville as a very desirable location. The shops are equipped for all sort of repair work, moulding and manufacture of various articles. The company has been encouraged to come to this city on account of the great activity in building operations and the pressing need of a foundry and machine shops. Some local capital will be subscribed, if it is needed. The Messrs. Johnston are hustlers and are equipped with everything essential to a successful career. These men will find a hearty welcome in our midst. June 21 EDITORIAL: Up to Our Citizens For a number of years, the good people of Mooresville have been dissatisfied with the present passenger station, and withing more recent days the shifting of freight cars in the central part of town has become a menace to life and distressing to people who live or do business along the trackage. Conference after conference brought no definite results. On Tuesday, Henry W. Miller, vice president of the Southern Railway Company, visited our city and discussed the affairs with our citizens. He asked that we go no further with our demands through the corporation commission, and stated positively that the Railroad Company was ready to give us relief. He stated that the company now had funds with which to build and expand their facilities here, if the people were ready for action. Mr. Miller gave as his private opinion that to remove the freight and passenger station from the central part of town would be the best thing for the town and for the company, although he did not insist. There were three proposals submitted by Mr. Miller, which places the matter squarely up to our people. We are offered the greater facilities if we take them now. The Enterprise is and has ever been of the opinion the best thing for our city to do is to have the entire freight and passenger stations removed from the business district. As we see it, it will give our city an opportunity to expand and grow. Business people want to get away from the depot or railroad as far as possible. Conditions are different from what they used to be, and no good business man wants near a railroad unless he builds and operate warehouses. In any city, where do you find the best business houses? They are not near the railroad stations. The Enterprise is of the opinion that we should strike while the iron is hot and accept the proposition to move the depot out of the business district with a few details sufficient to guarantee the maintenance of the central parkway, etc. There will be a mass meeting of citizens at the Municipal Building Friday night at 8 oclock, when it is hoped every citizen will be there and we also hope the various minds can concentrate on accepting one of the three propositions at once. It is up to us now. Somnambulistic Perambulations of a Young Boy Chalmers Carr, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Carr, sustained a strained foot last Saturday night while on a somnambulistic perambulation at the boarding house of Mrs. Lillian Melchor on Broad Street, where the family resides. Chalmers got up in his sleep and in some way fell out of the window from the second story, landing feet foremost on the ground. In his rapid descent, he struck the blinds at a window of Mrs. Melchors room, which is on the lower floor, awakening Mr. Melchor, as his body hit the ground with a sickening thud and, who, after a pause of several minutes, heard the young man calling. He was on his feet and had made his way to the door where he was admitted. He returned to his room and did not further disturb the peaceful slumbers of the big household, and the incident passed without much concern until early Monday morning when the boy was unable to get to his work at the ice plant of W. N. Johnston Sons Company, where he has been employed for several weeks. His foot is sprained, and it is said he will not be permitted to attempt to walk under three weeks. Keeping Cool on a Real Hot Sunday Last Sunday was probably the hottest Sunday experienced during the present heated period, and it was one continuous search to find a cool spot. The brave and the good people of the community practically all attended church services and sweltered during services. There were many, however, who felt the withering effect and remained in negligee and away from their weekly devotions on account of the heatan excuse too freely rendered. In addition to the heat, in some of the churches where there are no screens, the good people were much annoyed by the onrush of the pesky flies. It seemed that these disease-breeders were more familiar with the people last Sunday than at any other time in many years. What the various churches lacked in human attendance was fully made up in the multitude of visitors known as the common house fly. It was an extremely hot day, although no reports have reached us of undue suffering except in several cases of discomfort. To keep cool was a proposition that worried quite a number, but everybody so far who remained at home or attended church services have survived and will probably be able to stand it better next Sabbath, as they will be more accustomed to the heat by that time. Automobile parties, who started out early Sunday morning report a fearfully hot day, and the lady who wore the red shirt waist came back with a beautiful pink-tinted body, and had not used any cosmetics. Busy People at the Ice Plant More than thirty-five tons of ice was retailed at the plant of W. N. Johnston Sons Company last Saturday, and it wasnt a good day for ice either. It is said that there were a greater number of sales last Saturday than on any previous day this summer. The plants capacity is 25 tons per day, and the entire force of sixteen hands were as busy as bees in a tar bucket. That part of Broad Street from The Enterprise office to Center Avenue was blocked several times by the congestion of automobiles and other vehicles which were run in that space in order to secure ice. Saturday is a great day in Mooresville and the streets are more or less congested every Saturday, but there were several hundred more cars on Broad Street during the afternoon than ever before. One feature that is to be commended, is that those who were compelled to sit and wait did it good-naturedly and did to attempt to hurry the fellow in front. The men who handled the ice and did the cutting and weighing were good-humored and obliging and made the trading public feel that the men were doing their level best to wait on them and accepted the situation with good grace. It was a bust time along Broad, and to cut and deliver during one day 35 tons of ice will keep a little army of men busy, especially those who are unaccustomed to handling the cooling blocks. June 28 Two Civil War Vets in Reminiscent Mood Buddies of the Civil War are always interesting to men and women and children of later generations, and on last Saturday The Enterprise was honored by a visit of two very interesting Confederate veterans. Mr. Henry Cope was the local man, and Mr. Frank Cook, of Concord, was with him. They were members of Company C, 33rd Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, and this was their first meeting since the war. Mr. Cook having run over just to see Henry, as he stated. After formal greeting by The Enterprise, the two congenial spirits began a series of reminiscences, and among other experiences they told of the routing of their regiment at Fallen Water, Md., on the 18th of July, 1863. General Pettigrew was killed at this time, when the Yankees slipped up on them and surrounded the entire contingent of Confederates, who thought they were more or less secure, being on the opposite side of the river. However, their foes came right up on them, when some of the Southern boys were making arrangements to leave the scene. Colonel Avery commanded the men to retire in order, but when the command was given to march, they went at a double-quick. Mr. Cook crossed the river with a large number of others, and was captured. Mr. Cope remained with the remnant of men and escaped capture. Brigadier General Lane came up about the time the few remaining men were being assembled, and asked Colonel Avery, Where are your men? Col. Avery turned to survey his regiment, when only about one-fourth were there. It was a scandalous routing, the two old gentlemen said. Both men are 82 years of age and are apparently in the best of health, although they have retired from active life. Mr. Cook returned to his home at Concord Tuesday. This spring our son, Randall Van Horn, and his wife, Stephanie, had the pleasure of watching their two daughters celebrate crossing milestones in their lives. The older of the two, Tanya, graduated from Kennesaw State University with a bachelors degree in cyber security. The younger sister, Alexandra, crossed the bridge from the Brownies to the Junior level of Girl Scouts. The two parents are proud of both their girls. Stephanie Van Horn, my daughter-in-law and a knowledgeable and dedicated Girl Scout leader, shared information about the organization. Girl Scouts have long held the tradition of raising girls up to be strong leaders involved in their community and making the world a better place, Stephanie said. At the end of the school year, the Girl Scouts hold a Bridging Ceremony for Girl Scouts active this year and moving up into the next level. Girls are placed in the appropriate level for Girl Scouts according to what grade they are in school: Daisy, kindergarten through first; Brownies, grades two to three; Juniors, grades four to five; Cadets, grades six to eight; Seniors, grades nine to 10; and Ambassadors, grades 11-12. After 12th grade they can become lifetime members of the Girl Scouts. It is possible for them to support a younger troop or even start their own Girl Scout troop. Bridging is an important step in Girl Scouts as it highlights achievements from the past year as well as calls attention to preparing for new experiences, adventures, responsibilities and fun for the upcoming year. While not required to bridge to the next level, Girl Scouts can earn a Girl Scout Bridging Award by Passing it On and Looking Ahead. Within each of these steps, girls look back at their past years in Girl Scouts, reflecting on experiences and accomplishments; community projects they have taken part in, fun trips they have gone on and then sharing this knowledge and excitement to younger Girl Scouts. It is an opportunity of giving back and mentoring younger girls. In the looking ahead step, girls meet and discuss with Girl Scouts at the next level to learn about exciting opportunities and possibilities for the next level. Stephanie then told about her daughter, my granddaughter, Alexandra Van Horn, and her accomplishments this year. On May 6, Alexandra Van Horn attended Magnolia Service Units multi-troop Bridging Ceremony. Alexandra and other girls of her Brownie troop participated in the Bridging event. The ceremony follows Girl Scout traditions, including a flag ceremony reciting the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law, presentation of earned badges and Journey and Summit pin. The journey badges are more involved, require multiple steps and meetings to earn with a community service component to make the world a better place. To earn her summit pin, Alexandra had to earn three Journeys. The badges Alexandra earned were discussed by the girls due to Girl Scouts encouraging age-appropriate girl-led meetings and discussion on what the girls want to accomplish during the year. Alexandras troop volunteered to make appreciation gifts for their elementary school. Alexandra has participated in local park beautification projects which involved picking up debris and trash. During the bridging ceremony, Alexandra was presented with her Fly Up Girl Scout wings as she bridged to Junior Girl Scouts, a bridging certificate, Citizen Scientist Journey, Outdoor Journey, It is your story Journey, and her My Promise My Faith. Stephanie continued explaining Alexandras accomplishments for the year. Alexandra was able to recount going camping with her troop in two different camporees, earning a different Journey badge each time. She was able to share she learned archery and riding horses. She learned about canoeing, fishing and hiking. She learned how to talk to customers in her Girl Scout Magazine and Nut business. She learned how to market her Girl Scout Cookie business and promoting Operation Smiles that has her customers purchasing cookies for our nations heroes, our military women and men. She was able to share learning how to properly use hammer, screw drivers and build a mini pinball machine. She learned from World Thinking Day about Girl Scouts from France and interesting facts about the country of France. She knows from her moms stories about the fun experiences she had as a Girl Scout from Brownies to 12th grade. It was so important that many leaders come from former Girl Scouts as they want to ensure their daughters have the same great experience of Girl Scouting and having that sisterhood of girls that last well into adulthood. I am still friends with the ladies from my childhood Girl Scout Troop and have kept in touch through the power of social media and meeting up with them. Alexandra and I have made great friends with the girls and co-leaders. I learned so much from this story my daughter-in-law, Stephanie Van Horn, shared with me. It is obvious that Scouting can be a beautiful bonding experience for a mother and daughter. KYIV, Ukraine Ukraine's military on Sunday reported recapturing a southeastern village as Russian forces claimed to repel multiple attacks in the area, while a regional official said three people were killed when Moscow's troops opened fire on a boat evacuating people from Russian-occupied areas to Ukrainian-held territory along a flooded front line far to the south. The battlefield showdown in the southeast and chaotic scenes from inundated southern Ukraine marked the latest upheaval and bloodshed in Russia's war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month. Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of the Kherson region, said on his Telegram account that a 74-year-old man who tried to protect a woman was among those who died in the attack on evacuees, which wounded another 10. An Associated Press team on site saw three ambulances drop off injured evacuees at a hospital, one of whom was splattered with blood and whisked by stretcher into the emergency room. The Kherson region straddles the Dnieper River and has suffered heavy flooding since last week's breach of a dam that Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of causing. Russian forces occupy parts of the region on the eastern side of the river. Many civilians have said Russian authorities in occupied areas were forcing would-be evacuees to present Russian passports before taking them to safety. Since then, many small boats have shuttled from Ukrainian-held areas on the west bank across the river to rescue desperate civilians stuck on rooftops, in attics and other islands of dry amid the deluge. To the northeast, nearly half-way up the more than 600-mile front line, Ukrainian forces said they drove out Russian fighters from the village of Blahodatne, in the partially occupied Donetsk region. Ukraine's 68th Separate Hunting Brigade posted a video on Facebook that showed soldiers installing a Ukrainian flag on a damaged building in the village. Myroslav Semeniuk, spokesman for the brigade, told The Associated Press that an assault team captured six Russian troops after entering several buildings where some 60 soldiers were holed up. The enemy keeps shelling us but this wont stop us, Semeniuk said. The next village we plan to reclaim is Urozhayne. After that, (well proceed) further south. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian troops in the area had advanced about a mile and had taken control of another village, Makarivka. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukrainian counteroffensive actions were underway. But while the recapture of Blahodatne pointed to a small Ukrainian advance, Western and Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly cautioned that efforts to expel Russian troops more broadly are expected take time. Russia has made much of how its troops have held their ground elsewhere. The Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday continued to insist that it was repelling Ukrainian attacks in the area. It said in a statement that Ukrainian attempts at offensive operations on the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia axes of the frontline over the past 24 hours had been unsuccessful. Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region, insisted that Blahodatne and two other villages in the region were in a gray area in terms of who controls them. However, Rogov said in a Telegram post that Russian fighters had been forced to leave the village of Neskuchne in the Donetsk region. In a video, fighters identifying themselves as members of a Ukrainian volunteer force claimed to have taken the village. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that that Ukraines counteroffensive had started, and said Ukrainian forces were taking significant losses. In other developments: Ukrhydroenergo, Ukraines hydropower generator, said Sunday that water levels on a reservoir above the ruptured Kakhovka dam continued to decline at 30 feet, 6 inches on Sunday morning, marking a drop of more than 21 feet since the dam break on Tuesday. Meanwhile, below the dam, Prokudin said water levels on the Ukrainian-held west bank were receding, even if more than 32 settlements remained flooded. He said conditions were worse on the Russian-occupied eastern bank, which sits at a lower elevation and where water levels were slower to drop back down. Also Sunday, the Russian military accused Ukrainian forces of attacking albeit unsuccessfully one of its ships in the Black Sea. According to Russias Defense Ministry, the attempted attack took place when six unmanned speedboats targeted Russias Priazovye reconnaissance vessel that was monitoring the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the southeastern part of the Black Sea. All the speedboats were destroyed by the Russian military, and the ship didnt sustain any damage, the ministry said. The claim could not be independently verified, and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. Ukraine and Russia reported exchanging scores of prisoners of war on Sunday; Russia said 94 of its soldiers were freed and Yermak said 95 Ukrainians were released. Russias Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed a decree ordering all Russian volunteer formations to sign contracts with the ministry by July 1, according to his deputy Nikolai Pankov. The move would give the formations legal status and allow them to receive the same state benefits as contract soldiers. Observers say the move likely targets the Wagner private military company. Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has a long-running feud with the Russian military, said Sunday that the group would not sign such contracts precisely because Shoigu cannot manage military formations normally. HELENA, Mont. Whether a constitutional right to a healthy, livable climate is protected by state law is at the center of a lawsuit going to trial Monday in Montana, where 16 young plaintiffs and their attorneys hope to set an important legal precedent. It's the first trial of its kind in the U.S., and legal scholars around the world are following its potential addition to the small number of rulings that have established a government duty to protect citizens from climate change. The trial comes shortly after the state's Republican-dominated Legislature passed measures favoring the fossil fuel industry by stifling local government efforts to encourage renewable energy while increasing the cost to challenge oil, gas and coal projects in court. By enlisting plaintiffs ranging in age from 5 to 22, the environmental firm bringing the lawsuit is trying to highlight how young people are harmed by climate change now and will be further affected in the future. Their testimony will detail how wildfire smoke, heat and drought have harmed residents' physical and mental health. The plaintiffs' youth has little direct bearing on the legal issues, and experts say the case likely won't lead to immediate policy changes in fossil fuel-friendly Montana. But over two weeks of testimony, attorneys for the plaintiffs plan to call out state officials for pursuing oil, gas and coal development in hopes of sending a powerful message to other states. Plaintiff Grace Gibson-Snyder, 19, said she's felt the impacts of the heating planet acutely as wildfires regularly shroud her hometown of Missoula in dangerous smoke and as water levels drop in area rivers. Weve seen repeatedly over the last few years what the Montana state Legislature is choosing, Gibson-Snyder said. They are choosing fossil fuel development. They are choosing corporations over the needs of their citizens. In high school, Gibson-Snyder was an environmental activist who was too young to vote when she signed on as a plaintiff. The other young plaintiffs include members of Native American tribes, a ranching family dependent on reliable water supplies and people with health conditions, such as asthma, that put them at increased risk during wildfires. Some plaintiffs and experts will point to farmers whose margins have been squeezed by drought and extreme weather events like last years destructive floods in Yellowstone National Park as further evidence that residents have been denied the clean environment guaranteed under Montanas Constitution. Experts for the state are expected to downplay the impacts of climate change and what one of them described as Montanas miniscule contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions. Lawyers for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, tried repeatedly to get the case thrown out over procedural issues. In a June 6 ruling, the state Supreme Court rejected the latest attempt to dismiss it, saying justices were not inclined to intervene just days before the start of a trial that has been literally years in the making. One reason the case may have made it so far in Montana, when dozens of similar cases elsewhere have been rejected, is the state's unusually protective 1972 Constitution, which requires officials to maintain a clean and healthful environment. Only a few other states, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York, have similar environmental protections in their constitutions. In prior rulings, State District Judge Judge Kathy Seeley significantly narrowed the scope of the case. Even if the plaintiffs prevail, Seeley has said she would not order officials to formulate a new approach to address climate change. Instead, the judge could issue what's called a "declaratory judgment saying officials violated the state Constitution. That would set a new legal precedent of courts weighing in on cases typically left to the government's legislative and executive branches, environmental law expert Jim Huffman said. Still, such a ruling would have no direct impact on industry, said Huffman, dean emeritus at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. A declaratory judgment would be a symbolic victory, but would not require any particular action by the state government. So the state could, and likely would, proceed as before, he said. Economist Terry Anderson, a witness for the state, said that over the past two decades, carbon dioxide emissions from Montana have declined, but that's in part due to the shuttering of coal power plants. Montana energy or environmental policies have virtually no effect on global or local climate change because Montanas GHG (greenhouse gas) contributions to the global total is trivial, Anderson said in court documents. He argued climate change could ultimately benefit Montana with longer growing seasons and the potential to produce more valuable crops. Supporters of the lawsuit predicted an overflow crowd when the trial starts Monday in Helena. They rented a nearby theater to livestream the proceedings for those who cant fit in the courtroom. The case was brought in 2020 by attorneys for the environmental group Our Childrens Trust, which has filed climate lawsuits in every state on behalf of young plaintiffs since 2011. Most of those cases, including a previous one in Montana, were dismissed prior to trial. A ruling in favor of the Montana plaintiffs could have ripple effects, according to Philip Gregory, Our Childrens Trust attorney. While it wouldnt be binding outside Montana, it would give guidance to judges in other states, which could impact upcoming trials such as one in Hawaii, Gregory said. Attempts to get a similar decision at the federal level were boosted by a June 1 ruling allowing a case brought by young climate activists in Oregon to proceed to trial in U.S. District Court. That case was halted by U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts on the eve of the trial in 2018. How climate change is affecting America's national parks Historic flooding, extreme temperatures and more Rising temperatures Glacial retreat Sea level rise Animal life Wildfires Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond including news, sports, features and politics. Walgreens and CVS, and two pharmaceutical companies, will pay a total of $17.3 billion to settle with the state of California for their role in the opioid crisis, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Friday. Pharmacy chains CVS will pay $5 billion, while Walgreens will pay $5.7 billion. Opioid makers Allergan and Teva will pay $2.37 billion and $4.25 billion, respectively. Nothing can bring back the lives lost or erase the suffering caused by this crisis, but we are making sure those who caused it and profited from it are held to account for their greed and willful misconduct. These hard-fought and hard-won settlement funds will be critical in supporting victims and getting them the help they need to recover, Bonta said in a statement. The Sacramento Bee has reached out to all four companies for comment. A spokeswoman for CVS said in an email that we are pleased to finalize this agreement, which was previously announced in November 2022, and to resolve these claims that date back a decade or more. The settlements with Allergan and Teva are intended to resolve allegations that the pharmaceutical manufacturers downplayed the risks of opioid addiction while overstating the benefits when marketing their pills, according to the Attorney Generals Office. Two arrested on suspicion of murder in 2022 fentanyl death of Napa teenager Napa County prosecutors charged two men with murder on suspicion of selling pills to a 17-year-old high schooler who died in 2022. As for the pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens, this settlement is intended to handle claims that they ignored signs of prescription drug abuse, Bontas office said. A third retailer, Walmart, is expected to settle soon in a case valued at up to $3.1 billion, according to the Department of Justice. Since the first wave of the opioid epidemic hit the United States in 2000, it has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, torn families apart, and eroded the social fabric of communities. Its toll has continued to grow year after year, according to the attorney generals office. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, more than 80,000 people may have died of opioid overdoses, with more than 11,200 of those deaths taking place in California. The money from the settlement announced Friday will be spent to improve substance abuse treatment facilities, increase the availability of the anti-overdose nasal spray Narcan, provide more training to law enforcement and first responders and address the needs of communities of color and vulnerable populations, including those who are unhoused, according to the DOJ. Photos: Advocates boost opioid rescue drug access to save lives Our link should be with Armenia only: Karabakh residents comment on their blocking of Askeran-Aghdam road Armenia army General Staff chief meets with US Air Force chief of staff (PHOTOS) Parents of missing soldiers close off major avenue in Yerevan Edmon Marukyan: Azerbaijan has no plan to integrate Christian Armenians Azerbaijan MFA responds to Armenia FM with series of absurd accusations First robotic liver transplant in U.S. performed by Washington University surgeons How to delete someone else's account? 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MoD: Armenia army did not fire at Azerbaijan positions Champions League: Matches of the day Inter beat Lugano, Mkhitaryan among starters Worlds most expensive iPhone is sold in US US returns 105 antiquities illegally exported from India to latter David Babayan: Karabakh grandpa who fought at Stalingrad, took Berlin never imagined he could die of hunger Russia, Iran FMs interested in consultations with participation of Armenia, Azerbaijan Austria FM: Lachin corridor blockade must be stopped immediately Deputy PM Grigoryan's office: Armenia, Azerbaijan have not made decision on any map Armenia FM briefs OSCE Secretary General on situation in Karabakh Armenian Foreign Minister expresses Yerevan's readiness to hold talks with Turkey in Vienna Armenia is not going to become a space where sanctions could be bypassed: Ararat Mirzoyan The weekend in Tbilisi: Old quarters, Italian courtyards, trendy design, and Sweet Beds in ibis hotels (PHOTOS) Dollar, euro increase in Armenia Armenia FM: Regrettable that instead of engaging in dialogue, Azerbaijan pursues policy of ethnic cleansing in Karabakh FMs sign protocol on implementation of Armenia-EU readmission agreement between Armenia, Austria (PHOTOS) Karabakh residents block Askeran-Aghdam motorway, with concrete barriers (PHOTOS) Armenias Pashinyan receives ex-MP Francois Rochebloine of France How to come up with a complex but memorable password? Yerevan municipal election events schedule announced Karabakh NGOs: Support being provided to Artsakh people cannot be at cost of trampling on their dignity American University of Armenia has new president Hyundai releases first photos of new generation Santa Fe crossover Public Television to present dire situation in Karabakh every day live from capital Stepanakert's Renaissance Square New feature in WhatsApp: It is already possible to communicate with those whose numbers are not recorded in the phone book of the smartphone Teen found dead in Armenia river European Parliament committee calls on Turkey to recognize Armenian Genocide Armenia FM visit to Vienna kicks of with private talk with Austria colleague Karabakh operational headquarters chief: Presidents sit-in could be beneficial European Parliament accuses Azerbaijan of bribing PACE lawmakers, some other offenses Karabakh presidential advisor warns of taking extreme measures Iraqi Kurdistan leader visits Azerbaijan In support of Karabakh demonstration participants march to US Embassy in Yerevan US embassy: Passengers are denied entry to Armenia for possession of drugs Azerbaijan continues to settle occupied Berdzor-Lachin town of Karabakh Armenia army chief attends US National Guard State Partnership Program 30th Anniversary conference (PHOTOS) Stable Volume: New, convenient feature launches on YouTube Public transport to not operate in Karabakh capital Stepanakert as of today Karabakh interior ministry: No vehicle passed through Askeran police checkpoint to Akna-Aghdam Azerbaijan FM repeats proposal to use Aghdam road to Karabakh Protests in support of Karabakh continue in Yerevan Grigory Karasin responds to accusations against Russia from Azerbaijan Armenia PM: It will be very good if we do European track and field tournament in Artashat Newspaper: More Armenia military commanders to be arrested soon It will be possible to wrap future iPhones? Apple patents new technology Karabakh minister of state: Today nationwide movement will continue awareness actions started in Yerevan Karabakh parliament speaker joins Presidents sit-in Champions League: Matches of the day Ronaldo: Saudi league is better than MLS Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan again disseminated disinformation MFA spox: Armenia demands lifting of illegal blockade of Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan Karabakh President: People of Artsakh are facing real threat of physical destruction When will the production of smartphones without a replaceable battery be banned? Mum diagnosed with Down's syndrome aged 23 says people 'dont believe' she has condition (photo) Russia MFA confirms readiness to hold Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in Moscow No more puzzles xact replicas of all iPhone 15 models have been shown Man's tongue turns green and hairy from cigarettes and antibiotics Karabakh presidential adviser on Azerbaijan proposal to transport humanitarian goods to Artsakh: This is greatest danger Armen Grigoryan presents humanitarian crisis in Karabakh to Matthias Luttenberg Karabakh capital Stepanakert public transport to operate in very limited capacity Armenia ex-ruling party official Armen Ashotyan to remain in custody The Russian online market is flooded with counterfeits Which segment products are mostly counterfeit? Armenias Matenadaran museum and institute of ancient manuscripts has new director Armenia PM follows road construction work in Ararat Province MFA spox: Armenia calls on other international players to follow ICJ, ECtHR Son dies on the spot, father hospitalized after car overturns in Armenias Gegharkunik Province Armenia parliament vice-speaker briefs Germany MFA official on South Caucasus security situation Zangi company launches 'ArtsakhX' project in Karabakh, which will operate even when internet is cut off First-generation unopened iPhone sells for a record price Armenia ambassador-at-large: Azerbaijans non-compliance is violation of conventional obligations Armenia PM pays tribute to heroes who sacrificed their lives for Motherland Karabakh minister of state on Armenia protests in support of Artsakh: Put aside all differences, try to unite WHO cancer research agency declares sweetener aspartame a possible carcinogen Protester in support of Karabakh to Russia's Putin: Keep your word, we believed in you MFA spox: Armenia did not receive trilateral meeting proposal from Russia Protesters in support of Karabakh march from UN office to Russia embassy in Armenia Can smartphones be charged overnight? UAE new envoy to Armenia conveys Dubai Aviation Exhibition invitation to defense minister (PHOTOS) Karabakh President to deliver address 3 M-class solar flares recorded: Soon there may be more powerful ones that will disrupt radio communications Karabakh children sing Artsakh national anthem in front of UN office in Armenia Russia antiterrorism committee: Crimea bridge was attacked by 2 Ukraine UAVs at night Karabakh applicants unable to take Armenia universities entrance exams First ombudsperson to PM: What do you have to do with territories on which Armenia sovereignty doesnt extend? Azerbaijan must reopen Lachin corridor: ECtHR reaffirms necessity of implementing its previous decision Pickets in support of Karabakh being staged outside UN office and Russia embassy in Armenia Motion to arrest Karabakh ex-official Vitaly Balasanyan submitted to court Karabakh state minister: Nationwide movement that started in Artsakh will also take place in Armenia as of today Avery Stults of Oswego made sure to be in Aurora Sunday for the annual Pride Parade downtown. This is the second time Ive been here and I think the growth that the parade has experienced is just a natural progression. I expected it to get bigger, but not this big, Stults said of Sundays parade. In terms of the impact on the community and creating inclusion it just means so much to everybody. Advertisement Aurora Pride held its annual parade beginning at noon Sunday at the intersection of East Benton Street and South Broadway. The parade, which featured nearly a two-mile route and a record 70-plus entries, was the fourth organized by the non-profit group. Aurora Pride President Gwyn Ciesla said the entire Pride weekend in Aurora has effectively showcased the LGBTQ community. The annual parade, Ciesla said, has grown in popularity thanks to the ones we have had previously. People have really enjoyed them. Advertisement Aurora native Keri Traid serves as grand marshal during the Aurora Pride Parade on Sunday. (Mark Black/The Beacon-News) Ive heard both first- and second-hand from people who were here - there were teachers and parents and people like that who found it was really an empowering and affirming experience for our youth, which is fantastic, Ciesla said. This is one of the reasons we started doing it and a lot of businesses and organizations in the area are discovering its a really good way for their organizations to show their support for the community. Clayton Muhammad, chief communications and equity officer for the city of Aurora, said the parade is an impactful event in Aurora. This is the largest Pride Parade since 2018 and even if you look at Memorial Day here there are more units in this parade than we had a few weeks ago. This parade is always extremely popular and the energy is palpable, Muhammad said. A group from Aurora University marches in the Aurora Pride Parade on Sunday in the city. (Mark Black/The Beacon-News) Just as we saw Friday from the Pride flag-raising (event downtown), this representation means so much to be able to live out loud, out proud and for many in your hometown or a neighboring city to show your true and authentic self, Muhammad said. Rarsheeda Williams of Aurora used to go to the Chicago Pride Parade. Sunday was the second time Williams attended the Aurora Pride Parade I came the first year and wasnt here for a while because of COVID, Williams said. Originally, Im from the city of Chicago and have a lot of experience with Chicagos parade which is huge, but when Aurora decided to have its annual parade I definitely have to come here to support the LGBTQ community that I am a part of. I know a lot of the people here are not from that community but as it says here on the banner I have that talks about love, its all about support and inclusion, thats all that matters. Pride flags fly along the route of the Pride Parade in Aurora on Sunday. (Mark Black/The Beacon-News) Lisa Coniglio of West Chicago is a fan of the Aurora Pride Parade. Weve come several years and Im from the western suburbs and weve always supported the parade. Its been growing and its been great, Coniglio said. Its people supporting us and we support them. Its all about love and caring for your fellow human beings. Advertisement David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. Three suggestions for Congress: 1. Stay in Washington until you get the job done. Advertisement 2. Show some intestinal fortitude and do what you know is right regardless of party lines. You all know assault weapons should be banned. The Second Amendment was drafted when men were using muskets. 3. Kill the limit on Social Security. I have listened to all of you about taxing the wealthy. Set a percentage and do not allow any deductions. Then the wealthy will pay and Social Security will stay healthy for a long time. Advertisement It all seems so simple when you think back to your oath of office. Charles Brown, Naperville Historic Geneva structure should be preserved in your May 31 article Old Geneva structure at center of preservation debate, Shodeen Group President David Patzelt wrongly suggests the Alexander Brothers Blacksmith Shop in Geneva should not be landmarked because the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has said it does not have historic integrity. The Beacon-News Twice-weekly News updates from the Aurora area delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > The one-story limestone building at 4 E. State St. is known to be one of the oldest surviving commercial structures in the city. It was granted local landmark status in 2018, protecting it from demolition. Patzelt, who owns the historic building, conflates the National Register of Historic Places, a national historic designation, with this local landmark designation at the municipal level. Local designation does not require consideration for the perspective of IDNR regarding the buildings integrity, as Patzelt suggested. We recognize that the Blacksmith Shop is in poor condition. However, it retains enough original material and character from when it was built in the 1800s to tell an important story of Genevas early history that few places can. Thats why it was made a Geneva landmark in 2018. Another point of clarification: Patzelt said the report prepared by Teska Associates, Inc. and the Planera Group found that without a contribution of public funds, it would cost between $1.5 million and $2 million to restore the Blacksmith Shop. Not acknowledged is the overall finding of that report, which is that there are, in fact, financially viable uses for this property. The full report is available on the City of Genevas website, and we encourage the public to review it. Landmarks Illinois, a statewide historic preservation nonprofit, fully supports the efforts of local advocates who want to preserve the Blacksmith Shop and see it reused. We respect the city of Genevas decision to designate this property a local landmark and believe that designation should be upheld. Advertisement Kendra Parzen, Landmarks Illinois Advocacy Manager Share your views Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@tribpub.com. Please include your name and town of residence for publication. Please include phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 250 to 300 words. 08:41 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress does not want to get involved in polarisation and leaves that issue to the Bhartiya Janata Party. "Let us not discuss issues on emotions, let us only discuss issues of development. Emotional issues do not have any value and we must remember that India is a land of diversity. We don't want to go to any polarisation issue and we leave that chapter to BJP," he told reporters in Indore on his way to Ujjain. On the issue of whether chapters related to the first Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Keshav Baliram Hedgewar are being removed in Karnataka, he said India is a land of diversity. Queried on whether the land given to RSS and its affiliated organisations by the previous BJP government in Karnataka would be taken back, he said, "Such issues are looked into by the minister of the concerned department. Who all are eligible, who all are doing good charitable works will be looked into." Responding to a query on the poll promise by Karnataka on banning Bajrang Dal-like organisations, he said, "Any organisation which tries to bring unrest, destroy the peace of the state...we are looking into them and we will set an example. No moral policing will be allowed and no one should unnecessarily create confusion in the minds of the people. Karnataka is a developing state and we would restore peace." He didn't respond to the query on a statement by a BJP leader who said that by keeping a beard like Osama Bin Laden, Rahul Gandhi wants to become like prime minister Narendra Modi, saying he didn't understand the question in Hindi. BJP's Bihar chief Samrat Choudhary has stoked a controversy by comparing Rahul Gandhi's appearance akin to slain terrorist Osama Bin Laden. On the issue of upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh, Shivakumar said, "People of Madhya Pradesh have decided for a change. They have understood the present government, which has failed. People have also seen the role of the opposition. We will have a mandate with an absolute and clear majority (in MP)." -- PTI British Actor Naomi Watts confirmed her marriage to American actor Billy Crudup by sharing a wedding day photo on Instagram. The 'King Kong' star took to Instagram and posted a photo of herself and Billy Crudup in front of the Manhattan courthouse on Sunday. She captioned the post, "Hitched!" https://www.instagram.com/p/CtUreSjPa1g/ The couple can be seen smiling wide for the camera as Watts holds onto a bouquet of white flowers. Billy was photographed with Watts wearing a blue suit with a white shirt and a band on his ring finger. On the other hand, Watts can be seen wearing a gold wedding band and a white Oscar de la Renta gown. The 'Gypsy' actor also shared an Instagram story where she and Billy can be seen smiling for a selfie. She wrote, "Hubby." Watts was spotted out and about in New York City in April with a huge diamond on her left ring finger. When she wore the ring on the same finger during an appearance, where Hoda Kotb drew attention to her new bling, the excursion prompted engagement rumours, as per Page Six. The mostly quiet couple has been romantically linked since 2017 when they co-created the Netflix comedy Gipsy, but they didn't make their relationship public until over five years later, in February 2022, when they made their red-carpet debut at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.Watts has highlighted her affection for her darling, Billy on Instagram since then, most recently in July 2022, when she wrote "Happy Birthday my love," with a kiss emoji and a selfie of the couple travelling together. (ANI) Producer Madhu Mantena tied the knot with writer and Yoga teacher Ira Trivedi in Mumbai on Sunday. Taking to Instagram, Ira Trivedi shared a series of beautiful pictures from her special day. https://www.instagram.com/p/CtWhcXnLlsA/ For the ceremony, Madhu opted for an off-white kurta teamed up with a dhoti while Ira looked gorgeous in a pink kanjeevaram saree and accessorized her look with white flowers wrapped around her bun and statement jewellery. From Madhu kissing her wife's hand to the couple posing for cameras, pictures scream love. Sharing the pictures, Ira wrote, "I'M complete now." The couple exchanged vows in Mumbai. Hours after becoming husband and wife, Madhu and Ira hosted a wedding reception for their friends and members of the film industry. Producer Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedi were seen posing in front of the shutterbugs. For the ceremony, Mantena wore an all-blue traditional outfit while Ira looked gorgeous in a white-toned sequenced worked lehenga. She kept her tresses open and wore a green emerald diamond set to complete her look. Several Bollywood celebs marked their presence after the wedding ceremony. Actor Aamir Khan was seen striking a pose in front of the paps stationed outside the venue in a white kurta pyjama. He posed with Madhu who looked handsome in a blue traditional outfit. Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan was all suited for the party. Hrithik Roshan attended the reception with his lady love Saba Azad. The duo looked cute while they posed for the paps. Saba opted for a pink salwar kameez suit while Hrithik dressed in a blazer and trousers. Madhur Bhandarkar with his wife were snapped at Madhu and Ira at the reception. Three handsome and talented actors are captured in one frame. Rakesh Roshan was joined by Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor. And the trio were seen dressed in suit. Apart from them, film director Nitesh Tiwari along with his wife Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari also arrived at the function in traditional outfits. Mukesh Bhatt also graced the function with his beautiful wife and son. The Bhatt family posed for the paparazzi. Jackie Shroff arrived in a white blazer and bell-bottom pants. And his glasses. He was also seen carrying saplings as gifts in his hands. Jackie also got into fun banter with the paps at the venue. Vivek Oberoi was snapped in his casual outfit. Hrithik Roshan's cousin Pashmina Roshan attended the function in a beautiful white lehenga. Also posed for the cameras outside the venue. Sonakshi Sinha arrived with his rumoured boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal and Huma Qureshi. On Saturday, the couple kickstarted the wedding rituals with the mehendi ceremony where B-town celebs graced the function. Actor Hrithik Roshan attended the ceremony in traditional attire. He wore a burgundy Nehru coat over a white kurta pyjama. He was seen posing in front of the paparazzi. Apart from him, actor RajKummar Rao along with his wife Patralekhaa, producer Nikhil Dwivedi with his wife Gaurie Pandit attended the mehendi ceremony. Madhu was previously married to fashion designer Masaba. They got married in 2015. However, the duo decided to part ways and got divorced in 2019. Masaba, on the other hand, tied the knot with actor Satyadeep Misra in January. Taking to Instagram, Masaba shared a couple of pictures which she captioned, "Married my ocean of calm, this morning. Here's to many many lifetimes of love, peace, stability & most importantly laughter. And thanks for letting me pick the caption - this is gonna be great!" Prior to Masaba, he was in a relationship with actor Nandana Sen. Madhu has produced films like 'Ghajini', 'Ugly' and 'Queen' among others.If the reports are to be believed he is currently working on a film based on the epic Ramayan which will be helmed by the 'Dangal' director Nitesh Tiwari. An official announcement about the film is still awaited. On the other hand, Ira is a yoga expert apart from being a writer. Her Instagram is flooded with posts on fitness. (ANI) Researchers discovered a gene mutation that causes a common type of hypertension (high blood pressure) and a treatment for it. This study was published in the journal, 'Nature Genetics.' A little benign nodule, occurring in one out of every twenty persons with hypertension, is the cause. The nodule generates aldosterone, a hormone that regulates how much salt is in the body. The latest finding is a gene mutation in some of these nodules that causes a massive, although intermittent, overproduction of the hormone. The gene mutation found causes various issues, making it difficult for clinicians to diagnose some hypertensive patients. To begin, the variation disrupts a protein called CADM1, which prevents cells in the body from 'talking' to one another and signalling that it is time to cease producing aldosterone. Doctors are particularly concerned about the variable release of aldosterone throughout the day, which produces salt overload and hypertension at its peak. This variation explains why people with the gene mutation can go undetected until they receive blood testing at different times of the day. The researchers also discovered that this form of hypertension could be cured by unilateral adrenalectomy - removing one of the two adrenal glands. Following removal, previously severe hypertension despite treatment with multiple drugs disappeared, with no treatment required through many subsequent years of observation. Fewer than 1% of people with hypertension caused by aldosterone are identified because aldosterone is not routinely measured as a possible cause. The researchers are recommending that aldosterone is measured through a 24-hour urine test rather than one-off blood measurements, which will discover more people living with hypertension but going undiagnosed. The initial patient in this study was detected when doctors noticed a fluctuation in his hormone levels during his participation in a clinical trial of treatments for difficult hypertension. In most people with hypertension, the cause is unknown, and the condition requires life-long treatment with drugs. Previous research by the group at Queen Mary discovered that in 5-10% of people with hypertension, the cause is a gene mutation in the adrenal glands, which results in excessive amounts of aldosterone being produced. Aldosterone causes salt to be retained in the body, driving up blood pressure. Patients with excessive aldosterone levels in the blood are resistant to treatment with the commonly used drugs for hypertension and are at increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Professor Morris Brown, co-senior author of the study and Professor of Endocrine Hypertension at Queen Mary University of London, said, "On the 900th anniversary of Barts Hospital, this story illustrates benefits from the virtuous circle of Science and Medicine. Most patients consent to our undertaking non-routine molecular analyses of their surgical samples, from which we discover how their hypertension was caused, and how to cure it in future patients. Because the aldosterone nodules in this study were so small, we are now investigating whether momentary cauterisation of the nodule is an alternative to surgical removal of the whole adrenal gland." (ANI) The Customs department said that the gold was recovered from the four passengers who had arrived at the airport from Malaysia on Friday. "The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), Kochi, seized 2207.24 gms of foreign-origin gold jewelry worth Rs 1,21,83,965 from 4 passengers who had arrived from Malaysia at Kochi Airport," the official statement said. The recovered gold was seized under relevant sections of the Customs Act 1962, an official said. Further investigation is underway into the incident. Earlier last month in a similar incident The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs Department seized 1,259 grams of gold worth Rs 56.48 lakhs at Kochi airport. (ANI) The deceased has been identified as Suryakant Jimat. The fire erupted after a blast in a chemical section of Blue Jet Healthcare company and spread to other parts of the unit, Thane Municipal Corporation said. The incident took place at the nitration plant of Blue Jet Healthcare in MIDC unit two near the AMP gate on Saturday afternoon. The 53-year-old Blue Jet Healthcare company manufactures integrated contrast media intermediates for X-ray and MRI procedures, the website of the firm states. The company has manufacturing units in Shahad, Mahad and two units in Ambernath industrial area. Further details are awaited. (ANI) You are here: Business China posted strong growth in the export value of photovoltaic (PV) products in the first four months of the year, new data showed. Exports of PV products rose 18.9 percent year on year to 19.35 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. From March to April, China's PV industry saw a high operating rate, said the ministry. In the March-April period, the output of polysilicon increased by 72.1 percent year on year, while that of silicon wafers rose 79.8 percent, according to the ministry. Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, dismissed reports of his discontent regarding the appointment of Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as the party's working presidents, stating that he is happy with the party's decision. "Some media reports that I am unhappy that the party did not give any responsibility to me is wrong. Our committee was formed at that time when Sharad Pawar resigned. Two decisions are to be taken at that time. The first was to request Sharad Pawar to withdraw his resignation and the second was to appoint Supriya Sule as a working President and it was suggested when the committee was formed. But the rest of the committee members said to focus on persuading Sharad Pawar to retract his resignation. Being in Democracy and respecting the majority, I decided to focus on the resignation issue, because new leadership has to be strengthened and enhanced," Pawar said while talking to the reporters here. He further said that he is interested mainly in state politics. "I am the Opposition leader of Maharashtra and party leader at the state level. My interests are at the state level and Supriya is doing well in national politics," he said. He highlighted his resignation from national politics in 1991, contrasting it with Supriya's presence in Delhi for several years. Ajit Pawar explained that he had chosen to join state politics due to his lack of interest in national politics. He also said, "I am interested mainly in Maharashtra politics, so I have always cleared that point in the party. For the past several years, Supriya is in Delhi. Praful Patel and I became MP at the same time in 1991, but as I was not interested in national politics, I resigned and joined state politics." On the foundation day of the NCP on Saturday, the Pawar patriarch appointed Sule not only as the working president of the NCP but also put her in charge of Maharashtra, presently handled by his nephew Ajit Pawar. Senior leader Praful Patel too will be the working president along with Sule. Pawar made the announcement while addressing party workers at the 25th anniversary of the Foundation Day of the party, which he had formed in 1999 along with P A Sangma. Party leader Ajit Pawar was also present at the occasion. Sharad Pawar had last month resigned as the president of the party. He had subsequently withdrawn his decision after NCP's committee on May 5 passed a resolution rejecting his resignation and requested him to continue to lead the party that he founded. (ANI) The arrested accused identified as Mohammad Kalim is a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki, the police said. The police said that the accused had allegedly converted a Hindu man to Islam. "A Complaint was received from Sandeep Saagar, resident of Turkman Gate, Delhi wherein he has alleged that Mohd Kalim, resident of Matia Mahal (Permanent Resident of Barabanki, UP) pressurised him to convert to Muslim religion," the Delhi police said in an official statement. "The accused is a Computer Science graduate," the police said. The police further said that they have registered a case under sections 153 (a) and 295 (a) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after a primary enquiry at Chandni Mahal police station. Further investigation into the case is underway. (ANI) The case has been registered against Students' Federation of India Principal Dr VS Joy, Archaeology Dept Coordinator Dr Vinod Kumar Kallolikal, KSU State President Aloysius Xavier, KSU unit in-charge CA Fazil and Asianet News reporter Akhila Nandakumar. PM Arsho lodged a complaint, alleging that Maharaja College intentionally posted an incorrect result for an exam in which he did not even register, with the purpose of insulting and defaming him. Arsho further claimed that the reporter and others disseminated this false information through social media. A controversy erupted after the website of the college showed the results where PM Arsho's mark sheet showed marks received as zero, but was stamped "passed". The SFI leader said he had not even registered for the Archeology examination which he "passed". PM Arsho is a former post-graduate student of Maharaja's College in Ernakulam. However, the College principal VS Joy said that a technical error had caused the confusion. "What happened in Arsho's case was a technical error. The marks are zero but the mark sheet erroneously mentioned 'passed'. What Arsho said was right and he did not even register for this exam," he said. Meanwhile, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists has opposed the actions against the reporter and called it "undemocratic" and "encroachment" towards press freedom. (ANI) Trinamool Congress West Bengal General Secretary Kunal Ghosh on Saturday slammed Congress State President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, calling the latter a "biggest failure" for his party. "Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury failed his party. He is the biggest failure as West Bengal Congress president," said Kunal Ghosh. He further said that TMC will fight the Panchayat Elections on the basis of the development which has been done during Mamata Banrjee's tenure as the Chief Minister of the state. "Our supremo Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have already said that we want a peaceful democratic election. We've done development and on that basis, this election will be fought. CPI(M), BJP and Congress will try to divert the issue as they don't have candidates," he said. The TMC leader further said that if any of the party leaders will indulge in any illegal activity, the party will take the strictest action against them. The panchayat elections in West Bengal are to be held on July 8 in a single phase and votes will be counted on July 11, the state poll panel said on Thursday. These elections are expected to witness fierce competition between the ruling TMC and the principal opposition, the BJP. They are being seen as a litmus test for both parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year. Earlier in the day, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the TMC of "intimidating" the Opposition parties ahead of the Panchayat polls. "Our worst fears around the panchayat polls are ringing true. The ruling party in Bengal is resorting to unchecked hooliganism and using the administration to unleash terror on the Opposition forces ahead of the panchayat polls. We are being intimidated in a planned manner. They don't want the panchayat polls in Murshidabad and elsewhere to be held in police," Chowdhury told. (ANI) As Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka decided to review the land allotted to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during BJP's regime in the state, BJP leader Dr CN Ashwath Narayan on Saturday said that the action by Congress should not be done "out of revenge". Narayan highlighted that the government should act as an enabler and facilitator and said that the government should be cautious enough not to be biased. "Government has all the right to look into these matters and revise it. But it should not be vindictive, or out of revenge. Government is an enabler and the facilitator, the purpose and intentions are important. Government cannot be biased," Narayan said while talking to the media. The Karnataka government will review land allotted by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government to various organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates. The Siddaramaiah government, as soon as it came into power, announced the decision of reviewing the land and budgets approved by the BJP during its tenure. The Congress also promised to ban RSS in its manifesto before the elections. Earlier, Narayan criticised the Karnataka government's proposal to revise school textbooks in the State, including the alleged removal of lessons on RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, stating that such hasty decisions will not be appreciated. Narayan further advised the State Government to "not ignore and disrespect such a towering personality" and "should have the courtesy to respect him." Speaking on the State government's proposal to revise school textbooks this year and said they should not hurry and should constitute a committee for such revisions. "These kinds of hasty decisions are not appreciated. Dr Hedgewar is a founder of national cultural building, nationalism...He was a medical practitioner with a good background," the former state minister told ANI. "They (Karnataka Government) should not be in a hurry, they should take their time. They should constitute a committee and look into it," a former state minister told ANI. Narayan said such changes are politically motivated. "As a popular government, they should address the concerns of all sections of society. Government has to be inclusive and respect the sentiments of all communities and all people...I humbly call upon them, don't be in a hurry to do things," the BJP MLA said. (ANI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal said that the appointment of Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as the party's new working presidents was made in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Bhujbal added that since the elections were approaching, the NCP leaders Supriya Sule and Praful Patel were given extra responsibilities. "They have been made the working presidents so that the election work and Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha work can be divided. They have been allotted more responsibilities on their shoulders because elections are near," he said. The NCP leader added that this was done to handle the 2024 Lok Sabha election work. On the foundation day of the NCP on Saturday, party supremo Sharad Pawar announced Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as the new working presidents of the party. The Pawar patriarch appointed Sule not only as the working president of the NCP but also put her in charge of Maharashtra, presently handled by his nephew Ajit Pawar. Senior leader Praful Patel too will be the working president along with Sule. Pawar made the announcement while addressing party workers at the 25th Foundation Day of the party, which he had formed in 1999 along with P A Sangma. Party leader Ajit Pawar was also present at the occasion. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar dismissed reports of his discontent regarding the appointment of Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as the party's working presidents, stating that he is happy with the party's decision. "Some media reports that I am unhappy that the party did not give any responsibility to me is wrong. Our committee was formed at that time when Sharad Pawar resigned. Two decisions are to be taken at that time. The first was to request Sharad Pawar to withdraw his resignation and the second was to appoint Supriya Sule as a working President and it was suggested when the committee was formed. But the rest of the committee members said to focus on persuading Sharad Pawar to retract his resignation. Being in Democracy and respecting the majority, I decided to focus on the resignation issue, because new leadership has to be strengthened and enhanced," Pawar said while talking to the reporters here. He further said that he is interested mainly in state politics. "I am the Opposition leader of Maharashtra and party leader at the state level. My interests are at the state level and Supriya is doing well in national politics," he said. Sharad Pawar had last month resigned as the NCP president. He had subsequently withdrawn his decision after NCP's committee on May 5 passed a resolution rejecting his resignation and requested him to continue to lead the party that he founded. (ANI) West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sukanta Majumdar met with Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday in Raj Bhavan over the upcoming panchayat elections in the state. After meeting the Governor, Majumdar handed over a letter raising his concern over the law and order situation across West Bengal and the conduct of the panchayat election amidst such a situation. "Almost every day someone or the other is being Killed in West Bengal. After the declaration of results after May 2, 2021, untold violence was unleashed on hapless citizens by the ruling Trinamool Congress. There have been several other incidents where violence has been unleashed in Bengal for political reasons," West Bengal BJP President wrote in his letter. Citing the Kaliaganj incident, Majumdar said there has been a complete breakdown of law and order in West Bengal. "Recently, a child was raped and murdered in Kaliaganj, Uttar Dinajpur and another person was killed in police firing in Kaliagary itself. There has been a complete breakdown of law and order in West Bengal," wrote West Bengal BJP chief. Majumdar requested the deployment of central paramilitary forces during the forthcoming panchayat elections, alleging a deteriorating law and order situation in the state. "The State Police is infective and has acted as mute spectators to all acts of violence. In such circumstances, we have no faith in West Bengal Police, and do believe that they may not act in a free and fair 'manner, and their deployment during the ensuing Panchayat elections shall be inimical to a free and fair election process. We humbly beseech that Central Paramilitary forces are deployed during the forthcoming Panchayat elections, which shall also boost the confidence of the Electorate," Majumdar wrote. He further added that due to violence, fair and transparent elections could not be conducted in the 2018 panchayat polls and in some constituencies, some opposition leaders could not even fill their nominations. The West Bengal panchayat election will be held in a single phase on July 8. The last date of filing nominations is June 15. Votes will be counted on July 11. (ANI) The accused has been arrested and charges were framed against him under the Cow Slaughter Act, Circle Officer (CO) Rakesh Kumar Sisodia said on Saturday, adding peace is prevailing in the area. "A poor farmer killed a cow so as to prevent her from eating its grains on Friday at Atrauli Mandi area. The incident took place accidentally. We reached the spot immediately and conducted the post-mortem of the cow. The cow was then buried," the CO said, describing the incident. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers also gathered at the spot on Friday after the incident demanding strict action against the accused. "A cow was beaten to death with a stick in a gruesome manner. The police quickly got the cow buried without getting the post-mortem done," VHP coordinator Kedar Singh claimed. "We are demanding a post-mortem of the cow. A case should be filed against the accused," he said. (ANI) A man has been arrested in Indore for allegedly raping his four-year-old daughter, police said on Saturday. The incident happened in the area under Aerodrome police station of Indore. The arrest has been made after the girl's mother filed a complaint against her husband. According to police, the woman filed a complaint at Aerodrome police station against her husband. The woman has said in her complaint that she was having a dispute with her husband due to which she lives in her maternal house. On June 6, when the woman had gone out of her home for some work, her husband reached there and took her four-year-old daughter away. Later, the girl was recovered with the help of the police. After two days, the woman got to know that her daughter got raped by her own husband, the complaint said. Deputy Commissioner of Police Aditya Mishra said, "A woman has filed a complaint against her husband for raping her daughter. Following the complaint, we registered FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act and arrested and further investigations are underway." (ANI) Security has been beefed up in Vishakhapatnam as Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a public meeting at the railway ground here on Sunday night. Amit Shah will take part in the celebrations on account of the completion of nine years of the BJP government. He is likely to elaborate on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developmental activities over the last nine years. Visakhapatnam City DCP Vidya Sagar Naidu said that they are expecting 3000 people to participate in the public meeting and tight security and arrangements are in place to avoid any untoward incident during the incident. "We are expecting more than 3000 BJP supporters to participate in the public meeting. We have put in place tight security arrangements along with bomb disposal personnels to avoid any untoward incident during Union Minister Amit Shah's visit," the DCP said. Speaking about the restrictions in place on account of the public meeting, he said, "There are no restrictions for people from Vizag. The traffic will be stopped only when the convoy is on its way." The DCP on Sunday inspected the areas like INS Dega, the airport, railway grounds and the port guest house. Amit Shah will be coming to Visakhapatnam from Chennai by a BSF special flight on Sunday evening. The public meeting is scheduled at 7 pm following which he will interact with his party men at Sagarika Kalyanamandapam. (ANI) A worker arranges durians at a durian processing factory in the Chanthaburi province, Thailand, May 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng) CHONGQING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Chongqing on Sunday welcomed the first direct cold-chain train of Thai durians that reached the megacity via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. The 150,000 durians from Thailand were first transported by road to Laos, where they were loaded on a train that traveled into China via the China-Laos Railway. The entire journey took four days, down from 8-10 days on previous sea-road routes, said Deng Haoji, chief operating officer of Hongjiu Fruit, the company that purchased the fruits. "For fruit importers, time is money and every hour is precious. This durian train has reduced costs, as well as losses during the transportation," Deng said. The majority of the durians will enter markets in Chongqing, while the rest will continue the train journey to reach the neighboring province of Sichuan. Durians are among a growing number of agricultural products from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that have expanded entry into the Chinese market thanks to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and improvement of cross-border transport infrastructure. In 2022, China imported 825,000 tonnes of durian, of which 780,000 tonnes came from Thailand, according to customs data. You are here: Business In response to the growing trend of AI-generated content, enterprises need to not only align and steadfastly adhere to the right path but also cooperate extensively and embrace transformation and evolution, stressed Li Bin, chairman of Tsinghua Unigroup, during the NAVIGATE 2023 Summit held Friday in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang province. Li Bin, chairman of Tsinghua Unigroup, speaks at the NAVIGATE 2023 Summit on June 9, 2023. [Photo courtesy of H3C] The NAVIGATE 2023 Summit is held in Hangzhou, the capital of east China's Zhejiang province, on June 9, 2023. [Photo courtesy of H3C] Themed "Dedication For A Smarter Future" and co-hosted by digital solutions provider H3C, the summit brought together thousands of industry leaders, scholars, technicians, executives and analysts to brainstorm strategies for a future driven by digitalization. Al in ALL Since launching its "AI in ALL" strategy in 2020, H3C, a core enterprise under Tsinghua Unigroup, has been integrating AI with various sectors, including governance, business, finance, healthcare, education, urban and rural development, and transport, to offer an assortment of digital solutions. During the summit, the company officially unveiled the H3C private large-scale model LinSeer and the latest AI Server explicitly designed for training large-scale models to accelerate digital transformation. Yu Yingtao, CEO and president of H3C, speaks at the NAVIGATE 2023 Summit on June 9, 2023. [Photo courtesy of H3C] Yu Yingtao, CEO and President of H3C, underscored that in the era of AI, individuals must consistently enhance cognition, incorporate AI into their skill sets, and co-innovate with machines to develop a smarter future. Yu also proposed that AI should be imbued with a sense of compassion, asserting that love remains intrinsic to human nature and serves as an underlying principle driving technological pursuits. Under the "AI in ALL" strategy, H3C will further integrate AI with perception, connectivity, computing power, data, interaction and operating systems to achieve comprehensive intelligent progress, noted Zhang Peng, senior vice president of H3C. Enterprises urged to accelerate digital intellectualization transformation Guests discuss the digital intellectualization transformation of enterprises at a sub-summit on June 9, 2023. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn] Digital intellectualization can pave the way for enterprises to expand their overseas presence, said Shi An, president of Rockwell Automation Greater China, at a sub-summit focusing on enterprises' digital intellectualization transformation. He explained that companies stand to gain from digital intellectualization in areas such as preliminary planning, customer targeting, factory establishment, precision marketing, supply chain development, and brand enhancement. By leveraging digital and intellectual empowerment, companies can achieve risk-averse and sustainable overseas expansion with increased precision, Shi added. Innovation-driven development is crucial for nurturing a digital intellectualization landscape, noted Zhang Weiying, Boya chair professor at the National School of Development at Peking University and director of Peking University Center for Market and Network Economy. He added that such development requires harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit, stimulating imagination and creativity, and instituting supportive regulations, thus empowering entrepreneurs to draft a blueprint for the future. During the meeting, Governor was briefed by the Chief of Army Staff on various issues related to the Army. During this brief interaction, the duo also discussed security of the region and other important issues, said an official statement. The Governor honoured General Pande by presenting a Himachali cap and shawl along with a memento on the occasion. During the meeting, Lt. General S.S. Mahal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) also remained present on the occasion. On Saturday Manoj Pande reviewed Indian Military Academy's passing out parade in Uttarakhand's Dehradun. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday launched free travel scheme for women in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) under 'Shakti Yojana'. The free travel for women in KSRTC and BMTC buses was part of the Congress manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly elections. Karnataka Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy briefed people about the Shakti Yojana Scheme. The Minister said that the smart cards for free bus travel would be granted after three months. "Three months will be there to apply for the smart passes. Smart passes will not breach any privacy. People in rural areas can reach out to help centres for those who dont have access to online mediums. The government is launching the Shakthi scheme today," he said. Reddy also added that the aim of the Shakthi scheme was to prioritise the easy and safe travel of women commuters. "The ease of travel for women is the priority," the Minister said On the occasion of the launch of the free bus service, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala took to Twitter and asserted that Congress fulfilled its commitment to offer free bus travel. "Shakti' - the Congress Guarantee rolls in Karnataka today - Guaranteeing free travel in buses to Women across the State. Congress is truth! Congress is commitment! Congress stands with people," tweeted Surjewala. Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa expressed his happiness on the launch of the Shakti Scheme and said that all the schemes promised by Congress in the state would have been implemented by August 15. "We are very happy we are launching Shakti for all women of all ages. We have already started executing one by one. By August 15, all schemes will be implemented. We will start delivering as we promised," he said. The Minister also stated that the Congress manifesto promised the provision of buses for the state's children and that more buses will be introduced. "I have got 1.20 crore children upto 12th standard. I want them to avail of this service. In our manifesto, we had promised this. We will be adding more buses. Our target is 15,000 buses. We want them to avail all facilities," said the Education Minister. Amid the launch of the Shakti Yojana Scheme, a mixed reaction has come to the fore from the people of Bengaluru. The majority of the women expressed their delight and said that providing free bus transportation to women will benefit everyone. However, others said that offering free bus travel would make people lazy. "I do not need a free ride on a government bus. Now they have put some other conditions for it. I am against it," said a woman commuter. (ANI) The Madhya Pradesh Police have registered a case of intimidation against a woman who had demanded rupees six crores of alimony from her separated husband seeking a divorce from him. DCP Rajesh Singh from Bhanwarkuwa police station said, "Ram Rajput, who lives in Bhanwarkuan police station area, had lodged a complaint that his wife who lives in Lalitpur was threatening him demanding Rupees six crore in alimony." "A divorce case is going on between the two. On the basis of the complaint, a case was registered against the wife under sections 384, 507 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code." More details are awaited. (ANI) Congress leader Sachin Pilot paid tribute to his father Rajesh Pilot on his 23rd death anniversary in Rajasthan's Dausa on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, Sachin Pilot shared his late father's influence over his life. "My respected father I bow down to Rajesh Pilot ji on his death anniversary. His attachment to his workplace, his affinity with the public and his dedicated work towards public welfare are my guide," tweeted the Congress leader. Adding further, Pilot said that the late politician never compromised on his ideals and always prioritised the welfare of the public interest. "He never compromised on his principles considering public interest as paramount. I will always follow his thoughts and ideals," tweeted Sachin Pilot. The Congress leader also attended the prayer meeting organised on the former politician's death anniversary. The Tonk MLA paid flower tributes and bowed profoundly in prayer for the former Congress leader. Notably, there has been speculation that Pilot may float his own party today, on the death anniversary of his father Rajesh Pilot. Rajasthan will face assembly polls later this year. However, on Friday, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal rejected speculations that party leader Sachin Pilot could float a new party in Rajasthan and said the party will fight the state assembly polls unitedly. Venugopal told ANI that there is no need to believe rumours. "I do not think so. These are all rumours. To my knowledge, there is no such movement in Rajasthan. I had a word with Sachin Pilot two-three times. Do not worry. We will fight unitedly," Venugopal said. Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also had earlier ruled out the possibility of Pilot floating a party. Amid differences between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot, Congress leadership met the two leaders in Delhi last month. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajendra Rathore on Friday took a dig at the Congress in Rajasthan and said the "plane of Sachin Pilot is in auto mode" and "time will tell where it will land on June 11". Rathore, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan assembly, took potshots at Ashok Gehlot and said that the demands of Sachin Pilot remain unfulfilled. "Where will Sachin Pilot's plane, which is in auto-mode, land on June 11, time will tell. His demands are pending before the government and the Chief Minister has not responded to them," Rathore told ANI. Earlier Pilot had launched a 5-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra' to protest against the inaction of the Congress government in Rajasthan in the alleged corruption cases during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the State. Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot have been engaged in a power tussle since 2020. 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. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday offered prayers at Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar temple here. Karnataka deputy CM alongwith his son also participated in the 'Bhasma Aarti' (offering with ashes), a famous ritual, performed during the 'Brahma Muhurta' between 4:00 am and 5:30 am. "Has come to seek blessings of Mahakaleshwar. Mahakaleshwar has given us a government to serve the people of Karnataka. I had come here before the election as well...Today we are launching a great programme, free buses for all the women of Karnataka. We are going to implement all our five promises," Shivakumar said after performing the Bhasma Aarti. Shivakumar was also seen chanting prayer with a Rudraksha rosary in the 'Nandihal' of the temple during the Bhasma Aarti. After the Bhasma Aarti, Shivakumar went to the sanctum sanctorum and performed 'Jalabhishek' of 'Baba Mahakal.' Congress MLAs Mahesh Parmar and Jeetu Patwari were also present on the occasion. Shivakumar arrived in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday afternoon as part of his two-day visit to the state. His visit to the shrine is being seen as a thanksgiving trip after Congress got a thumping majority in the recent Karnataka assembly elections. "Let us only discuss issues of development and not emotions (Tipu Sultan issue). We have said that if any organisation will try to disturb the peace of Karnataka, we will look into them. No moral policing will be allowed," Shivakumar said yesterday when asked about an ongoing row in Karnataka over the 18th-century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan. On Saturday, Shivakumar also offered prayers at the famous Peetambra Peeth, a complex of Hindu temples, in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district. While speaking to reporters there, Shivakumar had said, "All my party cadres are telling me that a lot of cases have been filed against party workers. This is unfair. I just told them to be bold enough and face this time. We will bounce back under the former Chief Minister of MP Kamal Nath and all of us are working unitedly and we will bring change in the future of Madhya Pradesh politics." (ANI) Former Congress leader Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday hit out at the Central Government accusing it of misusing the central agencies. He called the PM Modi-led BJP government a double-barrel government- one barrel is ED and the second barrel is CBI. Sibal said this while addressing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) mega rally in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. "I remember before 2014 when we were in the UPA government, Arvind Kejriwal used to oppose us. But times have changed, governments have changed, and prime ministers have changed. He (PM Narendra Modi) said, you have given 60 years to Congress, now just give seven months to us, and we will make India progressive and he did change India's map in 120 months. He made the media, Election Commission, and Enforcement Directorate (ED) CBI sit on his lap," Sibal added while hitting out at the BJP government. "PM Modi always talks about double engine government, but the aim is to destroy the entire opposition. This is a double-barrel government, ED and CBI. The constitution says that three things will be at the Center- Land, Police and Public Order and the Kejriwal government of Delhi will not be able to interfere with them. Apart from this, there will be no power with the Centre." Sibal further said that the assembly was made so that people can get their work done but actually what PM Modi wants is being done. He claimed that the PM Modi-led BJP government's only aim is to destroy the entire opposition. Calling for a united fight against the PM Modi-led BJP government, Sibal said, "My purpose in the coming days will be to go to different places and tell people that the time has come, we need to unite and fight against PM Modi". "In the coming days, I will go to every state and appeal that we have to fight against PM Modi. Just like PM Modi's 'Mann ki Baat', I want to share mine. Today, the public is grinding. There is no department through which the common people are getting benefitted. I made a decision a few months ago that we are starting a website- Soldiers of Justice. I would like to appeal to Arvind Kejriwal to urge people to join," he said in his speech. He further added, "The decisions are taken by the government and the secretary has to follow them, but he said that the secretary will remain with us. The matter went to court and the Supreme Court decided that the responsibility of the secretary would remain with the cabinet. It is expected that the Supreme Court will set aside the decision. If there is an attack on the Constitution, we all stand together and oppose it." "Together we will defeat Modi ji on one platform," Kapil Sibal added. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organised a mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila ground on Sunday against the Centre's Ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai, party MP Sanjay Singh and other party leaders attended the rally. (ANI) Amid the uncertainty over the present ruling alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) an independent MLA who has been part of the BJP earlier assured that the BJP has the back of the independent MLAs. Randhir Singh Golan (Independent MLA), who has been a BJP Kisan Morcha leader earlier said, "Independent MLAs will give full support to the BJP. The state government will stay and will be formed again in 2024," he said. "The government has full support from our side, there is no threat to the government," he further assured. Speaking to ANI, Golan said that they had a meeting with Haryana BJP in-charge Biplab Deb and three more MLAs on Saturday. "It was just an organizational meeting on how to get Prime Minister Narendra Modi the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana in the coming years. We will win 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he said. "It was a courtesy call. We have discussed the 2024 General elections. We have to strengthen our hold on 10 out of 10 seats and win it," he said. Randhir Singh Golan, however, said that they did not discuss anything about the distribution of tickets during the meeting. "Time will tell how we will contest the elections," he said. Speaking about the recent tussle in the BJP-JJP coalition government in Haryana MLA Randhir Singh Golan said, "This is a matter of both the parties, I should not comment anything on this. However, we have not had any discussion regarding the alliance. The in-charge has only discussed with us the politics of Haryana, and how to work in future." Randhir Singh Golan who has been expelled by the BJP for the last six years said, "In the coming time, I will contest as an independent, but we will give our complete support to the Haryana government." (ANI) To check the violence during the filing of nominations for next month's panchayat polls in West Bengal, the State Election Commthe videography of the procedure ahead of the West Bengal in the run-up to the panchayat polls scheduled to be held on July 8.ission (SEC) has ordered the videography of the procedure. The West Bengal panchayat elections will be held in a single phase on July 8. The counting of votes will be done on July 11. According to the SEC, the order has been issued for the free and fair proceedings of the nomination filing procedure. The State Election Commission has called an all-party meeting on June 13 to discuss the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, informed the state elections commission. West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged on Saturday that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government was creating an atmosphere of fear in West Bengal in the run-up to the panchayat polls. The Congress leader said that their apprehension of the panchayat polls not being conducted peacefully in the state was coming true. "Our apprehension is proving true. The ruling party in Bengal is doing hooliganism and is using the administration to create an environment of fear. The opposition is being intimidated in a planned manner. They (TMC) do not want the Murshidabad elections to be held peacefully," said Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary. This comes after a congress worker was killed during the campaign. Talking about the assassination of a party worker, Fulchand Shaikh, Chowdhury alleged that "jungle rule" prevails in the state, under which the thugs and miscreants of the ruling party are preying upon the opposition workers like they are some "monsters of the deep". Earlier on June 8, Rajiva Sinha, the state election commissioner, informed further that the "The Model Code of Conduct has already come into effect. "The state poll panel chief added that candidates can file their nominations starting Friday till June 15. Panchayat polls in West Bengal will witness a fierce contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress as it will be seen as a litmus test ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (ANI) "Honourable Chief Minister has directed all officials to be present on the ground and keep a tight vigil on the situation", said the official statement by Chief Minister's Office. In addition to this, Chief Minister Sharma issued instructions to the officials to keep the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on alert. He also directed the officials to visit embankment breach areas and monitor them. "HCM has issued instructions to; Keep NDRF & SDRF on alert. Visit embankment breach areas & monitor them. Maintaining roads in flood & landslide prone areas. Availability of doctors & medicines Keeping ample buffer & fodder stock. Allot dedicated phone numbers", said the official statement. Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon set in over the northeast on Saturday. Assam saw light drizzle on Sunday bringing relief from the scorching heat. Monsoon is crucial, especially for kharif crops dependent on rains. India has three cropping seasons -- summer, kharif and rabi. Monsoon hit Kerala on Thursday (June 8), a week late than its actual expected date of June 1. (ANI). You are here: Business The number of passenger trips handled by China's urban rail transit networks soared 87 percent year on year in May, official data showed. A total of 2.49 billion passenger trips were made via China's urban transit networks in 54 cities last month, according to the Ministry of Transport. The figure was 25.3 percent higher than the average monthly level in 2019, the data revealed. At the end of May, China had 292 urban rail transit lines in operation, with a total length of 9,652.6 kilometers, according to the ministry. Asserting that he will continue to raise his voice for people, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said, "I didn't put forward my demands to defame someone," in an indirect reference to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. "If there is something lacking in our governance then without blaming others we should rectify it. I didn't put forward my demands to defame someone...raising your voice is very important in politics," he said while addressing a public gathering in Dausa, his family stronghold, on his father Rajesh Pilot's death anniversary. Addressing the public, the leader said, "When I was in the governance, you all are aware I always put forward my opinions with utmost courtesy, respect and appropriateness." Reminding about infant deaths in Kota hospital when he was in the state government, Pilot said, he addressed the issue and a hospital was built for the children. "I am glad to announce now that there is a hospital for the kids, and there are no reports of deaths anymore," Pilot said, stressing that it is important to put forward your opinion. The Congress leader also made no announcements about floating a new political party, as there has been speculation that Pilot may float his own party on the 23rd death anniversary of his father. However, on Friday, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal rejected speculation that Sachin Pilot could float a new party in Rajasthan and said the party will fight the state assembly polls unitedly. Venugopal told ANI that there is no need to believe rumours."I do not think so. These are all rumours. To my knowledge, there is no such movement in Rajasthan. I had a word with Sachin Pilot two-three times. Do not worry. We will fight unitedly," Venugopal said. Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also had earlier ruled out the possibility of Pilot floating a party. Amid differences between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot, Congress leadership arranged a meeting between the two leaders in Delhi last month. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajendra Rathore on Friday took a dig at the Congress in Rajasthan and said the "plane of Sachin Pilot is in auto mode" and "time will tell where it will land on June 11". Rathore, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan assembly, took potshots at Ashok Gehlot and said that the demands of Sachin Pilot remain unfulfilled. "Where will Sachin Pilot's plane, which is in auto-mode, land on June 11, time will tell. His demands are pending before the government and the Chief Minister has not responded to them," Rathore told ANI. Earlier Pilot had launched a 5-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra' to protest against the inaction of the Congress government in Rajasthan in the alleged corruption cases during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the state. Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot have been engaged in a power tussle since 2020. 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. (ANI) As part of its commitment to hold fair and transparent examinations in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has issued guidelines for the forthcoming B.Ed. entrance exam 2023, said a statement by the Chief Minister's office. As per the directions, exams will be conducted in a completely transparent, cheating-free, and organized manner, an official statement said on Sunday, added the statement. After successfully conducting the UP Board exams in an absolutely fair manner, preparations are now underway to conduct the Joint B.Ed. entrance examination 2023 in line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision of transparency. This year, Bundelkhand University will be conducting the said entrance exam under the purview of live CCTV surveillance. The University has made solid arrangements for the conduct of examinations including the biometrics and face recognition system for registering the attendance of all the candidates in both shifts, the statement added. With the assistance of the district administration, strong security arrangements are being made at all centres. Each centre will have a centre representative and a static magistrate deployed there. It is noteworthy that on June 15, the B.Ed. Joint Entrance Examination 2023 will be conducted simultaneously in all 75 districts of the state, with approximately 4.73 lakh candidates appearing, the statement further said. To implement Yogi government instructions, a detailed presentation regarding the integrity, security, and safety of the examination was made before Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra. According to the presentation, live CCTV surveillance has been provided in all centers across the state, which will be operationalized by the university by June 12. Besides, each district will have a City in charge appointed by the District Magistrate and there will also be a Center Representative at two centers. A Static Magistrate will be deployed and appointed at each examination center. Supported by the representatives of Bundelkhand University, there will also be a Nodal Officer and Deputy Nodal Officer. The entrance examination has been divided into three components, which include the administration of all districts, besides Bundelkhand University, and 16 other nodal universities. Notably, complete information regarding their roles and responsibilities has been provided to everyone, the statement said. The District Magistrate will appoint the City Incharge responsible for handling all examination-related confidential material (including OMR sheets and papers) from depositing it in the district treasury to delivering it to the examination centre. Thereafter, all confidential materials will be opened at the designated time in the presence of the Static Magistrate. Apart from ensuring the distribution and collection of question booklets and OMR sheets, the inspection during the examination will also be the responsibility of the Static Magistrate, the statement added. Bundelkhand University has made arrangements for the robust security of confidential materials related to the examination. The assistance of the district administration and the police department will be sought for this purpose. According to the directives, along with the Center Representative, an armed police constable will also be deployed to transport the confidential materials from the treasury to the examination centre. Similarly, appropriate arrangements will be made for police forces and escorts at all examination centres. Keeping in line with the security instructions, two armed police personnel will accompany the representatives from Bundelkhand University during the dispatch of confidential materials to Jhansi. (ANI) As several parts of the country are grappling with severe heatwave conditions, IMD Scientist Naresh Kumar issued an advisory on the current situation in the country. IMD Scientist Naresh Kumar said, "Talking about the heatwave conditions in India, the main heat wave zone currently is East India. The heat wave conditions are prevailing in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. For this, the IMD had issued an orange alert in these regions. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are also coming under the influence of heatwave. North coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will be affected by heatwave for next 5 days. Andhra Pradesh can expect a severe heat wave for the next two days and temperature can rise 6.5 degree above the normal. Apart from this, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha will be affected by heat waves for the next 2 to 3 days. For Sunday the orange alert has been issued in Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh. In the other places the intensity is less so we have issued a yellow alert and also there is rainfall intensity in this region within 2 to 3 days so the other places can expect some relief." IMD scientist further added, "In the next 2 to 3 days Vidarbha also has a possibility of heatwave. If we talk about the North West, Rajasthan which is a major zone for heatwave, we are not expecting any intensity this time in this region. We are also expecting a heatwave for the next 2 to 3 days in southern Uttar Pradesh and NCR Delhi as well as the South Haryana region at some isolated places. At present there won't be much changes in temperature and only 1 to 2 degree rise in temperature is expected. As a precautionary step we have issued heat wave warning in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi NCR and Haryana for the next three days. After three days the temperature is expected to fall in this region. In the next 4 to 5 days temperature is expected to remain 40 plus." Talking about the monsoon he said, "There are cloud patches in some regions of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bay of Bengal. In the next 48 hours we are expecting clouds to cover some more parts of the west coast. The major portion of monsoon is currently in the North East region which is witnessing continuous rainfall and we are expecting that in the coming 4 to 5 days this region can receive heavy to very heavy rainfall above 12 cms. Apart from this sub Himalayan, West Bengal and Sikkim and some parts of East Bihar can be touched in the next 48 hours." (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday asserted that women too should take part equally in the progress of the state. He was speaking after the launch of the ambitious Shakti scheme which is one of the five guarantee schemes and provides free travel to women on government buses. "Shakti scheme is a program for women. Women, who make up half of society, have been exploited for centuries. Minorities and women are deprived of opportunities and literacy," said Siddaramaiah. While comparing women's participation in various developed countries and that of India, the Chief Minister said that women's participation is about 53 per cent in America, 54 per cent in China, 57 per cent in Australia, and 57 per cent in Indonesia. "In Bangladesh, it amounts to 30 per cent whereas in India it amounts to just 24 per cent. He said that after 2014, this rate has come down to 24 per cent from 30 per cent in the country. Countries that have more women participation will develop," he said. He opined that economic and social inequalities can be gradually erased when women are empowered. "Poor belonging to all castes and religions will be empowered economically and socially. The Griha Jyoti scheme will be implemented from July 1. We will work towards economic and social empowerment of the poor people belonging to all castes and religions. We have no caste or religion. During our previous tenure, we have fulfilled 158 promises out of 165," he explained. "There is no question of going back on one's word. Rs. 59000 crore is required to implement all the guarantees. It doesn't matter how much money we are spending, but it is important to whom we are giving," he added. He says that the government aims to make Karnataka a hunger-free state. "We have promised to give 10 kg food grains to BPL and Antyodaya card holders and Rs. 10,100 crore is required. Karnataka should become a hunger-free state. People without food know the pain of hunger," he said. "Women can use this facility from 1 pm today. All women will be given smart cards. This scheme is applicable to girl students too," he added. The Chief Minister explained that there are no middlemen to avail of these schemes and will reach the beneficiaries directly. The Chief Minister released the logo of the Shakti scheme and smart card in pink colour. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Transport Minister Ramalingareddy, Energy Minister KJ George, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, MLA Rizwan Arshad, Chief Secretary Vanditha Sharma and other dignitaries were present. (ANI) Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday wrote a letter to West Bengal Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha demanding that action should be taken to maintain law and order in Domkal block of Murshidabad. In his letter, MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that a reign of terror has been created in the area with a view to preventing the candidates from filing their nominations for the upcoming West Bengal Panchayat elections in Domkal Block. "This is to flag your attention to the unlawful and terrorising situation being created by miscreants owing allegiance to the ruling party in the State in connivance with the local police administration in Domkal, District Murshidabad, which needs to be controlled immediately," the letter read. "A reign of terror has been created in the area with a view to preventing the aspirants from filing their nominations for the Panchayat elections in Domkal Block (PS Domkal). The goons owing allegiance to the Ruling Party in the State are carrying dangerous weapons to scare away the aspirants of our Party from the Office of the BDO, Domkal right under the glare of the Police," it added. Congress MP further mentioned in his letter that those arrested in the Murshidabad violence case are getting support from the police authorities. "A cosmetic action has been taken by the Police so far by way of arresting one or two goons affiliated with the ruling party in the State, only to be released later on. What is even more worrying and surprising is the fact that these miscreants are being provided with all kinds of amenities while under detention and have been wielding weapons including pistols," the letter read. He further stated police are filing false charges against Congress party workers. "At the same time, the Police have been resorting to framing false charges for implicating as many as 52 Congress workers, including the candidates for the Panchayat polls by way of resorting to sections including "non-bailable ones with the aim of preventing the aspirants/candidates of our Party from participating in the Panchayat elections," the letter mentioned. Congress MP said that the role of police will defeat the purpose of the election adding that forces should be deployed in the region to maintain law and order. "You will appreciate the fact that this kind of partisan attitude and role of police will defeat the very purpose of the election and thereby undermine the Institution of Panchayats. It is reliably learnt that violence is expected to take place in the same area tomorrow with the intention of scaring away the aspirants from filing their nominations for the Panchayat polls," the letter read. "In view of the prevailing situation, as brought out above, I would request that immediate action be taken by the Election Authorities for maintaining a peaceful law and order situation in the area and ensuring the process of election to the Panchayats is conducted in a free and fair manner. For this purpose, appropriate steps by way of deployment of Forces, as may be needed are to be taken," it added. Earlier two persons were arrested by the police in connection with the murder of a Congress worker in Khargram, Murshidabad, West Bengal on Saturday. The Congress leader was allegedly murdered at Khargram of Murshidabad on Saturday. The West Bengal panchayat elections will be held in a single phase on July 8. The counting of votes will be done on July 11. (ANI) The police recovered two pistols, and three hand-made guns from their possession. Based on secret information, the police launched an operation on Saturday night at the Kayasthagram area in Karimganj and arrested the dacoits. "We have apprehended five persons and recovered one pistol, one revolver and three handmade guns in possession from them," said Amitraj Choudhary, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Karimganj district. The arrested persons have been identified as Abdul Latif, Moinul Hoque, Moniruddin, Jamiruddin and Halim Uddin (ANI). Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, on Sunday, hailed the completion of nine years of the Modi government. He also presented a report on the work done during the last nine years. Yadav was addressing the journalists at a Journalist Council in Sambhajinagar district. Yadav added, "Today, India holds a different identity around the globe. The country is also bringing its small cities before the world. On the completion of nine years of Modi governance, a major public campaign is being carried out which includes meeting senior citizens of the country, programs organized by the party (Bharatiya Janata Party), communicating with the public, holding programs with the beneficiaries of the schemes launched during the last nine years". The Union Minister said, "We have been on a Maharashtra visit for the last four days. The schemes which we carried out for the welfare of the poor, have been an outstanding achievement for us". "Keeping in view the social structure, We built a constitutional committee for the backward class and secured 10 percent of the reservation under EWS (Economically Weaker Section)", he added. Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he further added, "We have now come under the world's five major economies under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is now able to show the world that the possibilities of development are not restricted to big cities like Delhi-Mumbai. G-20 was held in Aurangabad (now Sambhajinagar). And, through G-20, India kept its 56 small cities before the world". (ANI) India Meteorological Department on Sunday said that hot weather and heat wave conditions will likely continue for the next three days in Odisha and several places in the state will experience temperatures 4-6 degrees Celsius above-normal. While speaking to ANI, IMD Scientist Umashankar Das said, "We are expecting hot weather conditions and heat wave conditions to continue for the next three days. Apart from that, several places in Odisha will experience above normal temperatures by 4-6 degrees." IMD Scientist Das further mentioned that an orange warning has been issued in this regard. "We have issued an Orange warning. This condition will continue till June 13. We are expecting that afterwards there is a slight fall in temperature. So, heatwave conditions will no more prevail in various districts," he said. As several parts of the country are grappling with severe heatwave conditions, IMD Scientist Naresh Kumar issued an advisory on the current situation in the country. IMD Scientist Naresh Kumar said, "Talking about the heatwave conditions in India, the main heat wave zone currently is East India. The heat wave conditions are prevailing in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. For this, the IMD issued an orange alert in these regions. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are also coming under the influence of heatwave." (ANI) Newly appointed working president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Supriya Sule, on Sunday refuted the claims about her cousin Ajit Pawar of 'being unhappy' after her elevation, and termed them as 'gossip'. On the NCP foundation day on June 10, party patriarch Sharad Pawar appointed Supriya Sule and senior leader Praful Patel as working presidents of the party. In addition to working as president, Sule was also put in charge of Maharashtra which was being handled by Ajit Pawar. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Sule said, "Who says he (Ajit Pawar) is not happy, has anybody asked him? Reports are gossip". Earlier in the day, Supriya Sule visited Pune and met several party workers. The workers also felicitated her. It was Sule's first visit to Pune after being appointed the working president of the party. Sule also paid tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhi Bhavan in Pune city on Sunday afternoon. Earlier on Saturday, Ajit Pawar also dismissed reports of his discontent, adding that he is happy with the party's decision. "Some media reports that I am unhappy that the party did not give any responsibility to me is wrong. Our committee was formed at that time when Sharad Pawar resigned. Two decisions are to be taken at that time. The first was to request Sharad Pawar to withdraw his resignation and the second was to appoint Supriya Sule as a working President and it was suggested when the committee was formed. But the rest of the committee members said to focus on persuading Sharad Pawar to retract his resignation," Ajit Pawar told the reporters. He added, "Being in Democracy and respecting the majority, I decided to focus on the resignation issue because new leadership has to be strengthened and enhanced." Former CM Sharad Pawar made the appointments while addressing party workers at the 25th anniversary of the Foundation Day of the party, which he had formed in 1999 along with PA Sangma. Sharad Pawar had last month resigned as the president of the party. He had subsequently withdrawn his decision after NCP's committee on May 5 passed a resolution rejecting his resignation and requested him to continue to lead the party that he founded. (ANI) India's Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will hold the 53rd Director General Level Border Coordination Conference from June 11-14 in Delhi. The 53rd Director General Level Border Coordination Conference will be organized by BSF at BSF Camp Chhawla, New Delhi. During this conference, the BSF delegation of India will be led by Sujoy Lal Thaosen, Director General, BSF. Meanwhile, the BGB delegation is headed by Major Gen A K M Nazmul Hasan, BAM, ndc, psc, Director General, Border Guard Bangladesh. The conference is being held to discuss border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces. The last BSF-BGB Coordination Conference was held from July 17-21 at Bangladesh's Dhaka, according to BSF tweet. During the conference, discussions will be held on how to jointly reduce the various trans-border crimes and the timely sharing of information between the Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh. In the conference, deliberations will be there on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). The Joint India-Bangladesh guidelines for Border Authorities - 1975 envisage that there should be frequent contact between the border authorities of the two concerned countries to discuss matters of immediate administrative concern, BSF stated in a tweet. An Indian delegation under the leadership of the former Director General of BSF Ashwani Kumar and the Bangladesh delegation under the leadership of Major General Quazi Golam Dastgir, former Director General BDR (now BGB) held a meeting in Kolkata in December 1975 for the first time to discuss mutual border problems. Since then, the meetings between DG BSF and DG BGB have been held annually alternatively in India and Bangladesh till 1993. During discussions in Dhaka from October 7-9, 1993, the Home Secretaries of India and Bangladesh agreed that the Director General level meetings between BSF and BGB were to be a bi-annual event. The BSF in the tweet further stated, "In the agreed summary of discussions during the said meeting, it was emphasized that problems in the areas of mutual interests and concerns could be progressively resolved through close contacts and continuing meaningful dialogue at various levels. Accordingly, DG BSF and DG BGB have been holding Border Coordination meetings twice a year alternatively at Delhi and Dhaka and joint record of discussions of these meetings are forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs after each such meeting." (ANI) Former US president Donald Trump has described his federal indictment as "ridiculous" and "baseless".He made the remarks at a Republican Party convention in Georgia during his first public appearance since the charges were unsealed, accusing him of 37 counts, including 31 counts of willful retention of sensitive documents related to national defense information at his Mar-a-Lago property, CNN reported. Trump on Saturday cast his federal indictment as "election interference," telling Georgia Republicans it represented an abuse of power by the Biden administration, it reported. "This is a political hit job. Republicans are treated far different at the Justice Department than Democrats," said Trump who offered no evidence for his claims at a state GOP convention in Columbus. Former US President Donald Trump faces a total of 37 counts, including 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information. While addressing the people in Georgia, he said that any other Republican at the top of the party's 2024 ticket will face similar scrutiny and legal challenges, as per the CNN report. "The ridiculous and baseless indictment of me by the Biden administration's weaponized department of injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country," CNN quoted the former president as saying. Trump's remarks were reminiscent of his first rally after last summer's FBI search of his Mar-A-Lago estate. Speaking to supporters in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in September, Trump accused Biden of weaponizing federal law enforcement in what he said was "one of the most shocking abuses of power by any administration in American history,"as per the news report. Donald Trump said, "Somebody else? They're not going to withstand that fire." While speaking about his second indictment in less than three months, he said, "Our people are angry." He denied wrongdoing and called the probe as "a sad day for the country." He is scheduled to appear in a federal courtroom in Miami on Tuesday, where he will be read the charges against him. Trump has avoided legal culpability in his personal, professional and political lives. He has settled a number of private civil legal cases through the years and paid his way out of disputes concerning the Trump Organization, according to CNN report. After leaving office, the US Justice Department's criminal probe into the alleged retention of classified information at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election cast dark clouds over the former president. Earlier in March, the Manhattan district attorney in New York indicted Trump on charges related to hush-money payments to a former adult star. (ANI) Women in Afghanistan expressed their concerns about the absence of a market for their products on the occasion of World Handicrafts Day, Afghanistan-based TOLO News reported. Many Afghan women noted a decline in the market for their handicrafts over the past two years and emphasized the need for support from relevant institutions. Rokhsar, a female investor with four years of experience in the handicrafts business, called for assistance from the Taliban. She further said, "Women should be supported so they can stand on their own feet and make progress," TOLO News reported. Benafsha, a businesswoman, said that their business has witnessed a decline ever since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Benafsha further added, "The sales decreased due to the poor economic situation of the people. They cannot afford to buy our products. Also, our products are not sent abroad due to the closure of air corridors for women." Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said that the Taliban has the commitment to assist businesswomen and added that they are working to address the issues of women, according to TOLO News. Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said, "We fully support women who are engaged in handicrafts business, and we create markets for their handicrafts both inside and outside the country so that they may make an important contribution as a powerful part of the country's commerce sector." Meanwhile, the Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that women's chambers of commerce have been open in 16 provinces of Afghanistan, including Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Herat, and Kabul. Earlier, UNICEF raised concerns that if international non-governmental organisations working in the field of education are no longer allowed to operate in Afghanistan, it will affect highly affect the education of the children in the war-torn nation, TOLO News reported. Reiterating once again that every child has the right to learn, UNICEF said in a statement that Afghanistan could lose out on quality learning through Community Based Education within a month if international non-governmental organizations working in the field of education are no longer allowed to work. "As the lead agency for the education cluster in Afghanistan, UNICEF is deeply concerned about reports that over 500,000 children, including over 300,000 girls, could lose out on quality learning through Community Based Education within a month if international non-governmental organizations working in the field of education are no longer allowed to operate and if handovers to national NGOs are done without comprehensive assessment and capacity building," the UNICEF said, TOLO News reported. (ANI) A Chinese spy base in Cuba that could intercept electronic signals from nearby US military and commercial buildings has been operating since or before 2019 when the Chinese base was upgraded, The News York Times reported citing a Biden administration official. The official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence said that the spy base was an issue that the Biden administration had inherited from former US President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported. After Biden assumed office as US President, his administration was given details regarding the base and plans which China was considering to set up similar facilities around the world, according to official. The official said that the Biden administration has been making efforts to counter China's efforts to gain a foothold in the region and elsewhere and adding that they are doing it mainly by engaging diplomatically with nations that Beijing was pursuing as potential hosts for such bases. According to the official, the administration had slowed China's plans. However, they did not provide details regarding the matter. In a joint statement on Thursday, US Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and the panel's top Republican, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said they were "deeply disturbed" by reports that Cuba and China are working together to target the US and its people, according to The New York Times. Earlier this week, the US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby refuted the reports calling them "not accurate." He said that they have had "real concerns" regarding China's ties with Cuba and "we have been concerned since Day 1 of the administration about China's activities in our hemisphere and around the world," as per The New York Times report. Some of the Biden administration's critics have raised questions over the motives of the administration's response. US Representative Mike Gallagher said, "Why did the Biden administration previously deny these reports of a CCP. spy base in Cuba? Why did they downplay the 'silly' CCP spy balloon?" Meanwhile, Pentagon dismissed reports of a secret pact between China and Cuba that would enable Beijing to construct an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island, located 160 kilometers from the United States and called it "not accurate.", Voice of America (VOA) reported. "I can tell you, based on the information that we have, that that is not accurate - that we are not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy station," Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary, told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday. According to the reports, which first appeared in The Wall Street Journal citing unnamed intelligence officials, China had agreed to pay financially hard-pressed Cuba several billion dollars for the spy facility, which would allow China to collect electronic communications from throughout the southeastern United States, where numerous military bases are located, VOA News reported. Ryder added that the Pentagon was not aware of China setting up any type of military base in Cuba or elsewhere in the region. However, he cautioned that the relationship between Cuba and China is something that the Pentagon monitors, along with any type of "coercive activity or belligerent activity" by China in the Western Hemisphere. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reacted to a video of Japan Ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki enjoying Indian food along with his wife on the streets of Pune. The ambassador, and his wife also tried vada pav and misal pav at a Pune restaurant. The Japanese Ambassador on Sunday said his wife beat him in their contest to eat Indian food. In response, PM Modi tweeted: "This is one contest you may not mind losing, Mr Ambassador. Good to see you enjoying India's culinary diversity and also presenting it in such an innovative manner. Keep the videos coming!" https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1667754228314685441?t=hwHgmOe_CsCkKkoyIAx0mg&s=19 A video of Japanese envoy Suzuki trying Maharashtrian-style street food in Pune on Saturday went viral on social media. Apparently, the envoy, who was in Pune for an event, tried Vada Pav and Misal Pav. However, he had a minor complaint, that it was too spicy for him. Taking to Twitter, he posted the video of him eating the street food with a caption that read, "I love street food of India ...but thoda teekha kam please!" The Japanese envoy also tried Pune's famous Misal Pav, on the recommendation of his Twitter followers, and also posted a video of tucking into the delicacy. "Because many followers recommended me...! MisalPav," the envoy posted. He put out another video on Twitter saying that he wanted a "little less spicy". He received much praise from netizens for his posts about trying out Indian street food in Pune. Some of his social media followers urged him to try other delicacies in the comments section, while others admired his willingness to try new foods. "Quite brave of you, these literally have a lot of chillies in them. You should have a mango lassi or mango ice cream to cool down your tummy," a social media user commented. "Have a glass of buttermilk," wrote another. "Eat sweet dish also," added another. (ANI) Earlier, Vipul was serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He is an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1998 batch. The Ministry of External Affairs informed in a press release, "Shri Vipul (IFS: 1998) presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the State of Qatar." He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. (ANI) The British High Commission and British Council hosted a special event in Delhi on Sunday to mark Pride Month and celebrate the LGBT+ community around the world. The evening's celebration at the British Council Delhi includes grassroots champions in India, such as InsideOut Delhi and the Humsafar Trust, members of the LGBT+ community in the city, and supporters from all walks of life. The event also featured an art exhibition by celebrated British queer artist Howard Hodgkin, who worked with renowned Indian architect Charles Correa to design the iconic black and white mural that adorns the front of the British Council building. Similar events are being organised across the UK in India network in the month of June including receptions planned at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahemdabad, Chennai, and Jodhpur. The UK is committed to championing LGBT+ rights around the world and to ensuring everyone, everywhere is protected against discrimination. Christina Scott, Acting British High Commissioner to India, said: "I feel extremely proud to join so many likeminded people from across this wonderful city in celebrating the LGBT+ community. The UK believes that everyone, everywhere should be free to love whom they love and express themselves openly without fear of facing discrimination. Today, we celebrate love and pay tribute to everyone working to ensure full, equal, meaningful participation for all, across all walks of life." Michael Houlgate, Deputy Director, British Council India, said: "The British Council believes in the importance of diversity and inclusion. Our commitment is reflected in our celebration of Pride Month and through our work in English, education, and the arts. We are committed to creating empowering platforms for the LGBTQIA+ community to express themselves authentically and stand together in support of love and equality." (ANI) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ensuing state visit to the United States, a New Jersey-based restaurant has readied a special 'Modi Ji Thali' as the PM Modi will be arriving in the US. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1667913912736681984 PM Narendra Modi will become the first Indian PM to address the Joint Meeting of the US Congress for the second time. PM Modi has a huge fanbase not only in India but overseas and there is an outpouring of love and adulation from the Indian diaspora wherever he goes. The 'Modi Ji Thali', curated by chef Shripad Kulkarni, comprises dishes as diverse as the Indian landscape. The dishes in the Thali range from Khichdi, Rasgulla, Sarso Da Saag, and Dum Aloo to Kashmiri, Idli, Dhokla, Chaach, and Papad. Recently, the United Nations declared 2023 as the "International Year of Millets" after a recommendation from the Indian Government in the year 2019. To celebrate this achievement and promote awareness of millets, the restaurant has consciously indulged in a lavish feast prepared using millets. The restaurant owner also plans to launch another Thali dedicated to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar soon. "We plan to launch this thali soon. I'm very positive that it's going to gain popularity. Once this does well I also plan to launch a Dr Jaishankar Thali, because he too has that rockstar appeal amongst the Indian American community," Malhotra said. Indian Americans are planning to welcome him with an 'India Unity Day' march in 20 major cities across America on June 18, organisers have announced. While a group of Indian Americans are planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the Prime Ministers Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon from New York, more than 600 community members are planning to gather at Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington located near the White House where the PM will be staying. At freedom plaza, the community will showcase the cultural fabric of India through cultural events representing India spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and West to East. On June 22, more than seven thousand of Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden and the First Lady would welcome the Prime Minister amidst a 21-gun salute. The White House will be closing the registration shortly for those attending the welcome ceremony. In the US, PM Modi will also address the chairman and CEOs of top US companies at John F Kennedy Centre in Washington. Followed by an address to the Indian diaspora at Ronald Reagan Center in DC in the evening. On June 21, several top Indian-Americans are also excited to join Prime Minister Modi on the north lawns of the UN complex in New York, where he will lead the International Yoga Day event, soon after arriving in the country, thousands of Indian Americans are set to stand in support outside the UN. This is not the first time a restaurant has dedicated a Thali to PM Modi. Last year, ahead of PM Modi's birthday on September 17, a Delhi-based restaurant launched a Thali named 56inch Narendra Modi Thali. ARDOR 2.1, a restaurant located in Connaught Place, Delhi, presented the big-sized thali having 56 items, with the customer having the choice of opting for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The owner of ARDOR 2.1 restaurant, Sumit Kalara, told ANI earlier, "I respect PM Modi-ji so much. He is the pride of our nation and we wanted to gift something unique on his birthday. So, we decided to launch this grand thali named '56inch Modi Ji' Thali. We want to gift him this thali and want him to come here and eat. But, due to security reasons, we can't do that, so this is for all of his fans who love him a lot. Please come and enjoy this thali." (ANI) The Islamic State group or Daesh has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on Thursday inside a mosque in the northern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported. At least 13 people were killed and 30 others were injured in the explosion that took place inside Nabawi Mosque in Badakhshan province on Thursday. The explosion occured during a memorial service of Taliban provincial deputy governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi. In a statement, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province said that the attacker had targeted the service near the Nabawi Mosque in Faizabad city of Badakhshan province on Thursday, Khaama Press reported. Daesh in a statement claimed that at least 20 senior Taliban officials were killed and 50 others were injured. Daesh's statement has indicated higher casualties than those announced by Taliban authorities. Taliban's provincial deputy governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi was killed in a car bombing in Faizabad on Tuesday. A memorial service was organized in his honour on Thursday. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for the incident, which claimed the life of a Taliban official's driver and injured ten others. Since the Taliban took control over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Daesh group has increased its attacks on Taliban officials, foreign nationals and ordinary people, Khaama Press reported. The Islamic State has taken responsibility for several attacks in Afghanistan, particularly on Pakistani missions, Chinese travellers and the Russian embassy in Kabul. In December last year, the provincial police commander of Badakhshan was killed in a car bombing while he was heading to his work. Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to an Afghan publication. In May this year, at least 16 people were injured after a heavy explosion rocked the Baghlan province of Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. The explosion, took place in Pole-Khomri city of Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan, according to the report. The injured were sent to a local hospital for treatment. Taliban officials have not commented on the blast yet, according to the Afghan publication. No individual or group has claimed responsibility. (ANI) Since the Russians blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, 112 people have been evacuated from the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast. Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on air of the national 24/7 newscast Quote: "I cannot reveal all the details now, but 112 of our people were evacuated out of the left bank by now, of which 54 are women and 7 are children." Details: Prokudin noted that on Sunday the Russians opened fire on three boats that were rescuing people from the flooded left bank. He also said that as of Sunday evening, the average water level in the flooded Kherson Oblast is 3.93 m, and this figure continues to decrease. A total of 46 settlements remain flooded, including 32 on the right bank and 14 on the left bank. Outbreaks of infectious diseases associated with flooding of territories have not been recorded in Kherson Oblast, this situation is monitored daily, Prokudin emphasised. Earlier: On Sunday, Russian troops fired at a boat with civilians evacuating from the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast, killing 3 people and wounding 23. The National Police reported that 21 people were evacuated from the left bank of Kherson Oblast this time. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! 16 Montana Kids Are Suing the State Over Climate Change. Here's What to Know About the Trial Plaintiffs Mica, 14; Badge 15, Lander 18, and Taleah, 19, listen to arguments during a status hearing on May 12, 2023, in Helena, Mont., for a case that they and other Montana youth filed against the state arguing Montana officials are not meeting their constitutional obligations to protect residents from climate change. The first-of-its-kind trial begins Monday, June 12, 2023, before District Court Judge Kathy Seeley in Helena. It is scheduled to last for two weeks. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP) Credit - A Montana judge will hear arguments in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit on Monday that will decide whether the states contribution to climate change violates its Constitution, which explicitly guarantees a right to a clean and healthful environment. In Held v. Montana, which was brought forward by 16 Montana youth as young as five, plaintiffs argue that state legislators have put the interests of the states fossil fuel industry over their climate future. Legal experts say that if plaintiffs win, the case could be used to bolster climate change efforts in other states. The so-called Treasure State is home to legendary landmarks such as Yellowstone National Park, but also has the largest recoverable coal reserves in the country. Montana legislators have continuously enacted measures to benefit the fossil fuel industry, as Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a new law in May that bars regulators like the Montana Department of Environmental Quality from looking at the climate impacts of proposed projects that should have environmental reviews, like coal mines or power plants. More from TIME Lawyers representing the state asked for the case to be partially dismissed after the passage of that law, which repealed part of Montanas energy policy that the lawsuit sought to challenge. But District Court Judge Kathy Seeley denied the states request. Plaintiffs plan on testifying about the detrimental impact climate change has had on their lives as temperatures increase globally. Its hard to watch the things that I love get depleted slowly, like fishing with my dad, Badge Busse, a 15-year-old plaintiff, told Montana Public Radio. Its like, my main way to hang out with him and my brother. A 2016 Environmental Protection Agency report found that climate change over the next few decades would likely decrease the availability of water in Montana, affect agricultural yields, and further increase the risk of wildfires. Montanas glaciers have also been melting rapidly, with the EPA saying that several glaciers are likely to disappear by 2030 if no change is made. The youth are represented by Our Childrens Trust, which has filed climate lawsuits on behalf of American youth in every state since 2010. This is the first case in Montana to go to trial, and is set to last two weeks. Experts previously told ABC News they are skeptical about what the courts can mandate. For instance, if Montana youth win, Judge Seeley would only be issuing a declaratory judgment, meaning that the victory would set a new legal precedent saying that the state Constitution was violated, but require no specific action by the state government. Jonathan Adler, environmental law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland said he isnt sure if the court can tell the government to address climate change. It really pushes the boundaries of what courts are capable of and effective at addressing, he said. San Diegos La Jolla Beach is a great stop to see the juxtaposition of staggering cliffs against blue water like on this day on Nov. 12, 2022. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News Going to the beach can be one of the most enriching and relaxing experiences in the world, depending on the beach. Its that time of year to pack up the sunscreen, the boogie board and sun hats and head to the beach. Here are 5 beaches to visit on the West Coast: Sea lions bask in the sun on the cliffs at La Jolla Cove, San Diego, on March 2, 2020. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News 1. La Jolla Beach | San Diego, California La Jolla Beach features picture-perfect gold-sand beach sandwiched between sandstone cliffs and fronted by a deep blue bay, according to Planetware. Its a great place to kayak and snorkel, and the beaches are perfect for families because the current is not powerful. You can also observe the sea lions that sunbathe on the cliffs at La Jolla Cove. Theres not a ton of open space, so I would recommend getting there early if you can. The sun sets over Newport Beach, Calif., on Sept. 1, 2021. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News 2. Newport Beach | Newport, California Newport Beach is a beautiful and easy to access beach. Its a great place to surf, kayak, paddleboard, build sand castles or just relax. Its an active community with long stretches of boardwalks, bike routes, and trails in the area, according to Visit Newport Beach. I love that its easy to get to restaurants or shops from the beach, and it feels safe and family-friendly. The way the city is structured, it makes it easy to get a hotel stay for an affordable price that is within walking distance of the beach. Palm trees and wildflowers sway in the wind near El Matador State Beach on May 2, 2023. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News 3. El Matador State Beach | Malibu, California El Matador is smaller than other SoCal beaches, but Time Out claims it is far and away SoCals most beautiful beach. You get there by a steep staircase where you can get staggering views of the craggy cliffs. There are rocks in the water, so its mostly a beach to take a stroll and look in awe at the beauty of the area. And if youre wanting a more classic beach day, Malibu Beach is nearby. Beachgoers walk a dog and fly a kite as they near Haystack Rock, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Formed by lava flows from the Blue Mountains and Columbia Basin, it is a popular tourist attraction towering 235 feet and is home to the states largest Tufted Puffin colony. | Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press 4. Cannon Beach | Cannon Beach, Oregon If youre looking for a more picturesque stop, rather than a place to sit and soak in the sun, Cannon Beach is the beach for you. The characteristic 235-foot tall Haystack Rock is a major focal point that provides the skyline, and its one of the most photographed places in Oregon for a reason, Travel + Leisure indicates. Staggering sea stacks dot the skyline at Ruby Beach, Washington, on May 28, 2021. The rock faces offer a great place to do tide pooling to find sea anemones and other ocean critters. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News 5. Ruby Beach | Olympic, Washington For another chilly but beautiful beach stop, Ruby Beach provides giant floating driftwood and staggering sea stacks. If youre into exploring nature, its a great spot for tide pooling walking around the shore to see creatures that become exposed and accessible during low tide. Its a couple hours drive from Seattle and is located within Olympic National Park, which has incredible hiking experiences and a unique rain forest. A convicted felon in Macon has pleaded guilty to having a wallet gun. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia said Johnny Carl Sanedfur, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and one count of possessing an unregistered firearm. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to court documents Sandefur was first arrested in November 2022. The Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to conduct an arrest warrant for a person wanted for aggravated assault on a peace officer on Nov. 3, 2022, on Skipperton Road in Macon. Both Sandefur and the person Macon authorities were trying to arrest were taken into custody, with possession of a .22 magnum derringer wallet gun, two knives, and methamphetamine. Sandefur had active warrants for his arrest in Bibb and Houston counties at the time of the incident, in addition to multiple felony convictions for aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, terroristic threats, and theft by receiving. TRENDING STORIES: The wallet gun was also unregistered which is required by federal law. Additionally, it is illegal for convicted felons to own guns. Violent criminal felons caught in possession of any firearmespecially highly concealable weapons like a wallet gunwill be held accountable, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are working to bring repeat violent offenders to justice. Sandefur pleaded guilty on June 8, with sentencing scheduled to take place on Sept. 6. He will not be eligible for parole, according to the USAO. Sandefur faces a maximum sentence of 15 years, with three more of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: Six-year-old Alisa Kulzhynska isn't the only child disfigured during the 15-month war that Russia is waging against Ukraine. But her journey to recovery is unique. In Alisa's case, it was a mortar attack that demolished her family apartment, and a piece of shrapnel that took out her eye. But while other child victims of the 15-month Russia-Ukraine war have found help from international doctors traveling to the battlefield, Kulzhynska's route was different. She found healing in an unusual way: an American benefactor brought her to the United States, and gave her a new eye. A Florida-based aid group, Romulus T. Weatherman Foundation, that is managing two major private medical and humanitarian projects on the ground in Ukraine, learned about Alisas wounds from volunteers working at the Ohmatdyt Childrens Hospital in Kyiv. The foundation has been rescuing children and mothers from battle fields from early days of the war. Dig deeper US doctors travel to edge of war zone to care for burned Ukrainian children Nothing short of a Holocaust The children of Ukraine are being subjected to nothing short of a Holocaust," said Alisa's benefactor Andrew Duncan. . Just minutes before the explosion, Alisa asked her father to bring her a glass of water. I started toward the kitchen but the next moment the entire apartment filled up with smoke and I could hear my daughter crying, the father remembered. I took her in my hands, her face was covered in blood; I began to bang on the wall to keep her conscious. The ambulance arrived in a few minutes. Both Alisa and her mother were hospitalized, the mother was taken to a hospital in Mykolaiv, farther away from the front, and Alisa was later moved to the largest childrens hospital in Ukraine, Okhmatdyt in Kyiv, where doctors provided the best possible treatment for Alisa and dozens of Ukrainian children wounded in war. Air alerts and shelling continued in Kyiv. Alisas parents were looking for a safer and more specialized hospital, and Alisas journey to the U.S. began. The Romulus T. Weatherman Foundation, established by Elizabeth H. Weatherman and Andrew Duncan, provided aid for Alisa and set in motion her travel for rehabilitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Duncan, who has been evacuating mothers and children from war zones for months, hopped on the plane to Warsaw to meet Alisa. Duncan and his helpers on the humanitarian operation, who he called Team Alisa, organized an ambulance and a doctor to accompany the family. Having been under mortar fire myself five miles out of Kherson, I looked at Alisa and thought, since I have the best Florida health care, why shouldnt Alisa? Duncan said. To me the fight for Ukraine is not a battle of autocracy versus democracy, it is a battle of humanity versus evil. Alisa is one of humanitys better angels, so as an American to whom much is given, I feel like much is expected from me. Kostiantyn, who during the past weeks has been working as a nurse for both of his loved ones, accompanied his family. The treatment will benefit Alisa, but Kostiantyn, too: The father has been wracked by guilt for not protecting his family, despite the arbitrary nature of artillery strikes that land randomly throughout Kherson and are no-one's fault on the receiving end. Still, the possibility to have superior care for his daughter helps, he said. We have hard times ahead in a foreign country," Kostiantyn said. "But we know that the worst nightmare is over. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Ukraine, Russia war and a young girl who lost an eye About 700,000 people do not have proper access to drinking water as a result of the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant by the Russians. Source: Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, in an interview with Associated Press Details: According to Griffiths, the rise in water levels caused by the destruction of the plant's dam will lead to higher grain prices. Quote: "The consequences will be devastated granaries in this southern part of Ukraine. The ability of that part of Ukraine to grow the grain on which the world depends will be significantly reduced. This will mean fewer grain exports to the global south, and higher grain prices around the world. And the consequence is that people who need humanitarian aid to survive will have fewer opportunities to get the food they need." More details: According to the UN official, the situation with landmines is also a big concern. "Another danger for people is that a large part of these agricultural lands are mined as a result of the war. Floods are taking over these areas. And we will definitely see these mines floating where people do not expect them," he said. Background: The Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution to appeal to the UN, parliaments and governments of its member states, international organisations and their parliamentary assemblies in connection with the Russians blowing up of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. In Kherson Oblast, swimming in water bodies, as well as fishing and selling fish, are banned, and the watering of animals and water intake are also prohibited in the city of Kherson. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! 8-foot gator in Georgia swamp chased out of territory by a bigger threat A Georgia gator that has been followed with a tag by University of Georgia researchers was moved out of its territory recently. Researchers said that its currently alligator mating season and large males are moving around and pushing smaller males out of their usual territory. Meaning, the 8-foot male, who lives at the Folkston entrance to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was most likely pushed out of its territory by an even bigger male. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Researchers said they were only able to recognize this phenomenon due to satellite tags. Since the gator was initially tagged back in August of 2022, it had never traveled more than a half mile from its home. Researchers said they will track whether the gator eventually returns to its home. TRENDING STORIES: Channel 2s Berndt Petersen previously spoke with University of Georgia researchers about the role climate change will play on reptiles, such as alligators, moving forward. If you are interested in learning more about gators, consider sponsoring a tag that supports conservation research. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: 80 percent of likely GOP voters think Trump should still be able to be president if convicted Eighty percent of likely Republican primary voters in a new poll think former President Trump should still be able to get back to the Oval Office even if hes convicted in the classified documents case. A CBS News-YouGov poll, released Sunday, found that just 20 percent of likely GOP primary voters think Trump shouldnt be able to serve again as president if hes convicted over his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Trump, who is running for the White House in 2024 after losing his 2020 reelection bid to President Biden, was indicted last week on 37 counts as part of the probe into Trumps document handling and whether the former president tried to keep the records from being returned after the end of his White House tenure. Just 12 percent of likely GOP primary voters said theyre more concerned the the documents were a national security risk, compared to 76 percent who said theyre more concerned that the indictment against Trump was politically motivated. Another 12 percent said theyre concerned about both. Sixty-one percent of that group also said the indictment wont change their view of the former president. Seven percent said the indictment might change their view for the worse and 14 percent say for the better. Eighteen percent said it depends. Nearly two-thirds of likely GOP primary voters said theyd prefer Trump not talk about the various investigations against him as he campaigns for 2024, while 39 percent say they would prefer he do so. Trump polled at the top of a hypothetical Republican primary field, leading with 61 percent who say theyll vote for him. In second place was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with 23 percent. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face federal criminal charges. Earlier this year, Trump also became the first former president to face criminal charges when was indicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an investigation by the Manhattan district attorney. Conducted June 7-10, the poll surveyed 2,480 U.S. adults and 1,798 U.S. adults who were recontacted after the indictment against Trump was unsealed. Responses from the subgroup of likely Republican primary voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. At left, phlebotomist Jingle Bustamante draws blood from Judd Stark during a blood drive at Malibu City Hall. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) The American Red Cross had a blood drive at Malibu City Hall the other day. In a first-floor community room, donors lay on gurneys, plastic tubes snaking from their arms, tended by nurses. Afterward, they snacked on mini-Oreos and sipped from tiny juice boxes. It all seemed very routine. But this was a totally new experience for Jeremy Walker, 55, and his husband, Judd Stark, 59, gay men who came of age at the frightening dawn of the AIDS era. Together for 30 years, and married for almost 10, they had not been able to donate blood due to federal rules that discouraged donations from individuals with increased risk for transmitting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. For a very long time, men who have sex with men were presumed to represent a danger to the blood supply. Its always fun not to be excluded, even if you dont want to be included, said Walker as the couple and I chatted in a shady courtyard at the Malibu Country Mart before heading over to City Hall and the blood drive. In 1983, two years after HIV/AIDS was discovered in the United States and before there were reliable tests, the Food and Drug Administration banned men who have sex with men from ever donating blood. People were terrified after some high-profile incidents of HIV being transmitted during blood transfusions. Who could forget the story of Ryan White, the Indiana teenager who contracted AIDS after a 1984 transfusion and then was barred from attending his school? Or Elizabeth Glaser, the Santa Monica woman who founded the Pediatric AIDS Foundation after she contracted HIV from a transfusion given to her during childbirth in 1981 and passed it on to her children? Judd Stark, left, and husband Jeremy Walker give information and have their vitals checked while preparing to donate blood during a blood drive at Malibu City Hall. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) In 2015, the FDA lifted its total ban and replaced it with a one-year abstinence requirement for gay men. But that still struck pro-LGBTQ+ groups as stigmatizing an entire group of people. Five years later, amid the COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020, the FDA shortened the abstinence period to three months. Then just last month, the agency finalized new guidelines for determining the eligibility of each prospective blood donor not just gay men or, say, sex workers individually, with a series of questions about their recent sexual history. Read more: New blood donation rules allow more gay and bisexual men to give in the U.S. The Red Cross recognizes the hurt [the earlier] policy has caused and that these are just the first steps in repairing relationships with the broader LGBTQ+ community, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit said in a statement on the new FDA guidelines. From now on, all prospective donors will be deferred if they report having a new sexual partner, or more than one sexual partner in the past three months, and anal sex in the past three months. The new guidelines were developed after a two-year pilot study determined that asking all donors about the number of partners and specific behaviors was as effective at protecting the blood supply as writing rules aimed at any one population. (One group remains permanently deferred: Anyone who has ever been infected with HIV cannot give blood.) Jeremy Walker, left, kisses his husband Judd Stark after Stark donated blood. Nina Minton, right, the Red Cross coordinator at the site, walked them through the process. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) The new approach wont go fully into effect until later this summer. At Malibu City Hall, Walker and Stark each answered the current donor questionnaire on their phones and had a private hallway conversation with Nina Minton, the on-site Red Cross coordinator. I havent used the word anal this much since the 80s, Stark joked afterward. This welcome change in public policy comes at a time when gay and trans rights are increasingly under attack, empowered by an ultraconservative Supreme Court. Red-state legislatures are passing dozens of anti-LGBTQ+ laws, drag queens who read books to children are being demonized, and parents of schoolchildren are coming to blows over Pride Month celebrations. Read more: Opinion: Will new blood donation rules finally stop stigmatizing gay men? I mean, this is not Selma, Ala., but it is a moment, said Walker, a Malibu native who co-founded an independent-film publicity firm with Stark in New York in 1999. To quote Mary Tyler Moores mother in Ordinary People, he added, I thought we were all finished with that. Stark, who grew up in Mansfield, Ohio, didnt come out until he moved to New York in his twenties. I had to get the hell out of there to a place that was safe, he said, and New York was closer than San Francisco. The hatred we are starting to see is very reminiscent of why I got out of Ohio in the first place. He left the film publicity business and now works for CRI-Help, a half-century-old North Hollywood nonprofit drug and rehab center. Read more: How GOP efforts to restrict trans rights take a page from the antiabortion playbook On Friday, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross told me that there had been a concerning shortfall in blood donations over the last month. Although the country is not experiencing the kind of national blood shortage crisis that we did in January 2022, the organization collected blood from 26,000 fewer people than it needed last month to meet the needs of patients. If you are moved to donate blood, its pretty easy: You can visit the Red Cross website, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or download the Red Cross Blood Donor app. Walker and Stark discovered that their monogamous relationship and sexual practices qualified them to give blood even before the new rule went into effect. However, risks from sex are not the only health issues that get screened. It turned out that Walkers blood pressure was slightly too high, and he was not allowed to donate until he could bring it down. Im surprised, he said, but Im motivated. @robinkabcarian This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Jane Barlow/PA Wire/Press Association via AP Images The landlocked country of Malawi, in southeast Africa, is home to just 19.1 million people. According to the U.N., more than 2.8 million of these peoplenearly 15 percent of the entire populationcurrently face starvation. Much of the reason, unsurprisingly, is climate-related: The countrys Ministry of Agriculture has stated that the production of cornthe countrys main staple fooddropped by 14 percent the previous year, as a result of severe drought and floods. One of the poorest countries on Earth, with over half of its population living in poverty, Malawi is no stranger to food crises. Nearly three-quarters of its people live on less than $1.90 per day. Agriculture is the countrys economic mainstay, with an estimated 80 percent of the rural population subsisting on farming. Climate havoc caused by human activityfrom floods to droughtscan decimate crops, upending livelihoods as well as the ability to keep people fed. It would be impossible to simply push Malawis people into a new kind of industry that is more resistant to climate-related changes; and people would continue to starve from a lack of available food. So the solution, instead, may be to switch up the agriculture system altogether and move away from corn. This California Dairy Farms Secret Ingredient for Clean Electricity: Cow Poop A study published in 2021 shows that Malawis dairy smallholder farmers have far higher food crop yields and annual incomes, more diversified sources of income, and are more resilient to food insecurity than nondairy farmers. In this way, Malawi is quickly becoming something of a case study for whether the future of farming is to double down on dairy production and investment. Why dairy? What makes it a more secure agricultural bet? According to Timothy Gondwe, a professor of animal breeding at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi, animals typically have an easier time adapting to climate change than plants do. Theres no way for corn to modify its behavior so it can survive a drought, for instance. But a cow will still be able to produce milk, and its body could, to some extent, adjust and adapt to the heat so it continues to stay healthy. And since dairy is a year-round foodstuff, it can act as a steady source of income to support a family. In areas where drought hits, the failed crops become feed for dairy, together with grown and conserved grasses, Gondwe told The Daily Beast. Because of this, dairy is among livestock [goats and chickens] that contribute to climate change resilience among smallholder communities. Gondwe is using the term smallholder to refer to small farms where crops alone probably will not provide enough money for a householdhence dairy becomes a better option, he said. How Organic Food Could Doom the Future of Agriculture Livestock, of course, are not immune to the effects of climate change. A drought will inevitably harm milk production or even outright kill cows. But Gondwe does argue that it is easier to identify and grow exotic breeds that can withstand changing conditions more easily. Animals in these areas are usually local to the area, and have adapted to such situations, and are able to produce and reproduce at low rates that are compatible to the production systems, he said. Because of this, a farmer loses in terms of yield per animal, but still gets some output. In recent years Malawi has seen the number of dairy farmers rise, thanks in part thanks to investments from nonprofits, the private sector, and the government. The Ministry of Agriculture reported a 3.4 percent rise in the number of dairy cows in 2021. That same year, Norfund invested about $5 million in Lilongwe Dairy, a milk processing company located in Malawis capital Lilongwe, to finance the companys expansion and increase milk production. Lilongwe Dairy buys milk from about 10,000 farmers spread throughout the country, according to general manager of operations Edwin Chilundo. In 2019, the Malawi government, with a loan from the World Bank, launched a six-year, $95 million Agricultural Commercialization (AGCOM) project to increase the dairy production of 650,000 farming households in the country. Heres the Best Way to Stop the Future Food Crisis Looming Over American Cities Gracian Lungu, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, told The Daily Beast that one of the governments major priorities is to help farmers diversify what they grow and produce to adapt to the worsening impact of climate change, and help agriculture find solutions to food insecurity. Besides dairy, the government is encouraging farmers to grow more legumes, and expand into aquaculture. Lukasi Jekete, a 58-year-old dairy farmer in Lilongwe, thinks he has first-hand experience that dairy farmers fare better than others who are focused solely on corn production. This year Malawians are facing food shortages, he told The Daily Beast. And when you go on the market the price of food has gone up almost five times compared to last year in the same period. Jekete said drought caused crops in the field to wither before maturity. As a result many smallholder farmers did not harvest enough to feed their families, he said. Dairy farmers are lucky because despite the drought we are able to get milk every day and use the cash to buy the maize. Jekete started dairy farming in 2007 after getting a cow from the Small Scale Livestock and Livelihoods Program (SSLP). Today he has six cows, and gets 20 liters of milk each day, selling milk for $0.22 per liter. Any investment in the dairy industry is most welcome, Herbert Chagona, the national director for the Malawi Milk Producers Association, told The Daily Beast. Climate change has really devastated the agriculture sector, and dairy has proven to be more resistant to the effects than other farming sectors. He lauded Norfunds investment, and hopes that more participation from the government and private sector will help more farmers make the transition to dairy as part of their work. To be fair, dairy farming is not immune to climate change. Livestock can be hard to raise and maintain. Climate change is adding to these challenges by making it harder to access feed, and increases the spread of disease. According to Gondwe, efforts to breed cattle that are more adaptive could offset these problems, and he recommends farmers keep a mix of exotic and local breeds. He also recommends better land management to ensure more sustainable access to feed. These [solutions], if well implemented on the farm, increase milk yield which is a solution to food insecurity, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. On the agenda: Salem City Council holds public hearing on budget A common space in the navigation center has tables and computers for residents to use. A public hearing on the proposed city budget, airport funding and work to acquire property for critically needed improvements on Center Street are on a packed agenda for Monday's Salem City Council and Urban Renewal Agency meetings. Facing an $11 million budget shortfall, the city needs to adopt a budget for Fiscal Year 2024 before July 1. The city's budget committee voted to send the budget to council for approval in May. Now, council will hold a public hearing on the budget. There has been talk of increasing the operation fee the city charges residents and adding a payroll tax, paid by people working in Salem, to address the budget deficit. But any action on those would need to come through separate council action. If the shortfall is not addressed, the city would have to shut down recently-opened homelessness services like the navigation center and micro shelters. Police, fire and other city staffing could also face cuts. Peter Frajola and Erin Furbeeat of the Oregon Symphony perform at Gerry Frank Salem Rotary Amphitheater during Make Music Day in Salem on June 2022. Other agenda items include: A vote on whether to authorize the reallocation of $1.2 million from the Fairview Urban Renewal Area budget for terminal improvements at the Salem Airport. A vote on whether to reallocate $250,000 in Future Project funds from the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area budget for a Front Street multi-modal study and grocery store analysis. A public hearing on the FY 2024 Salem Urban Renewal Agency Budget. A public hearing on state revenue sharing funds from liquor revenues. Voting on whether to acquire right-of-way easements for the Center Street NE project from Lancaster Drive to 45th Place NE. Voting on whether to adopt the proposed FY 2024 fee schedule. A proclamation of the Mayor's Monarch Pledge to restore the habitat for monarch butterflies. A proclamation declaring June 21 "Make Music Day" in honor of the seventh annual Make Music Day celebration. How to participate in the Salem City Council The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person at the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE and also can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish. Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting. Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom. For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem City Council to discuss city budget, airport funding Air defence forces destroyed six Shahed kamikaze drones on the night of 10-11 June. Source: Air Force of Ukraine Details: Ukrainian defenders have said that on the night of 10-11 June, the Russians attacked the frontline areas of Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. It is currently unknown how many drones the occupiers have launched. Background: Ukrainian defenders shot down three Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones that the Russians launched at Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the night of 10-11 June. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Gray clouds hang over the Watts Towers. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) Thunderstorms rolled into parts of Southern California over the weekend, bringing scattered rains and gusty winds, while the forecast called for gray skies to continue. Hail fell in parts of Ventura County when a thunderstorm brought a downpour on Saturday, and the National Weather Service said showers and thunderstorms were expected in mountain areas of Southern California on Sunday. These thunderstorms have the potential to cause locally heavy rain and local flooding, gusty winds to 40 or 45 miles an hour, small hail and dangerous lightning, said David Sweet, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard. The cloudy conditions that have persisted in the Los Angeles area for weeks are set to continue but could start to dissipate a little after several days. Lately we've seen a lot of cloudy skies, a lot of June gloom-type weather, and it's been a particularly impressive example of it, Sweet said. He said the cloudy weather, which has remained for the last six weeks, may begin to clear up somewhat toward the end of the week, at least in parts of the area. We are expecting possibly a slight improvement to where some locations do actually clear out in the afternoon late in the week, Sweet said. But it still looks like a good scenario for night and morning low clouds and fog, and some locations just may not clear out in the afternoon. The weather remained cool on Sunday, with Los Angeles and other nearby areas in the 60s under cloudy skies. Southern California is forecast to warm up a bit in the coming days, with temperatures in inland areas rising to the low to mid-70s. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Actions led by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have shut down cargo operations at the Port of Seattle Saturday, according to the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). The shutdown is threatening supply chains and worrying retailers. That means the impact could soon be felt by consumers, too. Work at the Port of Seattle came to a halt Saturday and it remained that way on Sunday. The Pacific Maritime Association blames the work stoppage on the members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in the midst of bitter contract negotiations. If this work stoppage continues, everyday shoppers could feel the effects, just like they did during the pandemic. Most people remember the supply chain issues then. There are plenty of containers at the Port of Seattle, but no one is working to move them. Edie Rouleau has worked for 15 years at Fini, an accessories store in the Pike Place Market. She remembers the supply chain issues a couple of years ago that forced them to buy goods that didnt need to come through the Port of Seattle. Some of the items that we ordered, some of the manufacturers, we never could get because they couldnt ship them, Rouleau said. We could not get them. She says as it is, they are expecting shipments this week that are likely coming through the Port of Seattle. So, if they are close down, we wont get them, Rouleau said. No, no. It will be delayed. The container ships arent coming in. KIRO 7 saw a vessel this Sunday afternoon but for a second straight day, those containers are sitting idle. Every negotiation, going back into the mid-90s, there has always been some level of disruption on the docks, said Peter Tirschwell, S&P Global Market Intelligence. This national expert in container shipping said the slowdown at the Port of Seattle is part of yearlong negotiations. The longshore workers, he said, want a share of the huge profits ocean container companies made during the pandemic. Now the container carriers, on the other hand, yeah, they were earning a lot of profits during the pandemic, said Tirschwell. But they are no longer earning those profits because the freight rates have plunged, the volumes have plunged because people are not buying by the same number of, the same amount of consumer goods that they did during the pandemic. And he said they dont want to pay the longshore workers the big pay raise they are demanding. Right now both sides are at an impasse. If they dont resolve the issue soon, that package you are waiting for could be delayed here at the port, until they do. June 10, 2023 PMA BULLETIN: ILWU SHUTS DOWN PORT OF SEATTLE Coordinated and disruptive work actions led by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have shut down cargo operations at the Port of Seattle. On the second and third shift yesterday, work slowdowns Pacific Maritime Association (@WestCoastPorts) June 10, 2023 According to Reuters, more than 22,000 dockworkers along West Coast ports have been working without a contract since July 2022. On Friday, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark urged President Biden to intervene in the negotiations, citing the continued and potentially expanded service disruptions at these ports heading into peak shipping season. KIRO 7 has reached out to the ILWU for comment. @AlecLuhn/Twitter A U.S. military veteran and rock band musician has been arrested in Moscow on suspicion of drug trafficking, Russian state media reported. Michael Travis Leake, who has reportedly lived in Russia since 2010, was detained on Saturday for allegedly selling the amphetamine mephedrone. In a Telegram statement from Moscows courts of general jurisdiction, Leake was described as a former paratrooper and musician who is accused of engaging in the narcotics business through attracting young people. Another American has been arrested in Russia. Travis Leake, who reportedly served in the US military before starting a punk band in Moscow, faces 12 years prison on drug trafficking charges pic.twitter.com/Gw0iBEvCja Alec Luhn (@AlecLuhn) June 10, 2023 An Instagram account under Leakes name lists him as the vocalist for the band LoviNochwhich translates to Catch the Nightand the producer for groups Lourna, Tarakany and others. Leake also famously appeared on an episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown in Moscow and St Petersburg after being handpicked by Bourdain to appear on the show. In the episode, he half-joked about the KGB listening in on their conversation and tailing Bourdain. The episodes producer, Darya Tarasova, told CNN that Leakes band wasnt famous, but he and his friends were vocal critics of Russian state censorship and advocates for free speech in the country. Bourdain really liked that interview, she said, adding, The last time we spoke was in 2018 and he seemed depressed and upset, but Travis would never do the things he is being accused of. He is an American in Russia and is very aware of the situation hes in. But Im surprised he stayed after the war started as it was very risky for him. The U.S. State Department said its aware of the reports that an American citizen had been detained in Moscow, according to an emailed statement to The Associated Press. Leake will be held for two months in pre-trial detention, per orders from the Moscow court. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of production or distribution of drugs. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Five centuries ago, Martin Luther, a German monk, initiated a split in Christianity that came to be known as the Protestant Reformation. After the Reformation, deep divisions between Protestants and Catholics contributed to wars, hostility and violence in Europe and America. For centuries, each side denounced the other and sought to convert its followers. Then, in the early 1900s, ambitious Protestants in the U.S. attempted the unthinkable. Building on ideas circulating in Europe, they took charge of an effort to negotiate the reunion of Christianity. They failed, of course. Strange as it might now seem, their effort is nevertheless informative. Heres why. How it started By 1900, atheists and agnostics were becoming more prominent in the U.S. Anxious Protestant religious leaders started to argue in favor of a united Christianity to stop the spread of these ideas. Noted theologian and fellow at Yale Newman Smyth complained at the time about religions lost authority in family, community and intellectual life. He declared, a Christianity divided in its own house against itself could not survive. In response, in 1910, a very small but highly influential group comprising theologians including Smyth, as well as ministers of prestigious churches and noted business professionals, committed themselves to Christian unity. For this group, unity meant more than cooperation or mutual understanding. It meant the actual reunion of Protestantism and Catholicism. The influential WWI chaplain Their most significant member was Charles Brent, an Episcopalian bishop. In the early 1900s, Brent had been a missionary to the Philippines. While there, he became friends with John Pershing, the army officer overseeing much of the territory acquired by the U.S. This friendship would propel the bishop to greater prominence. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Pershing took command of U.S. forces in Europe. He persuaded Brent to organize and lead the newly established corps of army chaplains. As he built up the ranks of chaplains, Brent showed his own commitment to Christian unity. Though a Protestant, he made a Catholic priest his second in command and encouraged recruitment of Catholic chaplains. When Brent returned to the United States in 1919, he was even more convinced that a divided Church was a fundamental disloyalty to Christ. He lent his name to publications and events to build support for the cause. Failure to unite Proponents of unity recognized the need to proceed slowly with this difficult task. Smyth, for example, insisted that they not rush to put forward particular plans or measures. Rather, the group should simply arrange meetings and conferences where Catholics and Protestants could discuss their differences. Smyth hoped that the sentiment for unity would emerge from dialogue. But years of discussion brought no progress toward actual unity. The biggest obstacle was that, despite repeated invitations, Catholics took no part in the effort beyond sending unofficial observers to occasional meetings. There were other issues as well. Protestants expected concessions from both sides. They also expected Catholics to limit the power of the papacy. One Protestant theologian, Charles Briggs, had anticipated that the Vatican would place a system of checks and balances on the pope. In exchange, Protestants said they might accept the papacy, abandoning a critique that dated back to the Reformation. Catholics found such expectations to be absurd. They rejected any demand for changes to their church. Global peace through Christian unity? Despite these difficulties, motives beyond religion gave the movements leaders new inspiration in the 1920s. They thought Christian unity offered a path to global peace. It was a time when Americas role in global affairs seemed uncertain. While American intervention had helped allies win the war, the U.S. had rejected the Treaty of Versailles, the agreement which ended the war. The U.S. also refused to join League of Nations, brainchild of President Woodrow Wilson, formed to resolve international disputes. The possibility of another war loomed large. To this group, Christian unity offered an alternative means to achieve peace. It was a way of preventing more bloodshed. In correspondence with a friend, Charles Brent worried that only new unity among the churches would prevent hideous waves of terror from striking people of the next generation. Another supporter, peace activist Peter Ainslie, predicted that fights between Catholics and Protestants would continue to spark global conflicts. Only the union of Christian forces would bring an end to militarism and lead to global peace, he noted. Not enough support Statements like these highlight how some Americans connected religion to international politics after World War I. But they also reveal why the unity effort failed to win broad support. The American people had as little interest in global Christian unity as they did in the League of Nations. After the turmoil of the war years, many wanted a focus on domestic issues. They had no wish to remake familiar institutions like the church. This became clear in the 1920 presidential campaign, when Warren Harding won a landslide victory after running an isolationist campaign. His slogan, Return to normalcy, signaled an end to the previous decades lofty efforts to transform the world. Furthermore, most Protestants had as little enthusiasm for these efforts as Catholics. They argued that institutional reunion of Protestantism and Catholicism was not needed. Outlook, a nationally read Protestant periodical, for example, ran an editoral stating that both sides already agreed on the essential elements of Christianity and whatever differences remained were merely distinctive denominational peculiarities. Living with differences The effort for unity was not a complete failure, though. It helped advance unity through dialogue. Its greatest success was a 1927 conference in Lausanne, Switzerland. Organized largely by Americans and presided over by Charles Brent, the gathering prompted new dialogue among Protestants, both in the United States and in Europe. In fact, the main unintended consequence of the unity campaign was that it caused people to realize that they did not want actual unity. It was possible, in other words, to accept the post-Reformation division of Christianity. The differences separating the Protestants and Catholics could be shrugged off as peculiariaties rather than intolerable divisions. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: David Mislin, Temple University. Read more: David Mislin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. FILE PHOTO: Tribute for victims the day after knife attack in French alpine town of Annecy PARIS (Reuters) - Citizens of the southeastern French town of Annecy gathered on Sunday in support of victims of the knife attack which gravely wounded four toddlers and two pensioners on Thursday. The municipality called the rally at the lakeside Le Paquier park where the attack took place, also to honour those who tried to block the attacker before he was overpowered by police. Annecy Mayor Francois Astorg told the crowd the attack was "a tragedy touching our city, the country and the whole world. "Our only choice is to respond with unity and hope ... to choose the future rather than destruction. To gather is to build rather than hate," Astorg said. The suspect, a Syrian refugee, is under formal investigation for attempted murder and was placed in detention on Saturday. The injured are no longer in critical condition, Annecy Prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis told a news conference on Saturday, though the four children remained in hospital. The stabbing was the first violent attack targeting children since 2012, when gunman Mohamed Merah shot three Jewish children and one of their parents, and then three soldiers, in Toulouse. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by David Holmes) FILE - Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski is flanked by federal agents as he is led to a car from the federal courthouse in Helena, Mont., April 4, 1996. Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, who carried out a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died by suicide, four people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP Photo/John Youngbear, File) Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, who carried out a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died by suicide, four people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Kaczynski, who was 81 and suffering from late-stage cancer, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. Emergency responders performed CPR and revived him before he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead later Saturday morning, the people told the AP. They were not authorized to publicly discuss Kaczynskis death and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Kaczynskis death comes as the federal Bureau of Prisons has faced increased scrutiny in the last several years following the death of wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, who also died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019. Kaczynski had been held in the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, since May 1998, when he was sentenced to four life sentences plus 30 years for a campaign of terror that set universities nationwide on edge. He admitted committing 16 bombings from 1978 and 1995, permanently maiming several of his victims. In 2021, he was transferred to the federal medical center in North Carolina, a facility that treats prisoners suffering from serious health problems. Bernie Madoff, the infamous mastermind of the largest-ever Ponzi scheme, died at the facility of natural causes the same year. A Harvard-educated mathematician, Kaczynski lived as a recluse in a dingy cabin in rural Montana, where he carried out a solitary bombing spree that changed the way Americans mailed packages and boarded airplanes. His targets included academics and airlines, the owner of a computer rental store, an advertising executive and a timber industry lobbyist. In 1993, a California geneticist and a Yale University computer expert were maimed by bombs within the span of two days. Two years later, he used the threat of continued violence to convince The New York Times and The Washington Post to publish his manifesto, a 35,000 word screed against modern life and technology, as well as damages to the environment. The tone of the treatise was recognized by his brother, David, and Davids wife, Linda Patrik, who tipped off the FBI, which had been searching for the Unabomber for years in the nations longest, costliest manhunt. Authorities in April 1996 found him in a small plywood and tarpaper cabin outside Lincoln, Montana, that was filled with journals, a coded diary, explosive ingredients and two completed bombs. While awaiting trial, in 1998, Kaczynski attempted to hang himself with a pair of underwear. Though he was diagnosed by a psychiatrist as a paranoid schizophrenic, he was adamant that he wasnt mentally ill. He eventually pleaded guilty rather than allow his attorneys to present an insanity defense. Growing up in Chicago, Kaczynski skipped two grades before attending Harvard at age 16, where he published papers in prestigious mathematics journals. His explosives were carefully tested and came in meticulously handcrafted wooden boxes sanded to remove possible fingerprints. Later bombs bore the signature FC for Freedom Club. The FBI called him the Unabomber because his early targets seemed to be universities and airlines. An altitude-triggered bomb he mailed in 1979 went off as planned aboard an American Airlines flight; a dozen people aboard suffered from smoke inhalation. During his decades in prison, Kaczynski maintained regular correspondence with the outside world, becoming an object of fascination and even reverence among those opposed to modern civilization. Hes turned into an iconic figure for both the far-right and far-left, said Daryl Johnson, a domestic terrorism expert at the New Lines Institute, a nonprofit think tank. He definitely stands out from the rest of the pack as far as his level of education, the meticulous nature in which he went about designing his bombs. ___ This story corrects the last name of the expert in final paragraph to Johnson. ___ Balsamo reported from Miami. With Arcangelo, Jena Antonucci makes history as first woman to train Triple Crown race winner History was made Saturday night at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Jena Antonucci became the first woman to train the winner of a Triple Crown race as Arcangelo held on in the stretch to win the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes at 1.5 miles on the dirt track. Ridden by Javier Castellano who was also aboard Kentucky Derby winner Mage Arcangelo is a son of Arrogate who collected his third win of 2023. Arcangelo was one of four horses making his Triple Crown debut in the Belmont Stakes. He went off at 7-1 odds. Arcangelos winning move came with a little bit less than 3 furlongs to go, when a rail ride from Castellano guided the horse to the lead past National Treasure, the Preakness Stakes winner. Arcangelo settled into that lead in the stretch and never gave it up, prevailing by 1.5 lengths in a final time of 2:29.23 in front of 48,089 fans. Never give up, and if you cant find a seat at the table, make your own table, Antonucci, 47, said in a postrace interview with Fox about her history-making achievement. Build your team, and never give up. You are seen. People see you. Just keep working your butt off. Antonucci is the 11th woman to saddle a horse in the Belmont Stakes, and the first to emerge as a winner. Arcangelo wasnt initially nominated to race in any of the three Triple Crown events this year: His ownership had to pay a $50,000 supplemental fee for him to be able to race in the Belmont. I will forever be indebted to (Arcangelos) honesty to us, his heart and he is why you get up seven days a week, Antonucci said during the postrace press conference. I didnt get a lot of sleep the last few nights, Im not going to lie. Im so grateful. HISTORY! Arcangelo's Trainer, Jena Antonucci, is the first female trainer to win a #BelmontStakes! pic.twitter.com/T7Md6wiXsQ FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 10, 2023 Race favorite Forte the champion 2-year-old who went off at 2-1 odds and was making his long-awaited Triple Crown debut finished second by a nose ahead of Bluegrass Stakes winner Tapit Trice in third. Fourth place was a dead heat with Angel of Empire and Hit Show. All four of these horses closed strong, but none truly threatened Arcangelo for the race win. A $1 Trifecta with Arcangelo, Forte and Tapit Trice paid $133.24, while there were two Superfecta payouts because of the dead heat for fourth place. A $1 Superfecta with Hit Show paid $292.50, and a $1 Superfecta with Angel of Empire paid $191.50. Trainer Jena Antonucci, left with glasses, celebrates after Arcangelo won the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The Belmont Stakes began with National Treasure settling into the lead during the early stages, before the Bob Baffert-trained horse grew his advantage to a length on the backstretch. National Treasure took that lead into the far turn, while Forte remained a few lengths behind but boxed into the middle of the pack by other horses in the field of nine. After the turn for home, Arcangelo glided to the lead with his move on the rail and held on the rest of the way, despite a hot pursuit from the likes of Forte and Tapit Trice in the closing moments. We knew we wanted to get a little jump on them, Antonucci said. We werent even worried about the distance. His cruising speed is just stupid, stupid fast. Arcangelo enjoyed previous success at Belmont Park prior to Saturday: His last race was a victory at Belmont in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes. Arcangelo is the first winner of the Peter Pan Stakes to also go on and win the Belmont Stakes since Tonalist (2014). Arcangelo now holds a career record of 3-1-0 in five career starts. He is a graduate of Keenelands 2021 September Yearling Sale. Congrats to the 155th Belmont Stakes winner, (3) Arcangelo!! pic.twitter.com/KBkVE4qwwF FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 10, 2023 Codys Wish remains perfect at a mile One of the standout moments from Saturdays undercard action at Belmont Park was yet another dominant win by Codys Wish, trained by Bill Mott, ridden by Junior Alvarado and with a sentimental story that has far surpassed just horse racing circles. Codys Wish who romped to victory in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap has now won six straight races, including the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile and a pair of undercard races prior to both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The horse is also now a perfect 7-for-7 in races run at a mile. The beautiful and emotional racing story continues!! Cody's Wish makes a big move on the outside to take the $1 million G1 Met Mile for trainer Bill Mott, owner @godolphin, jockey @JuniorandKellyA and of course, Cody Dorman!!! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/BE7j86ebOX TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 10, 2023 The namesake of Codys Wish who is a son of the legendary Curlin is a young man named Cody Dorman, who was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder that affects many parts of his body. Dorman cant walk or speak verbally, but he can communicate via a tablet. Dorman befriended Codys Wish when the horse was a foal. The horse has become a sentimental selection for bettors and horse racing aficionados ever since this story came to light, but make no mistake either: Codys Wish is an elite performer. After winning as the overwhelming 3-5 post-time favorite on Saturday, Codys Wish has a career record of 9-1-3 in 13 career starts, having never finished out of the money in a race. Belmont Stakes goes ahead despite air quality concerns Due to poor air quality in New York as the result of wildfires in Canada, running the Belmont Stakes on schedule was briefly in doubt. On Thursday, racing at Belmont Park was canceled because of the poor air quality, but conditions improved to allow live racing to resume at the track Friday. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced it would actively monitor air-quality conditions and forecasts to make sure conditions were safe for both race participants and fans in the lead-up to Saturdays Belmont Stakes, but from Friday onward, all races were run as scheduled. A twilight racing program that was set to serve as a kickoff event for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was canceled. Saturdays Belmont Stakes day card at Belmont Park generated an all-sources handle of $118,283,455, which established a new NYRA record for a non-Triple Crown year. On-track horse death occurs at Belmont Park The final race Saturday night at Belmont Park was marred by the on-track death of a horse named Excursionniste. The horse trained by Mark Hennig and ridden by Flavien Prat was pulled up midway through the far turn during an allowance turf race. The injuries suffered by Excursionniste were deemed catastrophic and the horse was euthanized on the Belmont Park turf course. Prat didnt suffer any injuries during the incident. The death of Excursionniste who led at the quarter-mile pole before suffering the catastrophic injury means a horse died this year at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Stakes day and at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes day. The racing industry continues to dig its own graveas well as Excursionnistes. #BelmontPark pic.twitter.com/Mb71sZXkGq PETA (@peta) June 11, 2023 Belmont Stakes brings end to 2023 Triple Crown season Saturday nights running of the Belmont Stakes brought an end to horse racings 2023 Triple Crown season. Obviously, there was no Triple Crown winner this year, which means that Justify (2018) remains the last horse to win each of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Heres a recap of the winning horses, trainers and jockeys from this years Triple Crown races. Kentucky Derby: Mage (Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano). Lightly raced Mage delivered his Venezuelan connections namely trainer Gustavo Delgado and jockey Javier Castellano a surprise Kentucky Derby win at 15-1 odds. It also completed the final piece of Castellanos career resume: Prior to this years mount aboard Mage, Castellano was 0-for-15 in his previous Derby rides. Preakness Stakes: National Treasure (Bob Baffert, John Velazquez). Bob Baffert claimed his record eighth victory in the Preakness Stakes on what was an emotional day for the embattled trainer: One of his other horses, Havnameltdown, suffered a catastrophic injury during an undercard race on Preakness Day. The field of seven horses in the Preakness marked the fewest horses to contest the race since 1986. Of the 23 horses that entered the Kentucky Derby, only one the winner Mage also ran in the Preakness Stakes. Mage finished third. Belmont Stakes: Arcangelo (Jena Antonucci, Javier Castellano). Jena Antonucci is the first woman to train a Triple Crown race-winning horse. Javier Castellano finishes this Triple Crown season as the winning jockey in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Castellano was previously 0-for-29 in both races combined. To win two Triple Crown races in the same year, its amazing, Castellano said Saturday night. Everything worked out good. Theres always something to shoot for, but Im just going to keep working hard. But this is so special. If your bank texts you to warn you of a fraudulent charge, that's likely a scammer, FTC warns Scammers are finding success by sending texts mimicking banks. Drazen_/Getty Images Scammers are increasingly fooling people with texts pretending to be their bank. The texts mimic notifications for fraudulent charges. Scammers often call people who respond to the texts. The FTC said bank impersonation led to $330 million in reported consumer losses in 2022, doubled from 2021. Nearly all of us have had gotten messages from our banks telling us that a recent transition looks suspiciously fraudulent. But it can be dangerous to respond to them, as scammers are increasingly using these messages to commit fraud. The FTC just issued a new warning saying bank impersonation has become the top type of fraudulent text messages scammers are using these days. And they are having a lot of success with it. Bank impersonation resulted in $330 million in reported consumer losses in 2022, the FTC said in a new report released on Thursday. That's double the successful theft from these type of texts in 2021. One reason for the increase in these texts and their success rate is that scammers rely on how people have become trained to quickly respond to incoming texts. The scammers often craft a text from Bank of America or Wells Fargo that says something like: "Wells Fargo Bank Alert: Did you attempt a purchase at Walmart for $1,263.89? Reply YES or No." Those who see the message and quickly reply could then get a call from scammer claiming to be a from the bank's fraud department. Alternatively, the text will ask the person to call a number that it says is the bank's fraud department. How to protect yourself from bank fraud scams The solution to protect yourself is to be aware of these scams. If you get such a message, don't immediately respond. As soon as you can, review your transaction history to verify that such a transaction is pending and call the bank using the phone numbers on your statements or card. Bank of America also warns to never click a link in a suspicious text message as it could load malware on your phone. And, if anyone saying they are from your bank calls you, don't give out any personal information such as your social security number. Read the original article on Business Insider BizTips from SCORE: Calling all veterans. Are you ready for your encore performance? Are you a veteran? Are you considering taking the entrepreneurial plunge? There are many resources available to navigate the course to launching your own small business. According to SCORE research, 76% of veteran entrepreneurs credit their military experience for their work ethic and discipline. Fifty-eight percent believe that the military also taught them leadership and management skills. These are prime skills needed for small business ownership. Before reaching out to organizations for support consider the following steps: Do a personal inventory to confirm your core skills needed to launch a small business. Prepare for the world of business by participating in a Boots to Business workshop hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration through its Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Hosted on the Cape at least once a year. Financing your venture. Consider the best and most expeditious sources of financing personal savings, friends and family, SBA-backed loans, lines of credit. Participate in local opportunities for learning business skills Boots to Business, SCORE webinars and workshops, Cape Cod Community College programs, Cape Cod Young Professionals workshops, EforAll initiatives. Locate a SCORE (www.score.org/capecod) mentor to guide you through the steps in business planning, formation, launch and growth. There are essential skills for all small business owners, making veterans prime candidates for launching their own ventures. To support veterans in achieving their dreams in the civilian business world, there are a number of resources out there. These include: SCORE for Veteran Entrepreneurs SCORE for Veteran Entrepreneurs is a great starting point for all things related to veteran entrepreneurship. With this resource, you can: Receive vet-to-vet advice on small business ownership Gain insight on how to get funding Learn how other veteran entrepreneurs use their military experience to their advantage in the civilian business world Access SCORE educational materials and tools on starting a small business Find a veteran entrepreneur mentor to guide you through the small business startup process Visit: www.score.org/resources-veteran-entrepreneurs. U.S. Small Business Administration U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) - This veteran-focused centralized hub provides information on a number of SBA initiatives for veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, active-duty service members and transitioning service members, as well as their spouses or survivors. On this site, you will learn about: Funding opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses Preparation tools available to help you start your business Training programs targeted at veterans (including customized curriculums, in-person classes, and online courses) The OVBD also provides information about the Veterans Business Outreach Center Program, which offers business plan workshops and concept assessments, as well as training. Veterans Business Outreach Centers are located across the U.S. Through the OVBD, you may also access information on the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, which provides loans of up to $2 million. These loans are intended to cover small business operating costs that entrepreneurs cannot meet because an essential employee was called to active duty in the Reserves or the National Guard. There are also entrepreneurship training programs aimed at women veterans and military spouses. In addition, the OVBD offers guidance on government contracting opportunities for veterans. Visit: www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/veteran-owned-businesses. Veteran Institute for Procurement Veteran Institute for Procurement (National VIP) - This organization provides veterans with training on the processes involved in federal procurement. There are five different programs: VIP START: Aimed at businesses that strive to become procurement-ready and access the federal market VIP GROW: Focused on helping veteran entrepreneurs build strategies for expanding and operating within the federal market VIP INTERNATIONAL: Geared towards veterans seeking to do business internationally VIP ADVANCE: For companies embarking on their next stage of growth VIP AEROSPACE: For businesses focused on accessing the federal aerospace market For more information, visit: nationalvip.org. More Options U.S. Commercial Service: VetsGoGlobal - This veteran-led initiative of the U.S. Commercial Service provides veterans and military spouses with education on the export process, as well as operating a business internationally. It helps veteran entrepreneurs and/or their spouses develop their international business strategies through counseling, business matchmaking, and market intelligence. Visit www.trade.gov/vetsgoglobal for more information. International Franchise Association Foundation: VetFran - This is a great resource for veterans interested in franchising. It provides education on franchised business opportunities, as well as a database of options. VetFran also advocates on behalf of veteran entrepreneurs to secure veteran discounts from franchisors. Visit: www.vetfran.org. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Entrepreneurship Portal (VEP) - VEP was designed to give veteran entrepreneurs easy access to federal services (including information and best practices associated with running a business). This portal features materials on: Starting a business Obtaining financing Business growth And other veteran-specific resources Visit: www.va.gov/OSDBU/entrepreneur. Defense Department. In additional to Boots to Business, the Defense Department offers Bunker Labs (https://bunkerlabs.org) educational programming, mentors and help in forming small businesses. Patriot Bootcamp (http://patriotbootcamp.org) offers entrepreneurial education, access to resources and mentorship. Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (http://ebc.vets.syr.edu/) has training in small business management for post 9/11 veterans with service-connected disabilities as well as family members who serve as caregivers to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Contributed by Marc L. Goldberg, Certified Mentor, SCORE Cape Cod & the Islands, www.score.org/capecod, capecodscore@scorevolunteer.org, 508/775-4884. Source: ASK Score 2023. 8 Resources to Help Veteran Entrepreneurs & Small Business, Brett Farmiloe, Terkel. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Business tips for veterans, training opportunities on Cape Cod Who blew up the Kakhovka dam? Here are the three theories The Dnieper River dam collapse this week caused a major humanitarian crisis in southern Ukraine, but who, if anyone, was behind the breach is still shrouded in mystery. Both Ukrainian and Russian officials are pointing the finger at each other, accusing the opposing side in the war of carrying out an attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam to further their aims on the battlefield. The dam, which contained a reservoir as large as the Great Salt Lake in Utah, was breached on Tuesday, flooding thousands of homes across dozens of settlements, leading to mass evacuations and killing at least 14 people. There has been no independent, compelling evidence against either side for carrying out the attack on the dam in the Kherson region. And the roots of finger-pointing over a fatal blow to the dam stretch back to last fall, when both Ukraine and Russia accused each other of planning to carry out the attack. Another theory is the dam, which supplies water to both Ukrainian and Russian-occupied regions, may have collapsed on its own due to wartime neglect and stress from frequent strikes in the region. The U.S. is investigating the incident but has not reached a formal conclusion yet. People are continuing to assess how this could have happened, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a Thursday briefing. At this point, its all speculation. Here are the three theories that have been floated thus far. The case against Russia The alleged motivation for Russia carrying out the destruction of the dam is to halt the Ukrainian counteroffensive, which began last weekend and is underway in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region and southern Donetsk region. The flood has effectively created a new shoreline and a dramatic mass of water between the western and eastern banks of the Dnieper River, complicating any Ukrainian landing on the opposite side. Ukraine has formally accused Russian soldiers of planting explosives with the assistance of military engineers. Russia has occupied the area around the Kakhovka dam for more than a year, with the facility effectively under Moscows control. Theoretically, that means it would be relatively easy for Russian saboteurs to plant explosives inside the dam. Ukraines Security Service, the nations domestic intelligence agency, claimed it had direct evidence of Russian plotting to destroy the dam, releasing what it said was an intercepted phone call between Moscows agents. In the audio which has not been independently verified by The Hill a Russian official says a sabotage group is there, allegedly referring to the dam, and the goal was to destroy it to scare people. Elina Beketova, a Democracy fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis, said she believed the audio was authentic. Beketova told The Hill there were multiple reasons to suspect Russia and very little reason to suspect Ukraine. Ukraine is protecting its territory, and Ukrainians are trying to fix all the problems right now, said Beketova, a Ukrainian citizen. Thats our people who are suffering. Danielle Johnson, a senior Ukraine analyst at the humanitarian analysis nonprofit Assessment Capacities Project, said the evidence points to Moscow because it has a long record of carrying out attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure to cow the people into submission. While the destruction of a major dam would mark an escalation in this campaign, it would clearly not be unprecedented, Johnson wrote in an analysis. The case against Ukraine The motivation for Ukraine in destroying the dam is less clear, but Kyiv has been accused of carrying out nefarious attacks before. The U.S. believes Ukrainians are behind the drone strike attack on the Kremlin last month, along with blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines last year and bombing prominent Russian officials inside Russian territory. Russia formally accused Ukraine of bombarding the dam on Tuesday morning with missiles in order to prevent future, potential Russian attacks in the southern Kherson region. Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya argued Ukraine was likely behind the attack because Kyiv began testing the possibility last year. As early as last year, leaders of Ukrainian military publicly claimed [to be] ready to blast the dam in order to obtain some military advantage, Nebenzya said, according to Russian state-run media TASS. A Washington Post article last year did cite Maj. Gen. Andriy Kovalchuk, a commander of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region at the time, discussing a test to bomb the dam apparently to see if it could prevent Russian crossings without flooding villages. But the idea was scrapped and was proposed during a more strenuous time for Ukraine. A Russian assault into Kherson is unlikely at this phase of the war. Kelley Vlahos, a senior advisor and editorial director at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, did not assess who was behind the dam breach but criticized the outpouring of blame on Russia. Vlahos compared the case to the Nord Stream attack, in which Russia was blamed at first but now, months later, accusations are centering on Ukraine. Not all is what it seems at first, Vlahos said. Im concerned that the story and narrative is being shaped in a way that might not turn out to be what we think six, seven, eight months down the road. And this is also occurring within the context of a number of Ukrainian attacks by militant groups across the Russian border, the attack on the Kremlin, she added. One issue with the Ukraine theory is that the dam was built to withstand a ton of damage, according to Ukrainian engineers. The Ukrainian state-run engineer firm Ukrhydroproject said the dam would have to be blown from the inside to collapse. Kakhovskaya HPP was designed and built to withstand a nuclear strike from the outside, officials wrote on Telegram. The case for neglect Its also possible that neither side carried out the attack and the dam collapsed due to neglect during wartime and from the degradation of the structure from missile strikes and bombings in the area. Bridges and overpasses around the dam have been attacked repeatedly. During a Russian retreat from the Kherson region last year, the facility also took damage. Russian soldiers have frequently blown up bridges and laid mines in hasty retreats. And Russia has accused Ukrainian strikes of hitting the dam. The theory is also plausible because neither side stands to gain much from destroying the hydroelectric power plant on the wide Dnieper River, which separates the Ukrainian- and Russian-occupied parts of the city. The dam supplies water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, which is not at a direct risk from the flooding but certainly is threatened by the collapse. Damage to the nuclear plant could trigger an even worse environmental catastrophe. Kakhovka also supplies water to the Crimean Peninsula coveted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who illegally annexed the region in 2014. Its unclear why Russia would compromise Crimea, though Moscow could have backup stations for water supply to the peninsulas residents. Conversely, a natural collapse scenario appears less likely if the dam was constructed to withstand a nuclear missile attack. And The New York Times, citing U.S. officials, reported that satellite images did show an explosion at the dam when it collapsed, although its unclear what caused it. But neither side would gain much from the torrent of water unleashed this week, leaving tens of thousands of residents on both sides without potable water. Russian fortifications have also been washed away from the flooding. Michael Kofman, the director of Russian studies at the Center for Naval Analyses, also said the dam collapse is unlikely to change the dynamics on the battlefield. Though he conceded the flood would destroy the initial Russian lines of entrenchment across the Dnieper River, Kofman argued the breach is unlikely to substantially shorten Russian lines to strategically benefit Ukrainian troops. He additionally cast doubt that Ukrainian forces had planned to stage a cross-river attack in Kherson and said the flooding did little to bolster Russian defenses. This is an ecological and humanitarian catastrophe, with long term economic implications for the region, for which Russia is responsible, Kofman tweeted, but Im skeptical that Ukraines military prospects in the short term will be negatively affected in a meaningful way. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After blowing up of Kakhovka dam, water will soon stop flowing to Crimea UK Intelligence The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam by the Russian occupiers has seriously affected the main source of fresh water supplies on the occupied Crimean peninsula, the North Crimean Canal. Source: UK Ministry of Defence, reported by European Pravda Details: It is noted that the North Crimean Canal draws water from the Kakhovka Reservoir, from a water intake located above the level of the reservoir bottom. "The water level in the reservoir had likely dropped below the level of the inlet by 09 June 2023, and water will soon stop flowing to Crimea," the UK Intelligence states. This will reduce the availability of fresh water in the south of Kherson Oblast and the north of Crimea. However, according to UK intelligence, the Russian authorities are likely to meet the population's urgent water needs through reservoirs, water rationing, drilling new wells and bottled water supplies from Russia. At the same time, UK Intelligence has noted that communities on both the Russian and Ukrainian-controlled sides of the flooded Dnipro River face a sanitation crisis, limited access to safe water and an increased risk of waterborne diseases. Background: The UK government has announced an additional 16 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help overcome the consequences of flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP: the number of dead and missing in Kherson Oblast has increased The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the death toll from the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP has increased by one person, and five victims are now known for sure in Kherson Oblast. Source: The Ministry of Internal Affairs Details: Five people died as a result of the Russian terrorist attack. 35 people are considered missing, including seven children. As previously reported, 46 settlements were actually flooded in Kherson Oblast. In Mykolaiv Oblast, 31 settlements were flooded. Background: On the morning of 6 June, Ukraines Operational Command Pivden (South) reported that Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), completely destroying the dam and the power plant's turbine hall. The plant is beyond repair. The draining of the Kakhovka Reservoir threatens the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has caused an environmental disaster. The water from the reservoir has begun to flood towns and villages, and evacuations of local residents from dangerous areas have begun. It has caused problems with the water supply in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Marhanets and Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Keir Starmer at the U.K. Parliament on March 20. Credit - David Vintiner for TIME (To receive weekly emails of conversations with the worlds top CEOs and decisionmakers, click here.) If todays polls were tomorrows election results, former prosecutor-turned-politician Keir Starmer would be Britains next Prime Minister. The opposition Labour Party, which he leads, has been in the shadows of British politics since losing power in 2010, but has enjoyed a sustained double-digit lead over the ruling Conservative Party since the fall. This surge in popularity has been bolstered by a seemingly endless period of malaise under the Tories, as the Conservatives are known, from the divisive 2016 Brexit referendum to the COVID-19 pandemic to the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. It has also been helped by a series of political scandals within the Conservatives ranks, which resulted in the leader of the partyand, by extension, the countrychanging three times in the space of a year. Read More: The Man Who Wants to Fix Britain More from TIME Still, Labours victory is not assured. A major challenge facing Starmer, who has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2015, is that few Britons appear to know who he is or what he stands for. He has been dogged by perceptions that he is wooden, distant, and even a bit boring. But perhaps the greatest challenge he faces is convincing British voters that Labour has what it takes to bring Britain back from the brink. Starmer sat down with TIME to discuss his path to Parliament, his vision for the country, and how he plans to get into 10 Downing Street. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Youve spoken a lot about how you never saw yourself becoming Prime Minister. What elements of your life made you feel like you couldnt get into politics? My working-class background. My dad worked in a factory, my mum was a nurse. Nobody in my extended family had gone to university. I was the first, and therefore there was something in the back of my mind that simply said, People like you arent MPs, Keir. In a sense, my journey is evidence that people from my background actually can go on and do really important things. Becoming a lawyer was fantastic. I didnt know any lawyers when I was growing up. Nobody in my family knew any lawyers. I cant really emphasize enough for my parents how big a step it was that their son had become a lawyer. Doing various cases, becoming a QC [Queens Counsel, or senior barrister]now KC [Kings Counsel], since the passing of the Queenand then going to work in Northern Ireland on delivering on aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, and then heading up the Crown Prosecution Service with 7,000 staff, and then on to Parliament in 2015, and now on to leader of the Labour Party and hopefullyif we win the next electionon to Prime Minister. That, I hope, is some evidence and some hope for the current generation that if there is something telling you its not for you, then that isnt necessarily right. Keir Starmer at the U.K. Parliament on March 20. David Vintiner for TIME What is the most important thing that readers should know about you? The most important thing is that when I see a problem, I fix it. Im not that interested in circling around and around a problem, eloquently describing the problem. Im much more interested in rolling up my sleeves and fixing itwhether thats the police service in Northern Ireland, whether thats prosecutions in England and Wales, or whether its the Labour Party. Ive always been someone that, having identified a problem, wants to fix it. The other thing is that passion can manifest in different ways. Some people think that passion is only manifested by shouting and screaming. For me, the passion and determination to change the country for the better runs very, very deep. And I think once people understand that, then theyve got a much better sense of who I am. How would you describe Starmerism? Recognizing that our economy needs to be fixed. Recognizing that [solving] climate change isnt just an obligation; its the single biggest opportunity that weve got for our country going forward. Recognizing that public services need to be reformed, that every child and every place should have the best opportunities and that we need a safe environment, safe streets, et cetera. You get a sense of what matters most to me. Working people want change, they want things fixed. They dont want politicians talking about it. They dont want false promises. They want it fixed. Its a very simple thing for most families. If the polls are any indication, the next election is Labours to lose. How do you deal with that pressure? One of the things Ive had to learn being the leader of the Labour Party, leader of the opposition, is just to block a lot of noise out. We went from You cant win to You cant lose in the blink of an eye. If we go from where we landed in 2019 into government, thatll be a historic achievementand we need to be humble enough to know that requires us to earn every vote. Every person who didnt vote for us in 2019, everybody who didnt vote for us in the previous elections, because we lost in 2010, 2015, 2017, and 2019. We have to earn those votes. Im humble enough to know that job is not done. Only when [voters] think that Labour has got a compelling story about the future of the country will we be clear that we can win that election. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, you lamented Britains absence, both in terms of overall government representation and relevance. You described Britain as being in retreat. Are Britains best days behind it? Im absolutely sure Britains best days are ahead of it, not behind it. And lament is the right word. When I was Director of Public Prosecutions, I represented the U.K. in international bodies, and everybody looks to Britain as the pragmatic, reliable partner. Whatever the problem was around the international table, usually the British were asked to contribute early. And I certainly was as the representative of the U.K., because youd be there, you would have a strong powerful voice, youd have something important to say. And other countries wanted to hear what Britain had to say. To have gone from that to a position where the mood in Davos was that we drifted and that were not around the table is something I do lament and I think everybody from every political party should lament. I think Tories should lament it. Going to Davos was a statement of intent to say, under a Labour government, Britain will be there, it will be around the international table. We intend to be there in a leading position of influence. So quite the opposite of saying Britains best days are behind it, its actually to say theres huge potential and ambition here, but its not being realized. Under a Labour government, Britain will be back. Looking around that international table, who is the world leader you most look up to? Of all time, [Nelson] Mandelalike almost everybody else. Any contemporary ones? I dont have posters of people on my wall. But Im conscious that weve got a lot to learn internationally as a Labour Party, so we study intensely the U.S. and, particularly, the journey of [U.S. President Joe] Biden into office, because [the Democrats are] our sister party. Same as Australia and Germany as well. This isnt about me having posters on my wall. It is about making sure that the team and I are completely plugged into the politics and the arguments and the ability to win an electorate over. Im absolutely determined that at the next election our campaign will be world class, not least because we are learning from all of those that have won recently. Assuming there are no further changes to the Conservative leadership, youll likely be facing off against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Between him and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is the tougher opponent? I would just say theyre different. Different in their characteristics, different in the circumstance in which they are governing. Johnson was governing through the pandemic, so he had the benefit of incumbency through that until he then collapsed under the weight of his own character flaws. Sunak is a different person and is trying to portray [himself as] the man thats here to clear up the mess that his party made; the problem being that he was alongside Johnson for most of the period in which the mess was made. So he cant quite put the distance that he wants to. Is there anything you like about Sunak? Is there anything you think hes done well? I have no personal animosity towards Rishi Sunak. The Protocol in Northern Ireland was really important, and thats why I warmly applauded what had happened and said that we would support it, because I do think its very important for Northern Ireland. I do think its very important for the U.S., for obvious reasons, and for our future relationship with the E.U. That was progress and we were very happy to say thats progress. There are other issues: on Ukraine, on terrorism, and on security issues, there will be no divide with the government on those issues and we will work with the government and Rishi Sunak knows that, Ive told him that. Theres nothing that Putin wants more than to see division in the parliaments and governments of the allies. We will not allow that to happen. And therefore, you will see that, under my leadership, theres been no criticism of the governments approach to Ukraine. Weve stood alongside them. Read More: Why Biden Is Rolling Out the Red Carpet for British PM Rishi Sunak Former Labour MPs who previously quit the party under your predecessor have since rejoined, citing the partys shift under your leadership. How has Labour changed under your watch? We are absolutely committed to patriotism. We absolutely understand that security is the first duty of any government. We are proud of our history in signing the NATO treaty. We were the government that helped bring that about, and Im very proud of our NATO membership. If you were to look at the Labour Party now, we are proudly pro-NATO. Secondly, we are pro-business in the sense of wanting to partner with business, which is a really big and important change for the Labour Party. We have made progress on tackling anti-Semitism. You can never say job done when it comes to anti-Semitism, but were in a materially different place than we were before. And I think on foreign policy generally, we know that the U.S. is our No. 1 important ally. What would you say to those within your party who argue that youve taken the party too far to the right or that the pledges that you made in your bid to become leader havent been kept? If you look at those pledges, theyre underpinned by values, which are very important to me. Most of the pledges are as made; some have necessarily changed as the circumstances have changed. Weve had to bring about fundamental change. You cant lose an election as badly as we lost in 2019 and look at the electorate and say, Why didnt you vote for us? You have to look in the mirror and say we need to change. We were formed to be a party of government. We werent formed to be a party of opposition or discussion. We werent here to be a protest party. We werent here to be a debating society. The Labour Party only came into existence in order to form Labour governments and bring about change. We must never, ever lose sight of that. Restoring the Labour Party to a party that can serve the country has been a driving part of what Ive been trying to do in the last three years. We have to appeal to people who didnt vote for us last time. If we simply appeal to the same people who voted for us last time or to our party members, well lose the next electionand thats the blunt truth of it. Thats why I use this phrase over and over again: Country first, party second. Charlie McAvoy is used to patrolling the blue line in black and gold but was representing all colors of the rainbow Saturday. The Bruins defenseman, his fiancee Kiley and their dog Otto marched with other members of the Bruins organization. I think its something thats really important to us. Its close to home for both of us, McAvoy told Bruins rinkside. I think you can tell by the turnout how much it means to the community. It gives everyone an opportunity to come out and join together. .@CMcAvoy44, his fiancee Kiley, and their pup Otto joined members of the #NHLBruins organization this morning to walk in Bostons 2023 Pride Parade pic.twitter.com/kJwA5gVRRv Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 10, 2023 Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A crew carrying hoe dags and bags of sequoia seedlings hike up a burned hillside in Alder Creek grove, in Sequoia Crest. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) The worker stabbed the loamy soil with a hoedad, dropped in a delicate sequoia seedling and tamped the dirt tight around it. As he moved on to the next spot, and then the next, the hillside of the Alder Creek Grove slowly filled with small clumps of green needles. Without this planting, naturalists worry giant sequoias will never grow on this charred hillside again. The wildfire that scorched this southern Sierra Nevada forest three years ago burned large swaths of land so intensely that it left thousands of ancient giants dead and smoldering. Their seed cones which would ordinarily spawn new life were incinerated. Such devastation was once unheard of but is now happening more frequently as land management decisions and climate change create more flammable forests in the Sierra. Giant sequoia are going through an existential crisis, said Tim Borden, of the Save the Redwoods League. And I think all of us who are involved in giant sequoia research and management are going through the same existential crisis ourselves to really try to understand whats going on ... and what we can do about it. Read more: As wildfires decimate the giant sequoia, California faces unprecedented loss Some of the 30,000 sequoias planted in this grove could grow to be among the worlds largest trees and live for thousands of years if they first survive the next couple of decades. Scientists are hoping this project will help them learn how to ensure that happens. The Forest Service is also planting about 10,000 giant sequoia seedlings across 1,380 acres of high-severity burn areas in the Sequoia National Forest. The National Park Service is drafting an environmental assessment evaluating the effects of planting seedlings in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Save the Redwoods League hopes to plant 30,000 giant sequoia seedlings at their Alder Creek grove property, as part of their ongoing efforts to restore groves devastated by wildfires in recent years. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Until recently, no one thought reforestation efforts like these would be necessary to save giant sequoia groves, let alone from fire. The trees, which grow naturally only in a 60-mile band of forest on the western slopes of the Sierra, are adapted to thrive alongside flames. They have thick, armor-like bark, branches that reach above flames and cones that release seeds only in response to bursts of heat. "There is essentially no historical record to suggest that these trees were ever killed by high severity fire," said Borden, the league's sequoia restoration and stewardship manager. But over the past eight years, a string of wildfires has killed scores of sequoias by consuming their entire canopy. From 2020 to 2021 alone, three fires killed up to 19% of the worlds population of mature giants statistics Borden refers to as eradication numbers. That shook us all to the core, he said. That made us realize everything that we thought about how giant sequoia reacted and were adapted to fire, that may have been true under conditions that we had 100 years ago. But not with the conditions that our forests are in today. Dead trees, or snags, rise from a fire-scarred hillside in the western Sierra, home to giant sequoias. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) The Castle fire ignited amid a siege of dry lightning in the summer of 2020, less than a year after Save the Redwoods League had purchased 530 acres in the Alder Creek Grove. For weeks, president and CEO Sam Hodder anxiously monitored the fires progression. Then, over the course of a few hours Sept. 13, winds pushed flames over a ridge and onto the property. Hodder knew the forest was in bad shape. For roughly a century, the landscape had been deprived of the lightning-sparked fires and cultural burning that once thinned trees and brush on a regular basis. Swaths of forest were in the process of growing back from generations of clear cutting, resulting in unnaturally dense, young and uniformly aged stands. Scientists estimate there are now three to 10 times as many trees in the Sierra as there were in the 1900s. The increase wasnt consistent among species. Conditions favored shade-tolerant trees white fir, red fir and incense cedar that prefer dense, closed canopies. These trees burn more easily than fire-adapted species like pine and sequoia that once dominated the forest. And they can act as ladders that carry flames into the canopies of the larger trees. On top of this, hotter, drier conditions due to climate change had resulted in scores of standing dead trees and parched vegetation that was primed to burn. Read more: Wildfires are getting worse. Can scientists save California forests from going up in smoke? Nonetheless, Hodder was surprised by the devastation. The fire had killed 200 mature giant sequoias in the grove, 80 of them on the nonprofit's property. Rangewide, some 10,000 sequoias died. Theres nothing that prepares you for walking through a charred landscape with these skeletons of trees that were 2,000, 3,000 years old, he said. Tim Borden, giant sequoia restoration and stewardship manager for Save the Redwoods League, stands beside a giant sequoia killed by wildfire in 2020. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Staffers waited for another season to see whether natural regeneration would take place. In areas that experienced low to moderate-intensity fire, green carpets of sequoia seedlings sprouted. But in about 225 acres of severely burned grove, nothing came up but shrubs. The burned portion of the property is now a mosaic of dead, toothpick-like trees, or snags, interspersed with areas that have been cleared for planting. Until recently, it was covered in snow from a historically wet winter that completely buried the yurt Borden lives in during the summer. Runoff coated hillsides with slicks of shin-deep mud and sent piles of earth crashing down onto the roads winding up the mountain. Although the weather posed logistical challenges, it provided a rare gift to the sequoia seedlings, which need lots of water. Read more: Hundreds of towering giant sequoias killed by the Castle fire a stunning loss In mid-April, Borden began coming up once a week to measure the snow. The goal was to plant immediately after it melted, when the soil moisture was highest. Conditions aligned in late May, setting off a tightly coordinated chain of events that was several years in the making. Borden lined up a forester and contracted with a crew that travels around the state chasing the planting season. Seedlings were gathered from the nursery where they'd been growing in containers for a year. The seeds that spawned them were extracted from cones from the nearby Wishon sequoia grove, whose climate and elevation most closely resembles that of Alder Creek. They were loaded into boxes and placed in cold storage at the Forest Service office in Springville, to be retrieved the morning of the planting. The week before, graduate students from UC Berkeley had marked the spots where seedlings should be planted with small blue flags. The planting at Alder Creek Grove is not just a preservation effort, its also an experiment. Ultimately, what I want to know is how we actually can recruit or develop monarch trees, said Rob York, professor of Cooperative Extension, who is leading the study. York plans to hold a prescribed burn in the grove in about 12 years to mimic the natural pace of fire in the forest. He wants to determine how densely giant sequoia seedlings should be planted now to ensure the grove thrives after that burn. Every time we do a prescribed burn, we expect the fire to kill some of the trees, he said. But weve never done the math really to figure out, given an active fire frequency in a young stand, how many seedlings we need to start out with. York is also testing whether dense plantings will inhibit the growth of shrubs that could crowd out young trees. Giant sequoia seed cones which would ordinarily spawn new life were incinerated in recent wildfires. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) This most closely resembles how giant sequoia regenerate naturally. Each mature tree can produce 3 billion to 4 billion seeds over the course of its lifetime, and after low- to moderate-intensity fire opens cones, seedlings sprout up in thick mats. This appears to be an adaptation to the fact that many young trees wont make it. Young sequoias can be killed by thirst and by fire. The trees dont develop the classic fire-resistant characteristics thick bark that protects the inner cambium and self pruning that sees them shed lower branches until they reach about 500 years old. After that happens, giant sequoias are mostly killed by old age. At least that's how it used to work, Borden said as he stood in front of a gnarled trunk that reached several stories high. The top half of the tree had fallen to the ground beside it. He estimates it was about 2,000 years old when the Castle fire burned it from the inside. That tree actually was still burning a year after the fire, he said. We were seeing smoke from this fire last fall so two years after on some pieces. Nearby, a singed giant bore a single clump of green high up in its branches. Still alive, but likely on life support, he said. On the other side of the ridge behind Borden was the portion of the property the Castle fire didnt reach. The slope was thick with trees: big broccoli-topped sequoia pressed up against smaller fir and cedar, their branches reaching down to the forest floor. This was what the rest of the grove looked like before the fire, Borden said. The hillside hasnt burned since at least the 1940s, but its time to prepare for the inevitability that it will, he said. A work crew uses hoes to plant giant sequoia seedlings near a California incense-cedar stump, in Sequoia Crest. Save the Redwoods League has spent about $2 million on the replanting. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) A 1-year-old giant sequoia seedling rises from loamy soil. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Save the Redwood Leagues next project, slated to start in July, is to remove some fir and cedar from this area by piling and burning the trees and brush or trucking them away, and then to introduce prescribed burning, Borden said. They are partnering with nonprofit Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions, which is putting together a workforce of Indigenous community members. The goal is to restore the entire property to a state where it can be maintained by fire either intentionally set or naturally sparked that will do good ecological work rather than devastating damage. All this work doesnt come cheap. Save the Redwoods League has spent about $2 million on the replanting alone. The seedlings cost about 50 cents apiece to grow and an additional 90 cents to plant. The nonprofit was able to recoup about $800,000 from selling some of the trees that were removed to a lumber mill. In addition, the probability of any one seedling becoming a monarch the largest-size class of giant sequoias is low. A handful might make it to 1,000 years. The chance of one living to 3,000 years? Borden guesses it might be one in 10 billion. But its important to try, he said, ticking off the reasons: Without restoration and resilience work, this piece of forest will likely convert to shrubland dominated by manzanita, whitethorn and chokecherry. This forest type holds back much less water and stores much less carbon, which are key to slowing climate change. Culturally, the trees, which Borden describes as straight out of Dr. Seuss, inspire child-like awe, drawing visitors from all over the world. Tim Borden guesses that the chance of any one sequoia seedling becoming a monarch is low. The chance of one living to 3,000 years might be one in 10 billion, he says. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) And morally, its the right thing to do, he said. Humans got us into this mess by Indigenous removal, fire suppression and then climate change," he said. "We put these forests in these conditions. And we have, I believe, the responsibility to do everything we can to rectify those conditions that we created as best as we can. It's a reconciliation. Borden regarded the planting site below him, with its bald spots and raked-over soil, and recoiled. Its ugly, he admitted. But he could also see what it will look like a decade down the road. Some seedlings maybe half of them will have died but the remainder will be 20 to 30 feet tall. Their crowns will overlap in places, forming a wall of green foliage. And maybe, in another couple hundred years, some of them will grow into giants. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Candace Owens Candace Owens, one of the more hateful right-wing influencers famous for saying shocking things, has learned that transphobic hate speech isnt free after YouTube demonetized content on her account. In response to violations of the companys monetization policy for hateful or derogatory content, which may include misgendering or deadnaming, the company demonetized several videos from the conservative pundits channel. There is no public policy on misgendering within the company, although one of the companys representatives told NBC News in a statement that deliberate misgendering will potentially violate the companys monetization policy, the news network reports. Earlier this week, Owens said YouTube provided her with the option to delete all videos shes ever made using pronouns that transgender people do not prefer. As Owens discussed in an episode on her channel titled I Have An Announcement To Make, YouTube considered videos in which she misgendered individuals as hateful conduct. Michael Aciman, a Google spokesperson, told NBC News that YouTube did not take down Owens videos but blocked ads on several videos on Candace Owens channel for violating our monetization policies, including those against hateful and derogatory content. According to YouTubes guidelines on hateful and derogatory content, advertisements may be prohibited on videos intended to promote discrimination, disparage, or humiliate individual or group members. This includes, as Aciman stressed, the demonization of members of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, Aciman said that enforcement against videos could include punishment for those that may include deliberate deadnaming or misgendering of transgender individuals. In recent months, conservatives have feigned outrage claiming that social media companies were trying to silence their voices from expressing their opinions on issues. Self-described free speech absolutist Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter, recently dismantled policies on the short messaging platform that protected transgender people from harassment. Military personnel unload from a plane one of four Indigenous children who were missing after a deadly plane crash at the military air base in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 10, 2023. The children survived a small plane crash 40 days ago and had been the subject of an intense search in the jungle. AP Photo/John Vizcaino The crash happened on May 1 after the pilot declared an emergency due to an engine failure. Three adults on the plane were killed and their bodies were found in the area. "The jungle saved them," President Petro said. "They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia." Four Indigenous children survived an Amazon plane crash that killed three adults and then braved the jungle for 40 days before being found alive by Colombian soldiers, bringing a happy ending to a search-and-rescue saga that captivated a nation and forced the usually opposing military and Indigenous people to work together. Cassava flour and some familiarity with the rainforest's fruits were key to the children's extraordinary survival in an area where snakes, mosquitoes, and other animals abound. The members of the Huitoto people, aged 13, 9, and 4 years and 11 months, are expected to remain for a minimum of two weeks at a hospital receiving treatment after their rescue Friday. Family members, President Gustavo Petro, and government and military officials met the children Saturday at the hospital in Bogota, the capital. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez told reporters that the children were being rehydrated and could not eat yet. "But in general, the condition of the children is acceptable," Velasquez said. They were traveling with their mother from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare when the plane crashed in the early hours of May 1. The Cessna single-engine propeller plane was carrying three adults and the four children when the pilot declared an emergency due to an engine failure. The small aircraft fell off the radar a short time later, and a search for survivors began. A soldier stands in front of the wreckage of a Cessna C206 that crashed in the jungle of Solano in the Caqueta state of Colombia. The discovery of footprints on May 30 of a small foot rekindled the hope of finding the children alive after their plane crashed on May 1. Soldiers found the wreckage and the bodies of three adults, including the pilot and the children's mother. Colombia's Armed Force Press Office via AP "When the plane crashed, they took out (of the wreckage) a farina, and with that, they survived," the children's uncle, Fidencio Valencia told reporters outside the hospital. Farina is a cassava flour that people eat in the Amazon region. "After the farina ran out, they began to eat seeds," Valencia said. The timing was in the children's favor. Astrid Caceres, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, said the youngsters could eat fruit because "the jungle was in harvest." An air force video released Friday showed a helicopter using lines to pull the youngsters up because it couldn't land in the dense rainforest where they were found. On Friday, The military tweeted pictures of soldiers and volunteers posing with the children, who were wrapped in thermal blankets. One of the soldiers held a bottle to the smallest child's lips. Military personnel unload from a plane one of four Indigenous children who were missing after a deadly plane crash at the military air base in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 10, 2023. The children survived a small plane crash 40 days ago and had been the subject of an intense search in the jungle. AP Photo/John Vizcaino Gen. Pedro Sanchez, who was in charge of the rescue efforts, said the children were found 3 miles from the crash site in a small forest clearing. He said rescue teams had passed within 20 to 50 meters of where the children were found on several occasions but had missed them. "The minors were already very weak," Sanchez said. "And surely their strength was only enough to breathe or reach a small fruit to feed themselves or drink a drop of water in the jungle." Petro called the children an "example of survival" and predicted their saga "will remain in history." Two weeks after the crash, on May 16, a search team found the plane in a thick patch of the rainforest and recovered the bodies of the three adults on board, but the small children were nowhere to be found. Sensing that they could be alive, Colombia's army stepped up the hunt and flew 150 soldiers with dogs into the area, where mist and thick foliage greatly limited visibility. Dozens of volunteers from Indigenous tribes also joined the search. General Pedro Sanchez, the commander of the joint command of special operations of the military forces, welcomes Indigenous people the airport in San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia, Sunday, May 21, 2023, after they arrived to help in the search of four Indigenous children who are missing after a deadly plane crash. The May 30 discovery of footprints of a small foot rekindled the hope of finding the children alive after their plane crashed on May 1. Soldiers found the wreckage and the bodies of three adults, including the pilot and the children's mother. AP Photo/Fernando Vergara Soldiers on helicopters dropped boxes of food into the jungle, hoping it would help sustain the children. Planes flying over the area fired flares to help search crews on the ground at night, and rescuers used speakers that blasted a message recorded by the siblings' grandmother telling them to stay in one place. The announcement of their rescue came shortly after President Gustavo Petro signed a cease-fire with representatives of the National Liberation Army rebel group. In line with his government's messaging highlighting his efforts to end internal conflicts, he stressed the joint work of the military and Indigenous communities to find the children. "The meeting of knowledge: indigenous and military," he tweeted. "Here is a different path for Colombia: I believe that this is the true path of Peace." Damaris Mucutuy, an aunt of the children, told a radio station that "the children are fine" despite being dehydrated and with insect bites. She added that the children had been offered mental health services. Caceres told reporters officials agreed with the children's relatives to allow for "spiritual work" at the jungle and the hospital " if there was no immediate emergency action" needed. She said musicians and musical instruments relevant to the children's culture would be allowed in the hospital. Soldiers and Indigenous men pose for a photo with the four Indigenous brothers who were missing after a deadly plane crash, in the Solano jungle, Caqueta state, Colombia, Friday, June 9, 2023. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Friday that authorities found alive the four children who survived a small plane crash 40 days ago and had been the subject of an intense search in the Amazon jungle. ( Colombia's Armed Force Press Office via AP Officials praised the courage of the eldest of the children, a girl, who they said had some knowledge of how to survive in the rainforest and led the children through the ordeal. Before their rescue, rumors swirled about their whereabouts. So much so that on May 18, Petro tweeted that the children had been found. He then deleted the message, claiming a government agency had misinformed him. The children told officials they spent time with a dog, but it went missing. That was a rescue dog that soldiers took into the jungle. As of Saturday, the military was still looking for the dog, a Belgian Shepherd named Wilson. Petro said that for a while, he had believed the children were rescued by one of the nomadic tribes that still roam the remote area where the plane fell and have little contact with authorities. As the search progressed, soldiers found small clues that led them to believe the children were still alive, including footprints, a baby bottle, diapers, and pieces of fruit that looked like humans had bitten them. "The jungle saved them," Petro said. "They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia." Read the original article on Insider (Bloomberg) -- The Confederation of British Industry has been abandoned by major sponsors of its annual conference, posing another challenge to the lobby group as it battles for survival in the wake of a sexual assault scandal. Most Read from Bloomberg The event typically takes place in November and attracts high-profile political speakers alongside bosses from the UKs biggest companies. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer addressed delegates at the CBIs last conference in November, in Birmingham. Three months later, the CBI was hit by multiple allegations of sexual assault among its staff, including from two women who said theyd been raped by colleagues. Recruitment specialist Hays Plc sponsored the conference for about a decade but has since quit the CBI and wont take part this year, a spokesperson said. The other leading sponsor, Accenture Plc, terminated its membership in April. Another sponsor from last year, Phoenix Group Holdings Plc, is no longer a member of the CBI and wont be involved in the conference, a spokesperson said. In an emailed statement, Shell Plc also a corporate partner in 2022 said it supported the business groups plans to reform itself following very significant failings and would review its progress. However, the energy giant has no plans to sponsor the event. Read More: CBI Warns of Job Cuts in Battle to Survive Assault Scandal The CBI won a reprieve when 93% of votes from members supported the organizations efforts to learn from the scandal and continue operating. Director General Rain Newton-Smith hailed the outcome but critics pointed to a low turnout only 371 votes were cast. CBI in the past has had about 1,500 direct members. A swathe of big companies quit the group following the sexual assault allegations first published in the Guardian newspaper. Former director general Tony Danker was dismissed due to concerns over his conduct toward colleagues. Claims made against Danker were separate and unrelated to the more serious allegations, which are reported to have occurred before he joined the CBI. The government stopped engaging with the CBI in April and has not said whether it will resume high-level meetings. The business group was previously credited with influencing UK policies such as the furlough scheme that subsidized salaries during Covid-19, and the widening of childcare support. Read more: Big Business Shuns CBI Groups Crucial Vote on Its Future The CBI derives most of its income from membership fees, which accounted for more than 22 million ($28 million) in 2021. Still, events such as its annual conference form a crucial part of its commercial revenues, which plummeted from more than 3 million per annum in the years leading up to the pandemic, to 1.78 million in 2020. The return of in-person events the following year helped commercial revenues to rebound by 47%. No sponsors from the last three CBI conferences told Bloomberg News they would support the event again. NatWest Group Plc, a corporate partner when the conference was held virtually during the pandemic, is no longer a CBI member. National Grid Plc, a partner the following year, has also left the group. A spokesperson for the CBI declined to comment. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. This Central Florida county is launching new mental health programs Orange County announced the expansion of its mental health services with new programs. Donna Wyche, Manager of Orange Countys Mental Health and Homelessness Division, announced the programs at the county meeting. These initiatives are game-changing, Wyche said. The new initiative comes as a result of a report done in 2022. The Orange County Mental and Behavioral Health System of Care, Community Analysis report found that the county has an overburdened mental health and behavioral care system. Read: Orlando high school student who suffered brain aneurysm walks at graduation Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he is grateful for Wyche and her teams efforts. Because of our continued work, we are moving the needle, Demings said. Here are the new programs: Implement a Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) program for first responders to de-escalate situations with people in a mental health crisis. Expand the Crisis Stabilization Unit beds (CSU) with the Central Florida Behavioral and University Behavioral Center by adding ten beds for people who need medical services for mental and behavioral treatment. Increase pre-booking diversion programming at the Orange County jail to offer mental health services at two drop-in centers staffed by Aspire Health Partners. Expand the nurse-family partnership with the Early Learning Coalition to provide over 80 women with behavioral health and medical care. Launch the first pilot program for mental health services in a primary pediatric care office from birth to 18 years of age. These services aim to assess, prevent, and treatment and behavioral health issues. Implement the Upstream Model with Chapin Hall in Orange County Public Schools to reduce homelessness and dropout rates. The 911 Communications Center will have access to crisis management experts for callers with mental health situations. Read: New restaurant will open near Kissimmee next month, hiring over 200 positions Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. One person is in the hospital recovering after their house caught fire on Sunday afternoon. Structure Fire Update; 4700 block of Easthaven Dr; 30 firefighters controlled the fire in 12mins; 2 occupants evaluated on scene for injuries by firefighters & @MecklenburgEMS; fire is under investigation. Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) June 11, 2023 Firefighters with the Charlotte Fire Department responded to a house fire call just before 5:15 p.m. on Sunday on Easthaven Drive in southeast Charlotte. ALSO READ: 2 firefighters out of hospital after car crashes into fire truck in Gaston County, department says Responding firefighters said there was smoke when they arrived on the scene. CFD had the fire controlled in 12 minutes, and the two residents were checked out by both CFD and MEDIC. One of the residents was treated for life-threatening injuries at the scene and taken to the hospital by MEDIC. CFD said the cause of the fire is under investigation. This is a developing story; check back at wsoctv.com for updates. (WATCH BELOW: Union leaders call for accountability after deadly SouthPark fire) The collapse of an elevated section of I-95 in Philadelphia on Sunday caused by a vehicle fire is expected to clog road travel for months along the heavily used interstate, authorities said. I-95 in the northeastern part of the United States is used for commerce among the East Coast's population centers and serves as a nonstop route for vacationers and other travelers. There are several ways to get around the collapsed section of highway. Story continues below photo gallery. From northeast New Jersey, the simplest route will be to head west on either I-78 or I-80, then pick up the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension (I-476), which joins I-95 just south of the Philadelphia airport. Or drivers can take the I-95 bridge near Bordentown into Pennsylvania and stay on the main Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) to I-476 south. The collapse occurred in northeast Philadelphia where Route 73, also known as Cottman Avenue in the city, crosses under the interstate. The interstate collapsed onto the Cottman Avenue exit of I-95. The collapsed portion of Route 95 northbound over Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, PA, is shown Sunday afternoon, June 11, 2023. A vehicle fire under the overpass caused the collapse. As of Sunday afternoon, it was not known where along I-95 the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania highway departments would close the highway to through traffic. The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (Route 73) is immediately south of the bridge collapse and the one most likely to have traffic diverted. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said the vehicle fire closed all lanes between Exit 25 and Exit 32, a stretch that includes Allegheny Avenue, Castor Avenue, Academy Road and Linden Avenue. The collapsed portion of Route 95 northbound over Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, PA, is shown Sunday afternoon, June 11, 2023, in this view looking south towards Center City. A vehicle fire under the overpass caused the collapse. Philadelphia Fire Department Capt. Derek Bowmer said emergency crews responded shortly before 6:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a vehicle on fire on the interstate. Reports indicated that the vehicle may have been a tanker truck, but that has not been confirmed. The United States Coast Guard has confirmed that the truck that caught fire was transporting gasoline. A representative said "the company which owns that truck only transports gasoline." "The New Jersey State Police is closely monitoring the closure of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia," said Sgt. Philip Curry. "We are working with our partners and will be prepared to address any traffic concerns due to the potential increase of commuter and commercial traffic through New Jerseys roadways." Story continues below this archived gallery from 2001: There will be backups on local roads as traffic from I-95 is diverted, and on and around the many bridges over the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The closest bridge north of the collapse is the Burlington-Bristol Bridge, which carries Route 413 across the river. And there is the I-95 bridge that crosses the Delaware and connects to I-276, which goes through the suburbs north of Philadelphia and connects to the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Plymouth Meeting. Story continues below gallery: The Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin and Walt Whitman bridges also provide alternative routes farther south of the collapse. As of midafternoon Sunday, neither the New Jersey State Police nor the state Department of Transportation was available to say what the preferred routes would be and what signage would be erected to alert motorists of the issue with I-95 in north Philadelphia. On the New Jersey side of the river, another alternative route is I-295 all the way south to where it crosses the Delaware River into Delaware via the Delaware Memorial Bridge. That bridge is also the southern terminus of the New Jersey Turnpike and connects to I-95. This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Avoid collapsed I-95 in Philadelphia with these alternate routes For anyone who was awestruck and loved the glass sculptures in Preston Singletarys Raven and the Box of Daylight exhibition that was at the Wichita Art Museum in 2020, get ready for round two. More of Singletarys work and that of 28 other Native American artists are among the approximately 120 pieces that comprise the Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass exhibition that opens at WAM on Sunday, June 11, and continues through Sept. 10. The exhibition is being billed as groundbreaking and first-of-its-kind since it brings together the works of several Native artists some of whom are known for their work in other mediums who draw from their traditional cultural iconography and designs to work in the nontraditional medium of glass. The artists represent 26 tribes and nations in the U.S. and Canada, including four from the Pacific Rim. The glass sculptures on display include totems, vessels, ceremonial regalia, animal figurines, masks and other pieces. Some replicate designs like weaving or relief work that one might find in a Native basket or pottery. We are creating things based on tradition but translated into glass. Thats how I characterize it, said Singletary in a recent interview with The Wichita Eagle from his Seattle studio. Singletary, who is Tlingit pronounced either Tlin-git or Klin-kit, has four pieces in the exhibition, and hes collaborated with other artists on 16 pieces that are on display. WAM is the first stop for the touring exhibition, which originated at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Curated by Letitia Chambers, former CEO of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the exhibition will tour through 2026. Untitled, by Tammy Garcia and Preston Singletary, will be among the pieces on exhibit. I think its a very comprehensive overview of Native American glass art, Singletary said of the exhibition. Letitia Chambers did a good job of reaching out to the known Native artists working in the material and included pretty much everybody. The exhibition includes works by Dale Chihuly, an internationally recognized glass artist considered a leader of the glass art movement. Visitors are likely familiar with Chihulys work since two of his pieces are permanently displayed at WAM: the Persian Seaform Ceiling, also known as the Chihuly Bridge, which can be viewed from the bottom in the lobby and walked across from above; and the Chihuly Chandelier that hangs in the Farha Great Hall. According to Chambers book and exhibition catalogue, glass art in Indian County is the result of two movements coming together: the contemporary Native arts movement of the 1960s promoted by Lloyd Kiva New and the glass art movement influenced by Chihuly in the 1970s. Chihuly co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle in 1971. He later created a hot shop and glass art curriculum for the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where he taught for a semester. Kiva New co-founded the institute. Pilchuck was where Singletary spent time learning to work with the medium and its also where he met and worked with Tony Jojola, who had become a regular assistant to Chihuly. Jojola eventually had a glass-making facility in Taos, New Mexico. Jojola deserves a lot of credit, Singletary said, for influencing and bringing recognition to Native glass makers. When Singletary met Jojola, an Isleta Pueblo, he hadnt connected to his cultural background as inspiration for his work. It was Jojola who planted the seed to create that connection. He was one of the earliest sort of pioneers among Native American glass artists, Singletary said. Jojola died in December. Singletary has since gone on to work extensively with indigenous artists, including those in New Zealand and Australia, sharing with them the possibilities of using glass as a medium for them to interpret their culture. Among the artists he collaborated with whose works are included in Clearly Indigenous are potters Tammy Garcia and Jody Naranjo. Garcias Yellow Butterfly Cylinder sculpture is reportedly modeled after vessels found in archaeological digs. After the success of Singletarys exhibition at WAM in 2020 which ended up being extended into January 2021 because the COVID pandemic prevented it from going on to the Smithsonian as scheduled, WAM decided to book the Clearly Indigenous exhibition. When we got wind of this one, we felt like it was the perfect follow-up, said Tera Hedrick, WAMs curator. We had such a great time with Raven and the Box of Daylight. WAM loved that show, Wichita loved that show, and we loved Preston. Singletary attended the opening reception of the exhibition and gave a gallery talk at WAM in February 2020. Raven and the Box of Daylight eventually made it to the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian and was featured on CBS Sunday Morning earlier this year, and it will be exhibited at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art from Nov. 11 through April 28. Larry Ahvakana Scorpion, created from blown glass, ivory and metal, will be on display at the Wichita Art Museum. WAM has scheduled several events in conjunction with the exhibition; more information on the events can be found at wam.org/events. The events include: Gallery talk by Seattle-based artist Dan Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11. Free. Culinar y event featuring a menu curated by Chef Loretta Barrett Oden, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15. Participants will enjoy a tour of the exhibition and a dinner that features a menu curated by Oden, an internationally renowned culinary authority on foods of America who started the Corn Dance Cafe in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Chef Katharine Elder of Elderslie Farm and WAMs 1400 by Elderslie restaurant is preparing the meal. Cost is $155 per person, with a $20 discount for members. Family ArtVenture, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 22. The regular monthly program will include a performance by the award-winning Wichita War Dancer and glass-blowing demonstrations. Free. Glass-blowing demo and gallery conversation, 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 29, in collaboration with CityArts. The event starts at the glass-blowing studio at CityArts, 334 N. Mead, with a gallery talk following at WAM by CityArts glass instructor Aaron Jasso and WAM curator Tera Hedrick. Cost: $40 with a $10 discount for WAM members; advance registration required as space is limited. Summer Film Series of movies about Native artists, curated by Rod Pocowatchit, founder and director of alterNative Film Festival. The films and dates are Love and Fury Friday, Aug. 4; Through the Repellent Fence and Sweetheart Dancers Friday, Aug. 18; and Merate: How Mum Decolonized the Screen Friday, Sept. 1. Event start time is 6:30 p.m.; tickets are $10 per person and free for WAM members. Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass exhibition When: through Sept. 10. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, with extended hours on Friday until 9 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and major holidays (June 19, July 4 & Sept. 4). Where: Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd. Admission: $12 for adults, free for WAM members, college students with ID and youth 18 and under; active-duty military and their families are free through the Blue Star Museum program More info: 316-268-4921 or wam.org Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police detectives are investigating a homicide in south Charlotte after a man was shot and killed on Sunday morning. The investigation is taking place along Atkins Circle Drive. Officers responded to the shooting shortly after 4:30 a.m. and found the victim with gunshot wounds. The victim was later identified as 29-year-old Reginald Averi Gilkesson, according to police. ALSO READ: A little alarming: 1 seriously hurt in northwest Charlotte shooting, police say Channel 9s veteran crime reporter Glenn Counts went to the complex to speak with residents, who said they began hearing sounds of a disturbance around 4:00 a.m. Multiple neighbors also told Counts they heard what they believed was fighting, and then at least five shots were fired. Brooke Thomas, a resident, told Counts that she was woken up by flashing lights from CMPD patrol cars. So we were just sleeping, and then all of a sudden we hear screaming, and we look outside the window and we see the blue lights, and that was pretty much it, Thomas said. Counts also spoke with the family of the victim, who did not want to go on camera but said Gilkesson was a good kid with a job in the construction industry. The police are still trying to find the person responsible. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. (WATCH BELOW: CMPD investigating shooting near large gathering in north Charlotte) CMPD investigating shooting near large gathering in north Charlotte The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred near a large gathering in north Charlotte. The incident occurred on the 2300 block of Beatties Ford Road just before 7 p.m. Saturday. Police said they heard gunshots coming from a large crowd of people before finding a person suffering from a gunshot wound. ALSO READ: One seriously hurt in shooting in northwest Charlotte, MEDIC says The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. This is a developing story, check back at wsoctv.com for updates. VIDEO: One seriously hurt in shooting in northwest Charlotte, MEDIC says A comedian in New York who joked about the safety of Malaysian planes in an apparent reference to the disappearance of flight MH370 has sparked a heated backlash in Malaysia and Singapore. Controversy over the joke by lawyer-turned comedian Jocelyn Chia at Manhattans Comedy Cellar erupted soon after a short clip of her stand-up performance was posted online earlier this week. Chias bit, which the comedian said she had used multiple times in the past, centered on the uneasy past between Singapore and Malaysia, which were once part of the same country. She led off with a suggestion that since the two had separated in 1965, Singapore had risen to become a first-world country while Malaysia had allegedly remained a developing one. She then went on to take aim at Malaysian airplanes by suggesting they cant fly, before making what many have taken as a reference to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Beijing-bound flight which went missing along with 239 passengers and crew after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014. What happened to the flight has never been conclusively established, though pieces of debris suspected of belonging to it have occasionally been discovered. What? Malaysia Airlines going missing not funny, huh? she quipped to laughter, before delivering her punchline: Some jokes dont land. Police carry debris from an unidentified aircraft found in the coastal area of Saint-Andre de la Reunion, in the east of the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, on July 29, 2015. An air safety expert did not exclude it could be a part of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. - Yannick Pitonyaninick Piton/AFP/Getty Images/FILE Chia told CNN that her routine has been performed more than a hundred times for a year and a half without an issue, but when this particular segment was taken out and condensed into a short clip for social media, some of the necessary context went missing. I do stand by my joke but with some caveat I stand by it in its entirety, when viewed in a comedy club. Upon reflection I do see that having this as a clip that gets viewed out of a comedy club context was risky, she said. She added Singaporeans have long had a friendly rivalry with Malaysia and it was what the joke was based on, adding that she bears no grudge against Malaysia. It was also a common culture for comedians to roast their live audience, she added. Malaysian audience members often come up to Chia after her shows to tell her that they loved her gig, she said, which showed they clearly didnt take offense. But the joke has caused a wave of controversy in both Malaysia and Singapore after it went viral online in recent days. In Malaysia, the youth wing of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) one of the biggest political parties in the country marched to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday to protest what they see as an insult. About 100 protesters and representatives handed a memorandum to the US diplomatic outpost, according to the youth groups chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh. This is something that is unacceptable for the whole nation and we are here, he said, adding, freedom of speech must come with sensitivity. Singapore meanwhile has distanced itself from Chia, who according to her website is originally from the Asian city state, and apologized to Malaysia. The Singapore government does not condone words or actions that cause harm or hurt to others and Chia, said Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapores High Commissioner to Malaysia in a statement online. (Chia) does not in any way reflect our views, he added. Menon said Chias joke contained gratuitously offensive comments, adding, I sincerely apologize to all Malaysians for her hurtful remarks. In a tweet, Singapores Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Chia certainly does not speak for Singaporeans and he was appalled by her horrendous statements. We treasure our ties with family and friends in Malaysia, and are sorry for the offense and hurt caused to all Malaysians, he added. His Malaysian counterpart, Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, accused the comedian of lacking sensitivity and empathy toward Malaysians and the families of the victims. This video also clearly depicts behavior that is contrary to the values of an Asian country that is known for its manners and morals, he said, according to state-run news agency Bernama. As of Sunday, Chias Facebook and Instagram accounts were no longer available to view. However, Chia said there is never spite behind a comedians jokes, adding at the end of the day, the goal is to put a smile on peoples faces. We all know in the comedy club context that this is the comedian trying to get a laugh, and there is no actual malice behind it, she said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Photograph: Arnold Gold/AP A Connecticut man who was left partially paralyzed while in police custody last year has reached a $45m settlement with the city of New Haven. Last June, 36-year-old Randy Cox was arrested on charges of illegal handgun possession and was put into a police transport van without any seatbelts. Related: Connecticut exonerates victims of 17th-century witchcraft trials According to video footage released by Coxs family, Cox was being transported to a detention center when the officer driving the van, Oscar Diaz, braked suddenly, causing Cox to slide across the bench and hit his head against the vans wall. Cox was left slumped at the back of the van for three minutes before Diaz stopped to check on him. I cant move. Im going to die like this. Please, please, please help me, said Cox. He was eventually taken to the detention center where police officers ordered him to get up from the floor. When Cox said that he could not move, an officer replied: Youre not even trying. Video footage showed Cox repeatedly slipping out of a wheelchair that officers placed him in, as well as a police officer saying He is perfectly fine as Cox lay on the floor of a cell. Following the incident, Cox filed a $100m federal civil lawsuit against the officers and the city of New Haven, alleging negligence, carelessness and excessive force against the officers involved. According to the lawsuit, Cox has been left with severe injuries and damages including a cervical spine fracture, permanent paralysis below his neck, permanent muscle atrophy and shortened life expectancy. The $45m settlement was reached on Friday evening and came two days after the city fired two police officers over their reckless treatment and lack of compassion towards Cox, the Associated Press reported. The citys mistakes have been well documented, said a statement released by Coxs attorneys, including prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump. But today is a moment to look to the future, so New Haven residents can have confidence in their city and their police department, the statement added. Speaking to the AP, one of Coxs attorneys, Louis Rubano, said that Cox kind of relived what happened to him throughout the day yesterday, so it was a very emotional day. Hes unwinding now, Rubano added. In a news conference on Saturday, Mayor Justin Elicker said: Randys 36 years old, and we hope he has a long life ahead of him with the kind of support and care that he deserves. Senate Republicans are growing increasingly concerned with the antics of House conservatives as they paralyze business in the lower chamber with key legislative battles looming in the coming months. Eleven conservative members blocked a handful of messaging bills from reaching the House floor for votes last week and vowed to keep doing so effectively grinding the chamber to a halt over Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) handling of debt ceiling talks last month. This is giving Republicans across the Capitol agita as they brace for it to be a preview of coming attractions. Lawmakers still need to pass government funding bills, the farm bill and the annual National Defense Authorization Act, among other things, in the near term. Theyre going to have to sort it out over there. Maybe theres some bruised feelings. Theres a lot of governing to do, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a former House member, told The Hill. If youre just going to pull the lever for the sake of pulling the lever yes or no as a protest, theres too many important things out there that we need to have addressed with thought. McCarthys debt ceiling package won well north of a majority of support in the House, including two-thirds of his conference. The bill received less GOP support in the Senate, where 31 Republicans voted against it, but many in the upper chamber gave the Speaker high marks for his negotiations with the White House. House floor paralyzed by conservative revolt Nevertheless, some Senate Republicans are dismayed by what happened last week with their House counterparts. Adding insult to injury, there is no indication yet that conservatives will yield and allow the House to continue to conduct its usual business when members reconvene on Monday. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a former House member who is a frequenter of the House gym during work weeks, laughed openly when asked about the Houses issues and shook his head before likening their actions to those of his grandchildren. They love attention, and they behave well when youre giving them a lot of it. And then as soon as youre done giving them attention, they get mad and youve got to give them more attention, Cramer said. Im not sure some of them understand the magnitude of their responsibility, quite honestly. Theres a group of them, evidently, who didnt want a Republican Speaker. They wanted a Republican king. We have a majority in one chamber, but theyre not governing, Cramer added. Im concerned about their ability to function. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) questions from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on March 7 in Washington. (Greg Nash) The conservatives have met with House GOP leaders in recent days but have yet to ease up on their move to essentially take the House floor hostage. They are furious that the debt ceiling deal McCarthy cut included lower spending cuts and fewer Republican priorities than their debt limit bill. But their demands of the Speaker are unclear five months after they paved the way for him to win the gavel on the 15th vote. None of the members has threatened to oust McCarthy from his long-coveted post, but the situation represents the biggest threat thus far to his short tenure. Some Republicans indicated they are alarmed by whats going on, but said that they are confident McCarthy will be able to quash the situation to allow the House to resume its work. The House is emotional, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told reporters, that it generally reflects the mood of the country. This is just the way, once in a while, people act out, and thats just part of the process, Rounds continued. Theyll handle it. Itll be okay. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a former House GOP member who is an ally and friend of the Speaker, told The Hill he was not surprised to see the revolt and argued McCarthy is uniquely qualified to get the House train back on the tracks. Not at all, Mullin said, echoing Cramer and labeling those involved as attention seekers. Kevin is very good at what he does. Hes got more relationships, he builds better relationships than any Speaker Ive ever served with, Mullin explained. If anybody can do it, its him, and Im pretty confident he can get it done. Lawmakers have already started staking out positions on the farm bill, which deals primarily with food and agricultural policy, and pressure has already started to mount on the push to move all 12 appropriations bills through Congress. A government shutdown could also be in order if the dozen legislative items are not passed, in addition to an eventual 1 percent cut on defense and nondefense spending if they arent passed this and next year. Some GOP members are also warning about the party weakening its hand in talks if the continued intransigence by hardline conservatives stretches into the coming weeks as they have signaled a willingness to bog things down further. I just think they ought to take a deep breath, step back and imagine the next day if their position prevailed, Cramer said. What they will be doing is handing the control of the House of Representatives over to Democrats, and thats the part that disturbs me as much as anything. No, because its not good enough. If thats going to be the prevailing position all the time, youre going to just turn over governing to the Democrats. I wish theyd come to that realization, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Contestants ready to compete for Miss Ohio and Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen titles Twenty-three contestants will compete for the title of Miss Ohio in the week ahead, with the winner crowned June 17 at the historic Renaissance Theatre, making her eligible to compete at Miss America later this year. Twleve contestants are vying for the title of Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen. The teen winner also will compete at the national level. Miss Ohio contestants Here are brief biographies of the 2022 pageant contestants: Outgoing Miss Ohio Lora Current places the crown on new Miss Ohio Elizabetta Nies, 19, of Cincinnati at last year's competition. Miss Northeastern Ohio Elizabeth Cohara, 19, McClure. Education: Bowling Green State University, majoring in intervention specialism. Talent: instrumentalist. Social impact initiative: Equality: creating and maintaining equal opportunities for students with disabilities. Miss Mahoning Valley Piper Lambert, 19, East Palestine. Education: Youngstown State University, majoring in nursing; Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Community Connect: working on rebuilding communities with enrichment and service programs. Miss Cincinnati Alyssa Contreras, 18, Lebanon. Education: Sinclair Community College, majoring in exercise science. Talent: guitar. Social impact initiative: Rebuilding your relationship with your body through yoga. Focus is on everyone, but specifically those struggling with mental health and eating disorders. Miss Buckeye State Marina DeNunzio, 20, Shaker Heights. Education: The Ohio State University, majoring in history. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Sustainable and viable environment. Miss Heart of Ohio Bryn Hasenaur, 23, Holland. Education: Studying applied science. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Pink is Powerful, advocating for breast cancer screening. Miss Rock & Roll City Makenzie Regedanz, 24, St. Mary's. Education: Ohio Northern University, majoring in music education. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Ending the silence: Securing safety in education. Miss Talawanda Ivy Parker, 20, Columbus Grove. Education: University of Northwestern Ohio, majoring in medical assisting technology. Talent: cheerleading. Social impact initiative: Environmental sustainability: Grow with ivy. Miss Oxford Ella Roberts, 20, Cincinnati. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in medical laboratory sciences. Talent: science experiment. Social impact initiative: Bringing vocational education to high school seniors. Miss North Coast Madison Miller, 23, Coshocton. Education: Psychology and business administration, marketing. Talent: piano. Social impact initiative: The Veteran Narrative: Real Heroes. Real Stories. Miss Clayland Caitlin Seifert, 24, Niles. Education: Kent State University, majoring in fashion merchandising and MBA. Talent: baton. Social impact initiative: Turn A Key: Opening the door to volunteering. Miss Shawnee Baylee Joy Martin, 22, Portsmouth. Education: Wilmington College, majoring in psychology. Talent: pop vocal. Social impact initiative: B4 the Dawn, building your First Aid kit for mental health. Miss Northern Ohio Megan Riehle, 24, Edgerton. Education: Purdue University, Fort Wayne, majoring in business management and administration. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Helping hometown heroes. Miss Southwestern Ohio Brenna Geyer, 21, Dayton. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in music. Talent: singing/guitar. Social impact initiative: Passion for patients. Miss Lake Festival Grace-Ellen Rison, 19, Celina. Education: Western Carolina University, majoring in musical theater. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Radically celebrating neurodiversity and difference. Miss Greater Butler County Caroline Betty Trennophol, Cincinnati. Education: Thomas More University, majoring in marketing. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Girls C.A.N. Miss Cuyahoga Valley Mika Smith, 19, Parma. Education: Loyola University, majoring in political science. Talent: dance. Social impact initiative: Survivor, not victim. Miss North Central Ohio Kalli Gregory, 23, Castalia. Education: Bowling Green State University, majoring in neuroscience. Talent: contemporary dance. Social impact Initiative: Trent's Triumph, advocating for those with cerebral palsy to lead a happy and successful life. Miss Maple City Olivia Kentner, 23, Wapakoneta. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in communications; Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Ready, set, graduate. Miss Greater Columbus Stephanie Finoti, 20, Columbus. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in biomedical science. Talent: ballet. Social impact initiative: Girls to women: Inclusivity and diversity in STEM Miss Portsmouth Emily Legenza, 24, Athens. Education: music education. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: If you can, teach. Miss Lake Erie Jaeleen Davis, 28, Berea. Education: bachelor's degree in criminal justice and communication. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Kids should be covered: Prosthetics are not cosmetic. Miss Greater Cleveland Autumn Kessler, 26, Bethesda. Education: Muskingum University, majoring in public health. Talent: tap dance. Social impact initiative: Whole child. Whole health. Miss Spirit of Ohio Haylee Holt, 25, Sagamore Hills. Education: The Ohio State University, pursuing master's of education in visual impairment. Talent: musical theater vocals. Social impact initiative: The mental health movement. Cassandra Kurek, 16, of Bucyrus, left, is crowned Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen in June 2022 at the Renaissance Theatre by outgoing winner Madison Yuzwa. Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen contestants Miss Portsmouth's Outstanding Teen Paisley French, 18, Wheelersburg. Talent: dancing. Community service initiative: Bringing awareness to the struggles of dancers' families dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Miss Heart of Ohio's Outstanding Teen Natalie Winland, 17, Bexley. Talent: science experiment. Community service initiative: Seen and heard, advocating for our youth. Miss Lake Festival's Ohio's Outstanding Teen MacKenzie Harner, 16, St Henry. Talent: ballet. Community service initiative: Equity: Lifting up the marginalized. Miss Spirit of Ohio's Outstanding Teen Melina Kopczewski, 18, Orient. Talent: pom routine. Community service initiative: Grow forward: Advocating for women in agriculture. Miss Oxford's Outstanding Teen Rachel Carter, 17, Bexley. Talent: science experiment. Community service initiative: Seen and heard, advocating for our youth. Miss Buckeye State's Outstanding Teen Megan Hitchens, 17, Newark. Talent: acrobatic jazz dance. Community service initiative: D.R.E.A.M. Miss Grand Lakes' Outstanding Teen Zoey Auckerman, 17, Celina. Talent: singing. Community service initiative: The importance of animal shelters. Miss Northern Ohio's Outstanding Teen Cassie Mattson, 16, Columbus. Talent: Irish dancer. Community service initiative: On our sleeves. Miss Maple City's Outstanding Teen Alia Ali, 17, Berea. Talent: singing and dancing. Community service initiative: Green light grow. Miss North Coast's Outstanding Teen Alia Williamson, 17, Coshocton. Talent: dancing. Community service initiative: Heroes of today. Miss Tallawanda's Outstanding Teen Arrianna Shinn, 17, Coldwater. Talent: jazz-acro. Community service initiative: Helping Ohio through philanthrophy. Miss Shawnee's Outstanding Teen Faith Claypool, 18, Portsmouth. Talent: singing. Community service initiative: Foster for future. Miss Ohio Princesses Alexa Shepherd, 6, daughter of Kristi Fagg and Donald Shepherd Jr., a first-grader at Shelby Elementary School. Carlie Schnittke, 13, daughter of Carl and Brenda Schniitke, eighth-grader at Ontario Middle School. Chesney Haubiel, 9, daughter of Danny and Kami Haubiel and Tonya and Derrick Wallace, a fourth-grader at Crestview schools. Elliana Nelson, 10, daughter of Matthew Nelson and Samantha Ball, a fifth-grader at Stingel Elementary. Emersyn Haubiel, 6, daughter of Danny and Kami Haubiel, a first-grader at Crestview Elementary School. Leighahna Lane, 10, daughter of Brooke Roderick and Julian Lane, a fifth-grader at Galion Elementary School. Madison Adams, 10, daughter of Ryan and Amanda Adams, a sixth-grader at Clear Fork Middle School. Michael Duda, 10, daughter of Star and Mike Duda, a fifth-grader at Crestview Middle School. Sienna Watkins, 13, daughter of Brent and Teri Ann Watkins, an eighth-grader at Green Middle School. Sofia Perez, 10, daughter of Racheal Rogers-Perez and Marcelo Perez, a fifth grader at Ontario school. lwhitmir@gannett.com 419-521-7223 Twitter: @LWhitmir This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Meet 2023's Miss Ohio and Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen contestants Could Russians blow up dams on Dnipro River, at Zaporizhzhya NPP and Crimean Titan plant? A view of the ZNPP from the shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir, June 9, 2023 His opinion about the danger to the Dnipro dams upstream of the destroyed Kakhovka dam is reassuring. Theres no danger to any dam (in the Dnipro cascade) where there are no Russians present, said Svitan. Its practically impossible to destroy any dam without extensive aerial bombardment and preparation. Its simply unrealistic. Read also: Veteran unveils strategy to liberate Crimea following Russian destruction of Kakhovka dam Dams are constructed to withstand various forms of attacks, including bombing. Bombers attempting to directly drop bombs on a dam from above would need to exert tremendous effort to have any chance of destroying it. Even a sabotage-reconnaissance group, capable of fully capturing any dam, would not be able to blow it up. To execute a demolition similar to what occurred at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, several tons of special mining explosives would be necessary, explained the colonel. Svitan also said that, unlike the explosion at the Kakhovka dam, sabotaging the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant would not provide any advantage to the Russians from a military standpoint. Moreover, he warned about the extensive consequences of an explosion at the nuclear plant, stating that the explosion would affect (Ukraines Russian-occupied) Crimea, Rostov, and Taman. It would create a massive cloud and blanket the area from Crimea to Sochi. It would bury it forever. Thats why I dont think they will take such actions. Read also: Russians planned three more artificial environmental disasters apart from Kakhovka dam, says expert Svitan also said that the destruction of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant would create significant problems for Rosatom, the entity that has forced half of the plants employees to sign contracts. Any actions taken would immediately pose a problem for Rosatom, which is responsible for servicing not only a dozen reactors but is also currently involved in the construction of four reactors in Turkey and two reactors in Hungary. These projects involve billions of dollars and cannot be compared to any informational or political motive for detonating the Zaporizhzhya NPP, Svitan said. While acknowledging the possibility of the occupants detonating the Crimean Titan plant near Armyansk, Svitan highlighted the presence of acid receivers and containers with reagents and chlorine. He said an explosion at Crimean Titan could temporarily hinder troops from crossing into the peninsula, unless they were wearing chemical protection suits. Explosion at Kakhovka HPP what is known Russias troops invaded Nova Kakhovka more than a year ago. On the night of June 6, the dam was blown from the inside. The water flow from the reservoir, which was close to its highest recorded water level, has endangered over 80 towns and settlements, including the regional capital of Kherson, downstream on the Dnipro River. The left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River, which is under Russian occupation, is affected the most. Read also: Military expert explains Russias decision to destroy Kakhovka dam, details preparations Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered an evacuation from the endangered areas and supply of safe drinking water to people who were supplied with water from the Kakhovka Reservoir, which is draining away because of the destruction of the dam. Evacuation from the right bank of Kherson Oblast continues, even during the night, while a catastrophe unfolds on the occupied left bank, which has suffered significantly more from the flooding. The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was completely destroyed and cannot be repaired, state hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo said soon after the dam break. The dam wasnt destroyed completely, but significantly damaged, the Ukrainian militarys South Operational Command said. Around 16,000 people on the right (western) bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast are in a critical zone at risk of flooding according to the oblasts governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. The Prosecutor Generals Office opened an investigation on the incident under article of the Criminal Code on ecocide. President Zelenskyy has called Russias attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. Ukraines Defense Intelligence has said that the Russian demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant increases the threat of a nuclear disaster. According to the State Emergency Service, as of 8:00 PM on June 8, a total of 2,339 individuals have been evacuated from the flooded areas in Kherson Oblast. Preliminary reports indicate that 32 settlements and 3,625 houses on the right bank of the Dnipro River have been affected by the flooding. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine This couple has been sharing their love of art for 50 years and they are not done yet Les and Courtney Ruthven collected student art as something of a hobby when they were younger. Later, they collected from professional artists as well. We had given our children what we could, and we had filled our house, Courtney Ruthven said. Our banker said, Look, youve either gotta stop buying or start selling. The couple opted to sell, launching a local collection by the name of Mid-America Fine Arts. This year, Mid-America Fine Arts celebrates its 50th anniversary. When asked if they ever thought Mid-America Fine Arts would be around for 50 years, Les Ruthven replied, Well, we figured if we made it to 50. Courtney Ruthven simply said, We werent thinking. The Ruthvens now sell their collected artwork out of Mid-America Fine Arts gallery space, near the intersection of Central and Grove. Its like picking out your best child, Les Ruthven said when asked about his favorite piece in the gallery. You cant get overly attached. Then, if you do, you price them out. Mid-America Fine Arts owners met when they were both attending college in Tennessee. Courtney Ruthven, whose mother was an amateur painter, and Les Ruthven, whose father was the same, grew up surrounded by art. My father was a Sunday painter, he said. We would go to Central Park and he would paint. Thats how I was exposed to art. The Ruthvens moved to Wichita from Charleston, South Carolina, in 1965. Here, the couple worked as psychologists in a private practice. We started out when we came here buying student art, and then as we accumulated a little disposable income, then we graduated, Les Ruthven said. We decided that we would have some great works for a short period of time rather than permanently. In the beginning, they ran Mid-America Fine Arts as private dealers without their selling space. Eventually, they were able to set up shop in a more permanent gallery to showcase their art. Mid-America Fine Arts now houses roughly 300 pieces from Kansas artists, as well as a variety of works from other American artists and two from European artists. We specialize more in traditional art than modern, of the 20th century, less so abstract, Les Ruthven said. I like art to take us to a place or a person or a time period. Its an extra feeling. Its more (...) connected to ones life. The Ruthvens said they never saw Mid-America Fine Arts as a job; rather, they viewed showing people through their gallery as more of a respite. This was a break from our professional career, Les Ruthven said. Sometimes, theres more in life than a particular job. To this day, the couple, now retired, work at Mid-America Fine Arts Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. People can additionally make appointments outside these hours or shop online. Its something that we have enjoyed doing first of all because we wanted to share our art, but also we just love to show it, Courtney Ruthven said. We really enjoy it. The couple at one point had plans to sell the business, according to a 2015 Eagle story. Now they run the collection space with their son-in-law Greg Moore, who will be transferred ownership of the building eventually. Its not a matter of money, you know what I mean? Moore said. A lot of people, they come in here and they say, I had no idea how much art you have in this building. ... This is like a hidden gem of Wichita. Despite Moores assistance, Les Ruthven said they dont plan to retire from Mid-America Fine Arts as long as we can get around. I think theyre just looking forward to the next 50 years, Moore said. Baroness Heather Hallett The Covid Inquiry has been accused of wasting time and resources by engaging with a Left-wing lobby group which backed more lockdowns. Baroness Heather Hallett, the Chair of the Inquiry, has written to 17 members of Independent Sage which criticised the countrys re-opening and later called for fresh lockdowns. Independent Sage claimed to shadow the work of the official Scientific Advisory Group and says it is following the science but has faced questions over its credibility after calling for lockdowns in the summer and winter of 2021. The multi-million pound inquiry will hear its first evidence this week, two years after it was first announced, from experts behind the Governments contingency planners in the run-up to the pandemic. But concerns have been raised after it emerged that two-thirds of Independent Sages current and former members have been asked for evidence despite playing no official role during the pandemic. Based on current timetabling of around two hours per witnesses this could mean the inquiry could spend between nearly two to three weeks questioning the scientists if all were asked to give evidence. Nineteen letters issued The groups deputy chair is Professor Susan Michie, who has been a member of the Communist Party of Britain for almost 50 years, and several of its academics are not experts in responding to pandemics. The inquiry has issued 19 letters to those individuals as well as to a number of other scientists, indicating few other scientists who did not give direct advice to the Government have been approached. In contrast two academics who complained government models were wrong, Professor Karol Sikora and Dr Tom Jefferson, have been snubbed by the inquiry. Prof Sikora, a leading oncologist, said he was not surprised the inquiry had chosen not to contact him and expected them to focus on those who backed the official narrative on lockdowns. Another set of lockdown critics - Professor Carl Heneghan and Professor Sunetra Gupta, both from the University of Oxford - have been contacted with the inquiry. However, this is because they gave advice to ministers late in the pandemic. Requests for evidence The inquiry has sent requests for written evidence to hundreds of people including 38 to government departments and quangos. The inquiry is hoping to start hearing evidence after becoming embroiled in a transparency row with the Government. The Cabinet Office, which is the sponsor of the inquiry, has complained it has been asked for unambiguously irrelevant material as it seeks a judicial review over the request for Boris Johnsons unredacted messages with ministers and advisers as well as his notebooks. The issue was discussed at a preliminary hearing for the inquiry last week where Hugo Keith KC, the counsel to the inquiry, revealed that as well as scientists acting for the Government the investigation has asked for evidence from Independent Sage. He told the hearing that Rule 9 requests for evidence include current Cabinet secretaries, senior civil servants, chiefs of staff, private secretaries, advisers and other civil servants. Mr Keith added: In September of 2022, Module 2 also issued 200 Rule 9 questionnaires to participants of SAGE and its sub-groups and 17 Rule 9 questionnaires to members of Independent SAGE. We have issued 19 more detailed Rule 9 letters to a number of those individuals as well as to a number of other scientists. Independent Sage was set up by Left-wing organisation The Citizens which was founded by Guardian Journalist Carole Cadwalladr, who last week was told to pay Brexiteer Arron Bankss legal costs after a long-running libel battle. Independent Sage engaging with inquiry Independent Sage has already been engaging with the inquiry and in April last year wrote a report to inform the inquiry which referenced their concerns over a lack of timeliness over introducing restrictions. Among the most prominent members of Independent Sage is Professor Christina Pagel, who has more than 200,000 followers on Twitter who predicted on July 2 2021, shortly after so-called Freedom Day, that there would be 100,000 cases a day of Covid within weeks. Professor Anthony Costello, another member of Independent Sage, made similar predictions which were proven wrong. Professor Michie once said that social distancing should remain forever, to some extent while in December 2021, Dr Deepti Gurdasani called for a circuit breaker lockdown over the Omicron variant and later claimed lockdown was inevitable. The predictions proved to be alarmist and on Sunday Marco Longhi, the Conservative MP for Dudley North, questioned why Independent Sage had a right to appear at the inquiry. Independent Sage didnt, and still dont, have any mandate, he said. Questioning them means that anybody at all could be called. Everybody is an expert these days, and its obvious that there are polarised views across the spectrum of opinions. Why is it that Sweden can get these things sorted out so quickly while we will still be debating them when the next pandemic hits us? We need to stop thinking about reputation management and focus on what is best for the people of this country. Wrong debate Ian Duncan Smith, the former cabinet minister, said he was worried the inquiry was too concerned with if lockdown was introduced too late than if restrictions were necessary. The point about this Covid Inquiry is this is the sort of stuff we should be looking at and asking the question did we need to lockdown? At the moment what I can make out is they are not doing that. What they are actually doing is they are getting involved in the why didnt we lockdown earlier debate and I worry they will ignore the whole question of did we need to lockdown in the way that we did. Thats the big question. A spokesman for the inquiry said it was not influenced by any particular group of scientists. The inquiry is independent. It is chaired by an impartial judge. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. This Cuban spot was Miamis place for churros and chocolate in winter. Now its closed In the past, when the delicious and rare cold nights struck Miami and the iguanas shivered in the trees, much of the city lined up outside the Temple of the Churro. By cold nights, we mean any time the temperature dropped below 65. And by Temple of the Churro, we mean La Palma restaurant in west Miami. Now, Miami is going to have to find a new spot for churros and chocolate when its chilly. La Palma, which had a 24-hour ventanita and served other Cuban fare like fritas, croquetas and medianoches, is permanently closed. The news was broken by Miami food blogger Sef Gonzalez on his Burger Beast Instagram account. A call to the restaurant showed that La Palmas number was no longer in service. Gonzalez wrote on his blog that Las Vinas BBQ will open in the La Palma space, which was once the second Burger King location in Miami. This will be the second location for Las Vinas BBQ, which has a restaurant at 3935 E. Fourth Ave. in Hialeah. A sign announcing that Las Vinas is coming soon now hangs from the restaurant window. Employees of La Palma, a sister restaurant to the world-famous Versailles on Calle Ocho, paid close attention to weather reports as the calendar crept toward winter. In 2018, restaurant supervisor Pablo Fajardo told the Miami Herald that on a regular summer day, La Palma might sell 40 or 50 orders of churros. When a cold spell hit, that number usually skyrocketed to almost 1,000 orders during a regular shift. When the temperature drops below 65 degrees, thats when the locura starts, Fajardo told the Herald. The numbers are just crazy. Customers line up for churros and chocolate on a chilly Miami night at La Palma on Calle Ocho. The sweet desserts were generally made in-house, unless the demand was too great. Then La Palma would get its supplies frozen from Versailles. The churros were deep fried, then tossed in a bag with sugar and served with thick, hot chocolate for dipping purposes. La Palma was also featured in Cuban Coffee Windows of Miami, a picture book that documented author Jake Katels visits to 100 ventanitas in Miami, most of them located on Calle Ocho. A line for churros curved around La Palma restaurant on a chilly night in 2018. Gonzalez said that he has great memories of not only the churros at La Palma but also of sharing late-night meals of fritas and croquetas there with friends. La Palma will be missed, he said. But I have a feeling that Las Vinas BBQ will still have churros and hot chocolate. Theyd have to be crazy not to, unless they want a pots and pans protest to erupt outside. Cultural District landmark too old to save: What will be Fort Worth arts centers fate? Nearly 70 years ago, the building thats now Fort Worths Community Arts Center opened its doors with glitzy fanfare, cementing the future of the citys west side as the Cultural District. But the days may be numbered for the modern-style building near the intersection of Camp Bowie Boulevard and West Lancaster Avenue. A city task force that has studied the aging buildings condition for months has determined it may be too costly to save. It is recommending demolishing the building at 1300 Gendy St. and starting fresh. The deferred maintenance costs alone would be around $30 million, and thats before adding upgrades to make the building compliant with regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Glenn Lewis, the task force vice chairman. Its an old building, and its showing its age, Lewis told the City Council last week. The task force is recommending redeveloping the building as a world-class cultural hub. The specifics about what that entails arent known, but assistant city manager Fernando Costa referenced the nearby museums as examples of the kind of institution the redeveloped center would emulate. The Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth are points of pride for Fort Worth and make the city a global magnet for people who appreciate the arts, he said. The city built whats now the Community Arts Center in 1954 to serve as a childrens and art museum. Architect Herbert Bayer designed the building. Crowd estimated at 1,300 people attend the opening of the Fort Worth Art Center, valued at $500,000, on Oct. 9, 1954. The Fort Worth Community Arts Center, photographed on May 24, 1963 In 1966, the William Edrington Scott Theater opened next to the museum. The Jan. 5, 1965, groundbreaking for the theater wing at the Fort Worth Art Center. From left, Paul Leonard, Mayor Pro-Tem Willard Barr and Whitfield Collins; standing behind, from left, George Q. McGown and Earl Baldridge. The concrete building was the original home of the Modern Art Museum before it moved to its current location in 2001. The Community Arts Center holds a theater space and galleries, and is home to nine arts nonprofits and five studio artists. The building has been managed by the nonprofit Arts Fort Worth since 2005, when the city converted it into the Community Arts Center. The lease agreement between the city and the nonprofit states the city will pay $200,000 per year for maintenance, and $100,000 per year for electricity. Arts Fort Worth is responsible for the rest. The city has not increased that figure since 2005, but Arts Fort Worth is able to petition the city to cover certain repair costs. Putting our money where our mouth is The council will vote June 13 on whether to accept the task forces recommendations. After that, the city will put out a request for proposals from interested developers. The task force suggests keeping a theater space in the new building, and an incubator for emerging artists. It did not specifically mention setting aside room for gallery artists, but did recommend carving out space for the 14 existing tenants to set up shop. While Arts Fort Worth has been a good steward of the building, the organizations financial ability to address its upkeep may have been unrealistic, according to the task forces research. The city should have been paying more for upkeep from the beginning, said Wesley Kirk, a Fort Worth-based photographer and organizer with the group Support Fort Worth Art. Every other city, they treat their art center like a library or a community center, he said. Kirk also argued the city shouldnt lose focus on the importance of the arts center as a hub for Fort Worths creative community. He noted several Fort Worth theater companies got their start at the Community Arts Center, and that its been an important place for emerging artists to start their careers. Without that, theres no other place to show your work in Fort Worth where its not driven by profit, he said. Fort Worth has only two publicly funded and managed arts facilities. Dallas, by comparison, has seven, with an additional 12 city-owned buildings managed through public-private partnerships. Ann Zadeh, a member of the task force and former city councilwoman, said she has heard from people who point to the importance of the arts, whether it be culturally, socially or economically. I think some of this is putting our money where our mouth is, and actually being a partner is support of that, she said. Some cities use a portion of hotel taxes to fund the arts, but the citys legal department determined Fort Worth may run into problems if challenged in court, assistant city manager Costa said. Fort Worth funds public art using portions of gas well revenues, the general fund, and a percentage of bond funding. The amount of money the city spends on public art is a longstanding policy question, and one the council as an elected body will have to address, Costa said. DATMA celebrates its 5th anniversary. Here's how it plans to party in the Whaling City. NEW BEDFORD The Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute (DATMA) is celebrating its 5th Anniversary with several fun artistic plans in the works for the Whaling City. We are particularly excited about this year our 5th anniversary, shared Lindsay Mis, Executive Director of DATMA, in a press release. Were focused and hitting our stride featuring a wide range of entirely outdoor public art exhibitions that continue our theme of shelter. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of DATMAs founding, Shelter 2023 will kick off on June 22, and present three outdoor artwork pieces, programmatic outreach and events as well as educational workshops through October 23, 2023, according to the listed events on the official DATMA website. More: 'The bar has been raised': How Southcoast venues are getting into 'eatertainment' This season, DATMA invited Mark Reigelman of New York City, Maxwell Emcays from Chicago and Silvia Lopez Chavez from Boston to display their works on the theme of "shelter" along with a selection of SouthCoast artists. The works produced discuss issues around equity, showcase the stories of those who headed to safer havens, and give insight into the lives of the people in the multifaceted economy of New Bedford along the land-water interface. Our artists have invested a great deal of creative time to connect with our community by working closely with students, local artists, and organizations, Mis added. Im proud of how far weve come in our first 5 years and look forward to many more. What is DATMA? The Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute (DATMA) was created to enrich and invigorate the cultural and economic state of Southcoast Massachusetts. According to the website, with world-class art, design, and technology exhibitions, programs, and initiatives in the area of New Bedford, DATMA seeks to foster appreciation and knowledge among its visitors and citizens. Amanda Hawkins, DATMA Program Manager, takes a closer look at the Star Lounge by Rael San Fratello installed in the UMass Dartmouth CVPA gallery in downtown New Bedford. The domed structure was created using 3D-printed bioplastic and is one of the largest to date. As acknowledged by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the region is identified as having tremendous creative potential- thus, DATMA collaborates with regional businesses and educational institutions, in an effort to increase public engagement and ultimately bring in more cultural resources. Featuring the themes of Shelter DATMA has presented four distinct immersive programs featuring the theme of Shelter, 'Water, 'Light' and Summer Winds with artists such as Do Ho Suh, Rael San Fratello, Abeer Seikaly, Allison Wells, Fitzcarmel LaMarre, Hyung S. Kim, Phil Mello, Craig Easton, Zimoun, MASARY Studios, Soo Sunny Park and Patrick Shearns Poetic Kinetics. Each program explored various topics related to todays housing crisis, the Underground Railroad, a 9,100-foot-long hurricane barrier; the role of water in histories, economies and cultures, 19th century whaling industry and large-scale art installations. What other presentations are going on this season? Threshold, a public art installation celebrating principles of equality and community at New Bedford's Custom House Square, will be constructed from wood and steel. Sculptor Mark Reigelman references the city's history with an open 17-ft door, double-sided facade, 8-pointed star and colorful mirrored tiles, aiming to create a welcoming environment that promotes openness and serves as a backdrop for gathering and events. Co-curator Viera Levitt feels the sheets of linen hanging from the wall where a video is being projected upon. This piece by Corinne Spencer is one of many included in the Sheltered show being shown in the gallery of the UMass Dartmouth CVPA. Maxwell Emcays, the winner of DATMA's first Request for Qualifications, will present his sculpture, Our Woven Story, inspired by African Baobab tree and Wampanoag Wetu structures. With locally upcycled clothing as a primary material, the artwork seeks to embed New Bedfords identity, economy and social fabric into the sculpture, while drawing attention to the citys past and current immigrants seeking shelter in new communities. Our Woven Story intends to create a sense of creative, communicative connection amongst the different members of the city's community. It will be on display free and open to the public at the intersection of Route 18 and Union Street. More: 'It's a big deal to me': New Bedford native to receive honor in the D.C. restaurant scene Community Tides, a mural by Silvia Lopez Chavez in collaboration with New Bedford High School students, will feature the city's community, fishing industry, diverse economy and land/water life. Utilizing acrylic paint, spray paint and stencils on 223'x10' panels, students will explore STEAM technology and design innovation. Commissioned by Northern Pelagic Group (NORPEL), this semi-permanent artwork will be the first contemporary piece on Fish Island. It will be shown free and open to the public on the NORPEL exterior wall adjacent to a prominent New Bedford roadway along the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, prominently viewable from the land, sea and air, according to the press release. Other programming and workshops around the city Open Studios on the Sidewalk will be on view at Tonnessen Park and the entrance of Seastreak Ferry building in downtown New Bedford. Workshops include exploring the possibility of 3D Printing, Climate Change in New Bedford and other open studio opportunities for the public. For a list of all the programming happening this year, guests can check out the official DATMA website. Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute celebrates five years Defence forces of the Tavriia front confirmed the liberation of the village of Blahodatne, Donetsk Oblast, on the border with the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and reported the capture of six occupants. Source: The Spokesman for the defence forces of the Tavriia front, Valerii Shershen, during the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "That's right, (Defence forces liberated Blahodatne - ed.). It is on the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. With full responsibility, I am authorised to declare the liberation of the village of Blahodatne, which is below Velyka Novosilka. This was done by soldiers of the 68th separate hunting brigade named after Oleksa Dovbush. The operation was successful in cooperation with neighbouring units of the Defence Forces of the Tavriia front." Details: The spokesman said that the deputy commander of the brigade was in the very first assault group that vacated the premises of the village club. "The invaders resisted to the last. Our soldiers used a certain ingenuity. Thanks to a shot from a grenade launcher, they made a hole in the wall of the club; right through that hole, a group came in to capture, and then the mop-up operation took place. They surrounded several enemies. They offered to surrender, but the last ones refused to do this; that's why the mop-up operation took place. At the same time, the school was also liberated; the fire attack from the school and from the club was suppressed. During the operation, it was possible to capture Russian soldiers," said Shershen in detail. He clarified that it was possible to capture six occupiers, two of whom were Russian servicemen, and the others were representatives of the so-called "DPR". The Ukrainian flag was raised in the village by a fighter on the pseudo "Olympus". "There are even facts that in this village, the Ukrainian population was waiting for the Armed Forces, people who were in captivity when the mop-up operation took place, saw our soldiers, came out, hugged, shed tears... It was a very poignant moment," the spokesman said. Background: On Sunday, soldiers of the 68th separate hunting brigade named after Oleksa Dovbush reported that in cooperation with neighbouring units of the Defence Forces, the settlement of Blahodatne in Donetsk Oblast was liberated. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earned his first gubernatorial endorsement Saturday from Oklahoma GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt. Ahead of DeSantis remarks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stitt said DeSantis is the right guy to beat Biden for the next eight years. Stitt highlighted DeSantis handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and argued that his tenure as Floridas governor proves his leadership capacity. As fellow Governors during COVID, DeSantis did not surrender states rights and individual liberties over to groupthink, Stitt said in a statement. Both governors passed similar measures to ban mask mandates in their states. As a proven leader, DeSantis has boldly delivered results for the people of Florida that laid the groundwork for a booming economy, an education system focused on student outcomes, and better infrastructure for working families, Stitt continued. He added that he is confident that DeSantis can deliver these same results all across America. Stitt is among DeSantis highest-profile endorsements to date. With many Republicans backing former President Donald Trump, DeSantis has earned the support of four GOP members of Congress thus far: Reps. Bob Good of Virginia, Laurel Lee of Florida, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chip Roy of Texas, who is one of the hardline members of the party. DeSantis finished out his day in Oklahoma at the Ponca City Rodeo for Military Appreciation Night with his wife Casey, their three children and Stitt. Briefly addressing the audience as the rodeo began, DeSantis said he appreciated Oklahoma and what the state shares with Florida. We trust in God. We support our police. We support the military. We stand for Second Amendment rights. We stand for strong borders, DeSantis said. We know we need to make sure that that goes coast to coast in this country, and thats what were going to do. Stitts endorsement comes as the GOP presidential field has widened with former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie announcing their bids earlier this week. Trump, however, remains the front runner despite his legal troubles. A CNN poll last month showed that the former president has consolidated the support of slightly above half of his party at this early stage of the race nearly double the support for DeSantis. DeSantis did not answer reporter questions at the Tulsa event or at the rodeo about the federal indictment against Trump. However, speaking with reporters, Stitt condemned the indictment as a political tool. At the same time, Stitt said his endorsement of DeSantis is nothing against Trump, but its time to turn the page. President Trump did a great job when he was in office, and I voted for him in 2016 and voted for him in 2020 and supported him, Stitt said. We need a president that can be there for eight years. I really believe that. We need somebody that can be beat Joe Biden, and I think Ron DeSantis is the guy. Its nothing against President Trump. He did a great job while he was in office, and I was super supportive. But you know what, I think its time to turn the page, and I just really liked what Rons doing and what he did in Florida, and I think we have an example of what he can do for the country, Stitt added. While he gives his full-throated support to DeSantis, Stitt said he will ultimately back whoever earns the Republican nomination. Obviously, whoever comes out of the Republican side, Im gonna be supportive, but this is a time when we get a chance to have a debate about ideas, Stitt said. CNNs Steve Contorno and Ariel Edwards-Levy contributed to this reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A new documentary about Gov. Ron DeSantis delves into whether the governors team silenced Floridas former Surgeon General Scott Rivkees throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and pushed to close a testing site on Miami Beach in response to criticism by the mayor. Released Thursday, the documentary by CBS News Miamis Jim DeFede broadly details the governors rise from a relatively unknown congressman to a national figure on the front lines of the culture wars. Most of the hour-long program focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic as the governors launching pad onto the national stage, where he is now a serious candidate in the Republican presidential primary. DeSantis became the villain on MSNBC and CNN. But he was the hero on Fox, former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes said in the documentary, which also features the Miami Heralds Mary Ellen Klas. And if youre running for a Republican primary for president of the United States, Brandes said, you really dont care what happens on MSNBC, you care what happens on Fox. He got to be the hero on the one network that mattered. The Miami Herald reached out to DeSantis office for comment but hasnt received a response. See it: You can watch the documentary on CBS News Miamis website A targeted test site shutdown? At the beginning of the pandemic, DeSantis positions on public health largely mirrored most governors. He stressed precautionary measures like staying home when possible, sometimes wore masks in public and for a time shut down much of the state to stem the spread of the coronavirus. But as anger over mask mandates and business closures grew, DeSantis ordered the ban of mask requirements across the state. He also lifted restrictions on public gatherings earlier than most of his counterparts. Worried about the spread of the virus in crowded Miami Beach, Mayor Dan Gelber became a DeSantis foil, frequently appearing on local and national media criticizing the governor. A healthcare worker collects a COVID-19 test sample after a person used a nasal swab for a self-administered test at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing center at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, in Miami Beach. The state fired back by moving to close a state-run testing site on Miami Beach, according to Gelber and Jared Moskowitz, the state Director of Emergency Management at the time. Gelber told DeFede he learned about the effort when Moskowitz called to tell him the governor was upset about his criticism, including a letter hed sent to DeSantis in September of 2020. Jared asked if I had written a critical letter of [Gov. DeSantis]. I said yes, Gelber wrote in a note to himself memorializing the conversation, according to the documentary. He said [the governors chief of staff] had called him after the letter was public pointing it out and directing him to close the entire testing site on [Miami Beach] because of my letter. Moskowitz, now a Democratic member of Congress representing parts of South Florida, confirmed to DeFede that DeSantis staff was upset about Gelbers comments and leaned on him to close the testing site. Moskowitz responded by closing the drive-up portion of the testing site, but leaving open testing for people who walked up to the site on foot, Gelbers memo stated. Moskowitz, the mayor noted, said the governor would be pissed if he knew about the compromise. Of course I pushed back, Moskowitz said in the documentary. But at the end of the day I kept the site open, which is what was important. Broward Health CEO Shane Strum, who was DeSantis chief of staff at the time, denied ordering the shutdown of the site, according to DeFede. Through a Broward Health spokeswoman, Strum denied that the call to Moskowitz ever took place, the documentary states. Silencing the states top expert? Another chapter of the documentary focuses on DeSantis handling of his former top health official. At an April 2020 press conference in Tallahassee, then-Surgeon General Scott Rivkees suggested social distancing and mask wearing would continue for the foreseeable future, until a vaccine would be available. He was quickly whisked away that day by the governors chief spokeswoman and seemingly sidelined throughout the rest of his tenure. DeSantis in an August 2020 sit-down interview told DeFede that Rivkees was reluctant to speak to reporters because the Department of Health was treated unfairly by some media outlets. DeSantis assured DeFede that he could coordinate a time to speak with Rivkees. DeFede says he never heard back after reaching out. State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees talks to the media alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during press conference to announces COVID-19 antibody testing, mobile lab at Hard Rock Stadium as the Novel Coronavirus pandemic continues on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 in Miami Gardens. In the documentary, DeFede sat down with Rivkees, who now works at Brown University. Rivkees was cautious and even avoidant when speaking about his lack of public appearances. However, when asked if DeSantis got COVID right, Rivkees said he believed the Department of Health and Division of Emergency Management handled the pandemic correctly. Rivkees told DeFede that he was never informed that CBS Miami was trying to interview him, despite the governors assertions that he would be made available. I think the governor likes Dr. Rivkees a lot as a person, but Dr. Rivkees was, I believe, someone who believed that the shutdowns, the mandates were something that worked, Adrian Lukis, DeSantis former chief of staff, told DeFede. And the governor disagreed with that. Its essential to have a unity in messaging. You can watch the documentary on CBS News Miamis website Details about those released: prisoners of the Wagner Group and Kadyrovites, those with unconfirmed status Among the 95 Ukrainian defenders released on Sunday's exchange, some were held captive by the Wagner Group and the Akhmat unit, and three were not officially confirmed as prisoners by Russians. Source: Coordination headquarters on the treatment of prisoners of war, Security Service of Ukraine Details: Among the 95 released from captivity 51 representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (including 15 territorial defence soldiers), 29 National Guardsmen, 11 border guards, and four military sailors. All those released this time are men. Among them are two officers, the rest are private and non-commissioned officers. In particular, it was possible to return the defenders who were held captive by the Wagner Group and the Akhmat unit. This time, the defenders of Mariupol (including Azovstal) and Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, captured from the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, were returned from captivity. 27 of the released soldiers defended the Donetsk front (five of them from near the city of Bakhmut). There are defenders of the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk and Sumy fronts. The headquarters also reports that among the released Ukrainians, three had the status of "identity search". "That is, Ukraine also returns those defenders who were not officially confirmed by the enemy as prisoners," the report says. The headquarters also notes that a military musician of the 36th brigade, a marine, has returned from captivity, among others. Seven released servicemen took part in the helicopter missions of the Main Directorate of Intelligence to supply the besieged Azovstal in occupied Mariupol. Among those returned are also four with serious injuries. One person released had a significant weight loss (30 kilograms), there are military personnel with a complication of diseases. At the same time, the Security Service of Ukraine released footage of the meeting of released prisoners on Ukrainian land. Background: On 11 June, Ukraine brought home 95 people, including soldiers of Ukraines Armed Forces, National Guard and Border Guard, in another prisoner of war swap. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The developer of a planned InterContinental Hotel atop the restored Carolina Theatre told CBJ the project is moving ahead after a lengthy pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, with new renderings expected within the next month. Nathan Kivi, U.S. chief investment officer at Salter Brothers, confirmed during an interview that he joined others involved in the project on a visit to Charlotte in April to look at the site on North Tryon Street and to restart a project that was put on hold in November 2020. ALSO READ: Tripadvisor names uptown luxury hotel The Iveys among best in US When the debt market and Covid hit the debt market for hospitality is still almost non-existent but were sure it will be back in the next 12 months, he said. So, were in that phase now where weve ramped back up. We put it on hold for 18 months while we figured out what the rest of the world was doing. Salter Brothers is an Australian investment firm whose assets include an extensive portfolio of hotels around the world. Kivi said the company hopes to start construction by next summer. Read the full story here. (WATCH BELOW: Hotel chef who serves with a smile recognized as outstanding ambassador) Flash China plans to ramp up its foreign medical aid drive, including mobilizing resources from public and private sectors, providing assistance in public health and traditional medicine, as well as nurturing more talent, a senior health official said recently. Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission, made the comments in a signed article published on Monday as this year marks the 60th anniversary of China sending its first medical team abroad to Algeria in 1963. "By the end of 1978, China had dispatched medical aid groups to over 30 countries in Asia and Africa, and funded the establishment of more than 20 hospitals or medical centers overseas," he said in the article published in People's Daily newspaper. Since the launch of its reform and opening-up policies in the 1970s, China has expanded the scope of its foreign aid programs. By the end of 2012, the number of countries or regions that saw Chinese aid teams rose to 66 and the number of China-funded hospitals increased to 80. Ma said that over the past six decades, China has sent a total of 30,000 medical aid workers to 76 countries and regions overseas and helped set up more than 130 medical facilities. "They have provided diagnosis and treatment for 290 million patients and saved countless lives," he said, adding that over 50 Chinese medical workers lost their lives overseas and more than 2,000 received national-level honors conferred by overseas authorities. Ma said that Chinese teams have also helped train over 100,000 medical workers and built paired assistance programs with 46 hospitals in 41 countries and regions overseas. "Meanwhile, 25 clinical centers that specialize in particular disciplines have been established, introducing thousands of technologies previously unavailable locally overseas," he added. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China also launched its largest global emergency humanitarian aid mission since 1949. "The country sent 38 anti-COVID expert panels to 34 countries and supplied over 2.2 billion vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations," he said. "China's foreign aid drive has shifted from the mode of 'blood transfusion' to the sustainable method of 'blood-making'," he said, referring to the transition from merely giving medical assistance and donations to helping nurture local doctors and expanding local medical capacity. While China's growing economic prowess and rapidly developing healthcare industry have laid a solid foundation for continuing foreign aid, and its medical experiences are easier to promote in developing countries, Ma said that challenges have also emerged due to rising difficulties in global cooperation in the health sector. Ma suggested gathering resources from governments, industries and social organizations to beef up power dedicated to foreign aid, promoting domestically-made medical equipment and Chinese standards overseas. He also called for sending both long-term medical teams as well as short-term expert panels, incorporating assistance in the fields of public health and traditional medicine, and supporting the establishment of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "More talent, ranging from health diplomats, medical aid workers, public health specialists and global health specialists should be cultivated, and special attention should be paid to improve their treatment and salaries," he said. How did a bit of the Basque Country end up in Idaho, with Boise as its epicenter? The Basque Block in downtown Boise located on Grove Street between Capitol Boulevard and 6th Street is home to the Basque Center, Basque Museum and Cultural Center, Bar Gernika, Leka Ona restaurant and the Basque Market. But why does Idaho have such a strong connection with a small region situated between southwestern France and north-central Spain, near the Pyrenees Mountains and on the Bay of Biscay? Its a story that begins with the search for a better life. Beginning in the late 1800s, young Basque men came to America hoping to earn money to send home to their families. Many came to the U.S. West. Their trips were long and riddled with challenges, wrote John and Mark Bieter, authors of the book An Enduring Legacy: The Story of Basques in Idaho. They departed from their Bizkaian villages, and though almost all left with the intention of returning in several years, they often said good-bye to parents, siblings, and friends that they would never see again. Some of the first Basque immigrants arrived in Idaho in 1890 with little money and little education. They took the jobs no one else wanted, largely in Idahos sheep industry. Although held in low regard by most Americans, sheepherding offered one of the few passages for Basques to the United States; it was the only alternative for a young man with few skills and no knowledge of English, the Bieters wrote. As the sheep industry grew from 614,000 head of sheep in the state in 1890 to 2.1 million in 1900 so did the Basque migration to Boise. To help ease the transition, established Basques began opening boardinghouses, where sheepherders could stay when they came down from the mountains in the winter. Downtown Boise was once full of these establishments. The boardinghouses allowed them to undertake their first forays into American culture and simultaneously form small Basque enclaves in towns throughout Idaho, which served as safe havens of retreat from American society, the Bieters wrote. Sheepherding helped Basques get started in Idaho, but boardinghouses helped keep them there. What began as a temporary stay in America for many Basques turned into a permanent home, and the Idaho Statesman reported in April 1911 that Marriage Game Growing Quite Popular Among the Basques. Most of them were married in Boise, according to previous Statesman reporting. It is said that most of the Basque herders are exceedingly thrifty and that they manage to save enough from their poor salaries as herders to take up land and become sheep owners themselves and to employ others of their countrymen who happen to be playing in circumstances not so fortunate. The Bieters became a prominent Basque family. Dave Bieter was a longtime mayor of Boise. John Bieter runs the Basque studies program at Boise State University. Mary Bieter is a teacher at Bishop Kelly High School. Mark Bieter is an attorney in Washington, D.C. Chris Bieter is an Ada County magistrate judge. Their father, Pat Bieter, was a professor at Boise State University for 40 years and was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 1996, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting. He married Eloise Garmendia, the daughter of two Basque immigrants who met each other in Boise. While many Boise Basques trace their roots in America back to sheepherding, others arrived during the reign of military dictator Francisco Franco from 1939 to 1975, when Basque language and culture was oppressed. There are an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Basques now living in Idaho, one of the largest communities in the United States. The Basque subculture thrived in Idaho because the state helped make it possible, the Bieters wrote. Idahoans were glad to hire Basque immigrants, especially because the work they were willing to do was work nobody else wanted. Whatever early prejudices and suspicions Idahoans carried were transformed into a high regard for the Basques, for their reputation as hard workers who also knew to to have a good time. They came to respect Basques for their ability to combine pride in their ethnicity along with pride as Americans. Boise has become known as a Basque epicenter. Every five years starting in 1990 it played host to Jaialdi, an enormous summertime festival that attracts people from all over the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellation in 2020, but it will be back in 2025. Its time for Jaialdi! This big party reveals the heart & soul of Idaho Basque culture Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise Cruising is a popular vacation that Insider's reporter found to be less glamorous than it appears on social media and in ads. Joey Hadden/Insider I took a seven-day voyage on the largest cruise ship in the world, my first cruise ever. I found the reality of cruising didn't match my expectations from social media and promotional ads. I spent much of my time battling crowds, waiting in lines, and sitting on hot tour buses. When I booked my first cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, I expected breathtaking views of the world between relaxing swimming and sunbathing sessions. From images of cruising I've seen, I expected to be able to relax and enjoy some pool time. Buena Vista Images/Barry Winiker/Getty Images But my experience cruising for the first time didn't quite meet my expectations. The author on the top deck of Wonder of the Seas. Joey Hadden/Insider I sunbathed in a loud, crowded pool area when I was lucky enough to find a chair. I spent more time waiting in lines than I had anticipated. And I saw much of the world from behind other people's heads. Wonder of the Seas from the window of a ferry. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: I've spent more than 250 hours traveling by train, plane, car, and cruise ship this year, and I'm convinced trains are the best way to travel right now The disappointment started before I was even on the cruise. Since I don't live nearby my cruise's departure city, my trip began with a flight and a budget hotel room near my port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The author in a hotel near the port. Joey Hadden/Insider When I arrived at my port city's airport, I waited 45 minutes for a hotel shuttle to pick me up. This was the first of many crowded bus rides, and I wish I had called a cab. Hotel shuttles picking up guests from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Joey Hadden/Insider The next day, I piled into a hot bus with several other cruise guests as I headed to the port. A bus taking cruisers from a hotel to the cruise port. Joey Hadden/Insider I didn't think the Fort Lauderdale port was very picturesque, but I didn't expect it to be. A view of the port from the bus. Joey Hadden/Insider There was a long line to get inside the cruise terminal, and I should have known by this point that I'd stand in many more lines during my cruise. People waiting in line at the cruise terminal. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: Photos show why 2022 has been one of the worst years for travel Inside the cruise terminal, there was another long line to get through security. While I waited, I chuckled to myself as I read signs that said, "Adventure begins here." People waiting in line inside the cruise terminal. Joey Hadden/Insider Once aboard the ship, I was excited to view the ocean as we sailed away, but I was blocked by tall, thick glass and couldn't find a place to stand. People standing on the top deck as the ship sails away. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: 6 things that I wish I knew before setting foot on a cruise ship and that all first-time cruisers should keep in mind The ship was so large that I got lost a few times during my stay. I found the maps on each floor to be helpful, though. A map of one deck and a hallway of cabins. Joey Hadden/Insider As I explored the ship during my weeklong stay, I was surprised to find that even the world's largest cruise ship felt overcrowded at times to me. People enjoying the top decks of the largest cruise ship in the world. Joey Hadden/Insider While people seemed to be enjoying themselves, many of the communal decks looked and felt to me like just crowded malls. People perusing the shops and restaurants on board. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: I went to Starbucks on the world's largest cruise ship and was surprised by how similar it was to stores on land with one key difference There were crowds and lines virtually everywhere I went, including the buffet. A crowded buffet on the world's largest cruise ship. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: I spent a week eating on the world's largest cruise ship. These are the 10 best dishes I had. The pools were also usually busy. A crowded pool on the world's largest cruise ship. Joey Hadden/Insider A Royal Caribbean representative told Insider there were 19 pools, plunge pools, and whirlpools accessible to guests aboard Wonder of the Seas. Read more: We compared every aspect of Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Here's what it's like to sail on each. And the pool decks were typically just as crowded. A crowded section of the world's largest cruise ship. Joey Hadden/Insider Even though there were rules against saving chairs with towels, I saw plenty of people doing it, so finding a spot to relax was stressful. People sitting in chairs on the top deck. Joey Hadden/Insider A Royal Caribbean representative told Insider crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes. Still, they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these and must use their best judgment. If I waited until the evening to find a spot, I found it too windy and cold outside to enjoy the pool. The author "enjoying" the wind on the top deck in the evening. Joey Hadden/Insider Cruise ships tend to be full of activities, but I found many of them had long lines. People waiting in line to go down a slide. Joey Hadden/Insider At port stops, I waited in lines to go through security every time I left and returned to the ship. While I found this annoying, it made me feel safer. People waiting in line at a security checkpoint. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: Will a cruise ship wait for me if I'm running late at a port stop? Here's what a captain has to say. The lines continued at each port, crowded with others who were excited to begin their tours. People waiting in line to ride a ferry. Joey Hadden/Insider I often had to battle through crowds just to find signs for my excursions. People looking for their excursion groups. Joey Hadden/Insider It was exciting to explore new places at each stop, though some of this exploration was from the window of another hot bus. Inside a hot tour bus. Joey Hadden/Insider A Royal Caribbean representative told Insider the cruise line worked with local tour operators for its excursions, so air-conditioning standards varied. And when I was finally doing the cool thing I booked, like walking across a suspension bridge amid the treetops, my view was sometimes blocked once more by everyone else who booked the tour, too. People crossing a suspension bridge in Roatan, Honduras. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: I went to Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. It wasn't for me, but I can see why cruise-goers love it. According to a crew member I overheard, roughly 5,000 other people were aboard the ship, so I understand why the cruise felt so crowded. I think that if I were to book a less crowded cruise next time, I might enjoy it more. The top deck early in the morning before it becomes crowded. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: I took my first Caribbean cruise and quickly learned that cruising is a lifestyle that's not for me Next time, I think I'll book during the offseason to avoid crowds. People enjoying the top decks of the largest cruise ship in the world. Joey Hadden/Insider While my first cruise didn't meet my expectations, I have hope that I can enjoy a cruise one day. The author at a port in front of the world's largest cruise ship. Joey Hadden/Insider Read the original article on Insider Doctor accused of submitting hundreds of false claims steps down as chair of a department in UPMC The head of a UPMC department is stepping down as chair. Dr. James Luketich is stepping down as chair of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department. Paul Wood with UPMC released a statement on Luketich stepping down, saying: Dr Luketich is stepping down as chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He will continue to perform his clinical responsibilities as well as his research related to minimally invasive surgical approaches to thoracic and esophageal surgery and the multidisciplinary management of esophagogastric carcinoma and lung cancer. He will also continue to hold the Henry T. Bahnson Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery. In 2021, Luketich was named in a multi-million dollar lawsuit. After a two-year-long investigation, the doctor was accused of forcing patients to endure hours of unnecessary anesthesia while regularly performing as many as three complex surgical procedures at a time and failed to participate in all the key and critical parts of those surgeries. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> US government suit against UPMC and star surgeon moves forward The lawsuit also claimed Luketich knowingly submitted hundreds of false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and other government health programs over the course of six years. UPMC agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle the lawsuit. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Police searching for persons of interest in Jeanette shooting that left woman dead, 4 others injured Officials say Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski has died in federal prison Friday Night Fights: Brawl in the stands during Pirates-Mets game VIDEO: Pennsylvania AG lawsuit alleges local dealership sold cars that didnt pass inspection, broke down DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Internal Fresno County documents obtained by The Fresno Bee reveal claims of blackmail, retaliation and discrimination at the highest level of local government. Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos, who was re-elected to a four-year term in 2022, is at the center of it all. Dictos says he cant comment, but in the memos and other documents such as a timeline of events and notes kept by Dictos he says he was blackmailed and retaliated against by the countys top bureaucrat and a county supervisor. Chief Administrative Officer Paul Nerland, in an interview with The Bee, said the claims were absurd. County Counsel Daniel Cederborg, Supervisor Steve Brandau and the District Attorneys Office also have parts in the drama. According to an April letter from Cederborg obtained by The Bee, a personnel investigation is being carried out for the county by a Clovis-based independent investigative and consulting firm. The countys probe is separate from any potential investigation by the DAs Office public integrity unit. On advice of outside counsel I cannot talk or make any comments, Dictos told The Bee. Among the contentious topics at the center of the back-and-forth, months-long arguments include salary increases for appraisers Dictos had been advocating for; a reorganization of Dictos department; a promotion of Nerlands and Brandaus choosing that Dictos says he was asked to implement in his executive team; and a press release about unlawful discriminatory covenants that Dictos sent to local media that the Board of Supervisors disliked. Plus, inappropriate comments were allegedly made by Brandau to Dictos that the assessor described as age discrimination, according to Dictos notes on the timeline of events. Dictos involvement in the countys ongoing investigation, however, is for inappropriate comments he allegedly made about his second-in-command, JoAnn Ebisuda, whom he decided to retain as assistant assessor-recorder. Dictos, according to notes and correspondence between him and Nerland, says Nerland and Brandau had pressured him to remove Ebidusa from her current duties and make Peter Filippi an assistant assessor-recorder. The bottom line is, I am being retaliated, Dictos says in the documented timeline of events. The entire scope of the county investigation is not clear. Cederborg, the county counsel, didnt answer specific questions by The Bee, and only provided a broad statement. The county, he said, frequently uses outside investigators for various types of personnel probes. Leist and Associates, a Clovis-based firm, conducts investigations for the county several times a year. As you can imagine, he told The Bee, in a county of approximately 8,000 employees, investigations on various personnel matters, whether disciplinary or concerning allegations of harassment or discrimination, are likely to be ongoing at any time. The allegations of inappropriate comments by Dictos about Ebisuda, his assistant assessor-recorder, didnt come from her, according to Cederborgs letter. In one of several letters and memos obtained by The Bee, Nerland accuses Dictos of having complained about Ebisuda during a lunch meeting between the two men. That memo was sent after Dictos had decided to not add Filippi to his executive team. In the same memo, Nerland told Dictos he had previously shared with him that Filippi had a good reputation in the County and could help Dictos gain credibility with the Board of Supervisors on issues Dictos had advocated for. Filippi was with the county since 2007 and retired March 31 as a supervising appraiser. Thats absurd, Nerland told The Bee about the allegations of retaliation against Dictos. Every investigation is based on facts.... Politics will not trump doing the right thing at any time, including an investigation. During the interview, Nerland said the county has received complaints related to the work environment in Dictos department. But Fresno County spokeswoman Sonja Dosti said, those matters are personnel-related and may not be disclosed due to privacy reasons. Dictos appears to have submitted his timeline of events, along with notes and correspondence between himself and Nerland, to the DAs office. Taylor P. Long, a spokeswoman for the Fresno County DAs office, said the office does not confirm whether or not an investigation is pending in order to protect the integrity of any potential investigations, should they exist. Back-and-forth arguments began in February The series of correspondence reviewed by The Bee along with a timeline of events and notes kept by Dictos provide a glimpse of what has happened behind the scenes since February. It started on Feb. 17 during a meeting involving Dictos, Nerland, Brandau and Bernice Seidel, who is the countys board clerk. Dictos, according to several pages of notes that he kept, says he was made to believe the meeting would be to discuss salary raises for appraisers in his department. Dictos had been advocating to bring the appraisers compensation up to the same level as those in nearby counties. He had been asking for a 13% increase. According to the notes, Dictos says it has become clear to him that Nerland and Brandau wanted something in return for endorsing a 10% raise. Seidel pushed a proposed reorganizational chart of Dictos department toward him during the meeting. I am appalled at the way that you guys are going about because I am not used to being blackmailed, Dictos responded to the others after pushing the reorganizational chart back to Seidel. This is a pure and straight blackmail. The Bee contacted Seidel to ask her to discuss the meeting, and she deferred comment to the countys public information officer before hanging up on the reporter. Brandau, in an interview, said he didnt know who produced the reorganizational chart for Dictos department. At one point, he said, maybe it was just there available on the table. But he later said one of the roles of the CAO is to help county departments if theyre reorganizing themselves. Thats the role of the CAO, to help with that, he told The Bee. Im not going to fault anybody for having that discussion. On March 3, Dictos met with Nerland, who told him if he promoted Filippi as an assistant assessor-recorder to manage the Assessors side of the office, and moved Ebisuda to be assistant assessor in charge of the Recorders side of the office, Nerland would help get him at least a 10% salary increase for appraisers. During the interview, Nerland said Filippis name was first advanced by Dictos. Basically, after that (Feb. 17) meeting, Paul Dictos requested a meeting with me, and at that meeting, suggested himself that he would like to consider that alternative, Nerland said, and that very same day, he sent that person to come meet with me. During the March 3 meeting or right before, according to Dictos notes, he handed Nerland a final proposed organizational chart of his department that showed he had retained Ebisuda as the assistant assessor-recorder and proposed making Filippi a deputy who would report to Ebisuda. Nerland told Dictos to reconsider his decision by March 14. That same day, the Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected a request from Dictos to authorize a new $2 fee on recorded documents to cover the costs of finding and redacting illegal unenforceable racist clauses from property records to comply with Assembly Bill 1466. Before shutting down Dictos request, supervisors during the meeting expressed discontent with a press release related to AB 1466 that Dictos had sent to the media the previous month. Nerland, during the same board meeting and before the fee programs rejection, told supervisors the board could direct him to further review Dictos proposed fee plans, and only approve a recommendation for Dictos office to implement its plan to identify the records. Dictos says county leaders wanted a person of their choosing to be promoted In a March 10 letter to Nerland, Dictos summarizes what he believes transpired on Feb. 17 and on March 3. In both settings, it was made clear to me that unless I move... Ebisuda to the Recorders site and replace her with... Filippi, a person of your choosing, you would not help the Assessors Department with its long-standing request to increase the appraiser salaries, to be on par with the surrounding counties. Dictos says he doesnt understand why anyone would want to humiliate the first minority woman to serve as assistant assessor-recorder in Fresno Countys history. Ebisuda, he said the letter, is recognized across the state by her peers as a leader. On March 16, Nerland shot back at Dictos with a lengthy memo where he says Dictos recount of what transpired at the meetings is inaccurate. Nerland says during the Feb. 17 meeting, a possible restructure in Dictos department was discussed as an option to address problems. He says the reorganization would add a person to the departments executive team, and Filippis name was thrown out as a potential candidate. Nerland says that during a subsequent lunch meeting with Dictos on Feb. 24, the assessor complained about Ebisuda: He couldnt reach Ebisuda, who was teleworking, on an urgent inquiry. You further stated that you felt that Ms. Ebisuda was not aggressive enough and that you told her that she needed to be your hatchet-man and clean up the department, Nerland wrote to Dictos. In the same March 16 memo, Nerland says he told Dictos on March 3 that abandoning his prior proposal to add an assistant assessor-recorder could be problematic. I did share that this would make your other proposals, including compensation increases for Appraisers, more difficult. I offered to meet with you again along with a trusted friend of yours if that helped. You committed to think about it and get back to me. On March 28, Dictos spoke with Filippi and read to him a section of his March 10 letter to Nerland where he wrote that taking Ebisuda from her current duties was not in the best interest of the department, according to notes on the timeline of events. Nerland says Dictos behavior harms his credibility with Board of Supervisors Nerland says in the March 16 memo that Dictos behavior, constant changes and poor leadership harmed his credibility with the Board of Supervisors. As an example, Nerland cites the Feb. 20 press release Dictos sent to local media about AB 1466 related to the unlawful discriminatory covenants the same news release that irritated some of the county supervisors. I shared with you, Nerland wrote to Dictos, that your own behavior and release of inaccurate information only further harmed your credibility with the Board. In the interview with The Bee, Nerland was asked to point out what specifically was inaccurate in the press release. He read aloud the last sentence: Today, a year and a half after the law went into effect, I want to encourage the Board of Supervisors to adopt the will of the legislation. Nerland said that sentence made it sound like the Board of Supervisors were holding up the implementation of AB 1466. Credibility was the topic again in an April 6 memo from Dictos to Nerland. My credibility with this board, and previous boards, has been harmed, Dictos writes, because as a newly elected Assessor-Recorder, I had the audacity to fix the decades long short comings and correctly address farm properties under the Williamson Act (WA) law. Dictos continues by saying the board majority cant get over the fact that the tax hikes received the validation of a grand jury and the California State Board of Equalization. According to a 2014 Fresno Bee Editorial, valuations of Williamson Act properties hadnt been updated in more than two decades until Dictos was elected and made the changes. Growers and ranchers, according to the editorial, werent happy when they saw the increases in their property taxes. Toward the end of this lengthy memo, Dictos tells Nerland he can only hope the situation will improve. But he says, as an elected official, the credibility that really matters is that of the voters. In any event, Paul, he says, my credibility should not derail your plan to increase the salaries of the appraisers and bring them on par with surrounding counties. That is the only way to hire and keep qualified people working for the county. Nerland said he remains committed. Confrontations prompt internal investigation The situation escalated quickly after the back-and-forth correspondence between the countys top administrator and the countys assessor. On April 10, a letter marked personal and confidential was sent to Dictos from Cederborg, the countys counsel, informing Dictos of an internal investigation that had been opened. The basic allegation concerning your involvement is that you made derogatory comments concerning Ms. Ebisudas performance, Cederborg writes, and related that performance to her ethnic heritage. Cerdeborg warns Dictos not to take any action against Ebisuda that is or could be perceived as retaliation as a result of the investigation. He further says the county became aware of the issue without allegations coming from Ebisuda herself. Cederborg also tells Dictos he shouldnt inform Ebisuda of the investigation and he should keep the probes existence confidential. Dictos, according to his notes, says he has never treated Ebisuda differently because of her gender or ethnicity. He says she has been an exemplary employee, who has been graded with Exceeds Satisfactory on her evaluations. But he says the agenda of Nerland, Brandau and Seidel was: Remove this person. She is not good. That was their mantra. Cederborg wouldnt discuss specifics of the investigation with The Bee. According to a county procurement agreement for independent workplace investigations that Cederborg shared with The Bee, the maximum amount a vendor is able to charge the county for such service is $200,000. According to Cederborgs letter, independent investigator Bill Leist is conducting the investigation for the county. When reached for comment, Leist wouldnt confirm or deny the probe. Leist is with Leist and Associates, which is an investigative and consulting firm with a focus on workplace investigations, misconduct, sexual harassment, and equal employment opportunity and civil rights investigations, among others. According to Leist and Associates documents submitted to the county and shared with The Bee by Cederborg, the firm charges $125 per hour, plus actual expenses, and 65 cents per mile. Age discrimination? In the timeline of events that appear to have been submitted to the DAs office, Dictos says he ran into Brandau at a parking basement soon after the Feb. 17 meeting. Dictos says Brandau asked him if he had a succession plan. I responded why are you asking? Is it because I am 80 years old?... the timeline shows. I said to him: supervisor Brandau this is called age discrimination. Elected officials succession is determined by the voters. In the timeline of events, Dictos also questions whether there would be a personnel investigation if he had succumbed to the inordinate pressure. During the interview, Brandau told The Bee those comments may have come up, but he didnt remember. But I think every department head should develop a succession plan, if they can, he said. Two years ago, we had our head of behavioral health decide to retire. She had a succession plan. I mean, thats smart. What does California-style justice look like in the case of this Charles Manson cult killer? | Opinion In California, while a gruesome murder is forever, the punishment isnt necessarily. That appears to be just the way we want it. Our awkward wheels of justice normally churn away quietly behind the scenes, only to come to the forefront when someone like Leslie Van Houten comes along. Her case has received public attention because of the collective fascination with how a Southern California cheerleader ended up in a murderous cult. Its the cases that dont get such attention that seem most vulnerable to injustices. Californians want justice for murder to be, in part, a political act. In 1988, a majority of voters passed a measure that gives the standing governor a role with any murder convict up for parole. The Governor may only affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the parole authority on the basis of the same factors which the parole authority is required to consider, the measure reads. The two big factors, in the Van Houten genre of cases, completely contradict one another. Opinion A factor against parole is whether the commitment offense was committed in an especially heinous, atrocious or cruel manner. It is hard to argue that Van Houtens acts of violence one night in Los Angeles dont fit this description. On the other hand, a factor for parole is institutional behavior that indicates an enhanced ability to function within the law upon release. Her impeccable behavior in prison is not in dispute. Age is also on the 73-year-old Van Houtens side. All the systems checks and balances have come into recent play. There was first the professional stage of review, which happens within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations Board of Parole. The board has been on Van Houtens side five reviews in a row. Second was the political stage of review, by the governor. He weighed the severity of the crime over all else. While I commend Ms. Van Houten for her efforts at rehabilitation and acknowledge her youth at the time of the crimes, I am concerned about her role in these killings and her potential for future violence, Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on March 29. Third was the state Court of Appeals. Its second district evaluated Newsoms reversal and came back on Van Houtens side on May 30. We review the governors decision under the highly deferential some evidence standard, in which even a modicum of evidence is sufficient to uphold the reversal, two of the justices wrote. Even so, we hold on this record, there is no evidence to support the governors conclusions. This, frankly, feels to be the weakest link in this system of checks and balances. To suggest that the governor had absolutely no evidence to reverse the parole boards decision seems weak at best even worthy of appeal. This system is designed to come to different conclusions at different times. The older Van Houten gets, the less recidivism is of concern. The heinous nature of the crime should never change in the systems judgment, and neither should consideration to the victims and their family members. Yet, if there wasnt ever to be a periodic re-balancing for parole decisions, California would not have this elaborate system. The release of Van Houten would be forever. All she would have to do is behave. That would be justice, California style. Since beginning his tenure as Miami-Dade Countys public housing and community development director in April, South Miami native Alex Ballina has assessed ways in which he can help the county address its protracted housing-affordability crisis that started prior to the pandemic in 2020 and has gotten much worse. The Christopher Columbus High School graduate took over for Michael Liu who held the job since 2014. Ballina has a personal motivation to help build more affordable homes in the county that raised him. He had overseen public housing maintenance, operations and leasing for the county before leaving 11 years ago to work in the private sector developing apartments. The latest Miami-Dade housing figures offer one clear indication of the daunting challenge Ballina and the county face: although home sales in April again plunged by double digits, the median price of a single-family home reach a record $600,000. And the Miami metropolitan area is one of the most competitive urban areas in the country to rent an apartment. Ballina, 48, recently spoke to the Miami Herald about high housing costs in Miami-Dade, how public transportation can enhance residents housing options and quality of life, and more. The interview was edited for clarity and brevity. Question: In what ways do you think your background in private-sector residential development is going to contribute to your work as county housing director? Answer: I know the needs of this community. I always like to say Im born and raised here and think it makes a big difference. I have a real desire to see our community do well and make sure that the quality of life is built not only for our generation, but for the generations upcoming. What I learned in the private sector of development is how to come up with innovative ways of building housing. We have the Everglades to the west. Were tied in the middle. Theres only certain areas where we could build within our whole comprehensive master plan. We need to ensure that where we can get the housing density we can ensure that we provide that cost effectively to our residents, particularly teachers, firefighters and those providing public services. We have a major supply and demand imbalance in the multifamily area, meaning availability of apartments and townhouses. The only way youre going to be able to make it better is to build more. It takes cycles of three years, five years, maybe seven years, especially when youre dealing with the affordable housing component of it, because youve got to wait for the cycles to come through for the tax credits and for the different funding sources that we have. Its become very difficult because there is so much demand right now for that type of financing and theres not enough money to go around. So building more is one piece. The second is preserving the housing funding sources we have. One of the biggest critiques that real estate developers have had here is that there are no incentives for them to develop affordable housing. In what ways could the county better support affordable housing development? This is so far what weve done to encourage that development. If you build affordable housing, which is for people with incomes at 80% or below of the areas median income, theres density incentives so you could build more. Theres also financial incentives, meaning that you get favorable financing or favorable access to capital. You also have traditionally had property tax abatement when youre building multifamily projects. If you build for people earning under 120% of the areas median income, you get impact fee reduction, expedited permitting with the building department and you also get property tax incentive grants. The biggest problem that we have in terms of the production of affordable housing is the cost of construction because of the stiff South Florida building code that demands higher construction standards. Our development costs are typically 50% to 60% higher than anywhere else in the country. A developers operating expenses are also a lot more because were right in the cone of hurricanes during the six-month Atlantic hurricane season. Q: How do you hope to enhance the countys housing efforts, which have included offering tens of millions of dollars in financial assistance for struggling renters and homeowners? A: Were bringing more landlords into our Section 8 program, which in turn allows us to rent more units to people that have the voucher program. Were really expediting in terms of permitting for new residential construction. We have close to 12,000 units in planning or under development right now that fill the category of affordable, workforce and market-rate housing, which is critical. One of the things that is very important is that were working with other departments on strategic urban planning. Transit-oriented housing communities, for example, are critical and important because they help affordability. Its another $1,000 a month that youre spending on transportation by just having to have a car in Miami-Dade County. If you could live near the transportation hubs, that provides relief in terms of quality of life and affordability because a family of three may not have to have two vehicles. You have other mechanisms that you can use to get around with Uber, local trolleys, and Freebee, the free car rides available for short distances in select municipalities and on certain college campuses. Were still going to have to figure out the public transit connectivity in the western part of the county and connecting all those different areas, but I think were headed in the right direction. Q: What are your plans to maximize the way county land is used for housing development? A: We are tracking it. We did an outline of it and were working very closely with our zoning department to make sure that we are looking at these areas so that we can get the best use out of the land. You have a lot of pockets that are out there. You really want to take advantage of land where you can make sure that youre able to get the proper development density, so that you could create more housing opportunities for everybody. Q: How long do you think it will take to improve housing affordability in Miami-Dade? A: You have to be intentional with your planning and the only way that you are able to get there is by taking action and ensuring that theres ample housing supply, ample incentives to build, that the policy is in place, and that you have supportive functions within government to get us there. Youre having different businesses come to Miami with different schematics. You have institutional dollars coming in here. Ninety percent of the big developments you see here is done with institutional money. Thats good for the real estate market. But the real estate investors have to make returns on their money. So youre getting the influx of the capital coming in, but the rents are going up. The cost of living is going up because everybodys chasing the few pieces of land that are here to build apartments and condos. All we could do is make sure that we help increase housing density, add and improve public transportation and put the countys housing funding for developers and residents where it needs to be. We are making sure that we support with more affordable housing our hospitality industry, our health care industry and our first responders, which make up 50% of our workforce here in Miami-Dade County. Donald Trump - George Walker IV/AP Top secret documents which Donald Trump stored in his Mar-a-Lago resort were just mementos one of his lawyers said as his legal team began formulating his defence. Alina Habba insisted he had done nothing wrong and would not take a plea deal to lower a possible prison sentence. Mr Trump is due to appear before a Miami federal court on Tuesday to face 37 charges, including breaches of the Espionage Act. He would never admit guilt, because there was nothing wrong with declassifying documents, she told Fox News Sunday, offering a possible window into the Trump camps court plans. He has every right to have classified documents that he declassified... things that are mementos, things that he has a right to take. So if Im someone with documents that I have a right to have as the president who left the White House, do I want people rummaging through my personal items? No. It came as Bill Barr, who was Mr Trumps attorney general, warned that if even half the indictment is true then hes toast. Yes, hes been a victim in the past. Yes, his adversaries have obsessively pursued him with phoney claims, and Ive been at his side defending against them when he is a victim. The former president hit back at Mr Barr in a radio interview with supporter Roger Stone. This thing is a disgrace and virtually everybody other than a low life like Bill Barr who I, as you know, I terminated because he was gutless, he wouldnt do what youre supposed to do but everybody says this is a disgraceful indictment. It shouldnt happen, he said. Fears of political violence It came after hard-line Trump supporters mounted an angry defence of the former president, rekindling fears of political violence should he be convicted. If you want to get to president Trump, you are going to have to go through me, and you are going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me, said Kari Lake, the influential Republican who was defeated in the race to become governor of Arizona. And Im going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA (National Rifle Association), she added. Christopher Galdieri, professor of politics at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire told The Telegraph the potential for violence should not be discounted. I think we have to take them seriously. I think Kari Lake is overestimating the number of Americans who would take up arms, but theres no doubt there are folks who would. You never heard this from supporters of Ronald Reagan, who won 49 states when he was re-elected. You hear this from folks who cant achieve their goals any other way. Trump leads over DeSantis The latest polls show the indictment has not damaged Mr Trumps standing among Republican voters. A CBS-YouGov poll showed he still had a commanding lead over his main rival for the nomination, Florida governor Ron DeSantis with 61 per cent of Republicans saying they would back him in a primary. But among voters as a whole, the picture was less encouraging with 48 per cent saying it was right to charge the former president even if 47 per cent said the indictment was politically motivated. A Morning Consult poll showed both Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis narrowly trailing Joe Biden in a presidential election. The indictment brought by Department of Justice special counsel, Jack Smith, is widening the rift in an already divided Republican party. GOP faithful lined up on either side to defend or attack the former president on Sunday. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina senator, described the charges as ridiculous. We live in a world where it takes four years to investigate Hunter Biden and you can go after Donald Trump in about 18 months, he said. I think Donald Trump is stronger today politically than he was before. And Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said as president, Mr Trump had the right to classify or declassify whatever he wished. He can put it wherever he wants, he can handle it however he wants, he told CNN on Sunday. Asa Hutchinson, Republican presidential candidate and Trump critic, disagreed. We do not need to have our commander in chief of this country, not protecting our nations secrets, he told CNN. If these allegations and probable cause have been found against any military person or any public servant that wasnt named Donald Trump, they would have been indicted a long time ago. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. The national spotlight shined Saturday on Columbus as former President Donald Trump, leading the polls for the 2024 Republican Party presidential nomination despite being federally indicted, spoke at the Georgia GOP State Convention. Before the estimated crowd of approximately 3,000 people heard Trumps afternoon speech, the buzz in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center started in the wee hours of the morning, when media with equipment bigger than a cellphone had to check in and get their equipment scanned by security personnel. NAACP condemns city, GOP At 10 a.m., three blocks from the convention, approximately 10 NAACP officials and supporters gathered at the Ninth Street steps of the Columbus Government Center for a news conference announcing their condemnation of city and GOP officials for allowing Trump to speak. By allowing Trump, an individual under indictment with questionable character, to speak at a community event sends a message that the community tolerates and even condones unhealthy behaviors and unethical actions, said NAACP Columbus Branch president Wane Hailes. NAACP officials and supporters gather June 10, 2023, at the steps of the Columbus Government Center for a news conference announcing their condemnation of city and Georgia Republican Party officials for allowing former president Donald Trump to speak at the GOP state convention in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center despite being charged with federal crimes. Columbus NAACP branch president Wane Hailes is at the podium. Mark Rice/mrice@ledger-enqurer.com Allowing Trump to speak, Hailes said, sends a message that the community prioritizes winning or gaining short-term benefits over morality and ethics Hailes concluded, It is our hope that speaking up can also raise awareness about the consequences of tolerating unhealthy and unethical behaviors and inspire positive changes and accountability within our community. Logjam of attendees creates safety concern Around 12:10 p.m., a GOP official announced from the podium a solution to the logjam of folks entering and exiting the hall and bumping into the lines for the boxed lunches, snack bar and restrooms: Those in line for lunch should return to their seats to let the restroom line dissipate. Due to tightened security protocol for the Trump visit, the multiple doors to the hall were reduced to one. Five minutes later, another announcement from the podium: The GOP official asked the delegates to text their friends eating their lunch in the lobby and tell them they need to bring their lunch into the hall to alleviate the crush of folks trying to go through the security checkpoint. Around 12:45 p.m, the GOP official announced from the podium that he felt like a teacher on the last day of school with students not listening. He again asked the folks blocking the doorway and the security checkpoint lines to return to their seats. Another five minutes later, the GOP official announced the fire marshal warned the convention might need to order some guests to leave if the congestion in the hallway wasnt alleviated. At 1:07 p.m., the GOP official at the podium announced anyone not seated is at risk of being ejected from the convention because the fire marshal was trying to determine whether attendance exceeded the legal limit. Trade center executive director Hayley Tillery later told the Ledger-Enquirer, to her knowledge, nobody had to leave the convention because of that concern. Protest against Trump in downtown Columbus Around 1 p.m., about 10 protesters stood in the median at Broadway and 10th Street and started their demonstration against Trump. We just want to show people here for the convention that this state is not a solid bloc for Donald Trump, said Ilene Kent, who got the protest permit from the Columbus Police Department and invited others on Facebook to join her. About 10 protesters stand in the median at Broadway and 10th Street in downtown Columbus on June 10, 2023, to demonstrate against former president Donald Trump, who spoke later in the afternoon at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center during the Georgia Republican Partys State Convention. Tim Chitwood/tchitwood@ledger-enquirer.com They waved signs at passing motorists, some of whom waved back or shouted jokes. Others responded angrily, making obscene gestures or yelling insults. One man got out of a pickup truck cursing before he got back in the truck and drove away. We want them to know that they dont own this town, and were still a blue dot in the state, and were going to get bluer and bluer in another couple of years, Kent said of Columbus, which usually votes Democratic in a typically red state. Kent said most Trump fans had been playful in their retorts to the protest, except for the man in the pickup. He was just so angry, she said, flipping us the bird, really ugly and disgraceful. Trump supporters welcome him at airport At 1:36 p.m., a group of approximately 100 Trump supporters greeted the former president as his private plane landed at the Flightways Columbus airport. President Donald J. Trump arrives at the Columbus Airport on Saturday. Darrell Roaden/Special to the Ledger-Enquirer They wore Make America Great Again hats and waved American flags and signs declaring messages such as WITCH HUNT. Trump shook hands, signed autographs and posed for selfies as the crowd shouted, Four more years! and We love Trump! His motorcade started driving to downtown at 1:54 p.m. President Donald J. Trump arrives at the Columbus Airport on Saturday. Darrell Roaden/Special to the Ledger-Enquirer At 2:18 p.m. the GOP official at the convention podium announced, The president is here. Trumps speech and reaction At 2:54 p.m., Trump walked onto the stage as Lee Greenwoods song God Bless the USA blared in the hall. Former President Donald Trump walks onto the stage at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center Saturday afternoon during the Georgia GOP state convention. 06/10/2023 Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com In his first public appearance since the charges of 37 felony counts were unsealed Friday, Trump blasted the federal indictment, calling it ridiculous and baseless. Theyve launched one witch hunt after another to try and stop our movement, to thwart the will of the American people, Trump said, later adding, In the end, theyre not coming after me. Theyre coming after you. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center Saturday afternoon during the Georgia GOP state convention. 06/10/2023 Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com Muscogee GOP chair Carmen Rice told the Ledger-Enquirer in a text message that Trumps speech sparked hope and resolve, as always. He does that quite well. The weaponization of our judicial system seems to have strengthened his campaign. Rice was thrilled to be at the packed convention while the former president spoke. The room had people farther than the eye could see, she said. There was energy and excitement beyond words. Trump visits Columbus Waffle House After speaking for about 1 hour and 25 minutes, Trumps motorcade left the trade center. As the motorcade drove east on Eighth Street, supporters were on the curb and sidewalk, cheering while the black SUVs, police cars and motorcycles passed. The motorcade turned left on Veterans Parkway, going north, and arrived at the Waffle House at 1326 Veterans Parkaway. As the motorcade entered the parking lot, a crowd of about 50 people greeted Trump. Also emerging from an SUV was U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who joined Trump inside the Waffle House. Former president Donald Trump is joined by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a visit to the Waffle House at 1326 Veterans Parkway in Columbus, Georgia after his speech at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. 06/10/2023 Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com Supporters stood shoulder-to-shoulder as Trump and Greene schmoozed with them. Trump shook hands, made a reference to fake news being there, and a woman told him, Keep fighting the good fight. A man chimed in, Bring our country back again. Trump told the crowd, Were having waffles for everyone a lot of people, a lot of waffles. The crowd cheered. Former president Donald Trump visits the Waffle House at 1326 Veterans Parkway in Columbus, Georgia after his speech at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. 06/10/2023 Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com A reporter traveling in the press pool asked Trump about the classified documents he allegedly mishandled. Witch hunt, Trump said, then mentioned President Joe Biden was found to have classified documents as well. After the visit of 10-15 minutes, Trumps motorcade headed back to the airport, where another crowd of at least 100 supporters watched him fly away. Supporters of former president Donald Trump wave as he boards a plane at the Columbus Airport to leave Columbus, Georgia. 06/10/2023 Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com Columbus native Josh McKoon elected Georgia GOP chairman Delegates elected former state Sen. Josh McKoon, a Columbus native now residing in Atlanta, as chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. McKoon, a lawyer, has worked as general counsel for the Technical College System of Georgia for the past three years. He chaired the Muscogee GOP from 2007-09. He represented District 29 in the Georgia Senate from 2001-09. The L-E didnt reach McKoon before publication for comment about becoming chairman, but conservative talk show host John Fredericks, whose Trucking the Truth America First Bus Tour aka the Mega MAGA Bus or simply the Trump Bus described McKoons reputation among Republicans. Since he was in the state Senate, Josh has been there for us as a Trump supporter from Day One, Fredericks told the L-E. He was one of the leaders in Georgia for getting things done for the movement, for the conservative cause. Hes a warrior. He has election integrity. Hes a fighter. He ran for Secretary of State, ran a very competitive race, got beat by the rat thats in there. So hes got the credentials, and hes a known guy who will get in the fight. He can lead the Republican Party of Georgia to become basically a populist organization. Smooth and successful event Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman told the Ledger-Enquirer in a text message that his office received no reports of security or safety incidents in the trade center during the convention. He praised the collaboration with the citys police, fire & EMS and emergency management departments, as well as the trade center. We are very fortunate to have the experience and working relationships between our agencies to get the job done, he said. Tillery echoed that sentiment. It was a phenomenal event, she said. Everyone is leaving safe. Everyone had a great time. The slogan here at the trade center is to make history, and we did just that today. Rice called Columbus performance as the conventions host very successful and noted it had the highest attendance in the state partys history. As Muscogee County GOP Chairwoman, it has been quite surreal and makes me so very proud of my hometown, she wrote in a text message. Comments from attendees have been unanimously positive about our venue, the local attractions, restaurants and hospitality. That feels great! Staff writer Tim Chitwood, photo chief Mike Haskey, correspondent Darrell Roaden and the Associated Press contributed to this story. Now that my favorite president, Donald Trump, is facing a 37-count indictment from the feds, I join with my brothers and sisters in MAGA, and with all sensible Republicans, in saying this: Im not sure I want to live in a country where a former president can wave around classified documents he's not supposed to have and say, This is secret information. Look at this, and then be held accountable for his actions. I mean, what kind of country have we become? One in which federal prosecutors can take evidence before a grand jury, and that grand jury can vote to indict a former president for 37 alleged crimes? Look at all the other people out there in America, including Democrats like Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden, who HAVENT been indicted for crimes on the flimsy excuse that there is no evidence they did crimes. THATS TOTALLY UNFAIR! Its like Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wrote in a tweet Friday: These charges are unprecedented and its a sad day for our country, especially in light of what clearly appears to be a two-tiered justice system where some are selectively prosecuted, and others are not. These charges are unprecedented and its a sad day for our country, especially in light of what clearly appears to be a two-tiered justice system where some are selectively prosecuted, and others are not. Parents in Virginia know firsthand what its like to be targeted by Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) June 9, 2023 What kind of country holds a president accountable for alleged crimes a grand jury charges him with? Or as Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee tweeted: Where are the investigations against the Clintons and the Bidens? What about fairness? Two tiers of justice at work. GOP sticking with Trump: Trump indicted again, and STILL Republicans flock to support him. Sad! TWO TIERS! One tier in which President Trump keeps getting indicted via both state and federal justice systems and another in which the people I dont like keep getting not indicted via all the things Fox News tells me they did wrong. Its like America has become a banana republic, as long as you do as Ive done and refuse to look up the definition of banana republic. A copy of the indictment of former President Donald Trump and Trump aide Walt Nauta, brought by the U.S. Justice Department. They're charged with dozens of counts of allegedly violating eight federal statutes related to the handling of classified documents after the former president left the White House, according to the 44-page indictment unsealed June 9, 2023. Regardless of the Trump indictment, it's clear this is all Biden's fault And of course, you know whos behind this travesty of justice, right? Its so-called President Biden, who is both frail and senile and also a laser-sharp master at conducting witch hunts. Former President Donald Trump greets supporters in Grimes, Iowa, on June 1, 2023. Sure, theyll tell you that the indictment came via a special counsel investigation, and that the federal special counsel statute keeps such investigations walled off from political influence. But thats complete nonsense, unless were talking about special counsel John Durham, who was appointed by Attorney General Bill Barr while Trump was president and tasked with investigating the NEFARIOUS LEFT-WING CRIMES committed in the Trump-Russia probe. Durham was above reproach, and the fact that The New York Times reported he charged no high-level F.B.I. or intelligence official with a crime and acknowledged in a footnote that Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign did nothing prosecutable, either is something I will ignore. This is a WITCH HUNT, and I believe that because Trump said so! Current special counsel Jack Smith, on the other hand hes bad news. I know this because Trump has said repeatedly that Smiths investigation is a witch hunt, and Ive never known Trump to lie about anything. Keep in mind, in 2016, Trump said: Im going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information. No one will be above the law. This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed Friday, June 9, 2023. So after he said that, you expect me to believe he didnt protect classified information? Just because, according to the indictment, theres a recording of him holding a classified document in his office at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and saying to two staff members and an interviewer: See, as president I could have declassified it. Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret. Winners of Trump indictment: The former president and Joe Biden. DeSantis? Not so much. You call that damning evidence. I call it, What about Hunter Bidens laptop? Putting Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden in prison? Now THAT makes sense! Now I can already hear all the libs out there whining and saying that if it were Biden or Hillary or Hunter getting indicted, I wouldnt be saying a word about two tiers of justice or the weaponization of the Department of Justice or anything like that. The notably non-indicted President Joe Biden. Well, those whiners would be right, but the difference is I believe Biden and Hillary and Hunter are all guilty and should be locked up for life, whereas with Trump, I believe he is great and innocent and the best president America has ever known. Its like this: If Hillary got indicted for murder, I would say, Yes, she is absolutely a murderer. Lock her up. But if in some outrageous scenario President Trump were indicted for murder just because he told a bunch of people that he did a murder, I would say: HOW DARE YOU CHARGE THIS MAN WITH MURDER WHEN OTHERS IN THE U.S. HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER! THERE ARE CLEARLY TWO TIERS OF JUSTICE, ONE IN WHICH MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT, WHO SAID HE MURDERED SOMEONE, IS CHARGED WITH MURDER AND ONE IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T MURDERED ARE NOT CHARGED WITH MURDER! And that, my liberal friends, makes perfect sense to me and my MAGA companions. So watch out. The Trump Trains a comin. USA TODAY Opinion columnist Rex Huppke. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Twitter @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump faces 37-count indictment. Why are we holding him accountable? You are here: World Flash Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that the counteroffensive actions in his country are underway, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported. "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine," Zelensky said at a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kiev. Zelensky noted that he is in daily contact with Ukraine's military commanders, including Valery Zaluzhny, chief commander of the armed forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader refused to give more details about the counteroffensive operation. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine launched a counteroffensive but failed to achieve its tasks. Dozens turn out for 130th Annual Firefighters Memorial in Boston to honor those who proudly served Dozens turned out for the 130th Firefighters Memorial procession on Sunday in Jamaica Plain to honor firefighters who proudly served, the Boston Fire Department said. The Boston Fire Departments Honor Guard led the procession at the Firefighters Monument at Forest Hills Cemetery, the department said in a tweet on Sunday afternoon. Several firefighters wearing dress uniforms knelt down to place flowers onto the graves of firefighters who previously served with the Boston Fire Department. Dozens turned out for the 130th Firefighters Memorial procession on Sunday in Jamaica Plain to honor firefighters who proudly served, the Boston Fire Department said. Dozens turned out for the 130th Firefighters Memorial procession on Sunday in Jamaica Plain to honor firefighters who proudly served, the Boston Fire Department said. Dozens turned out for the 130th Firefighters Memorial procession on Sunday in Jamaica Plain to honor firefighters who proudly served, the Boston Fire Department said. Dozens turned out for the 130th Firefighters Memorial procession on Sunday in Jamaica Plain to honor firefighters who proudly served, the Boston Fire Department said. Dozens turned out for the 130th Firefighters Memorial procession on Sunday in Jamaica Plain to honor firefighters who proudly served, the Boston Fire Department said. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty were among elected officials who were in attendance. According to the Boston Fire Historical Society, the Firefighters Monument at Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain was dedicated in 1909 to the memory of Boston Fire Department firefighters who have passed away. It is located within the Firemens Lot at the cemetery, which was established in 1857 with enough space to provide for 249 graves. The monument is 26 feet tall. The first burials at the location were for two firefighters who died in the line Of duty on May 2, 1858 at 133-139 Federal St., Downtown, according to the Boston Fire Historical Society. Attached to the base on the four sides are bronze tablets depicting: a steam fire engine; a hook and ladder truck; a protective wagon; and a handtub pumper. A beautiful day for the 130th Firefighters Memorial Sunday. The BFD Honor Guard led the procession as @MayorWu joined Firefighters ,family & friends to honor our Firefighters who proudly served. A special thanks to Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty, Orator of the Day pic.twitter.com/kY1oZyIYVV Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) June 11, 2023 An inscription at the bottom of the monument base reads: In Memory of Departed Comrades. This Monument Is Erected By The Members And Friends Of The Boston Fire Department. June 1909. Each year on the second Sunday in June, the Charitable Association of the Boston Fire Department hosts a memorial service to honor firefighters who are buried there and to pay tribute to all firefighters who have given their lives in the fire service, according to the Boston Fire Historical Society. The Firemens Lot holds the remains of 137 members of the department, including 15 members who died in the line of duty. The most recent burial was in 2014, for Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy, Ladder Company 15, who died on March 29, 2014. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Danish fighter F-16 The lists (of pilots who will go for F-16 training) have long been prepared, Ihnat told Radio NV. They will undergo training in successive waves. We cannot send everyone to learn at once because these pilots (currently) perform dozens of combat missions in the sky (in the conflict zone) every day. However, the initial wave may include several dozen pilots, followed by subsequent waves for training purposes, Ihnat said. We have a sufficient number of pilots capable of mastering this aircraft, Ihnat adds. Read also: Aviation expert unveils pros and cons of F/A-18 Hornets, potential benefits for Ukraine Priority will be given to those who possess English language proficiency and exhibit potential for future service, as they are relatively young pilots. This is because pilots training on the new F-16 aircraft may potentially transition to newer aircraft types we will possess. Ihnat said the F-16 could serve as a transitional aircraft for Ukraine, before the countrys air force transitions to operating the F-35.All pilots training abroad possess combat experience in engagements against the aggressor, Ihnat said. They have actively participated in combat operations, which means they are not starting from scratch in terms of flight and combat skills. Their training will focus on adapting to the new aircraft and modern equipment. It's akin to switching from a Lada to a BMW with automatic transmission. On May 22, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU, announced that Ukrainian pilots had already commenced F-16 training. However, on May 23, Troels Lund Poulsen, the Acting Minister of Defense of Denmark, stated that Ukrainian pilots might begin F-16 training only in July. Read also: Germany may reverse stance, approve fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine soon Pistorius He also indicated that it could take up to six months before the necessary conditions for utilizing F-16 fighter jets in Ukrainian are established. On the same day, Ihnat affirmed that the process of preparing pilots for training was still ongoing. Eight European countries have already joined the fighter coalition supporting Ukraine, with the Netherlands and Denmark leading the collaborative effort. The United States has announced that in the upcoming months, Ukraines military allies will collaborate to determine the timing, participants, and number of aircraft to be transferred to Ukraine. However, the delivery of fighter jets will be contingent upon Ukraine's commitment to refrain from employing them in strikes on Russian territory. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Drone attack in Odesa kills 2 internally displaced Ukrainians who fled from Bakhmut Drone attack in Odesa kills 2 internally displaced Ukrainians who fled from Bakhmut The Russian military attacked Odesa Oblast with Shahed drones during the night of June 9-10, killing three people, including the IDP couple, locals announced on Facebook. A blast wave from an exploding drone warhead killed Yuliya and Yuriy Antonenko from Bakhmut, who moved to Odesa to escape the hostilities, locals reported. Read also: Suicide drone attack damages port infrastructure and causes fire in Odesa The couple had recently moved their parents to the southern Ukrainian city as well, and they were being escorted home at night when they were struck by debris from a shot-down drone. They were in a hurry to get home because there was little time left before the curfew. The couple had a 20-year-old daughter, Mira. Russian forces attacked Odesa Oblast overnight on June 9-10 with eight Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones. All were shot down by air defense forces. Three people were killed and 26 injured. Among the civilians injured were two children and a pregnant woman. Read also: Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine FILE - Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves addresses supporters at a rally in Richland, Miss., on May 3, 2023. Reeves is seeking reelection to a second term. and faces two opponents in his party's primary in August. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Conservative Mississippi is tough territory for Democrats, but the party sees an unusual opportunity this year to unseat first-term Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. Democrat Brandon Presley is a second cousin of Elvis Presley, born a few days before the rock 'n' roll legend died. While campaigning, Brandon Presley talks frequently about government corruption, focusing on a multimillion-dollar welfare scandal that developed when Reeves was lieutenant governor. TUNIS (Reuters) -The European Union said on Sunday it may loan Tunisia over 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) to help develop its battered economy, rescue state finances and deal with a migration crisis, with most funds contingent on it agreeing economic reforms. The offer was announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a visit to Tunisia along with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is anxious about migration across the Mediterranean. Their effort, spurred by increasing concerns in Europe about Tunisia's stability, is part of a last-ditch push by major donors to persuade President Kais Saied to agree to the terms of a $1.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. Saied has so far rejected the proposals, originally made by his own government, to cut subsidies and restructure loss-making state-owned companies, saying this risks a social explosion. Tunisian state media cited Saied as saying he had "confirmed" during the meeting with the European leaders that "solutions cannot be in the form of diktats and the IMF should review its prescriptions". Donors say time is almost up for Tunisia to agree to the loan and avert a collapse in its state finances, but they are unwilling to lend it money without the reassurance of fully costed reforms that could allow it to repay its debts. Any amended IMF deal could take months more to negotiate. A factsheet released by the EU said the body would lend Tunisia up to 900 million euros to help its macro-finances once it finalised the IMF programme, for which a preliminary agreement was reached in October. The EU could also provide 150 million euros in budget support this year "in the context of a reform agenda", the factsheet said. Von der Leyen added that the EU would also this year provide Tunisia with 100 million euros for border management, search and rescue, anti-smuggling operations and returns "rooted in respect for human rights". Tunisia's presidency said in a statement that it was creating a partnership with the EU to combat illegal migration. But Saied also said: "The solution that some secretly call for is to settle migrants in exchange for money, a solution that is neither humane nor acceptable". Meloni, who has pressed for the IMF to relax conditions for its loan programme, said there was "an important window of opportunity" to finalise the aid agreement before the European Council at the end of June. Von der Leyen said Europe was helping Tunisia's economy in other ways, including a 150 million-euro digital cable link to Europe and a 300 million-euro renewable energy power export project. She said the EU would also expand opportunities for young Tunisians to study, work and train in the EU to help them develop skills that could be used to boost the Tunisian economy. ($1 = 0.9305 euros) (Reporting by Angus McDowall and Tarek Amara in Tunis and Federico Maccioni in Milan; Editing by Alex Richardson, Sharon Singleton and Ros Russell) STUTTGART, Germany For decades France served as the European Unions main representative in the Indo-Pacific, and as the sole member to maintain regional territories, conducting two to three deployments per year. But in the past two years, the number of allies and partners stretching their ability to launch long-distance, rapid deployments and maintain operational capacity in the area has increased. Both Germany and the Netherlands first deployed military vessels to the region in 2021 following the EUs release of its first Indo-Pacific strategy. The Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen deployed for seven months as part of a British carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth. The Dutch also participated in several exercises with Singapore, Japan and the U.S. Navy during that time, as outlined in a March 2023 report from the Hague Center for Strategic Studies think tank. Germany published its first Indo-Pacific strategy in 2020, with a focus on security and defense, and has asserted itself since then with various services visiting the region each year. Today the Indo-Pacific is the most strategically important region on Earth, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in a recent statement. Important decisions about freedom, peace and prosperity in the world are made here. Germany is also directly affected by this. The German Navy frigate Bayern spent six months sailing around the Horn of Africa, across the seas to Australia and Japan. Last year, the German Air Force sent six Eurofighters, alongside tankers and transport aircraft, tasked with reaching Singapore within 24 hours under the moniker Pacific Readiness. German Air Force assets also participated in Australias Pitch Black exercise during the deployment. This year, it will be the German Army that heads to the Pacific, as the service will participate in Australias Talisman Sabre exercise, taking place July 22-Aug. 4. The combined exercise will also include German naval and air warfare platforms, a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry told Defense News. The German exercise participation in Talisman Sabre 2023 offers a very good opportunity to practice interoperability in a high-intensity battle with land, air and sea forces and to send a clear signal of Germanys solidarity and willingness to cooperate with the value partners in the region, the spokesperson said in an email. Next year, the German Navy is expected to send another frigate to the region, this time with a supply ship. In addition, the Air Force may partake in a trinational air deployment between Germany, France and Spain, an Air Force spokesperson told Defense News. As the three nations participating in the next-generation Future Combat Air System program, the deployment would serve as a joint message of solidarity with partners in the Indo-Pacific region, the spokesperson added. As of this articles writing, no plan for this joint deployment is finalized, but the hope is to have the three nations sign a letter of intent at the Paris Air Show, taking place June 19-25, per the spokesperson. The 2023 Paris Air Show will take place June 19-25. (Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images) Meanwhile, Italy launched its five-month naval deployment out of La Spezia Naval Base to the Indo-Pacific region in early April, as reported by Naval News. The crew of the second Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessel Francesco Morosini will call in 15 ports of 14 countries, and is also participating in several regional operations. This deployment marks the first operational mission assigned to the ship and its crew, and is the first time the vessel will operate out of the Mediterranean basin, serving as a test of its ability to perform a long-distance deployment. The British Royal Navy will deploy a carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on the eve of the annual G7 summit meeting in May, held this year in Hiroshima, Japan. The news came as Sunak and his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, signed the Hiroshima Accord, which entails commitments for closer economic, defense, security and technological collaboration. The deployment will be the second to the region for Britains aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, and the strike group will include naval escorts and F-35 fighter jets partnering with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and other regional partners. EU aspirations Alongside individual member nations initiatives, the European Union has taken steps to strengthen its security posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Security there was one of three main topic areas at the second annual EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, held May 13 in Stockholm, Sweden. About 60 ministerial-level officials from both regions were in attendance, sending a signal that the EU is realizing that we have a global theater where different regional challenges are interconnected, and we have, therefore, also to have a global approach in cooperating with partners across the globe, a senior EU official said prior to the forum. While the official cited maritime domain awareness as a particular defense and security initiative, the individual also described new instruments meant to tackle significant cyberthreats in the region, as well as foreign information manipulation. Representatives stand for a photo at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum on May 13, 2023. (Christine Olsson/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images) The EU has developed maritime domain awareness through two lines of effort, said Frederic Grare, a senior policy fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations Asia program. This includes the Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific project series, launched in 2015 as a capability-building exercise built around maritime domain awareness via the Indo Pacific Regional Information Sharing platform. The flagship initiative was built for maritime coordination and communications, coupled with extensive training programs on maritime data processing in the region, per the EU. The second is the creation of a coordinated maritime presence in the Indian Ocean via joint patrols, exercises and joint port calls, which Grare described as an embryonic effort put forth in February 2022 just as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. We are in very, very early phases of implementation, and its going to take time before anything really happens on the ground, Grare said. Observers and analysts say its too early to judge the extent of the EUs defense and security involvement in the region. Indeed, the Hague Center report noted that as the EU does not operate the equivalent of the U.S. Navys 7th Fleet based in Japan, it seems obvious that in case of an open conflict, its role may be close to negligible. The U.S. Navy littoral combat ship Tulsa conducts routine operations in the Philippine Sea on June 13, 2021. (MC2 Colby A. Mothershead/U.S. Navy) Many of the EU members navies are more structured for littoral and coastal defense, rather than expeditionary warfare, analysts said. However, the reported added, the blocs expertise in crisis management, international maritime law, maritime domain awareness and multilateral cooperation toward piracy, crime, migration and illegal fishing helps address real-world regional needs. Capacity building in the above issue-areas constitutes the bulk of European efforts and main contribution to regional maritime security. The naval presence may be the proverbial cherry on top, whose main purpose is to add visibility and credibility to its engagement, the report stated. Another challenge area lies in the EUs efforts to pursue something of an intermediary approach between the United States and China. This is, however, becoming increasingly difficult to navigate in the era of great power competition, said Ben Schreer, executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Europe office in Berlin. While members of the G7 expressed strong convergence in pushing back against many of Beijings approaches to the war in Ukraine, tension with Taiwan, and economic coercion following their annual meeting in May, the repeated emphasis on de-risking, not de-coupling reflected the EUs approach to China, as well as that of major member nations like France and Germany. These middle-man approaches run the risk of undermining the more constructive efforts at the military level, noted Schreer. France, for example, has been active in organizing joint deployments through the Indo-Pacific with the U.S. and Australia, and has sailed its own military ships through the Taiwan Strait. But French President Emmanuel Macrons April comments on the need to avoid being dragged into a confrontation between the U.S. and China over Taiwan has given some stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific pause, Schreer said. Macrons comments also led to debate over whether European nations will continue to prioritize their own domestic interests in the Indo-Pacific, rather than a collaborative approach from the whole union, Schreer added. Regional interlocutors attending IISS annual Shangri-La Dialogue, held in Singapore from June 2 through June 4, arent necessarily expecting the EU to become a major player in defense terms, he explained. But they will be looking at speeches from defense ministers, as well as the EUs defense and security czar Josep Borrell, about practical, concrete statements in terms of strengthening the defense posture. If even half of it is true, he is toast: Bill Barr gives devastating view of Trump indictment on Fox News Former Trump administration attorney general Bill Barr gave a devastating analysis of the indictment against Donald Trump, his former boss, in an appearance on Fox News Sunday. Mr Barr said that if even half of what is alleged in the 49-page, 37-count document is true, then the former president is toast. Host Shannon Bream asked the former attorney general about the argument from Trump loyalists that the case should have been handled under the Presidential Records Act and not under the Espionage Act. Mr Barr explained that this all began under the Presidential Records Act with the National Archives trying to retrieve the documents that Mr Trump had no right to have. However, it quickly became apparent that the government was particularly worried about how sensitive the classified documents were. He continued by saying that their sensitivity and how many there were shocked him, and that because Mr Trump had wilfully retained those materials that made the counts under the Espionage Act solid. If even half of it is true, he is toast, the former attorney general told Bream. I mean, its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. Mr Barr also demolished claims that Mr Trump is some kind of victim being politically persecuted in a Democrat-led witch hunt. This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here or a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous, he said. Yes, hes been a victim in the past. His adversaries have obsessively pursued him with phony claims. And Ive been at his side defending against them when he is a victim. But this is much different. Hes not a victim here. Trump's former Attorney General Bill Barr: "I think the counts under the Espionage Act ... are solid counts ... If even half of it is true, then he's toast. It's a very detailed indictment, and it's very, very damning." pic.twitter.com/DleBOaPw4f The Recount (@therecount) June 11, 2023 Mr Barr continued: He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents. Those documents are among the most sensitive secrets that the country has. They have to be in the custody of the archivist. He had no right to maintain them and retain them. The former attorney general then reminded viewers of his history of sticking up for Mr Trump despite the current hostility the former president now has for him. Hes been angry with me for a while, Mr Barr told Bream. But you know, I defended the president on Russiagate. I stood up and called out Alvin Braggs politicised hit job. And I have spoken out for 30 years about the abuse of the criminal justice process to influence politics. "This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here, a victim of a witch hunt, is ridiculous." Former Attorney General Bill Barr pic.twitter.com/aVvMKEy3TR The Recount (@therecount) June 11, 2023 He continued: But this is simply not true. In this particular episode of trying to retrieve those documents, the government acted responsibly. And it was Donald Trump who acted irresponsibly. Mr Barr had previously drawn the former presidents ire by predicting he would face charges over the classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. He also described it as a crisis of his own making. Mr Trump lashed out at him for those comments calling him sloppy and weak. The former attorney general has also warned that Mr Trump getting a second term as president would deliver chaos to the country. If you believe in his policies, what hes advertising as his policies, hes the last person that could actually execute them and achieve them, Mr Barr said at a City Club of Cleveland luncheon in Ohio in early May. Ex-CEO of Dippin' Dots arrested on allegations he choked his girlfriend, then walked outside naked, reports say Former CEO of Dippin' Dots Scott Fischer is facing domestic violence charges after a fight with a girlfriend, police say. Courtesy of Dippin' Dots The former CEO of Dippin Dots is facing domestic violence charges, court records show. Scott Fischer is accused of strangling his partner, then walking out of their home in the nude. The charges include indecent exposure and domestic abuse by strangulation, KFOR reported. Police arrested the former chief executive officer of the dessert company Dippin' Dots in Oklahoma earlier this week on charges that he throttled his partner before venturing outside, naked, multiple outlets reported. Scott Fischer was arrested June 6 and is facing charges of domestic abuse by strangulation, interfering with a 911 call, indecent exposure, and public intoxication, Nichols Hills Police Chief Steven Cox told local television station KFOR. Insider contacted the Nichols Hills Police Department for a comment, but did not immediately receive a response Sunday. According to an affidavit obtained by KFOR, Fischer had come home from work on June 6 intoxicated and an argument ensued between the couple, according to the documents. Several hours later, the argument escalated and Fischer grabbed the woman by the throat and strangled her, she told police. When the woman tried to get away, Fischer grabbed her and threw her over a sofa and began striking her in the chest with his fist, according to the affidavit. When she tried to call the police, Fischer tried to stop her, according to the report. When officers eventually arrived, they found Fischer outside of his home, naked on the front lawn "with a blank expression on his face," standing with "a circular sway," OKC Fox reported. It's not the first time that the former CEO has run afoul of the law. Another ex-girlfriend sued him in 2021, alleging he shared nude photos of her as part of a "campaign of abuse and harassment," Insider's Mia Jankowicz previously reported. Court records show that Fischer was released on $10,000 bail in the domestic abuse case, but it was unclear Sunday when his next court date was or who was representing him. Fischer did not respond to requests for comment Sunday. Read the original article on Insider The tension between Prince Harry and members of the royal family has been pretty palpable for quite some time. While weve seen the Duke of Sussex back in the United Kingdom for King Charles IIIs coronation and his ongoing court case, any sign of a resolution between the Sussexes and the House of Windsor hasnt been made particularly clear. There is reportedly, however, one way Prince Harry could fall back into the The Firms good graces, but to be honest, we dont really see this scenario playing out. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, Harry could rebuild his relationship with the rest of the royal family, but only if his wife Meghan Markle isnt involved at all. I think that Harry, without Meghan, would be forgiven and welcomed back into the royal fold in the fullness of time, Bond said, per OK! Magazine. He could recoup the ground hes lost in time and be welcomed back, Bond continued, though she added, I dont think its anywhere on the horizon. More from SheKnows Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's newest employee has a unique tie to the Sussexes before they were hired! https://t.co/lOIMA7fvSE SheKnows (@SheKnows) June 10, 2023 Even Princess Dianas former butler, Paul Burrell, seems to think that Harry would be welcomed back to the royal family, but only if he splits up with his wife of five years. 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, Burrell said, per the outlet. We have to agree with Bond on this one we just dont see this very drastic condition working out in this situation. From what weve seen, it appears the boundaries Harrys set with his family across the pond have given him a whole new lease on life. After everything he and Meghan have been through, its difficult to imagine this particular circumstance actually coming to fruition. Click here to read the full article. Before you go, click here to see every single time the royal family shaded Meghan Markle and Prince Harry since they stepped down as royals. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. FDNY firefighter dies trying to save teen daughter from rip current, officials say An FDNY firefighter died trying to rescue his teenage daughter from a rip current on the Jersey Shore, officials said. The man, who has been identified as 39-year-old Mark Batista, was visiting the beach in Avon-by-the-Sea with his family on the morning of Friday, June 9, when the girl started to get pulled away from the shore, officials told news outlets WABC and PIX11. Batista went into the ocean after his daughter to try to save her from the strong current, News 12 reported. ANSWER Team, a water rescue crew that responded to the beach, said crews were called to the area just after 8:30 a.m. about two swimmers in distress. Rescuers were able to get the teen out of the water but couldnt find Batista. The girl was taken to a hospital while the search for her dad continued, the rescue team said in a Facebook post. The search continued for over an hour as rescue swimmers, divers, jet skis, boats, and a drone searched the area for the missing swimmer, the team said. Just before 10:00AM, a US Coast Guard helicopter identified a possible location, at which time rescue swimmers located the missing swimmer and removed him from the water. He was taken to a hospital, where he died, officials said. Officials told WABC that Batistas daughter is physically in good condition. The FDNY told McClatchy News in a statement it is heartbroken over Batistas death. Firefighter Batista was a dedicated public servant who spent fifteen years serving in the FDNY, as both an EMT and a firefighter, the department said. We join his family in mourning his tragic passing. The Avon-by-the-Sea Police Department is investigating the incident, the ANSWER Team said. McClatchy News reached out to the police department for more information on June 11 and was awaiting a response. Avon-by-the-Sea is in Monmouth County, about 70 miles north of Atlantic City. Rip current safety Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually. Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including: Check the local water conditions before getting in. Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions. Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present. Dont assume great weather means good swimming conditions. The Monmouth County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook about the incident, advising beachgoers against swimming in areas without a lifeguard on duty. Firefighter who just finished training helps rescue 91-year-old driver from Idaho river Woman dies trying to stop teen from falling off ledge on California trail, cops say Boy drowns in pond and mom is left badly hurt after jumping in after him, NC cops say Woman vanishes underwater while trying to save dog, Oregon cops say. Now body is found Flash State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras in Beijing with visiting Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina on Sunday. Extending warm congratulations on the opening of the Honduran embassy in Beijing, Qin said the establishment of diplomatic ties on the basis of the one-China principle has opened a new era of China-Honduras relations. Noting that bilateral relations got off to a strong start over the past two months, Qin said that the rapid development of bilateral relations has fully proved that adherence to the one-China principle is recognized by the international community, reflects the trend of the times and the aspiration of the people, and serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples. Echoing Qin's remarks, Reina said that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China opens a new era in Honduras' relations with the world and offers a chance for Honduras to become a great and prosperous country. The Honduran side will firmly abide by the one-China principle, and believes bilateral relations will continue to strengthen and yield fruitful results for the benefit of the two peoples, he added. Last month with 20 minutes left in the school day and two weeks left in the academic year, assistant teacher Samantha See said she was pulled from the Sunflower Classroom in front of her 24 May River Montessori students, asked to go to the office where she was fired. (They said) I did nothing wrong. I was hysterical, See said. I had to say goodbye to sad little faces. Ive established so many relationships with these kids since the beginning of the year. We were all hysterical. Samantha and her mother, Gina, were two of five assistant teachers fired from May River Montessori May 8 due to an unexpected financial crisis, according to a written statement from the MRM school board sent to community members mid-May. See said she and her mom were let go by board member Mark Billion and the Interim Executive Director Sarah Stone. The staffing changes come as $250,000 in projected grants for the 2022-23 school year fell through and as the board asked long-time Executive Director and teacher Michelle Quigley to step down because of the financial situation, according to the statement. According to the nonprofit 990 tax forms filed to the IRS, the school reported that during its fiscal year 2021 running July 2021 through June 2022 the school had 37 employees, revenues of $2.4M and expenses of $1.9M leaving a difference of a positive $485,513. The prior year ending June of 2021 the school had 36 employees and a positive $136,636 after subtracting expenses from revenues. From 2019 through the 2021 fiscal years, revenues grew by 100% from $1.2M to $2.4M while expenses increased 45% from $1.3M to $1.9M. Form 990 for the fiscal year ending this June is expected to be filed later this year. Teachers and parents werent aware of this years financial crisis until last month, according to See and her mother, raising questions over how much financial transparency a private, non-profit school should show tuition-paying parents, salary-dependent teachers and the public. Theres a lack of transparency throughout this entire school, Gina See said. The Bluffton school is a non-profit corporation and has programs for students anywhere from 24 months to 16 years old. Montessori school doesnt rely on formal teaching methods, rather students learn through hands-on, self-directed, activities. Despite their financial troubles this school year, which ended May 20, theyre running normal operations next year, according to board member Carey Christiansen Ford. A sign for May River Montessori as seen on May 15, 2023 which is located on the corner of Bridge and Calhoun streets in Old Town Bluffton. The school put plans for a new building on hold. Ford said she couldnt comment on when groundbreaking previously scheduled for this year would take place. We are not worried about financing and we are definitely in a stable place, board member Catherine Runyan said. We are in great communication with our bank and (Certified Public Accountants). The board consists of seven community members who meet once a month and play an advisory, not an operational role. This means that they dont handle the schools financial affairs, according to the statement. It says the board hired Board hired an accountant and trusted the schools bookkeeper and executive director to manage finances. Quigley served as a full-time teacher and the executive director at the same time and is no longer at the school in any capacity. The statement says they werent aware of the financial issues until early May, and as a commitment to transparency they are opening the board to include a teacher and parent representative. Beloved teachers let go Gabriel, a May River Montessori student, loved Samantha See as his teacher, according to parent Maria Walls. I dont know who informed the students (she was let go), but he was clearly concerned. Clearly upset and confused, Walls said. He knew before I did. Firings like this can happen in South Carolina because its an at-will state, meaning employers can terminate staff for any reason or no reason at all. Runyan and Ford said they couldnt comment on why the teachers were terminated while class was still going on. See and her mother said it wouldve been less traumatic for the students, parents and teachers if they waited until either the end of the school day or year, especially because they are being paid through June 30. They were first told they would be paid only through May 15. (There were) lot of tears, the mother-daughter duo said. We were kicked to the curb, not even, you know, thank you for your service. Nothing. Pictured is the Haag Elementary building of May River Montessori as seen on May 15, 2023 located on the corner of Bridge and Calhoun streets in Old Town Bluffton. The statement sent to the community said staff expenses needed to change immediately for their bank to secure funds to pay expenses for the remainder of the year and guarantee our future financial stability for 2023-2024. As of May 17, the school was working with their bank to provide a new line of credit for $385,000 to fund the school for the remainder of this fiscal year ending June 30, according to the statement. The statement said that the decisions were purely financial and because they had positions that could easily be covered by other MRM staff. See said that assistant teachers developed relationships with students every day, planned lessons and material, and worked full school hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. I went to work that day not expecting to lose my job. former assistant teacher Alex Golden said. Tears just started flowing. I couldnt say goodbye to my kids. Golden estimates that shell lose a little over $2,000 in income. We have done everything in our power, everything that we know to do, to prevent any sort of dramatic events like this from happening again, Ford said. How didnt the school notice the missing cash? Most people, and businesses, would notice hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from their bank account. Why didnt May River Montessori? Prior to this fiscal year the board approved a budget, supplied by the administration including the executive director, that included $250,000 in grants, according to the statement. The statement says that the administration never mentioned that the school hadnt received those grants, and Runyan and Ford, the board members, said they didnt know the names of the grants or if they had been applied for. The board was notified by the bank April 21 that the school had requested a line of credit increase from $100,000 to $250,000, but they believed it would be used as a safety reserve and not to meet operating costs, according to the statement. On April 27 their bank notified the board of concerns regarding communications they were (receiving) from the bookkeeper, according to the statement. Runyan and Ford declined to say what those communications were. The board discovered May 3 that the school wasnt going to have enough money in the bank to make payroll on May 9, and board members personally loaned money to the school to make that payroll, according to the statement. From there, the board became aware of the missing grants and began working with the bank to secure a loan. Photographed on June 7, 2023, May River Montessori is located at Calhoun and Bridge streets in Old Town Bluffton. We like to think of our school as a family, but were a business also, Ford said. Businesses have to make business related decisions. Can we predict the future of the business of May River Montessori? No, but weve done everything that we can do to prevent something like this from happening again. at the end of the day its a private school Unlike Beaufort County public schools, which provide a broken down budget for each school year, private non-profit schools like May River Montessori are only required to publicly submit 990s tax forms, often leaving the public, parents and teachers in the dark about where their money goes. Golden also pays for her niece to attend the school in addition to being a former teacher. She said as the person giving the school payment, she isnt privy to where the money goes once she submits her check, though she said she hasnt specifically asked for it either. Its gotten down to the point where I pay my nieces tuition at school, and I have never received a receipt after her tuition has been paid, she said. The full-day primary program tuition is $8,870 a year. The school had $1,975,122 in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 2022, according to their most recent 990 tax forms. Quigley, the previous executive director, had a $123,239 salary that year, up about 35 percent from the year before when she was paid $91,000. Pictured is the Haag Elementary building of May River Montessori as seen on May 15, 2023 located on the corner of Bridge and Calhoun streets in Old Town Bluffton. In comparison, Hilton Heads Sea Pines Montessori Academys most recent tax forms are from the fiscal year ending June 2021. The forms say their position of head of school similar to an executive director, made $131,644 in total. Runyan said they gave parents and teachers all the information they needed to know about the recent financial situation. At the end of the day its a private school, Runyan said. And we we gave everybody who needs to know, which is the parents and the teachers, all of the information. Runyan and Ford said their most recent financial audit was for the 2021-22 school year, and they dont have an answer for if theyll do an audit for this year. What will happen next year? At the end of May River Montessoris school year See, her mother and Golden watched as their former students crossed a stage with graduation caps on their heads and tassels swinging across their faces. Golden said a student called her one of the best teachers theyve ever had in a speech. Not being able to be a part of that anymore is what hurts the most. I feel like that we probably could have gotten past this as a school if they would have just included us and let us known, Golden said. We could have figured something out together. See, her mother and Golden said that they all want to continue teaching. One of my main goals is to inspire (kids), to help kids, and (to) help them grow and develop into who they need to be, who they want to be, Golden said. So being let go and not being with the kids really hurt. Despite everything that happened, Runyan and Ford said the energy going into next school year is very positive, and they have the funds needed to for a full 2023-24 school year. Theres a lot of positive energy moving forward and a lot of support, Ford said. Were really looking forward to a great year. Correction: Earlier version of this story referred to Samantha See and her mother with the surname of Lee. The story has been updated to correct the error. In some other part of the multiverse, Ezra Miller may at this very moment be zipping around the globe to promote "The Flash," talking up the upcoming superhero movie in press junkets, signing autographs at fan events and cracking jokes on late-night talk shows. In this corner of reality, however, despite positive buzz for the film and Miller's performance as the Scarlet Speedster, the actor has been absent from the publicity campaign for the costly, high-stakes DC Comics tentpole, which hits theaters June 16. When Miller walks the red carpet at the film's low-key Los Angeles premiere on Monday, they will pose for photos but it's unclear whether they will answer any questions from the press. Following months of troubling headlines about Miller's erratic and sometimes violent off-screen behavior, including multiple arrests, Warner Bros., which is releasing "The Flash," has sidelined the actor in an effort to shield the film from any further PR damage. In a statement released in August, the 30-year-old Miller said they were suffering "complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment," offering an apology to "everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior." Directed by Andy Muschietti (also of the horror blockbuster "It"), "The Flash" marks the first time Miller's high-speed hero, who made supporting appearances in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Justice League," has been given his own big-screen vehicle. But for Warner Bros., which is in the midst of an ambitious and high-stakes effort to reinvigorate its oft-criticized DC cinematic universe, the actor's troubles have created a volatile flash point. (Muschietti didn't respond to multiple interview requests for this story; a representative for Warner Bros. said the studio had no comment on Miller's off-screen issues or their future with the franchise.) "Every few years, you have one of these unfortunate situations where a star who is inextricably linked with a character or a movie has very public off-screen issues," says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. "This causes the studio publicity people nightmares because it takes one more thing out of their control. 'The Flash' will be a case study in what happens if you can't have the main star doing publicity." It remains to be seen to what extent the controversy around Miller will affect the box-office performance of "The Flash," which cost $195 million to produce and was reported as of late last month to be tracking toward a relatively soft opening of around $70 million. Critics and early audiences have largely praised the film, in which Miller's Barry Allen traverses alternate realities, joining forces with a younger version of himself, along with an aging Batman (Michael Keaton) and Supergirl (Sasha Calle), to try to prevent his mother's death and save the world from the Kryptonian villain General Zod (Michael Shannon). Miller, who earlier starred in 2012's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise, is hardly the first actor whose off-screen problems have cast a shadow over the release of a film. In February 2022, as Armie Hammer was embroiled in scandal over allegations of sexual misconduct, 20th Century Studios all but erased him from ads for its lavish Agatha Christie adaptation "Death on the Nile," which ultimately flopped at the box office. More recently, Will Smith's shocking, violent Oscar-night meltdown upended Apple's plans for the period action thriller "Emancipation," derailing its efforts to gain awards season traction. Studios have far less leverage to manage such controversies than they did in decades past, according to Stephen Galloway, dean of Chapman University's film school. "In the golden era of Hollywood, stars could get away with all sorts of things and studios would hush things up," Galloway says. "There was also a period where we sort of accepted some bad behavior from stars. Today, everybody's hypersensitive to anything and, in the era of social media backlash, you can't control the backlash. For Warner Bros., the question is, 'How can we get the PR we want without Miller doing or saying something that creates a whole new flurry of bad press?'" Ezra Miller attends the 15th annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York in 2018. (Evan Agostini / Invision / AP) While Miller has long had a reputation for eccentricity, the actor underwent a chaotic downward spiral last year. In the spring of 2022, they were arrested twice in Hawaii, first for disorderly conduct and harassment following an altercation at a bar and then for second-degree assault after they reportedly threw a chair at a woman. In June, Miller was accused by the parents of an 18-year-old in North Dakota of using "emotional and psychological manipulation" and "cult-like behavior" to groom the girl starting when she was 12. In August, the actor was charged with a felony burglary, and reports emerged that Vermonts child services agency was trying to find a mother and three children who allegedly had been residing at Millers farm. Amid these disturbing headlines, rumors swirled last fall that Warner Bros. was considering shelving "The Flash," as it had recently done with "Batgirl." Ultimately, the studio decided to push ahead, banking that fans of superhero spectacle would be undeterred from seeing the film, which generated a wave of enthusiastic buzz when it was shown to exhibitors in April at CinemaCon. Indeed, it's unclear how much die-hard fans actually care about the drama swirling around Miller. Joe Brady, who works at Pasadena's Collector's Paradise comic book shop, says he definitely plans to see "The Flash." "In terms of whatever Ezra Miller is going through, if they are working on themselves, I think that everybody deserves a second chance maybe a third," says Brady, who notes that many fans seem more excited to see Keaton reprise his role as Batman than Miller's turn as the Flash. "I try not to read too much into the tabloid-y nature of it all. Celebrities are under a microscope." Ryan Leibowitz, co-owner of Golden Apple Comics in Hollywood, shares that sentiment. "I'm sure [Miller] has some mental health issues, but who doesn't these days, especially after the pandemic?" Leibowitz says. "This has been a roller coaster of emotions for fans, because everyone was really excited and then there was all that bad press for Miller. But the movie looks awesome, and I think hardcore fans will see it." But another comic-shop employee, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid negative pushback from fellow fans, was more troubled by the allegations around Miller: "It amazes me that celebrities can be accused of the things that [they] did and be allowed to get away with it. As much as I want to see it, I can't bring myself to give money to support that actor. I kind of hate putting shine on [their] name." Beyond "The Flash," Miller's future remains an open question. The actor has a supporting role as a young Salvador Dali in the new indie "Daliland," now in limited release, but Miller appears for just a few seconds in the trailer for the film, which has drawn largely negative reviews. At this point, Miller has no other greenlit projects in the pipeline. Muschietti has publicly lavished praise on Miller, saying he would cast the actor in any potential sequel: "I dont think theres anyone that can play that character as well as they did," the director said on a recent episode of the Discourse podcast. But from the studio's perspective, Miller's lack of a box-office track record, combined with the DC slate's malleable multiverse conceit, could make it easier to simply swap in another actor with less baggage. "Today [the studio reps] say, 'We don't have any problems, everything's great,'" says Galloway. "But the public spin doesn't mean that's really what people are thinking. Behind the scenes they could be saying, 'Quick, get me out of this.' If you're investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a movie that's resting on one person's shoulders and that person may not deliver the performance or be around for marketing, very few studios are going to want to make that investment." For the moment at least, some comic-book fans are only too happy to tune out all the drama around Miller. "I've seen some allegations but I don't know a ton about what they've done," says Morgan Lashley Haines, who works at Collector's Paradise. "I'm mostly excited to see Supergirl. That's what I'm looking for." When it comes to superhero fandom, indifference, not controversy, may be the ultimate kryptonite. Times staff writer Jevon Phillips contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. As he hit the campaign trail this weekend, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defended former President Donald Trump after he was indicted for his alleged mishandling of classified documents, but noted that he would have been punished if he had taken home classified documents as a naval officer. In a speech at the North Carolina Republican convention on Friday, DeSantis referenced the decision by former FBI director James Comey to recommend no charges be filed in the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was the nation's top diplomat. But his comments came as Trump was charged with 37 felony counts related to his handling of classified material after he left the White House in 2021. "As a naval officer, if I would have taken classified [documents] to my apartment, I would have been court-martialed in a New York minute," DeSantis said. "Is there a different standard for a Democrat secretary of state versus a former Republican president?" DeSantis added. "I think there needs to be one standard of justice in this country. Let's enforce it on everybody and make sure we all know the rules. You can't have one faction of society weaponizing the power of the state against factions that it doesn't like and that's what you see." Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers remarks June 9, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. / Credit: / Getty Images Trump was given a prime speaking slot Saturday night at the same North Carolina Republican convention, where he railed against the indictment and showed no sign of stepping away from the 2024 race. A CBS News poll conducted last week showed Trump still maintained a nearly 40-point edge over DeSantis, who is still seen as the greatest threat to Trump in the 2024 race. A day later, at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, DeSantis did not directly reference Trump's indictment. Instead, he called for the end of the "weaponization" of law enforcement. Joe Young, a veteran and Republican, told CBS News at a rodeo DeSantis attended in Ponca City, Oklahoma, that he also would have been punished if he mishandled classified information. "I was in the military for 20 years," Young said. "Anybody that blatantly disregards classified information, well, they should be held accountable. If it was me that did it, my ass would already be in prison." DeSantis did not answer a question on Saturday on whether he had read the full Trump indictment. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who endorsed DeSantis during the Tulsa rally, called the indictment "a political tool to take out an opponent." "The weaponization of the federal government is very, very concerning for Americans and Oklahomans," he told reporters at the rodeo. A video posted Saturday by the pro-DeSantis super PAC "Never Back Down" criticizes the DOJ for the indictment, and echoes DeSantis' critiques of Hunter Biden and the "weaponization" of federal agencies. In the indictment that was unsealed Friday, the Justice Department alleged Trump kept the classified documents in boxes stored at Mar-a-Lago, including in a bathroom and shower, a ballroom and his bedroom. The documents allegedly contained information on U.S. nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies to a military attack and plans for potential retaliation in response to an attack, according to the indictment. "The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods," the indictment said. Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, is also alleged to have shown the classified documents to people who lacked a security clearance and also to have obstructed the National Archives and Records Administration and the Justice Department's efforts to recover the documents. After Trump broke the news Thursday night that he was being indicted, DeSantis said the decision to bring charges was a "weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society." "We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation," he said in a tweet. "Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter [Biden]?" Investment tips for teens with summer jobs Trump GOP opponents weigh in on indictment as former president maintains lead in field New details about children rescued after 40 days in Amazon rainforest The federal indictment of Donald Trump, unsealed on Friday, was filled with startling new accounts of how the former president allegedly mishandled classified information. But the revelation of who would oversee the case could present unique challenges for the Justice Department. Aileen Cannon, a former prosecutor in her early 40s who has spent two and a half years on the bench, is the same Trump appointee who repeatedly ruled in his favor in a related case. She will now oversee a trial that experts believe could influence the American publics trust in the fairness of the court system for years to come. Cannon will guide how quickly the case goes to trial, oversee the selection of jurors and determine what evidence can be presented to the jury. Follow along for live Trump indictment coverage Stephen Gillers, a professor of legal ethics at New York University School of Law, predicted that the trial would be fair. But he said the former presidents claims that he is being selectively prosecuted and politically persecuted could undermine public trust in the nonpartisanship of the courts, the Justice Department and the FBI. "This will be the most consequential and most watched prosecution in American history," Gillers said. Will enough of the public accept the verdict, whatever it is? Or will they see any result as political? Answers to those questions are as important as the verdict." Trump, who has launched another bid for the White House, has cast the governments case against him as the latest in a long run of politically motivated witch hunts, arguing without evidence that President Joe Biden was trying to force him out of the 2024 race. On Saturday, in Trump's first public remarks since the case against him was unsealed on Friday, the former president called it a ridiculous and baseless indictment of me by the Biden administrations weaponized Department of Injustice. A significant issue before the case even reaches trial is how, and how quickly, Cannon resolves pretrial motions. Chief among those are expected filings by the Trump defense team to exclude any evidence from his defense lawyer at the time, Evan Corcoran. The indictment makes clear that prosecutors have relied on contemporaneous notes that Corcoran took of his interactions with Trump, including his clients resistance to turning over classified documents. At one point, according to Corcorans recounting, Trump made a plucking motion that seemed to indicate Corcoran should simply pull out the classified material from a batch that the lawyer planned to return to the government. In March, a federal judge in Washington, Beryl A. Howell, granted a request from prosecutors to apply the crime fraud exception to Corcoran's conversations with Trump. The ruling, which is rare, meant that the bedrock legal principle, that attorney-client communications stay secret, did not apply because Justice Department lawyers showed that legal services had been used in furtherance of a crime. Trumps lawyers have sharply criticized Howells ruling and will likely ask Cannon to block prosecutors from presenting evidence from Corcoran to the trial jury. If Cannon agrees that the jury should not hear all of the Corcoran evidence, the Justice Departments case wont be over, but it will be critically hobbled. How, and how quickly, Cannon rules regarding the use of the classified documents at the center of the prosecutions case will also have an impact. Trumps lawyers will likely use delay a tactic that the former president has embraced for decades in legal battles to their advantage. This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records being stored on the stage in the White and Gold Ballroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed Friday, June 9, 2023. (Justice Department via AP) (Justice Department via AP) Brandon Van Grack, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor and a lead prosecutor in the Mueller investigation, noted that the use of classified documents involves a separate discovery and litigation process, under the Classified Information Processing Act, or CIPA. They will create significant delay and litigation risk, he wrote on Twitter, adding that most judges do not have experience with the process. This process takes time and will be unfamiliar to the judge. Some legal experts have argued that Trump could have an ally in Cannon, based on her past rulings in the classified documents case. Cannon, who was born in Colombia and grew up in Miami, attended Duke University and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. She then worked as a clerk for a federal appeals court judge in Iowa and in the Washington office of the elite law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. In 2013, Cannon left the firm, returned to Florida and embarked on a job that could significantly affect her handling of the Trump case. For seven years, Cannon worked as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, in the major crimes and appellate divisions. In the spring of 2020, Trump nominated Cannon to the federal bench with the backing of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. During a confirmation hearing, Cannon pledged to uphold the rule of law and lauded her mothers courage in fleeing repression in Cuba. Days after the election in November, the Senate confirmed Cannon along largely bipartisan lines. Initially, Cannon rulings attracted relatively little public attention. That changed after FBI agents searched Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022 for classified documents. Cannon was randomly assigned to oversee the subsequent legal battle that unfolded between Trumps legal team and the Justice Department. In the first case, Cannon ruled in favor of Trumps request to appoint a special master a third-party attorney to review whether the documents that the Justice Department and FBI had found in Trumps home were protected by executive privilege, a contention that many legal experts dismissed. She also temporarily blocked parts of the Justice Departments investigation into the trove of top secret and classified documents retrieved by federal agents, while putting forth legal arguments that Trumps team hadnt made, among them that the former president could suffer injury to his reputation if the Justice Department indicted him. (Cannon did not respond to a request for comment.) Justice Department lawyers appealed, arguing that the Trump request was simply an effort to delay their work and that executive privilege did not apply in this case. A federal appeals court, with several of its judges appointed by Trump, sided with the Justice Department, and twice overturned Cannon. To create a special exception here would defy our Nations foundational principle that our law applies to all, without regard to numbers, wealth, or rank, the judges wrote in one ruling. The impact of those rulings on Cannon is unclear. They could prompt her to be more cautious in the Trump trial. Any judge overseeing such an unprecedented, high-stakes trial will also come under enormous scrutiny. Whether Trump is found guilty or acquitted, the trial and how it is perceived by the public will likely define Cannons career and judicial legacy. Ryan Goodman, a professor at New York University School of Law, said that if Cannon issues rulings that appear to favor Trump it could decrease public trust in the fairness of judges. The problem is that she has demonstrated such bias in her prior rulings," Goodman said. Does her holding the case create damage to public confidence in the courts? Jack Smith speaks at the Department of Justice (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) Many Trump supporters have made it clear that criminal allegations against Trump will not diminish their support. After the former president was indicted in March by a grand jury in Manhattan in a separate case, support for him among Republican voters increased. Id vote for him from jail, Vince Condra of Fredericksburg, Texas, told NBC News at a Trump rally in Waco, days after that indictment. Meanwhile, questions about how Cannon was assigned, at random, to the Trump trial remain. Federal courts across the country randomly assign cases to judges but some legal experts question how Cannon was randomly chosen twice to oversee Trump cases. In response to a question, Angela Noble, the chief clerk of the South Florida federal court system, told NBC News that the case was randomly assigned. The New York Times reported that Cannon was chosen at random from about a half dozen federal judges in the West Palm Beach division, where the Trump trial will take place. Noble also told the paper that Cannon would continue to oversee the case unless she recused herself. Gillers, the NYU legal ethics expert, called for the chief judge in the Southern District of Florida to review how the case was assigned. It may be innocent, Gillers said. And the clerks assurance is welcome. But the public needs confirmation from the chief judge, who is ultimately responsible for case assignments. The stakes of the Trump trial are enormous. The American judicial system has long been criticized for racial, gender and class bias but the first-ever criminal trial of a former president could deepen public doubts and partisan divisions. Gillers said that the trial would serve as an unprecedented, nationwide civics lesson. He declined to predict what verdict the jury would reach inside the courtroom and what verdict the public would reach outside it. The trial of the former president could affirm the ideal that the powerful, like all Americans, should be held accountable for their actions, experts said. Or it could cause large numbers of Americans to lose faith in the courts, politics and, potentially, American democracy itself. Much will depend on how the prosecutors and judges conduct themselves. They must view their role as including education, in language the public will understand, Gillers said. Eventually, a trial jury may reach a verdict, but the public verdict remains unpredictable. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Florida man breaks into multiple apartments, jumps out of window to avoid deputies A man was arrested Sunday morning after breaking into an apartment complex in Sumter County. The Sumter County Sheriffs Office received 911 calls reporting that a car crashed into one of the apartments and the driver broke into multiple units. Deputies and the Villages Fire Rescue arrived at the scene at Sandalwood Apartments around 3:54 a.m. Once deputies arrived, they said the man, later identified as 44-year-old Corey Michael Payton, barricaded himself inside an apartment on the second floor. Read: Osceola deputies add more charges in child sex assault case as another victim comes forward Payton threatened to shoot deputies, and the S.W.A.T. team evacuated nearby apartments. The Sumter County Sheriffs Office Crisis Negotiations Team tried to persuade Payton to surrender through the window he broke into. According to a news release, Payton dove out the window after several hours of negotiation. Read: Part of highway collapses in Philadelphia after tanker truck fire First responders provided first aid and took the 44-year-old man to a regional trauma center. According to the sheriffs office, Payton violated parole for burglary, and a warrant to arrest him was issued on June 9. Deputies found Paytons ankle monitor cut off in one of the affected apartment units. Read: Heres how space travel affects the human brain The 44-year-old man has a criminal history of 139 prior felony charges with 30 felony convictions, officials said. Payton now faces charges of burglary to an occupied dwelling, burglary to a dwelling, and multiple counts of criminal mischief, according to a news release. Deputies said Payton would be booked once he leaves the hospital. Read: Heres how to prepare to start paying back your student loans when the pandemic payment freeze ends The investigation is still ongoing. Those with any information can contact the Sumter County Sheriffs Office at 352-793-2621. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Footage shows an orca that appears to carry away a severed rudder after a pod of killer whales attacked a yacht off the coast of Spain Orca swims away from with with destroyed rudder. catamaranguru Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/catamaranguru Footage shows an orca swimming off with a destroyed rudder after killer whales attacked a catamaran. The vessel's captain told Newsweek the orcas focussed on the yacht's rudders. The boat was sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar in April, an area where orcas have been targeting boats. A pod of orcas targeted a yacht sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar, destroying both rudders on the vessel. Recently-posted footage appears to show one of the killer whales swimming off with one of the severed rudders. The footage, shared on Instagram by Catamaran Guru earlier this week, shows the orca swimming up to the boat and carrying off one of the rudders. The yacht's captain, Dan Kriz, was sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar in April when the eight orcas came in contact with his boat. "We were about to cross shipping lines and turning south to the Canary Islands when we felt like we got bad with a wave," Kriz told Newsweek in a recent interview. When the orcas rammed the boat a second time, the sailor realized what was happening, he said. "My first reaction was, 'Please! Not again,'" Kriz told Newsweek. The captain told the news outlet he had previously been ambushed by orcas in 2020 when sailing through the same area. Last April, Kriz was delivering a catamaran for the Florida-based company Catamaran Guru when the orcas targeted the rudders specifically: "It didn't take them that long to destroy both rudders," he said. "Looks like they knew exactly what they were doing. They didn't touch anything else," he told the news outlet. "Bottom line is, we are in their territory" REUTERS/Maxi Jonas Orcas have been increasingly targeting ships in the region, and experts have been trying to explain the reason behind it. One popular theory suggests that a female orca named White Gladis may have experienced a traumatic event that triggered a change in her behavior to attack vessels. Other orcas in the area could be imitating her actions, Insider previously reported. Indeed, Kriz believes a female orca led the attack on his boat. "Suddenly, one big adult orca started chasing us. In a couple of minutes, she was under the boat, and that was when we realized there was still a little piece of fiberglass left, and she wanted to finish the job. After that, we didn't see them anymore," he told Newsweek. While orca interactions with boats are usually harmless, they sometimes ram vessels and even sink them which can be "quite terrifying" for those onboard. Insider's Joshua Zitser recently reported on a similar case, where killer whales also ripped off both rudders of a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar. In that case, the sailor said he felt the orcas were being "almost playful" rather than particularly aggressive. While it remains unclear what is behind this phenomenon, one expert said he believed that the orca attacks in the region would only escalate, Insider recently reported. Even so, many have warned that, ultimately, sailors are in the orcas' habitat, so they should be left alone and not demonized. Kriz echoed this sentiment: "I'm strongly against harming the orcas," he said. "Bottom line is, we are in their territory." Read the original article on Business Insider Judge's gavel A former Capitol Police investigator involved in a 2021 car wreck that killed two people in Christian County pleaded guilty last month to a sole charge of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol. Robert Milton Hodson, 48, of Taylorville originally had pleaded not guilty in Christian County court. Hodson, who was terminated from his job, will be sentenced before Fourth Circuit Court Judge Brad Paisley on August 21. More: Taylorville crash victims remembered; Capitol police investigator out on bond By an agreement, Hodson's sentence will be capped at 20 years. After the plea, Hodson was ordered immediately to report to the probation department. Hodson has been out on bond. Haley Anne Shoot, 19, and Zaydin J. Dudra, 20, both of Taylorville, were killed in the wreck on Illinois 48 near East 1550 North Road between Taylorville and Stonington on April 8, 2021. Illinois State Police said Hodson was traveling north on Illinois 48 when he crossed into the left lane in his 2018 Jeep Wrangler to pass another vehicle and struck Shoot's car head-on. A passenger in the car driven by Shoot, Jade Thomas of Lafayette, Indiana, formerly of Bulpitt, was injured in the crash. The Capitol Police fall under the Illinois Secretary of State's office. Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Former Capitol Police investigator pleads guilty Wendell Nicholson has been granted diversion after leaking confidential police records to a Walmart security guard while he was a captain in the Wichita Police Department. Nicholson, a 29-year veteran who retired one day before he was charged with eight felony computer crimes in March, signed the diversion agreement May 23, court records show. Nicholson admitted he is guilty of all charges, and the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office agreed to drop the case as long as he stays out of trouble for one year and abides by the terms of the diversion agreement. Those terms include reporting to the diversion office by mail or in person once a month; maintaining a functioning telephone number with voicemail; attending school or work full-time, unless exempted; not violating the law; notifying the diversion office whenever he has contact with a law enforcement official; and receiving permission before leaving the state of Kansas. The court order notifies Nicholson he is receiving diversion after investigation of the offenses, and your background, and considering the factors contained (in state law for diversion) . . . the interest of justice will be served by granting diversion. Nicholson, 52, had no prior convictions. District Attorney Marc Bennett previously told The Eagle that the leaks did not compromise any criminal investigations. Nicholson must pay $160 to the District Attorneys Office, $195 in court costs and a $33 jail processing fee. Nicholson was not arrested and instead appeared in court on a summons. But he had to go through a booking process last month, where he provided information to Sedgwick County Jail without having to spend any time in a cell. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. The leaked records included body camera video of a police shooting, details about an internal investigation into text messages sent by SWAT team members and gang list information. Other records included DEA bulletins, shooting reviews, victim and suspect identities, information about gang feuds and murder suspects, and an image of homicide victims. Those records are typically withheld by the city or barred from disclosure by state law. The city refuses to disclose who is on its secretive gang list. Even people placed on the list are not allowed to know theyre on it. The city is being sued in federal court on claims that the approximately 3,000-member list is frequently abused and unfairly and arbitrarily targets African-American and Hispanic residents for heightened police scrutiny, higher bail and enhanced sentences. Nicholson was a captain who oversaw the traffic division and the Patrol South police station. He also served as the departments liaison to the Wichita Citizens Review Board, a civilian oversight group that reviews officer discipline decisions and Professional Standards Bureau investigations, from the summer of 2020 to April 2022. Nicholson the highest ranking Black man in the Wichita Police Department when he retired handled the CRBs review of the departments mishandling of discipline for officers who sent racist, sexist and homophobic text messages, including some that celebrated police brutality. The board issued a scathing report on the departments handling of the case, and the city responded by disciplining some of the officers and hiring Jensen Hughes to investigate the culture inside the department. Two weeks after an Eagle investigation uncovered the troubling text messages and subsequent failure to discipline the SWAT team members involved, interim Chief Lem Moore pulled Nicholson from his role. Nicholson is one of ten defendants being sued by Deputy Chief Jose Salcido and former deputy chiefs Chet Pinkston and Wanda Givens, who made up former Chief Gordon Ramsays executive team. The deputy chiefs claimed in a late-February federal court filing that Nicholson is believed to have released confidential information about criminal cases in violation of the law and city policy and took part in a conspiracy to discredit and remove the deputy chiefs from their positions. Givens and Pinkston left the department voluntarily, and Salcido remains the deputy chief of investigations. Nicholson, whose legal representation in the federal lawsuit is being paid for by the city, is seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed in part because he was not their supervisor and was not in a position retaliate against them. Taking away Texans freedom Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parkers removal of the optional Pride badge from the citys summer reading challenge is disappointing, un-American and antidemocratic. (June 8, 1A, Critics blast mayor over removal of Pride reading challenge) Removing this component of a reading program because a small number of nearly 1 million city residents complained undermines the professionalism of the librarians and takes away the freedom of choice from other families. Children need to see themselves and their families represented in literature. Learning about cultures different from their own creates empathy and a better understanding of the world around them. Libraries are for everyone. - Megan Hale, Arlington We have better than Ken Paxton Ken and Angela Paxton are the Bill and Hillary Clinton of Texas in terms of grift. (June 8, 2A, Ken Paxton impeachment: What we know about the timing for a trial in the Texas Senate) Its time for Ken Paxton to go. Texans deserve an attorney general who is not a crook. There are plenty of qualified, honorable, conservative Republican lawyers in our state from which to choose a replacement. - Todd K. Hulsey, Burleson Big Tech wants to take the wheel Its clear what the Big Tech companies behind driverless vehicles are up to. Theyre hard at work downplaying the serious concerns about trucks that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds operating next to you on our roads and highways. (May 28, 3A, Why Fort Worth is so important to the future of self-driving technology) These companies claim that autonomous trucks are safer than those driven by humans. They fail to mention accidents, vehicles freezing in traffic and lack of safety data in some states. We cant let California-based autonomous vehicle companies such as Waymo dictate whats good for Texans. Lawmakers are paying attention, given the pushback the industry received in a recent House Transportation Committee hearing. With investment in autonomous driving dropping more than 58% in the past year, as a recent story in Forbes noted, its obvious that driverless vehicle companies are stuck in low gear. - Brent Taylor, Dallas The writer is the leader of Teamsters Local 745 and international vice president for the unions Southern Region. Fort Worth thanks G.K. Maenius Serving with aplomb, G.K. Maenius has made an enormous, lasting difference in Tarrant County government. (June 9, 1A, G.K. Maenius, county official since 1988, to step down) Someday, a county building will be named in his honor, as it should be. - Roger Summers, Arlington Bishop Michael Olsons hypocrisy I am so heartbroken and frustrated to read repeatedly about the mess with Fort Worth Catholic Bishop Michael Olson and the nun accused of breaking her chastity vows. (June 8, 1A, Police investigate nuns dispute with Fort Worth bishop) She is being dismissed from the Order of Discalced Carmelites, where she oversaw cloistered nuns. Though the accused priest is from a different parish, we have yet to hear about his punishment from the church. And this entire group of nuns is being punished by no longer having a daily mass. But what upsets me more is how differently it is being handled from the cases of priests who molested children for many years. Many were merely sent to different parishes, and those parishes were not alerted to their histories, so the molestation probably continued. Can you see the difference here, male versus female? What about the priests vows? - Barbara Suber, Fort Worth Shame to local Catholic Diocese Isnt it curious how often Bishop Michael Olson manages to get himself in the news for picking fights with women? Most other bishops seem to avoid the amount of attention that Olson brings to the Diocese of Fort Worth with his inability to shut his disrespectful mouth. Most other bishops realize that false imprisonment isnt canonical and is not covered under the First Amendment. - Kelly White, Watauga Is there a Trump feeding frenzy? Doesnt the increasing number of Republicans lining up to jump into the presidential race as Donald Trump stumbles bring to mind the headline: Blood in the water? - Guelma B. Hopkins, Fort Worth Friends, family remember 15-year-old boy killed during shooting at graduation party in New Castle Friends and family of a 15-year-old boy who was shot and killed in New Castle held a balloon release in his honor at the spot he was killed, just hours after shots were fired. Damian Jackson and two other teen boys were shot early Saturday morning. Jackson was taken to a hospital in Allegheny County where he later died. RELATED COVERAGE >>> 15-year-old boy dead after shooting in New Castle, 2 other juveniles injured Jacksons mother said her son was very family oriented and loved his four brothers and sister. Hes a really good friend, said Marc Robinson, who knew Jackson. Thats what I got to say. Hes a good friend. Helping me around and stuff when my brother and him be playing around. Hes a good friend. Police said the teen was at a high school graduation party at Bollinger Playground, celebrating with friends. They were just having fun, Robinson said. Its graduation. Its almost summer. Robinson, 12, said he was outside at his aunts house across the street when gunfire erupted. I just heard the gunshots, and I just went into the house because they sounded like [they were] right next to the house, he said. I remember my mom told me, When you hear gunshots, go somewhere safe. Robinson said his older brother was at that graduation party and he wanted to go but didnt. Hes thankful his brother wasnt hurt, adding that the seemingly endless gun violence makes him want to stay inside. Its just scary, Robinson said. Maybe I might get shot. Im just scared a little bit. The stepmom of the other boy who was shot told Channel 11 he is 13 years old and was shot in the shoulder. Hes now recovering. As for the other teen who was shot, there is no update on his condition but at last check, was still in the hospital. The police chief said the shooting is still under investigation and would not say if they have a suspect. The family has started a GoFundMe to raise money for Jacksons funeral expenses. Click here to donate. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Police searching for persons of interest in Jeanette shooting that left woman dead, 4 others injured Officials say Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski has died in federal prison Friday Night Fights: Brawl in the stands during Pirates-Mets game VIDEO: Pennsylvania AG lawsuit alleges local dealership sold cars that didnt pass inspection, broke down DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Ga. man arrested for child molestation, found with multiple loaded guns during traffic stop On Thursday afternoon, Georgia deputies conducted a traffic stop on a man accused of child molestation and found him with multiple loaded guns in his front seat. At around 4:30 p.m., Banks County deputies arrested 60-year-old Samuel McDuffie of Commerce, during a traffic stop on Highway 59. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Deputies said they found a gun and several fully loaded magazines in the front seat. McDuffie was arrested on multiple charges of aggravated child molestation. TRENDING STORIES: Deputies said they are continuing to investigate McDuffie and there could be more charges forthcoming. If you have any additional information regarding this incident or others, you are asked to contact Investigator Michael Alford here or call 706-677-2248 ext. 4015. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Ga. man defrauded business owners out of more than $113K in online banking scheme, officials say A Georgia man is accused of defrauding two business owners out of thousands of dollars while owning an alleged Christian bookstore. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California, Michael Uziewe, 63, of Grayson, Georgia pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud on Thursday. Officials state that Uziewe allegedly owned a business names Gods Word Christian Book Store. The first victim, an owner of a classic car dealership in Irvine, California communicated with an alleged seller for two transmissions. The victim reportedly sent over $13,000 to the Gods Word Christian Book Store business account that Uziewe managed at Ameris Bank. Authorities said the victim never received the transmissions. TRENDING STORIES: California officials state, a month later, a second victim, an owner of a nail salon in Jersey City, New Jersey, sent over $100,000 to Uziewes Ameris Bank account. According to the release, she sent the money to assist the return to the U.S., of a person who claimed he was a surgeon working for the United Nations in Yemen and need the funds to pay for costs associated with traveling to the U.S. Authorities said when Uziewe tried to withdraw the money from the bookstore account, he falsely claimed that they were profits from book sales. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 14. Uziewe faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. IN OTHER NEWS: From a gator on a Florida Keys highway to a crocodile in a pool. This trapper is in demand A Florida Keys family called authorities when they found an uninvited guest lounging in their swimming pool early Sunday morning. This intruder wasnt human, though. It was a large American crocodile, a reptile native to the Keys that was once near extinction and now reclaiming its natural habitat, mostly in South Florida and the southernmost island chain. As their population continues to grow, its not unusual to see crocodiles in South Florida canals and, yes, swimming pools. One more example in Florida of why everyone should turn on the pool light before they jump in for a swim at night, Todd Hardwick, a well-known trapper who removed the croc in question after arriving at the Plantation Key home around 2 a.m., told the Miami Herald/FLKeysnews.com. After the homeowners, whove not been named, called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to report the 10-foot croc, the agency sent Hardwick and his team from Pesky Critters Wildlife Control the same crew that removed a large alligator that was blocking traffic along the busy 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 days earlier. Animal trappers attempt to wrangle an alligator on the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 heading into the Florida Keys Monday, June 5, 2023. A video sent by Pesky Critters shows Hardwick rope the reptile, which fought against capture rolling in the pool and splashing, creating a slick deck that made the struggle precarious for the trappers. Hardwick and his assistant trapper Jeff Peterla heaved the croc on the deck and duct taped its mouth shut. American crocodiles are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act as threatened, so when they are captured from a home, they are usually released back into the wild or relocated. With the help of a Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputy, the trappers brought the crocodile down to a boat ramp located next to the house, removed the tape and the animal swam off into the canal. The whole thing went fairly quickly, Hardwich said. You dont want to put a lot of stress on them. And that slippery deck that made its capture so tricky? It made it easier for the trappers to pull the croc off the property, Hardwich said. He kind of just glided across the patio, he said. An American crocodile tenses up on a Florida Keys patio after trappers removed it from the homes swimming pool Sunday, June 11, 2023. Locals say the croc is a frequent sight in the area, and the homeowner has no problem with it as long as it stays in the canal and mangroves. His only objection was it was in the pool and wanted it to himself, Hardwick said. To keep the croc and others in the area off the property, Hardwick pointed out an access area to the yard where he recommended the owner construct a barrier. That should solve the problem of the croc going into the pool for a swim in the future, said Hardwick, who at 60-years-old has been making local and international headlines for his notable wildlife adventures since getting started 42 years ago. Why arent gators usually relocated? The alligator that Hardwick caught on the 18 Mile Stretch Monday was likely harvested for its meat and hide, he said. Unlike crocodiles, which, despite their rebounding numbers, are only about 2,000 strong in the state after being hunted almost to extinction between 1930 and 1960 alligators have a stable population of about 1.3 million animals that live in all of Floridas 67 counties, according to the FWC. Therefore, any gator more than 4 feet long that is deemed to pose a possible threat to people, pets or property, the FWC considers a nuisance that is usually killed when removed by trappers. The removal of nuisance alligators does not have a significant impact on our states alligator population, the FWC says on its website. Cars drive around an alligator on the side of the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 leading into the Florida Keys Monday, June 5, 2023. And why not just relocate them? State wildlife officials say its usually not effective and can create more issues. To avoid creating a problem at the release site, nuisance alligators would need to be relocated to remote areas where they would not encounter people. These remote areas already have healthy alligator populations, and the ones that already live there have established social structures, the agency says. The introduction of a new alligator to these areas would likely cause fighting, possibly resulting in the death of a resident alligator or the introduced alligator. Whats the likelihood of an attack? Gator attacks on people and pets are rare in Florida, but they do happen. And, tragically, sometimes people are killed. However, there has never been a recorded incident in which an American crocodile killed a human in the United States, according to the University of Florida. Unlike their cousins on other continents, American crocodiles are considered timid and typically avoid interacting with people. Unfortunately, American crocodiles have fatally preyed upon several pets in South Florida in recent years as they, as the FWC puts it, have reclaimed their historic range. Hardwicks team offered the following advice to people living in South Florida, where their chances of encountering an American crocodile are growing, coinciding with the reptiles recovering population: Keep a safe distance if you see a crocodile. Be aware that crocodiles often will bask with an open mouth to regulate their body temperature, and theres no cause for concern if you see this behavior. Swim only in designated swimming areas and only during daylight hours. Crocodiles are most active between dusk and dawn. Keep pets on a leash and away from the water, even designated swimming areas, because they can resemble the crocodiles natural prey. Pet owners who live on the water where American crocodiles may occur should consider erecting fencing on their property that effectively places a barrier between their pets and crocodiles. Never feed crocodiles it is illegal and dangerous. When fed, they can overcome their natural wariness and learn to associate people with food. Dispose of fish scraps in designated waste containers because discarding scraps in the water may attract them. Also, avoid feeding other aquatic animals such as ducks because that also can attract crocodiles. To report an alligator or crocodile that you think may be a danger to people or pets, call the FWCs hotline at 866-392-4286 (866-FWC-GATOR). Georgia deputy arrested for boating under the influence A Troup County Sheriffs deputy was arrested by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on Saturday night. According to the sheriffs office, Deputy Jimmy Hancock was charged with operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol and operating a vessel with improper lights. Hancock was stopped on his boat on West Point Lake around 10:30 p.m. after his boat was seen by Georgia DNR traveling without proper lighting, officials said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When Hancock was stopped, TCSO said it was determined that he was potentially under the influence of alcohol and was arrested. Hancock was taken to the Troup County Jail, where he was booked, and later released on bond. TRENDING STORIES: Officials say Hancock had been on staff with TCSO for about eight months, working in the Court Services Division. He has been placed on administrative leave, pending an internal investigation, according to TCSO. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: Rambo, a German Shepherd, who was injured in Ukraine's embattled Kharkiv region and was later adopted by the Budapest Police's dog squad is photographed, in Budapest Hungary. June 6, 2023. Rambo is now training with the Budapest Police in neighboring Hungary, and setting an example that dogs and people, can do great things despite their disabilities. Three-year-old Rambo accompanied Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in Ukraine's Kharkiv region when a rocket attack sent shrapnel into his head, blowing away pieces of skull, damaging his jaw and severely mangling his right ear. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) After a rocket attack in eastern Ukraine, half of Rambo's face was mangled and bloody. Shrapnel had ravaged the right side of his head, and it was uncertain if he would survive. The 3-year-old German shepherd, who had accompanied Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines of the war, underwent emergency surgery that saved his life. Now, Rambo is training with the Budapest police department in neighboring Hungary and serving as a reminder that dogs and people with disabilities can do great things. Recovered from his brush with death in northeastern Ukraine's Kharkiv province, Rambo is learning how to interact with children, older adults and disabled people at police demonstrations and rehabilitation institutions, according to Lt. Col. Maria Stein with the Budapest Metropolitan Police. Demonstrating the tasks performed by canine units is part of the department's crime prevention program, with a goal of teaching young people to be more tolerant and to respect one another's differences, Stein said. Nowadays, unfortunately, it happens that children mock each other because they wear glasses, because they have braces, because their ears look funny or whatever because theyre different, she said. With Rambo, we might be able to sensitize these children a little and show them that, yes, he is injured, hes different, but he can do the same things as other dogs. Rambo's journey to police service didn't come easy. Last year, shrapnel from the rocket attack, which also injured some Ukrainian soldiers, blew away pieces of skull, damaging his jaw and severely mangling his right ear. After his initial surgery, Rambo was taken to safety in western Ukraine. Violetta Kovacs, head of a Hungarian organization dedicated to rescuing German shepherds, soon collected him and brought him to a rehabilitation center near Budapest. The dog needed immediate help, Kovacs, head of the German Shepherd Breed Rescue Foundation, said. We had to operate again here in Hungary because several of his teeth were causing him great pain because of the injury, which required immediate intervention. Rambo spent eight months at the center, where his jaw was reconstructed, his right ear amputated and several teeth removed. He underwent training to be socialized with other dogs, Kovacs said, but his fondness for children was clear from the start. Gyula Desko, a lieutenant colonel with the Budapest Metropolitan Police, then adopted Rambo, providing him with further training and a home. He called Rambo a very friendly, good-natured dog who is making good progress in his training and whose survival was a miracle. Working with him requires more patience and more attention, as we do not know what kind of mental problems his head injury caused him, Desko said, but Rambo is "so open with people and accepts them, despite his injuries and the shock that befell him. It's those qualities, Desko said, that the police force hopes will inspire those who meet Rambo to open themselves to kindness and acceptance. As a police dog, one can see through him that you can live a full life even when injured, and can be a useful member of society and do very diverse things, Desko said. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine A girl at our school has decided she identifies as a cat Reader Anthony Mooney despairs over Hounslow Council painting rainbow crossings at the junction of Chiswick High Road and Turnham Green Terrace - Anthony Mooney Woke the much contested one syllable word which has become increasingly pervasive in recent years. Depending on what side of the fence one sits, the word is either considered an insult or a compliment and its no secret that Telegraph readers generally consider it the former. The word has been particularly useful in helping to highlight the pattern of ideological creep that is threatening many of our institutions from the RAF being accused of discriminating against 160 white men in its efforts to meet aspirational diversity targets, for example, to Tate Britains inclusive rehang. Telegraph readers have spoken out about how wokeism has affected them for the worse. Their cases are a testament to how woke culture is infiltrating all corners of society. A girl at our school has decided she identifies as a cat On the topic of pronouns, a teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells of a female pupil who has decided she identifies as a cat. We now have to deal with the boys who have been barking at her. The teacher proceeds to detail how all offer letters to prospective students are now being sent out with them and their pronouns even though none of these children (11 years old mostly) have ever suggested they are uncomfortable with the gender given to them at birth. I have to hope that the parents receiving these letters assume the pronouns used are all typos, but they are most definitely not someone is on a woke crusade. Its just embarrassing. Our taxpayer funds have been spent promoting a political identity ideology that is more divisive than inclusive Reader Anthony Mooney despairs over Hounslow Council painting rainbow crossings at the very salient junction of Chiswick High Road and Turnham Green Terrace. The Rainbow Junction consists of four separate crossings in the colours of the pride flag. According to Hounslow Council, the idea was the brainchild of West London Queer Project (WLQP). On the installation, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, commented: Hounslow is a borough where everyone is welcome regardless of sexual orientation or identity. WLQP have grown from a small group of friends to a borough wide organisation of more than 5,000 members in under a year; a clear indication of the need for our LGBT+ community to have a voice, recognition, and support. Mr Mooney emphasised how there was no consultation with residents regarding the change, and that it just appeared overnight. Hounslow Council has installed a Rainbow Junction in Chiswick Road, consisting of four separate crossings in the colours of the pride flag - Anthony Mooney He goes on to voice how, just recently, Shantanu Rajawat made a public statement, warning that the council will need to make some tough decisions as the authority grapples with increasing costs and rising demand for services. Despite these fiscal challenges and a cost-of-living crisis, our taxpayer funds have been spent promoting a political identity ideology that is more divisive than inclusive and certainly adds no value for residents. I despair. The pride flag is not inclusive, unlike the original Newtonian rainbow spectrum flag that represented everyone On a similar note, the Princess Royal University Hospital, in Bromley, south London, last week opened a new link-bridge which is wrapped with a giant three-sided intersex-inclusive flag showing the LGBT+ rainbow. Joining the likes of the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, who has rebuked the NHS trust over the rainbow mural, reader Teresa Steele declared, this is my local hospital. I find this flag deeply offensive and upsetting. The mural on the Princess Royal University Hospital, in Bromley, south London Expressing her views on the pride flag, Ms Steele argues that it is not inclusive, unlike the original Newtonian rainbow spectrum flag that represented everyone. This incarnation only represents certain groups. It is, therefore, exclusionary. I looked at the top of the cistern to find three brands of tampon and something else that my wife refers to as sleeping bags Another reader, Simon Jenkins, told of his disturbing toilet experience in Carmarthen, Wales. The urinal was taken so I went into the cubicle. Relieving myself, I looked at the top of the cistern to find three brands of tampon (apparently for different flow rates!) and something else that my wife refers to as sleeping bags with a jovial little message to the effect that if you are caught short, help yourself to one of ours. S--t wrong toilet, no, I reassured myself that the urinal was occupied. My wife also needed the loo and she wasnt here, so it was not a unisex I have had lecturers tell me my gender critical views are transphobic Also on the topic of loos, Cormoran S., a student at Queen Mary University of London, shares how she has been forced into gender neutral bathrooms. Despite Cormorans attempts to push back, I have had lecturers tell me my gender critical views are transphobic I try to argue my case but I am almost immediately shouted down. We have had BLM promoters, a Just Stop Oil duo and several black theologians discussing the decolonisation of Theology Meanwhile, at Alistair Tevezs university, where he is studying Theology, he outlines how in every other class at regular intervals guest speakers are brought in. We have had BLM promoters, a Just Stop Oil duo and several black theologians discussing the decolonisation of Theology by not studying dead white men. Mr Tevez describes this as blatant presentation and indoctrination of far-Left ideology. Its so warped into the faculty there is literally no discussion or room for debate. Alistair labels universities as propaganda camps where you are taught to hate your nation, your white skin and capitalism. I have refused to give my pronouns even after being told it is policy Matthew S. describes how, working for a well known government science organisation, he works in seasons and is away for six months at a time. He says: We have a board with all the names and faces of the people on station at that time. This season, I arrived and everyone now has their pronouns next to their name, all because one person identifies as they/them. I have refused to give my pronouns even after being told it is policy. Im sure, however, you cannot be forced to give your pronouns? My daughter at the age of 13 came out as non-binary and goes by a different name Transgender theory has been discussed in reader Robert Cs daughters Ethics class. Roberts daughter, who is in Year 8 at her local private school, has learnt about gender, how it was not binary and how you can identify as any number of genders. Two weeks later, my daughter at the age of 13 came out as non-binary and goes by a different name. A year later, we are still dealing from the fall out, adds Robert. What have 16 to 18 year olds been taught in schools? My children are being taught non-binary verb conjugations in French class Reader Beth Brockley reveals how schooling is just not as simple as it used to be. My children are being taught non-binary verb conjugations in French class at secondary school so as well as il and elle, they are taught how to make verbs agree with the genderless iel, she explains. They are told to learn vocabulary like my non-binary sibling (mon froeur, apparently) and have to practice writing adjectives with odd gender neutral endings for example, writing gentil:le instead of simply writing gentil for a man and gentille for a woman, because you cant tell someones gender by looking. Ms Brockley also points out how this use of language is highly controversial in France and, according to a French acquaintance, banned from being taught to French children. Why on earth is it in the British national curriculum? My sister was turned down for the job with the explanation that her experience did not give her sufficient appreciation of diversity or white privilege Reader Stephen Cass shares how his youngest sister, in her fifth job interview for a charity management role, was told that the interviewer had woken up the day after George Floyd was murdered and checked my privilege. The interviewer then asked my sister, what have you done to check your privilege and live diversity? My sister, who is white and speaks fluent Spanish, had previously been CEO of several charities working primarily with lower income Hispanic and black citizens, as well as the disabled. My sister responded she had devoted her entire career to working in the charity sector and that her success with these organisations spoke for itself. She was turned down for the job with the explanation that her experience did not give her sufficient appreciation of diversity or white privilege. She remains jobless. I pointed out when I resigned that I could see that the staff were about to be told what their politics should be Tim Williams held a senior position in a major 15,000 strong British consultancy company. However, Mr Williams left on principle after they took a radical position in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM), having previously attempted to make us do unconscious bias training the aim of which was clearly to make us all prove that we had such bias. Having been a Labour Party member all his life and deeply anti-racist, Tim refused the training knowing that experts doubt its value, too. Tim resigned when the Chair sent around a newsletter with three women taking the knee under the BLM slogan, no justice, no peace, he said. He added: I pointed out when I resigned that I could see that the staff were about to be told what their politics should be. How has woke culture infiltrated your life? Tell us in the comments section below Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court building is shown, Monday, May 15, 2023, in St. John's, Antigua. In 2022, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled that the anti-sodomy law of Antigua and Barbuda was unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) In recent years, several Caribbean nations have struck down laws criminalizing same-sex relations. Courts in Belize in 2016 and Trinidad and Tobago in 2018 found such laws unconstitutional. Last year, a top Caribbean court ruled some provisions of Antigua and Barbuda's Sexual Offences Act unconstitutional. The case was filed by a gay man who was persecuted for his sexual identity. Just months after the ruling, St. Kitts & Nevis and Barbados, struck down similar laws that often sought long prison sentences. Other cases in the region are pending. Still, discrimination against LGBTQ people persists across the conservative and mostly Christian Caribbean. Some lawmakers and religious leaders oppose the abolition of anti-gay laws, invoking God in their arguments and calling gay relationships a sin. Same-sex consensual intimacy is still criminalized in six Caribbean countries, according to Human Rights Watch and the London-based organization Human Dignity Trust. The maximum penalties in these countries range from 10 years to life in prison. The laws "are seldom enforced against consenting persons. And the specific legal provisions vary from country to country, Human Rights Watch wrote. But they share one common trait: they all give social and legal sanction for discrimination, violence, stigma, and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. Here's a quick look at the laws: JAMAICA Some LGBTQ-rights groups consider Jamaica the Caribbean nation most hostile to gay people. Jamaicas government has argued that it doesnt enforce its 1864 anti-sodomy laws. But activists say keeping these laws on the books stokes homophobia and violence against the LGBTQ community. The regions leading human rights body agrees. Jamaicas Offences Against the Person Act" makes the abominable crime of buggery punishable by imprisonment and hard labor for up to 10 years. DOMINICA The Sexual Offences Act criminalizes same-sex sexual activity between men as well as women with sentences of up to 10 years imprisonment. GRENADA The Criminal Code criminalizes unnatural connexion" broadly understood as sexual intercourse between men with sentences of up to 10 years in prison. It also criminalizes grossly indecent acts , with up to two years in prison and/or a fine. While the language is gender-neutral, only sexual acts between men are criminalized under this provision, according to Human Dignity Trust. GUYANA Life imprisonment for anyone who commits buggery, either with a human being, or with any other living creature. Under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, anyone who attempts to commit buggery; or assaults any person to commit buggery; or being a male, indecently assaults any other male person, could be imprisoned for up to 10 years. ST. LUCIA Under the 2004 Criminal Code of St. Lucia, any act of gross indecency committed by people of the same sex is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Buggery also punishable with a 10-year sentence. ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Criminalizes same-sex sexual activity between men as well as women with sentences of up to 10 years in prison. The 1990 Criminal Code also punishes an act of gross indecency with another person of the same sex with up to five years in prison. __ Associated Press journalist Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons on Sunday said he thinks Donald Trump's federal indictment over handling of classified records creates electoral trouble for the GOP in 2024 -- and, at the same time, he admits some worry over Trump's White House prospects. "I think the challenges here are for Republicans to explain to the American people why they are confident President Trump should be reelected, given his casual -- even callous -- mishandling of critical national security documents," Coons, a close ally of President Joe Biden, told ABC "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos. "This isn't a minor case of who kept a handful of documents inadvertently," Coons said. "He's been charged for knowingly and willingly concealing, that he retained willfully federal documents that were critical to our national defense." Trump was indicted on 37 counts in the federal case in Florida, alleging he "willfully" retained documents containing sensitive U.S. secrets and conspired to obstruct justice as the government sought to retrieve the records after Trump left the White House. This is the first time a former U.S. president has been charged with a federal crime. Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said on social media last week that he is innocent. He will be arraigned in Miami on Tuesday. If convicted, he will still continue his bid for the White House in 2024, he's said. On "This Week," Coons referred to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham's fiery defense of Trump in an interview earlier on the show and said, "There is one thing that I agree with Sen. Graham on here: Former President Trump is entitled to a presumption of innocence. Under our system, anyone who's charged with a federal crime is entitled to due process of law, to effective representation and to a presumption of innocence." But Coons also stressed that the case against Trump, as laid out by prosecutors, "markedly" differs from two examples Graham raised to say Trump was being treated unequally. Unlike former Vice President Mike Pence and President Joe Biden, both of whom kept classified records while out of office, Trump allegedly stonewalled the government in retrieving the sensitive records they wanted back. "That's the basis of this prosecution," Coons said. "And it is a sad day George for a former president of the United States to be federally criminally charged. But the basis of the rule of law in our democracy is that no man is above the law." PHOTO: Sen. Chris Coons speaks during a press conference after weekly caucus luncheons at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2023. (Bonnie Cash/UPI via Shutterstock) The Department of Justice has told Pence they won't bring charges against him, ABC News previously reported. The investigation of Biden's handling of classified records is ongoing. Despite what Graham and other Republicans are arguing in the wake of Trump's indictment, Coons said, "I think there's no evidence that the Federal Department of Justice has been weaponized." Specifically, he said that special counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting Trump, previously prosecuted high-profile Democratic politicians including former presidential candidate John Edwards and New York state lawmaker Sheldon Silver. Smith also led the DOJ's public integrity section. "Former President Trump has no one to blame but himself for being federally, criminally indicted," Coons said. He also criticized Trump and Republican presidential candidates for, he said, villainizing law enforcement rather than reflecting on the concerns for national security raised by Trump's case. Biden has not made any comment on Trump's second indictment, and Coons said Biden's focus will instead be on getting "real results for the American people" amid his reelection campaign. When Stephanopoulos pointed to polling showing Biden trailing Trump or the two nearly tied in the presidential race, Coons acknowledged that and said, "I think we should be worried given [Trump's] conduct and given his record." "I think the best thing for Joe Biden to do in this campaign is to keep showing that he is an effective and capable president by continuing to solve big problems," Coons said. "Despite some suggestions by his opponents, he's sharp, he's skillful and he's continuing to lead as our president," he said, "despite the distractions of former President Trump's rising legal problems." People should be 'worried' Trump could beat Biden, but 2nd indictment is big GOP challenge: Coons originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Russian attacks injured five people in Kherson Oblast over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on the morning of June 11. According to him, Russian troops attacked residential areas of Kherson Oblast with mortars, artillery, Grad multiple launch rocket systems, drones, and aircrafts. Thirty-two projectiles were fired at the city of Kherson, Prokudin said. Russia continues shelling the regional capital and settlements in Kherson Oblast even as evacuation efforts continue in the flood-hit region following the Kakhovka dam demolition. Saving lives from Russias flood: Inside inundated, shelled Kherson Since Russias full-scale war began, first came eight months of terror under occupation, then came seven months of intense shelling across the river, then came the river itself to Kherson. Over 24 hours after Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its massive The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Earlier on June 6, Russia destroyed the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant across the Dnipro River, occupied by Russian forces, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine. At least four people in Kherson Oblast and another one in Mykolaiv Oblast were killed due to the flooding. According to Interior Ministry, 29 people are considered missing in Kherson Oblast as of 9 p.m. on June 10. The total number of casualties isnt known in the east bank, which Russian forces are currently occupying. Ever since being liberated by Ukrainian forces in November 2022, Kherson has experienced regular shelling from Russian forces on the other side of the Dnipro River. In Melitopol, there was a shootout at night the mayor In recent days, the situation has escalated, and the enemies have started (searching) the homes of our residents in search of resistance forces, Fedorov said. He said that on June 10, starting from 8 p.m., the Russian began conducting thorough searches in the homes of Melitopol citizens. After 10 p.m., a gunfight broke out, followed by the burning of a vehicle near one of the citys shopping malls. Read also: Ukrainian army destroys Russias mainland route to Crimea with blasts in Berdyansk and Melitopol The fire occurred near the captured and transformed Paladium shopping mall, which now serves as an Russian occupation administration headquarters. As for the gunfight, it lasted approximately 20 minutes. The mayor stated that residents in three districts of the city clearly heard it. This week, there has been frequent bavovna blooming in the territory of Melitopol, Berdyansk, Molochansk, Tokmak, and Mykolaivka, Fedorov added. The Ukrainian word bavovna (cotton in English) is a war-related neologism for a loud explosion far behind the frontline. Read also: Russians flee Berdyansk port after Ukrainian missile strike Melitopol mayor All military hospitals of the Russian occupiers are overcrowded, and the enemy has taken over the morgue in Berdiansk, which is now surrounded by military personnel, Fedorov said. Fedorov also mentioned that in the village of Chkalove, in a private house, slain Russian soldiers were found with the word leave written on the wall. He further emphasized that the residents are eagerly awaiting liberation. Explosions were also reported on June 7 in the occupied village of Myrne in Melitopol District and the city of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhya Oblast. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The hacker stole bitcoins from the FSB and the GRU, and then sent them to Ukraine The mysterious user seems to have been able to put blockchain and Bitcoin technologies to work against the Russian terrorist state. The hacker gained access to hundreds of crypto wallets that likely belong to Russian security agencies, cryptocurrency industry news site CoinDesk clarified, citing Chainalysis, a cryptocurrency monitoring company that works closely with the U.S. government. Chainalysis analysts believe that the hacker used the transaction documentation feature of the Bitcoin blockchain to identify 986 wallets controlled by Russias foreign military intelligence agency (GRU), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and the Federal Security Service (FSB). The analysts did not say what feature they were referring to. At the same time, the hacker left messages in Russian to the owners of the wallets, in which he stated that these wallets were used to pay for the services of hackers working for Russia. Read also: Unexpected failure of Russian hackers and Ukraines ascendant IT expertise It is not known to what extent these accusations are true. Western analysts consider it indisputable that Russian intelligence services use hackers for numerous operations.Chainalysis experts could only partially confirm the hacker's claims. They indicate that at least three of the alleged Russian wallets were already linked to Russia by third parties. Two of them were supposedly involved in the SolarWinds attack, and the third paid for servers used in Russia's disinformation campaign in the 2016 U.S. elections. Chainalysis analysts assume that the hacker gained control of the wallets, which he claims were controlled by Russian special services, possibly through hacking, but maybe even thanks to "inside work." To put it simply, this person could have infiltrated the structure of hackersworking for Russia, or he could have been an employee of the Russian special services who later became a defector. The first hacks were carried out a few weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The hacker initially intended simply to destroy the funds stolen from the Russian intelligence agency wallets. According to Chainalysis, the mysterious attacker invalidated around $300,000 worth of bitcoins using the OP_RETURN function in the Bitcoin blockchain, a function that nullifies previous transactions. However, after Russia's war with Ukraine began, the hacker changed his mind. Since the first days of the war, the Ukrainian government has been using cryptocurrency to raise tens of millions of dollars for military and charitable needs. According to Chainalysis, some of the wallets involved in this investigationtransferred funds to the Ukrainian government's wallets after the full-scalewar broke out. Simply put, the mysterious hacker stopped burning money and started sending it to help Ukraine. "The fact that the OP_RETURN sender was both willing and able to burn hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bitcoin in order to spread their message makes it more likely in our opinion that their information is accurate," Chainalysis analysts conclude. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party announced her resignation from the post Sunday, according to a news release. Allison Campolo said she will submit her letter of resignation at a special meeting of the Tarrant County Democratic Party sometime in the next 30 days, opening the door to an election for a new chairperson. Campolo told the Star-Telegram her decision to resign came with a realization that there were people in this county who were ready to run for this position who are highly qualified and would continue to grow and diversify our party. It was apparent to me that standing in the way of that would not benefit the party, so I have decided to step aside, Campolo said. Its important that we come together as Democrats and coalesce behind one party and one chair for our 2024 candidates. Campolo took over the leadership position in July 2021, filling the unexpired term of Deborah Peoples, who served as chair for seven years. In the news release, Campolo noted the partys Tarrant County chapters achievements in the last two years, including expanding the Tarrant County Democratic Partys staff, creating an internship program to bolster Democratic career paths for young Texans, and increasing the number of precinct chairs by 15%. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the staff, precinct chairs, volunteers, elected officials, candidates and donors who make this county great and who have supported me in this mission, Campolo said in the news release. Heavy fighting ongoing in Donbas, threat of air attacks across Ukraine Defenders from the 55th separate artillery brigade fire from a Caesar self-propelled howitzer near Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, May 31, 2023 Over the past day, 35 combat engagements took place in this sector of the frontline, the General Staff said. Read also: Ukraine goes on offensive in Bakhmut, regains 1.2 kilometers in last day On the Lyman section of the front, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensives in the area of Bilohorivka on June 10; On the Bakhmut section of the front, the enemy conducted offensive actions in the direction of Bila Hora, without success; On the Avdiyivka section of the front, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions; On the Maryinka section of the front, Ukrainian defenders repelled all enemy attacks in the area of Maryinka; On the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson sections of the front, the enemy is on the defensive. At the same time, the Russian army continues to shell settlements along the entire front line, using mortars and artillery in particular. Also, over the past day, the enemy carried out 92 air strikes and conducted 45 attacks using multiple rocket launchers on Ukrainian settlements and positions of Ukrainian defenders. There were killed and wounded among the civilian population, and private houses were destroyed and damaged. Read also: All Ukrainian commanders optimistic about Ukrainian counter-offensive, Zelenskyy says In addition, the enemy carried out another missile and air attack on Ukraine yesterday, using eight missiles and 35 Shahed attack UAVs. Ukrainian air defense destroyed two cruise missiles and 20 enemy drones. The General Staff notes that the probability of air attacks throughout Ukraine remains very high. At the same time, the aviation of the defense forces carried out 16 strikes on concentrations of enemy personnel and two strikes on Russian air defense systems over the past day. Ukrainian forces also destroyed four enemy reconnaissance UAVs of various types. Rocket and artillery units struck two control points, five concentrations of manpower, weapons and military equipment, one artillery unit at a firing position and four other important enemy targets over the past day, the General Staff said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine MUNCIE, Ind. My first book of the summer is Richard Reeves Of Boys and Men, which is published by Brookings Institution, a center-left think tank where the author is a senior fellow. Michael Hicks I mention this because the challenges facing boys and young men are familiar in conservative circles, but not so among the center left and progressives. This book might be called the first serious-yet-accessible work from the left of center. I believe that it will change the debate on a chronic problem that has been ignored by a large swathe of American researchers, educators and policy advocates. The subject is familiar to academics, sociologists and economists in particular. Reeves contribution lies in three areas. First, he magnificently outlines the scale and scope of the problem, as I will summarize. Second, he draws some common ground between the problems boys and young men have in education, and the continuing challenge women face in labor markets. Finally, he makes clear there are policy options we can consider. This helps push us into a long-needed debate. The matter begins with facts. A half-century ago, women lagged men badly in education. By 1980, when I graduated high school, boys and girls attended college at identical rates. Today there are roughly three women in college for every two men. The gap moderates slightly by graduation, and two-thirds of men major in STEM degrees, while only one-third of women do. Still, the gender gap in education is larger than any racial or ethnic gap. About the only academic area in which boys outperform girls is in the SAT, but thats likely because far fewer men take the test. The share of boys who fail to graduate high school is 50 percent higher than girls, and the effects are felt outside education. Men die younger, are incarcerated at many times the rate of women and subject to far more violence. Boys die from suicide at almost five time the rate of girls. Reeves is unsparing in his criticism of the policy discussion surrounding these issues. Many on the left, accustomed to rightly worrying about labor market outcomes for women, too easily blame boys for their plight. Toxic masculinity is frequently held liable for these differing outcomes. Reeves work makes clear that is an intellectually lazy, and empirically unsupportable position. The problems of boys starts long before puberty, before the social norms are inculcated, and before testosterone imposes its will upon the male body and mind. One culprit that Reeves explains well is the lagged brain development in boys that accompanies the later onset of puberty. He recommends starting boys in school later or redshirting them for a year of kindergarten. However, the major factor in the challenges boys experience is not too much masculine exposure, but far too little. The problems for boys begin in families and neighborhoods with fewer men around. That is hardly a new observation, dating at least to the early 1970s. Reeves points directly to the absence of men in education as a current problem. The only occupation in America that is less gender balanced today than in the 1970s is K-12 education. As Reeves notes, the share of women fighter pilots is today higher than the share of men teaching in elementary schools. Bias against boys in schools is real and pervasive. The nice suburban school my kids attended suspends boys at five times the rate of girls. This is common across Indiana, and if this is not a violation of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, nothing is. Disparate treatment by gender should be of keen interest to school boards across the state, if only mitigation of legal risk. Ironically, this issue alone illustrates the neglect of issues facing boys. One can locate hundreds of academic studies about racial differences in school suspensions, but not a single one addresses gender in an education journal. It is taboo to worry about boys or men, and in addressing this is where I think Reeves does his greatest service to the issue. Compared to men, women do enormously better in K-12 schooling, are far better prepared for college, face far less risk of death or violence and live longer. But, in labor markets they continue to lag in both wages and jobs of responsibility. This is of course, a nuanced issue. Women who choose not to have children and pursue the same education as men, perform equally with childless men. Once adults become parents, women suffer in labor markets and men see a clear benefit. To be clear, this is a choice people make, but Reeves pulls together these two points marvelously in his policy recommendations. He has a son who is a primary school teacher, and argues that we need to promote HEAL jobshealth, education, administration and literacy as a more attractive option for boys. It is no mystery to economists or readers of this column that demand for what Reeves calls HEAL jobs are growing, while demand for many traditionally man-dominated jobs in manufacturing and construction are in permanent decline. This prescription will partially boost the economic prospects of boys. But, Reeves makes clear that addressing labor markets for women is also critical. For women, the wage gap is caused by labor market conditions that push women and men into different occupations. The issue is simply the availability of childcare and the flexibility of some careers to permit someone to take time off to stay with kids. For most families, one parent needs a job that is flexible enough to permit time off for child raising. That parent is most likely a woman, and those flexible jobs pay less well. Reeves offers some much-needed symmetry in policy advice about ways to improve educational outcomes for boys, while improving labor market equality for women. Not all of his policy prescriptions are perfect. Reeves counts too much on vocational education and opportunities for boys, but that is the correct discussion to have. Of Boys and Men is an accessible, thoughtful and thought-provoking book about challenges to human flourishing in contemporary America. I recommend that every parent, every policymaker, and every teacher and professor read this book. Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Hicks: 'Of Boys and Men' by Richard Reeves is a must read Workers heading to their offices in London on a cold winter morning - Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg Working from home was supposed to create happier, more creative workers. It would dramatically improve productivity. It would make the economy more efficient, create a more diverse workforce and finally get us back on track for faster growth. Over the last three years, a whole series of human resources and management experts kept lecturing us on how great the working-from-home revolution would be for the economy. They have turned out to be completely wrong. As company after company insists that their staff return to work, as unhappy workers quit the labour market in record numbers, and as productivity plummets in the sectors that embraced it most enthusiastically, it is surely time to admit that it has been a catastrophe. We are owed an apology from its most fanatical promoters and we should learn not to listen to that kind of nonsense ever again. Rewind just a couple of years, and we were overwhelmed by experts telling us how working from home would transform the way that businesses work for the better. History shows that when workers have more control over their time, and the balance between their home and work lives improves, companies bottom lines also benefit, argued Julia Hobsbawn in The Washington Post. Peter Cheese who as chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, an HR trade body, carries a lot of influence on how we all work argued: The step-change shift to home working to adapt to lockdowns has taught us all a lot about how we can be flexible in ways of working in the future. This should be a catalyst to change long-held paradigms and beliefs about work for the benefit of man. Plenty of companies bought into the ideology, with businesses such as the financial services app Revolut allowing their people not just to work from home but to work from anywhere 60 days a year. Academics at Stanford University even put a number on it, with a widely cited study arguing that ditching the daily commute, and swapping the suit for PJs, would boost output by 13pc. Indeed, the Labour Party has even demanded that employees should have a legal right to work from home if they want to. After all, whats not to like about happier, more productive staff? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Last week, Google became the latest major business to demand that its people get back to their desks. The week before that it was Meta, the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp. Barclays has told its deal makers that it wants them back at least four days a week, and so have Starbucks, Disney and Twitter. The list goes on. Companies want the buzz of the office again, and they want to know what their people are up to. The pandemic forced us into a huge natural experiment in home working. Millions of people who used to commute back and forth from work every day were suddenly allowed to check in to meetings on Zoom and do everything over email or Teams. And, like any experiment, we should be allowed to judge the results. So what happened? Output soared, right? Just like the experts told us it would? And employee well-being and creativity hit record levels as we all became far more passionate about our jobs and loyal to our employers? Well, er, no, not exactly. In fact, the results have been a disaster. In the public sector, where working from home was most enthusiastically embraced, and where in some corners up to 80pc of the employees dont show up at the office any more, productivity has actually fallen, with a 1.6pc drop at the end of 2022 compared to a year earlier. Across the economy as a whole it has flat-lined, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that output per hour worked was only 1.9pc higher by the end of 2022 than it was in 2019, well below the trend rate of growth. What the heck happened to that 13pc increase in output we were promised? It simply never materialised. And far from being happier, it turns out that people are quitting the workforce at record rates. In the UK, more than half a million people have decided they dont want to work anymore, either taking early retirement, or else claiming benefits. And, finally, more and more companies are insisting that their staff come back to the office. Given that they are all profit-maximising organisations, with plenty of tools to measure output, it is hard to figure out why they would be doing that if the new ways of working were as great for the bottom line as we were told. The WFH experiment has been a failure on an epic scale. It might have sounded good in theory. It might even have worked in a few small samples, usually focused on a handful of highly-motivated freelancers or self-employed professionals who enjoy working for themselves. But for most ordinary workers, it has proven a disaster. Staff lose motivation. They dont create new ideas. They slack off, new employees dont ever learn the culture of an organisation and they dont feel any team spirit towards people they only ever meet in person once or twice a month. Indeed, probably the only people who managed to increase their output were the savvy few who took on two WFH full-time jobs, confident that their employers would not ever find out they were only working half the time. It is time we got an apology from its cheerleaders. And we should learn the lesson of its demise. Fashionable theories that involve people working less might sound good in principle. But the harsh truth is that they always end in failure and leave the economy in far worse shape than it has ever been. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Horses died in consecutive races at Belmont Park, dealing more untimely blows to the beleaguered sport, which had little time to celebrate its most uplifting events of the year. Mashnee Girl, trained by Mark Hennig, broke down in the first race Sunday, suffering a catastrophic injury to her left front leg at the storied racecourse in Elmont, just outside New York City, before she was put down. "Despite the immediate response and best efforts of on-site attending veterinarians, the horse was humanely euthanized due to the severity of the injury," New York Racing Association Vice President Patrick McKenna said in a statement. About 17 hours earlier, in the 13th race Saturday, a similar fate befell Hennig-trained Excursionniste, who also suffered a fatal injury to the front left ankle. Both incidents happened on Belmont's turf course as the field was nearing the top of the stretch. "I'm not holding up very well," an emotional Hennig told NBC News, sniffling throughout the conversation. "It's been very emotional. I just can't fathom this ever happening, two horses you run in a row. I mean, I've run over 10,000 horses and have never had anything close to this." The tragedy unfolded just after the 12th race, when Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes and made Jena Antonucci the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown jewel. Good morning #Arcangelo! "Everyone is so proud of you, and I am so grateful." pic.twitter.com/nOEhbSc4UC Jena (@jenaantonucci) June 11, 2023 The animal rights group PETA was quick to blame Belmont for the twin deaths. Two dead Thoroughbreds in two days with the same trainer on the same track means one thing: Belmont Park is failing to protect horses," PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said in a statement. "Like Churchill Downs, Belmont must suspend racing immediately to avoid the same bloodbath. Anything less makes Belmont complicit in the fatalities. McKenna said that including Mashnee Girl and Excursionniste, four horses have died during races at Belmont Park's spring/summer meet, which began May 4 and has encompassed 1,670 horses starting in 214 races. "NYRAs comprehensive safety strategy is informed by the most advanced science and research in consultation with independent experts, veterinarians, and horsemen," he said. "The health and safety of horses and jockeys competing at NYRA tracks is our highest priority and one that stands above all other considerations." Mashnee Girl and Excursionniste had clean bills of health with no concern for racing, Hennig said. "Neither one of them has been on a vet's list. They're clean-legged horses," Hennig said. "It's just horrible, horrible, horrible luck. These horses were in good, sound racing condition. These two horses never had issues with these ankles, the same ankles that fractured." Saturdays Belmont Stakes capped a tumultuous five weeks of racing that normally shines a bright light on the sport of kings. Instead, a string of untimely death raised questions about the sports viability. A week ago Friday, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the host of the Kentucky Derby, announced it had temporarily stopped racing to investigate its recent deaths. And shortly before National Treasure won the Preakness, the ordinarily party-filled day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore was overshadowed by tragedy when Havnameltdown broke down at the top of the stretch of the $200,000 Grade III Chick Lang Stakes and was put down. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com My husband thought he was too old to be a dad at 55. But it was the best decision we've made. The author's husband with their two daughters. Courtesy of the author Robert de Niro and Al Pacino made news for having babies at 79 and 83. My husband and I went through years of trying to adopt a child. Our first came home when he was 50, and our second when he was 55. The news that actor Robert De Niro recently became a father again at the age of 79 has sparked a lot of debate around the world as to whether he's too old to be a new dad. His wealth and status probably mean there's a lot of help around him. But how old is too old to become a parent? This is a question my husband and I are very familiar with. We met when I was 26, he was 35. Fast forward 10 years, and it became clear we weren't going to be able to be birth parents without a lot of intervention. For us, becoming parents was more important than the way it happened. Adoption had always been something we'd talked about and felt like the best route to parenthood for us. In the UK, the assessment process is in two parts. The first culminates in an approval panel where a group of people you've never met get to decide whether you can become parents. You then start the matching stage to find a child within your criteria in terms of age and the issues they face. We started matching with potential adoptees 15 years after we met When we started matching, I was 41, and my husband was 50. We had a long and difficult 10-month wait before we found out about our daughter. She was six months old. We'd had lots of discussions with our social worker about my husband's age and whether he was too "old" to be a dad to a young baby. The conclusion was always that he wasn't. He is fit and healthy and has a young outlook on life. So, our daughter came home, and we settled into life as a family of three. Other than not being able to cope with lack of sleep as well as he did when he was younger and his body aching a lot more, his age was never an issue. Fast forward a few years, and we found out that our daughter's birth mom was pregnant again. Her circumstances hadn't changed, so the plan for the unborn child was adoption. Our social worker asked if we wanted to be assessed as adopters for the sibling. He worried about being too old My husband's initial reaction was that he was too old. He was in his mid-50s, and although he had no health concerns, he was worried about the numbers on the page. He'd be getting towards 70 by the time she left school, and worried his age would bother her. But then we started to think about it from our eldest daughter's perspective. Saying no because we were worried about what she and her sister might think about his age in the future felt wrong. And we'd be denying her the chance to grow up with her sibling because of that. In the UK, adoptions are usually closed, which means there's no face-to-face contact with the birth family. So, the only contact our daughter would have with her sibling would be via annual written updates. She was 4 when her sibling was born and was desperate to be a big sister. We live in a society where the retirement age is older, and people tend to live longer. We felt growing up with her sister would be more important to our daughter than her dad's age. So, we said yes, and about eight months later, our youngest daughter came home when she was almost 6 months old. My husband was 55. We knew we'd made the right decision when we saw the love and happiness on our eldest daughter's face the first time she met her sister. They adore each other. They fight a lot too. But they share a bond that will help them through whatever the future holds. For them, that's far more important than age. Read the original article on Insider Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson on Sunday knocked fellow GOP 2024 contender Vivek Ramaswamy for his promise to pardon former President Trump if Ramaswamy wins the White House. You just heard your fellow 2024 candidate Vivek Ramaswamy say that he would pardon Donald Trump on his first day in office. Whats your reaction? Dana Bash asked the former Arkansas governor on CNNs State of the Union. It is simply wrong for a candidate to use the pardon power of the United States, of the president in order to curry votes and in order to get an applause line. Its just wrong. And it shouldnt happen that way, Hutchinson replied. If you start down that path, it is unending, and so we shouldnt be promising and holding out the fig leaf of a pardon, because that undermines our jury system. It undermines the grand jury that found probable cause And so that really undermines the rule of law in our country that I have served my lifetime supporting, and its offensive to me that anyone would be holding out a pardon in- under these circumstances, Hutchinson added. Shortly after Trump announced his attorneys had been informed of an indictment in the classified documents probe last week, Ramaswamy promised to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country if hes elected in 2024. The conservative entrepreneur doubled down on those comments on Sunday. Trump has been charged with 37 counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified materials, according to an unsealed federal indictment. Certainly hes innocent until proven guilty. Absolutely, Hutchinson said of Trump on Sunday. And we know that Donald Trump is not going to drop out of the race. This is gonna be an issue that the voters have to decide. My point is that this is bad for our country, bad for the presidency, and it is a legitimate campaign issue. Hutchinson has previously called for Trump to step out of the 2024 race. He said on Sunday that he expects Trump will raise money off the indictment, which the former president has already moved to do. Hutchinson also said that obviously, with a lot of Republican leaders saying that this is selective prosecution that this is unfair theres a sympathy factor thats built in as Trump campaigns for the White House. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ever thought about buying flood insurance, Boise? The Idaho Department of Insurance thinks you should consider it. The flash thunderstorm that formed above Boise last week one of many storms over the past 10 days brought a torrent of rain that flooded the streets with water and overwhelmed the citys drainage system. The localized storm dumped 1.47 inches of rain in parts of downtown and 1.77 inches in the North End in less than 90 minutes, according to reporting by the Idaho Statesman. In some places, the flooding was over a foot deep. Water pools in front of businesses in downtown Boise during a flash thunderstorm on Tuesday. Some residents enjoyed the rare event by tubing the floodwaters in front of the Boise Co-op Market. But at Boise City Hall, and in other locations throughout the city, the storm led to a number of problems, including halting a City Council meeting because the rain was too loud and causing water to seep into the building. The Idaho Department of Insurance issued a consumer alert Friday urging home and business owners to evaluate their flood risk and perhaps buy a flood insurance policy. According to the alert, a typical homeowners insurance policy does not cover damage caused by flooding. Data from the National Flood Insurance Program shows there are about 5,600 flood insurance policies in effect across the state. Just one inch of water can easily cause $25,000 of damage to your home, Dean Cameron, the departments director, said in a news release. With flood insurance, youll be protected in the event of flood damage whether its an inch of water or a major weather event. I strongly advise Idahoans to take steps to safeguard your property. The news release warned that flood insurance policies usually involve a 30-day waiting period to take effect. Its not something that can be purchased at the last minute. The Idaho Department of Insurance said flood insurance can be bought from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for less than $400 a year. But flooding problems similar to what Boise experienced last week are few and far between, so its up to individual Idahoans to determine their risk. Water pools over a crosswalk in a flooded area of downtown Boise during a flash thunderstorm. Hail was also reported. Part of the reason the flooding was so heavy in Boise is that the citys street drains werent built to handle that much water, according to Lloyd Carnegie, maintenance manager for the Ada County Highway District. The city has 100-year storm drains that are designed to handle 99% of storms that occur each year, he told the Statesman. Last Tuesdays storm, however, was more intense than the theoretical 100-year storm. The highway district could implement a larger drainage system, but its unlikely since Boise rarely sees so much rain all at once. Weird weather: Boise residents posted the strangest sights they saw during freak storm Seriously, Mother Nature? Strong storms flood, close Boise roads. And keep on thundering Boise hit by thunderstorms with more on the way. Will there be more street flooding? The International Criminal Court (ICC) began an investigation into the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by the Russians; the other day representatives of the ICC visited Kherson Oblast. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address Quote: "During the last few days Kherson Oblast was visited by representatives of the International Criminal Court. On the first day after the disaster, the Prosecutor General sent an appeal to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate this disaster, and work has already begun. It is very important that representatives of international justice saw firsthand the consequences of this Russian terrorist attack and heard for themselves that Russian terror continues. And it continues with the most cynical and cruel shelling of the flooded territory, the evacuation territory." Details: Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine already contributes and will continue to contribute to the most independent and objective investigation by the International Criminal Court. "All our law enforcement officers and other institutions are fully involved in this process. Full access to the affected areas, to witnesses, to all information and evidence. This investigation is very important for the security of the whole world," the president said. According to him, "the full and just responsibility of Russian terrorists and the terrorist state itself is necessarily a prerequisite that there will be no more repetitions of such evil in the world." Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Iranian-made drones deployed by Russia to attack Ukraine are continuing to cause problems for Ukraines Air Force. Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraines Air Force, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Quote from Ihnat: "Iranian-made drones are a real headache. Its still very difficult to down them. When lots of them have been launched, they all fly along different routes, staying close to the ground, so that its difficult to shoot them from a plane. The drones speed is 150 km/h, while a fighter jet flies at a minimum of 400 km/h. [...] And we cant get those drones during the night using ground forces air defence equipment or mobile firing groups, either." Details: Ihat said that Russia deliberately deploys these drones at night to wear down Ukrainian air defence in particular, so that Ukraines defence forces expend anti-aircraft missiles to down those drones. This allows Russian forces to determine where Ukrainian air defence systems are located, and take that into account during air-to-surface or naval-based missile strikes. Background: Ukrainian air defence forces shot down six Iranian-made Shahed drones on the night of 1011 June. It is unclear how many drones Russia launched. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! When a boat carrying four people started taking on water, the U.S. Coast Guard was called in to help. The report came in Saturday. The boaters were about 23 miles offshore. A Jacksonville-based crew was able to local the vessel and escort it to a nearby marina. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Everyone was able to get to shore safely. A @USCG Station Ponce De Leon Inlet boat crew assisted 4 people aboard a 24-ft vessel taking on water 23 miles offshore. Sector #Jacksonville command center personnel were notified of the situation via VHF-FM channel 16 and obtained a GPS location from the vessel via SPOT device. pic.twitter.com/NFmG0keZ1C USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 10, 2023 Read: Looking for a job? The Jaguars are hiring [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Crocodile Christ Behold, the immaculate crocodile! An international team of scientists has confirmed through genetic testing that an 18-year-old female crocodile housed at a Costa Rican zoo impregnated herself without a male mate the first time that such a discovery has been recorded and studied, according to the researchers. As detailed in a research article published in the journal Biology Letters, the baby croc was a 99.9 percent genetic match for its mother, meaning that no other crocodiles could have been involved in the conception of the hatchling. Though the fetus was fully formed, the "virgin birth" crocodile was sadly stillborn and thus never actually hatched, according to the BBC. But it's an exciting finding nonetheless, and one that researchers say might shed some light on the reproductive habits of crocodiles' ancient dinosaur ancestors. Croc Files Surprisingly, this behavior referred to within the scientific community as facultative parthenogenesis isn't rare within the animal kingdom, especially in animals with evolutionary links back to the age of the dinosaurs. '"We see it in sharks, birds, snakes, and lizards and it is remarkably common and widespread," Virginia Tech entomology professor Warren Booth, who led the study, told the BBC. And importantly, Booth also thinks this likely isn't the first case of parthenogenesis in crocodiles ever just the first one on record that humans have sought out and paid attention to. ''There was a big increase in reports of parthenogenesis when people started keeping pet snakes," Booth told the BBC. "But your average reptile keeper doesn't keep a crocodile." The More You Know There are different theories as to why a species might evolve to be able to reproduce without a male. One leading theory, as the BBC notes, is that it might allow a species to reproduce when its population numbers are threatened. Regardless of why, Booth says the fact that the behavior has been officially recorded in crocs and other animals at all is significant. ''The fact that the mechanism of parthenogenesis is the same in so many different species suggests that it is a very ancient trait that has been inherited throughout the ages," Booth told the BBC. "So this supports the idea that dinosaurs could also reproduce this way." More on reptiles: Internet Stunned by Colossal Chonkasaurus Turtle Spotted in River One of Donald Trumps most loyal champions in the House of Representatives battled a CNN reporter on Sunday over whether all the documents retained without the consent of the National Archives at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate were declassified. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Oversight Committee, appeared on CNNs State of the Union for an interview with Dana Bash. During the interview, the two disagreed over whether Mr Trump himself had admitted that some of the documents he retained were still classified, which statements cited by the Justice Department in his indictment suggest was the case. In this indictment, he states on at least one occasion that he did not declassify the information, Bash told the Republican congressman in the interview. Mr Jordan responded, however, by pointing to numerous public statements by the former president insisting otherwise, an apparent contradiction of the statements cited by the DoJ in the agencys investigation. Dana, he has said time and time again that he declassified all this material, Mr Jordand responded. He later added: I go on the president's word and he said he did. Its an interesting defence of the former presidents remarks, given that Mr Trump has a long and well-documented history of spreading false claims and misinformation. Most recently, the twice-impeached ex-president has been reported, according to The New York Times, to have told supporters at his events at Mar-a-Lago that he will be reinstated as president in some sort of vindication of his (also false) claims that the 2020 election was rigged. Mr Jordan has long been a defender of the former president amid his various legal escapades, a role more establishment-aligned Republicans (especially those in the Senate) have shunned. In recent weeks he has sought to use his powerful chairmanship of the Oversight Committee to impose an investigation on the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in response to that offices prosecution of Mr Trump for falsifying business records in connection to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Mr Trump was charged with 34 criminal counts in that case earlier this year; he now additionally faces 37 felony counts brought by the US Department of Justice. Airman 1st Class D'elbrah Assamoi, from Cote D'Ivoire, signs her U.S. certificate of citizenship after the Basic Military Training Coin Ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, in San Antonio, April 26, 2023. The U.S. military has struggled to overcome recruiting shortfalls and as a way to address that problem, it's stepping up efforts to sign up immigrants, offering a fast track to American citizenship to those who join the armed services. The Army and the Air Force have bolstered their marketing to entice legal residents to enlist. (Vanessa R. Adame/U.S. Air Force via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) When Esmita Spudes Bidari was a young girl in Nepal, she dreamed of being in the military, but that wasn't a real option in her country. Last week, she raised her right hand and took the oath to join the U.S. Army Reserves, thanks in part to a recruiter in Dallas who also is Nepalese and reached out to her through an online group. Bidari, who heads to basic training in August, is just the latest in a growing number of legal migrants enlisting in the U.S. military as it more aggressively seeks out immigrants, offering a fast track to citizenship to those who sign up. Struggling to overcome recruiting shortfalls, the Army and the Air Force have bolstered their marketing to entice legal residents to enlist, putting out pamphlets, working social media and broadening their outreach, particularly in inner cities. One key element is the use of recruiters with similar backgrounds to these potential recruits. It is one thing to hear about the military from locals here, but it is something else when it's from your fellow brother, from the country youre from, said Bidari, who was contacted by Army Staff Sgt. Kalden Lama, the Dallas recruiter, on a Facebook group that helps Nepalese people in America connect with one another. That brother was in the group and he was recruiting and he told me about the military. The military has had success in recruiting legal immigrants, particularly among those seeking a job, education benefits and training as well as a quick route to becoming an American citizen. But they also require additional security screening and more help filling out forms, particularly those who are less proficient in English. Both the Army and the Air Force say they will not meet their recruiting goals this year, and the Navy also expects to fall short. Pulling more from the legal immigrant population may not provide large numbers, but any small boosts will help. The Marine Corps is the only service on pace to meet its goal. The shortfalls have led to a wide range of new recruiting programs, ad campaigns and other incentives to help the services compete with often higher-paying, less risky jobs in the private sector. Defense leaders say young people are less familiar with the military, are drawn more to corporate jobs that provide similar education and other benefits, and want to avoid the risk of injury and death that service in defense of the United States could bring. In addition, they say that little more than 20% meet the physical, mental and character requirements to join. We have large populations of legal U.S. residents who are exceptionally patriotic, theyre exceptionally grateful for the opportunities that this country has provided, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, head of the services recruiting command. The biggest challenges have been identifying geographic pockets of immigrant populations, finding ways to reach them and helping any of those interested navigate the complex military recruiting applications and procedures. Last October, the Army reestablished a program for legal permanent residents to apply for accelerated naturalization once they get to basic training. Recruiters began to reach out on social media, using short videos in various languages to target the top 10 countries that recruits had come from during the previous year. The Air Force effort began this year, and the first group of 14 graduated from basic training and were sworn in as new citizens in April. They included recruits from Cameroon, Jamaica, Kenya, the Philippines, Russia and South Africa. As of mid-May there were about 100 in basic training who had begun the citizenship process and about 40 who had completed it. Thomas said the program required changes to Air Force policy, coordination with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and a careful screening process to ensure there are no security risks. We have to take exceptional measures to be able to thoroughly vet and go through the security clearance investigation, he said, adding that in many cases the immigrants are not immediately put in jobs that require top secret clearance. Under the new program, recruits are quickly enrolled in the citizenship system and when they start basic training, an expedited process kicks off, including all required paperwork and testing. By the time Air Force recruits finish their seven weeks of training, the process is complete and they are sworn in as American citizens. The first group of 14 included several who are seeking various medical jobs, while another wants to be an air transportation specialist. Thomas said Airman 1st Class Natalia Laziuk, 31, emigrated from Russia nine years ago, has dreamed of being a U.S. citizen since she was 11, and learned about the military by watching American movies and television. Talking to this young airman, she essentially said, I just wanted to be useful to my country, he said. And thats a story that we see played over and over and over again. Ive talked to a number of these folks around the country. Theyre hungry to serve." For Bidari, who arrived in the U.S. in 2016 to attend college, the fast track to citizenship was important because it will make it easier for her to travel and bring her parents to the United States to visit. Speaking in a call from Chicago just a day after she was sworn in, she said she enlisted for six years and hopes that her future citizenship will help her become an officer. In Chicago earlier this year, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth heard from a number of recruiters about the increased outreach to immigrant communities and how it helped them meet their numbers. In the 2022 budget year, they said, the Chicago recruiting battalion enlisted 70 legal permanent residents and already this year they have enlisted 62. More broadly across the Army, close to 2,900 enlisted during the first half of this budget year, compared with about 2,200 during the same period the previous year. The largest numbers are from Jamaica, with 384, followed by Mexico, the Philippines and Haiti, but many are from Nepal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. As a little girl, looking at the soldiers, I always had admiration for them, said Bidari, recalling British troops in Nepal. Yesterday, when I was able to take that oath ... I don't think I have words to really explain how I was feeling. When they said, Welcome future soldier, I was like, Oh my goodness, this is happening. The president of the United States, can classify and he can control access to national security information however he wants, Rep. Jim Jordan said Sunday in defense of former President Donald Trump. During an interview on CNNs State of the Union, Jordan (R-Ohio) supported Trump, who faces 37 federal charges stemming from an investigation into a cache of classified documents he had stored at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort. The indictment alleges that Trump violated the Espionage Act through willful retention of classified records. Photos included in the 49-page charging document appear to show boxes of documents stored in a bathroom and a ballroom at Trumps Florida property. "If he wants to store material in a box in a bathroom, in a box on the stage, he can do that," Jordan said. On Sunday, Jordan, the chair of the House Judiciary committee, contested that the documents the former president held onto were actually classified. He said time and time again he declassified all this, Jordan told host Dana Bash. When asked if he had any evidence that Trump had declassified the material, which prosecutors say included intelligence about defense and weapons capabilities, Jordan said: I go on the president's word, and he said he did. He said he declassified this material, Jordan added. He can put it wherever he wants and handle it however he wants. A stream of over 20 vehicles blocked off the intersections at Mt. Moriah and American Way Saturday afternoon, with people wearing black and red shirts as they walked and chanted "Justice for Jaylin." The caravan had made its first stop after leaving the Mt. Moriah precinct and people were protesting on their way to American Way Park, where a rally for the dead 20-year-old Jaylin McKenzie would take place. Ashley McKenzie-Smith, the mother of Jaylin, along with friends and family were calling on the Memphis Police Department to release the names of the officers involved in the fatal shooting and video of the incident. McKenzie was shot and killed by an MPD officer following a traffic stop in December 2022. His death was part of a string of five police shootings in Memphis that rounded out the final five weeks of last year. Family and friends of Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old who was killed after a Memphis Police Department traffic stop in December of 2022, held a memorial on June 10, 2023 at American Way park in Memphis, Tenn. Little information was provided by authorities about the shooting, with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation saying on Dec. 16 the day of the shooting police attempted to pull a car over and "three individuals exited the suspect vehicle and ran in different directions." "Early information from the scene indicates officers pursued one of the males down a side street," the release from TBI said. "One officer and the subject exchanged gunfire, resulting in the death of the individual." Law enforcement later identified that individual as McKenzie. He was visiting extended family in Memphis from his home in Atlanta, his mother told The Commercial Appeal. McKenzie-Smith, who also lives in Atlanta, drove to Memphis for the protest Saturday, hoping the disruption would help her get closer to finding out what exactly led to her son's death. Atlanta resident Ashley McKenzie-Smith, the mother of Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old who was killed after a Memphis Police Department traffic stop in December of 2022, stands on the hood of a car in the intersection of American Way and S. Perkins Road Saturday afternoon. The disruption, as she called it, was to raise awareness to her continued calls for transparency after her son's death while he visited family in Memphis last year. "I do [think our message is getting out]," she said. "I think the protest was very disruptive and I enjoyed it because what we need is attention. So it did its job. Whether or not people knew what was going on or not, they're going to go Google [Jaylin McKenzie] now because they saw his name." In the six months since her son's death, McKenzie-Smith's attorney, managing director of the Chicago-based civil rights law firm Action Injury Law Group Andrew M. Stroth, said there has been no communication as to what happened to her son. Stroth accused MPD of "hiding behind the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation" and said they had also recently sent a letter to the mayor asking for video of the shooting to be released. "There's been no accountability. We don't know the officer's name. We don't know any of the facts surrounding the case. The only thing the family knows is the narrative that's been given by the police. And if you look at George Floyd in Minnesota...you look at Tyre Nichols here in Memphis, and the SCORPION Unit, you can't believe what people say. We need to see the objective video evidence and the family has not received anything [as of] today," Stroth said. After the shooting in December, MPD said McKenzie shot at officers, who then returned fire and shot McKenzie. He died at the scene, police said. However, McKenzie-Smith said she has been told no gun was recovered from the scene. MPD and TBI did not comment on whether or not a gun was recovered at the scene. Family and friends of Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old who was killed after a Memphis Police Department traffic stop in December of 2022, rallied on June 10, 2023 at the Mount Moriah Police Precinct in Memphis, Tenn. Law enforcement officials have not announced any charges against any other passengers of the car McKenzie was in before the traffic stop. Stroth said the narrative released publicly has left him and the family with no answers, and he said the release of body camera footage, especially in the wake of Tyre Nichols' beating at the hands of MPD officers, should be standard practice. "If the narrative tweeted out by the police department says they were responding to shots fired at police, where's the weapon? Where are the gun casings? Where's the objective evidence that supports that narrative? There's no objective evidence that supports that it was a justified shooting," he said. "If there's no weapon, there's no imminent threat." MPD deferred to TBI for comment about the shooting and said it would check if the officers had been suspended from duty on Monday. TBI did not respond to the same questions, along with one asking about the status of the TBI investigation, at the time this article was published. Family and friends of Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old who was killed after a Memphis Police Department traffic stop in December of 2022, held a demonstration on June 10, 2023 at the intersection of American Way and S Perkins Road in Memphis, Tenn. Protests lead to celebration of Jaylin McKenzie at American Way Park McKenzie was shot and killed near the destination for the protesters, American Way Park. As cars pulled into the parking lot, some adorned with red streamers and flags, smoke from grills filled the air. Music from a drum line and separate speakers began playing as well. Alongside the food and music, yoga mats were lined up alongside a booth selling jewelry and crystals, two things McKenzie-Smith said her son enjoyed. "I wanted Jaylin's rally to talk about who he was," she said. "So that's why we have the yoga and the meditation, he was into all of that with crystals and sage, and stuff. You'll see there's vegan food out here because he'd go on these fasts where he wouldn't eat meat, he'd just do fruits and vegetables. There's also, of course, music. He was an aspiring rapper. All of those things are things that he did, and that's what this rally is all about." McKenzie-Smith said it was difficult when she first arrived, but hearing the music, seeing the food and yoga lifted her spirits. "When I first got out here it was a little hard. But now that people are here, and it's music going on, it's a little lighter," she said. "Because my son wouldn't want you to be mad or sad. He would want you to enjoy yourself and celebrate." Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mother, family, friends protest killing of 20-year-old by Memphis police The North-Crimean Canal ran aground after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP The media referred to satellite images taken after Russia destroyed the Kakhovka Reservoir dam. Planet Labs satellite photos from June 7 and June 5, 2023 show siltation or shallowing in sections of the Dnipro River near the sources of the North Crimean Canal. The journalists also received a video shot near a tributary of the North Crimean Canal. It shows that the water from the Dnipro River is now hardly reaching the canal. According to experts interviewed by the media, water from the canal will no longer reach the occupied peninsula until the Kakhovka Reservoir is filled again. In addition, it will be necessary to rebuild the destroyed hydraulic infrastructure. Skhemy says this may take years. Nova Kakhovka dam breach what is known Read also: Military expert explains Russias decision to destroy Kakhovka dam, details preparations During the night of June 6, Russian forces, which have occupied the town of Nova Kakhovka for over a year, blew up the dam, completely or partially flooding downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, including the regional capital of Kherson, Ukrainian authorities say. The evacuation of citizens in the affected areas on the west bank of the Dnipro River continues. Meanwhile, a humanitarian disaster is underway on the east bank, which is under Russian occupation and suffered a great deal more due to its lower elevation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered the evacuation of at-risk areas and the provision of drinking water to towns and villages served by the affected Kakhovka Reservoir. Read also: Russian soldiers confirm that Russian sabotage group intentionally destroyed Kakhovka dam audio intercept The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is completely destroyed, with no possibility of its repair, Ukrainian state hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo has said. Not all of the dam was destroyed, but it suffered significant damage, the Ukrainian militarys South Operational Command said. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation on the incident under the charge of ecocide. President Zelenskyy called Russia's attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Explosive objects that the water brought to the river banks in Novovorontsovka and Osokorivka after the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP dam The flow of water is now carrying anti-personnel and water mines, as well as lighter ammunition, into the Black Sea and along its coastline, she said. "The left (east) bank, which is geographically lower, was severely flooded and disturbed by the (rising waters), Humeniuk said. Before that, Russian occupying forces had built several defensive lines there...including minefields consisting of multiple rows of mines... Their field ammunition depots were also located within the flooded strip of 5 to 15 kilometers ... All this has now been scattered across the flooded zone and accordingly may pose a danger to the coastline where it washes up." Read also: Russian soldiers confirm that Russian sabotage group intentionally destroyed Kakhovka dam audio intercept Humeniuk warned that explosive items could be hidden within the garbage piles carried into the sea by the flow of flood water from the Dnipro. "We have to realize that these garbage heaps may contain other explosive objects," she said. Nobody should approach these garbage piles, even when they are clearly washed up ashore. Specialists need to be called in to examine them. A mine was discovered on the beach at Kurontne, on the southern coast of Odesa Oblast, on June 11, five days after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed by an explosion. Kurontne is about 120 kilometers from the mouth of the Dniprovska Gulf the joint mouth of the Dnipro and Pivdeniy Buh rivers, which empty into the Black Sea Read also: Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Kennewick police arrested two men Sunday after they were allegedly seen with Molotov cocktails and threatening to blow up a park. Officers arrived at the 1600 block of South Union Street and found the men by one of their trucks. The Kennewick Police Department said one of the men didnt cooperate with police when they were trying to arrest him. Officers said he tried to run, but it didnt take long for them to find him. The KPD also said the man was a wanted sex offender from Texas. The other man was arrested and his truck was searched. Officers said when searching his truck, they found two Molotov cocktails. The man was arrested for possessing an explosive device and harassment. Deputy head of a Kherson's school looks at the damages caused by a shelling to the school in Kherson Kherson's unending nightmare through occupation, shelling and now floods Deputy head of a Kherson's school looks at the damages caused by a shelling to the school in Kherson By Max Hunder KHERSON, Ukraine (Reuters) - For Kherson resident Iryna Radetska, the catastrophic flooding of her city after the giant Kakhovka dam was destroyed is the latest chapter in more than a year of wartime suffering. "They say a new love kills the old one. Maybe it's the same with tragedy," said 52-year-old Radetska, who is deputy head of a school in the southern Ukrainian city. Few places have felt the extent of suffering that Kherson has since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Few people bore the brunt of it harder than Radetska, who said she has survived imprisonment, beatings and rockets. The city, which had a peacetime population of 280,000, was occupied by Russian forces on March 2, 2022. It was liberated by Ukrainian troops in early November, but since then has been regularly shelled by Russian forces from the east side of the Dnipro River. In the latest setback, large areas of Kherson and villages nearby were submerged last week after the Kakhovka dam, 55 km (35 miles) upstream, was destroyed. Kyiv and Moscow have blamed each other for causing the damage. These days, Radetska's school teaches only online due to the risk of shelling. Pupils include 31 on the Russian-held east bank that was particularly badly hit by the floods, including the town of Oleshky. "As far as we know, Oleshky was flooded ... the mobile connection there is very bad. They are very limited in their movements. Then there is the psychological question," she told Reuters, referring to people's trauma. HORRORS OF OCCUPATION Leonid Remyha, chief doctor of one of Kherson's hospitals, recalled the huge flow of people into the facility after the dam burst on Monday. They were wet and upset. "On the first day we admitted 136 people ... they were all in a state of stress." The past week's events have been a fresh tragedy for Radetska and Remyha, who both recounted threats, imprisonment and torture during Russia's occupation. Reuters could not independently verify their accounts of ill treatment. Moscow has repeatedly denied abuse of civilians or soldiers. Remyha, who is 69, said Russia's military ordered the hospital to treat its soldiers "under the barrel of a gun". He said the hospital's staff took risks to give illicit assistance to local Ukrainian soldiers left in the city after the occupation. "We gave them care, we registered them under fake names and surnames so that the FSB wouldn't catch them," he recalled, referring to Russia's security service. "We snuck them out of the hospitals so the local population could take them away and shelter them." Remya said that after being fired for his pro-Ukrainian stance, he hid for six weeks but was detained by the FSB on Sept. 20. "There were interrogations every day, twice. This was all accompanied by abuse ... for instance electric shocks, baton (strikes) on the ribs, legs, knees and fingers," he said. According to Remyha, on the third day of captivity the Russians discovered he was a doctor, and their treatment of him improved slightly. He was released after 10 days. Radetska also recounted imprisonment and torture under occupation. Over the summer of 2022, she said she turned down offers to return to work at her school. When she went to the school on Aug. 17 to collect her belongings, she had an argument with the new headmaster, which led to her arrest the next day by FSB officers who told her she faced 25 years in jail on terrorism charges. "The cell was meant for two people but there were seven of us there," she said. "There were two narrow beds and everyone else slept on the floor." Remyha said she was beaten, causing spinal injuries she is still recovering from. She added that she was released after nine days, having been given the choice of recording a video apologising for her actions or execution. Russia's FSB did not immediately respond when asked to comment on to the allegations made by Remyha and Radetska. Reuters has previously reported on alleged torture and abuse by Russian authorities in Kherson. Moscow has rejected allegations of abuse against civilians and soldiers in Ukraine and has accused Ukrainian authorities of staging such abuses in places like Bucha, something which Kyiv dismisses as a lie. LIBERATION AND SHELLING Kherson's liberation triggered jubilation from many residents, including Radetska and Remyha. But the euphoria was short-lived given the artillery and rocket fire from across the Dnipro that began to hit the city almost daily. Radetska said her school had been hit several times, including the day before the dam burst. "We hadn't even had time to process this, and get used to this thought (of the school being bombed) when another tragedy struck." "Today, we probably don't have a single family that hasn't faced the consequences of war whether it's death, destruction or fear. People have become different. Children have become noticeably different; they've become more grown up." Like many residents who remain, Radetska is convinced the city will recover and thrive, but she said she expects the process to be long and difficult. Of the approximately 1,400 children registered at her school, just over 100 are still in Kherson region. The rest are in other regions of Ukraine or abroad. Remyha said just over half of his hospital staff of around 1,200 before the invasion remained. Of the entire workforce, only 12 fled to Russian-controlled areas when Ukrainian forces returned. "We have to show the entire world and ourselves that Kherson is a city of freedom-loving people, and despite everything that's happened, we will definitely survive here," he said. (Writing by Max Hunder; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Frances Kerry) Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Welcome to this weeks edition of Royalist, The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday. Prince Harrys attack on government annoys palace An attack on the government by Prince Harry, tacked onto the end of his witness statement in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for phone hacking, is extremely difficult and uncomfortable for the monarchy, which is constitutionally required to be above politics, sources have said. Towards the end of his lengthy statement, Harry declared: Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government, both of which I believe are at rock bottom. Prince Harry Opens Up in Court on Claim That King Charles Is Not His Real Dad Speaking to The Sunday Times about the comment, a royal source said: The Palace will find that extremely difficult and uncomfortable, because you can never fully separate yourself from the institution and it will have raised eyebrows on both sides of the parkat Westminster toonot least because it wasnt necessary for the core of his case. But it only underlines the wisdom and importance of [Elizabeth IIs] decisions taken at Sandringham [the family summit in January 2020], that you cannot be half-in and half-out. Those decisions are now the royal familys insurancewhen one of its members continues to break with convention, they can point out that he is speaking as Harry Windsor, not as the Duke of Sussex, working member of the royal family representing the nation. Then, there is the deep irony of a member of the royal family talking about how the country is judged around the world, which is often by and through the royal family. It shows a deep misunderstanding by him. Another source, described by the Sunday Times Roya Nikkhah as someone who knows Harry well, says: I think hes been sitting in the Californian sunshine for a long time, hanging out with James Corden [the actor and TV host] and has lost all the instincts on how to do this, how to conduct himself carefully, still as a member of the royal family. Hes lost the knack of what he can and cant say and there is no one around him to say, No, Harry, you cant say that, take that bit out. Its embarrassing for him and for Britain, for a prince to be saying, Weve got a shit government. Nikkhah says that King Charles is becoming increasingly exasperated by Harrys actions, with a source saying: The king brings Harry up every time I see him. I dont think weve moved past sad and bewildered, but theres a bit more frustration at his behavior, because it just keeps going. A former courtier told Nikkhah: I think he is seeking inner peace and this becomes the targethe thinks if he can bring the media to heel, it will cure his pain. Sadly, I dont think it will. Hes still defending his mother. Nothing will take that pain away. No invite for Harry King Charles has not invited Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the Kings Birthday Parade (aka the Trooping of the Color) next weekend. The Daily Mail reports that it will be the first time in Harry's life that he has not been welcome at the monarch's official birthday celebrations, and particularly significant because this is the first such celebration of the kings reign. A source told the paper, Im afraid its a reflection of the state of relations at the moment. Household Division foot guards march in the Trooping the Color parade in celebration of Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, in London, Britain June 2, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls Rehearsals for the event, the first Trooping since Elizabeth died, were conducted Saturday and included Prince William on horseback. Warm conditions caused several bearskin-sporting guards to topple over. Overcompensating? Charles wanted to buy his granddaughter Lilibet a big gift for her second birthday, perhaps even a custom made cubby house, but was warned off by Harry who told him to get something less extravagant, reports OK! Magazine. A source told the publications that King Charles had his aides looking at custom-made cubby houses, similar to what the Queen and Princess Margaret had when they were girls. However, the source added the idea got a thumbs down from Harry who asked his father to do something less extravagant. Parents, huh? Subscribe here to get all the latest royal news and gossip with Tom Sykes and Tim Teeman. Princess Eugenie (L) and Princess Beatrice travel to Horseguards Parade for the annual Trooping the Color ceremony in central London, Britain June 11, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville The Beatrice and Eugenie question Could a future King William restore the Yorkists? Prince Andrews daughtersPrincess Beatrice and Princess Eugeniecould return to frontline royal duties under King Billy, the Daily Mails Richard Eden speculated this week. Eden said on a Mail podcast: Queen Elizabeth had the Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandria, all carrying out engagements and helping her. I would like to see, in the future, Prince William being helped by his own cousins, such as Eugenie and Beatrice. Perhaps in the future, when William is King, they might feel it is the right time to dedicate their life to royal duties. Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, departs the Rolls Building of the High Court in London, Britain June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville Plane brilliant Prince Harry may have left a special gift for an American Airlines flight attendant this weeka copy of his memoir Spare. The Telegraph reported that Holden Pattern posted a picture of himself with the Duke on Instagram stories while aboard the flight, captioning the image passenger prince with a crown emoji. While he didnt say Harry gave him the copy of Spare, Pattern added that he found this in my luggage that a passenger gave me. Harry had been flying back to America after taking the stand in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers. This week in royal history A real spin back in time: Edward I was born on June 17, 1239. He was king from 1272 to 1307. Unanswered questions Can Charles and Harry repair their relationship? Will Harry prevail in court? Love The Daily Beasts royal coverage? Sign up here to get Royalist newsletters sent straight to your inbox. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Kristin Davis says she cried after being ridiculed relentlessly over her facial fillers Kristin Davis is getting real about the work she's had done and how it's impacted her emotionally. In a tell-all interview with The Telegraph, the "Sex and the City" actor revealed that she initially tried Botox, saying she was "super excited" to not have lines along her forehead. Davis said she didn't do any other procedures "for a long time," until she eventually turned to fillers. "I have done fillers and its been good and Ive done fillers and its been bad," she said. "Ive had to get them dissolved and Ive been ridiculed relentlessly. And I have shed tears about it. Its very stressful." Referring to any recent work she had done, Davis told the publication that she "can't keep it up," explaining that she doesn't have the time. She added that people also place a lot of judgement on the procedures when they don't turn out as planned. "Youre trusting doctors [but] people personally blame us when it goes wrong [as if] I jabbed a needle in my face" Davis said, referring to lip-related procedures. "No one told me it didnt look good for the longest time," she continued. "But luckily I do have good friends who did say, eventually. The thing is you dont smile at yourself in the mirror. Who smiles at themselves in the mirror? Crazy people." The 58-year-old also got real about her fitness and diet routine as a single mother of two children, telling The Telegraph that she typically doesn't have much time for workouts and dieting. "I just eat what the kids are eating. Its exhausting to make something different for myself," Davis said. In her early 20s, the actor gave up drinking, calling herself an "alcoholic" at the time, according to the publication. "It was enough of a problem for me to go, 'This is something that could get in the way of what I want to do in life.' Luckily my first boyfriend out of school was sober which was super-duper helpful." As she celebrates 25 years of "Sex and the City," Davis, who plays Charlotte York on the popular series, was recently featured in a social media video by HBO for the show's anniversary. Were just here to say thank you. she said in the clip. Davis was joined by co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon, who portray Carrie Bradshaw and Miranda Hobbes, respectively, to show their gratitude for their fans. However, fans pointed out that one member of the iconic quartet wasn't featured in the video: Kim Cattrall, who plays Samantha Jones. Though making a splash on the show from 1998 to 2004, the 66-year-old declined an offer to portray Jones in the offshoot series "And Just Like That...," which is about to launch its second season. Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall on the original Formerly, Cattrall had strong remarks on never reprising her role, saying in a 2022 interview that "its a great wisdom to know when enough is enough." But last month, the "And Just Like That..." official Twitter account announced that the actor would be back for a brief appearance in the upcoming season. When asked during her interview with The Telegraph about her relationship to Cattrall and her co-star's current choice to not play a major role in the franchise, Davis responded, "You have to respect people's wishes." "Im not gonna waste energy on it," she continued. "I cant change anybody. I do understand fans feelings that theyre upset I wish I could fix it, but I cant, its not in my power." Season Two of "And Just Like That..." will premiere on June 22 on Max. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) has reported that 65% of shelters in the capital were fit for use and accused the government of manipulating the figures. Earlier, the government said that only 15% of the capital's shelters were "perfectly" suitable for use. Source: Petro Panteleiev, Deputy Head of the KCSA, as reported by the institutions press service Quote from Panteleiev: "We have received the final inspection results from the Ministry of Strategic Industries: 65% of the shelters were found to be suitable for use, while 15% were found to be without any problems. These shelters have the necessary equipment and facilities ranging from emergency ventilation and bathrooms to fire extinguishers and first aid equipment." I emphasise that Kyiv residents can use all 65% or 3,041 shelters during air-raid warnings, and any manipulations and distorted facts in this regard will only disorient people. Some government officials manipulate the figures, claiming that only 15% of the shelters are suitable [for use]." Details: The KCSA reported that 3,041 shelters are available for Kyiv residents to use during air-raid warnings. Background: According to Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Minister of Strategic Industries, only 15% of the shelters are suitable for use "without problems", and another 50% are "technically suitable, but they need to be put in order". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! An LA couple found 1 million copper pennies in the crawlspace of an old family home. Now comes the hard part: Figuring out what to do with them. How many pennies is too many pennies? Reuters/Christian Charisius An LA couple found one million copper pennies in the crawlspace of an old home. But now comes the hard part: What on earth are you supposed to do with one million pennies? Several banks have turned them down, and Coinstar charges an 8% fee they don't want to incur. Finding one million pennies sure sounds like a good thing. But for one LA couple, it's brought on a fair share of headaches namely, trying to figure out exactly what you're supposed to do with one million pennies. John Reyes and his wife were cleaning out his father-in-law's home in Pico-Union, Los Angeles, last year when they chanced upon crates, boxes, and old bank bags full of pennies in a tight corner of a basement crawl space, KTLA first reported. Based on the weight of the discoveries, they estimated that they'd found at least one million coins, or around $10,000 in cold hard copper. "Some of the banks don't even exist anymore," Reyes told KTLA. Getting the coins out of the basement was difficult: They were so heavy, and there were so many of them, that it took hours to move them, Reyes told KTLA. But then came the next problem: Finding someone to take the pennies, which are all copper, not zinc. Several banks including a Wells Fargo branch turned them down, and Reyes and his wife didn't want to pay the 8% Coinstar fee. Reyes told KTLA that one bank manager said they didn't even have space for all the coins in their vault. "Don't bring them here," Reyes recounted being told. For now, they've listed the coin collection on OfferUp for $25,000, which is more than twice their value, per KTLA. They're still waiting for someone to express interest in buying the entire collection. At $25,000, the collection is more expensive than any other copper US coin collection currently available on eBay. The most expensive listing within those parameters on eBay right now is a $20,000 collection of assorted coins. Individual pennies have fetched more than $100,000 at auction. In 2018, a rare 1972 penny headed to auction at $1.1 million more than 100 million times its trading value, per Barron's. In 2022, a California auction house sold 10 pennies that it said were more than 100 years old for $1.1 million. Reyes and his wife aren't the first to stumble across major coin discoveries. In 2014, another California couple found $10 million of gold coins buried in their yard. And in 2019, a couple in North Yorkshire, England, found $800,000 worth of coins under their kitchen floor. Reyes did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. The American Numismatic Society did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Insider The Rev. Linda Barnes Popham sings with the choir at Fern Creek Baptist Church during a service, Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. In February, Fern Creek was one of five churches disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention because they have female pastors. But Fern Creek Baptist and Saddleback Church of California have decided to appeal. The challenge will be voted on at the upcoming SBC annual meeting. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) The robed choir performed a rousing missionary chorus, the worshippers sang from the Baptist Hymnal, and the pastor preached on the need to listen to God before inviting people to come forward and profess faith in Jesus. If there was ever a blueprint for a traditional Southern Baptist worship service, Fern Creek Baptist Church followed it to a tee on a recent Sunday. Except for one key detail. The pastor is a woman. And because of that, Fern Creek is no longer a Southern Baptist church. In February, the Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee voted to oust Fern Creek for having a woman pastor the same issue it cited for expelling four other churches, including the massive California-based Saddleback Church. All Baptist churches are independent, so the convention cant tell them what to do, but it can decide which churches are not in friendly cooperation, the official verbiage for an expulsion. Fern Creek and Saddleback are appealing the decision to the SBC's annual meeting being held Tuesday and Wednesday in New Orleans. The Rev. Linda Barnes Popham has been pastor of the modest-sized Fern Creek in Louisville for the past 30 years, and involved in church work since her teen years in her native Alabama. When I was 8 years old, I knew that God was calling me in some sense, she recalled. Shes not doubting her calling now, and neither are Fern Creek churchgoers. Ive never seen anybody with a more dedicated heart for the Lord than Linda, said longtime attendee Rick Pryor. The SBCs official statement of faith says the office of pastor is reserved for men, but this is believed to be the first time the convention has expelled any churches over it. Both of the congregations say Baptists should be able to agree to disagree while making a common cause for evangelism. I want to worship under that same umbrella and do missions together like Southern Baptists have done all of these years, Popham said. Plus, Popham and supportive members of Fern Creek said, its not just about her. We want women to rise up and be able to answer Gods call, just like men do," Popham said. Holly Blansette, a recent college graduate who grew up in the church and was baptized by Popham, said the pastor is not just an outstanding woman role model but a role model in general. Some members questioned whether there are other agendas at play whether the denomination was seeking to divert attention from its struggles to address a sex abuse scandal, or if their removal was part of a wider political effort to push the conservative denomination even further to the right. I think that theyre very much fueling this conservative political ideology in religion that is going to be harmful in the long run, especially when you do lose out on great churches like Saddleback or Fern Creek Baptist," Blansette said. The controversy is not the only one anticipated at the SBC's annual meeting, which will also feature a contested presidential election and deliberations on how and whether to continue reforms following a sexual-abuse scandal that has drawn a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. They're also gathering in the wake of a recent failed vote by the Executive Committee to elect its own leader. And the denomination is aging and experiencing long-term declines in membership and baptisms. The issue of women in ministry has long been debated among Southern Baptists, dating back to the late 20th century controversies that led to a sharp rightward shift in its leadership. That movement culminated in a revised statement of belief in 2000, which included a declaration that while both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. Much of the debate in the 1980s and 1990s had more abstract theological claims, but often the dividing lines centered on issues like who could stand in the pulpit. Something like, Do you believe the Bible? is pretty hard to show one way or the other, said Nancy Ammerman, author of Baptist Battles," a history of the denomination's late 20th century controversies. They needed a concrete issue, something they could point to. Both sides backed their positions with the Bible. Saddleback's retired founding pastor, Rick Warren, is urging SBC delegates to reinstate the megachurch, one of the largest in the nation. He said the Baptist Faith and Message represents a consensus but should not be used to enforce uniformity. All were asking is that Southern Baptists ACT like Southern Baptists who agree to disagree on many things in order to AGREE to fulfill our mission together! Warren said in a written statement. Saddleback's current pastor, Andy Wood, said in a video statement the congregation believes women can be pastors if male elders are ultimately in charge. His wife, Stacie, is a teaching pastor at Saddleback. The congregation recently appointed a woman as campus pastor of its flagship location in Lake Forest, California. But Fern Creek's position is different that women are empowered to serve at all levels. If theyre called by the Holy Spirit and you can tell when someone is who am I to doubt that? said Fern Creek Deacon Phil Shewmaker. Many Southern Baptist churches that had women pastors left years ago. But Fern Creek remained, and Popham's status was no secret. A graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, she became the church's youth and music minister in 1983, interim pastor in 1990 and pastor in 1993. Yes, it was a controversial issue, for some because of the whole female pastor concept, but just as many who thought I was too conservative, Popham recalled. Popham has been active in the local association of Southern Baptist churches, and guest speakers at Fern Creek have included some who went on to SBC leadership roles. Fern Creek has had many traditional Southern Baptist hallmarks, including specific women and youth programs. Members value the opportunity to give to Southern Baptist missions funds, some bearing the names of stalwart women missionaries in past generations. We are in friendlier cooperation than most of the churches I know, Popham said. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the primary author of the 2000 revisions to the Baptist Faith and Message, said the issue is not something members can agree to disagree on. Theological commonality at the most basic level is a part of friendly cooperation, said Mohler. Youve got some especially younger pastors who are startled to find out there are churches that have some kind of SBC connection that are clearly far outside of SBC convictions, he said. At 67, Popham shows no signs of slowing down. The church is launching a kindergarten, and recently expanded its services to the homeless. A church-affiliated coffee shop is in the early planning stages. And Fern Creek is also not done ordaining women. Recently it ordained a longtime member, the Rev. Renee Bryant, director of a multidenominational social-service agency. We are feeding the hungry," Bryant said. "Were clothing those that need clothes. Were working with the elderly, were working with the sick, all those community ministries that Jesus told us to do. When the deacons asked her to consider being ordained, she said, it was reaffirming the ministry that Ive been doing all along. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. This is my last move: SLO County seniors face high costs of living, threat of homelessness Each morning, Denise wakes up in her bed at 40 Prado Homeless Services Center and starts her days routine. First, she waits for an opportunity to use the shelters shower that accommodates people with disabilities. Thats followed by another wait in the breakfast line, before she spends the rest of the morning tackling her daily cleaning chore. After lunch, Denise, 73, said, the day slows down. Because of her physical limitations and age, shes permitted to stay in the dormitory area and lie down during the shift change in the middle of the afternoon. I almost never sleep, Denise said of the rest time. Then, ta-da! Its time to get ready for dinner. Theres nothing you can do. She may socialize with other residents in the evening, and then its off to bed around 9 p.m. The next day, the whole cycle restarts again, just as it has since Denise started staying at the shelter several years ago. Homeless for the past seven years and more than 100 spots down on the waitlist for housing, she doesnt see her living situation changing anytime soon. Its problem thats becoming increasingly prevalent for vulnerable San Luis Obispo County seniors, as the realities of an aging population collide with a lack of affordable housing. Im 73 years old, said Denise, who used a pseudonym due to privacy concerns. Im not moving anywhere this is my last move. 40 Prado homeless services center in San Luis Obispo. Senior homelessness rising with cost of living Denises struggles with SLO Countys high cost of living date back to her arrival on the Central Coast almost two decades ago. Originally from Cleveland by way of Arizona and Sacramento, Denise said shes had health issues from a young age. Born with spina bifida and dropped at the age of 3 months, she has dealt with mobility problems all her life. After 20 years working as a costume designer, Denise said a job-related back injury effectively ended her ability to work. Thats when she visited San Luis Obispo on a four-day trip and decided to move here. Arriving in 2005, Denise said she was able to obtain a Section 8 voucher due to her disability within around three months of her arrival. The voucher allowed her to live in Arroyo Grande for the next 11 years, she said. But that all changed, she said, when her landlord kept raising rents to keep up with increases in the value of the voucher. He got mad, and hes started throwing people out, Denise said. His excuse was he needed to renovate my mobile home. Out of options and homeless, Denise said she tried living in Arizona again, but eventually returned to San Luis Obispo County due to Californias higher Supplemental Security Income. Since returning, shes primarily stayed at 40 Prado, working with case managers and searching for housing opportunities. Jack Lahey, homeless services manager at 40 Prado, said around 25% of the shelters population is comprised of people over the age of 55, a figure that has crept upwards over the past few years. The Department of Housing and Urban Developments guidelines do not prioritize housing seniors in subsidized housing, despite the increased chance of medical vulnerability, Lahey said. Lahey said seniors are also more likely to score lower on HUDs Vulnerability Index, a metric that determines risk and prioritization needs for homeless individuals, because that metric does not account for age. The oldest person on our by-name list is 82 years old, and they scored a 2 out of 17, which by our criteria ... (means) there would be no housing intervention provided to that person, Lahey said. Lahey said at 40 Prado, seniors are generally given preference for beds over other younger clients, who may be more physically capable of staying unsheltered. As part of that prioritization, one of 40 Prados five family shelter rooms was converted into a living space for senior and medically fragile women, Lahey said. Since Lahey joined CAPSLO in 2021, senior homelessness has been a growing issue, and now, the system is straining to accommodate the heightened demand for services, he said. Weve been saying, Oh, this silver tsunami is coming, but it seems like now its here and were in it, and we havent really done too much to address it, Lahey said. Jack Lahey is Director of Homeless Services at CAPSLO, working at 40 Prado homeless services center in San Luis Obispo. High cost of living takes heavy toll on seniors Denise is far from the only senior in San Luis Obispo County experiencing or at risk of homelessness. According to the San Luis Obispo County 2022 Homeless Point in Time Count Report, senior homelessness is on the rise here. Between 2019 and 2022, the share of people aged 51 to 60 experiencing homelessness grew from 15% of the unhoused population to 26%, while the share of people over the age of 61 grew from 8% to 18%. Those increases in senior homelessness coincide with rising costs of living and an increased demand for affordable senior housing of every type, SLG Senior Care senior placement specialist Sue Gibson told The Tribune. Gibson said there are around 110 senior living communities and care facilities in San Luis Obispo County 86 converted homes with around six beds on average and 24 larger care facilities and prices at these facilities are almost always out of reach for people on a fixed incomes. I probably get at least three to five calls a week, with people that have $1,200 to $1,600 a month income and are in need of assisted living, Gibson said. Theres calls every single week (in which) I have to say to people, Unfortunately, there is nothing for you, youre going to have to stay at home with family. Sue Gibson, SLG Senior Care senior placement specialist, said the prices at senior living communities and care facilities in San Luis Obispo County are almost always out of reach for people on a fixed incomes. In Denises case, she gets around $1,200 each month in Social Security and SSI benefits. She also receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, though she said the amount received has recently dropped from more than $200 to around $23 after increased COVID-19 funding for the program ran out. Gibson said San Luis Obispo County is not yet a part of Californias Assisted Living Waiver program, which would permit seniors to use their Medi-Cal benefits to obtain assisted living. However, thats far from a cure-all for this problem anyhow, Gibson said. In counties where the program has already been implemented, its only added a few beds, and waitlists can be years long. For seniors such as Denise who are already several years into a wait for housing vouchers or a place to call home, Gibson said this delay can be extremely damaging to their health. Homelessness makes consistently staying on medications far more difficult, causing many seniors to go unmedicated and unable to deal with conditions such as high cholesterol, which is common in the lower-quality nutrition often found at shelters and on the street, Gibson said. Mobility, sight and hearing impairments are also common among homeless seniors, largely due to the physical stress of inconsistent sleep and constant movement, Gibson said. Likewise, cognitive function is worsened by prolonged homelessness, including conditions such as dementia and Alzheimers, making care even more difficult, Gibson said. Denise, who is gluten intolerant, said she has lost nearly 40 pounds in 2023 between hospitalizations for bronchitis and subpar gluten-free food at the shelter. An air cleaner and walkers in one of the dorms at 40 Prado homeless services center in San Luis Obispo. Housing efforts still far behind demand Efforts to improve housing options for seniors in recent years have accelerated in San Luis Obispo County, but there is still a significant lack of housing thats affordable to fixed-income seniors. Elaine Archer, director of housing management at the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo, said the marginal, 1-2% increases in fixed-income sources such as Social Security and SSI have not kept pace with local rents. I think what compounded the issue is that during COVID-19, when the real estate market really took off, it became attractive for people to sell their longtime holdings and cash in on their capital gains, Archer told The Tribune. A lot of what has been affordable homes for seniors got sold. Seniors are most likely to live in single-family or one-bedroom homes, as most do not live with their immediate family. And that type of housing is almost never available in San Luis Obispo County, Archer said. Archer said the last time she conducted an analysis of HASLOs waiting lists in February, more than 1,800 people were waiting to get into one-bedroom units. She estimated more than 50% of those applicants were elderly or disabled, and demand for one-bedroom units was double that of two-bedroom units. Building more affordable housing for seniors presents some unique design challenges, which led HASLO to include a requirement of making all ground-floor units adaptable for wheelchair users, Archer said. The organizations senior affordable housing units almost always include an elevator, she said. When we build multifamily (housing), Ive asked our development team to dedicate as many units as we can to the one-bedroom category, Archer said. Were a retirement community Morro Bay, South County people retired here, and we dont have enough one-bedroom units across the board. Peoples Self-Help Housing, another of the countys largest affordable housing providers, has also seen demand spike in recent years, CEO Ken Triguiero told The Tribune. Triguiero said for every one-bedroom, senior-specific unit Peoples Self-Help Housing produces, there are around six seniors on the waiting list. To meet demand, the county needs at least 3,500 units, he said. Despite the organizations efforts to increase affordable housing for seniors, applicants on the list are still experiencing waits of around five years, Triguiero said. Were trying to understand the demographics of the folks who are telling us they need this affordable housing, he said. As a means of meeting demand, Peoples Self-Help Housing is targeting fewer of its projects to one group of people who need affordable housing, instead opting to build more adaptable, generally applicable units, Triguiero said Similar to HASLO, many of Peoples Self-Help Housings new multifamily projects that feature one-bedroom units place those units on the ground floor and are built with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant doors that can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, Triguiero said. If were not providing all the accessibility in a new project, were at least thinking in the future (that) we might want to convert those, and so we make them ADA-adaptable, Trigueiro said. As a senior goes in there, and then lives there over time, they might experience a disability, (and) we can convert that unit pretty easily. Whats next? As it stands, Denise said she doesnt believe shell be housed anytime soon. Having lived alone all her life, she said shes not interested in living in the kind of collective housing that most homeless service providers use to place clients in transitional housing. That limits her options and has been a sticking point in getting her out of the shelter, she said. She said shes frustrated beyond belief with the lack of progress toward housing shes made in recent years, and is sure the feeling is mutual with her case manager. Now its a waiting game Im on the list, and if a whole lot of people die, Ill get an apartment, Denise said. DEDHAM Prosecutors want a judge to stop the defense team of a woman accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer from Braintree, from sharing some details and theories about the case outside the courtroom, WCVB reported. The defendant, Karen Read, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting off-duty Boston police officer John O'Keefe with her vehicle outside a home on Fairview Road in Canton after a night of drinking on Jan. 29, 2022. The home belonged to another Boston police officer. O'Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow outside the home the next morning. He was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton. Read's attorneys have accused others of committing the crime and conspiring to cover it up. The Norfolk County district attorney's office wants a judge to order all of Read's attorneys, in addition to prosecutors and witnesses, to stop making statements outside court that don't follow the court's rules. "As part of their 'trial by media' strategy, the defendant has sought to target the witnesses' credibility and character through the use of the media and has encouraged the unwarranted invasion of witnesses' personal privacy," the prosecution wrote. In April, Read's lawyers said they had "uncovered evidence that not only establishes her innocence but points to others' involvement in the tragic death of Officer O'Keefe." At the same time, the defense sought more evidence from prosecutors, including an analysis of the cellphones belonging to two people linked to the property where O'Keefe died. Prosecutors have called the defense requests "a 'fishing expedition." Boston police officer John O'Keefe The statements, prosecutors wrote, "... go further than zealous representation; they are unsubstantiated proclamations, supported only by self-serving speculation and conjecture, likely not to be admissible at trial and done with the intent of materially prejudicing the criminal proceedings by risking the impartiality of potential jurors." Read and her attorneys have argued in filings and comments that she is innocent and that authorities are covering evidence about the true perpetrators. "What are they afraid of? They seem to be deeply fearful that we will get to the truth of what actually happened," one of her attorneys, Alan Jackson, said in court last month. On the steps outside the courthouse, reporters asked Read if she committed the crime. She replied, "We know who did it." "And we know who spearheaded this cover-up," she added. The DA does not ask for Read to be covered by the judge's order it is requesting. Prosecutors' request includes a reference to evidence that "establishes that the defendant, while intoxicated, in a snowstorm, operated her motor vehicle in reverse for a period of time, before striking the victim at a high rate of speed." A spokesperson for the DA's office said the information was based on their reading of a newly available report prepared by the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section of the Read's vehicle data. One of Read's attorneys, David Yannetti, said the legal team will oppose the DA's motion and also that the DA is "wrong" about Read's vehicle. More: Karen Read, who is accused of killing Braintree's John O'Keefe, alleges 'cover-up' More: Prosecutors: Defense waging 'fishing expedition' in death of Boston cop from Braintree This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: DA to judge: Stop 'trial by media' in death of Braintree native Letters to the Editor: Why this Catholic appreciates the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, center, with state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) at the LGBTQ+ Pride Month ceremony in the state Capitol last week. (Anita Chabria / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 9:42 a.m. June 12, 2023: An earlier version of the headline incorrectly referred to the first letter writer as a former nun. In fact, the writer is a member of a Catholic lay community that includes former nuns. To the editor: In 1968, driven to serve the people of God (in other words, everyone), the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Los Angeles eschewed traditional habits despite admonishments from Catholic hierarchy. ("California Legislatures honor for drag activist angers state Republicans," June 5) Some sisters showed up in the classrooms at the school we ran with clothes I gave them. The English Department chair glowed in a hot-pink suit. The depressing reactions to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at the state Capitol on Monday as well as fearful reactions during Pride Month only fuel hatred, indulging in ignorance. The comic adaptation of traditionally dour habits meant to separate the religious from others echoes the Italian opera comic Pierrot of the 18th century and all of Shakespeare's fools. Gentle, laughing and accepting humanity in pain, the performers serve to reveal our foibles and need for laughter and compassion. Let in the clowns! Nan Deane Cano, Westlake Village .. To the editor: I really can't understand it. You keep insisting that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is a group opposed to political and religious intolerance that also helps people in need. Perhaps, but do they have to be so insulting, hurtful and disrespectful? You are not offended by the obscene and immoral mocking of the crucifixion of Christ? You are not offended by the disgusting contest to find the "hunky Jesus"? I can tell you that as a gay Catholic man, I am very much offended by all that. Do you think they would dare to come out as the Prophet Muhammad in drag? There was a time when the Pride Month was exactly that, full of pride. There was a time when drag was fun, witty, creative and elegant. Not anymore. Now it has become a political tool. As a gay man and an American citizen, I have fought for the gay community to achieve the approval that any human being deserves. It has been a long battle trying to gain the respect against the stupidity and ignorance of many. But now everything is all twisted. If you have seen the repulsive mocking of the crucifixion of Christ and you were not offended, then there is nothing else to say. Raul De Cardenas, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In the wake of gun violence in the Short North the first two weekends of May, Columbus police had a substantial presence there the last two weekends of the month with officers in cruisers, on bicycles and on foot. Short North was show of police might, not Ginther leadership I respond to the May 31 letter to the editor Mayor Ginthers Top Priority is Safety, where the letter writer asserts that a weekend of zero homicides following the show of force in the Short North was due to Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginthers good leadership on the issue. I went through the Short North twice that weekend; it was a grotesque and unsustainable display of police might, willfully blind to the reckonings of 2020. In fact, the record level of homicides is more plausibly related to Ginther and his colleagues failure to address the issue over the past decade. In 2015, my neighborhood was fighting open-air drug dealing and shootings on East Main Street on the Near East Side. Twenty neighborhood stakeholders signed a letter to the Columbus City Council that Ginther was on, requesting the city to partner with us in our anti-drug and gun violence strategy. The council refused to budge, despite our sending them video after video of drug dealings and shootings, including video of a murder. We, the determined neighborhood, ended the drug markets and shootings on East Main Street without the citys help. The council, with Ginther, around that same time likewise refused a group of Linden-area pastors request to support members on the streets to keep peace after school let out. Public officials need to listen to the informed citizens they represent. Ginther has failed that test of leadership repeatedly, and it has hurt the city badly. Jonathan C. Beard, Columbus Why just end Ohio sales tax on guns? Just when distraught liberals had about given up on any progressive legislation coming out of the anachronistic Ohio General Assembly, lo and behold a bolt of lightning struck out of right field! Believe it or not, two visionaries, Representative Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, and Senator Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, have sponsored a partial elimination of Ohios regressive sales tax system in their respective chambers. Our reporting: Build it here: Ohio Republicans want to make state more favorable for gun manufacturers Although Rep. Cutrona estimated that this carve out will only save Ohio consumers about $15 to $20 million per year on purchases of flintlocks, muskets and other types of firearms, imagine how much more our Ohio Republican legislative majorities can save their consumer constituents by eliminating sales taxes on motor vehicles, appliances, utilities, etc. The windfall of increased profits to producers of these goods and services who are already located in our great state cannot even be imagined. Cmon Al and Tim, now that youve got your foot in the door, why not kick it in and do everyone in Ohio some good? We make doors in Ohio, too! David Neubauer, Columbus 'American Carnage' should be mandatory reading As a grandmother concerned about the safety of my family, Ive been following the debates in The Dispatch about the overwhelming desire of Ohioans to legislate and enforce sensible gun safety measures vs. those who vehemently oppose any further regulations. I dont want to take anyones gun away. But I do want those guns registered, and the owners of them required to complete a gun safety course and ensure that their guns are safely stored out of reach of young children and distraught young adults who think an active shooting spree is the solution to their angst. Ive read "American Carnage; Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence" by Thomas Gabor and Fred Guttenberg. Gabor earned a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University and is a professional researcher and consultant in gun violence issues. Guttenbergs daughter was one of the casualties at the 2018 Parkland, Florida mass shooting. Together, they counter the many myths and sound bites the pro-gun, anti-regulation people put forth to convince the public theres really nothing we can do to mitigate this deplorable stain on our society. We now have 120 guns for every 100 citizens, yet the gun manufacturers and lobbyists want us to add more guns to the count. This book should be mandatory reading for every legislature before any more sensible gun regulation laws come up for discussion. We do not have to choose between guns or public safety, but we do have to take seriously the threat to all our lives that this saturation of guns has caused. I want my right to go to the store, park, concert, or worship free of fear of an active shooter incident to carry more weight than someones right to carry unregistered guns in public without any training or accountability. Kathryn Haueisen, Blacklick Gun Violence Awareness Vance took 'safe' path on debt ceiling vote U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance voted against the debt limit legislation because he wanted more spending cuts. This was a safe, nothing vote. Debt limit action has nothing to do with spending cuts itself. It is the action to make sure that the U.S. has sufficient funds to pay the bills already due from previous legislation on government programs such as defense, education, Social Security, etc. If the senator truly wishes to affect government spending, then he should be making his arguments with legislation for changing existing programs to reduce costs. But then again he, and the Republican Party of No, no longer have any acceptable policies they can assert. It also would help if they were not the party of cutting taxes for the rich, undermining funds for government programs. Toba Feldman, Columbus Make all electric vehicle batteries same size Im sure that Im not the first person to think of this, but I havent seen anything written about it. I have two batteries for my electric lawnmower. When one battery needs recharging, I drop in the second battery and put the first one on the charger. By the time the second battery runs low, the first one is fully recharged. I suggest that we do something similar with automotive batteries. More: Honda, LG Energy's $3.5 billion battery plant in southwest Ohio starts push to electric vehicles Establish standards for the capacity and size and shapes of batteries and battery compartments in vehicles. Rework the current refueling stations into battery recharging and exchange stations that stock fully charged batteries. When a vehicle pulls in, lift the rundown battery from the vehicle and insert a fully charged battery. With a small crane to lift the heavy batteries, pulling one battery and putting in another should be simple and quick. Only two electrical connections would be needed. Keep the prices of new vehicles down by not selling the battery with the vehicle. Have the vehicles owner pay for the use of the battery. Pay for the amount of electricity used. Ben Freudenreich, Columbus Consultant's report, Downtown splash pad money down drain The Ginther/Hardin dynamic duo are at it again. They needed to spend almost $500,000 to have a consultant tell them that nine Columbus pools, with only one being an indoor pool, are not enough for a city with a population of almost a million people. Our reporting: Columbus needs at least double current city pools to serve residents, draft report says There is that old saying "consultants borrow your watch to tell you the time and then charge you for telling you the time." The consultants also noted that pools should be strategically located in areas where aquatic services are not present. The dynamic duo definitely got their money's worth with this insightful observation. Columbus' dynamic duo just never learns. They are also spending millions to renovate the Downtown splash zone even though few families are within walking distance. But it is a great place for photo ops for the local clown shows called the local TV news broadcasts. Our previous reporting: Downtown Scioto Mile Fountain to be replaced with $15M upgrade, add year-round amenities The people of Columbus deserve better than they are getting from the dynamic duo and their lackeys. Raymond D'Angelo, Westerville This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Short North police response not show of Ginther leadership (Bloomberg) -- About a third of Americans say the US government was wrong to indict Donald Trump over the classified documents he took from the White House and about three quarters of likely Republican primary voters view the charges as politically motivated, according to polls published Sunday. Most Read from Bloomberg Asked whether the charges unsealed Friday influenced their view of the former president, 61% in a CBS News/YouGov poll said it wouldnt. That poll of likely GOP primary voters also found 76% concerned that the charges are politically motivated. While 48% of respondents in an ABC News/Ipsos poll said the Justice Department was right to charge Trump, 35% said he shouldnt have been. The surveys suggest that Trump, the front-runner for the GOPs 2024 presidential nomination, is weathering the immediate fallout from the indictment among his core voters at least for now. The former president dismissed the charges at a Republican state convention in North Carolina on Saturday, telling the audience he was indicted over nothing. Still, the ABC poll found that more respondents view the federal charges against Trump over the documents he took to his Mar-a-Lago residence as serious than those filed against him in New York over hush money allegedly paid to a porn star. While 21% of Republicans in the poll said in April that the New York charges were serious, 38% said that last weeks federal indictment was. With charges against Trump including obstruction of justice and violating the Espionage Act by retaining national defense information, his critics and supporters went on US network shows Sunday to give a sense of the political battle ahead. William Barr, who served as US attorney general during the Trump administration, called the indictment very, very damning and said this idea of presenting Trump as a victim here a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous. If even half of it is true, then hes toast, Barr said on Fox News Sunday. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, took up Trumps argument that hes being prosecuted by President Joe Biden. While not justifying his behavior, Graham told ABCs This Week the indictment is not going to change my support for Donald Trump. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican who has sought out moderate stands on some issues, said the charges against Trump are weaponizing the executive branch to take out your political enemies. Biden said last week he hadnt discussed the case with Attorney General Merrick Garland. I have not spoken to him at all, Biden told reporters on Friday. Im not going to speak to him. And I have no comment on what happened. I think theres no evidence that the federal Department of Justice has been weaponized, Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware and Biden ally, said Sunday on This Week. ABC News/Ipsos polled 910 adults on Friday and Saturday with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. The June 7-10 CBS News/YouGov poll of likely Republican primary voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 points. --With assistance from Gregory Korte. (Updates with comments from US news shows starting in eighth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Donald Trumps on-again, off-again ally in the Senate issued a half-hearted defence of the former president on Sunday as Republicans across Washington issued varied responses to the federal indictment against the former president. Sen Lindsey Graham was on ABCs This Week, where he received a grilling by host George Stephanopoulos about the allegations in the Justice Departments 37-count indictment, unsealed last week. In one exchange, the South Carolina senator blew up and demanded that he be allowed to finish his remark after Stephanopoulos, attempting to get him back on track, interrupted his spiel about Hillary Clinton and a private email server she used to store data during her time as secretary of State, in violation of federal rules. You didn't answer the question," Stephanopoulos shot back. "Well, yeah, I'm trying to answer the question from a Republican point of view. That may not be acceptable on this show, Mr Graham complained in response. Most Republicans believe we live in a country where Hillary Clinton did similar things and nothing happened to her. Pres. Trump will have his day in court, but espionage charges are absolutely ridiculous, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham tells @GStephanopoulos. https://t.co/TAi6FOqGGJ pic.twitter.com/l0ld91Wxw6 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 11, 2023 He would go on to argue that many Republicans, including apparently Mr Graham himself, see the Justice Department as applying two different standards to Donald Trump and his Democratic rivals like Joe Biden, who was found to have a small trove of classified documents dating back to his time as vice president at his home and office, as well as Ms Clinton, who was investigated by the FBI for her use of the private server. "Most Republicans believe we live in a country where Hillary Clinton did very similar things, and nothing happened to her, he argued. "Whether you like Trump or not, he did not commit espionage," Mr Graham continued. "He is not a spy. He's overcharged. Did he do things wrong? Yes, he may have. He will be tried about that. But Hillary Clinton wasn't." There are a few facts that undermine the assertion that Mr Trump and his Democratic allies are (or should be) on the same playing field. For one, all indications point to the idea that Mr Trump and his team delayed and fought federal authorities for months after the trove of documents was discovered, only yielding the bulk of them during an FBI raid. Secondly, as secretary of state, Ms Clintons records would not fall under the authority of the Presidential Records Act. And thirdly, the FBI investigated Ms Clinton for months in a politically damaging probe that is widely thought to have contributed to her defeat to Donald Trump in 2016, even if it did not eventually end in criminal charges. There are also the other serious allegations that Mr Graham did not discuss, including witness tampering, which only tangentially relate to the ex-presidents choice to retain records and documents from his administration. Mr Graham went on in the interview to reassert that he was still supporting Mr Trumps third bid for the presidency, even though he would not defend the specific behaviour alleged in the Justice Departments indictment which he appeared to dismiss entirely as a hit job. STEPHANOPOULOS: I've heard your attack on Biden, your attack on Hillary. What I have not heard from you is a defense of Trump's behavior. LINDSEY GRAHAM: I'm not justifying his behavior. S: But you're endorsing him for POTUS! GRAHAM: Yeah. They're trying to delegitimize him. pic.twitter.com/utawgY1DPe Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 11, 2023 His comments are just the latest in a long line of defences for Mr Trump, whose political future he has also vocally opposed on at least two separate occasions, including in the runup to the 2016 Republican nominating convention as well as the immediate aftermath of January 6. The South Carolina senator is considered a case study of the Republican Partys evolution under Mr Trump, which continues to force many of the ex-presidents former detractors to return to his embrace in order to protect their political futures. A linebacker just committed to the Miami Hurricanes, and he thanked his mother first The University of Miami got its 10th commitment in the recruiting Class of 2024 on Saturday night from Cameron Pruitt, and he thanked his mother first on Twitter. Pruitt, a 6-3, 187-pound linebacker/safety out of Theodore High School in Alabama, posted on Twitter at 9 p.m., Thanks to my mama and the people who supported me through my journey but Im committing to the U! Pruitt is listed as a four-star safety by 247Sports own rating, but a three-star in the 247Sports composite rating the composites 48th-rated safety. On3.com and its industry ranking rates him as a three-star linebacker 39th best in the country Pruitt has both positions listed on his Twitter profile. According to 247Sports, last season Pruitt had 99 tackles, including 15 for losses, with two sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. He chose UM over several offers, including Ole Miss, Arkansas and LSU. The other linebacker committed to the Class of 24 include three-star Vincent Shavers of Miami Central. The committed safeties are Isaiah Thomas of Clearwater Academy and Dylan Day of Southern Lab in Baton Rouge. Each month, the Columbia Public Library offers selections from its collection related to a current best-seller or hot topic. Librarian Kat Stone Underwood compiled this months selections. One Read, the community-wide reading program coordinated by the Daniel Boone Regional Library, celebrates its 22nd year this September with a book unlike any other. When Two Feathers, a Cherokee horse diver from a Wild West show, has a tragic accident that leads to the death of her beloved horse and her own serious injury, she is thrust into the strange happenings at the Glendale Park Zoo. "When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky" The historical fiction When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky by Margaret Verble (HarperCollins, 2022) narrowly beat the nonfiction memoir Why Fish Dont Exist by Lulu Miller (Simon & Schuster, 2021) to be named this years One Read. Another nonfiction book the One Read Reading Panel took on is How the Word Is Passed (Little, Brown and Company, 2021) by Clint Smith. Smith takes readers through the often-untold stories behind some American landmarks. At each stop, he examines how our country memorializes and reckons with the legacy of slavery, and does so with lyrical, evocative prose. "The Line Becomes a River" Francisco Cantus The Line Becomes a River (Riverhead Books, 2019) sheds light on another sometimes misunderstood, often heavy topic: the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Cantu grew up in the shadow of the border and eventually became a U.S. Border Patrol agent, serving four years. He shares his experiences as an agent, as well as the perspectives of some of those attempting to make the cross. With an even hand, Cantu presents a tough topic and does so without losing the humanity at its core. For another book bursting with humanity, I turn to Life Is So Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman (Random House, 2013). This memoir tells the extraordinary journey of Dawson, who learned to read at age 98. Dawson lived for over a century and recounts his experiences as an eyewitness to 20th-century America. While he had more than his fair share of tragic experiences, he never allowed that to stop him from seeing all that is good in life. Another writer who lacked traditional education is Tara Westover, author of Educated (Random House, 2018). Westover didnt enter a classroom until she was 17. She was raised in a fundamentalist family in Idaho and spent her earlier years learning about herbs and prepping for the end of the world, not for college. Despite this, she educated herself all the way to Brigham Young University, then to Harvard and eventually to Cambridge. Our reading panel did not only read works of nonfiction: Octavia Butler's genre-defying novel Kindred (Doubleday, 1979) was also considered. In this thought-provoking story, Dana, a Black woman living in 1970s Los Angeles is suddenly whisked through time into antebellum Maryland and saves a young white boy from drowning. Though she makes it back home, she continues to be pulled to and fro through time, saving the boy repeatedly while coming to grips with who he is and how their lives are inextricably entwined. "The Book of Form and Emptiness" Another book touching multiple genres is Ruth Ozekis The Book of Form and Emptiness (Viking, 2021). After the tragic death of his musician father, Benny begins to hear voices from objects around his house. Meanwhile, Bennys mother develops a hoarding problem in her grief, rendering the house a hectic cacophony. He finally finds refuge in the public library, and there discovers a whole new world. This is a beautiful tale about mental health, grief and love. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (Random House, 2022) is also a book about a book. Esmes father and his team are preparing the very first Oxford English Dictionary, but she steals one of the words after it falls to the floor of their workroom. She begins to rescue other words that dont make the cut for the dictionary, thus creating her own Dictionary of Lost Words. This delightful novel is a celebration of words and the power they have to shape our world. Lastly, the panel read Lost & Found (Random House, 2022) by Kathryn Schulz. In the last months of her fathers life, Schulz meets and falls in love with the woman she will eventually marry. This memoir weaves together strands of grief, love, loss and celebration seamlessly to portray the complexity of the human experience. "Lost & Found" Join us in September to explore the topics and themes of When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky, through art, music, discussions, films and more. Visit www.dbrl.org/one-read later this summer for details. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Literary Links: One Read finalists weave tales of history, fantasy, love and grief Were here to love each other in the face of hatred: Colorado Springs celebrates first Pride since Club Q massacre April Lavely-Robinson, 39, and her mother, Robbie, attended Pikes Peak Pride as a family event on Sunday (Sheila Flynn) A chorus of cheers erupted along the Pikes Peak Pride parade route on Sunday as grand marshal Richard Fierro the local brewery owner and Army veteran who famously tackled the Club Q shooter banged a drum and waved at the rainbow-clad crowd celebrating Colorado Springs LGBT+ community less than seven months after it was attacked. The city showed up in full force for the first Pride since the November massacre which left five dead including Raymond Green Vance, the boyfriend of Mr Fierros daughter. The names and photos of the victims were front and centre throughout the weekends festivities: Daniel Aston, 28; Kelly Loving, 40; Ashley Paugh, 35; Derrick Rump, 38; and Mr Vance, the youngest at just 22. Their family members and other survivors were also marching at the front of the parade on Sunday, one day after Colorado Springs residents gathered for a memorial and commemoration ceremony at the citys Alamo Square Park. Volunteer Terhesa Phillips was standing in the gazebo on Sunday at the park, which marked the parade route end, offering people the chance to write a message to be included on the memorials panels. It just hits a little heavier today, said the 28-year-old, adding that the volunteer coordinator warned the duties would be really heavy lifting on the heart. Pikes Peak Pride attendees were invited to write messages to add to a memorial for the victims of the November Club Q shooting (Sheila Flynn) Its super important to me to support my friends, because the majority of my friend group are queer or identify in that sort of way, and its important for me to be here and be very publicly on their side, Ms Phillips said. The first Pride festival since the massacre, she added, represented an important opportunity for the wider Colorado Springs community to mark its support and inclusivity. I think a lot of us feel like it, and we have to show them what side were on and its the only side to be on, Ms Phillips said. The full weight of this years festivities was not lost upon the organisers. Every year, we do our best to pull off the very best events that we possibly can, but this year is especially important, of course, Gretchen Pressley, the festivals director of communications and marketing, told The Independent, less than 24 hours before the weekends events began. Not only is it the first Pride after the Club Q tragedy that happened to our community in November, but across the nation, we are just seeing so much anti-LGBTQ legislation sweeping our nation. And so, even though here in Colorado we feel so lucky to have a state that cares about us, that is setting up safe legislation for us, we know that so many of our friends in other states are not so lucky. Erin Retka attended the Colorado Springs Pride parade with her five-year-old son, Oscar (Sheila Flynn) Ms Pressler added: We really want this particular Pride to be a huge moment of healing for our community. We want to remember those we lost; we want to recognise the survivors; we want to recognise the heroes; and we just want to continue standing together and helping everyone through their healing journey. Safety concerns, however, were top of mind. Especially after Club Q, we have worked extensively with the Colorado Springs Police Department and other security forces to do pretty much constant sweeps of the area, she said. We also made the decision to have an open Pride. We considered putting up barriers and having entrances, but that would restrict the entrances and exits in case there is a problem. Mother-of-two Erin Retka, who was setting up to watch the parade more than an hour early with her five-year-old, had a hard conversation about if it was going to be safe to even come out with her husband. Club Q on 11 June. (Sheila Flynn) We ultimately decided that that makes it all the more important for us to be here and be visible and supporting this community and making sure that we are part of creating that safety and that theyre not kind of bullied back into the shadows, she told The Independent. A few blocks away across the street, another mother felt similarly. April Lavely-Robinson, 39, was attending the parade with not only her own children but also her mother and sister, who is gay. They stood proudly alongside a sign reading: I promise to teach my babies to love your babies. An annual Pride attendee, Ms April Lavely-Robinson said that today is going to be more emotional. April Lavely-Robinson, 39, and her mother, Robbie, attended Pikes Peak Pride as a family event on Sunday (Sheila Flynn) It already has been for me, she told The Independent, tearing up behind her sunglasses. I saw the names of the victims of the Club Q shooting, and I got choked up. The shooting hit home, and the Club Q, Ive been going there since I was a teenager ... I couldnt believe that this happened in my home, in our place of community and safety. I think its going to be emotional, this today, and good it should be, she said. Im getting choked up now. We should grieve because were angry. That undercurrent of outrage and defiance was bolstered in Colorado Springs during Pride weekend by an outpouring of positivity and love. Virginia Dunn, standing at the end of the parade route, joined other parents in a booth offering free mom hugs. I have children, nieces, nephews that are part of the [LGBT+] community, she told The Independent. And I think more parents should support their children regardless of who they are ... more people in the community than you would think have families that dont support them, and so theres a lot of tears from people who dont have a mom, per se, or a dad or a grandma who can come out and give them those hugs. Following the Club Q shooting, she said, Colorado Springs needed Pride more than ever now. I think that this community is really showing up big this weekend just to prove that we are there for our whole community, regardless of who they are, she said. Virginia Dunn was offering free hugs at the end of the Pikes Peak Pride parade route on Sunday (Sheila Flynn) Music blared and parade-goers danced as flags swirled around her just miles from the site of the November shooting. Club Q remains closed, its cordoned-off parking lot adorned with flowers and messages. Plans and fundraising are underway for a permanent tribute. For many including the grand marshal Pikes Peak Pride offered an important and visible opportunity to showcase the strength of Colorado Springs and its diverse residents. Its a mark of kind of a restart, Mr Fierro told The Independent on Friday. I think this is a good moment for everybody to come out, show support, let the LGBTQ community in the Springs know that theyre welcome, that nobody has hate for them, and were all safe again. Weve got to keep that mentality, because, at the end of the day, you cant always fear. You have to get to live in the present. So thats the goal. The festival organisers echoed his words as did the theme of 2023 Pikes Peak Pride itself. Our theme this year is the power of Pride and what that means to us is that we are stronger when we stand together and when we come together for a common goal, communications director Pressley said. Were here to support each other. Were here to fight for each other. Were here to love each other and continue that love in the face of all hatred. (Getty Images) Any thought that Donald Trumps latest would dampen Republican primary voters enthusiasm for his candidacy was quickly dispelled by the overwhelming reception the former president received at the North Carolina Republican Convention in Greensboro. Before Mr Trump took to the stage, a video montage highlighted how the former president had faced multiple investigations, which it called persecution. When he took the stage at the Koury Convention Center on Saturday evening, he received a standing ovation. And rather than waving to the crowd or giving a thumbs up as he normally does, Mr Trump seemed to stand still as if to take in the wellspring of support from the GOP faithful. More tables were added to the ballroom for his speech than the night before, when Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, his chief 2024 GOP rival, spoke at the same event. Mr Trump has been on a pre-arraignment tour of sorts, having spoken in Georgia earlier on Saturday before his appearance in North Carolina. Mr Trump baselessly argued that Joe Bidens administration indicted him because Democrats do not want the current to run against him, despite the fact Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith to independently lead the investigation of Mr Trump specifically because he would be a future political candidate. They say well, we want to run against Trump, Mr Trump said. In the meantime, we got 5,000 prosecutors after us, because they dont want to run against me. The speech came days after a federal grand jury voted to indict the former president. The unsealed indictment accused Mr Trump of showing highly classified information to unauthorised people on two separate occasions first with a author and publisher who was writing a book with his former chief of staff, and a second time involving a map of an unnamed country and staff for his political action committee. People applaud as former President Donald Trump speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, June 10, 2023. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (AP) But throughout the weekend, Mr Trumps supporters said the indictment made them all the more likely to rally around him, just as the earlier indictment in New York City energised his base. Its the same old racket the Democrats have been pulling for him, Jim Forster told The Independent. They have never had a good thing to say about anybody. Patricia Koluch of Pender County told The Independent that she already supported Mr Trump but the indictment would make her more likely to get behind him. Oh, absolutely, 110 per cent now, she said and said it would get more Republicans behind him. It already has. So far, Mr Trumps numerous legal troubles have weighed down his political prospects. After the federal indictment, scores of Republican lawmakers attacked the Justice Department and crowed about a two-tiered system of justice. Mr Trumps poll numbers did not drop after his arraignment in Manhattan in April for charges related to his payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Nor did they deflate after a jury in New York found him liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of writer E Jean Carroll last month. Former US President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Trump on Saturday decried the investigation as tampering with elections. They just tried to stop our movement, they want to do anything they can to thwart the will of the American people its called election interference, Mr Trump told the crowd. Telia Kivett, the chairwoman of the Sampson County Republican Party, told The Independent that as a county party leader, she had to be neutral but she loved both Mr Trump and Florida Gov Ron DeSantis. But she said that the indictment if anything made Republicans more likely to support Mr Trump. The Democrats think that this is going to suppress voters, but it actually will embolden them, she said. Its making them angrier. Its making them see the government for what it really is. Ms Kivett said she thought that Mr Trump would be the next president. People cheer as former President Donald Trump speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, June 10, 2023. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (AP) Thats why theyre so against Trump, that hes put out everything, you know, as far as what was going on with the FBI, the Department of Justice, CIA, all of that, she said. Thats why they do not want Trump to run. Other elected officials threw their support behind Mr Trump. Rep Richard Hudson, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said he endorsed the former president, citing the fact that his wife worked in Mr Trumps administration. Similarly, the two other presidential candidates who appeared at the convention, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and former vice president Mike Pence, criticised the Justice Department for their pursuit of Mr Trump. Is there a different standard for a Democrat secretary of state versus a former Republican president, Mr DeSantis said during his speech on Friday evening. I think there needs to be one standard of justice in this country. Meanwhile, despite the fact Mr Pence attempted to draw a line between himself and Mr Trump, particularly when it came to Mr Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, Mr Pence criticised the Justice Department and Mr Smiths prosecution. Now, as I said earlier this week, I had hoped the Department of Justice would see its way clear to resolve the issues involving the former president without an indictment and Im deeply troubled to see this indictment move forward, he said, warning about its capacity to further divide our country at a time when the American people are stronger as never before. A woman holds a pro-life sign as she listen to Former US President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump speak at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) Throughout the weekend, many attendees continued to wear Trump memorabilia, and Mr Trumps endorsement continues to be coveted, as he said he planned to endorse Lt Gov Mark Robinsons gubernatorial campaign at a later date. Mr Trumps indictment also comes as a number of other Republicans have announced their candidacies. This week, Mr Pence, North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie all announced their campaigns for president of the United States, adding to an already crowded GOP field. But few voters seemed to express interest in other candidates and Mr Trump was introduced as the next president of the United States at the North Carolina event, despite the fact that several of his challengers also appeared over the weekend. Man charged with vehicular homicide after striking Nicholasville woman on Bluegrass Parkway, cops say A man has been charged with vehicular homicide in Woodford County after police said he veered into a highway emergency lane and struck a woman who was attempting to strap cargo down on a trailer. The fatal collision occurred at 4 p.m. Friday in the area of the 64 mile marker on the Bluegrass Parkway in Woodford County, said a Kentucky State Police news release on Saturday night. A 2015 Ford Explorer driven by Justin Vanderwater was traveling West on the parkway, police said. When approaching the 64 mile marker, Vanderwater veered into the emergency lane, striking a pedestrian who was attempting to strap cargo down on a trailer. Heather M. Sowers, 44, of Nicholasville, died at the scene. Justin Vanderwater was arrested and lodged in the Woodford County Detention Center. He is charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol-first offense, first-degree wanton endangerment and vehicular homicide, police said. Police did not report Vanderwaters address. Man found dead at Mothers Rest Park at Four Corners in Dorchester Boston police are investigating after they said a man was found dead at Mothers Rest Park at Four Corners on Washington St. in Dorchester. Police responded to the park around 9:46 p.m. Saturday and remained on the scene into the early-morning hours Sunday. Boston 25 News cameras captured about a dozen evidence markers scattered on the ground and on a picnic table. There were also some clothes lying next to some evidence markers. Police on the scene were spotted collecting evidence, taking photographs, and investigating near the entrance of the park. Detectives are investigating, and it is still unclear how the man died. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Man jumps off pier to swim, then needs helicopter rescue, California firefighters say A man who jumped off a San Francisco-area pier into the Pacific Ocean required a helicopter rescue, California firefighters reported. The man told bystanders he wanted to go swimming before plunging into the ocean off the end of the Pacifica Municipal Pier at about 4:40 p.m. Friday, June 9, the Mercury News reported. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter pulled the man from the water and took him to shore, the Coast Guard reported on Twitter. He was treated and taken to a hospital, the North County Fire Authority reported. A lifeboat, rescue unit and two fire companies responded to the emergency, KNTV reported. An ocean buoy off San Francisco measured the water temperature at 56 degrees Friday, KPIX reported. The pier is 1,140 feet long and is in an area that can be affected by strong winds and punishing waves, the city of Pacifica says on its website. Pacifica is a city of 37,000 people about 15 miles southwest of San Francisco. Police cars shatter concrete wall inches from home during chase, California cops say Woman airlifted to safety after car plunges off highway into sea, California video shows Climber dies in 300-foot plunge off rope as partner shouts warning, Utah rescuers say A man and a juvenile male were injured in separate weekend shootings in Montgomery, according to city police. On Friday, an unidentified man was hospitalized with a life-threatening gunshot wound. According to a news release from Montgomery police, authorities responded to a local hospital at 10:37 p.m. The shooting occurred earlier in the 4200 block of Strathmore Drive, Montgomery Police Department reported. Saturday at 2:40 p.m., MPD and fire medics responded to the 1800 block of Texas Street, where they found a juvenile male with a gunshot wound. The injury was not life threatening and the victim was transported to a hospital for treatment. Both shootings are under investigation. Anyone with information can contact CrimeStoppers at 334-215-STOP, the secret witness at 334-625-4000 or MPD at 334-625-2831. Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Man and juvenile injured in separate weekend shootings Man reportedly drowns after jumping into Lake Allatoona for sunglasses Game Wardens say a man aboard a boat with friends fell off the boat and possibly drowned on Lake Allatoona after he disappeared underwater. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, Game Wardens arrived on Lake Allatoona at Victoria Harbor around 5:37 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses said a 44-year-old man, Dehaven Prillerman, fell off of a pontoon boat. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On the scene, wardens and the Cherokee County Fire Department deployed divers to search the water. The boats owner said he, Prillerman, and eight others were on the pontoon boat when Prillerman dropped his sunglasses in the water. TRENDING STORIES: Witnesses told authorities that Prillerman might have jumped in to get them out, but that they did not see him get in the water, instead only hearing a splash. Afterward, Prillerman didnt resurface, officials say. Later on Saturday, dive teams recovered Prillermans body under a dock, according to Georgia DNR. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: A manhunt has been launched by police in San Francisco after nine people were shot in a targeted and isolated incident the night of Friday, June 9. When officers arrived at the scene in the citys busy Mission District they located multiple sets or multiple victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, Eve Laokwansathitaya, a public information officer with the San Francisco Police Department told NBC News early Saturday. She added that medics transported the victims to local hospitals. We can confirm that there are nine victims that were struck by gunfire and they are all expected to survive, she said. We believe that it was a targeted and isolated incident, she said, although she did not offer a motive for the shooting and no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Laokwansathitaya added that officers arrived at the scene in the neighborhood, which is often referred to as The Mission, shortly after 9 p.m. local time (12 a.m. ET). Santiago Lerma, a legislative aide to Hillary Ronen, who represents District 9 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, told NBC News affiliate KNTV that he heard the gunshots. He said he was near the area where the shooting took place with his 3-month-old baby about an hour before the shooting took place. Very concerned about the situation, he said. Its very scary. Shortly after the shooting in the diverse and historic neighborhood, famed for its live music scene, nightlife and restaurants, the SFPD said on Twitter that there was no known threat to the public at this time. This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Marriages in China slump to historic low The Wider Image: Coronavirus dampens celebrations in China's wedding gown city BEIJING (Reuters) - Marriages in China dropped in 2022 to their lowest since records began, local news outlet Yicai reported on Sunday, continuing a steady decline over the past decade although the matrimonial total may have been affected by stringent COVID lockdowns. Just 6.83 million couples completed their marriage registrations last year, data published on the website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed, down about 800,000 from the previous year. The drop in couples tieing the knot, which follows pandemic restrictions keeping tens of millions locked in their homes or compounds for weeks last year, comes as authorities deal with a declining birth rate and a falling population. In 2022 China's population fell for the first time in six decades, a decline that is expected to mark the start of a long period of decline in its citizen numbers with profound implications for its economy and the world. China's birth rate fell last year to 6.77 births per 1,000 people, the lowest on record, from 7.52 in 2021. Demographers warn China will get old before it gets rich, as its workforce shrinks and indebted local governments spend more on their elderly population. To encourage marriage and boost the country's flagging birth rate, China said last month it would launch pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a "new-era" marriage and childbearing culture. Some provinces are also giving young newlyweds an extension of paid marriage leave. (Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard and Ellen Zhang; Editing by David Holmes) Orden David poses for a portrait, in St. John's, Antigua, Monday, May 15, 2023. David took his Caribbean nation's government to court over its anti-sodomy law and won in 2022. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) For years, Orden David was persecuted in his native Antigua and Barbuda a frequent complaint by many LGBTQ people who fear for their safety across the conservative and mostly Christian Caribbean, where anti-gay hostility is widespread. David was bullied and ridiculed. One time, a man stepped out of a car, made a comment about how a gay man was walking on the street late at night, then hit him in the head. More recently, another stranger struck him in the face in broad daylight, knocking him out. That's when he had enough. Facing ostracism and risking his life as the public face of the LGBTQ movement, David took his government to court in 2022 to demand an end to his countrys anti-sodomy law. I realized that with our community, weve gone through a lot and theres no justice for us, Orden told The Associated Press. "We all have rights. And we all deserve the same treatment. Last year, a top Caribbean court ruled that the anti-sodomy provision of Antigua's sexual offenses act was unconstitutional. LGBTQ-rights activists say David's effort, with the help of local and regional advocacy groups, has set a precedent for a growing number of Caribbean islands. Since the ruling, St. Kitts & Nevis and Barbados, have struck down similar laws that often seek long prison sentences. It's been a legal and historic moment for Antigua and Barbuda, said Alexandrina Wong, director of the local non-governmental organization Women Against Rape, which joined the litigation coordinated by the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality. Our Caribbean governments are getting a good grip of what the world looks like and how we can reshape our history and the future of the Caribbean people, Wong said. The ruling said Antiguas 1995 Sexual Offences Act offends the right to liberty, protection of the law, freedom of expression, protection of personal privacy and protection from discrimination on the basis of sex. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the AP that his government decided not to challenge the ruling: We respected the fact that there should be no discrimination within society, he said. As a government, we have a constitutional responsibility to respect the rights of all and not to discriminate. The law stated that two consenting adults found guilty of having anal sex would face 15 years in prison. If found guilty of serious indecency, they faced five years in prison. Such laws used to be common in former European colonies across the Caribbean but have been challenged in recent years. Courts in Belize and Trinidad and Tobago have found such laws unconstitutional; other cases in the region are pending. Same-sex consensual intimacy is still criminalized in six Caribbean countries, according to Human Rights Watch and the London-based organization Human Dignity Trust. The countries include Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica, which some LGBTQ-rights groups consider the Caribbean nation most hostile to gay people. Governments in these jurisdictions should be pro-active and repeal these laws now, instead of waiting for members of the LGBT community to force legal change," said Tea Braun, chief executive of Human Dignity Trust. With three successful judgments last year and further legal challenges in the Caribbean ongoing, it is only a matter of time before these laws fall across the region. Jamaicas government has argued that it doesnt enforce its 1864 anti-sodomy laws, but activists say keeping these laws on the books stokes homophobia and violence against the LGBTQ community in several Caribbean countries. LGBT people in such countries, face "a constitution that criminalizes them on one end, and a religion that says they're an abomination, said Kenita Placide, executive director for The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality. It has created a culture of stigma and discrimination, which has now led to violence," she said. "And in each of those countries, including Antigua, we've seen LGBT persons who've fled because of certain levels of violence. Growing up, Orden David was bullied in school and discriminated against outside its walls. People took photographs of him and posted them on social media, called him slurs and attacked him physically. What pushed me to go forward with this litigation case, to challenge the government, is that experience that Ive gone through in life, David said, adding that in 2019 he was knocked out by a stranger who hit him on the face while he was working in a hospital. Discrimination against LGBTQ people persists in the Caribbean. Some conservative lawmakers and religious leaders oppose the abolition of anti-gay laws invoking God in their arguments and calling gay relationships a sin. I dont think that God created man and woman to engage in that way, said Bishop Charlesworth Browne, a Christian pastor who is president of the Antigua and Barbuda Council of Church Leaders. For years, he has campaigned against easing the country's anti-gay laws. Its not just a religious issue. Its a health issue, Browne said. Its for the sake of our children, the health of the nations, the preservation of our people. Some major Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, say all sexual activity outside of a marriage between a man and a woman is sinful. Other houses of worship, including many mainline Protestant churches and synagogues, have LGBTQ-inclusive policies. When LGBTQ activist Rickenson Ettienne also was brutally attacked in Antigua for being gay, his church community sang and prayed for him outside the hospital while he recovered from a cracked skull. It was traumatic, he said of the assault. But even with that experience, I found out that theres humanity, theres the human side of people. Although David didnt face outright intolerance at the Christian church where he grew up singing in the choir, he grew disenchanted by some parishioners who tried to introduce him to the scientifically discredited practice of so-called gay conversion therapy. He eventually stopped attending, but believes in God and prays at home. Christians need to realize that everybodys human at the end of the day. And if youre going to push Christianity and then think that being a homosexual is a sin then you should put yourself in that same category, as a sinner, he said. Christians are supposed to love, accept and encourage people, not push people away thats one of the things that I really dont believe in: When Christians use the word hate, said David. He has the Chinese word for love tattooed on his neck, and says that loving people is his number one goal. Working for Antiguas AIDS Secretariat, he tests people for sexually transmitted diseases, distributes condoms and counsels them on prevention, treatment and care. Hes also president of Meeting Emotional and Social Needs Holistically, a group that serves the LGBTQ community. And he volunteers. On a recent night, he walked across dark alleys of downtown St. Johns to hand out condoms to sex workers. Its important to offer the services to the LGBTQ community, and especially to sex workers," he said. Because this population are more at risk. -- Associated Press journalists Jessie Wardarski in St. Johns, Antigua, and Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. The leader of the mercenary outfit that spearheaded Russias capture of the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut said his soldiers will refuse to join Russias regular forces. Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said Sunday his fighters will flatly reject a new order by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu requiring they sign contracts with the ministry by July 1 to integrate into the regular army, a decision believed to target Wagner. "Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu," Prigozhin said through his press service. "Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations." Prigozhins remarks figure to further intensify his long-running feud with Russian military leaders, at a time when Moscows forces have begun to confront Ukraines counteroffensive. Shoigus decree was announced Saturday in a Defense Ministry statement that did not mention Wagner, rather saying the requirement was intended to "increase the effectiveness" of Russian forces battling Ukraine and would "give volunteer formations the necessary legal status." Prigozhin wasnt buying it. He has assailed the ministrys war strategy and repeatedly accused it of failing to properly arm his soldiers. In response, the ministry banned him from recruiting imprisoned Russian convicts. "Wagner Group coordinates its actions with generals and has the best experience and a highly effective structure. Unfortunately, most military units do not have such efficiency," Prigozhin said, blaming Shoigu for the failure. A man tries to extinguish a fire at a residential house that was hit during Russian shelling next to a flooded area on June 9, 2023, in Kherson, Ukraine. Early Tuesday, the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant, which sit on the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson region, were destroyed, forcing downstream communities to evacuate due to the risk of flooding. The cause of the dam's collapse is not yet confirmed, with Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of its destruction. The Dnipro River has served as a frontline between the warring armies following Russia's retreat from Kherson and surrounding areas last autumn. The dam and plant had been controlled by Russia, which occupies a swath of land south and southeast of the river. Developments: The Kakhovka dam's breach has most likely disrupted the usual supply of fresh water to Crimea, forcing Russian authorities to impose rationing, use reservoirs, drill new wells, and bring in bottled water to meet the needs of the population in the occupied peninsula, the British Defense Ministry said. The Ukrainian military said the counteroffensive has yielded control of three villages Blahodatne, Makarivka and, Neskuchne in the partially occupied eastern province of Donetsk. Russias Defense Ministry said it foiled an attack on one of its ships in the Black Sea, destroying six unmanned speedboats and preventing any damage to the ship. The claim could not be independently verified. The warring parties completed a prisoner exchange Sunday, as 95 Ukrainians were released and 94 Russians gained their freedom. Russians hinder flood evacuations with attacks, officials say Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 4,000 people have been evacuated from the country's south following the collapse of the Kakhovka dam, which he blames on Russia. Rescue efforts for the dozens of towns and villages still flooded have been hampered by Russian shelling and other attacks, including one Sunday that left three civilians dead and 23 wounded when Moscow's troops fired at a boat evacuating people from Russian-occupied areas to Ukrainian-held territory, Kherson province Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. "Even beasts are more moral than you, Russian state," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, revealing that the International Criminal Court has opened an investigation on the dam disaster. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces are also behind the breach of a dam on the Mokri Yaly River in the Donetsk province, which caused flooding on both banks, the Kyiv Independent reported. Spokesperson Valeriy Shershen said the Russians blew up the dam to curtail the Ukrainian offensive, but said the attempt would fail. "They expect a breakthrough of our defense forces, therefore, in order to slow down our advance, they use this tactic, Shershen said, according to the Independent. Expect Ukraine offensive to face early difficulties, institute says Zelenskyy has confirmed the counteroffensive is underway, and the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said the Ukrainians carried out operations Saturday in at least four areas of the 600-mile front. It promises to be an arduous task, and Zelenskyy has already warned to expect extensive loss of life. Russia has had months to set up defenses, and its strategy in southern Ukraine is based on three main elements, the institute said, citing an unidentified Russian military blogger: "Early detection and destruction of Ukrainian assault formations, massive use of anti-tank weapons, and mining of territories near Russian defensive positions." That approach has already been evident in the Kremlins initial defense of territory it has claimed in the Zaporizhzhia province, where the Ukrainians were pushed back after initial breakthroughs, the institute said, adding that the early going figures to be extremely difficult for Kyivs forces. "Ukrainian forces are currently attempting an extraordinarily difficult tactical operation a frontal assault against prepared defensive positions, further complicated by a lack of air superiority and these initial assaults should not be extrapolated to predict all Ukrainian operations," the institutes assessment said. American musician arrested in Russia on drug charges Another American has been arrested on drug charges in Russia, potentially setting up a thorny situation at a time of extremely high tension between Washington and Moscow. Musician and former paratrooper Michael Travis Leake, who goes by his middle name, was arrested Tuesday in Moscow and "charged with large-scale illegal production, sale or trafficking of narcotic drugs," the state-owned TASS news agency said. Leake, 51, faces up to 12 years in prison, TASS reported. He was the frontman of the Russian rock band Lovi Noch, which translates to "Seize the Night." The State Department said in a statement the U.S. government knows of reports an American was arrested in Moscow. "When a US citizen is detained overseas, the department pursues consular access as soon as possible and works to provide all appropriate consular assistance," the statement said. The Biden administration is already contesting the late-March detainment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage allegations that he, the U.S., and his employer deny. Gershkovichs pretrial detention has been extended until at least Aug. 30. The government is also trying to gain the release of American businessman Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence on spying charges. In December, WNBA star Brittney Griner was freed in a prisoner exchange after a nearly 10-month imprisonment in Russia on drug allegations that resulted in a conviction and sentence of more than nine years. As the war with Ukraine approached in February 2022, the State Department advised Americans to leave Russia because of the risk of being targeted by authorities there, repeating that urging several times since. Leake taught English when he first moved to Moscow in 2010 and translated songs for Russian bands, according to Reuters, which reported his rock group hadnt played a concert since 2019. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine updates: Mercenaries' feud with Russian military heats up Mercer County man pleads guilty to threatening FBI after search of former president Trumps home A man from Mercer County pleaded guilty to charges that accused him of making threats against the FBI. Adam Bies, 47, pleaded guilty to 14 counts on Thursday, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti said. Authorities say Bies made threats to murder, injure and assault FBI agents in the days after the FBI searched former president Donald Trumps home in Florida on Aug. 8, 2022. Bies could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. He will be sentenced on Oct. 4. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Police searching for persons of interest in Jeanette shooting that left woman dead, 4 others injured Officials say Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski has died in federal prison Friday Night Fights: Brawl in the stands during Pirates-Mets game VIDEO: Pennsylvania AG lawsuit alleges local dealership sold cars that didnt pass inspection, broke down DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Which Miami supermarket had mold, birds, mystery food and food uncovered under sinks? Ubiquitous mold, food kept in places it could be dripped on, mystery food and equipment not cleaned when it should be meant another failed state inspection for the Presidente Supermarket chain on Thursday. This Miami Presidente, 1895 SW Eighth St., is one of the chains Little Havana stores. The Florida Department of Agriculture inspects all packaged food sellers, from supermarkets to places such as Bass Pro Shops; wholesale and retail bakeries; food processors; food storage facilities; and food distributors. Unlike restaurant inspections by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, getting the lowest inspection result, Re-Inspection Required, doesnt close a facility. But, inspectors can drop Stop Sale and Stop Use Orders on products, equipment and areas. Enough of those and management might decide the business has to close or isnt worth opening until the problem is solved. READ MORE: Unsafe food, flies landing on Cuban bread at Miami bakery Here are some of the problems found Thursday by Inspectors James Zheng and Margaret Alvarez. Customers using the retail area mens restroom handwashing sink would be left with wet hands there were no paper towels. There were multiple packages of mystery corn flakes on the shelf for sale without the corn flakes packaging ingredient information, nor the manufacturers name or address. Birds can spread disease, so two small live birds found flying from shelf to shelf in retail area meant the retail aisles and shelving got put under a Stop Use Order until the birds got hustled out of the store. Interior of the ice machine found with black, mold-like substance in the food service area. Equipment used in food preparation is supposed to be washed, rinsed and sanitized every four hours. The kitchen cutting boards, pots and utensils went into service at 6 a.m. and werent properly cleaned by 10 a.m. The same was true of the steam wand first used at 7:30 a.m. Multiple pots in the kitchen area were described as heavily encrusted. In the bakery, cases of soda bottles were stored directly on the wet floor in front of the ware washing sink. Beneath the ware washing sink, there was a plastic tub of uncooked rice uncovered and vulnerable to splashing, spitting, etc. Then again, over in the kitchen, fish was thawing in the sanitizing part of the three-compartment sink, in the splash zone because the detergent and rinsing compartments were in use. In the backroom walk-in cooler, trays of pork belly cooked at 8 a.m. still measured at 52 and 53 degrees six hours after they began cooling. The food needed to be at 41 degrees or below. Basura. Also, in the backroom, the inside of the bread proofers had old food debris. Staying in the backroom, inspectors saw a rusty beam in the produce walk-in cooler; in that walk-in and the backroom kitchen walk-in cooler had heavily dusted fan guards; the backroom kitchen walk-in cooler had lime scale buildup; black and pink mold-like growth found on curtains of the dairy walk-in cooler; and all walk-in coolers had heavy, black, mold-like growth on the walls. Snippets of Motown hits bookended the presentations at a recent summit in Detroit convening Michigan's top economic and political leaders to hear pitches from across the state seeking federal dollars to spur the next homegrown innovation. The Michigan Innovation Summit held at the recently rehabbed Book Depository the former U.S. Post Office now part of a new Ford Motor Co. mobility district was abuzz with tech enthusiasm and the prospect that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) could pick a "tech hub" in the state for the federal investment. The summit featured four contenders each with a different economic focus area: fresh water in northern Michigan, battery production in Grand Rapids, applied research in Lansing and mobility in southeast Michigan. "This pitch session is not going to be 'Shark Tank.' It's going to be way better," said Jonathan Nipper, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, who kicked off the presentations. In part, because of the "size of the prize" which he said "could be totally transformational." Attendees gather at the Book Depository in Detroit for the Michigan Innovation Summit June 9, 2023. The CHIPS and Science Act passed by Congress directed the federal Economic Development Administration to launch a national contest the "Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program" in which regions across the country compete for federal dollars to jump-start tech innovation in more communities. They won't fund regions that are "on a clear path to global competitiveness" on their own, according to the administration's funding notice. Every Democratic member of Michigan's congressional delegation at the time voted for the bill, along with former Republican U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer, of Grand Rapids, and Fred Upton, of St. Joseph. More Michigan Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe is 1st official in charge of boosting population Congress authorized $10 billion for the program and each region selected will receive $50 million-$75 million from the initial $500 million appropriation, said Jonathan Smith, senior chief deputy director for the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. "But then once the whole thing is fully funded, it could mean hundreds of millions of dollars per tech hub," he said. The program's aim, in part, is to counter the concentration of the U.S. tech economy in just a handful of places primarily on the coasts like Silicon Valley and New York. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, a former entrepreneur and software engineer, is helping lead the effort to win the federal investment for Michigan. "I don't have a favorite, but not because it's a cop-out answer," he said, of the places vying for the funds. But rather the pitches presented at the summit were a reminder that "we have a lot of good stuff happening" in Michigan, he said. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II gives remarks at the Michigan Innovation Summit held at the Book Depository in Detroit on June 9, 2023. The state faces stiff competition from nearby states, with Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin all belonging to the same EDA region as Michigan. The federal agency must designate at least three tech hubs in the region. But Gilchrist thinks Michigan has the edge over its neighbors. "I mean, these are the states that we compete with on all the things," Gilchrist said. "These are states that we also beat on a lot of things." He joined Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently in writing a letter to the EDA making the case to pick Michigan, because the state needs to diversify its economy beyond manufacturing, a sector in which they said "fewer families can count on to lift them into the middle class." More Whitmer: Michigan's future depends on diversifying state economy Interested regions have until mid-August to apply for the EDA's contest. While several regions in Michigan may end up competing against one another for the funds, that could bolster the state's chances of winning the federal investment. "Making sure that we have distinct applications gives us multiple bites of the apple," said Zachary Kolodin, Michigan's chief infrastructure officer, who's involved with the effort to help the state secure the federal support. Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan regions to compete for federal tech investment The first migrant to die in a city-operated shelter Luis Alberto Aguilar Peres was remembered at a memorial service Saturday as kind, hard-working and committed to helping family and friends. My brother was very humble. He was a hard worker and loved to give generously, Yeniree Karelys Rodriguez, Peres sister, said at the service. Everything he would gain through his work he sent it to help his family and his friends in Venezuela. He came not only to complete his dreams of being here in the United States, but also to complete the dreams of others that are still in Venezuela. Peres, 26, was found unresponsive June 2 at Woodlawn migrant shelter in the former Wadsworth Elementary School Building. Rodriguez, who sat in the front row during the service at Woodlawns Concord Baptist Church, said Peres had been in Chicago for almost a year. She said she had invited her brother, a husband and father, to move to Utah and live with her. But he already loved the city of Chicago, she said. About 30 people attended the service, including fellow residents of the Woodlawn migrant shelter, several of whom trickled in from a Saturday morning English as a Second Language class held by the church. The church has served as a home away from home for migrant community members since February, the Rev. Dr. Kenneth D. Phelps said, offering English as a Second Language courses and worship services to migrants. Phelps said Peres life had touched members of our community. The bilingual service, which was co-led by Phelps and Pastor Yolanda Cruz, opened with a rendition of Israel Houghtons I am a friend of God. Framed by two stained glass windows, Phelps and Cruz then led the small crowd in a recitation of the Lords prayerand offered a eulogy. An image of Peres rested on an easel at the front of the church. During the service, Peres relatives thanked Devan Graham, who helped cover Rodriguezs travel expenses and associated funeral costs. Donations to help Peres family pay for the remainder of the funeral expenses can be made at www.concordmbchurch.org/giving. Millions of dollars coming to Idaho to fight opioid epidemic. Where is money going? | Opinion Editors note: This is the first in a series about how Idaho plans to spend millions in opioid settlement funds. Idaho is expected to receive at least $218 million over the next 18 years in settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, money that can be used to repair the damage done by the flood of opioids into our state. Its part of national opioid settlements totaling $54 billion, with such companies as Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen and McKesson. At first blush, it may seem like a lot of money, but the way the money is rolling out and being spent, its questionable how much it really will help. The money is so spread out among the state, counties, cities and public health districts, its like a garden hose set on mist. And once the money trickles down to everyone, the amounts can be so small, its effectiveness is questionable. For example, Southwest District Health expects to receive no less than $3.2 million in opioid settlement funds over the next 16 years. It gets some money upfront, but on average, thats just $200,000 a year. The districts total annual budget, by comparison, is about $11 million. Theres a perception that theres like $80 million sitting in a fund that can be spent, and thats not accurate, Sara Omundson, co-chair of the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, told me in a phone interview. Thats not how it has played out. Further, the list of eligible uses is so long and broad more than 12 pages of 100 categories of eligible uses agencies can spend it on any number of projects, including renovating a courthouse building. That raises the question of whether the opioid settlement funds will become like tobacco settlement funds, which have been misspent nationwide on uses other than smoking prevention programs. Idaho opioid funds Of the settlement money, 40% goes to the state government; 40% is shared by all 44 counties and several cities; and the remaining 20% will be shared among the states seven public health districts. For the states share of the settlement, the Idaho Legislature in 2021 directed the Idaho Behavioral Health Council to make recommendations on how to spend the money. But so far, the Behavioral Health Council has made only broad, general recommendations without specific direction or dollar amounts: one-time funding for housing initiatives ongoing funding for community recovery centers one-time pilot pre-plea intervention program one-time pilot low-risk/high-need treatment court or track within existing treatment court inpatient detox and treatment Of the councils recommendations, just two items funded by the opioid settlement fund made it into the governors budget and through the Idaho Legislature last session: $286,500 for a pilot pre-plea intervention program and $104,300 to pilot a low-risk/high-need treatment court or track within the existing treatment court. The largest expenditure wasnt even recommended by the council: $500,000 for the Idaho State Police interdiction team to increase drug seizures. Even though its in the statute that the Behavioral Health Council is supposed to recommend how the money should be used, thats not whats happening. I dont have the sense that weve had a specific focus on spending that money, Dr. David Pate, whos been on the council since it was created, said in a phone interview. Granted, part of the reason for the lack of specificity last year was the council didnt know at the time exactly how much money was going to be available, according to Omundson, who is also Idahos administrative director of courts. We didnt ask for dollar amounts, in part because last July, we didnt know how many dollars there were going to be available, Omundson said. We asked for high-level recommendations: Where should the state invest? And it sounds like the council, even though it should have a better idea this year of how much money will be available, wont be focused on the money or how it should be spent. I do think over time, well get more and more specific about those topics, but we really dont intend to give dollar amounts out of (the council), Idaho Department of Health and Welfare director Dave Jeppesen said in a video interview. We will hand that back to the agencies that are accountable for those things. So whos in charge of watching those settlement funds as they come in, whats available and how they get spent? National overdose deaths involving prescription opioids. Eligible uses of opioid settlement funds Agencies using settlement funds are required to file an annual report that includes an accounting of how the money was spent and documenting which categories the spending falls under. But the 12-page list of eligible uses, as set by the terms of the settlements, is a broad range of more than 100 items that include direct treatment, support for people in treatment and recovery, helping those in the criminal justice system, even leadership, training and research efforts related to opioids. Ada County has received $1.2 million from the opioid settlement so far, according to Elizabeth Duncan, communications manager for the county. All the money will go toward renovating a building on Elder Street and moving Ada Countys Drug Court program from Benjamin Lane there. Based on the fact that its an opioid fund settlement, the most appropriate use for it from a county perspective would be a program that saves the county millions of dollars and that saves so many lives, and its all focused on drug use, Duncan said. The renovation of the building will allow the county to house the courtroom along with counselors and a drug testing facility, so that it becomes a one-stop shop for drug court participants, making it easier to successfully complete the program, according to Duncan. By contrast, Central District Health is planning to use the $1.5 million its received so far on direct treatment and prevention, according to Rebecca Sprague, health policy and promotion manager at Central District Health. In addition to a prevention program for youth, CDH is also using opioid settlement funds on a medication-assisted treatment program that uses medications, counseling and behavioral therapies to treat people for opioid use disorder, and hopefully get them to a point where theyre in long-term recovery, Sprague said. In Canyon County, plans are in the works for a new 20,000-square-foot youth behavioral health community crisis center. The city of Nampa has committed $150,000 of its approximate $300,000 in opioid settlement funding, and Southwest District Health has committed up to $500,000 in opioid settlement funding toward the center, slated to open in early 2024. Mistakes of the tobacco settlement With such a broad list of eligible uses, the opioid settlement funds run the risk of making the same mistakes as misspending money from the 1995 tobacco settlement. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids each year monitors whether the states are using a significant portion of their tobacco settlement funds estimated at $246 billion over the first 25 years to attack public health problems caused by tobacco use in the United States. In the current budget year, the states will collect $26.7 billion from the tobacco settlement and taxes, but they will spend just 2.7% of it $733.1 million on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, according to the campaign. Idaho last year received $22 million from tobacco companies but spent only an estimated $4.4 million on tobacco prevention programs, according to the campaign. That pales in comparison to the estimated $50 million tobacco companies spent marketing in the state. Without specific prohibitions on what entities can spend money on, the opioid settlement funds run the risk of similarly becoming simply a slush fund in government general funds. The opioid settlements were expected to be a boon to the states to help clean up the mess that opioid manufacturers and distributors left in their wake. Unfortunately, the way the money is rolling out and being spent and the lack of a coordinated effort, its questionable just how much good its really going to do. Missing hiker self-rescued, found fifty miles away from where last seen A hiker has been reunited with friends and families after gone missing for days, the National Park Service (NPS) said in a press release on Saturday. 44-year-old Hunter Fraser self-rescued with the assistance of other hikers at the Dosewallips River Trail located within Olympic National Park more than fifty miles away where he was last seen at Camp Slab on Wednesday. Fraser was driven to Quilcene where he was met by loved ones and medical responders on Saturday. Fraser was set to complete a 40-mile backpacking trip and intended to be back in Seattle on June 7 but multiple agencies were called to a rescue call for a missing hiker on June 8 after he was reported overdue by a family member. 90 search and rescue personnel were involved in the search. Olympic National Park wants to extend gratitude to the numerous organizations that helped with the search operations: Washington State SAR Planning Unit, Quilcene Fire & Rescue, Snohomish County Volunteer SAR, Kitsap County ESAR, Jefferson County SAR, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Pierce County ESAR, Tacoma Mountain Rescue, Clallam County SAR, Mount Rainier National Park, U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard. NPS stated. By Aleksandar Vasovic and Branko Filipovic PODGORICA (Reuters) -Montenegro's Europe Now Movement (PES) won 25.6% of votes in a snap election on Sunday, the Center for Monitoring and Research (CEMI) pollster said on the basis of a projection of results from a sample of polling stations. The PES, which has pro-European Union policies and also wants closer ties with neighbouring Serbia, failed to secure enough votes to rule alone and it will have to seek partners in the 81-seat parliament to form the government. "This is a great victory ... we will speak with everybody who shares our values," Milojko Spajic, the PES leader told reporters in his party headquarters. The pro-European Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and a group of small allied parties, which ruled Montenegro between 1990 and 2020, came in second with 23.7% of support, CEMI said on the basis of 98.7% of ballots counted in a representative sample of 400 polling stations across the country. According to their own vote count, the DPS and its acting leader Danijel Zivkovic said they should have one deputy more than the PES. Out of 15 parties and alliances that took part in the vote, nine are seen to enter the parliament, the CEMI poll suggested. The state election commission is expected to announce the final results in the coming days. The conservative alliance For the Future of Montenegro, led by the pro-Serbian and pro-Russian Democratic Front, garnered 14.7%. Another pro-EU grouping comprising the Democratic Party and the URA movement of outgoing Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic came in fourth with 12.2%, CEMI said. Aleksa Becic, the leader of the Democratic Party said the alliance with URA would be a kingmaker in coalition talks. "There will be no government without (our) movement," he said. Montenegrins hope the new administration will improve the country's economy and infrastructure, and take the NATO member state closer to EU membership. The vote was the first in the former Yugoslav republic of just over 620,000 people since Milo Djukanovic, former leader of the DPS, lost the presidential election in April and stepped down after 30 years in power. According to CEMI, voter turnout by the time polls closed at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) was unusually low at 56.4%. Observers say there were few irregularities. The vote is expected to end a political deadlock in which two governments that came to power after 2020 protests backed by the influential Serbian Orthodox Church collapsed after no-confidence votes. Montenegro joined NATO in 2017, a year after a botched coup attempt that the then government blamed on Russian agents and Serbian nationalists. Moscow dismissed such claims as "absurd", and the Serbian government denied involvement. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Montenegro, unlike Serbia, joined EU sanctions against Moscow, sent aid to Ukraine, and expelled a number of Russian diplomats. The Kremlin has placed Montenegro on its list of unfriendly states. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade, and Stevo Vasiljevic and Branko Filipovic in Podgorica; Editing by David Holmes, Ros Russell, Jan Harvey and Diane Craft) Calling the sale of the Johnston YMCA land to unnamed developers morally indefensible, residents and business owners in Charlottes NoDa neighborhood are demanding a halt to the transaction. The north Charlotte community gave the parcel to the YMCA of Greater Charlotte in a land swap decades ago, Krysten Reilly, president of the NoDa Neighborhood & Business Association, wrote to YMCA and city and Mecklenburg County officials Tuesday. It is not morally nor logically defensible for the YMCA to sell their gift from the community for maximum profit with zero consideration for the local community, Reilly wrote. She asked the officials to pause the official sale so her group can meet and negotiate some sensible limits to what will remain, as well as what can be built on this site. We welcome any opportunity to restart this conversation, but in the meantime, we need full disclosure on what has transpired and what your immediate plans and business dealings are to this point, she urged YMCA officials. A statement to The Charlotte Observer from YMCA of Greater Charlotte spokeswoman Heather Briganti Saturday night did not address the neighborhoods specific requests. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte has owned and managed the Johnston Y property for more than 70 years and is currently under an agreement with a developer for the sale of the property, the statement said. Front lawn community space The NoDa group urged the YMCA to place encumbrances on the deed of sale. At minimum, those should include preserving the front lawn of the YMCA as a community space and preserving the historic streetscape along North Davidson Street and all heritage trees, Reilly said. The YMCAs front facade also should remain, she said. For decades, the Johnston YMCA front porch has been the meeting place of North Charlotte, Reilly wrote. Adaptive reuse, affordable housing The association also said it supports adaptive reuse of the Y building. This is a historic, contributing structure of Historic North Charlotte; a vital link in the mill town community life that defines NoDas past, according to the groups letter. The YMCA parking lot and former Thompson Child Development Center parcel are appropriate for commercial and multifamily residential development, the group said. Affordable housing also should be required, because such housing represents the YMCAs core mission, association members said. An urban YMCA recreation space should be a part of the future development, the group said. Tearing away the Johnston YMCAs fellowship, brotherhood and recreation amenities from North Charlotte will leave a scar that simply cannot heal through unencumbered commercial development, according to the letter. And commercial space should be included for community gathering meetings and events with a focus on commemorating the history of North Charlotte and the Johnston Memorial YMCA, Reilly wrote. In a May news release, YMCA officials said financial needs weighed on the organizations decision to sell the property to developers. The YMCA also said it wont put a future facility on the site. The Johnston YMCA is expected to operate through years end. Screenshot: CNN The Karen who called the cops on a Black birdwatcher in 2020 got what she deserved upon being fired from her job. However, according to Reuters, she lost her appeal arguing that she was unlawfully dismissed due to racial discrimination. Amy Cooper may be haunted by a single 911 phone call for the rest of her life. When Christian Cooper (unrelated to Amy) was birdwatching in Central Park three years ago, he asked Amy to leash her dog who she was allowing to roam free. In response, she caused a ruckus calling 911 and screaming that she was being threatened all while having a straight face and standing feet away from Mr. Cooper. The video of the incident went viral and tarnished her reputation. Read more When the internet identified the woman in the video as Amy, investment broker Franklin Templeton saw her as unfit to work for their company, the report says. Read more from The Independent: In a 3-0 decision, a Manhattan appeals court ruled that Ms Cooper, who is white, had failed to prove that she was illegally dismissed due to her race or had been defamed by her former employer, Reuters reported. She alleged in a lawsuit filed in May 2021 that Franklin Templetons CEO had perpetuated her image as a privileged white female Karen, by making public statements about firing her after conducting an investigation into the incident. She claimed that Mr Cooper had been an overzealous bird-watcher and the encounter had nothing to do with race. A judge last year rejected her claims. Ms. Cooper faced a misdemeanor charge of false reporting but her charges were dismissed a year following the incident after she took some racial bias therapy sessions. Its unclear if shell continue fighting to save her name. Unfortunately, the world will only ever remember her as the Central Park Karen. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Charlotte Observer NASCAR reporter Alex Zietlow passed along lap-by-lap updates as the action at Sonoma Raceway unfolded this afternoon. Find those updates in the section below. Refresh this page for the latest news. Find full results from the race here. Live updates: Sonoma Raceway road course Stage 3 Lap 110: Martin Truex Jr. sails to his second win of 2023 and his 33rd Cup victory of his career. The 19 car came into Sundays Cup race with the most wins among active drivers at Sonoma Raceway with three and now he has four. After he passed Kyle Busch with 14 laps to go, it was smooth sailing from there. Its fair to say he got some help because NASCAR didnt throw the caution flag even after a few cars spun out late in Stage 3 including Ryan Blaney who did so twice but the 19 car wouldve filed down pit road and likely wouldve emerged in front anyway to take Sundays win. Truex was that good. The other big story line? Denny Hamlin, Sonomas pole winner and MTJs Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, is the only driver who didnt run all 110 laps Sunday. Hamlin got into the wall on Turn 12 and sustained enough damage end his day in the middle of Stage 3. Tough break for the 11 team. Retweet to congratulate MTJ on his win at Sonoma Raceway! pic.twitter.com/7dIYYviyqn FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 11, 2023 Lap 96: Martin Truex Jr. is dominating today. Dominating. He started in fourth on that restart, moved up to second in one lap and passed Chase Elliott for the lead on the next lap. Truex and Kyle Busch battling for the lead as it has been all day. Top 10 now: Truex, Busch, Elliott, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, AJ Allmendinger, Michael McDowell. Something funny: Tyler Reddick had a flat tire, but instead of prompting a caution, he waited for the field to pass and then fully turned around and then filed down pit road. Pulled the move straight out of the Mario Kart video game. NASCAR later assessed him a pass-through penalty. Lap 91: Our first bit of carnage! This one comes from Denny Hamlin, who knocks into the wall and spins just as he passes the start-finish line. That brings out the second caution of the day and will make this race finish with 18 laps to go and the entire field filing down pit road interesting. Martin Truex Jr. will be the top car with fresh tires. Hell be running P4, with Kyle Busch (P5) and Chris Buescher (P6) right behind him. Chase Elliott (P1), Tyler Reddick (P2) and Ryan Blaney (P3) all stayed out and didnt pit. Lap 73: Martin Truex Jr. passed Kyle Busch about five laps ago (with 42 laps to go), and hes pulled away from the field ever since. He is showing he has the best car today. Green flag laps happening now. MTJ and Busch enter pit road on Lap 75. If this goes green the rest of the way, the finish will come down to the 19 or the 8. Lap 65: Austin Dillon gets loose on a turn, and with a little nudge from Ty Gibbs, he spins out. His engine cuts off. But the 3 car was enough out of the way and the car was able to re-fire quickly enough that race officials didnt throw a caution. Dillon was running P17 at the time of his spin. Lap 58: We begin the longest stage of the race in a day that hasnt seen many cautions. Only one, actually. Its conceivable this one goes green the rest of the way. (... But no way that actually happens, right?) Stage 2 Lap 55: Kyle Busch takes the Stage 2 win! Second of the season for the driver of the No. 8 car. Several things went right for this win to come. Others earning stage points: Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, William Byron, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Martin Truex Jr., Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell and Kevin Harvick. Lap 51: First caution of the day comes after a tire from Zane Smith rolls loose on pit road. The field is back jumbled up. The biggest winner of that debacle was Ross Chastain, who was entering pit road just as the caution came out. That means he will stay out while the rest of the field comes in, likely catapult to the front of the field and still be on just as good tires as everyone else. How its going to shake out on this upcoming restart: Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, William Byron, Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon all of whom pitted shortly before the caution flag waved on Lap 48 so stayed out during the yellow. Lap 48: Eight laps to go until the end of Stage 2. No cautions yet. Truex and Hamlin are battling for the lead and the rest of the field is 13 seconds behind them. Will the leading drivers wait until the stage end to pit? What about those behind them? Pit strategy is everything today. Lap 33: The early pit stops have so-far proven fruitful for Chase Elliott, who started at P10. Also of note: Martin Truex Jr. has caught his teammate, Denny Hamlin, and has passed him for the lead. Great, clean racing for the lead in a race where passing has proven difficult. (A reminder: Truex has won a series-leading three times at Sonoma. Could the veteran get his second win of the 2023 season?) Heres how MTJ made the pass: That No. 19 is coming alive! @MartinTruex_Jr to the lead early in Stage 2! pic.twitter.com/blBDj9EqlM NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 11, 2023 Stage 1 Lap 25: Stage 1 is done! No stage breaks, but there are stage points at stake. Denny Hamlin, who is leading by 3.5 seconds over there rest of the field, is dominating and takes the Stage 1 win. Others earning stage points: Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Christopher Bell, AJ Allmendinger, Michael McDowell, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The leaders havent yet done a pit stop; others in the field have already, including the Hendrick Motorsports cars, who are hoping an early pit stop gives them a chance to edge out the JGR cars if this long run sustains. (Also of note: Ryan Blaney pitted early, and disaster struck when he sped on pit road. The road back to the front is a long one. Blaney now running P34.) Lap 2: Toyota is taking up the first five spots early on. Thats Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs. Four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers and one 23XI Racing guy. No stage breaks. Could this be a triumphant day for the manufacturer? Green flag 3:49 p.m.: Lets gooooooo racin! 3:45 p.m.: Almost time! Engines fired and drivers laying down laps. The best Chevy in the field to start is AJ Allmendinger, one of the best road-course races in NASCAR. Will he steal a Cup win today? 3:06 p.m.: Some pre-race timings for Sunday: Invocation: 12:30:20 p.m.; National Anthem: 12:31:00 p.m.; Command: 12:38:00 p.m.; Green Flag: 12:50:00 p.m. 3:03 p.m.: A few story lines to keep track of Sunday: Noah Gragson will not be in the 42 car after suffering from concussion-like symptoms after a big hit he took last weekend. Hell be replaced by Grant Enfinger. Chase Elliott is also back after serving his one-race suspension last weekend. What else should you know? Check out The Observers preview. 2:40 p.m.: Denny Hamlin will start on the pole Sunday. Thats his first pole victory at Sonoma Raceways road course since he entered the Cup Series in 2005. The outspoken proponent of oval racing and at-times opponent of road-course racing will line up next to Tyler Reddick. Michael McDowell (P3) and Christopher Bell (P4) line up right behind them. For a full look at the starting lineup, visit here. Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during NASCARs All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports 2:37 p.m.: While theres a Cup race in Sonoma on later today, perhaps the biggest NASCAR news of the week happened this morning and on another continent. The NASCAR Next Gen Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 completed finished 39th in the 62-car field in the 24 Hours of Le Mans a huge accomplishment in the prestigious, endurance-focused race where cars zoom around an 8.4-mile track for 24 straight hours. NASCARs entry completed 285 laps and was still running well when it crossed the finish line. The car was on pace to have an even better finishing position before a drive line issue sidelined the team for more than an hour (20 hours into the race). NASCAR CEO Jim France, son of the companys founder Bill France Sr., called the feat unbelievable in a press release Sunday. The car was driven by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button and two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller. Jim France and Rick Hendrick salute @JimmieJohnson as he finishes the 24 Hours of Le Mans for NASCAR Garage 56 pic.twitter.com/GdmCbwoHfN Josh Hamilton (@joshahamilton) June 11, 2023 How to watch the race at Sonoma WASHINGTON In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. Dept. of Homeland Security to Host Tribal Consultation on Tribal Equity The U.S. Department of Homeland Security' Office of Partnership and Engagement announced on Friday that the department will hold Nation-to-Nation consultation July 6, 2023 on the topic of Tribal Equity. Please find attached the Dear Tribal Leader Letter and Framing Paper, which include links to all attachments. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Tribal Equity: The 2024 DHS Equity Action Plan Date: July 6, 2023 Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Eastern Time Register at the following link: https://hq-dhs.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdOutqjoiHQw5JxPAHgapRGyudaT8vTs Written comments will be allowed until the close of business August 7, 2023, via email to tribal.affairs@hq.dhs.gov with the subject line Tribal Equity. FCC to Host Tribal Workshop The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that he Lummi Nation in Washington state will host an FCC Tribal Workshop in Ferndale, Washington, on June 29, 2023. Please save the date. When: Thursday, June 29, 2023 (all day) Where: Silver Reef Casino Resort, 4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale, WA 98248 What: FCC staff will provide presentations on a broad range of important FCC initiatives that impact Tribal Nations. Who: Tribal leaders, Tribal IT managers, government and community planners and managers, Tribal enterprise specialists, and representatives of Tribal social service agencies, schools, and libraries should consider attending this event. We will send out more information very soon. For any questions, please contact the Office of Native Affairs and Policy at tribal.events@fcc.gov. Dept. of Energy Seeking Fellows The U.S. Department of Energys Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)are seeking candidates for the Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program who have an interest in the clean energy transition. Innovator Fellows will have a hands-on learning experience participating on projects that the Host Institutions identify as critical to enhancing grid resilience and/or advancing decarbonization while ensuring energy affordability and grid reliability. Innovator Fellows can spend up to two years participating in the program. In the application, you will select up to 5 of your most preferred Host Institution projects from the website https://orise.orau.gov/CEIF/hosts/default.html. If required by the Host Institution, you must be willing to relocate to the Host Institution's area. Fellowship Details Fellows receive a stipend, health insurance, and a generous allowance for professional development. The fellowship appointment is for one-year, renewable for a second year, with opportunities for peer-to-peer learning provided for each cohort. Stipends are determined by their degree level and years of relevant professional experience. Reimbursement of relocation expenses may also be provided, if applicable. Additional information can be found at https://orise.orau.gov/CEIF/. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net Nicola Sturgeon released a statement saying she knew 'beyond doubt' that she had not broken the law - Peter Summers/Reuters Nicola Sturgeon must be suspended from the SNP after she was arrested by police investigating the partys finances, Humza Yousaf, Scotlands First Minister, has been told. Police announced on Sunday that the former first minister had been taken into custody for questioning as a suspect as part of an inquiry into an alleged missing 600,000 in donations to the party for a second independence referendum that never happened. After being interviewed by detectives for seven hours, she was later released without charge and proclaimed her innocence in a statement shortly afterwards. In the wake of her arrest, MPs from the SNP and Scottish Conservatives called for her to be suspended from the party she ran for nine years. Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said: The SNP continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor from the SNP. Following her release at 5.24pm on Sunday, Ms Sturgeon said in a statement posted on Twitter that she had found her arrest by officers as part of Operation Branchform both a shock and deeply distressing, as she was certain I have committed no offence. She insisted that I know beyond doubt that she had not broken the law and argued that I would never do anything to harm either the SNP or the country. She said she could not go into detail about her arrest and interview, but insisted in the strongest possible terms that she had not broken the law. Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing, she added. Ms Sturgeon also thanked her family, friends and well-wishers for their support, saying they were giving me much-needed strength at this time. While she said she would take a day or two to process this latest development, she insisted she would return shortly to the Scottish Parliament to represent her Glasgow Southside constituents. Since July 2021, Police Scotland has been examining the SNPs handling of more than 600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a second Scottish independence referendum. Supporters complained when accounts lodged with Companies House in 2020 appeared to show the SNP only had 97,000 in the bank, despite the referendum never having been held. Ms Sturgeons arrest came more than two months after the April 5 arrest of her husband Peter Murrell, the SNPs former chief executive. Like his wife, he was released without charge pending further investigation. Officers searched their home for two days, erecting a large tent in their front garden. A luxury motorhome was also confiscated from outside the Fife home of Mr Murrells elderly mother. Police search the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell - Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images Almost two weeks later Colin Beattie, the SNPs then treasurer, was also arrested and released without charge. Later that week, he resigned from the post. This prompted speculation Ms Sturgeon could be next, as the three registered officers for the SNP listed on the front of its most recent accounts submitted to the Electoral Commission were her, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie. While Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie were arrested at home, it is understood Ms Sturgeon was informed on Saturday morning that she was required to attend a police station. Journalists were advised that neither she nor Mr Murrell would be returning to their home in Uddingston, near Glasgow, following her release. Ms Sturgeon attended a police station by arrangement on Sunday, where she was arrested at 10.09am and taken into custody. Detectives questioned the 52-year-old about the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party until 5.24pm. Police Scotland said she was released without charge pending further investigation and that a report would be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Scots law allows the force to re-arrest suspects at a later date if required. Mr Yousaf has faced mounting calls to suspend Ms Sturgeon. Angus MacNeil, the SNP Western Isles MP, tweeted: This soap-opera has gone far enough, Nicola Sturgeon suspended others from the SNP for an awful lot less! Time for political distance until the investigation ends either way. https://t.co/8tclFmrza0 Angus B MacNeil MP (@AngusMacNeilSNP) June 11, 2023 Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, also released a statement: The SNP are engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor. Scottish Conservative Chairman @CraigWHoy1's statement following today's arrest of Nicola Sturgeon pic.twitter.com/eUTmO31QVC Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 11, 2023 He said Ms Sturgeon had set the precedent by suspending other SNP politicians who faced accusations of criminality but had not been charged by the police. Alex Salmond, Ms Sturgeons former mentor, resigned from the SNP in August 2018 as he sought to clear his name of sexual misconduct charges. He was later cleared of sexually assaulting nine women when he was first minister. Ian Murray, Labours shadow Scottish secretary, said Ms Sturgeons arrest was a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference. Police investigation proceed without interference. There has been a culture of secrecy in SNP. The same culture that leads to police tents in front gardens created the deeply dysfunctional government that is currently failing Scots. Humza must tell Scotland what he knew. pic.twitter.com/FtgQmkYiwF Ian Murray MP (@IanMurrayMP) June 11, 2023 Murray Foote, the former SNP head of media, said he was prepared to bet 5 on there being no charges after the investigation had concluded. However, Police Scotlands chief constable said the operation was being conducted with integrity. Sir Iain Livingstone said he would fiercely resist any political interference with the investigation and that a diligent, thorough and proportionate criminal inquiry was continuing. It has also emerged the force consulted the National Crime Agency last year about the long-running investigation, asking it to conduct a review of its work on the case. The announcement came hours after the broadcast of an interview with Mr Yousaf in which he disclosed he had recently met Ms Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament, where she has kept a very low profile in recent months. Mr Yousaf told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg that he asked Ms Sturgeon about her welfare and that she had mentioned how difficult and traumatic those last few weeks have been. However, he said she was in a good place and doing well. This was her successor, Humza Yousaf, talking about Nicola Sturgeon on Friday - its been difficult and traumatic but she is doing well he said pic.twitter.com/0zgDZkCZs2 Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) June 11, 2023 He defended getting advice from his predecessor, saying she had been arguably one of the best politicians and most impressive politicians Europe has seen over the last couple of decades. Mr Yousaf only narrowly won the SNP leadership contest to succeed Ms Sturgeon, beating Kate Forbes and Ash Regan. Joanna Cherry, the Edinburgh South West MP and a Regan supporter, tweeted: This is a sad and difficult day for Scotland & for my party. As I have said before I believe passionately in due process, respecting the integrity of an ongoing investigation & the principle of innocent until proven guilty & I shall not be commenting further. https://t.co/hMiXqbhHTD Joanna Cherry KC (@joannaccherry) June 11, 2023 Ms Sturgeon has previously insisted that her sudden resignation as first minister in February was not linked to the police investigation, describing the latter as beyond her worst nightmares and very traumatic. While she has stonewalled questions about the inquiry, her allies have attacked the polices conduct, particularly the erection of the tent outside Ms Sturgeons home - with the SNPs former chief spin doctor calling it a grotesque spectacle. An SNP spokesman said: These issues are subject to a live police investigation. The SNP have been cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Given that there is a live police investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. First minister Nicola Sturgeon (REUTERS) Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested by police investigating allegations of financial misconduct at the Scottish National Party. The former first minister is being held in custody and questioned by detectives looking into claims that 600,000 in donations for an independence campaign was misspent by the party. The former first minister is the third high-profile SNP figure to be arrested as part of Operation Branchform, the Police Scotland name for the investigation. Her detention comes after her husband Peter Murrell was arrested at the home they share in Uddingston near Glasgow on 5 April. He was interviewed under caution for nearly 12 hours before being released without charge. Colin Beattie, an MSP who was then the partys treasurer, was also arrested and questioned as part of the same investigation on 18 April. He was also released later without charge, pending further investigation. Just hours before Ms Sturgeons arrest Scotlands First Minister Humza Yousaf told the BBC she was in a good place and doing well, adding he welcomed advice from one of the best politicians, the most impressive politicians, Europe has seen over the last couple of decades. A statement issued by Police Scotland on Sunday afternoon said: A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday 11 June 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media. As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further. More follows... There have been no cases of infectious diseases detected in areas flooded as a result of Russian troops blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, says Ukrainian Healthcare Minister Viktor Liashko. Currently, the situation is stable but tense, the Minister of Health reported on 11 June on air of Yedyni Novyny, the national joint 24/7 newscast. Liashko reports that there are observation posts in the flooded area that take water for research from various sources every day, in particular, from reservoirs and barrel trucks that bring drinking water. "The water in the centralised water supply network fully complies with sanitary standards and regulations and is safe for consumption. Drinking water also complies with the standards," said the head of the Ministry of Health. At the same time, the situation is different in surface reservoirs. "We record significant faecal pollution, and if this water gets on the table, to be drunk by people, or it is used for swimming, it can lead to the emergence of infectious diseases," Viktor Liashko emphasises. He called on citizens not to swim in bodies of water and not to eat fish from there in any form. According to the minister, this can lead to outbreaks of epidemics of intestinal infections. "We ask everyone to refrain and not to buy anything at flea markets that may be near these bodies of water. The outbreak itself will not happen if no one violates the requirements of sanitary norms and rules," Viktor Liashko added. He noted that currently, there are no cases of infectious diseases. Background: In the village of Marianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, more than 850 kilograms of aquatic organisms, including fish, died as a result of the destruction of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and the draining of the reservoir. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The North Carolina Republican Party voted on Saturday to censure Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) for policy decisions they said do not align with the party, according to The Associated Press. Tillis, who previously served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, has drawn the ire of fellow conservatives in the Tar Heel State over his work on the Respect for Marriage Act last year. He helped negotiate the legislation, which recognized same-sex and interracial marriages under federal law. He described the legislation at the time as a good compromise that provides permanent certainty for same-sex couples while ensuring robust protections for churches and religious organizations. Tillis has also faced pushback over his stance on immigration and gun violence, after he initially opposed former President Trumps plan to use military funds to build a border wall and supported funding for laws that allow law enforcement to temporarily take away guns from high-risk individuals, the AP reported. Daniel Keylin, a spokesperson for Tillis, responded to the state partys censure vote on Saturday, saying that the senator keeps his promises and delivers results. He will never apologize for his work passing the largest tax cut in history, introducing legislation to secure the border and end sanctuary cities, delivering desperately-needed funding to strengthen school safety, and protecting the rights of churches to worship freely based on their belief in traditional marriage, Keylin said in a statement to The Hill. The vote took place behind closed doors at the state partys annual convention on Saturday, where former President Trump is set to speak later in the day. Former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also spoke. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The great players leave records in their wake, depositing them like waves on a shoreline, leaving a high-water mark for others to reach towards or wash away. First it was Roger Federer, then it was Rafael Nadal, now it is Novak Djokovic who, with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-5 victory in the French Open final against Casper Ruud, set a new mens record for the most grand slam titles with his 23rd win. And, finally, after years of the record moving between the Big Three, it could now settle with Djokovic. His dominance in grand slams shows no sign of waning while Federer retired last year and Nadal will retire at the end of next year with injuries preventing him from competing at this years French Open. Despite Ruud breaking him in his first service game of the match, Djokovic always seemed in control, particularly after winning a finely poised, grueling opening set that lasted nearly 90 minutes. And two sets later, surrounded by other great athletes Tom Brady, Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were all in the crowd Djokovic confirmed his status as the most successful mens tennis player of all time. Novak Djokovic first addressed the crowd in French, wearing a custom hoodie with 23 embroidered on his chest, before speaking in English to tell Ruud he was one of the best personalities on the tour. He added: My team, my family, my kids, my parents, everyone is here, my two brothers arent here but I love them very much. You know what weve been through, the trials and tribulations every day. I know I can be a nightmare. I want to thank you first of all for patience and tolerance and that stands out. I was really torturing you so I appreciate you being my rock, and my support and really believing in me. The greatest Djokovic has crept slowly into the all-time great debate, his first grand slam wins punctuating half a decade of Nadal and Federers dominance when he was seemingly destined to be the odd one out, the one unfortunate to belong to the same era as them. But, slowly and surely, as their powers waned and injuries took root, Djokovic emerged as the dominant player on tour his fitness, his return of serve and his ability to make his opponent play just one more shot rendering him virtually unbeatable. Many congrats on this amazing achievement, Nadal tweeted after the match. 23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team! Where Federer and Nadal are defined by each other, their rivalry and friendship intertwined, Djokovic occupies a space on his own, respected but perhaps not loved in quite the same way as the other two members of the Big Three. His career has not been without controversy. Arguably, he could have won 23 grand slams already had it not been for his decision to remain unvaccinated against Covid-19. As a result, he was deported from Australia before the Australian Open in 2022, and missed the US Open that same year, due to the countries requirements for travelers to be vaccinated against the virus. Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in the French Open final. - Clive Mason/Getty Images It is not just the grand slam records that he now holds. He has spent 387 weeks as the world No.1, surpassing Steffi Graff in February to set another record. Victory at this years French Open moves him back to his familiar spot of world No.1. Federer, meanwhile, holds the mens record for the most consecutive weeks, 237, spent atop the rankings. Each of the Big Three has become associated with a different surface during their careers Federer with grass and Wimbledon, Nadal with clay and Roland Garros, Djokovic with the hard courts of the US Open and Australian Open. But, by winning on Sunday, Djokovic confirmed his dominance on every surface, becoming the first male player to win each grand slam at least three times. Victory also takes Djokovic halfway to the Calendar Slam, winning all four major tournaments in a year, the one achievement that has so far eluded him, Federer and Nadal. He also became the oldest ever French Open champion. An impressive start by Ruud For all the pre-match talk about Djokovic, it was Ruud who started impressively, rattling off a service hold to love, breaking Djokovic at the third opportunity in the Serbs first service game, and racing to a 3-0 lead. But Djokovic displayed the qualities that have carried him to the very top of the sport, breaking back after a 28-shot rally and then holding, despite conceding a break point, to level the scores at 4-4. Though momentum appeared to shift, Ruud clung on bringing the raucous crowd to their feet with a between-the- legs shot that eventually won the point and the first set remained finely poised, all the way to a tiebreak. Casper Ruud lost the first set in a tie break. - Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images As the pressure ratcheted up in the tiebreak, so too did Djokovics game. Ruud did nothing wrong, he barely made any errors but Djokovics groundstrokes seemed slightly more powerful, his movement slightly sharper, and he did not make a single unforced error as he romped to a 7-1 win to take the set, after an hour and 21 minutes. After coming so close to landing a blow during the long opening set, Ruud seemed deflated when he walked back onto court and lost the opening three games. All the energy dissipated from the crowd too, as if they were also accepting the inevitable, that Djokovic was simply too good for anyone to challenge him. And shortly afterwards, Djokovic took a two-set lead, winning the set with a backhand winner down the line with Ruud marooned on the other side of the court. Ruud still refused to yield, however, saving a break point early in the third set and engineering a promising 0-30 position with Djokovic serving and trailing 3-4, but there was little he could do in the face of his opponents 22 winners in the final set. Djokovic eventually broke Ruud late in the third set to take a 6-5 lead and held on to complete a famous victory as he fell to the floor, celebrating a record-breaking day. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Now is the Time for Cherokees to Come Together for a Brighter Future (Photo/Cherokee Nation) Guest Commentary. With the results certified and finalized after recent Cherokee Nation elections, I want to thank every Cherokee Nation citizen across the country who exercised their right to vote. Friends, your voices were heard, and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I are honored to serve the Cherokee people for another term. Voter turnout for this years election increased 24% compared to the last general election in 2019. The increased voter participation is a testament to the efforts of the Cherokee Vote education campaign that helped thousands of citizens register and vote in our tribal democracy, as well as local, state and federal elections. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Even after this election, Cherokee Vote continues to show up at numerous events across our reservation and at-large communities, because the work to strengthen our democracy never ends. They are also reminding voters in Council Districts 1, 3 and 8 that they have a runoff election on July 8. It is natural for tensions to rise around election time. But now that voters have spoken, we have a responsibility to come together to improve our future as Cherokees. Enemies of Cherokee Nations sovereignty want to divide us, but with unity we can achieve so much more. Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. During my second term as Principal Chief, I will advance projects that uplift and empower our tribe and its citizens. We must prioritize a broad range of needs for our citizens across all phases of life. Some key areas include: Economic Development: We must continue to promote Cherokee Nation economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurship. We will attract new employers to our 7,000-square-mile reservation, diversify our own businesses, build out infrastructure like transportation and broadband, and grow opportunities for Cherokees to find success in the career that is most meaningful to them. Education: During my administration, Cherokee Nation will continue to be a strong ally of education at all levels from early childhood education and Head Start to public K-12 schools to increased college scholarship dollars and vocational training opportunities. We will advance respect for Native culture and accurate history education in all public settings. Language: Having completed the Durbin Feeling Language Center and a new Immersion School campus in my first term, we have a strong foundation to build on. Still, the task of revitalizing our language and passing on the knowledge of our first-language Cherokee speakers is immense. This remains a top priority, because our unique identity as Cherokees depends on it. Health Care: Accessible health care is a fundamental right for every Cherokee Nation citizen, and it always will be. In the next four years, we will complete a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Tahlequah, build wellness centers across the reservation, and expand opportunities for mental health and telehealth so Cherokees can get needed care wherever they are. Sovereignty: Whether its getting the U.S. to finally seat the Cherokee Nation Delegate to Congress, defending the Indian Child Welfare Act, or exercising our right to provide a blanket of protection over the Cherokee Reservation that was recognized in the McGirt decision, I will continue to fiercely defend Cherokee Nations sovereignty. I am always ready to find win-win solutions with those who respect our sovereignty, and I will always stand up to those who dont. In each of these areas, I believe Cherokees have far more that we agree on than disagree. But coming together is not just about the Chief's or Deputy Chiefs vision or the Council of the Cherokee Nations agenda. Every Cherokee Nation citizen has a role in shaping our shared future. As Cherokees, our strength will always depend on our unity. I believe we can build on the momentum of increased voter turnout, work together with respect, and create a brighter future for generations to come. Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Air quality across New York City was moderately worse as smoke caused by raging Canadian wildfires passed over the city again. The Air Quality Index reached 110 in the late afternoon Sunday, according to online monitors, making the air unhealthy for sensitive groups after two days of good and moderate air. As of 10 a.m. Monday, the air quality index was in the low 70s. While an increase in smoke concentrations aloft will allow for some haze through [Sunday], levels will remain far below earlier in the week, with little impact at the surface, the National Weather Service advised in a tweet. Meteorologists said Sundays air was largely comparable to Friday and Saturdays clearer skies. Only a couple of spots are up to levels [that are] unhealthy for sensitive groups, AccuWeather meteorologist Scott Homan told the Daily News. Overall, things have improved very well. Things were much different earlier in the week, when three days of hazardous air canceled a slew of outdoor activities across the five boroughs. LaGuardia Airport dealt with multiple ground stops, and the orange skies left people uneasy indoors and outdoors. However, the skies cleared by Friday afternoon, allowing weekend festivities, including the Governors Ball music festival, to go on as planned if they hadnt been prematurely canceled. On Friday, the Air Quality Index was measured at 48 good and on Saturday it climbed to 94 (moderate). While the smoke cleared because of atmospheric wind patterns, the Canadian wildfires that caused the problem continued blazing throughout the weekend. Exhausted firefighters continued battling flames in Quebec and Nova Scotia on Sunday. Additionally, new blazes erupted in western Canada, including Alberta and British Columbia. However, those fires were not expected to impact New York anytime soon. The air quality in the city was supposed to improve throughout the week, and forecasters did not expect the dangerous air seen Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to return in the foreseeable future. It looks like this trend will continue, said Homan, noting that a cold front pushing through New York would keep any hazardous smoke up in Canada. Were looking good over the next few days. The Russian occupiers blew up a dam on the Mokri Yaly River in Donetsk Oblast, causing flooding on both sides of the river. Source: Valerii Shershen, the spokesperson for the Tavriia Front Defence Forces, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda Quote: "On the Mokri Yaly River, the occupiers blew up a dam, which led to flooding on both river banks. However, this does not affect the offensive operations of the Tavriia Front Defence Forces." Details: The spokesperson explained that by blowing up hydroelectric facilities, the Russians are trying to slow down Ukraine's counter-offensive. "First, the occupiers blew up the Karlivka reservoir, then the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, then they blew up other hydroelectric facilities in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, they expected a breakthrough by the Defence Forces, so to slow down our advance, they resorted to this tactic when they blew up the hydroelectric facility on the Mokri Yaly River again. However, this has not affected the advance of the Defence Forces," said Shershen. He also said that in general, on the Tavriia front, the Defence Forces have switched from defence to offence. This brought the first local results in the form of the liberation of Blahodatne and the advance on the village of Urozhaine. The Russians conducted a powerful air strike on Novopavlivka, wounding three people, destroying a private house and damaging 10 private sector houses. In general, on the Vremivka and Novopavlivka fronts, the occupiers are actively defending themselves to prevent the advance of Ukrainian units, trying to regain lost positions and moving other units to these fronts. The Russians suffered significant losses in the area of Blahodatne. On the Tavriia front, the invaders attacked Ukrainian positions 22 times over the last day, firing 456 times at the contact line and adjacent settlements. Ukraines Rocket Forces and Artillery carried out 1,520 fire missions over the day. The targets included a cluster of personnel, weapons and military equipment, and the Zhytel electronic warfare station. In addition, the defenders hit a logistics centre and ammunition storage points, and counter-battery fire was also conducted. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Of all the people in the world who've claimed to have had UFO sightings or encounters, academics don't seem like the likeliest bunch but a new survey shows that even they've seen things they can't explain. In a surprising new study, which surveyed tenured and tenure-track faculty across 144 US universities, one in five academics admitted that they've observed something that could fit the US government's definition of an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP). Published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, the survey asked academics around the country and across disciplines open-ended questions about whether they or people close to them had "ever observed anything of unknown origin" that would fit the US government's definition of an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP), which are broadly described as "airborne objects not immediately identifiable." Just under one-fifth 18.9 percent of respondents said they saw something that fits that definition. While it's a surprising result, delving into the numbers a little paints a different picture. For one, the response rate of the emailed survey was extremely low. Only about 1,500 out of the nearly 40,000 academics who received the email responded, suggesting the results could be skewed significantly toward respondents who felt strongly about the topic and likely aren't generalizable, something the researchers admitted themselves in the paper. Nonetheless, the study is a fascinating glimpse into the persistent taboo surrounding the topic of UFOs, which government agencies including NASA are starting to address head-on. Though there were some unsurprisingly tongue-in-cheek responses one person reportedly wrote back that "tenure might be tricky" for the team behind the survey there were also some shockingly candid responses to the open-ended questions about faculty experiences, too. "My entire family and I witnessed a UFO around 1976," one respondent wrote. "It was over our house in the rural northeast [state redacted]. Two of my siblings saw it, while the rest of us in the house felt it shake and heard a loud noise. We were eating dinner and the shaking was so intense that we all ran outside." Another said that although they'd had two UFO sightings, they no longer told people because "they thought I was crazy or lying." "So now Im silent," the respondent added. But does the data really show that every fifth professor out there believes in UFOs? Not really, and as the researchers argue themselves, that would be beside the point. Especially given the stigma associated with the topic, the researchers admitted in their paper that "the results are preliminary" since many academics may have thought that the survey was spam. "Most faculty reported some degree of curiosity about the UAP/UFO topic, perhaps suggesting they were more open to participating and less inclined to think the survey was spam, thus introducing bias," the researchers wrote. The overwhelming majority of respondents also reported at least some level of skepticism. "This survey was an exploratory study on a topic that to our knowledge has never been investigated," the paper reads. "The purpose was to take the pulse of faculty on a subject that continues to grow in mainstream society." Very few respondents said they were "not at all aware" of the growing media coverage of UFO sightings in the news, especially ever since the New York Times published a front-page report about the Pentagon's secretive UFO program. The study is a fascinating look into the stigma surrounding the topic of UFOs and the researchers are hoping to set the stage for a productive conversation. "Given that faculty in our sample think academic evaluation of UAP and related research are important, we hope that this study adds credibility to discussing the topic openly," said co-author Bethany Bell, associate professor at the University of Virginia, in a statement. "Without engaging in a conversation about what is occurring in our federal government, how can faculty begin to evaluate information related to this topic?" she added. More on UFOs: We're Deeply Skeptical, But a Government Whistleblower Claims the US Has Recovered "Non-Human" Spacecraft Only 5 feet down under, a dinosaur graveyard turned up in Australia. It's sparking a paleontological revolution in the country. A rendering of the Australotitan cooperensis dinosaur discovered in Australia. One of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered in the world. Courtesy of the Eromanga Natural History Museum Australia has become a new hot spot for paleontologists to dig for dinosaurs, the NYT reported. It all started in the early 2000s when a farmer found a dinosaur graveyard 5 feet under his land. Since then, scientists have excavated some of the most astounding paleontological finds in history. The paleontological equivalent of a gold rush is happening in an unexpected place: Australia. Before the turn of the century, Australia was not a place you went digging for dinosaurs. That all changed, however, when Australian farmer David Elliott, invited some scientists onto his land in the early 2000s to explore what he thought was a dinosaur graveyard, The New York Times reported. Elliott was raised on the farmland which had belonged to his father before him. And both he and his father had found dozens of small fragmented fossils near the surface over many years, per NYT. It wasn't until Elliott and his invited guests dug deeper that they discovered something unprecedented. "About five feet down, the earth was teeming with chunks of bone," NYT reported. Only half a dozen dinosaurs have been discovered in Australia compared to the 81 that have turned up in the US. Australia just wasn't a place where paleontologists expected to find entire fossils intact. All it took was digging a little deeper and "you transition from not finding anything to finding everything," Scott Hocknull, a paleontologist at the Queensland Museum in Australia who was with Elliott on that fateful dig, told the NYT. Since the early 2000s, paleontologists have gone on to make even more grand discoveries. Earlier this year, scientists excavated a near-complete skull of a long-necked dinosaur species called sauropods. And in 2021, paleontologists reported that fossilized bones, initially mistaken for a pile of rocks, belonged to one of the largest dinosaur species ever found on Earth. Now, paleontologists native to Australia who had left to pursue their careers in more dinosaur-rich regions are returning home, sparking a new-found surge in paleontology for the country, according to the NYT. As for Elliott, he uncovered so many dinosaur bones that he set up his own museum called the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, which attracted 60,000 visitors in 2021, according to the NYT. Read the original article on Business Insider Everett Gill There is one thing standing in the way of our ability to do something about gun violence. It is that in 2008 the Supreme Court, in District of Colombia v. Heller, issued a wrong interpretation of the Second Amendment. I say wrong because regardless of how one regards their original intent, there is no way the founders intended to endorse the endless carnage of innocents our country suffers. I sincerely doubt the 2008 court expected this outcome. In 1994, Congress banned the AR-15 for 10 years and mass shootings dropped dramatically. But that was done before the current interpretation of the Second Amendment. If the Congress should vote to reinstate that ban, there is little chance the Supreme Court would now uphold it. In 2008, for the first time in history, the Supreme Court ruled the Second Amendment means the government may not interfere with an individuals right to own a gun. It did this by ignoring the first part of the amendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State. Instead, they considered only the last part: the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Then came Sandy Hook and all the rest. There is pretty much nothing we can do about it, no matter that almost 70% of Americans want guns to be regulated. The Second Amendment stands firmly in the way. The beneficiaries of this interpretation are not gun owners. It is gun manufacturers. Every time there is a mass shooting, we are urged by the gun makers, through their mouthpiece the NRA, to buy even more guns to protect ourselves from the next attack. In short, the Second Amendment has been hijacked by the NRA to increase gun sales. More: Editor: Open call for women to share their voices, during Women's History Month and always Stash an AR-15 in every school? Arm the teachers and bus drivers? How many weapons sales would that generate? Even if every one of the schools in the U.S. were made secure against shooters, there are the other places they have gone: to churches, malls, outdoor concerts, ballgames, theaters, banks. These are sneak attacks, usually suicidal, and increasingly well planned. Preparation is impossible because we never know when or where or how the next one will happen. The Supreme Court, seeing the terrible consequences of its 2008 decision, is perfectly able to reverse itself and correctly interpret the Second Amendment. Brown v. Board of Education ended 58 years of constitutional protection for racial segregation that began with a Supreme Court decision. In fact, a reversal ended 49 years of constitutional protection for abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade. But we cannot expect the present Supreme Court to change its interpretation. So we are left with a more radical solution: an amendment to repeal the Second Amendment. More: Opinion: Lucky ducks! When it comes to AR-15s, ducks have more protections than people do More: Opinion: Chuck Edwards cant seem to make a cogent argument on not banning assault weapons Of course, getting rid of the Second Amendment would not solve all the problems at once. Violence, anger, fear and the gun culture still need to be addressed. But there would be one significant change immediately: The people, through their state legislatures and the Congress would be free to regulate guns as they wish. This would certainly be chaotic; decisions in Texas would surely be different from those in New York. But the decisions would now have to be about whether guns should be regulated, and the NRA could no longer argue its Second Amendment protection for the gun makers. Can it be done? I have to admit, it is almost impossible because the founders wisely made it difficult to amend the Constitution. But the process itself would be driven by increasing numbers of activists encouraged that something can actually be done about the problem. Even the long process of repeal would change things. The arguments would revolve around whether we believe guns ought to be regulated, not on whether the constitution forbids it. The NRA would strongly oppose repealing the amendment and we need to be ready for that. But it will be worth the fight. The alternative is beyond comprehension. How many more innocents will be murdered and families traumatized because of the Second Amendment? So keep on doing what you are doing. In addition to voting, continue to lobby for background checks and licenses and red flag laws. Support organizations that work to reduce gun violence, such as Giffords PAC. And next time the unthinkable happens, consider what we could do if we were no longer bound by that incorrect Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment. Everett Gill is retired, a student of American history, and a longtime resident of the Asheville area. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: It is time to repeal Second Amendment to reduce gun violence The Orlando Health Advanced Rehabilitation Institute and the Roper YMCA hosted a Healthy Community Day of Action on Saturday. The goal of the event was to provide resources to people who suffered a stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury. The event also offered ways to prevent stroke with healthy lifestyle choices. Read: Florida man breaks into multiple apartments, jumps out of window to avoid deputies We want the community and survivors to not only have access to medical care when needed but to also have the community support needed to sustain healthy outcomes once they are discharged from the hospital, said Jessica Hooke, a speech-language pathologist at Orlando Health Advanced Rehabilitation Institute. Read: Florida woman expected to live after being shot 11 times in domestic dispute They also offered health screenings, fall prevention checks, and equipment adjustments. Community organizations provided housing, employment, clothing, financial and food resources, as well as resources for those with disabilities. Read: Orlando high school student who suffered brain aneurysm walks at graduation The day included plenty of activities for adults and children, such as yoga and stretching classes, mindfulness art activities, and a free YMCA Zumba Class. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Ottawa MPP says he was allegedly 'rabbit-punched' while attending rally to keep trans and queer individuals safe Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden claims he was allegedly punched at a rally to keep queer trans youth safe Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden is facing public scrutiny after he claimed that he was punched in the face by an anti-'gender ideology' activist at a rally on Friday. After reports of the alleged assault circulated on social media, video footage captured at the rally appears to show a megaphone striking Harden's face at the same place where he claimed he was allegedly punched. This video of MPP Joel Harden was recorded on June 9, 2023, at approximately 12:07 PM. #cdnpoli #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/v53TIu2ZM7 Caryma Sa'd - Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) June 11, 2023 Yahoo News Canada has since reached out to Harden for a statement in response to allegations behind the factuality of the incident. Ottawa MPP claims he was assaulted Friday by anti-'gender ideology' activist Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden claims he was allegedly assaulted by an anti-'gender ideology' activist while attending a rally in support of queer and trans rights in Ottawa Friday morning. Harden, who recently spoke at the Ontario Legislation on Thursday about the importance of protection for queer and trans youth as the country celebrates Pride Month, claims he was punched several times by the anti-trans protestor. As incidents of hate against the 2SLGBTQIA are rising, we have a message for queer and trans youth in #OttawaCentre and everywhere in this province: We see you, love you, value you, and we will not continue to let you be threatened by hate or bigotry. #Onpoli #Pride pic.twitter.com/nqDxUiy5Lh Joel Harden (@JoelHardenONDP) June 8, 2023 Harden says he attended the Broadview rally on Friday morning to support queer and trans youth, and potentially de-escalate any violent situation as events have been targeted by anti-'gender ideology' activists in the past. "We held a part of the street far away from schools as we did not want to be protesting in front of schools, so we gathered near where they said they would gather," Harden said. Police were also on hand to ensure public safety. I felt something really bad was going to happenJoel Harden, Ottawa Centre MPP Harden said that out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a woman berating another individual and had her hands in the person's hair. He rushed over and stood between them in an attempt to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance. "I felt a punch in the back and then a rabbit-punch to the face," Harden recounted. "It happened in a split-second." And punching people in the face. But Ill take a punch for queer and trans youth any day. pic.twitter.com/vNHArmFtBX Joel Harden (@JoelHardenONDP) June 9, 2023 He also said that one of the members of the rally quickly pulled the woman away after realizing what had happened. Harden, who has long sounded the alarm on rising hate against queer and trans people, believes that there is a deliberate effort to manipulate people's desire to safeguard children and it's being weaponized. "I am a father. What measures I wouldn't go to in an effort to protect my own children. But what this movement is doing is convincing individuals that to protect your children, you have to hate trans and queer people," he says. The MPP, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario five years ago, believes that much of this hatred stems from a place of fear of not understanding LGBTQ2S+ experiences and that is why, bridges need to be built to start conversations. "We are not your enemy," he added. This is absolute madness. The far-right mob is not even at a school anymore, theyre just standing in the middle of a residential street in Westboro chanting nonsense in the direction of random homeowners to leave our kids alone. pic.twitter.com/nqY5ANA9nk Luke LeBrun (@_llebrun) June 9, 2023 Harden also believes that social media has become this "vitriolic cesspool" where individuals are dehumanizing each other increasingly. "History and present day has taught me that there are some of us who are willing to put the work in to de-program hatred, and I'm down for that," said Harden. "If people want to come to my office and throw rotten tomatoes at me, come over." Harden says he remains hopeful that people will come together and build solidarity. Harden also said that if he were to ever meet the woman who allegedly assaulted him, he would like to "share a meal with her". "If I meet her again, and I hope I do, I would like to share a meal with her, heck, I would pay for it. Then I would ask her what motivated her to do what she did. I want to work together to try and fix our country to make it better," he said. Mixed reaction pours in over social media Harden received a mixed reaction of scrutiny and support after posting a photo of what appears to be an injury to his face on social media after the incident. "Ill take a punch for queer and trans youth any day," Harden tweeted. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh shared a tweet saying he was proud of Harden for standing up. "Queer and trans peopleand kidsare being targeted by angry and hateful extremists. Governments must step up to protect the queer and trans community," he wrote. I'm proud of you @JoelHardenONDP. Queer and Trans people - and kids - are being targeted by angry and hateful extremists. Governments must step up to protect the queer and trans community. https://t.co/j3ihWCumBA Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) June 9, 2023 Dissection of video footage from Friday's rally led social media commentators to question what Harden described as a "rabbit-punch to the face." Open question to Ontario NDP Leader @maritstiles: do you condone your NDP MPPs lying to the public like @JoelHardenONDP did? Ontarians deserve better & a public statement. CC: @brianlilley @joe_warmington pic.twitter.com/5ZkayyIQqG Rowan (@canmericanized) June 11, 2023 Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe shared a tweet stating that "hate has no place in our city." "Protests like the one today on Broadview should not be allowed to disrupt children and their education. And hatred has no place anywhere in our city," he wrote. Ottawa's transgender and 2SLGBTQ+ community members need and deserve our support. And schools should be a safe space for children to learn and develop, not a target for political protests. Protests like the one today on Broadview should not be allowed to disrupt children and Mark Sutcliffe (@_MarkSutcliffe) June 9, 2023 Another Twitter user shared "its time to come together, mobilize, and build solidarity on this issue." My local MPP @JoelHardenONDP just got punched in the face at a counter rally, during an anti-trans protest. Queer and trans people are sounding the alarm on rising hate. Its time to come together, mobilize, and build solidarity on this issue. https://t.co/uZ3v8W9kSL Kathryn LeBlanc (she/her) (@Kat_LeBlanc) June 9, 2023 Twitter user Fae Johnstone thanked Harden for his longstanding efforts to take on the hatred that the LGBTQ2 community faces. Jesus Christ. Im sorry Joel, and I hope youre okay. Thank you for always standing by communities and our rights. We must take the rise in far-right anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate seriously. https://t.co/8bGalrsaE2 Fae Johnstone, MSW (@FaeJohnstone) June 9, 2023 Editor's note: Yahoo Canada has updated this story to reflect the claims Ottawa MPP Joel Harden made about an attack was an alleged incident, which is still under investigation. Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images and CUNY School of Law This year, graduating CUNY Law student Fatima Mohammed was elected by her peers to speak at her schools commencement ceremony. Taking the stage during the May 12 ceremony, at a school that enjoys a reputation for social justice, Mohammed used her platform to speak about her class experiences and a number of political issues. She spoke, for instance, about her classmates shared struggles with COVID-19 and highlighted their efforts to stop CUNY from contracting with data companies that work with ICE. She drew attention to deadly conditions at Rikers Island, criticized Mayor Eric Adams and Senator Chuck Schumers lukewarm responses to the killing of Jordan Neely, and condemned CUNY Central for its ties to the NYPD, which she called a fascist institution. But Mohammeds remarks about Israeli settler colonialism, while resoundingly applauded in the auditorium at the time, would come to touch a nerve after the fact. How Trapped Palestinians Fell in Love With Bird-Watching Namely, in praising CUNY Law as one of the few, if not the only law schools to publicly come out in support of its students Palestinian activism, Mohammad said that silence is no longer acceptable, as Israel continues to indiscriminately rain bullets and bombs on worshippers, encourages lynch mobs to target Palestinian homes and businesses, and perpetuates a project of settler colonialism, expelling Palestinians from their homes. While her comments on Israel drew little outside attention at first, as the New York Post began covering these portions of the speech two weeks later an online pile-on ensued, with prominent politicians across the aisle taking to Twitter to blast Mohammeds speechor, rather, their perceptions of it. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz suggested Mohammed had enthusiastically celebrate[d] antisemitism. Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres called her crazed, pathologizing her words as anti-Israel derangement syndrome. Mayor Eric Adams (whose own speech at the CUNY Law graduation was met with derision from many students), too, cast aspersions on the graduates so-called words of divisiveness. On May 30, Mohammed was plastered on the cover of Murdochs New York tabloid, beside the headline Stark Raving Grad. That same day, surely feeling the heat, CUNYs board of trustees and chancellor issued a statement condemning Mohammeds remarks as hate speechwhich, they added, should not be confused with free speechas they represented a public expression of hate toward people and communities based on their religion, race or political affiliation. While this statement from CUNY leadership indicated no intention of formally punishing Mohammed, it has rightfully raised free expression concerns at CUNY Law. For one, the CUNY administrators assertion that Mohammeds speech does not constitute free speech flies in the face of First Amendment protections. On top of that, the curious inclusion of political affiliation in their definition of hate speech deviates from the standard understanding of the terma letter signed by 40 CUNY Law faculty described this addition as wildly inconsistent with long-standing and legal definitions of the concept of hate speech. The faculty signatories also made note that none of the students comments attacked any persons or protected classes, and lamented the statements apparent attempts to equate the scourge of antisemitism with criticisms of the State of Israel. Indeed, Mohammeds critiques of Israel and the IDF (like her criticisms of the United States, the NYPD, et cetera) made rhetorical targets of governments and institutions rather than, as the charge of hate speech suggests, disparaging religious or ethnic groups. CUNYs statement failed to appreciate this crucial distinction. The Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) at CUNY Law was quick to express solidarity with Mohammed and dismiss suggestions that her speech was antisemitic. In a statement signed alongside several other CUNY Law student organizations, the JLSA held that the majority of CUNY Laws Jewish students wholeheartedly stand with Fatima and have been grateful to have her as our classmate throughout law school. CUNY did not respond to The Daily Beasts requests for comment. Aside from conflating Mohammeds criticisms with hate speech, the administrators May 30 statement also troublingly threatened to exacerbate, and lend legitimacy to, the onslaught of hate she faced amid what The New York Times described as nearly nonstop, consistently furious international tabloid coverage. Observers have regarded the chancellor and board of trustees apparent deference to external pressures as disappointing if not predictable. In an email to The Daily Beast on behalf of CUNY Laws JLSA, Eric Horowitz, a member of the associations executive board, wrote: Although we were dismayed by [the May 30] statement, its contents did not come as a surprise to us. CUNY central has a well-established history of prioritizing their standing in the eyes of politicians and media at the expense of student-organizers. Even though CUNY primarily serves working-class New Yorkers and People of Color, Horowitz continued, CUNY central has demonstrated a particular animus against student organizers like Fatimaa Muslim Woman of Color from Queens. On the evening of June 5, protesters convened outside a CUNY board of trustees meeting to demand that the Chancellor and BOT rescind and apologize for their defamatory statement against Fatima and call for the resignation of the BOT members, as per a press release shared with The Daily Beast. An organizer of the protest, Palestinian activist and CUNY Law alumna Nerdeen Kiswani, told The Daily Beast that the protesters seek to fight back against false claims of antisemitism levied against pro-Palestinian activists for expressing legitimate grievances with Israel, and to draw attention to a pattern of CUNY throwing their students under the bus [and] exposing us to Islamophobic hate. In this case, such hate became such a threat to Mohammeds security that, as The Mehdi Hasan Show recently reported, the CUNY Law grad has had to go into hiding. Naz Ahmad, a staff attorney at CUNY Law, told Hasan that Mohammed had to leave and explain to her parents why this is happening, and that CUNY Law faculty is looking to connect her with resources that help people who have been doxxed. This context considered, it seems entirely untoward of academic administrators to have compounded the barrage against an imperiled community member with an imprecise, hair-trigger denunciation of her political expression, rather than an unequivocal affirmation of her free speech rights. In this haphazard attempt to avoid the heat of controversy, those helming this progressive academic institution and supposed bastion of free inquiry seem to have chilled open debate instead, reinforcing the notion of a Palestine exception to free expression while doing so. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Here's a look at some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of June 4, supported by your subscriptions. Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com: Demonstrators rally at the State House in 2011 to protest the state pension overhaul. PROVIDENCE Rhode Island pensioners still fuming at the Raimondo-era suspension of their annual "COLAs" did not get everything they wanted in the proposed new $14-billion budget, but they got something. What they wanted was the full reinstatement of the cost of living adjustments aka COLAs that they'd received annually before 2011's massive pension overhaul. What they are slated to get instead is a much-reduced but annual COLA. We break down the math. Government: It's not a full COLA, but new RI budget has something for pensioners. COVENTRY A longtime town resident has filed a six-count ethics complaint against the chief of the Hopkins Hill Fire District, Frank M. Brown Jr., asserting that he failed to recuse himself multiple times on decisions that resulted in direct financial gain. The complaint by Douglas Soscia, which includes a nine-page summary and more than 200 pages of exhibits, was delivered Monday to the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. The agency will now determine whether to go forward with a full investigation of the allegations. Soscia filed a companion complaint against Browns wife, Denise, who is on the board of directors of the fire district and also serves as its paid tax collector. The Hummel Report: Solar panels, paint jobs and board appointments: Why a Coventry resident filed an ethics complaint against Hopkins Hill chief Narragansett Town Beach is popular with non-residents, and that's prompted some Town Council members to propose limits on nearby parking and in two of the lots attached to the beach. NARRAGANSETT The community's worst kept-secret free parking near the town beach could soon be subject to restrictions. An ordinance that would do away with unlimited free parking along the seawall on Ocean Road passed on a first reading at a meeting of the Narragansett Town Council. Under the ordinance, parking on Ocean Road between the Beach Street traffic light and South Pier Road would be limited to three hours. The same restriction would also be placed on eight other streets near the beach. If passed after a second reading at a future council meeting, the ordinance would be in force from May 15 to Sept. 15, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shoreline access: Looking for free parking near Narragansett Town Beach? A popular spot could be restricted Chef Sherry Pocknett with a platter of her food at Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown. Sherry Pocknett has made some culinary history. Pocknett, who cooks Indigenous cuisine from her Wampanoag culture at her Sly Fox Den Too restaurant in Charlestown, took home this year's James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Northeast. Pocknett was a first-time nominee for the Beard award, considered the Oscars of the food world. She joins Al Forno's Johanne Killeen and the late George Germon as the only Rhode Islanders to win the prestigious, regional best chef award. They won in 1993. She accepted the award with graciousness and tears, saying she never expected the honor. Dressed in Native American clothing, she told the audience she has cancer, but added that she is almost through it. Dining: RI chef makes history winning James Beard award The XO Bar opened Thursday at 125 North Main St. in Providence. It's the site that was occupied years ago by the iconic XO Cafe, and by Angels before that. Bringing a restaurant from concept to opening can be challenging in the best of times. These are not the best of times. Diners in Rhode Island have been anticipating several high-profile restaurant openings. Some were announced last year and others as long ago as 2021. Here's the latest news on a Pawtucket deli, the rebuild of Duck & Bunny, a new bar and other ventures, including CHOP, a hybrid restaurant and training kitchen at the Providence Public Library. Dining: When will these 10 highly anticipated restaurants open in RI? And what caused the delay? To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal top stories: Pension COLA compromise; beach parking People Are Sharing The Warning Signs That A Place Is About To Get Really, Really Expensive, And Theyre Right On The Money For years, people have been increasingly vocal about gentrification and how it's affected their own lives and communities. TLC The Urban Displacement Project describes gentrification as "a process of neighborhood change that includes an economic change in a historically disinvested neighborhood by means of real estate investment and new higher-income residents moving in as well as demographic change not only in terms of income level but also in terms of changes in the education level or racial make-up of residents." person saying, gentrification CBC Gentrification is a complex issue, and it has been known to negatively impact low-income communities and people of color, as it typically leads to forced displacement. People on Reddit have been discussing signs that an area will be gentrified , and it's eye-opening. Here's what they had to say: 1. "The FIRST sign is the first quirky coffee shop that isn't a Starbucks. See one of those, and grab you some real estate, because the bougies are coming, and they're bringing stupid housing prices with them." u/HawaiianShirtDad Serhii Mazur / Getty Images 2. "Old buildings get torn down. Before the beginnings of gentrification, the lots weren't worth removing the condemned buildings; renovation teams start showing up in neighborhoods that haven't been renovated in decades. Lawns start getting cut on a weekly basis. Once a neighborhood goes from condemned to livable, all the other stuff starts to happen pretty quickly." "A lot of this is spearheaded by property developers/home flippers looking at analytics to find the next neighborhood to invest in." u/ghostwriter85 Glasshouse Images / Getty Images 3. "At some point, an organic grocery store opens up. The crime rate goes down over time. Home prices/rents go up quickly. More coffee shops and breweries." u/iapetus3141 D3sign / Getty Images 4. "Recovering planner here. In the background, people look for parcels that are worth more than the improvements. If there are a lot of them in an area especially an area with amenities and good transport bones, it is a good candidate." u/DanoPinyon Andreypopov / Getty Images / iStockphoto 5. "Rent going up 300% over the course of a decade." u/Canada_Haunts_Me "I took a gander at my old Atlanta apartment that I moved into six or seven years ago that I rented for $800 a month. It's now around $2K. It was a POS." u/Ol_Scoobert Urbazon / Getty Images 6. "If an area is headed for gentrification, people who dont have children start moving in. Artists, musicians, writers. College students. Restaurants, especially trendy restaurants. Galleries and music venues. Bookstores. Coffee houses. All the kinds of places young hipsters like. Housing stock that is neglected but can be restored. Young people living in a cooperative." "Sometimes, the gentrification doesnt launch. Its not guaranteed. If theres too much crime, if the resources needed to lift it up vanish due to external circumstances or a lack of collective momentum by investors, it may fail." u/jupitaur9 Praetorianphoto / Getty Images 7. "One thing that has stood out is a new trendy name that has come out of nowhere. We live in 'insert name,' and its been called that forever. Uhhh, no it hasnt!" u/w84primo "Exactly! We actually have a new area deemed SODO. I asked someone once about all of the names, and I almost lost it and laughed in their face. They asked how would you know where to go if you had to meet someone somewhere or go to their house. I held it together, but Im sure my face gave it away. I dont even think I responded to that." u/w84primo Zeyu Wang / Getty Images 8. "If you follow your local newspapers and you start reading about apartments being sold and the new owners wanting to renovate is a sign. This type of action by the new owner will usually come with mass eviction notices especially, if they are rent-controlled and support certain demographics, like senior citizens or those who are lower income." "Then when the reno is complete, the new owner jacks the rent up ensuring old tenants can't ever come back, sending displaced tenants away like a ripple effect to the next cheapest block or city. Then the neighboring apartment buildings say, 'Well, the apartments next door are charging the new amount, so should I,' then the next wave starts, with or without the renovations. The cycle continues. Demand in the new area for newly displaced or gentrified population will then be focused on by the last corporate apartments buyers to do it all again until we all live in a van down by the river." u/labormarketguide Vithun Khamsong / Getty Images 9. "The 'artisan' restaurants that make a classic food (burger, taco, etc.) and make them 25 dollars because of their premium 'aiolis' or other fancy ingredients. They're usually decorated with a graphic of the parts of a cow or pig." u/andrew2018022 Hinterhaus Productions / Getty Images 10. "Mass buying of local properties by real estate investors, while pricing out local buyers." u/Hel-or-Highwater Ajcasanova / Getty Images 11. "Gentrification isn't random. It's an ongoing process. I live in Charleston, South Carolina. We've experienced significant growth in my lifetime. We've gotten to the point where building new neighborhoods further out is an increasingly less viable option. Add to this, large employers moving into North Charleston, and you have a recipe for gentrification. This isn't because someone bought an old gas station and turned it into an art gallery. It's because people need a place to live, and industry is growing in our city. Those art galleries and taco shops are responding to the same economic conditions that the developers are. They see an economically depressed area in commuter distance to major employers." "This drives down rents, which makes the area desirable for new businesses. Some of them will stay (like the taco shop), while others will have to move on when rents start to get high (like the art gallery)." u/ghostwriter85 Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images 12. "People running or jogging, especially during the weekday mornings." u/Irunmtns "I lived in a neighborhood that was gentrifying and remember a local telling me, who was pushing my baby around in a stroller, that 10 years prior she had almost never seen anyone walk around in her neighborhood." u/doctorboredom Hinterhaus Productions / Getty Images 13. "I've worked in Civic Center San Fransico since 2003, so I've seen its evolution for the past 19 years. This place went from a total wasteland to one of the busiest locations in the city. The first thing they did right when Twitter moved in? They started razing all the cheap hole-in-the-wall restaurants and parking lots for shiny new apartment buildings. Basically expect any old ma and pa businesses and parking lots to be the first to go." u/cocktailbun Fotovoyager / Getty Images 14. "You know a place is being gentrified when a lot more artists move in. Artists first go somewhere for cheap prices and then make it 'interesting' to richer people. We then usually accidentally attract monied people who want to either be associated with us or exploit us, and then, the dive bars flourish. Then, you start seeing artisanal coffee spots. From there, you give it five years." Anonymous Hill Street Studios / Getty Images 15. "Franchises start replacing local businesses." u/Hel-or-Highwater Mint Images / Getty Images 16. "Big demographic shifts. Not just the people of the neighborhood, but the local businesses as well." u/Antitenant Blue Images / Getty Images 17. "I experienced this in Atlanta through the full process. I moved into a neighborhood that was mostly elderly residents who have probably lived there 20+ years. The house I bought needed repair, but this was in 2011, so the price was manageable. The first sign of things changing was an increase in racist judgemental posts on Nextdoor that were like, 'Sketchy AA male acting weird and walking in the street.' When I moved in, my neighbors were extremely friendly and let us know some of the characters in the area, like 'Watch out for the guy who tries to get you to drive him to Auto Zone then try to scam you for cash-type stuff. Then a new development went up down the street (my street was half in a nice city zone and half in the incorporated county). This is what really started the process. Another development went up a year or so later." "Skip maybe five years, and I ran into a lot more families out and about, many houses were renovated, flipped, etc. Eventually, a higher-end grocery store was developed very close by." u/BoydCrowders_Smile Daniela Duncan / Getty Images 18. "For restaurants, at least like 810 years ago, it was: Edison Bulbs, those metal bar chairs (you know the ones), reclaimed pallet wood facades, roll-up doors, and $15 for a handful of tater-tots with 'aioli,' which is just hot sauce mixed with mayonnaise." u/Shoobert Artem Khyzhynskiy / Getty Images / iStockphoto And finally... 19. "I think by the time you start seeing it, it's already happened. Displacement and rent increases are mostly invisible (comparatively). By the time the new condos and bougie shops sprout up, it's already past the tipping point." u/novium258 Maskot / Getty Images What are some other signs that an area will be gentrified/is about to become really expensive? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. An L.A. Pride parade participant rides on a car along Hollywood Boulevard. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 9:08 a.m. June 12, 2023: An earlier version of this article said the ONE Archives Foundation is at USC. The foundation is a separate entity from the ONE Archives at USC. Sebastian Soto wishes there could be an LGBTQ+ Pride parade every day in every city and every country in the world. Alas, thats not the case. But for Soto, who is gay, there was plenty of joy and laughter to be had Sunday at the Los Angeles Pride parade, one of the nations oldest and biggest LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations. We wanted to celebrate pride and get together in this weird time were living in and bring some color and love and light and hope, said Soto, a Hollywood resident who wore a hot pink duster and pearl necklace. Soto and a group of friends, all gay or bisexual men who attended WeHo Pride in West Hollywood last weekend, met early Sunday and paid homage to the queen Britney Spears star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, taking photos with it before finding a spot on the parade route next to Liberaces star on Hollywood Boulevard. Im happy to be here with my husband happy, safe because I know we couldnt do this in so many places in the world and not every city in the U.S., said Sotos friend Gabriel Lugo, 28, a screenwriter from North Hollywood. A young child waves a pride flag along Hollywood Boulevard. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) With all the anti-LGBTQ+ laws being considered right now, its important to show up, Lugo said, and to simply make the point: "Its OK to be queer. The L.A. Pride parade, which drew thousands of people to Hollywood Boulevard, came at a time when LGBTQ+ issues especially the rights and visibility of transgender and gender nonconforming people are center stage in the U.S. culture wars. Across the country, conservative lawmakers are attempting to ban drag shows, stop parents from seeking gender-affirming care for their children, and restrict transgender athletes from participating in youth sports. In Southern California recently, protests erupted in North Hollywood and Glendale over the teaching of gender and sexuality in schools. The L.A. Dodgers invited, booted, then re-invited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group of satirical nuns in drag, to its Pride Night. Tony Valenzuela, executive director of the ONE Archives Foundation, which focuses on LGBTQ+ history, said he was hardly surprised by the conservative backlash, which has happened many times before. Conservative lawmakers and power brokers, he said, put a lot of time, energy and money into the antiabortion movement, and after the fall of Roe vs. Wade last year, they needed a new bogeyman to drum up fear and get votes. Its a moment where we are all on high alert, Valenzuela said. That this is happening during Pride its a time to reflect and understand that the stakes continue to be high for so many of us, and this is a time to mobilize and make sure that our stories continue to be told. When people understand our humanity, we win. The L.A. Pride parade sashayed beneath gray June gloom skies. It was 69 degrees and breezy a chilly morning for the shirtless dancers atop floats. As one man in a short, brown velvet dress ran down the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard, screaming, Happy Pride! Yeahhh! purple jacaranda petals plopped to the ground. Nery Alvarado and her husband, Victor, brought their 21-month-old daughter, Noelia, who wore a rainbow-colored skirt, pink tennis shoes and pigtails as she toddled near the parade route. Noelia was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this was her first parade. I brought my family so she can learn that families look different and love looms different, but its always love, Alvarado said. I want to instill that in her from a very young age." Alvarado, 34, of Koreatown, is the director of behavioral health services for Bienestar, a social services organization that focuses on Latino and LGBTQ+ people. She doesnt like it when people say parents need to shield their children from LGBTQ+ people and Pride events, she said. The lessons we teach our children they pass those down, she said. As parents, we want our daughter to embrace everyone. Nearby, Courtney Woodward, 30, of Denver bounced her 9-month-old niece on her hip. The baby wearing rainbow-colored UGG sandals is Woodwards twin sisters child and is named Riot because her parents met during the protests after George Floyds murder by police in 2020. Baby Riot is an activist, said Woodward, who is bisexual and grew up with her twin in foster care in Hollywood. Im showing her that love is love and humans are human. Also, how f cute is she? Drag queen Tiffany Cartier wearing a gold lame skirt, curly orange wig and bright pink rouge said shed been coming to Pride parades for more than two decades and had stopped coming for a few years. Shes 63, and it felt like it was time to let the hipper, younger folks do their thing and enjoy the party. It felt like so many LGBTQ+ rights she fought for years ago had been won. But she was back this year because of all the anti-drag, anti-LGBTQ vitriol. Once again, Pride felt like a protest. Its so sad, to tell you the truth, Cartier said. Weve already fought this fight. We shouldnt have to re-fight it. As a street preacher shouted, Turn away from your homosexuality! Turn away from your transgenderism! into a microphone, passersby flipped him off and laughed. A few drag nuns from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence waved from atop a bus promoting the Los Angeles LGBT Center as I Will Survive boomed. Someone screamed, Yeah, Water and Power! and the crowd cheered as a rainbow-bedecked Los Angeles Department of Water and Power truck rolled by. "Is labor in the building? Teamsters! a man shouted from the shiny blue float for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. It was only the second time for the Teamsters to participate in the L.A. Pride parade last year they squeaked in, after registration was closed, and rolled a semi-truck down the route and the first year with an actual float, said Christopher Fuentes, president of the unions LGBTQ+ Caucus. Fuentes, 63, a film location manager from Hollywood, teared up as he spoke about the float, which had the Teamsters logo with the heads of horses named Thunder and Lightning in rainbow colors. Fuentes said the unions national leadership has become much more supportive of its queer members. In recent days, the Teamsters has sent notices to its members formally recognizing the International Transgender Day of Visibility and June as LGBTQ Pride month. Fuentes said he has gotten a lot of thankful, happy calls from members around the country since those messages went out. One, he said, was from from a UPS driver in rural Nevada who wanted an LGBTQ+ Caucus T-shirt to show his support for his transgender child. Kathleen Brennan, 47, president of Teamsters Local 1932 in San Bernardino, said she publicly came out as a lesbian when she became a Teamster in 2015 because members told her they had her back. Brennan, who works in IT for San Bernardino County, had been in the closet for years, except among close friends and family. In recent weeks, her local has been going to school board meetings at which people protested LGBTQ+ issues and tried to ban queer-themed books. She said she has been heckled by far-right groups such as the Proud Boys and Gays Against Groomers. For her, a presence at LGBTQ+ events was a message to queer youth that they deserved good wages and good protections not just survival. I want kids to know that the only guarantee of having equality and justice truly, is a union contract, she said, noting that only about half the states in the country have workplace discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ people. "I want these young queer kids to know: You have a home. You have a place that will accept you and cherish you and will protect you. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Jarrett Renshaw PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A portion of a vital highway on the East Coast of the U.S. collapsed in Philadelphia after a tanker truck carrying gasoline caught fire underneath an overpass, officials said on Sunday. No deaths or injuries were reported, but officials said the situation remains fluid and that investigators were still searching the scene of the collapse. Smoke billowed from the rubble of the collapsed section of the northbound lanes of I-95, the main north-south interstate on the East Coast, running from Miami through Washington and New York before ending at the Canadian border in the state of Maine. The southbound overpass was closed as the fire made it structurally unsound, officials said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a press conference that it would likely take "some number of months" to fully rebuild the roadway, over which roughly 160,000 vehicles pass daily. He said he would sign a disaster declaration on Monday, freeing up federal funds and other help. Shapiro said the tanker was carrying a "petroleum product" but would not offer more details. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the tanker was carrying gasoline. NTSB sent a team to investigate. Shapiro said that while a "very light sheen" could be seen in the Delaware River near where the gasoline tanker caught fire indicating some gasoline may have spilled into it, booms were quickly put into the water to contain the spread. "There is no threat to anyone's drinking water," Shapiro said. U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and the White House has offered assistance to state and local officials, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the closure of I-95 will have "significant impacts" on the region and the city of Philadelphia. This stretch of the I-95 corridor sits in the dense northeast section of Philadelphia and connects the city to its northern suburbs, such as Bucks County. On a Sunday in the summer, it is routinely used by beachgoers coming home from the Jersey Shore. During the week, it is crowded with commuters and vehicles traveling to Boston, Baltimore and Washington. Officials said travelers should expect delays and encouraged them to plan alternate travel routes, including trains, for their commutes. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia, Maria Caspani in New York, Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas, and Njuwa Maina and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Mark Porter, Marguerita Choy, Donna Bryson and Diane Craft) Tammy Cohen was so moved by the death of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens that she drove from Lake County to Ocala to visit the spot where the mother of four children fell as neighbors frantically tried saving her life and prayed. With flowers, a glass candle and her 1-year-old brown pit-bull dog Coco, Cohen placed her items among a host of other candles and a medium-sized teddy bear. Cohen said she wanted see where Owens was shot and where her shooter, Susan Louise Lorincz, lived. "This story just broke my heart," she said. "It didn't sit right with me. This should never have happen." Tammy Cohen walks with her dog Coco near the makeshift memorial for the late Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens at Quail Run, Wednesday afternoon, June 7, 2023 after leaving flowers and a candle. "I had to come. This story really broke my heart," Cohen said, almost a week after the fatal shooting of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens. Owens was shot while standing outside her neighbor's door the night of June 2 in Quail Run, located off County Road 475A in Ocala. Quail Run consist of single story duplex and quadraplex. Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, now faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, two counts of assault and battery. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023 Media briefing: Press conferences held Monday for the shooting death of mother of four children Ptotest: Florida mom Ajike Owens killed by neighbor: Shooting sparks protests, Stand Your Ground discussions The 35-year-old mother to three boys and a daughter, ranging from 3 through 12, was shot in her Ocala neighborhood on June 2 by her neighbor, who claims it was in self-defense. Lorincz is facing charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, two counts of assault and battery. Lorincz, 58, is also accused of yelling at Owens's children, using racial slurs and throwing skates at them, which led to them telling their mother. Owens went to confront her neighbor at her home, at which point, Lorincz fired a shot from inside her locked house, striking Owens in the chest. Her children witnessed the shooting. Owens later died at a nearby hospital. Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens A week of events News of the shooting spread nationwide and beyond, and has made Ocala a focal point of endless debate on a number of topics like the law, race, equality, guns, gun violence, leadership and the community. A vigil was held for Owens at the spot where she collapsed on Saturday. A second vigil was held Thursday at the church that will host her funeral. Three days after Owens untimely death, there was anger, resentment and frustration from the Black community who demanded an arrest. That same Monday, two press conferences were held within a few hours of each other. The first was from Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods to explain why the accused shooter was not in jail. His reasoning was they had to complete the investigation and interview witnesses. Woods said he didn't want to subject the children through an interview, not when their mother had just been killed in front of them, and wanted to rely on professionals for those conversations. Secondly, Woods said he had to sure that the stand your ground law would not act as a shield for Lorincz's defense. Sheriff Billy Woods at his press conference A second press conference was held at New St. John Missionary Baptist Church, not far away from the Sheriff's Office on Northwest Second Street. One of Owens' family lawyers, Anthony D. Thomas, an Ocala native, the victim's family and community leaders called on Woods and prosecutors to make an arrest. On Tuesday, a peaceful protest shouted justice for "AJ" in downtown Ocala. They marched from downtown to the Marion County Judicial Center to see State Attorney Bill Gladson. He greeted some of the protestors, who made their way to the front of Gladson's office, wanting to know why Lorincz was not in handcuffs. Gladson said his office was working closely with Woods and he wanted to make sure that they had all of the evidence before taking the next step before bringing charges. State Attorney Bill Gladson That same night, news broke on social media that Lorincz had been arrested. Despite hearing of an arrest, tears of joy and satisfaction about Lorincz, some were cautiously optimistic. Civil rights lawyer and activist Benjamin Crump, the other attorney representing the family, on Wednesday told an audience who had gathered at the same church on Monday, that the community should not rest easy because there had been a major movement. He wanted more. Crump said the state attorney needs to upgrade Lorincz's charge, and wants a conviction for the sake of Owens, her family and the community. Civil Rights Lawyer Benjamin Crump Thursday and Friday were dedicated to lawyers defending Lorincz. Her lawyers, Chief Assistant Public Defender John Spivey and Assistant Public Defender Amanda Sizemore, and Assistant State Attorney Rich Buxman, battled to keep the alleged suspect to be free on bail or remain behind bars. The judge granted $154,000 bond for Lorincz on Friday. Lauren Smith As the case against Lorincz makes its legal way through the court, the community of Quail Run, located off County Road 475A in Ocala and within touching distance of vast vacant lands, nice homes, horse farms and horses, is slowly picking up the pieces of what happened just a week ago. Children play basketball near the open field where kids play and where Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens fell to the ground bleeding to death after being shot at Quail Run, almost a week after the fatal shooting, Wednesday afternoon, June 7, 2023. Owens was shot while standing outside her neighbor's door the night of June 2 in Quail Run, located off County Road 475A in Ocala. Quail Run consist of single story duplex and quadraplex. Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, now faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, two counts of assault and battery. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023 Residents living there, do so in duplexes or quadraplexes. The area where neighborhood kids play, is an open, green field that's next Lorincz's building. Neighbors said the impression they get from Lorincz is that she doesn't like children. They say whenever the children play in the field, she frequently plays. The sheriff's office has documentations of Lorincz's calls, and the back-and-forth bickering between her and the neighbors. Despite the land not being owed by Lorincz, neighbors said she believes she's in control of it. A makeshift memorial for the late Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens rests on the ground near where Owens died from a gun shot at Quail Run, almost a week after the fatal shooting. Owens was shot while standing outside her neighbor's door the night of June 2 in Quail Run, located off County Road 475A in Ocala. Quail Run consist of single story duplex and quadraplex. Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, now faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, two counts of assault and battery. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023 Lauren Smith, one of the neighbors who rushed to Owens side when she was shot once in the chest, said she's happy Lorincz was arrested. "It needed to be done," she said while sitting on her porch. "She deserves to be in jail." The shooting has been tough on her and the rest of the community. She said they had their ups and downs, but believe they're gradually regaining their happiness once again. Africa OPrincessO Williams, center, sat next to her grandmother Pamela Dias, left and her best friend, right, during the remembrance ceremony for her late mother. About 300 people attended a remembrance for Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens Thursday evening, June 8, 2023 at the Immerse Church of Ocala in Ocala, FL. People spoke about serious and funny stories about A.J. and prayers were given by a number of people and pastors. A balloon release was held at the end of the remembrance. Owens was shot while standing outside her neighbor's door the night of June 2 in Quail Run, located off County Road 475A in Ocala. Quail Run consist of single story duplex and quadraplex. Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, now faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, two counts of assault and battery. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023 "I think we can finally breathe that the family (making reference to Owens) and the kids hopefully get some justice. I hope they can start to heal," she added. Smith said Lorincz didn't come around much after the shooting. She said Lorincz stopped by twice, each time to pick up some belongings, but never stayed long. She said some of the neighbors saw Lorincz and jeered her. She said she understands the resentment shown toward the neighbor who is now being evicted. Jerreth Gardner Not far away from Smith's residence is Jerreth Gardner who feels "everyone has been affected by the shooting." Gardner said he thinks about Owens' children and what they must be going through, especially the ones who saw their mother being shot. "Their mom was their rock," he said. Echoing Smith, Gardner said "the community was upset" that Lorincz wasn't immediately arrested. Now, even with the arrest, Gardner says the charges are too light. Jerreth Gardner "I think she should be charged with first-degree or second-degree murder. She had every intention to harm that woman before she (Owens) got to the door," he said. Gardner said Owens posed no threat to Lorincz, and wasn't trying to break into Lorincz's residence, as the neighbor claimed to detectives. And even if Lorincz is convicted, "it will never be enough," he said. "The kids lost all of their friends because they're not here anymore; they lost their mother; they lost their innocence; they will never be the same," he said. "I feel a little better she was arrested because it was like a slap in the face when she wasn't arrested." Yearning for normalcy Cohen said she had to come to Ocala so she could pay her respect to Owens. She said she's praying that this type of incident will never be repeated and is perplexed at how the events escalated so quick. "I don't understand the hatred. It's so hurtful," she said. With Lorincz now away from the neighborhood, she is hopeful everything goes back to noraml soon, though she understands it may never happen. "Now that she's gone, I don't think (the community) will be a problem," she said. "She was the only problem child." Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala community seeks normalcy after Ajike Owens death, neighbor arrest Pirates Preview: Keller needs to break out of funk The Pittsburgh Pirates (33-30) lacked an offensive spark Saturday night against the New York Mets (31-33), as they managed just one run while giving up five in a 5-1 loss. The Pirates still have a chance to take the series in Sundays game-three rubber match. Johan Oviedo pitched another good game going 6.1 innings and giving up just two earned runs along the way. The Pirates offense went 0-4 with runners in scoring position, and couldnt figure out Kodai Senga. Andrew McCutchen went 0-3 at the plate and drew a walk, as he must wait for Sundays game to try and achieve 2,000 hits. The first pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Read more from our partners at Sports Now Group Pittsburgh. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Friends, family remember 15-year-old boy killed during shooting at graduation party in New Castle Pennsylvania AG lawsuit alleges local dealership sold cars that didnt pass inspection, broke down Doctor accused of submitting hundreds of false claims steps down as chair of a department in UPMC VIDEO:15-year-old boy dead after shooting in New Castle, 2 other juveniles injured DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Police cars shatter concrete wall inches from home during chase, California cops say Two California Highway Patrol cars slammed into the same La Puente home while chasing a fleeing motorcyclist, authorities told news outlets. Really close call, resident Nestor Rendon told KABC about the Saturday, June 10, crash at his home near Los Angeles. CHP officers began chasing a motorcyclist on Highway 10 in West Covina at 4:40 p.m., officials told KNBC. Two CHP patrol cars involved in the chase slammed into the front yard of a home at 4:52 p.m., KCAL reported. An uninvolved vehicle sheered off a fire hydrant. I just heard tires screeching and immediately what followed after the screeching was the cop car sirens, Rendon told KTLA. Then I heard a loud crash. I didnt realize there were two highway patrol cars on my lawn. The driver of the vehicle that hit the fire hydrant was taken to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries, KABC said. The CHP officers were not hurt, officials told KNBC. The motorcyclist was arrested nearby a short time later. La Puente is a city of 37,000 people about 20 miles east of Los Angeles. Woman airlifted to safety after car plunges off highway into sea, California video shows Climber dies in 300-foot plunge off rope as partner shouts warning, Utah rescuers say Man vanishes on trip to spread loved ones ashes, Oregon cops say. Now body found A police officer sustained a minor injury after being shot during a June 10 confrontation along a busy Myrtle Beach street, authorities said in a statement. The incident happened around 11 p.m. Saturday in the area of 14th Avenue N. and Chester Street after officers responded to reports of a person with a gun. Due to extra weekend staffing, four officers two from the city and two from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division responded in a single vehicle. As they approached the scene, a group of suspects shot at the vehicle before fleeing, police say. One officer was struck and sustained a minor injury that was not life-threatening. WMBF News reported investigators were seen inside the Yachtsman Seaglass Tower parking structure at 1400 N. Ocean Blvd., with several evidence markers on the lower level. Anyone with information is asked to call the Horry County Police Department tip line at (843) 915-8477. FILE PHOTO: Nicola Sturgeon makes her last official visit as Scotland's First Minister By Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) -Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday she was innocent after being arrested and held for more than seven hours as part of a police probe into the fate of funds for her pro-independence Scottish National Party. The police investigation is looking at what happened to more than 600,000 pounds ($754,140) in funding raised by Scottish independence campaigners in 2017 which was supposed to have been ring-fenced, but may have been used for other purposes. The arrest is deeply embarrassing for the SNP, which has dominated Scottish politics for most of the last two decades. Sturgeon stood down earlier this year, and support for the party and its aim of independence has since dropped. "To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing... I would never do anything to harm either the SNP or the country," she said in a statement posted on Twitter. "Given the nature of this process, I cannot go into detail. However, I do wish to say this... I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing." Earlier a spokesperson for Sturgeon said she had by arrangement attended an interview with Police Scotland to be arrested and questioned, and was cooperating with the investigation. Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman had been arrested at 10:09 a.m. (0909 GMT) as a suspect in connection with its probe into the SNP's finances, before being released without charge at 5:24 p.m. pending further investigation. "As the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further," Police Scotland said. The SNP said it had been cooperating with the investigation and would continue to do so. "It is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing," a spokesperson said. In April, Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell and the party's then treasurer Colin Beattie were both arrested and then released without charge pending further investigation as part of the same probe. Sturgeon, Murrell and Beattie were all signatories on the SNP's accounts. At the time of Murrell's arrest, police carried out a lengthy search of the couple's home in Glasgow, which was sealed off with blue and white police tape. 'SECRECY AND COVER-UP' Sturgeon, the longest serving leader of Scotland's semi-autonomous government, caught the political world by surprise when she announced her resignation in February, saying she had become too divisive to lead her country to independence. Scots rejected ending the more than 300-year-old union with England by 55% to 45% in a 2014 referendum, but the Brexit vote two years later and Scotlands handling of the COVID-19 pandemic brought new support for independence. The Conservative government in Westminster has refused a new referendum, and polls show support for the SNP and independence have dropped since Sturgeon's departure. Opposition parties have accused the SNP of being mired in scandal and too focused on independence to govern Scotland properly. The Labour Party's Scotland spokesperson Ian Murray said there was a culture of "secrecy and cover-up" in the SNP. "The same culture that leads to police tents in front gardens has created the deeply dysfunctional government that is currently failing Scots," he said. Sturgeon's successor Humza Yousaf has described the police investigation as challenging, but has defended the SNP's record and accused the Westminster government of interfering in the governing of Scotland and making devolution unworkable. The leadership contest to replace Sturgeon exposed deep divisions within the party during her eight years in power, which saw a small group exercise control over party affairs. YouGov last month said that on current polling, the SNP could lose around half its seats to Labour in the next UK election, expected in 2024. Although the SNP would still be the largest party in Scotland, large gains for Labour there could be key to the British opposition party's hopes of a majority and returning to power in Westminster for the first time since 2010. Earlier on Sunday, Yousaf said the SNP would be willing to do a deal with Labour in the event of a hung parliament. ($1 = 0.7956 pounds) (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, Andrew MacAskill and Alistair Smout; Editing by Alex Richardson, Frances Kerry, Sharon Singleton and Jan Harvey) Police: New York man arrested after man shot in Manchester, NH near Harmony Montgomery memorial A man from Queens, New York has been arrested in connection with a shooting that injured a 27-year-old man near a memorial for Harmony Montgomery, police said. Gil Diaz, 26, was charged with first degree assault, felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, falsifying physical evidence, unsworn falsification, and resisting arrest, police said. Diaz was uncooperative with officers and initially gave a false name. At approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Manchester Police responded to 140 Orange St. for a reported shooting, police said. Queens, NY man arrested after man shot in Manchester, NH near Harmony Montgomery memorial Police: Queens, NY man arrested after man shot in Manchester, NH near Harmony Montgomery memorial When officers arrived, they found a 27-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg, police said. The victim was uncooperative with police and was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A witness told police he was sitting on the porch, heard a loud bang and then saw a man walking north between two houses. Officers reviewed surveillance video that showed the suspect. Shortly afterwards, officers found a man meeting the suspects description. A man from Queens, New York has been arrested in connection with a shooting that injured a 27-year-old man near a memorial for Harmony Montgomery in Manchester, N.H., police said. Gil Diaz, 26, was charged with first degree assault, felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, falsifying physical evidence, unsworn falsification, and resisting arrest, police said. Diaz was uncooperative with officers and initially gave a false name. The shooting on Saturday occurred a few feet away from an apartment that had been searched by Manchester Police and the FBI related to the Harmony Montgomery case. The 7-year-old New Hampshire girl has been missing since 2019. Her father, Adam Montgomery, is accused in her murder and a trial could begin later this year. On Thursday, he was found guilty of all charges in a firearms trial. Memorials for Harmony on Saturday were surrounded by crime scene tape as they were part of the scene being processed for the Orange Street shooting. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Editors note: The southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol has long been known for its sweet delights. The name Melitopol means the Honey City in Ukrainian and the citys official logo features a cherry, a nod to the deep red fruit the region is famous for. But life in Melitopol is anything but sweet. The city was captured by Russian troops shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Pro-Ukrainian partisans have remained active in the city, orchestrating several attacks against the pro-Russian administration installed in the place of its elected leaders. The Zaporizhzhia region in which the city lies is partially occupied by Russia and was illegally annexed last September. Below is the account of a Melitopol resident in her early 30s who has refused to flee the city and is living under Russian occupation. CNN is not naming her because of concerns for her safety. Her testimony was translated from Ukrainian and edited for brevity. There is terror in Melitopol. But its quiet, you dont see it in the streets. For partisans, the situation here is terrible. For those of us who rejected Russian passports and are now known as the unreliable, the situation is terrible. But if you go to the market, you wouldnt think that anything is going on. The Russians are trying to force everyone here to get Russian passports. Its easier to manipulate people when they have Russian citizenship. Not getting the passports makes our life very difficult. They are refusing to give us access to hospitals and so on. We are a family of farmers and we are losing our land because we dont have any Russian documents. Im afraid I will eventually have to get it. But we are delaying this moment. One relative went to the office and the queues were huge because everyone was intimidated into getting a passport. The process has sped up. Previously, you had to wait a month or two, but now they can print a passport in a week. Everyone was given cash welfare payments until February, but starting in March, only people with Russian passports get them. Thats why many pensioners started getting passports now because there was no need for it before. Disabled people, people on low incomes, and those who wanted to use free healthcare took the passports immediately after the Russians started offering them, because they didnt want to lose the benefits. All in all, a large percentage of the population already has Russian passports. If you dont, youre a black sheep, and you can be subject to a frisking. Here in Melitopol, searches are usually conducted after shelling and after guerrilla attacks on pro-Russian collaborators. My grandmothers house was searched because a Russian soldier deserted when he was in the village. They searched the houses in the village, trying to find him. Workers at an aid centre administrated by Russia's ruling United Russia Party hand out food parcels in occupied Melitopol in this file photo. - Stringer/AFP/Getty Images The people who remained in Melitopol can be divided into several categories. There are those who are basically satisfied with the current pro-Russian government. There are those who dont care and who would support whoever gives them more money in cash payments. Those who stayed mostly support the pro-Russian government. They are convinced that it is here to stay. Obviously, there are also Ukrainian patriots, those of us waiting for Ukraine to win this war. We whisper to each other in the market. You can tell that someone is supporting Ukraine at the market when you ask for high quality produce. Vendors start cursing Russia because they now have to choose between selling bad products and worse products. There are still a lot of partisans, God bless them, but we are in the minority. Most of the Ukrainian patriots have left, especially those who actively participated in rallies, because there was a direct threat to their lives. Our neighbor turned us in for supporting Ukraine, but we are not being touched, at least not yet. My neighbor works for the new government and she knows that we actively opposed Russia during the first phase of the war. I think we will be issued some kind of document that they give to the unreliable which says we have refused the passports. This means nothing except showing that we refused to take Russian passports. Its a temporary certificate of non-citizens, but you either take this piece of paper or you have to leave Melitopol. So, we are going to take it. Until April, it was possible to move freely throughout the occupied zone without documents. Now you need a Russian passport or the non-citizen document, but they keep issuing warnings and saying that you need to get a Russian passport by June or you will not be allowed to leave. People here are encouraged to send their children to summer camps in Crimea, like they were last year. Some parents on our street voluntarily sent their children to Crimea for a month and the children came back. But our neighbors, who have since left for Germany, did not want to send their son to a Russian school or to a camp, and it was okay. Their son stayed at home all year, studying online at a Ukrainian school. Children are not taken away by force here. You have to understand that parents send them there voluntarily. In this file photo, Russian passports are being issued to residents in the occupied city of Melitopol. - Stringer/AFP/Getty Images We call the war a situation here Its true that the occupiers are worried about the counteroffensive. The mood in the city has changed dramatically over the past month, from Melitopol is forever with Russia to thinking where and how they will build defense lines. Of course, this is just what the ordinary soldiers in the city are saying, but there is no longer that victorious mood. I feel that something is going to happen here soon. Ukrainian hryvnias are being bought up in the market, and farmers are refusing to sell their products, because they are waiting to give it to Ukraine. And all the neighbors who are in favor of Russia have stopped communicating with us, because they are no longer sure that Russia will stay here forever and are afraid to talk. There are more or less no problems with getting food. There is no variety, but there are no shortages either. The standards and packaging have completely changed since the invasion started. Butter that is made at the same factory tastes so bad now that we dont know what to do to mask the taste. Everything that is imported from Russia contains palm oil. Thats not an exaggeration, the ingredient list of a candy lists palm oil three times. Its in everything. Sausages, cheese, candy, cookies, butter. But the biggest problem is with medicines and household goods, as well as baby food. Russia doesnt have good quality medicines and there is no choice. You go to a pharmacy and they give you one option, take it or leave it. People inquire about medicines for 10 minutes and in the end, they only have iodine. A woman in front of me was trying to buy Nestle baby food, but the price was out of this world. She ended up buying some Russian-made equivalent. My mother and grandmother have diabetes. The Russian medicines have the same active ingredient but they affect them in completely different ways. They have different dosages and excipients and my mother and grandmother started feeling much worse when they began taking them. We received some Ukrainian medicines from Ukraine through Crimea, enough for a month and a half. The cynicism of doctors and pharmacists here is overwhelming. No one says anything directly. We call the war a situation here. So, they just answer: Well, this is the situation, if you need it, go to Ukraine or Europe. When I told the doctor that I needed specific medication, I was told to go to the city of Zaporizhzhia to buy it. And just so you understand, to go to Zaporizhzhia, you have to go via Moscow. Thats the only way. A Russian flag flies in the occupied city of Melitopol on October 13, 2022. - Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters/File In Russia, they dont have the same standards and regulations for products. Nothing like that. Russian soaps, shampoos, and toothpastes are of terrible quality. Belarusian ones are a little better, and the best option for us here is Turkish shampoo. There are a lot of Chinese and Turkish products on the market. Russian and Chinese products are of the worst quality, while Belarusian and Turkish products are more or less okay, but more expensive. The problem is that only the military here have a lot of money, and often they buy everything decent. The rumours that Russians themselves do not want to buy Russian products are true. Until September, Ukrainian products were smuggled to Melitopol and the Russian military bought everything themselves. Soldiers stood in line in front of me and asked for Ukrainian socks and soap. Now there are no Ukrainian goods anymore. Everyone is pretending to live a civilian life. Theres no talk of evacuation. People are used to the explosions and to the fact that from time to time there are burnt-out cars of pro-Russian collaborators on the main street. People are used to the fact that Russian troops and authorities can come to your house and kick you out. People have gotten used to everything over the year. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Prigozhin says Wagner will not sign any contract with Russian defence minister By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's most powerful mercenary said on Sunday that his Wagner fighters would not sign any contract with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, publicly refusing an attempt by the defence ministry to bring his fighting force under its sway. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner group, has repeatedly attacked President Vladimir Putin's top military brass for what he casts as treachery for failing to fight the war in Ukraine properly. Neither Shoigu nor Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have commented in public on the insults from Prigozhin, whose forces in May took the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after a battle in which tens of thousands perished. The defence ministry on Saturday said Shoigu had ordered all "volunteer detachments" to sign contracts with his ministry by the end of the month, a step it said would increase the effectiveness of the Russian army. Though the ministry did not mention Wagner in its public statement, the Russian media reported that it was an attempt by Shoigu to bring the mercenaries to heel. "Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu," Prigozhin said in response to a request for comment on the matter. The order, he said, did not apply to Wagner. The defence ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries gained renown for what the United States said was destabilising countries across Africa, plundering natural resources and even meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He says the United States has destabilised so many countries across the world that Washington has no moral authority to lecture anyone. WAGNER Prigozhin said Wagner was completely subordinate to the interests of Russia but that its highly efficient command structure would be damaged by reporting to Shoigu. "Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations," Prigozhin said, adding that Wagner coordinated its actions in Ukraine with General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" by the Russian media. The defence ministry said that in the interests of increasing the effectiveness of "volunteer detachments", all such units - or their men - would have to sign a contract with the defence ministry by July 1. It did not mention Wagner by name but it routinely refers to Wagner as "volunteer assault detachments". "This will give the volunteer formations the necessary legal status, create unified approaches to the organisation of comprehensive provision and fulfilment of their tasks," the ministry said. "These measures will increase the combat capabilities and effectiveness of the armed forces and their volunteer detachments," Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said. Prigozhin said the ministry might use the failure to comply with the order as a reason to deprive Wagner of supplies. "What could happen after this order is that they will not give us weapons and ammunition. We will figure it out, as they say," Prigozhin said. "But when the thunder breaks, they will come running and bring weapons and ammunition with a request to help." (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Jason Neely) Doctor and teen patient The United Kingdoms National Health Service has decided to restrict the prescription of puberty blockers to young people participating in clinical trials. The Friday announcement by the NHS formalizes a policy that was released in draft form in October and subjected to public comment since then, The New York Times reports. It will be implemented over the next few months, and NHS plans to start a clinical trial next year. The NHS, which provides free, publicly funded health care to all U.K. citizens, has been experiencing a shortage of puberty-blocking medication, which is prescribed to young people with gender dysphoria that is, transgender youth as well as nontrans young people who have early-onset puberty. But the NHS also says there is a limited evidence base surrounding care for children with gender dysphoria and that there is a need to collect more evidence through formal research. There may be rare exceptions to the clinical trials policy. Right-wing forces will undoubtedly seize on the announcement as fuel for their argument that puberty blockers are not safe, effective, and reversible. Supporters of legislation to ban or limit gender-affirming care for trans youth have contended that this care is experimental and that recipients of the care are likely to regret having undergone it, although documented case of transition regret are extremely rare. However, it has been documented that gender-affirming care improves young peoples mental health and decreases their risk of suicide. So far 21 U.S. states have enacted laws banning or limiting this care for trans minors, and more are considering restrictions. For young people, gender-affirming treatment usually includes puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Genital surgery is almost never performed on minors, and only a small proportion undergo top surgery. For trans children who have not entered puberty, care consists of social transition. In the U.S., this treatment is endorsed by every major medical group, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. The British health services new policy does take note of updated recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. WPATHs previous standards of care stated that in most children, gender dysphoria will disappear before or early in puberty. However, WPATH now says gender dysphoria will be transient for some children, but it does not say if this happens in a majority or minority of youth. Stonewall, a major U.K. LGBTQ+ rights group, praised this aspect of the new NHS policy but criticized others, including the restriction of puberty blockers to clinical trials. This cannot be right, says an online statement from the organization. Treatment should be based on clinical need, and coerced participation in research is unethical. Also, the NHS does not set targets for waiting times, Stonewall says. Currently waiting times for a first appointment are over 3 years, which is unacceptable for a child in distress and for their families. Providers must be held to account for improving service access. Finally, the specification rightly focuses on open and reflective practice, and recognizes the way in which a childs gender identity can develop and change over time, the statement continues. However, it is not clear enough that care is also needed to ensure that practitioners do not pressure trans and gender questioning children towards a particular outcome. Trans and gender questioning children and young people in the UK deserve the best possible standard of care, it concludes. They deserve to get that care from well qualified, effective and compassionate professionals. And they deserve to get that care in a timely manner. Last year the NHS announced the closure of its Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service, a London-based clinic that was the only site where it delivered gender-affirming care to youth. Tavistock had been unable to meet the demand for its services, so the NHS is now opening regional centers to offer the care, and officials there say this arrangement will provide the care more efficiently. The main objective is to alleviate distress associated with gender incongruence and promote the individuals global functioning and well-being, the NHS says. Kudos to library The Salida library is to be applauded for the Rainbow Story Time and their attempt to offer support to a gay and trans community that is often marginalized, ostracized and condemned by the more conservative elements of our county. These actions are based on fear. The antidote to that fear is education that enables us to achieve a greater understanding and compassion toward those who think, act or look differently than we do. We need to educate ourselves and our children to be more tolerant and understanding members of a society that is, in fact, becoming more diverse. It is this education that will enable our children to succeed and thrive in a world that will be different, and I hope, better than the world in which we grew up. Linda Lagace, Riverbank Only human Consider that spontaneous growth is supernatural to a rock but not to a plant. Feelings are supernatural to a plant, but not to an animal. Independent thought is supernatural to an animal, but not to a human. Why is it that humans who believe in the supernatural (including sometimes, but not necessarily limited to those who believe in Christianity, Islam, or Judaism) who have a heartfelt concern for the eternal souls of their brothers and sisters who engage in actions known as adultery, fornication, or sodomy (among other mortal sins) spending eternity separated from the creator of the universe are accused of being harassing, hateful, or having a phobia (irrational fear)? Why is their voice now scorned and shunned in the public square? Another view is that they in fact have a deep abiding love for their brothers and sisters, willing the good of the other for the sake of the other without regard to self. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 Ross W. Lee, Modesto Woke works for me Born in Nevada City, 76 years ago, and still here. California has been my choice my entire life. Modesto has been our family home for 37 years. Why am I happy and why do I choose to live here? Simply, its a woke state where the governor warns people with demonic biases that book banning is not going to be tolerated, while banning books in many states has become ludicrous recreational activity. California is a state where the issue of reparations for families of slaves is on the table, while those same people face voter representation and union hostilities in several states. Here, womens rights still hold sway. The social environment is not perfect, and climate change is an ugly reality. Many of our problems are problems everywhere, but we attempt coordinated change, instead of invoking great repressive inequities. Does it cost more to live here? Yes indeed, but I say farewell to those leaving for darker pastures. And yes, Modesto where today, my wife and I practiced tai chi at the synagogue, with an Iranian and a German instructor, then attended a Democratic fundraiser packed with joyful diverse supporters. Good, new Modesto! Timothy Buchanan, Modesto Were the water wasters? I feel sad every time I read The Modesto Bee weather section. Under the heading Water Storage, it has shown releases of over 10,000 cubic feet per second from Don Pedro Dam into the Tuolumne River for over a month. Thats about 80,000 gallons, or 3 or 4 swimming pools every second. In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion bond issue for increasing water storage. Nothing significant has been done, blocked by environmental groups at every turn. Of course, we citizens are castigated as water wasters for not tearing out our lawns and planting cacti. Herb Helbig, Modesto Puzzling parking problem In residential areas the street and parking along the streets is public, but almost no one knows that. I frequently have to park in front of someone elses house during construction, tree removal, roadwork or just because someone else parked in front of my place. But, those who live in the other houses dont understand that Im allowed to park there, just like the person who took my spot in front of my house can do that. They get scared. They leave notes on my car. They threaten me, even though there is a tow-away sign in front of my place. Is there any way to educate Modestans about public and private spaces, how civic law works? Im not from here and have never seen this kind of fear of a parked car before, especially when road blockages show there will be displacement of parking. Margie Sue Brogdon, Modesto Its my party and Ill vote how I want I read two letters from conservative readers in The Modesto Bee. One danced dangerously close to a racist construct in terms of how to make amends for years of racist policies. The other spoke specifically to property rights. I once belonged to the Republican Party. I proudly called myself a conservative. I no longer do that because what passes as a conservative does not align with my values. I firmly believe that neither mainstream party represents people like me fiscal conservatives who believe in true social justice. I found the American Solidarity Party when the GOP chose Mrs. Palin as a candidate for vice president and I have never looked back. The American Solidarity Party has chosen its Presidential Nominee - Peter Sonski. The ASP has been endowed with great values and ideals that serve individuals, families and broader society. Leslie Shaw Klinger, Modesto Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Sunday doubled down on his promise to pardon former President Trump if Trump is convicted and the conservative entrepreneur is elected in 2024. Given everything that youve seen, do you stand by your promise to pardon him if hes convicted? host Dana Bash asked Ramaswamy on CNNs State of the Union. Reading that indictment and looking at the selective omissions of both facts and law, Im even more convinced that a pardon is the right answer here, he replied. Trump has been charged with 37 counts in relation to the former presidents alleged mishandled of classified records at Mar-a-Lago as well as his alleged efforts to block the government from recovering the materials, according to the indictment unsealed by the Justice Department. Shortly after Trump announced his attorneys had been informed of an indictment last week, Ramaswamy had promised to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country. Just on principle, do you think it would be a mistake for the Republican Party to nominate somebody who is facing serious federal criminal charges? Bash asked Ramswamy on Sunday. Look, Im in this race to win this race, because I think we need to move forward as a country. I think we go forward with the agenda, if were grounded in first principles and moral authority. Thats why Im in this race. But thats not for you or I or certainly the federal administrative police state to decide. Thats for the people of this country to decide, Ramswamy answered. Federal administrative police state? Thats pretty strong, Bash pressed. Thats exactly whats at work here, right. You have a federal administrative state, the police arm of that state is for the first time in U.S. history, not only indicting a former president, but indicting currently a lead candidate against the U.S. president, Ramaswamy argued. Updated at 10:40 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When Lisa Gerard volunteered with Laundry Love Central Oklahoma, she noticed children who attended the free laundry events with their parents often had nothing to pass the time. The former special education teacher started bringing books to entertain the children, but that gave her an idea. What if free libraries brought books directly to underserved communities? Gerard founded the nonprofit Little Read Wagon in 2020 and began offering a free book wagon for children, storytimes and literacy activities, reading events for adults and access to books for homeless populations. Books and services are provided free of charge and are funded by donations. Little Read Wagon aims to close the literacy gap by providing books and literary resources to marginalized communities in Norman and Oklahoma City. I have people tell me that books save their lives, Gerard said. You learn how to think from reading books, you're exposed to other places, other people, other times that are different from yourself. Books serve a whole lot of purposes in people's lives. The literacy gap refers to the approximately 50% of American adults between the ages of 16 and 74 who lack proficiency in literature, reading at below a sixth-grade reading level. One in five Oklahoma counties have populations where 25% or more of the residents have below basic literacy. Experts say that children living in low-income homes are more likely to have the least access to books, and be the most likely to lose reading skills each summer, so organizers working to improve literacy focus specifically on these young readers. A group from Sherrie Hortons class at Oakcrest Christian School takes a tour Tuesday during the Southern Oaks Library Summer Reading Kickoff party in Oklahoma City. How the Little Read Wagon program works Gerard said especially in the summertime children may not have transportation to libraries and no longer have access to school libraries, so its important that books are being brought to where they are at. Little Read Wagon supports community events several times per year with free book giveaways and free literacy activities. These events support specific populations including the Black community, the Latinx community, the LGTBQ community, the Native American community, and others with books that are by, about and representative of these populations. Gerard said with recent conversations about book banning concerning racial and LGBTQ book themes and characters, it is crucial people are given access to stories they can relate to. More: From parades to disco, here's your event guide to 2023 Pride Month in OKC It's important for everyone to be able to see themselves in books, and it's also important for people who aren't in those groups to also be able to see people different from themselves, Gerard said. Gerard said while the organization started by serving children, they received many requests to provide books for people of all ages. We seek out places where there might be people who do not have much access to books, and then we give them books, Gerard said. Hannah Garvin, from Sherrie Hortons class at Oakcrest Christian School, takes a tour Tuesday during the Southern Oaks Library Summer Reading Kickoff party in Oklahoma City. OKC library programs also set children with lifelong skills Libraries in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area are working to combat the literacy gap by offering reading programs and accessible reading options for children throughout the summer. Angel Suhrstedt, Metropolitan Library System director of communications, said creating strong reading habits as a child is important for combating illiteracy later in life. According to Suhrstedt, summer reading programs play an important role in building these habits and a good relationship with reading. Known as the summer slide, children can lose reading and math proficiency during summer break due to a lack of academic engagement. Studies show that kids that don't participate in summer reading can lose as much as two grade levels of literacy and understanding over the summer months," Suhrstedt said. Childrens librarian, Cheryll Jones, talks to a class from Sherrie Hortons class at Oakcrest Christian School on Tuesday during the Southern Oaks Library Summer Reading Kickoff party in Oklahoma City. But reading programs, she said, are a great way for young people to learn that reading can be enjoyed outside the classroom. "Reading doesn't have to be things that you do just for school, Suhrstedt said. You can read for enjoyment and pleasure. Adrienne Butler, Oklahoma Department of Libraries youth consultant, said reading programs are important ways libraries can connect with parents and help prepare children for school, but also build core skills needed later in life. Reading helps them when they need to apply for jobs and even just understanding the world itself, Butler said. Reading skills provide you with the ability to think about grand theories and thoughts, and figure out what you want from life. You realize reading encompasses everything. The 2023 Summer Reading Program theme is All Together Now: Kindness/Friendship/Unity. With this theme, libraries across the state will host educational programs, performances, reading challenges and craft events. More: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to offer free books to kids every month in Oklahoma Landon Pham, from Sherrie Hortons class at Oakcrest Christian School, tours Southern Oaks Library on Tuesday, during the library's Summer Reading Kickoff party in Oklahoma City. Suhrstedt said libraries also serve important roles as open access information organizations. The Metropolitan Library System partners with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority to distribute more than 10,000 books to kids in housing developments. They are also partnered with Dolly Partons Imagination Library, a literacy program that delivers a free book every month to any Oklahoma child age 5 and under. Our goal as a library system is to create and support a community of readers and learners, and getting books into people's hands is the best way to do that, Suhrstedt said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What to know about OKC library book programs, Little Read Wagon Relatives of MH17 victims staged a protest outside the Russian Embassy in The Hague Today, relatives of the victims of the MH17 disaster re-positioned 298 empty chairs in front of the Russian embassy in The Hague - one for each victim. Source: As "European Pravda" reports, this was stated by NOS. Details: Since 2018, the MH17 Truth and Reconciliation Task Force, an association of relatives and for relatives, has organised a protest outside the embassy every year. NOS photo All 298 people on board died in the crash. The protest is directed against the attitude of the Russian regime to the fatal event of 17 July 2014. A criminal investigation conducted by the JIT found that MH17 was shot down by a Russian Buk missile launcher from a field controlled by pro-Russian militants. The court also saw "overwhelming evidence" of this. However, Russia has always denied its involvement in the disaster. The organisation protests against the refusal to acknowledge this involvement. "Even after eight years of investigation and a balanced criminal trial that lasted almost three years," the organisation said in a statement. As it is known, on 17 November 2022, the District Court of The Hague sentenced Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko to life imprisonment in absentia for their role in the downing of the Malaysian airliner MH17 over Donbas and ordered their arrest. The court ruled that they should pay more than 16 million euros in compensation to the relatives of the victims. Meanwhile, the fourth defendant, Oleg Pulatov, was found innocent by the court, despite the fact that he was Girkin's deputy and gave instructions to the other defendants regarding the evacuation of the Buk system. The Hague Court also recognized that Russia controlled the "DPR" during the downing of the MH17 airliner. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The North Carolina Republican Party voted to formally censure Sen. Thom Tillis at the partys annual convention in Greensboro on Saturday, with at least one delegate citing Tillis support for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform for the decision. The senator who has served in the Senate since 2015 has a history of working with moderates on both sides of the aisle on a wide range of issues. He was part of a bipartisan group of Senators who pushed a bill to codify same-sex and interracial marriage, which President Joe Biden signed into law last year. Tillis also worked across the aisle to push a bipartisan immigration proposal earlier this year. A state party delegate told CNN that Tillis support for the same-sex marriage law and efforts on the immigration proposal were among the reasons cited by delegates for the censure. Tillis was censured on the same day Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Mike Pence gave remarks at the states convention, North Carolina GOP spokesperson Jeff Moore told CNN. Former North Carolina Republican Gov. Pat McCrory condemned the censure vote and called on other state Republicans to support Tillis in the wake of the vote. I join former Governor Jim Martin in opposing the censure against Senator Thom Tillis, McCrory said in a tweet. Its time also for all NC state and federal elected republicans to stand with Thom and publicly voice their opposition to the action taken at our convention. Tillis is the latest Republican lawmaker to be censured by their state-level Republican organization in recent years. Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales was censured by the Texas Republican party earlier this year for a lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities. Gonzales support for the same-sex marriage law and opposition to House Republican immigration proposals were cited as among the reasons for the partys censure. CNN has reached out to Tillis office for comment. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Republicans are rallying around Donald Trump after his indictment. But what about other voters? GREENSBORO, N.C. If Republicans in North Carolina are any guide, most of the faithful will stick with former President Donald Trump no matter how many times he gets indicted. How more moderate voters will react is a mystery, Tar Heel State Republicans said: There has never been a candidate like the under-indictment former president who is still seeking another term in the White House in 2024. "If he gets the nomination, we'll have a candidate who is on the campaign trail at night and in court during the day," said Linda Petrou, 76, a retired college professor who mingled with fellow Republicans at their state party convention in Greensboro over the weekend. As delegates met in the food court of a hotel-and-convention complex off I-40, Petrou said, "I don't know" how Trump's legal problems will play out in a general election. "It could really hurt him with the independents," she said, though she remained optimistic about Trump's chances overall. "This is more of a movement than a person," Petrou said. 'Either they win or we win:' Donald Trump urges voters to stick with him post-indictment Donald Trump indicted for allegedly mishandling classified documents seized at Mar-a-Lago: Recap Donald Trump hails supporters in North Carolina 'A level of anger' Trump, long since indicted in New York state on a hush-money case and still facing two other investigations, made a personal plea in his North Carolina convention speech Saturday night. Employing a frequent argument, Trump told the delegates that the many investigations of him are also targeting his political movement. This vicious persecution is a travesty of justice, Trump said. The twice-indicted president found a receptive audience, with many saying they are even more committed to him. "I think it's solidified his support in the Republican Party," said Ed Broyhill, 69, an entrepreneur and Republican National Committeman for the state of North Carolina. "It's created a level of anger that I have not seen before." Independent and nonparty voters, meanwhile, should watch and see how things develop, Broyhill said: "It's going to define politics for the next year." Let it play out Kathy Benson, 65, a substitute teacher from Wilmington, North Carolina, praised Trump's speech and said "he just wants to pick up where he left off." But how will independents and moderates view his legal problems? "We'll just have to let that play out," Benson said. "Every man and woman will have to decide for themselves." Trump backers said they identify with him because they believe he is being hounded by the "deep state" and the administration of President Joe Biden, his prospective Democratic opponent in 2024. They said voters will shake off prosecutions of Trump if they are seen as unfair. "It'll hurt him with some voters, but I don't think it will hurt him with those that matter," said Nicholas Jaroszynski, 37, a business owner from Troutman, North Carolina, wearing a T-shirt that read: "We do not co-parent with the government." 'Between us and them' The North Carolina Republican Party convention was pretty much Trump Country. Delegates and other party members schmoozed in the convention center's marble hallways and argued over their own contentious election for state party chairman. In the exhibition space, Republicans stopped at tables staffed with employees of local campaigns and political organizations that ranged from Americans For Prosperity to Moms For Liberty. They also browsed souvenir stands with Trump-themed buttons, hats, jewelry, and T-shirts. The "MAGA Mall" offered a t-shirt with a screen shot of Trump entering a courthouse in New York City after his first indictment. "He stands between us and them," the shirt said. Many North Carolina Republicans echoed that theme, saying they see the indictments as hit jobs from a legal system that has targeted Trump for years while shielding Democrats like Biden and Hillary Clinton. "Republicans see that he's really the man for the job and the hour," said Leah Carson, 47, a wedding photographer from Raleigh, the state capital. 'Explain:' Mike Pence calls on Merrick Garland to justify indictment of Donald Trump Ron DeSantis says little about Trump indictment; decries unequal justice and 'weaponization' North Carolina Republicans had nice things to say about other 2024 candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, both of whom spoke at the state convention. But many said they are staying with Trump while he is under legal attack. The latest indictment accuses Trump of improperly taking classified documents from the White House and illegally obstructing the government's attempts to retrieve the papers that had sensitive national security information. It is the first federal indictment of a former president. In late March, Trump was indicted in New York state court over allegations that he falsified business records to cover up hush payments to Stormy Daniels right before the 2016 election. Trump remains under investigation over the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss in Georgia. Both could lead to more indictments that could further change the shape of the 2024 election. Michele Morrow, 52, a nurse from Cary, North Carolina, said the indictment is "only going to make me fight harder" for Trump in 2024. She did not know how voters in a general election might react. "Anything can hurt him," she said. "They've been trying to hurt him since 2015 when he first ran." 'Weaponization?' Like many of the Republicans who gathered at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, national party leaders are also rallying around Trump. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the GOP congressional majority will scrutinize the conduct of the Trump investigations because "Bidens weaponization of the federal government is going to disrupt our nation." In their remarks to the North Carolina convention, DeSantis and Pence also used the weaponization argument, and generally defended Trump on the indictment. Other Republicans across the country say they are troubled by Trump's behavior and the party should think twice before renominating him. "Is this the type of conduct we want from someone who wants to be President of the United States?" tweeted Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor who recently entered the 2024 race. "We have to focus on the conduct, and the conduct is bad." Bill Barr, Trump's former attorney general, told Fox News Sunday that the government had a legitimate concern about getting back "very sensitive" national security documents that the former president had no right to keep. "If even half of it is true, then he's toast," Barr said. "I mean, it's a very detailed indictment, and it's very, very damning." He added that "this idea of presenting Trump as a victim here a victim of a 'witch hunt' is ridiculous." Some of the Republicans in North Carolina wondered if Trump's legal problems will change very many minds. "If you don't like Trump, nothing will win you over," said Ginny Forestieri, 72, a retired real estate broker from Dobson, North Carolina, "If you do like Trump, nothing is going to discourage you." The ultimate answers will come from voters who are neither pro-Trump nor anti-Trump, but are somewhere in between. This especially would be true in a general election in North Carolina, a closely divided state that Trump carried in both 2016 and 2020. Biden and the Democrats are making it a top target for flipping in 2024. The next Georgia? Biden campaign targets North Carolina to reshape 2024 electoral map Unaffiliated voters It's hard to see how any Republican can win the presidency without winning North Carolina, and Trump's legal problems are already weighing him down in the Tar Heel State. Paul Shumaker, a Republican political consultant based in North Carolina, said Trump's legal issues have been a problem with independent voters since the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. "After Jan. 6, unaffiliated voters consistently soured on him," Shumaker said. "The indictments certainly are not going to help him improve his standing with unaffiliated voters." There are also many distractions on the horizon. Preparing for trials will likely cut into Trump's campaign time. It may also affect how he campaigns because some of his more acerbic comments about the charges against him could become issues in trials. "It's going to limit his ability to be himself," Shumaker said. "Anything he says on the campaign trail can and will be used against him in a court of law." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indictment voter: GOP rallies for Donald Trump, but what about others? Traffic on urban freeways increases air pollution and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Next time youre sitting in traffic, wondering if youll make it home before your loved ones forget what you look like, know that it could be worse. In fact, it soon may be far worse here in the fastest-growing county in America. This, thanks to a handful of conservative Republican legislative leaders who on Saturday rejected a compromise proposal to fund the Valleys regional transportation needs for the next two decades. The revamped plan, offered by Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Maricopa Association of Governments, represented what should have been a major victory for Republicans. It called for more money to build freeways, less money to fund transit and not so much as a nickel to expand the light rail system that conservatives despise. And Republican legislative leaders rejected it anyway, according to a source close to the negotiations. Republicans will own consequences of a delayed election Cue an understandably exasperated Gov. Hobbs. From day one, I promised that I would be laser-focused on growing our economy and bringing high-paying jobs to our state for Arizona workers, she said in a statement issued Saturday afternoon. That's exactly what our Prop. 400 compromise does, and business leaders, labor leaders, and mayors across Arizona agree. But Republican legislative leadership is holding our economy hostage and holding back our state's potential to be the leader in new, fast-growing industries. If a deal cant be made, well, youll know who to blame when traffic and the prospect of good jobs that come with economic growth comes to a screeching halt. Proposition 400, the half-cent sales tax to fund the Valleys regional transportation needs, expires in December 2025. Unlike every other county in the state, Maricopa cannot ask voters to extend it without the Republican-run Legislatures approval. The updated regional plan put together by the Valleys cities and tribes was actually approved by the Legislature last year. Then it was vetoed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, whose dislike for taxes apparently extends even to tax extensions. The fear and loathing of light rail by far-right legislators Now we have a new Legislature, one that views the business community with suspicion and dances to the tune of the far right. They see light rail as a waste of money, preferring to spend every last dime funding on freeways never mind that you cant build them fast enough or wide enough to handle the explosive growth thats headed our way in the next 25 years. Never mind, too, that not everybody has a car. The original plan put forth by MAG following hundreds of public meetings involving more than 15,000 citizens and the approval of representatives of 32 municipalities, counties and tribal nations called for the nearly $20 billion in spending to be broken down like this over the next 20 years: 40.4% for public transit, with up to 14% for light rail expansion. 37.4% for freeways. 22.2% for arterial streets and programs. No amount of concessions seem to satisfy the opposition Here is the compromise offered up this weekend by Hobbs and MAG: 40% for freeways. 38% transit, with no new money for light rail expansion but with 3.5% for maintenance on the light rail system. 22% for arterials. The changes are among 30 concessions made in an effort to get the legislative go-ahead to put the proposal on the ballot. Among them, a guarantee that no money can be shifted from freeways and roads to transit. And still, its a no-go. Republican leaders couldnt be reached Saturday but a person close to the negotiations told me the major sticking point is that 3.5% to maintain the light rail system. Because sure, it makes total sense that we would spend billions of dollars building a light rail system then allow the thing to fall into disrepair. Why won't the malcontents allow a full vote by their colleagues? Its now or never for putting a Proposition 400 extension on the 2024 ballot, given the poisonous politics of a presidential election year. With the vacationing and hopefully soon-to-be adjourning Legislature set to briefly reconvene on Monday, here is what should happen: The compromise Proposition 400 plan should be put to a vote by the full House and Senate. Then it should be put on the 2024 ballot. A few far-right leaders (read: Senate President Warren Petersen and Sen. Jake Hoffman, the former fake elector who chairs the Arizona Freedom Caucus) should not be able to singlehandedly stifle economic growth, chase away good jobs and create gridlock. Ultimately, a decision this important should be left to the people who will pay for it one way or the other both if it passes and if it doesn't. Why, I wonder, are our leaders so afraid to allow us to make the call? Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Republicans reject new Prop. 400 plan. They must love congestion A much-anticipated report on the conduct of Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey who began a romantic relationship with an assistant attorney general he supervised eight months before he publicly disclosed it was released late last Friday afternoon as the weekly news-and-commentary cycle was ending. Douglas Rooks Its a time-honored Washington device to deflect unwelcome attention. In 1974, President Gerald Ford went further. He announced his pardon of Richard Nixon for all Watergate crimes early Sunday morning, when most of the nation was dressing for church. In Freys case, it seems to have worked. Theres been hardly a peep, except for legislative Republicans, who used it to campaign for electing the attorney general rather than as Maine does, uniquely selection by the Legislature. Its a fair point, but hardly germane. The report by a Portland human resources firm was commissioned jointly by Senate President Troy Jackson and House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross. It said Frey committed an error in judgment but otherwise presented a picture of an exemplary workplace, making it clear only one interviewee had any real criticism. And that was it. No recommendations for policy changes, no criticism of Frey for his error, and absolutely no consequences. Nor does it seem others will act. Jackson and Talbot Ross had nothing to say. Nor did Gov. Janet Mills, Freys predecessor as well as the first woman to serve as attorney general, then as governor, who might be expected to have an opinion. This comes several years after explosive revelations from the Me Too movement of powerful men misusing power in the workplace. No one suggests such conduct by Frey; the relationship was clearly consensual. That doesnt mean it created no issues. As the investigation showed, Frey had no intention of disclosing the relationship or changing the work situation with Ariel Piers-Gamble, an attorney in the Child Protective Division. The brother of Piers-Gambles now-former spouse, however, complained to Freys deputy, Christopher Taub. The unnamed complainant was incredulous the attorney generals office had no policy about consensual relationships, only sexual harassment even though the Executive Branch does have such policies, requiring disclosure. The omission does seem odd, especially since Frey used it to assert hed violated no policies a classic case of circular reasoning. Also concerning is that Freys former partner discovered the affair via the complaint, according to her social media posts. It was only after a reporter from the Bangor Daily News began asking questions that Frey went public about the relationship on April 4. Frey simultaneously transferred supervision of Piers-Gamble from himself to Taub. As far as one can tell, the new arrangement seems to be working. Yet the response, or non-response, to the report is troubling. The attorney generals office itself views it as vindication. Its statement claimed the report confirms that the workplace culture in the Office of the Attorney General is professional, respectful, and guided by a commitment to Maine people. Frey himself was less cocksure, saying, Im not just anyone ... Even though disclosure is not required, it was owed. I did owe that transparency. One could say a human resources report is just that, and the AGs office acknowledges only the opportunity to review and update our policies. Translation: Nothing will likely happen. Given the presiding officers silence, that may be true. Heres what should happen: Freys belated actions should be reflected in policy. Anyone in a long-term intimate relationship with someone they supervise must disclose it, and not continue to supervise that person. Thats just common sense. Relationships wax and wane, and there are good reasons why office romances are frowned upon, even if it isnt practical or necessary to prohibit them. Pretending nothing was wrong, and nothing should be done, saps confidence in government especially in those whose decisions literally involve the liberty of their fellow citizens. On the larger issue Republicans raise, change is needed. The non-action here means theres no accountability for the attorney general from any source. And sometimes, issues can be far more consequential. In 1993, Attorney General Mike Carpenter reported his findings after House Speaker John Martins chief aide was caught tampering with ballots in two House districts, and ultimately served time in jail. A careful review of the case shows Carpenters conclusion that Martin had no demonstrated knowledge of the aides actions was correct, but the fact that Democrats had chosen Carpenter created doubts and eventually led to Martins ouster as speaker. The attorney general still exists in that anomalous position, and will until lawmakers approve a constitutional amendment to make the post elective as in the vast majority of other states. Douglas Rooks has been a Maine editor, columnist and reporter since 1984. His new book, Calm Command: U.S. Chief Justice Melville Fuller in His Times, 1888-1910," will be published later this year. He welcomes comment at drooks@tds.net. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rooks: Report on Maine AG Frey falls on deaf ears According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, large batches of 122- and 152-mm artillery ammunition produced in 2023 have been prohibited for use in Russia due to their self-detonation. Source: report of the General Staff of Ukraine Quote: "The defence industry of the Russian Federation is affected by international sanctions. According to available information, large batches of 122- and 152-mm artillery ammunition produced in 2023 are prohibited for use due to their self-detonation. In addition, there is a deterioration in the level of providing occupying units with weapons and military equipment." Details: The General Staff also reports that recently, a lack of understanding of the tasks and goals of the so-called "special military operation," [this is how Russia calls the war in Ukraine ed.] has been causing low morale among the Russian mobilised personnel. Also, the morale of the Russian invaders is affected by the uncertainty of the timing of involvement in hostilities and their stay in the armed forces. It is also reported that due to unsuccessful assault actions and attempts to improve their tactical position on the Bakhmut front, Russian units of the airborne troops lost a large quantity of personnel. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation stated that on the night of 10-11 June, Priazovia, a ship of Russias Black Sea Fleet, was attacked by six unmanned boats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which were destroyed. Source: Ministry of Defence of Russia Quote: "Today at about 1:30 Moscow time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine made an unsuccessful attempt to attack with six high-speed unmanned sea boats the Black Sea Fleet's Priazovia ship, which performs the task of monitoring the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the southeastern part of the Black Sea." Details: The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation claimed that all naval drones were destroyed by fire from the standard weapons of a Russian ship 300 kilometres southeast of Sevastopol. There were no casualties, and the ship was not damaged. The Russians also claim that during this period, "as during previous similar attacks, the strategic reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle RQ-4B Global Hawk of the US Air Force conducted reconnaissance in the airspace of the central part of the Black Sea." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia continues to launch missiles on Ukraine because sanctions are ineffective Ukraine's Air Force Western sanctions against Russia have not been fully effective, and are continuing to enable Russia to manufacture new missiles, which it uses in attacks on Ukraine. Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraines Air Force, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Quote from Ihnat: "Its clear that Russia has found ways to circumvent sanctions by relying on countries that continue to cooperate with it, and is receiving technical components that it cant manufacture itself: boards, microchips, semiconductors. All these elements make a missile work. So I hope that sanctions will keep putting pressure on Russia. If sanctions are implemented systematically, and if they are enforced, then we will be able to put Russia in its place." Details: Ihnat also said that even if Russia has a sufficient supply of components, manufacturing missiles takes a long time, because they have to be produced, tested, and delivered to launch systems, all of which takes time. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia re-deploys combat-ready marines and airborne troops, implying they blew up Khakhovka dam to gain military advantage, Ukrainian defense minister says Water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP The Khakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was mysteriously damaged, triggering intense flooding, this week. A Ukrainian official claims Russia blew it up to prevent a counteroffensive in the south. She said that Russia is now re-deploying its most combat-ready units to more needed areas. A Ukrainian official has claimed that Russia blew up the Khakhovka dam so that it could prevent a counteroffensive in the south. Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram on Sunday that Russia is now moving its most combat-ready units, including marines, airborne troops, and the 49th army, away from Kherson. She claimed that this backs up the theory that Russian forces sabotaged the dam in order to narrow the possible areas that Ukraine's army could take action. This would allow them to make better use of their own limited reserves and redeploy their forces to the Zaporizhzhia and Bakhmut areas, where fighting has been escalating, she said. The destruction of the dam caused the area around Kherson to flood and triggered what the United Nations has described as a "humanitarian catastrophe." Russian marines take part in the International Army Games at the Khmelevka firing ground in the Kaliningrad region on August 17, 2022. REUTERS/Vitaly Nevar Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of destroying the dam. Both have denied it. The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and dam have been under Russian control since soon after its forces began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Growing evidence suggests that the damage to the dam was caused by an explosion, according to intelligence reports from the US and Ukraine, as well as seismic data from Norway, Reuters reported on Friday. Ukraine's security service said on Friday that it had intercepted a phone call from a Russian soldier in which he admits that a Russian "sabotage group" was behind the explosion. Read the original article on Business Insider In the German city of Augsburg, animal rights activists have staged a protest called Russia Drowned Us. Source: UAnimals In this way, the participants wanted to show that Russia is killing people, animals and committing ecocide as a result of blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. The action was held in a fountain, as the activists scattered toy animals and figurines of "dead" animals made of paper around it. As part of the event, the participants emphasised that Russian propaganda spreads narratives that "Ukraine could blow up the dam itself" and that "the dam was old and fell by itself." Photo: UAnimals The activists are sure that the main goal of the aggressor country is to sow the opinion that "everything is not so clear" and "the West should not get involved in that." "Russia must be punished for every crime and Ukraine must do everything possible for this!", the organisation emphasised. It is noted that with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, similar actions have already been held in a number of cities as part of the #StopEcocideUkraine international campaign. Photo: UAnimals Earlier, we reported that a dog from the flooded Kherson Oblast reached Odesa using wooden boards. In addition, one of the animal rights activists who participated in the evacuation told us about the rescue of animals in Kherson. We also reported that the Kazkova Dibrova zoo was flooded in Nova Kakhovka, which killed most of the animals, but some of them were saved. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia repelled a mass attack by Ukraine's high-speed marine drones on a reconnaissance warship in the Black Sea, Moscow says Russian Black Sea Fleet Intelligence vessel SSV-201 Priazovye crosses the Bosphorus on its way to the Mediterranean sea, in Istanbul February 19, 2015. REUTERS/Murad Sezer Ukraine unsuccessfully attacked a Russian warship in the Black Sea, Russia's defense ministry said. Russia said Ukraine used six unmanned boats to try and attack the ship on Sunday. The Priazovye ship was guarding the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines, Moscow said Russian forces fought off a mass attack by Ukrainian high-speed marine drones on a Russian naval ship in the Black Sea, the defense ministry said on Sunday. Ukrainian Armed Forces made an "an unsuccessful attempt" to attack the Priazovye ship, Russia's defense ministry wrote in a Telegram post, saying Ukraine had used six unmanned boats. The warship was monitoring "the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the southeastern part of the Black Sea," the defense ministry said. According to Russian sources, however, the Priazovye, launched in 1987, was purpose-built for intelligence collection. It is also armed with two automatic naval, AK-306 rotary cannons and surface-to-air missile launchers. Russia said Ukraine attacked in the early hours of Sunday about 185 miles southeast of Sevastopol a major port and headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet on the Crimean peninsula, per Reuters. The Black Sea peninsula was invaded by Russian forces and illegally annexed by Putin in 2014. At the time of Ukraine's attempted attack, an American RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft was in the central part of the Black Sea, the ministry's statement added. All of Ukraine's boats were destroyed, and there were no casualties, Russia said. The Priazovye naval ship, guarding the two pipelines, "continues to carry out its assigned tasks," the ministry added. The TurkStream pipeline, launched in 2020, carries Russian natural gas to southern Europe through the Black Sea and Turkey, while the Blue Stream pipeline brings Russian gas to Turkey, per Reuters. A still image from video, released by Russia's Defence Ministry, shows what it said to be the Ukrainian uncrewed speedboat attacking the Russian warship Ivan Khurs in the Black Sea near the Bosphorus strait, in this image taken from handout footage released May 24, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS This is the second attack by Ukrainian marine drones in recent weeks. In May, a Russian warship, the Ivan Khurs, was attacked by three unmanned speedboats in the Black Sea. The raid failed to cause any damage, Russia claimed. However, footage from a drone onboard camera shared on Telegram and pro-Ukrainian social media appeared to show that at least one Ukrainian uncrewed vessel did impact the Russian warship. Insider was not able to independently verify the footage. Read the original article on Business Insider Russia ups production of Kinzhal, Iskander missiles despite Western sanctions, Ukraines air force says Russia ups production of Kinzhal, Iskander missiles despite Western sanctions Speaking in an interview with Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda published on June 11, Ihnat said there was a short pause in the spring when the enemy increased production. And according to new HUR data, they have more of both Kinzhal and Kalibr missiles, he said. Read also: Vulnerability of Kinzhal missiles likely surprise for Russia, says UK intelligence Apparently Russia found ways to circumvent sanctions with help from cooperating countries, obtaining technological components they cannot produce themselves: circuit boards, chips, semiconductors. These are (components) that missiles cannot fly without. Previously, Russia lacked sufficient numbers of long-range, precision missiles like Kh-101, Iskander-M, Iskander-K, Kalibr and Kinzhal that can reach far inside Ukraine and hit targets with enough accuracy, Ihnat said. Read also: Russian Kinzhal missile production ramps up fivefold - Defense Express He said that was because when the Russians attacked Ukraine's critical infrastructure in winter, they virtually exhausted their strategic weapons stockpiles. "That is why I hope Russia will be pushed by sanctions," Ihnat said. If sanctions work comprehensively and are monitored, then it will be possible to put Russia in its place. Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence stated Russia produces up to 30 Kalibr and several Iskander missiles per month. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Cases of disobedience, sabotage and desertion in the Russian army have become more frequent among conscripts, with offenders being sent to assault companies. Source: Report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Quote: "Due to the absence of a legal provision on the deadline for military service in the Russian army, the lack of significant achievements on the battlefield and the spread of panic about future prospects, cases of disobedience, sabotage, non-statutory relations and desertion have become more frequent among Russian conscripts. To address these problems, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces has issued a decision ordering commanders of formations and military units to identify and assign such individuals to assault companies for further use in so-called cannon fodder assaults." Background: About 40 Russian servicemen deserted their positions in Svatove in Luhansk Oblast on 2 June. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! All Russian "military volunteer formations" will be forced to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defence. Meanwhile, Yevgeny Prigozhin, financier of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), says that the group's fighters will not do so. Source: Russian MoD; Prigozhin's press service Details: Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu signed an order that will allegedly allow "granting 'military volunteer formations' the necessary legal status". Russian authorities claim the state is concerned about social protection and support for these invaders. Under this decree, Wagner PMC is considered a "military volunteer formation", and its participants must also sign a contract. Prigozhin claimed that Shoigu's decrees apply to employees of the Russian Defence Ministry and that the Wagnerites would not sign contracts. Quote from Prigozhin: "Wagner PMC is organically integrated into the general system, Wagner PMC coordinates its actions with generals left and right, with unit commanders, it has deep experience and is a highly efficient structure. Unfortunately, most military units do not have such efficiency, and this is precisely because Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations As for what may happen after this order we will not be given weapons and ammunition we will find out, as they say, when the thunder strikes, they will come running and bring weapons and ammunition, begging for help." For reference: Relations between Shoigu and Prigozhin have been very tense for a while now. Prigozhin repeatedly criticised Shoigu during the battle for Bakhmut. Background: On 2 June, Yevgeny Prigozhin said that representatives of the Russian MoD had laid mines on Wagner Group forces exit routes from Bakhmut. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian sources report Ukrainian troops now have 'excellent' night vision optics supplied by the West, giving them a tactical edge in the counteroffensive, says think tank A Ukrainian soldier, seen through a night-vision device, aims his rifle while patrolling outside Avdiivka, a city in Ukraine's Donetsk region, in February 2022. AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda Ukraine may have "tactical advantages" during nighttime assaults due to new equipment, per the ISW. Ukraine's armed forces have "intensified" night assaults in recent days, Russian sources claimed. The sources also reported on the superiority of Russia's electronic-warfare capabilities. Ukrainian forces may have "tactical advantages" during night assaults thanks to new Western-donated equipment that comes with "superior night optics systems," Russian sources have claimed, per a report by the Institute for the Study of War. A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces now have "excellent" night-vision optics, which has encouraged them to carry out more nighttime assaults in the ongoing counteroffensive, according to the report. Vladimir Rogov, a Zaporizhzhia Oblast occupation official, said that night strikes gave the Ukrainian military a tactical edge the report says. Ukrainian troops have been reinforced with high-tech Western-made weapons and military equipment in the buildup to the country's long-anticipated counteroffensive, which began this week. "Disrupting Ukrainian attacks" A drone operator corrects Ukrainian 82mm mortar fire toward Russian positions near Ugledar in the Donetsk region on April 21, 2023. SERGEY SHESTAK/AFP via Getty Images Despite its Western-backed arsenal, it is a particularly dangerous time for Ukraine's armed forces, Insider recently reported. ISW's report also said that Russian sources have said that Russia's electronic-warfare superiority was "key to disrupting Ukrainian attacks," adding that it had improved its use of electronic warfare over the course of the invasion. Russian military bloggers claimed that the electronic-warfare units were fracturing Ukrainian communications and aviation units, per the ISW report. The electronic-warfare systems are also affecting Ukrainian drone capabilities, with Ukraine losing 10,000 drones a month to the systems, which interfere with their navigation, Insider recently reported. A sophisticated electronic-warfare system is one of Russia's key strengths, researchers have said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed at a press conference on Saturday that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had started, adding that his top commanders were in a "positive" mindset, per the Associated Press. Ukraine's General Staff said that "heavy battles" continued, especially in eastern Ukraine, AP reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Russians fired at a boat with people evacuating from the left bank of Kherson Oblast: killing 3 and injuring 23 Russian troops fired at a boat with civilians evacuating from the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast, killing three people and wounding 23. Source: Head of the Office of the President Andrii Yermak on Telegram; Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin on Telegram; National Police of Ukraine Quote Yermak: "The army of the Russian Federation attacked a boat with civilians who were evacuating from the left bank in Kherson Oblast. They opened fire on the back of the civilians. Six people were injured. They reached Kherson and were hospitalised in a medical facility. Doctors are fighting for the lives of the wounded." Update: Later, Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, reported that three civilians were killed and ten others were wounded, including two law enforcement officers, due to the attack on the boat used to evacuate people from the left bank. "When the enemy opened fire, a 74-year-old man covered the woman with his own body. The Russians shot him in the back. He died from his wounds; the doctors did not have time to help him," the head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration said. The National Police of Ukraine reported that 21 people were evacuated from the left bank of Kherson Oblast. "21 people barely got out of a deadly water trap on the occupied left bank. Almost all of them are elderly, with limited mobility. It was a big risk, but we could not leave people to their fate. As a result, they were attacked. Three civilians were killed. Ten people wounded", the message said. The Kherson Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported that the Russian military fired on the civilian population during evacuation measures from flooded settlements in the temporarily occupied left bank part of Kherson Oblast on 11 June. As a result, three people were killed and at least 23 people were wounded. The information is being confirmed. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraine's National Resistance Center, created by Special Operations Forces, has urged all residents of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to avoid demonstrations organised by the Russian occupation regime on Russia Day, which Russia celebrates on 12 June, due to the threat of terrorist attacks. Source: National Resistance Center Quote: "There is a threat that Russia might carry out false-flag operations on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on 1112 June. The government of the Russian Federation is planning to gather a lot of civilians for celebrations marking the so-called Russia Day. With this, there is a growing danger that the occupying authorities are planning terrorist attacks, which they will blame on Ukraines defence forces. The Ruscists blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is another example of a war crime, which confirms that the aggressor country does not care about civilian casualties. Its goal is to halt the counteroffensive, and at the same time to accuse Ukraine of all of its crimes." Details: The National Resistance Center urged all residents of temporarily occupied territories to stay at home for their own safety. It also noted that it continues to keep track of every collaborator involved in organising demonstrations and other events in collaboration with the occupation regime. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russians planned three more artificial environmental disasters apart from Kakhovka dam, says expert View of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant from the Kakhov reservoir near the city of Nikopol. After the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP The (explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant) was precisely an artificial ecological disaster prepared by the Russians, Snyehyryov said. I would like to remind you that on the same night, a second artificial ecological disaster took place. It involved the shelling of an ammonia pipeline in the Kupyansk direction, Kharkiv Oblast. It could have potentially served as a counteroffensive point for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The third planned disaster by Russia was intended to occur at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, Snyehyryov claimed. Read also: Ecologist reveals damaging consequences of Kakhovka dams destruction The target, both directly and indirectly, was the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. In other words, Russia aimed to create an artificial technogenic-nuclear catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, the expert said. All the optimistic statements by the IAEA, claiming that there is enough water in the cooling ponds and that water can be pumped with hoses for two kilometers if problems arise, cause misunderstanding considering the widespread mining of territories in the Enerhodar area. Lastly, Snyehyryov revealed the fourth target where Russia planned an explosion. Read also: A week before the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, information emerged about the mining of another critical infrastructure object already on the territory of occupied Crimea the city of Armyansk. The Crimean Titan Plant was the specific target. In other words, the Russians were preparing artificial ecological disasters in four different areas. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Investigators are searching for a Port Royal man who is believed to be involved in a shooting Saturday night in Beaufort. The shooting resulted in the death of an unidentified 24 year-old man, according to the Beaufort Police Department. Justin Rakeem Parker, of Port Royal, has been identified by the police department as a person of interest and potential suspect in the shooting. Police are searching for his whereabouts at this time. A party was held at the Quality Inn at 2001 Boundary St. when an argument ensued between two attendees, police say. The suspect threatened the victim multiple times before the victim left the party, according to the police report. Upon leaving the party, the victim hit a pedestrian with his car, police say. The suspect then began shooting at the victims car. After several rounds were fired into the vehicle, the victim fled on foot and the suspect followed the victim, continuing to fire, according to police. The victim succumbed to his injuries, and the suspect fled the crime scene on foot, police say. Police responded to the scene at around 11:05 p.m. The pedestrian struck by the victims vehicle suffered minor injuries and refused EMS, the police report said. The Beaufort Police Department asks that anyone with information about Parkers whereabouts contact Sgt. Fritz at (843) 322-7913 or leave an anonymous tip at (843) 322-7938 referencing case No. 23B24199. After navigating Chicago Public Schools selective enrollment process, in which students can apply to schools outside their neighborhoods, Yuridia Alcantar was crushed. It wasnt that her daughter, Jahayra Flores, didnt get into a high-performing high school. The problem for Alcantar as a single parent was getting the eldest of her three kids to Lane Tech College Prep on the North Side every day from the familys East Side home. I couldnt take her because I had a full-time job, said Alcantar, a legal secretary. CPS transportation wasnt feasible, either. It was difficult because I see what she wants to achieve. ... I had to say no to her and say, Im sorry, I cant make that drive. But, as one of thousands of students across Illinois who received an Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship to attend a private school this school year, Flores said she feels better off at St. Francis de Sales High School, the small Catholic school on the East Side where she enrolled instead. Its provided me with so many opportunities, Flores, a rising senior, said of the scholarship and one-on-one time she gets with educators. Why take that away? Created through state legislation in 2017, Invest in Kids provides what are effectively public subsidies, in the way of tax credits, for children from low-to-moderate income families to attend private schools. Its newly uncertain fate has refueled the long-running debate regarding the use of tax credits to help fund mainly religious schools. The way it works is individuals and corporations can donate funds for private school scholarships, and in exchange get a 75% income tax credit, capped at $1 million. A handful of nonprofits process applications and distribute the aid. The maximum allowed in total annual contributions is $75 million. The program has become a linchpin issue for Republicans who have railed against the Democratic-led legislature and its recently enacted state budget. That budget did not include an extension of Invest in Kids beyond the next school year. But Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly left the door open to renewing the program, an indication that theres a variety of interests at play. Hes said he would consider keeping it, in modified form, if lawmakers approve it in the fall legislative session. I cant speak to the decisions that were made across the General Assembly about it. Its obviously a program thats been around for a number of years now. I think theres time still for that program to be considered, Pritzker said Wednesday after signing the budget into law. He noted its just one piece of the significant dollars (put) forward to support education in every possible way. That just happens to be one thats still left dangling. Opponents of Invest in Kids contend the program is a diversion of state tax dollars to bolster theological-based education. Of the private schools that state records show have received Invest in Kids funds, some have policies that potentially deny entry to students who are LGBTQ, who are pregnant or have fathered a child, who are not U.S. citizens or who have certain disabilities, according to school websites or publicly available handbooks. Critics also point to the deficit between the amount of state aid that Illinois funding formula determines should go to public schools and the actual figure a gap of at least $5 billion in the 2022-23 school year according to Illinois State Board of Education data. Supporters pitch the program as a benefit to students who otherwise couldnt access a private education. These citizens, these children, whose lives have been forever changed by scholarships to schools their parents or guardians would never be able to afford, have been left behind today in this budget, Republican state Sen. John Curran of Downers Grove said in the closing hours of the spring session. Enrollment and scholarship figures reported by ISBE and the Department of Revenue, however, suggest some awards might have gone to families whod previously paid tuition. One school, for example, saw an enrollment increase of five students in the 2020-21 school year, but the number of scholarship students increased by 50. That doesnt mean it was easy for parents who may have already been paying tuition, said Maria Hubbart, a parent who said she took a second job as a dialysis technician, expecting to cover her freshman sons tuition at St. Francis de Sales before he received a partial Invest in Kids award. Bad and terrible is how she describes safety and class sizes at the two public high schools in the neighborhood. Which one do you choose? The most recent Department of Revenue report shows the schools scholarship students are mostly Black and Latino and come from families earning less than 185% of the poverty level, or $40,626 per year for a three-person household. Invest in Kids mandates priority be given to students at or below that poverty level, as well as to children in districts where student performance is below the state average or that have low graduation rates. Previous recipients and their siblings are also given preference. It was a big relief, Hubbart said of her sons Invest in Kids award. I hope that they will make better schools for the rest of the kids that cannot have scholarships. Not all students welcome Catherine Henchek, a former private school parent whose son now attends CPS Vaughn Occupational High School, spoke out against Invest in Kids this spring, telling lawmakers about her attempt to enroll her son in prekindergarten at the private school his older sister attended. When he was turned away because he has special needs, Henchek said, she was shocked and left with a load of worries, from where hed attend to whether she should transfer her daughter. It was like, What is the future going to be? That predated Invest in Kids, but some private schools that have received program funds specify that they cant always accept students with disabilities. State laws require the organizations that grant the scholarships to comply with the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. Students with disabilities may receive larger awards, but state and federal laws protecting the right of students with disabilities to a public education dont similarly apply to private schools. The fact that there was a requirement to take him (in CPS) was a good thing. Schools that are receiving any public money should have to take everybody, said Henchek, whos chair of Vaughns Local School Council. This is really public money, going around in a very roundabout manner, through the tax credits, she said. All (public) schools in Chicago are under-resourced at the moment. The state has acknowledged CPS receives around $1 billion less in funding than the district is owed under school funding reform legislation passed in 2017. Henchek said shes also uncomfortable with the combining of church and state a subject of an ongoing national debate over various voucher and tax credit programs that shift public dollars to private schools. An Oklahoma school board recently extended the concept ever further, voting to establish a Catholic charter school, reportedly the U.S.s first publicly funded religious school. Flores, the St. Francis de Sales student said, We do have theology classes here. But theyre so based around, growing into yourself, becoming a better person. Its always spirituality its never religious stuff as spirituality and figuring out who you are as a person. Her family and others that spoke to the Tribune are Catholic. The East Side high school is part of a network supported by the Big Shoulders Fund, which is one of seven nonprofits certified by the Department of Revenue to accept Invest in Kids donations and grant students awards. The organization also provides separate scholarships and other support to Catholic schools in Illinois and Indiana. Josh Hale, the Big Shoulders Funds president and CEO, said more than a third of the nearly 20,000 students from predominantly low-income households in its network arent Catholic. He said the schools embrace every child and are committed to providing safe, engaging environments. For me personally and for Big Shoulders Fund as an institution, we value and celebrate diversity and a more inclusive community, Hale said. We believe our mission and the environments fostered within our schools play a critical role in adding to a more equitable world. Policies among other Illinois Catholic schools that have received Invest in Kids funds, however, include a ban on transgender students taking hormone therapy medication on school property, the potential expulsion of students whove had an abortion and special rules imposed on students who are pregnant or have children. Rising senior Brooklyn Oliver said at St. Francis de Sales, the environment cultivated by Principal Roni Facen, a Latina alumna from the neighborhood, offers a degree of inclusivity she cant assume shed find elsewhere as a Black student. Her dad, Terry Oliver, said receiving the scholarship was a lift off my shoulders, at a time when he had to stop working because of a disability. Rising sophomore Delilah Reyes described the community as a comfort amid all of the challenges of adolescence. Her mother, Maria Paz, said she feared that, in the neighborhood CPS high school she once attended, her daughter might struggle to meet her full potential. Its understandable some families see the tax credit scholarships as a godsend, said Cassie Creswell, executive director of Illinois Families for Public Schools. But from a policy level, we need to look at what is best overall for Chicago and the state. Creswell said that while its possible the state could try to prohibit schools with exclusionary policies from participating in the program, a number of legal and practical hurdles make that unrealistic. Our position is that the only solution on this issue is that the state should get out of the practice of funding private school tuition entirely, Creswell said. Robust scholarship funds for religious schools existed before 2017, she said, and taxpayers who make direct donations to charitable organizations, outside of the Invest in Kids program, can still receive a credit from the federal government. Creswell also pointed to studies that have found the academic outcomes of students in voucher programs in other states didnt show an improvement. Although the Invest in Kids Act required the state education board to create an annual report on the learning gains of students receiving scholarships, the jury is out on the programs results. Such a report has yet to be released, but the first should be out by late November, an ISBE spokesperson said, citing COVID-19 as the source of the delay. Pritzkers shifting position In addition to Republicans, allied groups and religious organizations such as the Archdiocese of Chicago, the program also has backers within the Democratic legislative supermajority. That includes lawmakers with more moderate to conservative religious backgrounds, as well as some in the legislative Black Caucus who are politically close to their local churches. That, in part, helps explain the change Pritzker has had on the tax credit. As a candidate for governor in 2018, he vowed to repeal the program. But after winning office, he signed a legislative initiative that extended the program for a year beyond its original sunset date and expanded it to private trade schools. Pritzker has deferred to legislators on whether they want to keep the program in part as a negotiating chip with Republicans in an effort to get GOP votes on a budget. But he has said the program should be modified to allow a federal as well as state income tax deduction for donations, which is currently not allowed. That would share its costs between federal and state taxpayers. The program passed as part of a comprehensive measure that most notably contained a historic rewrite of the states school aid formula. It included a commitment of at least $350 million in additional dollars each year toward improving the neediest schools. The reform also committed the state to providing public schools the full funding prescribed by the new formula by 2027. The scholarship program was literally such a consolation prize for Republicans that then-GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner still smarting from a bipartisan legislative revolt after a record two-year budget impasse never even mentioned it when he signed the school funding bill into law. Last month, in the closing hours of the legislative session, Republicans offered up a variety of complaints about the new $50.4 billion state budget plan: little GOP involvement, lack of business tax incentives, opposition to a legislative pay raise. But the most common sticking point was the failure to extend the scholarship program, which they said would put students in jeopardy in the middle of the 2023-24 school year. Something that state officials say is incorrect. And Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders questioned if Invest in Kids was such a major priority of Republicans, why they did not push to make it part of the budget backed up with their votes. No Republicans voted for the budget. Hale said the Big Shoulders Fund awards scholarships for the entire school year in single lump-sum payments. If the program isnt extended past December, the organization said it will receive donations and award scholarships up to the last day of the year and disburse the funds as soon as possible in 2024. A win for public education The sunset of the program has also served as a platform for Republicans to tee off on the political power of teachers unions. This program is not on the chopping block because it has not been successful. Its on the chopping block because the teachers union deem it as a threat to their control, said state Rep. Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City. But the unions contend the program represents an improper diversion of state taxpayer money to private schools with religious requirements for admission and attendance that would be considered discrimination at public schools. The Illinois Education Association used its Twitter account to note that Invest in Kids was not funded in the budget and declared it a win for public education. The unions are on guard to fight against any effort to extend the program in the fall. The 2020 national Democratic Party platform proclaims that Democrats oppose vouchers and similar programs, and for good reason, said Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery, citing discriminatory policies. Expansion of vouchers is exactly whats happening under radical right-wing Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida. Illinois Democrats, including Gov. Pritzker, must stand up and refuse to let that happen here. Curran said he rejects the notion that Invest in Kids comes at the price of public education, saying it was doubtful the programs elimination would mean additional funding for public schools beyond what lawmakers already authorized. Invest in Kids is not taking any money from the public schools, he told the Tribune. We have leaned in very strongly on putting additional tax dollars into public education. At the pace of the mandated minimum of $350 million lawmakers have increased public school funding each year with the exception of 2021, the state will not meet its commitment to provide full funding by 2027 for two decades, according to a study by the Education Law Center. Chicago Tribunes Jeremy Gorner and Dan Petrella contributed. smacaraeg@chicagotribune.com rap30@aol.com hsanders@chicagotribune.com Scotlands former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been released without a charge after she was arrested by police earlier Sunday, as part of an investigation into financial irregularities by the Scottish National Party (SNP), according to UKs PA Media. A 52-year-old woman who was arrested earlier today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation, Police Scotland said in an updated statement Sunday. A spokeswoman for Sturgeon earlier confirmed the arrest and told PA Media Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so. Sturgeons husband and former SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, was arrested and released earlier this month, followed by the groups treasurer, Colin Beattie, and officers have raided the partys headquarters in Edinburgh. Sturgeon abruptly announced her resignation as first minister in February after a nine-year stint in which she became the figurehead of the movement for Scotlands independence from the United Kingdom. She cited the demands of public life and the brutality of frontline politics for her surprise decision. But since standing down, the party she led for almost a decade has descended into chaos amid a widely publicized police investigation. Officers have been probing the SNPs handling of money that was slated for Scottish independence campaigning, according to PA Media. The group has dominated politics north of the border for more than a decade and has pushed for a repeat of a 2014 referendum on independence, in which voters rejected the chance to split from the UK by 55% to 45%. Sturgeon enjoyed a series of significant electoral wins in Scotland, which has a devolved government that the SNP has led since 2007. But momentum behind the push for independence which Sturgeon fronted has stalled in recent months, with polling showing dips in support and the Supreme Court blocking her effort last year to unilaterally call a referendum without the backing of Westminster. Sturgeon was replaced as leader this year when Humza Yousaf narrowly won a bitter leadership election that exposed divisions within the party. The chaos and legal questions surrounding the party could put its stranglehold on Scottish politics at risk, with the pro-union Labour Party eying a resurgence in the nation. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested as part of an investigation into the Scottish National Partys finances, capping 48 hours of political drama in the UK. Most Read from Bloomberg Sturgeon, who spearheaded the drive for Scottish independence, was released later on Sunday without charge. Police Scotland, who confirmed her arrest, said a 52-year-old woman was questioned by detectives for several hours before being released from custody at 5:24 p.m. The probe continues and a report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotlands public prosecution body, police said. The arrest comes less than three months after Sturgeon stepped down as leader of the SNP and head of Scotlands semi-autonomous government in Edinburgh. Nobody has been charged and Sturgeon said on Twitter she knows beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing. But whatever the outcome, Sturgeons arrest underscores a period of upheaval for the SNP and casts a shadow over a formidable figure whose party has dominated Scottish politics for more than a decade. It also comes as opinion polls show the opposition Labour Party is gaining support in Scotland, seen as a key battleground as leader Keir Starmer seeks to capitalize on the turmoil in the SNP and the UKs governing Conservatives to take power in an election expected next year. On Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was suddenly faced with another hurdle to unite the Conservatives after predecessor Boris Johnson resigned as a member of parliament along with two allies. Sturgeon has been one of Britains most popular politicians in recent years, challenging successive Conservative UK prime ministers over the eras most totemic issues, from austerity measures to leaving the European Union and the handling of the pandemic. Her departure at the end of March came as she tried and failed to force the government in London to permit another referendum on independence. The SNP will hold a special conference later this month to consult party members on the way forward. Meanwhile, officers have been looking into whether 600,000 ($754,000) in donations to the SNP to help the campaign for Scottish independence may have been used for other purposes. Sturgeon led the party and Scotlands semi-autonomous government from late 2014 until her surprise resignation in February. Sturgeons husband, Peter Murrell, who was the partys chief executive, had previously been arrested in the probe along with the partys former treasurer. Sturgeons questioning by police had been widely expected. The investigation and its dramatic fallout has left her successor, Humza Yousaf, struggling to navigate the SNP through its most testing time in years. After a divisive leadership contest in March, his ability to get the party back on track will be tested at the next general election. According to John Curtice, a politics professor at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, the SNPs travails could benefit Labour as it tries to claw back popularity in Scotland and oust Sunaks Tories in a general election due by January 2025. It would be wrong, though, to write off the SNP, he has said. In 2019, when Johnson won a majority in Westminster, the SNP took 48 of Scotlands 59 districts. The SNP, the third-largest party in the UK House of Commons, still had a significant poll lead in Scotland after Sturgeons resignation and the investigation become public. The SNP has weathered scandal before. In March 2021, Sturgeon was embroiled in a bitter dispute with her predecessor and former mentor, Alex Salmond, over the handling of sexual harassment allegations and whether she broke the ministerial code. She went on to win big again in Scottish parliamentary elections two months later, and used that mandate to reinforce her push for an independence referendum. --With assistance from Tiago Ramos Alfaro and Colin Keatinge. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Shoigu orders all PMCs to be placed under Russian Defense Ministry control, Prigozhin immediately refuses Shoigu orders all PMCs to be placed under Russian Defense Ministry control The order, published on the Russian Defense Ministrys Telegram channel on June 10, reads that it aims to grant the volunteer formations the necessary legal status and establish standardized approaches to organizing comprehensive support and task execution. These volunteer units are referred to by Russian authorities as private military companies (PMCs), including the Wagner PMC, although such companys are officially prohibited in Russia. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder and leader of the Wagner PMC, immediately and vehemently rejected Shoigus directive, asserting that he will not enter into any contracts with the Ministry of Defense. Read also: Prigozhin complains about Russian army impeding Wagners withdrawal from Bakhmut Prigozhin said that the Wagner PMC already coordinates its actions with Russian Armed Forces unit commanders and operates as a highly effective structure. He has continued to criticize Shoigu, arguing that he is incapable of effectively managing military formations. Shoigus attempt to take control over all Russian PMCs is the latest round his conflict with Prigozhin. During the Russian operation to capture the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut, Prigozhin publicly criticized Shoigu and the Russian military leadership, accusing them of failing to provide ammunition to his mercenaries. In a video recorded in May, Prigozhin stood among the alleged bodies of Wagner PMC members and referred to Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov as fat cats lounging in their offices. Read also: Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Gohar Abelian, left, has been raising three children abandoned by her sister, Marietta Terabelian, a convicted swindler who fled to a posh seaside villa in Montenegro. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) When a couple of convicted L.A. swindlers abandoned their three children and fled with the family dog to Montenegro in 2021, the distraught teenagers' aunt, Gohar Abelian, took the kids into her home. It was the second time she'd come to the rescue since the children's parents, Richard Ayvazyan and Abelian's sister Marietta Terabelian, were arrested in 2020 for running an $18-million pandemic relief scam: To keep the couple out of jail, Abelian had spent more than $100,000 on bail bonds. Abelian lost all of that money after the couple, by then convicted, jumped bail, leaving a goodbye note for the kids at the Tarzana mansion they bought with stolen money and taking a private jet to a picturesque Montenegrin town where they lived incognito for nearly six months in a posh seaside villa. They were captured last year and extradited. On Wednesday, a federal judge denied Abelian's request to set aside the bail forfeiture judgment, saying it was "admirable" that she took custody of her niece and nephews, but not a good enough reason to let her off the hook. "By enforcing the terms of the bail bond, this court is furthering a deterrent of exactly the international absconding that occurred in this case by showing that the terms of bail will be enforced by the court system," U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson wrote. Reached by phone on Saturday, Abelian, a Glendale attorney, declined to comment. "I have nothing to say," she said. Federal law enforcement authorities are investigating the circumstances of the couple's escape, "including potential accomplices," prosecutors disclosed in a recent court filing. They have not publicly identified suspects. While living on the scenic Bay of Kotor, just down the Adriatic coast from Dubrovnik, Croatia, Ayvazyan and Terabelian appear to have remained in contact with another of their kids' aunts: Tamara Dadyan, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud and other crimes in the pandemic loan scam. Dadyan, a former Encino real estate broker, vanished the day she was supposed to report to prison to start serving a sentence of 10 years and 10 months. She joined the fugitive couple two weeks later in Montenegro, where she too adopted a fake identity. Police arrested them a few weeks later. Ayvazyan, 44, now locked up at the federal penitentiary in Lompoc, was sentenced in absentia to 17 years in prison for masterminding the scam to secure $18 million in emergency rescue loans to scores of sham businesses that his eight-person fraud ring set up in the San Fernando Valley in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Terabelian, 39, now a prison inmate in Victorville, got six years. When federal agents and deputy marshals fetched the couple in February, Montenegrin police gave them a trove of personal possessions seized from the villa and the two apartments they rented nearby, including four Rolex watches and a collection of gold jewelry studded with diamonds and other gems. Appraisers put the value at more than $164,000, according to the FBI. Prosecutors are seeking court permission to apply it to the more than $17 million in restitution the couple owes. Montenegrin police also impounded two luxury cars that Ayvazyan shipped from California to Montenegro for their life on the lam: a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover now worth $33,000 and a 2015 BMW M3 sedan valued at $20,000, according to prosecutors. Montenegro has agreed to give them to the United States if Wilson consents to apply the cars to restitution too, prosecutors said in court papers. The government has also seized a 2017 Range Rover that Ayvazyan left in California. Prosecutors say that one could yield nearly $60,000 for restitution. Under the 2020 bail arrangements, Abelian put up $100,000 as her sister's personal surety. Abelian, 41, also provided collateral for another $175,000 in corporate bail bonds posted by both her sister and Ayvazyan, according to Wilson's ruling. The amount of collateral she put up was not publicly disclosed, but she lost that too under Wilson's ruling. Prosecutors and the FBI opposed the request that Abelian filed in March to void the bail forfeiture judgment. Abelian provided no help in the international manhunt for her sister and Ayvazyan, FBI agent Justin Palmerton told Wilson in a court filing. Abelian claimed she did not understand the fine print of the bail bond obligations because of the hectic rush to secure the couple's release after their October 2020 arrest at Miami International Airport on their way home from a Caribbean vacation. Wilson found that Abelian's status as an attorney who handles criminal cases "severely undermines her argument that she did not understand the consequences of a breach." "Not only is Abelian an attorney, but fleeing the country when out on bail is the model example of a broken bond condition," Wilson wrote. Abelian also argued that she has borne significant hardship from taking over as guardian for the three children, according to the judge's ruling. She also asserted the bond forfeiture had "caused her financial strain which affects the children's care and her livelihood," the judge said. "But while the effect on the children may be substantial," Wilson wrote, "that is mainly the fault of defendants, who abandoned them and fled the law after committing serious financial crimes." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Discrimination Republicans protest as California lawmakers celebrating Pride Month honor a drag nun, (sacbee.com, June 6) Sister Roma, an invited guest on the Assembly floor in honor of Pride Month, was denigrated for being who she is. Republicans, per the article, purportedly objected to her invitation because of her groups public denigration of the Catholic faith. What was the public denigration? Calling herself Sister Roma? Being opposed to violence and being a major fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ community? Being a supporter of all mankind, unlike this church which still vilifies homosexuality? Adjacent to Sister Romas picture was a Catholic bishop committing calumny by making false charges accusing her and the drag nuns for mocking Christianity and Catholicism. Bias against the LGBTQ+ population appears to be the main focus of these praying Catholics. Am I not allowed to denigrate the prayerful who pray in public for discriminatory purposes? Karla LaZier Sacramento Opinion Opportunity for all Mayor Steinberg, Sacramento leaders discuss migrants experiences and prepare for more, (sacbee.com, June 7) I feel as though the secrecy of this whole operation has done nothing but harm these migrants future. It will ultimately be a detriment to the politicians who thought they could cover it up. I wonder whether an open dialogue between states could have allowed California to willingly take the migrants into sanctuary, or whether the request would have just been denied, despite Gov. Gavin Newsoms stated willingness to provide for them. I am also curious as to why Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got involved, as these migrants were in a center outside of Texas. Ultimately, I believe DeSantis involvement shows an unnecessary fear of migrants within America, as he may have viewed their potential future move to Florida as a threat. This is a concerning characteristic for a future president as the American Dream depicts the land of opportunity for all. Rayna Goodman Sacramento Accountability Sacramentos first-world shame: What can we do to help our homeless neighbors on the streets? (sacbee.com, June 3) According to a June 2 Wall Street Journal report, California has spent $17 billion trying to fix the homelessness problem. Between 2014 and 2022, our homelessness population has increased by 50%, and there seems to be no solution in sight. So where did the $17 billion go? Sacramento has a habit of assessing a problem, stating they are spending billions of dollars to fix it and then walking away, claiming they solved the problem. If something doesnt change we are all going to feel the consequences. Tom Zemanek Cathedral City Flawed bill CA Assembly votes to pass Journalism Preservation Act, (sacbee.com, June 2) This article painted a simplistic picture that suggests journalism advocates support the Journalism Preservation Act while big tech companies like Meta oppose it. As an organizer who has connected with local publishers statewide, I know firsthand that the dynamic isnt so straightforward. In fact, a growing coalition of local journalists is staunchly opposed to Assembly Bill 886, a flawed bill that would worsen the landscape for local news in California and underwrite the harmful spread of online disinformation. As written, the legislation favors big corporate publishers and junk-news mills that generate the most online views. Instead of rewarding high-quality journalism that California communities need and deserve, AB 886 would result in more sensationalist clickbait and more profits for outlets that do little to hold the powerful accountable. Californians need policies that will bolster local news. AB 886 isnt the answer. Florin Najera-Uresti Oakland Deserve better Feinstein must remain in the Senate to help President Biden, (sacbee.com, June 1) Due to Sen. Dianne Feinsteins progressive mental and physical deterioration at age 89, she is totally incapable of carrying out her Senatorial duties. How can she be expected to help President Biden when she relies heavily upon her staff and cant even help herself? In the meantime, Feinstein may as well be the poster child to illustrate the necessity of term limits as well as cognitive testing for our elected officials over the age of 75. We the people deserve the best and the brightest. And Feinsteins constituents deserve better. JoAnn Lee Frank Clearwater, Fla. Safety tip How get help if you dont have cell service on a CA hike, (sacbee.com, May 31) There are lots of good safety ideas in this article, but it left out the most important safety tip of all: Let someone you trust know where you are going, and when you expect to return. Bill Child Fair Oaks 'Skiplagging' doesn't always save money and there could be serious consequences if you're caught, travel expert says Gilbert Ott says "skiplagging" has its risks. Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock A travel expert said that "skiplagging" didn't guarantee travelers would save money on flights. Gilbert Ott told Insider that savings depended on factors such as a passenger's location. Travelers also take serious risks by trying it, including getting banned by an airline, he warned. The travel hack known as "skiplagging", or "hidden city" ticketing, doesn't guarantee that you'll save money on your airfare, according to a travel expert. The hot travel trick involves travelers booking flights with a layover in a city they want to visit and then skipping the second leg of the journey in an attempt to get cheaper tickets. But Gilbert Ott, the founder of travel site God Save The Points, warned that skiplagging can save money, but depended on your departure point and final destination, he told Insider. "There's no guarantee that adding complexity or stops to your journey starting in another city will be cheaper." Ott said that the only way to know was by carrying out a comparison search on sites like Google Flights, which allows you to search five different cities at once to find the cheapest routes. However, he said that skiplagging came with certain risks such as when an airline suffered "irregular operations." This might be when the first leg of a flight that a passenger actually wants to be on is canceled, for example. Another issue is that you can't check any bags, as they will go to the final destination of the second leg of the journey. Frequent flyers are also at risk of losing their air miles and points, Ott said, or even getting banned by an airline. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Lufthansa are among a growing list of carriers taking action to combat the practice. Lufthansa attempted to sue a skiplagging passenger in Germany in 2018, but a Berlin court dismissed the lawsuit, CNN reported. American Airlines sent employees a memo in 2021 announcing that it would start monitoring skiplagging, per TravelPulse. United Airlines and travel site Orbitz also tried to sue Aktarer Zaman, the CEO of travel site Skiplagged, in 2014, accusing him of "unfair competition" and "deceptive behavior." However, the case was thrown out as it was filed in Illinois, meaning the court didn't have jurisdiction because Zaman worked and resided in New York City. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire philanthropist and investor George Soros, 92, is handing control of his Open Society Foundations to his son Alex, who was named chair in December. Most Read from Bloomberg The foundation donates money to humanitarian and democratic causes ranging from criminal justice reform to climate change initiatives and controls the majority of assets managed by Soross $25 billion family office. The news was first reported in the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by a spokesperson for the organization. Im more political than the elder Soros, Alex Soros, 37, told the newspaper. He added that he was concerned about Donald Trumps potential White House run. As much as I would love to get money out of politics, as long as the other side is doing it, we will have to do it, too. Alex Soros met recently with Biden administration officials, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to push for issues related to the family foundation, the Journal reported. Soros plans to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad, he told the Financial Times, via a spokesperson. George Soros priorities in US politics will be unchanged by Alexs appointment, the newspaper reported, citing a person close to the family it didnt identify. A native of Hungary, George Soros attacked what he called anti-democratic forces there and in Poland and in turn became a perennial target. In 2018, a long struggle with Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban ended with Soros moving his Central European University, founded after the fall of the Berlin Wall to promote democracies, out of Budapest. George Soros is known as a major supporter of liberal causes and Democratic politicians, and has long been a target of the political right. He founded Soros Fund Management and earned a fortune on outsize bets, including an infamous wager against the British pound. He converted the fund to a family office in 2011. His foundation has spent $19.1 billion so far. --With assistance from Aysha Diallo. (Adds Eastern Europe in penultimate paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Space travel might be affecting astronauts brains. A study suggests that frequent space flyers should wait three years after long missions to allow the physiological changes in their brains to reset. Researchers studied brain scans of 30 astronauts, comparing them before and after space travel. Read: Elevated section of heavily traveled I-95 collapses in Philadelphia According to the report, the brains ventricles expand in those who had missions of at least six months, meaning that less than three years will not be enough time for the ventricles to recover. Ventricles are cavities in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid, which protects and nourishes the brain. On Earth, the human body effectively distributes fluids, but in the absence of gravity, the fluid shifts upward, causing the ventricles to expand. Read: iOS 17: Will your phone support new system? Rachel Seidler is a professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida and an author of the study. She is also a member of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health and said that based on studies so far, ventricular expansion is the most enduring change seen in the brain resulting from spaceflight. Many astronauts travel to space more than one time, she said. Our study shows it takes about three years between flights for the ventricles to fully recover. Read: Florida universities consider using artificial intelligence in courses Sedler also said they dont know the long-term consequences of space travelers on their health and behavioral health. Of the 30 astronauts studied, eight traveled on two-week missions, 18 were on six-month missions, and four were in space for approximately one year. The ventricular enlargement decreased after six months, the studys authors said. The biggest jump comes when you go from two weeks to six months in space, Seidler said. There is no measurable change in the ventricles volume after only two weeks. Read: Survey shows why people choose to visit Florida We are in the era of space exploration, and now the interest has sparked towards space tourism. Seidler said the good news is that shorter space travel appears to cause minor physiological changes to the brain. Researchers cannot study astronauts in space for longer than a year. Read: Duke Energy encourages customers to prepare for an active 2023 hurricane season But, Sedler said it is good news that the brains ventricles expansion remains consistent after six months. We were happy to see that the changes dont increase exponentially, considering we will eventually have people in space for longer periods, she said. NASA funded the study, and Sedler said it could impact future mission planning and crew travel decisions. Astronauts should wait 3 years after long space travel missions to help their brains reset, says a study published today in @SciReports by collaborators that include @UF researchers from @UF_HHP and @FixelInstitute https://t.co/eKyyJPNMWm University of Florida News (@UFNews) June 8, 2023 Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. SRSO Major Crimes investigating after 7 treated at hospital after eating at Pace restaurant Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office is investigating an incident at Nikko's Japanese Steak House in which at least seven victims have been treated at local hospitals. While the department has not released a cause of the illness, a person alleging to have been hospitalized after eating at the restaurant claimed on social media just before 1 p.m. that an employee tainted the food with a drug. The victim said multiple families were in the ER after visiting the restaurant. Investigators with the SRSO Major Crimes Unit are working with the Department of Business and Professional Regulations. The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco are conducting an independent investigation. We will have more on this story as information becomes available. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Nikko's Japanese restaurant in Pace investigated after hospitalization Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami on Sunday urged Americans to listen to his speech Thursday in California, fueling speculation that the Republican presidential field is about to grow by one. Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," he told host Shannon Bream that America should "stay tuned." "Next week, like you said, I'm going to be making a big speech in the Reagan Library, and I think it's one that Americans should tune into," he told Bream. "It's one where we talk about what the future of our country should be." Suarez is to speak Thursday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, Calif., on Thursday, part of an ongoing "Time For Choosing" series. "I have traveled across the country. I've been to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada," Suarez said, "I can tell you when I take the message to people, they want to hear more." The GOP presidential field has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent weeks. Suarez's home state of Florida is already well-represented in the field, with former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis both calling the state home these days. A failed Dollar General heist has put three people behind bars, according to the Spalding County Sheriffs Office. Just after 9 p.m. on June 5, Spalding County deputies arrived at a Dollar General on Jackson Road in Griffin, in reference to an armed robbery in progress. Deputies said that three people entered a store and one of the robbers was armed with a handgun and started making threats. A second suspect grabbed the cashier and a third served as a lookout, while the fourth suspect waited in the getaway car. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] No shots were fired during the robbery, according to deputies. Prior to the deputys arrival, the three suspects left the store and entered an awaiting getaway vehicle being driven by a fourth suspect. The vehicle then left the store and traveled toward Henry County. A Locust Grove police officer eventually spotted the car and tried to stop it. The car then pulled into a driveway, and two of the passengers fled and ran into a nearby wooded area. Other responding Locust Grove officers were able to track and locate one of the fleeing suspects and took him into custody. The two in the car were taken into custody without incident. TRENDING STORIES: Tierra Davis, 27, of Atlanta was arrested for armed robbery and driving with a suspended license. Jerico Williams, 23, of Atlanta was arrested for armed robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Demarcus Timmons, 21, of Atlanta was arrested for armed robbery, false imprisonment and kidnapping. Around here there are a lot of people that are armed if they need to go out at that time of night. I dont know how these guys do it in Atlanta, but robbing a store around here with customers inside at that time of night is a stupid thing for someone to try. The suspects are lucky that they had the opportunity to be captured and not the opportunity to be autopsied, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said. Dix thanked Locust Grove police for assisting with the capture of the robbers and said they anticipate more charges forthcoming. Additionally, deputies said they were working to identify a fourth suspect. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's air force scrambled into action on Sunday after spotting 10 Chinese warplanes crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as the island's defence ministry said four Chinese warships also carried out combat patrols. This is the second time in less than a week that Taiwan has reported renewed Chinese military activity, after 37 Chinese military aircraft on Thursday flew into the island's air defence zone, some of which then flew into the western Pacific. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has over the past three years regularly flown its air force into the skies near the island, though not into Taiwan's territorial air space. In a short statement, Taiwan's defence ministry said that as of 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Sunday it had detected 24 Chinese air force planes, including J-10, J-11, J-16 and Su-30 fighters, as well as H-6 bombers. It did not specify where the aircraft flew but said 10 had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two sides and had previously served as an unofficial barrier. China says it does not recognise that and has been routinely crossing it since last year. Four Chinese naval ships were also engaged in "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added, without giving details. Taiwan sent up its own fighters and deployed ships and land-based missile systems to keep watch, it said, using typical wording for how it responds to such Chinese activities. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has not commented on Thursday's flights. China has previously said such missions are to protect the country's sovereignty and aimed at "collusion" between Taiwan and the United States, the island's most important international backer and arms seller. In April, China held war games around Taiwan following a trip to the United States by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan, which is gearing up for presidential and parliamentary elections in January, under its control. In a Sunday video address to supporters on the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands close to the Chinese coast, Taiwan's Vice President William Lai said he would do his best to "stabilise the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait" if he wins the presidency, his campaign office said. Lai is running as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate. Tsai cannot run again due to term limits. Tsai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed as Beijing views her and her party as separatists. Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, which manages the unofficial relationship between Washington and Taipei, visited Taiwan last week and meet all three presidential candidates. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; additional reporting by Martin Pollard in Beijing; Editing by Michael Perry and William Mallard) The roadway is gone: Truck fire under highway I-95 in Philadelphia causes road to collapse A tanker truck fire shut down a highway in Philadelphia (Screenshot / 6ABC Philadelphia) A truck fire under an on-ramp for the I-95 highway near Philadelphia has led to the roadway partially collapsing and traffic being shut down. The highway was closed by the authorities early on Sunday, according to NBC 10 Philadelphia. Officials are at the scene of the incident looking into the state of the of the highway. The authorities said that the northbound roadway collapsed before 8am on Sunday and that the southbound roadway is compromised. The roadway is gone, officials told NBC10. The truck was seen covered in concrete and debris from the roadway. It was initially reported that the truck was a tanker truck, but officials have not been able to confirm what kind of truck it is since they havent been able to get close enough to look for the driver of the vehicle. Major fire on 95 North approaching Cottman @FOX29philly @CBSPhiladelphia @NBCPhiladelphia looks like the grass is on fire pic.twitter.com/PKbUYkrWLn Sgt. Mark Fusetti (Retired) (@MarkFusetti) June 11, 2023 Shortly before 7am, smoke and fire were seen coming from the burning truck close to the I-95 on-ramp at Cottman Avenue. At around 7am, police vehicles began blocking traffic from entering the northbound lanes of the highway at the exit near Aramingo Avenue. It remains unclear what caused the fire and no injuries have yet been reported. Steve Keeley of Fox 29 Philadelphia tweeted at 7.34am on Sunday that 95 Shutdown in BOTH directions near Cottman Ave Exit in Northeast Philadelphia. A truck fire in underpass beneath the highway caused part of 95 to collapse. BREAKING: You can see where the Northbound section of 95 is now gone. The lanes collapsed in from the truck fire underneath. No doubt this section of the major east coast highway will be closed for many days to be repaired. pic.twitter.com/L2ygbzwVf1 Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) June 11, 2023 You can see where the Northbound section of 95 is now gone. The lanes collapsed in from the truck fire underneath. No doubt this section of the major east coast highway will be closed for many days to be repaired, he added shortly before 8am. Sgt Mark Fusetti drove past the incident before the roadway was shut down, tweeting that his vehicle dipped down on the highway because the road was collapsing. More follows... If there is one phrase that resonates with Texans, its Everything is Bigger in Texas and thats the darn truth. Texas takes pride in being the second largest state in the U.S. by both area and population. The Lone Star State has over 250,000 square miles of land with vast differences in terrain and weather. So, needless to say, Texas is a big area to cover. And more than that, Texas is a state of mind as well as a physical place we call home. For veterinarians and wanna be veterinarians, Texas brings good news. For one, there is a growing need for veterinarians. On top of that there is a clear need for large-animal veterinarians. To add to the rich tapestry of Texas complexity, there are nearly 1 million horses in our state but relatively few equine veterinarians available. We in the Panhandle know just how important horses are to everyday life. They are versatile animals used for work, competitions, transportation, or simply as companions. The Mariposa Station at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo. There is no better time than now to become a veterinarian. Stepping up to meet this challenge is Texas Tech Universitys School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo. It is here where we are helping shape the future of veterinary medicine through a singular purpose: to serve rural and regional communities, and provide access to an affordable world-class veterinary education. We heard the demand from veterinarians across Texas and New Mexico and now we are implementing a curriculum designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed for our graduate veterinarians to be successful. Our focus is to produce day-one-ready veterinarians who are confident and competent in all domestic species, including horses. The excitement of building something new something from the ground up - is a once-in-ageneration opportunity that everyone at the school cherishes. The growing numbers of faculty and staff have allowed teams to begin to develop within the school. For instance, we have a team of food animal medicine instructors, small animal medicine instructors and, of course, equine medicine instructors. The equine team consists of doctors James Brown, Carolyn Arnold, Luis Morales, Keith Chaffin, John Dascanio and Britt Conklin. Within this group of equine vets there is a wealth of knowledge that is being passed on to our students. They are on their way to becoming some of the best horse veterinarians in the country. A clinical skills lab at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo. The spring of 2023 has been busy for the equine team. Firstly, we welcomed Dr. Carolyn Arnold to the team. Dr. Arnold is a world-renowned large animal soft tissue surgeon with an extensive research portfolio. Dr. Arnolds special interests include soft tissue surgery and research projects in areas of the gastrointestinal microbiome as well as joint research. The latest addition to the team is Dr. Keith Chaffin who joined us in early April. Dr. Chaffin is an international expert in equine internal medicine who has authored many papers and book chapters, presented at international conferences, and has treated thousands of horses with complex medical problems. His role at our school is Professor of Equine Internal Medicine where he will give lectures, teach skills, and mentor students in the DVM program. He is also an Assistant Dean of Student Success. Dr. Chaffin will help students navigate the DVM program and provide them with valuable career advice as they enter their clinical year. It is hard to believe our inaugural class just wrapped up its second year. They have acquired valuable equine skills such as performing dentistry, managing colic and respiratory problems, treating wounds and lacerations, identifying and treating lameness, performing ultrasound, and taking radiographs to identify causes of lameness. Their highlight for the spring was castrating 230 donkeys at the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue in San Angelo, Texas. By castrating the donkeys, our students meaningfully helped the donkey rescue achieve their important purpose and these donkeys will be rehomed across America. It also helped our students become proficient in their surgical skills given the number of castrations each of them performed. There are not many veterinary schools across the country who can provide access to an opportunity like this. In fact, most veterinary students are lucky to perform a single castration while at school. In addition, our students engaged a future generation of veterinarians when they helped Dove Creek Horse Rescue in Canyon host an event for high school students who are on a quest to become future veterinarians. A clinical skills lab at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo. Recently our school, led by the equine team, hosted a continuing education event for veterinarians from across Texas and neighboring states to attend the Texas Equine Veterinarian Association (TEVA) meeting. This meeting featured lectures and a wet lab from our faculty on equine topics related to dentistry, sinus issues and conditions affecting the upper and lower airway. Our faculty are also engaged in the community through consulting with local and regional veterinarians to help solve complex health problems. One example is a local practice called Mobile Veterinary Practice (MVP) right here in Amarillo. Some of the cases worked on include squamous cell carcinoma (tumor) involving the eye, removing a piece of wood wedged into skin above the hoof, removing a retained cryptorchid testicle from a colt, and extracting ingested wires from a horses throat. Faculty involvement in these cases provides excellent learning opportunities for our students as well as providing care for the horses in our community. Many of our students are involved in clubs within our school. The Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners is one of those clubs and MVP is a great outlet for the clubs to host educational experiences. A clinical skills lab at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo. We are building a truly incredible program that is changing the face of veterinary medicine and fulfilling a great need in the Panhandle, in Texas, and in surrounding areas. Our equine team is developing our students to become graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge of equine medicine and surgery so that they can best serve their communities across Texas and New Mexico. It is indeed bigger in Texas. It is also better in Texas. And the best is right here in Amarillo. This month's column was written by James Brown, Luis Morales, Keith Chaffin, Carolyn Arnold, Britt Conklin, and John Dascanio. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Vet school commentary: Everything is bigger (and better) in Texas Thailand legalized marijuana for the economic benefit. But now Thai growers say they are being undercut by illegal US imports. A weed shop owner in Thailand. Marielle Descalsota/Insider Thailand's health ministry took marijuana off its list of banned substances last year. But regulations have stalled in parliament, leaving legal marijuana in a state of legal limbo. American sellers have stepped into the breach, supplying dispensaries with cheaper weed. Southeast Asia is famous for its harsh drug laws. So it was with great fanfare that Thailand's military-led government legalized marijuana last year. Since then, dispensaries have flourished across the country. They teach joint-rolling classes and offer stoned yoga. It's all great fun. But the goal of legalizing weed, an effort spearheaded by the country's health minister and the leader of one of its biggest political parties, was to transform the country into a regional hub for weed product development and marijuana cultivation, supporting small farmers and the economy at large. That goal has now run into two major obstacles. First is political deadlock in the country's parliament, which has so far failed to pass the regulatory framework to manage it all (a problem many US states can relate to). This has contributed to the second problem: Weed farmers in Thailand told Al Jazeera that they are being undercut by cheaper marijuana smuggled into the country from the United States. It doesn't help that American weed is better or at least stronger than what is right now grown in Thailand. "At the end of the day, my customers care more about the potency of the THC content rather than the origin of the weed," one grower told Al Jazeera, noting US strains are typically higher in THC. "We need to protect the domestic market and support Thai growers and farmers." One weed seller blamed local corruption for both the failure to stop the smuggling and the stalled legislation. "It turns out it's just another fight between greedy men," he told Al Jazeera. Read the original article on Insider Mother Nature sometimes has a wicked sense of humor. Take for instance the 100 year flood in Palo Duro Canyon in 1979. Termed an anomaly and once-in-a-lifetime event, its happening all over again. But, this time, they were ready. Currently, all trails are closed due to the heavy rains and flooding in this recent typhoon cycle the area has experienced. Most recent totals show 20 inches of rain has fallen on the canyon floor. Just seven days ago, video on YouTube showed Crossing #1 which more like the Muddy Mississippi than the friendly Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River that usually runs along the canyon floor. The show must go on: 'TEXAS' playing for the crowds TEXAS the Outdoor Musical, a staple of entertainment and enjoyment for visitors from all around the world since 1968, has missed only one year of production, during the pandemic in 2020. Opening night was held Thursday as planned. Because trails are closed, gate admission is only $5. Stephanie Price, Director of Marketing & Communications for Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle, said, We have had a lot of rain lately but as they say in show business, the show must go on. We have not experienced any flooding of the ampitheatre and are grateful to the state park for clearing the roads and being such great partners for TEXAS while there has been flooding in other parts of the park." The backstage is seen for "TEXAS" the Outdoor Musical, which had its season opening night on Thursday evening without a hitch. Parts of Palo Duro Canyon are closed due to flooding and the weather, but the musical is continuing on as planned. Our cast and crew of 100 talented individuals cannot wait for a great opening weekend and to bring this story to life," Price added. "We will continue to monitor the weather each night and enact a rain policy if needed." The show's 57th season runs June 8-Aug. 5. We have been busy in the off-season making repairs to upgrade our customer experience at the amphitheater," she said. Radio communications improve safety warnings According to Randall County Sheriff Chris Forbis, a new Motorola radio system was introduced around five years ago for Randall County that is multi-agency and links all emergency departments together. There are also individual channels that can limit the conversation to only firemen or police, he said. There are new towers also, with one by the entrance into Palo Duro Canyon, and one on the other side of the canyon on Gilvin Ranch. The signals are more integrated and also tie into the weather service so alerts are instant. Rangers can pick up data that is sent from NWS or other entities immediately to go and warn campers of any danger or respond to an emergency. Forbis said he is grateful to the citizens of Randall County for approving the system for the safety of officers and first responders, as well as visitors to the park. He said communication is also linked to Amarillo Police Department and Amarillo and area firefighters for quick response. Eventually, Forbis would like all the Texas Panhandle to be on the same system. In the old system, different agencies used different radio systems and didnt tie in together which made communication difficult and at time, impossible. . Communications can succeed or fail, he said. The advent of raised bridges over water crossings has also greatly improved the safety of drivers and campers in the canyon, he said. Before, it didnt take much water to take someone off the road. During this current flooding period, the park closed off camping sites other than those close to the entrance. The Pioneer Ampitheatre is open, and so is the Trading Post. The trail ends at Old West Stables. Palo Duro Canyon looks more beautiful than ever before with recent rainfall. But looks can be deceiving and though it is open, visitors need to follow rules and stay within limits set by the park and first responders. Danger remains in a natural setting A huge boulder rolled down on the main road going into the canyon and was moved Monday, June 5, according to officials at the park. It was not an easy job, but it was moved with the help of a big loader from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), according to Mark Hassell, PDC Resource Officer. The park also has gabions, or concrete water outlets, which help water flow to the bottom slowly through a series of step-like structures. They were rebuilt around 12 years ago to blend into the surroundings and are placed every 100 feet, according to Hassell. Bridges have made a huge difference in keeping visitors safe and able to get through the water, according to Hassell. If we didnt have those, wed have people backed up in the canyon now and have trouble reaching them. Rain Thursday night has caused the creek to rise again, so it is being monitored according to Mark Hassell, a Palo Duro Canyon official. He said that AT&T cellular service had the greatest reach in the canyon for consumers, but that others can still dial 9-1-1 and get through to rangers or the Randall County Sheriffs Office if there is trouble. Once the ground begins to dry, the trails will have to be addressed by Trail Teams for safety and erosion concerns. Roads and bridges will have to be checked carefully by TxDOT and probably need some resconstruction. A new headquarters is coming soon for the Palo Duro Canyon, about a quarter mile from the current entrance constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933 as part of President Franklin Roosevelts New Deal to get voluntary workers back to jobs. The old structure will remain and be turned over to the Interpreters Center for display of CCC material and photographs of the workers who built the park during the Great Depression. At the onset of the rainy season on May 19, the floor of Palo Duro Canyon received 2.78 inches, and the rim received 2.66 inches. Trails were closed, and campers had to be evacuated from the campsites and hustled into the Pioneer Amphitheater for safety. Several tents were swept away, but no fatalities were reported. The condition could have been worse. Improvements have been made in the park, including bridges and the communications. But water moves swiftly and deadly, and happens in the blink of an eye. There will always be dangerous situations that can occur suddenly, and visitors need to be aware of incoming danger. The soil can turn to mud and mush very quickly, according to Thomas Milone, Assistant Park Supervisor. All of the park trails were closed until further notice, including a portion of Hackberry campground and Park Road 5 from the Lighthouse parking lot to the Cactus site. Visitors to the natural wonder had already totaled 138,000 for the year, with the heavy season just now beginning. In an interesting twist, ICR scientists recently led field trips through the canyon, pointing out geological features that show clear evidence of the global flood centuries ago. The walls of the canyon display more than 700 feet of flood strata; the erosion continues to carve out the canyon and make it into its own treasure. It all goes to show that you cant fool Mother Nature, nor can you outguess her. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Park improvements alleviate today's flood in Palo Duro Canyon As we head into the week, let's take a look at the news from this past week. Fairhaven voters said 'no' to a Proposition 2 override. The override attempt had been touted by town officials and administration as a way to make up for a $450,000 budgetary shortfall. In the event the override did not gain approval, Fairhaven's school department was set to lose $200,000, with the remainder of $250,000 to come from the "Non-Departmental Salary & Wages" line item of the town budget. Join the Womens Fund SouthCoast for a wine tasting & food pairing stroll featuring seven women owned businesses on William Street. The businesses are opening their doors for a two-hour event inviting the community to wine and munch while celebrating these hard-working women. Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and player of the week voting at https://www.southcoasttoday.com/sports. Here are the most-read stories of the week on https://www.southcoasttoday.com: This still-shot of surveillance footage taken in an Acushnet backyard shows the black bear strolling through the property before tipping over a garbage barrel and taking a nap in a tree. Since reports of black bear sightings started popping up around the SouthCoast last month, state wildlife experts agreed it seemed apparent it was a single bear. But as of last week, the latest round of bear sightings seem to suggest Southeastern Mass. now has two black bears roaming through towns. Experts have suggested since this year's black bear sightings on SouthCoast began, it may be a sign of the times, as black bears' habitats in Southeastern Massachusetts continue shrinking. For the bears' and the public's safety, MassWildLife advises people not to purposely follow, try to attract, or interact with any bear. Seeing double: Latest sightings suggest Southeastern Mass. has two black bears roaming towns. Emma Gibney is crowned by outgoing Miss Massachusetts Teen 2022 Jenna McLaughlin and Miss Massachusetts 2022 Katrina Kincade. At just 17 years old Emma Gibney has quite an impressive resume, many accolades and achievements, most recently she added a sash to the collection as she was crowned Miss Massachusetts' Teen 2023 on May 7 at the 23rd annual competition. Gibney joined the Miss America pageants in October of 2022 by competing in her hometown Miss New Bedford Outstanding Teen and just fell in love with the organization and all it stood for. Now, Gibney is headed to the Miss Americas Teen competition in January of 2024 where she will represent Massachusetts. Taking the crown: New Bedford High student crowned Miss Massachusetts Teen 2023 Bristol County District Attorney's office and New Bedford police were on site at 1643 Phillips Road in New Bedford An apparent murder-suicide of a father and son at 1643 Phillips Road in New Bedford's North End is under investigation. It appears from the evidence recovered to be a murder-suicide involving Dante Hazard, age 8, and his father, George Scott III, age 53. Dante is the son of Lisa Hazard, who Scott reported missing to Fall River police in April 2019. The DA's office, Fall River and New Bedford police and State Police have been investigating the March 2019 disappearance of Hazard. The investigation into her disappearance remains active and Scott is a person of interest in that investigation. DA: Apparent murder-suicide at George Scott III's New Bedford home New Bedford native Matthew Lariviere was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Robert Jones III, who was stabbed and slashed at least 137 times in a New Bedford homeless encampment in 2019. New Bedford native Matthew Lariviere was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Robert Jones III, who was stabbed and slashed at least 137 times in a New Bedford homeless encampment in 2019. He was sentenced by Judge Gregg J. Pasquale to 12 to 15 years in state prison. Lariviere said he acted in self-defense, and could only remember stabbing Jones six or seven times. Jones' family was satisfied with the guilty verdict and thanked the jurors but requested the judge hand down the maximum sentence. Killer sentenced: A homeless man was stabbed 137 times and left in a trash pile. The state has sold the former St. Marys Home for Children in New Bedford to Roxbury-based Cruz Development Corporation to help create new affordable housing opportunities in the city. Cruz Development Corporation President and CEO John B. Cruz III plans to develop the property, located at 593 Kempton St., into 28 mixed-income rental units, of which 70 percent will be affordable and 30 percent market rate, along with an outdoor play area and parking. Development: Deal with the state opens more affordable housing opportunities in New Bedford This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: The top stories in New Bedford: tragedies, bears, and housing I traveled from the UK to Norway for the first time to visit my great-grandfather's grave. I found out that after 20 years gravestones are removed, so we had to go searching for him. Mikhaila Friel photographed in Oslo, Norway, in March 2023, left, and the graveyard where her great-grandfather was buried, right. Mikhaila Friel/Insider I traveled from the UK to Norway earlier this year to visit the grave of my great-grandfather. Upon my arrival, I discovered that his gravestone had been removed in 2007 due to damage. But I was still able to pay my respects, thanks to the kindness of strangers. In the last year of my grandfather's life, the only thing he wanted to talk about was Norway. My grandpa, Stewart, was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, to a Scottish mother and a Norwegian father. His father, Einar Marthinsen, lived in Glasgow for a couple of years but returned to Norway after he and my grandpa's mother separated. He died there in 1987, nine years before I was born. Although I never got to meet Einar, I always felt an affection for my Scandinavian heritage. My grandpa had raved about Norway, as he spent time visiting his father there as a teenager. But despite this, I only visited for the first time after he died in October 2022. Mikhaila and her grandpa, Stewart Marthinsen, pictured on Christmas Day 2016. Mikhaila Friel/Insider My aunt, Penny, accompanied me on the trip in March 2023, and we planned everything in exquisite detail. We spent four days in Oslo, Tnsberg, and Hvasser, a village and island off the coast of Norway where my great-grandfather was buried. We were eager to pay our respects at his grave, and we knew the graveyard's location since my grandmother had kept a newspaper clipping with details about his funeral and burial service at Hvasser Kirke. But when we arrived, his gravestone was gone. A band of strangers helped us find answers My aunt and I had been traipsing through the graveyard in the pouring rain for the best part of an hour when we encountered Max, an elderly man who helped with our search after we explained that we had traveled from the UK. Mikhaila and Penny at the graveyard in Hvasser, Norway, in March 2023. Mikhaila Friel/Insider The graveyard was tiny, and there couldn't have been more than 100 graves. Marthinsen is a common last name in Norway, so the name popped up a lot but there was no Einar Marthinsen. After the three of us checked each gravestone for the third time, I began to lose hope. Had we been given the wrong information? My aunt had also never visited Norway before, so she was just as confused as I was. Max took us to a nearby cafe and asked us to wait while he contacted the church's office to ask what had happened to the gravestone. We were touched by his kindness, as neither of us spoke Norwegian. As we waited for a church official to call back, Max introduced us to many of the locals in the cafe. He seemed to know every person who wandered through the door, from a middle-aged woman who had recently lost her husband to a father and son who had lived in the area for many years. We told each of them our story. Many of them were sympathetic and offered advice, while a friend of Max's who knew the local priest tried to get in touch on our behalf. Most gravestones in Norway are removed after 20 years After about an hour, a church official called back to let us know that my great-grandfather's gravestone had been removed in 2007 as it had been damaged and no relatives had offered to pay for its upkeep. While writing this story, I reached out to the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families, and a spokesperson confirmed that gravestones in Norway are free of charge and are protected for 20 years. After that time, families of the deceased are usually asked to pay for the gravestone, which costs around 180 Norwegian krone, or around $16 per year. If the family doesn't pay, the gravestone is usually removed, with the exception of some gravestones that represent a specific history or "have a local distinctive character or are unique," a spokesperson told me. A piece of paper is placed on the ground at the location where my great-grandfather's gravestone previously stood. Mikhaila Friel/Insider This information surprised me, especially as many gravestones in the UK are hundreds of years old and gravestones are typically purchased privately by the family of the deceased. However, after doing some research, I discovered that gravestone removal happens in the UK too. According to the Scottish Borders Council, the owner of a damaged gravestone is usually given 14 days' notice to have it repaired or removed, and if they don't the council will be entitled to do this for them and the right to use the land will be withheld until the cost of the removal or repair is paid. We were saddened by the news, especially as we were unaware that such laws existed. As far as we were aware, none of Einar's family in Scotland had been contacted about the gravestone, and my aunt and I had unsuccessfully tried to track down potential living relatives in Norway to find out what they knew. But even so, the story has a somewhat happy ending. The church official sent across a photo of the gravestone that was taken before it was removed, and they also sent the names on the gravestones next to where Einar was buried so we could find him. My aunt and I returned to the graveyard with Max, and we were finally able to pay our respects. My great-grandfather's gravestone before it was removed. Mikhaila Friel/Insider For a moment it felt like the worst had happened, but we left the graveyard that day feeling elated. We had accomplished what we had set out to do, which never would have been possible without the kindness of strangers. Read the original article on Insider How Trumps 2024 Republican Rivals Have Responded To His Indictment Former President Donald Trumps 2024 Republican rivals have largely come to his defense and cast doubt about the legitimacy of his federal indictment over his handling of classified documents, while also distancing themselves from his behavior. The Justice Department on Friday unsealed an unprecedented 37-count indictment against Trump who continues to lead in polls accusing him of mishandling classified documents, obstructing justice and making false statements, facing him with substantial prison time if convicted. Trump has dismissed the charges and proclaimed his innocence. He has vowed to continue his White House campaign, even if convicted, Politico reported. Heres how his Republican competitors have responded: From left: Former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. From left: Former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Ron DeSantis The Florida governor, who is second behind Trump in the polls, has refrained from criticizing his GOP rival over the indictment and has instead sown doubt about the Justice Department. DeSantis responded to the indictment Friday by alleging that there is a weaponization of government agencies and no one standard of justice in this country. Hillary had the emails, DeSantis said in a speech that did not reference Trump by name. Is there a different standard for a Democrat Secretary of State versus a former Republican president? Hillary Clinton was investigated for using a private email server while serving as Secretary of State. A federal investigation found no evidence of deliberate mishandling of classified information by her. Mike Pence While the former vice president has said that Trump is unfit for the presidency, citing Trumps actions on Jan. 6, 2021, he has defended Trump in the classified documents investigation. Pence in a speech on Saturday called the indictment a sad day for America and said that Trump is presumed innocent before guilty. Pence said Attorney General Merrick Garland needs to personally and publicly explain why the indictment is necessary and stop hiding behind the special counsel, which brought the charges against his former boss. Pence was also investigated by the Justice Department after classified documents were found at his home earlier this year. He was recently cleared of any wrongdoing. Mistakes were made, and I take full responsibility, Pence said after the documents were found in January. Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday. DeSantis has refrained from criticizing his GOP rival over the indictment. Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday. DeSantis has refrained from criticizing his GOP rival over the indictment. Nikki Haley The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor has not commented critically on her former boss handling of the classified documents. Haley, who was appointed ambassador by Trump, on Friday instead criticized the indictment as prosecutorial overreach, double standards, and vendetta politics. Its time to move beyond the endless drama and distractions, she said in a short statement. Chris Christie The former New Jersey governor and federal prosecutor has been openly critical of Trump. On Friday, he called the facts of the indictment devastating. Is this the type of conduct that we want from someone who wants to be president of the United States? he told CNNs Jake Tapper. I think that we have to focus on the conduct, Jake, and the conduct is bad. Christie said he believes the number of people speaking out against Trump will get larger as they understand the facts. Is this the type of conduct we want from someone who wants to be President of the United States? We have to focus on the conduct, and the conduct is bad. pic.twitter.com/9RNMLKMXAM Chris Christie (@GovChristie) June 10, 2023 Vivek Ramaswamy The businessman told CNN on Sunday that the indictment against Trump is deeply politicized and selective prosecution. He said he believes a court will acquit Trump but also that a pardon is the right answer here. Theres a difference between a bad judgment and breaking the law, he told CNNs Dana Bash. Ramaswamy said if he were in Trumps shoes, he personally would not have taken the documents with him when he left the White House, and if he had, he would have returned them on demand. I would not have made the judgments that President Trump made. Its a big part of why Im in this race is, I think that I would have made different judgments than Trump made, he said. Asa Hutchinson The former Arkansas governor and former federal prosecutor has called for Trump to end his campaign, saying in a statement Thursday that the indictment is a major distraction that weakens our democracy. Speaking with CNN on Sunday, Hutchinson said the indictment is obviously very solid but that it will be a challenging case in court not because the facts are weak but because the defendant is a former president and the jury may not be impartial. We need somebody who has a high regard for military secrets, for classified documents and for the rule of law, he said of the next president. It is simply wrong for a candidate to use the pardon power of the United States, of the president in order to curry votes and in order to get an applause line." GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson reacts to Vivek Ramaswamy's promise to pardon Trump. #CNNSOTU@CNNSotupic.twitter.com/r0Y7LiSBYG CNN (@CNN) June 11, 2023 He said Ramaswamys suggestion that he would pardon Trump if he was president is nothing more than an attempt to curry votes and get an applause line. If you start down that path, it is unending, he said, adding that such a pardon would undermine the jury system, which found probable cause to indict Trump, and the rule of law. Tim Scott The South Carolina senator, in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, said Trump should be presumed innocent and that he will continue to pray that justice prevails. The scales are weighted, he said of the Justice Departments investigation. Doug Burgum The North Dakota governor has largely stayed silent on the indictment. He told CNN on Thursday that his campaign is instead focused on the economy, energy and national security and not the past. He told CBS News on Sunday that if elected president, he would follow every rule related to handling classified documents. Larry Elder The conservative talk radio host, prior to reading the indictment, said it was a sad, pathetic day. Related... A federal judge appointed to the bench by Donald Trump and previously scrutinised for rulings that were solidly in Mr Trumps favour was assigned to preside over his prosecution in a Florida court under normal procedures, denying the possibility that the case will be reassigned. That was the explanation from the chief clerk of the court in a statement to The New York Times this weekend as many raised their eyebrows and speculated about the effect that Ms Cannons rulings could have in the upcoming criminal trial of the former president. Mr Trump is charged with 37 felony counts related to mishandling of presidential records, including national defence information. He has claimed innocence in postings on social media, though images have been released purporting to show records stacked in boxes and crammed into a Mar-a-Lago bathroom. In emailed correspondence with the Times, chief clerk Angela Noble explained that Ms Cannon was randomly assigned to the case under the courts normal procedures, meaning that the case would only be assigned to a different judge were Ms Cannon to recuse herself voluntarily. Normal procedures were followed, Ms Noble told the Times. But those random assignments are far from a mathemeticians definition of the word. Different judges at the US Court for the Southern District of Florida take cases from different areas in the state, and according to Ms Noble, Ms Cannon draws 50 per cent of her cases from West Palm Beach, increasing her odds. Two other judges on the court are also not accepting new assignments from that part of the state, further raising the likelihood that Ms Cannon would have been assigned the case. All in all, its as favourable a situation as the former president could reasonably hope for as his second criminal proceeding begins. Ms Cannon previously oversaw another iteration of the Justice Departments investigation into Mr Trumps handling of classified records when she was appointed to preside over the dispute that arose as a result of the FBIs raid of Mar-a-Lago. At the time, Ms Cannon ruled that a special master be appointed to review the documents and temporarily forbade the DoJ from viewing the classified materials seized from Mar-a-Lago; that latter ruling was overturned by an appeals court. Donald Trump gave a post-indictment interview to Roger Stone, the man he freed from prison, and called for his supporters to protest his prosecution. Our country has to protest, Trump said. Stone sang Trumps praises as he introduced him on the first episode of Stones new radio show on WABC radio that aired Sunday. This thing is a disgrace This is a disgraceful indictment, Trump said. It shouldnt happen. It was done for political reasons. What are those political reasons? Trump claimed the timing of his indictment was to cover up a massive crime perpetrated by Hunter Biden. They wanted to do a distraction, Trump said. Theyll probably come up with a jaywalking charge on Hunter in the future, a very small charge, so they can say it was fair. The Republican party has recently amped up its obsession with the presidents son, as Rolling Stone previously reported, urged by Trump as a form of payback for the investigations against him. While Hunter Biden has had business relationships with companies in China and Ukraine, the GOP has presented no concrete evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the Bidens. Trump, of course, complained about the last presidential election, which he decidedly lost. If you look at the disaster of the 2020 election, with all the things that have been found that the courts dont want to work on, they dont want to discuss, Trump said before adding, Well make America great again. When the conversation returned to the indictment, Trump again tried to distract by blaming Hunter Biden. The indictment itself is a disgrace, he said. I do believe it was put up at a time that they found horrible things about the [Biden] family. The problem is nobody wants to write about it, Trump added. The former president also attacked Jack Smith, the special counsel leading the investigation into Trumps alleged mishandling of classified information. Deranged Jack Smith, Trump said. His wife hates me more than he does. His wife hates Trump more than any human being thats ever lived. I believe they hate our country, he added. Defending his actions, Trump claimed that his Florida resort and residence, Mar-a-lago, where he stored highly classified information is very secure. Mar-a-lago is like a fortress, Trump said. Cameras are everywhere I gave them the tapes. I have tapes of the FBI during the raid. I didnt put them out because I was asked not to by them. You want to see tapes? Ive got tapes It was a disgrace what they did, and they did it for political reasons The countrys going to hell. Trump is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, and as Stone mentioned during the interview, the former presidents supporters are expected to protest. Our country has to protest Weve lost everything, Trump said. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps attorneys play a startling role in the federal criminal indictment against him, described not only as unwitting participants in crimes hes charged with, but also as key potential witnesses in the governments case. Most Read from Bloomberg The prosecution brought by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smiths office offers the latest example of risks lawyers face taking on Trump as a client. Michael Cohen, Trumps former longtime personal counsel-turned-foe, went to prison after pleading guilty to conduct that included work he performed on Trumps behalf. Multiple lawyers, including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, are facing challenges to their law licenses for aiding Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump is charged with unlawfully holding on to sensitive national security information after he left the White House in January 2021 and of obstructing the governments efforts to identify and retrieve the records. Three lawyers described in the indictment narrative arent charged with crimes and legal experts say its unlikely theyd face ethics investigations based on the facts laid out by prosecutors. But no attorney wants to be in a situation where their work is being scrutinized in a criminal investigation, the experts said. Its frankly imprudent and extremely risky for anyone to represent Trump in anything other than a trial setting, said Kathleen Clark, a legal ethics expert and professor at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. Anytime youre dealing with Trump in a transaction or as a go-between with the government or anybody, thats very risky because he has such a clear track record. Prosecutors have accused Trump of using his lawyers as part of the obstruction scheme. The indictment, which was unsealed Friday, describes how one lawyer memorialized conversations where Trump appeared to be considering options to defy a May 2022 grand jury subpoena seeking the return of classified material; the lawyer is identified as Attorney 1 but the events match descriptions of Trump attorney Evan Corcoran in other publicly available court documents. Trumps comments at the time, as quoted by prosecutors, included, What happens if we just dont respond at all or dont play ball with them, and Wouldnt it be better if we just told them we dont have anything here? The indictment alleges that Trump directed his personal aide and now-codefendant Waltine Walt Nauta to move boxes so that Attorney 1 wouldnt find documents that might be responsive to the grand-jury subpoena. The government also said that Attorney 3 identified by multiple media outlets as Christina Bobb was asked to sign a certification to the government that a diligent search was done of boxes moved from the White House to Florida, even though she hadnt been part of that effort. That certification did include hedging language that it was based on information provided to her. Bobb and Corcoran declined to comment. A Trump spokesperson didnt return a request for comment. Corcoran testified at least twice before a grand jury in the documents probe. The second appearance came after he and Trump lost court challenges to the special counsels demand for his testimony as well as his work product. Prosecutors successfully argued for the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege, which applies if the government has evidence a client may have used their lawyer to commit an ongoing or future crime. The exception is not lightly invoked by the Justice Department and neither is it lightly granted by courts because of course clients even clients who have done dastardly deeds or who have been accused of doing dastardly deeds absolutely have a right to consult their lawyer, Clark said. What they dont have is a right to use their lawyers in continuing fraud. Sarah Krissoff, a white collar defense lawyer in New York and former federal prosecutor, said its incumbent on lawyers to make the line clear. I have clients ask me all the time, Whats protected about what I tell you? You told me you robbed a bank yesterday, thats protected. You tell me you want to use me to launder your bank robbery proceeds, thats not going to work, she said. Clark said that although its possible Corcoran and Bobb could face challenges in the future securing clients given the notoriety of their roles in the documents case, she didnt see conduct in the indictment that would trigger an investigation by state bar authorities into whether they violated any attorney ethics rules. Bobb also testified before the grand jury, but theres no public indication that she or Trump opposed the governments request to question her. Trump last week announced that two lawyers who had been representing him in the special counsel investigations Smith is also overseeing a probe into the 2020 election James Trusty and John Rowley, would no longer be involved. Corcoran had recused from the documents matter but has continued to represent Trump, including in the election probe. Trump hasnt given any indication that Corcoran is no longer part of his legal team. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Megan Varner/Reuters For a twice-indicted man with mounting legal woes, Donald Trump does not know how to keep his mouth shut. In his first public appearance since his latest indictment, the former president bounced from his typical Trumpisms to ramblings on the numerous investigations against him as the Georgia Republican Convention crowd erupted in cheers on Saturday. The federal probes, which permeated his whole speech, seemed to serve as political leverage to rally voters ahead of a packed race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Everytime I fly over a blue state, I get a subpoena, Trump joked. We want him before the grand jury! Trump faces a 37-count indictment for seven different federal crimes over his alleged mishandling of classified documents, which were found in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room at Mar-a-Lago, according to the indictment. He did not skip a beat in calling the indictment fake and a political hit job, describing the Espionage Actone of the feds seven accused violationsas something that sounds terrible because Ive got a box. As for Jack Smith, the special counsel behind the indictment, Trump labeled him deranged and a thug who is in charge. I was impressed. It looked so orderly and nice, Trump said, referring to the stacks of boxes found all over his estate. Somehow somebody turned over one of the boxes. Did you see that? I wonder who did that, did the FBI do that? Because they also did something where they put documents all over the floors and they took pictures. And they tried to pretend like I did it. On the 34-count indictment in Manhattan for his alleged hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, he claimed there is no crime and they just want to get Donald Trumpbefore going on a rant about the Deep State and Communists. The 2024 contender also turned to the very state of his speech, Georgia, where federal prosecutors could slam him with a third indictment for meddling with the states 2020 presidential election votes. In a phone call, Trump allegedly pressed Georgias secretary of state to miraculously find 11,780 votes so he could overtake President Joe Bidens lead. Trump described the district attorney presiding over the case, Fanni Willis, as a lunatic Marxist who is coming after me over a perfect phone call. I had every right to complain that the election in Georgia was in my opinion rigged, that the election in Georgia was a disaster, Trump declared as the crowd let out claps and cheers. The election ramble ended when he summoned Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to the stage, calling her a warrior and beautiful before she gave brief fawning remarks about the 2024 Republican top-runner. He also took a few swipes at his GOP opponents Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence. These are sick, sick, sinister people, Trump said of his foes. No wonder the swamp is getting truly desperate. Pence has gone down [in the polls], sadly, because hes a nice person, hes trying to get nasty though so we may have to fight a different way, Trump said of his former vice president. All of a sudden he got a little bit nasty, Mike. After hopping through every cultural flashpoint possible, from illegal aliens to transgender insanity to concealed carry, Trump ended his speech on a bizarre and far from inspirational remark. Everybodys being murdered and beat up and mugged. Were not going to let it happen. Thank you very much everybody, its a great honor to be here, he concluded. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. GOP Presidential Hopefuls Attend North Carolina Republican Convention GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the stage after delivering remarks June 10, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Trump spoke during the North Carolina Republican partys annual state convention two days after becoming the first former U.S. president indicted on federal charges. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Credit - Getty Images2023 Getty Images In his first public appearances since his federal indictment was unsealed on Friday, former President Donald Trump said he would never be detained and never stop fighting for his followers. Trump, who was most recently charged with keeping hundreds of classified documents in his homeincluding information about sensitive military and nuclear programsand refusing to return them to government officials, spoke at state Republican conventions in Georgia and North Carolina on Saturday. For 7 years weve been engaged in an epic struggle to rescue our country from the Sinister forces within who hate it, Trump said in Columbus, Georgia. And on November 5, 2024, were going to stand up to the corrupt political establishment. Were going to evict a totally corrupt president, Joe Biden, from the White House. And were going to finish the job that we started. This indictment, for which the 45th U.S. president faces 37 federal charges, marks Trumps second indictment. Trump separately faces criminal charges for allegedly paying hush money to former porn star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in 2016. He is also under federal investigation for his alleged efforts to overturn Georgias presidential election vote in 2020, as well as his connection to the January 6, 2021, attack on the capitol. Throughout his speeches, Trump repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, instead putting the blame for the charges he faces on partisan prosecutors. The Marxist left is once again using the same corrupt [Department of Justice] and the same corrupt FBI, and the attorney general and the local district attorneys to interfere Theyre cheating. Theyre crooked. Theyre corrupt. These criminals cannot be rewarded. They must be defeated. You have to defeat them, Trump said during the Georgia conference. The former president also called out President Joe Biden and Mike Pence, who were found to have classified documents in their offices and homes, but were not charged because they returned the documents to officials once they were discovered. Nothing happened to Crooked Joe with all that He has so many classified documents This is a sick nest of people that needs to be cleaned out immediately, Trump added. Still, Trump remains one of the frontrunners for the 2024 presidential election, even saying during his Georgia speech that the latest indictment is increasing his polling numbers. Its a horrible thing for this country, Trump said, speaking of the indictment, [but] the only good thing about it is its driven my poll numbers way up. A CBS News poll found that Trump remains ahead of other Republican challengers in the polls, and that Republican primary voters are more worried that the indictment is a political attack against Trump instead of a national security risk. Even if hes convicted, 80% of voters say that Trump should still be able to be president. As he was boarding his plane to fly to North Carolina from Georgia, Trump told Politico that he planned on staying in the running for re-election even if were to be convicted. Ill never leave, he said. Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable. However, officials like former Attorney General Bill Barr have said that the indictment could put Trump in serious trouble, as he expressed shock at the sensitive information the former president had access to after leaving office. If even half of it is true, hes toast. It is a very detailed indictment and its very, very damning, Barr said on Fox News Sunday. Trump has been ordered to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday in relation to the federal charges, where his supporters have called for an uprising in his defense. Correction, June 12 The original version of this story misstated where Bill Barr spoke about the case. It was on Fox News Sunday not Sunday on Fox News. Trump stands firm on 2024 despite indictment: I will never be deterred Former President Trump indicated on Saturday that he is standing firm on his 2024 president campaign, despite facing a second indictment this week over his handling of classified materials. I will never yield, the former president said at the North Carolina GOP convention. I will never be deterred. On Nov. 5, 2024, were going to stand up to the corrupt political establishment, he said earlier in the day during remarks at the Georgia GOP convention. Were going to evict a totally corrupt president, Joe Biden, from the White House. And were going to finish the job that we started. Trump was charged with 37 counts over his alleged mishandling of classified materials and efforts to prevent the federal government from retrieving them, according to the indictment unsealed on Friday. Despite the legal setback, he remained defiant in his first public appearances since Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith outlined the charges in the indictment. Trump told Politico on a flight between events on Saturday that he would remain in the race, even if he is convicted. Ill never leave, he said. Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable, he added. However, the former president also acknowledged that he wasnt pleased with the charges. Nobody wants to be indicted, Trump told Politico. I dont care that my poll numbers went up by a lot. I dont want to be indicted. Ive never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months, he continued. Its been political. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in April related to a 2016 hush money payment. His former lawyer Michael Cohen paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 ahead of the 2016 election to dissuade her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Trump on Sunday suggested that his recent federal indictment comes as a distraction for allegations made by House Republicans in their probe into President Biden and his son Hunter Biden. It was done for political reasons, but it was also done, I guess, to cover up the kind of a massive crime thats now being revealed by the Republicans in the House, Trump said of the indictment on the debut episode of his The Roger Stone Show on 77 WABC, hosted by the former presidents longtime ally Roger Stone. Its incredible when you look at what happened, when you look at the kind of money that flows into the Biden family, and to Joe Biden, by the way, and so they wanted to do a distraction, Trump said. House Republicans have long made investigating the Biden familys influence peddling and business schemes and concerns about Hunter Bidens laptop a priority for their lower chamber majority. Last week, House Oversight lawmakers reportedly reviewed a document containing an unsubstantiated tip they say alleges Biden, as vice president, engaged in bribery with a foreign national. Theyll probably come up with a jaywalking charge on Hunter in the not too distant future, you know, a very small charge, so they can say well, Its fair. But theres a very unfair situation. Were living in a very, very corrupt country, Trump said. Hunter Biden is being investigated by the U.S. attorney in Delaware, in which prosecutors appear to be close to making a decision on whether to charge the presidents son with possible tax-related and gun purchase-related violations. Trump primarily targeted the now-presidents son when he ran in 2020 over his membership on a board for a Ukrainian energy company while Joe Biden was serving as vice president during the Obama administration. Hunter Biden has acknowledged that he had poor judgment in taking the role because it put his father in a position to be attacked, but he emphasized that he did not commit any wrongdoing. Trump and his allies have called for Hunter Biden to face charges and accused the president of being involved in his sons business affairs but have not presented evidence of that. The White House repeatedly has attacked the GOP-led investigation by House Republicans, blasting it as politically-driven and having no merits. The former president last week was hit with a 37-count federal indictment in connection with his alleged mishandling of classified documents. He called the indictment a disgrace in his conversation with Stone, who he notably pardoned back in 2020. Sunda marked his first media interview appearance since the indictment was unsealed, following two speeches on Saturday in Georgia and North Carolina. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Several years ago, Jason Halpern, a New York developer with an affinity for historic buildings and neighborhoods, bought a mid-Miami Beach lot with a dilemma. It came in the shape of two old, architecturally mismatched apartment houses one from the 1930s and the second from the early 1960s. From the start, Halpern and his JMH Development, which has won awards for preserving and adapting historic buildings for contemporary use in Brooklyn and Miami Beach, planned a luxury low-rise condominium project. It would combine a portion of the old with a modern addition, an increasingly common approach in the resort citys numerous historic districts. Then climate change, and the citys response to it, forced Halpern back to the drawing board. And JMHs new plan for Twenty-Nine Indian Creek, which involves lifting, rotating and fully preserving the two-story 1930s building, is being touted as an object lesson in how creativity and flexibility on the part of developers and city authorities can save vulnerable architectural landmarks and make them far more resilient, while producing a better, even unique, overall project. In the new scheme, the 1936 building, a graceful blend of traditional Mediterranean design and Art Deco architecture, will become the face of the redevelopment. I love that project as a great example of resiliency and preservation, said Daniel Ciraldo, executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League, a group that promotes protection and public appreciation of the Beachs historic architecture. We are really becoming a great laboratory of how we can make our historic neighborhoods resilient. Jason Halpern is founder and managing partner of JMH Development in New York. Supporters of preservation say Halperns example is especially pertinent in the wake of a battle over a pair of bills filed during this years session of the Florida Legislature that could have effectively wiped out protections for thousands of historic buildings in flood zones across the state, including much of Miami Beach. The bills, which advanced rapidly at first before dying following a statewide outcry and detailed coverage in the Miami Herald, would have allowed owners of buildings along the coast to demolish them for any reason, even if protected as historic landmarks by local rules, ostensibly so they could be replaced by flood-resistant new buildings. Legislative sponsors have said they will bring the legislation back next year. But city officials and preservation activists contend that Twenty-Nine Indian Creek, along with several other high-profile restoration projects now underway across the Beach, demonstrate that tearing down historic buildings is not the best response to the challenges posed by sea-level rise. Instead, they argue, having protections and a regulatory process like Miami Beachs that foster public input and innovation in deciding the fate of historic buildings benefits developers as well as the broader community, which sees history, neighborhood character and property values preserved and enhanced. In New York, neighborhoods get butchered by new development when there are no protections, Halpern said. Our goal is to restore a building and get economic benefits from it. Its definitely more complicated. But a building with character should definitely enhance the appeal of a project. Preservation leading modernization Other developers might have shied away from the corner property along Indian Creek Drive as too much of a headache, even though its an appealing location. Its on a block wedged between the waterway and Collins Avenue, which runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the citys famed beaches. A couple of blocks away are two widely praised examples of historic preservation and modernization hotelier Ian Schragers Miami Beach Edition, a deluxe restoration of the historic Seville Hotel, and developer Alan Faenas namesake district, which includes two revamped historic hotels, a new cultural center and a new ultraluxury condo tower. Like the Edition and the Faena District, JMHs property sits in a designated historic neighborhood, so that the buildings on it were protected by the citys strict preservation law and its historic preservation board, which zealously guards Miami Beachs architectural legacy. But that was precisely the appeal for Halpern and JMH, which specializes in adapting historic buildings as well as in constructing new ones in the protected environment of historic neighborhoods, reaping a profit by leveraging their unique architectural character. Properties in historic neighborhoods tend to retain their value and usually see higher price increases than those in newer areas, Halpern said. On the Brooklyn waterfront, for instance, JMH converted a massive 1913 warehouse designed by Cass Gilbert, architect of the U.S. Supreme Court building, into a luxury apartment complex. On Indian Creek in South Beach, JMH revamped the historic Motel Ankara and added a mid-rise expansion behind it to create the Hotel Aloft South Beach. In 2016, JMH sold the Aloft for $105 million to a Boston investment group, which renamed it The Gates. Historic designation reduces competition for a property, Halpern said, because most developers prefer to demolish everything and start from scratch. And a background in construction and his experience with preservation and its advantages such as the ability to reap federal tax credits on commercial projects gives him a leg up, Halpern said. A historic 1936 Art Deco apartment house in Miami Beach will be lifted above flood levels and restored as part of a luxury condo redevelopment project. Its four apartments will be converted into two townhomes. A separate modern condo building, shown in this rendering, will rise behind it. It narrows the field, he said. Anybody could go look at a site just for land. But I understand the preservation process. I understand who to work with. You have to feel comfortable with your skill set when you have an existing structure, to make it aesthetically correct. When not everyone is doing the same thing, its more interesting. Halpern is not the only developer mining historic properties in the vicinity. Next to Faena House, the sleekly modern tower whose condos broke local price records, developers plan to save another historic Art Deco treasure, the long-vacant Versailles Hotel tower from 1941, by completely rebuilding its interior, including all structural elements, to meet modern construction code. Next to it, on a lot where a 1955 addition to the Versailles was torn down, a new luxury 18-story condo tower will rise under the plan, approved by the city preservation board in 2021. The property will be rebranded as Aman Miami Beach. But the corner site for Twenty-Nine Indian Creek, which Miami-Dade County records show Halpern and partners bought in 2017 for $7.75 million, was a special challenge. Not the least of it is the glaring fact that it sits on a sliver of land between Indian Creek, which is part of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the ocean. The four-unit apartment building from 1936, designed by Carlos Schoeppel, a prominent Beach architect responsible for many of the citys original Mediterranean mansions, is set well back from the corner facing south. In 1962, a two-story, L-shaped apartment building was put up across the front of the Schoeppel building, almost completely obscuring it from view, and filling the rest of the lot. The newer building, though plain, displays some elements of what later came to be known as Miami Modern, or MiMo, architecture. The buildings, which sit within the designated Collins Waterfront Historic District, were both protected as contributing structures because their disparate architectural styles demonstrate how the neighborhood evolved over decades. Because Halpern needed space to build more units in a modern addition, he proposed tearing down a portion of the 1962 building, while restoring and preserving the rest. The entire 1936 building was to be restored in its original location. The city historic board approved, balancing its reluctance to allow demolition of a historic structure against the benefits of seeing the rest restored along with an enhanced economic use of the property. A historic 1936 apartment house on Indian Creek Drive in Miami Beach will be lifted above flood levels and restored as part of a luxury condo redevelopment project. Heres a rendering of the interior of one of the new townhomes planned as part of the project. But then the COVID-19 pandemic, and a legal dispute between Halpern and his financial partners, intervened. Halpern prevailed in court against his now-former partners. Redoing project to offset flood risk In the meantime, though, the city raised Indian Creek Drive and rebuilt its bulkhead at a higher level as part of an ambitious plan to prepare the low-lying city for rising seas and increased hurricane storm surge. That meant that JMHs property, and its two buildings, now sit below the level of the roadway, making the site even more vulnerable than before to flooding. To salvage his project, Halpern and his architects at Urban Robot Associates, a Miami design firm, entirely redrew the blueprint, working with city preservation chief Deborah Tackett to refine it before presenting it to the preservation board, which has approval authority over development projects in designated historic sites. Aerial view of a 1936 building in Miami Beach at 2901 Indian Creek Drive that will be restored and made more resilient to flooding. The new plan calls for tearing down the entire 1962 building while lifting and turning the Schoeppel building to the west so that it fronts on Indian Creek, revealing its facade to the public for the first time in decades. The 1936 structure would be raised above base flood elevation to meet FEMA standards. Inside, the original four apartments would be converted into a pair of two-story townhomes, Halpern said. Behind it would rise a new, separate 75-foot condo building the maximum height allowed by local zoning in a streamlined modern style that echoes Miami Beachs tropical version of Deco architecture. The city preservation office and Miami Design Preservation League, the Beach preservation group, endorsed the idea. So did the city preservation board. Halpern described the process as collaborative. They loved the idea, Halpern said of the advocates and officials. They are extremely smart and understanding. Theyre open-minded and understand the process really well. Its a nice case of Miami Beach historic preservation working with a developer, showing flexibility and coming back with thoughtful suggestions and getting to a conclusion quickly. Although the new version of the project entails significantly more demolition than the old, the city preservation board recognized that it represents a needed and imaginative response to the flooding dilemma, Tackett said. Its a fantastic project, she said in an interview. Miami Beach is not a museum city. We are not scared of creative solutions even with historic buildings. To be sure, some leading preservation activists have vocally criticized the city for allowing even partial demolition of some historic structures to accommodate redevelopment. Daniel Ciraldo is executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League. City that evolves But Ciraldo, the Miami preservation league director, said the citys approach is the right one, ensuring economic vitality and a renewed future life for historic buildings. Yes, there will be some loss of historic buildings, but given the reality of Indian Creek, this is a positive example, Ciraldo said of Halperns plan. All of this speaks to the fact that Miami Beach is not a frozen-in-time kind of place. Its a place that evolves. Ciraldo also commended Halpern and city officials for ensuring the addition be modern in style yet sympathetic to Schoeppels building, avoiding architectural mimicry while making the structures distinct and compatible, to use the language in city guidelines. If this were Colonial Willamsburg, it might be a different matter. Maybe traditional preservationists would disagree, Ciraldo said. When you build something new, it should be of its time. We shouldnt be building Disney World in South Beach. Two Dacha houses damaged as drones crash to ground in Russias Kaluga Oblast Kaluga Oblast One incident occurred in Kaluga Oblasts Zhukovsky District, near the village of Strelkovka, Shapsha wrote. Kaluga Oblast is the northern one of the two Russian oblasts that lie between north-central Ukraine and the Russian capital Moscow. There were no casualties as a result of the drone crash, but two Dacha country houses sustained minor damage, with broken windows, wrote the mayor. Read also: Drone attacks military equipment warehouse in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, Russian media report Subsequently, Shapsha said another UAV crash site had been discovered in a forested area of the regions Medynsky District, likely involving a second drone. No casualties or destruction were reported at this location. The Baza pro-Russian Telegram channel reported that the second drone crashed at approximately 4:30 am. Residents of Kalyayevo village described hearing a loud sound resembling a moped, followed by an explosion a few seconds later. On June 5, Russian authorities announced that two drones had fallen onto the M3 highway in Kaluga Oblast. The first drone crashed at the 299th kilometer mark, while the second one crashed at the 283rd kilometer mark. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine 47 Magura Brigade Read also: Putin personally ordered the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, Ukrainian intelligence says interview Currently, attention is primarily focused on the Zaporizhzhya section of the front, where tactical operations are unfolding, including combat reconnaissance, as they say. And in certain sectors of the front, the Ukrainian army has made progress. I want to emphasize that this information is unofficial since the (Ukrainian militarys) General Staff is currently observing a pause and highlights the need to maintain calm and informational silence. These different pieces of information come from various sources, including reputable ones like British intelligence and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). It can be said that we have had the most tactical success in the area near the village of Velyka Novosilka. There has been an advancement, with several settlements now behind us. However, I would refrain from stating that we have fully captured and control them at this time. In the larger scheme of things, it remains a gray area. Read also: Heavy fighting ongoing in Donbas, threat of air attacks across Ukraine There have also been certain advancements to the north of the city of Tokmak (in Polohivskyi District) and near the village of Kamianske in Vasylivsky District (Zaporizhzhya Oblast). These are the tactical movements of the Ukrainian army. However, I reiterate that this is all unofficial information. Anyone can consult a map and see from open sources where these actions are taking place. Furthermore, we see that offensive actions continue around Bakhmut. But this is already a story with its own background, as we started advancing around Bakhmut much earlier. Read also: All Ukrainian commanders optimistic about Ukrainian counter-offensive, Zelenskyy says These are tactical actions. I dont understand why everyone, from both sides of the frontlines and even some Western experts, believed that there would be a tank wedge. Somehow, everyone expected the Kursk arc. It has been said multiple times that there would be no Kursk arc, but a series of consecutive operations, which is happening now. Lets be frank: this offensive operation is the most grandiose and extensive since World War II, both in the territory of Ukraine and in Europe as a whole. This operation will be extremely challenging and will not be resolved quickly. Therefore, we need to be patient and observe how the situation unfolds. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraine brings back 95 war prisoners taken from Mariupol, Bakhmut and Zmiinyi Island Ukraine has brought home 95 people, including soldiers of Ukraines Armed Forces, National Guard and Border Guard, in another prisoner of war swap. Source: Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine, on Telegram; Russian Defence Ministry FREED WAR PRISONERS, PHOTO FROM YERMAK'S TELEGRAM Quote: "Prisoner of war swap. We are bringing back home 95 of our people. The list includes soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, as well as border guards. Among them are 93 privates and sergeants and 2 officers. In particular, war prisoners [taken ed.] from Mariupol, Chornobyl, Zmiinyi [Snake] Island, from Bakhmut, as well as defenders of Azovstal steelworks, are returning to their families. We also managed to bring back the participants of the special operation, who flew by helicopter to Azovstal in the surrounded Mariupol." Details: Yermak added that many of them had untreated injuries while in captivity. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of Russia reported that 94 captured Russian servicemen were returned to the Russian Federation. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraine announces gains in "first results" of counterattack against Russia By Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine said on Sunday its troops had made territorial advances on three villages in its southeast, the first liberated settlements it has reported since launching a counter-offensive this past week. Kyiv's forces posted unverified videos showing soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag at a bombed-out building in the village of Blahodatne in Donetsk region and posing with their unit's flag in the adjacent village of Neskuchne. "We're seeing the first results of the counter-offensive actions, localized results," Valeryi Shershen, spokesperson for Ukraine's "Tavria" military sector, said on television. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar later said Ukrainian forces had "deoccupied" Makarivka, the next village to the south, and advanced between 300 and 1,500 metres in two directions on the southern front. "No positions were lost on the directions where our forces are on the defensive," Maliar added on Telegram. Reuters was unable to verify battlefield reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a Ukrainian military push was underway, but that it had failed to breach Russian defensive lines and taken heavy casualties. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, praised his troops in his nightly video address, but made no reference to the specific areas where the fighting was reported. "Of course, I am thankful to our soldiers for this day," Zelenskiy said, referring only to the two main sectors of the fighting in the east and the south. "Each one of our combat brigades, each of our units." Zelenskiy on Saturday had given his strongest signal yet that Kyiv has launched its long-awaited counterattack to seize back land in the east and south, confirming that "counteroffensive and defensive operations" were taking place. Kyiv officials have imposed a strict period of operational silence and urged Ukrainians not to disclose any information that could compromise the operation. 'KICKING THE ENEMY OUT' With so little information out of Kyiv and scant independent reporting from the front lines, it has been almost impossible to assess the battlefield situation. The video from Blahodatne showed Ukrainian troops inside a heavily damaged building as artillery rumbled in the distance. "We're kicking the enemy out from our native lands. It's the warmest feeling there is. Ukraine is going to win, Ukraine above everything," an unidentified soldier said in the video on Facebook. Russia said at least twice this week that it had repelled attacks close by the nearby settlement of Velyka Novosilka. The Ukrainian advances follow the breach last week of the Kakhovka dam further west in Kherson region that unleashed floods and prompted rescues of residents from submerged areas. Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the breach. The Ukrainian-appointed governor of Kherson region on Sunday said Russian forces had shelled three boats evacuating mainly elderly evacuees to safety, killing three and injuring 10. Shershen later told a radio interviewer that Russian forces had blown up a smaller hydroelectric dam near the scene of the latest combats in an attempt to disrupt the Ukrainian advance. "This led to the flooding of both banks of the Mokri Yaly River," he told Ukrainian NV Radio. "This, however, does not affect our counter-offensive actions." The occupied southeast is seen as a likely priority for Kyiv's forces that may aim to sever Russia's land bridge to the annexed peninsula of Crimea and split Russian forces in half. Makarikva is around 90 km (55.92 miles) northwest of the city of Mariupol, which lies on the Sea of Azov on the southern rim of the land bridge. Russia captured the major city last year after besieging and bombarding it for several weeks. Russia has built vast fortifications across occupied territory to prepare for a Ukrainian counterattack using thousands of troops trained and equipped by the West. Maliar also said Ukrainian forces were continuing assault operations in the east near the devastated city of Bakhmut and had advanced 250 metres near the adjacent Berkhivka Reservoir. Russia said it captured the city of Bakhmut last month after the bloodiest battle of Russia's February 2022 invasion, but Kyiv has said it has been regaining ground on the city's flanks. The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said separately that a motorised infantry brigade had advanced on the front line around the eastern city Avdiivka in recent days and captured a Russian position, but it provided no further details. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Ron Popeski and Diane Craft) Ukraine says Russia blew up Kakhovka dam to prevent offensive in south A local resident looks out of a window of an apartment building in a flooded area after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached in Kherson Ukraine says Russia blew up Kakhovka dam to prevent offensive in south A local resident looks out of a window of an apartment building in a flooded area after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached in Kherson KYIV (Reuters) -The Khakhovka dam was blown up by Russian forces to prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing in the southern Kherson region, deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said on Sunday. Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam from inside its associated hydroelectric power station. The site has been under Russian occupation since the early weeks of Russia's invasion in February last year. Moscow has blamed the destruction of the dam on Ukraine. Each side has accused the other of shelling civilians as rescue efforts are carried out. "The explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station was apparently carried out with the intention of preventing the Ukrainian Defence Forces from launching an offensive in the Kherson sector," Maliar said on the Telegram messaging app. She said the action, which unleashed a vast flood which inundated towns and villages, trapped residents and swept away entire houses, was also aimed at helping allow the deployment of Russian reserves to the Zaporizhzhia and Bakhmut areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive operations were taking place in Ukraine. He gave no details. A military spokesman has said that counterattacking Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 1,400 metres at a number of sections of the front line near the eastern city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian Land Forces said on Sunday that soldiers of the 68th Separate Hunting Brigade had liberated the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. It gave no details but a published video showed several Ukrainian soldiers planting a Ukrainian flag in the window of a heavily damaged building. "The invaders resisted to the last, but could not withstand the onslaught of unrestrained wolverines!," the Forces said on Facebook. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the statement. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by David Holmes) Ukraine appears to be making gains in its counteroffensive. Ukrainian forces appear to be making some incremental but significant advances in their ongoing counteroffensive that stretches from southern and central Donetsk to Zaprorizhzhia Oblasts. Ukrainian troops have captured the towns of Blagodatnoye and Neskuchnoe, in southeastern Donetsk Oblast as well as around Kamenskoye in north-central Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Ukrainian troops, who posted a video on Twitter that CNN geolocated and Russian milbloggers, who are providing most of the information emerging from the battlefield. We cannot independently verify any of these claims. And, as with all such reports, skepticism is warranted. In addition, there is little official information coming from the Ukrainian side, though that is beginning to change. "We're seeing the first results of the counter-offensive actions, localized results," Valeryi Shershen, spokesperson for Ukraine's "Tavria" military sector, said on television, Reuters reported. https://twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1667938131742539776 https://twitter.com/Azovsouth/status/1667832335427829760?s=20 In southeastern Donetsk Oblast, the Armed Forces of Ukraine "entered Blagodatnoye, Volnovakha district, according to the WarGonzo Telegram channel. According to sources from the field, our troops retreated to previously prepared positions, since it was not possible to equip positions in Blagodatnoe and Neskuchnoe, due to proximity with the enemy. Partially occupied heights are in their favor, WarGonzo reported. In addition, with massive artillery support, the Armed Forces of Ukraine advanced on Rabotino. https://twitter.com/noelreports/status/1667955043876630528?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A In addition to advances there, Ukraine has also been able to gain a foothold on the northern outskirts of Makarovka and Urozhaynoye following them, the Russian Military Informant Telegram channel reports. There are fights going on right now. https://twitter.com/tendar/status/1667938082375475202?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A "A difficult situation is developing in the South Donetsk direction, the enemy, after using large forces and flank attacks, occupied three small villages on the Vremevsky ledge," the Russian Operation Z Telegram channel reported. https://twitter.com/faytuks/status/1667944329925611521?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Several Russian Telegram channels say that territory is going back and forth, especially in Donetsk Oblast, with Ukrainian forces taking on heavy losses in personnel and equipment. Again, this cannot be independently verified. Operation Z also reported that "the enemy breakthrough at the junction of the Zaporizhzhia Front has expanded: ours cover the lost positions and counterattack." But there is another factor coming into play now that is affecting both sides. Weather. It's been pouring rain for three hours now, Russian-installed Zaporizhzhia official and influential milblogger Vladimir Rogov wrote on his Telegram channel Sunday. Of course, in such weather, our aviation does not work against the enemy, as well as units that actively use UAVs. But the rain is bringing significant advantages for Russian forces, he claimed. Firstly, the structure of the Zaporizhzhia black soil and the complex composition of the soil in the Orikhiv and Pologovsky districts are such that even with a little rain, the rugged terrain turns not just into slush and mud, but into an insurmountable natural barrier. This barrier will not be overcome not only by the French wheeled tank AMX-10RC or the German Leopard-2, weighing about 70 tons, but also by the much lighter Ukrainian Soviet T-72, weighing only about 45 tons. They will get stuck and become an easy target for our guys. The forecast is for rain until the evening. Tomorrow is predicted to be rainy. The rain is supposed to taper-off after Monday. These intense battles have been occurring across Ukraine's southern planes and elsewhere as the country's major counteroffensive gains momentum. While exact progress on the battlefield is clouded heavily by the fog of war and limited official information, we are getting many videos from the front lines that are intriguing to say the least. Incredible footage shows a close-quarter battle between Russian and Ukrainian infantry. Ukrainian soldiers, backed by up-armored HUMVEEs are seen assaulting a Russian position, resulting in an intense firefight. https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1667544805709053953?s=20 The now infamous loss of multiple Bradleys in the open hours of the full-on counteroffensive's armored push continues to make ripples. Video that is said to be from the incident shows a Bradley crew firing its 25mm Bushmaster chain gun just as another Bradley passes by. The firing pauses at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding what could have been a very nasty blue-on-blue accident. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1667457722453827586?s=20 First-person attack drones are wreaking havoc on both sides, with Russian types taking an especially high-profile role in what is being shown to the public since the offensive began. Here we see an attack on a M2 Bradley: https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1667414742636322816?s=20 https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1667567418611322881?s=20 https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1667566689540530182?s=20 Another showing an attack on Ukrainian supply vehicles, which are far more vulnerable to many of these types of drones than heavy armor: https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1667683787168260096?s=20 But Ukraine is also putting its own FPV 'drone army' to work against Russian forces, resulting in some very up-close and personal last images of its targets: https://twitter.com/ukraine_map/status/1667587482211295233?s=20 https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1667891456437112835?s=20 Armor has really been the focus of the early stages of this operation with some good videos depicting Ukrainian vehicles in action. https://twitter.com/anno1540/status/1667767722489331712?s=20 https://twitter.com/2uwmp/status/1667661550293864449?s=20 https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1667433385692741632?s=20 https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1667917993064513536?s=20 https://twitter.com/2uwmp/status/1667955075896029184?s=20 There has also been video of Russian surrenders as Ukraine pushes forward inch by inch into occupied areas. https://twitter.com/2uwmp/status/1667639701094772738?s=20 Graphic video also shows Russian troops running for their lives from indirect fires: https://twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1667856313894797312?s=20 Drone footage of a Russia Grad launcher being hit with pinpoint precision, resulting in its rounds cooking off, gives an idea of how Ukraine is putting its precision-guided weaponry to use under very dynamic battlefield conditions. https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1667622822594617344?s=20 In this case a Russian electronic warfare system is struck with great precision. Russian EW struggled early in the war to have an impact but has become far more of a challenge as time went on. The presence of disruptive Russian EW in this current counteroffensive has been noted repeatedly. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1667819089383784449?s=20 With those glimpses from the front, let's discuss what else is happening. The War Zone readers can also catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest Russia claims another attack by multiple drone boats occurred against one of its intelligence ships operating in the Black Sea. This one, like one just weeks ago, did not occur near Crimean waters. Instead it happened in the far southeastern reaches of the Black Sea, near Turkey. Russia claims that the Priazovye repelled the attack and was not damaged. It also shared pictures of the drone boats, which do not match any known types being used by Ukraine, but they look very much like the boats that supposedly attacked the Russian intelligence ship Yuriy Ivanov in May. https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1667889239617413120?s=20 There is plenty of skepticism about this event, especially surrounding the possibility that it was staged, like some believe the one before it was, to drive concerns among NATO members. Naval analyst HI Sutton laid out this theory in a series of tweets today: https://twitter.com/CovertShores/status/1667905408382500866?s=20 https://twitter.com/CovertShores/status/1667905414413836289?s=20 President Volodymyr Zelensky has finally acknowledged that the counteroffensive is underway, stating: "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at." He went on to list his military leadership cadre and said, "They are all in a positive mood. Pass that on to Putin." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made his second visit to Kyiv yesterday. There he met with President Zelensky and announced hundreds of millions of dollars in additional aid to Ukraine. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1667473836185378817?s=20 Part of the messaging of the visit included a statement that Canada has finally officially seized one of Russia's An-124 Condor cargo jets that was operating charter services for Volga Dnepr airlines. The jet has been on the ground in Toronto since just after the war began and Canada closed its airspace to Russian aircraft. Now that the seizure is finalized, Canada says it will be giving the jet to Ukraine. The AN-124 was originally designed in Ukraine. While in Kyiv, Prime Minister Tredeau stated, according to Ukrainska Pravda: "Today, thanks to the legislation that we passed, we confiscate this aircraft, which was owned by Russia, and begin the process of transferring this asset to Ukraine so that it will never be used by Russia again in support of the war." The An-124s are important to Russia's massive logistics trail needed to support the war in Ukraine and other commitments abroad. With just a couple dozen in operational service across Russian charter and military operations, the type is key for moving outsized equipment, such as surface-to-air missile systems, and other materiel to forward locales. https://twitter.com/OmarAlghabra/status/1667574593811357696?s=20 General Sergei Shoigu, Russia's top military officer has stated that he wants to make it so all mercenary forces fall directly under the purview of the Russian military. Not just in command and control structure, but by those forces signing contracts directly with the Russian Ministry Of Defense. This comes after months of Wagner boss Prigozhin lambasting Shoigu for Russia's performance in Ukraine and often contrasting his mercenary forces abilities with the state of regular military forces in a poor light. Prigozhin says he will not comply with such an order. Regardless, the divide between Prigozhin and Shoigu appears to be quickly deepening. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1667810365869113344?s=20 https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1667858617200963584?s=20 https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1667878571736457218?s=20 Train traffic in the Kirovsky district of the occupied Crimean peninsula was temporarily suspended after damage to the tracks, Russian media and the Russian-installed regional governor said on his Telegram channel Sunday. "In Crimea, there was an explosion on the railway tracks," the Russian Baza media outlet reported on its Telegram channel Sunday. "According to preliminary data, it happened at about 4 pm, when a freight train was passing by. The explosion damaged the railroad tracks." There were no casualties. I am personally in control of the situation. I ask everyone to remain calm and trust only trusted sources of information, occupation governor Sergey Aksenov said on his Telegram channel Sunday. He later issued an update. Traffic on the railway section in the Kirovsky district of Crimea has been restored. Thanks to the employees of the Crimean Railway and other services who participated in the repair of damage. https://twitter.com/Lcheapoe/status/1667968241426391040 Another attack on a critical railway artery that leverages the land bridge between Russia and Crimea in southern Ukraine may have occurred as well, although there is no confirmation at this time. https://twitter.com/intermarium24/status/1667942396087406593?s=20 Another couple Russian 'franken-weapons' have hit the battlefield. This time a BTR-80 with a UB-32 aerial rocket pods and a pair of MTLBs with naval A-22 rocket launchers bolted on top of them. We have seen Russia increasingly raid its naval armaments and pairing them with in-service ground vehicles in an attempt to up their firepower. https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1667713927831224320?s=20 https://twitter.com/oryxspioenkop/status/1667486970497441792?s=20 Some new video purporting to show the aftermath of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam has surfaced. https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1667534014947753985?s=20 https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1667570635319697408?s=20 Meanwhile, the delicate balance that kept the flow of water in check in Southern Ukraine has been totally upended by the dam's destruction. Now the Northern Crimean Canal is nearly totally dried up. https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1667562379758977028?s=20 The sprawling, Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is in the process of shutting down its sixth and final active reactor. The 'cold shutdown mode' stops fission reaction and the subsequent heat it produces. With the supply of critical cooling water to the plant in jeopardy, the move was taken to reduce the chances of a nuclear catastrophe. Toyota techincals are a staple of conflict around the globe, and Ukraine is no different. https://twitter.com/praisethesteph/status/1667800423418286081?s=20 https://twitter.com/praisethesteph/status/1667861284711194624?s=20 Finally, Ukraine's embattled wildlife continues to capture the hearts of many, including these Ukrainian soldiers who seemed to have adopted their own battle racoon. Most likely name: Rocket. https://twitter.com/Heroiam_Slava/status/1667425339683766275?s=20 That's it for now. We'll update this story when there's more news to report about Ukraine. Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com Ukraine war latest: Ukraine liberates at least 3 settlements in Donetsk Oblast Key developments on June 11: Ukraine liberates 3 villages, makes progress in Donetsk Oblast Russian troops attack evacuation boat, killing 3, injuring 23 in Kherson Oblast Water level drops in Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka Dam disaster Russian forces blow smaller dam in Donetsk Oblast Ukraine returns 95 prisoners of war from Russian captivity As the counteroffensive continues, Ukrainian forces have reported the liberation of three settlements in eastern Donetsk Oblast. The military said the villages of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka were liberated, while Ukrainian forces also continued to storm the Russian position near the Russian-occupied cities of Donetsk and Bakhmut. The 7th Motorized Infantry Battalion of Ukraine's 129th Territorial Defense Brigade reported on June 11 that they liberated the village of Neskuchne on June 10. The announcement comes the same day the 68th separate Jaeger brigade reported on June 11 liberating the neighboring Blahodatne village and a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian forces was already ongoing. In addition, the Deputy Defense Minister reported that the Ukrainian forces liberated the village of Makarivka. All three liberated settlements are located just south of Velyka Novosilka, alongside the Mokri Yaly River. Valeriy Shershen, the military spokesperson, said on June 11 that the Russian forces blew up a small dam on the Mokri Yaly River, causing flooding on both banks in an attempt to slow down the Ukrainian counteroffensive. "This (the dam explosion and flooding) does not affect the counteroffensive actions," the spokesperson told Ukrainska Pravda media outlet, adding that the Ukrainian forces are now moving towards the village of Urozhaine, down the Mokri Yaly River. In addition, Deputy Defense Minister Maliar also reported that the Ukrainian forces have advanced by 250 meters near the Berkhove Reservoir area near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, while on the southern front, the army advanced in two directions from 300 to 1,500 meters. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces also reported on June 11 that the 59th Motorized Brigade reclaimed a Russian position near the front-line town of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. The industrial city of Avdiivka, located five kilometers north of Russian-occupied Donetsk, has been a target of Russian attacks since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine. "(We) liberated Kherson, we'll liberate Donetsk," the 59th brigade said. Donetsk, the major city in Donbas, has been under Russian occupation since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine. On Ukraines southern front line, tension reigns before decisive counteroffensive Editors note: As per the regulations of the unit, soldiers interviewed for this article, many of whom have relatives remaining in Russian-occupied territory, are identified by first name and/or callsign only. SOUTHEASTERN UKRAINE After months of seeing Russias war against Ukraine through the dr The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Russia attacks evacuees Russian troops have attacked an evacuation boat in a flooded area in Kherson Oblast, killing three and injuring 23 people, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on June 11. The number of casualties is being updated, according to the report. The deliberate killing of civilians at any time and in any place breaches the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime. The prosecutors opened an investigation into violations of the laws and customs of war. According to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, the people were being evacuated from the Russian-occupied east bank to the Ukrainian-controlled side of the Dnipro River when the attack occurred. The governor earlier said a 74-year-old man was killed while covering a woman with his body as Russian forces opened fire, shooting him in the back. Dozens of settlements on both sides of the Dnipro River are flooded after the June 6 Kakhovka Dam explosion. Ukraine accuses Russian forces of deliberately destroying the Kakhovka Dam, resulting in extensive flooding of numerous settlements along the banks of the Dnipro River. Intercepted communications between Russian soldiers on June 9 allegedly implicate Moscow's involvement. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, who is responsible for the evacuation of the civilians and animals from the flooded areas, said on June 11 that 2,718 people had been evacuated from Kherson Oblast. Five people were reported dead, and 35 are still considered missing, including seven children, the minister said. In Kherson Oblast, 46 settlements are still flooded, including 32 on the Ukrainian-controlled west bank and 14 on the Russian-occupied east bank. In neighboring Mykolaiv Oblast, 31 settlements were flooded, while one person was reported dead due to flooding. The rescuers evacuated 982 people from the region, according to the report. The total number of casualties isn't known in the east bank, which Russian forces are currently occupying. Meanwhile, the total flooded area in Kherson Oblast after the Kakhovka Dam disaster has nearly halved, decreasing from 139 to 77.8 square kilometers, the regional governor reported on June 11. The average water level has dropped to 4 meters, according to the report. On June 10, the water receded from three villages - Mykolaivka, Lvove, and Olhivka, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported on June 11. The roads between the villages are gradually drying up, but not all of them are usable yet, according to the report. This Week in Ukraine Ep. 11 Russias destruction of Ukrainian dam, and catastrophic flood it caused Episode #11 of our weekly video podcast This Week in Ukraine is dedicated to Russias destruction of Ukraines Kakhovka dam, and the catastrophic flood it caused. Host Anastasiia Lapatina is joined by the Kyiv Independent reporter Igor Kossov. Listen to the audio version of the podcast on Apple, The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina POWs return home President's Office Head Andriy Yermak reported on June 11 that 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war had returned home from Russian captivity as part of another prisoner swap. Defenders of Mariupol, Chornobyl, Snake Island, and Bakhmut, including officers from the ranks of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service, are among the returned POWs. Some of them were wounded in Russian captivity, according to the report. Ukraine has managed to return over 2,500 Ukrainian POWs. The recent POWs swap on May 25 brought home 106 Ukrainian POWs from Russian captivity. "All our people will be returned home. Working on it further," Yermak said on June 11. Ukraine's Air Force says Ukraine unlikely to run out of Patriot missiles Ukraine is very unlikely to run out of missiles for US-made Patriot missile systems, even in light of extensive Russian missile strikes in the recent months. Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraines Air Force, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Quote from Ihnat: " Ill tell you more: we wouldve run out of S-300 and Buk missiles a long time ago had it not been for our Western partners. The whole world is helping Ukraine, and Patriot missiles are part of that. Its not like they gave us Patriot [missile systems] and missiles once and thats it. Aircraft, HIMARS rocket launchers the West needs to constantly supply all these things. In turn, we are trying to use these weapons in an effective manner." Background: On 1 June, after arriving at the summit of the European Political Community in Moldova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the creation of a coalition of Patriot systems suppliers. This initiative was supported by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Houses are seen underwater in the flooded village near Kherson, Ukraine, Saturday, June 10, 2023. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine is swiftly evolving into long-term environmental catastrophe. It affects drinking water, food supplies and ecosystems reaching into the Black Sea. (AP Photo) KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam was a fast-moving disaster that is swiftly evolving into a long-term environmental catastrophe affecting drinking water, food supplies and ecosystems reaching into the Black Sea. The short-term dangers can be seen from outer space tens of thousands of parcels of land flooded, and more to come. Experts say the long-term consequences will be generational. For every flooded home and farm, there are fields upon fields of newly planted grains, fruits and vegetables whose irrigation canals are drying up. Thousands of fish were left gasping on mud flats. Fledgling water birds lost their nests and their food sources. Countless trees and plants were drowned. If water is life, then the draining of the Kakhovka reservoir creates an uncertain future for the region of southern Ukraine that was an arid plain until the damming of the Dnieper River 70 years ago. The Kakhovka Dam was the last in a system of six Soviet-era dams on the river, which flows from Belarus to the Black Sea. Then the Dnieper became part of the front line after Russia's invasion last year. All this territory formed its own particular ecosystem, with the reservoir included, said Kateryna Filiuta, an expert in protected habitats for the Ukraine Nature Conservation Group. THE SHORT TERM Ihor Medunov is very much part of that ecosystem. His work as a hunting and fishing guide effectively ended with the start of the war, but he stayed on his little island compound with his four dogs because it seemed safer than the alternative. Still, for months the knowledge that Russian forces controlled the dam downstream worried him. The six dams along the Dnieper were designed to operate in tandem, adjusting to each other as water levels rose and fell from one season to the next. When Russian forces seized the Kakhovka Dam, the whole system fell into neglect. Whether deliberately or simply carelessly, the Russian forces allowed water levels to fluctuate uncontrollably. They dropped dangerously low in winter and then rose to historic peaks when snowmelt and spring rains pooled in the reservoir. Until Monday, the waters were lapping into Medunov's living room. Now, with the destruction of the dam, he is watching his livelihood literally ebb away. The waves that stood at his doorstep a week ago are now a muddy walk away. The water is leaving before our eyes, he told The Associated Press. Everything that was in my house, what we worked for all our lives, its all gone. First it drowned, then, when the water left, it rotted. Since the dam's collapse Tuesday, the rushing waters have uprooted landmines, torn through caches of weapons and ammunition, and carried 150 tons of machine oil to the Black Sea. Entire towns were submerged to the rooflines, and thousands of animals died in a large national park now under Russian occupation. Rainbow-colored slicks already coat the murky, placid waters around flooded Kherson, the capital of southern Ukraine's province of the same name. Abandoned homes reek from rot as cars, first-floor rooms and basements remain submerged. Enormous slicks seen in aerial footage stretch across the river from the citys port and industrial facilities, demonstrating the scale of the Dniepers new pollution problem. Ukraines Agriculture Ministry estimated 10,000 hectares (24,000 acres) of farmland were underwater in the territory of Kherson province controlled by Ukraine, and many times more than that in territory occupied by Russia. Farmers are already feeling the pain of the disappearing reservoir. Dmytro Neveselyi, mayor of the village of Maryinske, said everyone in the community of 18,000 people will be affected within days. Today and tomorrow, well be able to provide the population with drinking water, he said. After that, who knows. The canal that supplied our water reservoir has also stopped flowing. THE LONG TERM The waters slowly began to recede on Friday, only to reveal the environmental catastrophe looming. The reservoir, which had a capacity of 18 cubic kilometers (14.5 million acre-feet), was the last stop along hundreds of kilometers of river that passed through Ukraine's industrial and agricultural heartlands. For decades, its flow carried the runoff of chemicals and pesticides that settled in the mud at the bottom. Ukrainian authorities are testing the level of toxins in the muck, which risks turning into poisonous dust with the arrival of summer, said Eugene Simonov, an environmental scientist with the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, a non-profit organization of activists and researchers. The extent of the long-term damage depends on the movement of the front lines in an unpredictable war. Can the dam and reservoir be restored if fighting continues there? Should the region be allowed to become arid plain once again? Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrij Melnyk called the destruction of the dam the worst environmental catastrophe in Europe since the Chernobyl disaster. The fish and waterfowl that had come to depend on the reservoir "will lose the majority of their spawning grounds and feeding grounds, Simonov said. Downstream from the dam are about 50 protected areas, including three national parks, said Simonov, who co-authored a paper in October warning of the potentially disastrous consequences, both upstream and downstream, if the Kakhovka Dam came to harm. It will take a decade for the flora and fauna populations to return and adjust to their new reality, according to Filiuta. And possibly longer for the millions of Ukrainians who lived there. In Maryinske, the farming community, they are combing archives for records of old wells, which they'll unearth, clean and analyze to see if the water is still potable. Because a territory without water will become a desert, the mayor said. Further afield, all of Ukraine will have to grapple with whether to restore the reservoir or think differently about the region's future, its water supply, and a large swath of territory that is suddenly vulnerable to invasive species just as it was vulnerable to the invasion that caused the disaster to begin with. The worst consequences will probably not affect us directly, not me, not you, but rather our future generations, because this man-made disaster is not transparent, Filiuta said. The consequences to come will be for our children or grandchildren, just as we are the ones now experiencing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, not our ancestors. ___ Hinnant reported from Paris. Novikov reported from Kyiv. Jamey Keaten in Kyiv and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kherson, Ukraine, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Ukraine's intelligence says they still do not know whereabouts of prisoners handed over to Hungary by Russia As of now, Ukraine does not have any information about the location of the prisoners of war (POWs) handed over to Hungary, as previously announced by the Russian Orthodox Church. Source: Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "As of now, we have no information that the fact (handing POWs over to Hungary ed.) has happened, that the captives are already on the territory of this country (Hungary ed.) and are free. Since Ukraine is a civilised state, the most important things for us are people and human lives. We hope that some Ukrainians will be free as a result of these manipulations by the aggressor state." Details: Yusov emphasised that Ukraine would find out the details by conducting talks with all parties involved in the process of handing over the servicemen. "The topic is sensitive, any word can affect the result here. We will talk with all the participants in this process and find out the details," said the representative from Ukrainian Defence Intelligence. Yusov also noted that the Kremlin is not complying with the Geneva Conventions. "The fact remains that Russia does not comply with humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, but uses them and manipulates them in its own interests," he said. Background: Zsolt Semjen, Hungarys Deputy Prime Minister for Religious Affairs, confirmed the handover of 11 Transcarpathian Hungarian prisoners of war, which had previously been reported by the Russian Orthodox Church. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has responded to information from the Hungarian authorities concerning the handover of 11 prisoners of war who are ethnic Hungarians from the Zakarpattia (Transcarpathian) Oblast of Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Zelenskyy at a meeting with the head of the operational department of the headquarters of the Ground Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Komarenko (first on the left), Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskiy and Commander of the Tavria operational-strategic grouping of troops Oleksandr Tarnavskyi (right) on June 8, 2023 "I am in touch daily with our commanders in various areas, including (Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr) Syrskiy, (Commander of the Tavria operational-strategic grouping of troops, General Oleksandr) Tarnavskyi, (Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Eduard) Moskalyov, (Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy) Nayev, and (Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii) Zaluzhnyi, Zelesnkyy said. Everyone is positive. Tell that to (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin," Zelenskyy said without going into detail, when asked how the Ukrainian counter-offensive was going. Read also: Russia spreading fake stories about Ukrainian counter-offensive, says Ukrainian military "Counter-offensive and defensive actions are underway in Ukraine I wont go into detail about which stage," Zelenskyy said. "I would not trust Telegram channels or Putin. We must trust our military,"the president added. Some Western media, including U.S. newspaper the Washington Post, reported on June 8 that Ukraine had launched its long-expected counter-offensive against Russia, referring to intensifying of the Ukrainian army's combat actions on the front line in the countrys southeast. Bloomberg reported Ukrainian success in the southern direction on June 9, however with great losses in equipment. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have achieved tactical success at the border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the Institution for the Study of War said on June 9. Read also: Ukraine gains ground near Bakhmut, city is now half-encircled MoD However, the start of the counter-offensive won't be officially announced, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said earlier. The Ukrainian army has conducted somewhat successful offensive actions in the Zaporizhzhya section of the front, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on June 5. At the same time, Ukrainian forces are reported to be advancing in and around the Donetsk town of Bakhmut, which was earlier captured by the Russian and practically destroyed. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian defenders kill another 1,000 Russians and destroy about 100 units of equipment Ukrainian defenders have killed another 980 Russian invaders and destroyed 17 tanks and 24 armoured combat vehicles. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24 February 2022 to 11 June 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses ed.]: approximately 215,640 (+980) military personnel 3926 (+17) tanks 7,631 (+24) armoured combat vehicles 3,736 (+19) artillery systems 601 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems 362 (+0) air defence systems 314 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft 299 (+0) helicopters 3,300 (+37) operational-tactical UAVs 1,183 (+7) cruise missiles 18 (+0) ships/boats 6,461 (+33) vehicles and tankers 509 (+2) special vehicles The data is being confirmed. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian defenders shot down three Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones that the Russians launched at Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the night of 10-11 June. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Last night, defenders from the Air Command Skhid (East) hit the enemy drones. Three Shahed drones sent by the occupiers to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast were destroyed at once." Details: Lysak has said that the occupiers also fired heavy artillery in the Marhanets hromada, Nikopol district, at night. He has added that no people were injured, and other consequences of the attack are being investigated (hromada is a territorial unit including a town, village and adjacent settlements ed.). Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has reported that Ukrainian forces achieved certain localised successes during counterattacks to the southwest and southeast of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to geolocation data from 10 June. Source: the ISW Details: The ISW has noted that despite the fact that geolocation footage indicates localised successes of the Ukrainian Defence Forces southwest and southeast of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian military commanders continue to claim that their troops in the area are successfully defending against Ukrainian offensive attempts. The analysts have said that Russian troops in Zaporizhzhia Oblast continue to defend themselves against Ukrainian attacks in accordance with sound tactical defence doctrine. Quote: "ISW previously assessed that Russian forces responded to the start of Ukrainian counteroffensive operations in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast following established Russian doctrine, which calls for a first echelon of troops to repel or slow attacking forces with minefields, fortifications, and strongpoints, and a second echelon of forces to counterattack against any enemy breakthrough. Russian reporting of Ukrainian assaults in southern Ukraine in recent days suggests a pattern in which Ukrainian forces conduct limited breakthroughs and temporarily occupy new positions before Russian forces later recapture or push Ukrainian forces out of those positions. This tactical pattern indicates that Russian forces have likely maintained doctrinally sound defensive operations in southern Ukraine." More details: The ISW has said that Ukrainian forces are currently attempting an extremely difficult tactical operation a frontal assault on prepared defensive positions, which is complicated by the lack of air superiority. The Institute has also noted that the initial assaults by Ukrainian forces should not be extrapolated to predict all Ukrainian operations. "Ukrainian forces are unsurprisingly taking casualties in initial attacks against some of the best-prepared Russian forces in Ukraine. However, initial attacks and particularly selected footage that Russian sources are intentionally disseminating and highlighting are not representative of all Ukrainian operations. The Russian military remains dangerous and Ukrainian forces certainly face a hard fight, but Ukraine has not yet committed the vast majority of its counteroffensive forces and Russian defenses are not uniformly strong along all sectors of the front line," the ISW added. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Editors Note: This is issue 91 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from June 3-8, 2023. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine. This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union within the project Supporting Ukraine in rebuilding and recovery implemented by the KSE Institute. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. Corporate governance of SOEs HACC rejects NABUs motion to extend the pre-trial investigation of the Kobolyev case for the third time. On June 5, the law firm Miller, which represents former Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev, reported that the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) did not grant the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) detectives motion to extend the pre-trial investigation in the case involving Kobolyevs bonuses. According to Miller, the prosecutions motion requested a six-month extension to carry out a number of investigative actions. In SOE Weekly (Issue 88), we reported that the HACC would consider NABUs motion to extend the pre-trial investigation of the Kobolyev case again. In Issue 83, we reported that the HACC dismissed the previous motion of the NABU detective to extend the pre-trial investigation against Kobolyev. Shortly after the ruling, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) said that the pre-trial investigation had been completed and its materials were available to the suspect (Kobolyev) and his defense (see Issue 83). As we reported earlier, on Jan. 19, NABU and SAPO notified Kobolyev that he was suspected of misappropriating (illegally awarding himself) over Hr 229 million ($6.3 million) in 2018, which was part of the bonuses granted to Naftogazs team in May 2018 for the companys historic victory against Russias Gazprom in Stockholms court of arbitration. For an extended background on the Kobolyev case, see SOE Weeklys Issues 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 83, 84, and 88. For a detailed analysis of this case from a corporate governance perspective, see a series of columns by SOE Weekly team members Andriy Boytsun, Oleksandr Lysenko, and Dmytro Yablonovskyy: Are Kobolyevs bonuses a threat to corporate governance reform? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Zelensky says counteroffensive ongoing in Ukraine From my point of view, counteroffensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference following a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv on June 10. The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko The state owns 3,256 SOEs at the central level. The Ukrainian state owned 3,256 companies as of Jan. 1. The SOE Weekly team has established this after consulting the updated Unified Registry of State-Owned Objects. According to the same registry, there were 3,378 SOEs as of Jan. 1, 2022. This implies that their number declined by 122 SOEs, or 3.6% of the total SOE portfolio, during 2022. (Note that this number does not include at least 14,000 enterprises owned by local authorities, for which no reliable statistics are available.) The SOE Weekly team analyzed the SOE list by the company name. Based on the names, at least 2,384 (73%) out of the 3,256 entities are registered as state unitary enterprises. Note that the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU), which maintains the Unified Registry, has only published the names of SOEs for the 2023 list, unlike the data disclosed for 2022, which included additional information such as the legal form, EDRPOU code, location, ownership entity, the main type of business activity, financials, and legal status. The limitation of data published may be due to security reasons during wartime, particularly when it comes to disclosing the specific locations of SOEs. However, other indicators that do not include sensitive data could be published to enable public oversight of SOEs. Non-standard legal forms for SOEs such as the state unitary enterprise are not in line with the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of SOEs. Note that on Jan. 12, Draft Law No. 6013 was adopted in the first reading. In particular, the bill aims to facilitate the conversion of state enterprises into standard legal forms, such as joint-stock companies or limited liability companies. The proposed legislation sets a seven-year timeframe for the corporatization of all state enterprises. In SOE Weekly (Issue 79), we reported that on March 14, the Cabinet of Ministers approved its Priority Action Plan for 2023. The plan includes further reform of SOEs, which involves reducing their number through privatization, liquidation, and reorganization. The governments action plan and the SPFUs Unified Registry provide no indication of plans for further privatization, liquidation, or state ownership of specific SOEs. SOE Weekly editorial team members Andriy Boytsun and Dmytro Yablonovskyi authored the Privatization and Corporate Governance section of the report Economic priorities in post-war Ukraine by CASE Poland and CASE Ukraine. The report emphasizes the need for Ukraine to approve an updated state ownership policy at the parliamentary level, clearly outlining the rationale for state ownership of enterprises. Boytsun and Yablonovskyi argue that it is crucial to complete the triage of SOEs, categorizing them into those to be privatized, liquidated, or owned by the state, based on the updated state ownership policy. There are currently no legislative initiatives to introduce a state ownership policy or public information on the triage process. Banks The share of NPLs in state-owned banks grows to 53%. The National Bank of Ukraine reported that the non-performing loans (NPLs) at state-owned banks accounted for as much as 53% of their total loan portfolio as of May 1. Note that the share of NPLs in private banks was 22%. The share of NPLs in state-owned banks was 46% as of Feb. 1, 2022. It has grown to 53% as of May 1, 2023, in tandem with the Russian invasion. However, PrivatBanks NPL share fell by 1 percentage point, from 68% to 67%, during the same period. The other state-owned banks including Ukreximbank, Oschadbank, and Ukrgasbank saw a sharp increase in NPLs by more than 15 percentage points, reaching 43% from an initial 27%. The increase in the share of NPLs at state-owned banks other than PrivatBank is primarily attributed to the growth in the NPL share denominated in foreign currency, rising by 24 percentage points, from 23% to 47%. This increase is likely due to the significant devaluation of the hryvnia against the U.S. dollar, with the official exchange rate changing from 28.4 UAH/USD in February 2022 to 36.6 UAH/USD in May 2023. This discrepancy may also be due to PrivatBanks focus on retail banking after nationalization, which was less affected by Russias large-scale aggression, while the other banks had substantial corporate loan portfolios, including loans to state-owned enterprises. Note that we require additional data to test this hypothesis. Note also that we should anticipate a further increase in the share of NPLs in state-owned banks following the nationalization of Sense Bank (previously Alpha-Bank). Energy Ukrhydroenergo reports on the destruction of Kakhovka HPP, which was blown up by Russian forces. On June 6, Ukrhydroenergo reported that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (Kakhovka HPP) was destroyed beyond restoration after the Russians set off a massive explosion in the engine room. State-owned Ukrhydroenergo holds the assets of the Kakhovka HPP. According to the Ministry of Energys June 6 report, the ensuing flood threatened to drown energy facilities in Kherson Oblast, including the Kherson Combined Heat and Power Plant. The explosion of the Kakhovka HPP could have negative consequences for the operation of Europes largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is currently under Russian occupation. The water from the Kakhovka reservoir is needed to provide the Zaporizhzhia NPP with water to cool turbine condensers and safety systems, the European Pravda explained. On June 6, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its experts were closely monitoring the situation, and that there was no immediate risk to nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhia NPP after the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that at the current rate of decline in the level of the Kakhovka reservoir, water to feed turbine condensers and safety systems at the Zaporizhzhia NPP would last for several days, but there are alternative water sources that could last for months unless these are destroyed. State-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom, which holds the assets of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, also said that the situation at the plant remains under control. The Kakhovka HPP itself is completely destroyed. Ukrhydroenergos CEO Ihor Syrota said that the only option is to build a new facility from scratch in its place. According to him, after the de-occupation of the Ukrainian territories, Ukrhydroenergo will build a new power plant. This would take at least five years, Syrota said. He also noted that the Kakhovka reservoir would be refilled as soon as possible after de-occupation. The construction of a new HPP could cost about $1 billion, the Ministry of Economy said. According to preliminary estimates by the Ministry of the Environment and the State Environmental Inspectorate, water resources have been damaged by an equivalent of Hr 2 billion ($54.7 million), and this amount will only grow. The consequences of the explosion could also have a negative effect on agriculture in the southern regions of Ukraine: According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the water spill flooded approximately 10,000 hectares of agricultural land on the west bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. On the (currently occupied) east bank, this area is several times larger. It will also hurt the regions ecology and has forced the authorities to evacuate people from the flooded areas. Water supply problems were observed in some towns of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Health issues are also possible. According to the Ministry of Health, water in the flooded areas may soon become unusable. On June 7, the Ministry of Energy reported that due to the explosion and the resulting flood, 20,000 consumers in Kherson Oblast were without electricity 129 transformer substations in Kherson and two solar plants in Mykolaiv region were flooded. According to Ukrenergo, it is working together with Ukrhydroenergo on scenarios to balance Ukraines power system after the loss of the power plant. The operation mode of hydroelectric power plants is being changed to reduce the volume of water entering the Kakhovka reservoir to reduce flooding. Currently, electricity generation is sufficient to meet the needs of consumers, Ukrenergo added. Saving lives from Russias flood: Inside inundated, shelled Kherson Since Russias full-scale war began, first came eight months of terror under occupation, then came seven months of intense shelling across the river, then came the river itself to Kherson. Over 24 hours after Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its massive The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell The Cabinet determines how much gas should be in storage before the start of the heating season. On May 22, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that Ukraine should have more than 14 billion cubic metres of gas in its storage facilities by the beginning of the next heating season (usually mid-October). According to Shmyhal, Ukraine aims to minimize gas imports by increasing domestic production. According to Naftogaz, during the previous heating season, from Oct. 7, 2022, to mid-April 2023, 5.6 billion cubic meters of gas were withdrawn from storage. In April 2023, gas storage operator Ukrtransgaz, a Naftogaz company, started injecting gas into underground storage facilities. According to the Ministry of Energy, as of the morning of June 7, gas reserves exceeded 9.7 billion cubic meters. In SOE Weekly (Issue 69), we reported on the resignation of Naftogazs previous CEO Yuriy Vitrenko. According to Ekonomichna Pravda (EP), Vitrenko resigned because of his differences in opinion and tensions with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, particularly about the reform priorities for Naftogaz, the Cabinets requirement that the company should defer payments on Eurobonds leading to the default of Naftogaz, and gas volumes required for the winter of 2022-2023. EP wrote that the conflict between Shmyhal and Vitrenko arose amid disagreements over the amount of gas needed in underground storage facilities before the start of the heating season. In June 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers instructed Naftogaz to accumulate 19 billion cubic meters by the start of the heating season, while Vitrenko argued that 15 billion would be enough to get through the winter. On Oct. 20, 2022, the stocks in the storage facilities amounted to about 14.2 billion, EP added. Defense Ukroboronprom and Czech company VOP CZ to jointly repair Ukrainian T-64 tanks. On June 6, Ukroboronprom reported that it had signed a contract with the Czech state-owned defense company VOP CZ for the joint repair of T-64 tanks for the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine. According to the company, the repairs would be carried out in Novy Jicin under the technical supervision of Ukroboronprom specialists. VOP CZ employees have already visited Ukroboronprom enterprises to establish cooperation, Ukroboronprom said. According to Ukroboronproms CEO Yuriy Husyev, this is part of a deal to establish a joint defense cluster with the Czech Republic, which Ukroboronprom and the Intergovernmental Defense Co-operation Agency (AMOS) signed in November 2022. The cooperation envisages the production of military equipment, increased production of ammunition of various calibers (both at existing facilities and at newly created ones in safe locations), development of service hubs for maintenance and repair of equipment, as well as cooperation in the field of high-tech, including the establishment of joint research centers. VOP CZ is an enterprise fully owned by the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic. It specializes in military technology, machine production, and development. According to the companys website, it is a leading Czech manufacturer and provider of repairs, modernization, and servicing in the field of defense and security. The company has its own development center with competitive projects utilized by the Czech Armed Forces, security units, and the civil sector. In SOE Weekly (Issue 88), we reported that Ukroboronprom signed an agreement with the German company Rheinmetall, one of the world leaders in the defense industry, to set up a joint venture to repair tanks in Ukraine. In Issue 74, we reported that Ukroboronprom announced that it had begun producing 120-mm mortar shells jointly with an undisclosed NATO member state. According to the company, the 120-mm mortar shell was the first product to be jointly produced by Ukraine and a NATO member state. Recently, Ukroboronprom signed a contract with Ukraines Defense Ministry for the supply of these munitions. In Issue 79, we reported that Ukroboronprom had begun producing 125-mm shells for tanks jointly with a NATO member state. The first batch of 125-mm shells for T-64, T-72, and T-80 tanks, which are used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has already been delivered, according to Ukroboronprom. In Issue 80, we reported that Ukroboronprom announced that it shipped the first batch of domestic 122 mm shells to the Armed Forces, which it had produced abroad. This Week in Ukraine Ep. 11 Russias destruction of Ukrainian dam, and catastrophic flood it caused Episode #11 of our weekly video podcast This Week in Ukraine is dedicated to Russias destruction of Ukraines Kakhovka dam, and the catastrophic flood it caused. Host Anastasiia Lapatina is joined by the Kyiv Independent reporter Igor Kossov. Listen to the audio version of the podcast on Apple, The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina Infrastructure Ukrzaliznytsia to receive a 6.7 million euro grant from the EIB. On June 2, Ukrzaliznytsia reported that it had signed a 6.7 million euro grant agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the companys operations during Russias full-scale war against Ukraine. This EUs grant was originally earmarked for the improvement and electrification of part of the Ukrainian railway system. The needs changed with the war, Ukrzaliznytsia said. Following a decision by the European Commission, the original grant was re-purposed as urgent emergency support to Ukrzaliznytsia to ensure the continuation of the railways operations and meet the urgent needs of passengers and humanitarian aid, the company explained. In SOE Weekly (Issue 90), we reported that Ukrzaliznytsia would receive a $25 million grant from the World Bank. In Issue 88, we reported that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) would provide 200 million euro (apparently, as a loan) to rebuild Ukraines railways. In Issue 72, we reported that Ukrzaliznytsia took losses of Hr 10.8 billion ($295 million) in 2022. The loss from passenger transportation was Hr 13.3 billion, or $ 364 million(suggesting that the companys other segments, such as cargo transportation, made a profit of 2.5 billion). Ukrzaliznytsia was also expected to lose Hr 20.2 billion ($552 million) in 2023 due to the large social burden and restrictions on cargo transportation. In Issue 68, we reported that after Russias full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian government gave Ukrzaliznytsia new responsibilities. We also detailed the financial support that the government, Ukrgasbank, and international partners provided to Ukrzaliznytsia throughout 2022. Confiscation of the aggressor states assets, nationalization, and asset seizure The Verkhovna Rada passed a law allowing the nationalization of Sense Bank, owned by sanctioned oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven. On May 29, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Draft Law No. 9107-1, which allows the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to nationalize banks of sanctioned owners this applies to the last major Russian bank in Ukraine, Sense Bank (which had operated under the name Alfa-Bank until Dec. 1, 2022). According to EP, after the start of the full-scale war, Western banks refused to transfer funds to the accounts of companies in Alfa-Bank because of the threat of sanctions, even though the Ukrainian institution has never been on the sanction lists. The authorities attitude toward the bank has also changed during the war. A year ago, there was a consensus to maintain the status quo about Alfa-Bank until the war ended. However, in autumn 2022, the highest government offices showed the political will to nationalize the assets of Russian oligarchs in Ukraine, EP added. The banks co-owner Fridman resisted this in every way possible. He tried to agree on a $1 billion injection into the bank to preserve this asset. However, the talks about additional capitalization failed, the media reported. As usual, the law will enter into force after it is signed by the president. The NBU will then be obliged to withdraw Sense Bank from the market and begin its nationalization. This would involve the NBU, the Deposit Guarantee Fund of Ukraine (DGF), the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Depository of Ukraine (NDU), EP explained. According to EP, the clients of Sense Bank should not be impacted by the nationalization. Sense Bank would become the fifth bank owned by the state (after PrivatBank, Oschadbank, Ukreximbank, and Ukrgasbank). After its nationalization, the states share in the Ukrainian banking systems assets would increase from 53.15% to 56.64%. According to EP, Sense Bank is the 10th largest in the country, with assets of Hr 97.65 billion ($2.7 billion). Before the full-scale war, the institutions assets exceeded Hr 120 billion ($3.3 billion), but have been gradually declining since then. The bank has a large portfolio of corporate loans worth Hr 27.63 billion ($755 million). Individuals owe the bank Hr 11.72 billion ($320 million). Theodore Kaczynski is seen in 1996. The so-called Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski is seen in 1996. The so-called Unabomber" died on Saturday after being found unresponsive in his prison cell, authorities said. Authorities are reportedly investigating Ted Kaczynskis death as a suicide. The so-called Unabomber, who killed three people and injured nearly two dozen more in a series of bombings between 1978 and 1995, was found unresponsive in his prison cell early Saturday, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said. The 81-year-old was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities have not officially released a cause or manner of death, though multiple news outlets, including The Associated Press and The New York Times, citing people familiar with the matter, have reported that he took his own life. Kaczynski had been moved to a prison medical facility in Butner, North Carolina, in late 2021 due to health problems in recent years. Prior to this, he had served more than 25 years in a Supermax federal prison in Colorado. Kaczynskis suspected suicide follows the 2019 prison death of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. It renews questions about whether prison officials could have done more to ensure his safety, as well as Kaczwnskis. Epstein was found to have hanged himself while facing sex trafficking and conspiracy charges in a Manhattan federal detention center, though there are conspiracy theories that he was murdered in his cell. The Federal Bureau of Prisons attributed staffing shortages, lack of training and employees cutting corners for his death, according to federal documents obtained by the AP. A representative with the Federal Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Related... I uncovered photos from my grandparents' Amtrak ride 40 years ago. Then, I booked a trip to try to recreate them. My grandparents rode an Amtrak Superliner in the 1980s. Courtesy of JB Bergin I found my grandfather's photos from an Amtrak ride he took in 1984. It inspired me to take an Amtrak journey and use the same film camera to snap photos. The uniforms have changed a lot but Amtrak still uses a lot of the same colors and features. In October 1984, my grandparents took an Amtrak train from Denver to northern California so that my grandmother could attend a library conference. They flew from their Massachusetts home to Denver and hopped on the California Zephyr Amtrak, which still runs almost the same route today. My grandfather, though a doctor by profession, took hundreds of photos everywhere they went with a Canon AE-1 and a Leica. About 40 years later, I found perfectly preserved slide trays from this trip (and others) while opening boxes in my grandma's house. While going through them, I was able to step into the past and I felt inspired to take an Amtrak ride of my own with the same camera. My grandfather's photos documented what it was like riding an Amtrak train in 1984 The Amtrak Superliner still has two floors. Courtesy of JB Bergin They rode a Superliner, which has two levels to accommodate more passengers. You can still ride these types of train cars around the country on 11 different Amtrak routes. Amtrak has used the same color scheme for decades. Courtesy of JB Bergin From 1972 to 1993 Amtrak trains were painted with relatively uniform colors and stripes. In 1984, when my grandparents traveled, Amtrak likely would've still been using its original logo that featured a custom Helvetica font, chevron-style Amtrak Arrow, and red, white, and blue. The company used this logo until about 1999. Some of Amtrak's Superliners including the one my grandparents were on have sightseer lounges with floor-to-ceiling windows. Observation cars still exist, but they might look slightly different today. Courtesy of JB Bergin Today, seven Superliner trains have observation rooms like this one. When I spoke to my grandmother, she recalled looking through the observation-car windows to see the canyons in Utah and other views along the route. My grandmother remembered sitting in the observation cars. Courtesy of JB Bergin My grandfather also captured what Amtrak crew members were wearing at the time for the snowy trip from Denver to San Francisco. The crew member he photographed was wearing a red cardigan and matching hat. An Amtrak crew member dressed for the snowy trip from Denver to San Francisco in 1984. Courtesy of JB Bergin According to Amtrak's history blog, the company had a uniform shift in the 1980s. Employees at this time would've been able to choose from different "timeless accessories" like cardigans and sweaters so they could put together their own unique look. With my grandpa's Canon in hand, I rode an Amtrak train and tried to recreate some of the photos he took I boarded the Lake Shore Limited from Cleveland to Boston on March 10 and tried to recreate some of the photos my grandfather took on his 1984 trip. I used his camera, a Canon AE-1, which had been kept safe and in perfect working condition. Using it was straightforward to use once I was able to find the manual for it online. For film, I used a Kodak Ultramax 400, a stock I've photographed with for many years. The entrance to coach and the view from coach to the cafe car on my train. JB Bergin My train, being a Viewliner, only had one level. Unlike the train my grandparents took, this type of train doesn't offer an observation deck on board. Still, the train's large windows provided me with some beautiful views during my 15-hour train ride. Amtrak uniforms have changed a lot since my grandparents' travels Today, Amtrak uniforms are mostly navy. JB Bergin The staff uniforms have gone through several evolutions since Amtrak's founding in 1971 as different designers took charge. I was able to photograph two Amtrak employees on my trip, and both wore navy-blue Amtrak zip-up windbreakers. Although the look is different from the red one my grandfather captured, it's clear that staying warm has remained important with these uniforms. My train's exterior had a lot of the same colors as my grandparents' ride The Amtrak train I was on had a nod to the past. JB Bergin The Lake Shore Limited has been in service since 1975. My specific train happened to be part of Amtrak's Heritage Unit, which celebrated 40 years of the company in 2011 by painting a number of modern train cars in color schemes from previous generations of Amtrak. Either way, Amtrak still uses the patriotic color scheme of red, white, and blue on most of its trains. The current Amtrak logo, which features three curved rail lines, has been in use since 2000. In terms of color, Amtrak hasn't changed its train designs too much. JB Bergin Overall, a lot has changed about Amtrak since my grandparents took their trip in 1984. But despite new uniforms, designs, and cars, the most important aspect of taking an Amtrak the trip and the journey felt very much the same to me. Read the original article on Insider File. A US citizen has reportedly been detained in Russia after an appearance in a Moscow court (Associated Press) A US citizen has been detained in Russia on drug trafficking charges, local reports said. According to Moscows courts of general jurisdiction, the man was detained on Saturday when the Khamovniki District Court of Moscow took a preventive measure against an American citizen. In a statement on Telegram, the court described the man as a former paratrooper and musician who is now accused of engaging in the narcotics business through attracting young people. A preventative measure in the form of detention was taken, the statement added, according to CNN. Russias TASS news agency quoted a US State Department spokesperson as saying that the US was aware of the reports that an American had been detained in Moscow. The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens abroad. We are aware of reports of the recent arrest of a US citizen in Moscow, the spokesperson said. When a US citizen is detained overseas, the Department pursues consular access as soon as possible and works to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment. The man will reportedly remain in custody in Moscow until 6 August 2023. Russian media reported that the US citizen is charged with large-scale illegal production, sale or trafficking of narcotic drugs. The US state department reportedly declined to identify the man citing privacy considerations but the Russian local media revealed the identity of the American. A street in Havana, Cuba. Stock Photo via Getty Images China has been using a spy base in Cuba to electronically track signals from U.S. military installations since at least 2019, a Biden administration official said Saturday. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Politico and other outlets that the spy base was an issue that had been inherited from the previous Trump administration, noting it was not constructed under President Biden's watch. The official said that when Biden took office, his administration was "briefed on a number of sensitive PRC efforts around the world to expand its overseas logistics, basing, and collection infrastructure globally," referring to the People's Republic of China. China had "conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. This is well-documented in the intelligence record," the official added. Biden was briefed on the issue upon taking office, the official said, and directed his team to address the issue. The Wall Street Journal first reported on Thursday that China and Cuba had reached an agreement to allow the construction of an "electronic eavesdropping facility" on the island. The Journal's report was initially dismissed by John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, who said the report was "not accurate." Kirby did say, though, that the U.S. had "real concerns about China's relationship with Cuba." However, another anonymous official corroborated the Journal's report, though they confirmed the spy base already existed and was not currently being built. The spy base marks a potential watershed moment between the U.S. and Cuba, a Communist country that had no relations with the U.S. for decades until diplomatic ties were restored in 2015 by former President Barack Obama. Carlos F. de Cossio, a Cuban foreign minister, tweeted that the existence of a Chinese spy base was "scandalous speculation" from the U.S. You may also like 4 things to consider when leaving an inheritance Does CNN's 'meltdown' spell doom for centrist cable news? 5 hole-in-one cartoons about the PGA merger Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin says he will resist Russian military efforts to take control of mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary force, speaks in Paraskoviivka, Ukraine. Concord Press Service/via REUTERS The Wagner mercenary group has played a key role in the Ukraine War. But tensions over strategy with Russia's military leaders have escalated in recent months. Russia's military may be now trying to take control of Wagner and Prigozhin is having none of it. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the mercenary Wagner Group, was once a darling of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But that relationship appears to be souring. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov announced Saturday that "volunteer" groups fighting in the Ukraine War would be required to sign contracts with the country's defense ministry. The move is widely seen as an effort to bring the Wagner Group under official military control, the BBC reported. "This will give volunteer formations the necessary legal status, create common approaches to the organization of comprehensive support and the fulfillment of their tasks," the ministry said in a statement. Prigozhin, however, is not having it. In response, the mercenary leader said he would not sign any contracts with the Defense Ministry, according to the BBC. "Shoigu cannot properly manage military formation," Prigozhin said, referring to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin first rose to prominence by running a restaurant and catering group in Moscow that was a Putin favorite. He eventually became known as Putin's Chef before graduating to more consequential affairs and establishing the Wagner mercenary organization. Prigozhin is well known for his exploits in Africa, where his mercenaries work to destabilize the region in Russia's favor mostly in the form of gold mining. Wagner has also operated across the Middle East, including Syria and Libya, and dozens of other countries around the world. His organization, however, became a near-household name across the world after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Wagner forces led the charge for a period of time in the key Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, filling its ranks by offering freedom to Russian prisoners. Prigozhin, however, eventually clashed with Russia's military leaders during the battle to control Bakhmut, accusing them of incompetence and withholding much-needed arms and ammunition. The tensions have even led to battlefield clashes between Wagner and Russian forces. Last week Wagner forces detained a Russian army officer who it said fired on the mercenary group. Wagner has also accused the Russian military of mining the roads the mercenary group used to retreat from Bakhmut. Read the original article on Business Insider Residents of Kherson near the flooded houses Overnight, the water level dropped another 26 centimeters. "Thirty-two liberated settlements remain flooded," Prokudin said. There are 3,784 flooded houses, the water is gradually receding. In the morning its level was 4 meters 19 centimeters. Overnight, it dropped by 26 centimeters. On the right (west) bank, 2,716 people have been evacuated. Read also: Water levels are dropping in Nova Kakhovka, but the floodwaters washed out graves in a nearby village However, on the occupied east bank of Kherson Oblast, there is no such good news. "The rate of water recession has decreased," added the governor. The evacuation has failed. The occupiers are taking away people's boats and swimming around the flooded houses themselves, looting the surviving property. Russian tactics of terror and plunder have once again manifested themselves. The official said that the region continues to receive aid. Many oblasts have opened special humanitarian headquarters to bring aid to Kherson. According to Prokudin, international organizations, charitable foundations and volunteers from all over Ukraine are helping to eliminate the consequences of the Russian-created flooding disaster. "Specialists are monitoring the water condition in city networks and in settlements where there is no centralized water supply," the governor said. Read also: Russian soldiers confirm that Russian sabotage group intentionally destroyed Kakhovka dam audio intercept We have organized the delivery of bottled water. Hospitals are provided with the necessary medicines. Medicines are also delivered in humanitarian convoys. The public health situation in the region remains stable with no outbreaks of infectious diseases reported at this time. On June 10, Kherson city authorities announced that the water level in the flooded areas of Kherson had dropped by more than one meter, but residents of the Ostriv neighborhood were nevertheless urged to evacuate. Nova Kakhovka dam breach what is known During the night of June 6, Russian forces, which have occupied the town of Nova Kakhovka for over a year, blew up the dam, completely or partially flooding downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, including the regional capital of Kherson, Ukrainian authorities say. The evacuation of citizens in the affected areas on the west bank of the Dnipro River has been ongoing throughout the night. Meanwhile, a humanitarian disaster is underway on the east bank, which is under Russian occupation and suffered a great deal more due to its lower elevation. Read also: Military expert explains Russias decision to destroy Kakhovka dam, details preparations Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the evacuation of at-risk areas and the provision of drinking water to towns and villages served by the affected Kakhovka Reservoir. The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is completely destroyed, with no possibility of its repair, Ukrainian state hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo said. Not all of the dam was destroyed, but it suffered significant damage, the Ukrainian militarys South Operational Command said. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation on the incident under the charge of ecocide. President Zelenskyy called Russia's attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Nisqually Tribe has a very limited amount of land in Thurston County. Covering an area of less than three square miles along the Nisqually River and surrounded by a military base, Wayne Lloyd said the tribe really needs to protect what little it has. Lloyd, the tribes Building Department director, has been on a mission since he started four years ago to make the tribe more energy efficient so it can reduce what it spends on gas and electricity every year. As a result, hes well on his way to making the reservation completely free of its energy bills, thanks to a partnership with Puget Sound Energy (PSE). Already the tribe is saving up to $150,000 over the next 10 years after PSE crews upgraded and retrofitted the reservations lighting with nearly 700 new LED lights. The lighting retrofits, combined with solar energy panels on the reservation, are saving the tribe more than $100,000 every year. And there are more projects like it to come. Its showing our mission statement to the world that, Hey, were responsible and were taking care of the land here, Lloyd said. It has felt like a natural fit for us here to go down that path. Gerald Tracy with PSE said the utility companys outreach manager Tommy Winslow was giving a presentation on solar energy to the tribe at the Nisqually Youth Center in March when he noticed how outdated the indoor lights were. The center had just been outfitted with solar panels. Winslow asked Lloyd about the tribes interest in having the lighting improved, and he learned that the Nisqually Tribe is working to establish itself as the leading tribe in Washington for clean energy sustainability. Since then, that effort has skyrocketed. Tribal officials learned PSE has an Existing Building Commissioning program that allows them to partner with businesses and jurisdictions, and theyll foot the bill for energy-efficiency upgrades. The Youth Center and Elders Center have received those upgrades, and there are more to come. Winslow said the money to pay for the program comes from its customers; a small percentage of peoples energy bills go toward an energy-efficiency pool for the public to directly benefit from. It comes full circle and pours back in because its cheaper and more efficient that way than to go out and build more power sources, Winslow said. Winslow said its important to him to be able to give back to his community in a meaningful way, and making sure the public has access to these funds and programs is the best way for him to do that. Really making it all about the communities and how we can best help them where theyre at, and better it for everybody, Winslow said. A solar future The tribe has partnered with PSE for a number of solar panel projects, with many more to come. Lloyd said he has a goal of making the reservation free of its electric and propane bills in 10 years. That sounds nearly impossible when you think of the Red Wind Casino, which alone has a $2 million electricity bill each year, along with a yearly $1 million bill for gas. But Lloyd has a plan. He said the tribe is evaluating putting canopies over the parking lot at the casino and outfitting the roofs with solar panels. Tie that energy source with PSEs hydrogen/natural gas blend, if the program makes it out of the pilot stage, and the reservation could be off the grid in 10 years. Lloyd said its such new technology that the tribe hasnt fully committed yet, but theyre doing a lot of research alongside PSE. Its a big investment, but in 10 years it will completely pay for itself and we wont have utility bills for electric or propane, Lloyd said. Right now, Lloyd said solar panels and EV charging stations are the top priority on the reservation. Employees of the Nisqually Tribe can charge their EVs for free. A nearby Nisqually government office building and the C-Store gas station both are outfitted with solar panels. The new elders homes are powered by solar energy, too. And all of these resources store energy for times when the sun isnt shining, and for other buildings that dont yet have their own solar systems. Lloyds own house is outfitted with solar panels, and hes proud to say he doesnt think hell ever have an energy bill to pay again. Its kind of been a constant new thing were doing out here, and after a little bit of time it adds up, Lloyd said. But these bigger systems do come with some upfront costs. The reservation needs a new facilities and transportation building to house several departments. Lloyd said the goal is to outfit the new building, along with the neighboring wastewater plant, with EV charging stations and solar panels. But a new energy system alone will cost more than $8 million, along with $11 million for the building itself. The tribe has had luck with smaller grants to help pay for feasibility studies and for solar panels on the Elders Center and C-Store, and theyre holding out for more assistance before starting another project. Its a lot of money, Lloyd said. But if it saves us $150,000 to $200,000 a year, it might be worth it. Lloyd and communications director Debbie Preston said the Nisqually tribe is the leading Western Washington tribe, if not in all of Washington, in terms of the number of buildings outfitted with solar and energy-efficient lighting. Preston said the Lummi Nation also has been successful in its endeavors to use clean energy, as well as the Jamestown SKlallam tribe with its goal to become carbon neutral in 10 years, too. Willie Frank III, chairman of the Nisqually Tribe, said the Nisqually people are always thinking of the next seven generations. Tribal members have told us for a long time to make sure we invest in green energy to do our part to save resources to protect our planet and our way of life, he said. We will continue to plan green energy into our future growth. Its good for us as a tribe and doing the right thing as global citizens. A woman is renting herself out to lonely strangers for just 14 cents on China's version of Instagram to help them 'feel alive' but it's not what you think Illustrative photo of a woman in China counting coins. Longhua Liao/Getty Images A woman in China rents her time out to strangers for just 1 Chinese yuan, or 14 cents. The woman, known as Peggy, said her clients are shy and lonely, per SCMP. Chinese users are divided: While some find her work inspirational, others say it's just another job. A woman is renting herself out to strangers for a little more than a dime and in return, she'll accompany them to do things they don't want to do alone. The 26-year-old woman, known as Peggy, rents out her time for just 1 Chinese yuan, or 14 cents on Xiaohongshu, a social media platform similar to Instagram, according to The South China Morning Post. The report did not specify the duration she spent time with these strangers in exchange for the money. Peggy, born in Xinjiang, a province in northwestern China, said in the SCMP report that she offers her time to strangers to "feel alive" and help people "do things they dare not do alone." She's currently based in China's capital, Beijing, where she meets people looking for company. Since May, three people have hired Peggy a programmer who wants to sell balloons in a park, a rock climbing enthusiast, and a man who wants to attend a games event hosted by McDonald's, according to the SCMP. The report did not specify how much she got paid in total, or if she quit her day job for this gig. Peggy described her clients as "shy" and "lonely," per the SCMP, citing an interview with state-owned outlet Jiupai News. She added that charging these people a few cents is simply symbolic as she wants to give herself "a sense of ritual" and that they both pay for the things they do together. Peggy said she started renting her time out to people online after she realized that she didn't enjoy working at the regular jobs she had before, per the report. Chinese users on Weibo were divided on Peggy's lifestyle, with some people commending her for spending time with strangers. "I want to rent myself out too," one user commented. Another user wrote: "She is very brave and wonderful." But one user pointed out that what Peggy is doing is nothing more than a job, albeit not a very lucrative one. "I don't understand, what's the difference between this and going to work? Apart from the price, what is the difference between getting a salary of 10,000 yuan?" the user wrote. The amount of 10,000 yuan is equivalent to around $1,400, considered a high income in Beijing and unlike Peggy, many locals are trying to land high-paying jobs in China's bleak job market. It's not the first time someone has rented their time out to strangers. In January, a Japanese man said he works as a "Do Nothing Rent-a-Man," accompanying people in activities like eating and shopping. In the US, websites like RentAFriend.com have gained some traction, where people can hire strangers living in the area to hang out with them. Read the original article on Insider Press Release June 10, 2023 Is K+10+2 what we really need? - Sen. Gatchalian "It sounds like the correct thing to do, but is this the right thing to do for our country?", Senator Win Gatchalian asked the participants of the EDCOM 2 Initial Consultation for the Proposed K+10+2 Bill, held yesterday at the University of the Philippines BGC. "That's something I want to put on the table so that we can think about unintended consequences. For me, we might incentivize our kids to stop at Grade 10 and they won't have the necessary skills and land decent jobs in the long run", Gatchalian said after pointing to a PulseAsia survey conducted in 2022, which revealed that 87% of respondents agree to returning to ten years of basic education. The meeting, attended by EDCOM 2 Commissioners, Advisory Council members, Standing committee members, and representatives of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, and House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Culture members, was an initial discussion of House Bill No. 7893, proposed by Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Also in attendance were representatives from the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, and representatives from various stakeholder groups in the education sector. Multiple pathways, single TVET body suggested Dr. Pam Robertson, of the Assessment, Curriculum and Technology Research Centre (ACTRC), presented a comparison of Senior High School (SHS) programs in various countries, including the Philippines. She shared that around the world, there are typically four pathways under SHS (upper secondary): general academic, technical/professional, vocational (school-based), and vocational (workplace-based). She explained that these pathways then lead to either further schooling under a university or college, vocational training, or employment. "International comparisons suggest consideration of the adoption of four pathways for SHS students to cater for a range of abilities and aspirations", Robertson said. "This is likely to impact exit certifications, the SHS curriculum, and teacher education". Robertson also noted the need for a centralized body for TVET. "Typically, the vocational pathways are overseen either by the education department, or by a single regulatory body. That would mean that an organization like TESDA in the Philippines oversees vocational certifications from secondary right through to all the higher professional qualifications, and that leads to consistency", she said. Currently, the Technical-Vocational track under the K-12 program is managed by the Department of Education, while TVET and National Certification and Assessment programs are handled by TESDA. K+10+2 attractive in short-term, but costlier in long-term According to PIDS Senior Fellow Dr. Michael Abrigo, the proposed K+10+2 bill may be beneficial in the near-term, but not in the longer term. "The K+12 option has an internal rate of return of 9.7%, compared with the K+10+2 alternative". He also cited previous studies that showed that graduates of SHS have higher basic pay, were more likely to be self-employed, and work less hours and are more likely to be underemployed. He also noted a previous study that SHS graduates earned substantially higher than Junior High School graduates. "SHS education commanded a higher wage premium over Junior High School graduates, and shifted the age schedule of school attendance, together with employment", Abrigo explained."While we don't know how the labor income of SHS graduates will evolve through time, it may be reasonable to expect it to be somewhere between that of Junior High School graduates and college undergraduates", Abrigo added. EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo however challenged the PIDS data. "[PIDS is] saying that 71% are employed, without giving us the whole picture that the salaries were below minimum wage - and that is a big factor for us to decide because we are not going to be happy that they are merely employed - but again, minimum wage". First SHS graduates' employment rate much better than expected Dr. Rosario Manasan of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) presented her study on the labor market performance of the first cohort of SHS students, who graduated in SY 2017-2018. "On average, the employment rate of SHS graduates was 81.5%, in the six to twelve months after leaving school - much better than anticipated, and higher than that of post-secondary Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates", Manasan said. "The quality of employment of SHS graduates appears to be superior relative to that of JHS graduates and slightly better than that of college undergraduates, as indicated by the proportion of salary workers to the total number employed", she continued. Dr. Manasan recommended that, to improve the employability of SHS graduates, government should: Rationalize work immersion requirements of SHS TVL track in the direction of longer hours allocated to work immersion than currently practiced Ensure that schools offering TVL track have teachers with appropriate specialization and required TVL equipment Ensure better alignment of SHS TVL specialization offerings with needs of industry via stronger engagement between DepEd and industry Strengthen the teaching and learning of 21st Century skills in SHS, particularly in TVL track Fund fees, through DepEd, for National Certification assessment to improve employability of SHS graduates "The passing rate of SHS of SHS graduates in NC assessment is high - 91.4% on the average - but not all SHS-TVL graduates take the NC examination, many because of financial constraints", Dr. Manasan explained. The EDCOM 2 Commissioners recognized this as "low-hanging fruit" that the government can support in the upcoming budget deliberations, noting that TESDA estimates P1.5 billion being needed to fund the assessment and certification of graduates of the SHS Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track. Gatchalian: We should be looking at the real problem Senator Gatchalian, presenting the national cohort survival rate from Grade 1 to Grade 12, explained that from Grade 10 to Grade 12, only a small percentage fell through and did not complete the whole SHS program. "If we look at [the cohort survival rate] from Grade 10 to Grade 12, for every 100 students who enter Grade 1, 60 will finish by Grade 10 and 51 will finish by Grade 12. So even though you move from Grade 10 to Grade 12, you will only save around 9 students [of the original students who entered the system]", he said. "But the bigger problem is Grade 10, we lose almost 40% of our students. So in other words, by moving it back to Grade 10, you save nine students but the bigger problem is actually how do you save the 40% that disappeared from Grade 1 to Grade 10". A 60-year-old man got into a shootout with a pair of accused car burglars, killing one of them, Texas police told news outlets. Houston police responded to a shooting at 3:30 a.m., June 10, outside a home on the citys east side, the department said in a tweet. Several vehicles had recently been stolen from the apartment complex and, through a surveillance camera, the 60-year-old spotted two men sneaking past a fence and into the complex, police told KPRC. Armed with a handgun, he went to confront the men, the station reported. But when he told them to leave, one of the men pulled out a pistol and opened fire. The man was struck once in the leg, but he returned fire and hit the armed suspect multiple times, police told KRIV. The suspect ran, escaped through the hole in the fence that they entered from, but was found near a stairwell in a different part of the complex, the outlet reported. The resident that stumbled across the man called 911. Only one gun was found at the scene and police are still looking for the second suspect, police told KTRK. The other suspect he must have left with a gun because we cant find the other weapon. And he did leave on foot. We have a decent video were working with, Lt. R. Willkens told the station. The injured suspect was taken to a hospital and pronounced deceased, a police release said. The homeowner is in stable condition. Child calls 911 after mom is shot in chest during fight over loud music, Texas cops say Strangers move in, make 79-year-old a prisoner in his own home, Texas officials say Teen tried to hire hitman to kill 7-year-old, but the website was fake, Iowa cops say Man runs over two women, then angry mob drags him out of truck, Texas police say This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) SANAA, Yemen (AP) Clashes between suspected al-Qaida militants and Yemen's pro-government forces in the country's south killed three men Saturday, a military official and tribal leaders said. The fighting broke out Saturday evening when militants thought to be al-Qaida members attacked the United Arab Emirates-backed Shabwa Defense Forces near the town of al-Musnaiya in southern Shabwa province with machine guns, two tribal leaders and a military official said. The three spoke on condition of anonymity. They said the gunbattle in the oil-rich province lasted for several hours, killing two Shabwa Defense Forces fighters and one militant before the militants finally withdrew. Yemens ruinous civil war began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition including the UAE intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognized government to power. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, also known by its acronym AQAP, is active in several regions of wartorn Yemen, including Shabwa and other far-flung provinces and is considered to be one of the more dangerous branches of the terror network. A prominent member of al-Qaida, Hamad bin Hamoud al-Tamimi, was killed in February in a suspected U.S. drone attack. Amid years of chaos and conflict, the militant group has cemented a strong foothold in areas of the country, particularly in the remote east and south of the Arab nation. The conflict in Yemen has killed over 150,000 people, including over 14,500 civilians, according to The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, creating one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. There has been a lull in the fighting since a six-month cease-fire agreement was reached in April 2022. The truce expired in October 2022, however, back-channel negotiations between Saudi and Houthi officials have been ongoing for months. By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand's national radio broadcaster has launched an investigation and put a staff member on leave after it said a series of news stories on its website about Russia's invasion of Ukraine had been edited to present "a false account of events". Radio New Zealand (RNZ), which is government-funded but has editorial independence, had by Sunday corrected 16 stories on its website dating back to April 2022 because of what it termed "inappropriate editing". The corrections RNZ added to the stories indicated the editing had changed the original stories to present pro-Russian interpretations of some events in Ukraine as fact. Fourteen of the stories had been supplied by Reuters and one came from Britain's BBC, the links to the stories show. RNZ said in a statement it was continuing a detailed audit and analysis of all stories that could have been inappropriately edited. RNZ is a media client of Reuters. "Reuters has addressed the issue with RNZ, which has initiated an investigation," a spokesperson for Reuters said. "As stated in our terms and conditions, Reuters content cannot be altered without prior written consent. Reuters is fully committed to covering the war in Ukraine impartially and accurately, in keeping with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." The BBC said the issue was a matter for Radio New Zealand and all queries should be directed to them. A spokesperson for New Zealand's minister for broadcasting and media, Willie Jackson, said the minister had been briefed on the matter. The broadcaster said on Friday it had become aware of the issue, without providing further specifics, and had started an "immediate investigation". It added that a staff member had been put on leave while the inquiry was taking place and was now prevented from accessing RNZ's computer systems. On Saturday RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson announced an external review of RNZs editing processes. The outcome of the review will be made public. The issue became public after changes were made to a June 8 Reuters story about the use of the word "war" in Russia. The story was edited on RNZ's website to read that in 2014 "a pro-Russian elected government was toppled during Ukraine's violent Maidan colour revolution". The piece then inaccurately claimed that "Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum, as the new pro-Western government suppressed ethnic Russians in eastern and southern Ukraine". Pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich was toppled in 2014 in what became known as the Maidan Revolution after months of protests triggered by his reneging on a promise to forge tighter links with the European Union. Dozens of protesters were killed. The referendum on Crimea was deemed a sham by Ukraine and most Western governments. They have also accused Russia of using false allegations of suppression of ethnic Russians to justify pro-Moscow separatist groups declaring independence in eastern Ukraine. The corrected version on the RNZ site restored the original wording in the Reuters story, which stated that the conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraines Maidan Revolution and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian-backed separatist forces fighting Ukraines armed forces. A United Nations General Assembly resolution declared the Crimea referendum as invalid, while the United Nations Human Rights Office said in 2014 that ethnic Russians in Ukraine had falsely claimed to be under assault to justify Russian intervention. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; editing by Rachel Armstrong, Frances Kerry, Mark Heinrich and Lincoln Feast.) Zelensky signaled Ukraines counteroffensive against Russia is underway. Heres what to expect With a few words, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky gave his strongest signal yet that his forces have begun their much-anticipated campaign to regain swathes of territory taken by Russian forces. The president said relevant counteroffensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine but remained tight-lipped about the details. There has long been speculation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, not least as it has been talked up by Ukrainian officials. But the idea of a counteroffensive may be misleading, giving the impression that there was a discrete before and after period of the campaign. In reality, Ukraine has been softening up Russian forces for months and is already engaged in efforts to recapture territory. Whats more, as Ukrainians are keen to emphasize, the actions of their armed forces are in response to an invasion. That is why Ukrainian officials like to stress - as Zelensky did with his careful form of words Saturday - that all their actions should be seen as defensive. Despite all this, the conflict is entering a new stage, and one which may decide its ultimate outcome. Here are some of the factors at play. Look to the south Unlike the fluid opening months of the conflict, when Russia attempted to seize the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other major cities, the frontline in Ukraine is now settled in the south and east. That also means, as Ukrainian officials acknowledge, the new campaign wont have the element of surprise, such as during last Septembers sweep through the Kharkiv region. After retaking Kharkiv and Kherson, the southern Zaporizhzhia region will likely be a main focus for the Ukrainian army. It has been stepping up activities there this month. Gains for Ukrainian forces in Zaporizhzhia could strike a major blow to Russias wider campaign. It is seen as a primary objective for Ukraine to break Russias land corridor from occupied Donbas to Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014. In terms of its goals, Kyiv has consistently said that it wants to recapture all of the territory controlled by Russia. In an address earlier this year Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that included Crimea. It is not an intention, it is our land. Crimea is our sea and our mountains, Zelensky said. Whether that goal is achievable remains a huge open question. Russia has dug in but is vulnerable Ukraines counteroffensive has long been expected by Russia, giving Putins army several months to prepare the ground and build an elaborate array of defenses. Satellite imagery shows the extent of Russian fortification. These include layers of anti-tank ditches, obstacles, minefields and trenches. Such defenses stretch for hundreds of miles across the meandering front. Breaking through them will prove difficult. Ukrainian officials have frequently relayed accounts from people in occupied areas such as Mariupol and Berdiansk of long Russian convoys passing through and dozens of buildings being appropriated as military accommodation. Ukraine has been carrying out so-called shaping operations to lay the groundwork for its offensive, disrupting Russian supply lines, destroying ammunition depots and targeting fuel infrastructure. Adding to this, there have long been reports of Russian infighting, with particular friction between the Wagner mercenary group and Kremlin military leadership. Russias small gains, especially compared to Putins initial ambitious targets in the war, have come at huge cost, decimating frontline units and starving many of manpower, as well as critically important experience. Bakhmut is still in play Despite Wagner claiming victory in the eastern city of Bakhmut and handing it back to Russian forces, the city remains a flashpoint. The citys fall was a rare gain for Russia but recently Ukraines forces say they made limited progress recapturing land to the northwest and southwest. Ukrainian forces attacking Russian near Bakhmut. - 3rd Assault Brigade/Ukrainian Armed Forces Press Service/Reuters Ukraine may be using the city to weaken Russia elsewhere by diverting its resources, which similarly may have been the aim of raid by Russian dissident fighters in their home country. While there are no official figures, it is clear taking Bakhmut came at a huge cost for Russia. NATO intelligence estimates that for every Ukrainian soldier killed defending Bakhmut, Russian forces lost at least five. Ukraine has new weapons at its disposal Ukraine upgraded its weaponry ahead of the counteroffensive. The United Kingdom delivered multiple Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, giving the nation a new long-range strike capability. With a firing range in excess of 250km, or 155 miles, it is just short of the 185-mile range capability of the US-made surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, that Ukraine has long asked for. Ukraine has also received at least two Patriot systems, one from the United States and one from Germany, to enhance its air defenses, which have previously been unable to intercept more modern Russian missiles. Proving its new prowess last month, Ukraine for the first time used a US-made Patriot air defense system to intercept a Russian hypersonic missile, marking a potentially pivotal moment in the conflict. In addition to military equipment, the US announced a $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine to support the launch of its counteroffensive. The clock is ticking A question mark hangs over how long the international support for Ukraine will last. Next years US election looms, and comments made by ex-president Donald Trump during a CNN Town Hall raised the possibility that the so far strong US support for Ukraine could end. During the meeting Trump refused to say whether who he wanted to win the conflict, saying instead he wanted everybody to stop dying. The longer the war goes on, the more likely divisions are to grow among Ukaines allies, something that will play to Russias advantage. If the war ends in negotiations or stalemate, Ukraine will want an upper hand. It will be seeking to make as many gains as it can from the counteroffensive, and fast. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Zelenskyy reveals where people who were fired at by Russians were evacuated from Civilians who were fired upon by Russian troops during the evacuation in the Kherson Oblast were rescued from the village of Kardashynka on the Russian-occupied left bank. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address Quote: "Russian terrorists continue to target evacuation routes, evacuation points, boats on which people are taken out. Today, as a result of one of these attacks, three people were killed. My condolences to the family and friends. Another 10 people were injured, including two police officers. It was an evacuation from the village of Kardashynka on the left bank of Kherson Oblast." Details: Zelenskyy stressed that the Russians created this disaster by blowing up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, abandoned people to their fate in flooded cities and villages, and then fired at the boats on which these people are being evacuated "Even animals are more moral than you, the Russian state," he said. Earlier: On Sunday, Russian troops fired at a boat with civilians evacuating from the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast, killing three people and wounding 23. The National Police reported that 21 people were evacuated from the left bank of Kherson Oblast this time. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Zelenskyy spoke with Duda: we understand the importance of NATO's steps on guarantees for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda, said that the interlocutors understand the importance of decisive NATO steps to guarantee security for Ukraine. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram Quote: "We finished a late and, as always, productive conversation with Andrzej Duda. We discussed our expectations for the NATO summit in Vilnius. We understand the importance of the Alliance's decisive steps to guarantee security for Ukraine." Details: Zelenskyy noted that the presidents discussed Ukraine's further priority needs for the front. He thanked Duda for the strong defensive support from Poland, as well as "for a strong and unwavering position." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with Mariam Almheiri, Minister for Climate Change and Environment in the United Arab Emirates and Head of the Office of International Affairs under the President of the UAE. Source: Office of the President of Ukraine Quote from Zelenskyy: "We appreciate this visit and consider it to be an indication of support for Ukraine by the UAE, a powerful state. We are sincerely grateful for the Emirates support and we count on your country to continue this noble endeavour." Details: Zelenskyy spoke about the effects of ecocidal crimes Russia has committed in Ukraine, and stressed the importance of holding the aggressor country accountable for the crime of ecocide and compensation for the damage it caused. Zelenskyy and Almheiri also discussed Ukraines Peace Formula and future investments in Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Madison Heights resident Charles Johnson III has announced he is running for an at-large seat on the Amherst County School Board with a focus on enhancing the educational experience in the county. Johnson is an advocate for educational equity with a strong commitment for providing equal opportunities for all students, according to a news release. Currently serving as upper education manager for the James River Association, Johnson has developed a deep understanding of the challenges the students face and the need for effective policies to address them, his campaign announcement states. Johnson brings a wealth of experience and a strong community engagement to his candidacy, according to his campaign announcement. He serves as a board member of Thrive Virginia, which according to its website uses person-centered and collaborative services to empower those fighting poverty to achieve prosperity and community connections, and is a member of the Izaak Walton League of Lynchburg education committee, collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure a well-rounded education system. Ginger Burg, who currently serves the at-large seat on the ballot Nov. 7, said she is not running for a second term. David Childress, of Elon, is running for the seat as well. Johnson said, if elected, he has outlined several goals and plans to promote academic success with a primary focus on improving reading and writing skills among students by fostering collaboration between the schools administration, teachers and the community. I believe that every student deserves access to quality education and that our teachers and staff deserve the resources to provide that education, Johnson said. As a member of the school board, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our schools are safe, welcoming and conducive learning environments for all our students. Driven by a passion for public educations transformative power, Johnson said he is dedicated to creating a brighter future for Amherst County and believes in strengthening the educational system and empowering the next generation, according to his campaign announcement. His campaign slogan is Empowering Our Future. In a phone interview, Johnson said he works with seventh-graders in Amherst County through the James River Association in areas of environmental studies, ecology and forestry. I am a huge advocate of public education, Johnson said. Johnson said he wants to support teachers at the board level and feels he is equipped to tackle budget-related issues and needs facing the Amherst County Public Schools division. Its not about me or my stance on any of these policies. I am coming from the eyes and ears from the grounds of working with the students and the teachers and going after any necessary resources, Johnson said, adding: I am non-partisan, especially in my role with the James River Association. We have a large advocacy team I can work with everyone and thats what it takes to make change happen. Johnson said he is familiar with the school system and believes he would fit in very well with the seven-member board. I can articulate and communicate with teachers and students, he said, adding he has good relationships with schools administration staff as well. It starts with conversation, understanding, analyzing and my own research before I deliver a solution. He said he also favors making board meetings more accessible to county residents and feels there currently is not enough parental representation at the meetings. The length of meetings is a likely factor, he said. Johnson said he makes himself visible in the community and wants to work with parents and guardians. I love the aspect of the community involvement, he said. After a multi-year lead up, Lynchburg City Schools is gearing up for the release of several draft scenarios of the facilities master plan, a project that will determine the future of school buildings and programming for the division. LCS Deputy Superintendent for Strategic Planning and Operations Reid Wodicka told the school board this week that he was hoping to provide five or six draft scenarios to the board for its consideration during the week of June 12, which will be followed by another community engagement period where LCS families and school stakeholders will have the chance to weigh in on the decision. Again, a very, very deliberate and intentional process that has taken some time, Wodicka told the school board last week. But were now to the point where were having some very concrete scenarios that you will have the opportunity to react to and give some feedback on as we move forward. Wodicka added that he had seen a few of the draft scenarios Tuesday prior to the school board meeting. During the first community engagement portion, which took place in May and featured three community meetings and an online survey, Wodicka said the division fielded about 1,650 responses to the survey. The deputy superintendent said one strong interest in the responses had to do with re-focusing school attendance zones to ensure theyre more geographically focused and concentrate on neighborhoods in the Hill City. While the plan is expected to shape the future of re-zoning and school buildings for the division preliminary reports from last year showed the division was facing declining enrollment and too many school buildings it will also take into account the future of academic programming for city schools. Wodicka said another area of interest in the survey responses related to alternate educational opportunities, such as career and technical education and pre-K opportunities. The upcoming decisions will not be easy ones to make, he added. Were looking forward to making some thoughtful decisions, he said. Again, they will be in many cases probably very difficult decisions, potentially. But they are important for the future of the community. Once the school board has seen the scenarios, Wodicka said they will be posted for the community to gather their feedback on those potential options. The process will culminate with a joint meeting between the school board and Lynchburg City Council, scheduled for Aug. 8, where the two bodies will discuss the plans and potentially approve a scenario for the division. The colors grab your attention as you walk into the main gallery at the Prairie Arts Center, 416 N. Jeffers St. in North Platte. More than 100 entries grace the walls and tables for the annual Nebraskaland Days Competitive Art Show. Holly Carlini, executive director, said this is the fifth year the Arts Center has hosted the show in conjunction with the states annual celebration. The show is a little different this year with the categories of western, wildlife and landscape, Carlini said. I think people really gravitated toward the colors of sunrise and sunsets and really captured that this year. The show, Carlini said, has a light and airy feel to it. It kind of embodies Nebraskas colors, Carlini said. I think people this year are doing pieces that are outside of their range or box. Eric Stearns, who is a North Platte native and a professor at Doane University, will be back to judge the show. Public artists reception will be at 6:30 p.m. on June 20 where the awards will be handed out. The public is invited. People are invited to stop in and cast their own vote for the Peoples Choice, Carlini said. The Best of Show winner will be invited by Nebraskaland Days to create a piece to be auctioned off at their Buffalo Bill Birthday Bash. The annual Nebraskaland Days Quilt Show begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Bethel Church, 2700 W. Philip Ave. Teresa Smith, co-chairman with Katie Naylor, said the Heartland Quilt Guild hosts the show each year. We have registered over 122 quilts, Smith said. We have four antique signature quilts from different areas all the way to modern quilts. The show runs for three days with the hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. There is no admission charge. There will be a boutique where folks can purchase various quilting items, purses, baby quilts and other creations and four quilts are available on a silent auction. When youre looking at a quality hand-made quilt, youre looking at somewhere between $500 to $600, Smith said. Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images In April, abortion provider Julie Burkhart opened her newest clinic, Wellspring Health Access, in Casper, Wyoming. Wellspring is the only clinic to provide surgical abortions in the state, and its opening had been delayed for months because an anti-abortion activist allegedly set fire to it while it was under construction. As a former employee of Dr. George Tiller, who was assassinated in 2009, Burkhart has seen the anti-abortion movement at its most violent and remains determined to provide abortion care. Though the future for abortion rights in Wyoming looks uncertain, Wellspring is taking appointments and providing a full range of reproductive-health services to people in Casper and the surrounding area. While the clinic provides care, it also fights to keep abortion legal in Wyoming. Attorneys for Wellspring have joined a group of plaintiffs challenging two recent anti-abortion laws in Wyoming: One would ban medication abortion and is set to take effect in July, and the other is a near-total abortion ban, which is on hold as litigation proceeds. I spoke with Burkhart about her work, the future of Wellspring, and the importance of providing abortion care in rural areas and Republican-led states like Wyoming. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What drew you to reproductive-justice work, and what keeps you in it? Well, I was raised during the second wave of the feminist movement. My mom was active in that movement. As a child, she would take me to meetings with her, and I always had this sense that people deserve equality and that women deserve to have equal rights. And so it was a very natural progression as I got older, when I started working at the very first clinic back in my college days. It was just all this natural progression from my formative years and into early adulthood. Then I think that there were two pivotal moments for me that I think helped to really define my career. One was the Summer of Mercy. Id been working during the summer at a clinic in Wichita, Kansas, when I was back visiting my family on break from the university I attended in Seattle. And the Summer of Mercy was a pivotal point in that it made me really stop and think about the anti-choice movement, their goals, and the rights of people to exercise authority over their own bodies. And the second pivotal moment was when my boss, Dr. George Tiller, was assassinated. That was, I will say, at a higher pitch than the Summer of Mercy. But once again, I had to really step back and reflect and decide whether this movement was the right place for me to be and to work in, or if it was time to pack up my bags and move on somehow. That moment really helped to define, for me, that we cannot allow this tyranny of the minority to dictate the outcomes of other peoples lives. And so those are the things that have kept me going over the years. You spent years working for Dr. Tiller, as you mentioned. What are some of the most influential lessons that you gleaned from him, and how do they shape the way you work now? I absolutely loved working for him. It didnt begin this way in our working relationship, but the way it turned out was he became one of my mentors and one of the people who I think helped bring me into adulthood and to help me navigate difficult situations. One of the things he would always say is Underpromise, overdeliver. Prepare 110 percent, 120 percent and then youll be lucky to get it at 100 percent when youre finally at the end. He instilled in me and all of us that its better to be forward-looking to solutions rather than focusing and dwelling on our problems. And we can certainly say we have a lot of problems with abortion rights and in this movement at this time, but that we owe it to ourselves and owe it to the people we serve to be focusing on those solutions and how we can think creatively and continue to push forward in a firm manner so that we can bring those solutions to fruition. I grew up in a very conservative evangelical home where abortion was obviously a hot topic, and Ive heard leaders of the anti-choice movement say that violence is a fringe problem and that its not mainstream. But in your view, how important has violence been and how important is it now to the erosion of abortion access in this country? Violence has been pervasive in this movement, unfortunately. Weve had a number of physicians to front-office staff to security guards assassinated. Just this past 18 to 24 months, weve seen a number of arsons around the country focused on abortion-providing clinics, as well as other types of vandalism and threats to clinic invasions. It is pervasive, and I think for me, its just crystal clear that its not just the fringe who are committing these violent acts. Its folks within the mainstream anti-abortion movement who through their actions, through their language, help to perpetuate this violence. So if you look at the person who murdered my boss and if you look at the rhetoric and the pressure that was put onto Dr. Tiller during the years leading up to his assassination, all of those events led to the one person who ultimately pulled the trigger. But in my mind, it was a collective action. Your Casper, Wyoming, clinic opened in April. It was attacked while it was under construction. What has the local reception been like since it opened? We have definitely had people calling the clinic, making appointments for abortion care, contraceptive care, general GYN care. We do gender-affirming appointments for people in the community, and we have seen a really good response from people not only in Casper, but also from around the state where otherwise they would have to be driving to Colorado or potentially another state to access services. We have had and continue to have people who come out to the clinic to protest. So far its the usual tactics, trying to convince people to go to a crisis pregnancy center instead of coming into the clinic, holding signs, singing, praying around the clinic. Im grateful that we have not faced any other violence. I hope we will not, but we do have protestors out of the clinic every week. Im from a conservative, rural area, so I was struck by something you recently told The New Yorker. You said, Its not right for us to say that we are champions of social justice but yet we are not going to go the full stretch for folks in places where it is less hospitable. What does it look like to go the full stretch for people who are in rural communities or Republican-led states right now? So with Roe having fallen, we have states around the country that have good protective laws where people have to travel to. Those are the places where people can access abortion care at this time. Prior to Roe falling, we had states such as Idaho, Utah, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi that were allowed to pass more and more restrictive anti-abortion laws, which make it harder for providers to open a clinic and harder for patients to access. And during that period of time with abortion having still been legal in these states, but where it is more challenging, I think that there was a propensity to say, Well, we need to be able to navigate. Its kind of like water going around big rocks in a river and going You naturally want to navigate to an easier place. But what is really the reality then if we say to people in these states that we are not going to step up to the plate, work on strategies and tactics so as to help to preserve reproductive rights, and also to set up facilities so that people can access abortion care? It leaves a certain segment of our population in the lurch. Not everybody can get on a plane. Not everybody has a car or has a car thatll even make it 200 or 300 miles to a clinic. Some people dont even know where to look. And so I guess going back to your question, it just makes me question if were not fighting for that segment of the population, then are we really fully embracing reproductive freedom for all people in this country? Going to your background as well, growing up in a more conservative environment, what Ive always said is just because you might live in a more conservative area doesnt mean that people dont want or dont need to access abortion care. And in opening clinics up in Oklahoma and Kansas, my argument was because if you look at Republican versus Democratic voter registration, if this was an issue that fell along party lines, our doors never wouldve stayed open. So people of all walks, of all stripes need access to abortion care at certain times in their life. As an abortion provider, could you talk about what happens to other health services when abortion access is restricted in a place? What happens to gender-affirming care or contraception access or affordable gynecological care? Are we looking at overall reproductive-health care deserts in some places? Yes, definitely so. Just recently there have been several articles in the news about Wyoming and Idaho OB maternity wards closing. So when we look at the restrictions on reproductive-health care, where we typically think about abortion care, one, it has a chilling effect. Two, it allows that ideological mind-set to become more pervasive in reproductive-health care. For example, in Casper, we have been seeing quite a few people who simply want to access contraceptive care. Theyre not coming to us for abortion care, but they are challenged when it comes to accessing low-cost quality family planning. And so these policies do have an effect on all outcomes of ones reproductive life from birthing to abortion care, which also has an impact on children and families as well. Should Wyoming pass a near-total abortion ban, what would happen with Wellspring? Would it simply close, or would you pivot to providing other services? I think we would absolutely do our best to continue to provide other services to support people in the community and the state. My goal is that we make it through this court case that we have going on in Wyoming, and that the court will see that thats a protected part of the state constitution and that people will be afforded their rights. So Im remaining optimistic, but I would say we would absolutely do our best to figure out how we were going to go to plan B and navigate from there. When I talk with my friends about the state of reproductive rights, its hard to feel any reason for hope right now. Do you see any reasons for hope or for optimism, as dire as things seem? Yeah, things are definitely dire. It pains me to think of the people living in states where abortion is banned and theres a risk of prosecution of not only patients but providers. I think that one is looking at the states around the country where we have ongoing legal challenges. Ive been heartened by some of the decisions that have come from some of the states. I think where we have seen decisions that have been more adverse in states that have outright banned abortion, then this is a time for us to go back to the drawing board and to figure out how we are going to regain that power and that leverage in these states that have decided to strip people of their rights to access abortion care. If we can take that and make this into a long-term strategy, and Im not talking one election cycle or two election cycles, Im talking more generational work, I have confidence that we can get there. What do abortion providers like you need right now from other reproductive-rights advocates or from elected officials? Elected officials can ensure that they are advocating for and working to pass the best possible policies that are going to protect people in their states. One is Medicaid expansion. To me, thats a no-brainer. Why cant we expand Medicaid in some states to make sure that people are able to access health care via Medicaid? Making sure that we have laws enacted, policies enacted that are going to protect all citizens. And as far as reproductive-rights advocates, we see more and more patients who need funding. People are, as Id mentioned earlier, having to travel further. They need access to transportation, lodging, food, child care. There are all of these additional needs that a certain segment of the population prior to Roe falling didnt necessarily need. So weve seen that request for funding increase. I would say call your local clinic and ask if there are volunteer opportunities. There would certainly be, I would assume, opportunities at clinics around this country to help support the work of patient care. Whats next for you and for Wellspring? Well, what is on the plate right now for Wellspring is, one, since weve only been open a few short weeks, to ensure that all of our processes are in place and that we have a smooth running system. So in starting up clinics, there are always little kinks to work out along the way. So were going to be really focusing on that. And from there, weve been having internal conversations about other points of access where we could go to help other people in other communities access abortion care, who dont have that more immediate ready access at this time. And then, of course, ongoing litigation. At some point, we expect to go to trial. Thats not been set yet, but were keeping our finger on the pulse of litigation. There are six of us who joined together and we filed suit a year ago, and well see what happens here in the future. Two new industrial developments will bring a combined capital investment of nearly $100 million to the plains, the Auburn City Council announced Tuesday night in their regular meeting. The council approved expansion projects at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED at Auburn Technology Park and the auto supplier Donghee Alabama at the Auburn Technology Park West. Starting in 2023, the construction crews will build a new Coca-Cola distribution center at 511 West Veterans Blvd. Itll be near the Mill Creek Data Center coming to the area. The new 24,000-square-foot plant is expected to open in 2025, said Cassandra Mickens, the corporate communications manager. Itll bring in $15 million in capital investment and 75 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of $60,500. This facility will consist of our sales operations, our distribution warehouse, our administration and our fleet department with all of our trucks, Mickens said. The new plant will distribute Coca-Cola branded beverages made at bottling plants here in Alabama. It will service all of the East Alabama region. Mickens said the new Auburn facility came about after a tornado passed through the area in March and ripped off the roof off the West Point Coca-Cola distribution center. Associates will work at a temporary location in Auburn until the new facility is completed. Coca-Cola will donate the West Point facility to the City of West Point. After that storm, the roof collapsed at the West Point facility and the building was deemed inoperable, Mickens said. Part of this move is us insuring the safety and well-being of our associates. The auto supplier Donghee Alabama, which makes electric vehicle battery cases, will expand its two sites on Innovation Drive and Riley Street. Itll bring a capital investment of over $82 million to Auburn and 100 new jobs. Theres no word on when they will begin construction. The United States should not tell Saudi Arabia how to manage its crude oil production, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. "Saudi Arabia is a sovereign state, a responsible state, and a very important player in the international energy markets. Of course, this sovereign state is capable of making decisions that concern its own economy. Hardly anyone, even the US, should lecture (Saudi Arabia) on how to be in this or that case," Peskov said in a Moscow press briefing on Friday. Saudi Arabia voluntarily agreed over the weekend to cut the country's crude oil production targets for the month of July by an additional 1 million barrels per day. President Biden did not make any noteworthy response to the decision, with oil prices only briefly rallying in response to the oil production curtailments. Peskov's rebuke, then, does not follow any new backlash from U.S. President Joe Biden. A rather way back response to OPEC's oil cuts came in October 2022, when President Biden threatened "consequences." In the same press briefing, Peskov also said that its Russian atomic energy sector would continue developing despite the US and UK forming a new economic alliance that looks to box out Russia from the international nuclear energy markets. Peskov referred to the situation as "unfair competition." President Biden and PM Sunak signed a declaration on Thursday on the new pact "for a new age", referred to as the New Atlantic Declaration, Sunak said of the deal that it was a deal "of a kind that has never been agreed before," adding that it included $17.5 billion in new U.S. investments that were promised to the UK. A UK government document providing details about the deal says in part, We face new challenges to international stability from authoritarian states such as Russia and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC); disruptive technologies; non-state actors; and transnational challenges like climate change. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Aliyah American Horse has been chosen as the latest youth poet laureate of Nebraska and will serve a one-year term. The Youth Poet Laureate Program is a national network, championed by Urban Word NYC, and produces writers such as 2021 inaugural poet Amanda Gorman. American Horse, a senior from Gordon-Rushville High School, said it was an honor to be chosen. I am overjoyed for this opportunity and all the exciting things to come. This year I strive to become a leader and advocate for Native American communities while helping fight the battle against addiction and mental health stigma through the power of words, she said. I know, through this experience, I will be able to make an impact on the world and shine a light on issues so overseen. Seven judges scored applications from young people across the state vying for the honor. One judge, Arden Eli Hill who holds a doctorate in creative writing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is the author of Bloodwater Parish addressed this years YPL applicants, Every few years or so, skeptics like to declare that poetry is dead. Poetry is alive and well, and though we can derive wisdom from poets of the past, you, the poets of the present and future have much to offer us, he said. Applicants submitted a portfolio of poems, a resume, and an essay about their community involvement. As Nebraskas YPL, American Horse will receive yearlong guidance from a creative and civic mentor, give readings in Nebraska and design and complete a civic engagement community project with support from the Nebraska Writers Collective and Civic Nebraska. American Horse also wins $1,000. Those interested in learning more about American Horse and her work as Nebraskas YPL should follow @newriters on Facebook and Instagram for further information. They can also learn more by visiting newriters.org. New mural at Mount Moriah unveiled A new mural has been unveiled at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church at 24th and Ohio Streets at the southern end of the North Omaha Trail. This mural is the culmination of more than a year of collaboration between artist Joelle Storet and The Revs. Michael Williams and Ralph Lassiter of Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Manuel Cook of the North Omaha Trail organized the mural project with artist support from Paige Reitz and the Union for Contemporary Art. The mural itself wouldnt be possible without supporting artist Ty Quigley and volunteering community members from the church and community at large who helped paint portions of it, Williams said. It celebrates the contribution of the Black church in North Omaha. While it does not include images of all the church leaders who have provided contributions to the well-being of the community, it is representative of the preaching, teaching, music and service rendered. The mural features five leaders chosen by their denominations or churches. Facing the mural from left to right the leaders appear as follows: The Rev. David and Helen St. Clair: David St. Clair was the longest-serving pastor at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, leading from 1942 to 1963. Helen founded the Baptist Ministers Wives Council, which which continues to function today. Lizzie Robinson: Chosen by the Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, she and her husband Edward founded the Church of God in Christ in Nebraska after moving to Omaha in 1916. The Rev. Edward S. Faust: He was chosen by the African Methodist Episcopal Churchs St. John congregation after he led the church from 1960 to 1972. St. John is the oldest Black church in Nebraska and Faust is one of its longest-serving pastors. He was an aggressive advocate for civil rights and North Omaha community development. The Rev. James Commadore (J.C.) Wade: He led Salem Baptist Church as pastor for more than 44 years. During his tenure Salem became the largest Black church in Nebraska. Mount Moriah is proud to be the location for this awesome display celebrating the life, past and ongoing service of so many congregations in North Omaha, Cook said. Cargill donates $300,000 to 2 groups Cargills North American protein business has donated $300,000 in grants to two community organizations dedicated to advancing social equity and enhancing the lives of Hispanic residents in the region. The two recipients, Centro Hispano Comunitario de Nebraska and the Columbus Area Future Fund, were selected for their significant contributions to the Hispanic community in the region. Centro Hispano, established in 2009, serves the Hispanic community in Platte, Colfax and Madison Counties, offering vital services related to immigration, education and business. Cargill has provided two $100,000 grants to support Centro Hispanos mission. The first grant will be used to ensure that Hispanic residents feel welcomed in the community and will provide direct support to immigrant families, learners and entrepreneurs through services, programming and advocacy. The second grant will contribute to establishing a new welcome center in Columbus, as the organization has outgrown its current location. The center will provide a safe space for Hispanic residents to access immigration and family services, learn about education and employment programs in the region and connect with the community. We are thrilled that Cargill has chosen Centro as the recipient of this generous grant, Executive Director Karina Perez said. This investment will have a significant impact on our community, helping to create a more welcoming environment for all. Cargill made a $100,000 donation to the Columbus Area Future Fund, an affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation. This fund is committed to fostering local leadership development, entrepreneurship, youth engagement and community philanthropy. That grant will be used to fund the Welcoming/Belonging grants, which focus on integration and support within Hispanic communities. Additionally, the grant will contribute to the Columbus Area Future Funds grantmaking efforts, benefiting families from diverse backgrounds through initiatives such as early childhood care, playgrounds, a childrens museum and youth leadership programs. Cargills donation will allow the Columbus Area Future Fund to continue our work of creating one community among our diverse population in Columbus and Schuyler, said Deanna Hanson, the Columbus Area Future Funds advisory committee chairwoman. It will also help us empower our communitys youth and increase the odds that young people will call our region home as adults. None of this work would have happened without Cargills investment and the Columbus Area Future Fund is grateful for this chance to impact our area. New boating regulations at Fremont Lakes Three new regulations are in place this year for boaters at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area. The changes, which affect Victory Lake and Lake No. 10, include a regulation that states it is illegal to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft while pulling more than one skier, boarder, towable device or another similar device. Regulations do not limit the number of riders on a towable. Also at these two lakes: It is illegal to operate any vessel faster than 5 mph/no wake from sundown to sunrise. It is illegal to operate non-powered vessels and those powered by conventional outboard electric motors. For more boating regulations, read the Boating Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov. 5 artists chosen for Homestead residence program Homestead National Historical Park has announced artists chosen for the 2023 artist-in-residence program. This is Homesteads 14th year offering artists the opportunity to live at the park and create works inspired by the Homestead story and its environment. They are: Karl Woodmansey, watercolor artist from Dallas, June 1529 Rachael Sebastian, photography, from Tribune, Kansas, July 314 Kory Reeder, composer, from Denton, Texas, July 2431 Betsy Iversen, writer from Woodstock, Illinois, Aug. 216 Jill Haley, musician from Reading, Pennsylvania, Sept. 519 Kathy Bussert-Webb, from Rancho Viejo, Texas, Sept. 26Oct. 09 The Artist-in-Residence program is a wonderful program that brings forth new perspectives of the park. It allows not only the artists, but park visitors an opportunity to connect with different themes and areas of the park through the art created during the residencies, park superintendent Betty Boyko said. Childrens Square announces new board members Childrens Square U.S.A., a 140-year-old organization that serves children with mental and behavioral health needs, has announced new members of its board of directors and its foundation board of trustees. The board members were elected at their respective annual meetings earlier this year. Elected to the Childrens Square Board are Jim Flahive, Hy-Vee; Mia Silva-Laustrup, Council Bluffs Schools Foundation; and Bruce Lemen, NP Dodge. Lemen is a great-great grandson of the Rev. J. G. Lemen, who founded Childrens Square in 1882. New members to the Foundation Board of Directors are Cynthia Hume, Werner Enterprises; Gary Hogan, Black Hills Energy; and Jacqueline McCloud, Council Bluffs Community School District. All board members will serve three-year terms. I am excited that these dedicated individuals will serve on our boards, said Dr. Viv Ewing, Childrens Square president and CEO. Our board members are active members of the community who will work with our leadership team and staff to communicate the mission and vision of Childrens Square and to secure resources that will sustain and grow the work of our agency. HOUSTON The April visit to a Houston clinic was just one of a long assembly line of medical appointments that Abdul Wasi Safi has had since his January release from an immigration detention center. The former Afghan soldier, called Wasi by family and friends, sat in a dental chair and conversed in Pashto with his older brother Sami as Carrie Underwood's "Cowboy Casanova" played in the background. It was a scene thousands of miles from the places he'd been the past two years. After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, fear of retribution from the Taliban for sharing information with American soldiers while he was an intelligence officer drove Wasi Safi to flee to Brazil. The goal? Reaching the U.S. and applying for asylum. He eventually made it after crossing 10 countries, but the journey came at a high cost. A brutal beating by police officers in Panama severely damaged his teeth and jaw and left him with permanent hearing loss. Wasi Safi didn't appear nervous during his visit to the San Jose Clinic, a facility that serves low-income and uninsured individuals. But dentist Michael Wisnoski still reassured him, telling him it was going to be an "easy day." He got two fillings but more complicated dental work loomed ahead. Easy days for Wasi Safi have been few. His mind races with worry about his health. There's also the uncertainty of whether he'll be granted asylum. And he feels powerless to help his parents and other siblings, who have been threatened back in Afghanistan. "I am scared for my life. I don't know about my future. I don't know what this government, what the United States (will) do with me," Wasi Safi said. It's fear and frustration felt by other Afghans in the U.S. as well as by immigration activists, attorneys and others, who ask that those who were evacuated from Afghanistan receive permanent legal status and those left behind be given a path to safety. "I do think that our government needs to take responsibility and figure out how to fix it, because these are people who helped us," said Debbie Berman, an attorney with the Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block that's representing Afghans still trying to flee from their country. More than 88,500 Afghans who worked with American soldiers as translators and in other capacities since 2001 have arrived in the U.S. on military planes since the chaotic withdrawal, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Most were admitted under a program called humanitarian parole that grants them some legal status, including the ability to work. However, many others were left behind and some, like Wasi Safi, made their way to the U.S. on their own seeking the fulfillment of a promise of protection that the U.S. made to its Afghan allies. It's a promise many feel has been broken. Wasi Safi's months-long journey on foot and by boat last year took him through raging rivers and dense jungle to the U.S.-Mexico border, where he was arrested in September and sent to a Texas detention center. With the help of lawyers and lawmakers, he was freed and reunited with his brother, who was a translator for the U.S. military and has lived in Houston since 2015. Wasi Safi's attorneys didn't return calls or emails seeking comment on his asylum case. His arrest at the border and the expedited removal order that remains in place likely complicate his asylum case, said Alex Miller, with the American Immigration Council, an advocacy group. "It just is an incredible uphill battle," said Miller. Wasi Safi and other Afghans seeking legal status in the U.S. are doing so within an already backlogged immigration system. "They're just being added to this pile that the immigration judges are" handling, said Aleksandar Cuic, director of the Immigration Clinic at the School of Law at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The Afghan Adjustment Act, a proposed law to streamline their immigration process, has stalled in Congress. As of the end of April, only about 8,100 applications for asylum or special visas for Afghans employed by the U.S. government had been approved, according to Homeland Security. Wasi Safi was set to plead his case for asylum before an immigration judge in July. But that's been delayed to December. The postponement was a gut punch for the Safi brothers. "Every time I'm having a piece of hope, they somehow take the hope away from me," said Sami Safi, 30. Wasi Safi's unresolved immigration status has meant he's not authorized to work. It's also left him afraid to leave his Houston home. "Home is like jail for me. I hope they give me my paper (legal documentation) and I start my life," Wasi Safi said. If home is a cage, the Al-Noor Society of Greater Houston, a mosque in the city's diverse Gulfton neighborhood, has provided some outside solace. In the midst of Ramadan on a Friday in April, the mosque's main prayer hall was filled with about 200 men and boys, some wearing Houston Astros jerseys or carrying bags emblazoned with the Texas flag. "That's why we come to mosque asking God almighty to guide us, in the path of success, in the path of comfort," Sami Safi said. Ericka Pertierra, a local businesswoman who's helped several Afghan families resettle in Houston, has taken on Wasi Safi's case. Using her fundraising skills, Pertierra gathered money for his lawyers and persuaded doctors and dentists she knows to donate their services. "They deserve it. They served our country," Pertierra said of the brothers. She's trying to raise more money through a GoFundMe campaign for Wasi Safi's long term medical needs. On May 23, Wasi Safi turned 27 years old. But eating birthday cake was out of the question due to pain from recent gum surgery. "He says, 'I'll celebrate my birthday when I'm feeling better,'" Sami Safi said. ANOTHER VIEW | WALL STREET JOURNAL Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has spent more than two years promising foreign leaders that the U.S. is committed to a new global deal to raise taxes on large companies. Now Republicans in Congress have a warning for the rest of the world: Don't believe her. All 25 Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee recently co-sponsored a bill that would impose retaliatory taxes on any country that implements the tax rules to which Yellen has agreed. It targets tech taxes aimed at U.S. firms and the proposed global minimum corporate tax that would be set at 15%. Those are the two pillars of the tax agreement negotiated at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which Yellen endorsed in June 2021. The first pillar lets other countries impose special taxes on multinational tech companies. The second pillar allows a country such as France or Germany to impose a "top-up" tax on an American company if the U.S. firm's effective global tax rate falls below 15%. We've warned from the start that Yellen's participation in this tax circus is bad policy, bad law and bad diplomacy and now here we are. The policy ploy was that the Biden administration could use a global tax increase to blunt the competitive deadweight of its proposed corporate tax increases on U.S.companies. But the OECD resisted setting the minimum tax rate anywhere near the level the administration sought for the U.S. European and other negotiators also outfoxed Yellen by securing favorable treatment for tax credits preferred in Europe while punishing the sort of credits and deductions that Congress traditionally offers U.S.companies. The result is a global tax regime that, if implemented, would make the U.S. even less competitive rather than more so. The Republican bill aims to discourage other countries from pressing ahead with the OECD plan. The enforcement mechanism would be a retaliatory surtax, starting at 5% and rising to 20%, on corporate and capital income earned in the U.S. by companies and wealthy individuals from countries that impose versions of the pillar-one and pillar-two taxes on U.S. fi rms. A tax war could be as bad as the problem it's trying to solve, but the bill won't become law given a Democratic Senate and President Joe Biden's veto pen and it doesn't need to pass to work. The point is to warn other governments that Yellen wasn't speaking on behalf of America's tax writers when she approved the OECD deal. Capitol Hill's opposition has stretched across two Congresses (with new Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith picking up the baton from predecessor Kevin Brady) and will extend into a Republican administration if one arrives in 2025. That's good news for U.S.companies, and a major diplomatic embarrassment for Yellen as Congress warns other governments to treat her tax promises skeptically. A Treasury secretary is supposed to promote policies that boost the U.S. economy instead of searching for gimmicks that punish American fi rms in the name of raising more tax revenue from overseas. WASHINGTON Many minority lawmakers and voting rights activists see last week's Supreme Court decision ordering Alabama to redraw its congressional districts as a stunning victory with the potential to become a major steppingstone for undoing political maps that dilute the strength of communities of color. Hank Sanders, a former Alabama state lawmaker, knew there would be a decision since the court heard arguments in the case last fall. He did not anticipate being happy with the outcome, given that the conservative-leaning court's previous rulings essentially gutted some of the most important provisions of the Voting Rights Act. "I was afraid they were going to go ahead and wipe out section 2," he said, referring to the part of the law at stake in the Alabama case. He was at his law office Thursday in Selma, scene of one of the most pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement, when news of the 5-4 ruling in favor of Alabama's Black voters was announced. "It was a surprise that was good for my day," he said. How the decision will affect similar lawsuits against political maps drawn in other states is unclear, though voting rights groups say the ruling provides firm guidance for lower courts to follow. The court majority found that Alabama concentrated Black voters in one district, while spreading them out among the others to make it much more difficult to elect more than one candidate of their choice. Alabama's Black population is large enough and geographically compact enough to create a second district, the judges found. Just one of its seven congressional districts is majority Black, in a state where more than one in four residents is Black. Similar maps were drawn in other states, primarily by Republican-controlled legislatures.- Kareem Crayton, the Brennan Center's senior director for voting and representation, called the court's decision "a welcome surprise" and said challenges to the maps in Louisiana and Georgia were the most similar to the Alabama case. While it was considering the Alabama case, the Supreme Court placed a hold on a lower court ruling in Louisiana allowing creation of a second majority-Black district. That's now likely to be lifted. A federal judge last year also ruled that some of Georgia's U.S. House and state legislative districts likely violated the Voting Rights Act, but he allowed the districts to be used in the 2022 elections because it was too close to the election to redraw them. Maps in all three states could have to be redrawn for the 2024 elections. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said the court's action reaffirmed his own belief that Louisiana's map, drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature, violated the law. "As I said when I vetoed it, Louisiana's current congressional map violates the Voting Rights Act," he said. "Louisiana's voting population is one third Black. We know that in compliance with the principles of the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana can have a congressional map where two of our six districts are majority Black." Rep. Troy Carter, a Black Democrat representing Louisiana's lone district that is majority Black, said the Legislature should immediately convene to draw a second majority-minority district. "This Supreme Court ruling is a win not just for Alabamians but for Louisianans as well," Carter said in an emailed statement. "Rarely do we get a second chance to get things right now Louisiana can." In Georgia, Bishop Reginald Jackson, a plaintiff in one of the lawsuits challenging the state's congressional map, said he was ecstatic when he heard about the ruling and hopes it will boost their case. He said he became involved in the lawsuit amid concerns that the state's Black population increased while the number of Black congressional representatives decreased with the last round of redistricting. "So how could you have less Black representation when you have more Blacks moving into the state than before?" said Jackson, who presides over 534 African Methodist Episcopal churches in Georgia with over 90,000 parishioners. The Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana cases mean Black voters will likely have an opportunity to elect candidates in three additional districts, said Marina Jenkins, executive director of the National Redistricting Foundation, one of the organizations that spearheaded voting rights challenges in the states. She said other plaintiff groups' litigation in Texas could mean additional districts where minority voters "have the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice that don't exist now." Texas State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado, a Democrat who chairs the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said the case was a "major win for voting rights." With the current court's decisions in other areas, such as last year's overturning of the constitutional right to abortion, she was concerned about the direction the justices would take with voting rights. She was relieved to see Thursday's outcome. "As we are seeing the Latino community rise in many ways, we want to ensure that Latino power is translated into Latino political power," Neave Criado said. Latinos and Whites share an equal proportion of the Texas population, about 40% each, according to 2022 census figures. Similar section 2 claims have been brought against numerous voting districts used for state legislatures and local governments around the country. Attorney Mark Gaber argued a case this week alleging Washington's state legislative districts diluted the voting strength of Hispanic residents and will be arguing a similar case next week involving Native Americans and North Dakota's state legislative districts. He thinks Thursday's ruling will strengthen the case. In Alabama, the question is what happens next. Steve Marshall, the state's Republican attorney general, said in a statement that he expects to continue defending the challenged map in federal court, including at a full trial. Koley Jessen Launches 2023 Summer Associate Program with 23 Law Students Koley Jessen is thrilled to kick off its 2023 Summer Associate Program and extends a warm welcome to 23 bright and promising law students. Hailing from eight universities, these highly accomplished students bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to the program, making for a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. David Goeschel, Recruiting Committee Chair, shared his excitement for Koley Jessen's incoming summer associate class and the firm's commitment to providing an enriching and meaningful experience for the participants. "Our goal with the summer associate program is to offer a supportive and collaborative environment where these talented law students can grow and thrive as they work alongside experienced attorneys on real-world client matters," said Goeschel. "The firm's been eager to welcome this exceptional group and looks forward to providing them with the mentorship, training, and hands-on experience necessary to succeed as the next generation of legal professionals." Throughout the 12-week program, summer associates will work alongside our attorneys on ongoing client matters across all major practice areas of the firm to gain comprehensive and practical exposure to various facets of private law practice. As they move through three four-week rotations, they will attend court appearances, trials, depositions, and client meetings, and also conduct legal research and writing assignments. To ensure personalized guidance, each summer associate will be paired with a mentor who will provide feedback and support, helping lay the foundation for a successful legal career. Additionally, the firm will organize a range of social events to promote networking and relationship-building with colleagues and peers in a more relaxed setting. The first-year summer associates joining the firm are: Charles Erker - University of Nebraska College of Law, Patrick Fallon - University of Michigan Law School, Rene Jackson-Armendriz - Creighton University School of Law, Sydney Mallum - Creighton University School of Law, Ben Marchant - University of Iowa College of Law, Patrick Mruz - Creighton University School of Law, Taylor Murph - Southern University Law Center, Brooklyn Olson - Creighton University School of Law, Jori Peters - University of Nebraska College of Law, Randy Thomas - University of Virginia School of Law, Emily Tlapek - Notre Dame Law School The second-year summer associates joining the firm are: Jacob Bishop - University of Nebraska College of Law, Nick Blum - Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Marin Coughlin - Creighton University School of Law, Carson Drake - Creighton University School of Law, Haley Faust - University of Nebraska College of Law, Ethan Hoogeveen - Creighton University School of Law, Simon Hovis - University of Iowa College of Law, Kaci Jumps - University of Nebraska College of Law, Taylour Kumpf - Creighton University School of Law, Luke Schnepel - University of Iowa College of Law, Nathan Sheeley - University of Virginia School of Law, Nate Turner - Creighton University School of Law The firm is proud to welcome this incoming class and excited to see the incredible contributions they will make to the legal community. Koley Jessen looks forward to supporting their professional growth this summer and throughout our program. About Koley Jessen Koley Jessen is a strategically growing law firm serving the needs of businesses and their owners, executives, and professionals in Nebraska and around the country. John Voskamp to Help Lead Strategy, Sales, and Operations for Scooter's Coffee as Vice President of Boundless Operations John Voskamp has joined Scooter's Coffee as Vice President of Boundless Operations, providing leadership and strategic direction for Scooter's Coffee's parent company, Boundless Enterprises. Voskamp will support field leadership and corporate store teams in executing best-in-class sales, service, and operational strategies that promote an amazing customer experience while also helping to guide the rapid growth of Scooter's Coffee. In addition, Voskamp will collaborate closely with the operations, franchise development, human resources, and real estate teams to ensure success and excellence across the system. An energetic senior leader, Voskamp has more than 25 years of experience in deploying sales and marketing initiatives that consistently deliver results, preserve brand integrity, and connect with a diverse consumer base. He also has more than 20 years of experience in franchise operations, with a proven track record for building world-class teams by enhancing employee engagement, attracting the right talent, and increasing franchise satisfaction. Voskamp has held executive leadership positions in the fitness industry to support expansion efforts for companies such as Gold's Gym, Blue Moon Fitness, Lift Brands and Snap Fitness World Headquarters. He most recently was Director of Operations and Sales at Horsepower Brands. Voskamp studied Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. About Scooter's Coffee Scooter's Coffee continues to grow rapidly while it strives to become the #1 drive-thru coffee franchise system in the nation. The Scooter's Coffee Brand Promise is: "Amazing People, Amazing Drinks Amazingly Fast!" It represents the company's business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers. Scooter's Coffee, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, is at the dawn of a strategic growth phase nationwide, approaching 700 stores in 29 states. Visit ownascooters.com to learn more about the benefits of owning a franchise with a well-established brand. Smith Pauley adds Anne Marie O'Brien to its Litigation Team Anne Marie O'Brien has joined Smith Pauley LLP as an of counsel attorney, an addition that further solidifies the firm's position as a regional leader in the legal field. With a national practice, O'Brien has represented clients in multiple state and federal courts and tried numerous cases to successful verdicts. She has established herself over several decades as a trusted and respected problem-solver both in and out of the courtroom. She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University and her Juris Doctorate from the Creighton University School of Law. "I'm excited to join Smith Pauley, which shares my core values of serving clients with relentless dedication, the utmost professionalism, and a deep knowledge of legal principles," O'Brien said. Smith Pauley welcomes David Schmitt as Partner David Schmitt has joined Smith Pauley LLP as a partner, the latest addition to a firm that is rapidly expanding its areas of expertise and experience. Schmitt represents and advises railroads, trucking companies, insurance companies, businesses, and individuals in a variety of legal matters, including railroad litigation under the Federal Employers' Liability Act, personal injury, product liability, cyber law, business law, and federal and state court appeals. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa; his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law; and his Master of Laws degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law. "First and foremost, I'm a fierce advocate for my clients," Schmitt said. "I work closely with them to ensure they receive the guidance and strategies they need to reach their goals." KEY LARGO, Fla. A university professor who spent 100 days living underwater at a Florida Keys lodge for scuba divers resurfaced Friday and raised his face to the sun for the first time since March 1. Dr. Joseph Dituri set a new record for the longest time living underwater without depressurization during his stay at Jules' Undersea Lodge, submerged beneath 30 feet of water in a Key Largo lagoon. The diving explorer and medical researcher shattered the previous mark of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes set by two Tennessee professors at the same lodge in 2014. "It was never about the record," Dituri said. "It was about extending human tolerance for the underwater world and for an isolated, confined, extreme environment." Dituri, who also goes by the moniker "Dr. Deep Sea," is a University of South Florida educator who holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering and is a retired U.S. Naval officer. Guinness World Records listed Dituri as the record holder on its website after his 74th day underwater last month. The Marine Resources Development Foundation, which owns the lodge, will ask Guinness to certify Dituri's 100-day mark, according to foundation head Ian Koblick. Dituri's undertaking, dubbed Project Neptune 100, was organized by the foundation. Unlike a submarine, which uses technology to keep the inside pressure about the same as at the surface, the lodge's interior is set to match the higher pressure found underwater. The project aimed to learn more about how the human body and mind respond to extended exposure to extreme pressure and an isolated environment and was designed to benefit ocean researchers and astronauts on future long-term missions. During the three months and nine days he spent underwater, Dituri conducted daily daily experiments and measurements to monitor how his body responded to the increase in pressure over time. He also met online with several thousand students from 12 countries, taught a USF course and welcomed more than 60 visitors to the habitat. "The most gratifying part about this is the interaction with almost 5,000 students and having them care about preserving, protecting and rejuvenating our marine environment," Dituri said. He plans to present findings from Project Neptune 100 at November's World Extreme Medicine Conference in Scotland. The planets top underwater yes, underwater hotels 1. Conrad Rangali Island in the Maldives 2. Atlantis The Palm Dubai, United Arab Emirates 3. Resort World, Sentosa, Singapore 4. Anantara Kihavah Villas, Maldives 5. Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, China 6. Reefsuites, Whitsunday Islands, Australia 7. Niyama Private Islands, Maldives 8. Manta Resort Zanzibar, Tanzania 9. Jules Undersea Lodge, Florida, USA 10. Utter Inn, Vasteras, Sweden For the past 20 years, Richard Peterson, 91, has volunteered with the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska. But this past summer, Richard had to scale back his volunteer hours because he was experiencing back pain. He also had to limit time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren who live near his northwest Omaha home. In early December, Dr. Gallant provided Richard relief with a radiofrequency ablation a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that involves sending radiofrequency waves into a needle electrode to create heat and destroy specific nerves that are causing pain. They hope the outcome will be no pain for at least a year and maybe two, said Richard , who quickly returned to his regular volunteer work and spent the holiday season pain-free. So that was good news. Providing Pain Relief Dr. Gallant is one of seven PMR providers at Methodist who are trained to treat conditions that cause pain or limit function. He joined the team in 2014 and introduced radiofrequency ablation as a way to offer relief to patients who suffer from life-limiting back or neck pain. To ensure a patient is a good candidate for an ablation, trial injections are performed to determine whether specific joints in the spine are causing the pain. If the injections provide temporary relief, an ablation is scheduled. The ablation destroys individual nerves near the problematic joints and ideally provides relief for up to 18 months. Theres a 50% chance that the nerve will regenerate and cause similar pain, but the procedure can be repeated. 'Game Changer' The patients Dr. Gallant treats include retired individuals, like Richard , who are hoping to enjoy leisure activities. He also helps younger patients who desire better, less painful work and home lives. Jackie Hoff, 40, has experienced chronic headaches since sixth grade. Shes met with physical therapists, chiropractors, doctors and specialists, but shes never received sufficient relief. Jackie also took pain medication daily, which left her with drowsiness at work and minimal energy at home. As a surgical technician at Methodist HealthWest, she heard about Dr. Gallants radiofrequency ablation procedure. Although intrigued, she was skeptical. I have done so many different types of things, so I thought, here we go, were going to try something, and its not going to work again. Jackie received her first ablation treatment in 2020. It took a few weeks for the full effects to kick in, but she noticed quite a difference. Its definitely been a game changer, she said. Stimulation Offers Hope In addition to radiofrequency ablations, the PMR group has other cutting-edge procedures. Physician Jery Inbarasu, M.D., added spinal cord stimulation to Methodists in-house offerings. Patients eligible for spinal cord stimulation have already exhausted conservative methods of managing nerve-related pain, such as physical therapy, medication and even surgery. Some of these patients have probably lost hope that theyre ever going to have effective treatments, Dr. Inbarasu said. And I think this gets them back to a level of functionality that they want to have. Spinal cord stimulation involves two procedures. The first is a trial, sending wires through a needle into the back and then securing those wires to the skin and connecting them to an external stimulation device. The device sends a small amount of electricity directly onto the spinal cord to interrupt pain signals from reaching the brain. If the trial is effective meaning the stimulation positively changes a patients quality of life a permanent procedure is scheduled. That procedure is similar to the first. But this time, the wires are secured under the skin and connected to an implanted device similar to a pacemaker. Collaborative Approach The PMR team works closely with primary care physicians and physical therapists to ensure a collaborative approach for each patients individualized goals. Michelle Ninemire, DPT, a physical therapist with Methodist Fremont Health, says its nice knowing that she can easily refer patients to the PMR group. Dr. Gallant receives many patient referrals from primary care physicians and physical therapists across the region. The PMR providers also work closely with neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons through Methodists partnership with MD West ONE. Dr. Gallant enjoys being able to help patients receive the help they need and get them back to life. We dont really save lives, but we make lives worth living. Only 34.75 per cent of registered voters actually voted in the just concluded presidential elections, according data released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the percentage represents 28,614,190 people who cast their votes during the elections. This is 0.91 per cent less than the total number of accredited voters who make up a total 35.66 per cent (29,364,209) of total registered voters. The data further showed that just 33.18 per cent (27,324,583) of the 82,344,107 registered voters were valid votes that led to the final decision. NAN also reports that President Muhammadu Buhari polled 55.6 per cent or 15,191,847 votes of the total votes cast to win, leaving his rival, Atiku Abubakar, with 41.22 per cent or 11,262,978 votes. Table showing distribution of registered voters and cast votes Although Kano State had the highest number of votes cast 1,964,751 and 1,891,134 valid votes, Jigawa had the highest rate of voter turnout with 55.67 per cent (1,171,801) of its registered voters showing up for accreditation. NAN reports that about 52.55 per cent of its registered voters had valid votes. Table showing states with the lowest voter turnout (NAN) This was followed by Katsina State with 48.45 per cent (1,555,473) and Sokoto State with 46 per cent or 871,891 valid voters. Table showing states with the highest voter turnout. Meanwhile, Lagos State led the states with the lowest voter turnout of 17.25 per cent (1,089,567), followed by Abia with 18 per cent or 323,291 votes and Rivers with 19.97 per cent (642,165) valid voters. written by Alexander Thandi Ubani No matter how hard suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen tries to repair his already damaged image, his detractors have achieved their [evil and wicked] purpose. Chief among those leading this sad cause that has soiled the hard-earned image and reputation of Onnoghen which he laboured so hard to attain over the years as a judge is President Muhammadu Buhari who led a vindictive cause by spreading fake news when he said that security agencies had since traced suspicious transactions running into MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to onnoghens personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law. It was with this false excuse that he subverted the constitution to suspend Onnoghen making the judiciary, (a supposed independent arm of government) a laughing stock. In Buharis words: Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJNs personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law. This intentional act, served its purpose: to paint Onnoghen as a corrupt monster and judge who make money through dubious means and handouts from court cases. The media trial sponsored by the government of Buhari and its agents of fake news reverberated in states, cities, towns and villages across the nation with many calling for Onnoghen to be thrown into prison even when the court has not stated so. For the fact that Buhari made the statement on national television, the effect of this propaganda and campaign of calumny was far-reaching against the person of Onnoghen. Nigerians now see Onnoghen as a corrupt judge who has used his position of authority to benefit his pocket. Even before investigations are concluded, Buhari painted him as one of those working against the governments anti-corruption war as seen in Buharis speech below while swearing in the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed: It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts. Since there is nothing the Executive Arm can do after the apex court of the land has spoken on any matter, several of these individuals walk free among us today, enjoying what are clearly the proceeds of the corruption which for so long has defeated the efforts of this nation to develop and prosper. Buhari said. Evidence at hand shows that Buhari lied against Onnoghen. In fact, the suspended CJN according to investigation by the Code of Conduct Bureau investigators and evidence tendered by a Standard Chartered Bank staff, Ifeoma Okabue in charge of Onnoghens account, did not have millions of dollars as claimed by the President. Okabue said she took charge of the management of Onnghens accounts in 2015. Giving a breakdown of the accounts, she said the first account, with No: 5001062686 was opened in April 2010, the second: 0001062667 was opened in June 2009; the third: 0001062650 was opened in June 2009; the fourth: 5001062679 was opened in March 2010 while the fifth: 5001062693 was opened in February 2011. She gave the balance in each of the accounts to include, that the first had an opening balance of 30,178.58 in January 2018 and a balance of 10,187.18 as at December 2018. For the second account: 0001062667 the witness said the balance by January 2018 was N34, 280,904.61 while it has N2, 656,019.21 as at December 2018. The third account: 0001062650, the witness said, has, by January 2018, a balance of $80,824.25, while it reduced to $56,878 by January 2019. She said the fourth account: 5001062679 have a balance of 39,456.08 in January 2018, which reduced to 13,730.70 by December of the same year. The witness said the fifth account: 50010626 had an opening balance of N6,411,312.77k by January 2018, which increased to N12,852,580.52 by December of the same year. Unlike what was projected in the media, Onnoghen didnt operate a foreign account but operated a domiciliary account in Nigeria. In fact, the official of the Standard Chartered Bank revealed that Onnoghen borrowed $500,000 from the bank, part of the money seen in his account. Also, the claim that 55 houses were traced to Onnoghen is outright falsehood meant to ridicule the person of the suspended CJN. Evidence provided by a retired Director at the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr Awal Yakassai, on Thursday showed that Onnoghen has only 5 houses. As we await the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, it is right to conclude that even if the CCT sets Onnoghen free, the damage has been done. The government of Buhari has become notorious for using the media to damage the reputation of perceived opponents. This irresponsible act by Buhari and his cohorts spell huge disaster for the polity. Worst still, the government has shown no remorse even when it eventually turns out that they have deliberately distorted the facts for their political gains. Take the case of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the CCT. After the government used the media to damage his reputation, he won at the court but the lies by the government against his person couldnt be erased. No apology, nothing. The government officials who leveled falsehood against him went about their businesses after tarnishing his image. Should Onnoghen win, the government must show responsibility by apologising to Onnoghen for no man who has served his country illustriously would be shamed in such a way and not regret ever being born a Nigerian. The President should grow up and dust off this ethnic baggage of antagonising people who are not from his ethnic group. The pace at which Onnoghens prosecution took place is still baffling. Dont forget that Buharis Chief of Staff, Abba kyari has yet to answer to allegations of bribery involving MTN leveled against him. Yet after three years, the report of the probe ordered by the President is yet to be made public. Chief of Army Staff, Buratai still have allegations of corruption hovering over his head after purchasing mansions in Dubai for a whopping $1.5 million, yet Buhari keeps acting like he hasnt heard about any of these. It is a shame that at this time and age, while other countries are making advancement in science and other sphere of life, Buhari and his cohorts dedicate their time and energy looking for political victims. Shame on some sections of the Nigerian media, agents and stakeholders who have become cheap means for spreading propaganda and fake news. The Nation Newspaper played a horrible role in spreading fake news about Onnoghen which was copied by DailyPost, Sahara Reporters and others. For instance, TheNation had on January 23, 2019 made false claims about monies allegedly found in Onnoghens account. The paper circulated a report that the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission restricted the operation of five accounts belonging to Onnoghen with about $3million. This is outright falsehood fed to millions of Nigerians by TheNation. It is high time sanity is brought back to the media in Nigeria. The era of copy-and-paste journalism is gone. Publishing defamatory contents which are not backed by evidence must be punished no matter whose ox is gored. The reality for us all is that Onnoghen will only lick his wounds and accept that Nigeria cares for no one. Alexander Thandi Ubani The Labour Party, LP, has condemned the suspension of the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, by President Bola Tinubu, stating that he lacks the power to do so. The opposition party described the Presidents action as vindictive and unconstitutional, urging him to go after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, said this in Abuja, on Saturday. He said the Labour Party Is disturbed by the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend/sack the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, albeit unconstitutionally without seeking the permission of the national assembly and we insist that the action was not in good taste and sounds punitive. Mr President has the right to ask the CBN governor to resign, same way, Nigerians have the right to ask him or anyone to resign. However, he does not have the powers to do so. Having a right is one thing, having the power is another. Many have asked Mr President to resign but lack the powers to compel him to do so, Femi Gbajabiamila, The (then) minority leader of the House of Representatives, January 13, 2014 Drawing inspiration from what Femi Gbajabiamila, then Minority Leader, had said years ago (as quoted above) over a similar situation when President Goodluck Jonathan sacked former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, wherein he questioned the powers of the President in sacking the CBN Governor. The opposition leader made it clear that the President lacks powers under the laws of the land to sack the CBN boss. One wonders what has changed between that time and now. Femi Gbajabiamila is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives and also holds the enviable portfolio as the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu. He had then argued that the law requires the President to seek the approval of two third of the Senate to be able to sack the CBN Governor. Reasons being essentially to enforce the doctrine of Checks and Balances and to avoid the abuse of powers of a capricious and arbitrary President, while at the same time guaranteeing the autonomy of the CBN. But under Gbajabiamilas watch, Emefiele was fired in a most unconstitutional and vindictive manner. It is only in Nigeria that we find people that approbate and reprobate at the same time. People say one thing from one side of their mouth and another from the other side, especially when it favours them politically and otherwise. That explains why the country is in shamble: no rule of law, no equity, no justice, and no fair play. People dont follow standard rules and procedures. That is why every aspect of our lives, be it our economic, political and social lives, is challenged. Because he was in the opposition at that time, Gbajabiamila saw everything wrong with President Jonathan sacking Sanusi, today, he is on the other side of the divide, and he doesnt see anything wrong with it. This is what Nigerians will face in the APC government, where perceived enemies are dealt with, perceive opposition parties and their members are dealt with, even when they are protected by the law. The LP Spokesman further said, Most Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the famous Naira redesign policy initiated by Emefiele primarily to check vote buying in the last general election. A noble policy which a particular candidate then, unfortunately, believed was targeted at him. To him, it was a mortal sin which cannot be forgiven and must be punished. Labour Party believes that Emefiele, a fall guy, is paying for his sin. The government said the suspension of Emefiele is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy. Ifoh equally said, It is laughable to read that statement as most Nigerians are already aware of the intention of the government. If indeed, there is any government agency that should be investigated with this utmost urgency, should it not be the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu? This is the institution that is responsible for the mockery of our democracy. This is an institution which asked and received N355 billion in tax payers money to conduct, the worst-ever election in the history of Nigeria and in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is an election umpire that has shamelessly chosen to be partisan during and after the election, even at the tribunal. We urge the APC-led government to carry out a thorough investigation of the CBN and particularly, the last APC governments interference in the operation of the apex bank. Nigerians will not tolerate political and peripheral investigation. We suggest a forensic auditing by an independent firm and by so doing, maybe the real culprits, not just Emefiele will be unearthed. Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode has applauded the suspension and arrest of embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. He referred to Emefiele as a heartless crook and sadistic war criminal who sponsors terrorism in the country. TORI reports that the DSS, in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, confirmed the arrest of the embattled suspended CBN Governor. In a lengthy post via his verified Twitter page on Saturday, Fani-Kayode said the suspended apex bank boss was arrested this morning and flown to the DSS headquarters in Abuja. The former minister also commended the DSS for their swift action and professionalism, stating that the arrest is a refreshing and encouraging display of heroic, courageous, and decisive leadership by the Director General and President Bola Tinubu. He wrote: The DSS finally arrested Godwin Emefiele, the erstwhile Governor of Central Bank, this morning and flew him to Abuja. Look at him in this video looking like a wet chicken and trembling in his shoes. I commend the DSS for their swift action and professionalism. This is another first for them and a refreshing and encouraging display of heroic, courageous, and decisive leadership by their DG and our new President. They now have in their custody Nigerias greatest sponsor of terrorism and most ardent promoter of secession, a heartless crook and bloodthirsty and sadistic war criminal, and a man who tried to subvert the democratic process on the orders of his co-conspirators and sponsors. I have no doubt that he will spill the beans and name many names once the interrogation begins. He will not go down alone: those he worked and fronted for will go down with him. God bless the DSS and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for proving to the world that we are not a nation of common criminals and rogues and that there is still hope for justice for the common man and the weak and vulnerable in society. Article summary Akande urged Nigerians who value integrity, no matter the political leanings, to be thankful for the government s action against Emefiele, noting that the suspended CBN Governor was given a long rope but failed to redeem himself. He accused Emefiele of corruption, especially with the dual exchange rate policy as well as perpetuated colossal damages at the CBN to the utter detriment of the Nigerian people. However, Akande has been criticized by Nigerians over his statement, accusing him and his boss (Vice President Yemi Osinbajo) of being part of the past administration he is now attacking. A former Senior Special Assistant to the immediate past Vice President, Laolu Akande, has expressed support for the suspension and investigation of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. Akande urged all people of goodwill and those who value integrity, no matter the political leanings, to be thankful for the development, noting that Emefiele was given a long rope but failed to redeem himself. This was made known by Akande through a statement on his official Twitter account on Saturday night, June 10, 2023. Akande who accused Emefiele of corruption, especially with the dual exchange rate policy, said he perpetuated colossal damages at the CBN to the utter detriment of the Nigerian people. Accuses Emefiele of corruption perpetrated colossal damages at CBN Akande in his tweet post said, It was about time d CBN Governor faced suspension & investigation. All people of goodwill & those who value integrity, irrespective of political leanings would be thankful for this development. Emefiele was given a long rope, but he failed to redeem himself. His shenanigans and the colossal damages he perpetrated at the CBN were to the utter detriment of the Nigerian people. This is not even about cashless policy, but apparent corruption especially in the dual exchange rate policy which never made sense. What a sigh of relief! Backlash over statement However, Akande faced some criticisms from Nigerians over his statement, accusing him and his boss (Vice President Yemi Osinbajo) of being part of the past administration under the very watch all the alleged damages happened. Nigerian activist, Aisha Yesufu, said that Eemefiele was just an errand boy that did the bidding of his masters to stay relevant and worked well with Buhari and Osinbajos administration to destroy Nigeria. She said, What did Emefiele do that was not with the support of Buhari and Osinbajo? Emefiele was the errand boy who did his masters bidding to stay relevant. He worked well with Buhari and Osinbajo administration to destroy Nigeria. She added, Cowards everywhere! It is because Emefiele is down that many of you now have mouths to say the very things you all insulted us over. Buhari and Osinbajo are the number one culprits! A twitter user, Jerry Koko Durojaiye, accused Osinbajo of being guilty, adding that it was the reason his aide is attacking Emefiele in advance. He said, Im very sure Osinbajo is guilty and thats the reason this man is attacking Emefiele in advance, hmmm! Another Twitter user, Tolulope Abeey said, Its now obvious that all along Osinbajo or should I say Laolu Akande as the case maybe were just bootlicking Buhari and being a sycophant with the hope that Buhari will endorse Ikenne for Aso villa. A Twitter user Omadi said Akande should have been circumspect in his statement on the arrest of the CBN Governor considering the fact that his boss was part of the same government. Omadi said, You should have been circumspect on making comments on the arrest of Emefiele since your principal served as VP in the same government he was CBN governor. As the Holy Bible says, faith is good; anointing is good; skill is good, but wisdom is profitable to direct. Aniebonam Ifeanyi said his boss, the former vice president, was part of the Emefiele saga. Aremu Ridwan said, You actually didnt speak up against Emefieles atrocities when you were in power. Hypocritical! You actually didnt speak up against Emefieles atrocities when you were in power. Hypocritical! Aremu Ridwan (@REALLUCAS20) June 10, 2023 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that a lawmaker from Delta State, Jonathan Ukodhiko, was under investigation. It said the anti-graft agency was probing the legislator following a petition against him. There were reports that the agency launched a manhunt for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives member-elect for Isoko Federal Constituency, Delta State, Jonathan Ukodhiko over alleged corruption and other related issues. It was gathered that the lawmaker was yet to honour several invitations extended to him by the commission to answer questions bothering on alleged corruption involving his oil and gas companies, Joeny Holdings Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The commission after approaching the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, got an order to seal off Ukodhikos office in Port Harcourt and in his Isoko country home at Erawah-Owhe, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta and other properties across the country. Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed that Ukodhiko was under investigation. We are investigating him. He has a case in our Port Harcourt command, he said. But a source, who is involved in the investigation of the member-elect, however, said the lawmaker was on the run. Yes, the member-elect, Jonathan Ukodhiko is on the run, we have extended series of invitations to him to appear in our Port Harcourt office in Rivers State for questioning on issues bothering on corruption related matters. But he has vehemently refused to honour all invitations extended to him so far. As a result of that we approached the court for an order to seal off his properties pending his arrest or surrounding himself to our office, the source said. Following the court order in suit No: FHC/PH/CS/88/2023, we sealed off his Port Harcourt office, Rivers state few weeks ago and on Friday we went to his Isoko residence to seal it off as well as other properties identified to have been owned by him across the country. Why is he on the run for several weeks now? Why is he evading arrest and interrogation? If you are running a genuine business; why hiding, why on the run, why refusing to honour invitation extended to you, why evading arrest? Any moment from now we shall declare him wanted and place a bounty on him. We learnt he travelled abroad and may not be back until the proclamation of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, the source reportedly said. Uwujaren indicated that the lawmaker was being probed by the commission over a petition against him at the Port Harcourt office of the agency. He has a case with our Port Harcourt office over a petition against him. I dont have all the details but our Rivers command is handling the investigation, he said. Related Advertisement Robert Kennedy, son of the assassinated in 1968 Robert Francis Kennedy, US Attorney General, New York Senator and 1968 Democratic presidential candidate, and nephew of the also assassinated in 1963 US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, will be a candidate for the Democratic Partys nomination for the November 2024 presidential election. But who is Robert Kennedy? He is a lawyer-activist, specializing in environmental issues, 69 years old. Raised in the political environment of the Kennedys and embracing the values and political views that have been transmitted to him, he has said: My father told me when I was a child: People in power lie. And if we want to continue living in a Democracy we must understand that the people in power are lying. The people in power are abusing the power we gave them. It is at the same time a leading figure of the anti-vaccination movement. Robert Kennedys public attack on the philanthropist promoter of the vaccines Bill Gates had caused a global sensation with his post, describing how Bill Gates is using the vaccine to impose a global dictatorship (Europost, 9-4 -2020): Vaccines for Bill Gates is a strategic philanthropy that fuels his many related business activities to gain himself a dictatorial control of global health politics, the spearhead of neo-imperialism. Robert Kennedy, before the start of vaccinations for COVID-19, sent a message to the global community in December 2020 sounding the alarm about mRNA vaccines by saying: Avoid vaccinations at all costs, at all sacrifices, For the first time in the history of vaccinations the mRNA technology used interferes directly with the genetic material of the recipient-patient and consequently this intervention involves genetic modification, which is already internationally prohibited and considered criminal, Dear prospective recipients you should know that after receiving the vaccine you will no longer be able to manage the symptoms of the vaccine in an effective way. You will have to live with the effects as you will not be able to remove the toxins from your body. The genetic damage caused to you by these vaccines will be irreversible and irreparable, In my opinion these new technology vaccines represent a crime against humanity that has never happened before and on this scale. On February 11, 2021, Instagram closed Robert Kennedys account for fake news! . We removed this account because it repeatedly posted false claims about the coronavirus and vaccines, Facebook, Instagrams parent company, said in a statement. At the time, Kennedy had about 800,000 followers on his account. It is obvious that the promoters of vaccines did not like the public positions of Robert Kennedy, because he himself was staunchly opposed to the so-called vaccines! . Then in November 2021 he visited Italy and spoke in Milan in Piazza dell Arco della Pace in a large demonstration, where he was received as a hero by many thousands of people, against the so-called Green Pass, the COVID-19 certificate, characterizing it as instrument of oppression. And speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Robert Kennedy said: The Green Pass is not a public health innovation, it is an instrument of obedience and economic control, just like the pamphlets issued by the Third Reich. During his speech at the Milan demonstration he encouraged protesters to go out and fight and resist, telling them: Reclaim your government, reclaim your lives, reclaim your freedom for your children, for the your country, for future generations, and ended saying amid cheers and prolonged applause: I will stand by, with you, and if necessary I will die for it. Ill die in my boots. In August 2022, Robert Kennedy was in Berlin and spoke about modern Orwellianism and the bioterrorism agenda of multinational pharmaceutical companies. Among other things, he said: Governments love pandemics the same way they love wars, because it gives them power, gives them control, and gives them the ability to enforce obedience on human beings. And today we have the distortion of new technologies that give governments the ability to impose controls on populations they never imagined. In November 2022, Robert Kennedy made shocking statements about the side effects of mass vaccinations, saying: Were seeing a 40% increase in unexplained deaths, in excess deaths, and were seeing them especially happening to young people! The number of people dying from mass vaccination is much higher than the number of people dying from COVID-19. Some doctors will say we dont know if its from the vaccine. Then why does the CDC discourage coroners and public health authorities from performing autopsies on people whose deaths are suspicious?. Regarding so-called climate change speaking during an interview with radio producer Kim Iversen in April 2023, Robert Kennedy warned that the elite are using climate change to usher in total population control and take away individual liberties. As for the war unfolding in Ukraine, his position is clear. In his statements in May 2023, he said the following: Lets be honest! This is a US war against Russia for geopolitical reasons! These are geopolitical machinations that have been going on since 2014 with (US) intelligence agencies and neoconservatives. They are essentially sacrificing the flower of Ukrainian youth in a slaughterhouse of death and destruction for the geopolitical ambition of the neoconservatives behind the scenes. To depose, change the regime of Vladimir Putin and exhaust the Russian military so that it cannot fight anywhere else in the world. So, we see, based on Robert Kennedys entire journey, that we have before us an anti-establishment candidate, a candidate who is not afraid to clash with huge financial interests, a candidate who is not afraid to go against the dominant system, defying the risks. In closing, I would like to emphatically emphasize that the overwhelming majority of politicians who appeared in the past, before the elections, against the dominant system, when they gained power not only did not change a single hair from it, but instead turned into components of the system. Lets hope that in the case of Robert Kennedy, if he wins the nomination of the Democratic Party and is elected president of the United States, the same will not happen. Curriculum vitae Isidoros Karderinis was born in Athens in 1967. He is a journalist, novelist and poet. He studied economics and completed postgraduate studies in tourism economics. His articles have been published in newspapers, magazines and websites around the world. His poems have been translated into English, French and Spanish and published in poetic anthologies, literary magazines and literary newspaper columns. He has published eight books of poetry and three novels in Greece. His books have been translated and published in the United States, Great Britain, Italy and Spain. Social media Facebook: Karderinis Isidoros Twitter: isidoros karderinis Linkedin: ISIDOROS KARDERINIS Gettr: ISIDOROS KARDERINIS Related Advertisement Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has set up a committee to recover all looted government property by the immediate past government. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula. The statement also said Governor Alia inaugurated an assets recovery committee both at state and local government levels. According to the statement, representatives of security agents were to be deployed in the recovery mission. The Asset recovery committee is headed by former Permanent Secretary, Hingah Biem and also has members including former Attorney General of the State, Barr. Joe Abaagu, Dennis Akura, Ioryue Yajir, Peter Egbodo, Joseph Ojobo, Jonathan Modi, Shaageer Matins, Yuhe Jerome, Tom Uja, and Tormbuwua Terlumun as Member/Secretary. Members at local government levels include Jude Tyo, Aondowase Apera, Kwaghgba Amande, Richard Dzungweve, Anthony Sende, Olofu Ogwuche, Terver Kachina, and Nick Eworo Member Secretary. Both committees will have able representatives from the Department of State Security, The Police, Military, and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, the statement read. The statement also said the governor inaugurated a fact-finding Committee for the Benue State University. Press Statement Sunday, June 11th, 2023 Benue state Governor, @RevFrAlia has inaugurated two Assets Recovery Committees. One is to work at the state level, while the other at the Local Government level. pic.twitter.com/K6nuGjqZJo Benue State Government (@benuestategovt) June 11, 2023 Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that Alia recently nullified with immediate effect, all the recent appointments into the state civil service made by the outgone administration of Samuel Ortom from May 2022 to date. Related BAGHDAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Iraq was almost a drug-free state 20 years ago. But since the U.S. invasion in 2003, violence, unemployment, poverty and a fragile health system have turned the country into a heaven for drug use and trafficking, of which young Iraqis have become the biggest victim. Fakher Monther, head of the media office of the General Directorate of Narcotics Affairs at the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, said at a recent drugs awareness symposium that the most complex problem affecting Iraqi society is the spread of drugs, especially among young people. "Crystal Meth and Captagon are widespread in Iraq and could cause the death of the users, in addition to the spread of Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, and less spread of heroin," Monther said during the symposium held on May 29 in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. There is also an increase in the use of Valium pills and analgesics such as Tramadol, which is a pain reliever used after surgeries, he added. Under Iraqi law, whoever imports, exports, or manufactures narcotic substances shall be punished with death or life imprisonment, whoever possesses drugs shall be punished with imprisonment for 10 to 15 years, and there are also penalties for those who are caught as drug users. But harsh penalties failed to curb the spread of drugs, let alone the trafficking activities. The General Directorate of Narcotics Affairs in Iraq arrested 8,676 drug dealers and drug users during dozens of raids in Baghdad and other provinces from November 2022 to May 2023. More than 9.27 million Captagon pills, 456 weapons, 118 hand grenades, and 808 vehicles were seized during the same period, according to Monther. On the sidelines of the symposium, Monther told Xinhua that the provinces of Maysan, Basra, and Anbar are the most affected by the drug trade due to their border with Iran or Syria. Ali Al-Saadi, a social activist in the field of drug control, told Xinhua that the Iraqi society faces a real danger because the damage of drugs is not limited to drug abusers, as it leads to the collapse of society through increased violence and murders, family disintegrations, and even economic and cultural deterioration. Ahmed Mohammed Shaker, a psychotherapist at the Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital in Baghdad, believes that the increase in drug addicts manifests the deterioration of the Iraqi family system in the years following the U.S. invasion in 2003. "Basically, any family consists of three pillars: the father, the mother, and the children," said Shaker, adding that the U.S. invasion left many families with the loss of one or two of these pillars and gave rise to some societal problems, including drug addiction. It's not surprising that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani underlined in May the importance of waging a "war on drugs", considering it as important as combating terrorism. Drug dealing is one of the main ways to fund terrorism, and the circulation of drugs thrives in the shadow of terrorism, al-Sudani said. Before 2003, the use and trade of drugs in Iraq were very limited, if not nearly nonexistent. Iraq was a model in the region in terms of the strict security measures against the use and trade of drugs. Then everything changed with the U.S. invasion in 2003 which destroyed Iraq's law enforcement system, opening the door to drug traffickers who turned many Iraqis into drug addicts. The continued chaos and conflicts that swept the country have also hindered successive governments from properly addressing the drug problem. In addition, widespread poverty and a high unemployment rate have aggravated people's frustration and increased the likelihood of drug use. The Iraqi Ministry of Planning said that the poverty rate in the country was 25 percent in 2022. The national unemployment rate in Iraq stood at 16.5 percent, while it was close to 36 percent among young people, according to a press release issued by the International Labour Organization in 2022. Another difficulty facing the Iraqi government in fighting the drug trade is that it is unable to effectively control its borders with neighboring countries to keep out drug traffickers. What's worse, a poorly invested health system makes it difficult to help addicts get off drugs. Adnan Yasin, head of the Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital, said that the hospital is no longer able to accommodate the huge number of drug addicts due to the spread of drug use in the country. He revealed that most of the drug addicts accepted by the hospital age from 20 to 40 years old, and there are also individual cases under the age of 20 and over 40 years old. "There is still a shortage of wards for drug addicts and a lack of beds," Yasin told Xinhua. Though the Iraqi government recently opened two hospitals for treating drug abusers in Baghdad, namely the al-Ataa Hospital and the Medical Rehabilitation Hospital, Yasin insisted that there is still a need for building more such hospitals. Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has described the suit filed by Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the PDP challenging his March 2019 victory as lacking in burden of proof. Ganduje said his PDP rivals have failed to establish their burden of proof before the tribunal. The counsel representing governor Ganduje, barrister Ibrahim Mukthar reacting to questions from judicial reporters at the Miller road court complex said the Ganduje camp is afar from being under pressure to counter the allegations filed by the petitioners. According to him, in electoral disputes, the petitioners are under the mandate to execute the burden of proof. stressing that the PDP and its gubernatorial candidate presented only 39 out of the enlisted over 200 scheduled witnesses. Mukthar, who is the immediate past Kano state Attorney General and commissioner for justice said so far, we have nothing to bother ourselves about. They did not come strongly on the issues they raised, they failed to produce the huge number of witnesses, so I feel they did not present the burden of proof, in this case we decided to respond by bringing only four witnesses. therefore there is no case, for us to bother, since no burden of proof.Mukthar stated. Chairperson of the Anti-sexual Harassment Committee of one of the universities exposed in the trending documentary# SexforGrade by the BBC said that there was no evidence against the lecturers. Ghanas CitiNews reported Dr Margaret Amoakohene of the University of Ghana saying that there was no evidence that the lecturers slept with the students in order to give them better grades. Two of the universitys profound lecturers, a Political Science lecturer, Prof. Ransford Gyampo and a lecturer at the College of Education, Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor were indicted in the Sex for Grades expose. If you look at the transcript that they added, there is no evidence of sex for grade. I agree that the lecturers misbehaved and so you will discuss these as unacceptable behaviours that should be investigated but there was no indication of sex for grades, she said. In one case, it was about the national service placement. Who needs grades at national service? She completed and she was looking for placement. PV: 0 Gbemi Saraki, Bukola Saraki, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazak Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, may have stirred the hornets nest if reactions within and outside Kwara State to the state governments demolition of Ile Arugbo, the totem of the late strongman of Kwara Politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, are anything to go by. The demolition of the building that served as a home for the aged has been greeted with outrage from members and sympathisers of the Saraki political dynasty and other neutral individuals and groups who saw the move as a political vendetta against the dynasty. This is in spite of the state governments explanation that the acquisition of the land on which the said building was erected did not follow the proper channel. In a furious reaction to the exercise, the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, berated Governor Abdulrazzaq for demolishing her fathers property, accusing the governor who assumed office on May 29 last year of rushing into settling perceived old generational family political scores. Revenge cannot be a policy thrust of governance, she said in a statement that was choked full with venom. Feelers from Abuja also indicate that the demolition exercise might have created a strain in the relationship between the Presidency and Governor Abdulrazak. It was gathered that the power brokers in Abuja were angry that the governor went beyond the bounds in his avowed mission to checkmate Sarakis hold on Kwara State. When the news of the demolition exercise got to the Presidency, an influential source in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa was sighted saying: Who does this boy listen to? This is really embarrassing. Thereafter, the Presidency waste no time in calling the governor to order, asking him to be more temperate in his actions. A Non-governmental organisation, Save The Nation Movement (STNM) has described as commendable, steps taken by the Akwa Ibom State government to equip the Isolation Centre for the treatment of Coronavirus cases in the State. The group, which said Governor Udom Emmanuel, did not disappoint with was has been put in place in Akwa Ibom State within the last two weeks, noted that With what we saw yesterday, in terms of medical equipment, Akwa Ibom is ready to provide adequate medicate for anyone that test positive for the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, by its National Secretary, Comrade Stevens Chilaka, the STNM said; Even though the governor still needs to do more, installing 13 ventilators and equipping the Ibom Specialist Hospital with modern facilities within this short time is commendable. We have followed responses of States in the country to the Covid-19 pandemic and we must say that we are particularly pleased with the level of equipment already put in place by the Akwa Ibom State government. With this level of equipment, it will easier to treat Coronavirus cases in the State. We wish to commend the Governor, for taking the pace, especially with the test kits they have acquired, the world class facility at Ibom Specialist hospital which we have seen on several online platforms, complete with modern beds and theatres, the 13 ventilators and the courage he has displayed in carrying out the test on its citizens. Calling on Governor Emmanuel to see to the provision of palliatives for the people, the STNM said with the 14 days lock down declared yesterday, it will be necessary to make provision for the welfare of the people, especially the less privileged. BLOOMINGTON For the past four years, Gaynett Hoskins has been working to ensure that the local LGBTQ+ community has the opportunity to feel connected with the Bloomington-Normal Mobile Pride Parade. June is Pride Month. And, every year, members of the LGBTQ+ community and supporters gather at Miller Park in Bloomington to decorate cars, make signs, meet community partners and then parade the cars around the park. Hoskins, who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, said the idea came about during the COVID-19 lockdowns. "It was almost Pride month, and I wanted us to be able to celebrate one another," Hoskins said. "So we needed to physically distance but not socially distance." She said the change in verbiage, from "social distancing" to "physical distancing," was important for LGBTQ+ people. "I just wanted to be able to get out and just say, 'We love each other. We are going through, but we are not apart,'" Hoskins said. The Mobile Pride Parade is designed as a family-friendly event. Edward Bridges-O'Connor has been coming to the parade for three years. "I'm sober," Bridges-O'Connor said. "So this is a nice alternative to events where it centers around drinking and stuff like that." Since beginning, the parade has grown to include community resources like Central Illinois Friends, a free and low cost sexual health clinic that focuses on the LGBTQ+ community. Nurse practitioner Sara Carl said the clinic started in Peoria in 1990 "to basically be the friends of people living with HIV." Now, the organization provides free testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), free vaccines for hepatitis A and human papillomavirus infection (HPV). "For the most part," Carl said, "the services that we provide ... are free or low cost." The parade also featured Misty Midler, a self-proclaimed drag diva. "This is actually my first year as a drag performer," said Midler, a man who uses feminine pronouns when in drag. She said Pride events are especially important. "I think, in today's climate, in general, Pride is more important than ever ... I think it's super important for families to get involved in Pride just to show - just celebrate diversity, celebrate the lives around them," Midler said. "Whether it's family, friends, neighbors, whoever (or) people they don't know. Pride events are important because it gives an opportunity for people to find their family." That "family" she mentioned are people who care for and support members of the LGBTQ+ community when others won't. Midler said she found her "family" at a Pride event like the parade. "Those people have saved my life and been there for everything," she said. Hoskins said Pride events "put a spotlight" on LGBTQ+ people and celebrate their individuality. "It's not about 'including us,' because inclusion means, 'it's mine, and I'm going to let you in.' "It's about acceptance, visibility," she said. Hoskins said, "We've always been trying to fit in. Like, 'Where can I go? I don't want to look too gay. I don't want to present too gay ... I want to fit in.' "The thing is, none of us are supposed to fit in anyway. We are supposed to be unique." Bridges-O'Connor said he was glad to have Pride events like the parade. "Growing up, I never saw this kind of diversity. So it's nice to see it in my hometown finally." LGBTQ+ history before Stonewall LGBTQ+ history before Stonewall 29002500 BC: First record of a transgender person 2400 BC: Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep are buried together 630612 BC: Sappho the poet is born 27 BC: First recorded same-sex marriage under Roman Empire 1478: The Spanish Inquisition stones sodomites 1532: Holy Roman Empire makes buggery punishable by death 1623: King James appoints his lover as Duke of Buckingham 1791: France becomes the first Western European nation to decriminalize homosexuality 1800s: Decriminalizing homosexuality spreads through Europe and Latin America 1886: Wewha takes part in a delegation to Washington, DC 1892: Magnus Hirschfeld earns his doctoral degree 1910: Emma Goldman begins speaking publicly 1931: Dora Richter becomes the first transgender woman to get vaginoplasty 1932: Eleanor Roosevelts alleged lesbian affair 1936: Federico Garcia Lorca is executed 1948: Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the Human Male 195152: Christine Jorgensen has sex reassignment surgery 1955: The Daughters of Bilitis is formed 1956: Go Tell It on the Mountain is first published by James Baldwin 1958: US Supreme Court rules in favor of gay free speech 1962: Illinois removes sodomy law from criminal code 1964: First gay rights protests at Whitehall 1965: Vanguard is created 1966: The Mattachine Society organizes a Sip-In 1967: Police raid Black Cat Tavern Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has assured subscribers facing difficulty in accessing their funds on their mobile money wallets that their monies are safe. Even though these subscribers will not be able to transact any mobile money related activity, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are working with the Bank of Ghana to ensure that they can retrieve their funds on the presentation of a valid ID and completion of the relevant KYC process. Speaking on the floor of Parliament on the just ended SIM Re-registration exercise, the Minister said "to transact mobile money-related activity, the subscriber will have to complete their registration for the MNO to reactivate the SIM on the network". Hon Ursula Owusu further underscored the need to do away with "unnecessary turf wars" and for a closer collaboration among entities in the digital financial space. "This is an area where multiple regulatory mandates converge and it is absolutely critical for the regulator of financial services in Ghana, the Bank of Ghana, to collaborate closely with the regulator of the technological and telecommunications platforms to deliver those digital financial services, the National Communications Authority. I said so during the passage of the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019, Act 987, in this very house and in other fora and was ignored. I hope we have now learnt our lessons and will desist from unnecessary turf wars and learn to work together in the interest of the ordinary citizen," she added. Background All active and unregistered SIM cards were deactivated and removed on May 31, 2023 due to a directive from the National Communications Authority (NCA). The Minister of Communications announced the commencement of the re-registration of all mobile SIM cards on October 1, 2021. The exercise was expected to last for six months but was extended several times for tangible challenges faced by SIM card users. Government on February 14, 2023, disclosed that a total of twenty-five million, one hundred and fifty thousand, five hundred and twenty-two SIM cards had been successfully registered as of February 9, 2023, and also encouraged the public to comply with the registration timelines. 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 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. In an effort to curb criminal activities in the Bortianor and surrounding communities in the Greater Accra Region, the police have conducted an anti-robbery and anti-landguard operation on June 8, 2023 leading to the death of five suspects. The operation, according to the police, was aimed at apprehending suspects who had been terrorizing residents and landowners. A statement released by the police sighted by DGN Online indicates that upon approaching the suspects hideout, the police were met with resistance in the form of gunshots fired by the suspects. In an effort to defend themselves, the police returned fire resulting in the death of five suspects. The remaining suspects fled the scene and are currently on the run. Exhibits retrieved from the scene include weapons such as an AK47 Assault Rifle, pistols, ammunition, and motorbikes that were being used in the suspects activities. According to the police, they are actively pursuing the remaining suspects, and it is speculated that some of them may have sustained injuries during the operation. Therefore, the public, particularly those in the Bortianor community, is urged to be vigilant and report any individuals with gunshot wounds who may be seeking medical attention, the statement dated Saturday, June 10, 2023 and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Grace ANSAH-AKROFI, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service stated. This operation demonstrates the polices commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents in the area by effectively carrying out their duties. The police continue to urge the cooperation of the public to help them combat criminal activities in the community and promote peace and security. Source: dailyguidenetwork.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 Joy and satisfaction at the safe arrival of the first batch of Ghanaian pilgrims in Saudi city of Madina. The Ghanaian pilgrims made up 429, who had undergone thorough screening and health checks in accordance with COVID-19 protocols, arrived in Saudi Arabia on a chartered flight. More flights from the Northern sector are expected to also touch down. Alhaji Farouk Hamza, Executive Secretary of the Hajj Board, speaking to reporters in Tamale, expressed his satisfaction with the smooth arrival of the pilgrims and praised the board officials who had worked tirelessly to ensure their safe journey. He also revealed that more flights are expected to arrive from the Northern sector in the coming days, with a total of 2,500 pilgrims expected to perform this years hajj. The Ghanaian envoy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Counsel General were also on hand to receive the pilgrims upon their arrival, along with members of the Ghana Hajj Board. The pilgrims will spend the next few days in Madina before proceeding to Makkah, where they will perform the holy rites of the hajj. The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to the Islamic holy site of Makkah that is mandatory for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the trip. It is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, with millions of pilgrims from around the globe converging on the holy city each year. Source: dailyguidenetwork.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 BAGHDAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Two Iraqi army officers were killed and three others wounded in an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said on Sunday. The attack occurred Saturday night when the Iraqi troops clashed with IS militants after they opened fire on an army outpost in the al-Debis area, northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Baghdad, according to a statement issued by the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command. A military committee arrived at the scene to launch an investigation into the incident, the statement added. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Former PNC General Secretary, Atik Mohammed has criticized the National Communications Officer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi for accusing the Electoral Commission (EC) of conspiring with the ruling government. According to Sammy Gyamfi, the government and the EC are plotting to include Charles Opokus name in the voters register despite him not being a registered voter in the Assin North constituency. We are closely monitoring this situation and shall take every legitimate step to ensure that this illegal plot is not carried out by the Electoral Commission and their collaborators in the NPP, Sammy Gyamfi stressed. EC Replies NDC But the EC has described the allegations as unfounded and baseless saying "Ghanas democracy has come of age and we call on Sammy Gyamfi to exercise maturity, decorum and truth in his discussions on the EC. We urge him to go out and campaign and leave the EC alone". It also stated; "Over the years Sammy Gyamfi and his party have put out false claims aimed at maligning the integrity of the EC. This was evident in their petition to the Supreme Court after the 2020 Elections alleging that they had won the Elections. "It is well known that they could not provide evidence in Court to support their allegations. This current allegation is no different. It is baseless and unfounded and a figment of the imagination of the National Communication Officer." Speaking to this on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo', Atik Mohammed said: "It was in terrible taste for Sammy Gyamfi to allege that the Electoral Commission is working with another political party but it's the habit of politicians...and that is unacceptable". Listen to his full submission in the video below 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 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In this photo provided by National Geographic, researchers lay out fossils of Homo naledi at the University of the Witwatersrand's Evolutionary Studies Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2014. The new species of human relative was discovered by a team led by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand deep inside a cave located outside Johannesburg. In research released on Monday, June 5, 2023, scientists say they've found evidence that the ancient human cousin buried its dead and carved symbols into cave walls, actions previously tied only to bigger-brained species. Credit: Robert Clark/National Geographic via AP An ancient human cousin may have buried its dead and carved symbols into cave walls, surprising findings for a creature with a small brain. Fossil remains of the speciesnamed Homo nalediwere uncovered in underground caves in South Africa a decade ago. Now, researchers say they've found evidence that the species was capable of complex behavior that so far has only been seen in those with bigger brains. "We are facing a remarkable discovery here" for a species with brains one-third the size of humans, said anthropologist Lee Berger, who led the research funded by the National Geographic Society, where he now works. Berger and colleagues describe their findings in studies posted online Monday. The research has not been peer-reviewed yet and some outside scientists think more evidence is needed to challenge what we know about how humans evolved their complex thinking. "There's still a lot to uncover," said Rick Potts, director of the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program who was not involved in the research. H. naledi is a pretty new addition to the family tree of hominins, which includes our direct ancestors and other extinct relatives who walked on two legs. Berger and his team announced the species in 2015, after a tip from local spelunkers led them to the Rising Star cave system near Johannesburg where they uncovered fossils from at least 15 individuals who lived around 300,000 years ago. Researcher Lee Berger holds a reconstruction of the skull of Homo naledi at Magaliesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. In research released on Monday, June 5, 2023, scientists say they've found evidence that the ancient human cousin buried its dead and carved symbols into cave walls, actions previously tied only to bigger-brained species. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe These creatures had some traits in common with modern humans, like legs made for walking upright and hands that could work with objects, said University of Wisconsin-Madison anthropologist John Hawks, a member of the research team. But other features looked more ancient, including their small brains. In recent years, team members have ventured back into the caves, a tricky descent through tight underground spaces. What's down there shows the species in a new light, they reported. One of the new studies describes what researchers say were intentional burial sites. The team uncovered fossil remains of adults and children in shallow holes in the ground, their bodies in a fetal position. Another study describes a series of marks carved into the cave walls, including geometric patterns and cross-hatched lines. "This is something that takes a lot of time and effort to do," said Berger, who led the initial research while at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. All of this behavior would be surprising for a creature whose brain was closer in size to an ape's than a human's, experts said. In this photo provided by National Geographic, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Lee Berger's daughter, Megan, and underground exploration team member Rick Hunter navigate the narrow chutes leading to the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave in South Africa in 2014, where fossil elements belonging to Homo naledi, a new species of human relative, were discovered. In research released on Monday, June 5, 2023, scientists say they've found evidence that the ancient human cousin buried its dead and carved symbols into cave walls, actions previously tied only to bigger-brained species. Credit: Robert Clark/National Geographic via AP Decades ago, we thought Homo sapiens were the only ones who could figure out how to use fire, bury their dead or create art, said Chris Stringer, a human evolution expert at London's Natural History Museum who was not involved in the research. Since then, we've learned that other groups like Neanderthals also lived complex lives. But those species still had big brainsunlike H. naledi, whose burials would raise further questions about human evolution, Stringer said. Scientists haven't yet been able to identify how old the engravings are. So Potts said the current evidence can't say for sure whether H. naledi was truly the one to create the symbols, or if some other creaturemaybe even H. sapiensmade its way down there at some point. For study author Agustin Fuentes, an anthropologist at Princeton University, the H. naledi evidence takes the focus off brain size. "Big brains are still important," Fuentes said. "They just don't explain what we thought they explained." 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: Filipinos take shelter in an elementary school as volcanic activity increases at nearby Mount Mayon. Thousands of people living near a Philippine volcano have taken shelter in evacuation centers as officials warned Sunday of health risks from ash and toxic gases spewing from the rumbling crater. Seismology researchers said they had recorded at least one volcanic earthquake in the past 24 hours and red-hot rocks were falling from Mount Mayon in the central province of Albay. More than 12,800 people have been moved to evacuation centers, the Philippine civil defense office said, most from farming villages at or near the foot of the volcano. "We're away from our home, but it's still better here because it's too dangerous," mother-of-two Rachel Ramirez, 30, told AFP during her third day at a school near the town of Daraga that had been turned into an emergency shelter. Mayon, about 330 kilometers (205 miles) southeast of the capital Manila, is considered one of the most volatile of the country's 24 active volcanoes. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said rocks were falling from a disintegrating lava dome being pushed out of the crater by molten material below the earth. The rocks were raining down on areas up to two kilometers away and sulfur dioxide emissions had tripled on Saturday, state volcanologists said. "There is a concomitant health risk while being close to the eruption because of inhaling sulfur dioxide gas or the particulate matter of ashfalls," Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa told a press briefing Sunday. On Thursday a five-step alert system for the volcano had been raised from two to three. "With Albay in a state of calamity due to Mayon's activity, we remind people to follow the recommendations and evacuation instructions of your local governments," Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Saturday. Earthquakes and volcanic activity are common in the Philippines due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide. Five years ago, Mayon displaced tens of thousands of people after spewing millions of tons of ash, rocks and lava. The country's most powerful eruption in recent decades was Mount Pinatubo in 1991 that killed more than 800 people. That disaster produced an ash cloud that traveled thousands of kilometers. Mayon lies in a region also hit by many of the roughly 20 typhoons or tropical storms to strike the Philippines each year. The frequent weather disasters often kill people, ravage farms, and help to keep millions poor. 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: Northern white rhinos, like this female shown in Kenya in 2018, have been decimated by poaching. Sixteen southern white rhinoceroses have been released into DR Congo's Garamba national park, officials said on Saturday, reintroducing an endangered species that was decimated by poaching. The last northern white rhino in the park, which lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeast, was poached in 2006. According to a joint statement from the park and conservation groups, 16 southern white rhinos have been transported from a private reserve in South Africa to Garamba. "The return of white rhinos to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a testament to our country's commitment to biodiversity conservation," Yves Milan Ngangay, the director general of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), said in a statement. The operation was led by the ICCN, conservation NGO African Parks, and Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold, which sponsored the rhino move. Established in 1938, Garamba national park is one of Africa's oldest. But conflict, poaching and chronic insecurity in volatile Congo has decimated its wildlife over the years. African Parks CEO Peter Fearnhead was also quoted in the statement as saying that efforts to save the northern white rhinos in the park had been "too little, too late". "This reintroduction is the start of a process whereby southern white rhino as the closest genetic alternative can fulfill the role of the northern white rhino in the landscape," he said. More southern white rhinoceroses are expected to be sent to Garamba National Park in the future. 2023 AFP FORT ANN A Troy woman was sentenced recently to two years in prison for bringing drugs into Washington Correctional Facility. Andi Lynn Cavanaugh was arrested after an investigation that she entered the medium security prison in Fort Ann to visit inmate. She had concealed drugs on her person. Police did not identify the type of drugs. Cavanaugh was charged with felony counts of first-degree and second-degree promoting prison contraband and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She pleaded guilty in Washington County Court to the criminal possession count in satisfaction of the charges. Cavanaugh also must serve one year of post-release supervision. LG Battlefield tours June 17-18 The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance will be conducting guided tours of the parks unique history as a key site in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution as part of New York States Path Through History Weekend on June 17 at 11 a.m. and 18 at 1 p.m. Prior registration is recommended by emailing info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org. There is no fee to participate. The tours start from the Lake George Battlefield Park Visitor Center at 75 Fort George Road. The Alliance, formed in 2001 to help preserve the site and educate the public on its importance to American history, is providing trained tour guides who will point out the ruins of Fort George (constructed in 1759), the burial place of four unknown soldiers who were killed in the Battle of Lake George (1755), the parks historic statues and what they commemorate, and the remnants of hospitals and kilns that served soldiers during the two 18th century conflicts, among other noteworthy areas within the Battlefield Park. The Lake George Battlefield Park Visitor Center will also be open on both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center has added new features this season, including Native American artifacts from the pre-Colonial period and remnants of a 1758-vintage bateau used by the British, providing a further connection to the sites storied history. SMSA to announce raffle winner GLENS FALLS St. Marys-St. Alphonsus Regional Catholic School will hold a picnic Sunday to celebrate graduates, pastors and to announce the winner of a Toyota Rav4. The raffle of the vehicle, donated by Romeo Toyota of Glens Falls, raised $50,000 with all 1,000 tickets sold for the first time in the raffles history. This is one of the major fundraising efforts for SMSA, supporting many of its operating costs as well as providing tuition assistance for families. Last year, the school offered over $100,000 in tuition support to kindergarten through eighth grade families, according to a news release. Additionally, there will be a celebration marking the 10th anniversary year of pastoral service for Fr. Scott Vanderveer, 60 years for Fr. Liam Condon, and an opportunity to introduce the community to Pat Gormley, SMSAs new principal. The picnic starts at 12:30 p.m. at the school at 10-12 Church St. with raffle drawing at 1 p.m. and celebration ceremony to follow. ATLANTIC CITY The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will return to the city's skyline for the 2023 Visit Atlantic City Airshow returning Aug. 16, organizers said Thursday. The U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier Demo Team, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team and 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard will also perform in the show, which is celebrating 20 years in town, Visit AC said in a news release. To celebrate 20 years in Atlantic City, we knew that we had to make this years show our best one yet, said Michael Chait, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber. Anchored by fan favorites the Thunderbirds and Golden Knights, with our friends at the 177th Fighter Wing bringing local flair, the addition of the Marines Harrier team is only going to enhance this years experience for fans, visitors and sponsors alike." The event drew a record crowd of more than 550,000 people in 2022. The Visit Atlantic City Airshow has been a staple in our community for 20 years, and were thrilled to serve as the premier sponsor for this landmark celebration, said Larry Sieg, president and CEO of Visit Atlantic City. This event brings an exciting flair to our beach, and were looking forward to seeing all the new acts this summer." Events Sunday, June 11 AUDITIONS FOR FOOL MOON THEATRE'S 'CLUE': 4 to 6 p.m. June 11, 6 to 8 p.m. June 12; Margate Community Church School, 8900 Ventnor Ave., Margate. 609-457-0903 or foolmoontheatre.org. HISTORY AND DESSERTS: 3 to 5 p.m.; local historian, Mark Demitroff, will speak on the history of Friendship Church and the surrounding area, followed by desserts and beverages in the social hall; Friendship Church, Weymouth Road, Buena; free, donations accepted. 609-636-7504. LGBTQ+ PRESENTATION: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; learn about state and federal legislation regarding individual rights; Ocean Heights Presbyterian Church, 2116 Ocean Heights Ave., Egg Harbor Township. 856-364-2309 or ohchurch.org. NORTH TO SHORE ATLANTIC CITY EVENTS: June 8-11; live musical performances, open mic, spoken word, food, dance performance, move screenings, art, and more; various locations including Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Dante Hall, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Chicken Bone Beach, Absecon Lighthouse, Stockton University and more; prices vary. northtoshore.com/atlantic-city. Monday, June 12 ESL CAREER READINESS LAB: 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through July 31; learn how to use the Engen Language Upskilling platform, which provides ESL classes and tutorials with a focus on job interview skills, and the food and beverage industry and hospitality industry; Public Library, 1 N. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. 609-345-2269 or acfpl.org. LINE DANCING - WITH SUSAN PENNYPACKER: noon to 12:45 p.m. Mondays; no meetings Sept. 4, Oct. 9; Wildwood Crest Branch, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. MEDITATIVE DRUM CIRCLE: 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays; bring your own instrument or borrow one; no meetings Aug. 28, Sept. 4, Oct. 9, Nov. 6, Dec. 25; Cape May Court House Branch, 30 Mechanic St., Middle Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. MESSY MONDAY CRAFT: 2 to 3 p.m. Mondays, June 12, July 3, Aug. 7; monthly crafts for all; start your week off with fun by getting into some glue, glitter or paint; for all ages; Pleasantville Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 33 Martin Luther King Junior Ave., Pleasantville; registration required. 609-641-1778 or atlanticlibrary.org. Wednesday, June 14 'BOND BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS': 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through June 28; for ages 18 and older; join Cherie Scheurich, from Absecon Veterinary Hospital, for a 4-week course in which you will learn all about the human-animal bond; Mays Landing Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 40 Farragut Ave., Hamilton. 609-625-2776 or atlanticlibrary.org. BORED? GAMES!: 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 31; for ages 10 to adult; games are family-friendly classic board games meant for at least two players; Ventnor City Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 6500 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor; registration required. 609-823-4614 or atlanticlibrary.org. WEDNESDAY FAMILY GAME NIGHT: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 30; for all ages; board games provided; Pleasantville Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 33 Martin Luther King Junior Ave., Pleasantville; registration required. 609-641-1778 or atlanticlibrary.org. Thursday, June 15 CRAFT-TASTIC: 6 to 7 p.m. third Thursdays; adults make a craft; Atlantic County Library System, 305 New Jersey Ave., Absecon; registration required. 609-646-2228 or AtlanticLibrary.org. CREATIVE CRAFTS WITH CONVERSATION: 6 to 8 p.m.; monthly crafts for adults; Atlantic County Library System, 300 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway Township; registration required. 609-652-2352 or atlanticlibrary.org. 'IN THE SHADOWS OF THE ROUND TOPS' PRESENTATION: 7 to 8:30 p.m.; author and historian Allen Thompson will discuss the Confederate army's disastrous second day at Gettysburg as well as engineering officer Sam Johnston's pivotal role; the Museum of Cape May County, 504 U.S. 9, Middle Township. 609-636-2551 or cmccwrt.com. TEA TIME AT THE AVALON HISTORY CENTER: 11 a.m. to noon third Thursdays through December; enjoy tea with us as we share memories of old Avalon, and make new ones; Avalon History Center, 215 39th St., Avalon. 609-967-7155 or avalonfreelibrary.org. For kids Monday, June 12 PRE-K CLUB AND CRAFT: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Galloway Township Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway. 609-652-2352 or atlanticlibrary.org. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME - ABSECON: 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays; Absecon branch/Atlantic County Library System, 305 New Jersey Ave., Absecon. 609-646-2228 or atlanticlibrary.org. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME - EGG HARBOR CITY: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Aug. 28; Egg Harbor City Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 134 Philadelphia Ave., Egg Harbor City. 609-804-1063 or atlanticlibrary.org. Tuesday, June 13 FURRY BUDDIES: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, June 13, 27, July 11, 25, Aug. 8, 22; for ages 6 to 14; read a story to therapy dogs; Galloway Township Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway Township; registration required. 609-652-2352 or atlanticlibrary.org. MINDFUL STORYTIME WITH MISS BETH: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through August; storytime for kids; for ages 2 to 5; Brigantine Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 201 15th St. S., Brigantine; registration required. 609-266-0110 or atlanticlibrary.org. Wednesday, June 14 PLAYDATE AT THE LIBRARY: 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 9; for ages 6-36 months; enjoy stories, rhymes and songs designed to develop early literacy skills; Mays Landing Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 40 Farragut Ave., Hamilton; registration required. 609-625-2776 or atlanticlibrary.org. Groups Monday, June 12 AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS: 11 a.m. Mondays; for those troubled by someone else's drinking; Egg Harbor City Senior Center, 351 Cincinnati Ave., Egg Harbor City. AL-ANON.org. LONGPORT NEEDLERS: 10 a.m. to noon Mondays; bring your needle/crochet craft project and join us for a time of crafting and socializing; Longport Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org. Tuesday, June 13 GALLOWAY WRITING GROUP: 6 to 7 p.m. June 13, July 11, Aug. 8; anyone with an interest in writing can meet with others and discuss the craft; Galloway Township Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway Township; registration required. 609-652-2352 or atlanticlibrary.org. INTERMEDIATE SPANISH CONVERSATION VIRTUAL CLASS: 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; intermediate-level Spanish Conversation class via Zoom; Atlantic City Free Public Library, 1 N. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. 609-345-2269 or ACFPL.org. YARNBENDERS CROCHET AND KNITTING CLUB: 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 29; Egg Harbor Township/Atlantic County Library System, 1 Swift Drive, Egg Harbor Township. 609-927-8664 or atlanticlibrary.org. Wednesday, June 14 ITALIAN CULTURE MEETING - IN-PERSON & ONLINE: 4:30 to 6 p.m. second Wednesdays; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon. 609-967-7155 or avalonfreelibrary.org. LIFE IN WAVES - ONLINE WORKING WOMEN'S GROUP: 7 to 8 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays; support and discussion group for women in the workplace; hosted by Mental Health Association in Atlantic County. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. Thursday, June 15 INTO THE EVENING BOOK CLUB: 6 to 8 p.m. June 15, July 20, Aug. 17; Ventnor City Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 6500 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor; registration required. 609-823-4614 or atlanticlibrary.org. NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: 1 to 3 p.m. third Thursdays; lunch meeting of South Jersey Shore Chapter 1664 of NARFE; current, retired and spouses of Federal Employees are welcome; Shore Diner, 6710 Tilton Road, Egg Harbor Township. 609-822-2018 or NARFE.net. Health, fitness Sunday, June 11 MEDITATION - ONLINE GROUP: 7:15 to 8 p.m. Sundays; offered by The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; staff offer a guided calming meditation or breathing exercise; to receive a link by email and join the group online, email btrendler@mhanj.org. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. Monday, June 12 CHAIR YOGA - WITH LYNNE CATARRO: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays; no class 9/4, 10/9, 12/25; Cape May County Library/Wildwood Crest Branch, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. 'GOT STRESS?' ONLINE GROUP: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays; online group meets to discuss daily wellness, coping strategies and tools to relieve stress and reduce anxiety; offered by The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; free. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. NAMI ATLANTIC CAPE MAY CONNECTION MEETING: 7 to 9 p.m. second Mondays through June; NAMI Connection is an in-person recovery support group for adults living with mental health issues; peer run group offers attendees a safe, confidential place to share and understand their experiences living with mental health issues; St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 606 Shore Road, Somers Point; free. 609-741-5125 or NAMIACM.org. NAMI ATLANTIC/CAPE MAY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP: 7 to 9 p.m. second Mondays through June; in-person meeting for family members of individuals struggling with mental health illness and co-occurring addiction disorders; St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 606 Shore Road, Somers Point; free, registration required. 609-741-5125 or NAMIACM.org. YOGA WITH SUZANNE KUBIK: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays through Sept. 14; no class July 6, Sept. 4; Cape May County Library/Stone Harbor Branch, 9516 Second Ave., Stone Harbor. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. Tuesday, June 13 DEALING WITH DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP: 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; online support group for those living with depression. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. MINDFULNESS & MOVEMENT: 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through December; Cape May County Library/Wildwood Crest Branch, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. ZUMBA WITH KELLIE WOOD: 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; Cape May Court House Branch, 30 Mechanic St., Middle Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. Wednesday, June 14 BARRE STAR: 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays through May; combination of ballet, flexibility, yoga/balance and strength training; Wildwood Crest Branch, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. EXPLORING SPIRITUALITY ONLINE WELLNESS GROUP: noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; wellness group exploring themes of faith, hope, sense of purpose, and fulfilment. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. MEDITATION MEET-UP WITH TED COSTA: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through December; Woodbine Community Center, 812 Longfellow St., Woodbine. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. MIND AND BODY VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays; workshop is provided to individuals who live with a disability; participants discuss topics such as adapting, goal setting, refocusing and more; offered by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County. 609-652-3800, ext. 308 or MHAAC.info. SIBLING MEETING: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. second Wednesdays; meeting for siblings of adults with serious and persistent mental health concerns; support, education, coping strategies, resources and more; hosted by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. 973-571-4100 or MHAAC.info. STRETCH & BURN - WITH KELLIE WOOD: 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays; hosted by Cape May County Library; virtual event; no registration required. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. TAI CHI & QIGONG: 10 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays; with Cheryl Crews and Denise Jones; Lower Cape Branch, 2600 Bayshore Road, Lower Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. ZUMBA - WITH JANET SPADA: 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Wildwood Crest Library, and Thursdays at Lower Township Library; no meetings July 12, 26, Nov. 22, 23. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. ZUMBA - WITH KELLIE: 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays; Sea Isle City Branch, 4800 Central Ave., Sea Isle City. 609-463-6350 or Events.CMCLibrary.org. Music Sunday, June 11 'SONG FOR MY FATHER' SOUTH JERSEY AREA WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT: 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Atlantic County Institute of Technology, 5080 Atlantic Ave., Hamilton; free. 609-927-9470 or sjawe.com. Wednesday, June 14 SOUTH JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY CONCERT: 7 to 9 p.m.; Edgardo Cintron and Mambo Magic; William Morrow Beach, Somers Point; free admission, donation taken. 609-289-0326 or southjerseyjazz.org. Respiratory therapist Paul Patel, BS, RRT, of Egg Harbor Township, was named Employee of the Month for May. Shore recognized Patel for the work he does to advocate for patients and his willingness to assist his coworkers. He has been a member of Shores Respiratory Therapy Department for 15 years and lives in Egg Harbor Township with his wife and four children. Sickler, who began at Shore in 2018 as as ER nurse, was later promoted to clinical supervisor in the Emergency Department and is responsible for the operation of the department while also providing patient care. The Guardian Angel program was established so that members of the community can make a donation to Shore in honor of a staff member who provides exceptional care. Sickler was recognized by the community and Shore for how she serves patients while leading the Emergency Department team. A student delegation of Gwadar University visits Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on June 8, 2023. The Pakistani delegates appreciated China's investment, especially their efforts under corporate social responsibility like the distribution of solar panels, laptops, health facilities, vocational institutes, etc. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) ISLAMABAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Aamir Bizenjo, a 22-year-old student of Gwadar University in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, found China's development quite interesting and inspirational. He has been witnessing the development in the port city of Gwadar under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and has now got a vision for the development of his province during his trip to Pakistan's capital Islamabad, in which he met Chinese officials and visited different platforms and consortiums under the collaboration of the two countries. He was part of a delegation comprising several Gwadar University students and faculty members that visited Islamabad from Thursday to Saturday, which was jointly organized by the Chinese embassy in Pakistan and the Islamabad-based think-tank Pakistan-China Institute. "I am thankful to the Chinese for arranging this visit to give us exposure. We exchanged ideas with each other about economic growth and how the two countries can develop together, and seeing how China achieved prosperity gave me a new sense to work for the development of my province," Bizenjo told Xinhua. According to Bizenjo, the delegation visited the Chinese embassy where they saw presentations on China's path to modernization, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and Chinese projects in Pakistan, especially the CPEC. "After knowing about these initiatives and projects, I got a better understanding of China and the Chinese people," Bizenjo said, who had earlier got a China-funded scholarship at the university. "They are not just looking for the future of China but are emphasizing that no one should be left behind and to uplift everybody," he added. The delegates enjoyed the interaction, and exchanged ideas with the Chinese diplomats and explained to them the situation of CPEC projects in Balochistan, particularly in Gwadar. "Chinese are very nice people. We have seen that they always have smiles on their faces and their hospitality is very good," Rizwan Asgher, a student of the Information Technology Department of Gwadar University, said in a conversation with Xinhua. The Pakistani delegates appreciated China's investment, especially their efforts under corporate social responsibility like the distribution of solar panels, laptops, health facilities, vocational institutes, etc. They specifically thanked the Chinese for the educational scholarships, which they believed were very helpful to the youth of Balochistan and they hoped that the scope of such programs would be further expanded in the future. "Now I want an opportunity to visit China for my capacity building and professional growth in order to learn from the Chinese universities so that I can become a good teacher," Sadia Naseer, Director of Student Affairs at Gwadar University, told the Chinese diplomats. "On the other hand, highlighting the economy of Pakistan, the Chinese friends told us that youth has the most important role in the economic growth of a country," Bizenjo said. A country achieves economic growth when its youth becomes energetic and skillful, he quoted the Chinese diplomats as saying. The delegates also had engagements, and interactions with the members of the All-Pakistan Chinese Enterprises' Association (APCEA), officials of the Chinese desk at Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, and took a trip to the Confucius Institute at Islamabad-based National University of Modern Languages where they also had a dialogue with its faculty and administration. Bizenjo said the engagement at APCEA had been very productive as he got a lot of business ideas from it and is now interested in exploring them in Balochistan in the future. The group also took a tour of a China-funded compassionate home Islamabad China-Pakistan Youth One Heart Step and Cure Home, where underprivileged children, including orphans, suffering from long-term diseases, and attendants of patients who had been admitted to hospitals for long-term treatment got free of cost accommodation, food, and education. "The most inspirational moment for me was to visit this place where the Chinese are taking care of orphans and other kids. I gave them my contact number and said that I want to open its branch in my hometown as well," said Bizenjo. Wang Shengjie at the Chinese embassy said this year marks the harvest year for the Gwadar port as the new international airport will be established this year, and the desalination water plant will also be built. "With the joint efforts made by the Chinese and Pakistani governments, and in particular, the local people, we can make the dream come true," said Wang. Jessica Errico has gone bananas. I can't just do normal, says Errico, owner and head baker at Anna Bananas Homemade Bakery and Candy Store, in Manahawkin. Errico's fanciful store is the result of her fierce determination and wild creativity. Basically we'll take what you would normally get and multiply it by 10 and make it 100 time better, she says of her bakery and candy store. She has the math right. Almost everything you find at Anna Bananas has a twist to it. Take her Half Baked cupcakes, a play off the popular ice cream by Ben and Jerry's. She starts with a cupcake with brownie batter cooked into it, adds cookie dough inside and a chocolate and vanilla twist with more cookie dough and brownies on top. It's over the top. And that's just one of over a dozen cupcake creations and flavors she offers from Death by Chocolate to Sangria, Margarita and Key Lime. Some are themed for special events, others just everyday crazy and delicious. Errico is a self-taught baker who had an idea and is running with it, full speed. She does credit her upbringing with an Easy Bake Oven as having something to do with her baking skills. But not much. I'm a very creative person, she explains of her motivation. It's the creativity aspect, especially with the custom cakes. I like when people give me ideas and I'm able to roll with it. And then come up with something beautiful that not only can people stare at but it tastes good too. Originally from Edison, Middlesex County, Errico graduated from Stockton University with a degree in business management. After a few years at a local hotel in sales and eventually management, she realized her sights were set elsewhere. When she helped get her sister a job at a local bakery, she decided to go along, working there weekends and learning the ropes of professional baking. Coincidently, that bakery, Tasty Cheesecake, once operated at the same location that is now Anna Bananas. She decided to leave her hotel job without a solid plan moving forward. But it didn't take long before she found her path. Three days later she was buying baking equipment and moving into the same building. This time it was as a 24-year-old owner and baker. And where do you go when you're a baker with little baking skills? YouTube. At first I had no idea what to do. So I just started watching YouTube videos and I'd sit at home for hours and watch it. I'm determined to be the best at whatever I do no matter what that is. It all came together and in March of 2021 Anna Bananas was born. I said I know I can do it, she recalls. And whatever I do I'm going to do it right. Whether that was getting another job or opening an ice cream parlor, which was in my mind at the time. Her bakery would be different from the others from the minute you walk in the door. Brightly colored walls, yellow of course, with handmade decorations, including bananas, a giant old-fashioned strip of Dots, with help from her mother, and a candy sign appropriately made out of candy. She always wanted to open more than one business, but was unsure what or where that would be. Driving to work one day thinking about what business would compliment the bakery. All of a sudden it just hit me, she recalls, a candy store. And then the ideas just started flowing. I'm thinking custom chocolate covered Oreos and custom pretzels and candy cakes. A little over a year after she opened the bakery she opened the candy store at the same location. And like the bakery, she wanted a candy store that offered something more. Like a candy cake. It's basically where we make a cake with all funky flavors, like tie-dye, and then decorate them with giant lollipops, and giant rock candy and basically load the who thing up with candy. It's a huge candy with candy all on top and people go crazy for them. All the chocolate candy like the chocolate covered Oreos, pretzels, and nut clusters is made in house. And that cheerful vibe runs through both shops. When you walk into the bakery it's just a fun atmosphere to begin with. Kids can run up to the jelly belly machine and just pull it. Ever single thing in here was handmade by either me, my mom, my step-dad or my fiance. She says her mother, who works with her at the bakery almost every day, did not possess many baking skills either. As did her grandmother, Ann, who the business is named after. Ann is also Errico's middle name and the childhood nickname, Anna Banana, was a natural choice for her new venture. And beyond the atmosphere, the real magic begins. We take classic desserts and put a twist on them, making them even better than you can imagine, she says of her baked goods. She offers a variety of themed and classic cookies, all with her signature twist, but she says one of her most popular items are the stuffed cookies, a mash-up of epic proportion where the sky is the limit. She suggests trying the Italian rainbow cookies stuffed with a chocolate chip cookie. Or the S'mores cookie which is stuffed with a giant marshmallow in the middle with the outside loaded with graham crackers and chocolate chips. Her newest creation is a Snickers cookie which is stuffed with bits of Snickers candy bar, peanuts, caramel and chocolate chips. And her creativity is definitely on display with her decorated cakes. From themed to wedding, there's a flair to the decorating with splashes of color, some humorous and fun, others beautifully elegant. Errico will spend days researching designs, sketching a cake, work with sculptures and special decorations for her creations. Anyone can take fresh flowers and throw them on a cake. Yes, they look beautiful, but I sit there and hand pipe butter cream into individual flowers and place them on the cake. Those kinds of cakes, where I take my time and create each individual flower and stick it on the cake make it stand out. Errico also suggests sampling her New York style cheesecakes, all made with Philadelphia brand cream cheese in their kitchen in what is a process that takes several days. One cheesecake that she enjoys has the risque name of the Slutty Cheesecake. She starts with her own cheesecake, and in-house cookie dough, adds a layer of Oreos and tops it with another layer of their cheesecake, which is drizzled with caramel and chocolate ganache with even more chocolate chips cookies and Oreos on top. It's become a customer favorite. She quips that people say the slutty cheesecake gets around town. Her mom prefers calling it the Funky Cheesecake. And who knows what the future will bring. I'm always on the lookout for what we're going to do next. I have just too many ideas sometimes. 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. CAMBRIDGE, Ill. A motion hearing was held Wednesday in Henry County Circuit Court for the Granite City man charged with murder in the April 29, 2022, death of Knox County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Weist. Weist allegedly was struck by a vehicle driven by Daylon Richardson, 23, as the deputy put out stop sticks on U.S. Highway 150 near Alpha in Henry County to stop Richardson's vehicle. Richardson allegedly was fleeing from other Knox County deputies from Galesburg where he had been seen with a gun at a gas station. On Wednesday, Judge Norma Kauzlarich said she would take under advisement a defense motion to request the state pay for an expert witness, a qualified engineer, to testify about the accident. Richardson's parents are paying for defense attorney Bruce Carmen's services at a discount, and Richardson himself has no significant assets with which to pay for any expert. Kauzlarich said she would issue her ruling by June 14. Carmen said he was withdrawing a motion to dismiss one of the two murder counts based on the death occurring as the result of a forcible felony. Carmen noted he was withdrawing the motion with leave to reinstate it if necessary. In that written motion, Carmen stated that the prosecution is presumably relying on the defendant's alleged firing of a gun at the pursuing Knox County deputies during the pursuit. He stated that relying on forcible felonies that are still pending in another jurisdiction deprives Richardson of his right to a trial by jury on the charges. Further, he noted the definition of murder as the result of a forcible felony states that in the course of or in furtherance of such crime or flight therefrom, the defendant or another participant causes the death of another person. Carmen noted that Richardson contends the pursuit was in full flower before shots were allegedly fired at the pursuing officers and the pursuit was almost complete when the shots were fired, and therefore Richardson was not in flight therefrom. Another pre-trial hearing was set for June 29, at which time it will be decided whether to set a jury trial. As drought conditions worsen over Iowa and Illinois, the chances for rain remain slim despite a storm system moving through the Quad-City region Saturday night into Sunday. Unfortunately, it doesnt look like its going to turn into much, meteorologist Zach Uttech of the National Weather Service, Davenport, said Saturday. Its so dry and the dew points are so low theres not much in the way of instability; theres no convection with it, Uttech said. It looks like more of a spotty light rain with the thunderstorms holding down in southern Illinois and Missouri. Theyll get more rain down there than up here. Despite the lack of rain with the system, temperatures will be a bit cooler after a week of highs in the low 80s to low 90s. The high temperature Sunday is expected to reach 74 degrees with an overnight low into Monday of 49 degrees. The normal high for this time of year is 82 degrees and the normal low is 60 degrees. The dew point is the temperature the air needs to be cooled to become saturated with water, causing dew to form. The higher the dew point, the hotter and stickier it feels. Uttech said a prolonged period of air flow from the Gulf Of Mexico was needed to raise the dew points, and thats not been happening. Weve had this blocking pattern over us with a ridge that extends into Canada, he said. There is high pressure over us and over the Great Lakes. That brings our winds from the east and northeast. Sunday is expected to be windy with a northeast wind blowing at 15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph. Sunday is expected to start out cloudy with some rain, but the clouds will dissipate and the skies will once again become sunny. Its back to the routine of sunny skies, warm temperatures and low dew points on Monday, Uttech said. Mondays forecast calls for a high of 77 degrees under sunny skies with an overnight low of 57, while Tuesdays high is expected to be 85 degrees with sunny skies and a low of 59. The rain is needed as drought conditions have spread across Iowa and Illinois. Uttech said that from May 19 through the May 31, Moline had received one-hundredth, or .01, of an inch of rain. During that same period, Davenport received fifteen-hundredths, or .15, of an inch of rain. Honestly, by this time of year were usually seeing 70-degree dew points where youre outside for a few minutes and youre already sweating, he said. I prefer this. Moline community welcomes the Mercado on Fifth street market The building at 324 Main St. in Davenport dates back more than 100 years, but it has repeatedly faced maintenance and structural issues since 2020. This timeline, drawn from Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus reporting, city inspection records and other documents and lawsuit filings, details the history of the building in the lead-up and aftermath of its partial collapse on May 28, 2023, which killed three men. 1900s Listed on national register in 1983 The brick-over-steel building at 324 N. Main Street, Davenport, was constructed in the early 1900s. It opened as the Hotel Davenport in 1907 with 150 rooms and was heralded by a newspaper at the time as one of the finest hosteleries west of Chicago. A 1939 fire damaged the sixth floor on the northwest side, according to newspaper articles at the time. The Davenport was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In the mid-1980s, it was rehabbed by a Des Plaines, Illinois-developer who undertook a $5.5 million project to turn it into apartments. The original 150 hotel rooms became 78 rental units and opened in 1987, according to Quad-City Times archives. 2015 City Center Properties buys building After changing ownership several times between 1985 and the 2000s, City Center Properties, LLC, founded by Mark Roemer, bought the building in 2015. In 2019, Roemer moved the deed over to another of his corporations, Waukee Investments I, LLC. January 2020 Unspecified violations cited City logs noted that an inspector, indicated by the initials TCH, notified Davenport Development and Neighborhood Services Director Rich Oswald on Jan. 30, 2020, of the severity of unspecified violations and that there is a possibility of having to close the building. TCH noted they received verbal confirmation from Oswald to go ahead with the inspection. Oswald said, according to the log: Im not afraid of closing the building down. Go ahead and proceed. August 2020 Bricks fell from building Fire Marshal Jim Morris flagged that bricks were falling from the building onto the sidewalk at the east-facing side of the building, according to inspection logs. The city blocked off sidewalks and closed traffic lanes on West 4th and Main streets. Loose blocks were removed and wall secured with lumber, a city inspector noted. September 2020 Wold's company begins repairs Alliance Contracting, a company owned by Andrew Wold, began construction on replacing the buildings roof Sept. 15, according to city inspection logs. The city began including Wold on emails due to the understanding that Wold is in the process of purchasing the property, logs noted. November 2020 Bricks crumbling Photos taken by city of Davenport inspectors on Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Dec. 16, Dec. 23, 2020, and Jan. 11, 2021, show bricks visibly crumbling or missing and some cracks in the wall. December 2020 Repairs to brick work Inspector logs from the city of Davenport indicate that the roof replacement was completed and permit closed Dec. 7, 2020. Dec. 15: an inspector noted theyd driven by the west wall and noticed holes and additional deterioration of the west wall. Dec. 17: Davenport issued a building permit to then-owner Waukee Investments I, LLC, to perform repairs to the brick facade. Waukee hired Alliance Contracting, a company owned by Wold, to do the work. January 2021 Inspectors meet with repairman Then-chief building official for Davenport Trishna Pradhan met with a brick repairman and was supposed to meet with Wold. Inspectors were assured Wold will be securing the west wall, but he showed up late to the meeting after Pradhan had left. An engineering report from Chris Townsend Engineering was pending, according to inspection logs. February 2021 City grants violation extension The city granted an extension to the then-building owner and contractors to allow them more time to correct violations. Work to repair, replace, and/or install any/all exterior block/brick/stucco/stone as necessary per a structural engineers report must start before May 14, 2021, the order stated. The order also required replacing windows, window trim and repairing and painting the main entryways ceiling. The order lists 20 apartment units that were substandard-vacant and must be inspected "prior to re-occupancy by anyone for any reason. May 2021 More code violations found On May 14, 2021, an inspector noted they found west exterior wall in semi-completed form with scattered un-grouted areas painted over. The inspector wrote that theyd sent billing for reinspection and sent a new violations report, which ordered the owner to replace missing brick mortar and reseal areas. The same inspector wrote that the state was unable to contact the owner of the building to get verification of an inspection on building elevators that had previously failed inspection Jan. 20, 2020. June 2021 Wold buys property Andrew Wold, through his corporation Davenport Hotel LLC, purchased the building for $4.193 million, a deal that closed June 21, according to county records. July 2021 City requests engineering analysis Pictures dated July 15 show walls cracking and bowing at the building. July 19: City of Davenport issued a notice to Wold, identifying structural deterioration of west exterior wall, and said structural engineering analysis was required to make proper repairs. Wold would have to repair/replace any/all identified deteriorated/questionable exterior walls and or structural wall components. September 2021 Final Official Notice issued Sept. 7, issues with the west wall still hadnt been corrected. The city of Davenport issued a Final Official Notice, mandating the owner to produce a structural engineering report on west wall structural integrity that details the scope of work and repairs required. February 2023 Engineer conducts emergency visit Feb. 2: The city ordered the owner to provide a report by a structural engineer to assure 324 Main St. was not an imminent danger, immediately secure the exterior veneer and provide a report within 48 hours for remediation and repair. Chief Building Official Trishna Pradhan noted, part of the southwest wall has been gradually failing. This is seen to continue on the inside wythes of brick masonry as well. There is visible crumbling of this exterior load bearing wall under the support beam. The exterior brick veneer has separated allowing rain/ice to build up causing further damage. Emergency vacate orders will be posted on the building if the failing masonry area is not secured per this letter, she wrote. Engineer: Damaged area not an imminent danger Feb. 2: An emergency site visit was performed by David Valliere of Select Structural Engineering. He wrote that the main takeaway from the inspection is that this damaged area is not an imminent danger to the entire building and its residents. An evacuation or lockout of the building is not necessary at this time. The damage will still be addressed and repaired. Valliere said two beams needed to be shored soon with heavy posts so permanent repairs, likely involving the replacement of the area of the wall, could be applied Photos from inspection logs showed an area of damaged brick. MidAmerican Energy complains about west wall On or before Feb. 3: MidAmerican Energy complained to city of Davenport about condition of the west wall, and city officials, including Pradhan, were on site to observe conditions. Engineer: Two east-west beams need to be shored Feb. 8: Valliere wrote a follow-up report, noting that two east-west beams needed to be shored. An 8-foot-by-4-foot brick wall needed replacing and a concrete masonry unit wall would be suitable to do so. He noted that the wall shouldnt be demolished all at once, and there are many unknown factors in the construction and stability of a 100-year-old masonry structure. Permit issued for masonry repairs Feb. 22: City of Davenport issued a permit to Davenport Hotel, LLC, for structural masonry repairs to west elevation as specified in the engineers report by Valliere that identified Bi-State Masonry as the contractor performing the work. Engineer discovered new problem Feb. 23: Valliere made another site visit, and on Feb. 28, he documented his findings to the city regarding a new problem. He pointed out that the area immediately to the north of the work area had a large and potentially dangerous "void" beneath the facade. March 2023 Bi-State Masonry off the job March 1: Inspection reports note that Bi-State masonry was off the job because owner did not agree to their change order for installing brick outside April 2023 Work passes three inspections Work then appears to have resumed, and it appeared to pass three more city inspections on April 12, April 21 and May 1. In the last one, the inspector noted repair work has been completed per Engineers Report. May 24 Engineer warns of facade coming loose Valliere followed up and noticed several large patches of facade separating from the building in a May 24 report. The firm warned portions were ready to fall immediately and would create a safety hazard for cars and passersby. Valliere said the owner blocked off the area with cones and started to remove drywall from inside the wall to get a view of what was going on. The report also noted two former window openings, roughly 12-feet-by-6-feet, that were bricked over years before. The facade on and between those was bulging and, looks poised to fall. The brick above the windows needed to be secured, the report stated. This is to keep the entire face of the building from falling away when the bottom area(s) come loose, he noted. Wall appears to be losing stability After ripping out drywall, Select Structural confirmed the windows were never filled, but a facade was placed over the openings, unsupported. This lack of bracing helps explain why the facade is currently about to topple outward. The brick facade is unlikely to be preserved in place, but it can be brought down in a safe, controlled manner, Valliere said. Just north of the window openings was another issue, he wrote. The wall appeared to be losing stability and was causing deformation. The wall was visibly bowing. The firm said the culprit could be a weak beam and said a steel column to support it would alleviate the pressure. May 25 Photos show wall bowing Photos dated May 25 from city inspection logs showed the wall continuing to bow and two-by-fours leaning against the wall. May 26 Contractor warns workers of danger A masonry contractor said he told workers Get away. Youre going to die. May 27 Development official calls 911 At 2:46 p.m., a Downtown Davenport Partnership employee made a non-emergency call to report the west wall bulging, saying that someone should check it out. The Davenport Fire Department was on scene at 2:51 p.m. and cleared the scene at 2:55 p.m. May 28 - Building's west wall collapses 4:55 p.m.: Emergency services are called to the Davenport Hotel apartments at 4:55 p.m., finding a large section of the west wall collapsed. The site had a large natural gas leak and water raining down from the broken pipes. MidAmerican shut off the gas lines to the building and Iowa American Water shut off the water. News conference: seven rescued, others escorted 8 p.m.: Mayor Mike Matson held a news conference, saying multiple agencies from the Quad-Cities region responded with the sole purpose of finding people and getting them out of the building. Fire Chief Mike Carlsten said during the news conference that firefighters immediately rescued seven people and escorted more than a dozen who were escaping the building on their own. The north side of St. Anthony Catholic Church served as a reunification point. Air Ambulance lands on Harrison Street 9:48 p.m.: a MedForce Air Ambulance landed on Harrison Street between the police station and city hall. MABAS43 and MABAS39 units and Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue also arrived on scene to locate victims within the structure. 10:25 p.m.: Rescue crews began entering the apartment building. MABA43, Medic and local medical professionals located and extricated one individual in the late hours. Lexus Berry spoke with the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus. She said her wife, Quanishia White-Berry, was trapped beneath the wreckage and had to undergo a field amputation above her left knee to free her. May 29 City announces demolition to start May 30 Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Scott County. After multiple rescue operations over the course of 24 hours, crews ended rescue and search operations. City said that after extensive rescue operations, no confirmed viable signs of life were noted. Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Ott said in an initial news release Monday morning that demolition was scheduled to begin May 30 and that Wold was served with a notice and order for demolition. Crowd forms, seeking loved ones A crowd began to form outside the collapse site behind the fence and relatives who gathered at the site said their loved ones were still missing. 8 p.m.: Resident Lisa Brooks was rescued from a fourth-floor apartment window. After rescuing Brooks, firefighters were using the bucket ladder to search for others through the window. During the evening of May 29, a crowd began gathering outside of the collapse site where fences had been put up. People were chanting and holding signs that said who is in the rubble as family members told media outlets their loved ones were still unaccounted for. An updated statement was sent out later in the evening that the city was going to evaluate the timetable for demolition. May 30 Building owner cited The city of Davenport cited Wold, accusing him of failing to maintain the property in a safe, sanitary and structurally sound condition. A crowd gathered outside city hall and collapse site, protesting for the city to search building again before demolition. Family members of Branden Colvin Sr. and Ryan Hitchcock came forward, saying the two remained unaccounted for. About 11 a.m. the city held a news conference, saying five people were unaccounted for and two were likely to be in the building. Fire Marshal Jim Morris said rescue crews were planning another sweep of building. City worked with the Humane Society to rescue animals in the building. Around 1:30 p.m., two cats had been recovered from evacuated apartments. Six cats, two snakes and one lizard were recovered from the building, and the Humane Society checked over them before reuniting them with their owners. 2 p.m. A search crew entered the building. 4:30 p.m. City sent out an update confirming the additional sweep and rescue of pets and saying the stability of the building continued to degrade. Wold and Village Property Management issued statement that they have been working closely with the American Red Cross and other agencies to assist displaced tenants affected by this event. May 31 City releases hundreds of pages building reports City put notice to vacate signs on doors of businesses and apartments in the 200 block of 3rd Street. Around 6 p.m. the city released hundreds of pages of documents detailing structural engineering reports, notices of violations, orders to vacate some apartments and resident complaints over the past three years. City announced it had hired engineering firm Shive Hattery to assess damage to the building and structural stability. City sent a formal request to the state level Emergency Operations Center through Homeland Security for additional support and to use state assets to assist with recovery operations. June 1 City inspector steps down The city announced inspector Trishna Pradhan had resigned. Two of five individuals unaccounted for were found alive; one had moved to Texas and the other was found locally in Davenport. Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien remained unaccounted for, and Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel said their apartments were among the parts of the building that collapsed. Noon: Red Cross began to provide housing for displaced individuals or families at the former Select Specialty Hospital at 1111 W. Kimberly Road. About 4 p.m. Iowa Task 1 Urban Search and Rescue arrived on scene with canines and about 50 people to search the rubble and rooms for survivors and those presumed to have perished inside, a rescue team representative said in a news conference. Crews completed a search of the rooms before sundown. About 9:40 p.m. crews began having search dogs sniff through the top of the rubble and rooms that were accessible. As the night progressed and spilled past midnight into June 2, Iowa Task Force 1 installed wood shoring on the exterior walls. Rubble began to be slowly removed as search and recovery continued. June 2 First of several lawsuits filed A negligence lawsuit was filed in Scott County court on behalf of Mildred Harrington, a building tenant, and Rijeh Garnett, a tenant of a nearby building. It named Davenport Hotel LLC as the defendant. The case was pending as of June 9. Crews worked through the night to continue search and recovery efforts, and a tarp went up on the entire fenced area in the early hours of Friday morning 4:05 p.m. the city released an update sharing how impacted residents and businesses of 324 Main, and surrounding businesses and residents could receive financial help from the city and announcing an event on June 3 to help connect victims with the resources. Crews continued to move rubble as they searched through it. June 3 Branden Colvin's body recovered In the early hours of the morning crews began a limited level of demolition removing pieces of the building to control falling hazards. About 11 a.m. Davenport Crime Scene Unit could be seen on-scene. 11:59 a.m.: Branden Colvin Sr.'s body was recovered. Branden Colvin Sr.s family confirmed that the city notified them he was found deceased. Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien remained unaccounted. The Northwest Illinois Incident Management Team was requested by the city to assist in the recovery process. June 4 Ryan Hitchcock's body recovered Crews continued search efforts for search and rescue through the night. City released an update saying operations continued to focus on the material pile and removing it and said work would continue throughout the day with crews working 12 hour shifts. 12:25 p.m.: Hitchcock's body was recovered. Colvin Sr.,s family held a vigil for him along with Hitchcock and Prien. The city had not yet announced any of three had been recovered. June 5 Daniel Prien's body recovered 2:30 a.m.: Prien's body was recovered. City confirmed the recovery of the three bodies, including the timing of the recoveries. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds visited the collapsed site. City announced in the evening that Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team demobilized its search, rescue and recovery efforts after determining that the building is clear of collapse victims and collapsed building material from the foundation had been removed A negligence lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dayna Feuerbach, a building tenant. It names numerous defendants, including Wold and Davenport Hotel LLC. The case was pending as of June 9. June 6 Dismantling began Operations transition to the dismantling of the The Davenport apartment complex and crews continued clearing debris from the site. Some roads in the area began to reopen. June 7 Another lawsuit filed A negligence lawsuit was filed on behalf of Quanishia White-Cotton Berry and Lexus Berry, building tenants. It names numerous defendants, including Wold and Davenport Hotel LLC. The case was pending as of June 9. June 8 Five apartments evacuated at nearby building After an inspection raised structural concerns, the city of Davenport evacuated five still-occupied residential units at the Executive Square Building, 400 and 410 N. Main St. The building is adjacent to the collapse and the evacuation was done out of an abundance of caution, the city said. The rest of Executive Square had already been evacuated. The inspection was done on buildings adjacent to 324 Main St. "in advance of increased dismantling activity," a city spokesperson said. June 9 First legal hearing held The first hearing in the citation against Davenport Hotel LLC, issued May 30, was held in the Scott County Courthouse. Wold's attorney entered a "nolo contendere" plea, but it was rejected as improper by the judge. Wold did not appear. A new hearing was set for June 12. Photos: One week after the partial collapse of The Davenport Having finished my column early Wednesday, and with time to spare, I decided to watch the Davenport City Councils Committee of the Whole meeting. These are usually a study in tedium, but I suspected that this one would be different. It was the first council meeting after the collapse of the old Davenport Hotel 10 days before. It had been converted to an apartment building in the '60s, but I remember it as the slightly seedy place where my mother and younger sister stayed when visiting during my senior year at St. Ambrose. Davenport soon made the national news. CBS, NBC. and ABC began their evening newscasts with dramatic pictures of the wreck, with reporters on location. It was a story with legs, one that would recur during the week. International news sources picked it up as well. Local stations have spent much of their daily newscasts with comments on the situation and interviews with former occupants. They all spoke of cracked walls, windows that couldnt be opened or closed, sagging floors and ceilings: a litany of damage and decay. This newspaper carried a front-page account from a new employee who had just moved into one of the apartments and providentially had gone to buy groceries just before it all came down. I was one of many who were startled by the next-day announcement that the building would be demolished, starting within the next 24 hours. That left little time to search the rubble for survivors. Someone was being too efficient. A group quickly assembled to protest and the city backed off, deciding to get help from the state to do an orderly search. Stories soon began to circulate about the buildings shoddy and dangerous condition, which only worsened despite regular city inspections. Bricks were observed bulging or falling from the load-bearing walls. Yet life went on with minor repairs from time to time, but no command from city hall to fix the place or evacuate. All this came out in the aftermath, along with affecting stories of loss and grief. As a city inspector quit under a cloud, anger grew; a large one-word sign, Corruption was displayed and lawsuits have been filed. Corruption is a heavy charge. Incompetence or Negligence surely apply, but making the more serious charge stick will take some doing, With that background, it is no surprise that, while the meeting began with the usual droning minutiae of official business, information about projects approved, upcoming events and concomitant road closures, public comment was a different matter: indignant, agitated, and angry. Speakers were cautioned not to slander individuals during their 3-minutes at the microphone, but names were blurted out. I felt for council members who had to just sit there and take it. As an onlooker, I was able to get up for a few minutes to go make a sandwich, but didnt miss much of the pent-up emotion that washed over the room. I imagined aldermen (and women) were wondering exactly what they had done to be so roundly and soundly chastised. There are several explanations, which may or may not constitute expiation. To begin with, city business is handled by the professional staff, headed by the city manager or chief administrator. They are the ones responsible for carrying out in detail the general programs and procedures approved by the city council. Council members or aldermen seldom get into the action. Unlike legislators at state and national level, they are not expected to be in command of whats going on. Often, they are purposely kept out of such details. Where the two arms of city government meet is at the top, usually with the mayor and city administrator in close contact. Often, a city lawyer and one or two other influential figures join them, to strategize and direct. Objectives and projects are agreed on and are sent to the council to vote up or down. Enough information is supplied to tilt decisions one way or the other. That's not a universal procedure, but its the way many cities operate. In a municipality like Davenport, heavily committed to real estate and business interests, it can become easy to let things like close inspections slide. Thats not an accusation, just an off-hand supposition. If the council is heavily populated by businessmen and landlords, its can be a contributing factor to consider. On a higher level, there is the problem inherent in the fact that this country is founded on two conflicting ideologies: capitalism and democracy. The only way they can co-exist is if capitalism is closely regulated and managed by political leaders who act in the interests of the demos, the people. That has proven to be a problem at all levels of governance. Capitalism has no moral or ethical underpinning. Its primarily a practical way to handle pricing. It is powered by greed, which is not commonly considered a virtue. Democracy is a messy means of affecting the will of the people, ideally undertaken with motives of fairness and honesty. The two isms operate in a constant tension which requires tireless vigilance to maintain and sustain a balance. Even a skilled tightrope walker can lose his balance. Slight slips can be quickly corrected, but lose your footing and you can lose your life - without a safety net. At the moment, Davenport is searching for such a net. The city council can supply that net, if it gets to work. Meanwhile, I now have time to proofread next weeks column. It is long-past time for the Illinois Supreme Court to make a new rule to get big bucks out of Illinois Judicial Elections. That rule should be designed to remove the incentive for donors to dump obscene amounts of money into Illinois Judicial elections. What am I talking about? Example 1. Lawyer X runs to fill a vacancy on the Illinois Supreme Court. X is a lifelong Democrat. To get Lawyer X on the Supreme Court, The Democratic Governor of Illinois contributes $1 million and the Democratic Speaker of the Illinois House contributes $350,000, to Lawyer Xs Campaign Committee. They do so because they believe it is more likely Lawyer X will approve the Congressional reapportionment map drawn by Democrats, than his Republican opponent. Example 2. Lawyer X wins election and is now Mr. Justice X. After serving his 10-year term, he faces a Retention Election. He has no opponent. The ballot simply askes, Shall Judge X be retained. Q and Z are two Republican billionaires. Because Q and Z consider Justice X likely to vote for the Democrats reapportionment map, which they consider outrageously gerrymandered, they create a Committee for an Honest Judiciary and fund it to the tune of $7 million. With that $7 million they plan to run newspaper ads labeling Justice X, who has declined to recuse himself from consideration of that reapportionment case, The best Judge money can buy, The governors pet judge. Etc. The governor and the speaker will be de facto parties-defendant (in their official capacities) in the suit to have the Democrats map declared unconstitutional. The CHJ will also funds TV spots, bellowing that Justice X, who has refused to recuse himself, after having taken $1,350,000 from the two defendants, is guilty of creating a gross appearance of impropriety. And the CHJ will probably go on to accuse Justice X of corruption No honest judge takes $1.35 million as a campaign donation, and then sits on a case involving the donors. Lost in the hyperbole is the concept that the money wasnt really given to the judge; it was, instead, given to his campaign committee, and that committee never told the judge of the S1.35 million. But then, of course, news of the donations makes all the newspapers. My point is this: If Justice X sits on a case where a party donated $1.35 million, he paints a target on his back, and puts himself in a no win situation. Even if his decision is impeccably correct, roughly half the voters in the state will focus only upon the fact that he has taken $1.35 million from a party. This brings not only Justice X into disrepute, but, even worse, it brings the entire Illinois Judiciary into disrepute. So, whats the solution. Can limits be put on the amount of money a person, corporation or other entity can contribute to a judicial campaign? Could the Supreme Court write a rule that said, No judicial campaign committee shall receive a donation from any person, corporation, or other entity exceeding $100? $500? $1,000? (Note: the sum would have to be small enough that no reasonable person would believe that such a campaign donation would be sufficient to influence any rationale judge.) But would such severe limits pass constitutional muster? I dont know. Donations have been equated with free speech in the case law. I would therefore opt for an alternate solution. I would strongly suggest that the justices of the Illinois Supreme Court write the following Rule of Judicial Conduct: After his/her election or retention, the judge shall promptly make himself aware of all donations made to his campaign committee and keep a list of all those donations on hand. The judge shall have a duty to recuse himself/herself in all cases where it appears that donating person, corporation or other entity has donated directly or indirectly more than $500 to the judges campaign committee. I suggest the sum of $500 because no Illinois Judge, making an annual salary of $212,058 to $258,456 is going to be bribed for $500. I am reasoning that if a litigant, who otherwise would donate $1 million or $5 million to a Judges campaign committee, knows that the judge wont be able to hear his case, the incentive to donate vast amounts of money to the judges campaign committee will immediately disappear. Maybe I am a Pollyanna. But I dont like seeing judges paint targets on their own backs. I dont like judges doing anything that is likely to create an appearance of impropriety. The conduct of a single judge can bring an entire judiciary into disrepute even if it is ethical under existing rules. The drafters of the 1970 Illinois Constitutions Judicial Article wanted to get money out of judicial elections. Its time for the Illinois Supreme Court to implement that intent. Rainbow Pride flags fluttered in the breeze and laughter from children playing yard games filled the air as residents of the Bitterroot Valley gathered in downtown Hamilton to celebrate Pride and show their support for the local LGBTQ+ community. Members of the Bitterroot Diversity Group hosted the third annual Bitterroot Pride Picnic at OHara Commons and Sustainability Center on Saturday. Close to 100 community members showed up to join in the celebration. We try to do different events to promote diversity in our community and the importance of including everybody, including all voices and letting everybody be heard, said event organizer Karin Peterson of Hamilton. The purpose of the group is to just promote inclusion and diversity and celebrate everybody. Peterson said that holding Pride events in the Bitterroot Valley is essential for members of the LGBTQ+ community who may feel marginalized to know that there is support. We have a lot of people who are LGBTQ in our community, and often they feel like they wouldn't necessarily have to hide, but can't speak out, have to be careful, she said. We have a great community. Hamilton is a wonderful place, we have wonderful people in the Bitterroot and it's nice to bring it together. I think it's good just to show people that there are other people out there who care. I think that's really what we want to do. Saundra Amsden also attended Saturdays picnic. Amsden graduated from high school in the Bitterroot Valley but left in the late 70s. It was hard, she said. It was very hard to find community and find like-minded people. Amsden returned to the Bitterroot 14 years ago and says it's such a different place than it used to be. We're trying to find a way to let people know that there are other folks here, who are like them, who are supportive, she said. So we wanted to do something like this, to make it free and open to the public, so that they can come join us and we can make some new friends. Amsden said that they also want to present a positive face to the people who might be on the fence and unsure, and let them know that were just people. My agenda is to go home tonight and have dinner and watch some TV and go to bed. So that's my agenda, she said. After we do this, you know, we're just people, just like everybody else. Laura Carrasco of Hamilton, whose daughter Francis helped organize the first Hamilton Pride Picnic, also helped in planning this years event. She said that being part of the Bitterroot Diversity Group has been a very positive experience and opened up the community for her. There are a lot of people in our community that value the sense of community in its true sense of the word; everyone belongs, everybody's got value, equity is important, Carrasco said. People that don't feel like they are as valued or they feel marginalized and it's not just people in the LGBTQ community, but others as well were pushing back against that and showing that there's loads of people here that think and value, a true sense of community. So these events are always super positive, they're always really fun. Other Pride events are also scheduled to take place in the Bitterroot Valley in the coming days. The annual Bitterroot Pride Ride will take place on Sunday, June 11 at 2 p.m. Participants will meet at Red Barn bicycles at 399 McCarthy Loop in Hamilton. The loop is 12 miles on a dirt and gravel road with a shorter kid-friendly option for the little ones. Faith Lutheran Church in Hamilton will be holding a special service to celebrate Pride on Monday, June 12 at 7 p.m. The service is a collaborate effort by several churches in the valley. Pauls Episcopal Church in Hamilton will be hosting a Pride movie night sponsored by PFLAG at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 15. The film, based on a true story, is titled Pride and chronicles a group of gay and lesbian activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners strike in 1984. Right now it's Pride Month, and I would just say, if anybody wanted to and they didn't get to come to the picnic, throw your pirate flag up for the rest of the month, Carrasco said. I love seeing them all over town. They're pretty. That would be a great thing to do. It also doesn't go unnoticed. We can all work together to try to make our community thrive. Once upon a time in the rugged western frontier there lived a young Native American woman named Bitter Root. She lived with her tribe in the shadow of the towering Rocky Mountains and was known for her quick mind, strong spirit, and love of nature. One day, while gathering roots in a forest, Bitter Root came across an odd plant she had never seen before. It was a tall, leafy plant with bright yellow flowers and a strong, bitter odor. Despite its off-putting scent, Bitter Root was drawn to the plant and decided to bring it back to her tribe to see if it had any medicinal properties. After returning to her village, she showed the plant to the tribe's medicine man who was intrigued by its unusual properties. He brewed a tea from the bitter root and gave it to a sick child in the tribe. To everyone's surprise, the child was healed within days. Word of the plant's healing powers quickly spread and soon, people from far and wide were seeking out Bitter Root and the bitter plant. Bitter Root became known as the "Medicine Woman" and was respected and admired by all who knew her. As the years passed, Bitter Root continued to use the plant to heal the sick and bring comfort to those in need. Her legend grew, and she became known as a symbol of hope and healing throughout the western frontier. Years after her death, the strange root plant was given a new name in her honor: the Bitter Root. Today, it is still widely used in traditional Native American medicine and is a symbol of Bitter Root's legacy and the power of the natural world to heal and bring comfort to those in need. In 1805, Meriwether Lewis consumed bitterroot and reported, "it has a very bitter taste, which was nauseous to my palate." The specimens he brought back were identified and given their scientific name, Lewisia rediviva. Three major geographic features owe their name to this little plant the Bitterroot Mountains (running north and south, forming the divide between Idaho and Montana), the Bitterroot Valley and the Bitterroot River (which flows south to north). Until the 1970s and 1980s, Bitterroot was spelled as two separate words. Even so, some organizations, such as the Bitter Root Water Forum, some events, like Bitter Root Day, and some businesses, such as Bitter Root Brewing, continue to use the traditional two-part name. The Bitter Root, an acclaimed Image Comics series, is a story set during the Harlem Renaissance of 1924, when a fractured family of once-great monster hunters faces unspeakable evil that descends upon New York City. From the scientific floral exhibit displayed at the Columbian Exposition of 1893, in Chicago, Illinois, the National Floral Emblem Society of America was formed. State chapters of the society conducted informal balloting and referred the winners to their respective legislatures for endorsement. In a poll conducted in Montana, the bitterroot flower easily won over 31 other contenders. It was officially designated the state flower in 1895. This little plant can be found in western North America from low to moderate elevations on bushland, grassland, and forests in dry rocky soils. Its range extends from southern British Columbia in Canada, through Washington and Oregon (west of the Cascades) to southern California and east into western Montana, Wyoming, northern Colorado and northern Arizona. PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron warned Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday about the consequences of delivering drones to Russia, Macron's office said on Saturday. In a phone call, Macron urged Iran to "immediately cease" the support it is giving Russia in the war against Ukraine. Macron also expressed concerns about the trajectory of the Iranian nuclear programme, the statement said. Britain, France, Germany, the United States and Ukraine say the supply of Iranian-made drones to Russia violates a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution enshrining the Iran nuclear deal. FARIDPUR, BANGLADESH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- With rail laying starting for the last section of Padma Bridge Railway Link Project (PBRLP), the construction of a mega Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) railway line has entered the final phase. The project, with a total length of 172 kilometers, under construction by the China Railway Group Limited (CREC) and funded by the Export-Import Bank of China, held a track-laying ceremony from Bhanga to Jessore section on Saturday. The project is being implemented in three sections, from Dhaka to Mawa, from Mawa to Bhanga and from Bhanga to Jessore. "This project is very important for the Bangladesh railway," Nurul Islam Sujan, Bangladeshi Railway Minister said, noting that "we'll inaugurate the trial laying work from Bhanga to Jessore soon to make it suitable for train operation by June next year." Already the test run of trains was conducted by the Bangladesh railway authorities on one of the rail link project's three sections from Bhanga to Mawa in the central Faridpur district in April. The minister said, "We've already done a trial run from Bhanga to Mawa and will be able to do a trial run from Mawa to Kamalapur railway station (in Dhaka) in August." The railway link will pass through the 9.8-km-long Padma Bridge about 40 km southwest of Dhaka, the longest in Bangladesh which was built by Chinese. The history of crossing the Padma River between dozens of districts in southern Bangladesh and the capital of Dhaka only by ferries or boats ended in June last year as the bridge opened to traffic. Moreover, after the PBRLP project is completed and opened to traffic, more than 20 districts in the south will be connected with the capital Dhaka, and the travel time from Dhaka to Jessore will be shortened from the original 10 hours to two hours. "The Chinese company CREC is a very reputed company and their work is very much satisfactory," the minister told Xinhua on the spot, adding that "we hope that many other projects in the future the company will also participate." The railway link, also a vital channel that connects the trans-Asian railway network, is expected to greatly promote regional connectivity and the economic development of Bangladesh. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Israelis continued protests Saturday for the 23rd week against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government to overhaul the judiciary in the country. The mass demonstrations started in January shortly after the government, made up of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox religious parties, was sworn in. Gaining momentum and seeing large turnouts of more than 200,00 demonstrators at times, protest organizers have said they will not give up until the government cancels the proposed legal changes rather than delaying them. The protests have become a weekly occasion to express on current affairs in the country. In the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv, where the main protest with tens of thousands is held, protesters held a giant banner reading Type of citizen: dead, a reference to surging crimes among Israels Arab communities. Other protesters marched behind an effigy of a chained-up Netanyahu amid a sea of Israels blue-and-white flags. The plan would weaken the judiciary and limit judicial oversight on laws and government decisions, what critics say poses a direct threat to civil rights and the rights of minorities and marginalized groups. They also warn it will grant the government unrestrained power and upend the countrys system of checks and balances. WASHINGTON In an era when companies are building driverless cars and 30-inch infotainment screens, the auto industry found itself in Congress this week fighting over technology that's a little more old school: AM radio. Bipartisan lawmakers are considering requiring automakers to keep AM radio in all new vehicles as some companies including Tesla Inc., Volkswagen AG, Volvo Cars and BMW AG are eliminating the frequency from electric vehicles because battery motors interfere with signals. During a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing Tuesday, the lobbying arm of the U.S. auto industry asked lawmakers not to do that, saying that plenty of technology is available to transmit safety messages, and that mandates could hamper future innovation. That argument was met with united skepticism from both Democrats and Republicans: Lawmakers argued that AM radio is a crucial source for local news and public safety messages in remote areas. "When hurricanes, tornadoes or other natural disasters strike, AM radio remains steadfast, providing vital information to those in affected areas when other communication channels fail," said subcommittee chair Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio. Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Doris Matsui, D-California, said "we know AM radio is more than just a lifeline during an emergency. For many, it represents an irreplaceable connection with their community." The electrical components in electric vehicle batteries generate static that makes it harder to receive clear AM radio signals. Some automakers aimed to minimize that interference, the committee said, while several automakers opted to eliminate AM radio from new EVs. AM radio frequencies generally have poorer sound quality and are more susceptible to interference than FM radio, but AM can be heard further away from a transmitter than FM. On Tuesday, a representative for automakers said the industry takes "the safety of consumers and the public seriously" but that there is a federal system (the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS) that provides multiple alert options that will ensure people can get emergency information. "The federal government and industry must work together to modernize IPAWS and continue to incorporate new technologies," said Scott Schmidt, vice president for safety policy at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. "Doing so will ensure we collectively provide the best, most capable and resilient technologies to the public, also strengthening public safety." He added that there is declining listenership for AM radio: "We are technology agnostic in the sense that we are looking to deliver alerts to our customers as efficiently as possible, as broadly as possible, in the most efficient manner and in a manner that's not going to decline in the future." Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, said she spoke with federal officials about IPAWS' abilities and believes "we are not adequately prepared to reach all Americans in the event of a disaster." The president of a network of radio stations in Indiana and Ohio and an officer from the New Jersey State Police also spoke in favor of keeping AM radio. They said AM is the most consistent, dependable platform in case of emergencies. Panel members raised concerns that automakers may start charging customers for access to AM and FM radio. "The fact that AM is free is something that should cause all of us to sit up and take notice," said Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan. "This is how people in rural areas like my district get their news. They connect with their religion, they raise money for local causes, they take part in diverse conversations that they might not otherwise have access to." Schmidt said he can only speak to the industry's safety commitment, that automakers will ensure drivers have access to free public alerts and safety warnings. The congressional uproar over AM radio began last month when Latta and 103 other members of Congress sent a letter to automakers that planned to eliminate AM radio. Two days later, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, introduced the "AM for Every Vehicle Act," which would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate that new vehicles come with AM radio at no additional cost. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced similar legislation in the Senate. The cover of Andrew Welsh-Huggins first stand-alone book calls it a crime novel. But that is a massive understatement. Its a captivating chronicle of carnage. As The End of the Road (The Mysterious Press, $26.95, 312 pages) begins, Myles has just been released from prison after serving time for being part of a group of men who robbed a bank and caused the cardiac death of a customer. Myles had negotiated a plea deal to finger Pryor as the ringleader. But when the one-eyed control freak forced an acquaintance to provide a false alibi, Myles went to prison and Pryor went free. Myles now plans to go straight and live with his girlfriend, Penny, and their young son, Mack. But fearing that Pryor has more criminal plans for him, he determines that the only way he can achieve his goal is to kill his tormentor. But the scheme fails when Pryor fires first, grievously wounding Myles, and Penny decides to fulfill her lovers mission. Set mostly in Columbus and a nearby rural county in Ohio, the novel features a cast of characters who are drawn primarily from law enforcement and the gangs acquaintances. Meanwhile, an elderly and crochety farmer who shares a farm with his sister makes multiple calls to the local sheriffs department to complain that someone is casing his property. As in Welsh-Huggins seven-book Andy Hayes series, what follows is a harrowing narrative with reliably addictive multiple storylines and vividly devised characters. A fusion of unrelenting evil and unceasing courage, The End of the Road broadens his portfolio and reaffirms his artistry. Engrossing thriller set in post-WWII When the first novel in Jaqueline Winspears Maisie Dobbs series appeared 20 years ago, devotees of historical suspense quickly realized that they had found something special: a female protagonist who doubles as a psychologist and detective. Winspear, a Brit who now lives in California and the Pacific Northwest, has published 13 more entries in the series, a stand-alone novel and two works of nonfiction. She now delivers a second stand-alone, The White Lady (Harper, $28.99, 336 pages). By 1947, Elinor White has been granted lifetime possession of a grace-and-favor cottage in southeastern England for her work during World War I as a child in Belgium and World War II as a spy for the United Kingdom. Her instincts to defend have again arisen. Living nearby are Jim and Rose Mackie and their 3-year-old daughter, Susie. Having fled Jims notorious crime family in London for pastoral peace in Kent, Jim is being bullied to return to London and the familial web. But Elinor is determined that he, Rose and Susie must be protected. Like Maisie, Elinor immediately commands the readers attention. Both are engaging heroines. Both display undaunted bravery. Both suffer heartrending loss. And both owe their appeal and nuance to Winspear, a master at creating memorable characters and rendering them with empathy and admiration. But they differ in a significant manner. While Maisie personifies openness, Elinor is a study in emotional reserve throughout this engrossing thriller. A war story that explores the struggle for survival, a postwar tale that examines the hardships of victory, and a manifestation of bravery, The White Lady represents absorbing fiction delivered with brio and authority. Tragic, redemptive mystery Even soulmates get the blues. Especially those who, like Othello, have loved not wisely, but too well. Meet Pippa and Gabe Gerard and Amanda and Max Cameron, the quartet on which Sally Hepworth builds her eighth novel, The Soulmate (St. Martins, $28.99, 336 pages). Pippa, a lawyer, and Gabe, a stay-at-home dad, live with their two daughters in an upscale house atop a cliff on the Australian coast. Nearby stands The Drop, a site that attracts potential suicides. Gabe has saved seven lost souls from self-destruction, but not the eighth. And Pippa suspects that her husband had a hand in that death. Max, a wealthy businessman, and Amanda, a gig photographer, are childless by choice. As the narrative unfolds, Hepworth gradually reveals unsettling stories of adultery and its consequences, money laundering and violence, mental illness and secrets, as she tightens the bonds that tie the four main characters to one anothers fates. She does so through the two womens perspectives in the present and the past Pippa from a complex life and Amanda from a different existence. Hepworth, who consistently plumbs the darkness of domesticity and the dangers of devotion, achieves scary and seductive new heights in this moving novel thats at once tragic and redemptive. QUESTION: Why doesnt the pharmacy put the actual expiration date of medication on the patients bottle? It should come from the big bottle they took the medication from. They always put the discard date as one year from the date of dispensing, even if the source bottle has an expiration date years in the future. Medications are expensive, and some people throw them away after a year, even though they still might be good. The parties that benefit are the pharmaceutical companies and the pharmacies. The losers are patients, insurance companies and the country for wasting money on unneeded things. Can anything be done about this practice? ANSWER: We have been badgering the Food and Drug Administration about this problem for years with no resolution. If patients want to report an adverse reaction to the FDA, they need to fill out Form 3500B. It requests an expiration date along with the lot number and NDC number. It is rare for pharmacies to put the expiration date on the label if they transfer the pills from the manufacturers original container. That means patients have no way of knowing the true expiration date. That is not the case if the medication is dispensed in the drug companys original packaging. The law requires expiration date along with lot number and NDC number. We believe this should be available for all dispensed medications. QUESTION: While I was visiting Italy, I experienced a dreadful bout of acid reflux. A doctor prescribed an oral medication, Riopan, which I took before bed. It worked remarkably well. I am told that you can take it indefinitely without worrying about side effects. Is this drug available in the United States either by prescription or over the counter? ANSWER: Riopan is an old-fashioned antacid that was developed in Germany. It is known under the generic name magaldrate and contains a combination of aluminum and magnesium hydroxides. Although magaldrate is no longer available in the U.S., you can get the same basic ingredients in over-the-counter antacids such as DiGel, Gelusil, Maalox and Mylanta. QUESTION: Since I started taking pregabalin, my memory has disappeared. Is this a side effect? I used to remember everything, and this is disconcerting. ANSWER: When we checked the official prescribing information for pregabalin (Lyrica), we found that the most common side effects are dizziness and drowsiness. Other adverse reactions that have been reported in clinical trials include thinking abnormal, amnesia, confusion and memory impairment. One research report notes that although drugs such as pregabalin and gabapentin (Neurontin) are widely used, few data are available on the effects of these drugs on cognitive functions, such as learning memory (Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, June 2017). Other readers have also complained about memory loss while taking pregabalin. You should discuss this problem with your prescriber. If you ever consider stopping this drug, have your doctor provide a plan for gradual tapering. Stopping suddenly can lead to unpleasant adverse reactions. Close In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the schools 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames. In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday. In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond. In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities. In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons. This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city. In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmonds Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm. In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname candy striper came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers. In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the states Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition. In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmonds Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children. In April 1979, the St. Marys Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital. In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was Little Joe Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964. In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute. In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Warings Pleasure Time radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in Nanny and the Professor, Room 222 and the Benji movie series. In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Pettys car hit Dale Earnhardts, with Petty getting the worst of it. In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived. In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia. In June 1941, Patrick Henrys Give me liberty or give me death speech was re-enacted at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741. In July 1979, two boys walked along the rocks in the James River near the Lee Bridge in Richmond. In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a Welcome to Richmond sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people. This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally. In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft. In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican. In July 1961, two men fished for bluegills in Chickahominy Lake, a large water-supply reservoir along the New Kent-Charles City county line. In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farms owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido. In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scoutings growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year. In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell among the more than 3,500 attendees that year. In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp. In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road. 29 photos from the Times-Dispatch archives In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the schools 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames. In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday. In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond. In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities. In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons. This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city. In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmonds Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm. In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname candy striper came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers. In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the states Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition. In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmonds Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children. In April 1979, the St. Marys Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital. In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was Little Joe Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964. In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute. In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Warings Pleasure Time radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in Nanny and the Professor, Room 222 and the Benji movie series. In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Pettys car hit Dale Earnhardts, with Petty getting the worst of it. In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived. In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia. In June 1941, Patrick Henrys Give me liberty or give me death speech was re-enacted at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741. In July 1979, two boys walked along the rocks in the James River near the Lee Bridge in Richmond. In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a Welcome to Richmond sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people. This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally. In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft. In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican. In July 1961, two men fished for bluegills in Chickahominy Lake, a large water-supply reservoir along the New Kent-Charles City county line. In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farms owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido. In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scoutings growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year. In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell among the more than 3,500 attendees that year. In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp. In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road. Glistening beads, vibrant fabrics, lively music and classic cuisine filled Chesterfield Countys Cultural Center of India on Saturday. Taste of India is magical, said Vandana Shukla, the events lead and former president. She added that participants do not have to take a 20-hour flight to experience India. The festival brings people not only from Richmond, but from all over Central Virginia to celebrate Indian heritage, Shukla said. The event displays the diversity of India different ethnicities, foods, clothing and dialects, according to Chaitan Patel, one of the founding members of the cultural center. Today, we are here to bring the whole country together, Patel said. The festival featured raffles, a food tent, vendors from all over the U.S. and a dance competition, Patel said. The cultural dances feature children. Patel said they try to instill the value of multicultural performances from a young age. Priyanka Kalia drove three hours from Maryland to attend her first Taste of India festival with her business, Viyanka Jewels. Her booth was a mesh of silver and gold shining among colorful beads, along with embroidered fabrics and intricately designed shoes. Phulkari dupattas, or scarves to wear on top of clothes, came from Punjab, India, Kalia said. She started her business after being laid off during the pandemic. She saw the event online and wanted to try it out to see the communitys response. Kalia said events like this keep Indian culture alive. Cultural Center of India president Abhi Thakar expects more than 6,000 visitors to the event, which took multiple committees to organize. Thakar took inspiration from entrepreneur James Cash Penney, who said the best teamwork comes from (people) who are working independently toward one goal in unison. Its bringing all communities together, Thakar said. PHOTOS: 2023 Taste of India festival in Richmond DSC_0118.JPG DSC_0125.JPG DSC_0135.JPG DSC_0136.JPG DSC_0137.JPG DSC_0140.JPG DSC_0141.JPG DSC_0153.JPG When Mary Stickler got off the phone with her daughter last spring, she had no idea that it would be the final time, to date, that she would hear from her. Maggie Stickler, who contacted her mother or one of her four brothers almost every single day, had called on Saturday, April 16, 2022 the day before Easter Sunday. She said, Ill talk to you again tomorrow, said Mary, 60. And while Maggie did send a text to the family group chat on Easter, she never made the promised phone call. We never heard from her again, Mary said. Margaret Ann Maggie Stickler, 21, and from the Roanoke area, was last seen in Richmond on April 17, 2022. Police said Maggies boyfriend, Mitchell Cooper, was one of the last people to see her alive. Cooper told police that he saw Maggie leave the Richmond Motel on Chamberlayne Avenue. Maggie was also spotted in the Gilpin Court neighborhood in Jackson Ward on or around that same day, police added. After that, the trail goes cold. Mary and her son, Ethan Stickler, 24, knew almost immediately that something was wrong. As their attempts to contact Maggie went unanswered, they began reaching out to friends and acquaintances. It soon became clear that nobody had heard from her. It was uncharacteristic, Mary said, for Maggie to completely cut off all contact. Even when she knew I was going to be mad, she would usually tell me stuff, Mary said, adding that her daughter almost always texted her back despite whatever might be going on in her life. Maggie, who struggled with drug addiction, was in Richmond to attend a rehab program. In January 2021, she overdosed on Xanax and nearly died. After that and other incidents, Mary told her daughter that she needed to get help. I said, You cant come home, youve got to go to rehab, she recounted. With her moms support, Maggie began exploring recovery programs around Virginia. After completing a program in Salem, close to her mothers home, she was advised by counselors to stay in a sober living facility. Mary said the idea was for her daughter to continue her treatment in a new place so that she that she could avoid past pitfalls as she worked on her sobriety. That brought her to Richmond. But the program did not work out. Mary found another one and, although it was better, Maggies old patterns of behavior soon resurfaced, she said. She was hurting a lot more than we could tell Mary said her daughters drug use began as early as high school. She believes Maggie, who showed signs of depression in her teen years, was deeply affected by the passing of her father, Ben Stickler, who died of cancer when Maggie was only 14. After her dad died, thats when she really started to change, she said, but she did a good job hiding a lot of things. She wasnt someone who liked to talk about how she was feeling. She kept a lot of it in. In the year since the disappearance, Marys attorney has retained Ken Mosley, a private investigator and consultant based in Richmond. Mosley, a Richmond-area native, spent 30 years working as a senior special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In the course of his three decades with the ATF, he arrested firearms traffickers, arsonists and cigarette traffickers from 13 different countries. He was at the Pentagon for the 9/11 terrorist attack investigations; was in Waco, Texas during the siege on the Branch Davidian compound; and worked on the D.C. sniper case. After his retirement, Mosley decided to apply his extensive experience to a new line of work; he opened a private investigation firm, The 2963 Group, Inc., in 2019. Our goal is to bring Maggie home. Thats it, Mosley said of his involvement in the case. Mosley and his team of investigators work closely with the Richmond Police Department, whose investigation is ongoing. They share information, leads and possible evidence. Mosleys advantage, he said, is that, unlike police detectives who are burdened by numerous cases, he can afford to be more selective and devote the bulk of his time, energy and resources to specific cases like Maggies. Mosley stressed that he is conducting the investigation with a sense of urgency, leaving no stone unturned. In addition to her former home at Eco Flats, Mosley has checked the medical examiners office, hospitals, motels, shelters, churches, parks, public transit stations and vehicles, public buildings such as libraries, rehab meetings and businesses that she frequented and other places he heard she has stayed before, such as the Interstate 95 overpass near Chamberlayne Avenue, Brooklyn Park and wooded areas around Richmond. He tracks her phone records, bank accounts, social media accounts and health insurance use. He has surveilled neighborhoods in which she was known to spend time, and has shown her photo to hundreds of people. We have been reactive as well as proactive, Mosley said. We have gone to untold places trying to find her We have exhausted every lead possible, but were still not quitting. A host of unanswered questions Mosley has a handful of theories, but says he is not ruling anything out. Police have a host of unanswered questions. Why, last June, did a man named Michael Schutrumpf, who was arrested in Henrico County for assault and possession of drug paraphernalia, have Maggies Social Security card? When questioned about Maggies disappearance, police said Schutrumpf made comments that they found concerning; police added that Cooper and Schutrumpf are acquaintances. And why did Maggies cell phone ping near Louisville, Kentucky, in the week following her disappearance? Richmond police Detective Clarence Key said that Cooper is a person of interest in the case, and described him as hesitant to cooperate with the investigation. Coopers attorney could not be reached for comment. Schutrumpf has since died of a drug overdose, according to police. Key encouraged anyone with information to come forward. You might think it is something small or insignificant, he said, but that information could be the thing that brings closure to this case and helps us find Maggie. He said his heart goes out to Maggies mother and the entire Stickler family. In sharing Maggies story with the media, Mosley hopes to get as many eyes on this as humanly possible. The more people that are looking for Maggie, he said, the better. Please think of it as this is not just some girl on drugs, this is somebodys daughter with a promising future. And we want to get her back so she can continue on with her life and put her family at peace. Editors note: The investigation into the disappearance of Maggie Stickler is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Detective Clarence Key at (804) 646-6764 or Ken Mosley at (804) 640-9260. Recognize this? 1950s photos from The Times-Dispatch archives Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Robinson and Newcombe Richmond in the 50s (236).jpg Richmond in the 50s (235).jpg Richmond in the 50s (233).jpg Richmond in the 50s (234).jpg Richmond in the 50s (231).jpg Richmond in the 50s (232).jpg Richmond in the 50s (229).jpg Richmond in the 50s (230).jpg 1954 Branch House 1956 Richmond Virginians Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in 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Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s CHARLOTTESVILLE This August, more than a year after United Airlines suspended service to Chicago, direct flights from Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport to Chicago OHare International Airport are returning. Chicago continues to be one of our most popular markets, CHOs Chief Operating Officer Jason Burch said. And were grateful to United for resuming the service. Chicago is the latest destination to return to Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport after Orlando in May and Philadelphia in April. A single roundtrip flight between Charlottesville and the busy Midwest airline hub will be offered daily, filling the demand for the destination and further flights out west. When these flights return on Aug. 2, flyers can leave Charlottesville each day at 10:30 a.m. and land at the Windy City at 11:29. The return flight will leave ORD at 6:15 p.m. and arrive at CHO 9:10 p.m. The service is well-timed to connect to a vast network beyond Chicago including West Coast cities, Burch said. He said the flights will be run on Embraer 175 regional jets with 12 seats of first-class service. Were going to continue to work with United on this, said Burch. Were going to continue to try to grow the market to get it back to a full restoration. By the time they came to an end on June 2, 2022, nonstops between CHO and Chicago had become a five-year tradition. But one lost tradition is last years frequency. Instead of two roundtrips per day, the resumed service starts with one. It grows if it gets used, said Burch. It comes down to whether our business travelers continue to travel. Resumed service to Chicago will bring CHOs passenger count to 91% of what it was in 2019, airport officials told The Daily Progress. United Airlines is one of the worlds largest airlines, and the return of this service to Chicago will restore CHOs commercial flight operations to pre-covid levels, said Don Long, chairman of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority, in a press release. American Airlines stopped flights between Charlottesville and Chicago in November 2020, and United followed last June amid the pilot shortage brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of air travel. United currently offers nonstop service to Reagan National Airport outside of Washington and connecting flights to Chicago through that hub. Grade crossings in rural Central Virginia along the Richmond-Washington, D.C. railroad corridor have been targeted for millions in federal safety improvement funding. The proposed $3.2 million project will pay for design and construction to install four-quad gates at four crossings along a 123-mile stretch. All four crossings, owned by CSX, currently have two gates and flashers, and all are in rural areas. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, as well as Hanover, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, will contribute funds totaling a 20 percent match. Four-quad gates are designed to prevent vehicles from crossing when the roadway barriers are lowered for a passing train. The money for the safety improvements comes through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act, approved in 2021 in an effort to inject more than $500 billion into U.S. infrastructure over the next decade. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who pushed for the project funding last year, announced the grant awards earlier this week. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to pay dividends for Virginias economy, Spanberger said. This project follows through on the bipartisan infrastructure laws promises of stronger physical infrastructure, improved safety, and responsible investments in our local communities. The Biden administration is handing out more than $570 million in grants to help eliminate railroad crossings in 32 states just as the industry is increasingly relying on longer and longer trains to cut costs. These grants are part of a $3 billion program approved as part of the $1 trillion infrastructure law that Biden signed in 2021. That money will be handed out over five years. You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close Many electromagnets have an advantage over permanent magnets because they can be easily turned on and off, and increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity flowing around the core can control their strength. Electronics Modern technology relies heavily on electromagnets to store information using magnetic recording devices. When you save data to a traditional computer hard drive, for example, tiny, magnetized pieces of metal are embedded onto a disk in a pattern specific to the saved information. This data started life as binary digital computer language (0s and 1s). When you retrieve this information, the pattern is converted into the original binary pattern and translated into a usable form. Advertisement So what makes this an electromagnet? The current running through the computer's circuitry magnetizes those tiny bits of metal. This is the same principle used in tape recorders, VCRs and other tape-based media (and yes, some of you still own tape decks and VCRs). This is why magnets can sometimes wreak havoc on the memories of these devices. You may use electromagnetism every day if you charge a phone or tablet wirelessly. The charging pad creates a magnetic field. Your phone has an antenna that syncs with the charger, allowing a current to flow. As you may imagine, the electromagnetic coils inside devices like these are small, but larger coils can charge larger devices such as electric cars. Electrical Outlets Electromagnets also paved the way for really harnessing the potential of electricity in the first place. In electrical appliances, the motor moves because the current flowing from your wall socket produces a magnetic field. It's not the electricity itself powering the motor, but the charge the magnet creates. The force of the magnet creates rotational movement, which means it rotates around a fixed point, similar to the way a tire rotates around an axle. So why not skip this process and just use the outlet to power the motor in the first place? Because the current required to power an appliance is quite large. Have you ever noticed how turning on a large appliance such as a television or a washing machine can sometimes cause the lights in your home to flicker? This is because the appliance is drawing a lot of energy initially, but that large amount is only needed to get the motor started. Once that happens, this cycle of electromagnetic induction takes over. Particle Accelerators From household appliances, we're moving up to some of the most complex machinery ever built to see how electromagnets are being used to unlock the origins of the universe. Particle accelerators are machines that propel charged particles toward one another at incredibly high speeds in order to observe what happens when they collide. These beams of subatomic particles are very precise and controlling their trajectory is critical so they don't go off course and damage the machinery. This is where electromagnets come in. The magnets are positioned along the path of the colliding beams, and their magnetism is actually used to control their speed and trajectory [source: NOVA Teachers]. Not a bad resume for our friend the electromagnet, huh? From something you can create in your garage to operating the tools that scientists and engineers are using to decipher the origins of the universe, electromagnets have a pretty important role in the world around us. Tea Master Asami Yaeko demonstrates the brewing of matcha in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko shows a bow of finished matcha in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko demonstrates the brewing of matcha in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko demonstrates the brewing of matcha in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko demonstrates the serving of matcha to the guest in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko demonstrates a bow to thank the serving of macha in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko sits in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko demonstrates the drinking of matcha in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko demonstrates the cleaning of matcha props in the tea ceremony room at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Tea Master Asami Yaeko stands at her home in Saitama, Japan, on June 10, 2023. Matcha is a tea drink originated in China. Kentoushi, or diplomats to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), brought matcha back to Japan during the 9th century, where it became popular as time went by. Unlike regular teas, matcha needs to be ground before brewing and serving. Tea Master Asami Yaeko, who is near her 80, has been in touch with tea ceremony since childhood under the influence of her grandmother, and has been involved in tea for a lifetime. She demonstrated a tea ceremony with macha at her home in Saitama on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) HARTSVILLE, S.C. Jennifer Taylor, a teacher at Thomas Hart Academy, has been named Middle School Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Independent School Association. She is the second teacher from the academy to be named SCISA Teacher of the Year since the award began in 2001. Taylors honor was bestowed in April in Orangeburg at the SCISA Teacher of the Year Banquet. The academy also has received the SCISA STEAM Certification. It is one of 14 schools in the state to achieve this and is the only one in the Pee Dee, according to Tara Woodson, the academys head of school. Taylor has been a faculty member at Thomas Hart Academy since August 2019. Taylor graduated summa cum laude with a BA degree in biology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1998. She earned a Ph.D. from Washington University in 2005. She previously taught at the S.C. Governors School of Science and Mathematics. Dr. Taylor does not work or serve for awards or accolades, Wood said, but simply to inspire and affect all those she comes in contact with daily. Dr. Jenn, as all of her students call her, has mastered the elusive art of being firm, but fair, having rules yet maintaining relationships, and remembering that though she teaches many different levels of science she is really teaching children who she freely offers love, acceptance, and grace. The South Carolina Independent School Association is a nonprofit, voluntary association of approximately 120 independent schools serving more than 40,000 students and teachers. "When Crises Collide: Mapping the Intersections of Climate, Pollution, Crime, and Punishment" | Main | US Sentencing Commission releases FY 2023 second quarter sentencing data June 11, 2023 Another plug for Season 1 of "Drugs on the Docket" podcast In this post last month, I flagged that the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center at The Ohio State University had just released Season One of a new podcast, "Drugs on the Docket." All six episodes of this first season, each running under an hour, are now available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and YouTube. As I have said before, in my (admittedly biased) view, the various curated discussions in this "Drugs on the Docket" podcast are all quite interesting and informative. It has been particularly pleasing to have already heard a lot of positive feedback from fellow academics (both law profs and other profs), some of whom have said they are planning to incorporate the podcast content into their classes. And, as I have also said before, because I am eager to see this podcast develop and audience (and also because my colleagues at DEPC have worked remarkably hard to put this content together), I am sure to keep using this space to encourage everyone to check out the first set of episodes. Once again, here is how the podcast subject matter is generally described via this podcast webpage: Drugs on the Docket is a production of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) at The Ohio State University. Each episode explores how U.S. court rulings primarily those handed down from the Supreme Court impact drug law and policy and continue to shape the War on Drugs. Drugs on the Docket unpacks various ways courts have engaged with and responded to the opioid epidemic, police discretion, the sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine, and more. The series, hosted by Hannah Miller, invites guests with expertise in criminal justice, drug policy, and drug enforcement to help us break down the sometimes complex and always interesting stories behind todays drug law landscape. Drugs on the Docket is produced by DEPCs Service Engagement Project Manager Hannah Miller and Public Engagement Specialist Holly Griffin. DEPC Executive Director Douglas A. Berman is our editorial advisor. Music by Joe DeWitt. Please check it out because it makes for great summertime listening. June 11, 2023 at 01:57 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Lawrence Joseph Zimmerman Sioux City Lawrence Joseph Zimmerman, 74, of Sioux City died on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20, at Holy Cross Parish, St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City with Father Peter Nguyen as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 19, at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, with family present at 6 p.m. and a Prayer Service beginning on Monday evening at 7 p.m. with Pastor Quentin G. Vaughn officiating. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Lawrence was born Sept. 27, 1948 in Denison to Edward J. and Elvira P. (Wilwerding) Zimmerman. He lived on a farm near Buck Grove, Iowa, from 1948 until 1968 and attended school in Dow City, Iowa, from 1953 until 1966, when he graduated with the Class of 1966. Lawrence worked at Chain-O-Egg and Seymour Foods in Denison from 1966 until 1968. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in April of 1968 and spend time at Fort Lewis in Washington State until July of 1969, and was sent to Viet Nam with Company B, 69th Engineers Can tho, until April 1970. Lawrence worked at Seymour Foods in Denison again in the Summer of 1970, before attending Western Iowa Tech College in Sioux City from Fall 1970 until Fall of 1971, obtaining a degree in refrigeration. In November of 1971, he joined the Peace Corp and went to India and worked until January of 1974. From February 1 through July of 1974, Lawrence traveled the Hippie Trail from India back home. When he returned, he had two types of Malaria, and spent a month in the hospital. In October of 1974, he started work at Nutra-Flo in Sioux City as a chemical Lab Technician. On Oct. 8, 1974, stepson, Thomas Mason was born. In 1975, he joined Christian Children's Fund, supporting a girl in Guatemala for ten years. On Feb. 9, 1980, a daughter, Laura was born to Lawrence. On Aug. 6, 1980, he married Annie Lou Mason in Elk Point, S.D. On Dec. 21, 1983, a daughter Mary was born, and on Dec. 14, 1986, a son Aaron was born. In 1991, Lawrence published short stories about his time in the Peace Corps. In 1994, he got poems published that he wrote while in the Peace Corps. On Dec. 15, 1998, a granddaughter, Skylar was born; on July 24, 2002, a grandson, Jakob was born; on Jan. 8, 2020, a grandson, Isaiah was born; on July 20, 2003, a grandson Thomas was born; and on July 3, 2005, a granddaughter, Emily was born. On April 15, 2020, Lawrence lost his wife Annie when she died at home, and in the July-August edition of the Returned Peace Corps Association's newsletter, Lawrence got a letter published. Left to enjoy his memory, are the above listed family members, and seven siblings of Lawrence. Hundreds more Iowans than anticipated have applied for a new state-funded private school financial assistance program, potentially costing the state $11.2 million more than lawmakers had budgeted. As of 10 a.m. Friday, more than 15,500 applications had been submitted for the state's new education savings account program to receive thousands of dollars to pay their students' private school costs, according to the Iowa Department of Education. And Iowans have more than 20 days left yet to apply. The state began accepting applications on May 31, and families have until 11:59 p.m. on June 30 to apply for assistance. The state's budget for the coming fiscal year includes $107.4 million to fund the new program, which would provide scholarships for roughly 14,000 students the same number the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency predicted would enroll in the program in its first year. That includes an estimated 4,841 students who would transfer from a public school to a non-public school. The new law is expected to cost the state $345 million annually by 2027, when fully implemented. In total, over the course of four years, the program would cost the state an estimated $879 million, according to the LSA fiscal analysis. While lawmakers set aside more than $107 million for the program in its first year, as with public school funding, the appropriation from the Legislature is a standing unlimited appropriation, said Heather Doe, communications director for the Iowa Department of Education. All approved ESAs will be funded, Doe responded in an email. She did not respond Friday to a follow up message asking how the state would pay for additional scholarships beyond what lawmakers had budgeted and where those dollars would come from. What the law does The program, signed into law by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in January, will be phased in over four years until all K-12 students in Iowa will be eligible for roughly $7,600 per year in public funding to put toward private school tuition or other private school expenses. Assuming all 15,538 applications received get funding, that would cost the state roughly $118.6 million. The Department of Education declined to say how many applications had been approved. All incoming kindergartners and all K-12 students currently attending a public school who choose to enroll in an accredited non-public school for the 2023-2024 school year are eligible for the ESA program, regardless of income. Students who attended an accredited non-public school at any time this school year are eligible for the 2023-24 school year, if their household income is at or below 300 percent of the 2023 federal poverty level. The Department of Education would not provide a breakdown of applications received by ZIP code, current school attendance or income. The department also did not respond to questions about the current capacity of Iowas accredited non-public schools to accept new students. Do Iowa private schools have capacity? Iowa has about 200 non-public schools, but only 58 of Iowas 99 counties have an accredited private school, according to LSA. Most of the areas where there are no private schools are in rural areas. And several private schools are near or at capacity. There are schools all over that have room, certainly, said Trish Wilger, the executive director of Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education. Generally speaking, the schools in the smaller towns and rural areas have more capacity somewhat than the urban areas (due to income levels and population), but theres seating available across the state for new families. In Cedar Rapids, some private schools have wait lists for certain grades and are forced to turn families away, while others say theyre nowhere near capacity. Trinity Lutheran, a preK-8 school in Cedar Rapids that is accredited by the state and the National Lutheran School Association, has about 250 students and a waitlist for kindergarten, 2nd, 4th and 5th grades. Our school is full, Principal Mark Mueller said, adding the school is adding a second kindergarten class. We might have an empty seat or two in a few of our classrooms. Mueller said school officials are being very cautious how we are approaching ESAs. We want to see how this plays out through the next three years before we start taking some real aggressive actions and making major changes to the building, he said. Mueller said the school has increased its tuition, but no more than it would normally to account for increasing costs. He said tuition will increase to $6,435 from $6,135 for the coming school year. We dont want to just be adding kids to be adding kids, Mueller said. We want to maintain a good teacher-to-pupil ratio that we have right now. Chris McCarville, president of Xavier High School, said hes projecting the school will add about 25 students who do not currently attend Xavier Catholic Schools come the fall, above what school officials were projecting for next school year. He said the school can accommodate another 200 students. We are nowhere near capacity, nor do we expect to be close to that when fall rolls around, McCarville said. We feel real confident, very confident we are adequately staffed to serve all students who we expect to be enrolled. Some have suggested the new money pouring into the private school industry could lead to the creation of more private schools, especially in areas where there are not private schools. Wilger said that may happen over time. The State Board of Education this week approved the accreditation of Royal Legacy Christian Academy, a private school in Waterloo that served 16 students in kindergarten through 6th grade. ESA approval does not guarantee enrollment While a family may be approved to receive assistance, that does not guarantee that theyll be able to use it. Non-public school enrollment is unrelated to the Students First ESA application and is strictly between the family and the school, according to Odyssey, the New York-based company hired by the state to runs Iowa new private school aid program. Meaning a family can be approved for a state-funded savings account, but denied enrollment. Private schools do not have to admit every student and are allowed to turn away children with special needs, learning disabilities or behavioral issues, and can deny admission to gay and lesbian students. Such policies are allowed under Iowa's Civil Rights Act, which says religious institutions can impose qualifications based on religion, sexuality orientation or gender identity. Mueller said Trinity Lutheran has a screening process that includes an assessment to see where kids are at academically. Generally, families that apply are accepted, he said. If they have special needs that we cant meet, we help them find a school that can meet those needs, Mueller said, in addition to extensively using services provided Grant Wood Area Education Agency in Cedar Rapids. However, the new state budget approved by lawmakers reduces funding to Iowa agencies that provide special education services to Iowa students in public and private schools. Republicans have said all but one Iowa AEA will receive more money than last year, thanks to the states 3 percent increase in state supplemental aid to public schools. Mueller added Trinity Lutheran plans to use ESA money to hire more teachers in the future that can assist in those areas where kids have special needs. McCarville, too, said Xavier is going through planning to hire more staff to better accommodate all students, and best serve even more. Gov. Reynolds: Law empowers parents Savings accounts will be funded on July 15, or 30 days after an application is approved, whichever is later. If a students ESA has been funded, but they do not attend an accredited non-public school by Sept. 30, the ESA will be closed and the funds will be retained by the state. ESA funds must be returned by the school for the semester in which the student did not attend, according to the Iowa Department of Education. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last week lauded the flood of applications for private school savings accounts. Iowa changed the face of education, funding students instead of systems, Reynolds said in a statement. Giving parents the power to determine the best education for their children wasnt just a slogan, it was a promise. Today, Im proud to say we delivered. Opponents say the new law will pull critical resources from public schools which serve more than 90 percent of Iowa students and will disproportionately benefit higher-income families. Were not anti-public school, Trinity Lutherans Mueller said. We just really believe in what were doing and what our mission is, and providing parents the ability to send their child to the school of their choice. Kerry Knuth steers his sprayer across a field, occasionally craning his neck to watch his newest piece of equipment shoot fertilizer at the base of his growing corn. He purchased this equipment, called a 360 Y-Drop, and attached it to the boom of his sprayer so the corn can absorb nitrogen fertilizer more efficiently more nitrogen directly to the corns roots, less lost to the surrounding environment. The Y-Drop can save him money on fertilizer costs. And, by using less nitrogen fertilizer, he also may be reducing the risk that nitrate enters the groundwater, which supplies drinking water to 85% of Nebraskans. Nitrate, research shows, is linked to a variety of diseases, including pediatric cancer and birth defects. We don't relish the fact of polluting groundwater, whether it's nitrates or chemicals, said Angela Knuth, who farms with her husband Kerry on family land near Mead. The states nitrate-in-groundwater problem is growing worse Nebraskas median nitrate level doubled between 1978 and 2019. But some Nebraska farmers and researchers are fighting back with technology. They are embracing new methods that can reduce nitrate leaching into groundwater, improve their soils health and also, they say, boost the bottom line. Some farmers interviewed by the Flatwater Free Press have completely switched over to regenerative agriculture, a farming approach focusing on restoration of the environment, which advocates say also ultimately boosts farm productivity. Others are marrying traditional farming with precision technologies like soil testing and remote sensing, or using more efficient equipment like the Knuths do. Kerry Knuth can now put on fertilizer at ideal times, instead of having to time fertilizer application with center-pivot irrigation when the crops need water. Nitrate leaching is often worsened by heavy irrigation, which washes the chemicals down into the soil and ultimately into our water supply, experts say. The Knuths say they came to new farming technologies because they thought it was the right thing to do and because its what they want to teach their children. More than two decades ago, they used anhydrous ammonia, a cheaper but also more volatile form of nitrogen fertilizer thats more easily lost to groundwater. Kerry Knuth then switched to a liquid fertilizer. In 2018, he bought the Y-Drop system and started split applying supplying nitrogen to corn in multiple applications throughout the growing season rather than one full application. Since then, the family uses 15% less nitrogen fertilizer. As the Knuths equipment evolved, the science that helps farmers like them make decisions was also evolving. A formula developed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln agronomists has helped producers determine how much fertilizer they should use for decades. It now suggests that farmers use an average of about 1 pound of nitrogen per bushel of corn. Interestingly, new UNL research and field trials show that using way less nitrogen than the current UNL recommendation as much as 40 fewer pounds per acre doesnt significantly detract from profits, said UNL agronomy professor Javed Iqbal. The question hes trying to answer: How can we calculate nitrogen usage based on profit, and also environmental cost? Even though the trial fields produced less corn yield with reduced fertilizer input, the yield still hit the maximum economic profitability range, with savings from fertilizer costs, Iqbal said. Some farmers have sought natural solutions to cleaning up nitrate biologically. These innovative farmers are leaning into regenerative agriculture and focusing on soil health. Del Ficke was both figuratively and then quite literally breaking his back farming the traditional way on his familys homesteaded land near Lincoln about 25 years ago. It increasingly felt wrong to the then-young farmer. This isn't working, I'm spending a ton of money and I'm getting less and less. My soils getting worse, Ficke said. This revelation struck after Ficke quit farming following severe back pain and multiple surgeries. He went to college to study hospital billing and administration, then decided to return to farming, but with a drastically different approach. He downsized his operation, shifted his focus on cattle and used the cow manure to enrich his soil. We're 80% more profitable on 500 acres than several thousand, just because of our focus on getting the soil right. So less inputs, less equipment, he said. He uses 100% natural ingredients to boost soil nutrients: cattle manure and hydrolyzed fish. Ficke now also runs a group called Graze Master, focusing on grass-fed beef and providing consulting and other services to farmers. Others might call him a beef producer. He calls himself a grass farmer. A grass farmer title is pretty cool we're looking at the forages first in sync with nature and we built a program around it, he said. Reducing inputs like fertilizer sits at the heart of regenerative agriculture, said Keith Berns, founder of Green Cover Seed and reducing inputs can make you more profitable. Berns helps farmers across Nebraska find the right cover crops and then helps them time the growth of these crops. Cover crops are one way that many Nebraska farmers use to manage the amount of nitrogen in their soil. Cereal rye, for example, is the most widely used cover crop that can scavenge any leftover nitrogen, Berns said, pulling nitrate out of the soil and reducing the risks of leaching. When the cover crops die and break down, their nutrients become available to the new crops after being cycled by soil microbes, Berns said. Regenerative farming needs to be coupled with better testing that more accurately accounts for nutrient availability within biologically active soils, Berns noted. One example: Farmers can apply less nitrogen when the new crop can utilize nitrogen released by soil microbes from crop residues and organic matter. Traditional soil testing doesnt accurately measure this. But a new test, called the Haney Test, does. Ward Laboratories, a soil and water testing lab in Kearney, became the first commercial lab in Nebraska to adopt the Haney Test in 2013. Haney Tests take longer to conduct, said Ray Ward, the labs founder. But they also are worth it, he believes, because they often help a farmer save money while applying less nitrogen. It normally gives us between 20 and 40 pounds of extra nitrogen that our nitrate test has not measured. That's a way to get at that better nitrogen recommendation or evaluation, he said. Another way to precision farm is to know when the crop needs nitrogen. Some farmers might tell you theyve mastered the science from a lifetime of studying the weather and corn growth. But farmers have another weapon: Remote sensing. Meet Jackson Stansell, a UNL graduate student who started the company Sentinel Fertigation. From his computer, he can advise producers how much nitrogen to use and when. The software he wrote pulls in satellite imagery and determines how much nitrogen is already in the crop based on its reflectance how green the leaves are. Then the software calculates and spits out recommendations on whether to apply more nitrogen now, or not. Stansells software makes these recommendations in real time. It offers serious precision, by varying fertilizer application rates in different spots in the cornfield. He is currently helping Nebraska and Kansas farmers manage nitrogen on roughly 19,000 acres of land. On average, his clients used 42 fewer pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per acre last year, Stansell said. Some produced 280-bushel corn while using less than half of UNLs recommended amount of nitrogen. When we're able to execute the method, we've seen that farmers have been able to maintain high yields while reducing nitrogen, he said. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska #25. Valley #24. South Sioux #23. Chase #22. Boone #21. Rock #20. Antelope #19. Dundy #18. Garden #17. Buffalo #16. Brown #15. Dawson #14. Perkins #13. Keith #12. Knox #11. Red Willow #10. Kimball #9. Cheyenne #8. Morrill #7. Box Butte #6. Sheridan #5. Dawes, North Sioux #4. Holt #3. Custer #2. Lincoln #1. Cherry Our advice columnists have heard it all over the years. Each Sunday, we dive into the Dear Prudie archives and share a selection of classic letters with our readers. Join Slate Plus for even more advice columns. Dear Prudence, Im a first-year teacher at an urban Title I middle school. As is common for many teachers in my position, Im using my personal paycheck to cover the gaps that classroom funding doesnt. After I realized at the beginning of the year that many of my students were having trouble concentrating, I started keeping a stash of healthy snacks near my desk. The students know they can come take a snack when they need one. The costs add up quickly, but its a sacrifice Im willing to make if it helps my kids focus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not long after I started keeping the food in my room, I began noticing it disappearing dramatically between the time I left each afternoon and the time I clocked in the next morning. The only staff who have a key to my room are the custodians and the administratorsboth of whom are fed a meal by the cafeteria if they work nights. Because I rarely stay late enough to see the night staff in person, I started leaving notes on the snacks, stating that they were for students. When that didnt work, I eventually hid them in my desk or closet (neither of which lock). They were still being taken. I weighed my options and realized I was either going to have to stop buying food for the kids or tell someone, so I mentioned what was happening to our head of facilities. Unbeknownst to me, our head of security hid a camera in the classroom, caught the custodian who was stealing, and promptly fired him. Advertisement My students food is no longer disappearing, but now I have another problem: All my co-workers hate me! The administrative assistant told anyone who would listen what happened, and now everyone is angry that I caused someone to lose his job. Some of the other teachers had also grumbled in the teachers lounge about food going missing from their rooms, so I know Im not the only one who was upset, but apparently I broke some unspoken rule about tolerating food theft. Was I wrong to report it? Im seriously considering quitting because so many people are suddenly being hostile and treating me like an entitled Karen. Advertisement Its safe to assume that the overnight custodial staff continued to take food from your classroom for the same reason your students dobecause they or someone in their family needed it, and the single meal provided by the school was insufficient to meet their needs. People who steal food usually need food very badly, and while youre not personally responsible for the collective social failure thats led to so many of your students and colleagues food insecurity, I do think its important to tolerate food theft inasmuch as it seems to me an act of desperation that requires additional support, not punishment, and certainly not unemployment. Your former colleague was already struggling with hunger (or supporting a hungry relative) while working; now hes got joblessness on top of that to contend with. You say the administration installed cameras and fired the man unbeknownst to [you], but you could reasonably have anticipated that reporting would lead to such a consequence, so I think its important to acknowledge your direct, intentional role in this mans firing. The fact that your colleagues were also concerned about food going missing does not necessarily mean that you made the right choice. Yes, its frustrating and often expensive to lose food at work, but remember the circumstancesa night janitor at a school where many of the students are going hungry likely has limited options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets then consider the other options you had available to you, bearing in mind that you, your students, and all of your co-workersfaculty and staff alikehave been forced into very difficult situations: You could have taken the snacks home with you in your bag at the end of the day, which might have been inconvenient but not impossible. You could have purchased an inexpensive portable safe, or a cheap bike lock to shut your desk drawer with overnight. Alternatively, you could have banded together with your fellow teachers and set up a community fridge where anyone could leave food and anyone could take it as needed, or pushed the school administration to do so officially. You could have left a note for the night staff letting them know youd set aside something in particular for them, since their regular overnight meal clearly isnt enough. Reporting the loss of snacks was not the only choice you had, and it did result in your colleague losing his job and making his life significantly worse. Your fellow teachers anger is understandable, and Id encourage you to use this discomfort to reconsider your position and look for ways to try to make amends (directly to this man if possible, and to others in need of help if not), rather than quitting in a fit of pique.Danny M. Lavery Advertisement From: Help! I Got a Custodian Fired for Stealing Food From My Desk. Am I a Karen? (Dec. 21, 2020) Related from Slate Doyin Richards My Dog and My Toddler Nephew Had an Unfortunate Accident. Now My Sisters Out for Blood. Read More Dear Prudence, My boyfriend and I fell in love at first sight. By the time I stood up and realized he was 4 inches shorter, we were too in love to care. I never in a million years thought I would be in this situation, but when you find the right person, you just know. My question for you is: Should I prepare other people for the height difference? I find myself trying to drop it into conversation when people havent met him yet. Sometimes I try to mention celebrity couples as examples, to give people an idea, but that only seems to make things worse. What I really want to say is, I have trouble noticing the height difference because hes a god in bed. Whats your advice? And why does this stigma still exist? Advertisement Advertisement People definitely need to be prepared for this shocker. Before you introduce him you should alert your friends and family by saying, Youve heard that good things come in small packages. Well, even though my boyfriend is small, his package is not, so despite what you were probably thinking, Im very satisfied in bed, thank you very much! Then you could add, I dont know why people are so concerned about height differences. Sure, I never thought I would be in the ridiculous situation of towering over my boyfriend, but Im not hung up about it at all! Your boyfriend is shorter than you are. Big deal. Its not something worth mentioning or being defensive about. Its an unimportant, self-evident fact. You say theres a stigma about shorter men with taller women, but that seems to be mostly in your own head. So get over it before you scare off your terrific guy through your own smallness.Emily Yoffe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! Im Dating a Much Shorter Man. Should I Warn People? (March 5, 2015) Dear Prudence, My co-worker, an older woman, wants to hang out with me on lunch breaks, but I really dont like her. I feel bad for her because her entire work friend group has retired or left and she has no one to talk to. On the other hand, I hate talking to her because she is a terrible gossip and tries very hard to get me to dish on people, which I am very uncomfortable with. She doesnt see that kind of talk as gossipits just normal conversation to her. Now she wants me to be her (only) work friend, and I dont know how to handle it. Advertisement Open up Slack or email. Type the following: Hi Sharon! I know weve been having lunch together a lot, but I wanted to let you know that Im on a self-improvement kick, and Im going to be using my breaks for reading [or podcasts or exercise or meditation], and I wont be able to hang out much anymore. But Ill see you around the office, and I always enjoy saying hi. Thanks for understanding! You can still be kind to her. Grab a coffee for her on your way in. Compliment her outfits. Ask how her kids are doing when you cross paths in the bathroom. Then, once a month or whenever youre feeling up to it, invite her to lunch and dominate the conversation by talking about the latest season of Married at First Sight or whatever interests youhopefully something even more inane. Then repeat Sorry, I really dont like to talk about people behind their backs, accompanied by an angelic smile, every time she starts chatting about a colleague. Take it from me, someone who loves to gossip: Shell get so painfully bored that shell find someone else to talk to.Jenee Desmond-Harris Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Sons Girlfriend Wont Take the Hint That I Hate Her. (June 5, 2021) Dear Prudence, My best friend Rue has been dating Jared for about a year. There were many things about their relationship that were challenging for me and the rest of our friendstheir obsession with each other, the time they spent together to the exclusion of all others in their life, their need to constantly be touching when we were out in public together. However, weve all mostly gotten over it and are genuinely happy for them. But now my other friend just saw Jared on a dating app. This friend is male and the dating app is meant for guys only. I know for a fact that Rue and Jared dont have an open relationship. In fact, Jared is super religious and has only ever dated women. Rue and Jared are planning to not have sex until marriage. Advertisement Should I say something to Rue? I know shed be devastated to hear Jared is on a dating app. At the same time, what if he was just on there as a joke, or what if someone else is impersonating him and hes not actually looking for male partners? I feel sick with guilt over keeping this secret, as Rue tells me they are quickly moving toward engagement. What should I do? Advertisement Advertisement One of my go-to rules in this sort of situation is to assess whether you have direct evidence that you can report to your friend. Since you didnt see Jareds account yourself, I think your best moveif anyis to encourage your other friend to speak to Rue. As you say, theres a slim-but-real chance that it wasnt Jared (although Im not really sure what the joke would be if it were a joke, beyond the straightforwardly homophobic Wouldnt it be funny if I were gay?), and since you didnt see his profile yourself or have any sort of dating-app interaction with him, you wouldnt be able to clarify or answer follow-up questions should Rue have any. If anything, I think you have grounds to try to talk to her about the fact that you miss spending time one on one, instead of avoiding talking about the things that have bothered you in the past year in favor of A friend of mine saw Jared on Scruff, so you should probably ask him about it.Danny M. Lavery Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Friend Says Faking Orgasms Is Basically Abuse. (Sept. 29, 2020) More Advice From Dear Prudence I come from a state where people are generally kind and not very confrontational. Ive also lived in cities where people are far more gruff when they think someone is trying to take advantage of them. Because of this, Ive developed a much thicker skin than most people back home. I ask to speak to managers and write strongly worded letters somewhat frequently. Ive never yelled at a manager over store policy, but Ive always tried to get stuff when things havent gone my way. Should I always be trying to make sure that people correct their mistakes, or should I let small things go? Is it a Karen move to always ask people to correct their mistakes? In the last two weeks, boldfaced names like Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey, and Alicia Silverstone have voiced their support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s getting-harder-to-ignore-by-the-day run for president. This might sound impressive, particularly if you havent been paying attention to how Musk, Dorsey, and Silverstones public personas have evolved in recent years. But as Kennedy Jr.s campaign to challenge President Biden to be the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election picks up steam, its also worth noticing what notable names are missing from his corner: That would be literally any others that also end in Kennedy. In fact, various news outlets have been reporting all spring about how disgusted most of the Kennedys are by their brother/cousin/uncles decision to oppose Biden. Why does he have so little support among his family members? Its pretty simple: As the son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Kennedy Jr.s name and connection to his familys political dynasty are his biggest assets. But he doesnt actually share most of the Kennedy clans mainstream Democratic politics. Instead, his beliefs pretty plainly diverge into conspiracy theories and anti-vax rhetoric. You might call him a KINO. Politico went with black sheep. Advertisement A sampling of these beliefs? He thinks the pandemic originated at a U.S.-funded lab in China, he thinks 5G networks are killing us, he thinks the 2004 presidential election was stolen from John Kerry and so on. Hes so far gone that he was suspended from Instagram in 2021 for spreading vaccine misinformation, though he was recently reinstated. But despite holding these fringe positions, Kennedy Jr.s attempt to trade on his name appears to be working: Hes polling as high as 20 percent among Democratic voters, though as my colleague Jim Newell has explained, many of them may not know the extent to which hes fallen off the deep end. Kennedy Jr. is also a popular figure on the right, though its unclear how sincere Republicans embrace of him has been. Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy Jr. is well aware that he and his family arent on the same page: At a press conference in April, he said, My whole family, including myself, have long personal relationships with President Biden and many of them just plain disagree with me on issues like censorship and war and public health. They are entitled to their beliefs and I love them back. Still, he clearly knows how compelling his name alone is to voters. Why else would Kennedy, as CNN pointed out, choose to launch his presidential campaign in Boston, a city hes never lived in, other than to emphasize his deep connection to Kennedy country? Advertisement Advertisement On some level, Kennedy Jr. might be used to family strife by now. His family has been opposed to his viewsgoing so far as to write op-eds against them at timesfor a long time now. Even his own wife has had to distance herself. Last year, Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines, who is Kennedys third wife, expressed disapproval of his anti-vaccine beliefs after he compared the plight of an anti-vaxxer to the plight of Anne Frank in Nazi Germany, People reported. Hines does, however, support Kennedy Jr.s presidential run. At least he has herPolitico reported that just a smattering of his children and grandchildren showed up when he launched his presidential campaign earlier this year. In addition to political differences, Kennedy Jr. has inspired interfamily ire over advocating for the release of his fathers convicted killer, Sirhan Sirhan, from prison. Advertisement Its not just that Kennedy Jr.s family members dont support his run, though. Some are actively speaking out against it, and have given statements to that effect. For example, his sister Kerry Kennedy said, in a quote picked up by multiple outlets, I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations, and the role of social media platforms in policing false information. By and large, these disavowals have refrained from saying anything outright nasty, though according to CNN, theres been at least one Kennedy family subtweet of Kennedy Jr.s campaignit came from Bobby Shriver, who, upon his cousins announcement, felt compelled to mention to his followers that he was excited to support Biden again. Advertisement Advertisement Like Shriver, in addition to not showing up for Kennedy Jr., many Kennedys are openly backing Biden (who, on top of being a longtime member of the Democratic establishment, can bond with the Kennedys over being only the second Catholic president, after JFK). Worse, some of Kennedy Jr.s family members literally currently work for the Biden administration in some capacityCaroline Kennedy, Kennedy Jr.s cousin, is the ambassador to Australia, for one. Most political types agree that he doesnt pose a serious threat to Biden, but that doesnt mean hes not a nuisance whos pushing dangerous ideas with no basis in reality. For everyone but Kennedy Jr., the best outcome here would be for the campaign to end before it really gets goingand really embarrasses all of them. After all, they want to keep coasting on Ask not what your country can do for you and all that, and a guy who wrote a book calling Anthony Fauci a pandemic profiteer who is masterminding a historic coup detat against Western democracy just isnt good for the brand. (CNN) One of two giant rubber ducks on display in Hong Kongs Victoria Harbor was deflated on Saturday to protect it from sweltering temperatures. Organizers said they made the decision to deflate the duck just one day after the pair arrived in the harbor, after an inspection found that its surface had stretched in the hot weather. The deflated duck will be sent for repairs, while its friend will remain in the harbor as part of a pop-art installation dubbed Double Duck. Locals and tourists had gathered at the waterfront in the scorching sun to catch a glimpse of the artwork with some left disheartened at only seeing one duck. One Hong Kong resident, 35, explained that she had brought her child out specially to see the oversized bath toys. Today, we originally planned to bring my child to see the yellow duck. We saw it 10 years ago as well. Back then, there was only one yellow duck, but today we came to see double ducks. However, unexpectedly, there is only one duck now. We dont feel disappointed though. As long as the children are happy, thats enough. A tourist from Thailand explained that her sister is a big fan of the giant ducks. So, she was super sad, because she can see just only one. Dutch artist Florentijn Hofmans Rubber Duck initially appeared in Victoria Harbor a decade ago. Conceived in 2001 before debuting in France six years later, the installation appeared in cities including Osaka, Sydney and Sao Paolo before arriving in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory in May 2013. The artworks previous arrival in Victoria Harbour made a splash worldwide in part because it mysteriously deflated overnight before being reinflated days later. The pop art installation returned to the harbor on Friday, this time with not one, but two ducks. At 18 meters (59 feet) tall, they are slightly larger than the one that made global headlines 10 years ago. Double duck is double luck, artist Hofman said in a statement. The work emphasizes friendship and getting connected Double Ducks is not about looking into the past but enjoying the moment together! This story was first published on CNN.com, "Giant rubber duck deflated in Hong Kongs harbor amid fierce heat" https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/nigerian-security-agency-detains-ex-central-bank-chief-under-ongoing-investigation-1111052448.html Nigerian Security Agency Detains Ex-Central Bank Chief Under Ongoing Investigation Nigerian Security Agency Detains Ex-Central Bank Chief Under Ongoing Investigation MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Nigerian central bank's ex-governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been put in custody after he was suspended from office earlier this week, the... 10.06.2023, Sputnik International 2023-06-10T23:00+0000 2023-06-10T23:00+0000 2023-06-10T23:00+0000 africa nigeria bola tinubu abuja detained suspension financial sector /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/18/1106638136_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_2bcd6d3136de5bcb7c5aa0491db8720a.jpg "The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons," the statement posted on Twitter said. On Friday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered Emefieles immediate suspension from office due to an ongoing probe and planned reforms in the country's financial sector, the Punch newspaper reported, citing the director of information at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey. On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Nigerias capital of Abuja summoned Emefiele over his non-payment of a multimillion debt, the report said. He was initially supposed to appear before court on January 18 over an outstanding $70 million debt, but later paid $17 million. The presiding judge said the court would not hear the senior official's motion for stay until he appears in court, the newspaper said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/nigerias-ruling-apc-party-official-tells-uk-to-recall-its-shallow-intellectually-stunted-envoy-1108898383.html africa nigeria abuja 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 nigeria, bola tinubu, abuja, detained, suspension, financial sector https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/brazilian-president-calls-for-efforts-to-protect-assange-from-extradition-to-us-1111055128.html Brazilian President Calls For Efforts to Protect Assange From Extradition to US Brazilian President Calls For Efforts to Protect Assange From Extradition to US Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Sunday he is concerned with the future extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States and urged everyone to protect the journalist. 2023-06-11T06:31+0000 2023-06-11T06:31+0000 2023-06-11T06:31+0000 americas us brazil wikileaks julian assange lula da silva /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/04/0f/1082642802_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_2e2e21e857e377f1a9c5abb053183ed9.jpg In May, following the coronation of King of the United Kingdom Charles III, Lula called for the early release of the WikiLeaks founder. Since April 2019, Assange, an Australian citizen, has been held in the high-security Belmarsh prison in London while facing prosecution in the US under the Espionage Act. If convicted, the WikiLeaks founder may get 175 years in prison. On June 13, he is going to once again appeal to the High Court of London to challenge his extradition to the US, which will be the last effort in the British courts, as further hearings will only be possible in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), according to the Reporters Without Borders non-governmental organization. Assange already appealed to the ECHR in December 2022. WikiLeaks was founded by Julian Assange on October 4, 2006, but rose to prominence in 2010 when it began to publish large-scale leaks of classified government information, including from the United States. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230503/washington-doesnt-care-about-some-world-leaders-support-for-assange-1110047841.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230506/assange-offers-heartfelt-belmarsh-invite-to-king-charles-iii-ahead-of-coronation-1110132309.html americas brazil Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, brazil, wikileaks, julian assange, luiz inacio lula da silva https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/children-who-spent-40-days-in-colombian-jungle-are-in-good-health--doctor-1111055692.html Children Who Spent 40 Days in Colombian Jungle Are in Good Health Doctor Children Who Spent 40 Days in Colombian Jungle Are in Good Health Doctor The four children rescued after spending 40 days in the jungle after a plane crash in Colombia have been taken to a military hospital in Bogota and are in good health now, doctor of the hospital Carlos Arango said. 2023-06-11T07:42+0000 2023-06-11T07:42+0000 2023-06-11T07:51+0000 colombia cessna plane crash beyond politics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0b/1111056080_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c38548232c61d6ef012e9e8a45fd25dd.jpg On Friday, Colombian media reported the siblings, aged 13, 9, 4 and 1, who were passengers of the Cessna 206 plane that crashed in May, were found alive by soldiers and members of indigenous tribes. The Tiempo newspaper reported, citing military sources, the children were dehydrated and had suffered from insect bites. "After an initial check of girl Lesly and her three younger brothers, we found that they are in acceptable clinical condition, despite the situation experienced in the last 40 days," Arango was quoted as saying by Colombian news agency on Saturday. Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his wife visited the children in the hospital, according to the president's office. A Cessna 206 aircraft that was flying from Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare in the department of Caqueta in the south of the country reported an engine failure and sounded the alarm on May 1. It was discovered after more than 370 hours of searching. The pilot's body was on board, but the six passengers, four of them minors, were not in the cabin or in the vicinity of the plane. Tiempo reported that the two bodies found later belonged to co-pilot Herman Mendoza and passenger Magdalena Mukutui, mother of the four children. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221223/dramatic-footage-captures-moment-plane-crashed-on-santa-monica-beach-left-two-injured-1105715641.html colombia 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 plane crash, colombia, plane crash in colombia, children in jungle https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/cia-privately-attributed-nord-stream-attack-to-ukraine-while-us-blamed-russia---report-1111052666.html CIA Privately Attributed Nord Stream Attack to Ukraine While US Blamed Russia - Report CIA Privately Attributed Nord Stream Attack to Ukraine While US Blamed Russia - Report Western media is reporting that the CIA told its Belgian counterparts that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines last September. 2023-06-11T01:43+0000 2023-06-11T01:43+0000 2023-06-11T01:42+0000 nord stream sabotage cia belgium nord stream valery zaluzhny ukraine russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/1d/1101347558_0:63:1200:738_1920x0_80_0_0_92adc02f32428ca312139dddc359fd1c.jpg Western media is reporting that the CIA told its Belgian counterparts that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines last September.Shortly after the attack, our military intelligence agency ADIV received strictly confidential information that pointed to Ukraine's likely role in sabotage, a mainstream Belgian newspaper wrote Saturday.The publication said it learned from well-informed sources that our military intelligence service then 'got a visit' from the American intelligence service CIA.The story illustrates how Western intelligence agencies, including the Belgian ones, have been aware for months that Ukraine is believed to have a hand in one of the most brutal and dangerous attacks on European energy infrastructure itself, the outlet wrote.The newspaper wrote that the CIA was apparently unwilling to reveal where it obtained the information in question, citing the desire to protect their sources.The suggestion of Kievs involvement could have put the alliance with Ukraine under stress, according to the publication, which noted that Germany was dependent on Russian natural gas before Moscows special military operation and both the French Engie, the Dutch Gasunie and the German Wintershall together with the Russian Gazprom invested in Nord Stream 1.In public, the US continued to blame Moscow for the destruction of the Russo-German pipelines well after the CIA reportedly advised its colleagues at European intelligence agencies that Ukraine was actually responsible.US media reported this week that the US received detailed information about supposed Ukrainian plans to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines last June, several months before the sabotage was carried out.According to this theory, Ukrainian forces involved received orders from Valery Zaluzhny, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, a theory which conveniently leaves the Ukrainian president ignorant and able to continue to deny his involvement, the Belgian publication explained. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/poland-may-have-been-used-as-operating-base-for-nord-stream-sabotage---report-1111041736.html belgium ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wyatt Reed Wyatt Reed News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wyatt Reed cia, nord stream sabotage, ukraine, russia, belgium, ukrainian forces, general intelligence and security service https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/containment-of-russia-remains-unchanging-goal-for-us-uk-for-decades--kremlin-1111065044.html Containment of Russia Remains Unchanging Goal for US, UK for Decades Kremlin Containment of Russia Remains Unchanging Goal for US, UK for Decades Kremlin The United States and the United Kingdom have been pursuing a policy of containing Russia for a long time, and Moscow got used to living under such circumstances, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. 2023-06-11T13:50+0000 2023-06-11T13:50+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 world russian economy under sanctions russia-nato showdown rosatom ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107830/63/1078306392_0:0:1025:577_1920x0_80_0_0_7b43e1ea7982aa4ba89e772e9443e993.jpg On Thursday, the White House said that the US and the UK agreed a new economic partnership aimed, among other things, at driving Russia out of the global nuclear energy market. The head off Russias state nuclear corporation Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, said Russia can easily compete against the Western countries in nuclear energy. Commenting on the White House's announcement earlier, Likhachev told Sputnik that Russia's nuclear industry will advance in world markets regardless of what London and Washington have planned, as Rosatom has competitive offers in all fields of peaceful nuclear energy. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230513/us-splurges-1-bln-on-russian-uranium-despite-sanctions-war-1110330215.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230427/striving-for-akkuyu-browse-through-turkiyes-quest-for-nuclear-energy-1109875761.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian economy under sanctions, russia-nato showdown, russian economy, nuclear energy, russian nuclear, rosatom https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/could-trump-pardon-himself-if-he-wins-in-2024-1111064402.html Could Trump Pardon Himself If He Wins in 2024? Could Trump Pardon Himself If He Wins in 2024? Former President Donald Trump remains the GOP primary frontrunner - meaning he has a shot of winning the 2024 race. In that case, he may try to set historical precedent by using the Constitutional Pardon Clause to nullify his own federal charges. 2023-06-11T13:30+0000 2023-06-11T13:30+0000 2023-06-11T19:18+0000 americas donald trump richard nixon new york georgia washington dc republican gop us supreme court jonathan turley /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/18/1095019832_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_eb3d0699f6cc6c2d22c8771286edeef5.jpg Donald Trump has become the first former president in history to face a federal criminal indictment. Yet, he is also a Republican presidential candidate who tossed his hat into the ring last year.The former president's poll numbers look impressive enough to suggest that there is a chance he may hypothetically outperform both his Republican and Democratic rivals. If Trump manages to win the presidency in 2024, he would be authorized by the US Constitution to grant a pardon for any federal crime.Presently, the ex-president is facing a staggering 37 criminal charges for his alleged mishandling of classified documents. He has also been charged in a New York "hush money" case, while in Georgia, Trump is being probed for his apparent attempt to overturn the state's 2020 election results. Likewise, in Washington DC, a DoJ special counsel is pushing a probe into Trump's conduct around the US Capitol breach on January 6, 2021, to name but a few cases.Could Trump Pardon Himself From the Oval Office?Renowned criminal defense attorney Jonathan Turley believes that "yes, he can."Some other legal experts disagree, referring to the Justice Department Office of Legal Council's memo dated August 5, 1974, and issued just before then-President Richard Nixon resigned: "Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the President cannot pardon himself."In fact, nobody knows whether it is possible for a president to pardon himself, famous American lawyer Alan M. Dershowitz wrote in his July 2017 op-ed. Indeed, the US Constitution provides no guidance, the Framers never opined on that, and there has never been such a precedent in US history. "We will have to learn to live with the uncertainty of never knowing whether a president has the constitutional authority to pardon himself," the legal expert summed up at the time.Still, Trump entertained the idea of pardoning himself in the so-called "Russia collusion" case which turned out to be a big-nothing-burger while serving his first tenure. "I have an absolute right to pardon myself," then President Trump told the press in 2018, adding that he would not do that since he did nothing wrong.Weighing the pros and cons of Trump's ability to pardon himself, the US mainstream press cites the fact that, according to the US Constitution, only "federal" cases could be subject to a presidential pardon. That apparently means that the much-discussed Pardon Clause wouldn't cover the cases brought against Trump by US states.Another probability is that Trump's potential attempt to pardon himself would be eventually decided by the Supreme Court. As per the US mainstream media, the mostly-conservative SCOTUS could play into the hands of Trump in this case. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230609/trump-faces-38-criminal-counts-including-willful-retention-of-sensitive-info-indictment-1111033963.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230319/why-trumps-indictment--conviction-cant-axe-his-2024-bid-but-may-enhance-his-election-odds-1108562603.html americas new york georgia 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 trump federal charges, trump federal indictment, trump 2024 bid, can trump pardon himself, can trump use pardon clause as president, pardon clause, us constitution, us president's pardon powers, us 2024 presidential election https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/embassy-of-honduras-opens-in-china-after-establishment-of-diplomatic-relations---reports-1111057546.html Embassy of Honduras Opens in China After Establishment of Diplomatic Relations - Reports Embassy of Honduras Opens in China After Establishment of Diplomatic Relations - Reports The embassy of Honduras opened in Beijing on Sunday, almost three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries, the Chinese broadcaster has reported. 2023-06-11T08:28+0000 2023-06-11T08:28+0000 2023-06-19T12:47+0000 world china honduras one china policy taiwan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104051/41/1040514108_0:67:1280:787_1920x0_80_0_0_df17a8b1d206a1981f60aa6ca8f62192.jpg Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart, Enrique Reina, attended the opening ceremony. The opening of the embassy took place amid the visit of Honduran President Xiomara Castro to China, which started on June 9 and is scheduled to last through June 14. In late March, China and Honduras announced the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries. At the same time, the Honduran Foreign Ministry announced that it had severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, as there is only one China in the world and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government. Following this announcement, Taiwan's foreign ministry said that it was severing diplomatic relations with Honduras and closing its embassy in the Central American country. Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing considers the island a province of China, while Taiwan says it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards Chinese sovereignty over the island as indisputable. There are only 13 countries that have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The rest of the world maintains ties with the island through various economic and cultural organizations. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230602/keeping-taiwans-autonomous-status-quo-most-west-can-achieve--french-diplomat-1110855750.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/eu-should-not-support-independent-taiwan-says-swedish-political-heavyweight-1109456712.html china honduras taiwan 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, one china policy, honduras, beijing, taiwan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/hungarys-prime-minister-throws-support-for-trump-amid-indictment-1111054633.html Hungary's Prime Minister Throws Support for Trump Amid Indictment Hungary's Prime Minister Throws Support for Trump Amid Indictment Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly backed former US President Donald Trump, who faces 37 charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents, calling on him to "never give up." 2023-06-11T05:50+0000 2023-06-11T05:50+0000 2023-06-11T09:29+0000 world donald trump viktor orban hungary republican party donald trump's indictment biden classified files /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/12/1107582042_0:0:2772:1560_1920x0_80_0_0_858e34524413c0d911f176c4e8544d67.jpg "Your fight is a good fight Never give up!" Orban tweeted on Friday to his 164,600 followers, tagging Trumps Twitter handle. On Friday, an indictment was unsealed charging Trump and a personal aide with 38 total criminal counts, including for willful retention of national defense information and making false statements. Trump is set to appear at a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday for proceedings. Trump denies the accusations against him, claiming that his actions were permissible under the Presidential Records Act. The ex-president has also criticized prosecutors for not investigating current US President Joe Bidens alleged mishandling of classified documents with the same rigor. The indictment comes as Trump leads the pack of Republican Party presidential candidates for the 2024 election, prompting criticism of the case even among fellow primary contenders. In April, Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in connection with his alleged involvement in a $130,000 hush money payment and subsequent cover-up involving a purported affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, which prosecutors elevated from misdemeanors to felonies, alleging that the fraud was linked to violations of election and tax laws. Back then, Orban also threw his support behind Trump before the latter appeared in court in New York in the hush money case. The prime minister posted a photo with Trump taken in August 2022 at the former US president's estate in Bedminster, New Jersey, before Orban's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas at Trump's invitation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/what-are-the-charges-filed-against-trump-1111039113.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/trump-us-left-without-ammunition-due-to-military-assistance-to-ukraine-1111053430.html hungary Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hungarian prime minister, viktor orban, us president donald trump, indictment, charges Tolentino: Mindanao is key to nation's progress DAVAO CITY - Senator Francis 'TOL' N. Tolentino emphasized the vital role of the entire Mindanao region to the current and future economic progress of the country. "Ang Mindanao ay may napakalaking papel sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya at mahalagang bahagi ng pag-unlad sa iba't ibang sektor tulad ng agrikultura, pangingisda, imprastraktura at turismo," said Tolentino during his keynote address during the convention of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)--Mindanao chapter in Davao City on Saturday. Some 500 local chief executives were in attendance in their three-day gathering. Tolentino cited latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in which Mindanao's overall Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) has soared to 7.2 percent in 2022--with Davao Region leading the charge (8.15%), followed by Caraga Region (5.9 percent). The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was also given a special mention by Tolentino as the former conflict-torn region was able to register a 6.6 percent growth on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year. The senator from Cavite who is also a former president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) lauded and gave credit to all the Mindanao local chief executives for making the latest feat possible due to their overwhelming commitment in promoting stability and harmony as well as maintaining peace and order in the southern part of the country. "Ang pagpapabuti ng kalagayan ng kapayapaan at kaayusan sa Mindanao ay isa sa mga pangunahing salik na nagdulot ng pag-unlad sa rehiyon. Kahit na may mga hamon, naipamalas ng Mindanao ang katatagan nito na nagdulot ng mas maraming mga investor at turista sa lugar," said Tolentino. "Napapatunayan natin na mahalaga po ang pagbubuklod ng mga lokal na pamahalaan at pakikiisa ng national government sa pagharap sa mga hamon ng ating bayan. Sa tulong ng bawat isa, kayang-kaya nating malampasan ang anumang suliranin. Kung kaya't ating pagyamanin ang pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa upang tiyakin ang kaunlaran ng ating mga kababayan sa Mindanao," he added. During the 18th Congress, Tolentino sponsored major legislations--as former chair of the Senate Committees on Local Government and on Urban Planning, Housing, Development--that were later enacted into laws in helping boost the current economic status of Mindanao Region, particularly the creation of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) under Republic Act No. 11708 and Republic Act No. 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022. Mindanao has a wealth of natural resources, endowed with lush forests, metallic deposits of lead, zinc, ore, copper, magnetite and gold, and is also the country's food basket. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) projected on Saturday that the siphoning of the remaining oil from the sunken MT Princess Empress in the waters of Oriental Mindoro would be completed on or before June 19, earlier than the timeframe estimated by the National Task Force on Oil Spill Management. "Nakita ko kasi iyong mga video niya na i-aakyat na iyong mga langis. May hose na nakakabit at dinadala na doon sa mga tangke doon sa loob ng barko at unti-unti nang nasisipsip at hopefully, by June 19, ay tapos na iyong siphoning operations," PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo said. [Translation: I've seen the videos of the siphoning. There is an attached hose which siphons the oil to a tank inside the ship so it slowly collects the spill. Hopefully the operations will be completed by June 19.] Balilo added that the oil spill could no longer spread to the waters around the sunken vessel, as cleanup personnel made sure that any seepage was collected with a catch can. The Fire Opal, a Dynamic Support Vessel chartered from Singapore to siphon the remaining oil, began the final phase of the cleanup on May 29. The siphoning operations were expected to be done in 10 to 20 days. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said he wanted the oil spill cleanup done within four months. The MT Princess Empress was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial oil when it sank last Feb. 28 off Pola, Oriental Mindoro. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/japanese-defense-ministry-extends-order-to-destroy-north-korean-missiles-in-case-of-threat-1111056395.html Japanese Defense Ministry Extends Order to Destroy North Korean Missiles in Case of Threat Japanese Defense Ministry Extends Order to Destroy North Korean Missiles in Case of Threat The Japanese Defense Ministry announced on Sunday an indefinite extension of the order to destroy a North Korean missile if it poses a threat to the territory of the country. 2023-06-11T08:04+0000 2023-06-11T08:04+0000 2023-06-11T09:25+0000 asian version of nato japan north korea north korean nukes military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/1c/1093461036_0:21:400:246_1920x0_80_0_0_3fb171b7545e8c8d5fdf703982d6531d.jpg "Regarding the order on the introduction of measures to destroy ballistic missiles, issued on May 29, 2023, we will temporary extend it for the period after June 11, 2023," the ministry said in a statement. On May 31, local media reported that Pyongyang's National Aerospace Development Administration unsuccessfully launched the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite mounted on the Chollima-1 carrier rocket. After the separation of the first stage, the engine of the second stage failed to ignite, causing the rocket to lose thrust and fall into the Yellow Sea, the report said. Following the launch, Tokyo sent a protest to North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing, condemning Pyongyang's actions as a threat to the security of Japan. The International Maritime Organization, in turn, adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's missile launches as a serious threat to the safety of international shipping. On June 4, North Korea responded with a statement, in which it threatened to stop informing the organization about the country's future launches. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230414/north-korea-tests-first-ever-solid-fuel-hwasong-18-icbm-1109503831.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230601/north-korea-releases-photos-of-new-satellite-launchpad-1110830085.html japan 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 asian version of nato, japan, north korea, north korea missiles https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/russia-remains-major-trade-partner-to-austria-despite-unfriendly-policy-1111068014.html Russia Remains Major Trade Partner to Austria Despite Unfriendly Policy Russia Remains Major Trade Partner to Austria Despite Unfriendly Policy Russia continues to be one of Austria's most important trading partners, ranking sixth in terms of turnover, despite Vienna's unfriendly foreign policy, Russian Ambassador Dmitry Lyubinsky said on Sunday. 2023-06-11T17:13+0000 2023-06-11T17:13+0000 2023-06-11T17:13+0000 world dmitry lyubinsky russia austria bilateral relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0b/1111068122_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_69c7824d41909064e4f2ec59c360b997.jpg "Statistically, Russia continues to be one of Austria's most important trading partners and ranks sixth in terms of turnover," Lyubinsky told Austria's exxpress news outlet, adding that trade and economic cooperation between Moscow and Vienna, although slackened by the pressure of political sanctions, still exists and remains important. The ambassador noted that the "openly unfriendly course of the Austrian federal government erodes the constructive foundation of bilateral relations, which have been built over decades, and significantly limits the prospects for their meaningful normalization in the foreseeable future." Lyubinsky also said that there is no political dialogue between the two countries as they lack any common agenda. Commenting on the latest statement made by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg on contacts with the Russian government, Lyubinsky metaphorically said that "if you have a certain phone number stored in your cell phone, that doesn't mean that the phone will ring." In late May, Schallenberg told the German newspaper Welt that the West must continue communicating with Russia, adding that his country maintains contacts with Moscow. https://sputnikglobe.com/20201125/russia-and-austria-interests-instead-of-friendship---complex-relations-full-of-ambivalence-1081262407.html russia austria 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-austrian relations, russian ambassador, dmitry lyubinsky, russia, austria, bilateral relations https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/russia-returns-94-soldiers-from-ukrainian-captivity---defense-ministry-1111067698.html Russia Returns 94 Soldiers From Ukrainian Captivity - Defense Ministry Russia Returns 94 Soldiers From Ukrainian Captivity - Defense Ministry Russia has negotiated the release of 94 of its soldiers taken prisoner in Ukraine-controlled territories, who have already returned home, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2023-06-11T16:28+0000 2023-06-11T16:28+0000 2023-06-11T16:28+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine prisoner swap russian defense ministry /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0b/1111067431_0:177:3011:1871_1920x0_80_0_0_86452a748428f5f04177397ddc329cd5.jpg "On June 11 this year, as a result of negotiations, 94 Russian soldiers, who had been held captive in mortal danger, were returned from Kiev-controlled territory," the ministry said. The rescued soldiers would be taken to the defense ministry's medical institutions for treatment and rehabilitation, the statement read. All of them are being provided with medical and psychological assistance. russia ukraine 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 special military operation in ukraine, ukrainian crisis, conflict in ukraine, war in ukraine, russian soldiers, soldiers returned from cptivity https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/russia-seeing-no-foundation-for-peace-talks-with-ukraine-1111058959.html Russia Seeing No Foundation for Peace Talks With Ukraine Russia Seeing No Foundation for Peace Talks With Ukraine There are not conditions in place for Russia-Ukraine peace talks, with Moscow not seeing even "flimsy" grounds to build dialogue upon, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. 2023-06-11T10:33+0000 2023-06-11T10:33+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia-nato showdown nato enlargement dmitry peskov russia ukraine kremlin ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0b/1111061972_0:217:3253:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_a932e887bd1249d3f5206ca52fb73ea7.jpg "As a matter of fact, now there are no premises for agreements. Moreover, now there is no foundation, even a flimsy one, in order to build at least some kind of a dialogue," Peskov told a weekly show on Russian channel.Moscow believes that the lack of openness to negotiations on Kiev's part is a combination of three factors including its unwillingness, unpreparedness and not being allowed to by its Western sponsors, Peskov added.Zelensky stated in November 2022 that Kiev had its own peace plan consisting of 10 points. It includes the mutual exchange of detained persons under the "all for all" formula, as well as ensuring nuclear, food and energy security. Zelensky has also underscored that he insists on international security guarantees for Ukraine, saying that he has developed a draft for the relevant document. He added that he is going to obtain the establishment of an international mechanism providing compensation for the losses caused by military actions by drawing on Russian assets.The Kremlin had previously stated that there were no prerequisites for the transition of the situation in Ukraine to a peaceful one, and that Russia was achieving its goals through its military operation. Russia appreciates the efforts of all the countries that have been trying to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution, but so far this has been impossible.Russia has been conducting a military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230119/west-doesnt-want-peace-in-ukraine-rather-bleed-russia-white-us-author-says-1106491147.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia special military operation in ukraine, special op, ukrainian crisis, russia-nato showdown https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/russias-deputy-prime-minister-visited-kherson-region-minutes-before-attack-1111069582.html Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Visited Kherson Minutes Before Attack Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Visited Kherson Minutes Before Attack The Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed to Sputnik the visit of Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov to Kherson region and his stay at the area, which was hit by a missile attack by Ukrainian forces a few minutes after his departure. 2023-06-11T20:20+0000 2023-06-11T20:20+0000 2023-06-12T10:22+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine denis manturov dmitry peskov sergei shoigu kherson russia ukraine attack on novaya kakhovka dam /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0b/1111069422_0:0:3180:1788_1920x0_80_0_0_9962eb93aeb601af84a1e237ad89afa0.jpg "The deputy prime minister traveled to the Kherson region, where he discussed with the leadership of the region assistance to residents of the flooded territories and providing them with essential goods, including medicines and food," the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade said.When asked whether he was at the site that was hit by UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, the representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade answered in the affirmative, confirming the information that had previously appeared online. "We confirm," the ministry said.After it became known about Manturov's stay in the Kherson region, the Ukrainian public broke out with threats to "get" the deputy PM on his next visit. On the night of June 6, Ukrainian troops launched a series of attacks on the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power plant (HPP), as a result of which the upper part of the station was destroyed, the reservoir dam itself was not damaged. There is an unregulated discharge of water.The head of the administration of Novaya Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontiev, laid responsibility for the destruction of the hydroelectric power station on Kiev regime forces. One of the goals of the bombing of the Kakhovka HPP is to deprive Crimea of water, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that the Kiev regime blew up the Kakhovka HPP in order to transfer troops to the area of its offensive operations from the Kherson direction, weakening its positions there.According to the minister, Kiev committed a terrorist act that led to the flooding of large areas. The Kakhovka HPP is the sixth (lower and last) stage of the cascade of the Dnepr hydroelectric power plants, located five kilometers from the city of Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson region, which became part of Russia on September 30, 2022, following a referendum. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/ukraine-strikes-flood-refugees-in-kherson-region-killing-one-1111042610.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/fact-check-who-attacked-novaya-kakhovka-dam-1110946820.html kherson russia ukraine 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 special minitary operation in ukraine, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, kakhovka hpp, kherson region, denis manturov https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/taipei-claims-24-chinese-military-jets-detected-near-taiwan-strait-on-sunday-1111066299.html Taipei Claims 24 Chinese Military Jets Detected Near Taiwan Strait on Sunday Taipei Claims 24 Chinese Military Jets Detected Near Taiwan Strait on Sunday The Taiwanese armed forces detected 24 Chinese military jets and four vessels in the vicinity of the island on Sunday, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said. 2023-06-11T14:53+0000 2023-06-11T14:53+0000 2023-06-19T12:47+0000 military taipei china tsai ing-wen taiwan strait people's liberation army (pla) navy chinese people's liberation army (pla) taiwan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/14/1083422750_0:36:1920:1116_1920x0_80_0_0_039656edfbb5479c1494074f166e5ae1.jpg "As of 1400 (UTC+8) [06:00 GMT] today (Jun. 11), R.O.C. Armed Forces have detected 24 PLA aircraft (including J-10, J-11, SU-30, H-6, and AWACS), 10 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and 4 PLAN vessels conducted joint combat patrol," the ministry tweeted. In response, Taiwan deployed combat air patrol aircraft, ships, and land-based missile systems, according to the statement. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing regards the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous entity but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards Chinese sovereignty over the island as indisputable. The latest escalation around Taiwan took place in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Beijing responded by launching massive three-day military drills near the island in what it called a "warning" to Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230608/us-japan--taiwan-to-integrate-real-time-drone-data-amid-china-threat-narrative-tensions--1110996995.html taipei china taiwan strait taiwan 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 taiwan, taiwan strait, taipei, china, people's liberation army (pla), chinese vessels, chinese aircrft, tensions over taiwan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/trump-indictment-fbi-veteran-raises-red-flags-over-abnormal-mar-a-lago-raid-1111061994.html Trump Indictment: FBI Veteran Raises Red Flags Over 'Abnormal' Mar-a-Lago Raid Trump Indictment: FBI Veteran Raises Red Flags Over 'Abnormal' Mar-a-Lago Raid A senior FBI official charged with executing the raid on former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago has raised the red flag about "abnormalities" and apparent violations in the Justice Departments handling of Trump's case. 2023-06-11T11:53+0000 2023-06-11T11:53+0000 2023-06-11T16:55+0000 americas donald trump joe biden washington department of justice fbi republican jim jordan mar-a-lago doj /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/0c/1099517731_0:208:2000:1333_1920x0_80_0_0_4fdd122d7d1009f066f41ff7dc92dcca.jpg Former Assistant Director of the FBIs Washington Field Office (WFO) Steven DAntuono has reached out to the US Congress citing concerns and frustration with the manner President Joe Biden's Department of Justice arranged the August 2022 raid of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan unveiled the damning testimony earlier this week and sent a letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers.First, DAntuono, who had two decades of FBI experience, drew attention to the fact that the bureau's headquarters made the decision to assign the execution of the search warrant in Trump's Miami residence to the Washington Field Office. As per DAntuono, it looked strange given that the search occurred in the territory of the Miami Field Office, which should have been assigned with the task under the bureau's rules.Second, the DoJ failed to assign a US Attorney's Office to the investigative matter of that magnitude which was "unusual" as per the FBI veteran. This triggered D'Antuono's deep concerns as it was "out of the ordinary." He noted that he "never got a good answer" from DoJ with regard to this decision.Third, the FBI did not first seek content to effectuate the search. DAntuono recalled that at the meeting between FBI and DoJ officials, the Department of Justice pushed the bureau to execute the search warrant as quickly as possible. Referring to his experience, the FBI veteran underscored that the agency should have sought consent to search the premises prior to the raid. DAntuono suggested that either AG Garland or FBI Director Christopher Wray made the decision to seek a search warrant despite "opposition" from the agents working on the case in the WFO. DAntuono pointed out that "there was a good likelihood that [Trump's legal team] could have given consent."Fourth, the FBI refused to wait for Trump's attorney to be present before the raid, as per DAntuono. The bureau veteran claimed that the FBI sought to exclude Trump's lawyers from the search, which again sounded an alarm for the senior officer.The FBI veteran's testimony has prompted US Republican lawmakers to make a repeated request for bureau documents and information concerning the raid. In his latest letter to AG Garland, Jordan pointed out that a previous request regarding the matter was rejected by the Department of Justice.The alleged expose of DoJ misconduct during the August raid comes after the department indicted Republican presidential candidate Trump earlier this week, charging him with 37 counts including the mishandling of classified materials. The charges further include obstruction of justice, destruction or falsification of records, conspiracy and false statements, as well as one charge under the Espionage Act.The latest row between House Republicans and the DoJ erupted amid the congressional investigation into the apparent "preferential treatment" of Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, who has been probed for tax crimes since at least 2018. The House GOP is also presently looking into an uncorroborated report about Joe Biden receiving a $5 million bribe, which has recently been provided by the FBI to lawmakers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/from-department-of-injustice-to-wwiii-key-takeaways-of-trumps-post-indictment-speech-1111056855.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/gop-must-respond-to-trump-indictment-by-prosecuting-hunter-joe-biden---lawmaker-1111038804.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230510/bidens-associates-receive-over-10mln-from-foreign-nationals-firms-1110242317.html americas washington mar-a-lago 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 fbi raid of mar-a-lago, doj double standards, fbi veteran testimony, donald trump indictment, donald trump classified documents, joe biden handling classified docs, hillary clinton classified documents, hillary clinton emailgate, fbi search warrant https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/trump-us-left-without-ammunition-due-to-military-assistance-to-ukraine-1111053430.html Trump: US Left Without Ammunition Due to Military Assistance to Ukraine Trump: US Left Without Ammunition Due to Military Assistance to Ukraine Former US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that military assistance to Ukraine had led to the depletion of US ammunition stocks. 2023-06-11T02:02+0000 2023-06-11T02:02+0000 2023-06-11T02:01+0000 world donald trump ukraine georgia republicans russia ammunition ukraine crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093482779_0:0:3277:1844_1920x0_80_0_0_b611052748eef8398e4f9e09cea112d4.jpg "Right now, we dont have any ammunition. Ukraine has the ammunition, all of it just about," Trump said, speaking to Republicans in the state of Georgia. Trump noted that the United States during his presidency "had so much ammunition" and now "we have very little ammunition to protect ourselves." The former president also promised to achieve peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours if he is reelected to the presidency next year. Trump added that he is "the only candidate who can make this promise," claiming he would prevent World War III. On Friday, the US Defense Department said that Washington would provide a $2.1 billion military aid package to Ukraine, which included munitions for air defense systems, as well as missiles and laser-guided rocket system munitions, among other things. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230531/us-to-send-300-million-in-munitions-to-ukraine-with-new-aid-package-1110825316.html ukraine georgia russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International donald trump, military assistance, ukraine, us ammunition stocks https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/ukraines-accession-to-nato-to-be-decided-after-conflict-ends---italian-foreign-minister-1111057912.html Ukraine's Accession to NATO to be Decided After Conflict Ends - Italian Foreign Minister Ukraine's Accession to NATO to be Decided After Conflict Ends - Italian Foreign Minister The issue of Ukraine's accession to NATO will be decided after the armed conflict is over, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said on Sunday. 2023-06-11T09:44+0000 2023-06-11T09:44+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 military nato expansion russia-nato showdown ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102382/41/1023824101_0:393:5498:3486_1920x0_80_0_0_714672b2211e356655674ddc10a10a0a.jpg He noted that this visit would be an occasion to reaffirm the bonds of transatlantic solidarity with the US and the common vision regarding the Ukrainian crisis. Italy hopes that Ukrainian counteroffensive would be a step towards peace, Tajani said. The foreign minister also noted that Italy promoted Ukraine's accession to the EU. Previously, Zelensky office stated that twenty NATO member countries have supported Ukraine's membership in the bloc.Western countries have been supplying Kiev with various 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 in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against further arms deliveries to Kiev, saying they would be regarded as a legitimate military target. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230604/west-keeps-leveling-up-capacities-of-weapons-supplied-to-ukraine---kremlin-1110903462.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/orban-relations-with-sweden-awfully-wrong-preclude-it-from-joining-nato-1110551691.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-nato showdown, nato expansion, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/ukraines-counteroffensive-wont-bring-any-good-to-kiev-us-or-nato---seymour-hersh-1111069747.html Ukraine's Counteroffensive Won't Bring Any Good to Kiev, US or NATO - Seymour Hersh Ukraine's Counteroffensive Won't Bring Any Good to Kiev, US or NATO - Seymour Hersh Famed journalist Seymour Hersh said on Sunday that the much hyped Ukrainian counteroffensive will not bring good news to those pushing it. 2023-06-11T20:37+0000 2023-06-11T20:37+0000 2023-06-11T20:37+0000 seymour hersh joe biden nato ukraine russia kiev counter-offensive /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/1c/1108850036_0:145:2430:1512_1920x0_80_0_0_15c77dce9f14e706000771a86cbfc1a7.jpg "This [counteroffensive] isn't going to be good for Ukraine, it's not going to be good for NATO, it's certainly not going to be good for the Biden administration," Hersh said in an interview with talk show host George Galloway. When asked if there is a possibility that NATO is about to join the conflict in Ukraine, the journalist said that the bloc is "probably already in it." "I mean, in terms of training and advising, you know, there's so many disparate groups now in the Ukrainian army It's as if you had 15 different dance teams that had been practicing together or separately for a long time." Hersh said.Ukraine has touted its coming offensive since late 2022. It was first scheduled for the spring, then rescheduled to the summer. The Ukrainian government said the postponement was due to a shortage of weapons, all while pushing its Western donors to supply progressively heavier arms, including tanks, drones and fighter jets. On June 4, the Ukrainian armed forces launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the South Donetsk direction and failed to achieve their goals, the Russian Defense Ministry said. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that the Ukrainian offensive in the special military operation zone had started as Kiev was using its strategic reserves. ukraine russia 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 seymour hersh, ukrainian counteroffensive, ukraine, russia, nato Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) Power plants near the restive Mayon Volcano have not been affected so far, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). The two closest power facilities near the volcano are the Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant in Albay and the Bacon-Manito Geothermal Power Plant in Sorsogon. "In any eventualities po na magkaroon ng disruption sa linya at mag-trip po yung ating mga planta, mayroon hong black start capability ang Bacon-Manito Geothermal facilities, said Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan. [Translation: In the event of a disruption with the lines or if the power plants trip, the Bacon-Manito Geothermal facilities have a black start capability.] The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is also monitoring 285 structures such as towers and posts within the 15-kilometer radius of Mayon Volcano. Should there be any power interruption, the DOE assured the public that restoring the electricity of vital establishments like hospitals will be prioritized. Mayon Volcano has been under Alert Level 3 since June 8. This means a hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/watch-russian-airmen-descend-from-the-skies-1111062624.html Watch Russian Airmen Descend From the Skies Watch Russian Airmen Descend From the Skies Airborne forces are known in Russia as desant and traditionally wear a blue beret inspiring awe in Russian allies. 2023-06-11T12:32+0000 2023-06-11T12:32+0000 2023-06-11T12:32+0000 military russia russias airborne forces (vdv) il-76 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0b/1111062763_0:0:935:526_1920x0_80_0_0_afbcf895e8419635fd85716a9945b007.png Russia's Ministry of Defense has published footage that shows roughly 200 airmen of the Ivanovo Guards Airborne Unit landing in the Kostroma region. For 150 troops, this landing was their inaugural parachute jump from the heavy military transport aircraft the Il-76MD. After successful landing, the personnel assembled and worked out tactical tasks to capture the objects of a mock enemy. The Il-76MD is a multi-purpose strategic airlifter created by Ilyushin Design Bureau. It can also be used for civil purposes for instance, to deliver heavy cargo to remote areas, including machinery. The plane is also widely used to fight wildfires. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 More than 200 servicemen of the Ivanovo Guards Airborne unit landed in the Kostroma region More than 200 servicemen of the Ivanovo Guards Airborne unit landed in the Kostroma region 2023-06-11T12:32+0000 true PT0M35S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, russian airborne forces, russian airborne troops, russian military https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/water-has-completely-left-territory-of-novaya-kakhovka---russian-official--1111054134.html Water Has Completely Left Territory of Novaya Kakhovka - Russian Official Water Has Completely Left Territory of Novaya Kakhovka - Russian Official MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The water has almost completely left the territory of the city of Novaya Kakhovka, which was flooded after the partial destruction of the... 11.06.2023, Sputnik International 2023-06-11T03:13+0000 2023-06-11T03:13+0000 2023-06-11T03:13+0000 russia attack on novaya kakhovka dam ukraine crisis kherson russia water levels /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/07/1110988576_0:137:3155:1912_1920x0_80_0_0_f5ba70e99a6ca0cbba2486a2c0979ff8.jpg "The entire city has been freed from water. We have begun pumping out water that is still in the basements. Energy supply has been launched," Leontiev told Russian media. Leontiev added that regular life activity in the district would be restored within a week, but even then there would be a lot of work to restore the region since it had suffered "enormous damage." Later in the day, acting Kherson Governor Vladimir Saldo said that the number of people hospitalized from the flooded territories of the Kherson region had reached 77. He noted that about 7,000 people were evacuated, including 323 children. Of the total number of evacuees, about 1,500 people are in temporary accommodation centers, Saldo added. The upper part of the Kakhovka power plant on the Dnepr River was damaged overnight from Monday to Tuesday. It was not destroyed completely but its crumbling caused an uncontrollable outflow of water to towns downstream. Moscow and Kiev have blamed each other for the dam's destruction. Authorities in some of the affected areas evacuated the population. The Novaya Kakhovka dam is the sixth and last stage of the cascade of Dnepr hydroelectric power plants located 5 kilometers from the city of Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson Region, which became part of Russia through a referendum in September 2022. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/dnepr-river-to-return-to-normal-level-below-kakhovka-dam-by-june-16--regional-official-1111051329.html kherson russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International attack on novaya kakhovka dam, ukraine crisis, kherson, russia, water levels Many storylines were in play leading to the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie on Saturday (June 10). The most significant storyline of the week happened to be Lauren Tritton, as she would try to become not only the first female to participate in Northfield's storied event, but the first to win it. Tritton proved naysayers of her talent wrong with a heart-stopping performance, scoring an impressive win with Lochinvar Art A. The race was immediately turned on its head, with Backstreet Shadow making a break before the start. As the gate opened, Ruthless Hanover left alertly down the center of the racetrack with Leonidas A and Little Rocket Man trying to defend inside position. Still, as they entered the first turn, Ruthless Hanover got rough momentarily, made a break, and was taken out of contention. With the race's complexion changing, Leonidas A inherited the lead with This Is The Plan, avoiding trouble in second. Getting to the quarter in :26.4, Leonidas A tried to get a breather, but Little Rocket Man immediately began to apply pressure after tipping from third, bringing Lochinvar Art A with him. "I didn't necessarily want to be parked out from the quarter but knew I had to get off the pylons," said an ecstatic Tritton following the race. Getting to the half in :54.2, Leonidas A was up by three-quarters of a length, with Little Rocket Man continuing to grind first over. The field was double-tiered, with four in and four out heading into the clubhouse turn for the final time. Not much changed into the backstretch, and heading to three-quarters, Tritton tipped Lochinvar Art A three deep as Little Rocket Man began to back through the field. At three-quarters in 1:21.4, Leonidas A braced for the challenge of Lochinvar Art but was overtaken at the head of the lane. Lochinvar Art A got to the lead and, through the stretch, drew off to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50. Charlie May closed strongly to be second, while Leonidas A tired and finished third. "It was all him tonight, he was getting tired on the corner a little bit and he just kicked into another gear," said Tritton. "He's a champion." Husband Shane echoed her sentiments, "The horse is so great; we have been waiting for this moment since being in the country." Shane Tritton credited his wife's drive for the victory, saying, "I'm so proud of her; I wouldn't be here without her." Owned by Team Tritton Inc., Lochinvar Art A set a lifetime mark with the win and pushed his career earnings to $1,285,493. Backstreet Shadow pulled up shortly after the start. Speaking with trainer Travis Alexander following the race, he said, "We're unsure of what happened, but he is okay." The full card from Saturday at Northfield is available below, followed by recaps of the undercard events. Clicking 'play' will start the stream just before the Battle of Lake Erie final. Violets Rainbow Stands Ground In $50,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff While driver Matt Kakaley didnt have much luck in the Battle of Lake Erie with Backstreet Shadow, he rebounded with Violets Rainbow in the $50,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday. Kakaley, who had to work hard to get to the lead, wasted no time putting Violets Rainbow into play early, tackling McMarkle Sparkle, who defended pylon position early, into the backstretch. Getting to the half in :55.2, Ocean Music began to apply pressure into the clubhouse turn for the final time. Into the backstretch, Violets Rainbow kept foes at bay, leading by a length to three-quarters in 1:23. As the field turned into the stretch, Kakaley kicked clear, putting away rivals to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51. McMarkle Sparkle tried to rally but finished second, with Love Me Hill closing to be third. Owned by Ian Fromowitz of Canada, Violets Rainbow, a daughter of Art Official, pushed her career earnings to $308,304, scoring her 18th victory in her career. Jared Bako trains the winner. Jet Hill Sets World Record In Ohio Sires Stakes Action Jet Hill smashed the world record for three-year-old gelded trotters on a half-mile track on Saturday night at MGM Northfield Park in Ohio Sires Stakes action. Jet Hill blistered the flying turns in 1:52.2, breaking the old record of 1:53.1 set by Yes at Northfield Park in 2019. Jet Hill with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. blasted off the gate covering the first quarter in :27.2 on the way to a gate-to-wire victory in the $55,000 second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes. It was the fourth win in as many starts for the son of What The Hill. Trained by Edward Miller and owned by Serenity Racing Stable, Jet Hill pushed his earnings this year to $88,000. John Dutton was second with Grand Revival third. In the first division, Jogging Full Trot and Tony Hall fired down the lighting lane and reeled in favourite John Dutton to win by a length in 1:54.3. Jogging Full Trot is trained by Miles Wollam and owned by Julie Ann and Dale Sweet, and Martin Wollam. The win was the third in five starts for the son of Full Count who raised his earnings this year to $56,200. Rumble Strips finished second with Chapter Twelve third. Ohio Harness Horsemens Association Charity Night A Huge Success Keys to Serenity left MGM Northfield Park on Saturday night with big smiles and a cheque for $10,000 as the winner at the Ohio Harness Horsemens Associations third charity night of the year. Nine Cleveland area charities benefited from the generosity of the Ohio horsemen. The charities participating in the event were each paired with a horse in the fourth race. Each charity received a donation from the association for participating, with the top three finishers receiving larger donations. First place received $10,000, second place received $5,000 and third place received $3,000. All other finishers received $2,000 donations. Keys to Serenity cheered home the Kelly O'Donnell trainee Fear The Britches with Chris Lems to claim victory. Fear The Britches, the 3-5 favourite, grabbed the lead heading the half and hung on down the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3. Keys to Serenity provides totally free programs and events for children impacted by addiction in their lives to give them a day of love and connection and provide a sense of connection so they know they are not alone. JMs Determination with Aaron Merriman finished second for Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities and earned the charity $5,000, while Madam Mercury with Ryan Stahl finished third for the Spur for the Cure, which received $3,000. The other charities represented were the A Kid Again Northern Ohio, By Dawns Early Light, The Emergency Assistance Center, Forever Friends Foundation, Love Doesnt Shove, and Working Animals Giving Service for Kids. A total of $30,000 was donated to the charities by the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association. Live harness racing resumes on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. (EDT). (with files from Northfield Park and OHHA) Torrid fractions poised Nautical Hanover for a final-quarter assault that proved successful in the final strides of a 1:48.2 mile to take the $54,000 Free For All Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night (June 10). Billy Clyde floated for the lead through a :26.2 first quarter but struggled to take control from a stubborn Allywag Hanover through a :53.3 half. Allywag Hanover eventually relinquished control, leaving Billy Clyde to coast on the helm to three-quarters in 1:21 as challengers began a march along the rim. Nautical Hanover powered from seventh with Linedrive Hanover in tow to take aim at Billy Clyde in the straight. But Nautical Hanover needed every inch of the long stretch to stick his neck in front of Billy Clyde at the beam. Linedrive Hanover settled for third and 6-5 favourite Allywag Hanover took fourth. Ben Baillargeon conditions Nautical Hanover, a four-year-old stallion by Captaintreacherous, for owner Richard Berthiaume. He won his 12th race from 45 starts and has now earned $411,917. Nautical Hanover paid $30.90 to win. To view Saturdays harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. Last Thursday was the final day of the Unicameral Legislatures 2023 Legislative Session. The final days of the session were hardly void of drama, overrides, and surprises. For example, State Senators voted to override the Governors veto to fund the State Auditors staff, voted to reconsider the appointment of the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems director, and voted not to confirm a commissioner to the State Racing and Gaming Commission. In addition, three important bills were passed during the final two days of the session, so today I would like to tell you about these three bills. The first bill was a repeal of the motorcycle helmet law. The repeal of the helmet law was amended into LB 138 and passed on May 31, the day before the Legislative Session ended sine die on June 1. Although this bill is considered controversial, I have received a lot positive comments about passing this piece of legislation. Sen. Mike McDonell of Omaha summed it up best when he advocated for this bill on the floor of the Legislature. Sen. McDonnell said: Let those who ride, decide. The next l bill was LB 50, a bill which was passed on the last day of the Session. LB 50 loosens sentences for convicted felons held in Nebraskas prison system. So long as an inmates rap sheet does not include convictions for any kind for sexual assault, bodily injury, or death, his or her sentence may be reduced by the Good Time law minus an additional twenty percent. The bill was considered controversial not only because it reduces the sentences of convicted felons, but because the bill advanced out of the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 4-2 and that vote was taken after Sen. Susan Geist of Lincoln, a member of the Judiciary Committee, had resigned in order to run for mayor, and her replacement had not yet been named. I voted against LB 50 because I believe it undermines the purpose of our States penal system. The primary purposes of the penal system are to take dangerous criminals off the streets and to punish lawbreakers for the crimes they have committed. Automatically reducing the sentences of convicted felons undermines these two most basic purposes of our penal system and sends a wrong message to jurors and judges that the work they do in establishing sentences is somehow wrong. Moreover, states, such as Colorado, which have passed similar kinds of legislation, have seen spikes in their crime rate. The last bill was LB 514, a bill for voting with photo Identification. In 2022 the citizens of Nebraska voted successfully to pass Initiative 432. That ballot initiative amended the Nebraska State Constitution, requiring qualified voters to show their photo Identification before casting a ballot at any election and directed the Legislature to prescribe the manner for doing so. In January I submitted a bill for rolling out Initiative 432, namely LB 230. This bill was intended to enact the will of the citizens who voted for Initiative 432. Unfortunately, the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee chose not to advance that bill out of committee; instead, they advanced LB 514. The Legislature passed that bill on the last day of the session and sent it to the Governor to be signed into law. When the people voted for Initiative 432, they expected State Senators to draft the kind of legislation that would reflect the will of the people and require registered voters to show a photo ID when they vote at the polls. Therefore, State Senators will analyze this bill over the interim, especially after they receive a formal opinion back on the bill from the State Attorney General. That opinion will be very helpful and instructive for directing State Senators on how to amend the bill during next years Legislative Session. Several local and regional musicians recently traveled to Mount Airy, North Carolina, for what many consider the start of festival season: the Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention. Spectators watched hundreds of performers compete for the different categories in the 51st annual event June 2-3, with categories in Bluegrass and Old Time fiddle, banjo, guitar and more. Multiple young musicians who are a part of the Floyd Country Store and Handmade Music School community and the Floyd JAM program placed in several categories and took home ribbons. Wren Hello placed second in Youth Old Time Banjo, and his little brother Pelle Hello placed second in the Youth Dance Category. Margo MacSweeny placed third in Youth Old Time Banjo and third in the Youth Dance Competition, while her little brother Misha MacSweeny placed fourth in the Youth Dance Competition. William Moeckel placed fourth in Youth Old Time Banjo, and his sister Ola Moeckel placed first in Old Time Fiddle. Every single youth who participated from Floyd placed in at least one category. Dale Morris, the emcee for the day, commented on how good of a job the Handmade Music School was doing as he announced the winners from the stage which included so many of Floyds young musicians. We have an amazing ecosystem here in Floyd, said Floyd Country Store co-owner Heather Krantz. With the Floyd JAM program giving so many young people an entryway into learning about the music and dancing here and then the Floyd Country Store giving them an intergenerational music community to be a part of and performance opportunities and the Handmade Music School giving them more opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills, the result is a bustling, thriving music community. Its so exciting to get to watch all these youngsters from our community continuing to improve and then go to a fiddlers convention and all come back with ribbons, Krantz said. They were all so happy to hear when their names were called to come to the stage. They are so important to the future of this music and our musical community. Its an honor to know them. Many of these young musicians have been taught by Mac Traynham, an old time musician and banjo builder from Willis. Mac has been a teacher with the Handmade Music School and the Floyd JAM program for several years and is considered the musical pied piper around here, Krantz said. Hes a big reason we have so many young people excited about and playing this music. The adults from the area also did quite well. The first place win in the Old Time Band category was The Get Down Boys with lead fiddler Raistlin Brabson from Callaway, who performs bi-weekly at the Store and at the Friday Night Jamboree. He also took home fifth place in Old Time Fiddle. Corbin Hayslett from Floyd and manager of County Sales was a part of the winning band, as well as Jackson Cunningham, a popular musician and guitar builder from Grayson County. Another notable player who frequents the store and leads the Sunday jam once a month is Jared Boyd of Galax, who took home a blue ribbon on the Old Time Banjo. Andrew Small and Ashlee Watkins from Floyd, along with their band The Alum Ridge Boys and Ashlee, took home first place in the Bluegrass Band Competition. Their band will be playing the Friday Night Jamboree on June 16. Andrew also placed second in both Old Time Fiddle and Adult Folk Song. Other winning members of their band included Billy Hurt, who placed first in Old Time Fiddle, Trevor Holder, who placed first in Bluegrass Banjo, and Conner Vlietstra, who placed third on Old Time Fiddle. Another Floyd regular, Allen Surface took home first place on the Dobro. Learn more about the Mount Airy Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention online at www.surryarts.org/mafiddlersconvention. Stay up to date with happenings at The Floyd Country Store at www.floydcountrystore.com. Donald Trumps attacks on the justice system after his indictment on federal charges are the latest step in a now eight-year campaign by the former president and his allies against the traditions and institutions that have helped maintain American democracy. This marks Mekdad's third visit to Saudi Arabia within a span of three months, al-Watan notes. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Faisal Mekdad, arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, upon the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The purpose of his visit is to participate in the second meeting between Arab League foreign ministers and their counterparts from the small Pacific islands. Mekdads visit is scheduled for two days, with the meeting taking place on Sunday and Monday in Riyadh. This marks Mekdads third visit to Saudi Arabia within a span of three months. His first visit took place in April when he accompanied President Bashar al-Assad to Jeddah for the Arab summit. Mekdad to Visit Riyadh on Saturday During his stay, Mekdad will meet with his Saudi counterpart to discuss various matters of mutual interest between the two countries. These discussions will take place alongside the ministerial meeting between Arab and Pacific island nations. This meeting serves as the second of its kind between the two sides. On Saturday, Minister Faisal Mekdad and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, emphasized the significance of implementing the agreements signed during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisis visit to Syria. They discussed these matters during a phone call, where they also exchanged views on the latest developments in bilateral relations, as well as positive advancements in the Arab and regional arenas. The call focused on several issues of common interest and stressed the importance of prioritizing the implementation of the agreements discussed and signed during President Raisis visit to Syria on the 3rd of the previous month. It further highlighted the deep-rooted relationship between the two friendly countries. 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. Tlass wants to initiate a national liberation movement that requires the involvement of all Syrian national forces, according to al-Quds al-Araby. Manaf Tlass, a former member of the Syrian regime forces who defected, proposed a transitional phase in Syria that involves the collection of weapons and the preservation of civil peace in order to achieve a political solution. This statement was made during an interview with the newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi on Saturday, where Tlass also discussed the establishment of a functioning mechanism for the military council, in accordance with international capabilities. Our objective is not to reinstate military rule or strive towards it. Instead, we will operate in line with our expertise and adhere to the legal roles observed in all civilized nations, he stated. He further elaborated that his proposal includes the collection and containment of unregulated weapons, ensuring civil peace, safeguarding stability during the transitional period, and contributing to the establishment of a secure environment for the recovery phase, with the ultimate goal of achieving a credible political solution and political process in accordance with UN resolutions. They are currently prioritizing the reorganization of the military councils operations, allowing the Syrian national forces to play a more substantial role in supporting the project, he added. Additionally, he expressed his intention to initiate a national liberation movement that requires the involvement of all Syrian national forces, both military and civilian. Tlass does not possess any declared military or political influence on the ground, although media reports mention the presence of officers who align with his ideology in the northern regions of Syria, which are under the control of opposition factions. The emergence of this dissident Brigadier General occurs at a time when the focus is on the outcome of a political resolution pertaining to Syria, especially since Arab countries have gradually restored their relations with the Assad regime through a step for step approach. 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. During a telephonic conversation between Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, they discussed recent progress in their countries relationship and addressed regional matters. Simultaneously, the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria caught diplomats off guard by announcing their intention to initiate trials for numerous suspected foreign Islamic State fighters who have been under their custody for an extended period, raising concerns about the proper legal procedures. Additionally, a Turkish-backed armed opposition group apprehended seven Syrian individuals, including a woman, in a city located north of Hassakeh Governorate in northeastern Syria. These arrests occurred shortly after the individuals had been deported from Turkey. One civilian killed, others injured by U.S. forces, Hassakeh Countryside One civilian was martyred and others were injured by fire from the U.S. occupation forces as they carried out an airdrop in Hassakeh countryside on Sunday, SANA reports . Local sources told SANA that the U.S. occupation warplanes carried out a massive airdrop operation on Sunday at Dawn in Hassakeh southern countryside, with the support of the militants of the U.S.-backed SDF militia. The airdrop was carried out in the village of Salham, southeast of al-Shadadi, in the southern countryside of Hassakeh, along the Syrian-Iraqi border, and it was accompanied by heavy and indiscriminate shooting at the locals homes and lands. The sources added that the U.S. occupation forces and the SDF militants cordoned off the village, and opened fire on the people who tried to leave the village, fearing for their lives, which led to the martyrdom of a civilian and the injury of others. Iran, Syria highlight their determination to implement deals reached during presidents visit Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers on Saturday highlighted the two countries determination to implement the agreements reached during a recent visit by the Iranian president to Syria. In a phone call between Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, they also exchanged views on the latest developments in bilateral ties and regional issues, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministrys website. The Syrian foreign minister reported his countrys recent successes in ties with other Arab states, as well as the presence of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Arab League Summit held in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah in May after 12 years of absence. Amir-Abdollahian described the Syrian successes as positive and constructive. Leading a group of top ministers, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Syria on May 3th, marking the first visit by an Iranian president since the beginning of the Syrian war in 2011. During his trip, Raisi and al-Assad signed a number of memorandums of understanding for long-term and comprehensive cooperation in various fields including oil, communications, civil aviation, railways, and agriculture, among others. Hope for Syrian cancer patients as cross-border treatment resumes in Turkey Cross-border treatment for cancer patients from north-west Syria resumed this week after Februarys earthquake had left people without access to radiotherapy, The Guardian reported. But medical organizations in the area are warning that the backlog means many cancer patients remain in limbo and some could die as a result. Cross-border treatment for cancer patients from north-west Syria has resumed after an earthquake in February left people without access to radiotherapy. The resumption of cross-border referrals to Turkish hospitals via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing is expected to save lives. However, a backlog of cases means that many cancer patients remain in limbo, and some may die as a result. North-west Syria, which is outside the control of the Syrian government and lacks state services, has around 4,300 cancer patients. The region already faced challenges in providing cancer care, with a shortage of oncologists and limited access to advanced treatment. The conflict, poverty, and a crippled healthcare system have further complicated the situation. The shortage of drugs has led to scams with fake medications being sold, exacerbating the desperation of patients. The resumption of cross-border treatment is a hopeful development, but more support is needed to address the backlog and provide accessible and affordable healthcare in north-west Syria. Turkey Calls on Intl Community to Contribute to Voluntary Return of Syrian Refugees Turkey has called on the international community to cooperate in achieving the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees on its territory, Asharq al-Awsat reported. At the same time, it confirmed that it would continue its operations targeting terrorist organizations at home and across borders. The countrys National Security Council emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the issue of refugees, saying that it would contribute to achieving their voluntary, safe and dignified return to their homeland. This came in a statement issued on Thursday evening, at the end of the first meeting of the newly-established council, after the recent presidential and parliamentary elections. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had confirmed, after the first meeting of his new government on Tuesday, that Turkey would return the Syrian refugees to their country in a safe, voluntary and honourable manner, saying: We will encourage our brothers, who sought refuge in our country fleeing the war and the attacks of terrorist organizations, to voluntarily return to their homeland safely and honourably. Syrias Kurds to begin trials for ISIS detainees The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria said it would begin trying thousands of suspected foreign Islamic State fighters who have been in its custody for years, surprising diplomats working on the issue and prompting concern about due process. According to a Reuters report, the U.S.-backed autonomous administration, which operates separately from the central government in Damascus, holds around 10,000 suspected ISIS detainees who fled the last bastions held by the militant Islamist group in Syria from 2017-2019. Local officials have for years called on foreign countries including Canada, France, the United Kingdom and others to repatriate their nationals as well as the thousands of foreign women and children who fled ISs self-declared caliphate and are in detention camps. On Saturday, the Kurdish-led administration said in an online statement that it had decided to submit detainees to its own open, free and transparent trials following the international communitys lagging response. Senior administration official Badran Jia Kurd told Reuters a local counter-terrorism law broadened last year would be used to try the fighters, adding the accused could appoint a lawyer but did not say courts would appoint one for them. Northeast Syria does not practice capital punishment. Jia Kurd said rights groups and the U.S.-led coalition, which helped Kurdish-led forces oust ISIS from swathes of northern Syrian territory, would be invited to attend the trials. The coalition did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. SNA faction arrests Syrians deported from Turkey A Turkish-backed armed opposition faction arrested on Sunday seven Syrian people, including a woman, in a city north of Hassakeh Governorate in northeastern Syria, hours after they were deported from Turkey, North Press reports. The Military Police, a faction within the Syrian National Army (SNA), arrested the deportees from the border crossing in the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) without any charges, a source from the faction told North Press. Sere Kaniye, a Kurdish city in the north of Hasakah, has been under the occupation of the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA factions since October 2019 after launching the so-called Peace Spring military operation to push away the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the Turkish southern border under the pretext of protecting Turkeys national security. The source added that five of the arrestees are the original people of Sere Kaniye and they work as farmers. He indicated that arresting Syrians who are being deported from Turkey is ongoing. They release them for ransom. Turkey has repeatedly and illegally deported Syrian refugees under the pretext of violating asylum laws and not amending their data regarding the temporary protection ID card, also known as Kimlik. In May, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey would deport one million Syrian refugees to northern Syria without identifying a specific time for commencing the process. To achieve this, the Turkish state has started building dozens of settlements in the northern cities of Syria which it has occupied including Afrin, Azaz, al-Bab, Jarablus, Sere Kaniye, and Tel Abyad. Out of the thirty commanding officers within the Syrian army and security forces, only two are currently blacklisted by Western countries, according to al-Souria Net. The Assad regimes attempts to evade accountability for its crimes are evident in its strategy of relying on obsolescence and introducing new security and military figures, as highlighted in a research paper published by a Syrian researcher at the Atlantic Council. Annually, at the beginning and middle of each year, Assad releases a detailed bulletin announcing new appointments and promotions within his army. This includes the retirement and replacement of officers reaching retirement age, as well as the promotion of certain officers. Mohsen Mustafa, the author of the research paper, emphasizes that in early 2023, a secret and undisclosed bulletin was issued, outlining appointments and promotions within the Syrian army. Out of the thirty commanding officers within the Syrian army and security forces, only two, Maj. Gen. Suhail al-Hassan and Maj. Gen. Saleh al-Abdullah, are currently blacklisted by Western countries. This discrepancy sheds light on a significant flaw in the sanctions system, indicating its failure to keep up with the evolving reality of regime members, according to Mustafa, a researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies. Examples confirming impunity As an example, in late April 2022, Assad appointed Maj. Gen. Ali Abdulkarim Ibrahim as the Chief of the General Staff, a position that had remained vacant since the beginning of 2018 Furthermore, Major General Ali Mahmoud Abbas was appointed as the defence minister, and neither of these individuals has been included in any Western sanctions lists. It is worth noting that even when Western countries do issue sanctions against individuals, they often come years after the offences have taken place. For instance, the United States waited until October 2022 to blacklist three officers involved in the August 2013 chemical attack on Eastern Ghouta, which tragically claimed the lives of approximately 1,400 people. Ironically, as pointed out by Mustafa, these three officers had retired several years prior to their blacklisting. Additionally, it took an entire decade for Officer Amjad Youssef, responsible for the Tadamon massacre in April 2013, to be added to the sanctions list. These delayed responses reveal a lack of motivation on the part of the United States and its Western allies to hold regime officers accountable with the same urgency and determination as before. 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. Hind Kabawat is a prominent figure in interfaith peacebuilding and conflict resolution, focusing on Syria. Hind Kabawat is a prominent figure in interfaith peacebuilding and conflict resolution, focusing on Syria. Currently, she serves as the director of interfaith peacebuilding at the Centre for World Religions and Diplomacy and is a member of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) for Syria in Geneva. In her role as the deputy head of the HNC office, she actively participates in the Syrian peace talks. Background Hind, hailing from an educated Christian family in Damascus, was raised in an environment that embraced liberal ideals. Her father, a respected businessman and intellectual, surrounded himself with a circle of writers and scholars who greatly influenced Hinds worldview. After marrying Samer Kabawat, a Syrian businessman, Hind and her husband transformed their expansive residence in the historic city into a vibrant salon. This gathering place became a hub where writers, artists, journalists, and academics convened to engage in thought-provoking discussions on culture, politics, and social issues. Hinds exceptional ability to unite Syrians from diverse backgrounds and political affiliations became evident in her role as the salons host. Her innate talent for fostering connections across various walks of life and political spectrums has always been one of her remarkable strengths. Career Hind Kabawat worked as a senior program officer at the United States Institute of Peace and as an international counsel at Janssen and Associates, an international law firm based in Toronto, Canada. Hinds work in Syria includes leading public diplomacy efforts focused on educational innovations in conflict resolution and diplomacy education. She has received prestigious awards for her contributions, including the Peacemakers in Action Award from the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding in New York in 2007 and the Public Diplomacy Award from George Mason Universitys Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict in 2009. Hind has been involved in various initiatives and organizations throughout her career. She participated in the Future of the Middle East World Economic Forum at the Davos Economic Forum in 2009 and played a key role in the formation of the Syrian Centre of Dialogue. She has also served as the CEO of Tastakel, a womens learning center for refugees in Turkey and a womens center in Jarjanaz, Idlib, Syria. Tastakel With a strong academic background, Hind holds an MA in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, a law degree from the Arab University in Beirut, and a BA in Economics from Damascus University. She has also acquired certificates in conflict resolution and strategy leadership from the University of Toronto and a certificate in negotiation from Harvard University. Hind Kabawats dedication to peacebuilding extends beyond her professional endeavours. She is the founder and director of the Syrian Centre for Dialogue, Peace, and Reconciliation in Toronto, actively engaging in multi-faith collaboration and civil society development. She also heads the interfaith committee for Tastakel, an organization dedicated to peace and reconciliation through womens empowerment and education. Her work focuses on promoting dialogue, tolerance, and reconciliation among different religious and ethnic groups in Syria and the Middle East. She actively engages in grassroots movements and community development, working with Syrian refugees in camps located in Turkey and Jordan. Through her efforts, Hind Kabawat strives to bring about positive change and contribute to building a peaceful Syria. Hind Kabawat, a prominent figure in interfaith peacebuilding and conflict resolution, holds several key positions and has been involved in various initiatives and organizations throughout her career. Currently, she serves as the director of interfaith peacebuilding at the Centre for World Religions and Diplomacy and is a member of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) for Syria in Geneva. As the deputy to the ambassador in the HNC office, she actively contributes to the Syrian peace talks. Sandwiched between red and white Forest Service trucks, reporters with The Chronicle were escorted through the Iron Creek Campground off Forest Service Road 25 in Randle on Thursday. On Saturday, June 3, a human-caused fire forced swift evacuations. As of Friday morning, the fire had impacted 17 acres of the campground, which has 98 sites split into various rings. Field Operations Chief Pete Suver said on the first day he arrived, crews heard trees falling several times an hour. Its going to be a long time before the campground opens. The official word is closed for the foreseeable future, but canceling reservations for the summer of 2023 may be a safe bet. Its among the Gifford Pinchot National Forests most popular stays; comparable in popularity and size to Packwoods La Wis Wis, which is also closed for upgrades this summer. Few pieces of infrastructure have been affected by the fire at Iron Creek, but the burn path is riddled with hazard trees, some of them labeled KILLER TREE with bright orange tape marked by a skull and crossbones. Firefighting, especially in the jagged terrain of Cascadian forests, is both costly and dangerous. The understory is thick. Right now, its also dry. Burnt trees create stump holes that can be several feet deep. Plus, the old growth trees that are Iron Creek Campgrounds crown jewels, Suver said bluntly, would not feel good if they fell on you. The same thing that makes people love camping in the Northwest forests is what makes its fires a challenge, he said. Several times, Mike McMillan, a U.S. Forest Service public information officer on the fire, called the burning area treacherous. Earlier in the week, a crew of expert tree fellers made their way through the campground to identify and topple as many of the killers as they could. A second evaluation by a hazard tree specialist on Friday will help the operations team outline their game plan going forward. Currently, teams have set a perimeter around the fire with hoses and sprinklers. Within that perimeter, wherever they cant safely reach could burn. Rain on Friday morning is likely to aid the work. The Lewis County Fire Marshal has imposed a burn ban, effective Friday. Despite the rainfall, a news release from the Forest Service stated, ground fuels remain dry, and the public is urged to use extra caution with all potential sources of ignition. Community On Edge Jeania Colman, 72, of Randle, has spent summers at campsite C55 all her life. She and her 2-year-old cocker spaniel, Ruggins, love the hiking trails and how, despite its popularity, the area stays peaceful, quiet and private. I love my Iron Creek. Its tradition. I camp all summer. But its OK. Well figure something else out, Colman said. Well get over there, I just dont know when. Shes trying to be optimistic, but with Iron Creek and La Wis Wis closed, her top pick is North Fork Campground, which lacks the privacy and trail system she and Ruggins long for. Its been a challenging year for East Lewis County. The community is on edge. Group chats and Facebook posts are buzzing with questions on the Iron Creek Fire, and the crews are keenly aware. Last summer, east county residents lived through the Goat Rocks Fire. Caused by lightning in early August 2022, the blaze swelled to more than 6,000 acres toward the end of summer less than two miles from neighborhoods, prompting evacuations and a miserable early fall for Packwood under a blanket of smoke. But Iron Creek is different, Suver said. He worked on the Goat Rocks Fire, and because it was naturally-caused, plans for management had flexibility. The containment percentage never mirrored the growth in acres. Every decision is made with safety as a priority, and the cost-benefit of utilizing resources next. Natural fires are just that, and agencies dont always extinguish them. But the Iron Creek Fire originated in a campsite. Crews will work until the fire is 100% contained. When a reporter clarified the definition of 100% containment by asking if a person could go out and stick your fingers in it? Suver chuckled and said, Thats what the guys do. Investigators are still working with witness statements and examination of the scene to determine the exact cause. We certainly dont know if it was intentional, we dont know if it was accidental, but it was human-caused because there was no lightning, said McMillan, later adding, The firefighters, typically, we focus on the fire. We almost dont even care how it starts. Were lucky to have work and we like our job. When we come to a fire, our job is to put it out. McMillan, who has a degree in journalism, was once a smoke jumper who parachuted into hard-to-reach spots for firefighting. With the thickness of the canopy in Western Washingtons forests, sometimes, thats what it takes to get fire off the ground. Earlier this week, the Department of Natural Resources provided air support at Iron Creek. But with the canopy preventing water from reaching the understory, McMillan said, continuing with the helicopters would be pissing in the wind. On the first few days of the fire, it was climbing trees. Once it reached the top of one, McMillan said, embers would essentially rain down to the ground, creating a mosaic of fire. Now, with elimination of a lot of the fuel, there are very few flames as it continues to smolder. Unlike the Goat Rocks Fire, the geography is in the firefighters favor. Three natural barriers, crews are fairly sure, will keep it under control; the campground is surrounded by Iron Creek, the Cispus River and Forest Service roads 25 and 76. During Goat Rocks, teams at various fires across the state and beyond were fighting over crews. After 110 were working on the fire earlier this week, Iron Creek will only need a couple dozen for the current work. You dont wanna be the guy that just sits on everything just in case you need it, Suver said, later adding, The complexity drives the number of resources, which tells you how big a team you need. The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District will be the final decision maker when it comes to opening the campground. Even once the fire is 100% out, though, there will be plenty of clean-up work. We just encourage people to go find other beautiful places. Thats the unfortunate part of a wildfire like this that is human-caused. Its more understandable when the lightning strikes. You know, you cant get too mad at that. But this one was McMillan said. Suver chimed in, It was preventable. The city has denied downtown Longview businesses request for a dedicated employee to draw customers to the area as dozens of business owners say their sales are decreasing and could be on the verge of closing shops. The Downtowners has requested $30,000 a year for five years to contract with an employee to lead the longrunning business nonprofit, including planning events to draw patrons and raising money for services like holiday lights and parking lot repairs. The position is also needed to apply for a state program for historic downtowns that shows a history of increasing business. Longview Community Development Director Ann Rivers agreed a dedicated staff member would likely enhance downtown, but the city cant supply that person. The municipality cannot ethically provide an employee for a nonprofit and the citys most recent council-approved budget focuses on funding needed police and fire personnel and infrastructure updates, she said. The problem Ariel Large is the vice president of the Downtowners and a member of the council-appointed Longview Downtown Advisory Committee. Large said she recently collected 20 downtown business owners signatures who say they are considering closing or relocating within the next six months and/or have seen a significant decrease in sales compared to 2022. Other downtown businesses like Broadway Barrel Room and Jays Jukebox Burgers have already recently closed. Large and Rivers both agree the Downtowners should apply to join Washington Trust for Historic Preservations Main Street program that aims to revitalize historic downtowns by increasing local sales and jobs. The catch: Nonprofit business organizations can only apply for the Legislature-created program if they have a paid executive director. Would the citys help be favoritism? Large said she is looking for seed money to start funding the position with the goal that promotional events like last Octobers Harvest Festival, as well as the Main Street program which has a revenue generator through a tax incentive will fund the rest. Cities like Camas contract services with local business organizations to hire executive directors to become Main Street dedicated communities, according to Jonelle McCoy, a specialist with the program. McCoy said enrolled organizations typically can hire a part-time staff member as well through collected funds. Businesses throughout the state can donate to the enrolled nonprofits to later receive credit on their state business and occupation tax. Businesses tax requirements never go away, McCoy said, but owners can choose to put that money toward an enrolled downtown nonprofit, instead of directly to the state which then divides the funds. But supplying paid staff for one Longview nonprofit could set an expectation for others to receive the same support and the city cannot show favoritism, Rivers added. Rivers said the city already helps downtown businesses in ways businesses in other parts of the city dont receive. Lighted trees, flower basket upkeep and paid parking support are provided by the city for downtown, but none of those services are given to Washington Way, for instance. The city is also working to increase mixed-use developments downtown to include sites with residential and commercial spaces a goal of a 2011 downtown Longview plan. Rivers said the city looks for ways to help downtown without taking money from others by applying for grants, like the recent $1.5 million federal application to complete Commerce Avenues streetscape design. She said she also suggested the Downtowners apply to the Main Street program when it was managed by previous boards. In terms of economic development, we are all in, Rivers said. Everyone wins with a vibrant downtown core, and we remain committed to providing for that for people. The first pitch, and another plan Large said she pitched the idea of hiring a Downtowners staff member using American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Downtown Advisory Committee, City Council and city staff on different occasions. The federal pandemic relief legislation brought around $21 million to Cowlitz County and another $8 million to Longview to focus on infrastructure needs but can include help for small businesses affected by the pandemic. Rivers said the council-approved budget focuses on supplying requested police and fire services, as well as infrastructure updates with ARPA funds, the latter of which includes extending water mains in two city locations to build affordable housing in the areas. In the initial proposal, Cowlitz County Economic Development Council Vice President Lindsey Cope said the independent 501C(4) also offered to discuss matching the Downtowners $30,000 request to fund the position. Cope, who left the Downtowners Board in May, said she spent at least 40 hours a week on downtown Longview work as a paid employee with the development council, and the position which included planning at least 171 downtown events over the last five years is too much responsibility for a volunteer. She said the Downtowners could have tried to argue her paid position was enough to apply for the Main Street program, and the Downtowners also tried to raise the positions salary using sponsorships from Octobers Harvest Festival when Cope was still president. But the event came up short of the goal, Large said. For owners, running businesses many of which are struggling while also promoting events downtown is exhausting, Large said. The organization is cutting longtime promotional gatherings like the event where customers have passports stamped at businesses to enter a raffle to focus on one big money maker: The Harvest Festival, which brings sponsorships as well as customers downtown. But Large has another plan. She said she recently applied for money through a Community Development Block Grant on behalf of the Downtowners, and the city is set to review applications in July. Providing paid support for downtown wouldnt just help businesses, she said, but strengthen the citys character. I would love to see downtown specifically become a point of pride in our community, Large said. Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the type of paid parking in downtown Longview. A Ridgefield man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for threatening to kill his infant daughter and violating a domestic violence no-contact order with the childs mother. At a bench trial last month, Clark County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Snider found Aarondeep Johal, 34, guilty of attempted first-degree domestic violence assault, felony domestic violence court order violation, felony harassment and third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer. She found him not guilty of first-degree domestic violence kidnapping, court records show. Snider sentenced Johal to the statutory maximum, 120 months, for attempted first-degree assault because of Johals high offender score. She also ruled that Johal used a deadly weapon, a hammer, when he threatened to kill his daughter and the Vancouver police officers who responded to the disturbance in October 2021. The deadly weapon ruling added an additional six months to Johals sentence. Snider also ordered Johal to undergo substance use treatment because he was under the influence of alcohol during the incident. Probably the worst part of this whole thing is an absolutely gorgeous baby with no mommy or daddy because of your decisions, in part, Snider said. Thats just sad, not just for her but for everyone involved. The childs mother died after the case was filed. Prosecutors said her death was unrelated to the case. Johal told the judge he never intended to harm his daughter and said he regrets the incident. He was free on bail for previous domestic violence charges involving the childs mother when he was arrested in October 2021. Officers said when they entered the womans apartment, they found Johal holding the baby. He picked up a hammer and raised it above the childs head, threatening to kill her. He eventually put down the hammer but then threatened to throw the child off the balcony. Officers blocked the sliding door to the balcony, according to a probable cause affidavit. After a struggle, officers were able to get the child away from Johal and arrested him. During his arrest, Johal reportedly spat on an officer, the affidavit states. Last year, the stands of Memorial Stadium were packed with families ready to watch their students reach the end of their high school years. The June morning had seen rain and wind, but by the afternoon, the sun broke through and showed the vibrant green fields and gleaming metal stands of the stadium. PHOTOS: Longview and Kelso 2023 graduation ceremonies Close 2023 graduates walk out to the R.A. Long High School front lawn to "Pomp and Circumstance" on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. A graduate shakes hands with Kelso principal Sheri Walker as she receives her diploma on Saturday. Mark Morris graduate Odalis Vasquez-Castro delivers her address at the 2023 commencement ceremony in the high school gymnasium on Saturday. Graduate Megan LaDue delivers her commencement speech to the audience at R.A. Long High School on Saturday. A Kelso graduate waves to her family in the Schroder Field bleachers at the Kelso High School commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Kelso. In remembrance, a classmate lays a framed photo of Hailey Aguilar in what would have been her seat at the R.A. Long High School 2023 commencement on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. Graduates smile as they wait for the Mark Morris High School commencement ceremony to begin on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. Diplomas lay out at the R.A. Long High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. Graduates file out to "Pomp and Circumstance" at the R.A. Long High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. The R.A. Long Wind Ensemble plays "Pomp and Circumstance" at the R.A. Long High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. A graduate receives her diploma at the Kelso High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Kelso. Seniors from the R.A. Long choir performs "In My Life" by the Beatles at the R.A. Long High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. Mya Smith speaks at the Kelso High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Kelso. Senior Class President Isabella Merzoian welcomes the audience to the Mark Morris High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. "Class of 2023" is written on the back windshield of a vehicle at the R.A. Long High School commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Longview. The Fort Vancouver Pipe Band performs before the Kelso High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Kelso. Senior Hilanders file to their seats before the Kelso High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Kelso. Trenten Pederson speaks at the Kelso High School 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10, in Kelso. +17 +17 +17 +17 +17 +17 +17 +17 +17 +17 But the Longview class of 2023 didnt have that experience during the ceremonies Saturday, for the first time in what many Longview School District officials say they can remember. Memorial Stadium is closed this summer for its largescale $3.9 million renovation. Drive by it, and youll only see the covered fence surrounding the construction efforts. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News. That left school principals with a major question: Where would graduation be held this year? An off-year Designs and planning for the ceremonies began months ago, said R.A. Long High School Principal Rich Reeves. Surveys were sent out to the larger school community asking parents where they preferred to have graduation during this off-year. Reeves said while they looked into different venues, including an amphitheater in Ridgefield, families ultimately said they wanted the ceremonies held at the high schools. R.A. Long grads got their diploma on the school lawn, and Mark Morris High School seniors got theirs inside the schools gymnasium. This will be, I think, the first time probably in history that were having the graduation in front of the school, Reeves said. Though rain once again threatened the skies Saturday, R.A. Long honor student Kenia Lisset Castro told of how she would always hold positive memories of her classmates, especially after struggling through the loneliness of the pandemic that dominated years of her high school career. March 12, 2020. It marked the beginning of a hard time for many losing loved ones and struggling with health, whether it was mental or physical, Castro said during the ceremony. But this only proved how diligent and strong we truly are forced to grow up and take care of ourselves. We lived through a pandemic and still managed to pull ourselves together and get to where we are seated today. The Longview School District last year spent about $8,000 to host the class of 2022s graduation ceremony. Stay up to date on Lower Columbia news, wherever you go Easily access the latest Lower Columbia news in an app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you. Rick Parrish, Longviews facilities and communications manager, said they will likely see nearly double the cost this year because of the two separate venues. The change of venue meant having two sound systems, two different teams to set up chairs and podiums, coordinating two security teams, and adapting to completely different spaces. Right now, cost estimates show the district by the day of the ceremonies spent about $13,000. That number will likely go up in the final totals, Parrish said. The decision of where to put graduation lands on the principals shoulders, Parrish added. Its then up to the district to collaborate with administration on how to realize their vision. The setup involves constantly moving parts. The district had to find and buy 2,700 chairs for R.A. Longs front lawn. They beautified R.A. Longs lawn and had three photographers as well as a drone to capture the day. Well have what we hope are historic photos, Parrish said. In some ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has helped prepare school leaders for unexpected and last-minute changes, said Mark Morris Principal Aaron Whitright. 2023 Mark Morris High School seniors Close +176 +176 +176 +176 +176 +176 +176 +176 +176 +176 You develop this well-oiled machine where everyone is working together, Whitright said. You kind of feel like youre reinventing (graduation this year). Its kind of nerve-wracking. Mark Morris graduates had their ceremony in the schools gymnasium, but the district also wanted to use the front courtyard as a spot where families could grab photos and visit with their loved ones after they secured the coveted diploma. Whitright said they saw about 2,000 people in the bleachers. Graduation rates for local high schools class of 2023 will come out around this fall, as there are some students who may not have walked at graduation but may still earn their diploma between now and the start of the next school year. 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: People attend a church service in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader The artificial intelligence chatbot asked the believers in the fully packed St. Paul's church in the Bavarian town of Fuerth to rise from the pews and praise the Lord. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by an avatar of a bearded Black man on a huge screen above the altar, then began preaching to the more than 300 people who had shown up on Friday morning for an experimental Lutheran church service almost entirely generated by AI. "Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year's convention of Protestants in Germany," the avatar said with an expressionless face and monotonous voice. The 40-minute serviceincluding the sermon, prayers and musicwas created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. "I conceived this servicebut actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine," the 29-year-old scholar told The Associated Press. The AI church service was one of hundreds of events at the convention of Protestants in the Bavarian towns of Nuremberg and the neighboring Fuerth, and it drew such immense interest that people formed a long queue outside the 19th-century, neo-Gothic building an hour before it began. Jonas Simmerlein, theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna in Austria, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader The convention itselfDeutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag in Germantakes place every two years in the summer at a different place in Germany and draws tens of thousands of believers to pray, sing and discuss their faith. They also talk about current world affairs and look for solutions to key issues, which this year included global warming, the war in Ukraineand artificial intelligence. This year's gathering is taking place from Wednesday to Sunday under the motto "Now is the time." That slogan was one of the sentences Simmerlein fed ChatGPT when he asked the chatbot to develop the sermon. "I told the artificial intelligence 'We are at the church congress, you are a preacher what would a church service look like?'" Simmerlein said. He also asked for psalms to be included, as well as prayers and a blessing at the end. "You end up with a pretty solid church service," Simmerlein said, sounding almost surprised by the success of his experiment. People queue for a church service in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader Indeed, the believers in the church listened attentively as the artificial intelligence preached about leaving the past behind, focusing on the challenges of the present, overcoming fear of death, and never losing trust in Jesus Christ. The entire service was "led" by four different avatars on the screen, two young women, and two young men. At times, the AI-generated avatar inadvertently drew laughter as when it used platitudes and told the churchgoers with a deadpan expression that in order "to keep our faith, we must pray and go to church regularly." Some people enthusiastically videotaped the event with their cell phones, while others looked on more critically and refused to speak along loudly during The Lord's Prayer. Heiderose Schmidt, a 54-year-old who works in IT, said she was excited and curious when the service started but found it increasingly off-putting as it went along. Anna Puzio, 28, researcher for ethics of technology at University of Twente, Netherlands, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader "There was no heart and no soul," she said. "The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said." "But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this," Schmidt added. Marc Jansen, a 31-year-old Lutheran pastor from Troisdorf near the western German city of Cologne, brought a group of teenagers from his congregation to St. Paul. He was more impressed by the experiment. "I had actually imagined it to be worse. But I was positively surprised how well it worked. Also the language of the AI worked well, even though it was still a bit bumpy at times," Jansen said. What the young pastor missed, however, was any kind of emotion or spirituality, which he says is essential when he writes his own sermons. Jonas Simmerlein, theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna in Austria, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader Anna Puzio, 28, a researcher on the ethics of technology from the University of Twente in The Netherlands, also attended the service. She said she sees a lot of opportunities in the use of AI in religionsuch as making religious services more easily available and inclusive for believers who for various reasons may not be able experience their faith in person with others in houses of worship. However, she noted there are also dangers when it comes to the use of AI in religion. "The challenge that I see is that AI is very human-like and that it's easy to be deceived by it," she said. "Also, we don't have only one Christian opinion, and that's what AI has to represent as well," she said. "We have to be careful that it's not misused for such purposes as to spread only one opinion." Simmerlein said it is not his intention to replace religious leaders with artificial intelligence. Rather, he sees the use of AI as a way to help them with their everyday work in their congregations. Anna Puzio, 28, researcher for ethics of technology at University of Twente, Netherlands, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader Jonas Simmerlein, theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna in Austria, gestures in front of a slogan reading 'The time is now' during an interview with Associated Press in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader People attend a church service in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. Credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader Some pastors seek inspiration in literature, he says, so why not also ask AI for ideas regarding an upcoming sermon. Others would like to have more time for individual spiritual guidance of their parishioners, so why not speed up the process of writing the sermon with the help of a chatbot to make time for other important duties. "Artificial intelligence will increasingly take over our lives, in all its facets," Simmerlein said. "And that's why it's useful to learn to deal with it." However, the experimental church service also showed the limits to implementing artificial AI in church, or in religion. There was no real interaction between the believers and the chatbot, which wasn't able to respond to the laughter or any other reactions by the churchgoers as a human pastor would have been able to do. "The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning," Simmerlein said. "Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation." 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) Mayon Volcano emitted an average of 1,205 tons of harmful sulfur dioxide on Saturday which is three times the emission last Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported. We recorded 1,205 tons per day of sulfur dioxide emission, which is three times the 417 tons [per day] of [sulfur dioxide] that we measured yesterday (Friday), Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol told CNN Philippines Newsroom Weekend on Saturday. Considering that the background level of Mayon is only 500 tons per day of sulfur dioxide emission, itong [this] 1,205 tons of sulfur dioxide is quite significant, he added. Sulfur dioxide affects the lungs and may result in irritation in the nose and throat, breathing difficulties, and severe airway obstructions, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mayon Volcano is on Alert Level 3 since noon of June 8. It has been exhibiting signs of intensified unrest or magmatic unrest. Phivolcs explained the current activity is already considered an eruption. In the past 24 hours, Mayon had one volcanic earthquake and 177 rockfall events that placed lava debris in gullies within 700 meters from the summit crater, according to the 8 a.m. bulletin of Phivolcs on Sunday. Fair crater glow or banaag and incandescent rockfall shed from new fluidal lava at the summit of Mayon Volcano was observed last night (Saturday), the agency added. Bacolcol said if more earthquakes are logged and theres a low emission of sulfur dioxide, that would mean the hazardous gas is trapped inside the lava dome. Kapag walang [If theres no] emission of sulfur dioxide, there is an increased activity, it means there is a constant supply of magma and if this sulfur dioxide would be suddenly released, this can result in explosive activity, he explained. Since July 5, there have been only three volcanic earthquakes, he added. State volcanologists also warned authorities against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows. Pyroclastic density currents are mixtures of fragmented volcanic particles, hot gases, and ash that rush down the volcanic slopes or rapidly outward from a source vent at high speeds, Phivolcs explained. Heavy rainfall could generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in channels where PDC deposits were emplaced, it added. The province of Albay was placed under a state of calamity on Friday. Evacuation efforts of families living within the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone are ongoing. RELATED: Albay to finish evacuation of residents from Mayon danger zone today 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: Amy Whetzel works in her boat, Miranda, anchored in Mayo, Maryland, about an hour's drive form the US capital. Commuting to and from the office five times a week? "It's just not what I want for my life," said Claire, a consultant in her thirties living in Washington. Like Claire, millions of employees across the United States have grown fond of telework since the COVID-19 lockdown and now companies are struggling to bring them back to the office. Before COVID-19, Americans workers had grown used to less-than-friendly job conditions, such as short vacations and little or no maternity leave, but the experience of working from home left them wanting more. "All of these practices that workers had become accustomed to in the US before have now then kind of disrupted by the pandemic," chief economist Nela Richardson with the ADP Research Institute told AFP. American offices are still half-empty compared to February 2020, according to a weekly average calculated by Kastle, which manages the entry badges of 40,000 companies around the country. 'The world is changing' There are also wide disparities between different regions and cities: offices in California's Silicon Valley, for example, have only recovered a third of their pre-pandemic occupants, compared with around half in New York and Washington, and as much as two-thirds in the Texas cities of Austin and Houston. Danny Crouch pets his dog as he sits in his basement working from home in Arlington, Virginia. "Collaborating and inventing is easier and more effective when we're in person," Amazon CEO Andy Jassy wrote in a memo to the company's vast workforce back in February, ordering them to return to the office for at least three days a week. Many Amazon employees disagreed so strongly with the in-person working requirements that they took to the streets in front of the company's Seattle headquarters last month to protest the move. "The world is changing, and Amazon needs to embrace the new reality of remote and flexible work," the organizers of the demonstration said in a statement. Elon Musk, the billionaire boss of Tesla and Twitter, went a step further than Jassy, banning telework in the name of productivity and morality. "You're going to (tell) the people who make your food that gets delivered, that they can't work from home, the people that come fix your house, they can't work from home, but you can?" he said in a recent interview. Half-empty offices A third of employees in the United States currently have complete freedom about where they work, compared with just 18 percent in France, according to a recent ADP study of 17 countries. "If I worked for an employer that required five days a week, I just don't think that would be on the table for me," Claire, the Washington-based consultant, told AFP. Julie McMurtry joins a zoom call with co-workers from her home in Arlington, Virginia. Claire, who requested anonymity to discuss her employment, goes to the office irregularly, usually once every two weeks, sometimes more often. And, given the upsides, she can't see herself going back full-time. She has replaced the metro to work with a walk around the block, no longer wastes time dressing for the office, and sits outside with her laptop whenever the sun shines. Claire said she sometimes misses conversations with colleagues, but she also realizes the small talk led her to be less productive. A challenge Despite the headlines made by chief executives like Elon Musk, not all managers are opposed to telework. Questions about "quality and lifestyle efficiency" have emerged, said Gayle Smith, chief executive of the Washington-based anti-poverty NGO One, which has offices in cities around the world. "Raising kids became a bit easier if you didn't have to commute every morning," she told AFP. Since the onset of the pandemic, some of her employees have left the Washington area in order to be closer to their aging parents, or to follow a spouse who relocates for work. Americans have grown fond of teleworking and don't want to return to the office. Gayle has seen no decline in efficiency but regrets the loss of the positive dynamic that comes from face-to-face work. The question now, she says, is how to replicate this dynamic while preserving the lifestyle improvements for her employees. "If we can regain that, at least in part, it'll put us in a very good place," she said. Teleworking has become "part of a cluster of benefits and options that companies can choose to offer workers," said Nela Richardson from ADP. For potential employees, "it's a choice of whether or not you are willing to negotiate that or look for that in your job search," she added. But what employees really want, according to Richardson, is the flexibility to choose when they work. "It's not necessarily (that) I want to work from home, I want to be surrounded by dirty dishes and unmade bedsshe said. "It's the fact that I can choose what hours I work." 2023 AFP Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, June 11) Visayan bishops on Sunday called for the creation of a new Samar Island Region separate from Eastern Visayas, composed of the provinces of Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Eastern Samar. We need to appeal to our president, honorable Bongbong Marcos, through our DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., and to our legislators, to make a law declaring one Island, one Region, and that island is no other than the Island of Samar, Diocese of Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said Sunday. We are the third largest island in the country so we deserve the undying service from our national government, he added. Luzon and Visayas rank first and second in size, respectively. Samar has an area of 13,429 square kilometers and a population of 1,909,537, according to a 2020 census by the Philippine Statistics Authority. He suggested that government agencies and regional offices should be clustered in each of the three provinces, and that interconnected road networks should be established to ease transportation and jumpstart development in the proposed region. Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, the provinces former lone district representative, backed the clergys call to create a Samar Island Region. That is a good initiative, if only to stress the need to prioritize Samar Island in terms of economic development, he said. I welcome that proposal, and again I just want to reiterate our firm and unequitable support to all the initiatives of SIPPAD (Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development), he added. Varquez, Diocese of Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, and Diocese of Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance called for the creation of a separate Samar Island Region in 2016, following the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) in 2015. The NIR was established on May 29, 2015 through Executive Order (EO) 183 signed by late President Benigno Aquino III. It was abolished on Aug. 9, 2017, when former President Rodrigo Duterte revoked Aquinos EO, citing the substantial funding needed to keep the region operational which competed with other government projects. Tacloban-based stringer Wil Mark Amazona contributed to this report. Residents of Greenleaf Lane in Bryan have consistently asked for Brazos Countys assistance in fixing a portion of the road they believe belongs to the county, while county officials argue that it is a private road and not subject to county finances. The road in question is at the intersection of Rustic Oaks Drive and Greenleaf Lane; after Greenleaf Lane comes to a now-widened cul-de-sac, there is a deteriorating culvert crossing close to collapse, as it consistently floods from the creek that flows beneath it. Beyond the culvert crossing is the remainder of Greenleaf Lane where about 60 residents live. A portion of those residents have spoken at multiple commissioners court meetings to have their voices heard, including Brian Cahill. The Greenleaf Lane resident told The Eagle the culvert crossing is on platted county land and has had work done on it in the past maintained by the county. The culverts are entirely within the platted and dedicated section of the Greenleaf section of Rustic Oaks, he said. Once you go past that, it is a gravel road that we as residents contribute money to and we maintain, and we are not asking the county to maintain our gravel road. Brazos County Judge Duane Peters said the Rustic Oaks Subdivision was developed, and the developer asked for acceptance of those roads in Rustic Oaks in 1988, and was then accepted by the county. There was a cul-de-sac down there and that was accepted into the County Road Maintenance System [when] the roads were built. The developer on a couple of hundred acres on the other side of the creek, in preparation of eventually developing that, he left an easement that went to the edge of the property line, Peters told The Eagle on Thursday. He put that easement in place, but was not part of the county road system. But the easement was there so that when he decided to develop that extra acreage that he had across the creek, he had an access to it, and at some point I think it might have been in the early 1990s he decided to develop that extra acreage he had on the other side of the creek. Cahill and others argue that with respect to access easement, the properties in the private section of Greenleaf have access easements on it to let others drive across it. But Greenleaf inside of Rustic Oaks is a public road dedicated and accepted by the county; there is no access easement there, it is a public road, Cahill said. This is a publicly dedicated section of road. When you dedicate a road and [accept] it, the county holds it in lieu of the state of Texas and it is owned by the state of Texas, and there is nothing private about where the culverts are at. Peters said the developer installed the culverts, but because he was platting in 10-acre or larger tracts, he did not have to plat that with the county. It is not a requirement to plat with the county, Peters said. As long as the tracts are 10 acres or larger, then you can divide up and you dont have to plat it and get it approved through the Court. ... But this additional road, the extension that he added on there, was not brought to county standards and he didnt intend to bring it to county standards because he didnt intend to ask for it to be accepted into the maintenance system. That happened after 1988, it was certainly after the county accepted the roads up to that cul-de-sac [that] he extended Greenleaf. Cahill said he has done research and had surveyors examine where the county road ends and where the private road begins, and based on their findings the culvert crossing falls within the county road. He also said due to the aged appearance of the culverts, they had to have been installed before 1988. They were put in between [1986 and 1988] and accepted by the county, he said. And they are saying differently, but they are providing no documentation for anything they have told us for the last 4 1/2 years. Peters said the culverts have washed out to some degree and there are visible bricks put in by someone. It certainly wouldnt have been the county that put them in there; that is not the way we would do it, he said. If we were actually doing a culvert, and putting that in, we wouldnt do that kind of stuff, so it looks clear that someone maintained that to some degree other than the county. Jim Jones, who has lived on Greenleaf since 1992, said water washed over the bridge at the culvert crossing on multiple occasions and the county came out and fixed everything. At some point in time they moved the county maintenance sign from the west side to the east side of the creek [nearest Rustic Oaks Drive] and that was after they had to maintain it a couple of times after a flooding event, and it stayed there for over 20 years, he said. They maintained that portion from the cul-de-sac to the culvert crossing and they always have. Jones also said that in 2019 he and Cahill met with county officials to ask why the county maintenance sign had been moved further away from the culvert crossing, which was around the same time work had been done to repair the area so residents could drive across. I confronted the maintenance supervisor and said, You were there, because I recognized him and I said, You remember when you all had to repair that culvert crossing, and he said, Yes I remember that, Jones said. It is undeniable on their part that they have repaired it, they have leveled it off. The plat description says that is dedicated property. If I wanted to buy it I couldnt. It is deeded to the county. They own that land. Peters said at one point some county employees errantly believed the stretch between the cul-de-sac and the culverts was part of the countys maintenance system. We have looked back at the maintenance records that we have ... and did not find a single dollar that was spent on the culvert portion, he said. I am told that nobody is aware of, ever maintained any of the culverts. That short stretch between the cul-de-sac going toward the culverts, shouldnt have had any county rock put on it either, but there could have been. But even with that, I am not sure that makes it a requirement that the county would even maintain that for the future because that portion was never passed by the county. The portion that was passed by the county was including the cul-de-sac back toward Bryan. Cahill said he obtained county maintenance records that show entries for maintenance work, but not specifically for the culverts in 2015 and 2018. He was told the county only keeps five years worth of records. Peters said as far as a solution for the residents, the countys general counsel advised the group to create a Homeowners Association to put money together to correct the problem. Precinct 2 Commissioner Chuck Konderla also said creating an HOA would be in their best interest to raise the funds they need. Cahill said they currently have an unofficial HOA in place, and that county officials told them it would cost $1 million to bring the road to county standards because of FEMA regulations. Through Cahills research with surveyors, he was told it would cost $300,000 to replace the entire crossing and install new culverts. Every neighbor puts in 30 bucks a month and we are using that to maintain our private road, he said. We are responsible citizens. We are not saying You all need to come fix our private road. A $300,000 culvert fix for 17 households to take care of? It is real nice to say, Build an HOA and gather dues for that. That is an astronomical number that you cant gather dues for. Konderla also said that the residents of Greenleaf are not in Rustic Oaks, and that the county built the road up to a cul-de-sac that ended before the creek. As a commissioner I cant commit public money to what is to me very obviously, a road and a water crossing that was not accepted in 1988 with the rest of that Rustic Oaks subdivision, he said. Jones said he hopes officials will acknowledge that portion of the road as county property. It just blows my mind how they logically can say that it is not their property, when the county records show that it does belong to them? How can they say it is private? he said. The next step is to take them to court, but why should citizens have to sue their county? That doesnt make sense either. They are supposed to work for us, not against us. Therapeutic Solutions International (OTCMKTS:TSOI Get Rating) is one of 338 publicly-traded companies in the Biotechnology industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Therapeutic Solutions International to similar businesses based on the strength of its profitability, valuation, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and dividends. Insider & Institutional Ownership 5.6% of Therapeutic Solutions International shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.0% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are owned by institutional investors. 26.0% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Therapeutic Solutions International alerts: Earnings and Valuation This table compares Therapeutic Solutions International and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Therapeutic Solutions International N/A N/A -0.21 Therapeutic Solutions International Competitors $130.90 million $854,400.00 -66.22 Profitability Therapeutic Solutions Internationals peers have higher revenue and earnings than Therapeutic Solutions International. Therapeutic Solutions International is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. This table compares Therapeutic Solutions International and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Therapeutic Solutions International N/A N/A N/A Therapeutic Solutions International Competitors -276.12% -60.16% -13.31% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings for Therapeutic Solutions International and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Therapeutic Solutions International 0 0 0 0 N/A Therapeutic Solutions International Competitors 303 1455 3570 38 2.62 As a group, Biotechnology companies have a potential upside of 86.60%. Given Therapeutic Solutions Internationals peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Therapeutic Solutions International has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. About Therapeutic Solutions International (Get Rating) Therapeutic Solutions International, Inc. engages in the provision of immune modulation for the treatment of several specific diseases. The firm is also involved in developing a range of immune-modulatory agents to target certain cancers, schizophrenia, suicidal ideation, traumatic brain injury, and for daily health. The company was founded on August 6, 2007 and is headquartered in Elk, ID. Receive News & Ratings for Therapeutic Solutions International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Therapeutic Solutions International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (NYSE:AMN Get Rating) Investment analysts at William Blair upped their Q2 2023 earnings estimates for AMN Healthcare Services in a report released on Tuesday, June 6th. William Blair analyst T. Mulrooney now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $2.17 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $1.90. The consensus estimate for AMN Healthcare Services current full-year earnings is $8.35 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for AMN Healthcare Services Q4 2023 earnings at $1.95 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $8.54 EPS. Get AMN Healthcare Services alerts: AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE:AMN Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $1.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.11 billion. AMN Healthcare Services had a return on equity of 45.31% and a net margin of 7.93%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 27.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.49 EPS. AMN Healthcare Services Stock Down 1.1 % AMN has been the subject of several other research reports. Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of AMN Healthcare Services from $140.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on shares of AMN Healthcare Services from $128.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of AMN Healthcare Services from $100.00 to $98.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of AMN Healthcare Services from $111.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $148.00 price objective on shares of AMN Healthcare Services in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AMN Healthcare Services presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $113.20. Shares of NYSE:AMN opened at $106.00 on Friday. AMN Healthcare Services has a 12-month low of $81.15 and a 12-month high of $129.04. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $91.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $4.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.09, a PEG ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.34. Insider Buying and Selling at AMN Healthcare Services In other AMN Healthcare Services news, Director Mark G. Foletta sold 1,458 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.78, for a total value of $129,441.24. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,073 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $716,720.94. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other AMN Healthcare Services news, Director Mark G. Foletta sold 6,042 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.35, for a total transaction of $509,642.70. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,073 shares in the company, valued at $680,957.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Mark G. Foletta sold 1,458 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.78, for a total value of $129,441.24. Following the sale, the director now owns 8,073 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $716,720.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.77% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On AMN Healthcare Services A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in AMN Healthcare Services by 177.4% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 527 shares of the companys stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 337 shares during the period. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of AMN Healthcare Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $3,553,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its stake in shares of AMN Healthcare Services by 22.4% in the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 83,563 shares of the companys stock worth $8,854,000 after acquiring an additional 15,270 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in AMN Healthcare Services by 25.5% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,447 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,074,000 after purchasing an additional 2,126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in AMN Healthcare Services by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 9,247 shares of the companys stock valued at $980,000 after purchasing an additional 824 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.94% of the companys stock. About AMN Healthcare Services (Get Rating) AMN Healthcare Services, Inc provides healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services to hospitals and healthcare facilities in the United States. It operates through three segments: Nurse and Allied Solutions, Physician and Leadership Solutions, and Technology and Workforce Solutions. The Nurse and Allied Solutions segment offers travel nurse staffing, rapid response nurse staffing and labor disruption, allied staffing, local staffing, and revenue cycle solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for AMN Healthcare Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AMN Healthcare Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Admiral Group plc (LON:ADM Get Rating) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eight analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 2,201.50 ($27.37). ADM has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Peel Hunt restated a hold rating and set a GBX 2,160 ($26.85) price objective on shares of Admiral Group in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an underweight rating and issued a GBX 1,650 ($20.51) target price on shares of Admiral Group in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating and issued a GBX 2,150 ($26.73) target price on shares of Admiral Group in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Numis Securities reiterated an add rating and issued a GBX 2,575 ($32.01) target price on shares of Admiral Group in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Admiral Group to a hold rating and set a GBX 2,150 ($26.73) target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Get Admiral Group alerts: Admiral Group Trading Up 0.0 % ADM opened at GBX 2,294 ($28.52) on Tuesday. Admiral Group has a twelve month low of GBX 1,691.50 ($21.03) and a twelve month high of GBX 2,404.41 ($29.89). The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 2,259.74 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 2,161.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 107.56. The stock has a market capitalization of 6.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,850.00, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.25. Insider Activity at Admiral Group Admiral Group Company Profile In related news, insider Geraint Jones sold 1,175 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,851 ($23.01), for a total value of 21,749.25 ($27,037.85). In other Admiral Group news, insider Geraint Jones sold 1,175 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,851 ($23.01), for a total value of 21,749.25 ($27,037.85). Also, insider Milena Mondini de Focatiis sold 24,674 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,262 ($28.12), for a total transaction of 558,125.88 ($693,841.22). 16.54% of the stock is owned by insiders. (Get Rating) Admiral Group plc, a financial services company, provides motor, household, travel, and pet insurance, as well as personal lending products worldwide. It operates through UK Insurance, International Insurance, Admiral Money, and Other segments. The company provides underwriting services, which includes motor, household, pet, and travel insurance, as well as car and home insurance; and provides unsecured personal loans and car finance products primarily in the United Kingdom. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Admiral Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Admiral Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Thursday morning. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $74.00 to $79.00 in a report on Monday, May 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of Apollo Global Management from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the company from $84.00 to $88.00 in a report on Friday, February 10th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $73.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $69.00 to $68.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Apollo Global Management currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $74.25. Get Apollo Global Management alerts: Apollo Global Management Price Performance Shares of NYSE:APO opened at $72.98 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $64.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $65.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.16, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.67. Apollo Global Management has a one year low of $45.62 and a one year high of $74.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.87. Apollo Global Management Increases Dividend Insider Buying and Selling at Apollo Global Management The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Investors of record on Monday, May 22nd were given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This is a boost from Apollo Global Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.36%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 19th. Apollo Global Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -71.07%. In other Apollo Global Management news, insider Joshua Harris sold 332,539 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.51, for a total transaction of $21,784,629.89. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 34,466,852 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,257,923,474.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 2,070,663 shares of company stock worth $133,983,741. 15.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Apollo Global Management A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of APO. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Apollo Global Management by 87.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 37,374,072 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,316,818,000 after purchasing an additional 17,476,830 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC bought a new stake in Apollo Global Management during the 1st quarter valued at about $353,603,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Apollo Global Management during the 4th quarter valued at about $332,126,000. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 78.1% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,830,094 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $557,709,000 after acquiring an additional 3,872,458 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 91.1% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,032,420 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $497,930,000 after acquiring an additional 3,829,740 shares during the period. 68.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Apollo Global Management (Get Rating) Apollo Global Management, Inc provides asset management services. It offers its clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three business strategies: yield, hybrid, and equity. The company was founded by Marc Rowan in 1990 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Global Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Global Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Horizon (NYSE:FHN Get Rating) had its price objective trimmed by Bank of America from $14.00 to $13.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. TheStreet cut First Horizon from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised First Horizon from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $25.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $25.00 target price on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Jefferies Financial Group raised First Horizon from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded First Horizon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, May 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, First Horizon presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $21.00. Get First Horizon alerts: First Horizon Price Performance Shares of NYSE FHN opened at $11.71 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $6.30 billion, a PE ratio of 7.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. First Horizon has a 52-week low of $8.99 and a 52-week high of $24.92. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $13.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.84. First Horizon Dividend Announcement First Horizon ( NYSE:FHN Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $863.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $871.36 million. First Horizon had a net margin of 24.76% and a return on equity of 13.53%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 22.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.38 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that First Horizon will post 1.74 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.12%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. First Horizons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.04%. Insider Buying and Selling at First Horizon In other First Horizon news, Director Colin V. Reed acquired 25,138 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $9.96 per share, for a total transaction of $250,374.48. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 187,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,862,788.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Director William H. Fenstermaker purchased 10,000 shares of First Horizon stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $11.62 per share, with a total value of $116,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 256,312 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,978,345.44. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Colin V. Reed purchased 25,138 shares of First Horizon stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $9.96 per share, for a total transaction of $250,374.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 187,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,862,788.92. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 42,036 shares of company stock worth $436,725. 1.55% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Horizon Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Prelude Capital Management LLC lifted its position in First Horizon by 23.0% during the 1st quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 418,902 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,448,000 after acquiring an additional 78,207 shares in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of First Horizon by 79.4% in the 1st quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 14,772 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $146,000 after purchasing an additional 6,536 shares in the last quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of First Horizon in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $133,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its position in shares of First Horizon by 225.7% in the 1st quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 465,511 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,277,000 after purchasing an additional 322,579 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sculptor Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of First Horizon in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $14,995,000. 77.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. First Horizon Company Profile (Get Rating) First Horizon Corp. (Tennessee) operates as a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of checking accounts, savings products, mortgage banking, lending, and financing to individuals and businesses. It operates the business through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Core & Main (NYSE:CNM Get Rating) had its price objective raised by Truist Financial from $24.00 to $29.00 in a report released on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other research analysts also recently commented on CNM. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Core & Main from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Core & Main from $31.00 to $37.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Core & Main from $26.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Core & Main from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Core & Main from $33.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.78. Get Core & Main alerts: Core & Main Trading Up 1.4 % NYSE CNM opened at $27.99 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 2.71 and a quick ratio of 1.60. The firms fifty day moving average price is $25.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $23.01. The company has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.14 and a beta of 0.83. Core & Main has a 12 month low of $18.75 and a 12 month high of $28.87. Insider Transactions at Core & Main Core & Main ( NYSE:CNM Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, June 6th. The company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.60 billion. Core & Main had a net margin of 5.52% and a return on equity of 18.42%. The companys revenue was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.74 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Core & Main will post 1.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other news, President Bradford A. Cowles sold 24,889 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.10, for a total value of $699,380.90. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 14,679 shares in the company, valued at approximately $412,479.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, President Bradford A. Cowles sold 24,889 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.10, for a total value of $699,380.90. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 14,679 shares in the company, valued at $412,479.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Cd&R Investment Associates X, sold 14,377,183 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.15, for a total transaction of $318,454,603.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 14,780,175 shares of company stock worth $329,114,975. Company insiders own 3.49% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Core & Main Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CNM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Core & Main by 83.9% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 114,575 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,772,000 after purchasing an additional 52,285 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of Core & Main by 68.4% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 134,101 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,245,000 after purchasing an additional 54,460 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in Core & Main during the first quarter worth about $1,208,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Core & Main during the first quarter worth about $364,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Core & Main during the first quarter worth about $58,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.16% of the companys stock. About Core & Main (Get Rating) Core & Main, Inc distributes water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and related services to municipalities, private water companies, and professional contractors in the municipal, non-residential, and residential end markets in the United States. Its products include pipes, valves, hydrants, fittings, and other products and services; storm drainage products, such as corrugated piping systems, retention basins, inline drains, manholes, grates, geosynthetics, and other related products; fire protection products, including fire protection pipes, sprinkler heads and other devices, fire suppression systems, and related accessories, as well as fabrication services; and meter products, such as smart meter products, installation, software and other services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Core & Main Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Core & Main and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR Get Rating) had its price target cut by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $113.00 to $112.00 in a report published on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets downgraded Digital Realty Trust from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their price objective for the company from $121.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $81.00 to $80.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 17th. Barclays increased their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $79.00 to $80.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $115.00 to $105.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $116.69. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Digital Realty Trust Stock Down 0.2 % DLR stock opened at $104.25 on Wednesday. Digital Realty Trust has a 52 week low of $85.76 and a 52 week high of $139.14. The company has a market capitalization of $30.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 93.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.52. The firms 50-day moving average is $96.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $102.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. Digital Realty Trust Dividend Announcement Digital Realty Trust ( NYSE:DLR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.19 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by ($1.46). Digital Realty Trust had a return on equity of 2.34% and a net margin of 7.61%. The company had revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.67 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Digital Realty Trust will post 6.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $1.22 per share. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.68%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. Digital Realty Trusts payout ratio is 439.64%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Digital Realty Trust news, Director Jean F. H. P. Mandeville sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.47, for a total transaction of $146,205.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at $991,854.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Digital Realty Trust Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 1.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 45,428,164 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,505,566,000 after purchasing an additional 483,852 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 0.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 27,569,868 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,710,394,000 after purchasing an additional 185,845 shares during the last quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. grew its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 25.3% in the third quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 21,480,318 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,130,012,000 after purchasing an additional 4,341,066 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 0.5% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 20,131,762 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,979,148,000 after purchasing an additional 96,038 shares during the last quarter. Finally, APG Asset Management US Inc. grew its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 0.3% in the first quarter. APG Asset Management US Inc. now owns 10,020,960 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $985,161,000 after purchasing an additional 26,148 shares during the last quarter. 95.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Digital Realty Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Citigroup lowered shares of Fibra Terrafina (OTCMKTS:CBAOF Get Rating) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report released on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. Fibra Terrafina Price Performance Shares of CBAOF stock opened at $1.80 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $1.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.67. Fibra Terrafina has a 52-week low of $1.23 and a 52-week high of $1.93. Get Fibra Terrafina alerts: About Fibra Terrafina (Get Rating) Further Reading Terrafina is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the acquisition, development, and management of industrial real estate properties. Its portfolio includes distribution centers, warehouses, and light manufacturing properties located at Bajio and Northern Mexico. The company was founded on January 29, 2013 and is headquartered in Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico. Receive News & Ratings for Fibra Terrafina Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fibra Terrafina and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Impax Asset Management Group plc (LON:IPX Get Rating) insider Ian Simm bought 2,580 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 620 ($7.71) per share, with a total value of 15,996 ($19,885.63). Ian Simm also recently made the following trade(s): Get Impax Asset Management Group alerts: On Tuesday, June 6th, Ian Simm sold 1,864 shares of Impax Asset Management Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 647 ($8.04), for a total transaction of 12,060.08 ($14,992.64). Impax Asset Management Group Stock Performance IPX stock opened at GBX 645 ($8.02) on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.57, a current ratio of 2.74 and a quick ratio of 2.26. Impax Asset Management Group plc has a 1 year low of GBX 483.54 ($6.01) and a 1 year high of GBX 898.50 ($11.17). The company has a market cap of 855.27 million, a P/E ratio of 1,433.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.05 and a beta of 1.46. The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 773.17 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 774.86. Impax Asset Management Group Cuts Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a GBX 4.70 ($0.06) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a yield of 0.6%. Impax Asset Management Groups payout ratio is 6,222.22%. Separately, Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 1,000 ($12.43) target price on shares of Impax Asset Management Group in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. About Impax Asset Management Group (Get Rating) Impax Asset Management Group plc is a publicly owned investment manager. Through its subsidiaries, it provides investment services to funds specializing in the environmental markets sector, with a focus on alternative energy, water, and waste sectors, primarily in the United Kingdom. It manages a range of funds and segregated accounts on behalf of institutional and private investors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Impax Asset Management Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Impax Asset Management Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Washington (CNN) China has been operating military and intelligence facilities in Cuba since at least 2019 and is continuing to expand its intelligence gathering capabilities around the world, a Biden administration official and two other sources told CNN Saturday. The administration official said China conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019 under the Trump administration and described the challenge as inherited. This is well-documented in the intelligence record, the official said. The sources acknowledged that China has been spying on the US from various sites based in Cuba for years after the White House denied reports earlier this week that China was planning to build a new signals intelligence facility on the island. Earlier this week, CNN confirmed a report by the Wall Street Journal that Cuba agreed to allow China to build a new spying facility on the island that could allow the Chinese to eavesdrop on electronic communications across the southeastern US. That deal is in principle, one of the sources familiar with the intelligence said, and the facility is not believed to have been built. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, called the Journals report not accurate and on Saturday the administration official further explained this is an ongoing issue, and not a new development, and the arrangement as characterized in the reporting does not comport with our understanding. One of the sources described the discrepancy as semantic quibbling. But the revelations about expanding Chinese intelligence operations in Cuba comes as US-China relations have reached a low point, following the spy balloon incident in February and several aggressive maneuvers by Chinese aircraft and ships against US assets in the South China Sea more recently. The US has been trying to mend the relationship, and dispatched CIA Director Bill Burns to Beijing last month for talks with Chinese officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also expected to visit China in the coming weeks. But last week, Chinas defense chief refused a meeting request by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and warned the US to stop operating near Chinese waters and airspace. Former US Ambassador to China Max Baucus said Saturday he was surprised the Biden administration initially denied reporting that China has operated intelligence and military facilities in Cuba and acknowledged China has long had a presence in Cuba. Baucus, who served as the top US diplomat in China for nearly three years during the Obama administration, described the Chinese intelligence capabilities during an interview on CNN as not quite as strong as some fear, but added, I think China would like to make it much stronger. The source familiar with the intelligence told CNN that the various military and intelligence sites that China maintains in Cuba are part of the long history of cooperation between the two countries and part of Chinas strategy to align itself with other autocratic countries from which it can advance its national security interests. The Chinese military and intelligence sites monitor maritime traffic, the US Guantanamo naval base and communications, the source familiar with the intelligence said. With so many communications moving from physical lines and cables to wireless, the Peoples Republic of China will move to try to monitor those as well, the source added. It was our assessment that, despite awareness of the basing efforts and some attempts to address this challenge in the past Administration, we were not making enough progress and needed a more direct approach, the Biden administration official said on Saturday. The President directed his team to come up with an approach to address this challenge, the official added. Our experts assess that our diplomatic efforts have slowed the PRC down. We think the PRC isnt quite where they had hoped to be. There are still challenges, and we continue to be concerned about the PRCs longstanding activities with Cuba. The PRC will keep trying to enhance its presence in Cuba, and we will keep working to disrupt it. This story was first published on CNN.com. "China has been operating military and spy facilities in Cuba for years, US officials say" Shore Capital reiterated their house stock rating on shares of James Cropper (LON:CRPR Get Rating) in a report issued on Wednesday, Digital Look reports. James Cropper Price Performance CRPR stock opened at GBX 845 ($10.50) on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 750.15 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 749.81. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 2.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 77.91. The stock has a market cap of 80.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7,681.82 and a beta of 0.97. James Cropper has a fifty-two week low of GBX 560 ($6.96) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 1,140 ($14.17). Get James Cropper alerts: Insider Transactions at James Cropper In other news, insider Mark A. J. Cropper acquired 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 19th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 609 ($7.57) per share, for a total transaction of 304,500 ($378,543.01). In other news, insider Mark A. J. Cropper purchased 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 605 ($7.52) per share, for a total transaction of 48,400 ($60,169.07). Also, insider Mark A. J. Cropper bought 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 19th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 609 ($7.57) per share, for a total transaction of 304,500 ($378,543.01). Insiders own 45.85% of the companys stock. About James Cropper James Cropper PLC manufactures and sells papers products and advanced materials. It operates through Paper, Colourform, and Technical Fibre Products segments. The company offers specialty papers and boards; and moulded fiber products, as well as converts paper. It also manufactures nonwovens material used in zero solutions, aerospace and defense, fire protection, construction, and transportation. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for James Cropper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for James Cropper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Melia Hotels International (OTCMKTS:SMIZF Get Rating) and Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH Get Rating) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and valuation. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Melia Hotels International and Choice Hotels International, as reported by MarketBeat. Get Melia Hotels International alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Melia Hotels International 3 2 1 0 1.67 Choice Hotels International 4 3 1 0 1.63 Melia Hotels International presently has a consensus target price of $5.55, suggesting a potential downside of 6.72%. Choice Hotels International has a consensus target price of $122.38, suggesting a potential upside of 4.44%. Given Choice Hotels Internationals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Choice Hotels International is more favorable than Melia Hotels International. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Melia Hotels International N/A N/A N/A Choice Hotels International 21.50% 129.67% 13.82% Institutional and Insider Ownership This table compares Melia Hotels International and Choice Hotels Internationals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 24.1% of Melia Hotels International shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 58.0% of Choice Hotels International shares are held by institutional investors. 23.1% of Choice Hotels International shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Melia Hotels International and Choice Hotels Internationals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Melia Hotels International N/A N/A N/A ($0.34) -17.64 Choice Hotels International $1.40 billion 4.26 $332.15 million $5.80 20.20 Choice Hotels International has higher revenue and earnings than Melia Hotels International. Melia Hotels International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Choice Hotels International, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Dividends Melia Hotels International pays an annual dividend of $0.03 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Choice Hotels International pays an annual dividend of $1.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Melia Hotels International pays out -9.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Choice Hotels International pays out 19.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Choice Hotels International has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Choice Hotels International is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Summary Choice Hotels International beats Melia Hotels International on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Melia Hotels International (Get Rating) Melia Hotels International SA engages in the operation and management of hotels. It operates through the following segments: Hotel Management, Hotel Business, Real Estate, Vacation Club, Corporate, and Others. The Hotel Management segment operates hotels under management and franchise agreements. The Hotel Business segment operates hotel units owned or leased by the group. The Real Estate segment includes the capital gains on asset rotation, and real estate development and operation. The Vacation Club segment includes the results deriving from the sale of shared rights of use of specific vacation complex units. The Corporate segment includes structural costs, results linked to the intermediation and marketing of room and tourist service reservations. The Other segment includes additional income from the hotel business, such as casinos or tour-operator activities. The company was founded by Gabriel Escarrer Julia in 1956 and is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. About Choice Hotels International (Get Rating) Choice Hotels International, Inc. together with its subsidiaries, operates as a hotel franchisor. The company operates through Hotel Franchising & Management and Other segments. It franchises lodging properties under the brand names of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, WoodSpring Suites, Everhome Suites, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Hotel Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, Radisson Inn & Suites , Park Inn by Radisson, Radisson Individuals, and Radisson Collection. The company also develops and markets cloud-based property management software to non-franchised hoteliers. Choice Hotels International, Inc. was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Receive News & Ratings for Melia Hotels International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Melia Hotels International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR Get Rating) had its target price cut by Barclays from $150.00 to $140.00 in a research note released on Thursday, The Fly reports. A number of other research firms have also weighed in on NBR. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Nabors Industries from $110.00 to $91.00 in a report on Friday, June 2nd. StockNews.com lowered Nabors Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 26th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Nabors Industries from $200.00 to $140.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Nabors Industries from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $175.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $150.86. Get Nabors Industries alerts: Nabors Industries Stock Down 2.8 % Nabors Industries stock opened at $102.34 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $103.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $134.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40. The firm has a market cap of $976.32 million, a P/E ratio of -6.84 and a beta of 2.77. Nabors Industries has a twelve month low of $83.05 and a twelve month high of $190.90. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nabors Industries Nabors Industries ( NYSE:NBR Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.55) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by ($1.61). The company had revenue of $789.01 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $767.96 million. Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 26.14% and a negative net margin of 4.03%. On average, analysts forecast that Nabors Industries will post 8.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NBR. ProShare Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Nabors Industries during the 1st quarter worth about $243,000. Raymond James & Associates acquired a new stake in Nabors Industries during the 1st quarter worth about $213,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Nabors Industries during the 1st quarter worth about $251,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Nabors Industries by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 73,869 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $11,281,000 after purchasing an additional 907 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in Nabors Industries by 108.6% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,779 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $576,000 after purchasing an additional 1,967 shares during the period. 71.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Nabors Industries (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. See Also 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. Premium Brands Holdings Co. (TSE:PBH Get Rating) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the ten ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$118.30. A number of analysts have recently issued reports on PBH shares. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$107.00 to C$104.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 17th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$105.00 to C$111.00 in a report on Friday, March 17th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$114.00 to C$120.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Cormark boosted their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$115.00 to C$120.00 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, TD Securities upped their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Get Premium Brands alerts: Premium Brands Stock Performance Shares of PBH opened at C$100.13 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 147.06, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 2.49. Premium Brands has a twelve month low of C$77.36 and a twelve month high of C$104.50. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$100.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$94.36. The firm has a market cap of C$4.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.39, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.97. Premium Brands Dividend Announcement Premium Brands ( TSE:PBH Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported C$1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$1.35 by C($0.16). Premium Brands had a net margin of 2.31% and a return on equity of 8.10%. The company had revenue of C$1.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.55 billion. On average, analysts forecast that Premium Brands will post 4.8255422 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a $0.77 dividend. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. Premium Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 96.55%. About Premium Brands (Get Rating) Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products and ready-to-eat meals. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Premium Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Premium Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dycom Industries, Inc. (NYSE:DY Get Rating) Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for shares of Dycom Industries in a report issued on Thursday, June 8th. Zacks Research analyst A. Gupta now forecasts that the construction company will earn $1.62 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.83. The consensus estimate for Dycom Industries current full-year earnings is $6.11 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Dycom Industries FY2026 earnings at $7.90 EPS. Get Dycom Industries alerts: Dycom Industries (NYSE:DY Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The construction company reported $1.73 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $1.03. Dycom Industries had a net margin of 4.38% and a return on equity of 19.99%. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $940.22 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.51 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 19.3% on a year-over-year basis. Dycom Industries Stock Performance Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Dycom Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. Craig Hallum raised their target price on shares of Dycom Industries from $110.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Dycom Industries from $124.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating on shares of Dycom Industries in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, Raymond James began coverage on shares of Dycom Industries in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. They issued an outperform rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $127.33. Shares of DY opened at $109.06 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $93.60. The company has a quick ratio of 3.16, a current ratio of 3.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $3.20 billion, a PE ratio of 18.74 and a beta of 1.31. Dycom Industries has a 52-week low of $77.33 and a 52-week high of $122.13. Insider Activity In related news, VP Ryan F. Urness sold 3,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.90, for a total transaction of $313,170.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 26,242 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,490,365.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Dycom Industries news, VP Ryan F. Urness sold 3,300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.90, for a total transaction of $313,170.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 26,242 shares in the company, valued at $2,490,365.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO H Andrew Deferrari sold 10,282 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.11, for a total value of $967,639.02. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 148,425 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,968,276.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 4.25% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dycom Industries A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DY. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Dycom Industries by 40.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,639,633 shares of the construction companys stock worth $434,502,000 after buying an additional 1,327,595 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in shares of Dycom Industries by 149.4% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 883,489 shares of the construction companys stock worth $82,695,000 after buying an additional 529,178 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its position in shares of Dycom Industries by 43.5% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,728,780 shares of the construction companys stock worth $161,814,000 after buying an additional 524,292 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Dycom Industries during the 4th quarter worth about $31,646,000. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Dycom Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,636,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.82% of the companys stock. About Dycom Industries (Get Rating) Dycom Industries, Inc provides contracting services throughout the United States. Its services include engineering, construction, maintenance and installation services to telecommunications providers, underground facility locating services to various utilities, including other construction and maintenance services to electric and gas utilities, and others. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Dycom Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dycom Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on shares of Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB Get Rating) in a research note released on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. The firm issued an overweight rating and a $63.00 target price on the oil and gas companys stock. SLB has been the topic of a number of other reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Schlumberger in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group upgraded Schlumberger from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $48.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Schlumberger from $55.00 to $60.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on Schlumberger from $68.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Schlumberger from $64.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $64.44. Get Schlumberger alerts: Schlumberger Trading Up 0.2 % NYSE SLB opened at $47.53 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $47.65 and a 200-day moving average price of $50.87. The company has a market cap of $67.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.77. Schlumberger has a 52 week low of $30.65 and a 52 week high of $62.78. Schlumberger Dividend Announcement Schlumberger ( NYSE:SLB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 21st. The oil and gas company reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.02. Schlumberger had a return on equity of 20.16% and a net margin of 12.94%. The business had revenue of $7.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.46 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.34 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 29.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Schlumberger will post 3.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 7th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 6th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.10%. Schlumbergers payout ratio is 37.17%. Insider Transactions at Schlumberger In other news, CFO Stephane Biguet sold 6,250 shares of Schlumberger stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.70, for a total transaction of $273,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 207,265 shares in the company, valued at $9,057,480.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 18,750 shares of company stock valued at $862,688 in the last three months. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Schlumberger in the first quarter worth approximately $25,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 35.3% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 39,287 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,623,000 after purchasing an additional 10,240 shares in the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new position in Schlumberger in the 1st quarter worth $232,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Schlumberger during the first quarter valued at $419,000. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 112,003 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,627,000 after acquiring an additional 3,209 shares during the period. 80.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Schlumberger (Get Rating) Schlumberger NV engages in the provision of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry. It operates through the following business segments: Digital and Integration, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, and Production Systems. The Digital and Integration segment combines the companys digital solutions and data products with its Asset Performance Solutions (APS). Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Schlumberger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schlumberger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Verition Fund Management LLC lowered its holdings in DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE Get Rating) by 16.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 189,413 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 36,553 shares during the period. Verition Fund Management LLC owned approximately 0.10% of DTE Energy worth $22,262,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. CI Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of DTE Energy by 966.7% in the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 256 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of DTE Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora purchased a new position in shares of DTE Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Godsey & Gibb Inc. purchased a new position in shares of DTE Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $47,000. Finally, Sandy Spring Bank raised its holdings in shares of DTE Energy by 212.7% during the 4th quarter. Sandy Spring Bank now owns 469 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 319 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.55% of the companys stock. Get DTE Energy alerts: DTE Energy Stock Down 0.5 % NYSE:DTE traded down $0.54 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $111.43. 1,605,581 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,140,518. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $76.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.72, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.60. DTE Energy has a 1 year low of $100.64 and a 1 year high of $136.77. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. DTE Energy Announces Dividend DTE Energy ( NYSE:DTE Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $3.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.79 billion. DTE Energy had a net margin of 6.15% and a return on equity of 10.59%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.31 earnings per share. Analysts predict that DTE Energy will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.9525 per share. This represents a $3.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. DTE Energys payout ratio is currently 67.43%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a 29.50 ($31.72) price objective on DTE Energy in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group set a 23.60 ($25.38) price target on DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Barclays set a 25.00 ($26.88) price target on DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on DTE Energy from $120.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on DTE Energy from $123.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $76.82. Insider Activity In other DTE Energy news, SVP Joann Chavez sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.09, for a total value of $452,360.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 14,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,651,905.63. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other DTE Energy news, VP Lisa A. Muschong sold 700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.41, for a total value of $77,287.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 5,455 shares in the company, valued at $602,286.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Joann Chavez sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.09, for a total value of $452,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 14,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,651,905.63. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock. DTE Energy Profile (Get Rating) DTE Energy Co operates as a diversified energy company, which engages in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, DTE Vantage, Energy Trading, and Corporate and Other. The Electric segment consists of generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. See Also Receive News & Ratings for DTE Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DTE Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated their buy rating on shares of Workspace Group (LON:WKP Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have a GBX 834 ($10.37) price objective on the stock. WKP has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Peel Hunt restated a buy rating and set a GBX 600 ($7.46) price target on shares of Workspace Group in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Numis Securities restated a buy rating and set a GBX 630 ($7.83) price target on shares of Workspace Group in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Workspace Group from GBX 650 ($8.08) to GBX 700 ($8.70) and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 640.67 ($7.96). Get Workspace Group alerts: Workspace Group Price Performance Shares of WKP stock opened at GBX 521.50 ($6.48) on Wednesday. Workspace Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 335.20 ($4.17) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 668 ($8.30). The firm has a market capitalization of 999.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2,607.50, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 52.78, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 1.19. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 479.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 473.73. Workspace Group Increases Dividend About Workspace Group The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 6th will be paid a GBX 17.40 ($0.22) dividend. This is an increase from Workspace Groups previous dividend of $8.40. This represents a yield of 3.63%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Workspace Groups dividend payout ratio is currently -13,000.00%. (Get Rating) Established in 1987, and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1993, Workspace owns and manages some 4 million sq. ft. of business space in London. We are home to London's brightest businesses, including fast growing and established brands across a wide range of sectors. Workspace is geared towards helping businesses perform at their very best. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Workspace Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Workspace Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Paris, TX (75460) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High 98F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 77F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Minneapolis (CNN) In Queens, New York, William Medina was blasted with smoke, his lungs choked by polluted air as he delivered Uber Eats orders by scooter. About 2 p.m. in Brooklyn, Matt Leichenger was in the back of his UPS truck sorting packages. His eyes burned and watered, his throat grew tight and his head felt woozy, turning the labels on the packages into a blur. That day, the drifting smoke from Canadian wildfires resulted in New York City landing the unsavory distinction of having the worlds worst air pollution and Medina and Leichenger were stuck in the thick of it. When wildfire smoke smothers US cities and communities, suddenly creating a hazardous air quality event, workers like Leichenger say theyre left gasping for help to keep doing their jobs. I sent a message [to supervisors] saying that I was feeling lightheaded and might need to take a second and have some water, and they just said, copy, Leichenger told CNN. They didnt say that we should catch some fresh air inside, so in the moment when I was just overwhelmed and dizzy, I just didnt think about it. So I sat in the drivers seat of my truck and drank some water, which I guess helped a little bit, but they didnt give any guidance whatsoever. The 27-year-old Leichenger, who was five hours into a 12-hour shift that day, eventually got a mask by popping into a bodega where he ended up being given one. The bodega [clerk] is willing to give me a mask for free, but my employer did not, said Leichenger, an alternate shop steward of the Teamsters Local 804, whose members are among the 340,000 UPS Teamsters voting this week whether to authorize a strike if theres an impasse on contract negotiations. On Thursday, Teamsters Local 804 partnered with New York City Democratic Socialists of America to distribute donated KN95 masks to workers. UPS on Friday told CNN in a statement that the company is closely tracking the air quality and that the wellbeing and safety of UPSers is our number one priority. We are working on a variety of immediate actions, Jim Mayer, UPS spokesman, wrote via email. This includes the speedy distribution of masks for our employees in affected areas. We are talking with our drivers and workers in affected areas to review CDC guidelines and local guidance from elected officials. He added: We are following developments closely and will continue to be in close contact with our people as the situation evolves. Medina, a member of the Los Deliveristas Unidos worker protection collective, said Uber does not provide masks or other protective equipment to workers like him. I pay for my gear, my goggles, my mask, everything with the money that I earn, he told CNN, noting the $125 to $150 he earns from an eight- to 14-hour shift mostly comes from tips. Uber did not immediately return a query for comment. The New York governors office this week announced a wave of advisories and efforts in response to the spike in the Air Quality Index, including the issuance of health directives for individuals, the distribution of masks, suspension of school activities, enhanced protection measures for racehorses, the offering of refunds for park visits, and the deployment of a forest ranger team to Canada. Still, what East Coast states experienced this week and previous episodes of smoke clogging the air in other parts of the US arent one-off events and instead should highlight the need for policy change, said Mark Borgschulte, a University of Illinois labor economist who last year co-authored a working paper on the effect of wildfire smoke on the labor market. That could include greater attention paid to improving indoor air quality as well as flexible work arrangements. Wildfire-prone states such as Colorado and Texas have issued guidance on the health effects of wildfire smoke, with states such as California and Oregon issuing permanent worker protection regulations through their respective state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) departments. Theres been just enormous improvements in air quality over the last 50 years such that the share of the bad air days that were experiencing is due to wildfire smoke, he said, noting research from Marshall Burke, an associate professor in the University of Stanfords Department of Earth System Science. Borgschulte said that environmental shocks typically have direct effects on health, but they also have a secondary effect in generating avoidance behavior, he said. We only make these types of adjustments if our well-being is at stake, because avoidance behavior is costly, in some sense; were deviating from our plan, he said. And that avoidance or the need to respond to caregiving duties then filters through the economy in reduced visits, lower sales and, eventually, lower employment. One of the things that we find is both the magnitude of our effects and these effects on employment pretty strongly suggests that something is happening as a result of smoke exposure that disrupts economic relationships, Borgschulte said. Research is limited, however, as to how wildfire smoke ultimately affects job choices and to what extent people become disinclined to work in higher-exposure fields with greater exposure, he said. For now, workers like Leichenger remain on the front lines. Its just like the pandemic, he said. This industry is one that in the toughest conditions were just going to still be expected to go to work. He added: Because if we stop working, then the entire economy just freezes. This story was first published on CNN, "Hazardous air quality leaves some workers gasping for help." Landowners will receive valuable information during Forest Management Field Day, Saturday, June 17. It will be from 9 a.m. to noon in The White Barn at Trail of Tears State Forest near 3240 State Forest Road, in Jonesboro. Landowners are invited to attend this half-day, field day and learn about timber harvesting, forest management planning, and programs that can offset costs of forest management activities. The field day will include a tour of managed sites in the Trail of Tears State Forest. Presenters will include an Illinois Department of Natural Resources District Forester, U. S. National Resource Conservation Service staff, and other conservation professionals to provide guidance and answer questions. Water and snacks will be provided. Privately owned forestland is an important natural resource in southern Illinois. Properly managed forests can provide valuable wood products, priceless ecosystem services like flood control and water purification, and critical habitat to plants and animals in the region. Recommended forest management activities in southern Illinois often include invasive species control, the use of prescribed fire, vegetation thinning and timber harvest. But the when/where/how of management can be confusing. FORT KNOX, Ky. -- The remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. Ralph E. Richardson Jr., an airman killed during World War II, will be interred June 17 at Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia. Elmwood Funeral Home, Columbia, will perform graveside services preceding the interment. A native of Columbia, Richardson was a radio operator assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 93th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. He was serving aboard a B-24 Liberator bomber Aug. 1, 1943, when it crashed after being hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. His remains could not be identified following the war. Unidentified remains were buried as unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania. Richardson was 21 years old. Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command, tasked with recovering fallen American personnel, disinterred all American remains from the Bolovan Cemetery for identification. More than 80 unknowns could not be identified and were interred at Ardennes American Cemetery and Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, both in Belgium. In 2017, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began exhuming unknowns believed to be associated with unaccounted for airmen from Operation Tidal Wave losses, sending the remains to the DPAA Laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for examination and identification. Richardson was accounted for by the DPAA Sept. 14, 2022, after his remains were identified using circumstantial evidence as well as anthropological, mitochondrial DNA, and Y chromosome DNA analysis. His name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. For additional information about Tech. Sgt. Richardson, go to: https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3165318/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-richardson-r/ To learn more about the Department of Defenses mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, www.facebook.com/dodpaa, or call 703-699-1420/1169. JoAnne Martin is well-known throughout her community for her decades of service and kindness working with youth in the local schools and her church. The 80-year-old Livingston resident not only continues to work at the R&J Drugs in North, but she also remains busy serving her community through the music ministry at Livingston United Methodist Church and its United Methodist Women, or UMW, activities. Martin doesn't plan to sit down anytime soon and feels blessed to be able to still be a part of the community which she has grown to love. She said her propensity to help and give back to others came from her late parents, Harvey and Josephine. Her siblings are Debra Williams, Dewitt Livingston and the late Heyward Livingston, who served on Orangeburg County Council for more than 20 years. "We were brought up that way. My daddy and mama. That's just kind of how we were brought up. We always did for others as you would want them to do for you. So we've always done like that, Martin said. She grew up in Livingston UMC, where she is co-director of music with pianist Lynda Fogle, and has done everything from teaching Sunday school to performing her more current duties, which include serving as secretary/treasurer of the UMW and finance secretary for the church. She and the UMW deliver gifts to seniors during Christmas as part of their activities. They deliver to everyone from seniors who are shut-ins to seniors located at nursing homes. We usually take a basket of fruit. We do that every year. We've been doing that for a long time," she said. The UMW also supports the United Methodist Men's Club in its fundraising efforts. The United Methodist Men's Club usually has a fish fry in January, with proceeds going toward the Cooperative Church Ministries of North. "We're big with the Cooperative Church Ministries of North. We donate to that. That helps. I know we pay for a lot of people's medicine. We just help with whatever we can do there. The Cooperative Church Ministries helps to pay peoples light bills, whatevers needed for less fortunate people, she said. While she is not as active with the youth as she once was, that work has meant a lot to her. We used to do everything. We had the choir, we took them on trips. They made their own money. We had car washes, we had bake sales, any way that we could get a little bit of money, Martin said. Along with my sister-in-law, Renee Livingston, we did whatever it took to make a dime to take them somewhere. We would either go to Carowinds, Six Flags over Georgia or Myrtle Beach. We would just take them and have a good time. We would always have parents to go with us. They loved to go up there to Lake Junalaska in North Carolina, she said. One thing she has not slowed down is her music. She plays the organ for her church every Sunday, but also plays at Pine Hill UMC on the second and fourth Sundays. She has also played at Neeses UMC, where her brother, Dewitt, once preached. If anybody will ask me to play, I'll do my best if I can," said Martin. Her outreach work with the youth, particularly with the cantatas and other musical activities she and Fogle would engage them in, had to be slowed because of her age. We're not as active as we used to be because, one thing, I'm getting older and trying to pass my stuff on for somebody else to do. But we've had choirs, and we've had cantatas. I used to work with the youth, and they would sing. Everything has just kind of slowed down right now... except with the playing, Martin said. She began taking music lessons as a fifth grader under the tutelage of the late Callie Johnson in North and is glad shes able to use her talents for the glory of God. Mr. Cosgrove Carson and his wife donated an organ. I think it was 1976 or 1977. I said, Who's going to play it? I said, Well, I reckon I'll just have to learn how. So that's what I did. I just started playing, and have been playing the organ ever since, Martin said. She started working at age 15 at Reed's Grocery Store in North and continues to work four hours a day, Monday through Friday, at the local drug store in North. I went to work with Reed's Grocery Store when I was like 15. I took a little break whenever I had my children, then I went to work in 1971 with the school district right there in North. I worked 30 years before retiring, Martin said. She started working as a teacher's aide at the former North Elementary School. Then I was moved to the office. I was high school secretary. Then I was moved out to the district office, where I was a secretary out there. Then I got into food service. I was the food service supervisor, and that's what I retired in, she said. Martin retired in 2001, shortly after the former North School District 6 consolidated with Bowman 2 and Orangeburg 5 to create the former Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 in 1997. She enjoyed being something of a mentor to students. I loved working with the children there and trying to help them. ... Now I work at the drug store. It's funny because I know about everybody that comes through, Martin said. Shes worked there for more than a decade. Running into students at the drug store who remember her makes her feel good. I always tried to treat the children kind. If they came in and needed something, I tried to accommodate them. I did not talk ugly to them. I did not talk harsh to them. I tried to help them if I could. I think they respected me for that, Martin said. From the worst to the best, she welcomes them all. I can't recognize some of them. Some girl was in there the other day, and I didn't know her. She said, Ms. Martin, everybody knows you. I said, Well, I know. I appreciate y'all for remembering me, Martin said. She and her husband, the late Wildon Martin Jr., were the parents of Teresa, who died in 2005, Timmy and Gayle. She has nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and is looking forward to the birth of her first great-great-grandchild in November. It's fun when we all get together. I love them all. This is a great little town. Everybody, of course, knows everybody. If you need help, you can call on anybody. We have very kind people, Martin said. The octogenarian continues to spread her own kindness within the community. (CNN) Theodore Ted Kaczynski, the Harvard-trained math professor who unleashed a deadly bombing campaign from a shack in rural Montana and became known as the Unabomber, has died, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He was 81. Kaczynski was found unresponsive in his cell at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, around 12:25 a.m., Saturday morning, the bureau said in a statement. Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures, the bureau said. Staff requested emergency medical services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued. Mr. Kaczynski was transported by EMS to a local hospital and subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital personnel. Kaczynski had been serving eight life sentences after he pleaded guilty in 1998 for sending mail bombs that killed three people and wounded 23 others from 1978 to 1995. He was arrested in 1996 at a small, remote cabin in western Montana. In 2021, Kaczynski was moved to the federal medical center in North Carolina, according to the bureau. He had been held at Supermax in Florence, Colorado, before he was transferred to FMC Butner on December 14, 2021. Portrayed by prosecutors as a vengeful loner, Kaczynski published 30,000-word treatise that became known as the Unabomber Manifesto. In the document, Kaczynski claimed a moral high ground for his deadly campaign, justifying the attacks in the name of preserving humanity and nature from the onslaught of technology and exploitation. I believe in nothing, Kaczynski wrote. I dont even believe in the cult of nature-worshipers or wilderness-worshipers. (I am perfectly ready to litter in parts of the woods that are of no use to me I often throw cans in logged-over areas.) A sentencing memorandum quoted extensively from Kaczynskis journals, in which he wrote of a deep hatred of people. Since a tip from his brother David led to Kaczynskis arrest in April 1996, the family has claimed the writings reflected the mind of a paranoid schizophrenic, not a cold-blooded killer. A federal prison psychiatrist agreed, opening the way for prosecutors to drop their demand for the death sentence and allow a plea bargain. Merrick Garland, now the attorney general, oversaw the investigation and prosecution of Kaczynski. Diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic After an apparent suicide attempt in his jail cell before his plea, Kaczynski asked the judge to allow him to fire his attorneys and take over his own defense. He said he wanted to base his defense on his belief that technology is destroying humanity. Kaczynski agreed to undergo tests by a federal psychiatrist, Dr. Sally Johnson, to prove he was mentally competent to defend himself. While Johnson concluded that Kaczynski was mentally competent, she also diagnosed him as a paranoid schizophrenic. The last-minute plea deal was struck just before his trial was to begin. Prosecutors dropped their request that Kaczynski be given the death penalty and asked that he be given life in prison without parole. US. District Judge Garland Burrell Jr., who sentenced Kaczynski, said: The defendant committed unspeakable and monstrous crimes for which he shows utterly no remorse. Hell be closer to hell The plea bargain saved Kaczynski from a trial and possible death by lethal injection. Because of these vicious acts of terrorism and because of the callous nature of the crimes, Theodore Kaczynski poses a grave danger to society and should be sent to a facility where he can be closely monitored, Burrell said. At the sentencing hearing, Susan Mosser, who lost her husband in a Unabomber attack, urged Burrell to make the sentence bullet-proof, or bomb-proof, lock him so far down that when he does die, hell be closer to hell. Thats where the devil belongs. Her husband, Thomas, a New Jersey advertising executive, was killed by a package bomb in 1994. She spoke above occasional sobs in the courtroom, noting that her 15-month-old daughter Kelly had watched her father bleed after the bomb went off. No, no, no, not my Daddy! the little girl had cried. Justice has been done, and Theodore Kaczynski will never threaten anyone again, Attorney General Janet Reno said in a statement at the time. Kaczynskis other victims were computer rental store owner Hugh Scrutton and timber industry lobbyist Gilbert Murray. Geneticist Charles Epstein and computer expert David Gelernter were maimed in bombings. Epstein spoke out publicly about Kaczynski for the first time in 1998 after he was critically injured in the 1993 bombing, calling him the personification of evil, CNN reported at the time. At a 1998 news conference, Epstein said Kaczynskis guilty plea and sentence will never give victims a sense of closure, CNN reported. Theres never closure, said Epstein who lost three fingers on his right hand and suffered severe abdominal injuries, a broken arm and permanent hearing loss in the attack. Every time I look at my hand, its still there. Every time I have to have somebody speak up, its still there, he said during the news conference. A prosecutor had called Kaczynskis brother David, who provided the information that led to his brothers arrest, a true American hero. David Kaczynski, in a statement after the plea, said: My mother and I wish to reiterate our deep sorrow and regret to the victims(and) to reach out in whatever way possible to ease their pain and express our love. Ted Kaczynski had quit a tenure-track position at the University of California, Berkeley in 1969 to build a shack near Lincoln, Montana. He lived there without running water or electricity for more than 20 years. Kaczynski waged his 17-year anti-technology bombing campaign from the 13-by-13 foot shack. Along with the deaths and injuries he inflicted, Kaczynski threatened to blow up airplanes. He placed a bomb on one flight in 1979, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing when a fire broke out in the cargo hold. At one point, Kaczynski was able to force newspapers to print his 35,000-word manifesto, which denounced technology and the destruction of the environment. Its similarity to letters he sent to his family alerted his brother, who made the decision to turn Kaczynski in. In 1999, Kaczynski told Time magazine he would rather get the death penalty than spend the rest of my life in prison. This story was first published on CNN.com. "Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, dies at 81" (TBTCO) - Sau qua trinh chuan bi khan truong, quyet liet, nhat la sau 3 ot kiem thu a cho thay he thong ang ky, luu ky va thanh toan giao dich trai phieu doanh nghiep phat hanh rieng le (TPDNRL) tai Trung tam Luu ky Chung khoan Viet Nam (VSD) hoan thanh ve mat chuc nang va tich hop thong suot voi he thong cua cac ben lien quan. Theo o, en nay he thong ang ky, luu ky va thanh toan giao dich a san sang hoat ong theo ung ke hoach van hanh chinh thuc thi truong giao dich thu cap TPDNRL ma co quan quan ly giao nhiem vu Judging by the media landscape, ordinary women barely exist in Serbia in an election year like 2020 or any other time. In the era of COVID-19, an epidemiologist making the news is no shocker. But in the case of Dr. Darija Kisic Tepavcevic, deputy director of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia, the surprise stemmed from the subject being covered. Kisic Tepavcevic a familiar face in Serbia from her daily briefings broadcast by nearly all of Serbias TV stations found herself in the news in April not for her expert response to COVID-19, her tireless work at crisis headquarters, or her visits to virus hotspots across Serbia. Rather, her newly dyed hair took center stage. How had she managed a visit to the hairdresser, given the restrictions on salons? An epidemiologists hair had become breaking news in the midst of a global pandemic. Kisic Tepavcevics hair affair exemplifies a problem that is hardly new in Serbia: a media landscape dominated by men and reflecting wider societal oppression of women. Darija Kisic Tepavcevic. Image via Facebook. Serbia is a mans world and the media isnt about to let anyone forget it. Heres exhibit one: Some 3 million viewers (nearly half of the countrys approximately 7 million people) watch the evening news on Radio-Television Serbias RTS1 channel. Other networks bolster that viewership with their own news programs. These programs essentially serve as the primary influence on public opinion, since TV stations in Serbia have the broadest reach among people of all ages, educational backgrounds, social status, ideological beliefs, religions, and ethnic backgrounds. According to the results of media monitoring by the Novi Sad School of Journalism, approximately 80 percent of those given the chance to express their opinion, explain the results of their work, or represent social power on those broadcasts are men. That skewed media representation has barely budged in 20 years, which is how long the Novi Sad School of Journalism has been monitoring the media in Serbia. The situation further deteriorates during campaign season, when women make up less than 15 percent of subjects on news and informative programs. In an election year, these programs are almost entirely focused on campaigns and showcasing the activities of political elites in all spheres of life. The 2020 parliamentary election campaign was no exception. The only women routinely shown on these national programs are women whose current political positions make them omnipresent in daily political life: Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic, and President of the National Assembly Maja Gojkovic. Their function within the government essentially makes their inclusion in informative programs mandatory. During the pandemic, some female doctors, like Kisic Tepavcevic, have been shown thanks to their active role in responding to COVID-19. The only other prominent women given regular coverage were the leader of the ultranationalist Zavetnici (Oathkeepers) party, Milica Djurdjevic, and the controversial parliamentarian Gordana Comic. A longtime member of the Democratic Party (DS) until she was excommunicated for acting in breach of party decisions, Comic qualifies for media representation solely due to that scandal, rather than her nearly three decades of public service and activism for womens rights. In short, one of the most important journalistic sectors in Serbia informative national news programs only seeks out womens voices when they meet one of three conditions: occupying a position of power that is inseparable from media visibility, serving as experts who are part of a female-dominated profession such asmedicine, law, or education, or representing rule-breakers and scandal-makers. The Role of Parties Elections are the cornerstone of a democratic society. Thus, the way the media reports on elections reflects general societal beliefs and trends, as well as the professionalism and freedom of the media. Research reveals that the representation of women or lack thereof shows up in three areas during elections: the invisibility of women on candidate lists both before and after elections, the exclusion of womens voices, and the dismissal of women in the language that the media uses in their reporting. The Novi Sad School of Journalism has monitored every election in Serbia since 1996. According to its reports, the leader of the political party in power nearly always a man dominates election coverage. When women are given time and space to speak, their remarks are generally limited to statements in support of those leaders. When reporting on campaigns, the news media favors men to quote directly, interview, and cite as credible sources of information. The screen time dedicated to the elections in key news programs features men exclusively, whether they are the top candidate or further down the list, with the exception of the aforementioned nationalist Zavetnici party leader. The political parties themselves bear a significant portion of the blame for womens invisibility. An analysis of paid political advertising spots confirms that women are vastly underrepresented in this medium. The promotional spots that parties create to post on YouTube and other social media channels and which eventually are broadcast on TV feature primarily men, lending credence to the suspicion that women only appear on party candidate lists to comply with the legal requirement that one-third of all candidates for office be women. Ultimately, the goal of the parties should be that all of their candidates get enough visibility and recognition to attract voters to choose their list on voting day. But traditional Serbian society holds that politics is a mans job and that women have no place in it. The message from the media and the parties remains that female politicians exist to meet required quotas, not advance agendas. When women do succeed in attaining positions of power, they tend to follow their party leader obediently. Last spring, the opposition seized on this to attack the (female) prime minister when a video from her partys convention was shared. In the video, Prime Minister Brnabic is speaking to President Aleksandar Vucic, who is also the leader of the ruling party to which she belongs. Opposition social media channels took this opportunity to slate the prime minister for being a weak woman, characterizing her tone as subservient and meek as she openly calls Vucic boss. Head of the Serbian Household According to the Statistical Office of Serbia, women make up 51.3 percent of the population of Serbia, but men are predominantly named as heads of household. Judging by the media landscape, the whole country could be viewed as one big household, with men in the drivers seat. Female parliamentarians account for 37 percent of its members, but the female voice accounts for only 31 percent of the words broadcast in media reports. Simultaneously, aside from womens representation in sheer numbers, data on womens influence or on any real improvement of the standing of women in politics and society as a whole are barely available. Most Serbian women dont get a chance to make an impact, or feel unfit to do so. Even their own parties wont give them an equal opportunity to speak publicly and advocate for their, or their partys, position. Its no wonder the news media also shows little interest in the stories of women unless hair color or other scandals are involved. Women already dominate several sectors of the Serbian economy. More than three-quarters of employees in the health sector are women, with an almost equal 73.4 percent in the education sphere. Women make up 63 percent of the financial services sector, and also hold a high proportion of jobs in the judiciary and, perhaps ironically, the media. Taken together, it seems women have accomplished quite enough to be able to represent relevant subjects in a way that would meet Serbias exacting media standards. So, where are they? The only explanation that seems realistic is that Serbian society remains stubbornly traditional. That is just another way of saying that Serbia is still a mans world, at least for now. Dubravka Valic Nedeljkovic is the president of the executive board of the Novi Sad School of Journalism, a civil society organization founded in 1996 to develop and professionalize the media in Serbia. Before her retirement, she was a professor and head of the media department at the University of Novi Sad. GREENSBORO, N.C. Former President Donald Trump blasted his historic federal indictment as ridiculous and baseless" Saturday during his first public appearances since the charges were unsealed, painting the 37 felony counts as an attack on his supporters as he tried to turn dire legal peril to political advantage. Speaking at Republican state conventions in Georgia and North Carolina, Trump cast his indictment by the Department of Justice as an attempt to damage his chances of returning to the White House as he campaigns for a second term. Theyve launched one witch hunt after another to try and stop our movement, to thwart the will of the American people, Trump alleged in Georgia, later telling the crowd that, "In the end, theyre not coming after me. Theyre coming after you. The strategy is a well-worn one for Trump, who remains the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination despite his mounting legal woes, which also include criminal charges filed against him in March in New York. Again and again, in the face of investigation, Trump has tried to delegitimize law enforcement officials and portray himself and his supporters as victims, even when he is accused of serious crimes. Trump also vowed Saturday to remain in the race, even if he is convicted in the case. Ill never leave, he told Politico in an interview aboard his plane after his speech in Georgia. He further predicted that he wouldn't be convicted and sidestepped questions about whether he would pardon himself if he wins a second term. I dont think Ill ever have to, Trump said. I didnt do anything wrong. The indictment unsealed Friday charges Trump with willfully defying Justice Department demands that he return classified documents, enlisting aides in his efforts to hide the records and even telling his lawyers that he wanted to defy a subpoena for the materials stored at his residence. The indictment includes allegations that he stored documents in a ballroom and bathroom at his Mar-a-Lago resort, among other places. Trump is due to make his first federal court appearance Tuesday in Miami. He was charged alongside valet Walt Nauta, a personal aide whom prosecutors say moved boxes from a storage room to Trumps residence for him to review and later lied to investigators about the movement. Nauta traveled with Trump to Georgia, appearing by his side at a Waffle House stop where the former president signed autographs, posed for photos and told supporters, We did absolutely nothing wrong. Earlier Saturday, Trump was given a hero's welcome at the party convention in Georgia, where he drew loud applause as he slammed the investigation as a political hit job and accused his political enemies of launching one hoax and witch hunt after another to prevent his reelection. The ridiculous and baseless indictment by the Biden administrations weaponized Department of Injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country," he said. He also used his remarks to rail against President Joe Biden and his 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, accusing them of mishandling classified information and insisting he was treated unfairly because he is a Republican. But Trump overlooked a critical difference: Only he has been accused of intentionally trying to impede investigators by not returning the documents in question. In the Clinton probe, for instance, FBI investigators concluded that although she was extremely careless in her handling of classified emails on a private server, there was no evidence that she intended to break the law. And though the Biden investigation is ongoing, no evidence has emerged to suggest that he intentionally held onto the records or even knew that they were there, with his representatives turning over records after they were discovered and voluntarily consenting to FBI searches. Trump also lingered on Georgias role in his 2020 defeat, repeating his lies that he had won the state and defending his efforts to overturn Bidens victory, which is the subject of another ongoing investigation, this one by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Willis has suggested that any indictments would likely come in August. At the heart of the investigation is a recorded phone conversation in which Trump urges Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes just enough to overtake Biden and overturn Trumps narrow loss in the state. Trump has defended the phone call as perfect," and on Saturday lashed out against both Willis and the special counsel in the Mar-a-Lago case. Despite the latest criminal charges, attendees cheered him on in Georgia and in North Carolina, where he spoke at a state GOP convention dinner Saturday evening. About 100 supporters, some waving Witch Hunt signs, showed up to the Columbus, Georgia, airfield to greet Trump as he arrived. Jan Plemmons, 66, wearing an oversize foam Make America Great Again hat, called the federal charges absolutely ridiculous and said she was ready to campaign with Trump. To Michael Sellers, 67, it was criminal what they're doing to him." The indictment arrives as Trump is continuing to dominate the primary race. Among the various investigations Trump has faced, the documents case has long been considered the most perilous legal threat and the one most ripe for prosecution. But Trumps continued popularity among Republican voters is evident in how gingerly his primary rivals have treated the federal indictment. Mike Pence, whose appearance in North Carolina marked the first shared venue with his former boss since the ex-vice president announced his own campaign this past week, condemned the politicization of the Justice Department and urged Attorney General Merrick Garland "to stop hiding behind the special counsel and stand before the American people to explain the basis for the federal investigation into Trump. CHEYENNE The future of the statue of Esther Hobart Morris has looked grim lately. But hope is not lost, not yet. The Morris statue is not marked for disposal in a land fill. But Morris lost her place of honor in front of the Capitol Building, her home since the early 1960s, as part of the major renovation of the Capitol Building complex. The Capitol Building grounds were included in that project with a consultants recommendation to remove all statues from that area, which apparently is the trend nationally. The Morris statue now dwells in the exhibition area in the lower corridor that links the Capitol Building and the Herschler Building to the north. A statue of Chief Washakie which also once stood outside the Capitol is now in that exhibit designed for tourists and Wyoming school kids. So what is the fuss about. First of all you must understand that Esthers likeness is not just another old statue. Esther Hobart Morris is believed to have been responsible for influencing Wyomings frontier legislators to pass the bill that gave women the right to vote. That story has been questioned by some historians and embraced by others. But it is all we have. Yet surely she had something to do with making Wyoming the first state to grant women suffrage. The history of that period is murky and confusing. I once read the transcript of the session where the suffrage act was adopted. Frankly I thought the lawmakers treated it as a joke. Later they tried to repeal the suffrage law but their bill was vetoed by the governor. Despite this tacky history, it doesnt erase the fact that Wyoming ultimately was progressive in its treatment of womens rights. The Morris statue is an important symbol of that benchmark. Therefore, there is a group of Wyoming residents, male and female, who want Esther restored outside as a symbol of Wyomings role in recognizing womens rights. State officials, however, have opted to leave Esther inside. During a meeting last month of the subcommittee working on Capitol exhibits and interpretive signs, members were reminded of the history of the Capitol Building renovation and its role in educating students about Wyoming history. Instead of disgorging students from their school buses in the busy street in front of the Capitol Building, where Esther used to be, they now will emerge by the Herschler Building and enter through the corridor where the exhibits are placed under skylights with guides to explained the history behind each figure. Sen. Bill Landen, R-Lander, the co-chairman of the subcommittee, said the two statues, Esther and Washakie will be the centerpieces of that exhibit. The student experience was major in the planning of the renovation. The subcommittee also listened to residents who want the Morris statue moved back outside. They heard from the old guard as one official put it after the meeting adjourned. And it was the old guard. There was Peg Ostlund, whose father was Sen John Ostlund of Gillette and her late mother, Mary Ostlund who was a staunch support of returning Esther to outside. Peg Ostlund mentioned other supporters, including Mary Guthrie, daughter of a Wyoming Supreme Court justice and Celeste Colgan, former state executive, who couldnt be there. Esther, Ostlund said, was the face that goes with the state seal. Her position was that while the student experience was important, Esther was special. And there was Susan Garrett, daughter of former Gov. Stan Hathaway. I think she needs to be in the sunshine, Susan Garrett said. I think when youre struggling with equality as we are shes critical to Wyoming, Two legislative leaders apparently agree with Ostlund and Garrett. House Speaker Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, suggested later in an e-mail that a bill to return Morris to the outside may be forthcoming. In a separate e-mail, Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower. said he is working on it. Im very interested. Just trying to find a path, Driskill wrote. With support from these top legislative leaders, there is plenty of hope that Esther still may be returned to her perch in front of the Capitol Building where she belongs. Wyomingites take pride in our states live and let live ethos. We want to reside in a place where you have the freedom to live your life how you want, as long as youre not harming anyone and theyre not harming you. For many, that belief is a central part of what Wyoming is, right up there with our open spaces and slower pace of life. When were at our best, that value has produced a culture that focuses less on ideology and more on civility and problem solving. We can operate with grace and humility, and focus on the things we share rather than what divides us. And when we dont agree, we can respect that its OK for others to hold opinions unlike our own. In practice, history hasnt always played out that way. If you look through Wyomings past, its not difficult to find times when weve fallen short of this belief, or even used it to avoid addressing serious issues in our communities. Of late, weve seen an emergence of politicians, many of whom have only been here for a few years, who havent shown much interest in respecting other views. Youre either with us or against us, and those who fall on the outside arent merely people with different sets of beliefs, but people who are harmful. This weekend, Casper will host a series of Pride events, which are designed to recognize the citys LGBTQ community. They include a popular annual event at David Street Station and a march through downtown. This years Pride is occurring amid a time of increasing backlash against the LGBTQ community and its allies. There have been boycotts and attempts at book bans. Even more concerning are the personal attacks. Not too long ago, the campaign Facebook page of a now-Natrona County school board member accused a colleague a well-liked former teacher of supporting the sexualization of children. Why? Because he disagrees with her on which books are acceptable for a high school library. This thinking rejects the idea that reasonable people can disagree. Its also antithetical to the long-held belief of live and let live in Wyoming. It tosses away a part of our culture and replaces it with a worldview thats only destined to divide us. People are, of course, free to avoid events they dont want to participate in. Theyre free to not buy certain products for political reasons. Theyre free to think what they want. But if we truly believe in the concept of live and let live, we need to extend it to everyone. If someone wants to attend Pride, they should be able to do so without name-calling or intimidation. If someone wants to hold a political belief that differs from your own, they should be able to do so without personal attacks. That goes for beliefs on all parts of the political spectrum. A civil society requires civility. Or put another way, we need to give one another a little more grace. We hope that youll take our message seriously. Because this is about more than any one event or any one political issue. Its about what we aspire to be. Do we want to strive as a state to respect one anothers differences? Or do we let go of one of our oldest values to live and let live? Respecting one anothers differences should be the Wyoming way. Lets hold onto it. When it came time to say goodbye, Doolarie Badree just could not do it. The ailing mother cried, begged, wailed and bought time until, in the end, she let go of the daughter she could no longer care for. So that afternoon, her child, Renuca Badree, was taken from the home she had never left in all her 47 years of life. Kyiv (CNN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given his clearest indication yet that Ukraines long-awaited push to liberate territory still held by Russias occupying forces is underway, saying relevant counteroffensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. Speaking in Kyiv Saturday, the Ukrainian leader was asked to respond to comments by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who said Friday, It can be stated with absolute certainty that the [Ukrainian] counteroffensive has begun. The Russian leader added that it had not met with any success. Zelensky shrugged off Putins suggestions Ukraines armed forces were struggling and sought to apply some psychological pressure of his own. It is interesting that Putin was talking about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia feels [the counteroffensive], feels that they do not have much time left, he said. On the battlefield, Russias Defense Ministry reported further Ukrainian offensive operations along the frontline to the south and east of Zaporizhzhia. The Defense Ministry update, posted on its Telegram channel, said that troops from the Vostok brigade immediately to the southeast of the frontline town of Orikhiv, had repelled two attempted advances by Ukrainian tank units, one near the village of Novopokrovka. In addition, it said two Ukrainian armored columns had been repelled near Novodanilovka and Mala Tamkachka. In the same area, Russian military bloggers said Russian troops in positions close to the road south of Orikhiv towards Tokmak were continuing to report extremely heavy Ukrainian artillery fire. Further east along the frontline, to the southwest of Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces had made three further attempted advances, which it said had all been defeated. Zelensky tight-lipped CNN is unable to verify Russian defense ministry claims, and the picture is no clearer from the Ukrainian side. Officials in Kyiv have disclosed little information since they stepped up activities along the front between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk roughly six days ago. Zelensky, in his comments Saturday at a press conference alongside Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, though referring to counteroffensive activities said, I will not give any details about the stage it is at. After spending most of the winter embroiled in fighting around Bakhmut, as well as training its soldiers and waiting for the arrival of western military aid - like tanks and longer-range strike weapons like Storm Shadow missiles - the last few weeks have seen Ukraine clearly step up military activities. These have included what are known as shaping operations strikes on targets far behind front lines, like fuel depots and soldiers barracks and more recently probing operations, where an army conducts what are sometimes called reconnaissance-in-force operations, which are designed to test the enemys weak spots as well as its combat readiness. Despite this, and the comments by the Ukrainian leader Saturday, there is still no evidence that Ukraine has begun a major advance involving large numbers of forces. This story was first published on CNN, "Ukraines president gives strongest hint yet much anticipated counteroffensive has started." Members of the polices White-Collar Crime Unit visited the residence of Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine in Lowlands, Tobago, and searched the premises for several hours yesterday. The search was in relation to the audio recording of THA officials allegedly conspiring to use public funds for propaganda purposes. Public procurement law is one of the most vitally important pieces of legislation enacted since our Independence. Our civil society groups worked long and hard in the vineyard calling for the introduction of public procurement law, in the hope that this would be the catalyst to reverse the corruption and squandermania in government spending which threatens to ruin our country. NEW YORK Its a weekday afternoon and Anna Sorokin is on house arrest in a New York apartment building that has been condemned as imminently perilous to life. So shes attempting to capture outside attention and relieving her boredom in the most quotidian way: starting a podcast. So many people became famous for bad things and were able to kind of segue it into something different, she said recently in her East Village apartment. The main theme of my podcast is productive rule-breaking, she said of The Anna Delvey Show. For now, she wants to reimagine her public image to shake her reputation of being a con artist and a scammer. Im on 24/7 house arrest. Im only allowed to leave for my parole check-ins, my ICE check-ins and for medical emergencies, she said. Behind her is a life-size cutout of her likeness created by artist Kenny Schachter which, like Sorokin herself, is wearing an ankle monitoring device. Going by the name Anna Delvey, she posed as a German heiress and lied about having a $67 million trust fund in order to apply for loans, run up debts and secure a historic building for a private arts club. She falsely claimed to be the daughter of a diplomat or an oil baron. Arrested in late 2017, she was convicted in 2019 on multiple counts of larceny and theft for bilking banks, hotels and wealthy New Yorkers out of $275,000. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison. After serving three years in prison about half of which was at Rikers Island jail complex Sorokin, a German citizen, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Later, she was released after posting a $10,000 bond in the fall to home confinement, pending a deportation hearing. Now shes taking advantage of her time at home by launching a weekly podcast series that she hopes will tell her side of the story, featuring various expert and celebrity guests. Sorokins conversations with Julia Fox, Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli and Ottessa Moshfegh will be on upcoming episodes, according to Reunion Audio, the podcast company, who have also said she is interviewing Emily Ratajkowski though her team has not confirmed that. Sorokins fraud case became the basis for the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Inventing Anna, based on a New York magazine story. Sorokin, played by three-time Emmy winner Julia Garner, said she was a consultant on the show, but didnt have any control over the final product. For me to say Im rehabilitated would be to admit something was wrong with me to begin with. Like, I was just young. I made some mistakes, she said. Im trying to learn from them. My case, my criminal case is on direct appeal. Inventing Anna was inspired by real-life events, but every episode included a disclaimer that the story was true except for the parts that were made up. I know some of the stuff like definitely did not happen, Sorokin said. But its not really up to me to sit here and go over the series piece-by-piece, because its literally a Shonda Rhimes interpretation. While Sorokin was jailed, her fanbase grew even organizing a Free Anna Delvey art show that included some of her drawings, as well as works by other artists. Since then, she has attempted to sell pencil drawings for up to $25,000. The podcast gives her the opportunity to take back some control over the narrative, and its something shes thought about doing for some time. I wanted to start recording in jail, actually over the jail phone because, you know, there are some rappers who record whole albums while being incarcerated. I was like, Why not record a podcast? Sorokin said. She was never able to do it, because it was logistically difficult to record episodes, according to the podcast company. As far as her time behind bars, Sorokin called prison a transformative experience, saying that shes no longer the person who was arrested in 2017. Its been five years, a bit more than five years since I got arrested. So, I just like I changed. I learned so much, she said. Dressed in a white blouse, her signature black-ribbon tie and dark slacks, her ankle bracelet is clearly visible. This week, Sorokins guest on The Anna Delvey Show was model and rocker Julia Cumming of the New York City band, Sunflower Bean. During a discussion about what makes a real New Yorker, Cumming says Sorokins impact in the city qualifies her. You are the first person Ive ever hung out with under house arrest, she said. So thats a huge accomplishment. Sorokin agreed that she didnt know anyone under house arrest either. Cumming responded: Its like you and Lindsay Lohan, who was under house arrest in Los Angeles more than a decade ago. Sorokin believes her notoriety makes its easy for her to bring guests on the show. I can get pretty much anybody up here, she said with brash confidence. But theres one guest she wont be able to get: Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who just began an 11-year prison sentence for overseeing a blood-testing hoax that became a parable about greed and hubris in Silicon Valley. Id love to speak to Elizabeth. I definitely think shes an interesting person, Sorokin said. I can relate a little bit more is because were both females and have been trying to build something. She would also consider having U.S. Rep. George Santos on the podcast, but doesnt feel she has much in common with him. The New York Republican who fabricated an identity as a rich, Wall Street dealmaker while running for Congress was recently charged in a 13-count indictment that included fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. Im sure some of it is true, some of it its not, Sorokin said of things written about Santos. She added: I get so many requests to give George Santos advice, jail advice or something. I kind of stayed away from that. So, for now, the subject of the Inventing Anna series waits to find out if people tune into the podcast, available this week on all major platforms and if her campaign to reinvent herself works. PHOENIX A state senator pushing a major overhaul of city zoning rules he contends will spur construction of more affordable housing has reached a deal on a slimmed-down plan with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, whose opposition had halted the effort for the past six months. It could be voted on as early as Monday. Phoenix Republican Sen. Steve Kaiser says the most contentious parts of his initial proposal are now gone. They included provisions giving developers the absolute right to build apartment complexes on any property near a light rail or street car line regardless of current zoning, major restrictions on parking requirements for new construction, strict timelines for rezoning request approvals and limiting public opposition to proposed developments. And hes raised the population threshold for cities and towns to be subject to the state preemption of some of their existing zoning restrictions from 25,000 to 50,000. That change means 20 of the states 91 cities and towns will be covered, including Tucson and Marana. The revamped proposal, which League lobbyist Nick Ponder says the group has agreed to support, will require cities to approve detached backyard casitas known as auxiliary dwelling units, create areas where people 55 and older can rent single rooms in homes with a shared kitchen and bathroom, and give developers with approved proposals the right to grade properties without waiting for extra inspections. Affected cities and towns also would be required to adopt two of three other major changes, all designed to help builders target vacant lots or redevelop in the urban core of municipalities. Those include designating areas where duplex, tri-plex or four-plex units can be built, approving the use of manufactured housing, or letting homes be built on lots as small as 5,000 square feet. In addition, each city and town will have two years to do a housing needs assessment. Cities were briefed Thursday and Friday on the bill's final language, and Ponder said he had their OK to negotiate directly with Kaiser. Whether they all agree or there is pushback will have to wait until Monday when Kaiser said the House plans to amend existing bills with the deal's language. A lot of it could depend on what cities already enacted. Tucson, for example, has adopted zoning allowing detached auxiliary dwelling units to be built alongside existing single-family homes. The new proposal will affect that rule, but it appears only slightly. It does bar additional parking requirements to add an additional dwelling unit, for instance, while the Tucson code that went into effect in early 2022 waives parking just for homes near transit stops. As of December, the city had approved 24 casitas. Phoenix is also eyeing zoning changes allowing backyard additions. A second part of the proposal deals with apartment complexes near light rail and streetcar lines and will mainly affect Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Tucson, although Kaiser said the exact details are still in flux. Under the plan, developers who agree to set aside a portion of the units as "affordable'' will be allowed to add additional apartments. That increased density is intended to reward developers for those lower-rent homes. All-affordable projects get a density increase as well. "This is really turning into a great solution for infill, filling in our metro areas to the most efficient use possible,'' Kaiser said. "And I think in light of the water announcement that came out last week, this is exactly what we should be focusing on, because we're not talking about massive subdivisions here,'' he said. "We're talking about filling in our existing metro areas, cities and towns, using our lands efficiently.'' Gov. Katie Hobbs and state water officials announced June 1 that a lack of adequate groundwater means new developments on the outskirts of metro Phoenix lacking an outside water source wont win approval. 'Eliminated all the egregious parts' Tucson City Councilmember Steve Kozachik said he can live with the deal, saying it is far better than Kaiser originally proposed that cities found unacceptable. "It's apparent they have eliminated all the egregious parts that we objected to,'' he told Capitol Media Services after being briefed Friday on the plan. "So they heard us.'' Kozachik said the parts that differ from city policy, like how large auxiliary dwelling units can be, is not so major that it will harm neighborhoods. Other than Tucson, Marana, Yuma, Lake Havasu City and Flagstaff, the municipalities to be covered by the overarching rules are in the metro Phoenix area or in fast-growing Pinal County. Several Phoenix-area communities have too few residents to be covered, including Paradise Valley, Guadalupe, Tolleson, El Mirage, Litchfield Park, Carefree, Cave Creek and Fountain Hills. Three others, Southern Arizonas Oro Valley, and Prescott and Prescott Valley north of Phoenix, could be subject to the rules within a few years if they continue growing as expected. Many priced out of decent housing The stated goal is to boost the supply of affordable housing. The state's housing supply is overwhelmingly made up of single-family homes. Builders are offering few options for starter or smaller homes while soaring rents have priced many retirees, single adults and low-income families out of decent housing. Developers complained about "NIMBY-ism'' not in my back yard and the "missing middle'' supply of small, affordable homes during testimony earlier this year. A provision tries to partially address and blunt the local opposition issue. Under current law, a project approved by a city council must be brought back for review if 20% of nearby residents sign petitions opposing it. A supermajority council vote is now required for re-approval, but Kaiser said the change reverts that back to a simple majority. And there are a couple of provisions unrelated to zoning. One gives Arizona residents priority for subsidized housing vouchers over out-of-state residents, some of whom have been state-shopping for open program slots and displacing local residents. Kaiser argues that despite his bill not actually requiring developers to build affordable housing, small backyard homes, single-room occupancy units, and smaller lots for single homes or 2-, 3-, or 4-plexes will create cheaper options. "All those things are affordable,'' he said. "All those things are less cost, and they're creating diversity of housing which we need,'' Kaiser continued, since "96% of our housing stock is single-family homes and only 4% is multifamily.'' Cities, meanwhile, have argued that eyeing them as the culprit for the states housing woes is misplaced. While they've agreed to changes, Ponder said they ultimately don't have control over builders who are sitting on more than 80,000 approved lots with an assured water supply and another 7,000 acres in the metro Phoenix core zoned for single- or multi-family developments that investors are simply holding onto while land prices rise. Cities agreeing to override own zoning laws At least part of the reason for the apparent acquiescence of cities to overriding their own zoning and building ordinances is political. Cities, seeing the push for zoning preemption and bipartisan support at the Capitol, began advancing their own changes in the spring. Much of their counter-proposal ended up in the final deal. "We weren't saying no, we were just saying not in the way that you're going about it,'' Ponder said. "And we ultimately got to (this) point thanks to Sen. Kaiser giving me the opportunity to sit down with him and work this stuff out.'' Kaisers original plan met with vociferous opposition from cities and towns and the League, all arguing that zoning is a quintessential local issue and the state should butt out. Also complaining were residents of established neighborhoods, who feared their local communities would be transformed by mandatory zoning changes. It failed in the Senate on a bipartisan vote in February, but Kaiser revived it after breaking it into parts and ditching some provisions. Still, it stalled, awaiting negotiations that could get the cities on board. Kaiser said he believes most of those neighborhood issues have been addressed, with most proposals still having to go through the local neighborhood planning process overseen by cities. Backyard units will be limited to the same number of stories as the main home, with no more than half the square footage and a ban on using them as short-term rentals, said Ponder, the League lobbyist who worked out the deal's details with Kaiser. Multiple states have approved or are pushing to allow auxiliary dwelling units as a way to address their own housing supply shortages, but there have been complaints from neighbors when new auxiliary dwelling units tower over their once-private backyards. "What we didnt want is a six-story ADU that overlooks a neighbors backyard,'' Ponder said. "I think that should alleviate the concerns of multiple accessory dwelling units on any single property and turning what was a single-family area into multi-family.'' 'Everyone's a little bit unhappy' Kaiser said although some cities and towns already allow some of the items in the bill, state legislation was necessary as others do not. "So yes, some places are doing ADUs,'' he said. "Some places are doing small lots already; some places do duplex-triplex. But this is kind of creating some nice statewide standards for what we need in those 50,000-plus population centers.'' He acknowledged that he got nowhere near what he hoped to get in his original proposal but said neither did the cities and towns. "Working with them to find compromise is what the Legislature is all about, and that's what we did,'' Kaiser said. "I'm a little bit unhappy with what we got. Theyre a little bit unhappy with what they gave up. So I think when everyone's a little bit unhappy, that's when you've got sort of a good bill.'' The legislation it will be amended on to two existing bills awaiting House action, Senate Bills 1161 and 1163 will move when lawmakers return Monday from a month-long recess called by the Republican majority after they passed a budget they negotiated with Hobbs, the Democratic governor. WASHINGTON As it pushes to renew a cornerstone law that authorizes major surveillance programs, the Biden administration faces an American public thats broadly skeptical of common intelligence practices and of the need to sacrifice civil liberties for security. Congress in the coming months will debate whether to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Section 702 authorizes U.S. spy agencies to collect large amounts of foreign communications for intelligence purposes ranging from stopping spies to listening in on allies and foes. Those collection programs also sweep up U.S. citizen communications that can then be searched by intelligence and law enforcement officers. The new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that Democrats and Republicans have similar views on surveillance tactics, while Republicans have become substantially less likely over the past decade to say its at least sometimes necessary to sacrifice freedom in response to threats. U.S. intelligence officials say Section 702 is necessary to protect national security and to counter China, Russia and other adversaries. They credit the program with better informing U.S. diplomats and enabling operations like last years strike to kill a key plotter of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But officials will have to overcome sharp divisions in Congress and bipartisan anger at the FBI, though most observers still believe Section 702 will be renewed in some form. Driving a political shift is increasing skepticism among Republican elected officials of the FBI and intelligence agencies. Conservatives have battered the FBI for misleading the primary surveillance court in its investigation into former President Donald Trump campaigns ties to Russia. Trump and other top Republicans often accuse the so-called government deep state of using its powers to target conservatives. Historically, the left flank has been the more vocal objector to government surveillance on privacy and civil liberties grounds, said Carter Burwell, who was chief counsel to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, when the law was last renewed in early 2018. Over the past five or 10 years, with the rise of the libertarian wing of the Republican Party, call it the antigovernment wing of the Republican Party, that is an equally vocal and powerful plurality, said Burwell, now a lawyer at the firm Debevoise & Plimpton. The poll asked U.S. adults whether they support several practices authorized by Section 702. It found that 28% of adults support the government listening to phone calls made outside of the U.S. without a warrant, while 44% oppose the practice. Views are similar about the U.S. reading emails sent between people outside of the U.S. without a warrant. The public was more receptive to surveillance of activity outside of the U.S. a decade after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. That shifted significantly by the 20th anniversary of the attacks in 2021. In the latest poll, 48% of Americans this year said they believed it necessary to sacrifice their rights and freedoms to prevent terrorism, down from 54% in 2021 and nearly two-thirds in 2011. That shift was especially dramatic among Republicans, with just 44% saying thats sometimes necessary compared with 69% in 2011. Among Democrats, 55% still say so, similar to the 59% who said so in 2011. White adults were somewhat more likely to say they were opposed to various forms of surveillance 48% said they opposed the government listening to foreign calls without a warrant than Black or Hispanic adults, each at 34%. Rob Redding, a 47-year-old journalist who lives in New York City, said he was neutral about many surveillance practices but said he felt that way because as a Black man, he didnt expect to have privacy. Redding mentioned the FBIs spying in the 1960s on Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders as well as officials in Black nationalist movements. As a Black man in America, as someone who speaks out about the government all the time, I understand that Black people and especially Black leadership cannot trust America, Redding said. Supporters of Section 702 argue most U.S. adults want the government to stop foreign adversaries even if they state misgivings about how American intelligence operates. Glenn Gerstell, a former general counsel at the National Security Agency who is advocating for Section 702 to be extended, noted that while Congress has to be responsive to public opinion, some of this gets pretty technical and isnt easily understood by the public. He said he still believed the law would be renewed with some amendments to bolster civil liberties protections and enshrine into law changes that the FBI has made in response to a series of wrongful uses of foreign intelligence. At the end of the day, I think most members of Congress understand the value of the statute and understand that when we dont have the statute, there is no substitute, Gerstell said. WASHINGTON Theodore Ted Kaczynski, the Harvard-educated mathematician who retreated to a dingy shack in the Montana wilderness and ran a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died Saturday. He was 81. Branded the Unabomber by the FBI, Kaczynski died at the federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina, Kristie Breshears, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Prisons, told The Associated Press. He was found unresponsive in his cell early Saturday morning and was pronounced dead around 8 a.m., she said. A cause of death was not immediately known. Before his transfer to the prison medical facility, he was held in the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, since May 1998, when he was sentenced to four life sentences plus 30 years for a campaign of terror that set universities nationwide on edge. He admitted committing 16 bombings from 1978 and 1995, permanently maiming several of his victims. Years before the Sept. 11 attacks and the anthrax mailing, the Unabombers deadly homemade bombs changed the way Americans mailed packages and boarded airplanes, even virtually shutting down air travel on the West Coast in July 1995. He forced The Washington Post, in conjunction with The New York Times, to make the agonizing decision in September 1995 to publish his 35,000-word manifesto, Industrial Society and Its Future, which claimed modern society and technology were leading to a sense of powerlessness and alienation. But it led to his undoing. Kaczynskis brother, David, and Davids wife, Linda Patrik, recognized the treatises tone and tipped off the FBI, which had been searching for the Unabomber for years in the nations longest, costliest manhunt. Authorities in April 1996 found him in a 10-by-14-foot plywood and tarpaper cabin outside Lincoln, Montana, that was filled with journals, a coded diary, explosive ingredients and two completed bombs. As an elusive criminal mastermind, the Unabomber won his share of sympathizers and comparisons to Daniel Boone, Edward Abbey and Henry David Thoreau. But once revealed as a wild-eyed hermit with long hair and beard who weathered Montana winters in a one-room shack, Kaczynski struck many as more of a pathetic loner than romantic anti-hero. Even in his own journals, Kaczynski came across not as a committed revolutionary but as a vengeful hermit driven by petty grievances. I certainly dont claim to be an altruist or to be acting for the good (whatever that is) of the human race, he wrote on April 6, 1971. I act merely from a desire for revenge. A psychiatrist who interviewed Kaczynski in prison diagnosed him as a paranoid schizophrenic. Mr. Kaczynskis delusions are mostly persecutory in nature, Sally Johnson wrote in a 47-page report. The central themes involve his belief that he is being maligned and harassed by family members and modern society. Kaczynski hated the idea of being viewed as mentally ill and when his lawyers attempted to present an insanity defense, he tried to fire them. When that failed, he tried to hang himself with his underwear. Kaczynski eventually pleaded guilty rather than let his defense team proceed with an insanity defense. Im confident that Im sane, Kaczynski told Time magazine in 1999. I dont get delusions and so forth. He was certainly brilliant. Kaczynski skipped two grades to attend Harvard at age 16 and had published papers in prestigious mathematics journals. His explosives were carefully tested and came in meticulously handcrafted wooden boxes sanded to remove possible fingerprints. Later bombs bore the signature FC for Freedom Club. The FBI called him the Unabomber because his early targets seemed to be universities and airlines. An altitude-triggered bomb he mailed in 1979 went off as planned aboard an American Airlines flight; a dozen people aboard suffered from smoke inhalation. Kaczynski killed computer rental store owner Hugh Scrutton, advertising executive Thomas Mosser and timber industry lobbyist Gilbert Murray. California geneticist Charles Epstein and Yale University computer expert David Gelernter were maimed by bombs two days apart in June 1993. Mosser was killed in his North Caldwell, New Jersey, home on Dec. 10, 1994, a day he was supposed to be picking out a Christmas tree with his family. His wife, Susan, found him grievously wounded by a barrage of razor blades, pipes and nails. He was moaning very softly, she said at Kaczynskis 1998 sentencing. The fingers on his right hand were dangling. I held his left hand. I told him help was coming. I told him I loved him. When Kaczynski stepped up his bombs and letters to newspapers and scientists in 1995, experts speculated the Unabomber was jealous of the attention being paid to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. A threat to blow up a plane out of Los Angeles before the end of the July Fourth weekend threw air travel and mail delivery into chaos. The Unabomber later claimed it was a prank. The Washington Post printed the Unabombers manifesto at the urging of federal authorities, after the bomber said he would desist from terrorism if a national publication published his treatise. Patrik had a disturbing feeling about her brother-in-law even before seeing the manifesto and eventually persuaded her husband to read a copy at the library. After two months of arguments, they took some of Ted Kaczynskis letters to Patriks childhood friend Susan Swanson, a private investigator in Chicago. Swanson in turn passed them along to former FBI behavioral science expert Clint Van Zandt, whose analysts said whoever wrote them had also probably written the Unabombers manifesto. GREENSBORO, N.C. Former President Donald Trump blasted his historic federal indictment as ridiculous and baseless Saturday during his first public appearances since the charges were unsealed, painting the 37 felony counts as an attack on his supporters as he tried to turn dire legal peril to political advantage. Speaking at Republican state conventions in Georgia and North Carolina, Trump cast his indictment by the Department of Justice as an attempt to damage his chances of returning to the White House as he campaigns for a second term. Theyve launched one witch hunt after another to try and stop our movement, to thwart the will of the American people, Trump alleged in Georgia, later telling the crowd that, In the end, theyre not coming after me. Theyre coming after you. The strategy is a well-worn one for Trump, who remains the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination despite his mounting legal woes, which also include criminal charges filed against him in March in New York. Again and again, in the face of investigation, Trump has tried to delegitimize law enforcement officials and portray himself and his supporters as victims, even when he is accused of serious crimes. Trump also vowed Saturday to remain in the race, even if he is convicted in the case. Ill never leave, he told Politico in an interview aboard his plane after his speech in Georgia. He further predicted that he wouldnt be convicted and sidestepped questions about whether he would pardon himself if he wins a second term. I dont think Ill ever have to, Trump said. I didnt do anything wrong. The indictment unsealed Friday charges Trump with willfully defying Justice Department demands that he return classified documents, enlisting aides in his efforts to hide the records and even telling his lawyers that he wanted to defy a subpoena for the materials stored at his residence. The indictment includes allegations that he stored documents in a ballroom and bathroom at his Mar-a-Lago resort, among other places. Trump is due to make his first federal court appearance Tuesday in Miami. He was charged alongside valet Walt Nauta, a personal aide whom prosecutors say moved boxes from a storage room to Trumps residence for him to review and later lied to investigators about the movement. Nauta traveled with Trump to Georgia, appearing by his side at a Waffle House stop where the former president signed autographs, posed for photos and told supporters, We did absolutely nothing wrong. Earlier Saturday, Trump was given a heros welcome at the party convention in Georgia, where he drew loud applause as he slammed the investigation as a political hit job and accused his political enemies of launching one hoax and witch hunt after another to prevent his reelection. The ridiculous and baseless indictment by the Biden administrations weaponized Department of Injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country, he said. He also used his remarks to rail against President Joe Biden and his 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, accusing them of mishandling classified information and insisting he was treated unfairly because he is a Republican. But Trump overlooked a critical difference: Only he has been accused of intentionally trying to impede investigators by not returning the documents in question. In the Clinton probe, for instance, FBI investigators concluded that although she was extremely careless in her handling of classified emails on a private server, there was no evidence that she intended to break the law. And though the Biden investigation is ongoing, no evidence has emerged to suggest that he intentionally held onto the records or even knew that they were there, with his representatives turning over records after they were discovered and voluntarily consenting to FBI searches. Trump also lingered on Georgias role in his 2020 defeat, repeating his lies that he had won the state and defending his efforts to overturn Bidens victory, which is the subject of another ongoing investigation, this one by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Willis has suggested that any indictments would likely come in August. At the heart of the investigation is a recorded phone conversation in which Trump urges Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes just enough to overtake Biden and overturn Trumps narrow loss in the state. Trump has defended the phone call as perfect, and on Saturday lashed out against both Willis and the special counsel in the Mar-a-Lago case. Despite the latest criminal charges, attendees cheered him on in Georgia and in North Carolina, where he spoke at a state GOP convention dinner Saturday evening. About 100 supporters, some waving Witch Hunt signs, showed up to the Columbus, Georgia, airfield to greet Trump as he arrived. Jan Plemmons, 66, wearing an oversize foam Make America Great Again hat, called the federal charges absolutely ridiculous and said she was ready to campaign with Trump. To Michael Sellers, 67, it was criminal what theyre doing to him. The indictment arrives as Trump is continuing to dominate the primary race. Among the various investigations Trump has faced, the documents case has long been considered the most perilous legal threat and the one most ripe for prosecution. But Trumps continued popularity among Republican voters is evident in how gingerly his primary rivals have treated the federal indictment. WASHINGTON Former President Donald Trumps indictment on charges of mishandling classified documents is set to play out in a federal court in Florida. But about a thousand miles away, part of Trumps defense is well underway in a different venue the halls of Congress, where Republicans have been preparing for months to wage an aggressive counteroffensive against the Justice Department. The federal indictment against Trump, unsealed Friday, includes 37 counts, including allegations that the former president intentionally possessed classified documents, showed them off to visitors, willfully defied Justice Department demands to return them and made false statements to federal authorities about them. The evidence details Trump's own words and actions as recounted by lawyers, close aides and other witnesses. The Republican campaign to discredit federal prosecutors skims over the substance of those charges, which were brought by a grand jury in Florida. GOP lawmakers are instead working, as they have for several years, to foster a broader argument that law enforcement and President Joe Biden are conspiring against the former president and possible Republican nominee for president in 2024. Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America, tweeted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, soon after Trump said on his social media platform Thursday night that an indictment was coming. McCarthy blamed Biden, who declined to comment on the case and said he is not involved in the Justice Departments decisions. McCarthy called it a grave injustice and said that House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable. Republican lawmakers in the House have already laid extensive groundwork for the effort to defend Trump since taking the majority in January. A near constant string of hearings featuring former FBI agents, Twitter executives and federal officials have sought to paint the narrative of a corrupt government using its powers against Trump and the right. A GOP-led House subcommittee on the weaponization of government is probing the Justice Department and other government agencies, while at the same time Republicans are investigating Bidens son Hunter Biden. Its a sad day for America, said Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee chairman who is a leading Trump defender and ally, in a statement Thursday. God bless President Trump. Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs was more strident. We have now reached a war phase, he tweeted. Eye for an eye. Democrats say the Republicans are trafficking in conspiracy theories, with potentially dangerous consequences. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York, issued a joint statement Friday urging calm around the Trump case, saying everyone should let this case proceed peacefully in court. Republicans' recent rhetoric not only undermines the Department of Justice but betrays the essential principle of justice that no one is above the commands of law, not even a former President or a self-proclaimed billionaire, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Key elements of the GOP strategy are to discredit the prosecutors and investigate the investigators a playbook that Republicans employed during Trumps presidency as his own Justice Department probed his connections to Russia, and also used in April when Trump was charged in a hush money investigation in New York. In the days leading to the New York indictment, House Republicans laid out a full-on campaign against Alvin Bragg, the Democratic district attorney in Manhattan who brought the case against the former president. Charging that the prosecution was pure politics, Jordan held a field hearing near Braggs New York offices to examine what they said were his pro-crime, anti-victim policies. Jordan is also the top Republican on the weaponization subcommittee. As special counsel Jack Smith was preparing this week to release the indictment, Trump's allies on Capitol Hill were working overtime to prepare the defense of the former president. Jordan issued a series of letters to the Justice Department, demanding documents related to his investigation into Trumps handling of classified records. Jordan cited the recent report by special counsel John Durham that found that the FBI rushed into its investigation of ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and routinely ignored or rationalized evidence that undercut its premise. In the June 1 letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jordan requested information about the ongoing investigation in order to ensure any ongoing investigations are not poisoned by this same politicization. Just as the indictment was unsealed on Friday, Jordan sent another letter to Garland, this time laying out testimony from a former FBI official who testified to the committee about the raid at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Jordan wrote that Steven DAntuono, a former assistant director at the FBIs Washington Field Office, told the committee the Justice Department was not following the same principles as previous raids. Defending Trump also has the potential to ease tensions among House Republicans as they face their own troubles on Capitol Hill, after a conservative-led revolt over the recent debt ceiling deal divided the party this week and halted most legislation from passing on the floor. Question to candidates: What would be your top priority as City Council member/mayor? Mayor Arthur Kerschen I would implement free market principles in the operation of city government, making law enforcement a top priority and freeing small businesses to operate effectively. Regina Romero My top priority during my second term as Mayor will be to keep Tucson safe, affordable, sustainable and economically prosperous. I will continue to invest in community safety and vibrant neighborhoods by working with Pima County, Governor Hobbs and our federal partners. I will continue to expand on the Thrive Zones we have created and find solutions for unsheltered homelessness. I will continue to implement Tucson Resilient Together, Tucsons Climate Action and Adaptation Plan while securing our safe and sustainable water future. My ethic, as your mayor, is to work collaboratively and creatively, with our public and private partners, with regional, state and federal governments, with local non-profits and individuals to create innovative, layered and multi-faceted solutions that meet our unique needs in Tucson. I have launched innovative new programs to better address the most pressing issues of today in a strategic manner. Janet JL Wittenbraker Crime prevention Addressing homelessness Rebuilding Tucsons infrastructure, roads, water systems, etc. Fiscal responsibility Water conservation Community Service: Being available and responding to the needs of Tucsonans as decided by Tucsonans. Ed Ackerley PUBLIC SAFETY. Tucson Police Department is operating with half of the staff it had a few short years ago. This needs to be the number one priority to combat crime, the fentanyl epidemic and to give TPD the resources to provide law enforcement services to the community. Ward 1 Victoria Lem Victoria Lem did not respond to our questionnaire. Miguel Ortega Above all, working families want to feel safe and secure in all aspects of their daily lives. Families want to feel safe from the threat of evictions or foreclosures. People want secure jobs, preferably union jobs, with livable wages and decent benefits. We all want safe neighborhoods with a strong partnership with local police that focuses on community policing and prevention. Tucsonans deserve a fully funded fire department equipped and staffed adequately to properly serve our residents. We want our kids to feel safe at schools, helped by a robust partnership between the City of Tucson and school districts throughout Tucson. And we want a city and world safe from the effects of climate change for our children. No matter what the issues are, my top priority will be to address them with safety and security as a foundation. Lane Santa Cruz My top priority for a second term in office is to increase the supply of mixed-income housing. Ward 2 Paul Cunningham My top priority as a City Council Member is addressing the unsheltered crisis that is happening in our city. We simply have to come up with new ways to address homelessness and to improve the lives of all Tucson residents. No one has all the answers, but a lot of people have some of the answers, and I am committed to continuing dialogues across our community to come up with solutions that make sense for Tucson. I will, of course, maintain my long-held priorities of delivering a high quality of life for my constituents in Ward 2 and throughout the City. I will continue my focus on delivering high-quality recreational opportunities for youth and adults throughout our City. I will continue my work improving Ward 2 parks and ensuring Tucsons water supply for our children and grandchildren. Lisa Nutt There are any number of priorities that will be confronting the city of Tucson in the coming years. And, as voters should expect, we are capable of doing more than one thing at a time. My top priorities will focus on common sense and equitable economic development, solving our water/infrastructure issues and working to ensure our neighborhoods are safe and our neighbors are respected within the public safety community. Ernie Shack Ernie Shack echoed Wittenbrakers responses Pendleton Spicer I feel that creating unity within the community is a top priority. The divisiveness that currently exists within our community is not conducive to accomplishing constructive dialogue or action. It would be advantageous for us to see that we can live together peacefully even when we disagree. This divisiveness can be minimized by addressing the issues that divide the community and finding new ways to cope with those issues. When we begin talking with each other with respect, we will discover where we share things in common, putting the community in a better position to solve our numerous problems. I believe that we need to reduce governmental influence on our community (as well as personal) interactions. Elected and appointed officials can model the concept of living together peacefully even when we disagree while encouraging community members to take more responsibility for themselves and their behaviors rather than depending on and expecting government to take the lead. Ward 4 Ross Kaplowitch My top priority as a city council member will be to serve the Tucson community to the best of my ability. To that end, I will immediately begin an effort to support Tucsons 1st responders, especially our law enforcement officers. We must restore not only the staffing but the morale of the Tucson Police Department. A strong, fully staffed law enforcement organization will be able to best serve our community and properly deal with the myriad issues plaguing our city, including crime, homelessness and drug abuse. Nikki Lee As I embark on my reelection campaign, my top priority is to continue focusing on delivering high-quality, reliable core services to Tucson residents. Examples of these core services include public safety (911, police, and fire), roads and infrastructure, and city parks, pools, and recreation facilities. To effectively deliver these high-quality and reliable services, we must boost efforts around employee recruitment, retention, and fostering a positive organizational culture. Public safety is paramount for a thriving community like ours, and a strong workforce is essential to maintain it. By investing in efforts to retain our experienced police officers, firefighters, and 911 communications specialists and to recruit new talent at the same time, we are prioritizing the safety and security of our citizens. Roads and infrastructure are vital for Tucson's growth and prosperity. While many road projects are underway, there is still a lot of work to do to get many of our roads out of poor and failing condition. Continued advocacy for roads to support growth in the Southeast side of the city remains a priority. Parks play a significant role in promoting health, well-being, and community engagement. Prioritizing the maintenance and expansion of parks and recreational facilities, particularly in areas like Ward 4 that are under-parked, provides a strong return on investment to the community. It also requires a dedicated workforce committed to fostering a sense of connection among residents. Delivering high-quality, reliable core services is the key to building a brighter future for Tucson. By focusing on recruitment, retention, and fostering a positive organizational culture, we can effectively address the needs of our city and create a more resilient, prosperous, and welcoming community. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: At a critical juncture in our evolution as a species, how confused and contradictory we are about what we are and where were headed. Recently there was a front-page article in this paper about the latest court judgment in the battle between the copper industrys desire to dig up the mountains to the south of Tucson and those who want to see them denied because, among other reasons, the territory they want to mine has been or might be the habitat of a jaguar. The judgement went against the environmentalists this time, but the party of the Jaguar will no doubt be back. Whoever winds up winning this battle, the amazing thing is that there are so many of our species, perhaps the majority in our environmentally progressive area, who are so identified with another species that they would seriously propose setting aside a territory half the size of Rhode Island as a refuge for it ... for even the possibility of one. It seems an amazing testimonial to or evidence of our identification with animals lower down than we on the evolutionary tree. More amazing still is that this battle for the survival of a fellow creature even less intelligent than we are (by our standards) coincides with the sudden headline- grabbing crisis over the possibility that the human future will soon take the form of AI taking over while we live on maybe in some dubious form of retired life. (Like Neanderthals to our Homo Sapiens back when). Environmentalist passion for the survival of the jaguar is not disinterested altruism, but an expression conscious on the part of some of a sense that its survival has something to do with our own. That a creature like us needs to live in a natural world of creatures. As a species we have, it would seem, a major identity problem: are we animal or machine? We identify with jaguars (and all the threatened animals in Africa, all the songbirds endangered by climate change, etc.) and at the same time we pursue AI as if its the greatest thing since sliced bread. (If only AIs consequences were as benign.) Our life at present, at this moment of our history, is a tug of war between two different aspects of human nature. Are we essentially creatures, vulnerable and limited like the jaguar? Or are we proto machines, just a launching pad for AI that will leave us in its dust? Are we destined to escape the gravitational pull of creaturehood entirely? Or will our deep, instinctive connection with the jaguar, with nature, (with Glen Canyon) succeed in pulling us back from such a future? Or are we both, in some combination that so far has eluded us? We are, these very days, in the process of finding out. Those tugging toward AI are clearly winning, despite valiant efforts at the jaguar end of the rope, and seem to be even now well along in the process of pitching us all into a largely unknown AI future. But recently some of those pulling hardest for AI have been taking time out to admit they have serious misgivings about the genie they are unbottling and are calling for a pause for thinking things over. Indeed it would seem important to take time out to figure this out: what we are, what our limits are, (whether we even have limits), what we wont be us without ultimately, the meaning of human existence. (Real work for philosophy departments at last?) We are as a species not known for species-wide convocations for discussing important things such as whether we should plunge into carbon-based industrialization, the Nuclear Age. Its hard to imagine what form such unprecedented good sense might take. Who would trust Silicon Valley or the U.N. to arrange such a worldwide town meeting? Many of those in the AI camp no doubt think of themselves as the grownups in this tug of war, and those of the party of the jaguar luddite throwbacks, primitivists, romanticists. (Imagine siding with a jaguar perhaps more a phantom than not against all that useful copper and all the money to be made from it.) STROUD Various Route 66 museums in Oklahoma pay tribute to the Mother Road. The newest Route 66 museum in Oklahoma also pays tribute to a mom. The Route 66 Spirit of America Museum opened this weekend in Stroud. Founder and director Steve Brant hung a framed photo of his mother on a wall in the Wonder Woman Theater inside the museum because, well, she was his Wonder Woman. He has a story about that. In fact, the museum sprang out of his story and, ultimately, the museum is about hope. Brant provided details about his life and the museums origins after pointing out a recent magazine that focused on the impact museums need to have. In other words, it cant just be, oh, come on in and look at a nice collection of paintings or a nice collection of automobiles, he said. A museum should want to make a difference. Now, Im a car guy, so frankly, if Im in a museum and theres nothing but automobiles, its making a difference to me. But how do you make a museum make a difference in the larger scheme of things? And so I want this museum to do that. I want this museum to give people the kind of hope that I had as a kid because I grew up in a very crazy household. Brant said his parents did not have a good marriage. He compared family life to a war zone. Disheartened by what he observed at home, Brant knew there had to be something better. He came up with a strategy to look for that something better. Brant, raised in New York, found it at the nearby American Museum of Natural History. He discovered happier versions of family life on television. But this was the 1960s, the decade when John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated. What kind of world is this? But at the same time, I was watching Walter Cronkite report on the space program because I was kind of a science nerd more than anything else, Brant said. I gravitated towards this idea of us going through the moon and we were doing it for real. It wasnt like a science fiction movie that I was watching. ... And so I knew as a kid that, as desperate as things looked, there was still some good going on. Fast forward to the present, where we are still dealing with tumult, and Brant wants the Route 66 Spirit of America Museum to offer examples some from the pop culture realm, some from the real world of hope for a better future. Stroud spirit How does a retired engineer from New York wind up launching a museum halfway between Oklahoma City and Tulsa? Brant is a car guy who took a dream trip down Route 66 in 2011. Because hes also a movie guy, he learned through research that Dawn Welch, who has owned the Rock Cafe in Stroud since 1993, is part of Cars history. Filmmakers picked Welchs brain for research, and the Porsche character Sally Carrera was modeled after her. Welch was raised in Yukon, then returned to Oklahoma after working on a cruise ship. Seeing how Welch was accepted as a business owner in Stroud planted a seed in Brants mind. If he ever needed a new start, maybe it could be somewhere on Route 66. Brant didnt immediately select Stroud. He first considered taking ownership of a pre-existing Superman museum (the Supertam on 66 Museum and Ice Cream Parlor) in Carterville, Missouri, but realized he would rather pursue his vision for a museum. When Brant decided to go house-hunting in Stroud in 2021, it was a happy accident that his trip coincided with Strouds Summerfest event. He got to see the town and its people in celebration mode. How could he not buy a house there? Brant is selling his house in Stroud, but not because he is leaving. He had living quarters built into the new museum so he and his cat, Inky, can live on Route 66 near the Rock Cafe. Other Route 66 museums in Oklahoma are more Mother Road-centric. Brants museum is a different flavor. And thats why I call it the Spirit of America Museum, he said. Its on Route 66 and Route 66 is a great example of ... were going to do something new. Weve got the ability. We are going to finally connect the country up with a road. This was the first time doing it. And we are going to finally go to the moon. Were going to finally do all these dreams. I can only celebrate a certain number of them, but I want that process of what dreams are still to be fulfilled to be a part of what the museum talks about. Pop culture icons The Route 66 Spirit of America Museum is big in ambition and compact in size. There are only a few rooms, including a recreation of Clark Kents Daily Planet newspaper office. Brant watched reruns of the television series The Adventures of Superman after school when he was a kid. Hell always have a soft spot for the George Reeves version of Superman, never mind that Brant was blown away by the 1978 Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve. If youre going to theme a museum around hope, Superman is a nice cornerstone. So, too, is Star Trek, a television series that provided a glimpse into a future where humans of all nationalities and ethnicities could work together and boldly go where no one has gone before. Brant has cosplayed at pop culture events as Clark Kent and Gary Seven, a one-off character from the original Star Trek series. Gary Seven was accompanied by a shape-shifting black cat, Isis. Brants cat, Inky, could be a doppleganger for Isis. Brant figures his last big pop culture splurge was buying a ticket to board a celebrity-laden Star Trek cruise ship last March. Now hes funneling money into the museum. I was able to do what I think is a pretty nice little beginning, what I call phase one, he said. Brant can explain if you visit, but there are shout-outs to Jimmy Stewart, Steve McQueen, the Wright Brothers and the films Easy Rider and Star Wars in the museum. Theres also a wall display that acknowledges the positive impact R. Buckminster Fuller (author of Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth), Russell L. Ackoff and W. Edwards Deming had on Brants life. A story room features waist-up statuettes of DCs big three characters Henry Cavils Superman, Gal Gadots Wonder Woman and Ben Afflecks Batman. There are tablets of blank paper in the story room so visitors can tell their story for the museums story archive project. Superman had to find a place for himself on a new planet where he had powers far beyond those of mortal men, Brant said. Wonder Woman had to adapt to learning the larger world is constantly at war. Batman chose crime fighting because his parents were killed. They had pretty dramatic beginnings. I dont expect everybodys beginnings to be dramatic like that, but I want people to feel that they can say something about themselves and they can do it anonymously. Im going to leave it up to them. Brants plan is for guests stories to eventually be shared on the museums website. A mothers love The Wonder Woman Theater at the museum is equipped with a large screen for viewing and seats. Brant wants to make sure women are celebrated as part of the American dream, so he has photos of female actors and historical figures on the theater room wall alongside the photo of his mom, a former chorus girl in Broadway shows. Also on the wall is a framed story Brant wrote when he was a Huffington Post blogger. Its a story about how he saw the 2017 Wonder Woman movie multiple times and cried every time because a scene reminded him of something from his childhood. In the story, Brant wrote that things were so bad at home that his mother needed to escape. It was a separation rather than a divorce. Brant and his sister, after spending six months with their mother in Cleveland, were sent back to New York to live with their father. Mom, in phone conversations with Brant, noticed her son was changing and not for the better so she chose to return to the home that she had fled. The next three years were very, very hard for her, Brant wrote. Ill never know how hard because we didnt talk about the abuse she took. She was there to fight for the love of her son and daughter. And she won that fight! How do I know? When I was 13, she and my father did divorce. And I very happily began to live with just her. My sister at that point was old enough to be on her own. Moms unconditional love triumphed over my father. Brants story about his mother was shared on social media by Gadot. Wonder Woman, meet Wonder Woman. Photos of Brant with his mother and with Gadot are framed with the story at the museum. Theres a full-sized statue of Gadots Wonder Woman in the theater room. Brant said he bought it because every museum needs something that people will want to stand next to while getting their picture taken. A framed sign next to the statue reads Only love can truly save the world. A framed Muhammad Ali poster (Brant and Ali share a birthday) hangs in the museums reception area next to a large photo of a girl reading a Washington Post headline that says The Eagle Has LandedTwo Men Walk on the Moon. Above the photo are the words Dreams Save Us. Said the founder and director of a new Route 66 museum in Stroud: I believe in the power of dreams. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. More photos from the Route 66 Spirit of America Museum The Tulsa Historical Society & Museum had planned an exhibit that would mark the 50th anniversary of Tulsas American Theatre Company. The only problem was, the companys 50th anniversary was in 2020, when theaters, museums and just about every other place where people might gather had shuttered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once things opened back up again, said Sophia Hurd, director of exhibits at the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum, we knew that we had this show in the pipeline, so to speak, and thought now was good time to put it on display. Take a Bow: 50 Years of American Theatre Company is now on display at the museum, 2445 S. Peoria Ave. The exhibit draws from the collections of several ATC members who have been with the company since its inception. The largest contingent of items is from Jo Wimer, who created many of the costumes for productions that ranged from productions of plays by Shakespeare and Ibsen, to the companys original satiric reviews, centered around the character and family of Joyce Martel, embodied by Melanie Fry. Actor and playwright Bob Odle, who with composer Richard Averill wrote the companys adaptation of Dickens A Christmas Carol, which has become a holiday tradition, as well as fellow actor Jim Queen and the companys long-time set designer, Richard Ellis, also contributed items to the exhibit. The exhibit fills two rooms on the museums second floor. One room gives a kind of behind-the-scenes look at the sometimes improvised way a theatrical costume was made, using butcher paper to create the patterns. Visitors are also encouraged to design a costume of their own, using felt figurines that can be affixed to a felt-covered panel. The second room features about a dozen mannequins adorned with some of the more elaborate costumes from past productions, such as a lavishly detailed coat for Captain Hook in the companys production of Peter Pan, or dresses worn by the companys long-time artistic director Kitty Roberts in roles that include the title character of Hedda Gabler. I wanted to make use of the costumes, because its a way for people to really see them up close, and see all the work that went into creating them, Hurd said. Theres an incredible amount of detail on some of these costumes that you would never be able to see during a performance. Hurd said she also endeavored to include supplemental materials, such as photos, programs and posters, that were either directly related to the costumes, or from the same era. One case, for example, contains the silvery wig that Odle wore to portray the Rev. Oral Love in the Joyce Martel shows, while another has the all-white cape and suit the character wore. Next to this is a photograph of Odle in his full Rev. Oral regalia. Personally, I like the fact that (the exhibit) included a lot of the original shows we did, like Joyce Martel and Eddie and the Ecclectics, but also A Christmas Carol and The Crystal Forest, said Lori Bryant, former chair of the companys board of directors. We wanted to show the widest range of things that we could in the space we have, Hurd said. While the show is currently open to the public, American Theatre Company will host an official opening event, 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, at the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum. The evening will include music and light refreshments, and will pay tribute to founding members Odle, Ellis, Marilyn Neal and Jerry Pope, as well as remembering ATC company members who have passed away. The event will also include news about the companys upcoming 2023-2024 season. Tickets for the event are $100 and can be purchased at americantheatrecompany.org. The exhibit Take a Bow: 50 Years of American Theatre Company will be on display at the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum through October 2024. For more information: tulsahistory.org. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Tulsa World Scene podcast: Meet Scene intern Lydia Fletcher, plus a look ahead to this weekend's stories Tulsa World Scene summer intern Lydia Fletcher joins James Watts and Jimmie Tramel to discuss why she's interested in print journalism. Plus, a preview of upcoming weekend stories about Corey Kent, a new Route 66 museum and more.